Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for diagnosing liver fibrosis in an obese subject, said method comprising the steps of a) determining bacterial diversity in a biological sample from the subject, and b) based on the result of the bacterial diversity determination in step a), diagnosing liver fibrosis in the subject, or comprising the steps of a1) determining the proportion of bacteria belonging to a particular taxon and the proportion of bacteria belonging to at least one other particular taxon, in a biological sample of said subject, a2) combining the proportions determined in step a1) to obtain a combination value, and b) based on the combination value obtained in step a2), diagnosing liver fibrosis in the subject.

Abstract: A sintered annular magnet with a radial orientation of a remanent magnetic field, including: a principal annular part made from a ferromagnetic material, that has a first degree of magnetic anisotropy in the radial direction; and an annular reinforcing part fixed to the principal part of the magnet, the reinforcing part being made from same ferromagnetic material as the ferromagnetic material forming the principal part, and that has a second degree of magnetic anisotropy in the radial direction, the first degree being higher than the second degree.

Abstract: A sintered annular magnet with a radial orientation of a remanent magnetic field, including: a principal annular part made from a ferromagnetic material, that has a first degree of magnetic anisotropy in the radial direction; and an annular reinforcing part fixed to the principal part of the magnet, the reinforcing part being made from same ferromagnetic material as the ferromagnetic material forming the principal part, and that has a second degree of magnetic anisotropy in the radial direction, the first degree being higher than the second degree.

Abstract: The master batch for molding includes at least one inorganic powder, advantageously ceramic or metallic; an organic mixture, advantageously polymer, comprising: a stable polymer having good ductility features, from 30 to 90% by mass of the mixture; a lubricant, from 5 to 30% by mass of the mixture; a plasticizing polymer, from 5 to 30% by mass of the mixture; with a [% by mass of the lubricant]/[% by mass of the stable polymer] ratio smaller than or equal to 1, advantageously strictly smaller than 1.

Abstract: Silicon sintering method, without applying an external force, comprising placement of a silicon sample in a furnace, then heat treatment of this sample at, at least one temperature and at least one partial pressure of oxidising species to control the thickness of a silicon oxide layer on its surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a master batch for the molding of colored parts, including the steps of: preparing a mixture comprising an inorganic powder, advantageously ceramic, and a dye; submitting the mixture to a spray-drying step to obtain an atomized powder; submitting said atomized powder to a presintering step; mixing the presintered powder with an organic binder, advantageously polymeric, to obtain the master batch.

Abstract: The master batch for molding includes at least one inorganic powder, advantageously ceramic or metallic; an organic mixture, advantageously polymer, comprising: a stable polymer having good ductility features, from 30 to 90% by mass of the mixture; a lubricant, from 5 to 50% by mass of the mixture; a plasticizing polymer, from 5 to 30% by mass of the mixture; with a [% by mass of the lubricant]/[% by mass of the stable polymer] ratio smaller than or equal to 1, advantageously strictly smaller than 1.

Abstract: The device for producing a block of crystalline material from a bath of molten material comprises a crucible having a bottom and heat extraction means arranged under the crucible. It also comprises means for modulating the thermal conductivity fitted between the bottom of the crucible and the heat extraction means. The means for modulating the thermal conductivity comprise a plurality of plates made from thermally conducting material of low emissivity, parallel to the bottom of the crucible, and means for moving said plates closer to and away from one another.

Abstract: The method enables metallurgical silicon to be purified by directional solidification to obtain solar or photovoltaic grade silicon. A crystallization step uses at least one silicon seed, preference of solar grade or even microelectronic grade, having for example a purity substantially equal to or greater than a predetermined purity of the solar-grade silicon. The silicon seed which covers the bottom of the crucible can come from a previous crystallization or be formed by a silicon wafer. The use of a single-crystal or textured multi-crystal seed enables crystallographic orientation of the solar-grade silicon. An intermediate layer of solid metallurgical silicon can be arranged on the silicon seed and a metallurgical silicon feedstock is arranged on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method for semiconductor solidification which includes steps for: forming a bath of molten semiconductor from a first charge of semiconductor which includes dopants, solidification of the molten semiconductor, and which in addition includes, during solidification, the implementation of one or more steps for the addition of supplementary charges of semiconductor, which also contains dopants, to the molten semiconductor bath.

Abstract: The method enables metallurgical silicon to be purified by directional solidification to obtain solar or photovoltaic grade silicone. A crystallization step uses at least one silicon seed, preference of solar grade or even microelectronic grade, having for example a purity substantially equal to or greater than a predetermined purity of the solar-grade silicon. The silicon seed which covers the bottom of the crucible can come from a previous crystallization or be formed by a silicon wafer. The use of a single-crystal or textured multi-crystal seed enables crystallographic orientation of the solar-grade silicon. An intermediate layer of solid metallurgical silicon can be arranged on the silicon seed and a metallurgical silicon feedstock is arranged on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: The device for producing a block of crystalline material from a bath of molten material comprises a crucible having a bottom and heat extraction means arranged under the crucible. It also comprises means for modulating the thermal conductivity fitted between the bottom of the crucible and the heat extraction means. The means for modulating the thermal conductivity comprise a plurality of plates made from thermally conducting material of low emissivity, parallel to the bottom of the crucible, and means for moving said plates closer to and away from one another.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the identification of proteins with reduced redundancy in protein hits. The method eliminates protein hits that are described by peptides sets that are included in at least one other protein hit associated peptides set.