Abstract: A method of authenticating an object comprising an identifier is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) reading the identifier using a data reader to generate identity data; (ii) sending an authentication request from the data reader to a computer system, the request comprising the identity data; (iii) receiving, in the data reader, an authentication message from the computer system, the authentication message comprising an indication of authenticity, a description of an object associated with the identity data and a digital signature of the authentication message; (iv) verifying the digital signature; and (v) conveying the description of the object to a user if the signature is valid.

Abstract: An embedded memory required for a high performance, multifunction SOC, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The memory includes a bipolar transistor, a phase-change memory device and a MOS transistor, adjacent and electrically connected, on a substrate. The bipolar transistor includes a base composed of SiGe disposed on a collector. The phase-change memory device has a phase-change material layer which is changed from an amorphous state to a crystalline state by a current, and a heating layer composed of SiGe that contacts the lower surface of the phase-change material layer.

Abstract: Circuits are provided for simultaneously reducing the subthreshold and gate oxide leakage power consumption in domino logic circuits. Sleep transistors and a dual threshold voltage CMOS technology may be utilized to place idle domino logic circuits into a low leakage state. The circuits may significantly lower the total leakage power as compared to the standard dual threshold voltage domino logic circuits at both the high and low die temperatures. The energy overheads of the circuit techniques may be low, justifying the activation of the proposed sleep schemes by providing net savings in total power consumption during short idle periods.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for determining whether to accept as valid a data segment, such as a radio block communicated pursuant to an EDGE communication session. A bit error rate measurer measures the bit error rate of a header part of a received radio block. The measured bit error rate is compared against a selected threshold. Results of the comparison are determinative of whether the radio block is accepted as valid or rejected as corrupted.

Abstract: Devices and methods that may be used to reduce valve regurgitation are disclosed by locating a body across the regurgitant valve. When the valve closes, the body obliterates/ameliorates the regurgitant orifice in the valve, thereby reducing or preventing valve regurgitation. The body may be expandable. The devices may be implantable such that they can remain in place within a subject for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A method of authorizing users to perform a search using a computer system. The method includes providing a user with a search request form having coded data indicative of an authorization parameter. The computer system receives indicating data from a sensing device which is indicative of the authorization parameter, movement of the sensing device and an identifier. The computer system determines the authorization parameter and movement of the sensing device using the indicating data, and then authorizes the user using the determined movement, the authorization parameter and the identifier, before performing a search in response to a successful authorization.

Abstract: A photo-detector, in which metal wiring for connecting electrodes is arranged on a planarized surface and thus the metal wiring arrangement is simplified, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The photo-detector includes a multi-layer compound semiconductor layer formed on a compound semiconductor substrate. A number of p-n junction diodes are arranged in a regular order in a selected region of the compound semiconductor layer, and an isolation region for individually isolating the p-n junction diodes is formed by implanting impurity ions in the multi-layer compound semiconductor layer. The isolation region and the surface of the compound semiconductor layer are positioned on the same level. The isolation region may be a Fe-impurity region.

Abstract: A system and method of testing a wireless communication device during device production comprises designating as a data log buffer when the device is being produced, at least part of random access memory (RAM) of the device that is allocated for virtual machine and/or application usage when the device is operational; and testing the device and storing test log data in the buffer. After testing, the data can be obtained from the buffer and processed using a debugging and log analysis tool.

Abstract: A method of providing search results to a user via user interaction with a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data enabling the user interaction, said method comprising: (a) a user performing the user interaction with the substrate using a sensing device, said sensing device reading at least some of the coded data when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate and generating interaction data using the read coded data, said interaction data being indicative of the user interaction; and (b) said user interaction initiating a search and causing a first resource to be displayed on a display device, said first resource comprising search-results content wherein at least one parameter of said user interaction determines a search provider for performing said search.

Abstract: A method of operating a timer module includes the steps of querying a non-volatile memory module to determine available digital image storage locations, each storage location having assigned thereto an image number; receiving a selection selecting one of the available digital image storage location as a starting location, and assigning an image number corresponding to the starting location as a starting image number; determining a number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; instructing the image capture module to capture images a number of times equal to the number of image storage locations having an image number equal to or greater than the starting image number; transferring an image to the memory module each time the image capture module captures an image, the image being transferred into the memory module at a storage location corresponding to the starting image number; and updating the starting image number to correspond to a consecutively

Abstract: Through a low-dose irradiation, a seaweed's growth becomes fast and its production is improved as well. By doing so, a material for biomass energy is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Q have a meaning as defined herein in the specification. The compounds of formula (I) are allosteric modulators of the A1 adenosine receptor and, thus, may be employed for the treatment of conditions mediated by the A1 adenosine receptor. Accordingly, the compounds of formula (I) may be employed for treatment of pain, in particular, chronic pain such as neuropathic pain; cardiac disease or disorder such as cardiac disarrhythmias, e.g., peroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, angina, myocardial infarction and stroke; neurological disease or injury; sleep disorder; epilepsy; and depression.

Abstract: The AlGaN upper cladding layer of a nitride laser diode is replaced by a non-epitaxial layer, such as metallic silver. If chosen to have a relatively low refractive index value, the mode loss from absorption in the non-epitaxial cladding layer is acceptably small. If also chosen to have a relatively high work-function, the non-epitaxial layer forms an electrical contact to the nitride semiconductors. An indium-tin-oxide layer may also be employed with the non-epitaxial cladding layer.

Abstract: A method tracks a moving object by registering a current image in a sequence of images with a previous image. The sequence of images is acquired of a scene by a moving camera. The registering produces a registration result. The moving object is tracked in the registered image to produce a tracking result. The registered current image is registered with the previous image using tracking result for all the images in the sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated cells comprising nanopatch sensors integrated into the cell membrane thereof, wherein said sensors are provided in the form of perturbation-sensitive constructs, and wherein said perturbation-sensitive constructs respond to perturbations of the cell membrane by means of a detectable change in one or more physical or chemical properties associated with said construct.

Abstract: Described herein is the synthesis of alkylated and semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycosan ethers, referred to herein as “SAGEs.” The synthesis of sulfated alkylated SAGEs is also described. The compounds described herein are useful in a number of applications including wound healing, drug delivery, and the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases and skin disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed are portable, disposable, centimeter-scale, integrated diagnostics incubators for use in biological culturing. An exemplary incubator comprises an optically accessible enclosure having a plurality of fluidic ports. A heating element is disposed within the enclosure that is coupled to an external heater controller. An autoclavable microfluidic perfusion chamber is disposed within the enclosure that comprises a cell culture life support chamber, an inlet port disposed in the perfusion chamber, a collection chamber in communication with the culture chamber, an outlet port coupled to the collection pool, and a perfusing substrate. An optically transparent, gas permeable membrane is attachable to the top of the perfusion chamber. The incubators have optical accessibility, forced flow fluidic control, temperature control, are portable and modular, and are inexpensively manufactured. The incubators permit in-the-field drug testing and culturing of biological tissues.

Abstract: The invention provides a testing system and method suitable for determining whether the pins of the socket are properly connected to a printed circuit board. The testing system includes a testing signal source, a socket, a signal sensing unit, a fixing element, and an analysis unit. The signal sensing unit comprises a sensor board, a probe, and an operation amplifier. The sensor board is electrically coupled to the socket, and the sensor board has a probing point. The probe is selectively contacted with the probing point of the sensor board for receiving and outputting a sensing signal. The operation amplifier is electrically connected to the probe for receiving, amplifying and outputting the sensing signal. The fixing element is used for fixing the sensor board between the socket and the fixing element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon nanotube transistor biosensor with aptamers and a method for detecting a target material using the same, more particularly to a carbon nanotube transistor biosensor recognizing the target material, i.e., a specific molecule (such as a protein, a peptide, an amino acid, and an organic/inorganic compound) by using DNA aptamers and a method for screening a target material using the same. In the biosensor of the present invention, the aptamers binding specifically to a particular protein are adsorbed on a carbon nanotube constituting the channel domain of carbon nanotube transistor to easily detect/identify a particular protein via the electric conductivity of carbon nanotube that varies if the particular protein is exposed to corresponding aptamers.

Abstract: An intersubband quantum cascade laser structure includes multiple coupled laser stages, wherein each stage has a multilayer structure including an electron injector, an active region with at least one quantum well, and an electron reflector. Electrons injected from the injector into the active region at a high energy level relax to a lower energy level with the emission of a photon at, for example, mid-infrared wavelengths. The reflector reflects electrons at the higher energy level at which they were injected and transmits electrons from the lower energy level after emission of a photon. Multiple layers of semiconductor are formed on each side of the multistage structure to provide conduction across the device and to provide optical confinement of the photons emitted.