Abstract: A particulate flavour delivery system comprising a starch carrier and a blend of a first flavouring agent and a plasticizer, said first flavouring agent being non-liquid at a temperature of 20° C. to 25° C., and said plasticizer being liquid at a temperature of 20° C. to 25° C., said blend being encapsulated in said starch carrier, said encapsulated blend comprising at least 40% by weight of said blend of a portion which is solid or semi-solid, said portion having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of from 25?C to 250° C., a method of making it and use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the competence of oocytes to fertilization, uterine implantation and development into a living being. The invention describes ovarian markers whose expression is predicative of oocyte competency that are detected and/or measured in follicular fluid, cumulus cells and/or follicular cells of a mammal. Also described are methods for evaluating competence of mammalian oocytes, methods for selecting a mammalian oocyte for assisted reproduction (AR), and screening methods for identifying stimulatory or inhibitory compounds to mammalian oocyte competence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the competence of oocytes to uterine implantation and development into living individual. The invention more particularly relates to marker that are detected and measured in granulosa cells collected along with the oocytes during oocyte aspiration as it is done in assisted reproduction techniques.

Abstract: A particulate flavour delivery system comprising a starch carrier and a blend of a first flavouring agent and a plasticizer, said first flavouring agent being non-liquid at a temperature of 20° C. to 25° C., and said plasticizer being liquid at a temperature of 20° C. to 25° C., said blend being encapsulated in said starch carrier, said encapsulated blend comprising at least 40% by weight of said blend, a portion of which is solid or semi-solid, said portion having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of from 25?C to 250° C., a method of making it, and use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple reflection optical system comprising a light beam input (E) and output (S) means, a first mirror (M1) having a curvature radius (R1) and arranged at a distance (d2) in front of a second mirror (M2) having a second curvature radius (R2) and arranged at a distance (d3) in front of a third mirror (M3) having a third curvature radius (R3), wherein the and second (M2) mirrors are arranged in such a way that formula (I) is satisfied and the first (M1) and third (M3) mirrors are arranged in such way that formula (II) is satisfied, the first (M1) second (M2) mirrors form a first optical cell having a first optical axis, the first (M1) and third (M3) mirrors form a second optical cell having a second optical axis, said first and second optical axes are different, the curvature radii (R1, R2, R3) and distances (d2, d3) are not simultaneously equal, said first and second optical cells are placed in such a way that the light beams are contained in the optical system between the input a

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple reflection optical system comprising a light beam input (E) and output (S) means, a first mirror (M1) having a curvature radius (R1) and arranged at a distance (d2) in front of a second mirror (M2) having a second curvature radius (R2) and arranged at a distance (d3) in front of a third mirror (M3) having a third curvature radius (R3), wherein the and second (M2) mirrors are arranged in such a way that formula (I) is satisfied and the first (M1) and third (M3) mirrors are arranged in such way that formula (II) is satisfied, the first (M1) second (M2) mirrors form a first optical cell having a first optical axis, the first (M1) and third (M3) mirrors form a second optical cell having a second optical axis, said first and second optical axes are different, the curvature radii (R1, R2, R3) and distances (d2, d3) are not simultaneously equal, said first and second optical cells are placed in such a way that the light beams are contained in the optical system between the input a

Abstract: The volume-metering pump device comprises a pump member associated with a manifold member comprising a body containing a manifold chamber having ports providing connections with the pump member, with an admission duct connected to a feed vessel, and with a discharge duct, and in which a manifold control element is mounted to move along a longitudinal axis of the manifold chamber, the ports providing connections with the admission duct and with the discharge duct being disposed facing each other and being coaxial about the longitudinal axis of the manifold chamber on either side of the port providing a connection with the pump member, and being adjacent to seats facing towards the inside of the manifold chamber with which valve-member forming portions made at the ends of the manifold control element co-operate to enable one or the other of the ports to be closed.