Abstract: A metal material whose surface is modified by bonding of aromatic groups, optionally substituted by functional groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic tomograph for spatial and temporal characterisation of fluids in motion such as air and water. This tomograph comprises a plurality of pairs of emitting-receiving ultrasonic probes, whereas each pair may be inscribed, diametrally opposite, on a circle centred round a flow axis of the fluid. The probes are therefore laid out on either side of the flow and will neither modify nor disturb the flow. Each probe may be displaced in a plane perpendicular to the flow axis. Indeed each probe is allocated a stepping motor. Each probe is a piezoelectric ceramic transducer which does not drift with time and which does not require any re-calibration, which provides the tomograph according to the invention stability over time. Moreover this tomograph is robust since these ultrasonic probes may be used under extreme conditions. The frequency of ultrasounds ranges between 30 kHz and 300 kHz.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining impulse responses from a medium (2) in relation to the transmission of waves between different points (T1-TN). The inventive method consists in: transmitting waves in the medium by generating, at each point j, signals ei(t) each comprising n elementary signals with respective frequencies which are spaced apart in pairs by an interval ?f and which are different from the frequencies of the elementary signals corresponding to the other points; receiving signals rj(t) at points j after the transmission of the aforementioned waves in the medium; and calculating each impulse response hij(t) from a correlation signal between signal ei(t) transmitted at point i and signal rj(t) received at point j.

Abstract: The invention concerns a metal material with whereof the surface is modified by bonding of aromatic groups on said surface, optionally substituted by functional groups.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for observing a body, in particular a viewer, comprising means for illuminating (12) the body (5), means for sampling (400, 450, 500, 700) light coming from an illuminated site (01) of the body and compensating means (20) for measuring a deformation of the wave front of a beam coming from a point of the body (5) and for applying to the light sampled by the sampling means (400, 450, 500, 700) a correction calculated on the basis of said measured deformation.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a piperazine derivative of formula (I) wherein: A and B=C═O, C═S or CR7R8 with R7=H, methyl, cyano, cyanomethyl, CO2CH3 or (C═O)CH3 and R8=H or phenyl; R1 to R6=H, OH, or C1-C5 alkoxy; X represents: either C═O, O(C═O), O(C═S), O(SO2), NH(C═O), NH(C═S), NH(SO2), S(C═O) or S(C═S), then Y=NR9R10, CR9R10R11 in which R9, R10 and R11=H, C1-C5 alkyl, C2-C5 alkenyl, or C2-C5 alkynyl or Y=nitrogenous heterocycle comprising 5 to 10 atoms; or X represents O, S, O(C═O)O, NH(C═O)O, or S(C═O)O, then Y=CR9R10R11 with R9, R10, R11 as above; or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts for preparing a medicine inhibiting HIV. The invention is useful for treating HIV infection.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a DNA sequence isolated from the 5′ flanking region of a desmin gene located between nucleotides −10000 to −1000 relative to the transcription initiation site, which contains regulatory elements specific to arterial smooth muscle cells. It also provides an expression cassette using such a DNA sequence to control expression of a gene of interest. Finally, the invention relates to a recombinant vector, a viral particle, an eukaryotic host cell, a pharmaceutical composition comprising said expression cassette and their therapeutic or prophylactic use as well a transgenic animal having incorporated in its genome said expression cassette.

Abstract: Amplifying sequences, vectors comprising these sequences and their uses in compositions for the expression of nucleotide sequences in transfected cells, therapeutic and vaccine applications. Amplifying sequences showing a homology of at least 90% with the following SEQ ID N° 1 sequence: TCTATAAATA X1X2X3GC Y1Y2Y3GG TATTTGGGGT TGGCAGCTGT T in which: X1, X2 and X3 may independently represent respectively C or G, C or G, and C or A Y1, Y2 and Y3 may independently represent respectively T or C, C or G, and T or C. Such sequence may included in a sequence or expression vector containing in addition a sequence coding for a protein and a promoter. Such sequences allow very strong amplification of the transcription of the gene coding for the protein.

Abstract: The invention teaches modified desmin enhancer sequences which yield high level expression of operably linked DNA sequences. The claimed modified desmin enhancer sequences may be operably linked to genes encoding a protein. Further these modified desmin enhancer sequences may be placed into vectors including plasmids and transformed into cells including bacteria or myoblasts. Finally, these modified desmin enhancers may be used in methods of expression of proteins in the transformed bacteria or myoblasts.