Abstract: The present invention relates to 4S-iota-carrageenan sulfatase and to the use thereof for partially or totally converting the iota-carrageenan into iota-/alpha-carrageenan or alpha-carrageenan. The invention also relates to the method for extracting said enzyme from a Pseudoalteromonas bacteria population or from red marine algae. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of 4S-iota-carrageenan sulfatase to prepare a texturizing agent containing alpha-carrageenan.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through targeted spliceosome mediated simple or double trans-splicing. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with a target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) and to mediate a simple or double trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of a novel chimeric RNA molecule (chimeric RNA).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an undergarment (1) comprising: a supporting part (2) which surrounds at least the hips and the top of each thigh; and a flexible collecting bag (10) positioned in the crotch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to substrates coated with films comprising compounds of general formula (I) below: and also to the process for manufacturing them and to their use as anode interface layer in electronic devices. The present invention also relates to organic electroluminescent diodes (OLED), polymeric electroluminescent diodes (PLED), organic field-effect transistors (OFET) and organic solar cells (OSC) comprising a substrate according to the invention, to specific organic solar cells and to the process for manufacturing them. Compounds of formula (I) as such also form part of the invention.

Abstract: A method for controlled reduction of the weight average molar mass of a polysaccharide down to a lower and determined weight average molar mass, which method includes a step for mechanical milling of the polysaccharide by a ball mill, until the polysaccharide having the desired weight average molar mass is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser system provided with a laser radiation device (1) in which the radiation frequency is controlled by a heterodyne servo circuit particularly using an interferometric circuit (15). Said interferometric circuit comprises a coil of optical fibres (17) which provide a reference for correcting the laser radiation frequency. To obtain good results in the field of spectral purity, all the elements involved in the laser radiation are fibres and the connections thereof are provided by optical fibres. The invention can be used for lasers requiring high spectral purity.

Abstract: A method of making a metal electrode on the surface of a hydrophobic material (7), the method comprising the steps of: [1] bringing one end of a capillary (5) containing a fluid that includes particles of metal dissolved in a solvent close to a zone of the surface of the material (7); and [2] illuminating said zone by means of laser radiation (3) so as to have the effects of causing a drop of fluid to flow from the capillary, of depositing the drop on the zone, of evaporating the solvent contained in the drop, and of annealing the metal particles on the surface of the material in order to form the electrode.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an elongate structure having a steerable end, the structure including a flexible longitudinal body associated with at least one actuator member having at least one shape memory alloy wire or “SMAW” extending along the body and anchored thereto at its ends, and associated with a mechanism for heating it in controlled manner. The method includes the following steps: inserting at least one of the ends of the SMAW in tubes; crimping the tubes onto the ends of the SMAW; and securing the tubes to the body in such a manner that the wire extends along the body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of fastening lamellae of a lamellar material that is at least partially conductive onto an insulating substrate (2) containing oxides that are suitable for dissociating into mobile ions of given charge and stationary ions of opposite charge, the method comprising the steps of: placing a sample (1) of the lamellar material against a surface of the substrate; causing the oxides of the substrate to dissociate; and subjecting the substrate and the sample to an electric field by means of an electrode in contact with the substrate and an electrode in contact with the sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flapping-wing flying vehicle, the vehicle including a frame having two pivots mounted thereon to pivot about two parallel hinge axes (X), each pivot carrying a respective wing, the vehicle including a first oscillation generator for causing the pivots to oscillate in order to cause the wings to flap, said first oscillation generator comprising: two arms (6), each secured to a respective pivot (2); two cranks (9), each hinged to the end of a respective one of the arms about respective axes (X1) parallel to the hinge axes (X) of the pivots; a connecting rod (10) hinged to the ends of the two cranks about axes (X2) parallel to the hinge axes (X) of the pivots; synchronization means (4) for synchronizing the rotation of the two pivots such that the rotations of the pivots are equal and opposite; two electric motors (7), each placed to cause one of the cranks to rotate relative to the associated arm; and control means (50) for controlling and synchronizing the speeds of rotation of the m

Abstract: A method of initiating combustion in an internal combustion engine that has a main chamber (5) of variable volume into which an ignitable mixture is introduced, an auxiliary chamber (10) opening out into the main chamber and a controlled valve unit (11, 14, 15) for putting the auxiliary chamber into communication with, or isolating it from, the main chamber. The method includes controlling the controlled valve to put the auxiliary chamber into communication with the main chamber during a period that includes the top dead center between the compression stage and the expansion stage. An engine is specially adapted to implement the method.

Abstract: A musical instrument having strings and a soundboard, wherein the soundboard is excited by the strings by a transducer and is associated with differential stiffening mechanism defining at least two zones of the soundboard that present complementary vibratory behaviors. The two zones are separated by a slot extending along a common boundary between the two zones. The transducer extends across the slot so as to be connected to both zones of the soundboard, such that both zones are excited simultaneously when action is taken on one of the strings.

Abstract: A measurement device for measuring activity of the spinal cord of a vertebrate, wherein the device includes at least one main probe (1) shaped to be fastened to a spinous process (2) of a vertebra (3) and to hold in position on opposite sides of the vertebra at least one emitter (6) for emitting a wave capable of interacting with the spinal cord (7) and at least one associated receiver (8) for receiving the wave that has interacted with the spinal cord and for generating a signal representative of the activity of the spinal cord.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the susceptibility of a cell strain to a compound intended for controlling the growth of said cell strain, comprising: growing the cell strain in a first compound-free culture medium and in at least a second culture medium comprising the compound at a test concentration; obtaining mass-spectrometry spectra for a protein extract of the cell strain grown in the first culture medium and for a protein extract of the cell strain grown in the second culture medium; comparing the mass spectrometry spectra; deducing that the cell strain is sensitive to the compound at the test concentration if the mass spectrometry spectra are significantly different.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel synthetic or natural peptides for use in treating viral or parasitic infections or in the treatment of tumors. The peptides of the present invention are less than 30 amino acids in size, preferably less than 20 amino acids, in particular 15 to 20 amino acids, and in vitro the peptides specifically bind a type 2A protein phosphatase holoenzyme or one of its subunits. The invention also relates to a method for identifying said peptides, and to their uses.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of directing evolution of a target polynucleotide of interest for obtaining variants of this target polynucleotide, as well as a method to generate genetic variability by preparing a cell library. This invention also relates to a method to isolate or to screen variants of a polynucleotide or variants of a protein able to impact the phenotype of a cell or to confer a desired phenotype to target cells, and to identify theses polynucleotide variants or protein variants responsible for this phenotype.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing the distance (L) between two mirrors (3, 4) of an optical cavity (2). The method includes the steps of injecting into the cavity an incident light beam in the form of a comb of frequencies; observing the spectrum of the light emitted or reflected by the cavity by using a photodiode having at least two sensitive zones that are arranged relative to the emitted or reflected light in such a manner that when the spectrum is centered, the two sensitive zones of the photodiode are illuminated equally; and modifying the distance between the mirrors of the cavity so as to cancel any offset of the spectrum relative to a situation in which the spectrum is centered.

Abstract: The present invention provided methods and compositions for generating novel nucleic acid molecules through targeted spliceosome mediated simple or double trans-splicing. The compositions of the invention include pre-trans-splicing molecules (PTMs) designed to interact with a target precursor messenger RNA molecule (target pre-mRNA) and to mediate a simple or double trans-splicing reaction resulting in the generation of a novel chimeric RNA molecule (Chimeric RNA).

Abstract: The invention provides a portable device for recognizing and/or reconstructing speech by ultrasound probing of the vocal apparatus, the device including at least one ultrasound transducer (20) for generating an ultrasound wave and for receiving a wave reflected by the user's vocal apparatus, and analysis means for analyzing a signal generated by the ultrasound transducer, wherein the device includes locating means (21, 23) for determining the position of the ultrasound transducer relative to the skull of the user.

Abstract: A spacecraft (P) has a propulsion system making it possible to exert a force of variable magnitude and orientation on the spacecraft, a control system designed to control the propulsion system in terms of magnitude and orientation so as to make the spacecraft approach a target around a planet, with the aid of a force having at least one component (fx, fy, fz), in the rotating reference frame tied to the target, which depends substantially linearly on the corresponding coordinate (x, y, z) of the craft in this reference frame.