Abstract: A device (10) includes a turbine (22, 34) having an impeller (22), and an electric generator (12, 24) having a stator (12) provided with stator windings distributed around a cylindrical surface (X) coaxial to the impeller (22), and a permanent magnet (24) which is rotatable relative to the stator (12) and is drivingly connected for rotation with the impeller (22). The impeller (22) is housed inside the permanent magnet (24) and the assembly formed by the impeller (22) and by the permanent magnet (24) is housed inside the stator (12). The permanent magnet (24) is made as a single hollow cylindrical body of high magnetic density material with diametrical magnetization.

Abstract: A polymeric actuator includes a first and a second electrode layer (2, 3), both containing electrically conductive material and able to change size in at least one direction of deformation under the action of charge injection or ion intercalation. A solid polymer electrolyte layer (4) is interposed between the first and the second electrode layer, in which the solid polymer electrolyte layer is electrically insulating and ionically conductive. The actuator is able to deform by the action of the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer. The actuator further includes a passive electrode (5) immersed in the solid electrolyte layer to be electrically insulated relative to the first and second electrode layer, in which the passive electrode is electrically conductive and elastically deformable material, so as to support mechanically the deformations of the actuator induced by the dimensional changes of the first and second electrode layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator includes the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core; winding a dielectric film of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face, in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application pattern mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll; radially cutting the roll at the ends of a circumferentially localized zone; and connecting a conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other.

Abstract: A device for controlling fluid motion in a micro/nanofluidic structure of channels by means of surface acoustic waves is described. The device comprises a structured volume of material bearing a predetermined configuration of micro/nanofluidic channels for holding and transferring amounts of fluids adapted to define at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet and presenting a hydrophobic behaviour for the fluids to be handled and a substrate made of material with piezoelectric properties coupled to the micro/nanofluidic channels.

Abstract: This invention relates to the controlled growth of uniform octapod-shaped colloidal nanocrystals and use thereof. These octapod-shaped nanocrystals can be applied in many fields of technology. This represents the first approach reported so far for the predictable and controlled fabrication of octapod-shaped nanocrystals. The synthesis approach is applicable to a broad range of materials, such as group II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals but is not limited to these materials. Using several cation exchange and oxidation procedures, we also demonstrate in this application that extremely uniform octapod-shaped nanocrystals of other materials can be synthesized, including various semiconductors, metals and insulators.

Abstract: A method for preparing a colloid solution of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent includes mixing titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a solution of acrylic resin in organic solvent, so as to obtain the colloid solution. The colloid solution is subjected to a stabilization treatment suitable for preventing or reducing nanoparticle aggregation, the treatment includes irradiating the colloid solution with pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially comprised in the ultraviolet absorption band of the titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of producing a lasing microsource of colloidal nanocrystals. The method includes the steps of preparing a nanocrystal solution in a solvent; depositing at least a drop of the nanocrystals solution with a drop volume below 1 nl on a flat substrate; and evaporating the solvent to dryness thereby to obtain at the edge of the evaporated drop a single annular stripe including a domain wherein the nanocrystals are arranged in an ordered array, wherein the ordered nanocrystals in the domain constitute an active region capable of lasing and the radially inner and outer edges of the stripe define a resonant cavity in which the active region is inserted.

Abstract: An open-structure magnetic assembly is adapted to generate a homogeneous magnetic field in an accessible space region, including a first and second independent source of magnetic field (10, 12), each generating a contribution to the resulting magnetic field. The first source includes a conducting or superconducting plate (20), carrying an unidirectional current flow (I) from an input side (22) to an output side (24) and at least one external current recirculating path (30) between the output side (24) and the input side (22) of the plate. The second source includes a volume of magnetized material or an arrangement of coils, arranged for generating a magnetic field component oriented according to the magnetic field generated by the first source (10), and whose intensity exhibits a gradient in a direction perpendicular to the conducting plate (20) adapted to compensate, in a region of interest, an opposite gradient in the magnetic field intensity generated by the first source (10).

Abstract: A method is described for generating a minimal set of Analytical Redundancy Relations representing a system to which a plurality of sensors is associated for the observation of variables indicative of operating conditions and adapted to enable detection and isolation of faults. The minimal set of Analytical Redundancy Relations is derived from a complete set of Analytical Redundancy Relations in implicit form, for which an associated binary Fault Signature Matrix is specified, and comprises the relations associated to a minimal subset of rows of the original matrix, which has the same number of non-zero columns and the same number of distinct columns as the original matrix.

Abstract: A surgical lift device includes a suction member for detachably contacting an external skin surface of a human body wall and holding the external skin surface by application of negative pressure between the suction member and the external skin surface. The suction member has a gripping force sufficient to permit lifting of the human body wall to an elevated position and to hold the human body wall in the elevated position. The suction member has a load-bearing domed structure which determines the lifting of the human body wall during application of negative pressure. The surgical lift device further includes a low friction entry port device arranged on the dome structure, wherein the low friction entry port device has a low friction port fixture for inserting a tool.