Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of monolithic xerogels and aerogels of silica/latex hybrids under subcritical conditions. In the two-stage synthesis of these alcogels in the presence of an acid-base catalyst, the hydrolysis and polycondensation of a silicon alkoxide are carried out in an organic medium containing excess water. A latex consisting of polybutyl methacrylate and polybutyl acrylate, modified with alkoxysilane groups, is first synthesized and then incorporated in the mixture either in the first stage in order to effect its co-hydrolysis with the silicon alkoxide, or in the second stage to effect its co-condensation with the previously hydrolysed colloidal silica. The resulting alcogels are aged, washed, and dried under subcritical conditions. This process gives hybrid products containing 0.1-50 wt-% of latex and having a density of 300-1300 kg/m3, a porosity of 40-85%, a specific surface area of 400-900 m2/g and a mean pore diameter of 2-12 nm.

Abstract: The cutting insert has a front layer (1A) provided with the lateral faces of a front circumference (3A, 4A, 5A, 6A) defining together with a large front face (1) a given number of cutting edges (13a, 13b; 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b; 16a, 16b). The cutting insert also has a rear layer (1B) provided with lateral faces of a rear circumference where at least certain faces are embodied in the form of faces supporting a frame (3B, 4B, 5B, 6B) on the walls of a toolholder housing (30), and wherein the number of the frame supporting faces (3B, 4B, 5B, 6B) is less than the number of cutting edges (13a, 13b; 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b; 16a, 16b).

Abstract: The device measures a light in a liquid by introducing in the liquid at least one emitting probe. The emitting probe includes a transmitter connected to a first waveguide, a second waveguide, and included in the second waveguide, at least one reflecting surface. The device may be used in a method for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium by gradually adding apolar solvent. The method includes a step which of determining, using at least one probe of the device, flocculation after adding amount of apolar solvent required for flocculation. The method is applicable to asphaltenes. The device may be used for measuring physico-chemical properties in opaque media.

Abstract: Evolution of an hydrocarbon reservoir in the process of producing is carried out by co-analyzing the changes in the propagation times and seismic amplitudes of a seismic wavelet along propagation paths in the ground. A base survey of the reservoir is provided, with a set of seismic traces at a first time T associated to a first velocity field Vb; a monitor survey of the reservoir is provided, the monitor survey being taken at a second time T+?T, with a set of seismic traces associated to the same positions as in the base survey; the monitor survey is associated to a second velocity field Vm.

Abstract: A variable valve timing mechanism-equipped engine is provided which allows a mount installing section and a hydraulic control valve of a variable valve timing mechanism to be positioned in a chain case without limitation of positioning of accessories such as a water pump, air conditioning compressor, power steering oil pump and alternator, and which simplifies an operating oil passage for the hydraulic control valve. In the variable valve timing mechanism-equipped engine, a mount installing section is positioned below an actuator cover section and is offset toward one side with respect to a cylinder axis, and intake- and exhaust-side hydraulic control valves are disposed sideward of the mount installing section with axes inclined toward a direction perpendicular to the crankshaft axis, the intake- and the exhaust-side hydraulic control valves overlapping one another.

Abstract: With a view to reducing the load imposed by a cantilevered balancer weight on a balancer shaft bearing while balancing the inertia force generated by the balancer weights with the center of gravity of a piston and connecting road system, a balancing device for an engine is provided, the device having a second balancer weight which is cantilevered at a position opposing a first balancer weight, wherein the balancer shaft bearing between the first and the second balancer weights is displaced toward the second balancer weight according to the axial direction of the balancer shaft for a certain distance from an intersection Y of the axis of the balancer shaft with a plane passing through the center of gravity Gp of the piston-connecting rod system so that the distance L2 between the intersection Y and the center of gravity G2 of the second balancer weight is longer than the distance L1 between the intersection Y and the center of gravity G1 of the first balancer weight and so that the moment created at the inters

Abstract: The present invention provides an intake system of an engine, having the engine mounted on a vehicle, which has a crankshaft oriented in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and an intake box having an inner space divided by a partition wall into an air cleaner chamber, an intake passage, and a resonator chamber. In such intake system of the engine, the air cleaner chamber is positioned above the intake manifold, the resonator chamber is positioned forward of the air cleaner chamber and the intake passage, and is formed to cover the overall width of the air cleaner chamber and the intake passage, and a through hole is formed between the air cleaner chamber and the resonator chamber, which separates a peripheral partition wall of the air cleaner chamber from a peripheral partition wall of the resonator chamber.