Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for inducing ground consolidation. The method comprises providing a first chamber in a first hole in the ground, and a second chamber in a second hole in the ground, the first and second chambers being liquid-impermeable and electrically conductive; providing a first electrolytic fluid in the first chamber and a second electrolytic fluid in the second chamber; placing at least a first electrode in the first chamber, and at least a second electrode in the second chamber, the first and second electrodes being operatively connected to a power supply; feeding consolidation fluids into the ground for feeding reactants of a consolidation process, and catalysers for the reactants into the ground; and applying to the first and second electrodes an electric current.

Abstract: An on-body wearable bio-fluid collection and sensing device including an interface or interface surface comprising at least one biocompatible material for contacting a bodily part; at least one inlet for receiving the bio-fluid, at least one outlet for evacuating the bio-fluid, a plurality of semiconductor sensors configured to analyze the received bio-fluid, at least one reference electrode for biasing a bio-fluid gate of at least one of the semiconductor sensors, and at least one micro-fluidic or nano-fluidic channel in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, the at least one outlet and the at least one reference electrode; the at least one micro-fluidic or nano-fluidic channel includes the plurality of semiconductor sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device including electrostatic brakes providing haptic kinaesthetic feedback to a user in e.g. assistive, rehabilitation or virtual reality scenarios, as well as tele-manipulation.

Abstract: A method of classifying a media includes receiving a media file and extracting therefrom first and second data streams including first and second media content, respectively, the media content being associated with the media item. First and second feature vectors describing the first and second media content, respectively, are generated. At least a first single feature vector representing the first sequence of first feature vectors and the second sequence of second feature vectors is generated, or at least a first single feature vector representing at least the first sequence of first feature vectors is generated. A second feature vector representing at least the second sequence of second feature vectors is generated. A probability vector from the first single feature vector, or from the first and second single feature vectors is generated. A user profile suitability class is assigned to the media item based on the probability vector.

Abstract: A dielectric actuator including an enclosure forming a cavity having a dielectric fluid therein, the enclosure having a base, a flexible membrane and a reversibly-stretchable membrane, and a pair of electrodes, one electrode of the pair of electrodes arranged at the flexible membrane, the other electrode arranged at the base, the pair of electrodes arranged to generate an electric field to an area of the cavity that is filled with the dielectric fluid, wherein when the electric field is generated between the pair of electrodes, an electrostatic pressure in the dielectric fluid causes the flexible membrane to move towards the base, reducing an initial volume of the area of the cavity, increases a pressure of the dielectric fluid inside the cavity, and causes the reversibly-stretchable membrane to bump out to an expanded state.

Abstract: Motion detector comprising a flexible support (1,5) adapted to hold at least one object (6-9), a sensor (4) for measuring the displacement of said support (1) and processing means for differentiating the fluctuations of said support (1) from those induced by said object (6-9).

Abstract: A radiopaque composition with low viscosity and increased photopolymerizability for application or filling of hollow structures is disclosed. Moreover, a method to apply and monitor the application and/or the photopolymerization of the composition are presented.

Abstract: The invention provides in one embodiment a heat exchanger module (1) comprising a) a flexible support (100); b) at least one tubular member (200) having its main axis substantially parallel with the plane of the flexible support (100); c) a conductive flexible matrix (300) embedding the at least one tubular member (200); and d) a flexible case (400) enwrapping the flexible support (100), the at least one tubular member (200) and the conductive flexible matrix (300). A coating for a built environment comprising a plurality of heat exchanger modules (1) can be implemented, as well as a system further including pumping means (600). The invention also foresees a method for providing heat exchange processes between the heat exchanger module (1), the coating or the system of the invention and a built environment.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for producing an authenticable moiré shape that simultaneously moves and shows a beating effect. The method relies on a combination of the 1D or the 2D moiré and the level line moiré. When tilting a compound showing such a moiré, the moiré shape moves, its intensity levels change significantly but its shape remains the same and is recognizable. Embodiments comprise a base layer made of patterned metallic tiny shapes and a revealing layer made of a 1D array of cylindrical lenslets or of a 2D array of spherical or aspherical lenslets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a solid state solar cell, including the steps of providing a conductive support layer or current collector, applying a metal oxide layer on the conducting support layer, applying at least one sensitizer layer onto the metal oxide layer or onto a first optional layer covering the metal oxide layer, the first optional layer including a charge transporting layer, applying a second optional layer onto the sensitizer layer, the second optional layer being selected from a charge transporting layer, a protective layer, or a combination of both layers, and providing a counter electrode or a metal electrode onto the sensitizer layer or the second optional layer. The at least one sensitizer layer includes an organic-inorganic or metal halide perovskite and is treated by the application of a vacuum before the annealing of the sensitizer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention concerns a biosensor for sensing stress hormone cortisol concentration in a biofluid. The biosensor comprises: an electrical transistor transducer comprising a transistor gate electrode; a sensing electrode element comprising a metal element having a biofluid facing surface, and a graphene layer on the biofluid facing surface of the metal element, the sensing electrode element being connected to the transistor gate electrode by an electrical connector to form an extended gate configuration with the transistor gate electrode; and a reference electrode configured to be in contact with the biofluid, and configured to electrically bias the transistor gate electrode through the biofluid. The sensing electrode element is functionalised by at least a layer of aptamers placed indirectly or directly on the graphene layer, and configured to catch cortisol hormones in the biofluid to thereby change a surface potential of the sensing electrode element.

Abstract: Presented herein are devices for collecting and/or channeling a biofluid (e.g., sweat, tears, saliva) and detecting and/or quantifying one or more biomarkers in the biofluid. The one or more biomarkers may include, for example, ions, salts thereof, hormones and/or steroids, proteins, metabolites and organic compounds. In certain embodiments, the devices described herein include a specially designed interface and a zero-energy micro pump that allow the device to be comfortably affixed directly to the skin of a user while biofluid is efficiently and non-invasively collected from the skin of the user. In certain embodiments, the biofluid collection and sensing device is housed on or in another wearable device, such as a wrist band or a smart watch. In certain embodiments, the devices described herein are disposable (e.g., after a certain period of use and/or wear the device can be disposed and replaced with a low-cost replacement).

Abstract: Aerolysin polypeptides and/or mutant aerolysin monomers include modified amino acid sequences that could have improved substrate analyte, such as (poly)nucleotide and peptide, improved reading properties such as enhanced substrate analyte capture and improved substrate analyte recognition and/or discrimination. Also, aerolysin pores may be derived from the mutant monomers as well as apparatuses and devices may include modified aerolysin polypeptides. Further, methods of using modified aerolysin proteins and pores derive therefrom may be used in characterizing and/or sequencing a polymeric molecule or may be for use as molecular sensors.

Abstract: A reconfigurable logic circuit comprises first, second and third switching circuits arranged for receiving first, second and third input bits, respectively, and each arranged for being configured in a mode wherein the corresponding input bit is passed on or in a mode; a first exclusive OR logic block operable on the outputs of the first, second and third switching circuits and arranged to output a sum bit; fourth, fifth and sixth switching circuits arranged for receiving a fourth, fifth and sixth input bits and arranged for being configured in a mode; first, second and third AND logic blocks, each arranged for receiving a different pair of the outputs of certain switching circuits; a second exclusive OR logic block operable on the outputs of certain AND logic blocks and arranged to produce a carry output bit.

Abstract: The simplification of neural network models is described. For example, a method for simplifying a neural network model includes providing the neural network model to be simplified, defining a first temporal filter for the conveyance of input from a neuron to an other spatially-extended neuron along the arborized projection, defining a second temporal filter for the conveyance of input from yet another neuron to the spatially-extended neuron along the arborized projection, replacing, in the neural network model, the first, spatially-extended neuron with a first, spatially-constrained neuron and the arborized projection with a first connection extending between the first, spatially-constrained neuron and the second neuron, wherein the first connection filters input from the second neuron in accordance with the first temporal filter and a second connection extending between the first spatially-constrained neuron and the third neuron.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to Reed-Muller decoding systems and methods based on recursive projections and aggregations of cosets decoding, exploiting the self-similarity of RM codes, and extended with list-decoding procedures and with outer-code concatenations

Abstract: The invention concerns an exoskeleton made of elements combined or attached together, said elements being adjustable or not and said elements being made in a sandwich construction. The invention also concerns a method to manufacture such an exoskeleton.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for producing an authenticable moiré shape that simultaneously moves and shows a beating effect. The method relies on a combination of the 1D or the 2D moiré and the level line moiré. When tilting a compound showing such a moiré, the moiré shape moves, its intensity levels change significantly but its shape remains the same and is recognizable. Embodiments comprise a base layer made of patterned metallic tiny shapes and a revealing layer made of a 1D array of cylindrical lenslets or of a 2D array of spherical or aspherical lenslets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar cell comprising a heterojunction photoelectric device comprising, a front electrode layer, a back electrode layer comprising a metallic contact layer, a light-absorbing silicon layer arranged between said front electrode and said back electrode layers and a doped silicon-based layer arranged between said light-absorbing silicon layer and said back electrode layer, characterized in that said heterojunction photoelectric device further comprises a wide band gap material layer having an electronic band gap greater than 1.4 eV, said wide band gap material layer being applied on a surface of the light-absorbing silicon layer between said light-absorbing silicon layer and said doped silicon-based layer. The present heterojunction layer or stack of layers is compatible with thermal annealing and firing processes at T above 600° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photo-electrochemical device for production of a gas, liquid or solid using concentrated electromagnetic irradiation. The device comprises a photovoltaic component configured to generate charge carriers from the concentrated electromagnetic irradiation; and an electrochemical component configured to carry out electrolysis of a reactant. The photovoltaic component contacts the electrochemical component at a solid interface to form an integrated photo-electrochemical device; and further includes at least one reactant channel or a plurality of reactant channels extending between the photovoltaic component and the electrochemical component to transfer heat and the reactant from the photovoltaic component to the electrochemical component. The integrated photo-electrochemical device and auxiliary devices (such as concentrator, flow controllers) build a system which can flexibly react to changes in operating condition and guarantee best performance.