Asylum Research, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based manufacturer of advanced scientific instrumentation, including atomic force microscopes (AFMs) and scanning probe microscopes for nanoscale science and technology, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the Institut Curie of Paris for its AFM patent on magnetic actuated cantilever technology, in which cantilevers are actuated by driving a tiny oscillating current through the cantilever's legs. Magnetically actuated cantilever technology allows nondestructive atomic force microscopy of sensitive samples, particularly for imaging bioscience and polymer samples in fluid. The agreement covers use in US and European markets. . . . nLight of Vancouver, Wash., a manufacturer of high-power semiconductor lasers, has named Joseph DeBartolo as vice president of sales and marketing. Before joining nLight, DeBartolo was vice president of sales and marketing at Digital Optics Corp., a micro-optics manufacturer. . . . Austin, Texas-based SigmaTel Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, has donated $50,000 to the University of Texas at Austin's department of electrical and computer engineering to support its mixed-signal integrated circuit research used in MP3 players, computers and digital TVs. In March 2005, SigmaTel donated funds to the university's Wireless Networking and Communication Group.