Devices, methods, and kits for amplifying the signal from hybridization reactions between nucleic acid probes and their cognate targets are presented. The polishing method uses a retainer ring made of a ceramic material containing AlTiC. An intergate dielectric layer overlies the floating-gate layer, and a control gate layer overlies the intergate dielectric layer. A control unit authenticates a counter-application using group authentication information and, if the authentication succeeds, permits the counter-application to use IC access authentication information belonging to a group identified with the group authentication information. A sync word detection unit is available for detecting sync words present in said serial datastream of channel words. Software at the gateway operates to deliver requested data and related data to users using the user’s request history andor user profile.