Abstract: A retinal projector system, comprising a coupling means, a spacial light modulator, and a tapered optical waveguide having an input side surface and an output side surface, whereby the input side surface is larger than the output side surface, the coupling means being configured to couple coherent light into the spatial light modulator, the spacial light modulator being configured to receive the coherent light and output modulated light modulated in 2 dimensions towards the input side surface, the tapered optical waveguide being configured to guide the modulated light received at the input side surface and reduce a size of the tapered optical waveguide towards the output side surface, without losing any information from the modulated light at the output side surface such to allow an image formation.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for creating superposition shape images by superposed base and revealing layers of lenslet gratings. The superposition shape images form a message recognizable by a human observer or by an image acquisition and computing device such as a smartphone. The superposition shape images may be created by different superposition techniques ranging from 1D moiré, 2D moiré and level-line moiré superposition techniques to lenticular image and phase shift superposition techniques. Moiré superposition techniques enable creating superposition shape images at different apparent depth levels. Applications comprise the protection of documents and valuable articles against counterfeits, the creation of eye-catching advertisements as well as the decoration of buildings and exhibitions.

Abstract: Ionic polymers (IP) are made of anions and a polymeric backbone containing cations. The ionic polymers are incorporated in membranes or attached to solid supports and use of the ionic polymers in processing of biomass.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a geosynthetic element for a geotechnical engineering application. The geosynthetic element comprises: bacteria carriers for carrying bacteria arranged to be propagated from the geosynthetic element to a surrounding geomaterial; and a flow network comprising openings on its surface to allow a reactant to escape the flow network to the surrounding geomaterial along the flow network to produce solid calcium carbonate when in contact with the bacteria. The reactant flow network further comprises a set of inlets for feeding the reactant into the flow network, and a set of outlets for recovering at least a part of the reactant from the reactant flow network.

Abstract: The present relates to a Metal hydride compressor control method for generating a variable output pressure P_desired_outPut, comprising a first step of inflowing gaseous hydrogen into a metal hydride compartment at a constant temperature and then stopping the gaseous hydrogen inflow, a second step of heating the metal hydride to a predetermined temperature which corresponds to a temperature which passes through the ?+? phase at the desired output pressure P_desired_output, a third step of opening the output connection of the compressor and keeping it at a constant pressure by regulating the temperature to keep a constant output pressure P_desired_outPut until the system completely leaves the ?+? phase.

Abstract: An optical article including a substrate with two main surfaces, at least one of which is covered by a polymer coating having an outer surface, said coating including a first superficial layer beneath the outer surface having a first refractive index n1 and a second layer beneath the first superficial layer having a second refractive index n2, with n2<n1 and having the lowest refractive index of said polymer coating, and said coating exhibiting antireflective properties due to the difference between refractive indexes n1 and n2, said refractive index difference within the coating resulting from a plasma, corona, and/or an ion beam treatment of an initial polymer coating, through the outer surface. Also, a method for manufacturing this optical article.

Abstract: Provided herein are materials and methods for efficiently delivering nucleic acids to cochlear and vestibular cells, and methods of treating sensory transduction disorders associated with a genetic defect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a semiconductor material comprising at least one entirely monocrystalline semiconductor layer, said process comprising the steps of preparation of the surface of a first substrate to receive a monocrystalline silicon layer; deposition by Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) of a layer of monocrystalline silicon by epitaxial growth with a growth rate gradient on the silicon layer monocrystalline obtained in step (i); and epitaxial growth of a monocrystalline layer of a semiconductor material on the monocrystalline silicon layer obtained in step (ii), to thus obtain a material comprising at least one entirely monocrystalline semiconductor layer. The invention also relates to a multilayer material comprising a monocrystalline layer of semiconductor material.

Abstract: A system for characterising a beam of charged particles. The includes a stack comprising an ultra-thin pattern formed from an electrically conductive material; a thin substrate bearing the pattern. The stack forms an emitting electrode able to emit secondary electrons in proximity to a surface of the pattern when the emitting electrode is passed through by the beam of charged particles.

Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object comprising computing a sequence of back-projections describing the three-dimensional object to be formed from different orientation angles of the object, defining a sequence of patterns of light using the back-projections, and irradiating with each of the patterns of light at the respective corresponding orientation angle. According to the defined sequence, a photoresponsive material is capable of altering its material phase, upon irradiation by light, thereby creating a three-dimensional distribution of alterations within the photoresponsive medium which physically reproduces the three-dimensional object, thereby creating the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A system for interacting with a remote object comprising a wearable jacket for a user, two actuators for supporting arms of the user, motors for causing movements to at least one of a torso and the arms of the user, and sensors for measuring at least one of a force applied to the user and a position of the user, and a controller and data transmission device for communicating with the remote object.

Abstract: A method for a structural characterization of polysaccharides, comprising steps of characterizing a polysaccharide by physical measurements comprising a determination of a mass of the polysaccharide by means of mass spectrometry, a further determination of a rotationally averaged cross section of the polysaccharide by means of ion mobility spectrometry, and an infrared spectrum of the polysaccharide by means of cryogenic, messenger-tagging IR spectroscopy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bicistronic expression vector for silencing a gene specifically in astrocytes and neurons, comprising two expression cassettes comprising a first and a second silencer sequence, respectively, wherein the expression of said first silencer sequence within astrocytes is regulated by an astrocyte-specific promoter and the expression of said second silencer sequence within neurons is regulated by a neuron-specific promoter. In a preferred embodiment, said first and second silencer sequences are SOD1 silencer sequences. Pharmaceutical composition comprising said bicistronic vector and the use of the same in the treatment of motoneuron diseases are further described.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for determining the temporal progression of a biological phenomenon which may affect a studied subject, the method including the steps of providing first data relative to biomarkers for the studied subject, the biomarkers being relative to the progression of the biological phenomenon, providing a numerical model, converting the first data into at least one point on the same Riemann manifold, and using a numerical model to determine a temporal progression for the biological phenomenon for the studied subject, the numerical model being a function in a Riemann manifold, the numerical model associating to values of biomarkers a temporal progression trajectory for the biological phenomenon and data relative to the dispersion of the progression trajectory for the biological phenomenon among a plurality of subjects, the numerical model being obtained by using a stochastic approximation in an expectation-maximization technique on data relative to biomarkers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrical conductor includes: depositing a solid metal conductive layer or film on a substrate 30; depositing a liquid metal on the solid layer; and allowing the liquid metal and the solid layer 40 to alloy by diffusion of the liquid metal into the solid layer or film so as to form a solid conductive layer or film of the alloy; as well as allowing the liquid metal to further infiltrate the alloy so as to form percolating paths and/or droplets of the liquid metal in the the solid conductive layer or film, thus forming a biphasic conductive layer.

Abstract: A method including the steps of exposing a substrate to focused laser irradiation at a preselected series of locations that trace a subset of the substrate volume that is connected to the surface of the substrate, removing the substrate material from the exposed preselected series of locations to create within the substrate at least one cavity that is connected to the surface of the substrate, immersing the cavity-containing substrate in an appropriate atmosphere such as a selected gas or vacuum and, within this atmosphere, contacting the substrate surface with the molten castable material surface at locations where the cavity or cavities emerges from the substrate, applying pressure to the castable material to cause it to infiltrate the substrate cavities, and solidifying the castable material within the cavities.

Abstract: Glycotargeting therapeutics are useful in the treatment of transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, food allergy, and immune response against a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a piezoelectric nanogenerator, to a piezoelectric nanogenerator obtained by this process and to a device including such a piezoelectric nanogenerator connected to a capacitor, said process comprising the following steps: a) providing a membrane (100) made of polarised ?-PVDF or polarised P(VDF-TrFe) copolymer and therefore having piezoelectric properties, said membrane (100) moreover having two external major faces (11, 12) that are separated by a membrane thickness (e); b) irradiating the entirety of the thickness of said membrane (100), via at least one of its two external major faces (11, 12), with heavy ions having a fluence of between 103 ions/cm2 and 1010 ions/cm2, as a result of which a membrane (101) containing latent traces (TL) of the passage of the heavy ions through the entirety of its thickness is obtained; c) revealing the latent traces (TL) using a chemical process of length that is preset so as to preserve a defect zone (ZD) belonging to the l

Abstract: Nanoparticles and method for producing uniform silicate-based nanoparticles are disclosed. The method comprises a step of injecting into tubular branched elements comprising static mixers a first aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble silicate compound and a second aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble compound releasing cationic species in solution, and allowing the reaction between the first and the second aqueous solutions in a micro-mixing regime, the method being characterized in that the overall mixing time is kept below 10?5 s. A further step of allowing the solution obtained in the micro-mixing regime to mix in a macromixing regime. Nanoparticles obtained through the present method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact lens for use in the treatment of ocular inflammatory pathologies. The contact lens comprises a soft porous material coupled, in certain embodiments, with detoxifying agents. Said material and/or agents contact and neutralize inflammatory mediators present in the tear fluid of ocular pathologies patients. The nature and architecture of the soft porous material allows a greater contact area between the material itself and/or detoxifying agents with inflammatory mediators, in view of the reversible compression of the soft material that allows greater lachrymal fluid turnover and fluid exchange within the contact lens upon e.g. blinking.