Abstract: An optical amplifier for pulsed laser with short or ultra-short and energetic pulses includes an optical pumping source for generating a pump wave, an elongate amplifying medium including an input interface for receiving an optical signal to be amplified, the medium being able to amplify the optical signal propagating along the amplifying medium and to extract an amplified signal and an optical system for coupling the pump wave in the amplifying medium so as to pump the amplifying medium longitudinally. The amplifying medium has a minimum transverse dimension ?3 and the optical system focuses the pump wave inside the gain medium, the focused pump wave having a transverse dimension ?6 which is smaller than the dimension ?3 of the medium and a smaller numerical aperture than the numerical aperture of the medium, so that the pump wave propagates freely over a part of the amplifying medium and then in a confined manner over a part of the amplifying medium.

Abstract: An adjustable step drill bit with a plurality of cutting disks held in compression on a shaft between two stops. The cutting disks may be arranged in various configurations. Spacers may also be provided on the shaft with the cutting disks. A method of drilling a hole utilizing the drill bit to drill a pilot hole and allowing for the drill bit to be used in a pulling technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material. The indentation device includes an indenter, a bearing means for the material to be indented, a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting the indenter with the material to be indented, and for pressing the indenter into the material, and a means for measuring the force and movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving the material to be indented and is oriented towards the indenter so that the material is capable of bearing on the convex surface. The indenter may comprise a one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about the indenter.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a view of a virtual space to a user in a banner ad of a webpage. This enables an advertiser to provide content that is not merely static or scripted, but instead enabled provision of content through a web ad that represents activity within a virtual space (e.g., interactions of other users with the virtual space, content that changes based on current or recent events, etc.) in real time (or near real time). The provision of a virtual space in a web ad may be more effective than conventional web ad content.

Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining a glassy material that is optically transparent to infrared radiation. The process includes: a step of amorphization, by mechanosynthesis, of an assembly of starting elements including at least one metallic element and at least one chalcogenide element, making it possible to form an amorphous powder; a step of hot densification, in a mould of predetermined dimensions, of the amorphous powder, making it possible to obtain a glass; and heat treatment, carried out during or after the hot densification step, in which the glass is heated to a temperature at which a portion of the glass is converted from an amorphous state to a crystalline state, making it possible to obtain, after cooling, a glass-ceramic.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to display a rendered image is described. A base image is obtained. A rendered image is obtained. The rendered image is matched to a location on the base image. The rendered image is overlaid onto the base image at the location to generate a set of layered images. The set of layered images is displayed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing, by transcarbonation, a compound of formula (I), including reacting a polyol of formula (II) with an alkyl carbonate or an alkylene carbonate in the presence of a catalytic system consisting of a catalytic entity selected from among the rare earth oxides or the mixtures thereof, and optionally an inert substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a powder of an alloy based on uranium and molybdenum in a metastable ? phase, which comprises: a) putting at least one first reagent selected from uranium oxides and mixtures thereof, uranium fluorides and mixtures thereof, into contact with a second reagent consisting in molybdenum and a third reagent consisting in a reducing metal, the first, second and third reagents being in a divided form; b) reacting the reagents at a temperature?the melting temperature of the third reagent and under an inert atmosphere, whereby this reaction leads to the formation of the alloy comprising uranium and molybdenum in the form of a powder, for which the particles are covered with a reducing metal oxide or fluoride layer; c) cooling the so formed powder at a rate at least equal to 450° C./hour; and d) removing the reducing metal oxide or fluoride layer which covers the particles of the powder of the alloy comprising uranium and molybdenum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder of an alloy based on uranium and molybdenum in a metastable ? phase, which is formed of particles which have an elongation index at least equal to 1.1, a non-zero closed porosity value and which are composed of grains having a molybdenum content, for which the variations within the same grain are of at most 1% by mass. It also relates to a method allowing preparation of this alloy powder as well as to the use of said powder for manufacturing nuclear fuels and targets for producing radioisotopes. Applications: Manufacturing of nuclear fuels, notably for experimental nuclear reactors; manufacturing of targets for producing radioisotopes, notably for the medical industry.

Abstract: Method for preparing a peptide assembly of n fragments and n?1 amino acids bearing a thiol function, represented by the formula: A1-C1-A2-C2-A3- . . . -Ci?1-Ai- . . . -Cn?1-An ??(I) in which A1, A2, A3, . . . Ai . . . An are peptide fragments, C1, C2, C3 . . . Ci?1 . . . Cn?1 are amino acid residues bearing a thiol function, n is comprised between 3 and 50, and i is 2 to n, in which a peptide-thioester is prepared of formula: A1-SR (II) in which A1 is a peptide fragment and SR is an alkyl thioester residue, R being alkyl optionally substituted, starting from a bis(2-sulphanylethyl)amino peptide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing acrolein from glycerol or glycerin, according to which dehydration of glycerol or glycerin is carried out in the presence of a catalyst which consists in at least one silica modified with zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide or tungsten trioxide or any combination of these oxides, and a heteropolyacid. This method may be used for making 3-(methylthio)propionic aldehyde (MMP), 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile (HMBTN), methionine or its analogs, from acrolein.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for generating a virtual try-on is described. A first model is obtained. The first model includes a first set of attachment points. A second model is obtained. The second model includes a first set of connection points. The first model and the second model are combined. Combining the first and second models includes matching the first set of attachment points with the first set of connection points. An image is rendered based on at least a portion of the combined first and second models.

Abstract: An office chair has a base support, a seat support and a backrest support. A synchronizing mechanism for a correlated seat/backrest movement has the seat support articulated directly on a first pivot bearing of the base support, the backrest support articulated directly on a second pivot bearing of the base support, and the backrest support connected to the seat support via an articulation. The articulation axis of the articulation, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the seat, is in front of the pivot axis of the second pivot bearing, such that a pivoting movement of the backrest to the rear about the pivot axis of the second pivot bearing induces a rotation of the seat support about the pivot axis of the first pivot bearing and thus a lifting movement of just the front region of the seat support.

Abstract: A method for 3D recording of data on a medium formed from a transparent photosensitive material including at least one dopant. The method includes a first step of calibrating and checking a pulsed light source including calibrating the number of pulses, the level of fluence of each pulse emitted and the rate of the pulses and a step of inscribing an area of the material. The fluence of each pulse emitted, the number of pulses and the rate of the pulses are suitable for irradiating the material in the area so as to form fluorescent clusters stabilized from the dopant while minimizing the modification of the refractive index and the absorption coefficient of the medium in a wavelength range from visible to near infrared.

Abstract: An image that includes a depiction of a scale marker and a depiction of an object is obtained. The scale marker has a predetermined size. A 3D model of the object is mapped to a 3D space based on the depiction of the object. A 3D model of the scale marker is mapped to the 3D space based on the depiction of the scale marker. The 3D model of the scale marker has the predetermined size. A point of intersection between the 3D model of the scale marker and the 3D model of the object is determined. The 3D model of the object is scaled based on the predetermined size of the 3D model of the scale marker.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for processing virtual 3-D data efficiently is described. An object image data is generated from a scan of an object. Object polygon model data and object texture map data is generated from the object image data. The object polygon model data is saved in a first object file. The object texture map data is encoded. The encoded object texture map data is saved in a second object file. The data format of the second object file is different than the data format of the first object file.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a three-dimensional (3-D) model of a virtual try-on product. At least a portion of an object is scanned. The object includes at least first and second surfaces. An aspect of the first surface is detected. An aspect of the second surface is detected, the aspect of the second surface being different from the aspect of the first surface. A polygon mesh of the first and second surfaces is generated from the scan of the object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for rendering virtual try-on products is described. A first render viewpoint is selected of a virtual 3-D space that includes a 3-D model of at least a portion of a user generated from an image of the user and a 3-D polygon mesh of an object. Polygons of the 3-D polygon mesh are designated as backwards-facing polygons and front-facing polygon in relation to the first render viewpoint. A shadow texture map of the object is applied to the 3-D model of the user. A transparency texture map of the object is applied to the backwards-facing polygon of the 3-D polygon mesh of the object. A first color texture map of the object is applied to the result of the application of the transparency texture map to the backwards-facing polygon. The virtual 3-D space is rendered at the first render viewpoint.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an in vitro method for determining cancer prognosis for a patient suffering from early-stage or low-grade cancer, said method comprising measuring the expression level of ERR? in a biological sample comprising cancer cells. The invention further pertains to an in vitro method for determining bone metastases prognosis for a patient suffering from bone metastases comprising measuring the expression level of ERR?. Finally, the invention pertains to in vitro methods for selecting a patient suffering from cancer, and/or from cancer-derived metastasis, suitable to be treated with a preventive/aggressive therapy.