Abstract: An apparatus for performing SERS includes a substrate and flexible nano-fingers, each of the nano-fingers having a first end attached to the substrate, a free second end, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the nano-fingers are arranged in an array on the substrate. The apparatus also includes an active material layer disposed on each of the second ends of the plurality of nano-fingers, in which the nano-fingers are to be in a substantially collapsed state in which the active layers on at least two of the nano-fingers contact each other under dominant attractive forces between the plurality of nano-fingers and in which the active material layers are to repel each other when the active material layers are electrostatically charged.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe apparatus and a method of SERS probing employ Raman-active surfaces of a plurality of nanoscale field concentrator (NFC) structures at a terminal end of an optical fiber. The SERS probe apparatus includes an optical fiber having an optical path and a terminal end that terminates the optical path. The SERS probe apparatus further includes a plurality of NFC structures and nanoparticles on surfaces of the plurality of NFC structures. First ends of the NFC structures are adjacent to the terminal end of optical fiber. The nanoparticles are Raman active to an analyte.

Abstract: It is disclosed a microsieve comprising two layers, wherein the first layer is a membrane layer having a plurality of micropores contained therein and a thickness of about 10 ?m to about 100 ?m, and the second layer is a membrane support layer having a plurality of openings contained therein and a thickness of about 100 ?m to about 500 ?m, wherein the openings are larger in diameter than the micropores, and wherein at least one of the membrane layer or membrane support layer is formed of a SU-8 photoresist material.

Abstract: A structure for molecular analysis is disclosed. The structure includes a nanostructure and a nanoparticle attached to the nanostructure, wherein the nanostructure is free-standing and wherein the nanoparticle, the nanostructure or both the nanoparticle and the nanostructure are coated with a metal coating; or a plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of nanoparticles is free-standing and wherein each nanoparticle in the plurality is coated with a metal coating and is separated from one other nanoparticle or two other nanoparticles by a distance of 0.5 nm to 1 nm. A method for preparing the structure for molecular analysis is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing tetrahydroisoquinolines, intermediates useful in the preparation of tetrahydroisoquinolines, processes for preparing such intermediates, and a crystalline form of 6-[(4S)-2-methyl-4-(naphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yl]pyridazin-3-amine. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising tetrahydroisoquinolines, methods of using tetrahydroisoquinolines in the treatment of depression and other conditions and methods for obtaining the crystalline form.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) apparatus, system and method employ a plurality of nanorods configured to vibrate. The apparatus includes the nanorods having tips at free ends opposite an end attached to a substrate. The tips are configured to adsorb an analyte and to vibrate at a vibration frequency. The apparatus further includes a vibration source configured to vibrate the free ends of the nanorods at the vibration frequency in a back-and-forth motion. Vibration of the nanorods is configured to facilitate detection of a Raman scattering signal emitted by the analyte adsorbed on the nanorod tips. The system further includes a synchronous detector configured to receive the Raman signal and to be gated cooperatively with the vibration of the nanorods. The method includes inducing a vibration of the nanorods, illuminating the vibrating tips to produce a Raman signal, and detecting the Raman signal using the detector.

Abstract: A multi-pillar structure for molecular analysis is provided. The structure comprises at least two nanopoles, each nanopole attached at one end to a substrate and freely movable along its length. The opposite ends of the at least two nanopoles are each capable of movement toward each other to trap at least one analyte molecule at their opposite ends. Each nanopole is coated with a metal coating. An array of such multi-pillar structures is also provided. A method for preparing the multi-pillar structure is further provided.

Abstract: A self-arranging, luminescence-enhancement device 101 for surface-enhanced luminescence. The self-arranging, luminescence-enhancement device 101 for surface-enhanced luminescence includes a substrate 110, and a plurality 120 of flexible columnar structures. A flexible columnar structure 120-1 of the plurality 120 includes a flexible column 120-1A, and a metallic cap 120-1B coupled to the apex 120-1 C of the flexible column 120-1A. At least the flexible columnar structure 120-1 and a second flexible columnar structure 120-2 are configured to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one molecule 220-1 disposed between at least the metallic cap 120-1B and a second metallic cap 120-2B of respective flexible columnar structure 120-1 and second flexible columnar structure 120-2.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of nano-fingers attached at respective first ends to the substrate and freely movable along their lengths, in which a first set of the plurality of nano-fingers comprises a first physical characteristic, wherein a second set of the plurality of nano-fingers comprises a second physical characteristic, and wherein the first physical characteristic differs from the second physical characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) includes a reflective layer positioned above the substrate, a plurality of tapered nanowires disposed above the reflective layer, each of the plurality of tapered nanowires having a tapered end directed away from the reflective layer.

Abstract: An integrated device for enhancing signals in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The integrated device comprising an array of nanostructures comprising a material, wherein the material is configured to allow light to pass through. The integrated device also comprising SERS active nanoparticles disposed on at least portion of the array of nanostructures and a mirror integrated below a base of the array of nanostructures. The mirror is configured to reflect light passing through the material into the array of nanostructures.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, a start-up circuit, and an operating method for the same are provided. The start-up circuit comprises a semiconductor unit, a first circuit, a second circuit, a voltage input terminal and a voltage output terminal. The first circuit is constituted by one diode or a plurality of diodes electrically connected to each other in series. The second circuit is constituted by one diode or a plurality of diodes electrically connected to each other in series. The semiconductor unit is coupled to a first node between the first circuit and the second circuit. The voltage input terminal is coupled to the semiconductor unit. The voltage output terminal is coupled to a second node between the semiconductor unit and the first circuit.

Abstract: A junction-field-effect-transistor (JFET) device includes a substrate of a first-type impurity, a first well region of a second-type impurity in the substrate, a pair of second well regions of the first-type impurity separated from each other in the first well region, a third well region of the first-type impurity between the pair of second well regions, a first diffused region of the second-type impurity between the third well region and one of the second well regions, and a second diffused region of the second-type impurity between the third well region and the other one of the second well regions.

Abstract: A compact sensor system comprising: an analysis cell configured for photon-matter interaction, where photons are received from a light source; and an integrated-optical spectral analyzer configured for identifying a set of frequencies, the integrated-optical spectral analyzer comprising: a waveguide coupled with the analysis cell, the waveguide configured for propagating a set of frequencies through the waveguide; one or more ring resonators coupled with the waveguide, the one or more ring resonators comprising a predetermined bandwidth and configured for capturing the set of frequencies corresponding to frequencies within the predetermined bandwidth; and one or more frequency detectors coupled with the one or more tunable ring resonators, the one or more frequency detectors configured for generating electrical signals that identify each of the set of frequencies.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy device includes a substrate, and an ultraviolet cured resist disposed on the substrate. The ultraviolet cured resist has a pattern of cone-shaped protrusions, where each cone-shaped protrusion has a tip with a radius of curvature equal to or less than 10 nm. The ultraviolet cured resist is formed of a predetermined ratio of a photoinitiator, a cross-linking agent, and a siloxane based backbone chain. A Raman signal-enhancing material is disposed on each of the cone-shaped protrusions.

Abstract: An image processing method includes a segmentation step that segments an input image into a plurality of regions by using an automatic segmentation algorithm, and a computation step that calculates a saliency value of one region of the plurality of segmented regions by using a weighted sum of color differences between the one region and all other regions. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically analyze visual saliency regions in an image, and a result of analysis can be used in application areas including significant object segmentation, object recognition, adaptive image compression, content-aware image resizing, and image retrieval.

Abstract: An environment sensitive device is disclosed. The device includes a substrate, a three-dimensional structure established on the substrate, a first coating established on a first portion of the three-dimensional structure, and a second coating established on a second portion of the three-dimensional structure. The first and second coatings contain different materials that are configured to respond differently when exposed to a predetermined external stimulus.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to diffusing light of a multi-mode laser. In one embodiment, the multi-mode laser projects a plurality of modes of light and a diffuser reflects the plurality of modes of light to output a single lobe of light.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting at least one species using Raman light detection includes at least one laser source for illuminating a sample containing the at least one species. The apparatus also includes a modulating element for modulating a spatial relationship between the sample and the light beams to cause relative positions of the sample and the light beams to be oscillated, in which Raman light at differing intensity levels are configured to be emitted from the at least one species based upon the different wavelengths of the light beams illuminating the sample. The apparatus also includes a Raman light detector and a post-signal processing unit configured to detect the at least one species.

Abstract: A network device for establishing quality of service (QoS) between two terminal devices includes a transceiver module and a state-machine setting module. The transceiver module is configured for receiving establishing requests, request responses, acknowledge messages, and QoS requests from any one of the two terminal devices. The state-machine setting module is configured for setting a state of the network device according to a current state of the network device and messages received by the transceiver module, and the state of the network device includes an idle state, an inviting state, a trying state, an acknowledge state, and a QoS state.