Abstract: A flat thermionic emission screen (1) has a first substrate (2) on which are arranged an emission cathode (4) and an electron extraction grid (8), a second substrate (12) facing the first substrate (2) on which is arranged an anode (14) designed to collect the electrons emitted by the cathode (4), and an electronic control circuit of the anode (14) voltage having at least one commutation component (18, 20). The commutation component (18,20) is built into the first substrate (2) and in the second substrate (12) of the screen (1).

Abstract: A method controls voltage of a matrix structure electron source. The method includes setting the emission of electrons by applying potentials on the selected line and column(s) at a value allowing this emission, maintaining these potentials at their value throughout the duration of the emission, carrying out a sampling and analog memorisation of the emission current of each pixel of the column(s) at the start of the emission time, and using another current supplied by a current generator that is proportional to the value of the measured emission current circulating the column(s); and measuring the quantity of charge delivered, during all or part of the remaining line time, by each current generator, and when this quantity reaches a required value, commuting the potential of the column associated to the current generator to a value that ensures the blocking of the emission of electrons of the pixel of this column.

Abstract: In a method of detecting text in a video signal (VS), high horizontal frequencies in the video signal (VS) are detected (ED) to obtain horizontal edge detection results (refo, refpp1, refpp2), and horizontal edge detection results (refo) at a given position are correlated (C) with horizontal edge detection results (refpp1, refpp2) at vertically neighboring positions.

Abstract: A process for manipulating the flavor of a single mass of chocolate which comprises first reducing or removing the natural flavor from the chocolate ingredients or the chocolate mass and then adding an effective amount of a flavor to the chocolate mass. The flavor provides any of the following attributes: cocoa/dairy, roasted, sweet, bitter, crumb, caramel, fruity, floral, biscuit, baked, bready, cereal, malty, popcorn, astringent or praline.

Abstract: A process for manipulating the flavor of a single mass of chocolate by adding a flavor effective amount of a non-cocoa and/or milk/dairy flavor attribute to the chocolate mass wherein the flavor provides any of the following attributes: roasted, sweet, bitter, crumb, caramel, fruity, floral, biscuit, baked, bready, cereal, malty, astringent or praline.

Abstract: Process and device for control of an electron source with matrix structure, regulated by the emitted charge.

Abstract: In a video signal enhancement method, a video signal (Y) is histogram-based processed to obtain a histogram-processed video signal (Y′), and a sharpness of the histogram-processed video signal (Y′) is enhanced to obtain an output video signal (Y″) in dependence upon a sharpness enhancement control signal (CS) derived from at least the histogram-processed video signal (Y′). Advantageously, the sharpness enhancement control signal (CS) represents a derivative of the histogram-processed video signal (Y′).

Abstract: In a method of picture signal enhancement, a picture signal is subjected (3, 7) to a histogram-based picture signal modification based on a luminance level distribution over a whole picture or a first part of the picture, and the histogram-based picture signal modification is locally adjusted (5) in dependence on locally measured picture signal properties other than contrast and brightness, the locally measured picture signal relating to second parts of the picture that are each substantially smaller than the whole picture or the first part of the picture, the second parts being within the whole picture or the first part of the picture.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (100) for improving images depending on the type of regions within the image, comprises a segmentation unit (102) to localize regions with a pre-selected type and an improvement unit (106) being designed to improve the image, which can be controlled in order to modulate the amount of improvement over the image. The image processing apparatus (100) further comprises a determination unit to find a range of values to characterize the pixels of the regions which should be handled separately based on the results of the segmentation unit (102).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (100) for improving images comprising a classification unit (102) for setting classification values to various regions of the images, and an improvement unit (104) for improving the image based on the classification values of the regions. The classification unit (102) takes into account only those pixels of the image that have a color value which is substantially equal to one of the color values from a predetermined range of color values. Based on these pixels the classification unit (102) determines whether the pixels belong to texture or to flat regions by comparing 2 histograms, one taking into account all the pixels with the color in the predetermined range of color values, the second one counting only these same pixels if their luminance value differs more than a given threshold form the luminance of their neighbor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases comprising the administration of compositions comprising one or more peptide(s) having a stimulatory effect on the afflicted host's immune system. Specifically, the invention relates to methods comprising the use of cationic amphipathic peptides having an &agr;-helical structure and effecting activation of macrophages when administered in a therapeutically sufficient amount. The methods of the present invention are useful for the treatment of, for example, infectious or cancer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a flat thermionic emission screen (1) comprising a first substrate (2) on which are arranged an emission cathode (4) and an electron extraction grid (8), a second substrate (12) facing the first substrate (2) on which is arranged an anode (14) designed to collect the electrons emitted by the cathode (4), and an electronic control circuit of the anode (14) voltage comprising at least one commutation component (18, 20).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for the treatment of diseases comprising the administration of compositions comprising one or more peptide(s) having a stimulatory effect on the afflicted host's immune system. Specifically, the invention relates to methods comprising the use of cationic amphipathic peptides having an &agr;-helical structure and effecting activation of macrophages when administered in a therapeutically sufficient amount. The methods of the present invention are useful for the treatment of, for example, infectious diseases or cancer.

Abstract: In a method of detecting text in a video signal (VS), high horizontal frequencies in the video signal (VS) are detected (ED) to obtain horizontal edge detection results (refo, refpp1, refpp2), and horizontal edge detection results (refo) at a given position are correlated (C) with horizontal edge detection results (refpp1, refpp2) at vertically neighboring positions.

Abstract: Reading device for an array of radiation detectors arranged as a mosaic of detectors and having a plurality of capacitors (222), each connected to a reading circuit (224, 225). According to the invention, each capacitor (222) is associated with a subarray of several detectors of the mosaic, the reading device also having a plurality of controllable switches (231, 232, 233, 224) for successively connecting each detector of each subarray respectively to the associated integrating capacitor (222) and the reading device having means (226) for controlling the closing and opening of the switches in an order excluding the simultaneous reading of the signal of closer neighbouring detectors.

Abstract: Tannase covalently immobilized by its glycoside part on an insoluble support. Process for the preparation of a tea extract, in which an aqueous extract of tea leaves is prepared, and the extract is treated at a temperature of 20-65.degree. C. with tannases whose glycoside part is covalently immobilized on an insoluble support, in particular in a tank which contains immobilized tannases in suspension, or in a reactor which includes a fixed bed or a fluidized bed of immobilized tannases.

Abstract: Hydrolysis of the galactomannans of a liquid coffee extract, in which this extract is hydrolyzed at a temperature of 20.degree.-80.degree. C. with immobilized beta-mannanases.

Abstract: It comprises information photodetection means (2), which have N photodetectors (6), each photodetector being able to supply a current having an information-carrying component and a non-information carrying component, N being an integer at least equal to 1, reading means (4) for the thus detected information and which use for this purpose the current supplied by each photodetector, and N other regulatable means (22) respectively associated with the N photodetectors each other regulatable means being able to extract a regulatable intensity current from the current supplied by the associated photodetector prior to the use of said latter current by the reading means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring the enzymatic activity of a convertase, wherein:(a) a biological sample containing the convertase is brought into contact with a labeled peptide substrate consisting of at least 10 AA, reproducing or mimicking the sequence of the precursor at the excision site, and(b) after conversion, the enzymatic activity of the sample is measured by determining the percentage of labeled conversion fragments relative to one or more standards.