Abstract: The invention relates to use of a GH secretagogue (e.g. GRF or an analog thereof) for (1) altering a lipid parameter in a subject; (2) altering a body composition parameter in a subject, (3) treating a condition characterized by deficient or decreased bone formation in a subject (4) improving daytime vigilance and/or cognitive function in a subject, (5) improving a metabolic condition in a subject, (6) improving anabolism in a catabolic condition in a subject, and/or (7) improving and/or reconstituting immune function in a subject.

Abstract: A method and a system for personalizing electronic elements, by replacing, in a non-volatile memory of each of the electronic elements a first secret key with a second secret key, by a secure authentication module automatically generating the second key after having restored the first one from an identifier of the element being personalized, including conditioning, on the authentication module side, the provision of the second key to a current element to the reception of a message confirming the key replacement of at least one preceding element.

Abstract: Techniques for provisioning databases for users on a wide area network such as the Internet include a first party managing one or more database systems. Second parties subscribe to database services supported by the managed database systems. The first party provides, over a network, to database applications of the second parties, access to database services to which the second parties are subscribed. The database systems may use database appliances hosting both database process(es), and non-database process(es) tailored to the needs of the database process(es). A user is therefore able to obtain database resources from an Internet Database Service Provider (IDSP) without incurring the full costs of database administrator(s), dedicated database equipment facilit(ies), or even dedicated database device(s), depending on usage. Meanwhile, the IDSP incurs minimum staffing loads because of self-service tools. Costing model and automatic billing are also described.

Abstract: An implantable medical device including a plurality of components on a substrate, and a biocompatible multi-layer coating applied by vapor deposition to conform to and sealingly cover at least a portion of the components and/or the substrate. The coating is applied in at least two sets, each set having first, second and third layers. At least one of the first, second and third layers consist essentially of a polymer such as parylene and at least one of the other two layers of the set consist essentially of inorganic material such that each layer differs in at least one diffusion barrier property from the other layers in the set and adds to an overall barrier effect of the coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable rubber composition comprising an organic elastomer, a filler and at least one curing agent for the elastomer. Such curable rubber compositions are widely used in the production of cured rubber articles, such as tires, belts and hoses. The composition contains a branched silicone resin having Si-bonded hydroxyl groups or azo groups. This may lead to a reduction in the mixing energy required for processing, particularly in the energy required in the first (non-productive) mixing phase to give good dispersion of the filler in the organic elastomer. Use of the branched silicone resin can also accelerate cure (vulcanization), thus reducing the required cure time or reducing the amount of cure accelerator required.

Abstract: Supramolecular polymers having repeat units connected by hydrogen bonds, where the repeat units are monomers, macromers, oligomers or polymers where at least one on the monomers contains at least one 2,5-diketopiperazine group are described. Composition prepared from these supramolecular polymers and articles produced from these compositions are also described.

Abstract: A microfluidic device (100) made from glass, ceramic or vitroceramic, comprises an upper layer (122), a lower layer (124) and an intermediate layer (114), the intermediate layer (114) comprising an upper face (114b) and a lower face (114a), the lower face (114a) comprising a first open structured surface defining a first microfluidic channel (126) and the upper face (114b) comprising a second open structured surface defining a second microfluidic channel (112); the lower surface of the intermediate layer (114) cooperating with a first planar layer closing the first microchannel (126); the upper face (114b) of the intermediate layer (114) cooperating with a second planar layer (130), closing the second microfluidic channel (112) in a sealed manner, and the second planar layer constituting an intermediate layer (130) which cooperates, on its face opposite the intermediate layer (114), with another layer (122) comprising on its inner face (122a) a structured surface defining a third microfluidic channel (128).

Abstract: Method and marine acoustic source array for generating an acoustic wave in a body of water. The marine acoustic source array includes a first depth sub-array set of first acoustic source points configured to be provided at a first depth (z1), the first acoustic source points having different inline first locations along a longitudinal axis (X); and a second depth sub-array set of second acoustic source points configured to be provided at a second depth (z2), the second acoustic source points having different inline second locations along the longitudinal axis (X). The first locations do not coincide along the longitudinal axis (X) with any of the second locations.

Abstract: A method of arranging a surgical needle in an applicator. The needle is made of a hyper-elastic alloy which, after treatment, has two distinct states and includes a crimping zone for securing a suture to the needle, a free end having a tapered point which includes an inclined heel portion arranged on an inside portion of a curved profile. The method includes forcing the needle into a roughly elongated position when the needle is housed in an internal bore of the applicator. When the needle is not housed in an internal bore of the applicator, the needle adopts a curved profile as a result of superelasticity or hyper-elasticity of the needle.

Abstract: The invention relates in a general aspect to a method of making vertically protruding elements on a substrate, said elements having a tip comprising at least one inclined surface and an elongated body portion extending between said substrate and said tip. The method comprises an anisotropic, crystal plane dependent etch forming said inclined surface(s); and an anisotropic, non crystal plane dependent etch forming said elongated body portion; combined with suitable patterning processes defining said protruding elements to have a predetermined base geometry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a glass frit for the containment by vitrification of a material comprising at least one oxidizable or reducible chemical species, and also to a process for the containment of said material by vitrification. The process for the manufacture of the glass frit comprises a step of incorporating into a raw glass frit at least one redox couple, the nature and the amount of which make it possible to maintain said at least one chemical species in its oxidized or reduced state. The containment process comprises mixing and hot melting the resulting glass frit and the material to be contained. The present invention makes it possible to optimize the containment of pollutants such as radionucleides, metals and metalloids. The material may be nuclear waste or a material derived from the incineration of household refuse.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal fare for a trip comprising a departure location, an arrival location, the method comprises the following steps: sending a request for the trip wherein the request comprises a departure location, an arrival location and a corresponding fare for the trip; automatically modifying the request by searching in a predetermined database to determine a set of additional requests wherein each comprises at least one of the departure location, the arrival location or one or more additional locations which may form at least a part of the requested route wherein the predetermined database comprises said additional requests and a corresponding fare for each additional request; selecting one or more additional requests to form one or more alternative requests which include at least on of the departure location or the arrival location as the request; calculating the up to date fares for each alternative request in order to determine a resulting fare for each alternative request; comparing t

Abstract: The escapement comprises an escape wheel assembly (1), a balance roller (3) carrying an impulse pin (4) and a first impulse pallet (5). It further comprises a lever (8) provided with a second impulse pallet (11) and with first and second locking pallets (12, 13). The wheel assembly (1) comprises an escape wheel with teeth (6) that mesh directly with the teeth (20) of the last wheel of a gear train (2), the teeth (6) of the wheel (1) engaging with the impulse and locking pallets.

Abstract: An assembly for a bottle which includes a neck with a vertical axis, which neck has a shoulder. The assembly includes a ring which is capable of being engaged around the neck and which includes profiles for retention on the neck which are capable of co-operating with the shoulder. The assembly further includes a fixed insert which is capable of being fitted to the bottle and which delimits a housing for receiving the ring. Opposing surfaces of the ring and the housing include complementary protruding and recessed fastening profiles for resilient engagement of the complementary profiles, at least two successive profiles on the ring or the housing allowing the ring to be fastened in at least two positions which are axially offset relative to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment of gaseous effluents involving contact with a liquid may include a gas/liquid contact chamber which can receive a liquid in the lower part thereof and which is topped with a gas cover, wherein the chamber allows a gas to be treated. The chamber may also release residual gases following treatment involving contact with the liquid. The apparatus may also include a turbine that includes one or more stages which ensure improved contact between the gas and the liquid, the upper part of the turbine being equipped with an opening for drawing the gas situated in the gas cover above the liquid; and, preferably, a sensor for measuring the pH of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention concerns a lid (2) comprising a skirt (3) for covering the opening of a can (1), in particular a paint can. The invention is characterized in that the skirt (3) comprises a peripheral edge (30), at least one stud (71) formed in the edge (30) and elastically coupled to said edge (30), at least one lock (72) mounted sliding on said edge such that said lock may take up a locking position wherein said lock is adapted to retain said stud in a position for engaging the lid on the can.

Abstract: A segmented polyurethane and an amphiphilic random or block copolymer are disclosed. The segmented polyurethane and the amphiphilic random or block copolymer can be used for fabricating a coating for an implantable medical device such as a stent.

Abstract: A deformation apparatus for reforming a glass sheet comprises a central portion, a first edge mold movably coupled to a first end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along a linear mold axis in a first direction toward the central portion. The deformation apparatus further includes a second edge mold movably coupled to the second end of the central portion and configured to be linearly translated along the linear mold axis in a second direction opposite the first direction and toward the central portion. Methods are also provided including the step of cooling a reformed glass sheet, wherein a greater shrinkage of the reformed glass sheet relative to a shrinkage of the deformation apparatus is accommodated by a movement of at least the first edge mold in a first direction toward the central portion of the deformation apparatus.

Abstract: An onboard device for receiving a signal coming from an aircraft at a distance d from the device, said signal resulting from the combination of multiple propagation paths, one of the paths corresponding to the main echo of the transmitted signal, said device including an equalizer of processing depth T. The device includes means for estimating the distance covered by the second path, means for deducing therefrom a delay value ? associated with it, means for estimating when ? is greater than or equal to T the interfering signal associated with the main echo and for reducing the contribution of said signal to the total level of interference received. Also a system of communication between aircraft using the onboard device.