Abstract: A method using O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases (AGT) is disclosed for transferring a label from a substrate to a fusion protein comprising the AGT. This allows the detection and/or manipulating of the fusion protein, both in vitro and in vivo, by attaching molecules to the fusion proteins that introduce a new physical or chemical property to the fusion protein. Examples of such molecules are, among others, spectroscopic probes or reporter molecules, affinity tags, molecules generating reactive radicals, cross-linkers, ligands mediating protein-protein interactions or molecules suitable for the immobilisation of the fusion protein.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2002
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2011
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Inventors:
Kai Johnsson, Susanne Gendreizig, Antje Keppler
Abstract: A dye sensitized solar cell, comprising a-heteroleptic polypyridil complex of Ru, Os or Fe. The donating ligand has an extended conjugated n-system increasing the light absorbance and keeing the LUMO energy level higher than that of the anchoring ligand. A compacting compound whose molecular structure comprises a terminal group, a hydrophobic part and an anchoring? group may be co-adsorbed together with the dye on the semi-conductive metal oxide layer of the photoanode, forming a dense mixed self-assembled monolayer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2011
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Inventors:
Shaik Mohammad Zakeeruddin, Cédric Klein, Peng Wang, Michaël Graetzel
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a collimator that comprises grooves or channels in the submicrometer to micrometer range. The present invention is also related to uses of a collimator and collimator holder as described herein as well as apparatuses comprising the same.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 17, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2011
Assignees:
University De Geneva, Ecole Polytechnique Federal De Lausanne
Inventors:
Thanos D. Halazonetis, Andre Liani, Nathan Jenkins, Juergen Brugger, Kristopher Pataky
Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photon avalanche detector in the semiconductor substrate. The photon avalanche detector includes an anode of a first conductivity type and a cathode of a second conductivity type. A guard ring is in the semiconductor substrate and at least partially surrounds the photon avalanche detector. A passivation layer of the first conductivity type is in contact with the guard ring to reduce an electric field at an edge of the photon avalanche detector.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 3, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 1, 2011
Assignees:
STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, The University Court of the University of Edinburgh, Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne
Inventors:
Justin Richardson, Lindsay Grant, Marek Gersbach, Edoardo Charbon, Cristiano Niclass, Robert Henderson
Abstract: The invention relates to AGT mutants showing, when compared to the wild type human AGT, two or more advantageous properties selected from (a) reduced DNA interaction; (b) localisation of the expressed protein in eukaryotic cells that is no longer restricted to the nucleus; (c) improved expression yield as soluble protein and improved stability in various hosts; (d) improved stability under oxidising conditions; (e) improved stability within cells after reaction with a substrate; (f) improved stability outside cells before and after reaction with a substrate; (g) improved in vitro solubility; (h) improved reactivity against O6-alkylguanine substrates; (1) reduced reactivity against DNA-based substrates; and (j) reduced reactivity against N9-substituted O6-alkylguanine substrates.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 1, 2005
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Inventors:
Jan Barnikow, Christopher Chidley, Thomas Gronemeyer, Christian Heinis, Hughes Jaccard, Kai Johnsson, Alexandre Juillerat, Antje Keppler
Abstract: Microcavity comprising two reflectors, at least one semiconductor layer separating said reflectors and a semiconductor quantum well wherein at least one of said reflectors and of said at least one semiconductor layer comprises a structure which is adjusted to localize a polariton in said microcavity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2006
Date of Patent:
February 15, 2011
Assignee:
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Inventors:
Benoît Deveaud-Plédran, Cristiano Ciuti, François Morier-Genoud
Abstract: A method of data retrieval from a data repository in response to a query having either list of keywords and/or list of attribute-value pairs, the method comprising the steps of: providing an inverted index generated from the data repository, the inverted index indicating the attribute with which each term is encountered in each entity when such an attribute is available; retrieving data from the inverted index by searching said inverted index based on said attribute-value pairs or keywords; providing scores to entities. A method of forming an inverted index from a data repository and a search engine for retrieval of data from a data repository is also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 22, 2009
Publication date:
January 27, 2011
Applicant:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne EPFL
Abstract: Methods of inferring user preferences using ontologies use ontology structure based similarity and an inference mechanism in defining ontology filtering (OF). Items are recommended to users by identifying items that the users may prefer, but may not have been aware of. This is performed by computing personalized scores for concepts and selecting an instance having a highest score.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2007
Date of Patent:
January 18, 2011
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Abstract: A method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of a sample comprises preparation of the sample and carrying out an NMR spectroscopy measurement. Preparation includes excitation of long lived coherences (LLC) between the singlet state S0 and the central triplet state T0 of nuclei of the sample. The thermal equilibrium Boltzmann distribution (Iz+Sz) is thereby transformed into a difference (Iz?Sz), which is flipped to the transverse plane, and irradiation of the sample with an rf-field is initiated. The LLC is sustained by maintaining the rf-irradiation during an interval t1 and the LLC is converted into observable magnetisation by interrupting the rf-irradiation. The method allows nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements with improved spectral resolution.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 30, 2010
Publication date:
January 6, 2011
Applicants:
Bruker BioSpin AG, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Inventors:
Paul Romeo Vasos, Riddhiman Sarkar, Puneet Ahuja, Geoffrey Bodenhausen
Abstract: A method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, includes creation of enhanced polarization of nuclei of a first kind within a sample in a magnetic field at cryogenic temperatures and transfer of the polarised sample to room temperature. The enhanced polarization of nuclei of the first kind is thereby transformed into long-lived states (LLS) of nuclei of a second kind and these LLS are sustained. The LLS is at least partially converted into observable magnetisation and an NMR or MRI measurement is carried out. The method allows one to extend the time needed between hyperpolarised magnetisation and NMR detection.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 30, 2010
Publication date:
January 6, 2011
Applicants:
Bruker BioSpin AG, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Inventors:
Paul Romeo Vasos, Arnaud Comment, Riddhiman Sarkar, Sami Antoine Jannin, Geoffrey Bodenhausen
Abstract: A transistor for active matrix display and a method for producing the transistor (1). The transistor (1) includes a microcrystalline silicon film (5) and an insulator (3). The crystalline fraction of the microcrystalline silicon film (5) is above 80%. According to the invention, the transistor (1) includes a plasma treated interface (4) located between the insulator (3) and the microcrystalline silicon film (5) so that the transistor (1) has a linear mobility equal or superior to 1.5 cm2V?1s?1, shows threshold voltage stability and wherein the microcrystalline silicon film (5) includes grains (6) whose size ranges between 10 nm and 400 nm. The invention concerns as well a display unit having a line-column matrix of pixels that are actively addressed, each pixel comprising at least a transistor as described above.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 6, 2004
Date of Patent:
January 4, 2011
Assignees:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique
Inventors:
Pere Roca I Cabarrocas, Régis Vanderhaghen, Bernard Drevillon
Abstract: A Raman method and system for analysing a sample including an excitation source emitting an incident light beam, a sample holder for mounting the sample, elements for focusing the incident light beam onto the sample surface to generate a Raman scattered light having an intensity, elements for collecting the Raman scattered light to form a Raman scattered light beam, a detection system measuring intensity of the Raman scattered light beam as a function of time. The system includes at least a polarization state generator able to generate four independent polarization states or a polarization state analyzer able to analyze four independent polarization states to detect the intensity of the Raman scattered light beam and calculate a partial or complete Mueller-Stokes matrix of the sample.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2007
Date of Patent:
December 28, 2010
Assignees:
Ecole Polytechnique, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Inventors:
Razvigor Ossikovski, Antonello De Martino, Bernard Drevillon
Abstract: Method of producing a plasma conductor in air with the aid of a femtosecond high-frequency pulsing and high-repetition rate laser. The plasma is used for transmitting a current between an electric or catenary wire supplying a vehicle such as a train and an electric contact, for example a pantograph arm disposed on a moving vehicle and connected to a power distribution system thereof. The plasma is in contact with the electric or catenary wire and with an electric contact.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 8, 2005
Date of Patent:
December 21, 2010
Assignees:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.), Ecole Polytechnique
Abstract: This invention discloses new methods and security devices for authenticating documents and valuable products which may be applied to any support, including transparent synthetic materials and traditional opaque materials such as paper. The invention relates to parallax moire shapes which occur in a compound layer consisting of the superposition of specially designed and possibly geometrically transformed s-random base layer and s-random revealing layer with a small gap between them. The base and revealing layers are formed respectively by base layer element shapes and revealing layer sampling elements positioned at s-random locations, where the base layer locations and the revealing layer locations are strongly correlated. When tilting the compound layer or changing the viewing angle, a parallax moire intensity profile of a chosen shape is seen moving in the superposition, thereby allowing the authentication of the document.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 15, 2009
Publication date:
December 16, 2010
Applicant:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Abstract: A method of synthesizing electronic components incorporating nanoscale filamentary structures in which method a metallic catalyst is deposited in a nanoporous membrane , the catalyst being adapted to penetrate in at least some of the pores of the nanoporous membrane , and filamentary structures are grown on the catalyst in at least some of the pores in the nanoporous membrane . The nanoporous membrane is prepared in a manner suitable for ensuring that the wall of the pores include a single-crystal zone, and at least part of the catalyst is grown epitaxially on said single-crystal zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 12, 2004
Date of Patent:
December 7, 2010
Assignees:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Ecole Polytechnique
Abstract: Given two video sequences, a composite video sequence can be generated which includes visual elements from each of the given sequences, suitably synchronized and represented in a chosen focal plane. For example, given two video sequences with each showing a different contestant individually racing the same down-hill course, the composite sequence can include elements from each of the given sequences to show the contestants as if racing simultaneously. A composite video sequence can be made also by similarly combining a video sequence with an audio sequence.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 1999
Date of Patent:
November 30, 2010
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Abstract: The invention is directed to a spin-polarized electron injector using a semiconductor tip, in which tip the injected electrons are photocreated by a circularly polarized light excitation incident on the rear of the tip. This tip is supported by a transparent lever or cantilever and undergoes a surface treatment for the purpose of removing the surface oxide layer, to prevent said layer from reforming and to improve the proportion of injected electrons.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 23, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 23, 2010
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique
Inventors:
Daniel Paget, Jacques Peretti, Alistair Rowe, Georges Lampel, Bruno Gerard, Shailendra Bansropun
Abstract: A method and apparatus to produce a net list of gates and Flip-Flops for one algorithm in order to find the best compromise between power consumption, speed and silicon surface by using a two step process. First the algorithm is written for a processor that has no restrictions in terms of number and size of register, core, operations set, memory handler and instructions. The program assembly of this processor fits into a two-dimensional table. To increase speed, the tables are configured to place the program operation in as many columns as possible, and to reduce silicon the tables are configured to place operations in a single column with many rows. The second stage consists of converting this virtual processor with its program tables into an HDL file ready for synthesis.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 14, 2009
Publication date:
November 18, 2010
Applicant:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the quality and/or degradation of a fluid, especially an oil, comprising a sensor consisting of at least one pair of electrodes which are distanced from each other. Said sensor is immersed in the fluid which is to be measured. The electrodes and the fluid form a capacitive element whose capacity varies according to the dielectric constant of the fluid. The sensor can provide an electric output signal representing said dielectric constant. The inventive device also comprises processing means which receive the output signal and which can determine the degree of quality and/or degradation of the fluid on the basis of said output signal. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes extend substantially on the same plane and in that the fluid surrounds the two surfaces of the electrodes on both sides of said plane.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2009
Date of Patent:
November 16, 2010
Assignees:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne
Abstract: Device for the in vitro culture of cells comprising: a planar deformable substrate (3) with a culture surface (4), substrate deforming means for modifying the size of said culture surface (4), characterized by the fact that it furthermore comprises: substrate holding elements (5) which are located near the periphery of said culture surface (4), a frame (6,8) surrounding and directly or indirectly fixing said substrate holding elements (5), in such a way as to allow microscope viewing of the culture surface (4) and to avoid mechanical parts directly above or below the culture surface (4), said frame (6,8) being adapted to move said substrate holding elements (5) away from the center of said culture surface (4).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2006
Date of Patent:
October 5, 2010
Assignee:
Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL)