Abstract: A posterior vertebral joint prosthesis is provided so that the left or right posterior vertebral joint prosthesis (1, 2) presents a smooth bearing surface (11, 11a, 11b, 17, 17a, 17b) and and which surface presents antero-posterior curvature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a posterior vertebral joint prosthesis. The left or right posterior vertebral joint prosthesis of the invention presents a smooth bearing surface and said surface presents antero-posterior curvature.

Abstract: Intervertebral arthrodesis for insertion in an intervertebral space separating opposite faces of two adjacent vertebrae has a ring shaped intervertebral cage having a small bar that extends parallel to the axis of the spine. The bar has a height less than the rest of the cage. A surface of the cage contacting the vertebrae has an undulating shape for limiting sliding of the cage in a plane parallel to the vertebrae faces.

Abstract: The invention provides BASB041, 43, 44 and 48 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB041, 43, 44 and 48 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of Gram-negative bacterial vaccine compositions, their manufacture, and the use of such compositions in medicine. More particularly it relates to the field of useful Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane vesicle (or bleb) compositions comprising heterologously expressed Chlamydia antigens, and advantageous methods of rendering these compositions more effective and safer as a vaccine.

Abstract: The invention provides BASB041, 43, 44 and 48 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB041, 43, 44 and 48 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.

Abstract: Vaccine preparations are provided for the prevention of Chylamydia infections comprising a major outer membrane protein from chlamydia and a mucosal adjuvant such as a combination of QS21 and 3D-MPL, or chlorea Toxin or Heat labile enterotoxin. Such preparations provide protection from Chlamydia induced fertility.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for servicing electronic circuits is disclosed. The clamp assembly has two or more clamps (1, 2). The clamps are mounted on a rod (3) extending through each clamp. The space between the clamps may be stably increased or reduced by simply sliding one or both of the clamps along the rod to engage the ball bearing in each clamp on a dimple in the rod. A bushing is used as a pivot for each clamp. The rod passes through the bushing and the bushing holds the flanges of the clamp together on the rod. A spring (6) is fitted to the clamp arms (5A) by a locating dowel on each arm of the clamp. Squeezing the ends (5A) of the lever arms together allows the clamp to open. Each of the clamps is preferably lined with an insulating and heat resistant ceramic or plastic pad. These pads have V-shaped grooves formed in them to assist in the holding of small electrical components or electrical leads. This allows wiring etc.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for metal coating of fibres (15) by liquid process, said method being particularly but not exclusively designed for coating in thick and even layers (22) with metals and metal alloys having high melting point and reactivity. Said method is characterised in that it consists in moving along the stretched fibre (15) in the liquid metal maintained in levitation in a well (1), said fibre (15) passing through orifices (6, 7) provided in the well (1) wall (3), said orifices (6, 7) being arranged on either side of the liquid metal at places where the liquid metal (10) is not in contact with said wall (3).

Abstract: Osteosynthesis implants for use in the backbone of the human or animal skeleton are disclosed. The anchoring device for posterior vertebral osteosynthesis comprises at least four fixation points each consisting of a hook (4, 5, 6, 7). The hooks are arranged in opposed pairs along perpendicular axes XX' and ZZ', and each pair of hooks forms a gripping assembly, of which one is a lateral or isthmian assembly along axis XX' while the other is an axial or laminar assembly along axis ZZ'.

Abstract: A method of detecting man-made structures in a digital representation of a terrain, wherein said representation is a digital elevation map, and wherein said method comprises the following steps:computing isolines in said digital elevation map;filtering said isolines on the basis of a size criterion;computing extremum isolines from the isolines filtered during the preceding step; anddetermining said regions of interest. The invention is applicable to any process involving supervision of a geographical site (e.g. planning cellular telecommunications networks).

Abstract: A method of detecting relief contours in digital images representing an aerial or satellite view of the ground includes the steps of calculating a digital elevation map from two stereoscopic images of the terrain, extracting crest lines in the digital map, projecting the crest lines into one of the stereoscopic images, calculating contours in the image and deciding that a contour is a relief contour if the distance to the closest projected crest line, in the sense of a particular affinity criterion, is below a particular threshold.

Abstract: Process for making a composite rotor with metallic matrix reinforced by fibrous windings. In order to prevent swelling of the windings, isostatic compression is applied when hot after laying a cap on the windings with the same surface area as the network formed by the windings, and which is compressed as degassing occurs.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the preparation and coating of the surface of a substrate by thermal projection, in which the surface of the substrate is progressively subjected to laser irradiation thereby at least partially to eliminate a superficial contaminating film on the surface of the substrate, and then there is projected by a thermal projection device a deposit material on the surface thus prepared immediately after the preparation. The surface of the substrate is subjected to successive laser and thermal projection treatments thereby to lay down on the surface a plurality of layers of deposit material. The substrate can be cylindrical, and can be rotated about its axis while continuously applying laser radiation and thermal projection thereto, with the substrate rotating in a direction such that the surface of the substrate is subjected first to laser radiation and subsequently to thermal projection. The laser is a pulsed laser.