Abstract: A cooling system of a first psychrometric mixture having a condensation unit capable of condensing fluid contained in this mixture by direct contact with liquid comprising this fluid, the liquid being in the condensation unit at a temperature below that of the first mixture, and an evaporation unit capable of evaporating liquid in a second psychrometric mixture having fluid, the liquid being in the evaporation unit at a temperature greater than that of the second mixture, the condensation and evaporation units being coupled by a circulation circuit of the liquid, and a regulator for regulating the liquid flow.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for generating a human atopic disease-like phenotype, preferably an atopic dermatitis (AD)-like phenotype in a mammal comprising administering to said mammal at least one compound selected in the group comprising the physiologically active vitamin D3 (1?,25(OH)2D3) and agonistic analogs thereof. The present invention also concerns a method for treating and/or preventing an atopic disease in a patient in a patent comprising administrating to said patient an effective amount of at least one vitamin D3 antagonist.

Abstract: A device used to supply a gas mixture including hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a concentration not exceeding 100 ppm to a main fuel cell which is supplied with air. The device includes a reformer, which is used to convert a fuel into a gas mixture including carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and a purification device to diminish the concentration of carbon monoxide in the gas mixture and that is connected to an anode inlet of the main fuel cell. The supply device also includes an auxiliary fuel cell supplied with air and that receives the carbon monoxide produced by the reformer to convert part of the chemical energy of the carbon monoxide into electrical energy.

Abstract: Continuous process for the production of carbon-based nanotubes, nanofibres and nanostructures, comprising the following steps: generating a plasma with electrical energy, introducing a carbon precursor and/or one or more catalysers and/or carrier plasma gas in a reaction zone of an airtight high temperature resistant vessel optionally having a thermal insulation lining, vaporizing the carbon precursor in the reaction zone at a very high temperature, preferably 4000° C.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which includes the steps of: introducing into a pre-drilled portion of a well (16) a drilling system containing a drilling bit (11) assembled with tubular lining elements (15), an element for measuring the inclination and azimuth direction of the pre-drilled part of the well, an element for rotary friction (26, 27) against the wall of the pre-drilled part and an element capable of modifying the friction coefficient of the friction element against the wall; measuring the azimuth direction of the pre-drilled part of the well (16); and varying the friction coefficient of the friction element (26, 27) sufficiently to influence the azimuth direction of the next well portion to be drilled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous production of carbon black with a high fullerene content. The device essentially consists of a plasma reactor (1), a downstream heat separator (2) to separate the non-volatile constituents and a cold separator (3) attached thereto.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is described for drying a load of moist fibrous material, particularly a load of laundry washed and placed in a washer/drier machine or a clothes drier, wherein a closed-circuit flow of superheated steam at 102-180.degree. C. and substantially at atmospheric pressure is passed through the load of fibrous material. The method is characterized in that, prior to the superheated steam drying step, the air in the closed circuit is flushed therefrom with steam.

Abstract: A titanium-based intermetallic alloy having a high yield stress, a high creep resistance and sufficient ductility at ambient temperature has the following chemical composition as measured in atomic percentages:Al, from 16 to 26; Nb, from 18 to 28; Mo, from 0 to 2; Si, from 0 to 0.8; Ta, from 0 to 2; Zr, from 0 to 2; and Ti as the balance to 100; with the condition that Mo+Si+Zr+Ta>0.4%.Production, working and heat-treatment ranges adapted to the intended use of the material are also defined.

Abstract: Footwear or clothing article with integral thermal regulation element, includes a heat pipe (3) with a first portion, or source area (3a) in heat exchange contact with a relatively warm region (2) of the wearer's body, and another portion, or sink area (3b) in heat exchange contact with another region of the wearer's body or with the atmosphere, so as to transfer the heat (Q1) produced by the warm body region from the source area (3a) to the sink area (3b) of the heat pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of the profile of reflective elements of a light as well as the lights obtained by this process, the light comprising at least two cylindrical reflective elements (5, 5'). This process is characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of:defining the position of one end (R.sub.o) of the profile of each reflective element (5, 5')defining an illumination function E(.theta.) corresponding to a desired illumination curve, connected to a luminance function L(.theta.) by the formula:E(.theta.)=L(.theta.).multidot.cos.sup.2 .theta.=k?s.multidot.cos.theta.+.rho.r.multidot.sin (.phi.-.theta.)-.rho.r.sub.o sin (.phi..sub.o -.theta.)! cos.sup.2 .theta.if said end (Ro) of the profile of the reflective element (5, 5') is the downstream end of this latter, and an illumination function:E(.theta.)=L(.theta.).multidot.cos.sup.2 .theta.=k?s.multidot.cos.theta.-.rho.r.multidot.sin (.phi.-.theta.)+.rho.r.sub.o .multidot.sin (.phi..sub.o -.theta.)! cos.sup.2 .

Abstract: The invention relates to the diagnosis of retrovirus diseases.In the quantitative determination of retrovirus in vitro, comprising means for the retrotranscription in viral DNA of viral RNA of samples of liquid and means for amplification of the viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction, a means for the quantification of the results is used which is composed of an external standard formed by samples of cell cultures infected by determined quantities of said retrovirus titrated in their reference viral protein (or "core protein"), said samples being distributed in liquid which is free of said virus, determined in parallel with the serum to be tested.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-pulmonary embolism filter of the pe made of a remanent spring effect resilient wire, characterized in that it is shaped into a spiral (1) having three non-touching turns (2, 3, 4) with the middle turn (3) having a diameter (d3) greater than the diameters (d2, d4) of the other two turns, and in that this diameter (d3) is selected to be close to the half-circumference of the vena cava in the zone where the filter is to be implanted so as to ensure that the function of holding the filter in place by flattening of the vena cava is optimized.

Abstract: A method for processing images using hierarchically organized queues is provided. In particular, the method relates to the segmentation and filtering of certain shapes whose contours appear to be imprecise due to the existence of image noise, thereby eliminating such noise and providing a more precise image. The disclosed method is applicable to all sectors of image analysis and is especially useful in the analysis of images acquired by tomographs used in the medical field, whether these images are two-, three- or even four-dimensional. The method can also be extended to numerous dimensions and to color images. The method is also of particular usefulness in the fields of traffic control, i.e., detection of vehicles and roads, and more generally to all fields of industrial vision. The disclosed method can also be essential in coding and image compression for telecommunications and archiving.

Abstract: Reflector for source of radiation, of the plane or cylindrical type, constituted by two reflector elements disposed symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the reflector, each reflector element is constituted by at least one cylindrical part of which the generatrices are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector, the cross-section of this cylindrical part being constituted by a curve such that the rays reflected by the respective ends of this curve constitute two end rays forming respective angles with the plane of symmetry, all the rays reflected on the reflector element being included between the respective angles.

Abstract: A niobium and titanium based alloy having a density less than 6.5 and possessing a high resistance to oxidation at high temperatures in the region of 900.degree. C. has a chemical composition comprising, in atomic percentages:more than 24% Nbfrom 30 to 48% Tifrom 21 to 38% Aland possibly up to 8% of at least one of Cr, Mo, V and Zr.

Abstract: Compounds which are hydrolyzed in vivo to n-butyric acid are esters of butyric acid in which the alcohol group is selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, cyclic and acyclic aldose or ketose monosaccharides and their acetonides. Of particular interest are O-butanoyl-6-O-ispropylidene-1,2,.alpha. O-glucofuranose, tri-O-butanoyl 3, 5, 6,- isopropylidene-1,2 .alpha.-D-glucofuranose, O-butanoyl-6-di-O-isopropylidene-1,2 : 3,4 .alpha.-D-galactopyranose, and penta-O-butanoyl-1,2,3,4,6 D-galactopyranose and penta-O-butanoyl-1,2,3,4,6.alpha. D-galactopyranose, )-n-butanoyl-1-isopropylidene-2,3 glyceryl, O-butanoyl-3-di-o-palmitoyl-1,2 glyceryl, and di-O-n butanoyl-2,3 O-palmitoyl-1 glyceryl.

Abstract: A process is provided for drying products in divided form, particularly cereals, and an apparatus for implementing this process. This process is based on the principle of placing the material to be dried (cereal grains, food grains . . . ) in suspension in a gaseous stream forming the hot drying fluid. In accordance with the invention, alternate steps are provided for drying and sweating the material during treatment, the sweating involving absence of drying fluid flow about the grains. An apparatus for implementing this process includes a casing with vertical axis in which is mounted at least one perforated horizontal plate supporting the fluidized bed, a blade being movable perpendicularly to the plate, two side hoppers with mobile bottoms being associated with each plate, a blade being mounted in each hopper.

Abstract: A method for coating a heat engine part, particularly a turbo-machine part made of a superalloy and adapted for use in aeronautical applications, comprises electrophoretically depositing a metallic structure of cellular form with uniformly disposed cells of predetermined size. The deposition is performed using an electrophoresis bath containing methanol, aluminum chloride as an electrolyte, and a powder containing Cr, Al, Y, Ta and Ni. The cellular metallic structure is consolidated by a sintering treatment, which may be reactive, or metallization, preferably in the vapor phase, and the coating is completed by applying a ceramic material by plasma spraying.

Abstract: Superalloy with a nickel base matrix having good mechanical properties when ot in respect of tensile strength, creep resistance, low cycle fatigue and resistance to crack-propagation of which the composition in percentages by weight is as follows: Cr 11 to 13; Co 8 to 17; Mo 6 to 8; Nb less than or equal to 1.5; Ti 4 to 5; Al 4 to 5; Hf less than or equal to 1; C, B, Zr each less than or equal to 500 ppm; Ni remainder to 100. The alloy can be manufactured advantageously by powder metallurgy techniques and used in the manufacture of turbo machine disks.

Abstract: A coating for a heat engine part, particularly a turbo-machine part made of superalloy, comprises an electrophoretically deposited metallic structure of cellular form with uniformly disposed cells of predetermined size, the structure preferably being composed of M, Cr, Al, and Y, where M denotes Ni, Co, Fe and mixtures thereof. The cellular metallic structure is consolidated by a sintering treatment, which may be reactive, or metallization, preferably in the vapor phase, and the coating is completed by a ceramic material applied by plasma spraying.