Abstract: A chain connector for holding a chain (14) that moors a vessel to the sea floor under perhaps 2000 tons tension, which can be quickly disconnected in an emergency by applying a moderate disconnecting force such as 50 tons. The chain is hold by ratchets (24, 26) that are mounted on arms (34, 36). The arms have upper ends (35) that am pivotally mounted on a housing (38) and have free lower ends (44), with the lower ends being held by cams (50) on locking dogs (52) that have locking dog lower ends (51) pivotally mounted on the housing and free upper ends (60). A hydraulic actuator (70) has pins (58) that engage the upper ends of the locking dogs to prevent the arms and dogs from pivoting apart until the looking dog upper ends (60) are raised.

Abstract: A chain connector for holding a chain (14) that moors a vessel to the sea floor under perhaps 2000 tons tension, which can be quickly disconnected in an emergency by applying a moderate disconnecting force such as 50 tons. The chain is hold by ratchets (24, 26) that are mounted on arms (34, 36). The arms have upper ends (35) that am pivotally mounted on a housing (38) and have free lower ends (44), with the lower ends being held by cams (50) on locking dogs (52) that have locking dog lower ends (51) pivotally mounted on the housing and free upper ends (60). A hydraulic actuator (70) has pins (58) that engage the upper ends of the locking dogs to prevent the arms and dogs from pivoting apart until the looking dog upper ends (60) are raised.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.

Abstract: A composition, an encapsulated composition and/or nanoparticles comprising at least one essential oil having a large spectrum antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal activity and/or a plant antipathogen, optionally at least one antibiotic and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is disclosed. Methods for treating infectious diseases and especially bacterial, parasitic, fungal and/or plant infectious by using this composition, encapsulated composition and/or nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vessel includes a hull, a shaft extending from an upper part of the hull to a bottom of the hull, a turret being rotatably supported in the shaft via a turret bearing, a manifold support structure carrying one or more conduits being rotatably supported on the turret via a manifold bearing. The turret includes a cavity for receiving a mooring buoy carrying one or more risers and one or more vertically displaceable actuation members near the manifold bearing for vertically displacing the manifold support structure relative to the turret between a rotational position in which the manifold support structure can rotate relative to the turret via the manifold bearing and a locked position in which the bearing support structure is rotationally locked relative to the turret.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing particles, notably particles encapsulating an active substance. It also relates to particles obtainable by this process, dispersion thereof, and their use as a vehicle for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, diagnostic, veterinary, phytosanitary active substances or processed foodstuff.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanocapsules, including: a core essentially consisting of a fatty substance, which is liquid or semi-liquid at ambient temperature, and including a hydrophobic active principle and a diethylene glycol ether; an outer lipid shell which is solid at ambient temperature. The lipid nanocapsules of the invention are intended in particular for the manufacture of a drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid lipid core/solid lipid shell capsule surface-functionalized with at least one compound containing at least one amino function, characterized in that the lipid core/lipid shell architecture is on the nanometric scale and in that said compound is covalently bonded to said solid lipid shell via a transacylation reaction. It also relates to a method for preparing such capsules.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a useful method for preparing nanocapsules having a liquid lipid core and a solid shell and charged with at least one active agent having a hydrophilic character, said method comprising at least the steps consisting in: i) providing at least a first microemulsion having a water-in-oil character, stabilized by at least one lipophilic surfactant and containing in its hydrophilic phase at least one active agent having a hydrophilic character, providing at least a second microemulsion, separate from the first microemulsion, formulated by phase inversion of an emulsion and stabilized by at least one heat-sensitive, nonionic hydrophilic surfactant; iii) adding said first microemulsion to said second microemulsion under conditions propitious for the formation of a novel microemulsion architecture in which said hydrophilic active agent remains present in the hydrophilic phase of the first microemulsion; and iv) chill-hardening the mixture formed in the previous step, so as to obtain n

Abstract: The invention concerns nanocapsules, in particular with an average size less than 50 nm, consisting of an essentially lipid core liquid or semiliquid at room temperature, coated with an essentially lipid film solid at room temperature having a thickness of 2-10 nm. The invention also concerns a method for preparing same which consists in producing a reverse phase of an aqueous emulsion brought about by several temperature raising and lowering cycles. Said lipid nanocapsules are particularly designed for producing a medicine.

Abstract: Vessel comprising a hull having near a bottom a cavity for receiving a mooring buoy, a lifting device being placed on the hull comprising a cable that extends through the cavity to a weight that is situated below the bottom of the vessel, the mooring buoy being attached to the cable, the mooring buoy carrying mooring lines that are connected to a sea bed and being receivable in the cavity for coupling with the turret, the mooring buoy comprising a central shaft through which the cable passes, the buoy being movable relative to the cable in a length direction of the cable, wherein the weight is located on the cable at or below the buoy, a stopper being provided on the cable for engaging with the buoy and for blocking relative movement of the buoy and the cable, the stopper being fixed to the cable near an upper or a lower end of the buoy.

Abstract: A vessel includes a hull, a shaft extending from an upper part of the hull to a bottom of the hull, a turret being rotatably supported in the shaft via a turret bearing, a manifold support structure carrying one or more conduits being rotatably supported on the turret via a manifold bearing. The turret includes a cavity for receiving a mooring buoy carrying one or more risers and one or more vertically displaceable actuation members near the manifold bearing for vertically displacing the manifold support structure relative to the turret between a rotational position in which the manifold support structure can rotate relative to the turret via the manifold bearing and a locked position in which the bearing support structure is rotationally locked relative to the turret.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing poloxamer-protein particles. It also relates to poloxamer-protein particles obtainable by this method, dispersion thereof, and their use in methods of encapsulation, in particular of microencapsulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising in an aqueous phase, particles having a diameter in the range of 20 to 500 nm, said particles containing:—an oil phase;—in said oil phase,—an aqueous droplet, or—a nanocapsule (NC) comprising:—an aqueous core, and—a polymeric shell or a shell composed of an amphiphilic substance; and—a surfactant. This composition is particularly useful for encapsulating hydrophilic and/or lipophilic substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to nanocapsules with a liquid lipidic core and a solid lipidic shell, the lipidic core being loaded with at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible ingredient, said ingredient being present in the form of a reverse micellar system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for use in the preparation of nanocapsules which have a liquid lipid core and a solid lipid shell and which are loaded with at least one active agent, wherein said method comprises at least the steps consisting in providing a microemulsion formulated by phase inversion of an emulsion, providing a second composition, distinct from said microemulsion and completely or partly formed from at least one active agent, placing said microemulsion in the presence of said second composition under conditions suitable for the interaction of said active agent with said microemulsion and annealing said microemulsion having interacted with said active agent in such a way as to obtain said nanocapsules. The invention also relates to a corresponding kit.

Abstract: The invention concerns nanocapsules, in particular with an average size less than 50 nm, consisting of an essentially lipid core liquid or semiliquid at room temperature, coated with an essentially lipid film solid at room temperature having a thickness of 2-10 nm. The invention also concerns a method for preparing same which consists in producing a reverse phase of an aqueous emulsion brought about by several temperature raising and lowering cycles. Said lipid nanocapsules are particularly designed for producing a medicine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing particles, notably particles encapsulating an active substance. It also relates to particles obtainable by this process, dispersion thereof, and their use as a vehicle for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, diagnostic, veterinary, phytosanitary active substances or processed foodstuff.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of biodegradable microspheres that release a radiosensitizing anticancer agent for producing a medicament to be used simultaneously with, separately from or spread over time with a radiotherapy, for treating glioblastoma. The use of said biodegradable microspheres according to the invention results in a patient survival time of at least 90 weeks, a therapeutically effective concentration being maintained in the parenchymatous area throughout this time. The microspheres used preferably contain 5-fluorouracile of the tumor, by intratissular injection. The radiotherapy targeting the tumorous mass is dosed at 60 Gy over approximately 6 weeks. The invention also relates to a method for producing the biodegradable microspheres by emulsion-extraction, and to a suspension containing the biodegradable microspheres obtained using this method.