Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for encoding and decoding information. In one aspect, methods of encoding information in an encoder include receiving a signal representing information using a collection of discrete digits, converting, by an encoder, the received signal into a time-based code, and outputting the time-based code. The time-based code is divided into time intervals. Each of the time intervals of the time-based code corresponds to a digit in the received signal. Each digit of a first state of the received signal is expressed as an event occurring at a first time within the corresponding time interval of the time-based code. Each digit of a second state of the received signal is expressed as an event occurring at a second time within the corresponding time intervals of the time-based code, the first time is distinguishable from the second time.

Abstract: Nanoparticles that activate complement in the absence of biological molecules are described. The nanoparticles are shown to specifically target antigen presenting cells in specifically in lymph nodes, without the use of a biological molecule for targeting. These particles are useful vehicles for delivering immunotherapeutics. Surface chemistries and chemical formulations for the nanoparticles are described.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a sensing structure having a ring-shaped well, a plurality of contacts of equal size disposed along the ring-shaped well, a circuit having a plurality of electronic switches associated with the contacts of the sensing structure, a logic block for controlling the electronic switches, at least one current source, a voltage measuring device, a timing circuit providing a control signal for controlling the logic and providing a reference signal, wherein the logic block is configured to switch the switches under the control of the control signal so that a predetermined number of contacts of the plurality of contacts form a vertical Hall element supplied with current from the at least one current source and having two contacts connected to the voltage measuring device and circuitry configured to measure a phase shift between the reference signal and an output signal of the voltage measuring device.

Abstract: A method for producing a reflective diffraction grating. The diffraction grating includes a stack of at least four dielectric material layers, and an upper dielectric material layer that is etched to form grooves of the diffraction grating having a predetermined pitch, The diffraction grating is produced by selecting the number and the nature of the dielectric material layers, digitally computing the reflection and/or transmission efficiencies of at least one of the orders of diffraction of the diffraction grating for a sample of frequencies of the spectral range of use for each of several predetermined diffraction grating configurations while varying the thicknesses of the at least four layers and at least one of the etching parameters of the upper layer, and selecting, from among the computed configurations, at least one configuration depending on the use of the grating.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a color conversion film comprising at least one active layer, said layer comprising an organic fluorescent dye containing a fluorescent core, wherein said dye is substituted with at least one polymer segment. It also concerns its method of preparation.

Abstract: A measurement device for measuring activity of the spinal cord of a vertebrate, wherein the device includes at least one main probe (1) shaped to be fastened to a spinous process (2) of a vertebra (3) and to hold in position on opposite sides of the vertebra at least one emitter (6) for emitting a wave capable of interacting with the spinal cord (7) and at least one associated receiver (8) for receiving the wave that has interacted with the spinal cord and for generating a signal representative of the activity of the spinal cord.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decomposing a set of even and odd pictures into low-band and high-band pictures respectively in a image decomposing unit, in which the even picture is used by at least two prediction motion compensators on which the output signal of each prediction motion compensator is scaled according to the number of prediction motion compensators. The method includes calculating the high-band picture by subtracting from the odd picture the scaled motion-compensated signals and using the high-band picture in the at least two update motion compensators, the output signal of each update motion compensator being scaled according to the number of update motion compensators. Finally, the low-band picture is calculated by adding the scaled update motion-compensated signals to the even picture.

Abstract: The present device and method improve radiation efficiency of a leaky wave antenna. The device and method collect non-radiated power signal from the leaky wave antenna, perform a passive operation on the non-radiated power signal to obtain a modified power signal, and radiate the modified power signal.

Abstract: A method for heteronuclear decoupling in fast magic-angle spinning NMR measurements comprises application of a decoupling RF-pulse sequence with a decoupling-field amplitude ?1I on spins of a first nucleus and of an excitation pulse on spins of a second nucleus, the sequence comprising m blocks of pulses, with m?4, each block comprising an N-fold repetition of a pair of pulses with pulse width ?p and phases whereby ?p is equal for all pulses, whereby the phase of the pulse pair of the (i+1)-th block is inverted with respect to the pulse pair of the i-th block, with i=1 . . . m?1 and i is an odd number, whereby the pulses within each pair are phase inverted, whereby a phase shift is carried out after each j-th block, with j is an even number. The efficiency of the inventive method compares favorably with CW, TPPM, SPINAL and XiX decoupling methods at medium and high RF amplitudes, particularly under rotary resonance conditions.

Abstract: A method for acquiring signals in laser scanning microscopy, includes the steps of: moving a focused optical excitation beam relative to an object to be measured so that the focus point of the beam follows a predetermined path in the space of the object; and acquiring optical measurement signals along the path according to at least one acquisition parameter; characterized in that the path of the excitation beam is determined so as to substantially minimize the variations of the optical properties of at least one portion of the environments crossed by the excitation beam between consecutive acquisitions, and in that at least one acquisition parameter among the acquisition parameters is modulated during the movement of the excitation beam. A device for implementing the method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides new bi- and polypyridine ligands of ruthenium dyes. The invention also provides solar cells, in particular dye-sensitized solar cells comprising the dyes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising: a crystalline semiconductor substrate (1) having a front face (1a) and a rear face (1b); a front passivation layer (3) placed on the front face (1a) of the substrate (1); a rear passivation layer (2) placed on the rear face (1b) of the substrate (1); a first metallization zone (10) placed on the rear passivation layer (2) and designed for collecting electrons; a second metallization zone designed for collecting holes, comprising: a surface portion (11) placed on the rear passivation layer (2); and an internal portion (12) passing through the rear passivation layer (2) and forming, in the substrate (1), a region in which the concentration of electron acceptors is greater than the rest of the substrate (1). The invention also relates to a module of photovoltaic cells using this device and to a process for manufacturing this device.

Abstract: A device includes a conductive surface (12) and electrical contacts (14) by which an electric current is able to be passed. The electrical contacts (14) include conductive seeds (16) deposited on the conductive surface (12), an electrically insulating layer (18), which covers discontinuously the conductive seeds (16) in order to form openings leaving access to the conductive seeds (16), and a plating layer (22) recovering the discontinuous insulating layer (18) and deposited on conductive seeds (16) which are accessible through the openings and form points from which the deposit of the plating layer (22) can start. The rest of the conductive surface (12), which doesn't include any electrical contacts (14), is continuously covered by the electrically insulating layer (18).

Abstract: A system and method for optical data acquisition of an illuminated turbid medium object, the system comprises a variable structured light detector and a controller. The light detector is adapted to retrieve light from a plurality of detection points of an output surface of the illuminated turbid medium object with a plurality of detection patterns. The controller is adapted to control the variable structured light detector for the variable structured light detector to use a detection pattern corresponding to an illumination pattern of the illuminated turbid medium object. The light detector is further adapted to optically measure a combination of retrieved light from the plurality of detection points as an optical measurement. The controller is further adapted to store an illumination pattern identifier indicative of the illumination pattern, a detection pattern identifier indicative of the detection pattern and the corresponding optical measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound comprising at least one polymeric chain incorporating phosphorus atoms and consisting, in all or in part, of identical or different repeated units, each of said units being represented by the following formula: wherein X3 represents —[Si(O2)]—; or —O—[Si(R1R2)O]— with R1 and R2 being, independently of each other, a C1-C30 alkyl or alkoxy group, a C5-C30 aryl group; or a mono- or polyorganosilicate derived radical; or —N(R3)— with R3 being —H, a C1-C30 alkyl group or a C5-C30 aryl group, optionally substituted with —OH or —NH2, or at least one unit of general formula (I), and ?X4 represents an electron pair, ?O, ?S, ?NR4 with R4 representing a C1-C30 alkyl group or a C5-C30 aryl group, ?Se or ?Te, and its use for complexing metal atoms.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for encoding and decoding information. In one aspect, methods of encoding information in an encoder include the actions of receiving a signal representing information using a collection of discrete digits, converting, by an encoder, the received signal into a time-based code, and outputting the time-based code. The time-based code is divided into time intervals. Each of the time intervals of the time-based code corresponds to a digit in the received signal. Each digit of a first state of the received signal is expressed as a event occurring at a first time within the corresponding time interval of the time-based code. Each digit of a second state of the received signal is expressed as a event occurring at a second time within the corresponding time intervals of the time-based code, the first time is distinguishable from the second time.

Abstract: In bus communications methods and apparatus, a first set of physical signals representing the information to be conveyed over the bus is provided, and mapped to a codeword of a sparse signaling code, wherein a codeword is representable as a vector of a plurality of components, some of which are quiescent components and some of which are non-quiescent components, wherein the number of quiescent components and non-quiescent components meet a sparseness requirement.

Abstract: Method of fabricating a multilayer film having at least one ultrathin layer of crystalline silicon, the film being fabricated from a substrate having a crystalline structure and including a previously-cleaned surface. The method includes the steps of: a) exposing the cleaned surface to a radiofrequency plasma generated in a gaseous mixture of SiF4, hydrogen, and argon, so as to form an ultrathin layer of crystalline silicon having an interface sublayer in contact with the substrate and containing microcavities; b) depositing at least one layer of material on the ultrathin layer of crystalline silicon so as form a multilayer film, the multilayer film including at least one mechanically strong layer; and c) annealing the substrate covered in the multilayer film at a temperature higher than 400° C., thereby enabling the multilayer film to be separated from the substrate.

Abstract: A method for hair removal from a skin area by selective photo-inactivation of the pilo-sebaceous apparatus using derivatives of ALA with alkylene-glycol chains. Selectivity of the method is further enhanced by treatment of the epidermis by agents reducing PpIX levels in the epidermis. Side effects are diminished by using short drug/light intervals.

Abstract: Endosseous implant to be applied to a human or animal bone, wherein the surface of the implant is made from titanium or a titanium alloy, said implant having a smooth or rough surface texture, which is characterized in that said surface has been treated with at least one selected organic phosphonate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester or an amide thereof; process for producing said implants.