Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: A kit comprises a container having an open end; a pipette for transferring the material to and from the container with an open tip for drawing and the biological material; a cap configured to seal the open end of the container and to allow the pipette tip to enter the container through the cap. The cap and the pipette have cooperating stop portions for preventing the pipette from advancing into the container upon engagement of the stop portions. The pipette, the cap and the container are mutually configured such that upon engagement of the cooperating stop portions, the tip stops above a first predetermined level but below a second predetermined level in the container; the first predetermined level being a level for a first substance; the second predetermined level being a level for solution second substance, and the first level being lower than the second level.

Abstract: A device and method for collecting microorganisms from a fluid includes: a reaction module containing beads, fluid admission duct allowing entry into the module, fluid evacuating duct allowing outlet of the fluid passed through the module, retaining beads in the module, at least one channel for admission of reaction liquid, at least one channel for evacuation of the liquid(s), channels for admission and evacuation of the reaction liquid and the ducts for admission and evacuation of the fluid being positioned with: ducts for admission and evacuation of fluid facing and enclosing the module, in order to maximize contact between the fluid and beads, channels for the reaction liquid(s) being positioned respectively at opposite ends of the module, and channels for the reaction liquid(s) positioned in a plane, and ducts for admission and evacuation of fluid positioned along an axis, and in that the axis is roughly perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, among other things, a device for collecting airborne microorganisms, said device having: an air collecting module, comprising: i. an upper element having an air admission duct permitting entry of an air stream into said module, said duct being provided, at its base, with means for disturbance of the air stream, ii. a lower element having air evacuating means permitting the air stream created to exit and said upper and lower elements can be made integral with one another so that the air stream can be created within said air collecting module; a cartridge, of roughly cylindrical shape, having a microorganism retention zone, said retention zone having means for lysis of the microorganisms, said cartridge being positioned within said air collecting module.

Abstract: The invention concerns a radio communication terminal, comprising first means for transmitting/receiving RF signals to communicate in a cellular radio communication network, said first means being in standby mode when no communication is set up in the cellular network with another terminal or with the network itself. The invention is characterized in that the terminal comprises second means for receiving at least one carrier dedicated to collective data of multimedia contents, said second means being activated only when the first means are n standby mode. The invention also concerns a method for broadcasting and receiving collective data, as well as a system for broadcasting multimedia contents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable device (100) for amplifying at least one target nucleic acid present in a liquid and biological sample of interest, which consists of a solid body (2), at least one fluid channel (3) connecting an inlet (4), via which all or part of the sample of interest can be drawn up and/or discharged, and an outlet (5), which is itself connected to a means for the drawing up/discharging of the said sample of interest, the fluid channel (3) further comprising from the inlet (4) to the outlet (5): a first compartment (8) containing all or part of the thermostable constituents, a means (15) for mixing the constituents with the sample of interest, a second compartment (9) containing all or part of the non-thermostable constituents, and in addition, at least one zone intended for heating the said sample of interest (6) mixed with the said amplification constituents in order to allow the amplification of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to, among other things, a device for collecting airborne microorganisms, said device having: an air collecting module, comprising: i. an upper element having an air admission duct permitting entry of an air stream into said module, said duct being provided, at its base, with means for disturbance of the air stream, ii. a lower element having air evacuating means permitting the air stream created to exit and said upper and lower elements can be made integral with one another so that the air stream can be created within said air collecting module; a cartridge, of roughly cylindrical shape, having a microorganism retention zone, said retention zone having means for lysis of the microorganisms, said cartridge being positioned within said air collecting module.

Abstract: System and method for use in a hybrid multispot satellite broadcasting system comprising at least one satellite (S; S1; S2) for multibeam broadcasting of beams in respective frequency bandwidths (F1; F2; F3), the system further comprising a plurality of terrestrial repeater (R1; R2; R3) for receiving, processing and re-transmitting said beams in a frequency bandwidth which is different from that of the bandwidth of the beam received. Each terrestrial repeater (R1; R2; R3) re-uses for terrestrial re-transmission a combination of bandwidths corresponding to different beams broadcast from said satellite to different beams.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: The inventive animal breeding plant comprises an animal stall area (1a-1f), means (11) for sharply flushing a cleaning fluid in said area in order to wash it and a channel which is used for recovering a mixture formed by said cleaning fluid and wastes flushed thereby and is arranged in front of said flushing means with respect to said area. The flushing means comprise at least one bucket (11) which is movably mounted between filling and flushing positions and whose shape is selected such that, when the filling level thereof with the cleaning fluid attains a predetermined threshold, the gravity center of the thus filled bucket (11) is shifted to such a point that the bucket (11) is tilted from said filling position to the flushing position in such a way that the fluid is sharply flushed in the area (1a-1f).

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: This invention concerns a terrestrial repeater (RF) dedicated to a hybrid communication network comprising a satellite for transmitting to terminals (and at least to the repeater) signals (SPI) in the form of a first modulated carrier with data to be transmitted, encoded by suing initial sequences of at least two pseudo-random codes, and spectrally spread with spreading codes each associated with a sequence.

Abstract: The inventive animal breeding plant comprises an animal stall area (1a-1f), means (11) for sharply flushing a cleaning fluid in said area in order to wash it and a channel which is used for recovering a mixture formed by said cleaning fluid and wastes flushed thereby and is arranged in front of said flushing means with respect to said area. The flushing means comprise at least one bucket (11) which is movably mounted between filling and flushing positions and whose shape is selected such that, when the filling level thereof with the cleaning fluid attains a predetermined threshold, the gravity center of the thus filled bucket (11) is shifted to such a point that the bucket (11) is tilted from said filling position to the flushing position in such a way that the fluid is sharply flushed in the area (1a-1f).

Abstract: A method for the physical and biological treatment of an organic effluent, which is decomposed by microorganisms in a biological treatment zone, includes recovering a fraction of the biomass derived from the biological treatment, filling a compression reservoir with the biomass fraction, isolating the compression reservoir, and subjecting the filled compression reservoir to a very high pressure so to destroy or damage the microorganisms in the biomass fraction. Thereafter, the compression reservoir is returned to atmospheric pressure and the treated biomass fraction is reinjected into the biological treatment zone or into another biological treatment zone.

Abstract: This invention concerns a terrestrial repeater (RF) dedicated to a hybrid communication network comprising a satellite for transmitting to terminals (and at least to the repeater) signals (SPI) in the form of a first modulated carrier with data to be transmitted, encoded by suing initial sequences of at least two pseudo-random codes, and spectrally spread with spreading codes each associated with a sequence.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.

Abstract: The invention concerns a sensor (1), in particular a biosensor, comprising an electrically or electronically insulating support (2), including at least one active surface (20), a plurality of electrically or electronically conductive electrodes (31,32), arranged on the active surface (2a) of the support in a predetermined operative arrangement, exposed, that is said electrodes can be jointly placed in contact with a common external medium, for example a liquid medium; a plurality of electric terminals (4) respectively corresponding to said electrodes (4), arranged on the active surface (2a, 2b) of the support, exposed, that is said terminals can be electrically or electronically connected outside, independently of one another; a plurality of electrically or electronically conductive strips (5), extending along one (2a) and/or the other (2d) of the support surfaces, connecting the plurality of electrodes (31,32) respectively to the plurality of terminals (4); an electrically or electronically insulating materi

Abstract: A method of receiving signals in a spread-spectrum telecommunications system with terrestrial repeaters, and a terminal for receiving, the terminal including two rake receivers (16, 18), each receiver having a set of demodulation channels (20-1, 20-n, 24-1, 24-n) and a combiner (22, 26). A third combiner (28) receives the signals provided by the combiners belonging to the two above-mentioned receivers. In this way, signals arriving from a diffuse system of terrestrial receivers and a complementary source can be received, in spite of the time differences between the different paths of the signals. The terminal can be used in a telecommunications system with numerous multiple paths.

Abstract: An instrument for conducting nucleic acid amplification reactions in a disposable test device. The test device includes a first reaction chamber containing a first nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., primers and nucleotides) and a second reaction chamber either containing, or in fluid communication, with a second nucleic acid amplification reagent (e.g., an amplification enzyme such as RT). The instrument includes a support structure receiving the test device. A temperature control system maintains the first reaction chamber at a first elevated temperature but simultaneously maintains the second nucleic acid amplification reagent at a second temperature lower than the first temperature so as to preserve the second nucleic acid amplification reagent. An actuator operates on a fluid conduit in the test device to place the first and second reaction chambers in fluid communication with each other after a reaction has occurred in the first reaction chamber at the first temperature.