Abstract: A method of marking fruits includes an incision in a fruit piece surface with a laser beam and the deposition in the superficial incision of a contrast agent comprising salts or oxides of iron or copper at a concentration between 0.001% and 1% of the total weight. The salts or oxides are capable of reacting with any of the phenolic and/or polyphenolic compounds present in the superficial tissues of the fruit. This contrast agent may also include other additives: acidity regulators, emulsifiers, antioxidants and complexing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a winding shaft for winding a continuous flexible material web into a roll. The winding shaft has means in order to adjust the diameter of the winding shaft surface to be wound between a reduced-diameter unused position and an expanded operating position, and the winding surface in the expanded position is formed jointlessly with a uniform curvature and is supported inward against the operational pressure around said winding surface in a dimensionally stable manner that is substantially uniform. A roll can thereby be wound without disruptions and then stored without a casing until the roll “dies”, said roll remaining stable during storage and not forming any disrupted zones on the inner face of the roll.

Abstract: A core which can be plugged onto a winding shaft for winding an endless, flexible material web to form a reel (10, 60, 70), wherein the core has means for adjusting the diameter of its surface to be wound between a rest state of reduced diameter and an expanded working state, and wherein the winding surface is of jointless configuration in the expanded state. A reel can therefore be stored until it is used up, and the core can then be pulled out of the reel and the reel can be surrendered, with the result that the circulation of sleeves is dispensed with.

Abstract: A method for producing a clinker for cement, comprising grinding a raw flour comprising, especially, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and SO3 in contents such that the formula for calculating SO3 content of=0.261×Al2O3?0.638×Fe2O3+k, where 2.5<k<3.5, then by sintering flour in an overn wherein the temperature is between 1250° C. and 1350° C. and oxygen content is between 2.5% and 10% by volume.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring a communication network are disclosed. A disclosed method of monitoring a communication network periodically collects data from a plurality of network elements within the communication network. The disclosed method analyzes the collected data in accordance with a rule that corresponds to a characteristic of performance or capacity of the plurality of network elements to form performance or capacity data representative of a user experience of the communication network. The disclosed method then presents the performance or capacity data via a web browser using a plurality of view levels and types.

Abstract: There is described a method and system for developing for an automation process a screen viewable on a target computer that has user interface objects. A development computer has a set of common design time components from a general purpose software development kit that also has a databinding facility and a set of customization components. Those components have an interface that allows access to the available for use automation process data objects and a process object picker that act as a user interface to the databinding facility to allow the browsing of a subset of the available for use data objects and selecting of one or more of the objects in the subset for binding by the databinding facility either to one or more members of the user interface objects or one or more of the user interface objects or a combination of the same.

Abstract: A real-time performance monitoring system for monitoring an electric power grid. The electric power grid has a plurality of grid portions, each grid portion corresponding to one of a plurality of control areas. The real-time performance monitoring system includes a monitor computer for monitoring at least one of reliability metrics, generation metrics, transmission metrics, suppliers metrics, grid infrastructure security metrics, and markets metrics for the electric power grid. The data for metrics being monitored by the monitor computer are stored in a data base, and a visualization of the metrics is displayed on at least one display computer having a monitor. The at least one display computer in one said control area enables an operator to monitor the grid portion corresponding to a different said control area.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus is provided. The X-ray imaging apparatus comprises an imaging assembly mounted on a rotary arm, the imaging assembly comprising an X-ray source and an X-ray detector coupled to the rotary arm so that X-rays emitted by the X-ray source are incidental to the X-ray detector. The X-ray imaging apparatus further comprises a first vibration measurement device coupled to the X-ray source and a second vibration measurement device coupled to the X-ray detector, and a first actuator and a second actuator configured to move the X-ray source and the X-ray detector to suppress'at least one component of the vibrations measured by the first and second vibration measurement devices.

Abstract: A mobile base designed to receive an X-ray machine is provided. An X-ray machine capable of being mounted on the mobile base is also provided. The X-ray machine of the invention is configured to move using a motor-driven system associated with a navigation system. The navigation system of the invention enables the X-ray machine to be moved automatically and with precision from one position to another within an examination, hybrid or operation room. The X-ray machine is also configured for the automatic positioning of the moving parts around the patient, while at the same time keeping the region to be subjected to radiography within an X-ray beam.

Abstract: A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell.

Abstract: A real-time performance monitoring system for monitoring an electric power grid. The electric power grid has a plurality of grid portions, each grid portion corresponding to one of a plurality of control areas. The real-time performance monitoring system includes a monitor computer for monitoring at least one of reliability metrics, generation metrics, transmission metrics, suppliers metrics, grid infrastructure security metrics, and markets metrics for the electric power grid. The data for metrics being monitored by the monitor computer are stored in a data base, and a visualization of the metrics is displayed on at least one display computer having a monitor. The at least one display computer in one said control area enables an operator to monitor the grid portion corresponding to a different said control area.

Abstract: Medical imaging equipment is provided. The medical imaging equipment comprises a support assembly, an arc-shaped member slidably mounted on the support assembly, a radiation source mounted on the arc-shaped member in the vicinity of a first distal end of the arc-shaped member and being oriented to radiate along the direction of an imaging axis, and a detector mounted on the arc-shaped member in the vicinity of the second distal end of the arc-shaped member and being oriented to face the source along the imaging axis, wherein the radiation source and the detector are respectively mounted on one side and the other of the mid plane of the arc-shaped member.

Abstract: A method for delivering ballast to a section of railroad track includes measuring an existing ballast profile of a section of railroad track using a remote sensing system, and providing a signal indicative thereof to a first computer. Using the first computer, the existing ballast profile is compared with an ideal ballast profile to compute a track file representing a volume of additional ballast needed as a function of linear position along the section of railroad track, and data representing the track file is transmitted to a second computer of an automatic ballast dump train. Ballast is dumped along the section of railroad track according to the track file under control of the second computer.

Abstract: A robot system (10) for picking parts (41) from a bin (40) use the image from one or more cameras (38) to determine if the robot gripper (24) has picked one part or more than one part and uses one or more images from one or more cameras (38) to determine the position/orientation of a picked part. If the robot (12) has picked more than one part from the bin (40) then attempt is made to return the excess picked parts to the bin (40). The position/orientation of a picked part that does not meet a predetermined criteria is changed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating subjects having cancers including administering an effective amount of an early activation molecule agonist, antagonist or depletor, to the subject. Human monoclonal antibodies specific to the early activation molecules, and methods of use, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for obtaining notes for software objects includes: reproducing, in a customer computer system, a problem that has been detected in the customer computer system; performing a trace while reproducing the problem, the trace identifying at least one object in the customer computer system as being involved in reproducing the problem; identifying, from among multiple notes in a notes repository, at least a first note as applying to the identified object, the identified first note configured for implementation in the customer computer system; and presenting the identified first note in the customer computer system.

Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a multi-cell battery pack has a plurality of switchable loads. Each of the plurality of switchable loads are associated with one of a plurality of cells of a multi-cell battery. The plurality of switchable loads discharge an associated cell in a first mode and diverts part of a charging current away from the associated cell in a second mode responsive to a drive signal. A plurality of current mode driver circuits applies the drive signal to each of the plurality of switched loads.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an integrated circuit and an open connection detection circuit within the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of inputs for connecting with a plurality of outputs of a multi-cell battery pack. The open connection detection circuit within the integrated circuit detects an open connection on at least one of the plurality of inputs from the multi-cell battery and generates a fault condition responsive thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable-spectrum solar simulator for characterising photovoltaic systems. The simulator can be used to obtain a spectrum adjusted to the solar spectrum, both for a standard spectrum or a real spectrum adjusted to local irradiation conditions. The simulator also allows the spatial-angular characteristics of the sun to be reproduced.

Abstract: A real-time performance monitoring system for monitoring an electric power grid. The electric power grid has a plurality of grid portions, each grid portion corresponding to one of a plurality of control areas. The real-time performance monitoring system includes a monitor computer for monitoring at least one of reliability metrics, generation metrics, transmission metrics, suppliers metrics, grid infrastructure security metrics, and markets metrics for the electric power grid. The data for metrics being monitored by the monitor computer are stored in a data base, and a visualization of the metrics is displayed on at least one display computer having a monitor. The at least one display computer in one said control area enables an operator to monitor the grid portion corresponding to a different said control area.