Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel compounds that are modulators of RORgamma. These compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, are suitable means for treating any disease wherein the modulation of RORgamma has therapeutic effects, for instance in autoimmune diseases, autoimmune-related diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, fibrotic diseases, or cholestatic diseases.

Abstract: A palletizing elevator is provided that lowers gradually a pallet thereon from an upper level as it is filled with products, and by providing an empty pallet infeed system that moves empty pallets towards the palletizing elevator simultaneously to the palletizing of products thereon. The empty pallet infeed system includes an empty pallet elevator for raising empty pallets to the upper level and a conveying system between the empty pallet elevator and the palletizing elevator for moving the empty pallets of from the empty pallet elevator at the upper level to the palletizing elevator while a pallet is moved by the palletizing elevator during its filling.

Abstract: A vision-assisted robotized depalletizer receives at a pallet station a pallet loaded with products and outputs on a conveyor unitized products aligned in a desired orientation. Such depalletizers include a vision system having one or more image acquisition sensors that are positioned relative to the pallet station so as to have a field of view covering a top portion of the pallet. The sensors send to a controller one or more image of the top portion of the pallet that the controller uses along to determine the position of each product in the top portion of the pallet. The depalletizer further includes a robot equipped with a depalletizing tool that is coupled to the vision system controller for receiving information indicative of the position of each product from the top portion and uses that information to pick and position on the output conveyor each product from the top portion.

Abstract: The problem of potentially damaging a pallet layer that is gripped by clamps of a depalletizing tool is solved i) by detecting the real position of the layer using a pad on the tool that is movable with the clamps towards the pallet layer and whose detected stopping position determines the real position of the layer, and ii) while the layer is gripped by the clamp, by inserting under the layer curtains; the pressure on the layer by the clamps being adapted to the ease to go underneath the layer.

Abstract: A computer system and a method implementing a remote access array are provided. A first drawer includes a first processor chip. A first main memory region is operatively connected to the first processor chip. A first non-addressable memory region is operatively connected to the first processor chip and includes the first remote access array. The first remote access array is configured to track data portions that are stored in the first main memory region and for which copies were created and sent to an external node. The first remote access array is backed up in the first main memory region. The first remote access array includes one or more entries and is configured to update all of the entries in response to a multi-drawer working partition being reduced to fit within the first drawer.

Abstract: A method of tracking a user's toothcare activity comprises receiving video images of a user's face during, e.g. a toothbrushing session, and identifying, in each of a plurality of frames of the video images, predetermined features of the user's face. The features include at least two invariant landmarks associated with the user's face and one or more landmarks selected from at least mouth feature positions and eye feature positions. Predetermined marker features of a toothcare appliance, e.g. a brush in use are identified in each of the plurality of frames of the video images. From the at least two invariant landmarks associated with the user's nose, a measure of inter-landmark distance is determined. An appliance length normalised by the inter-landmark distance is determined. From the one or more landmarks selected from at least mouth feature positions and eye feature positions, one or more appliance-to-facial feature distances each normalised by the inter-landmark distance is determined.

Abstract: A beverage production system, comprising a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups, a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage, and a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly comprising a central axis, an inner turntable including a first row of cup receptacles, and an outer turntable including a second row of cup receptacles. The outer turntable is disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable, and the outer turntable is configured to rotate about the central axis to align the cup receptacles of the second row with the cup dispensing station and the beverage dispensing station. The turntable assembly is configured to align an opening in a cup receptacle in the second row with an opening in a cup receptacle in the first row. A slide assembly includes an arm configured to slide a cup positioned in the cup receptacle in the second row into the aligned opening of the cup receptacle in the first row.

Abstract: Narrow beam divergence semiconductor sources are operable to generate a beam having a substantially narrow beam divergence, an emission wavelength, and a substantially uniform beam intensity. The presence of an extended length mirror can help suppress one or more longitudinal and/or transverse modes such that the beam divergence and/or the spectral width of emission is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention includes a multi-stage gas compressor having a central cam with a plurality of pistons operably connected to and radially extending from the central cam. The cam follower assemblies each include a roller element connected to a roller bracket which rides within and along a guide channel defines by facing grooves formed in housing end plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use, for the preparation of a medicament intended for the treatment or the prevention of pathologies linked to, or caused by mycobacteria, of at least one of the compounds of the following formula (I): in which B represents in particular a nitrogen atom, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 represent in particular a hydrogen atom.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention includes a multi-stage gas compressor having a central cam with a plurality of pistons operably connected to and radially extending from the central cam. The cam follower assemblies each include a roller element connected to a roller bracket which rides within and along a guide channel defines by facing grooves formed in housing end plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a region (one or more) of a genome of a cell to which a protein of interest binds. In the methods described herein, DNA binding protein of a cell is linked (e.g., covalently crosslinked) to genomic DNA of a cell. The genomic DNA to which the DNA binding protein is linked is removed and combined or contacted with DNA comprising a sequence complementary to genomic DNA of the cell under conditions in which hybridization between the identified genomic DNA and the sequence complementary to genomic DNA occurs. Region(s) of hybridization are region(s) of the genome of the cell to which the protein of binds. A method of identifying a set of genes where cell cycle regulator binding correlates with gene expression and of identifying genomic targets of cell cycle transcription activators in living cells is also encompassed.

Abstract: A method of machining a plurality of intersecting bores in an object, the method comprising steps of machining a first bore, plugging the first bore, machining a second bore so as to intersect the first bore, and unplugging the first bore.

Abstract: A method of machining a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores in an object, each of the bores extending generally tangentially and inwardly and being positioned in the object so as to generally asymmetrically intersect two adjacent bores, comprises the steps of: providing an object; determining a plurality of bore positions generally around a circumference of the object; machining a first bore and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the first bore to substantially complete the first bore; machining a second bore immediately adjacent to the completed first bore, wherein the second bore is machined so as to intersect the completed first bore, and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the second bore to substantially complete the second bore; sequentially machining a remaining plurality of bores except a final bore, wherein each said bore is machined so as to intersect an immediately adjacent completed bore; and machining the final bore immediately intermediate the

Abstract: A method of machining a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores in an object, each of the bores extending generally tangentially and inwardly and being positioned in the object so as to generally asymmetrically intersect two adjacent bores, comprises the steps of: providing an object; determining a plurality of bore positions generally around a circumference of the object; machining a first bore and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the first bore to substantially complete the first bore; machining a second bore immediately adjacent to the completed first bore, wherein the second bore is machined so as to intersect the completed first bore, and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the second bore to substantially complete the second bore; sequentially machining a remaining plurality of bores except a final bore, wherein each said bore is machined so as to intersect an immediately adjacent completed bore; and machining the final bore immediately intermediate the

Abstract: A method of machining a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores in an object, each of the bores extending generally tangentially and inwardly and being positioned in the object so as to generally asymmetrically intersect two adjacent bores, comprises the steps of: providing an object; determining a plurality of bore positions generally around a circumference of the object; machining a first bore and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the first bore to substantially complete the first bore; machining a second bore immediately adjacent to the completed first bore, wherein the second bore is machined so as to intersect the completed first bore, and performing at least one subsequent machining operation on the second bore to substantially complete the second bore; sequentially machining a remaining plurality of bores except a final bore, wherein each said bore is machined so as to intersect an immediately adjacent completed bore; and machining the final bore immediately intermediate the

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cremating human or animal bodies which consists in generating from a wall (10) of the combustion chamber (3), a turbulence in the form of a vertical displacement above the body (2) and in injecting the air required for combustion into this turbulence. Preferably, the turbulence is generated by rotating means (11) directed inside the chamber (3) and equipped with an inlet air duct (17), provided with a closing valve (18) and the air injection is adjusted by actuating the valve.

Abstract: An earpiece which takes the form of a pouch made of a plastics foil which surrounds a less pliant plastics tube in an airtight manner and is filled with a sluggishly moving jelly-like paste.A not readily movable compression ring provided with a funnel shaped portion which is clear of the tube ensures that the pouch is filled in such a way that during use the pouch perfectly engages with the inner wall of the auditory canal.