Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ monitoring of etch uniformity during plasma etching, on the basis of the detection of interferometry patterns. The method is applicable to a reactor wherein a plasma is created in the area between the surface to be etched and a counter-surface arranged essentially parallel to the surface to be etched. The occurrence of interference patterns is detected at a location that is placed laterally with respect to the area between the surface to be etched and the counter-surface. The presence of an interference pattern at a particular wavelength is observed through the detection of oscillations of the light intensity measured by an optical detector, preferably by the standard Optical Emission Spectrometry tool of the reactor. When these oscillations are no longer detectable, non-uniformity exceeds a pre-defined limit. The counter surface is arranged such that the oscillations are detected.

Abstract: A method for calibrating spatial errors induced by phase biases having a detrimental effect on the measurements of phase differences of radio signals received by three unaligned receiving antennas of a vehicle. An inter-satellite angular deviation of a pair of satellites is estimated in two different ways: on the basis of the respective positions of the vehicle and of the satellites to obtain a theoretical inter-satellite angular deviation; and on the basis of the respective directions of incidence of the satellites relative to the vehicle, which are determined from phase measurements, to obtain an estimated inter-satellite angular deviation. The space errors are estimated on the basis of said theoretical and estimated inter-satellite angular deviations. Also, a method and system for estimating the attitude of a vehicle, in particular a spacecraft.

Abstract: A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in an open-ended photo-bioreactor having an aqueous liquid for a photosynthetic culture, comprising: at least one light distributor each including a concentrator supporting section with a light entry surface adapted to receive sunlight rays, an elongated rod section with a light distribution surface adapted to redirect the received sunlight rays within the aqueous liquid, a light concentrating element provided at the light entry surface which concentrates within the elongated rod at least a portion of the sunlight rays received at the light entry surface; a displacement system operatively connected to the light distributors and adapted to change an orientation of the light entry surface of the light distributors to track a solar position.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for presenting relevant advertising to web pages, including web logs. The ads can be selected by reference to an underlying content presented in web logs, based on extracting topics from the pages, and using these topics as the basis for a search query. Ads can then be matched against another set of topics derived from web pages forming the search results to the query.

Abstract: An in vitro method for the prognosis or prediction of response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to treatment with agents recognising the B-lymphocyte CD20 membrane receptor. The method of the invention comprises an assay in a blood sample from these patients and measuring, before starting the treatment, the transcriptional expression level (mRNA) of at least one of the genes selected from the group: ARG1, CPD, TRAF1, C1QA, LRRN3, LRRN3, HLA-DQA1, NLK, TLR4, LOC89944, TOM1L1, BACH, NCALD, EIF2C2, NFIC, PCDHB7, FLJ32770, ARID3A, C14ORF9, CSNK1E, BCAS1, TEAD2, C6orf145 and SNTA1; and the comparison of this expression level to the expression values previously obtained in patients who responded and who did not respond to the treatment.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: where R1-R6, a, b, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of video coding and decoding technology, and particularly, to a method and an apparatus for coding and decoding videos, wherein the coding method comprises: acquiring available neighboring pixel points which are reconstructed and neighboring to a coding unit; finding a reference block corresponding to the coding unit according to the motion vector of a prediction unit for a pixel attribute in the coding unit, and acquiring corresponding reference pixel points around the reference block; calculating a pixel attribute compensation parameter of the prediction unit using a value of the pixel attribute of the neighboring pixel point and a value of the same pixel attribute of the reference pixel point; and calculating a first prediction value of the prediction unit according to the pixel attribute compensation parameter, and coding the coding unit according to the first prediction value.

Abstract: A fused grain is essentially composed of a matrix of a magnesium aluminum oxide of spinel structure MgAl2O4 and/or of the MgO—MgAl2O4 eutectic, the matrix including inclusions essentially composed of magnesium oxide, the grain exhibiting the following overall chemical composition, as percentages by weight, expressed in the form of oxides: more than 20.0% and less than 50.0% of Al2O3, Al2O3 and MgO together represent more than 95.0% of the weight of the grain, wherein the cumulative content of CaO and ZrO2 is less than 4000 ppm by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for attaching a windshield wiper blade to a drive arm of a wiping system. The device comprises a connector attached to the blade and an adapter (9) for connecting the connector to the arm, said adapter (9) including holding means (20) for holding same in a nominal locking position on the arm. According to the invention, the connector and/or the adapter (9) comprise safety means (70) that allow the arm to be retained in the nominal locking position upon failure of the holding means (20), said safety means (70) being configured to allow the adapter (9) to be mounted on and/or removed from the arm during nominal operation. The invention also relates to such a connector and such an adapter, as well as to a wiping system comprising such an attachment device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a beverage in a machine (1), preferably an automated capsule-based brewing machine, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) introducing liquid and infusible beverage material into an infusion chamber (10) of the machine so as to brew the beverage; and then b) opening a passage (29) in the machine for a dispensing time to allow the brewed beverage to flow under force of gravity from the infusion chamber (10) to a dispensing orifice (40); wherein in step (b) the flow resistance of the passage (29) is decreased during the dispensing time.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a compound of the structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a crystalline form of this compound, having neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound; methods of using this compound; and processes for preparing this compound.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula XII: where Ra, Rb, R2, R7, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds described herein are prodrugs of compounds having neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds; methods of using these compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing these compounds.

Abstract: User configurable eyeglasses employing retention of lenses in eyeglass frames using elastic cushion connectors may include a pair of lenses, each lens comprising at least one tab extending from the lens. An eyeglasses frame may define at least two fittings, each fitting positioned to receive one tab extending from a lens and each fitting sized larger than the tab to be received. A plurality of eyeglass lens retention cushions are each adapted to be disposed in one of the fittings and to receive one of the tabs. Each eyeglass lens retention cushion might have an elastic cushion body having a relaxed, or in situ, exterior size larger than an interior socket of the fittings and may have an interior opening with a relaxed, or in situ, size smaller than a tab extending from an eyeglasses lens.

Abstract: A brushless motor includes: a stator core having a cylindrical yoke portion and a teeth portion having a shape protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the yoke portion; and a rotor that is disposed inside the stator core, spaced apart from the teeth portion, and uses a center axis of the yoke portion as an axis of rotation. The yoke portion includes, on its outer circumferential surface, a notch portion at a position on the back side of the teeth portion. The notch portion has a circumferential width smaller than a circumferential width of the teeth portion.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing an optical article is provided. The method may comprise providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface; applying at least one conductive coating on at least a portion the ophthalmic lens substrate; and electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive coating of the optical article. Other layers may also be applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of management of an active lens and more particularly to a management system comprising an active lens (1), a first sensor (2) arranged to measure data relating to an incident light on the active lens, a control unit (4) designed for controlling the active lens according to data measured by the first sensor, wherein the management system further comprises a second sensor (3) arranged to measure data relating to a light transmitted from the incident light through the active lens, the control unit being further designed to adjust, according to said data measured by the second sensor, the control already performed according to said data measured by the first sensor. Thus the management system allows taking into account data relating to the light passing through the active lens as a feedback in order to finely control the active lens.

Abstract: Coherent spectroscopic methods are described, to measure the total phase difference during an extended interrogation interval between the signal delivered by a local oscillator (10) and that given by a quantum system (QS).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a precast concrete member using a PC member, which comprises a prefabricated plate and fixing channels, and is used as a linear member for a column which is an axial force member, as a planar member for a wall which is an axial force member, or as a linear member for a beam or a girder which is a flexural member.