Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric protein comprising at least one human amyloid P component and at least one fragment of an Fc region of a human antibody, the human amyloid P component and the fragment of an Fc region with which it is associated being bound to each other by means of a hinge region.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated non-naturally occurring protein comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and wherein the amino acid in position 8, 47, 209 and/or 354 is substituted by any amino acid different from the amino acid indicated at that position in said sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device (10) for measuring physical characteristics of cells. The device (10) comprises: a microfluidic chip (20) provided with a flow channel (22) for allowing cells to flow through; a manipulator (24) configured to apply deformation force to a cell in a continuous flow; and a sensor (26) configured to sense a physical characteristic of the cell. The manipulator (24) and the sensor (26) are configured to define a width (W2) of the flow channel (22) as a gap formed between them. The manipulator (24) is configured to apply the deformation force to the cell by compressing the cell against the sensor (26).

Abstract: Process of grafting of a polyethylene-containing material to produce a modified polyethylene composition comprising providing a twin screw extruder with one or more thermal regulation devices; a polyethylene-containing material and a grafting agent and extruding the polyethylene-containing material and the grafting agent to obtain a modified polyethylene composition; the step of extruding comprises a thermal treatment of the polyethylene-containing material by self-heating of the material at a maximum barrel temperature Ts ranging from 315° C. to 410° C. in one or more hot zones of the extruder.

Abstract: An optical device suitable for transmitting/reflecting electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The device comprises at least a first coating layer made of a first material, a substrate made of a material different from the first material, and surface texturing forming cavities in the device. A lower layer, disposed directly below the first coating layer, is either a second coating layer made of a material different from the first material or the substrate itself. The lower layer has a predetermined thickness. The optical device has cavities that extend through the first coating layer and are sunk into the lower layer through at least part of its thickness. This structure enhances the optical properties of the device for specific applications in electromagnetic radiation transmission or reflection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diltiazem for use as an agent for activating the expression of at least one gene encoding a type III interferon, in the prevention and/or treatment of infections by at least one pathogenic microorganism of the epithelia of the respiratory and/or intestinal tracts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and a system for the production of hydrogen and carbon by catalytic non-oxidative decomposition of hydrocarbons, such as saturated C1+ hydrocarbons, such as methane, in the presence of a fresh or a spent catalyst composition comprising at least one carbon catalyst. The process of the invention is characterised in that the fresh or spent catalyst composition is heated by means of induction heating to a temperature comprised between 500° C. and 1100° C. The catalyst compositions as applied in accordance with the invention comprise, and preferably consist of, (I) a first component, wherein said first component is selected from one or more non-porous carbon catalysts and/or one or more porous carbon catalysts; and (II) optionally, a second component, wherein said second component consists of a non-carbon material, and preferably is a ceramic or zeolitic support material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing, in one step, “made to measure” double-stranded DNA vectors from molecular bricks including sequences of interest in the presence of a one and only type IIs restriction enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): for use as peripheral NMDA receptor antagonists.

Abstract: Disclosed are chelates resulting from the complexation of bifunctional do2pa derivatives ligands of formula (I), wherein the substituents R1, R1?, R2, R2?, R3, R3?, L1, L1?, L2 and L2? are defined as in the claims, with metallic cations, especially Pb(II) and Bi(III). Also disclosed are bifunctional do2pa derivatives ligands of formula (I), as well as the use of chelates in nuclear medicine and the use of ligands in cations detection or epuration of effluents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a colloid comprising functionalised liquid colloidal particles. The invention also relates to such a colloid and to the uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated non-naturally occurring protein comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and wherein the amino acid in position 8, 47, 209 and/or 354 is substituted by any amino acid different from the amino acid indicated at that position in said sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated non-naturally occurring protein comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, and wherein the amino acid in position 8, 47, 209 and/or 354 is substituted by any amino acid different from the amino acid indicated at that position in said sequence SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a crosslinked polymer composition containing exchangeable pending links and exchangeable crosslinks, by boronic ester metathesis reactions, said process implementing a thermoplastic polymer comprising pending boronic ester groups, and an additive as crosslinking agent that melts, and thus crosslinks, in the polymer matrix at a temperature, called temperature of dissociation, higher that the processing temperature. Said temperature of dissociation is reached in the later curing step only.

Abstract: Method for non-invasively characterizing a heterogeneous medium using ultrasound, comprising a step of generating a series of incident ultrasonic waves, a step of recording an experimental reflection matrix Rui(t) defined between the input emission basis (i) and an output reception basis (u), a step of determining a response REP(r,?r) of the medium between an input virtual transducer (TVin) calculated based on an input focusing of the experimental reflection matrix that creates an input focal spot around a first point (P1), and an output virtual transducer (TVout) calculated based on an output focusing of the experimental reflection matrix that creates an output focal spot around a second point (P2), said response being expressed as a function of a central point (PC) of spatial position (r) in the medium located midway between the first and second points (P1, P2).

Abstract: A medical analysis device with cellular impedance signal processing features a memory arranged to receive pulse data sets, with each pulse data set including impedance value data that are associated each time with a time marker. The pulse data sets together represent a curve of cellular impedance values that are measured as a cell passes through a polarised opening. The device further includes a classifier in communication with the memory. The classifier may feature a convolutional neural network that receives the pulse data sets as input. The classifier is provided with at least one convolutional layer, which convolutional layer has a depth greater than or equal to 3, and at least two fully connected layers, in addition to an output layer rendering a cell classification from which a pulse data set is derived.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of molecular biology and particularly novel genes that encode pesticidal proteins useful for controlling pests, particularly plant pests. These proteins and the nucleic acid sequences that encode them are useful in preparing pesticidal compositions and in the production of transgenic pest-resistant plants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel degradable branched-block copolymers, comprising a star-shaped copolymer central core or a linear copolymer central core, functionalized with photoreactive groups chosen among aryl-azide, (meth)acrylate or thiol groups. The present invention also relates to the use of these degradable branched-block copolymers as photo-crosslinkers to provide degradable photo-crosslinked elastomers as biomaterials suitable for medical and tissue engineering applications. A method for preparing a degradable photo-crosslinked polymer, preferably a degradable photo-crosslinked elastomer, starting from the branched-block copolymer of the invention via a shaping process and an irradiation step is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the allergy field. Several independent groups have recently investigated the implication of PCSK9 on inflammation and sepsis but none of them have determined its impact on allergies and/or asthma which is a global health burden. Inventors have obtained preliminary data on wild-type (PCSK9+/+) or PCSK9-deficient mice (PCSK9?/?) and shown that, under basal condition and in the absence of a particular stimulus, PCSK9 deficiency significantly increases the percentage of regulatory T cells in the spleen, the mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. Moreover, inventors have shown the effect of allergic challenge on primary human bronchial epithelial cells on PCSK9 expression and secretion. Very interestingly, their first results obtained by Q-PCR showed that HDM and LPS increase PCSK9 mRNA levels. Accordingly, the present invention relates to inhibitors of PCSK9 for use in the treatment of asthma and/or allergic disease, such as food allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the long-term preservation of biological material. More specifically, it concerns a preservation container comprising: a biological container for containing biological material, a first shield configured for absorbing gamma-rays, a second shield configured for absorbing ambient neutrons, said second shield surrounding the biological container, the preservation container being of low-radioactivity background materials, and a method for preserving a biological material, comprising: a) providing a biological material in a confinement container, b) providing the preservation container of the invention, c) placing the confinement container containing the biological material into said preservation container, d) storing said preservation container containing the biological material in a room located under a material attenuating cosmic rays and induced particles, said material having a thickness equivalent to 1 m to 7000 m of water, for attenuating cosmic rays.