Abstract: The local bending of a silicon nanowire induces tensile strain in the wire due to the stretching of the silicon lattice. This in turn enhances the mobility of the free carriers (electrons) in the direction of transport along the wire. Thus, for example, when Gate-All-Around MOSFETs are fabricated along the nanowire, the mobility enhancement will translate into an improvement in the performance (current drive, speed) of the silicon nanowire MOSFETs. In summary, a semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a nanowire in connection with the substrate at a drain and at a source region, and the nanowire is bent to achieve enhanced mobility of charge carriers.

Abstract: Novel chemical compounds of the general formula K+A?, in which K+is a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having 1-3 hetereo atoms, which can be independently N, S, or O; with the proviso that at least one of the hetereo atoms must be a quaternized nitrogen atom having a —R?CN substituent, wherein R? is alkyl (C1 to C12); the heterocyclic ring having up to 4 or 5 substituents independently chosen from the moieties: (i) H; (ii) halogen or (iii) alkyl (C1 to C12), which is unsubstituted or partially or fully substituted by further groups, preferably F, Cl, N(CnF(2n+1?x)Hx)2, O(CnF(2n+1?x)Hx), SO2(CnF(2n+1?x)Hx)2 or CnF(2n+1?x)Hx where 1<n<6 and 0<x<13; and (iv) a phenyl ring which is unsubstituted or partially or fully substituted by further groups, preferably F, Cl, N(CnF(2n+1?x)Hx)2, O(CnF(2n+1?X)Hx), SO2(CnF(2n+1?x)Hx)2 or CnF(2n+1?x)Hx where 1<n<6 and 0<x?13; and A? is any anion that provides a salt with a low melting point, below about 100° C.

Abstract: A heat sink that is particularly suitable for semiconductor components is made from a diamond-containing composite material. In addition to a diamond fraction amounting to 40-90% by volume, the composite material also contains 7 to 59% by volume copper or a copper-rich phase (with Cu>80 at. %) and 0.01 to 20% by volume boron or a boron-rich phase (with B>50 at. %). The bonding of copper to the diamond grains can be considerably improved by the addition of boron, with the result that a high thermal conductivity can be achieved. The heat sink component is preferably produced with an unpressurized and pressure-assisted infiltration technique.

Abstract: A closed system rotary machine has an inner shaped element (1) and an outer shaped element (2) which define therebetween cavities or capsules having a variable volume (V1, V9). The contact points which define the capsules (C1, C9) are disposed along lines of action (CA1, CA2, CA3) which are concurrent at junction points BN and BM, where the cavities begin and end respectively. The contacts (C2) at points located on the tangent (T) common to both pitch circles (6, 7) are osculating elements with a shared centre of curvature which is situated at the rolling point (R) of the pitch circles (6, 7). The invention can be used to ensure that the capsules form and disappear very gradually and to facilitate the distribution of the capsules when they are forming and disappearing in order to increase the leak paths.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a terahertz waveguide comprises forming a multilayer reflector formed of alternating layers of first and second polymer materials with distinct refractive indices, and defining with the multilayer reflector a hollow core through which terahertz radiation propagates. The corresponding terahertz waveguide comprises the multilayer reflector formed of the alternating layers of the first and second polymer materials with distinct refractive indices, and a hollow core defined by the multilayer reflector and through which terahertz radiation propagates.

Abstract: The injectable formulation for treatment by hyperthermia comprises a liquid carrier and heat-generating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles having a mean diameter not greater than 20 nm. Said injectable formulation is able to form in-situ a hyperthermic solid or semi-solid implant upon contact with a body fluid or tissue. Said hyperthermic solid or semi-solid implant may be useful for treating a tumor or a degenerative disc disease by hyperthermia.

Abstract: The present invention exploits the impact ionization induced by drain voltage increase and the onset of a bipolar parasitic in an ?-gate field effect metal oxide insulator transistor (called PI-MOS), in order to obtain a memory effect and abrupt current switching.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of a fluid, especially an oil, comprising a sensor consisting of at least one pair of electrodes which are distanced from each other. Said sensor is immersed in the fluid which is to be measured. The electrodes and the fluid form a capacitive element whose capacity varies according to the dielectric constant of the fluid. The sensor can provide an electric output signal representing said dielectric constant. The inventive device also comprises processing means which receive the output signal and which can determine the degree of quality and/or degradation of the fluid on the basis of said output signal. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes extend substantially on the same plane and in that the fluid surrounds the two surfaces of the electrodes on both sides of said plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the production of powders of an inhalable medicament by crystallization from a supersaturated fluid containing said medicament, the method comprising passing along a tubular reactor (a) a segmented flow of that fluid comprised of discrete volumes; or (b) a fluid mixture being separated by discrete volumes of a separating fluid which is substantially immiscible with said fluid, characterized in that the crystallization is initiated by application of ultrasound

Abstract: Transducer (24, 240, 241) for reading information stored 1n an optical record carrier (1), comprising at least one solid-state single photon detector, for example a single photon avalanche diode (24) for acquisition of a 2D or 3D image of at least a portion of the optical record carrier.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for printing by superposing a metallic ink and transparent inks. These methods and systems are useful for color separating images into superpositions of a metallic ink and transparent inks both for design purposes and for the creation and authentication of security documents, such as banknotes, checks, diploma, corporate documents, passports, identity cards, credit cards, product labels, optical disks, CDs, DVDs, packages of medical drugs, cosmetics, and alcoholic drink bottles. By combining a metallic ink and transparent inks, one may create printed images behaving dynamically: an image viewed under specular reflection may be considerably different from the same image viewed under non-specular reflection. Patterns which are either dark or hidden become highlighted under specular reflection, yielding interesting visual effects. Metallic inks allow therefore to create visually appealing dynamically changing color images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for fabricating a vertical transistor structure. On a substrate (10), is a first conductive layer (11), providing the source or drain electrode function, and an upper conductive layer (17), providing the drain or source electrode function. The production of a membrane includes a stack of porous layers including a first insulating layer (20), a second conductive layer (12), providing the gate electrode function, and an upper insulating layer (13?) on the surface of the substrate covered with the first conductive layer (11) providing the drain or source electrode function. The porous layers having substantially stacked pores. The production of filaments made of a semiconductor material is inside some of the stacked pores of the porous layers. The production of the upper conductive layer provides the source or drain electrode function on the surface of the stack of porous layers filled with filaments made of semiconductor material.

Abstract: A Raman method and system for analysing a sample including an excitation source emitting an incident light beam, a sample holder for mounting the sample, elements for focusing the incident light beam onto the sample surface to generate a Raman scattered light having an intensity, elements for collecting the Raman scattered light to form a Raman scattered light beam, a detection system measuring intensity of the Raman scattered light beam as a function of time. The system includes at least a polarization state generator able to generate four independent polarization states or a polarization state analyzer able to analyze four independent polarization states to detect the intensity of the Raman scattered light beam and calculate a partial or complete Mueller-Stokes matrix of the sample.

Abstract: A sensor and method for surface plasmon resonance sensing, wherein a small variation of the refractive index of an ambient medium results in a large variation of loss of a sensing mode. The surface plasmon resonance sensor comprises an antiguiding waveguide including a core characterized by a refractive index and a reflector surrounding the core. The reflector has an external surface and is characterized by a band gap and a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the core. A coating is deposited on the external surface of the core, the coating defining with the ambient medium a coating/ambient medium interface. In operation, the coating is in contact with the ambient medium, and the antiguiding waveguide is supplied with an electromagnetic radiation to (a) propagate a mode for sensing having an effective refractive index lower than the refractive index of the core and higher than a refractive index of an ambient medium and (b) produce surface plasmons at the coating/ambient medium interface.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to propose the generation, verification and denial of an undeniable signature which has a size smaller than the currently available undeniable signatures, i.e. less than 80 bits. This aim is achieved by the method to generate an undeniable signature (y1, . . . , yt) on a set of data, this method comprising the following steps: (1) transforming the set of data (m) to a sequence of a predetermined number (t) of blocks (x1, . . . , xt), these blocks being members of an Abelian group, this transformation being a one way function, and (2) applying to each block (xi) a group homomorphism (f) to obtain a resulting value(yi), in which the number of elements of the initial group (G) is larger than the number of elements (d) of the destination group (H).

Abstract: An infusion pump comprising a substance and pushing fluid inlet, a substance outlet, a central chamber communicating with said inlet and said outlet, and injecting means for injecting a substance into a biological object, wherein the infusion pump further includes a pushing fluid outlet in communication with the central chamber in such a way as to allow a pushing fluid to exhaust the pump. The outlet of the infusion pump is advantageously connected to the proximal end of a catheter, the distal end being inserted into the biological object. A sensor, e.g., an optical device, is preferably placed at the outlet of the infusion pump and checks that the outlet is free of gas. The infusion pump is preferably remotely controlled so that it can be placed in limited access locations. It is also preferably computer controlled.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a plasma motor for the extraction of a positive ion flow. The plasma motor has a single ionization stage (1) and means (6) of supplying said ionization stage with an ionizable electronegative gas. Means are provided for creating an electric field so as to produce the ionization of the gas in the ionization stage; First means for extracting a negative ion flow are provided and, second means are provided for extracting a positive ion flow, connected to the ionization stage. The extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow are of the same amplitude, ensuring the electrical neutrality of the motor. According to the invention, the extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow allow the neutrality of the motor to be ensured without recourse to a neutralizer as in the prior art. The application is useful for propulsion of spacecraft in space.

Abstract: In the present invention, we propose a method of creating fluorescent color images visible under UV light. It relies on the new colorants that can be achieved by superposing ink dots, possibly at a reduced size, in order to avoid quenching effects. It also relies on juxtaposed halftoning, which ensures that colorants are printed side by side and do therefore not overlap, thereby preventing quenching effects. It also support the selection of a fluorescent set of inks which comprises at least one ink whose emission spectrum yields a color different from the standard red, green and blue colors, for example a yellow color emitting ink. The method comprises the following techniques: (a) creating new colorants by superposing carefully selected amounts of the fluorescent inks, (b) mapping the gamut of the image to be reproduced into the gamut of the resulting fluorescent colorants and (c) creating the target fluorescent color image by juxtaposed halftoning of the fluorescent colorants.

Abstract: This document relates to a stable emulsion comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase comprising droplets. The droplets are at least partially covered with a powder and the powder comprises particles having an average size which is at least 10 times smaller than the average size of the droplets. A process for preparing the emulsion is also presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-linear optical filter capable of transmitting an electromagnetic pulse with a duration of less than about 1 picosecond, provided with means for generating an electromagnetic field E with a linear polarization from this pulse, and with a crystal C1 of cubic geometry capable of generating an electromagnetic field E?1 from E with a linear polarization orthogonal to that of E. It comprises means for generating at least one other electromagnetic field E?2 capable of producing constructive interferences with the electromagnetic field E?1.