Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for producing and collecting single droplets of a first fluid, the device including a microfluidic platform having at least a droplet microchannel wherein is produced a flow of single droplets of the first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, the droplet microchannel having at least one inlet extremity and at least one outlet extremity for distributing the flow of droplets, the device further including: a collection device including a plurality of receiving areas adapted to collect at least one of the droplets, elements for changing the relative position of the collection device and the outlet of the microfluidic platform, elements for controlling the flow of droplets, and elements for synchronizing the flow of droplets at the outlet of the droplet microchannel and the relative movement of the collection device with regards to the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: A microfluidic device and method for producing and collecting single droplets of a first fluid, the device including a microfluidic platform having at least a droplet microchannel wherein is produced a flow of single droplets of the first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, the droplet microchannel having at least one inlet extremity and at least one outlet extremity for distributing the flow of droplets, the device further including: a collection device including a plurality of receiving areas adapted to collect at least one of the droplets, elements for changing the relative position of the collection device and the outlet of the microfluidic platform, elements for controlling the flow of droplets, and elements for synchronizing the flow of droplets at the outlet of the droplet microchannel and the relative movement of the collection device with regards to the microfluidic platform.

Abstract: Compounds having inverse agonist functional selectivity for GABAA receptors containing the ?5 subunit for use as a medicament in the treatment of cognitive impairments in subjects suffering from Down syndrome. The use of these compounds is disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions for such treatment can comprise these compounds or suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a polyethoxylated castor oil and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Methods are disclosed for enhancing cognitive function, or treating or lessening the severity of cognitive impairments, in subjects suffering from Down syndrome by administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more of these compounds.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for parallel detection of the behaviour of mechanical micro-oscillators interacting with the sample (21). The amplitude and the phase of resonance of micro-oscillators (12) are measured with optical means. The invention is characterised in that a source (1) is active during a fraction 1/n of the period (n being an integer) and of variable phase p/n of the period (p being an integer). Interferences are produced between light beams generated by reflection of incident light beams (7) and (8) on the micro-oscillators (12). Periodically the micro-oscillators (12) are displaced by means. The value of the parameter p (p being an integer) is varied and N elementary measurements are integrated to obtain a measurement representing each of the values of p. The phase and amplitude of each micro-oscillator (12) are calculated on the basis of the representative data obtained for each value of p and this for a large number of accumulations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of an activated biochip for covalent fixing of oligonucleotide probes to a solid support by means of a spacer compound of the NHS-PEG-VS type and biochips produced by the above method. The invention further relates to methods for detection of nucleic acids in a sample or methods for screening compounds which may be specifically bound to oligonucleotide probes in which said biochips are used. The invention also relates to detection kits for quantitative or qualitative analysis of nucleic acids in a sample comprising said biochips and use of the above as affinity matrix for purification of nucleic acids, for sequencing nucleic acids, for the qualitative or quantitative analysis of the expression of genes or for the study and detection of genetic polymorphism.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for parallel detection of the behaviour of mechanical micro-oscillators interacting with the sample (21). The amplitude and the phase of resonance of micro-oscillators (12) are measured with optical means. The invention is characterised in that a source (1) is active during a fraction 1/n of the period (n being an integer) and of variable phase p/n of the period (p being an integer). Interferences are produced between light beams generated by reflection of incident light beams (7) and (8) on the micro-oscillators (12). Periodically the micro-oscillators (12) are displaced by means. The value of the parameter p (p being an integer) is varied and N elementary measurements are integrated to obtain a measurement representing each of the values of p. The phase and amplitude of each micro-oscillator (12) are calculated on the basis of the representative data obtained for each value of p and this for a large number of accumulations.