Abstract: The invention relates to the use, as a herbicide, of at least one compound chosen from the compounds of general formula (I) and organic or inorganic salts thereof and isomers thereof. The invention also relates to a phytotoxic composition and to a method for controlling the development of and/or treating undesirable plants on the surface of a target zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image sensor comprising a photodetector array including neighboring photodetector elements, each photodetector element comprising: —a photodetector cell having a photodiode and a reset unit; —a cell control unit coupled with the photodetector cell and configured to reset the photodiode by means of the reset unit; wherein the cell control unit is configured to asynchronously effect resetting of the photodiode after a given dead time after detection of a photon.

Abstract: A method for enforcing smoothness constraints on surface meshes produced by a Graph Convolutional Neural Network (GCNN) including the steps of reading image data from a memory, the image data including two-dimensional image data representing a three-dimensional object or a three-dimensional image stack of the three-dimensional object, performing a GCNN mesh deformation step on the image data to obtain an approximation of a surface of the three-dimensional object, the surface represented by triangulated surface meshes, at least some vertices of the triangulated surface meshes having a different number of neighboring vertices compared to other vertices in a same triangulated surface mesh, and performing a deep active surface model (DASM) transformation step on the triangulated surface meshes to obtain a corrected representation of the surface of three-dimensional object to improve smoothness of the surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a scintillation detector structure including the steps of forming a plurality of first structures into a surface of a substrate to form a patterned substrate, filling the plurality of first structures and covering the surface of the substrate with a polymeric material, hardening the polymeric material and first removing the hardened polymeric material from the substrate to obtain a polymeric mold with a patterned surface having a plurality of second structures, performing a surface cleaning treatment and a silanization of the patterned surface of the polymeric mold, filling the plurality of second structures and covering the patterned surface of the polymeric mold with a moldable scintillation material, polymerizing the scintillation material while exerting a pressure on the scintillation material, and second removing the polymerized scintillation material from the plurality of second structures of the polymeric mold to obtain scintillation detector active structures.

Abstract: A terahertz device for detecting or emitting or for both detecting and emitting electromagnetic waves in the terahertz frequency range. The terahertz device comprises: a first waveguide branch and a second waveguide branch, the first and second waveguide branches being configured to allow optical signals to propagate through them, the first and second waveguide branches being nonlinear dielectric elements with a thickness of at most 500 micrometres; and an antenna arrangement comprising a set of antennas for capturing and/or emitting electromagnetic waves in the terahertz frequency range, the antennas being placed along at least one of the waveguide branches in an immediate vicinity of the respective waveguide branch and/or around the respective waveguide branch to at least partially enclose the respective waveguide branch in a respective antenna gap of the respective antenna.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasmonic biosensor system. The system includes a nano-hole array device comprising at least one nano-hole array (NHA) including at least one or a plurality of nano holes (NH), an image sensor (A3) for capturing light provided by a light source (A1) and transmitted through the nano-hole array (NHA), and at least one or a plurality of nano-particles (NP) configured to be received by the nano-holes (NH) of the nano-hole array (NHA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized hydrogel networks grafted with at least one moiety for use in numerous fields, from cosmetics to surgery and medicine.

Abstract: A crossflow microfluidic particle concentrator including a main channel having an inlet and an outlet a crossflow outlet operably connectable with pressure means and/or flow control means, a plurality of crossflow channels fluidically connecting the crossflow outlet with the main channel a filtering element including a particle flow channel within the main channel, and a row of crossflow pillars disposed between the filtering element and the plurality of crossflow channels.

Abstract: The invention features a cuff device comprising a support having a first end, a second end and an elongated body in between; connection means for electrical, magnetic and/or fluidic magnetic connection with external devices; at least one of i) an electrode and/or electronic component operatively connected with said connection means configured to electrically interface with a biological tissue and ii) a channel having an inlet, an outlet and an elongated body in between operatively connected with said connection means via said inlet and configured to fluidically interface with a biological tissue via said outlet; and at least one buckle configured to receive said first end and permit the sliding therein of said elongated body so to close and lock the cuff electrode device at desired positions, characterized in that said support is stretchable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cross-linkable polymer including a base polymer including functional groups at least some of which have been reacted with a first organic molecule including a cross-linkable unit and with a second organic molecule capable of bonding to organic and/or inorganic substrates. The invention further relates to a hydrogel including the cross-linkable polymer that includes cross-linkable polymer strands, wherein at least some of the cross-linkable units of different cross-linkable polymer strands have reacted to form a covalent bond thereby forming a covalently linked network. The invention further relates to a method for the preparation of the hydrogel and to the use of the hydrogel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated imaging system. The integrated imaging system includes an array of analog photomultiplier elements. The integrated imaging system includes a plurality of submodules, each submodule having a number of the photomultiplier elements. The integrated imaging system includes a plurality of time-to-digital converters each associated and coupled with one of the submodules. The plurality of time-to-digital converters are configured to provide a respective timing information.

Abstract: An article including a substrate having at least one main surface coated with a layer A having a refractive index lower than or equal to 1.50, said layer A being obtained by deposition of activated species issued from at least one compound C in gaseous form, containing in its structure at least one Si-fluoroalkyl group, at least one carbon atom, at least one hydrogen atom and optionally at least one nitrogen atom and/or at least one oxygen atom, the deposition of said layer A being carried out by applying a bombardment with an ion beam to layer A while layer A is being formed, and said layer A being formed in the absence of inorganic precursor compounds. Application to the preparation of interferential coatings.

Abstract: The invention provides for a device (100) for use in electrical nerve modulation in a subject, characterized in that it comprises a rotational and linear actuator (110); a tubular element (101) having a proximal end connected to the actuator (110) and a distal end; a flexible shaft (102) coaxially disposed within the tubular element (101), comprising a proximal end operably connected to the actuator (110) and a distal end, and adapted to be slid along the tubular element (101); a conformable support (103) comprising a proximal end operably connected to the tubular element's (101) distal end, and a distal end operably connected to the flexible shaft's (102) distal end, having a portion of its length helically wrapped about a distal portion of the flexible shaft (102) so to define a pitch (500) and a radius (400); and a plurality of electrodes (104) operably disposed along the helically configured portion of the conformable support (103), and electrically connectable to a generator (200), adapted to contact the

Abstract: The invention relates to a scaffold material comprising a plurality of particles of a highly porous polymeric material, characterized in that said scaffold material becomes a shapeable paste once hydrated. The specific features of the particle material impart a special behavior to the scaffold, which can be easily shaped and even highly reversibly compressed, so that in certain aspects it can, if needed, be injected, said capacity to be shaped being maintained over a high range of hydration conditions. A particular aspect of the invention relates, therefore, to the use of such scaffold material for the manufacturing of shapeable body implants, such as breast implants, to the shapeable body implants themselves as well as to non-invasive methods for using thereof in creating or reconstructing a three-dimensional volume in a subject's body part.

Abstract: The present relates to a combined hydrogen storage-compression unit suitable for the filling of high-pressure (350 bar and beyond) hydrogen vessels. It includes a containment vessel filled with a hydrogen storage alloy, a heating system, a cooling system and a thermal management system. The same shall be connected directly to the hydrogen supply (e.g. an electrolyser) on one side and to the end consumer on the other side. Moreover, it offers the possibility for intermediate storage of at least one time the maximal quantity of hydrogen that is to be supplied at high pressure in a single step.

Abstract: A method for maximizing the current produced by a bifacial photovoltaic solar module including a plurality of cells, each having at least two stacked and series-connected junctions, the module being capable of orientation and including a device for driving its orientation with respect to the sun. The method includes an algorithm including measuring the module's irradiance at the upper face (Ai) on its upper photoactive face, reflective irradiance (Ar) on its lower photoactive face in its initial orientation, and initial current I from the irradiances Ai and Ar, and calculating currents Ijg generated by the stacked junctions from the cells' physical characteristics and I, calculating an optimized theoretical orientation for which equalization and maximization of the theoretical currents Ijtmax is obtained, and positioning the module in the theoretical orientation when an imbalance between Ijtmax and Ijg is greater than a threshold value dIjmax. A module designed for this method.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a chemically active fibre device (1) by thermal drawing. The method comprises the steps of providing a preform, the preform comprising a support element (3) at least partially made of a first polymeric material; and carrying out a thermal drawing process of the preform to produce a thermally drawn fibre. The preform comprises one or more chemically active agents and/or biological materials configured to react with a fluid sample when the one or more chemically active agents and/or biological materials are in contact with the fluid sample. In this manner miniaturised lab-in-fibre devices can be fabricated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of monitoring a system, comprising the following steps: i. obtaining time series describing the temporal evolution of a parameter of a system between an initial and a final time, the final time being triggered by the occurrence of an abnormal event affecting the system, ii. for each time series, defining an abnormal time period and a normal time period, iii. for each time series, determining a metric characterizing each parameter of the series under consideration over the abnormal time period and over the normal time period, iv. determining association rules on the basis of the characterizing metrics, v. validating the obtained association rules, and vi. the predicting the occurrence or lack of occurrence of an abnormal event liable to affect a system to be monitored on the basis of the validated association rules.

Abstract: A frequency agile tunable self-injection locking laser system being formed by a laser device coupled to at least one optical resonator and method and controller therefor are disclosed. A diode current and an optical resonator are controllable. A self-injection locking range is selected and the self-injection locking range corresponds an optical feedback phase for back-reflected light from the optical resonator into the laser device. A diode current is set and a maximum tuning range of the actuation voltage in which self-injection locking is maintained is determined. The laser system is operated with actuation voltages in a range depending on the determined tuning range.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating diseases that produce elevated intraocular pressures, such as glaucoma, wherein the device includes a housing shell defining a cavity between a first end and a second end of the housing shell, and an elastic membrane disposed within the cavity to divide the cavity into a fluidic channel that permits a flow of fluid from the first end to the second end and a sealed cavity. The elastic membrane deforms to change the volume of the sealed cavity responsive to pressure fluctuations between the first and second ends, thereby varying the fluidic resistance of the flow of fluid through the fluidic channel.