Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a TLR 9 agonist and/or a TLR 4 agonist in a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine. According to the present vaccination strategy, the TLR 9 agonist and/or TLR 4 agonist is adapted or designed for use as a multiplying jump agent to enhance numbers and functionality of CD8 T cells in a prime-jump vaccination strategy for jump T cell expansion. In particular, the TLR 9 agonist and/or TLR 4 agonist is used as a component to be administered after priming of the individual to be vaccinated. The vaccination strategy is particularly useful against acute and chronic infections with intracellular pathogens or for anti-tumor vaccination. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a kit of part containing a prime agent and a multiplying jump agent according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction stir welding apparatus for joining workpieces 1, 2, having a welding pin 3, which is rotatable about its center axis 9 by means of a drive, and having at least one clamping apparatus for clamping the workpieces 1, 2 to be joined, characterized in that the clamping apparatus comprises at least two clamping elements 10, 11, which respectively have an undercut guideway 12, the guideways 12 being arranged parallel to one another and parallel to a joining region 8, in that between the clamping elements 10, 11 is arranged a sliding element 13, which is secured by the guideways 12 against the workpieces 1, 2 and is translatorily displaceable along the guideways 12, and in that the sliding element 12 is provided with an opening 14 for the lead-through of the welding pin 3, and further relates to a method for friction stir welding, using the above-stated apparatus.

Abstract: A shaft power plant for energy conversion of a discharge between a headwater and a tailwater, comprising a vertical shaft, the top of which forms an inflow plane which is parallel to the bed and extends below the headwater water level, wherein the shaft is open toward the top and is closed by a base at its bottom end, a unit composed of a turbine and an electrical machine, wherein the unit is arranged entirely under water in the shaft and wherein the turbine is arranged for water to pass through vertically, and an outflow, which is connected to the turbine, represents a closed flow channel and leads through a through-passage in the shaft to the tailwater, wherein, in a horizontal plane of a turbine runner of the turbine, a first cross-sectional area of the shaft is much larger than a second cross-sectional area taken up by the turbine runner.

Abstract: The present inventors have solved the crystal structure of an Escherichia coli bacterial lipocalin polypeptide, which depicts a monomeric protein. Previous crystal structures have been reported, but these appear to he inaccurate, as they predicted, e.g., a dimeric protein. The crystal structure of a bacterial lipocalin provided by the present invention leads to numerous uses. For example, the present invention provides for the design, construction and use of recombinant libraries of diversified bacterial lipocalins resulting from a bacterial lipocalin polypeptide “backbone”.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel muteins derived from human lipocalin 2 (hNGAL) and related proteins that bind a given non-natural ligand with detectable affinity. The invention also related to corresponding nucleic acid molecules encoding such a mutein and to a method for their generation. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a mutein. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a lipocalin mutein as well as to various uses of the mutein.

Abstract: The present inventors have solved the crystal structure of an Escherichia coli bacterial lipocalin polypeptide, which depicts a monomeric protein. Previous crystal structures have been reported, but these appear to be inaccurate, as they predicted, e.g., a dimeric protein. The crystal structure of a bacterial lipocalin provided by the present invention leads to numerous uses. For example, the present invention provides for the design, construction and use of recombinant libraries of diversified bacterial lipocalins resulting from a bacterial lipocalin polypeptide “backbone”.

Abstract: The present invention describes an electrical converter system for power supply systems, comprising at least two identical individual modules connected consecutively, characterised in that each individual module have at least four internal switching elements, at least one energy storage element and at least four connectors, wherein the connectors are paired and serve as a first and a second terminal pair; the internal switching elements of each individual module are designed in such manner that they are able to selectively connect one or both connectors of each terminal pair to the energy storage element; the cascaded connection of at least two individual modules is made in such manner that the connectors in the second terminal pair of a preceding individual module are each connected to the connectors of the first terminal pair in the respective following individual module, and at least one terminal of the first terminal pair of the first individual module of the cascaded connection and at least one terminal

Abstract: An industrial truck is shown with a lifting frame, on which a load-receiving section is arranged so as to be movable vertically. The load-receiving section has at least one degree of movement freedom with respect to the lifting frame, which lies in a plane perpendicular to the main direction of travel of the industrial truck and has at least one horizontal component. In addition, a vibration control system is provided for damping or preventing vibrations in the relative position of load-receiving section and lifting frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro or ex vivo method of preparing a cell-free composition, said method comprising or consisting of (a) subjecting cells to stress; and (b) collecting factors produced, preferably secreted by said cells when subjected to said stress, thereby obtaining said cell-free composition; wherein said cells are comprised in or form at least one first carrier and said collecting is effected by means of at least one second carrier which second carrier(s) is/are cell-free and concomitantly present with and spatially distinct from said first carrier; and said collecting is effected using a device comprising or consisting of (i) said first carrier(s) which first carrier(s) comprise(s) said cells or is/are suitable to hold said cells; (ii) said second carrier(s) which is cell-free; and (iii) means of subjecting said cells in said first carrier to stress; wherein first carrier(s) and second carrier(s) are positioned such that factors secreted by said cells when subjected to stress are

Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleic acid construct comprising an adenoviral E2 late promoter or a fragment thereof and a nucleic acid. The nucleic acid is selected from the group of transgenes, genes and nucleic acids which are respectively different from adenoviral nucleic acid controlled by an E2 late promoter. The invention also relates to the uses of said nucleic acid construct.

Abstract: A nanomagnetic logic gate arranged on a substrate according to an embodiment includes at least one nanomagnetic first structure, at least one nanomagnetic second structure and at least two layers including a first layer and a second layer, wherein at least one first structure is arranged in the first layer on or parallel to a main surface of the substrate, wherein at least one second structure is arranged in the second layer parallel to the first layer, and wherein at least one second structure includes an artificial nucleation center arranged such that a magnetic field component essentially perpendicular to the main surface provided by at least one first structure couples to the artificial nucleation center such that a magnetization of the second structure is changeable in response to the magnetic field component coupled into the artificial nucleation center, when a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical converter for power supply, which is constructed from individual modules. Each of the identical modules includes a module capacitor and can be switched by switching elements such that the module capacitors of the modules may be connected in series or in parallel, or a current flow takes place through the modules without charging or discharging the module capacitor. In this manner, the voltage can be connected across the terminals of the converter by a corresponding control of the switching elements in stages with low loss levels. According to the invention, the voltages of these capacitors are adjusted with respect to each other by load balancing prior to parallel connection of the capacitor modules so that the corresponding losses are minimized.

Abstract: A process for the production of a component (1) made of a fiber composite material, and also a component (1) produced in this way, are stated, where a foil composite (7) with a thermoplastic outer foil (6) and with a thermoplastic inner foil (5) is produced, where the modulus of elasticity (E) of the inner foil (5) within a temperature range is smaller than the modulus of elasticity (E) of the outer foil (6), the inner foil (5) of the foil composite (7) is bonded to a molding (4) comprising a fiber material (2) and comprising a thermoset (3), the molding (4) is hardened, and the foil composite (7) is subjected to a heat treatment in the temperature range within which the modulus of elasticity (E) of the inner foil (5) is smaller than the modulus of elasticity (E) of the outer foil (6), where the outer foil (6) undergoes stress relaxation.

Abstract: A method and a system for quantifying anaesthesia and/or a state of vigilance (e.g. monitoring sedation or sleep) from a plurality of parameters acquired from a subject allows to determine an indicator that reliably quantifies the hypnotic component of anaesthesia and/or the state of vigilance and/or the analgesic component of anaesthesia, even if the number of parameters varies while monitoring the subject. Preferably, a first sub-indicator based on a first subset of parameters adapted to characterise a boundary region between consciousness and unconsciousness is determined, and a second sub-indicator based on a second subset of parameters adapted to characterise a level of hypnosis of said subject is determined, and said first sub-indicator and said second sub-indicator are then combined to compute a global indicator value.

Abstract: Arrangements are described for evaluating characteristics of target molecules. A biochip is received which includes a substrate to which charged probe molecules are attached. The probe molecules have a marker to allow generating signals indicative of the distance of a portion of the probe molecule from the substrate. The signals are detected and means for an external electric field is generated to which the probe molecules are exposed. A control means acts to: (A) apply an external electric field causing the portion of the probe molecule to approach the substrate, and (B) apply an external electric field causing the portion of the probe molecule to move away from the substrate. The signal is recorded as a function of time during step (A) and/or step (B). Steps (A) and (B) are repeated for a predetermined number of times and the recorded signals are combined.

Abstract: A self-piercing blind rivet is provided for apposing biological tissue together with a device for setting the same, especially through the instrumental channel of a flexible endoscope. Without the help of further instruments, it is possible to fix, approximate and appose tissue layers, the contact force while connecting the tissue layers being adjustable. The rivets are stored in the setting device, so that they can be applied in order. The rivet and setting device enable the surgeon to combine tissue discontinuities conveniently by means of an endoscope. The surgical procedure is simplified further because the rivets can remain in the body.

Abstract: The present invention describes an electrical converter system for power supply systems, comprising at least two identical individual modules connected consecutively, characterised in that each individual module have at least four internal switching elements, at least one energy storage element and at least four connectors, wherein the connectors are paired and serve as a first and a second terminal pair; the internal switching elements of each individual module are designed in such manner that they are able to selectively connect one or both connectors of each terminal pair to the energy storage element; the cascaded connection of at least two individual modules is made in such manner that the connectors in the second terminal pair of a preceding individual module are each connected to the connectors of the first terminal pair in the respective following individual module, and at least one terminal of the first terminal pair of the first individual module of the cascaded connection and at least one terminal

Abstract: A shaft power plant for energy conversion of a discharge between a headwater and a tailwater, comprising a vertical shaft, the top of which forms an inflow plane which is parallel to the bed and extends below the headwater water level, wherein the shaft is open toward the top and is closed by a base at its bottom end, a unit composed of a turbine and an electrical machine, wherein the unit is arranged entirely under water in the shaft and wherein the turbine is arranged for water to pass through horizontally, and an outflow, which is connected to the turbine, represents a closed flow channel and leads through a through-passage in the shaft to the tailwater, wherein a horizontal first cross-sectional area of the shaft is much larger than a vertical second cross-sectional area taken up by the turbine runner.