Abstract: A power system switching between a charge-discharge function and a driving function and an electric vehicle including the same are provided. The power system includes a power battery; a charge-discharge socket; a bidirectional DC/DC module; a driving control switch connected with the power battery and the bidirectional DC/DC module; a bidirectional DC/AC module connected with the driving control switch and the power battery; a motor control switch connected with the bidirectional DC/AC module and a motor; a charge-discharge control module connected with the bidirectional DC/AC module and the charge-discharge socket; and a controller module configured to establish a path between the power battery and the motor when a current operation mode of the power system is a driving mode, and to establish a path between the charge-discharge socket and the power battery when the current operation mode of the power system is a charge-discharge mode.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing postural prism to be added to a pair of ophthalmic multifocal lenses (lenses) adapted to a wearer and to slow down myopia progression are described. The method includes an initial pair of lenses in a providing step S1. In a postural prism adding step S2, a same postural prism is added to each lens. In a gazing step S3, the wearer gazes at a first distance target through the lenses with the added postural prism. A gazing direction determining step S4 determines the wearer's gazing direction during S3. Steps S2 to S4 may be repeated while changing the added postural prism, wherein the added postural prism is smaller than or equal to a maximum prism value. Steps S2 to S4 may be repeated to determine the smallest added postural prism for which the wearer's gazing direction in step S4 passes through the first vision zone.

Abstract: A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus includes a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid. The liquid storage container includes a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the liquid is evaporated into pressurized respiratory gas generated in the CPAP apparatus. The CPAP apparatus also includes a base unit configured to a) receive the liquid storage container and b) securely and releasably connect to a CPAP unit of the CPAP apparatus, the base unit having a bottom portion to support the liquid storage container thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to contact the heat conducting material of the liquid storage container when the liquid storage container is supported on the base unit.

Abstract: The invention provides crystalline forms of (R)-3-[N-(3?-chlorobiphenyl-4-ylmethyl)-N?-(3-hydroxyisoxazole-5-carbonyl)hydrazino]-2-hydroxypropionic acid isopropyl ester. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline compound, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compound, and methods of using the crystalline compound to treat diseases.

Abstract: A hinge of an automotive vehicle seat for adjusting the angle of a seat back relative to a seat bottom about a hinge axis, comprising first and second plates, a control device adapted to move locking elements which immobilize the first plate relative to the second plate, a control shaft adapted to cause said control device to rotate on the axis, wherein the control shaft is held in the direction of the main axis by a snap-in means, such that the control shaft can be assembled manually without tools.

Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (“GNSS”) positioning method is provided, based upon a GNSS radio signal that includes a navigation message transmitted as a sequence of frames, each frame being composed of a plurality of subframes, each of which contains a first set of ephemeris and clock correction data (DECH) sufficient for computing a satellite position and a satellite clock error. Each subframe furthermore contains a second set of DECH, more compact than the first set of DECH, but sufficient for computing satellite position and satellite clock error to a lesser degree of accuracy, at least two copies of the second set of DECH being present in each subframe, such that the timing difference between two consecutive copies does not exceed 70% of the subframe duration.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a process of drilling organic glasses. The process comprises (a) providing an organic glass substrate; (b) providing onto at least one surface of said organic glass substrate optionally via an adhesive layer selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt adhesives, a polymer film having an elastic modulus of equal to or less than 3 GPa in at least one direction and a E*h2 equal to or more than 3.5 N in at least one direction, E and h being respectively the elastic modulus and the thickness of the thermoplastic polymer film; and (c) drilling a hole through the organic glass substrate and polymer film by means of a drill.

Abstract: A forehead pad for a breathing mask includes a substantially dimensionally stable first wall element and an elastomer second wall element coupled to the first wall element. The second wall element has a contact zone adapted to contact a surface of a user in use. The first and second wall elements define a filling-material-receiving chamber adapted to receive a filling material.

Abstract: A class-D audio amplifier incorporates an overcurrent protection scheme implementing two overcurrent thresholds to avoid a dynamic impedance drop. When output current reaches the first threshold as a result of an impedance drop across the speaker, the overcurrent protection circuitry limits the output current to the value of the first threshold, but does not shut down the circuit. The second threshold is used to detect an overcurrent condition to shut down the circuit. Current limiting logic of a first channel monitors the overcurrent condition of a second channel and controls the first channel output in response thereto. This permits the second channel output current to reach the second threshold if the circuit is experiencing a short-circuit condition. This scheme also allows the output current to drop below the first threshold if the overcurrent condition of the second channel is caused by an impedance drop across the output speaker.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, R2-3, X, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: A submersible fluorometer (10), includes: an excitation module (40) for exciting the fluorophore; and a detection module (42) for detecting the light emitted by the excited fluorophore, wherein the excitation module (40) includes a first light source (44) including a first UV LED and having a first wavelength lower than 300 nm, the excitation module (40) includes a second light source (46) including a second UV LED and having a second wavelength lower than 300 nm, the first and second wavelengths being different from each other, and the fluorometer includes an electronic circuit having a plurality of printed circuits positioned one below the other.

Abstract: A method for producing de-colored shellac by dissolving colored shellac in an aqueous solution comprising an alkaline agent; contacting the colored shellac in the aqueous solution with a sufficient amount of a chlorite salt to achieve de-coloration of the shellac; precipitating the de-colored shellac by neutralizing the aqueous solution with an acid; and recovering the precipitated de-colored shellac from said aqueous solution. The de-colored shellac produced is non-toxic and suitable for human use. Dental compositions comprising the de-colored shellac are disclosed, as well as uses of the de-colored shellac as a food product coating, a nail polish or varnish, and a wood varnish.

Abstract: A device for the imaging of an object to be studied, combines: a prism made from a material with no losses (non-absorbent) for radiation in the microwave range; a sample holder on a front face of the prism for receiving the object to be studied; and a mobile emitting antenna on a rear face of the prism in order to emit radiation in the microwave range.

Abstract: Method of cleansing human skin employing an aqueous soap composition comprising of fatty acid soap, at least one silver (I) compound having a silver ion solubility (in water at 25° C.) of at least 1×10?4 mol/L,and water, which composition provides biocidal activity against Gram positive bacteria in particular S. aureus, in relatively short contact periods.

Abstract: A soap bar comprising: (a) 25 to 85% by weight, based on the total weight of the bar, of fatty acid soap; (b) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight, based on the total weight of the bar, of at least one silver (I) compound having a selected silver ion solubility, wherein at 25° C., a 1 wt % solution of the bar in water has a pH of from 9 to 11.

Abstract: A nose support assembly for a spectacle frame, includes two nose support elements (3), known as nose pads, and, for each nose pad, a mounting element (2) for the nose pad, known as the nose pad holder. Each nose pad (3) and the corresponding nose pad holder (2) have connecting elements (1) for connecting one to the other, the connecting elements being designed to allow the nose pad (3) to move angularly with respect to the nose pad holder (2). A frame equipped with such a nose support assembly is also described.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device with a copper interconnect structure. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a first interconnect dielectric layer on the substrate, and forming a second interconnect dielectric layer on a surface of the first interconnect dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a plurality of conduits extending through the first interconnect dielectric layer and the second interconnect dielectric layer, and depositing copper in the plurality of conduits to form a copper interconnect layer of the copper interconnect structure. Further, the first interconnect dielectric layer, between neighboring conduits, contains cavities such that dielectric constant of the first interconnect dielectric layer is reduced. The second interconnect dielectric layer seals the top of the cavities, the substrate is the bottom of the cavities, and a width of the top of the cavities is less than a width of the bottom of the cavities.

Abstract: An antenna (10) suitable for receiving circularly polarized RF signals from a satellite is integrated with a window (12) of a vehicle (14), such as a roof window (12). The antenna (10) includes a patch element (18) disposed adjacent to the window (12). Radiating strips (26) forming at least one dipole pair are disposed below the patch element (18) and connectable to a transmission line. A coupling element (20) surrounds the radiating strips (26) and a dielectric layer (38) is sandwiched between the patch element (18) and the radiating strips (26). A ground plane (36) is also disposed below the radiating strip (26). A conductive casing (46) perpendicularly surrounds the antenna (10) elements while electrically connecting the ground plane (36) to the coupling element (20) such that the radiating strips (26) are generally disposed within a cavity (24).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article comprising a substrate having a main surface coated with a mesoporous antistatic coating, said coating having a refractive index lower than or equal to 1.5, and a silica based matrix functionalized by ammonium groups, said matrix having a hydrophobic character. Under certain conditions, the mesoporous antistatic coating is a single-layer anti-reflection coating or is part of a multi-layer anti-reflection coating. This invention further relates to a method for manufacturing said article, and to the use of a mesoporous coating having a silica based matrix functionalized by ammonium groups, as an antistatic coating.