Abstract: The present invention describes blood cells chemically coupled with immunodominant myelin peptides and their use in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.

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

Abstract: A slit m is projected onto an object surface in which reference point X1 is in a horizontal axis x closest to best in focus position P. One image of a field of view area F is acquired after reflection of light comprising said reference point X1. Position Z1 of the object in a vertical axis z is determined. Images of respective field of view areas F are acquired after reflection of light having reference points X2, X3 . . . Xn by simultaneously moving the object along axis z to maintain reference points X2, X3 . . . Xn closest to best in focus position P. Positions Z2, Z3 . . . Zn in which images were acquired are determined. The best in focus position P along horizontal axis x is determined for each image. A correction differential ?1, ?2 . . . ?n between best in focus position P and reference points X1, X2 . . . Xn is calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific beta-lactone compounds and compositions thereof for the treatment of infections, such as, e.g., infections with bacteria or infections with protozoa, in particular infections with Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria and of infectious diseases caused by or related to Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria, and to the modulation of virulence of Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria or of protozoa by specific beta-lactone compounds. The invention further relates to the use of the compounds or compositions for preventing or eliminating biofilms.

Abstract: A device for measuring yaw rate, having a mechanical yaw rate sensor, which has an inert mass that can be set into a primary vibration along a primary axis by means of an excitation device and can be deflected along a secondary axis extending transversely with respect to the primary axis so that when a yaw rate occurs about a sensitive axis extending transversely with respect to the primary and to the secondary axis, said device carries out a secondary vibration excited by the Coriolis force. A sensor element detects an amplitude-modulated signal for the secondary vibration. A sigma-delta modulator has a low pass filter connected to the sensor element, a quantizer and a secondary actuator disposed in a feedback path for applying a force which counteracts the Coriolis force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for diagnosing and/or monitoring in a subject a gastrointestinal stromal tumor or a predisposition to develop a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, comprising detecting and/or analyzing in a test sample derived from the subject one or more mutations at the DNA level in any one or both of the marker genes cKIT (GenBank acc. no. NM_000222.2) and PDGFRA (GenBank acc. no. NM_006206.4), wherein the DNA is circulating DNA, and wherein the presence of any one of the mutations detected in the test sample is indicative of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor or a predisposition to develop a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds according to general formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds according to general formula (I) and the use of the compounds for the treatment of a bacterial infection, particularly for use as an antibiotic.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting damage to silicone implants. In an embodiment, the method includes taking at least two computed tomography recordings at different X-ray spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation and reconstruction thereof. A data point is determined in a diagram for each voxel of interest, the X-ray attenuation values for different X-ray energies being plotted against one another; The data point, or another value for each voxel of interest determined from the X-ray attenuation values, is compared to known data points or values of body tissue and/or of silicone, and a note or warning is output if the data point or other value deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by at least a first threshold value and/or in the event of simultaneous approximation to the known data point or value for silicone by less than a second threshold value.

Abstract: An electromechanical energy converter for generating electric energy from mechanical vibrations has a bending bar clamped to a holder that can be set in vibration and elastically deflected at an end area along a path curve from a neutral position transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bending bar. A deflectable point on the bending bar is connected to the mount via a deflectable bridge part extending along the bending bar for applying to the bending bar a mechanical prestress oriented substantially in the direction of longitudinal extension of the bending bar. The bending bar has a drive connection to at least one electromechanical converter element for converting mechanical vibration energy into electric energy. The bridge part is arranged outside of the bending bar such that when the bending bar is deflected out of the neutral position, the bending bar and the bridge part extend along lines having different courses.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for classifying a video sequence (VS), characterized by the steps of analyzing the video sequence using a plurality of genre-specific detector modules (M1-M5), each genre-specific detector module providing a probability value (P1-P5) indicating the probability that the video sequence belongs to the genre assigned to the genre-specific detector module; and analyzing the probability values of the plurality of genre-specific detector modules using a combiner (CM) which analyzes said probability values and generates a classification signal (SC) classifying the video sequence as belonging to a specific genre (g).

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 invention relates to a fluorescent dye of general formula I or II wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic, functionally substituted, or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, wherein at least one of the R1 or R2 radicals and one of the R3 or R4 radicals is not hydrogen and the R1 and R3 radicals and/or R2 and R4 radicals in formula I can be bridged to each other, and X and Y independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C1 or C2 hydrocarbon radical wherein any one carbon unit can be replaced by an N or S heteroatom. The dye is remarkable for its high fluorescence intensity and large Stokes shift in combination with a long fluorescence lifetime.

Abstract: Specific applications of particles and particle agglomerates with semiconductor surfaces are provided. The particles and particle agglomerates display a high affinity for viral particles, and may be used therapeutically and/or prophylactically to treat or prevent viral infections. The particles and particle agglomerates may also be used to remove viral particles from a surface or fluid, e.g., as an absorbent in a filter, applied to surfaces to render them virostatic, and as tool to handle viral particles, e.g., for research, diagnostic, or decontamination purposes.

Abstract: A tent or covering with a pyramid-shaped structure, with an inner dark-coloured sheet and an outer transparent sheet, installed on a supporting base anchored to the ground or on floats on the surface of the sea, wherein in the apex of the pyramid there are included vaporizers with micronebulisers for nebulising the water to be treated, a device for capturing humid air through a continuous or sectioned condensation column and for subsoil distillation and heat dissipation in the smaller, water-collecting tank and recirculation of the air devoid of humidity into the enclosure. In addition, it includes a computerised control system of the processes includes controls of the air and nebulised water flow rates and of the working regime of the facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixed-dose association of phytate and zinc in synergic proportions for use in the treatment of crystallization of hydroxyapatite. Advantageously, said association is in a molar ratio between the phytate and the zinc exceeding 4:1. The invention also relates to the use of said association for manufacturing a drug for the treatment, prophylaxis and/or prevention crystallization of hydroxyapatite in humans.

Abstract: Template-fixed ?-hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formulae wherein Z is a chain of 11 ?-amino acid residues which, depending on their positions in the chain (counted starting from the N-terminal amino acid) are Gly, or Pro, or Pro(4NHCOPhe), or of certain types which, as the remaining symbols in the above formula, are defined in the description and the claims, and salts thereof, have the property to inhibit proteases, in particular serine proteases, especially Cathepsin G or Elastase or Tryptase. These ?-hairpin peptidomimetics can be manufactured by processes which are based on a mixed solid- and solution phase synthetic strategy.

Abstract: Nanoparticulate material containing a matrix and embedded therein a radiopacifier are bioactive, show a high alkaline capacity and are radio-opaque. Compositions and formulations including such material are particularly useful in advanced dental applications, such as dental fillings and/or disinfection.

Abstract: A device and method for determining a distance and/or orientation of a movable object includes a transmitter that is located on the object and a receiver. One of the transmitter and the receiver has an antenna having a known polarization plane. The other of the transmitter and the receiver has a counterclockwise circular polarized antenna and a clockwise circular polarized antenna.

Abstract: Increased in vivo and/or in vitro stability is imparted to a biologically active protein by fusing to an amino acid sequence consisting of at least about 100 amino acid residues, which consist essentially of Alanine, Serine and Proline, which form a random coil conformation. Specific examples are described. Also described are related nucleic acids, vectors and cells encoding such amino acids; compositions of biologically active proteins fused to a random coil domain, and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an infectious arenavirus particle that is engineered to contain a genome with the ability to amplify and express its genetic information in infected cells but unable to produce further infectious progeny particles in normal, not genetically engineered cells. One or more of the four arenavirus open reading frames glycoprotein (GP), nucleoprotein (NP), matrix protein Z and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase L are removed or mutated to prevent replication in normal cells but still allowing gene expression in arenavirus vector-infected cells, and foreign genes coding for an antigen or other protein of interest or nucleic acids modulating host gene expression are expressed under control of the arenavirus promoters, internal ribosome entry sites or under control of regulatory elements that can be read by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, cellular RNA polymerase I, RNA polymerase II or RNA polymerase III.