Abstract: A modular quantum key distribution system and relative modulation module and demodulation module. The system includes: a photon source module; a modulation module, physically separated from the source module and operatively connected to the source module by a first optical communication channel and including a first polarization stabilizer and a first retarder plate and a second retarder plate, placed downstream of the first polarization stabilizer and controlled by an actuator; and a receiving unit operatively connected to the modulation module by a second optical communication channel and including a second polarization stabilizer, a third retarder plate, placed downstream of the second polarization stabilizer and controlled by an actuator, a polarizing beam splitter, placed downstream of the third retarder plate, and a single photon photodetector configured to detect a logic state of each photon and transmit the detected logic state to a counting register.

Abstract: A method of operating an inertial sensor module includes receiving a stream of inertial sensor data representing activity of a user of an electronic device and generating a plurality of wavelet sub-bands by performing a wavelet transform on the inertial sensor data. The method includes identifying a wavelet sub-band of highest energy from the plurality of wavelet sub-bands, generating augmented inertial sensor data by combining the wavelet sub-band of highest energy to the inertial sensor data, and identifying a first transition in the activity of the user based on the augmented inertial sensor data.

Abstract: A valve system for controlling the fluid flow in a duct, includes: a valve body adapted to be inserted in an interruption of the duct, and provided with an inlet and an outlet for a flow of fluid in the duct, a lateral flow valve, developing substantially transversally in the duct, placed in the valve body upstream of the fluid flow, the valve having an obstructer capable of moving transversally in the duct to “laterally” interrupt part of the fluid flow in the duct, an actuator adapted to move the obstructer from a first position, in which the duct is fully open, to a second position, in which the duct is fully closed, a rotor shaped substantially as a turbine, placed inside the valve body downstream of the valve with respect to the fluid flow, the rotor being located at a distance from the valve comprised within a pressure recovery zone, the pressure being generated by the valve in the absence of the turbine.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for targeting cells for therapeutic and/or diagnostic purposes, e.g., delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to a cell. Nanoparticles and polymers functionalized with capture molecules, reporter molecules, and/or therapeutic agents are provided for the treatment or prevention of disease, including neurological diseases associated with neuroinflammation, and cancer.

Abstract: A test bench assembly (10) for the simulation of cardiac surgery and/or interventional cardiology operations and/or procedures, comprising a passive heart (12), wherein said passive heart (12) is an explanted or artificial or hybrid heart, said passive heart (12) having at least one pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16; 114, 116) comprising an atrial chamber (14; 114) and a ventricular chamber (16; 116); a reservoir (20), adapted to house the working fluid; a pressure generator (22), adapted to provide said passive heart (12) pumping said working fluid with the pumping function, said pressure generator (22) being fluidically connected both to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) and to said reservoir (20) by means of first fluid connection means; a pressure regulation device (24) which provides the working fluid in input to the atrial chamber (14) with the preload pressure, and the working fluid in output from the ventricular chamber (16) with the afterload pressure, said pressure regulation d

Abstract: A method estimates tire pressure of vehicle. For each tire, signals or data indicative of angular velocity of the wheel with which the tire is associated are acquired. A subset of detected signals or data acquired in rectilinear vehicle travel condition is selected. Pressure relationship between tires of each pair of wheels of the same axle is determined by comparing the rolling radius of the wheel on which a first tire is mounted and the rolling radius of the wheel on which a second tire is mounted. A pressure relationship between tire pairs is determined for comparison between the mean value of the rolling radii of wheels of a first axle and the mean value of the rolling radii of wheels of a second axle. Ratios are calculated based on signals or data indicative of angular velocity of the wheels and on slippage of the drive wheels.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a DC-DC converter, including a high-side power switch coupled between an input voltage and a switched node and a low-side power switch coupled between the switched node and ground. An inductor is coupled between the switched node and an output node. An output capacitor is coupled between the output node and ground. A control circuit is configured to operate the high-side power switch in a constant charge mode of operation to vary on-time of the high-side power switch to maintain a constant amount of charge being transferred to the output capacitor during each charging cycle, independent of variation of the input voltage.

Abstract: A method for making an accessory cladding element for use in architecture and design. The method provides preparing an elastically deformable support element, including a first outer surface, in particular a decorated surface, a second outer surface and a plurality of spacer elements placed between the two surfaces. An impermeable and removable layer is applied on the first outer surface to protect at least a part thereof. Then a fluid cement mixture is prepared and introduced into the support element to obtain a cement-based composite structure in a deformable state. The excess fluid cement mixture is removed from the support element. The cement-based composite structure in the deformable state is positioned in a forming device which gives it the desired shape. The composite structure is solidified and after the removable layer is removed.

Abstract: Provided is an atomic vapor cell, for atomic or molecular spectroscopy, optical pumping, and/or spin-based atomic sensing, that includes a host substrate and defined there within a buried or non-buried chamber laser written in the host substrate without the need of a mask or photoresist, with either planar or three-dimensional geometry, and intended to contain an atomic vapor. Also provided are an integrated atomic/photonic device and an apparatus, in both cases including the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell, and a method for fabricating the presently disclosed atomic vapor cell.

Abstract: An electrically heated chemical reactor is described for efficiently supplying reaction heat to the endothermic catalytic chemical processes as an alternative to or in combination with conventional heating methods.

Abstract: A detector device of radiation emitted by a sample irradiated with an excitation beam. The detector device includes a hollow guide element having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and is able to guide the excitation beam along a propagation axis oriented from the inlet opening to the outlet opening; and a plurality of radiation-sensitive elements, which are arranged around the hollow guide element. The sensitive elements each have an active surface, which is tilted with respect to a plane orthogonal to the axis of propagation of the excitation beam and faces the outlet opening of the hollow guide element.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for targeting cells for therapeutic and/or diagnostic purposes, e.g., delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to a cell. Nanoparticles and polymers functionalized with capture molecules, reporter molecules, and/or therapeutic agents are provided for the treatment or prevention of disease, including neurological diseases associated with neuroinflammation, and cancer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inertial sensor (1) comprising a substrate extending along a drive excitation direction (x) and a detection direction (y) normal to each other, the device plane being perpendicular to a rotation direction (z), a first drive frame (110) and a second drive frame (120), a first sense frame (210), a second sense frame (220), a sense lever (1000) pivotably mounted around a rotation axis (1001), a sensing system comprising a strain gauge (1600) mechanically stressed by the sense lever it is rotating around the rotation axis. The sense lever includes a central portion (1500), a first arm (1100) and a second arm (1200), the central portion having a dimension along the detection direction called central width, the arms having a dimension along the detection direction called arm width, the central width being at least twice greater than the arm width.

Abstract: A method for applying a carbon-based reflective overcoating on a grazing incidence optical unit comprising a substrate and a coating of a high-density material chosen from the group comprising gold, platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, chrome and nickel or a low-density material such as carbon or B4C; the method comprises the step of treating the optical unit with a solution or gaseous phase containing at least one polymer precursor material to create the overcoating through absorption of the polymer material on the coating.

Abstract: A system and method for detection, localization and signaling of single photon events and of at least two photons time coincidence events. The system includes at least one array of pixels, each of which includes a photodetector and a front-end electronics, which outputs a digital signal; at least one event detection electronics including: a plurality of digital-to-analog transducers, one for each pixel of the array, configured to convert the digital signal coming from the respective pixel in a corresponding analog signal, which is quantized in amplitude and duration; an analog adder node configured to sum the analog signals coming from the digital-to-analog transducers, obtaining a sum analog signal; and an overall analog-to-digital transducer. The system and method are ultimately configured to output a digital signal if an output signal of an analog adder node exceeds, respectively, a first threshold or the second threshold, allowing event detection, within a time window.

Abstract: A modular kit for integration and installation of one or more bioreactors for microalgae cultivation includes: —at least one bioreactor for microalgae cultivation, in the form of a vertically arranged transparent tubular column; —a supporting structure adapted to integrate and support the base of the at least one bioreactor, and also adapted to internally house a first connection to a system for loading and unloading a cultivation vector fluid into/from the at least one bioreactor, and a second connection to a system for supplying CO2-supplemented air into the at least one bioreactor; —multiple modules forming respective frames with internal empty spaces and adapted to be connected to one another to house, in the empty spaces, the at least one bioreactor; the multiple modules being also so shaped as to convey filtered light into the at least one bioreactor.

Abstract: A method of assisting driving a vehicle. The method is implemented by a system including an HMD and a positioning module mounted on the vehicle, wherein the HMD includes a screen and a pair of video cameras located on opposite sides of the screen along a main length direction of the screen.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for time-of-flight (TOF) ranging. The method includes generating, by each photon detector in a photon detector array, a quantized current pulse each time a predefined number of photons is detected. The method further includes summing, by a current adder, the quantized current pulses from all photon detectors to create an analog signal pulse. The method further includes providing, by a peak detector, a digital pulse for each instance where an intensity of the analog signal pulse is greater than signal peaks already measured after the last emitted pulsed laser shot. The method further includes measuring and recording, by a time-to-digital converter (TDC), a TOF each time the digital pulse is provided. The method further includes providing, by a TOF output, a single TDC result indicative of a TOF associated with the analog signal pulse having a highest intensity.

Abstract: A test bench assembly (10) for the simulation of cardiac surgery and/or interventional cardiology operations and/or procedures, comprising a passive heart (12), wherein said passive heart (12) is an explanted or artificial or hybrid heart, said passive heart (12) having at least one pair of cardiac chambers (14, 16; 114, 116) comprising an atrial chamber (14; 114) and a ventricular chamber (16; 116); a reservoir (20), adapted to house the working fluid; a pressure generator (22), adapted to provide said passive heart (12) pumping said working fluid with the pumping function, said pressure generator (22) being fluidically connected both to said ventricular chamber (16) of said passive heart (12) and to said reservoir (20) by means of first fluid connection means; a pressure regulation device (24) which provides the working fluid in input to the atrial chamber (14) with the preload pressure, and the working fluid in output from the ventricular chamber (16) with the afterload pressure, said pressure regulation d

Abstract: The invention concerns the production of a rigid or flexible thermal and acoustic insulating panel, made with one or more casein-based biopolymer matrix fibers, thermoset with a reduced percentage of thermoplastic fibers or bio-based and biodegradable binders.