Abstract: A method for on-line monitoring and testing the behavior of middleware based, distributed application software during run-time of such software is disclosed. In order to automatize the monitoring of the behavior of the application software, the monitoring method comprises: defining events capturing the behavior of the software execution, the events being based on an abstraction of the application software, the abstraction being provided by middleware; using code generating means and an instrumentation technique for automatically adding code to the implementation of the software code suitable for generating traces suitable to be sent to an observer, the information carried by the added code including information on the order of occurrence of the events and on the application software part location where each event occurs; and using a monitoring mechanism based on sending of trace reports to the observer, which ensures or takes into account the time order of the reported traces.

Abstract: The invention concerns a electroluminescent device with a multilayer structure comprising: i) a first electrode including a layer, consisting of a transparent or translucent conductive material selected among metal oxides and metal nitrides, said layer being deposited on a transparent support, consisting of a glass, silicon, alumina plate, or a polymer sheet; ii) a second electrode; iii) a layer, arranged between the two electrodes, comprising a semiconductor and electroluminescent solid organic substance, said layer being optionally bordered with one or several intermediate layers, consisting of electrocatalysts; and iv) a layer with monomolecular structure, arranged between the layer consisting of the conductive material and the layer consisting of the electroluminescent substance. Said device is furher characterised in that said layer consists of a dipolar organic compound whereof the structure has an electronic system &pgr;, a functional group, vicinal or not of the electronic system &pgr;.

Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot vertical cavity photonic device and a method of its fabrication are presented. The device comprises top and bottom semiconductor DBR stacks and a tunable air-gap cavity therebetween. The air-gap cavity is formed within a recess in a spacer above the bottom DBR stack. The top DBR stack is carried by a supporting structure in a region thereof located above a central region of the recess, while a region of the supporting structure above the recess and outside the DBR stack presents a membrane deflectable by the application of a tuning voltage to the device contacts.

Abstract: An electrically pumped VCSEL and a method of its fabrication are presented. The VCSEL comprises an active cavity material sandwiched between top and bottom DBR stacks, the top DBR having at least one n-semiconductor layer. The device defines an aperture region between the structured surface of the active cavity material and the n-semiconductor layer of the top DBR stack. The structured surface is formed by a top surface of a mesa that includes at least the upper n++ layer of a p++/n++ tunnel junction and the surface of a p-type layer outside the mesa. The structured surface is fused to the surface of the n-semiconductor layer of the DBR stack due to the deformation of these surfaces, thereby creating an air gap in the vicinity of the mesa between the fused surfaces.

Abstract: Fluorescent protein expressing cells with very high fluorescence are described as well as a method to obtain such cells. The fluorescence of such cells can be as high as about 1000 times the auto-fluorescence of the respective host cell. Due to the high fluorescence, said cells are very suitable tools in the development, surveillance and/or optimization of production processes, for selection of culture media and process parameters and for the determination of cell growth and the detection, quantification and monitoring of biomass.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an integrated process for the manufacture of polymer and/or composite products, comprising the integration of processing operations to achieve a plurality of material conversion steps, such as impregnation, consolidation and bonding, within one single controlled fabrication cycle. The process includes an in-situ final preparation of at least one composite preform at the location of the moulding operation and an integrated moulding operation comprising a step of providing an additional matrix-functioning material into the mould to at least partially enclose the composite preform, the operation of providing the additional matrix-functioning material providing the pressure for an in-situ final consolidation of the composite product.

Abstract: A linear water-soluble quaternary ammonium polymer having a homopolymeric chain of repeating unit of general formula (I): where each of R1 and R2 independently represents a member selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, X− represents an anion and n is an integer comprised between 30 and 220 has been prepared. Furthermore, the polymer has a molar mass distribution of less than or equal to 1.5. The polymer is used as a displacer in a displacement mode of chromatography.

Abstract: A high molecular weight water soluble acrylamide based polymer having improved flocculating and dewatering properties is provided. The polymer is prepared by a process in which a small quantity of a chain branching agent is added to the polymerization reaction mixture continuously or stepwise while the monomers are polymerized. The polymer is useful in solid/liquid separations such as flocculants and coagulants in wastewater treatment applications, and as thickening agents.

Abstract: An electrically pumped VCSEL and a method of its fabrication are presented. The VCSEL comprises an active cavity material sandwiched between top and bottom DBR stacks, the top DBR having at least one n-semiconductor layer. The device defines an aperture region between the structured surface of the active cavity material and the n-semiconductor layer of the top DBR stack. The structured surface is formed by a top surface of a mesa that includes at least the upper n++ layer of a p++/n++ tunnel junction and the surface of a p-type layer outside the mesa. The structured surface is fused to the surface of the n-semiconductor layer of the DBR stack due to the deformation of these surfaces, thereby creating an air gap in the vicinity of the mesa between the fused surfaces.

Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot vertical cavity photonic device and a method of its fabrication are presented. The device comprises top and bottom semiconductor DBR stacks and a tunable air-gap cavity therebetween. The air-gap cavity is formed within a recess in a spacer above the bottom DBR stack. The top DBR stack is carried by a supporting structure in a region thereof located above a central region of the recess, while a region of the supporting structure above the recess and outside the DBR stack presents a membrane deflectable by the application of a tuning voltage to the device contacts.

Abstract: A high molecular weight water soluble acrylamide based polymer having improved flocculating and dewatering properties is provided. The polymer is prepared by a process in which a small quantity of a chain branching agent is added to the polymerization reaction mixture continuously or stepwise while the monomers are polymerized. The polymer is useful in solid/liquid separations such as flocculants and coagulants in wastewater treatment applications, and as thickening agents.

Abstract: An X-ray emission device having a microwave source and a resonant chamber. The resonant chamber contains a hermedically sealed volume of gas, a magnetic structure defining a geometrical electron-confinement zone in which electrons move at high speed. At least one target is placed in an electron path in order to emit X-rays. Each target is offset with respect to a mid-region of the geometrical conbinement zone.

Abstract: Electrochromic and photoelectrochromic devices using nanocrystalline semiconductor electrodes with a high specific surface area and surface-absorbed electrochromic molecules are disclosed.

Abstract: Given two video sequences, a composite video sequence can be generated which includes visual elements from each of the given sequences, suitably synchronized and represented in a chosen focal plane. For example, given two video sequences with each showing a different contestant individually racing the same down-hill course, the composite sequence can include elements from each of the given sequences to show the contestants as if racing simultaneously. A composite video sequence can be made also by similarly combining a video sequence with an audio sequence.

Abstract: A high molecular weight water soluble acrylamide based polymer having improved flocculating properties is provided. The polymer is prepared by a process, in which a small quantity of a chain branching agent is added to the polymerization reaction mixture continuously or semi-continuously while the monomers are polymerized. The polymer is useful in solid/liquid separations such as flocculants and coagulants in waste water treatment applications, and as thickening agents.

Abstract: Affinity macroligands (AML) comprising a reversibly water soluble poly-N-alkylacrylamide linked to a ligand, and their use in the separation of a target substance from a mixture comprising the target substance and other materials are disclosed. Preferred AMLs have number average molar masses of less than 7,000 g/mol (chain length n typically about 25), mass distributions of less than 1.2 and narrow precipitation-solubility temperature (NPST) interval, typically in the range of 1-2° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new method and apparatus for authenticating documents such as banknotes, trust papers, securities, identification cards, passports, etc. The documents may be printed on any support, including transparent synthetic materials and traditional opaque materials such as paper. This invention is based on moire patterns occuring between superposed dot-screens. By using specially designed basic screen and master screen, where at least the basic screen is comprised in the document, a moire intensity profile of a chosen shape becomes visible in their superposition, thereby allowing the authentication of the document. If instead of the master screen a microlens array is used for the authentication purpose, the document comprising the basic screen may be printed on an opaque reflective support, thereby enabling the visualization of the moire intensity profile by reflection.

Abstract: A photosensitizer complex of formulae (Ia) MX3Lt or (Ib) MXYLt in which M is a transition metal selected from ruthenium, osmium, iron, rhenium and technetium, preferably ruthenium or osmium; each X is a co-ligand independently selected from NCS—, Cl—, Br—, I—, CN—, NCO—, H2O, NCN2−; pyridine unsubstituted or substituted by at least one group selected from vinyl, primary, secondary or tertiary amine, OH and C1-30 alkyl, preferably NCS—; and Lt is a tridentate ligand comprising heterocycles such as pyridine, thiophene, imidazole, pyrazole, triazole, carrying at least one carboxylic, phosphoric, hydoxamic acid or a chelating group. A photovoltaic cell comprising an electrically conductive layer deposited on a support to which at least one titanium dioxide layer has been applied and, as a photosensitizer applied to the titanium dioxide layer, a photosensitizer complex of formula (Ia) or Ib) as specified above.

Abstract: For annotating a digital image with information from a digital map, features which are visible from a viewer position are extracted from the map. The extracted features are matched with corresponding features in the image, and feature annotations are transferred from the map to the image to obtain an integrated view. The technique facilitates the annotation of photographs, and it can be included in navigation and simulation systems.

Abstract: A non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) of the type with magnetoresistive memory elements (1) connected by sets of non-intersecting conductor sense lines (3, 4) which define the address of each memory element (1) and are connectable to a magnetic write/read recording unit. The memory elements are a plurality of magnetoresistive submicron dots or wires (1) embedded in a membrane (2) through which the submicron dots or wires extend. The sets of non-intersecting conductor sense lines (3, 4) are connected to the opposite ends of the submicron dots or wires (1) on opposite sides of the membrane.