Abstract: A method is for detecting anomalies on a surface of an object and includes creating a depth profile of the surface of the object, and pre-processing the depth profile by approximating a shape along a spatial dimension and subsequently subtracting the approximated shape from the depth profile in order to obtain a simplified profile. The method further includes detecting the anomalies on the surface of the object by applying a machine learning algorithm to the simplified profile. The machine learning algorithm is trained in order to detect anomalies in depth profiles.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining an assignment rule in order to merge test results from different tests of the same semiconductor device. The method includes the following steps: adapting a model, e.g., a linear regression model, using the model to predict the test data; calculating costs based on the predictions; using a gradient descent method to minimize the costs.

Abstract: A method determines an assignment rule in order to combine test results from different tests of the same semiconductor device. The method includes fitting a model, such as a linear regression model, using the model to predict the test data, calculating a cost matrix based on the predictions, and applying the Hungarian method to the cost matrix to obtain a new assignment rule and repeating these steps multiple times.

Abstract: The invention relates to gene silencing as observed after integration of transgenes into plant genomes. Comparison of transcriptional gene expression between an Arabidopsis line carrying a silent transgene present in multiple copies and its mutant derivative mom1 impaired in silencing of the transgene revealed two cDNA clones which are expressed in the mutant plants, but not in the parental and not in wild type plants. Both clones are derived from the same family of transcripts referred to as TSI (Transcriptionally Silent Information). Genomic templates encoding TSI are repetitive elements with mainly pericentromeric location and conserved organization among various ecotypes. Transcriptional silencing of the genomic TSI templates is specifically released in the mutant. Transcription of TSI can be used as a marker to identify a defective silencing pathway in a plant.