Abstract: The present invention relates to a pixel detector (10), comprising a semiconductor sensor layer (12), in which charges can be generated upon interaction with particles to be detected. The semiconductor layer defines an X-Y-plane and has a thickness extending in Z-direction. The detector further comprises a read-out electronics layer (14) connected to said semiconductor layer (12), said read-out electronics layer (14) comprising an array of read-out circuits (20) for detecting signals indicative of charges generated in a corresponding volume of said semiconductor sensor layer (12). The neighbouring read-out circuits (20) are connected by a relative timing circuit configured to determine time difference information between signals detected at said neighbouring read-out circuits (20).

Abstract: Method and neuroprosthetic device for monitoring and suppression of pathological tremors in a user through the neurostimulation of the afferent pathways to the brain, which comprises wearable elements placed over the parts of the body affected by tremor, wherein said wearable elements (1) have sensors selected from bioelectric sensors (3) generating a bioelectrical signal characterization of tremor, biomechanical sensors (4) generating a biomechanical signal characterization of tremor and a combination thereof, a programmable electronic device (9) comprised of a control, acquisition and processing module of the characterization signals, and a signal generator for the afferent stimulation based on the bioelectrical, biomechanical or combination of both signal characterization and stimulation electrodes (8) which transmit the neuromodulation signals to the afferent pathways projecting into the central nervous system to modulate the activity of the neural structures responsible for tremor generation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for depth image acquisition of an object wherein at least two time-of-flight cameras are provided and the object is illuminated with a plurality of different light emission states by emitting light signals from each camera. Measurements of the light reflected by the object during each light emission state are obtained at all the cameras wherein the measurements may then be used to optimise the depth images at each of the cameras.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a scanning probe microscope having a probe (2) with a tip (21) for interacting with a sample (4), and a nanoscanner (1) for retaining the sample (4) or the probe (2), comprising the steps of monitoring the extension of the piezo element (1) along a first direction (R) along which the tip (21) is moved towards the sample (4), and adjusting the level of the probe (2) along the first direction (R) by means of an additional actuator (3), when the nanoscanner (1) exhibits an extension below or above a threshold value. The invention further relates to a device (100) for controlling a scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyfunctional nitrones (optionally in the form of nitrone-terminated polymers) and to their use as crosslinking agents and matting agents, preferably for producing stable molding compounds, knifing fillers, and use thereof in inks, coatings, and adhesives. Low crosslinking temperatures characterize the invention. Through the use of polyfunctional nitrones it is possible for all unsaturated polymers to be cured, solidified and/or structured at low temperatures, preferably without use of a catalyst. Depending on the amount of nitrone-terminated polymers and/or low molecular mass polyfunctional nitrone used it is possible to exert a strong influence over the optical and the mechanical properties of the coated surfaces. By optical properties are meant, among others, the gloss of the coating systems and the surface structuring, e.g., the matte effect.

Abstract: Positron emission tomography, possibly in combination with computed tomography, allows in addition to medical diagnostic imaging the quantitative determination of various parameters. Quantitative measurements using tomographs exhibit a severe and unavoidable dependency on the imaging properties of the respective tomograph, which makes quantitative assessment of the results difficult. This relates particularly to multicentric medical studies, which obligatorily require quantitative comparability of the data measured by the participating centers. The methods claimed herein include the definition of a virtual tomograph with defined imaging properties. The claimed methods also cover determination of the imaging properties of different tomographs on the basis of suitable reference measurements and possibly by using a calibration phantom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining nuclear DNA (nDNA) in sperm sample by means of Raman micro-spectroscopy. In particular, the method is useful to determine the presence of intact and/or damaged nDNA in a sperm. Further, the present invention is directed to a method for screening sperm for in vitro fertilization or artificial reproduction treatment (ART).

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoarray (1), comprising: a plurality of cells (10), wherein each of said cells (10) comprises a means (20)that is configured to generate a photocurrent (I) being proportional to the intensity (L) of the light impinging on the respective cell (10), and wherein each of said cells (10) comprises a change detection circuit (100) connected to the respective means (20) for generating the photocurrent (I), which change detection circuit (100) is configured to generate an output signal merely in case a change event occurs at which said intensity (L) changes by a threshold amount (T, T?) since the preceding change event from the respective cell (10). According to the invention said means (20) for generating said photocurrent (I) is additionally also used to estimate the magnitude of the said photocurrent (I) being a measure of the brightness of the light at the respective cell (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a real time-capable analysis of a sequence of electronic images for estimating the pose of a movable object captured by means of the images. The invention further relates to implementing the invention in software and, in this connection, to a computer-readable medium that stores commands, the execution of which causes the method according to the invention to be carried out. The invention proceeds from a skeleton model, which is described by a small number of nodes in 3D space and permits a good data compression of the image information when the co-ordinates of the nodes describe at any time the position of predetermined parts of the moving object. The skeleton model simultaneously represents previous knowledge of the object, by defining e.g. node pairs and optionally also node triplets in the skeleton model that describe cohesive object parts or optionally object surfaces, which are contained in the measured 2½-D image information, i.e. are visible to the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for supporting an exercise movement, comprising an object, a detection device (101) for detecting an actual position of the object, a determination device (103) for determining a desired position of the object, and a display device (105) for displaying information on the desired position if the actual position and the desired position are different from each other.

Abstract: A dye loaded zeolite composite material comprises a plurality of zeolite crystals each having a plurality of straight through uniform channels extending between the proximal face and the distal face and having a channel axis parallel to and a channel width transverse to a longitudinal crystal axis A. Each channel contains a substantially linear arrangement of dye molecules comprising first and second dye molecules having an elongated shape with a longitudinal extension exceeding said channel width and a lateral extension not exceeding said channel width.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an active optical connection with an optoelectronic element and a light deflection means for light deflection between the optoelectronic element and an optical waveguide arranged transversely with respect to the beam direction of said element. In this case, it is provided that a carrier substrate for the optoelectronic element is arranged in a highly precisely repeatably positioning machine, in particular a flip-chip machine, the optoelectronic element is mounted on the substrate by a or the highly precisely repeatably positioning machine and a curable, moldable compound is applied over the optoelectronic element, and the moldable compound is molded by a mold for molding light deflection means, said mold being moved by a or the highly precisely repeatably positioning machine, and at the earliest thereafter the substrate is removed from the or a highly precisely repeatably positioning machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to naphthoquinone derivatives isolated from solid callus cultures from two species of the palaeotropical plant families Dioncophyllaceae and Ancistrocladaceae. It further relates to methods of their production as well as to their use as antiinfective and antitumoral pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating system comprising a layer of carbon nanotubes aligned parallel to another, and a directly linked surface layer with metallic properties, from which said carbon nanotubes are grown in “tip” growth. The coating system may further comprise a base layer and/or a substrate. It can be obtained by producing a structured layer from a first phase, consisting of a metal having no independent catalytic activity in terms of the emergence of CNTs from the gas phase, and a second phase consisting of a metal, which catalyzes the emergence of CNTs from the gas phase, on a substrate or a base layer, wherein the first phase has an uneven thickness and/or folded structure potentially interspersed with pores, and the second phase is located in depressions and/or pores of the initial phase in such a way that both material phases are present at least partially next to each other in the lateral plane on said substrate or said base layer located thereon.

Abstract: A device for repair surgery of cylindrical organs, particularly ruptured tendons, is configured as a tubular sheath (T) made of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. The tubular sheath comprises an elastic fiber mesh formed by electrospinning of said polymer and has an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface substantially parallel thereto. One of said wall surfaces is comparatively rough (WR) and the other one of said wall surfaces is comparatively smooth (WS), with the tubular sheath having a Young elasticity modulus of about 2 to about 5 MPa and an elongation at break of about 50 to about 1,000%. Preferably, the polymer is a biodegradable polyester urethane block copolymer with poly-hydroxy-butyrate as a hard 10 segment and ?-caprolactone as a soft segment.

Abstract: A hinge element has at least one planar structure made of a thermoplastic material. Following a stretching process, the thermoplastic material undergoes a shrinking process under the effects of heat.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a semitransparent photo conversion device that enhances harvesting of visible sunlight. For this purpose, a semitransparent photovoltaic cell is provided with a multilayer structure that can be used to change the color hue appearance of the cell while guaranteeing a minimum change in the light absorption capability. The photo conversion device has a direct or inverted architecture that comprises a first light transmissive electrical contact overlaying a transparent substrate, a charge blocking layer overlying the first light transmissive electrical contact and underlying the active organic photosensitive material, a second charge blocking layer overlying the active organic photosensitive material, a second light transmissive electrical contact overlying the second charge blocking layer, and a multilayer structure overlying the second light transmissive electrical contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of apotransferrin for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of brain stroke. Particularly the invention relates to the use of apotransferrin for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of brain strokes wherein the drug prepared with apotransferrin is for administration by vascular route, preferably intravenous or intraarterial.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing an expression vector encoding a tailored recombinase, wherein said tailored recombinase recombines asymmetric target sites within the LTR of proviral DNA of a retrovirus inserted into the genome of a host cell and is useful as means for excising the provirus from the genome of the host cell. The present invention further relates to an in vitro-method of optimising the treatment of a retroviral infection of a subject and to the use of tailored recombinases for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for reducing the viral load in a subjected infected by a retrovirus.

Abstract: The invention at hand concerns hydrophobic polymer surfaces, in particular superhydrophobic polymer surfaces, comprising at least one homo- or copolymer, which comprises at least one side chain with at least one fluoro-substituted aryl group. Furthermore, the invention at hand concerns a method for the production of polymer surfaces of this type, their use and polymers of the general formula I: wherein n is an integer between 10 and 4,500, preferably between 20 and 2,200 and particularly preferably between 100 and 670.