Abstract: An activating composition, in particular for concrete or industrial mortars containing hydraulic binder and/or pozzolanic material, comprises at least 40% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate particles having a d80 less than or equal to 15 µm, and a d50 less than or equal to 4 µm, and at least 1.5% by weight and up to 60% by weight of at least one alkaline metal salt. A binder composition is also provided, the binder composition comprising the activating composition and a component C comprising at least one hydraulic binder. The binder composition and at least one aggregate are combined to form a dry concrete or industrial mortar composition. Also provided is a process for preparing wet concrete or mortar compositions and hardened concrete or industrial mortar compositions obtained therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (100) for storing/withdrawing thermal energy. The main characteristic of a system according to the invention is that it comprises: a monolithic cementitious material (1) comprising a mass fraction of ettringite of greater than 20%, said material being surrounded by a thermal insulation material (12) and a water insulation material (11), a source (2) of a heat transfer fluid, a device (3) for wetting said fluid in order to carry out a withdrawal phase of the system (100), a device (4) for heating said fluid in order to carry out a storage phase of said system (100), an outlet (6) of the heat transfer fluid from said material (1).

Abstract: A system for providing video on demand over a quadrature amplitude modulation network (QAMN) having a television set (TV) connected thereon, comprising a client component associated with the TV, the client component being configured to be connected between the TV and the QAMN to receive input from a user of the TV and transmit the user input over the QAMN, a controller being configured to be connected to the QAMN to receive the user input transmitted over the QAMN by the client component, a management server being configured to be connected to the controller, decode the user input and provide a new interactive user session state to a rendering server, the rendering server being configured to encode a graphical representation of the new interactive user session state in a video format and transmit the encoded graphical representation on the QAMN.

Abstract: A C-arm imaging device method, apparatus and system are provided. The apparatus and system includes a module for determining the positions of an imaging source and an imaging receptor and a local gravity vector to determine an imaging source focal point displacement. The apparatus and system may include a module for determining magnetic field distortion. Data obtained by the apparatus and system can be stored for use in subsequent interpolation of imaging source focal point displacement for the C-arm imaging device.

Abstract: A C-arm imaging device method and system are provided with position determination means for determining the position of an imaging source and an imaging apparatus, and means for determining a local gravity vector. The device and system may also be provided with a magnetic north sensor imaging source focal point displacement due to bending determination means and information storage means are also provided. The apparatus and system is used to determine position of an imaging source, position of an imaging receptor, a local gravity vector and, if applicable, magnetic field distortion, for each of a plurality of orientations of the C-arm. Imaging source focal point displacement due to bending is determined using the position of the imaging source and the position of the imaging detector in correspondence to the local gravity vector and, if applicable, magnetic field distortion, for each of the plurality of orientations.