Abstract: Bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED) was used to separate lipids from biological solutions. The lipids are separated from animal as well as vegetable solutions. Particularly, bipolar membrane precipitates high levels of lipids from a biological solution. The BMED single step process improves significantly lipid precipitation rates in several biological solutions of different natures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process using dynamic high-pressure for inactivation of food pathogens. Liquid food are treated by dynamic-high-pressure at 1 to 5 kbars with at least one recirculation depending on the needs. The pasteurization process is performed at relatively cold temperature ranging from 4° C. to 55° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for isolating four cell types from a single umbilical cord as pure cultures. These cell lines (epithelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells) can be characterised and utilised in experimental models and for therapeutic purposes. Particularly, the umbilical cells isolated herein are used to form a tissue replacement or engineered living composition. Also, the isolated umbilical cells of the invention may have the potential of progenitor cells.

Abstract: A variable optical device for controlling the propagation of light has a liquid crystal layer (1), electrodes (4) arranged to generate an electric field acting on the liquid crystal layer, and an electric field modulation layer (3,71) arranged between the electrodes and adjacent the liquid crystal layer for spatially modulating said electric field in a manner to control the propagation of light passing through said optical device. The electric field modulation layer has either an optical index of refraction that is essentially spatially uniform, or a polar liquid or gel, or a very high low frequency dielectric constant material having a dielectric constant greater than 20, and preferably greater than 1000.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compounds, composition and method for reducing or inhibiting the differentiation or development of progenitor blood cells into leukemia cells, Particularly, the invention describes the use of inhibitors of S100 proteins, including myeloid related proteins (MRP). Inhibition of the activity or synthesis of S100 proteins results in the reduction or inhibition of the production or proliferation of leukemia cells.

Abstract: Methods of pre-treating healthy donor's myoblast cultures with growth or trophic factors on transplantation into subjects suffering from myopathic conditions such as muscular dystrophy. Compositions comprising myoblasts and fusion-promoting metalloproteases can be transplanted. Alternatively, myoblasts can be transplanted along with an agent inducing the expression of a fusion-promoting metalloprotease, or a composition comprising genetically-modified myoblasts capable of expressing a fusion-promoting metalloprotease can be transplanted.

Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.

Abstract: There is described a method for identifying at least one molecule in a substantially transparent medium, the method comprising: transmitting high-power, ultra-short laser pulses into the medium so as to generate filaments in which a spontaneous fluorescence signal propagating along an axis of the filament is amplified by stimulated emission; detecting the amplified spontaneous fluorescence signal; and analyzing the florescence signal to identify said molecule.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed for the modulation of various characteristics of probiotic cells and for the production of probiotics having altered characteristics. Such altered characteristics include increased resistance to various stresses, drugs and chemical agents, as well as aggregation. Such a method and a system are useful for the production of probiotics with altered characteristics, which may for example provide health benefits when present in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal.

Abstract: A capillary carpet irrigation system comprises a capillary carpet (10) having a series of individual capillary mat sections (9a, 9b, 9c . . . ) hydraulically isolated from one another by a water impermeable base membrane (18), thereby preventing water migration from one section to the next. This discontinuity advantageously allows the capillary carpet (10) to operate on sloppy surfaces and promotes effective capillary connection between coarse growing media and the mat. A protective water permeable membrane (15) is provided on top of the series of individual capillary mat sections (9a, 9b, 9c . . . ).

Abstract: The oxide materials are of the class of ternary mesoporous mixed oxide materials including lanthanum, a metal M selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn, and zirconium or cerium such a mesoporous La—Co—Zr mixed oxide material designated as Meso LCZ[x] where x is the atomic ratio (La+Co)/La+Co+Zr. They are useful as catalysts since they show high activities for hydrocarbon oxidation and good resistance against poisoning agents. These highly ordered mesoporous mixed oxides are synthesized by: preparing an amorphous solution of a La-M precursor and adding a salt of zirconium or cerium thereto; acidifying the amorphous solution in the presence of a surfactant under conditions to obtain a clear homogeneous solution; adjusting pH of the solution under conditions to form a solid precipitate; separating the solution and surfactant from the precipitate; and calcinating the precipitate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new ectohydroxynucleotidase, namely the NTPDasse8, which allows to regulate platelet aggregation or activation involved in the formation of thrombosis and related diseases. The nucleic acid sequence and the corresponding amino acid sequence and uses thereof are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2227-bp DNA fragment that confers antiphage activity. Two proteins encoded by this DNA sequence are responsible for the phage resistance phenotype. When introduced in Lactococcus lactis phage-sensitive strain, this DNA fragment aborts infection of phages of the 936 and P335 species.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining predisposition to a physiological reaction in a patient. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for determining a predisposition to toxicity induced by a camptothecin analog or to an immunosuppressive mycophenolic acid-based therapy. This method comprises the characterization of nucleic acid sequences from the patient. The nucleic acid sequence encodes for an amino acid sequence or regulates the expression of UGT1A1, UGT1A7, UGT1A9 or their polymorphic variants. The method also comprises the analysis of haplotypic variation within these genes.

Abstract: There is described a method of characterizing a short laser pulse, the method comprising the steps of obtaining root-mean-square widths of the pulse through second order moments of the pulse; obtaining a spectral width of the pulse using the root-mean-square widths; obtaining a root-mean square temporal width of the pulse; and defining a Pulse Quality Factor proportional to a product of the spectral width and the temporal width. This approach does not require complete characterization of laser pulses and eliminates the need of any assumption to interpret autocorrelation traces. The method can be applied to pulses of arbitrary shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the stability of endogenous proteins recovered from plant cells or plants. The preservation of endogenous proteins integrity of endogenous protein occurs by neutralizing proteolysis in crude extracts, particularly by the use of genetic alteration of plant cells or plants that express recombinant protease inhibitors or altered activity of specific target proteases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound having antimicrobial activities. The present invention also provides methods for the production and purification of flocculosin, the antimicrobial compound of the invention, including the steps of cultivating the microorganism Pseudozyma flocculosa. Analogs and derivatives of flocculosin are described herein.

Abstract: A manipulator for receiving and displacing an object, comprising a moving portion, adapted to receive the object. Four support legs each extend between the moving portion and a ground for supporting the moving portion. Each support leg is connected to the ground by a first joint, and with sequentially second, third, fourth and fifth joints connecting the first joints to the moving portion. The support legs are topologically equivalent to one another with respect to the joints. Each of the support legs has constraints in the joints operable to restrict movement of the moving portion to three translational degrees of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom. Actuators are each operatively connected to a different first joint for controlling the movement of the moving portion in any one of the four translational degrees of freedom. A method for controlling the movement of the moving portion is provided.

Abstract: An optical device for filtering an optical signal is described. The optical filtering device comprises an optical input receiving the optical signal; an elongated waveguide connected to the input and having a modified transverse dimension to create a series of partially reflective segments having predetermined effective indices of refraction (neff) with a distribution within the waveguide to provide the filtering of the optical signal, wherein the segments are designed for single mode operation and wherein a reflected filtered output optical signal is generated, wherein the transverse dimension varies within a narrow range over which a transverse size of the mode remains close to its minimum value; an optical output connected to the waveguide for providing the filtered optical signal.

Abstract: An archival waveguide memory device is provided and comprises a large number of elongated waveguides and a series of partially reflective elements distributed within each of the waveguides in accordance with data to be stored within the waveguides so as to act upon an input optical signal in each one of the waveguides and to generate a reflected output optical signal able to be uniquely correlated with the data. A method of recording data in a waveguide is also provided. A method of retrieving data stored in a waveguide is further provided and comprises injecting a pulsed optical signal in the waveguide, detecting a reflected output optical signal from the waveguide, and decoding a temporal variation in the reflected output optical signal to retrieve the data.