Abstract: The present invention relates to a modulator, in particular an inhibitor, of microRNA-24 (miR-24) and to direct and indirect miR-24 targets for use in a method of treatment and/or prevention of ischemia, in a method of prevention of endothelial apoptosis or in a method of induction of angiogenesis. The present invention further relates to a precursor of miR-24 and to siRNAs or shRNAs against direct or indirect miR-24 targets for use in a method of treatment of angiogenesis associated with cancer. The present invention also relates to an in vitro method for diagnosing ischemia or prevalence or disposition for ischemia, and to a method for identifying a modulator of miR-24 and/or direct or indirect miR-24 targets. In addition, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions or kits comprising any of the above agents, to endothelial cells devoid of expressing functional miR-24, and to a non-human, transgenic animal comprising these endothelial cells.

Abstract: A method of determining a pressure parameter of a plant sample (1) comprises the steps of subjecting the plant sample (1) to a clamp pressure (pclamp) created with a clamp device (10), measuring at least one pressure response value (pp) of the plant sample (1), which depends on the clamp pressure (Pclamp)/and determining the pressure parameter on the basis of the at least one pressure response value (pp), wherein the clamp pressure (pclamp) is adjusted, such that the plant sample (1) has a viscoelastic pressure response to the clamp pressure (pclamp). Furthermore, an apparatus (100) for determining a pressure parameter of a plant sample (1) is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the presence of an analyte by means of a distribution of small magnetic particles. According to said method, the magnetisations of the small particles are oriented in relation to each other by means of an outer magnetic focusing field; once the focussing field has been terminated, the magnetisations of the small particles are rotated asynchronously to the magnetic field by means of an outer magnetic field of suitable field intensity and rotational frequency, which rotates about a longitudinal axis (z); the temporal course of the superpositioned transverse magnetisation of the set of particles is detected; and the presence of the analyte is deduced from the detected temporal course. The invention also relates to a corresponding device (1).

Abstract: An interband cascade laser amplifier medium (M) having a number of cascades (C) strung together along a transport direction (T) of charge carriers and each having an electron injector region (I), an amplifier region (V) and an electron collector region (K), wherein the amplifier region (V) has a hole quantum film (1) having a first semiconductor material and an electron quantum film (2) having a second semiconductor material, and wherein the electron collector region (K) has at least one collector quantum film (4) having a third semiconductor material and separated by a first barrier layer (3), and the electron injector region (I) has at least one injector quantum film (5) having a fourth semiconductor material and separated by a second barrier layer (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for imaging from a distribution of small magnetic particles. According to said method, the magnetisation of the small particles is rotated asynchronously to the magnetic field by means of an outer magnetic field of suitable field intensity and rotational frequency, which rotates about a longitudinal axis (z), whereby an asynchronous average rotational frequency is generated for a set of particles according to the field intensity; a spatial dependence is impressed on each set of particles by means of a magnetic gradient field of the asynchronous average rotational frequency; the frequency parts of the superpositioned transverse magnetisation (MQ) of the set of particles are detected; and a spatially resolved distribution of the transverse magnetisation (MQ) determines the small particles and emits same by means of the frequency parts. The invention also relates to a suitable device (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of STIM2 or an inhibitor of STIM2-regulated plasma membrane calcium channel activity and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluent. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an inhibitor of STIM2 or an inhibitor of STIM2-regulated plasma membrane calcium channel activity for the treatment and/or prevention of a neurological disorder associated with pathologically increased cytosolic calcium concentrations. Also disclosed are methods of treating and/or preventing a neurological disorder associated with pathologically increased cytosolic calcium concentrations comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an inhibitor of STIM2 or of an inhibitor of STIM2-regulated plasma membrane calcium channel activity to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Anti-infective and biofilm-inhibiting activities of aryl isoquinoline-derivatives of the general formulae 1 to 3 are described.

Abstract: The invention concerns antibodies or fragments thereof that are directed against a Staphylococcus aureus epitope.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel C-terminal exon of RUNX1/AML1, its nucleic acid sequence, its peptide and a full length amino acid sequence comprising the novel C-terminal exon. Furthermore, the invention is directed to an antibody against the C-terminal exon of RUNX1/AML1, a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of various diseases, among others various tumours and the use of the C-terminal exon for the manufacture of a medicament. The C-terminal exon may also be used for the inhibition of cellular growth and/or induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and a kit for diagnosing a disease, both using the C-terminal exon.

Abstract: An optical assembly for use in coherent two- or more-dimensional optical spectroscopy includes a beam splitter that splits a base light pulse into first, second, third and fourth light pulse and a delay element that varies the arrival times of the first to fourth light pulses at a sample location with respect to each other. The beam splitter includes a cross-grating a first reflector arranged to receive the first to fourth light pulses emerging from the cross-grating and to reflect the same in parallel to each other, a second reflector arranged to receive the first to fourth light pulses from the delay element and to focus the same at the sample location, wherein the delay element is arranged between first and second reflectors. Also shown is an apparatus including such optical assembly and a method for carrying out two- or more-dimensional optical spectroscopy using the assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for coherent multi-dimensional optical spectroscopy employs a beam splitter for splitting a base light pulse into at least first to fourth light pulses, three of which are suitable for interaction with a sample, lens system focuses the first to fourth light pulses at a sample site, and an optical delay varies the arrival times of the first to fourth light pulses at the sample. A detector detects an interference signal. The beam splitter is a non-diffractive optical element. The light pulses, at least along part of their light paths, are guided pairwisely such that changes in the optical path length due to vibration of the beam splitter or due to the delay element are identical for each pair of pulses, where the pulse pairs compensate for any change in the interference signal due to a change of the arrival times of the pair of pulses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing susceptibility for a myocardial and/or immunological disorder, a kit and a therapeutic agent comprising a peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a promoter region of a microRNA, the use of a microRNA, in particular miR-21, and related elements for the diagnosis and for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of fibrosis and/or fibrosis related diseases. Additionally, the invention concerns antisense oligonucleotides against targets of miR-21. A cell deficient for miR-21, the promoter region and targets of miR-21 and a knock-out organism thereof are also encompassed. Finally, the invention is directed to a method for diagnosing fibrosis and/or fibrosis related diseases and to a method for screening a pharmaceutically active compound for the treatment of fibrosis and/or fibrosis related diseases. The present invention further relates to compositions for use in the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of fibrosis. In certain embodiments, the compositions modulate the activity of a miRNA for the treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of fibrosis.

Abstract: A method of determining a pressure parameter of a plant sample (1) comprises the steps of subjecting the plant sample (1) to a clamp pressure (pclamp) created with a clamp device (10), measuring at least one pressure response value (pp) of the plant sample (1), which depends on the clamp pressure (Pclamp)/and determining the pressure parameter on the basis of the at least one pressure response value (pp), wherein the clamp pressure (pclamp) is adjusted, such that the plant sample (1) has a viscoelastic pressure response to the clamp pressure (pclamp). Furthermore, an apparatus (100) for determining a pressure parameter of a plant sample (1) is described.

Abstract: An in vivo device (1) for an at least temporary placement in a human or animal body (17), comprising an actuator (2) adapted to be actively triggered from the exterior in order to induce a local impact on the adjacent body area for in vivo treatment of a patient in need, and/or comprising a sensor adapted to be actively triggered from the exterior for sensing a pathological condition in the body (17). An in vivo system comprises at least two and/or a plurality of the in vivo devices (1), wherein the in vivo devices (1) are adapted to communicate with each other and/or with an external controller (24). The use of the in vivo device/s (1) for treating and/or diagnosing a pathological condition in a human or animal body (17) comprises: administering the device/s (1); monitoring the movement of the device/s (1) through the body (17); triggering the device/s (1) from the outside once the device/s (1) reach/es a defined position in the body (17).

Abstract: The invention relates to microRNAs (miRNAs) for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of heart diseases. It relates in particular to SEQ ID No: 1 to SEQ ID No: 29 for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of heart diseases. In addition, the invention relates to the use of these sequences to produce a medicament for heart diseases and for the diagnosis thereof. Also encompassed are a method for the diagnosis of a heart disease, a kit and an expression vector comprising these sequences, a cell which contains the expression vector, and also a method for modulating a heart disease and a method for screening a pharmaceutically active compound for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a heart disease.