Abstract: A plasma thruster comprises a cylindrical discharge channel (1), an injector (4), a RF antenna surrounding the discharge channel (1) and a device (3) for generating an axial static magnetic field in the discharge channel (1). The RF antenna is a cylindrical birdcage antenna (2) formed of several electrically conductive parallel legs (10) connected by two end rings (11) including capacitors (12) between adjacent legs (10) in each case. The two end rings (11) with the capacitors (12) are formed on two printed circuit boards (14) to which the legs (10) are attached, said printed circuit boards (14) having a through opening for the discharge channel (1). The antenna maximizes electrical coupling efficiency and provides resulting electromagnetic fields for quasi-neutral plasma acceleration along with the magnetic field effect provided by the externally applied magnetic field.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hybrid video and feature encoding and decoding, with the encoding and decoding of the image feature being performed independently or differentially. The video and feature are encoded and decoded in separate layers, e.g., base layer and enhancement layer. The feature is extracted for a frame of the video, providing a frame-based feature-video association. A feature is extracted from an uncompressed video encoded in an enhancement layer into a feature bitstream. The video is encoded into a video bitstream, with the feature bitstream being embedded into the video bitstream by multiplexing both streams into an output bitstream. The image feature, which may be a differential image feature, is included in a sequence enhancement information SEI message of a frame header information of the video.

Abstract: A method for measuring radiotherapy doses on a subject undergoing radiotherapy or other treatments with ionizing radiations includes: electrically insulating the subject during the radiotherapy treatment; applying at least one electrode to the subject, or connected to an amplifier with a system for acquiring the signal outgoing from the amplifier; detecting, by means of the at least one electrode, the voltage pulse produced during the radiotherapy treatment and deriving from the ionization secondary electrons set into motion and/or by the loaded net charge induced in the subject; converting said voltage pulse into a value of charge induced by the treatment in the subject; and determining the dose of ionizing radiations received by the subject by a processing system which uses the above value of the induced charge, the energy spectrum of the incident beam and the contact surface of the incident beam on the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex synthetic system and method, which original input from a plurality of independent non-orthogonal frequency signals with a frequency band not greater than any respective central frequency f0 allows to develop a resulting complex signal with a limited frequency band always not greater than f0, instead of band sum of the respective non-orthogonal independent bands. The resulting complex signal is the linear combination of a plurality of complex orthogonal signals with a limited frequency band less than f0, and each is in bijection with the independent non-orthogonal starting signals.

Abstract: An energy conversion device, particularly electromagnetic energy, such as sunlight and the like, comprising a transparent polymer sheet having an edge and a surface, on which said electromagnetic radiation can impact, and a photovoltaic cell mechanically coupled with said edge of said polymer sheet, capable of transforming in an electrical current the radiation incident on it, characterized in that said polymer sheet comprises a polymeric matrix having silicon nanostructures, functionalized with organic binders, said polymeric sheet being then luminescent with respect to a portion of said electromagnetic radiation, so as to convey the same, through a wave-guide, towards said photovoltaic cell. Also disclosed is a method for realizing a polymeric matrix, for the manufacture of a transparent polymer sheet.

Abstract: The present invention focuses a system and or a complex synthetic method, which considering any not orthogonal, independent plurality signals with limited frequency bandwidth, not greater than any f0 central frequency, allows to develop a resultant complex signal with limited frequency bandwidth, not greater than any relative f0 central frequency instead of the one sum of all the relative plurality independent not orthogonal signals frequency bandwidths. The resultant complex signal is the linear combination of orthogonal complex signals plurality.

Abstract: A target practice system comprising a number of target units, each housing two pasteboard silhouette targets hinged eccentrically and activated so as to rotate between an idle position wherein they are fully concealed by the target unit, and an exposed position wherein they are exposed to fire. Each target unit also comprises a light source to one side of the path of the target as it moves between the idle and exposed positions, and an optical detector on the other side. The light produced by the light source is thus cut off by the target moving between the aforementioned two positions, except for any holes in the target, the presence and location of which is thus detected by the optical detector.