Abstract: This avalanche triggering system includes a portable unit configured to be carried by an operator, the portable unit comprising a gas storage device configured to store an oxidizing gas and a combustible gas; an explosion unit which is configured to be launched by the operator or to be transported by a drone and which includes a flexible envelope configured to be filled with an explosive gas mixture, the flexible envelope being deformable between a rest configuration in which the flexible envelope has a first inner volume and an inflated configuration in which the flexible envelope has a second inner volume which is greater than the first inner volume, the explosion unit further including an ignition device configured to trigger the explosion of the explosive gas mixture contained in the flexible envelope; and a control unit configured to remotely control the ignition device.

Abstract: A method of preparation of a gold electrode, which includes the steps of: a) inkjet printing on a substrate an ink including gold nanoparticles functionalized with a compound Cap of formula (I) HS-A-Polyalkylene glycol (I), wherein A is a bound or an alkyl chain having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and wherein polyalkylene glycol is polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or a mixture thereof; and b) annealing printed ink, wherein the compound Cap has an average molar mass of less than 500 g/mol, preferably an average molar mass of about 200 g/mol. Also, an electrode obtainable by the method of the invention, a sensor including the electrode and the use of the sensor.

Abstract: An organic electrochemical transistor, which includes a biologic detection layer and a catalytic layer, the latter being a composite material including noble metal nanoparticles and an organic conductive matrix. Also, a method for detection of a biological analyte wherein a biological fluid is contacted with such an organic electrochemical transistor.

Abstract: An organic electrochemical device including a substrate on which a source and drain are located, a gate electrode, and either a conductive channel of at least one organic conductive track or a conductive channel including at least one organic conductive track. Also, a method of manufacturing the organic electrochemical device.

Abstract: A position controlled drive mechanism and a control method for positioning a drive mechanism are introduced. A sensor generates a displacement signal indicative of a displacement of a movable stop driven by an electric motor. A controller controls rotation of the electric motor. The controller also calculates a position of the movable stop based on the displacement signal. The controller includes at least two modes of operation in which the controller controls the electric motor to rotate its shaft to reach a selected position of the movable stop; controls a voltage or current supplied to the electric motor to maintain a current position of the movable stop; controls the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft in a selected direction until an external object hinders the rotation of the rotatable shaft; and controls the electric motor to assist an externally initiated rotation movement detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A position controlled drive mechanism including an electric motor, an encoder associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor and a controller connected to both the electric motor and the encoder is described herein. The controller includes at least two of the following modes of operation in which the controller is configured as to: a) control the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft to a selected position; b) control the electric motor to maintain a current position; c) control the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft in a selected direction until an external object hinders the rotation of the rotatable shaft; and d) control the electric motor so as to assist an externally initiated rotation movement of the rotatable shaft detected by the encoder.

Abstract: Apparatus for the determination of radiation induced growth due to burnup of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly in a reactor core.

Abstract: A multi-element read-write magnetic recording head for recording information on a magnetic tape and for reading recorded information therefrom is provided. The recording head comprises an equal number of associated read elements and write elements to form a two-gap recording head comprising pairs of read and write elements. The two-gap recording head further comprises a first module and a second module, the first and second modules each comprising a plurality of read and write head elements. A first group of read and write heads is configured to perform in a forward direction of movement of the magnetic tape and a second group of read and write heads is configured to perform in a reverse direction of movement of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate having first and second magnetic layers disposed above the substrate and formed as a laminated sequence of magnetic sub-layers. The first and second magnetic layers have corresponding first ends representing a pole tip region of the head, corresponding second ends representing a back gap region of the head, and corresponding intermediate portions representing an intermediate region of the head between the pole tip region and the back gap region. The first and second magnetic layers are joined together in physical contact at the back gap region and are spaced from one another at the pole tip region and at the intermediate region. A nonmagnetic gap layer is disposed between the first and second magnetic layers at the pole tip region. A magnetic coil structure is disposed between the first and second magnetic layers at the intermediate region.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive read/write tape head is provided for reading and writing to tape media along a tape head face. The tape head comprises a plurality of modules, each module comprising a read element and a write element spaced apart and terminating at the tape head face and formed over a substrate. The read element comprises a soft film bias layer and a hard film bias layer butted against the SFB layer. The write element comprises two pole tips spaced apart by a gap. The tape head further includes a plurality of activating conducting coil turns operatively associated with the write element and covered by a cross-linked photoresist and positioned between the gap and one of the pole tips and set back from the tape head face.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor design and fabrication process that provides improved microtrack profile linearity for servo elements while simultaneously providing stable and linear data sensing elements suitable for high density tape head applications. The stability and uniformity of both data and servo sensor elements is enhanced through the use of a grating profile under both the soft film biased magnetoresistive sensor layer and the hard bias stabilizing magnets. Processing steps are eliminated by replicating the grating pattern for the servo sensor elements through a thick layer of alumina or silicon dioxide. The outer read shield is removed from the servo elements using a stripping process that eliminates structural damage arising from alumina pinhole's. Both element types are free of significant Barkhausen noise and instability because of the grating-stabilized domains in both the active magnetoresistive regions and the passive hard-biasing regions of each sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor design and fabrication process that provides improved microtrack profile linearity for servo elements while simultaneously providing stable and linear data sensing elements suitable for high density tape head applications. The stability and uniformity of both data and servo sensor elements is enhanced through the use of a grating profile under both the soft film biased magnetoresistive sensor layer and the hard bias stabilizing magnets. Processing steps are eliminated by replicating the grating pattern for the servo sensor elements through a thick layer of alumina or silicon dioxide. The outer read shield is removed from the servo elements using a stripping process that eliminates structural damage arising from alumina pinholes. Both element types are free of significant Barkhausen noise and instability because of the grating-stabilized domains in both the active magnetoresistive regions and the passive hard-biasing regions of each sensor.

Abstract: An arbitrary pattern write head assembly for writing timing-based servo patterns on magnetic storage media is provided, comprising: (a) a first pole piece comprising a substrate comprising a magnetic material, said substrate having a major surface; (b) a plurality of electrically conducting windings formed on the major surface; and (c) a second pole piece formed on the substrate, with a portion thereof formed above the plurality of electrically conducting windings and electrically insulated therefrom, the second pole piece having at least one opening therethrough defining a gap above the electrically conducting windings and the substrate, the second pole piece comprising at least two layers, each layer comprising a magnetic material. A method of batch fabricating servo writer heads is also provided for batch fabrication of servo writer heads at a very low cost. The method enables fabrication of heads capable of azimuthal recording commonly practiced in the video recording art.