Abstract: A catalytic system and method of catalyzing reactions that uses a novel toehold exchange mechanism that allows a specified input to catalyze the release of a specified output, which in turn can serve as a catalyst for other reactions is provided. This toehold exchange catalyst system, which can be driven forward by the configurational entropy of the released molecule, provides an amplifying circuit element that is simple, fast, modular, composable, and robust. Using this toehold exchange catalyst system it has been possible to construct and characterize several circuits that amplify nucleic acid signals, including a feed-forward cascade with quadratic kinetics and a positive feedback circuit with exponential growth kinetics.

Abstract: A silicon-on-insulator or bonded wafer includes an upper portion having a trapezoid shape in cross-section and a lower portion having an outer peripheral edge having a curved shape.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silicon-on-insulator structure including a substrate wafer, an active wafer, and an oxide layer between the substrate wafer and the active wafer. The method includes the steps of heat treating the structure, trapezoid grinding edges of the wafer, and grinding a surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A grinding tool for trapezoid grinding of a wafer on a profiling machine includes an annular wheel including a central hole adapted for mounting the wheel on a spindle. The wheel includes at least two grooves disposed at an outer edge of the wheel and the grooves are sized for receiving an outer edge of the wafer. At least one of the grooves is adapted for rough grinding of the wafer. At least one other of the grooves is adapted for fine grinding of the wafer.

Abstract: Examples and implementations of various robotic mechanisms, devices, components, systems and techniques are provided, including multimodal robotic devices and systems. For example, a multimodal robot can be configured to autonomously reconfigure between two or more primary modes of operation. Such robots may be used in a wide range of applications, including reconnaissance, exploration, search and rescue, military, sports, personal assistance, education, and entertainment and toys. Described examples of multimodal robots can be wheeled robots that use two or more drive wheels to perform various motions and operations.

Abstract: A method for modeling, visualizing and simulating a large-scale discrete-event dynamic system, comprising the steps of expressing an algorithm that models a plurality of activity interactions, determining a plurality of possible relationships between a plurality of system elements including transient entities, resident entities, or both, providing a hierarchical mapping of the plurality of system elements and the plurality of possible relationships among the plurality of system elements, representing a relationship diagram as a graph notation where an activity or a system element is visualized as a node and the plurality of possible relationships among the activity or the system element as an arc, allowing an explicit description of the plurality of possible relationships among the activity or the system element and a plurality of possible ways in which the activity can begin and a sequence of activities, and representing an activity interaction matrix that categorizes the plurality of activity interactions.

Abstract: A two-stranded intermediary complex and cooperative hybridization method are provided. The complex has been designed so that target oligonucleotides of independent sequence can cooperatively and simultaneously hybridize to it. The cooperative hybridization mechanism is robust and modular, smoothly integrating with other dynamic DNA components to form cascaded reaction networks that can perform a variety of functions.

Abstract: A method for identifying a person using their finger-joint print including the outer skin around the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger, the method comprising: capturing (10) an image of the finger-joint print of the person; extracting (12) a region of interest (ROI) based on a local convexity property of the finger-joint print; extracting (13) features representing the orientation of the lines in a finger-joint print image from the ROI using an extended Gabor phase coding scheme and the extracted features are represented in competitive code maps; wherein angular distance between the competitive code maps is compared (14) with a reference set in a database to identify the person.

Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid-based logic gates. The invention further relates to circuits comprising nucleic acid-based logic gates and methods of performing operations with the gates and circuits provided herein.

Abstract: A method of personal identification includes switching between visible and near infrared light, acquiring palmprint image and palm vein image from a person under the visible and the near infrared light, extracting sub-images from the palmprint image and the palm vein image based on a region of interest, extracting multiple features from the sub-images, and matching the extracted multiple features with stored information in a database to authenticate the person.

Abstract: A method for partial fingerprint recognition, the method comprising the steps of extracting features including ridge orientations, valley images, minutiae, and pores from at least two fingerprint fragments, aligning the fingerprint fragments, matching the pores and minutiae on the fingerprint fragments after applying estimated alignment transformation, calculating a final matching score based on a pore matching score and a minutiae matching score, identifying a person based on a result of the final matching score.

Abstract: A method for identifying a person based on their tongue is provided in which an image of a tongue of a person is compared to recorded details of tongues in a database. If a match is found, the person is identified.

Abstract: A biometric identification system (30) for identifying a person, the system (30) comprising: an image acquisition module (31) to capture a three-dimensional (3D) image of a palm of the person; a region of interest (ROI) extraction module (34) to extract a 3D subimage from the captured image; and a 3D features extraction module (36) to extract 3D palmprint features from the 3D subimage; wherein the extracted 3D palmprint features are compared to reference 3D palmprint features to verify the identity of the person.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the manufacture of silicon wafers, and more particularly to edge etching apparatus and methods for etching the edge of a silicon wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the manufacture of silicon wafers, and more particularly to edge etching apparatus and methods for etching the edge of a silicon wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the manufacture of silicon wafers, and more particularly to edge etching apparatus and methods for etching the edge of a silicon wafer.

Abstract: Microwork customers may create microtasks and publish them with a microwork broker. Microwork providers may discover published microtasks and complete them in exchange for specified compensation. Microtask creation, publication, discovery and workflow facilities may be integrated into document editors, productivity tools, and the like. To facilitate trust and efficiency, particularly in the context of large public microwork brokers, public reputations may be maintained for microwork participants by the microwork broker. Distinct reputations may be maintained with respect to particular microwork categories. Discovery of microtasks, access to microtasks, selection of providers, and even compensation may be based on reputation.

Abstract: A catalytic system and method of catalyzing reactions that uses a novel toehold exchange mechanism that allows a specified input to catalyze the release of a specified output, which in turn can serve as a catalyst for other reactions is provided. This toehold exchange catalyst system, which can be driven forward by the configurational entropy of the released molecule, provides an amplifying circuit element that is simple, fast, modular, composable, and robust. Using this toehold exchange catalyst system it has been possible to construct and characterize several circuits that amplify nucleic acid signals, including a feed-forward cascade with quadratic kinetics and a positive feedback circuit with exponential growth kinetics.

Abstract: An enzyme-free, isothermal method of generating an amplification signal indicative of a target nucleic acid molecule is provided, as are compositions for performing such a method. An advantage of the detection system is that it is very sensitive, and can allow for the detection of a single target molecule in a sample.

Abstract: A method of biometrics identification includes obtaining an image including a portion of a hand of an individual, analyzing the image to find one or more feature parameters defining different characteristics of the hand, and comparing the feature parameters with reference information in a database. The features parameters including a geometrical features parameter, a palm line features parameter or a palm texture features parameter.