Abstract: An apparatus for the electrical stimulation of a subject is provided, the apparatus comprising a contact member having a contact surface for contacting the plantar surface of a foot of the subject; and means for providing an electrical stimulation cycle to the foot of the subject comprising supplying an electrical current to the contact surface for the electrical stimulation of the plantar muscles of the foot of the subject; wherein the contact surface is moveable so as to allow the angle of the joints of the foot and ankle of the subject to change during the electrical stimulation cycle.

Abstract: A method of generating energy from a gas flow, called the initial flow, including water vapour, the method including the deoxidation of at least some of the water vapour by passing the initial gas flow through a layer of material at high temperature, called the thermal base layer, essentially including high-temperature carbon, the deoxidation making it possible to obtain a first gas flow comprising hydrogen obtained by the reaction of the water vapour with the carbon elements. The initial flow may be a gas flow that has served for the treatment of a charge of wood. The hydrogen obtained constitutes an energy source and may then be used to produce energy by a gas boiler, a gas turbine, a fuel cell, a gas-powered engine, a turboalternator, or the like.

Abstract: Device for stimulating venous return in the lower limbs including a frame (1) intended to rest with a supporting surface against a foundation such as a floor, a bed head, a wall etc. The device is distinguished in that a foot plate (4) is arranged to tilt on frame (1) from an starting position that is angled in relation to the floor and thus frame (1) around an axle (5), that foot plate (4) is provided with a leaf spring (9) acting between a section (7) of the frame and the underside of foot plate (4), that the section (7) has such a form that when foot plate (4) pivots from the said starting position, leaf spring (9), by being progressively tensioned by the interaction of the frame with the section of the spring, increases the resistance against the pivoting of foot plate.

Abstract: Production of fuel gas which generates little nitrogen oxides on combustion, has a prolonged combustion period for unit volume, and presents a high combustion temperature.Alcohol or other liquid fuel is burnt in a fuel layer 20 in a combustion chamber 18 to generate a primary fuel gas, which is mixed in a gas pipe 14 with pressurized air ejected by an air nozzle 16, where spiral flow of air is formed around the ejected air. The ratio of the cross section of the primary fuel gas flow to that of air ejected from the air nozzle 16 is first decreased and then increased, so that vortices are formed in the area where the cross section changes to react the primary fuel gas with air and decompose hydrocarbons in the primary fuel gas into carbon and hydrogen with high reactivity, thus producing a fuel gas capable of high temperature combustion with low amount of nitrogen oxides generated.