Abstract: An actuator for controlling the operation of an apparatus comprises a panel (16) and an acoustic sensor (26). The panel provides a partition within a building structure, while the acoustic sensor is adapted to detect acoustic waves propagating through the panel. When a user exerts pressure against the panel, the sensor detects the acoustic waves that are formed and emits signals for controlling the operation of an apparatus, such as a doorbell, a light source, a television, a sound system, a ventilation system, a window blind, a radio or an alarm.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an electronic message, referred to as an e-mail, upon receiving the same in the e-mail inbox of a user, the method includes the following steps: a local application, working with the e-mail inbox and extracting a set of data contained in the incoming e-mail, sends the data set to a remote server, receives a response from the remote server, and attaches the response to the incoming e-mail; and the remote server receives the data set sent by the local application, analyzes the data so as to identify specific elements, and sends the specific elements as a reply to the local application. The invention relates to the exchange of structured information by e-mail, and in particular to scheduling appointments, contact details, and monitoring tasks to be performed.

Abstract: An actuator for controlling the operation of an apparatus comprises a panel (16) and an acoustic sensor (26). The panel provides a partition within a building structure, while the acoustic sensor is adapted to detect acoustic waves propagating through the panel. When a user exerts pressure against the panel, the sensor detects the acoustic waves that are formed and emits signals for controlling the operation of an apparatus, such as a doorbell, a light source, a television, a sound system, a ventilation system, a window blind, a radio or an alarm.

Abstract: Fluid flow devices include a small plate (2), at least one flow channel (20) formed into this small plate, at least one storage channel (221-226) extending from this connection channel, and a set of valves (V1-V6), each of which is suitable for allowing or stopping the flow of fluid in a corresponding storage channel.

Abstract: The crystallization of chemical species/polymorphs comprises forming droplets of a solution of a substance with optionally different concentrations of said substance in an inert phase; producing and storing the droplets in at least one storage microchannel (1); forming crystals in all droplets; increasing the temperature in order to induce the dissolution of at least a portion of the crystals in at least some droplets; and analyzing the crystallization and dissolution process.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an electronic message, referred to as an e-mail, upon receiving the same in the e-mail inbox of a user, the method includes the following steps: a local application, working with the e-mail inbox and extracting a set of data contained in the incoming e-mail, sends the data set to a remote server, receives a response from the remote server, and attaches the response to the incoming e-mail; and the remote server receives the data set sent by the local application, analyses the data so as to identify specific elements, and sends the specific elements as a reply to the local application. The invention relates to the exchange of structured information by e-mail, and in particular to scheduling appointments, contact details, and monitoring tasks to be performed.

Abstract: Fluid flow devices include a small plate (2), at least one flow channel (20) formed into this small plate, at least one storage channel (221-226) extending from this connection channel, and a set of valves (V1-V6), each of which is suitable for allowing or stopping the flow of fluid in a corresponding storage channel.

Abstract: The crystallization of chemical species/polymorphs comprises forming droplets of a solution of a substance with optionally different concentrations of said substance in an inert phase; producing and storing the droplets in at least one storage microchannel (1); forming crystals in all droplets; increasing the temperature in order to induce the dissolution of at least a portion of the crystals in at least some droplets; and analyzing the crystallization and dissolution process.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an element for the casting of a liquid metal, comprising a base body made from a refractory material, said body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining a pouring channel for the casting of the liquid metal. This element is characterized in that at least a part of the element inner surface is coated with an insulating coating forming, at the metal liquid contact, a gas impermeable layer. Such an element has an excellent thermal shock resistance which permits its use without preheating. Then a layer reducing advantageously the gas permeability is formed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an element for the casting of a liquid metal, comprising a base body made from a refractory material, said body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining a pouring channel for the casting of the liquid metal. This element is characterized in that at least a part of the element inner surface is coated with an insulating coating forming, at the metal liquid contact, a gas impermeable layer. Such an element has an excellent thermal shock resistance which permits its use without preheating. Then a layer reducing advantageously the gas permeability is formed.

Abstract: In a multidimensional conceptual reference, a dictionary of words is created, each conceptual word of at least one portion of the text to be stored is compared to those of the dictionary to determine the position of this word in said reference, and the resultant (T1) of the positions of all the conceptual words of the text portion to be stored is determined in order to determine the position of a global conceptualization of the text portion in said reference and to store this position. The position in a multidimensional conceptual reference of a global conceptualization of the question is determined, and the position of the global conceptualization of the question is compared to the homologous positions of the stored texts, in order to select at least one of them, corresponding to a searched text.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel, highly dispersible aluminium hydrate. It also concerns a process for preparing said aluminium hydrate by precipitation of an aluminium hydrate in a reactor with no back-mixing and preparation of said aluminium hydrate in a reactor with back-mixing. Finally, it concerns the use of said hydrate for the preparation of catalysts or catalyst supports.

Abstract: A process for the production of methionine which comprises (a) hydrolyzing the methionine amide in the presence of a catalyst comprising titanium to produce ammonium methioninate, said catalyst having a porosity of from 5 to 1000 nm, a total pore volume of from 0.2 to 0.55 cm3/g and a surface area of from 30 to 150 m2/g, and (b) a second step of recuperating methionine from the ammonium methioninate salt by removing ammonia. Also claimed is an industrial process for the production of methionine incorporating the aforementioned hydrolysis.