Abstract: A membrane employing solid sorbents embedded within polymeric adhesives. The membrane was used to make filtration devices. Methods were developed based on the use of those devices for fast purification of nucleic acids, especially for the recovery of low molecular weight nucleic acids. Those devices offer the advantages of automation, high speed, high throughput, and suitability for point-of-care testing. They can be used either independently or combined with other conventional devices such as magnetic beads or spin columns.

Abstract: A computer-vision method includes recognizing a feature representation of a query image depicting an unknown subject. A similarity score is computed between the representation of the query image and feature representations of a plurality of gallery images collectively depicting two or more different subjects with at least two or more gallery images for each subject, and each gallery image having a label identifying which of the subjects is depicted. One or more updated feature representations of the query image are sequentially iterated based on one or more of the computed similarity scores. For each of the one or more updated feature representations, an updated similarity score is computed between the updated feature representation and the feature representations of each of the gallery images. The unknown subject is identified based on a gallery image having a highest updated similarity score.

Abstract: In implementations of the subject matter as described herein, there is provided a method for forgery detection of a face image. Subsequent to inputting a face image, it is detected whether a blending boundary due to the blend of different images exists in the face image, and then a corresponding grayscale image is generated based on a result of the detection, where the generated grayscale image can reveal whether the input face image is formed by blending different images. If a visible boundary corresponding to the blending boundary exists in the generated grayscale image, it indicates that the face image is a forged image; on the contrary, if the visible boundary does not exist in the generated grayscale image, it indicates that the face image is a real image.

Abstract: In accordance with implementations of the subject matter described herein, there is provided a solution for face synthesis. In this solution, a first image about a face of a first user and a second image about a face of a second user are obtained. A first feature characterizing an identity of the first user is extracted from the first image, and a second feature characterizing a plurality of attributes of the second image is extracted from the second image, where the plurality of attributes do not include the identity of the second user. Then, a third image about a face of the first user is generated based on the first and second features, the third image reflecting the identity of the first user and the plurality of attributes of the second image.

Abstract: A computer-vision method includes recognizing a feature representation of a query image depicting an unknown subject. A similarity score is computed between the representation of the query image and feature representations of a plurality of gallery images collectively depicting two or more different subjects with at least two or more gallery images for each subject, and each gallery image having a label identifying which of the subjects is depicted. One or more updated feature representations of the query image are sequentially iterated based on one or more of the computed similarity scores. For each of the one or more updated feature representations, an updated similarity score is computed between the updated feature representation and the feature representations of each of the gallery images. The unknown subject is identified based on a gallery image having a highest updated similarity score.

Abstract: In accordance with implementations of the subject matter described herein, there is provided a solution for face synthesis. In this solution, a first image about a face of a first user and a second image about a face of a second user are obtained. A first feature characterizing an identity of the first user is extracted from the first image, and a second feature characterizing a plurality of attributes of the second image is extracted from the second image, where the plurality of attributes do not include the identity of the second user. Then, a third image about a face of the first user is generated based on the first and second features, the third image reflecting the identity of the first user and the plurality of attributes of the second image.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for efficient separation of various small and large molecules, especially biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides. In particular, an electrophoresis apparatus is employed in a wide bore electrophoresis of samples in larger amounts than those in conventional capillary electrophoresis. The electrophoresis apparatus comprises: an electrophoresis chamber comprising a cathode, an anode and a housing; and a separation chamber positioned within the housing and comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and one or more cooling capillaries positioned inside the separation chamber such that the longitudinal axis of at least one of the cooling capillaries is parallel to the direction of electric current flow from the anode to the cathode, wherein the end of the cooling capillary (or capillaries) is adapted to be coupled to a cooling device that allows cooling medium to pass through the cooling capillary.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of performing one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis with or without gel in an automated way. The two dimensional electrophoresis can be performed either separately or continuously. Both electrokinetic and hydrodynamic forces can be used to facilitate sample transfer from the first to the second dimension. The samples can be detected on-line by using common detectors like UV-Vis, laser induced fluorescence (LIF), and mass spectrometry (MS).

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for efficient separation of various small and large molecules, especially biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides. In particular, an electrophoresis apparatus is employed in a wide bore electrophoresis of samples in larger amounts than those in conventional capillary electrophoresis. The electrophoresis apparatus comprises: an electrophoresis chamber comprising a cathode, an anode and a housing; and a separation chamber positioned within the housing and comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and one or more cooling capillaries positioned inside the separation chamber such that the longitudinal axis of at least one of the cooling capillaries is parallel to the direction of electric current flow from the anode to the cathode, wherein the end of the cooling capillary (or capillaries) is adapted to be coupled to a cooling device that allows cooling medium to pass through the cooling capillary.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of electrochemical analysis of an analyte in a sample. The methods include providing a sample comprising an analyte, and introducing the sample into a capillary tube containing electrophoretic running buffer and a reactant. According to the methods of the invention, one or both of the analyte and the reactant is electrically charged. Chemical contact between analyte and reactant induced by their relative electrophoretic mobility results in the breaking or formation of a covalent bond of one of the analyte or the reactant to produce a detectable product. The methods also include the steps of imposing along the length of the capillary tube an electric current for a time sufficient to bring into chemical contact within the tube analyte and reactant so as to allow formation of product, and detecting the product.