Abstract: A cartridge is adapted to house at least one biological sample therein, where the cartridge contains at least two overlapping layers, and the layers include at least one layer of highly hydrophobic, inert, and biocompatible material, with contact angle ?c?90°, hydrophobic layer, and optionally, at least one layer of double-sided adhesive material, where in the absence of the at least one layer of double-sided adhesive material, the overlapping layers are connected together by chemical and/or physical bonding, where each of the overlapping layers has at least one inner hole that is pervious when the layers overlap one another, and the at least one inner hole is closed by the at least one biological sample, where loaded in the cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to covalently cross-linked glycosylated mucin nanoparticles and the use thereof for the delivery and release of active ingredients, markers and/or biomolecules. The subject matter of the invention also relates to covalently cross-linked glycosylated mucin nanoparticles comprising at least one compound selected from an active ingredient, a marker and a biomolecule. The invention further relates to a method for preparing covalently cross-linked glycosylated mucin nanoparticles, optionally comprising at least one compound selected from an active ingredient, a marker and a biomolecule.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for detecting time-resolved optical data, the device comprising a sensor comprising a number of detection elements configured to detect a light signal in a single photon regime, a timing circuit connected to said number of detection elements though a common line, and a control module connected to the sensor, the control module being configured to selectively enable the detection elements of the sensor according to a set of enabling patterns. The timing circuit is configured to measure a time of arrival of an output signal from the detection elements on the common line, the output signal being indicative of the detection of a photon of the light signal by any of the enabled detection elements.

Abstract: An assembly for reshaping a cardiac ventricle in a patient comprising an implantable device for reshaping a ventricle comprising a tether, a non-implantable tool which is detachably connectable to said implantable device and has a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite to said proximal portion; the implantable device further comprises an active anchor adapted to be detachably connected to the distal portion of the tool; the active anchor comprises an abutment portion adapted to abut against a structure of the ventricle; the active anchor of the implantable device comprises an adjustment device adapted to adjust the tensional state of the tether; the distal portion of the tool comprises an adjustment key adapted to cooperate with the adjustment device of the active anchor; the proximal portion of the tool comprises a maneuvering interface which is operatively connectable to said adjustment key for adjusting the tensional state of the tether by acting on the maneuvering interface of the proximal portion

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a light emission portion for emitting light; a light receiving portion for receiving measurement light that is emitted by the light emission portion and reflected by a measurement object, the light receiving portion comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having at least one light receiving portion and outputting a light reception signal that depends on the measurement light incident on the pixel; a discrimination portion for discriminating whether the pixel receives measurement light; a pixel output control portion for selectively outputting the light reception signal of each pixel individually, depending on the determination result of the discrimination portion; and an evaluation portion for receiving the light reception signals output by the pixel output control portion and outputting a distance signal that is indicative of a distance between the measuring device and the measurement object based on these light reception signals.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation spectrum detection system including a sensor device and an electronic control and processing module. The sensor device may include two photodiodes. The sensor device may convert an incident electromagnetic radiation (EMR) into electrical current. The electronic control and processing module may store numerical calibration values representative of a responsivity matrix of the sensor device. The electronic control and processing module may selectively provide the sensor device with electrical control voltage values (VB). The electronic control and processing module may process the values of detected electric currents (Iph) and the numerical calibration values to obtain spectrum information related to incident electromagnetic radiation spectrums. The electronic control and processing module may determine power spectral density of incident electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the generation of a mathematical model with reduced computational complexity comprises at least the following steps: receiving at input a dataset comprising a plurality of input-output pairs relating to a phenomenon under consideration; receiving at input a plurality of functions relating to principles governing the phenomenon under consideration; determining a first term starting from the dataset comprising a plurality of input-output pairs; determining a second term starting from the functions relating to principles; generating a mathematical model by means of at least one artificial neural network trained on the basis of a loss function obtained starting from the first term and the second term.

Abstract: A method of communication between two agents, at least one of which is a mobile vehicle, where a first agent includes at least one sensor and a second agent includes a second sensor. The second agent sends to the first agent, via a radio link, features and control parameters of the second sensor necessary to directly query the second sensor. The first agent sends to the second sensor a request for data selected by the first agent on the basis of a selection criterion dependent on the features of the second sensor, the request generated using the control parameters of the second sensor. The second agent sends to the first agent the second sensor’s data requested with said data request. Several agents adapted to implement the method are also described.

Abstract: A test bench assembly for simulating cardiac surgery includes a passive heart having at least one pair of cardiac chambers with an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber. A reservoir is adapted to house working fluid. A pressure generator fluidically connects both to the ventricular chamber of the passive heart and to the reservoir. A pressure regulation device provides working fluid in input to the atrial chamber with preload pressure, and working fluid in output from the ventricular chamber with afterload pressure. The pressure regulation device fluidically connects both to the atrial chamber of the passive heart and to the ventricular chamber of the passive heart. The pressure regulation device has a single compliant element for each pair of cardiac chambers, which provides working fluid with both preload, and afterload pressures.

Abstract: A micro-droplet plate including at least one fixed element which is a rigid flat support which has an upper face and a lower face, having, on said upper face, wells connected together by microchannels, said wells being delimited by a hydrophobic rim and crossed by a hole, where said wells and said microchannels define at least one microfluidic circuit; and moving elements, received in said wells through said holes, which are cylinders having an upper base and a lower base. The moving elements move, even independently of each other, along their vertical axis, and the upper base of said moving elements includes a hydrophilic surface with relief items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for attenuating vibrations and/or shocks, said method comprising providing a damper assembly which comprises a moving part and a supramolecular polymer in contact with said moving part, and exposing said moving part to said vibrations and/or shocks, wherein said supramolecular polymer is obtained by reacting: at least one first polymer [polymer (P1)] comprising a polymer chain [chain (R)] consisting of a plurality of non-ionisable recurring units [units (U)], said polymer (P1) having two chain ends (E1, E1?), each end comprising at least one ionisable acid group, and at least one second polymer [polymer (P2)] comprising a polymer chain [chain (R)] consisting of a plurality of recurring units [units (U)], said chain (R) being equal to or different from that of polymer (P1), and said polymer (P2) having two chain ends (E2, E2?), each end comprising at least one ionisable amino group.

Abstract: An inertial sensor including a substrate, a first pair of proof masses sensitive to rotation movements occurring around a first direction and a third direction, a second pair of proof masses sensitive to rotation movements occurring around a second direction and the third direction, an excitation device, four frames, a rotatable frame and a sensing system connected to the rotatable frame. This inertial sensor is characterized in that the excitation device is configured to force the first pair of proof masses and the second pair of proof masses into a motion going towards and away from the sensing system, and wherein the readout of the rotation movements occurring in each of the three directions is achieved with piezoelectric gauges.

Abstract: A stand-alone continuous positive airways pressure, CPAP, apparatus having a face-mask and a connected electro-mechanical device to supply air to the face-mask is disclosed. The electro-mechanical device includes a pneumatic channel for flowing air to be delivered to the face mask and a control unit for managing the air pressure of the air inside the pneumatic channel. The CPAP apparatus includes a turbine fan, located in the electro-mechanical device housing, connected to the control unit for pressurizing atmospheric air. The pneumatic channel includes an inlet portion located upstream of the turbine fan to receive atmospheric air, and an outlet portion located downstream of the turbine fan to deliver the pressurized air to the face-mask through an outlet opening. The pneumatic channel also longitudinally extends from the inlet portion to the outlet portion.

Abstract: A rim for wheel is described including a measuring system for detecting the vertical load applied to the wheel. The measuring system includes a sensor adapted to detect a deformation of the rim and to transmit a deformation signal to a processing unit. The processing unit receives an output signal of the sensor related to the deformation of the rim detected, and determines the vertical load applied to the wheel.

Abstract: A flame-retardant cable includes at least one core comprising a conductor and at least one protecting layer surrounding the core. The protecting layer is made from a low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) flame-retardant polymer composition comprising at least 70 phr of a polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer having a density lower than 0.90 g/cm3 as a halogen-free polymeric base, and: a) 100 to 800 phr of at least one metal hydroxide; and b) at least 10 phr of a tannin.

Abstract: A MEMS based device includes a phononic crystal body formed from unit cells and having a defect line extending through the phononic crystal body. Unit cells inside of the defect line lack a same phononic bandgap as the unit cells outside of the defect line. An input MEMS resonator is mechanically coupled to a first end of the defect line, and an output MEMS resonator is mechanically coupled to a second end of the defect line. Each of the unit cells outside of the defect line has an identical geometry. The input MEMS resonator and output MEMS resonator each have a natural frequency within the same phononic bandgap possessed by the unit cells outside of the defect line. There may be more than one defect line, and in such cases, the MEMS device may include more than one input MEMS resonator and/or more than one output MEMS resonator.

Abstract: A portable two-mode probe intended to be applied against a biological tissue to be examined, the probe comprising: an ultrasonic transducer (34, 63), configured to emit ultrasonic waves into the tissue and to receive ultrasonic waves reflected by the tissue, the transducer extending along a transverse axis; at least two optodes (32, 60, 62a, 62b) placed on either side of the transverse axis, such that the transducer extends between the two optodes; each optode comprising a casing (52, 61), the casing containing: a light emitter (31), configured to emit a light wave toward the tissue; and/or an optical detector (32), configured to detect a light wave scattered by the tissue; the optodes being arranged such that at least one light emitter and at least one optical detector are placed on either side of the transducer; at least one optical detector having a detection area (53, 63a, 63b) formed from a semiconductor and connected to a circuit board (54).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method of controlling a collaborative robot, or “cobot”. According to the disclosed method the “cobot” is controlled so as to make it ready to perform a task in collaboration with the human operator only when the latter is about to move into a work sector to carry out the task collaborating with the robot.

Abstract: A system to detect the passage of a small animal through an opening. The system includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor arranged sequentially along a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening. Each of the capacitors includes two electrodes arranged on the outside of the opening and having substantially a U shape. An evaluation unit is electrically connected to the two capacitors to evaluate the change in capacitance of at least one of the two capacitors produced by the passage of an animal through the opening.

Abstract: The present invention refers to Amadoriase enzyme protein variants having de-glycating activity and improved thermostability compared to the wild type Amadoriase. The present invention refers also to the use of the thermostabilized Amadoriase as deglycating agent, preferably in the food industry. Moreover, the present invention refers to the use of the thermostabilized Amadoriase as diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools. Preferably, the Amadoriase enzyme protein variants of the invention can be used for determining the level of glycated haemoglobin in a biological sample and therefore for monitoring diabetes.