Abstract: The invention relates to a new gene that is able to provide plants with resistance against pathogens, more preferably Verticillium, Ralstonia or Fusarium. Said gene is typical for Brassicaceae and encodes for a proteins having a sequence as depicted in FIG. 7 or FIG. 2A. Also provided are methods for enhancing the pathogen resistance of plants, wherein said plants preferably are Brassicaceae, but wherein the resistance also is functional in other plants. Further provided are host cells with a nucleotide construct encoding said protein.

Abstract: An implantation system for treatment of a defective curvature of the spinal column comprises an elongated element, a first bone fixation element being fixedly attached to said elongated element, a second bone fixation element, and guiding structure through which the second bone fixation element is slidably and contactingly connected to the elongated element. The elongated element has bending resilience and/or torsional resilience for applying corrective force action to the spinal column. A special arrangement of the guiding structure provides automatical adjustment of the corrective force action in dependence of growth of the spinal column. The system allows for good flexibility of the spine and for a natural healthy growth of the spine, while it avoids re-operations and implant adjustments.

Abstract: Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

Abstract: A microreactor for use in a microscope, comprising a first and second cove layer (13), which cover layers are both at least partly transparent to an electron beam (14) of an electron microscope, and extend next to each other at a mutual distance from each other and between which a chamber (15) is enclosed, wherein an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are provided for feeding fluid through the chamber and wherein heating means (8) are provided for heating the chamber and/or elements present therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to conjugates comprising a peptide of at least 10 amino acid residues comprising the amino acid sequence GITELKKL (residues 383-390 of SEQ ID NO: 3) for induction of potent humoral and cellular immune responses when administered to subjects having antibodies against tetanus toxoid. In one embodiment the invention relates to a prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine and in a further embodiment the invention relates to the treatment or prevention of cancer or an infectious disease.

Abstract: A sensing device for measuring force and/or torque includes a top part with a top electrode structure, a bottom part with a bottom electrode structure, and a support structure. The support structure includes spring elements for supporting the top part on the bottom part with the top electrode structure parallel to and facing the bottom electrode structure. The spring elements provide a gap between the top and bottom electrode structures and allow displacement of the top part relative to the bottom part in three orthogonal directions two parallel and one perpendicular to the bottom plate, and for rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part around three orthogonal axes, corresponding with the two parallel and one perpendicular directions. The displacement and/or rotation induce a change in distance between and/or overlap area of the top and bottom electrodes and a corresponding change of capacitance.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the bio-based reparation of a concrete element having an element surface with cavities, comprising applying a first liquid with a first composition and a second liquid with a second composition to the element surface of the concrete element to provide a combined product to the cavities, wherein the first composition and the second composition are selected to provide gel formation in the cavities after application of one or more of the first liquid and the second liquid to the element surface, wherein the first composition and the second composition are also selected to provide bacterial material, a calcium source, and a nutrient for bacteria in the cavities after application of the first liquid and the second liquid to the element surface, wherein the first liquid at least comprises sodium silicate and wherein the second liquid at least comprises the calcium source.

Abstract: A phase-domain delta-sigma (??) modulator in a phase digitizer determines a demodulated phase error based on a phase-modulated frequency signal, in which a carrier frequency is modulated with a fundamental frequency and an associated phase, and a selected one of a set of reference signals, where the demodulated phase error represents a difference between the phase and a reference phase of the selected one of the set of reference signals. Moreover, a digital filter in the phase-domain ?? modulator filters the demodulated phase error. Furthermore, a latch in the phase-domain ?? modulator provides a bit stream by sampling one or more bits of the filtered demodulated phase error, where an average value of the bit stream represents the phase. Next, control logic in the phase-domain ?? modulator selects the one of the set of reference signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a hollow fibre membrane having a supporting layer and a separating layer, said process comprising: (a) extruding a spinning composition comprising a first polymer and a solvent for the first polymer through an inner annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; (b) co-extruding a composition comprising an organic nucleophilic reagent and a mixtures of a solvent and a non-solvent for the first polymer, wherein the composition is either extruded through a central annular orifice of the hollow-fibre die or through an outer annular orifice of a hollow-fibre die; and (c) passing the hollow-fibre through a coagulation bath. The hollow fibre membrane according to the present invention can be used in gas separation processes, vapour separation processes and liquid filtration processes.

Abstract: An energy harvester comprising a mass that is subjectable to environmental forces for bringing it into the status of a moving mass, and means linked to the mass for converting and storing of energy embodied in the moving mass, which means are arranged for subsequent release of said energy, wherein the mass is part of a compliant system comprising a frame and first and second elastic beams connecting the mass to the frame, wherein the first and second elastic beams are provided with opposite stiffnesses so as to arrange that in a predefined range of excursions of the moving mass, said mass experiences a preselected stiffness.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is described. This ADC converts an analog signal into a digital value using a two-pass digitization process. In a first operation, coarse digitization is performed by an averaging converter based on a set of references. Then, in a second operation, fine digitization is performed by either another averaging converter or the same averaging converter based on a subset of the set of references that is progressively closer to an instantaneous value of the analog signal. For example, the coarse digitization may be performed by a low-resolution ADC stage and the fine digitization may be performed by a sigma-delta ADC, such as a single-bit sigma-delta ADC. Moreover, the other averaging converter may use dynamic element matching to shuffle reference elements used to generate the subset. In this way, the ADC may provide high resolution with reduced nonlinearity and quantization noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide derived from an antigen recognized by autoantibodies, which peptide is reactive with autoimmune antibodies from a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The peptide according to the invention possesses a modified arginine residue. The invention also relates to antibodies against the peptide and a method of detecting autoimmune antibodies.

Abstract: A sensing device for measuring force and/or torque includes a top part with a top electrode structure, a bottom part with a bottom electrode structure, and a support structure. The support structure includes spring elements for supporting the top part on the bottom part with the top electrode structure parallel to and facing the bottom electrode structure. The spring elements provide a gap between the top and bottom electrode structures and allow displacement of the top part relative to the bottom part in three orthogonal directions two parallel and one perpendicular to the bottom plate, and for rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part around three orthogonal axes, corresponding with the two parallel and one perpendicular directions. The displacement and/or rotation induce a change in distance between and/or overlap area of the top and bottom electrodes and a corresponding change of capacitance.

Abstract: Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

Abstract: During operation of the device, a drive circuit may provide a drive signal having a fundamental frequency to two electrothermal filters (ETFs) having different temperature-dependent time constants. In response to the drive signal, the two ETFs may provide signals having the fundamental frequency and phases relative to the drive signal corresponding, respectively, to the time constants of the ETFs. Then, phase-shift values of the phases may be measured using a phase detector, and a signal may be output based on the phase-shift values. Note that the signal may correspond to a value that is a function of a temperature of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a peptide derived from an antigen recognized by autoantibodies, which peptide is reactive with autoimmune antibodies from a patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The peptide according to the invention possesses a modified arginine residue. The invention also relates to antibodies against the peptide and a method of detecting autoimmune antibodies.

Abstract: Peptides useful in determining the presence of autoantibodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a microsphere comprising an organic lanthanide metal complex wherein the lanthanide metal is present in an amount of more than 20 wt %, based on total microsphere. The invention further provides a suspension comprising such a microsphere. In addition, the invention relates to a method for preparing said microsphere, and the use of the microsphere(s) or suspension for treating a malignancy and/or obtaining a scanning image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing of a microneedle array comprising the steps of selecting a soft production mold comprising a set of microscopic incisions defining geometry of the microneedles, said soft production mold being capable of providing the microneedle array integrated into a base plate; using a filler material for abundantly filling the microscopic incisions of the soft production mold thereby producing the microneedle array with pre-defined geometry integrated into the base plate; wherein for the filler material a water or alcohol based ceramic or polymer-ceramic slurry is selected. The invention further relates to a microneedle array 16, a composition comprising a microneedle array, a system for enabling transport of a substance through a barrier and a system for measuring an electric signal using an electrode.

Abstract: A method for generating hardness information of tissue subject to a varying pressure. The method comprises receiving signals from the tissue from a sensor for measuring the deformation of the tissue in a measuring plane defined by the sensor, which sensor, during a varying pressure exerted on the tissue, is moved along the tissue in a direction transverse to the measuring plane; identifying strain of the tissue from the resulting signals; and relating the strain to elasticity and/or hardness parameters of the tissue. The method may comprise the step of displaying elasticity and/or hardness parameters of a tissue surface or tissue volume part extending practically parallel to the direction of motion of the sensor.