Abstract: A method of fabricating a shape-changeable magnetic member comprising a plurality of segments with each segment being able to be magnetized with a desired magnitude and orientation of magnetization, to a method of producing a shape changeable magnetic member composed of a plurality of segments and to a shape changeable magnetic member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a factor for reprogramming bone endothelial cells to promote bone angiogenesis and osteogenesis as well as to an ex vivo method for reprogramming a bone endothelial cell to achieve cells able to mediate bone angiogenesis and osteogenesis. The subtype of bone endothelial cells mediating bone angiogenesis and osteogenesis express CD31 and Endomucin as markers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to C-terminal HSP90 inhibitors, like silibinin, novobiocin and derivatives thereof, stereoisomeric forms, prodrugs, solvates, hydrates and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of these compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one of these compounds together with pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluents. Said compounds and its compositions have been identified as useful for the treatment of pituitary adenomas such as corticotroph adenomas, lactotroph adenomas, somatotroph adenomas and thyrotroph adenomas.

Abstract: A method for generating a non-thermal plasma having predetermined ozone concentration includes: providing an at least approximately closed volume as a reaction region; activating a plasma source and generating a non-thermal plasma in the reaction region. The plasma is held in the reaction region at least until a predetermined ozone concentration is reached or the ozone concentration falls below a predetermined upper limit for the ozone concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.

Abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3? ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the field of malignant disorders. Most particularly, the invention provides methods of determining the invasivity of malignant disorders and methods for reducing the invasivity of malignant disorders including the prevention or treatment of cancer cell invasion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a modulator of a polypeptide having or comprising an amino acid sequence as disclosed herein or of a functional fragment or derivative thereof or of a polynucleotide encoding said polypeptide or fragment or derivative for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, alleviating or treating diseases or conditions associated with the degeneration or injury of vertebrate nervous tissue, associated with seizures or associated with angiogenic disorders or disorders of the cardio-vascular system.

Abstract: A sample taking apparatus comprises a plurality of separation tools (10) (for example, punching capillaries) on a holding device (20), wherein the separation tools (10) are each provided with actuating means (30) for separate control thereof. In a sample taking method (for example, for punching samples from separation gels), successively removed samples are deposited in parallel onto a target substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to bifunctional tryptase inhibitors of formula (I) wherein H1 and H2 comprise a Q group and L is a linker of formula and the conformation of the H1, H2 and L groups is such that the groups are separated by a distance of from 20 to 45 Å. Pharmaceutical compositions and crystal forms of the compounds are described in addition to methods for producing and identifying such compounds, as well as the use of such compounds in methods of treating allergic and inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Carbide fiber- and carbide whisker-strengthened silicon nitride bodies are hot-isostatic pressed without encapsulation of the pressureless pre-sintered formed body at temperature between 1000.degree. and 3000.degree. C. in a nitrogen-protective gas atmosphere. At a low nitrogen partial pressure but high total gas pressure, a maximum consolidation can be achieved already at relatively low temperatures without destruction of the carbide fibers or carbide whiskers.

Abstract: Fragments of Alpha-1 thymosin ranging from two to twelve peptides in length nd pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These fragments possess immunostimulatory and immunoregulatory properties similar to the alpha thymosin molecule and are useful in the same fashion as in this molecule.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the currentless deposition of lectropositive metal layers on to appropriate less electropositive metals by contacting an object to be coated with a coating bath, wherein a coating bath is used which contains a metal complex obtained by reacting a monovalent electropositive metal halide with a base, which is capable of complex formation with the electropositive metal, and a hydrohalic acid.The present invention also provides a coating bath for the currentless deposition of electropositive metal layers on to less electropositive metals, wherein said bath contains an electropositive metal complex obtained by reacting a monovalent electropositive metal halide with a base which is capable of complex formation with the electropositive metal and a hydrohalic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydroxyl group or an acyl radical of a straight-chained or branched, saturated or, when R.sub.2 is an acyl radical other than an acetyl radical and/or R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom and/or R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy radical, unsaturated monocarboxylic acid containing up to 10 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is a hydroxyl group or an acyl radical of a straight-chained or branched, saturated or, when R.sub.1 is an acyl radical and/or R.sub.4 is a hydroxyl group and/or R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom or an alkoxy radical, unsaturated monocarboxylic acid containing up to 10 carbon atoms, R.sub.3 is an acetyl or methyl radical, R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an acetyl radical and R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy radical containing up to 6 carbon atoms (not only in the .alpha.- but also in the .beta.-position) or an additional bond to C22.

Abstract: A method of treating viral diseases in a human subject is disclosed. The method involves applying effective amounts of the compound: ##STR1## wherein X is an azido group, a methoxy radical or a fluorine atom and B is thymine, uracil, guanine, cytosine, purine or hypoxanthine if X is methoxy or fluorine, and B is guanine, purine or hypoxanthine if X is azido or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed are compositions and compounds useful in the method.

Abstract: Compounds related to phospholipids and a method for their preparation are sclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides human characterized by a molecular weight of about 170,000 Dalton, a hexameric structure with monomeric subunits with a molecular weight of about 28,000 Dalton and a carbohydrate content of about 2%.The present invention provides a process for obtaining and purifying globular domain NC1 of basal membrane collagen, wherein human or animal tissue is subjected to a first limiting treatment with bacterial collagenase, the degradation products obtained are separated from non-collagen proteins by chromatography on a weakly basic anion exchanger, the collagen degradation products are then subjected to a second collagenase digestion at an elevated temperature and the globular domain NC1 is purified by molecular sieve fractionation.Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with the use of this for the determination in body fluids in the case of the use of their antibodies, as well as far the detection of antibodies directed thereagainst in body fluids.

Abstract: An optical interferometric apparatus in which the intensity transmission factor is electrically controllable between at least one radiation beam input and at least one radiation beam output includes an interferometric device with a beam splitter for producing two coherent partial beams which pass via corresponding partial beam paths to a beam combining device where they interfere. In at least one of the partial beam paths there is disposed an electro-optical device in which the optical length of the portion of the partial beam path in question passing through it is electrically changeable, e.g., by means of the refractive index. The partial beams are combined strictly parallel with each other, so that the output beam provided by the beam combining device has a constant phase across its width and the intensity can be varied essentially between the full intensity of the input beam and zero by an appropriate change of the optical path length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the immunological determinat of proteins in body fluids which display a non-parallel inhibition curve to a reference inhibitor, wherein specific monovalent antibody fragments are used as antiserum.

Abstract: A galvanic cell is described, having a metal oxide or metal sulfide electe and a metal electrode, and between them an electrolyte or separator, which is characterized by the fact that it contains as electrolyte a solid proton conductor, namely a zeolite having a proton-containing cation, which has in its crystal lattice passages a phase promoting proton transport.