Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I): wherein A, Y, X, n and B are as defined herein; and their use in the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders, inflammatory conditions, allergic conditions, fever, pain including allodynia and nociception, eating disorders, cachexia, brain injuries, cancer of the genitals, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, flush effect associated with nicotinic acid and related compounds or for the promotion of wound healing. Certain compounds of general formula (I) are new and the invention also relates to these compounds and to their use in medicine.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein A, Y, Z1, Z2, R1 to R3 and X1 to X4 have the meaning as cited in the description and the claims. For example A is 4?-fluorobiphen-4-yl; Y is —S(O)2NH—; R1, R2 are H; X1, X2, X4 are CH; X3 is C—F; Z1 is ?O; and Z2-R3 is N(CH2CH3)2. Said compounds are useful as 11?-HSD1 inhibitors. The invention also relates to the preparation of such compounds as well as the production and use as medicament.

Abstract: The invention relates to virus like particles, their preparation and their use in pharmaceutical screening and functional genomics. The invention further provides a variety of assay formats to be used with said virus like particles.

Abstract: A sample support, which is configured in the form of a titre plate or chip. has a plastic support plate and several recesses for receiving samples. Said recesses are sealed with a glass plate. According to the present disclosure, a support core surrounding the recesses is embedded in the support plate in order to prevent contraction during the process for producing the support plate. The support core is preferably a metal plate with areas which have not been extrusion-coated, for use as contact surfaces. Heat can be introduced into the titre plate through these contact surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to virus like particles, their preparation and their use in pharmaceutical screening and functional genomics. The invention further provides a variety of assay formats to be used with said virus like particles.

Abstract: In a method for cleaning a liquid delivery device such as a dispensing or pipetting device, the liquid chamber can be flushed in a cleaning step. To remove gas bubbles which might exist in the liquid chamber, for example, the liquid in the liquid chamber is vibrated during the cleaning step.

Abstract: A confocal microscope has a specimen holding device for holding a specimen (18). The specimen (18) is illuminated by an illuminating unit (10). An optics unit (12) serves to direct radiation produced by the illuminating unit (10) toward the specimen (18) and to direct the radiation emitted by the specimen toward a detector unit (20). The confocal microscope also comprises an aperture diaphragm (34) that is placed in the beam path in front of the detector unit (20). In addition, a focusing lens (30) is provided in the beam path in front of the aperture diaphragm (34). The focusing lens (30) can be moved in order to adjust the confocal microscope, for example, in order to compensate for thermal stresses.

Abstract: A confocal microscope has a specimen holding device for holding a specimen (18). The specimen (18) is illuminated by an illuminating unit (10). An optics unit (12) serves to direct radiation produced by the illuminating unit (10) toward the specimen (18) and to direct the radiation emitted by the specimen toward a detector unit (20). The confocal microscope also comprises an aperture diaphragm (34) that is placed in the beam path in front of the detector unit (20). In addition, a focusing lens (30) is provided in the beam path in front of the aperture diaphragm (34). The focusing lens (30) can be moved in order to adjust the confocal microscope, for example, in order to compensate for thermal stresses.

Abstract: In a method for correcting for the size and/or shape of a measuring volume (18)in a chemical and/or biological sample (14), especially in fluorescence spectroscopy, a measuring volume (18) located within the sample (14) is imaged to a detector means (44), using observing optics (32). The imaging is effected through a sample carrier w all (16) of a sample carrier (12) containing the sample (14). In the next step, the thickness of the sample carrier wall (16) is automatically determined. Thereafter, at least one lens (28) is shifted automatically along an optical axis of the observing optics (32) to correct for the size and/or shape of the measuring volume (18) as a function of the thickness of the sample carrier wall (16).

Abstract: The method is well suited for single molecule observation. A fluorescence or Raman signal from single molecules is detected by photon counting. The sequence of detected photons is divided into counting intervals by defining the end of a counting interval when a predefined number of photons has been counted. For the photons from every counting interval, stochastic variables are determined like fluorescence decay time, anisotropy of the observed signal, etc., which are characteristic for the molecules. A multidimensional histogram is constructed as a function of the stochastic variables, whereby the histogram is built up using values of the variables determined from each counting interval. Regions of the histogram can be used to determine how the molecules are distributed in respect to binding sites, etc. The signal from selected regions of the histograms can then be chosen for further selective analysis to give species specific results.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the separation of particles (20, 21, 22) in a compartment (30) of a fluidic microsystem (100) are described, in which the movement of a liquid (10) in which particles (20, 21, 22) are suspended with a predetermined direction of flow through the compartment (30), and the generation of a deflecting potential in which at least a part of the particles (20, 21, 22) is moved relative to the liquid in a direction of deflection are envisaged, whereby further at least one focusing potential is generated, so that at least a part of the particles is moved opposite to the direction of deflection relative to the liquid by dielectrophoresis under the effect of high-frequency electrical fields, and guiding of particles with different electrical, magnetic or geometric properties into different flow areas (11, 12) in the liquid takes place.

Abstract: The invention relates to oxazine derivatives by means of which a broad spectrum of material to be examined can be marked and identified using fluorescence techniques.

Abstract: A method for characterizing samples having units, by monitoring fluctuating intensities of radiation emitted, scattered and/or reflected by said units in at least one measurement volume, the monitoring being performed by at least one detection means, said method comprising the steps of: a) measuring in a repetitive mode a number of photon counts per time interval of defined length, b) determining a function of the number of photon counts per said time interval, c) determining a function of specific brightness of said units on basis of said function of the number of photon counts.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing samples having flourescent particles includes (a) monitoring intensity fluctuations of fluorescence emitted by the particles in at least one measurement volume by detecting sequences of photon counts by at least one photon detector, (b) determining, from the sequences of photon counts, intermediate statistical data involving at least two probability functions of the number of photon counts detected in different sets of counting time intervals, and (c) determining from the intermediate statistical data a distribution of particles as a function of at least two arguments, wherein one argument is a specific brightness of the particles, or a measure thereof, and another argument is a diffusion coefficient of the particles, or a measure thereof.