Abstract: A medical ventilator system and a method for predicting transient states of a ventilated patient upon changes in mechanical ventilator settings are provided. The system includes a mechanical ventilator connected to a ventilated patient; and a modeling component to receive clinical and/or physiological variables of the ventilated patient and ventilator settings.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting microwave signals which carry information of the functional dynamics of biological particles are provided.

Abstract: A multilayer structure for photovoltaic applications includes a n-type high-work function transition metal oxide (TMO) layer deposited on a support structure, a thin n-type low-work function transition metal oxide (TMO) layer covering the n-type high-work function TMO layer, and a first absorber cell based on a perovskite material on the n-type low-work function TMO layer, the n-type high-work function TMO layer and the thin n-type low-work function TMO layer forming a hole-selective contact structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the biological recovery of metals in electric and electronic waste, which comprises a) inoculating a series of iron-oxidizing microorganisms and a mineral medium or fertilizers into an immobilized biomass column; b) performing a stage of biological oxidation of the iron II ions present in said mineral medium or fertilizers to iron III ions; c) irrigating a liquid phase into leaching columns that house an electrical material or one or more printed circuit boards from which metals are to be recovered, the iron III ions being reduced to iron II oxidizing the metals, and separating the metals by means of the dissolution thereof; and d) extracting the metals from the solution. The invention operates under a cyclic process that allows the iron II solution being re-circulated to the biomass column.

Abstract: A method and a system for detecting microwave signals which carry information of the functional dynamics of biological particles are provided.

Abstract: Fog computing systems are provided comprising edge-nodes and middle-nodes between edge-nodes and cloud-node. These nodes form a hierarchical structure with each cloud, middle node having children nodes, and each middle, edge node having a parent-node. Each edge-node receives data from sensors, assigns reception-timestamp to each data indicating when data has been received to produce series of timestamp-ordered data, trains local model through machine-learning based on said series of timestamp-ordered data, and sends said series to parent-node of the edge-node. Each middle-node collects series of timestamp-ordered data from children nodes of the middle-node, trains supra-local model through machine-learning based on said collected series of timestamp-ordered data, and sends said collected series to parent-node of the middle-node. Parent-children structures, edge-nodes and middle-nodes for such fog computing systems are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a permanently polarized hydroxyapatite and a composition or material comprising thereof. The present invention further relates to a process for obtaining a permanently polarized hydroxyapatite and to different uses of the permanently polarized hydroxyapatite or the composition or material comprising thereof.

Abstract: Methods are provided of automatically evolving a process model including process-elements and relationships between process-elements. The method comprises receiving user input defining one or more new constraints to be satisfied by the evolved process model. The method further comprises performing an optimization method to find a best solution of a cost function depending on a set of optimization conditions, over a solution space of possible consistent and/or sound process models derivable from the process model to be evolved depending on the one or more new constraints. The set of optimization conditions comprises maximization of constraints satisfaction corresponding to satisfaction of the one or more new constraints and of previous constrains from previous executions of the method. The method still further comprises updating the process model with the obtained best solution. Computer programs and systems are also provided that are suitable for performing such methods.

Abstract: A lightweight neutron dosimeter is disclosed. The dosimeter comprises a cylindrical body acting as moderator, an active component acting as neutron detector and neutron filters. The neutron filters are formed by at least two crowns placed inside the moderator, a first of said crowns being placed adjacent to the active component and a second crown being placed between the first crown and an inner wall surface of the moderator. The first crown includes top and bottom caps to cover open ends of the first crown, the top cap having an opening to allow introduction of the active component therein and a thickness of the top and bottom caps being the same as the thickness of the two crowns. The first and second crowns comprises vertical ribbons, an area covered by the plurality of vertical ribbons in each crown, excluding the top and bottom caps, being comprised in a range between 50-95%.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a microfluidic system based on passive capillary valves and pumps, that allows a discontinuous and autonomous measurement process for extensive periods of time. The microfluidic system comprises: at least one measuring chamber, at least one inlet for the input of a biofluid, a microfluidic intake channel fluidly communicating the inlet with the measuring chamber, at least one sensor suitable for measuring a parameter of an analyte of a biofluid. A passive fluid pump is fluidly communicated with the measuring chamber, and it is adapted to generate a capillary pressure greater than the biofluid generation pressure. A retention valve is interposed between the measuring chamber and the fluid pump, and the retention passive valve is configured to stop flow of biofluid for a certain period of time, when the measuring chamber if filled with biofluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system to assist walking in spinal cord injured people, who preserve hip flexion capacity, comprising a pair of KAFO-type orthoses with: (a) an angular actuator (5) in each knee; (b) an orientation and acceleration sensor (6) on each leg; (c) a power supply and control system (7) to which all the sensors and actuators are connected; (d) a control algorithm deciding when to flex or extend the knee depending on the walking cycle, using information from the sensors.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for a RDMS to compile an SQL assertion into SQL statements. RDMS includes SQL assertions including an SQL assertion to be checked and relational tables fulfilling pre-update satisfaction of the SQL assertions. SQL update and SQL assertion affect relational tables having pre-update content. The methods include: creating triggers to simulate, at run-time, SQL update execution by providing prospective tables with differential content according to SQL update without altering the pre-update content of affected tables; converting the SQL assertion into SQL views to determine, at run-time, satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the SQL assertion depending on pre-update content of affected tables and differential content of prospective tables; and creating a procedure configured to commit or abort, at run-time, SQL update execution onto affected tables depending on whether SQL assertion has been determined satisfied or dissatisfied.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an optical band-pass filter with blocked sidebands. The filter comprises a photonic crystal structure based on macroporous silicon having a series of pores defined in the structure. The photonic crystal structure includes a resonator block (BR), comprising at least two periodicity groups (GR1, GR2) between which there is a resonant cavity (CR), wherein the resonant cavity (CR) is adapted to provide a resonance peak in the center of a non-transmitting frequency band of the resonator block (BR); and at least one of a high-pass block (BPA), adapted to block wavelengths below said non-transmitting frequency band; or a low-pass block (BPB), adapted to block wavelengths above said non-transmitting frequency band.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining the amount of oxygen required by a user with respiratory problems are disclosed. First data about several users with respiratory problems is stored in a database. The method a) collects second data from a monitored user while (s)he is performing a test at a first location; b) computes a user’s behavioral model executing a first algorithm on the first and second data; c) collects, every period of time t1, third data of the user while (s)he is performing an activity at a second location; d) adjusts, every period of time t2, the computed user’s behavioral model using the first algorithm, providing a customized user’s behavioral model as a result; and e) computes an estimator of the quantity of oxygen to be delivered to the user by executing a second algorithm on the customized user’s behavioral model.

Abstract: Lattice structure with piezoelectric behavior characterized in that the lattice structure (1) comprises a periodic succession of unitary cells (10), wherein each unitary cell (10) is made of a dielectric material, is bending or torsion dominated and comprises nanometric structural connectors (11) connected to each other through nodes (12) defining a non-centrosymmetric shape having a topological constraint that induces torsion or bending of said structural connectors (11); and wherein the unitary cells (10) are connected to each other at least in series defining a continuous electric potential accumulation path with two opposed ends (2, 3), the unitary cells (10) being arranged within the lattice structure (1) in a non-centrosymmetric disposition accumulating and conducting without cancellation the electric gradient generated on each unitary cell (10) through the lattice structure (1) to said two opposed ends (2, 3).

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the synthesis of a biodegradable calcium release material that shows controlled ion release properties for tissue engineering, biomaterials containing the calcium particles as well as the calcium particles obtainable therefrom. By varying the treatment temperature of the described method, the calcium material shows different calcium release profiles. Contrary to a specific chemical composition such as CaCO3 which is associated to a specific calcium release profile, the present invention allows a manifold of compositions, with a manifold of calcium release profiles, all starting from a single specific chemical composition calcium precursor. Therefore, the invention also relates to the use of the controllable release, calcium material in tissue regeneration such as wound healing processes.

Abstract: Methods are provided of optimizing a tree-structured distributed-index with tree-nodes including data-elements and parent-child relations between tree-nodes. The distributed-index is stored in distributed system including computer-nodes each storing tree-nodes and a tree-map structurally describing the distributed-index. The methods include: inspecting the tree-map in first computer-node to determine whether the distributed-index is imbalanced due to a first tree-node in first computer-node and, in said case: notifying to other computer-nodes that first tree-node is replicable, to provoke that any request from other computer-nodes of inserting a data-element in first-tree-node includes inserting the data-element in corresponding child-node of first-tree-node; and verifying whether the other computer-nodes have been notified and, in said case, replicating data-elements stored in first tree-node into children-nodes thereof.

Abstract: Multilingual translators are provided with a plurality of input languages, a plurality of output languages, and a plurality of translation directions each of which from one of the input languages to one of the output languages. Multilingual translators include an encoder for each of the input languages and a decoder for each of the output languages. Each of the encoders is trained or trainable to translate from its input language to an arbitrary intermediate representation shared by all the translation directions and, furthermore, has its own encoding parameters or weights that are independent from the other encoders. Each of the decoders is trained or trainable to translate from the arbitrary intermediate representation to its output language and, besides, has its own decoding parameters or weights that are independent from the other decoders. Methods, computing systems, and computers programs for training such multilingual translators are also provided.

Abstract: A container for menstrual collection and emptying thereof, in the shape of a cup or of a flat cup, with a drainage tube composed of at least one very flexible thin-walled portion, and a wall portion of greater thickness. By applying an upward force on the portion, the tube is folded by its portion closing off the liquid passageway, and the tube end remaining directly anchored to the vaginal wall or below a hollow formed in the container. For a mid-day emptying, a downward force is applied on the portion to unfold the drainage tube. The horizontal rim of the cup has a number of notches to aid the folding and can have a sloped shape, or double-ringed.

Abstract: Hardware acceleration of task dependency management in parallel computing, wherein solutions are proposed for hardware-based dependency management to support nested tasks, resolve system deadlocks as a result of memory full conditions in the dedicated hardware memory and synergetic operation of software runtime and hardware acceleration to solve otherwise unsolvable deadlocks when nested tasks are processed. Buffered asynchronous communication of larger data exchange are introduced, requiring less support from multi-core processor elements as opposed to standard access through the multi-core processor elements. A hardware acceleration processor may be implemented in the same silicon die as the multi-core processor for achieving gains in performance, fabrication cost reduction and energy consumption saving during operation.