Abstract: A focus error signal resulting from the photothermically-induced expansion is measured in a sample of material under analysis. A laser is disposed as a periodically modulated heating source which is directed to the sample and a device for focus error measuring which is directed to de surface being heated. A device measuring focus error generates a signal representative of the displacement of the surface of material in perpendicular direction due to the expansion produced by the periodic heating, which is filtered, either analogically or digitally, to discriminate the displacement component at the frequency in which it was modulated or at any other related frequency, such any harmonic or a sum with any other modulation. The focus error signal, appropriately calibrated, gives a precise and sensitive measure of the magnitude the expansion.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a compound having anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity according to the following structural formula: wherein, R1 and R3 are selected from H, HO—, R5—O—, HCOO—, R5—COO—, —OOC—R6—COO—, p-toluene sulphonate, phosphate, tartrate, maleate, sulphate, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and methanesulphonate, R2 is selected from H, HO—, R5—O—, HCOO—, R5—COO—, —OOC—R6—COO—, p-toluene sulphonate, phosphate, tartrate, maleate, sulphate, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, or —R1 and —R2 can be together —O—, (CH3)2—(CO)2-(ó-(CH3—CH2)2—(CO)2— R4 and R5 are selected from H and linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl, R6 is —(CH2)n equals to 1, 2 ó 3, and, can be a single bond or double bond, to the pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, to a process for preparing the same and to the use of the same for preparing pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: A sunroof, which is adapted to provide either home passive heating by solar accumulation or passive refrigeration due to its particular structure that additionally provides insulation conditions from the external environment. The sunroof allows incorporating heating and refrigeration during construction of homes for users looking for biosustainable solutions in the long term at present reasonable prices and included in moderately innovative products. The sunroof is comprised by structural sheets (preferable metallic) over which substantially parallel first and second transparent laminar elements are positioned, defining between such sheets and the first laminar elements a first chamber, and forming between first and second laminar elements a second watertight chamber; the first chamber is capable of being filled with water as the external and upper surface of the second transparent laminar element, which is filled with water or opaque and/or reflective liquids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound having inhibitory activity on a Rho-GTPase cell protein, the compound having the formula I (Formula I) wherein A is selected from N and N—H, R1 is selected from H and NHR3, R2 is selected from NHR4, OR4, O and halogen, R3 is selected from H and —COR5, R4 is selected from H, a C1-C6 alkyl and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R5 is selected from a C1-C12 alkyl and a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, R6 is selected from H, —COR5, —CO2R5, —PR7R8 and —PR7R8OPR7R8R8R7, R7 is selected from O and S, R8 is selected from H, OR4 and OSATE (—OCH2CH2SCOR5), and wherein each represents a single bond or a double bond, provided that when one of them is a double bond the other one is a single bond, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. In particular, the compounds of the invention may be used as antitumor agents the action of which interfere with the signaling pathways normally involved in tumor development processes.

Abstract: An isolated DNA molecule for enhancing gene expression of a coding sequence, fragment, genetic variant, cassette, vector, cell, plant and seed containing said molecule, wherein the molecule comprises introns for induce an increase in the expression level of a transgene, useful in DNA constructions for transforming plant cells, wherein the cell or plant has a construction containing one of these introns under control of a promoter and upstream of a coding sequence stably integrated in its genome displaying higher expression levels as compared to non-transformed cells or plants, or cells or plants transformed with constructions that lack the inventive intron, wherein the sequences of 5?-non-coding sequences of the genes mentioned above also comprise promoters and exonic sequences in DNA constructions displaying synergism with the effect produced by the intron, and wherein the 5?-non-coding sequences of COX5-c genes lacking said intron promote tissue-specific expression in pollen when they are comprised in DNA c

Abstract: In spite of their pivotal role in orchestrating immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) may be licensed by immunosuppressive signals to become tolerogenic. Here we show that ligation of cell surface glyco-receptors by Galectin-1, an endogenous glycan-binding protein, can drive the differentiation of regulatory DCs with tolerogenic potential in vivo. Galectin-1-differentiated DCs acquired a tolerogenic phenotype characterized by IL-27-dependent, STAT3-mediated and CD45RB+IL-10+ regulatory signatures. Adoptive transfer of galectin-1-conditioned DCs induced T-cell tolerance in inflammatory and neoplastic settings and dampened TH1- and TH-17-mediated autoimmune neuroinflammation. Consistent with a negative regulatory function of endogenous galectin-1, DCs from galectin-1-deficient (Lgals1?/?) mice had greater immunogenic capacity compared with their wild-type counterparts.

Abstract: Otimized DNA molecules that encode human IA-2ic, wherein at least one of the codons starting at positions 2747 and 2816 of the complete IA-2 gene is CGT. Said molecules are useful for detecting insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus, and may be fused to auxiliary proteins or peptides (for example, His-tag). RNA molecules encoded by the optimized DNA molecules, expression vectors comprising the optimized DNA molecules and cells transformed with said DNA molecules (particularly Escherichia coli cells). Also a method of producing human IA-2ic antigen that comprises growing cells transformed with the said optimized nucleic acid molecules under conditions suitable for producing said protein, the polypeptide obtained through that procedure, and an in vitro diagnostic method and a diagnostic kit using it.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus that measures dirt density on steel plates, characterized by including a pulsed laser that impinges on the inspected plate, and a microphone that detects the sound produced by the sudden ablation of the dirt, the amplitude of the microphone signal being the measure of the dirt on the plate. The microphone is connected to an electronic signal processing system, which is a computer or a programmed digital processor that determines the average value and standard deviation of the signal over the number of hits specified by the operator.