Abstract: The invention relates to nanocapsules with a liquid lipidic core and a solid lipidic shell, the lipidic core being loaded with at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible ingredient, said ingredient being present in the form of a reverse micellar system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an algorithm for detecting activation of a tactile pressure sensor having a mechanic structure that includes the steps of: (a) measuring periodically an input quantity (V0; f0) of the sensor, when it is not pressed, the period being set according to sensor dynamic requirements; (b) computing a current idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) depending on the input quantity (V0; f0) measured at step a); (c) computing an activation threshold (?VP; ?fP) based on a quantity characterization of the sensor mechanic structure and depending on the idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) defined at step b); (d) comparing the sensor input quantity (V0; f0) with the last defined idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) increased by the activation threshold (?VP; ?fP) computed in step c) in order to determine whether the sensor is pressed or not.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing nanocapsules having a liquid lipid core and a solid shell and charged in their lipid core with at least one hydrophilic active agent involving combining microemulsions where the active agent remains in the hydrophilic phase of a first microemulsion and chill-hardening the mixture to obtain the nanocapsules charged with the hydrophilic active agent. The nanocapsules comprise the lipid core which is liquid at room temperature and the nanocapsules are encapsulated in a film which is solid at room temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to an algorithm for detecting activation of a tactile pressure sensor having a mechanic structure, acquisition electronics, and a specific sensor behavior.

Abstract: A method of repairing tissue includes implanting into a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition including microparticles including a biodegradable, biocompatible material having cells of interest or fragments thereof adhered to at least a portion of a surface; and at least one substance active on the cells or their environment upon implantation of the microparticles in a patient associated with the material wherein the substances is released in a controlled or extended manner.

Abstract: A process for preparing nanocapsules with a liquid lipid core and a solid lipid shell, charged with at least one active agent. The process contains at least the steps of formulating a microemulsion by phase inversion of an emulsion, totally or partially forming from at least one active agent a second composition different than the microemulsion, placing the microemulsion in contact with the second composition under conditions suitable for interaction of the active agent with the microemulsion, and chill-hardening the microemulsion that has interacted with the active agent, to obtain the nanocapsules.

Abstract: Turret mooring system for receiving a mooring buoy, includes a turret mooring structure, and a buoy locking system for locking the mooring buoy, whereby the turret mooring system includes an intermediate connection member, which includes the buoy locking system. The intermediate connection member is rotatably suspended from the turret mooring structure. A method of mooring a vessel, including a turret mooring system, is described whereby the turret mooring system is arranged to receive the mooring buoy. The turret mooring system includes a turret mooring structure that is rotatably suspended from the vessel and an intermediate connection member that is rotatably suspended from the turret mooring structure. The method includes the steps of receiving the mooring buoy into the turret mooring system, locking the mooring buoy to the intermediate connection member, and rotating the intermediate connection member and the turret mooring structure with respect to each other.

Abstract: A chain connector for holding a chain (14) that moors a vessel to the sea floor under perhaps 2000 tons tension, which can be quickly disconnected in an emergency by applying a moderate disconnecting force such as 50 tons. The chain is hold by ratchets (24, 26) that are mounted on arms (34, 36). The arms have upper ends (35) that am pivotally mounted on a housing (38) and have free lower ends (44), with the lower ends being held by cams (50) on locking dogs (52) that have locking dog lower ends (51) pivotally mounted on the housing and free upper ends (60). A hydraulic actuator (70) has pins (58) that engage the upper ends of the locking dogs to prevent the arms and dogs from pivoting apart until the looking dog upper ends (60) are raised.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive transducer assembly that includes a force sensing resistor. The force sensing resistor includes: first and second substrates; at least a first and a second electrically conductive traces on the inner surface of the first substrate including interdigitated fingers defining a sensitive area; and a resistive layer facing the sensitive area. The force sensing resistor includes an auxiliary trace on the inner surface of the first substrate connecting the first trace to the second trace through a constant resistance that is not dependent on the force applied to the substrates. The constant resistance being of a value largely greater than the value of the variable resistance which can be measured indirectly between the fingers when an external force is applied to the substrates. A system and a control method are also proposed.

Abstract: A chain connector for holding a chain (14) that moors a vessel to the sea floor under perhaps 2000 tons tension, which can be quickly disconnected in an emergency by applying a moderate disconnecting force such as 50 tons. The chain is hold by ratchets (24, 26) that are mounted on arms (34, 36). The arms have upper ends (35) that am pivotally mounted on a housing (38) and have free lower ends (44), with the lower ends being held by cams (50) on locking dogs (52) that have locking dog lower ends (51) pivotally mounted on the housing and free upper ends (60). A hydraulic actuator (70) has pins (58) that engage the upper ends of the locking dogs to prevent the arms and dogs from pivoting apart until the looking dog upper ends (60) are raised.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.

Abstract: A composition, an encapsulated composition and/or nanoparticles comprising at least one essential oil having a large spectrum antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal activity and/or a plant antipathogen, optionally at least one antibiotic and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is disclosed. Methods for treating infectious diseases and especially bacterial, parasitic, fungal and/or plant infectious by using this composition, encapsulated composition and/or nanoparticles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive transducer assembly that includes a force sensing resistor. The force sensing resistor includes: first and second substrates; at least a first and a second electrically conductive traces on the inner surface of the first substrate including interdigitated fingers defining a sensitive area; and a resistive layer facing the sensitive area. The force sensing resistor includes an auxiliary trace on the inner surface of the first substrate connecting the first trace to the second trace through a constant resistance that is not dependent on the force applied to the substrates. The constant resistance being of a value largely greater than the value of the variable resistance which can be measured indirectly between the fingers when an external force is applied to the substrates. A system and a control method are also proposed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an algorithm for detecting activation of a tactile pressure sensor having a mechanic structure that includes the steps of: (a) measuring periodically an input quantity (V0; f0) of the sensor, when it is not pressed, the period being set according to sensor dynamic requirements; (b) computing a current idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) depending on the input quantity (V0; f0) measured at step a); (c) computing an activation threshold (?VP; ?fP) based on a quantity characterization of the sensor mechanic structure and depending on the idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) defined at step b); (d) comparing the sensor input quantity (V0; f0) with the last defined idle quantity (Vidle; fidle) increased by the activation threshold (?VP; ?fP) computed in step c) in order to determine whether the sensor is pressed or not.

Abstract: A vessel includes a hull, a shaft extending from an upper part of the hull to a bottom of the hull, a turret being rotatably supported in the shaft via a turret bearing, a manifold support structure carrying one or more conduits being rotatably supported on the turret via a manifold bearing. The turret includes a cavity for receiving a mooring buoy carrying one or more risers and one or more vertically displaceable actuation members near the manifold bearing for vertically displacing the manifold support structure relative to the turret between a rotational position in which the manifold support structure can rotate relative to the turret via the manifold bearing and a locked position in which the bearing support structure is rotationally locked relative to the turret.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing particles, notably particles encapsulating an active substance. It also relates to particles obtainable by this process, dispersion thereof, and their use as a vehicle for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, diagnostic, veterinary, phytosanitary active substances or processed foodstuff.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanocapsules, including: a core essentially consisting of a fatty substance, which is liquid or semi-liquid at ambient temperature, and including a hydrophobic active principle and a diethylene glycol ether; an outer lipid shell which is solid at ambient temperature. The lipid nanocapsules of the invention are intended in particular for the manufacture of a drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid lipid core/solid lipid shell capsule surface-functionalized with at least one compound containing at least one amino function, characterized in that the lipid core/lipid shell architecture is on the nanometric scale and in that said compound is covalently bonded to said solid lipid shell via a transacylation reaction. It also relates to a method for preparing such capsules.

Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a useful method for preparing nanocapsules having a liquid lipid core and a solid shell and charged with at least one active agent having a hydrophilic character, said method comprising at least the steps consisting in: i) providing at least a first microemulsion having a water-in-oil character, stabilized by at least one lipophilic surfactant and containing in its hydrophilic phase at least one active agent having a hydrophilic character, providing at least a second microemulsion, separate from the first microemulsion, formulated by phase inversion of an emulsion and stabilized by at least one heat-sensitive, nonionic hydrophilic surfactant; iii) adding said first microemulsion to said second microemulsion under conditions propitious for the formation of a novel microemulsion architecture in which said hydrophilic active agent remains present in the hydrophilic phase of the first microemulsion; and iv) chill-hardening the mixture formed in the previous step, so as to obtain n