Abstract: A device and method for the hardware detection of local edges in an image, comprised of a plurality of elemental cells for mixed signal processing, locally interconnected with each other, comprising in each cell a first switch configured to enable the pre-charging of a condenser at the supply voltage; and where once said condenser is pre-charged, it discharges via a second switch connected to a power source which varies in a monotonically increasing manner with the analog voltage representing the value of the pixel concerned; and where the value of the pixel is compared asynchronously with the neighboring pixels of the neighboring cells via two inverters, a digital NOR gate, a digital NAND gate, a third and fourth switch and a memory feature to store the result.

Abstract: Method for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions, wherein the online computation of the search tree is performed in order to locate the input value in the polytopes of the partition, and the subsequent generation of the corresponding affine function. It also proposes a configurable and programmable device for generating piecewise-affine multivariate functions composed of an architecture with four functional blocks namely: a control unit block (1), a tree memory block, a parameter memory block and an arithmetic unit block; and it has at least three operating modes which can be selected using different values of a bus (config): writing of the tree memory, writing of the parameter memory and evaluating the affine function. It may include a fourth operating mode, which is the test mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of metformin, metformin derivatives, compounds containing metformin and compounds that induce the activation of AMPK phosphorylation for the treatment of fibromyalgia, reducing pain and depression, as well as dysfunctional biological parameters. The primary sectors of application are the pharmaceutical and medical sectors, through the development of tablets with lower doses than those currently used for these patients.

Abstract: A dispensing head for emitting an atomized spray of liquid droplets includes an actuator and a nozzle insert. The actuator includes a gas duct and a liquid duct and may be attached to a container housing a propellant gas and a liquid product. The nozzle insert includes at least one modular structure that can be installed in an actuator socket on the actuator. The nozzle insert includes a pressure cap defining a pressure chamber having an exit orifice. A liquid conduit is disposed in the pressure chamber and defines a liquid supply channel having a liquid supply channel exit opening. The nozzle insert is configured to form a reflux cell in the liquid supply channel upstream of the liquid supply channel exit opening to achieve flow blurring interaction between the liquid product and the gas propellant.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a system for positioning a reflective surface in relation to the sun by means of a solar sensor in the reflected light, the object of which is for the reflected light to fall upon a target point, using a solar sensor and a dual-axis angular mechanism. The procedure allows a reflective surface (R) mounted on a mechanical system having two rotation axes to be positioned in relation to the sun (S): azimuth-elevation; using a solar sensor (1) disposed in front of the reflective surface, facing it, in a fixed orientation. The solar sensor measures the angles (2) formed by the projections of the vector of the incident light in relation to two orthogonal planes (4). The procedure is applied independently and simultaneously in both rotation axes, and allows calculation of the relative position of the reflected ray (3) on the reflective surface in relation to the orthogonal planes (4) of the solar sensor (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for mass producing monodisperse microbubbles contains a microfluidic flow focusing device. The microfluidic flow focusing device includes a dispersed phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into a flow focusing junction, a continuous phase fluid supply channel having an outlet that discharges into the flow focusing junction, and a bubble formation channel having an inlet disposed at the flow focusing junction. The configuration of the flow focusing junction is such that, in operation, a flow of dispersed phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the dispersed phase fluid supply channel is engageable in co-flow by a focusing flow of continuous phase fluid discharging from the outlet of the at least one continuous phase fluid supply channel under formation of a gradually thinning jet of dispersed phase fluid that extends into the inlet of the bubble formation channel.

Abstract: Disclose embodiments include an image processor for feature detection comprising a single non-planar chip containing a plurality of integrated sensing and processing resources across two or more layers adapted to capture image frames and extract image features. In a particular embodiment, the non-planar chip is a three dimensional CMOS integrated circuit (3D CMOS IC) with vertical distribution of sensing and processing resources across two or more vertical integrated circuit layers. The 3D CMOS IC implements two or more feature detectors in a single chip by reusing a plurality of circuits employed for gradient and keypoint detection. Feature detectors include a scale invariant feature transform detector (SIFT), a Harris-based feature detector, and a Hessian-based feature detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a CO2 y SO2 capture method comprising the following steps consisting in: a) introducing an aqueous stream of a hydroxide of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal and another gas stream of CO2 into a bubble column purifier/reactor, in order to form a carbonate of the alkali or alkaline-earth metal; b) introducing the carbonate of the alkali or alkaline-earth metal into a bubble column purifier/reactor, into which a stream of a gas mixture of CO2 and SO2 is introduced in order to form sulphite of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal and carbon dioxide; c) transforming the sulphite from step (b) into sulphate of said metal by means of oxidation with air; and d) re-circulating the unreacted CO2 produced during step (b) by reacting the slurry with the SO2, in the reactor from step (a).

Abstract: A device for dispensing a liquid product as an atomized spray includes a container, a depressible dispensing head for initiating emission of the spray from the device and for terminating emission of the spray from the device, and a sequential delivery valve attached to the dispensing head. The dispensing device is configured to initiate flow of gas only into the dispensing head first when the dispensing head is depressed from a first axial position to a second axial position. When the dispensing head is depressed further toward the container to a third axial position, the dispensing device allows both liquid and gas to travel from the container into the dispensing head. When the dispensing head is released from the third axial position back to the first axial position, the dispensing device first stops flow of liquid into the dispensing head before stopping flow of gas into the dispensing head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, governed by an inertial mechanism that provides an additional degree of freedom, conferring dynamic properties on the transmission. The complete system includes three distinct subsystems. The first subsystem transforms the rotating movement from the driving system into a movement with oscillating angular speed and regulates the amplitude of said movement. The oscillating rotation at the output of the first subsystem is used to drive the second subsystem, which acts as a regulating element by means of the inertial mechanism. In this manner, the second subsystem acts as a torque-regulating element, providing a signal representing the oscillating angular speed at the output shaft thereof. The oscillating rotation at the output of the second subsystem is rectified in the third subsystem, thereby providing a signal representing angular speed in a single direction of rotation at the output shaft.

Abstract: The present invention, fitted in the medical-clinical sector, shows a method for monitoring the ingestion of gluten by measuring protein/gluten peptides present in fecal samples with antibodies against immunogenic peptides resistant to gastrointestinal digestion. The presence or absence of said immunogenic peptides is controlled by immunological assays based on reactive antibodies against immunogenic gluten peptides that are resistant to proteolysis. These assays may be quantitative techniques as ELISAs, or qualitative as rapid immunochromatographic assays, immunoblots, etc. These measures may also be applied to verify compliance with the gluten-free diet, to improve diagnosis in cases of refractory or severe symptoms of celiac disease, in cases in which a gluten-free diet is supposedly being respected, or to clinical research on the effectiveness of enzymatic therapies related with prolamin detoxification.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is disclosed which produces aerosolized particles of pharmaceutically active drug for delivery to a patient by inhalation. The device includes a liquid feeding source such as a channel to which formulation is added at one end and expelled through an exit opening. The feeding channel is surrounded by a pressurized chamber into which gas is fed and out of which gas is expelled from an opening. The opening from which the gas is expelled is positioned directly in front of the flow path of liquid expelled from the feeding channel. Various parameters are adjusted so that pressurized gas surrounds liquid flowing out of the feeding channel in a manner so as to maintain a stable capillary microjet of liquid until the liquid exits the pressure chamber opening and is aerosolized into particles having a uniform diameter in the range of about 1 to 5 microns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tower-type system (11) for concentrating and capturing thermosolar energy, comprising a tower (13) having a fixed part (81) and a movable part (82), wherein the movable part ascends or descends along a shaft of the tower (13) and is provided with a gondola (83) that can perform azimuthal rotation, and wherein an assembly of heliostats (12) that can move around the tower (13) direct the solar radiation toward a panel.

Abstract: Disclose embodiments include an image processor for feature detection comprising a single non-planar chip containing a plurality of integrated sensing and processing resources across two or more layers adapted to capture image frames and extract image features. In a particular embodiment, the non-planar chip is a three dimensional CMOS integrated circuit (3D CMOS IC) with vertical distribution of sensing and processing resources across two or more vertical integrated circuit layers. The 3D CMOS IC implements two or more feature detectors in a single chip by reusing a plurality of circuits employed for gradient and keypoint detection. Feature detectors include a scale invariant feature transform detector (SIFT), a Harris-based feature detector, and a Hessian-based feature detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a surface in relation to a light source using sensors. The method can be used to control the position of a reflective surface (2) such that the reflected light (7) originating from a light source (1) falls on an objective point (8), through the use of a first sensor (4) which determines the position of the light source (1) in relation to a reference direction (9) and a second sensor (4) which is solidly connected to the reflective surface (2) and which determines the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the light source (1). Having ascertained these positions and the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the objective point (8), the method is used to determine the necessary movement to be applied to the reflective surface (2) so that the reflected light (7) falls on the objective point (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound corresponding to general formula (I) wherein n is a whole number from 1-6, m is a whole number equal to 5, 6 or 7, R1 is an OH group, all R1 s are identical, Z is an NHX group, X is a hydrogen atom, and R is a hydrogen atom or a bioidentification element, with the proviso that the compound wherein n=1, m=6, Z=NH2 and R1=OH is excluded.

Abstract: Specific antibodies against N-procalcitonin, peptides, genetic constructions and methods for the obtainment of the peptides used in the obtainment of the antibodies. These antibodies can be used for preparing drugs, or diagnostic kits for diseases that develop with systemic inflammatory response or metabolic stress.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, governed by an inertia mechanism that provides an additional degree of freedom, conferring dynamic properties on the transmission. The complete system includes three distinct subsystems. The first subsystem transforms the rotating movement from the drive system into a movement with oscillating angular speed and regulates the amplitude of said movement. The oscillating rotation at the output of the first subsystem is used to drive the second subsystem, which acts as a regulating element by means of the inertia mechanism. In this manner, the second subsystem acts as a torque-regulating element, providing a signal representing the oscillating angular speed at the output shaft thereof. The oscillating rotation at the output of the second subsystem is rectified in the third subsystem, thereby providing a signal representing angular speed in a single direction of rotation at the output shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a surface in relation to a light source using sensors. The method can be used to control the position of a reflective surface (2) such that the reflected light (7) originating from a light source (1) falls on an objective point (8), through the use of a first sensor (4) which determines the position of the light source (1) in relation to a reference direction (9) and a second sensor (4) which is solidly connected to the reflective surface (2) and which determines the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the light source (1). Having ascertained these positions and the relative position of the reflective surface (2) in relation to the objective point (8), the method is used to determine the necessary movement to be applied to the reflective surface (2) so that the reflected light (7) falls on the objective point (8).

Abstract: Adult stem cells obtained from the carotid body, characterized in that they are positive for the phenotypic marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and negative for the phenotypic markers TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) and nestin, are described. These stem cells can undergo proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation to progenitor cells and differentiated cells. Said stem cells, progenitor cells and differentiated cells, expanded by any method, can be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.