Abstract: A plate for creating holograms or other light-bending or diffractive microstructures on web-shaped or sheet-shaped printing substrates includes a relief for a relief printing process. The relief is formed of one or more raised dies and one or more adjacent depressions. A non-metallic microrelief for printing or embossing the microstructure is provided exclusively on the dies. The plate may be manufactured in a process in which a primary plate has a negative of the microrelief and the microrelief is created by molding the negative.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus convey sheets onto a stack which reduces the risk of damaging a sheet or the conveying elements. The sheets are conveyed over the stack one after another and aligned on the side edge by moving a surface of at least one stop. A position of the side edge of the respective sheet in relation to the stop surface is monitored, and a signal is output if the side edge lies behind the stop surface. The apparatus contains a detector for detecting the position of the side edge in relation to the stop surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are nanometer to micron scale functionalized apertures constructed on a substrate made of glass, carbon, semiconductors or polymeric materials that allow for the real time detection of biological materials or chemical moieties. Many apertures can exist on one substrate allowing for the simultaneous detection of numerous chemical and biological molecules. One embodiment features a macrocyclic ring attached to cross-linkers, wherein the macrocyclic ring has a biological or chemical probe extending through the aperture. Another embodiment achieves functionalization by attaching chemical or biological anchors directly to the walls of the apertures via cross-linkers.