Abstract: A mesostructured material is described, which consists of at least two elementary spherical particles, each one of said particles comprising a mesostructured matrix based on aluminium oxide, said matrix having a pore diameter ranging between 1.5 and 30 nm, and an aluminium oxide content representing more than 46 wt. % of the mass of said matrix, which has amorphous walls of thickness ranging between 1 and 30 nm, said elementary spherical particles having a diameter D greater than 10 ?m and less than or equal to 100 ?m (10<D(?m)?100). Said mesostructured matrix can also contain silicon oxide. Each spherical particle of the mesostructured material can also contain zeolite nanocrystals so as to form a mixed porosity material of both mesostructured and zeolitic nature. The preparation of said material is also described.

Abstract: A mesostructured aluminosilicate material is described, which consists of at least two elementary spherical particles, each one of said spherical particles consisting of a matrix based on silicon oxide and aluminium oxide, said matrix having a pore diameter ranging between 1.5 and 30 nm, a Si/Al molar ratio at least equal to 1 and amorphous walls of thickness ranging between 1 and 30 nm, said elementary spherical particles having a diameter D such that 10<D(?m)?100. A method of preparing said material and its application in the spheres of refining and petrochemistry are also described.

Abstract: A titanium-copper-nickel based alloy is used for the formation of at least one resistive thin film on a polymer substrate. The alloy comprises 50 to 80% by weight of titanium, 10 to 25% by weight of copper and 10 to 25% by weight of nickel. The thin film has a thickness between about 100 and 160 nanometres.

Abstract: An intelligent game system and apparatus comprises one or more sensors, a controller, a projector, one or more game pieces and one or more foldable three-dimensional terrain pieces. The game board and terrain pieces comprise one or more sensors each having an identifier for sensing when a game piece or terrain piece is located on the game board and/or terrain piece. The sensors obtain object information from the game pieces and/or terrain pieces and transfer the object information to a controller. The sensors of the terrain pieces transfer the object information to the sensor of the terrain piece below them until the bottom terrain piece transfer the object information to a game board sensor. The controller is thereby able to track properties of the game and/or terrain pieces, such as position, and adjust the gameplay accordingly.

Abstract: A low-friction sliding member such as a piston, a piston ring, a piston skirt section and a cylinder liner section of an internal combustion engine. The low-friction sliding member includes a base material having a surface. A hard carbon thin film is formed at at least a part of the surface of the base material. Here, a tribo-film having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of ether linkage, oxido and hydroxyl group is formed on the hard carbon thin film when the hard carbon thin film is in slidable contact with an opposite member in presence of an organic oxygen-containing compound.

Abstract: A cathode sputtering target includes: between 30 and 40 atomic % of a metal, between 2 and 10 atomic % of nitrogen, and between 35 and 50 atomic % of oxygen. The remainder up to 100% is constituted by at least one element selected from the group that comprises phosphorous (P), boron (B), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), gallium (Ga), sulphur (S) and aluminium (Al). Also provides a method of manufacturing a thin film from the target, and an electrochemical device comprising the thin film.

Abstract: According to the method, drops of an adhesive material are deposited on one of the plates, with the drops being spaced from one another. A grid having a predefined thickness lower than that of the drops is applied to the plate receiving the drops. A perpendicular and uniform pressure is applied to at least one of the plates, so that the drops (3) spread and come into contact with the opposing sides of the two plates. The spacing of the drops is defined so that after spreading under the pressure applied, air is not trapped between the drops.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve sliding in a valve holder and a base. The valve holder is held by the base by a resilient holding mechanism, the valve holder is mobile with respect to the base between a compression position and an expansion position. The valve holder includes a seat and a body extending beneath the seat and extending into the base. The holding mechanism is fixed on the one hand to the body of the valve holder and includes at least one portion extending beneath the lower face of the base, the portion resting against the lower face when the valve holder is in the expansion position. A damper is also provided.

Abstract: A power transmission conductor, in particular for overhead electric lines, and including at least one central composite core made up of continuous fibers impregnated by a thermosetting resin matrix, the core being coated by at least one layer of insulating material, with aluminum or aluminum alloy conductor wires being wound around the core. The conductor comprises a short-circuiting device for short-circuiting said fibers with said conductor wires.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for intelligent game systems for putting intelligence into board and tabletop games including miniatures are disclosed. An intelligent game system comprises one or more sensors, a controller, and a projector, the sensors each having an identifier. The sensors obtain object information from intelligent game piece objects and transfer the object information to a controller where it is associated with a sensor identifier and the sensor identifier is associated with a corresponding portion of an image. The controller interacts with the intelligent game piece objects, for managing game play, and for preparing and transferring a changing image to a projector. Intelligent game piece object features are disclosed, as well as methods of initializing a system for use with the intelligent game piece objects.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a microphone on a proximal side of a device housing and a loudspeaker which via a transmission channel is in open communication with a sound-emitting opening of the device. A sound processing device serves to generate sound received by the microphone to the loudspeaker in amplified form. The device housing is provided on a distal side with an optionally sealed battery chamber for receiving a battery therein. The transmission channel is at least almost wholly separated from the microphone acoustically in order to prevent acoustic feedback. The battery chamber comprises ventilation means for the purpose of increasing the lifespan of the battery.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a device housing to be worn outside an ear of a user and which co-acts with an in-the-ear part provided with a sound-emitting opening and which is intended and adapted to be received at least substantially in the ear of the user. The in-the-ear part is physically separated from the device housing, wherein at least a microphone and a loudspeaker are accommodated together with the sound-emitting opening in the in-the-ear part. An electronic connection is present between the device housing and the in-the-ear part. A power supply of a hearing aid particularly includes a capacitor (40), more particularly an ultra-capacitor. The functionality of a hearing aid can be expanded with an expansion unit (50). For an accurate fit of the in-the-ear part use is made of a digital representation which has been modified on the basis of fitting data of a fitting body.

Abstract: A contactless data transmission device includes an antenna circuit supplying an alternating voltage in the presence of an alternating excitation field, a charge modulation transistor having a control terminal receiving a charge modulation signal having at least one low state and one high state, and a conduction terminal receiving the alternating voltage. The device includes a circuit for supplying a boosted direct voltage greater than a peak value of the alternating voltage supplied by the antenna circuit, and a circuit for applying to the control terminal of the charge modulation transistor a charge modulation signal which, in the high state, has a voltage level equal to the boosted direct voltage.

Abstract: [Object] A low friction assembly is desired. [Solving Means] The present invention relates to a new low-friction lubrication assembly comprising a first member relatively slidable against a second member, the first member having chemical affinity with an OH-group on its sliding surface; and one or more oxygen containing compounds, provided on the sliding surface of the first member and being able to produce a tribofilm attached to the sliding surface of the first member through hydrogen bond interactions. Preferably the second member comprises a similar OH-terminated sliding surface wherein an oxygen containing compound (lubricant)-supported interface between the first and second sliding surfaces results in a H- and/or OH-terminated interface developing repulsive forces thereinbetween.

Abstract: [Summary] [Object] To provide a low-friction sliding mechanism capable of exhibiting an extremely excellent ultra-low friction characteristics at a sliding face existing in a variety of uses. [Solving means] A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing glycerol, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films. A low-friction sliding mechanism is constituted by disposing a lubricant containing hydroxyl group, at a sliding face formed between sliding members which have respectively hard carbon thin films, wherein a friction coefficient of smaller than 0.02 is exhibited in a sliding contacting condition under a boundary lubrication which exhibits a friction coefficient of 0.1 to 0.14 at a sliding face between a steel and a steel in presence of an engine oil. Each hard carbon thin film is formed of a-C or ta-C. Each hard carbon thin film has a hardness of 1500 to 5000 Hv in micro-Vickers hardness under a load of 10 g.

Abstract: A contactless integrated circuit includes means for sending/receiving data by inductive coupling, means for providing a communication according to at least two determined protocols, and means for automatically switching into a communication mode conforming to one or other of the protocols depending on the profile of a start of frame received at the beginning of a communication.

Abstract: An application having an associated and a graphical user interface is initiated. Thereafter, the widget determines a first state of the application. Once the first state of the application is determined, the widget calls at least one remote repository to retrieve one or more electronic annotations associated with the first state of the application. These electronic annotations are then displayed in connection with the graphical user interface of the application.

Abstract: Disclosed are additive compositions for transmission oils comprising an oil dispersion of a hydrated alkali metal borate and an oil dispersion of hexagonal boron nitride, as well as lubricating oil compositions containing the same.