Abstract: A photovoltaic device comprising a substantially planar photon source facing side, a plurality of edges extending around the perimeter defined by the photon source facing side, and an edge insulator arranged to prevent at least one edge of the plurality of edges from coming into electrical contact with a neighbouring electrically conductive element when the photovoltaic device is arranged as part of an array of photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved deformable downstream disc (56; 156; 256) to be fitted on the bottom of a container (15) for a missile (16) and including a stack of elastic blades (63) clamped between at least an upstream and a downstream thermal protection membrane and sealing membrane (70, 71, 72, 73), and maintained between an upstream bearing frame (61) and a downstream bearing frame (64), characterised in that the downstream bearing frame includes an inner edge (80) having an extension so as to provide the disc with an abutment means defining a position of maximum deformation of the elastic blades.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the heating of a metal strip, and relates to equipment for heating a metal strip that comprises a pre-heating housing provided with a device for projecting hot gases towards the strip, a heating housing with regenerative burners, a duct for discharging the gases from the heating housing, a three-way adjustable valve and an adjustment device including a sensor for detecting the setpoint temperature of the metal strip and a member for adjusting the three-way valve so that it can adjust the amount of hot gases fed to the projection device. The invention can be used in equipment for heating narrow strips before annealing the same.

Abstract: A pedal includes a pedal body (1) mounted rotatably on a pedal axle (2) and having at least two arches (7) for engaging an engagement member (8) fixed below a cyclist's shoe. The arches have opposite branches connected to the pedal body and they are disposed one after the other about the periphery of the pedal body (1) so as to define between them an engagement surface for the engagement member (8) against the pedal body (1). The two arches (7) are adapted to be urged toward each other by resilient return elements returning them to a retention position for the engagement member (8). At least one of the at least two arches is a resilient arch constituting the resilient return elements, and the ends of this resilient arch have bending axes that are offset relative to each other.

Abstract: A device for packing syringes in nests comprising means of setting the syringes to the right pitch and first means of gripping the said syringes set to the said pitch.

Abstract: A liquid food product comprising 0.1 to 5 wt % of soy protein and 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of polyphenols and wherein the liquid food product is substantially free of milk protein, closed container comprising 50 to 250 ml of the liquid food product and use of the liquid food product for reducing blood pressure.

Abstract: A liquid food product comprising 0.1 to 1.5 wt % of polyphenols, wherein said polyphenols contain a mixture of polyphenols from red grape and polyphenols from red wine in a weight ratio of from 1:1 to 1:5, closed container comprising 50 to 250 ml of the liquid food product and use of the liquid food product for reducing blood pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new antibiotic macrolide compounds of the general formula I: with improved activity, to medicaments comprising such antibiotics, and to the use of such antibiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases and human diseases or disorders which can be ameliorated by inhibition human phospdiesterases.

Abstract: A modular subassembly (100) of elongated semiconductor strips (110) and a method of making the same are disclosed. Supporting media (120) supports the elongated semiconductor strips (110). Elongated semiconductor strips (110) are disposed on and affixed to the supporting media (120). The supporting media (120) may be configured in a number of ways.

Abstract: An apparatus for shell freezing a liquid content in a container, comprising an endless loop conveyor having a conveying length adapted to convey plural containers such as pharmaceutical vials, incorporating plural rollers to spin the containers as they are conveyed by the conveyor, and a return length, along at least part of the return length the rollers are immersed in a cooling liquid at a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid content of the containers, and along the conveying length the rollers are entirely above the surface of the cooling liquid. A preferred cooling liquid is liquid nitrogen, the evaporating vapour of which can be used to shield vials on the conveying length.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor wheel including a metal hub (2) for connecting to a drive shaft (3), an inlet plate (4) and an outlet plate (5) fixed to the metal hub (2), and a plurality of blades (7), each blade having a beginning and a peripheral portion (7b), fixed between the inner plate (4) and the outer plate (5). The wheel further includes an annular metal insert (8) integrated in the central portion of the wheel at a periphery of the hub (2), the annular metal insert (8) having metal elements (7A) forming the beginnings of the blades of the wheel. The inlet plate (4), the outlet plate (5), and the peripheral portions (7B) of the blades are made of a composite material, thereby constituting a composite portion of the wheel.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor wheel including a metal hub (2) for connecting to a drive shaft (3), an inlet plate (4) and an outlet plate (5) fixed to the metal hub (2), and a plurality of blades (7), each blade having a beginning and a peripheral portion (7b), fixed between the inner plate (4) and the outer plate (5). The wheel further includes an annular metal insert (8) integrated in the central portion of the wheel at a periphery of the hub (2), the annular metal insert (8) having metal elements (7A) forming the beginnings of the blades of the wheel. The inlet plate (4), the outlet plate (5), and the peripheral portions (7B) of the blades are made of a composite material, thereby constituting a composite portion of the wheel.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, compositions and articles suitable for controlling the undesirable ammonia odor produced by excreted or secreted body fluids, e.g., urine and/or sweat, and residues thereof. Such methods, compositions and articles utilize certain urease inhibitor complexes formed from a divalent metal ion and a polyanionic, preferably amine-based, chelating agent to prevent or minimize the urease-promoted degradation of urea (found in the body fluids) to malodorous ammonia.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a compound having a superoxide dismustase activity, in particular a non-peptide analogue of the superoxide dismutase to obtain a medicine for preventive or curative treatment of hepatocellular insufficiency. Said medicine can be used in particular for treating hepatocellular insufficiencies of toxic or viral origin.

Abstract: An infusion machine including a cold-water container (1) which incorporates a water purification device (5) and which comprises a water outlet (2) connected to a water heater (3). The water purification device includes a removable cartridge (7) comprising a bottom part forming a cup (8) which is designed to be mounted sealingly in a suitable basin (10) formed in the bottom of the container, and in which is housed so as to be removable a filter sachet (15) containing a water purification substance (16), and a top part forming a cap (18) which is located in line with the cup (8) and which is able to close the latter, the cap (18) of the cartridge comprising at least one opening (42) through which the water from the container enters, and the cup (8) of the cartridge comprising at least one opening (51) through which the water flows into the water heater (3) after passing through the filter sachet (15) used particularly for electric coffee makers.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises a ground grain container positioned in a matching seat recess in a housing and at least one blade rotated by a motor in the housing and capable of transferring, on rotation, a measure of ground grains through a flow aperture in the container to an outlet in the housing seat recess. The container is removably fitted into the seat recess of the housing through the use of two rotary, mutual coupling elements located at the bottom of the container and at the base of the seat recess of the housing respectively, and connected to the blade and to the motor respectively. The container also comprises elements for closing the flow aperture when the motor is stopped and for opening it when the motor is started. The dispenser is particularly useful in automatic coffee machines.

Abstract: A method and device for cleaning a bird whose plumage has been soiled by pollution are provided, in which the bird is placed in a cage and the bird, with the exception of its head, is subjected to the action of jets of cleaning and rinsing liquid issuing from a plurality of nozzles rotating inside a tank in which said cage is placed.

Abstract: A method and device for cleaning a bird whose plumage has been soiled by pollution are provided, in which the bird is placed in a cage and the bird, with the exception of its head, is subjected to the action of jets of cleaning and rinsing liquid issuing from a plurality of nozzles rotating inside a tank in which said cage is placed.

Abstract: A data packet switching network is formed by a number of transmitting/receiving stations which are interconnected by radio communication channels through which data packets can be transferred from one station to another according to a routing scheme. Each station is capable of altering its own access rate and of calculating and transmitting first, second and third parameters. The first parameter is indicative of the respective station's output flow (the number of packets successfully transferred per time unit). The second parameter is indicative of the respective station's input flow increase tendency (a measure based on the output flows of the neighboring stations which the station can relay). The third parameter is indicative of the load of the respective station. In each station, the first parameter is calculated and transmitted at regular time intervals to all neighboring stations in reach of the respective station.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data packets in time slots on a communications network having first and second unidirectional buses which are oppositely directed and a plurality of access units coupled there-between. To form a distributed queue of all data packets, which are to be transmitted on the first bus, each access unit establishes a queue of the data packets therein, transmits a request flag on the second bus for each data packet in the queue in such access unit, keeps count of the number of request flags passing such access unit on the second bus, and transmits the data packet at the head of its queue after a predetermined number of empty time slots has passed such access unit on the first bus.