Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds derived from ursodeoxycholic acid of formula (I), to methods for obtaining same, as well as the use thereof in the treatment of polycystic diseases, particularly autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, or autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sensor for use in a variety of applications requiring extremely high sensitivity, such as measuring power and characteristics of incident electromagnetic radiation includes a superconducting layer that carries an exchange field for providing a spin splitting effect of charge carriers in the superconducting layer, a metal electrode, and an insulating layer arranged between the superconducting layer and metal electrode to form a spin filter junction therebetween. The electromagnetic sensor provides an antenna including a wave collecting element, in contact with the superconducting layer to convey thereinto external electromagnetic waves that are generated by an external source.

Abstract: Composition includes: (A) a mixed oxide of lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt and (B) a fluorinated anion salt of a polycationic polymer. The fluorinated anion salt of the polycationic polymer contains repeating units represented by one of formula (1) or formula (2): wherein, in the formula (1), N+ is a nitrogen atom constituting a quaternary ammonium cation, R1 and R2 being each independently a substituent containing a carbon atom bonded to the nitrogen atom, wherein, in the formula (2), R3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sensor for use in a variety of applications requiring extremely high sensitivity, such as measuring power and characteristics of incident electromagnetic radiation includes a superconducting layer that carries an exchange field for providing a spin splitting effect of charge carriers in the superconducting layer, a metal electrode, and an insulating layer arranged between the superconducting layer and metal electrode to form a spin filter junction therebetween. The electromagnetic sensor provides an antenna including a wave collecting element, in contact with the superconducting layer to convey thereinto external electromagnetic waves that are generated by an external source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nanoparticle comprising: (i) between 60 wt.-% and 99 wt.-% sorbitan ester, relative to the total weight of the nanoparticle; (ii) a positively charged substance; and (iii) a miRNA. The invention also relates to the methods for producing same and to the uses thereof, particularly for therapeutic uses, such as cancer treatment.

Abstract: Systems for visually inspecting a surface of an object are provided, which includes a visual inspection head, and a positioning apparatus for controlling a position and/or an orientation of the visual inspection head with respect to the object. The visual inspection head includes a visual inspection module, and an angle controlling module for ensuring a predetermined angle of the visual inspection system with respect to an area to be inspected of the surface of the object. The angle controlling module may include a pointer for projecting a light beam onto the area to be inspected and a camera for determining whether the light beam is reflected substantially perpendicularly. The system is configured to move the visual inspection head relative to the object until the light beam is reflected substantially perpendicularly. Methods for visually inspecting a surface are also provided.

Abstract: An ion gel including a hydrogel in an ionic liquid, and a reactive system that changes colour upon reaction with the nitrite and a microfluidic device having a substrate with calibration reservoirs that are separated from one another and include an ion gel, a calibration reservoir of the hydrogel in the ionic liquid, a reservoir for holding a sample to be analysed, connected to a measuring reservoir including an ion gel via a microfluidic channel with a reducing agent, and a measuring reservoir including an ion gel of the invention where a sample to be analysed is held and methods for producing the ion gel and the device, as well as a method for colorimetrically determining and detecting nitrite and nitrate in contaminated water using the ion gel and the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting the presence or absence of a target analyte in a test sample, comprising the steps: i) providing a plurality of detector nanoparticles comprising a first detector nanoparticle functionalised with a first probe specific for a first region of a target analyte and a second detector nanoparticle functionalised with a second probe specific for a second region of said target analyte; and ii) contacting said detector nanoparticles with a test sample under conditions suitable for the binding of the specific probes to the target analyte, wherein target analyte-induced agglomeration of the detector nanoparticles permits the release of a detectable signal means from a signal reservoir. Also provided are related devices and systems for performing the method of the invention.

Abstract: A lipid nanoparticle that includes at least one antibiotic from the polymyxin family, a lipid fraction, and one or more surfactants. The lipid nanoparticle is useful in the prevention and/or treatment of respiratory tree infections.

Abstract: A method for the depolymerization of lignin includes the steps of: providing a black liquor obtained from the treatment of delignification of the biomass, concentrating the black liquor; and subjecting the concentrated black liquor to a hydrothermal treatment. An acid is added to the reaction mixture obtained in the previous step, and then the precipitate is separated from the liquid phase resulting in the previous step. Finally, the method includes the step of extracting, from the recovered liquid phase, the aromatic products of depolymerization of lignin, such as phenol, cresols, catechol and the derivatives thereof (3-methylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 4-ethylcatechol).

Abstract: A non-human transgenic animal having a polynucleotide encoding an STXBP1 polypeptide, which polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter, wherein said transgenic animal has greater than wild-type expression of the STXBP1 polypeptide in at least one brain region, as well as related vectors, methods of producing transgenic animals, in vitro and in vivo screening methods for potential therapeutic agents, and methods for treating and diagnosing neuropsychiatric illness are disclosed.

Abstract: Nanoparticles comprise a drug, a first block polymer and a second block polymer. The first block polymer has a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block and a polycarbonate block bearing a side chain aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocycle (N-heterocycle). The N-heterocycle can be in the form of a base, a hydrosalt of the base, a sulfobetaine adduct of the base, or a combination thereof. The second block polymer has a PEO block and a polycarbonate block bearing a side chain catechol group, which can be present as a catechol, oxidized form of a catechol, and/or a polymerized form of a catechol. The nanoparticles can be dispersed in water and are capable of controlled release of the drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a source for emitting broad spectrum light of controllable frequency comprising boron nitride nanotubes with defects caused by the vacancy of a boron atom in the tubular structure and wherein the source is further provided with means for producing an electric field perpendicular to the tube. The invention can be used as a field-effect transistor (by adding electrodes) or as a source for converting energy of an incoming beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integral magnetic compass for obtaining deviations in real time, formed by a transparent sphere or cylinder (2), incorporating therein, in a hydrocarbon liquid (3), a polyester or silicon disk (4) to which the rose (5) and the magnet (6) are fitted, being associated with a commutation system formed by integrated software in a device or chip (7), the circuit of which has two inputs: an input (8) to the signal obtained from the magnetic compass (1) itself, obtained by means of a magnetometer (9) or optical reader (10) in association therewith, and another input (11) to the signal from the satellite compass (12) or from the gyroscopic compass (13), and said circuit having an output (14) to a display (15) for viewing and storage of the data for the corresponding deviations, thus obtaining the deviation chart for the magnetic needle in real time, said output being also applicable to the automatic pilot (16).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for eliminating current surges that includes a first voltage regulator (7) having a current limit programmable to a value (I(limit)) that depends on the value of the intermittent current surges (IO(surge)) required by the intermittent load (3) and the relationship thereof to the work cycle, a second voltage regulator (9), a condenser (4) connected between the first and second regulators (7, 9), that loads when the current is no longer required and that unloads when there is a need for output current to provide current to the second regulator (9) which absorbs the changes in voltage produced by the loading/unloading of the condenser and provides a constant voltage for any value of the required output current surge, independently of voltage changes in the condenser (4), and a control loop between a sensor for the output current provided to the load and an input limit (15) for the input current (II) in the first regulator (7).

Abstract: A process for preparing a zeolite-based monolith including dry-mixing zeolite particles and a temporary binder until homogenization; adding silica and water dispersion; wet-kneading and high-shear mixing until obtaining a homogenous pulp; extrusion-molding the pulp resulting from the previous step; controlled drying of the mold obtained; and oxidizing at a high temperature to obtain the monolith.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biotechnology and medicine. The invention specifically relates to a compound comprising a liposome covered or decorated at least with the extracellular domain of the APO2L/TRAIL protein, and to the use thereof far developing a medicament preferably for the treatment of a cancer or inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for obtaining hydrogen from natural gas which comprises (a) reacting the natural gas with a mixture of air and steam in a single reactor to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO, (b) reacting the CO produced at a high temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, and (c) reacting the CO which has not reacted in step (b) at a low temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, characterized in that in step (a) the natural gas, the air and the steam are fed simultaneously and react on the same catalyst and in that the pressure used in steps (a) to (c) varies between 1 and 8 atm, as well as to a H2 production plant for carrying out the mentioned process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integral magnetic compass for obtaining deviations in real time, formed by a transparent sphere or cylinder (2), incorporating therein, in a hydrocarbon liquid (3), a polyester or silicon disk (4) to which the rose (5) and the magnet (6) are fitted, being associated with a commutation system formed by integrated software in a device or chip (7), the circuit of which has two inputs: an input (8) to the signal obtained from the magnetic compass (1) itself, obtained by means of a magnetometer (9) or optical reader (10) in association therewith, and another input (11) to the signal from the satellite compass (12) or from the gyroscopic compass (13), and said circuit having an output (14) to a display (15) for viewing and storage of the data for the corresponding deviations, thus obtaining the deviation chart for the magnetic needle in real time, said output being also applicable to the automatic pilot (16).

Abstract: The adrenergic receptors or adrenoceptors are a family of G-protein coupled receptors split into ? and ? subclasses. The adrenoceptors have important roles in regulating a myriad of physiological conditions and their malfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases. Disclosed herein are a series of novel guanidine and 2-aminoimidazoline compounds which are ligands of the alpha2-adrenoceptor (?2-ARs) subclass of adrenergic receptors. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds. The compounds are suitable for use in the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment of ?2-ARs associated disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, glaucoma and analgesia.