Abstract: The invention relates to a method for screening therapeutic agents for use in combating diseases associated with gene regulation by one or more Smad proteins and TGF&bgr; or activin, said method comprising detecting or assaying the extent or result of transcriptional activity or binding in the presence of said agent between a Smad protein or a DNA binding fragment thereof and a double strand oligonucleotide comprising the sequence 5′ WXYCAGACZ 3′ or a functional equivalent thereof, wherein in said nucleotide sequence W represents A or G, X represents G or T, Y represents C, A, G or T and Z represents A or C. Also claimed are therapeutic agents identified by such a method and their use in combating diseases associated with abnormal expression of Smad-mediated TGF&bgr;-induced genes.

Abstract: The invention relates to ionic compositions having a high ionic conductivity comprising a salt with a delocalized anionic charge. An ionic composition comprises a salt in solution in a solvent and has a conductivity of greater than 10−5 S.cm−1 between −30° C. and 150° C. The cation is a proton, a hydronium, a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium NH4+ or a metal, organic or organometallic cation. The anion is a carbanion carrying a perfluorinated substituent or a substituent carrying at least one F on the carbon &agr; to the carbanion and two nonperfluorinated electron-withdrawing substituents. Use as electrolyte in electrochemical devices, as catalyst of chemical reactions, or as photochemical or thermochemical initiator for polymerization or crosslinking reactions.

Abstract: A stacking of battery laminate is prepared, each battery consisting of anode, polymer electrolyte, cathode films and possibly an insulating film, under conditions suitable to constitute a rigid monoblock assembly, in which the films are unitary with one another. The assembly obtained is thereafter cut in predetermined shape by using a mechanical device without macroscopic deformation of the films constituting the assembly and without inducing permanent short circuits. The battery which is obtained after cutting includes at least one end which appears as a uniform cut, the various films constituting the assembly having undergone no macroscopic deformation, the edges of the films of the anode including an electronically insulating passivation film.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.

Abstract: The invention is related to ionic compounds, derivatives of malononitrile, in which the anionic load has been displaced. An ionic compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M+m in sufficient number to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion corresponds to one of the formulas RD—Y—C(C≡N)2− or Z—C(C≡N)2− in which Z is an electroattractive group, RD is an organic radical, and Y is a carbonyl, a thiocarbonyl, a sulfonyl, a sulfinyl, or a phosphonyl. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Abstract: An in-situ thermal management system for an energy storage device. The energy storage device includes a plurality of energy storage cells each being coupled in parallel to common positive and negative connections. Each of the energy storage cells, in accordance with the cell's technology, dimensions, and thermal/electrical properties, is configured to have a ratio of energy content-to-contact surface area such that thermal energy produced by a short-circuit in a particular cell is conducted to a cell adjacent the particular cell so as to prevent the temperature of the particular cell from exceeding a breakdown temperature. In one embodiment, a fuse is coupled in series with each of a number of energy storage cells. The fuses are activated by a current spike capacitively produced by a cell upon occurrence of a short-circuit in the cell, thereby electrically isolating the short-circuited cell from the common positive and negative connections.

Abstract: The invention is related to ionic compounds, derivatives of malononitrile, in which the anionic load has been displaced. An ionic compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M+m in sufficient number to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion corresponds to one of the formulas RD—Y—C(C≡N)2− or Z-C(C≡N)2− in which Z is an electroattractive group, RD is an organic radical, and Y is a carbonyl, a thiocarbonyl, a sulfonyl, a sulfinyl, or a phosphonyl. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Abstract: The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula RF—SOx—N−Z, wherein RF is a perfluorinated group, x is 1 or 2, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Abstract: These additives are represented by the following general formula: L—Y—S in which L designates a hydrocarbon radical which serves as lubricating segment; S designates an oligomer segment which serves as solvating segment of metallic salts and Y designates a chemical bond which joins the hydrocarbon radical and the oligomer segment. With these additives there is no more need to subsequently wash the surface of laminated lithium.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protective coating with current applied on a metallic collector of an electrode. The protective coating comprises a mineral binder vitreous or partly vitreous and optionally an electronic conduction additive. This coating is applied in the form of a solution or dispersion on the collector of the electrode and dried, so that it coats and protects at least part of the surface of the metal of the collector to prevent the formation of passivation films generated by active species produced by other components of the generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical generator consisting of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the anode and/or the cathode comprises a carbonaceous material obtained by a process comprising suspending a carbonaceous material containing carboxyl, amine and/or hydroxyl functions on its surface in a solution comprising at least one polymer and a solvent which dissolves the polymer, said polymer containing at least one carboxyl, amine and/or hydroxyl function, and treating the solution thus obtained under conditions promoting a dehydration reaction between at least one carboxyl function, and at least one amine and/or hydroxyl function, thereby grafting at least one said polymer onto said carbonaceous material by means of an ester or amide bond.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lithium electrochemical generator including at least one composite electrode comprising an active material and a first and second solid electrolytes non-homogeneously distributed into the composite. The first solid electrolyte is of mineral nature, vitreous or partly vitreous, and is a specific conductor of lithium ions, and is preferably localized on the surface of the particles of active materials of the electrode. The second solid electrolyte is organic, comprises a dry or gelified polymer electrolyte conducting ions surrounding the dispersed solid phases and acts as a deformable binder, preferably elastomeritically, of the composite in contact also with the collector and the separator electrolyte of the generator.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a protective coating with current applied on a metallic collector of an electrode. The protective coating comprises a mineral binder vitreous or partly vitreous and optionally an electronic conduction additive. This coating is applied in the form of a solution or dispersion on the collector of the electrode and dried, so that it coats and protects at least part of the surface of the metal of the collector to prevent the formation of passivation films generated by active species produced by other components of the generator.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a composite electrode for an electrochemical cell, an electrochemical cell comprising the composite electrode, a process for preparing the composite electrode, and a process for the preparation of a half-cell comprising a porous mineral composite-porous mineral separator sub-network.

Abstract: The present invention concerns polymers obtained by anionic initiation and bearing functions that can be activated by cationic initiations that are not reactive in the presence of anionic polymerization initiators. The presence of such cationic initiation functions allow an efficient cross-linking of the polymer after moulding, particularly in the form of a thin film. It is thus possible to obtain polymers with well-defined properties in terms of molecular weight and cross-linking density. The polymers of the present invention are capable of dissolving ionic compounds inducing a conductivity for the preparation of solid electrolytes.

Abstract: The invention relates to ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion Mm+ in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic load is carried by a pentacyclical nucleus of tetrazapentalene derivative bearing electroattractive substituents. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorant, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Abstract: The invention relates to ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion Mm+ in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic load is carried by a pentacyclical nucleus of tetrazapentalene derivative bearing electroattractive substituents. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorant, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel ionic compounds with low melting point whereof the onium type cation having at least a heteroatom such as N, O, S or P bearing the positive charge and whereof the anion includes, wholly or partially, at least an ion imidide such as (FX1O)N−(OX2F) wherein X1 and X2 are identical or different and comprise SO or PF, and their use as solvent in electrochemical devices. Said composition comprises a salt wherein the anionic charge is delocalised, and can be used, inter alia, as electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention relates to ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been displaced, and the uses of these compounds. A compound disclosed by the invention comprises an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality. The anionic portion is comprised of one of the groups (A) and (B): wherein Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 represent a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, a thiocarbonyl group, a thionyl group, a —C(═NCN)— or a —C(═C(CN)2)— group; Z represents an electroattractive radical; each of the substituents, RA, RB, RC and RD represents independently of one another a monovalent or divalent organic radical or is part of a polymer chain, with at least one of the substituents RC and RD being a perfluorinated radical. The compounds can be used especially for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.