Abstract: A system and a method for processing an image so as to perform instance segmentation. The system/method includes: a—inputting (S1) the image (IMG) to a first neural network configured to output an affinity graph (AF), and b—inputting (S2), to a second neural network, the affinity graph and a predefined seed-map (SM), so as to determine whether other pixels belong to a same instance, and set at a first value the value of the other pixels determined as belonging to the same instance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-naturally occurring anti-bacterial peptides. More specifically the peptides can be used to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. In addition, the present invention provides methods for producing anti-bacterial peptides.

Abstract: In general, present invention concerns an integrated wood-to-xylochemicals biorefinery, enabling production of renewable phenol, phenolic oligomers, propylene, and carbohydrate pulp from lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of cancer, particular to hypoxic tumors. It was found that hypoxia is an important driver for hypermethylation of (promoters of) tumor suppressor genes. As this hypermethylation is a stable signature that is also present in circulating tumor DNA in peripheral blood, detecting this methylation pattern is a surrogate marker for tumor hypoxia. This can be used to adapt therapy as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel nucleic acid sequences encoding bacterial xylose isomerases that upon transformation of a eukaryotic microbial host cell, such as yeast, to confer to the host cell the ability of isomerising xylose to xylulose. The nucleic acid sequences encode xylose isomerases that originate from bacteria such as Eubacterium sp., Clostridium cellulosi and others. The invention further relates to fermentation processes wherein the transformed host cells ferment a xylose-containing medium to produce ethanol or other fermentation products.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of inflammatory diseases, particularly to inflammatory diseases characterized by an M1 macrophage response, even more particularly to sepsis and to Trypanosoma infection. The invention provides substances modulating miR210 expression and/or activity, in particular RNA molecules inhibiting miR210 expression and/or activity and medical uses of these miR210 inhibitors. Methods are disclosed to screen for medicaments for treating sepsis.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of cancer, particular to hypoxic tumors. It was found that hypoxia is an important driver for hypermethylation of (promoters of) tumor suppressor genes. As this hypermethylation is a stable signature that is also present in circulating tumor DNA in peripheral blood, detecting this methylation pattern is a surrogate marker for tumor hypoxia. This can be used to adapt therapy as well.

Abstract: A miniaturized, automated method for controlled printing of large arrays of nano- to femtoliter droplets by actively transporting mother droplets over hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (“HIH”) micropatches. The technology uses single or double-plate devices where mother droplets can be actuated and HIH micropatches on one or both plates of the device where the droplets are printed. Due to the selective wettability of the hydrophilic micropatches in a hydrophobic matrix, large nano- to femtoliter droplet arrays are created when mother droplets are transported over the arrays. The parent droplets are moved by various droplet actuation principles. Also, a method using two plates placed one top another while being separated by a spacer. One plate is dedicated to confirming and guiding parent droplets by using hydrophilic patches in a hydrophobic matrix, while the other plate contains HIH arrays for printing of the droplets.

Abstract: A system for generating a mask for object instances in an image is provided. The system includes a first module comprising a trained neural network and configured to input the image to the neural network, wherein the neural network is configured to generate: pixel offset vectors for the pixels of the object instance configured to point towards a unique center of an object instance, the pixel offset vectors thereby forming a cluster with a cluster distribution, and for each object instance an estimate of said cluster distribution defining a margin for determining which pixels belong to the object instance. A method for training a neural network map to be used for generating a mask for object instances in an image is also provided.

Abstract: A miniaturized, automated method for controlled printing of large arrays of nano- to femtoliter droplets by actively transporting mother droplets over hydrophilic-in-hydrophobic (“HIH”) micropatches. The technology uses single or double-plate devices where mother droplets can be actuated and HIH micropatches on one or both plates of the device where the droplets are printed. Due to the selective wettability of the hydrophilic micropatches in a hydrophobic matrix, large nano- to femtoliter droplet arrays are created when mother droplets are transported over the arrays. The parent droplets are moved by various droplet actuation principles. Also, a method using two plates placed one top another while being separated by a spacer. One plate is dedicated to confirming and guiding parent droplets by using hydrophilic patches in a hydrophobic matrix, while the other plate contains HIH arrays for printing of the droplets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of fermentation, more particularly to ethanol production. Even more particularly the present invention relates to reduced aroma production during fermentation processes. The present invention provides mutant alleles and chimeric genes useful to develop yeast strains to limit acetate ester levels during fermentation. In addition, the invention also relates to the use of such yeast strains as well as of compounds for the production of fermented foods and liquids with reduced acetate ester levels.

Abstract: Ionic compounds containing an anion, and a cation having the following structural formula (1): R1R2R3N+-(linker1)-O-(linker2)-(FC)??(1) wherein: R1 and R2 either linear or branched alkyl groups or together form a N-heterocylic ring with the nitrogen atom to which they are joined; R3 is linear or branched alkyl group; linker1 and linker2 are alkylene chains or polyether chains; and the group FC is a fluorinated alkyl group, as well as an electrolyte material comprising such an ionic compound and a metal salt, and metal-air batteries using such an electrolyte material. The invention also relates to a metal-air battery containing an electrolyte material, wherein the electrolyte material comprises at least one ionic compound and a metal salt, and wherein at least one ionic compound contains an anion CnF2n+1COO? or CnF2n+1SO3?, where in each case n is at least 1 and at most 10.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of inflammatory diseases, particularly to inflammatory diseases characterized by an M1 macrophage response, even more particularly to sepsis and to Trypanosoma infection. The invention provides substances modulating miR210 expression and/or activity, in particular RNA molecules inhibiting miR210 expression and/or activity and medical uses of these miR210 inhibitors. Methods are disclosed to screen for medicaments for treating sepsis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-naturally occurring anti-bacterial peptides. More specifically the peptides can be used to treat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. In addition, the present invention provides methods for producing anti-bacterial peptides.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of neurological diseases, particularly to dystonia, even more particularly to primary dystonia, most particularly DYT1 primary dystonia. It is disclosed that the DYT1 dystonia causative mutation in TORSIN1A leads to hyperactivation of LIPIN. The invention provides substances modulating LIPIN function, in particular RNA molecules inhibiting LIPIN function and medical uses of these LIPIN inhibitors. Methods are disclosed to screen for medicaments that counteract the effects of TORSIN1A mutation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of disorders of the central nervous system, in particular neurological and psychiatric disorders, and the prevention and/or treatment thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to the finding that soluble amyloid precursor protein a (sAPP?) presents a particular binding site, which allows for binding to the GABABR1a receptor, thereby causing an agonistic effect through specific binding to Sushi domain 1 of GABABR1a. As a result, the frequencies of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents are reduced. Accordingly, the invention provides compounds able to interfere with the association of sAPP? with Sushi domain 1 of GABABR1a and as such with selective impairment of GABABR1sa beneficial in neurological and psychiatric disorders. The invention as well provides methods and (high content) screening assays for the production of said compounds.

Abstract: The present application relates to the field of cancer, particularly that of cancers with high MDM4 protein levels (such as melanoma, breast, colon or lung cancers, glioblastoma, retinoblastoma, etc.). It is shown herein that direct and selective inhibition of MDM4, e.g., by antisense RNA, leads to growth inhibition of cancer cells and sensitization to chemo or targeted therapies. Also provided are simple ways of determining which patients are most amenable for such treatment by comparing specific transcript levels.

Abstract: A series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives that are substituted at the 4-position by a diaza monocyclic, bridged bicyclic or spirocyclic moiety, are beneficial in the treatment and/or prevention of various human ailments, including inflammatory, autoimmune and oncological disorders; viral diseases and malaria; and organ and cell transplant rejection.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of cancer, particularly the field of melanoma. It was found that a particular long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is specifically up-regulated in melanoma (but not other tumor) cells as compared to melanocytes. Inhibition of this lncRNA in melanoma cells leads to induction of apoptosis and is a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of melanoma.

Abstract: The application relates to the field of cancer, particularly to the field of solid tumors. It was found that a particular long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), NEAT1, an essential architectural component of nuclear paraspeckles, is required for the survival of cancer, but not that of normal, non-transformed, cells. Inhibition of NEAT1 reduces cell viability of cancer cells and induces apoptosis. These data identify NEAT1 as a novel therapeutic target for treatment of solid tumors.