Abstract: An attachment system for a removable vehicle component includes a fixed fastener associated with a first element, a cooperating receiver associated with a second element, and an aperture or port configured for providing access to the fixed fastener. The first element may be one of a vehicle fascia or a removable vehicle component, and the second element may be another of the vehicle fascia or the removable vehicle component. Vehicle fascia assemblies and methods of attaching a removable component to a vehicle fascia using the attachment system are described.

Abstract: A method for determining the complex amplitude of the electromagnetic field associated with a scene, comprising a) capturing a plurality of images of the scene by means of a photographic camera, the images being focused in planes of focus arranged at different distances, wherein the camera comprises a lens of focal length F and a sensor arranged at a certain distance from the lens in its image space, taking at least one image pair from the plurality of images and determining the accumulated wavefront to the conjugate plane in the object space corresponding to the intermediate plane with respect to the planes of focus of the two images of the pair.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a tire monitor, located in a wheel arch and configured to: project beam(s) onto a tire, measure reflection(s) of the beam(s); memory, processor(s) configured to, based on the reflection(s): build a two-dimensional (2D) profile of the tire, compare depths of the built profile to depths of a preloaded profile, assess tire wear based on the comparison.

Abstract: A guide and remote traction system for mini-invasive surgery in a body cavity that is easily positioned and hooked and causes lower injury, comprising: at least one detachable surgical endoclamp (10) with hooking means (11, 12), assembled with an introduction guide (20) and at an initially open position; and at a naturally closed position when detached from said introduction guide (20) by a detachment mechanism; said endoclamp (10) comprising a portion of ferromagnetic material at the end opposed to said hooking means (11, 12); a cylindrically-shaped introduction guide (20) assembled with said detachable surgical endoclamp (10), said introduction guide (20) comprising a mechanism to detach said endoclamp (10); and at least one remote traction means (30) for said endoclamp (10), acting through the application of an electromagnetic field over the ferromagnetic portion of said endoclamp (10).

Abstract: A trailer hitch cover assembly is provided. That trailer hitch cover assembly includes a roller and a flexible cover that is received on the roller. The flexible cover is displaceable between a retracted position wherein the flexible cover is wound onto the roller so as to provide access to a hitch receiver and a deployed position wherein the flexible cover extends from the roller so as to conceal the hitch receiver.

Abstract: A trailer hitch cover assembly is provided. That trailer hitch cover assembly includes a roller and a flexible cover that is received on the roller. The flexible cover is displaceable between a retracted position wherein the flexible cover is wound onto the roller so as to provide access to a hitch receiver and a deployed position wherein the flexible cover extends from the roller so as to conceal the hitch receiver.

Abstract: A trailer hitch cover assembly is provided. That trailer hitch cover assembly includes a guide track and two cooperating doors received for sliding movement in the guide track and displaceable between a closed position and an open position. A motor vehicle incorporating the trailer hitch cover assembly and a method of hiding a hitch receiver are also disclosed.

Abstract: A roof-mounted bicycle rack assembly for a motor vehicle includes a deployable bicycle carrier slidably attached to an underside of a roof panel of the motor vehicle. The bicycle carrier includes at least one bicycle support configured to deploy from and retract into a cooperating holder disposed on the roof panel underside. The bicycle support may include at least one tube or rail and the cooperating holder may include at least one sleeve or track configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one tube or rail therein.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for covering a hitch receiver. That apparatus includes a rotating cover displaceable between a first position concealing a hitch receiver from view and a second position allowing access to the hitch receiver. In one embodiment the cover includes two cooperating lugs and pivots about two pivot pins. In another embodiment the cover slides along opposed guide channels.

Abstract: A high-speed railway aerodynamic sleeper (1) including one central area (2), two support areas (3) on each side of the central area (2), on which the rails are placed, and two outer areas (4), located at the ends of the sleeper (1), following the support areas (3). The cross-section of the sleeper (1) includes, on the central area (2), and the support areas (3), and the two outer areas (4), a first bottom section (5) comprising a first polygon (7) having at least 4 sides and a second top section (6) having at least one second polygon (8) of n sides, n being?4, the first bottom section (5) and the second top section (6) being attached to each other, and the top base (10) of the first polygon (7) and the bottom base (9) of the second polygon (8) share their sides.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a perfusion system including: a first circuit adapted and configured to circulate a first perfusate through a lumen of a small intestine and a second circuit adapted and configured to circulate a second perfusate through one or more blood vessels of the small intestine. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of perfusing at least a portion of a small intestine. The method includes: circulating a first perfusate through a lumen of the small intestine and circulating a second perfusate through a blood vessel of the small intestine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing superconducting devices and to superconducting devices. The method comprises determining one or more regions of reduced critical current density in the superconducting device and modifying the critical current density in the one or more regions of reduced critical current density, so as to increase the overall critical current or to decrease the overall AC losses of the superconducting device. The modifying comprises modifying the amount and/or distribution of the superconducting material in the one or more regions of reduced critical current density; and/or modifying the chemical composition of the superconducting material in the one or more regions of reduced critical current density; and/or decreasing the cooling temperature in the one or more regions of reduced critical current density. A superconducting device formed according to such method can also be provided.

Abstract: A guide and remote traction system for mini-invasive surgery in a body cavity that is easily positioned and hooked and causes lower injury, comprising: at least one detachable surgical endoclamp (10) with hooking means (11, 12), assembled with an introduction guide (20) and at an initially open position; and at a naturally closed position when detached from said introduction guide (20) by a detachment mechanism; said endoclamp (10) comprising a portion of ferromagnetic material at the end opposed to said hooking means (11, 12); a cylindrically-shaped introduction guide (20) assembled with said detachable surgical endoclamp (10), said introduction guide (20) comprising a mechanism to detach said endoclamp (10); and at least one remote traction means (30) for said endoclamp (10), acting through the application of an electromagnetic field over the ferromagnetic portion of said endoclamp (10).

Abstract: A method on a first mobile node for facilitating exchange of pertinent data between mobile nodes over a wireless communications network can be provided. The method can include establishing, by the first mobile node, a wireless network connection with at least one other mobile node inside a predefined geospatial area, wherein the wireless network connection is established over the wireless communications network. The method can further include determining that a future position of the first mobile node is outside the predefined geospatial area and transmitting pertinent data residing on the first mobile node over the wireless communications network exclusively to the at least one other mobile node inside the predefined geospatial area, wherein the pertinent data is associated with the predefined geospatial area.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a system for positioning a reflective surface in relation to the sun by means of a solar sensor in the reflected light, the object of which is for the reflected light to fall upon a target point, using a solar sensor and a dual-axis angular mechanism. The procedure allows a reflective surface (R) mounted on a mechanical system having two rotation axes to be positioned in relation to the sun (S): azimuth-elevation; using a solar sensor (1) disposed in front of the reflective surface, facing it, in a fixed orientation. The solar sensor measures the angles (2) formed by the projections of the vector of the incident light in relation to two orthogonal planes (4). The procedure is applied independently and simultaneously in both rotation axes, and allows calculation of the relative position of the reflected ray (3) on the reflective surface in relation to the orthogonal planes (4) of the solar sensor (1).

Abstract: An optical element has a plano-plano body formed of a first material having a greater refraction index n1 and a second material having a lesser refraction index n2. Both indices are greater than one. The absolute value of the index contrast, log10 (n1/n2), is in the range from about 0.001 to about 0.17, preferably from about 0.01 to about 0.05. The materials have an induced absorbance rate ?Abs/Dose less than or equal to about 0.4, preferably less than or equal to about 0.2. The materials are arranged such that an interface with at least one cusp is defined therebetween. The cusp has an apex pointed toward the material having the greater index of refraction. The cusp is operative to produce a region of increased light intensity on one surface of the optical element in response to light incident on the other surface of the optical element.

Abstract: Sequences having specificity for Mycoplasma and related Mollicutes genus strains and uses thereof. Methods of use include detection of samples contaminated with Mycoplasma. Kits are provided and comprise one or more oligonucleotides for the detection of Mycoplasma and related Mollicutes genus strains.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive vehicle early open door warning system, including a first light device arranged in a first external area of a side of the vehicle, for emitting a warning light signal, prior to the opening of a door, a second light device arranged in a second area of the side of the vehicle spaced from the first area for emitting a warning light signal, and an electronic controller circuit in connection with the light devices, for controlling the first light device so that it emits the warning light signal prior to the opening of the door and the second light device so that it emits the warning light signal prior to or during the opening of the door.

Abstract: The high-speed railway aerodynamic sleeper (1) comprises one central area (2), two support areas (3) on each side of the central area (2), on which the rails are placed, and two outer areas (4), located at the ends of the sleeper (1), following the support areas (3). The cross-section of the sleeper (1) comprises, on the central area (2), and the support areas (3), and the two outer areas (4), a first bottom section (5) comprising a first polygon (7) of at least 4 sides and a second top section (6) comprising at least one second polygon (8) of n sides, n being ?4, the first bottom section (5) and the second top section (6) being attached to each other, and the top base (10) of the first polygon (7) and the bottom base (9) of the second polygon (8) share their sides.