Abstract: An identity booklet such as a passport including a reinforced paper cover made up of a top cover board (16) and bottom cover board (14), an inside quire whose top (22) and bottom (20) flyleaves are laminated respectively at the back of the top cover board and in front of the bottom cover board and a radio frequency identification device (RFTD) made up of a chip (12) and an antenna connected to the terminals of the chip. The antenna includes a first part of the antenna (10) placed on the surface of the top and/or bottom cover board designed to be laminated with the corresponding flyleaf and a second part of the antenna placed on the surface of the top and/or bottom flyleaf designed to be laminated with the corresponding cover board, the first and second parts of the antenna being connected to constitute the antenna when the flyleaves are laminated with the cover boards.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhancement solution for an assay technology using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection, wherein said enhancement solution comprises a ?-diketone of formula I wherein R1 is an aryl, optionally mono- or multi-substituted, and R2 is a straight or branched alkyl chain with 2 to 9 carbon atoms substituted with four or more fluorine atoms. The invention further relates to a bioaffinity assay using lanthanide ions or their chelates as labels and dissociative fluorescence enhancement as a tool for detection comprising the use of said enhancement solution.

Abstract: A fluorescent label compound of formula where Z is a reactive group that can be used for covalent coupling of the fluorescent label compound to other molecule. Either the fluorophore is a dipyrrometheneboron difluoride dye and Y is a water-solubilizing moiety, or Y is —CH2CH2SO3? X+ where X+ is a cation. The use of the compounds in bianalytical assays and cytological or histological staining methods, and a method for increasing the hydrophilicity of fluorescent compounds, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A silicone composition useful especially for the production of varnishes applicable to substrates whose coefficient of friction it is sought to reduce. The object is to provide an anti-friction silicone varnish for textiles coated with silicone elastomers which is economic and adhesive, provides the desired slip, resists soiling and is shiny. This object is achieved by a crosslinkable silicone composition containing two silicones A and B which react with one another in the presence of a catalyst C to allow crosslinking, and a particulate component D selected from the group comprising powdered (co)polyamides—preferably (co)polyamides 6, 12 and 6/12. The (co)polyamide particles are of substantially rounded shape and the mean particle diameter ?md is between 0.1 and 200 ?m, preferably between 5 and 100 ?m and particularly preferably between 10 and 50 ?m. Also disclosed is a varnishing process and a composite containing the varnished substrate.

Abstract: A high-pressure reactor which has a hydraulically controlled pressure-relief valve. The mechanical design of the corresponding hydraulic system in combination with the control technology used facilitates particularly fast opening of the pressure-relief valve in the case of pressure or temperature jumps in the high-pressure reactor.

Abstract: A data transmission device using electromagnetic wave radiation in a contactless transceiver system toward a contactless object, the data bits transmitted corresponding to the half cycle of an initial time interval during which electromagnetic waves are emitted at a predetermined carrier frequency and to a second splitting time interval during which there is a split in transmission of the electromagnetic waves at the predetermined carrier frequency. During said second splitting time interval, generation means (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) generate electromagnetic waves having a frequency which is double the predetermined carrier frequency resulting in an attenuation of the radiated field by the antenna greater than a predetermined value such as 30 dB.

Abstract: Device to deliver an alarm signal upon detection of a gravitational wave generated by a body falling into a swimming pool, using a differential detector that includes a comparison device for comparing a sensitivity threshold value to the value of the electrical signal received, and to deliver an alarm signal when the received electrical signal exceeds the sensitivity threshold value. The electrical signal resulting from the detected waves is delivered to a comparator and allows a programmed microprocessor to deliver variable-width pulses to the input of the comparator so as to reduce the sensitivity of the device when the device detects an atmospheric disturbance. The microprocessor triggers the alarm when the width of the output pulses from the comparator is larger than a predetermined critical reference and when the frequency F of the analogue electrical signal lies between two predetermined values F1 and F2.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) which includes at least one planar surface (2) having compartments (3) which are defined by a partition (4), the compartments creating a space which makes it possible to displace at least one liquid sample (5 and/or 15) and, when there are at least two liquid samples (5 and 15), makes it possible to displace them both in an independent way and bring them together so that they can react with one another. The compartments (3) include at least two different types of groove: a deep groove (6), capable of partitioning the sample(s) (5 and/or 15), and a shallow groove capable of receiving the sample (s) (5 and/or 15), the two types of groove (6 and 16) making it possible to direct sample movements (5 and/or 15) by altering the orientation of the apparatus (1). The invention is particularly applicable for the micromanipulation of fluids in biological applications.

Abstract: A method for the production of hydroxymatairesinol or a hydroxymatairesinol complex from wood, including the steps of a) extracting finely divided wood material with a polar solvent, b) optionally concentrating the extract by separating at least part of the solvent, c) adding to the extract an agent able to form a complex with hydroxymatairesinol, d) precipitating the hydroxymatairesinol complex, and optionally e) releasing the hydroxymatairesinol from the complex.

Abstract: A non-drip, preferably self-adhesive, silicone elastomer composition crosslinkable by polyaddition, such as those polyorganosilanes (POS) bearing C2?C6?Si-alkenyl units and ?Si—H units but excluding fluorinated POS. The composition includes at least a thixotropic additive containing at least a fluorinated resin, preferably based on polyfluoroethylene (PTFE). The composition may be prepared from a Si—Vi polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a Si—H PDMS crosslinked by platinum catalysis. Polytetrafluorethylene, a filler, particularly one containing silicone, optionally a ternary adherence promoter such as vinyltrimethosilane/glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane/butyl orthotitanate, and other typical additives may be added to the composition. The composition (not excluding the fluorinated POS as a possible constituent in the composition) may be used to produce joints in situ and/or as an adhesive, particularly in upholstery.

Abstract: A method for modification of data in a card transaction system having a memory card and a reader for reading the card. The card has a first memory (RAM) and a second memory (EEPROM) with data locations occupied by data recordings. Each transaction involves the modification of at least one of the data locations or the addition of a new recording. The method reads the address of a free location from a previous control register located in a first fixed location in the EEPROM memory, writes the new modified recording or addition in the free location, repeat the steps for each new recording to be modified or added, and writes in a second fixed location in the EEPROM memory a new control register containing the addresses of free locations within the EEPROM memory to use in the next transaction.

Abstract: A real time functional replicator (10) of a specific integrated circuit comprised of a processing unit and peripherals in order to perform specific digital and/or analog functions controlled by specific software, this specific integrated circuit being designed to be incorporated into a specified application board.

Abstract: Device for applying at least one active principle, consisting of a material wherein one or several capsules or microcapsules containing the active principle(s) are distributed in a binder having a sponge-like consistency so that the active principle(s) is/are released when pressure is exerted on the material. The device consists of a first part (10) and a second part (12), separated by a tear-off portion (14), the capsule or most of the capsules or microcapsules being located in the first part close to the tear-off portion, the first part being detached from the second part by tearing the tear-off portion so as to obtain, at the breakage interface, a surface for applying the active principle(s) contained in the first part when pressure is exerted thereon.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a chip card having an antenna support, two card bodies and an electronic module or a chip linked to the antenna. This method has a first lamination step which includes fusing two thermoplastic sheets (32, 34 or 62, 64) on each side of antenna support (10 or 40) at a temperature sufficient for the thermoplastic sheet material to soften and to flow wholly so as to eliminate any differences in thickness from the support, and a second lamination step carried out after a period of time necessary for the thermoplastic sheets (32, 34 or 62, 64) to be solidified, the second step including fusing by hot pressing two plastic layers (36, 38 or 66, 68) making up the card bodies onto the plasticised and even faces of uniformly thick antenna support (30 or 60) plasticised by the thermoplastic sheets.

Abstract: An overmolding insert includes a base having at least one opening in a first surface, the opening communicating with a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one hollow projection extending from the first surface, the hollow projection having a first opening communicating with the opening of the first surface and a second opening located at a terminal portion of the hollow projection, the insert further having two opposed side walls, each side wall being joined to the first surface, two opposed end walls being joined to an opposite end of the first surface and extending from one side wall to the other side wall. The side walls, the end walls, and the first surface define a partially closed space, with the terminal portion of the hollow projection extending beyond the partially closed space.

Abstract: A composition for controlled release of a biologically active agent from a carrier. The biologically active agent is heparin or a related biologically active acidic polysaccharide and the carrier is a sol-gel derived silica xerogel. The xerogel is derived from a tetraalkoxysilane such as tetrethoxysilane (TEOS) and part of the tetraalkoxysilane is replaced by an organomodified alkoxysilane, preferably an akylsubsitituted alkoxysilane. The invention also includes a method for the preparation of this composition.

Abstract: A method for drawing a biological sample using a suction-discharge device, such as a manual or automatic pipette, built into an automated device or not. A method for detecting the free surface of a biological sample and/or solid, a sample drawing device such as a pipette and a device for detecting the free surface of a biological sample or a solid are also disclosed. This method includes actuating a means causing a pressure variation or an air flow within the suction-discharge device, positioning the lower free end of the device in such a way so that it becomes flush with a free surface of the biological sample, measuring an overpressure within the suction-discharge device, and sampling a quantity of the sample by suction using the device. The invention finds a preferable application in the field of automatic analyzers.

Abstract: An alizarin-based chromogenic substrate, a composition containing the substrate, and its use to detect the presence of an enzymatic activity are disclosed. The substrate is particularly applicable in the field of biological diagnosis.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of lariciresinol, cyclolariciresinol or secoisolariciresinol, which method includes the steps of a) reducing hydroxymatairesinol to give 7-hydroxy-secoisolariciresinol, and b) subjecting the 7-hydroxy-secoisolariciresinol obtained in step a) to i) cyclization to give lariciresinol, or ii) cyclization to give cyclolariciresinol, or iii) catalytic hydrogenolysis to give secoisolariciresinol.

Abstract: A method for searching data stored in at least one database (32, 34) accessible from an external server of a data transmission network (14), including sending a query (36) for every database from a local server associated with at least one local database (12), the query including fields containing general criteria relating to the type of information, the content of the information, and/or dates associated with the information, with the ability to link the fields by Boolean operators. The download step includes: generation of scripts by the local server including a series of commands based on the general criteria and enabling creation of pointers to identify the data fields to be downloaded, and activating robots to download the fields indicated by the pointers and other data fields associated by predefined relationships with the indicated data fields.