Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out high cycle fatigue tests of a specimen under high pressure, including: a pressure vessel; a load train including a first horn and a second horn between which a specimen is to be arranged, wherein the load train is arranged within an internal chamber of the pressure vessel; and a converter configured to apply ultrasonic waves into the load train by exciting the first horn to apply a dynamic stress to the specimen. A base part of the second horn is movably seated in the pressure vessel such that two separated chambers are formed within the pressure vessel with the first chamber for the specimen, wherein both chambers can be fed with gas and charged with different gas pressures in order to apply a static stress to the specimen.

Abstract: A sealing device including a housing and a closure member having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first and second ends being removably attached to the housing, the housing having means for checking the integrity of the closure member and a first transponder for transmitting information on the status of the sealing device where, the sealing device further includes a second transponder, preferably a passive transponder, associated with at least one of the first and second ends (16, 20) of the closure member, the second transponder comprising a second identity, and a transponder reader associated with the first transponder, preferably an active transponder, the transponder reader being arranged for reading the second identity of the second transponder; the first transponder being configured for receiving the second identity from the transponder reader and for transmitting the second identity.

Abstract: A micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell arrangement includes two micro-tubular elements having a tubular inner electrode, covered on its outer surface with an electrolyte, the electrolyte being covered on its outer surface with a tubular outer electrode; and a connection element arranged between the micro-tubular elements for connecting one end of one micro-tubular element to one end of the other micro-tubular element, where the micro-tubular element has a first end portion with an inner cone arranged in the tubular inner electrode and a second end portion with an outer cone arranged in the tubular outer electrode, where the connection element comprises a metallic interconnector plate having a first side and an opposite second side, where the plate is provided with at least one hole; a first metallic connector on the first side and arranged around the hole and a second metallic connector on the second side and arranged around the hole.

Abstract: A method of providing an authenticable time-and-location indication using a radio-navigation signal receiver comprises receiving radio-navigation signals broadcast from a plurality of radio-navigation signal sources, at least some of the radio-navigation signals containing one or more cryptographic tokens protected by encryption, the cryptographic tokens being updated from time to time. The receiver retrieves, by decryption, the cryptographic tokens from the radio-navigation signals containing them. The receiver then determines positioning data, representing its geographical position and time, based on the radio-navigation signals received. The receiver generates a digital authentication code using a cryptographic function taking as inputs at least the positioning data and the retrieved cryptographic tokens, and produces a data package including a first part containing the positioning data and a second part containing the digital authentication code.

Abstract: A device (10) for collecting and temporarily storing fluids (16) escaping from an underwater source (12, 64) and having lower density than surrounding water includes a collector (18) placed over the underwater source for collecting the escaping fluids, a riser tube (20) for transferring the collected fluids together towards the surface; and a buoyant buffer reservoir (22) maintained submerged under the surface and having an open-bottom chamber (30) for storage of the fluids. The riser tube has flow restrictors has flow restrictors comprising choke disks (58, 58?) arranged in its interior for restricting the flow of the fluids. The flow restrictors are arranged along the length of the riser tube. The buffer reservoir has arranged in its chamber a separator vessel (32) for separating gas from the fluids. The riser tube opens into the interior of the separator for discharging the fluids.

Abstract: A device (10) for collecting and temporarily storing fluids (16) escaping from an underwater source (12, 64) and having lower density than surrounding water includes a collector (18) placed over the underwater source for collecting the escaping fluids, a riser tube (20) for transferring the collected fluids together towards the surface; and a buoyant buffer reservoir (22) maintained submerged under the surface and having an open-bottom chamber (30) for storage of the fluids. The riser tube has flow restrictors has flow restrictors comprising choke disks (58, 58?) arranged in its interior for restricting the flow of the fluids. The flow restrictors are arranged along the length of the riser tube. The buffer reservoir has arranged in its chamber a separator vessel (32) for separating gas from the fluids. The riser tube opens into the interior of the separator for discharging the fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out high cycle fatigue tests of a specimen under high pressure, including: a pressure vessel; a load train including a first horn and a second horn between which a specimen is to be arranged, wherein the load train is arranged within an internal chamber of the pressure vessel; and a converter configured to apply ultrasonic waves into the load train by exciting the first horn to apply a dynamic stress to the specimen. A base part of the second horn is movably seated in the pressure vessel such that two separated chambers are formed within the pressure vessel with the first chamber for the specimen, wherein both chambers can be fed with gas and charged with different gas pressures in order to apply a static stress to the specimen.

Abstract: A micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell arrangement includes two micro-tubular elements having a tubular inner electrode, covered on its outer surface with an electrolyte, the electrolyte being covered on its outer surface with a tubular outer electrode; and a connection element arranged between the micro-tubular elements for connecting one end of one micro-tubular element to one end of the other micro-tubular element, where the micro-tubular element has a first end portion with an inner cone arranged in the tubular inner electrode and a second end portion with an outer cone arranged in the tubular outer electrode, where the connection element comprises a metallic interconnector plate having a first side and an opposite second side, where the plate is provided with at least one hole); a first metallic connector on the first side and arranged around the hole and a second metallic connector on the second side and arranged around the hole.

Abstract: A sensor device comprises a dielectric substrate (52); and a metal layer (53) on the substrate (52) with at least one array of cavities (54) therein and adapted to support L-SPR, each of the cavities (54) in the metal layer (53) having an opening (56) and a closed bottom (58) and widening from opening to bottom. A bed of dielectric material (62) is provided over the bottom (58) of each cavity (54) to reduce its apparent depth, the bed surface (62) being functionalized to bind to receptor moieties (64). This sensor device is particularly designed for SPR detection, but can be used in other detection techniques.

Abstract: A SPR sensing method comprising the steps of: providing a SPR sensor comprising a SPR supporting sensor surface and contacting a sample to be analysed with the sensor surface. At least one resonance condition at said SPR supporting sensor surface is monitored by illuminating the sensor surface with an SPR exciting test light beam and sensing the reflected or transmitted test light beam. Additionally, the sensor surface is illuminated with a reference light beam under conditions selected so as not to excite SPR at said sensor surface and sensing the intensity of the reflected or transmitted reference light beam. At least one property of the reflected or transmitted test light beam is determined taking into account the sensed intensity of the reflected or transmitted reference light beam.

Abstract: A tsunami warning system (10) comprising a remote server with evaluation system with means for monitoring tsunami indicating parameters (16, 20), means for determining the possibility of a tsunami occurring and means for issuing a triggering signal, wherein the evaluation system is configured to issue a triggering signal when the possibility of a tsunami occurring is identified. The tsunami warning system (10) further comprises at least one tsunami warning device (14) arranged in a public area, the tsunami warning device (14) being configured and arranged so as to provide a tsunami warning to the general public when a triggering signal is received. The at least one tsunami warning device comprises means for also monitoring tsunami indicating parameters and means for transmitting information collected by the tsunami warning device to the remote server for integration in modelling means therein.

Abstract: In a method of constructing a supporting structure (e.g. of a bridge or the roof of a building) in arched form, an initially straight or pre-curved frame structure, having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, is pivotally supported at the first and second ends, whereupon the first and second ends are pushed towards one another to achieve a displacement of the first and second ends relative to one another, where the reduction of the distance between the first and second ends causes them to pivot and the frame structure to progressively and flexibly bend, against its resiliency, into a final arched form, the displacement of the first and second ends relative to one another is chosen to amount to at least 1% of the initial distance between the first and second ends, where the first and second ends are then fixed relative to one another in their displaced position so as to preserve the final arched form of the frame structure.

Abstract: A method of radar-imaging a scene in the far-field of a one-dimensional radar array, comprises providing an array of backscatter data D(fm, x?n) of the scene, these backscatter data being associated to a plurality of positions x?n, n=0 . . . N?1, N>1, that are regularly spaced along an axis of the radar array. The backscatter data for each radar array position x?n are sampled in frequency domain, at different frequencies fm, m=0 . . . M?1, M>1, defined by fm=fc?B/2+m??f, where fc represents the center frequency, B the bandwidth and ?f the frequency step of the sampling. A radar reflectivity image 1 (?m?, ?n?) is computed in a pseudo-polar coordinate system based upon the formula (2) with formula (3) where j represents the imaginary unit, formula (A) is the baseband frequency, FFT2D denotes the 2D Fast Fourier Transform operator, ?m?, m?=0 . . . M?1, and ?n?, n?=0 . . .

Abstract: A sealing bolt for sealing a container lid to a container body, the sealing bolt including: a first identity element configured so as to provide a first identification signal when sensed with an ultrasonic reading device; a second identity element configured so as to provide a second identification signal when sensed with an ultrasonic reading device; and a third identity element. The third identity element includes the first and second identity elements and a third identification signal is formed by the intersection points created by an overlap of the first and second identification signals. The invention also concerns a method for sealing a container lid to a container body using such a sealing bolt.

Abstract: A stacked multi-band antenna for a satellite positioning system comprises a stack of conductive patches, which are each dimensioned so as to be respectively operative in a dedicated frequency band. An excitation line section comprising pairs of conductive strips is arranged underneath the stack of conductive patches. Each pair of conductive strips is adapted for radiatively coupling to an associate conductive patch of the stack of conductive patches. An RF front end with at least one electric circuit is arranged in a triplate section underneath the excitation line section for operatively connecting the pairs of conductive strips to a satellite positioning receiver. The at least one electric circuit includes filters and amplifiers for respectively filtering and amplifying signals from the pairs of conductive strips, during antenna operation.

Abstract: A SPR sensing method comprising the steps of: providing a SPR sensor comprising a SPR supporting sensor surface and contacting a sample to be analysed with the sensor surface. At least one resonance condition at said SPR supporting sensor surface is monitored by illuminating the sensor surface with an SPR exciting test light beam and sensing the reflected or transmitted test light beam. Additionally, the sensor surface is illuminated with a reference light beam under conditions selected so as not to excite SPR at said sensor surface and sensing the intensity of the reflected or transmitted reference light beam. At least one property of the reflected or transmitted test light beam is determined taking into account the sensed intensity of the reflected or transmitted reference light beam.

Abstract: A sealing bolt for sealing a container lid to a body with a threaded bore includes a shaft, a head connected to a first shaft end, and a threaded second shaft end engaged with the bore to lock the lid between the head and the body. The bolt includes a security element with a breakable integrity element. The security element comprises a first part arranged at the second shaft end, connected to the shaft with a breakable integrity element therebetween. The first part has a first thread cooperating with the bore, and a second part between the first part and second shaft end includes, a second thread cooperating therewith. An entrainment device disposed between first and second parts such that when the shaft and first part rotate in a tightening direction, second part is entrained. When the shaft and first part rotate in a loosening direction, second part remains stationary.

Abstract: A sealing device including a housing and a closure member having a first end and a second end, at least one of the first and second ends being removably attached to the housing, the housing having means for checking the integrity of the closure member and a first transponder for transmitting information on the status of the sealing device where, the sealing device further includes a second transponder, preferably a passive transponder, associated with at least one of the first and second ends (16, 20) of the closure member, the second transponder comprising a second identity, and a transponder reader associated with the first transponder, preferably an active transponder, the transponder reader being arranged for reading the second identity of the second transponder; the first transponder being configured for receiving the second identity from the transponder reader and for transmitting the second identity.