Abstract: A homogeneous biospecific assay method for an analyte in solution or in a biological suspension, in which a biospecific reagent competitively binding an analyte and a ligand labeled with a fluorescent molecule, is reacted with and bound to a solid phase, and in which the free labeled ligand is extracted is excited with two-photon excitation by focusing a laser beam suitable for two-photon excitation into the sample volume; and the concentration of the analyte is calculated based on the photon emission contributed by the free labeled ligand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the viability of detrimental oral microorganisms in an individual, said method comprising subjecting the individual's oral cavity to a bioactive glass, the average particle size of which is less than 100 &mgr;m. Furthermore, this invention concerns a method for the prevention of dental caries and/or gingivitis in an individual, said caries being caused by a cariogenic bacteria; or for prevention or treatment of periapical infections. Further the invention relates to a method for the whitening and/or mechanical cleaning of an individual's teeth.

Abstract: A device for stopping a leak in a pipe having at least one crack, including an elastomer sheet applied against the crack with a force applicator and a clamping mechanism arranged around the pipe for applying a force on the force applicator. The force applicator includes shearing elements preferably consisting of a first group of rigid parallel partitions and a second group of parallel partitions arranged perpendicularly to the partitions of the first group, the partitions being arranged perpendicularly to the pipe and applying shearing efforts on the elastomer sheet on the site of the crack, forcing the elastomer to be deformed so as to match the shape of the crack, thereby stopping it.

Abstract: The invention concerns a complex containing biologically assimilable orthosilicic acid and a process of preparation of said complex. In this complex, orthosilicic acid is complexed with a polypeptide and the complex is under solid, stable and concentrated form. The present invention also concerns cosmetic or therapeutic compositions, and a nutritional supplement containing said complex.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively measuring nucleic acid amplification reactions, especially the polymerase chain reaction, employing microparticles as hybridization solid phase, a probe sequence labeled with a fluorescent label and a fluorescence detection system which is based on two-photon fluorescence excitation, contacting all the amplification reaction components and the solid phase simultaneously in a closed cuvette, performing the amplification reactions in the same cuvette, focusing a two-photon exciting laser beam into the cuvette during the amplification cycles and measuring the fluorescence signal emitted by the microparticles from one particle at a time when they randomly float through the focal volume of the laser beam. The features of this invention allow a method and device for performing a fast quantitative nucleic acid amplification assay of single or multiple target sequences in a very small closed sample volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new polysiloxane-based block copolymer having a formula T(AB)xAT  (I) wherein A=—(SiR′R″O)nSiR′R″—, wherein R′ and R″ are the the same or different and represent a lower alkyl group or a phenyl group, wherein said alkyl or phenyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted; B is polyalkylene oxide of formula wherein R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, or phenyl; R1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; y is 2-6; m is 1-30; n is 1-3000; and x is 0-100.

Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery device for the controlled release of the therapeutically active agent gestodene, over a prolonged period of time, at a release rate of 0,1-300 &mgr;g/day, said device comprising a core comprising at least said therapeutically active agent, and a membrane encasing said core wherein said membrane is made of an elastomer. According to the invention, the elastomer is a siloxane-based elastomer comprising 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl groups attached to the Si-atoms of the siloxane units, and the release rate of said therapeutically active agent of said delivery device is regulated by the amount of said 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl groups.

Abstract: This invention relates to new fluoroalkyl substituted cyclotrisiloxanes, their use in the preparation of new homopolymers, block copolymers and random copolymers, and to such new homopolymers, block copolymers and random copolymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for the preparation of hyperbranched siloxane polymers by anionic polymerization of a cyclotrisiloxane having the functional group Si—OH, and for the preparation of linear siloxane polymers by cationic or anionic polymerization of a cyclotrisiloxane having a vinylterminated functional group. Furthermore, this invention concerns novel cyclotrisiloxanes useful for the preparation of the aforementioned polymers.

Abstract: Cosmetic composition useful notably in the whitening of skin which it includes, in association with any suitable excipient, at least one compound of the following general formula (I): wherein: R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group or a thiazoline group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group or a linear or branched alkyl group substituted by a carboxyl, a hydroxyl, an amine or a thiol group, R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group, an arylalkyl group, an acyl group or an acyloxy group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a linear or branched alkyl group.

Abstract: Gel immobilized enzymes are prepared for use in carrying out reactions in hydrophobic solvents. The gel is formed from a gelatinizer such as gelatin or a polysaccharide such as agarose, agar, pectin, sodium alginate or carrageenan. The gel contains a ratio of amount of gelatinizer to amount of water such that the gel is capable of being mechanically divisible into dimensionally substantially stable fragments at a temperature which may reach a lower limit of the gelation temperature range of the gelatinizer. A preferred gel contains 30 to 50% gelatin, and is prepared by forming a mixture of water, enzyme and water-soluble gelatin, heating the mixture to dissolve the gelatin to form a solution, and cooling the solution until it forms a gel.

Abstract: Two alternative mounting methods and devices for mounting rails achieve new points of mounting (8) by adding new pitch-holes to mounting rails (2) and using either adjustable cage-nuts or cage-nuts containing two nuts in their respective pitch-holes. The shape of the new pitch-holes preserves the structural integrity of mounting rails (2). The number of mounting points and possibilities can be dramatically increased, thereby satisfying various ventilation and pass-through requirements between devices (5).

Abstract: A cubicle bed, including a horizontal non-steel bed frame having a rectangular perimeter including a head end, a foot end parallel to the head end, and two parallel sides between the head end and the foot end; the frame adapted to support a bed mattress; a footboard extending vertically from the foot end, and including a non-steel footboard frame supporting a substantially transparent mesh panel; a headboard extending vertically from the head end, and including a non-steel headboard frame supporting a substantially transparent mesh panel; a pair of opposed sideboards extending vertically from the parallel sides, each of the sideboards including a non-steel sideboard frame supporting a substantially transparent mesh panel, with at least one of the substantially transparent mesh panels being releasably attached to the sideboard frame; the footboard, headboard and sideboards being joined together in cooperating relationship to define a barrier about the perimeter of the horizontal bed frame.

Abstract: Portable and foldable modular electronic keyboard which includes a keyboard having a plurality of white and black keys capable of reproducing the notes of a piano through an individual headphone by using associated electronics. The foldable keyboard is formed from a plurality of modules, each module having a plurality of white and black keys, and each module being joined to another module by a flexible membrane. When the modules are folded together, the keyboard has the volume of a book. When the modules are unfolded, the keyboard presents a genuine piano keyboard with seven octaves. The white keys and the black keys forming each module have a low thickness.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for the controlled transdermal delivery of a drug containing a combination of a drug and an ion exchanger group to a carrier, and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt that is able to control the release of the drug from the ion exchanger, in which the carrier is a textile fiber. According to a preferred embodiment the drug is tacrine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

Abstract: The excitation of label molecules usable in chemical and biochemical analysis by electrical pulses at electrodes covered with a thin insulating film, and the use of such electrodes in chemical, clinical and biochemical analysis. The electrodes include a conducting base material that has been coated with an organic or inorganic insulating film or multiple layers of such films, so that either one or several label compounds can be excited to an excited state which is deexcited by emission of ultraviolet, visible or infrared light, in aqueous solution providing the basis for reproducible analytical applications in bioaffinity assays such as immunoassays and DNA-probing assays.

Abstract: A porous composite suitable for filling a recess or a through-passing hole in an implant. The composite includes particles A prepared from a bioactive material and particles B prepared from a non-bioactive material or weakly bioactive material, which is sintratable with the bioactive material, such that particles A and particles B have been sintered together to a porous composite. Particles A and particles B are essentially homogeneous in size. Also disclosed is an implant which contains a core and the composite.

Abstract: A printable media, including: (a) a substrate having a hydrophilic, porous layer on at least one surface; and (b) an ink receptive, thermoplastic image layer adhered to the hydrophilic, porous layer, where the ink receptive layer contains a copolymer having a low surface energy and a plurality of tertiary amine sites, the amine sites being at least partially neutralized with an acid. The invention also relates to a method for preparing a printable media, including: (a) applying a hydrophilic porous layer onto a substrate; (b) applying a fluid composition onto the hydrophilic porous layer by means of an ink jet printing apparatus, where the fluid composition contains a copolymer having a plurality of tertiary amine sites, the amine sites being at least partially neutralized with an acid, and (c) drying the composition.