Abstract: Briefly described, new types of nanostructures and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. A representative nanostructure includes a free-standing, helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure. The free-standing, helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure includes a nanobelt having a substantially rectangular cross-section. The the nanobelt is about 5 nanometers to about 200 nanometers in width and about 3 nanometers to about 50 nanometers in height, and the radius of the helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure is about 200 to 5000 nanometers.

Abstract: A secure credit card transaction method and system operates when a buyer wishes to purchase goods or services using a computer from a web site that is hosted by a server. The credit card transaction method and system embeds a signature in a credit card image on the computer. A first public key is used to embed the signature. The embedded credit card image is authenticated by concatenating bits of the credit card image with transaction information such as payment amount, the buyer's ID, a description of the goods or services, and/or the transaction date. A one-way hash is performed and signed employing a secret key cryptography method. The authenticated and embedded credit card image is then encrypted using the first public key and transmitted to the server that hosts the web site offering the goods and services for sale.

Abstract: Briefly described, new types of nanostructures and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. A representative nanostructure includes a free-standing, helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure. The free-standing, helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure includes a nanobelt having a substantially rectangular cross-section. The the nanobelt is about 5 nanometers to about 200 nanometers in width and about 3 nanometers to about 50 nanometers in height, and the radius of the helical semiconductor oxide nanostructure is about 200 to 5000 nanometers.

Abstract: A secure credit card transaction method and system operates when a buyer wishes to purchase goods or services using a computer from a web site that is hosted by a server. The credit card transaction method and system embeds a signature in a credit card image on the computer. A first public key is used to embed the signature. The embedded credit card image is authenticated by concatenating bits of the credit card image with transaction information such as payment amount, the buyer's ID, a description of the goods or services, and/or the transaction date. A one-way hash is performed and signed employing a secret key cryptography method. The authenticated and embedded credit card image is then encrypted using the first public key and transmitted to the server that hosts the web site offering the goods and services for sale.