Abstract: The invention relates to copolymers and molding compounds having reactively bonded sulfur and an overall low sulfur content. The copolymers and molding compounds of the invention are substantially colorless and odorless while sufficiently flame-retardant and can be used in the building industry and electrical industry.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method for determining a three-dimensional particle distribution in a medium, comprising: emitting a coherent light beam to irradiate the sample; recording an interference image of the scattered light beam and a second part of the light beam that has not been scattered; computing, from the interference image, for each one of a plurality of virtual planes lying within the sample, a reconstructed image of the sample, generating for each reconstructed image, a presence image, wherein a value is assigned to each pixel of the presence images if the corresponding pixel of the reconstructed image has an intensity value exceeding a threshold value and if the corresponding pixel of the reconstructed image has a phase value with a predetermined sign.

Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to a photoconductor (10) comprising a multilayer (13) which comprises a plurality of photoconductive semiconductor layers (131-134). According to the invention, the multilayer (13) comprises at least two sublayers (130) which each comprise at least a first photoconductive semiconductor layer (131) and a second photoconductive semiconductor layer (132), wherein the first and the second photoconductive semiconductor layer (131, 132) are doped to different degrees for each of the sublayers (130).

Abstract: A cladding panel that collects and/or emits thermal energy, which includes: a first panel; a second panel with an extrados adhered to an intrados of the first panel, forming a leaktight seal, with a low-relief channel, the channel being attached to the intrados of the first panel to form a conduit; an inlet connector for heat-conducting fluid, connected to a first end of the channel; and an outlet connector for heat-conducting fluid, connected to a second end of the channel, wherein the first panel is made of calibrated laminated ceramic with a flat, smooth intrados and a flat, smooth extrados and has a uniform thickness of 3-6 mm, and the second panel is made of waterproof heat-insulating plastic that is stable up to 120° C.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mediator probe for the detection of at least one target molecule comprising at least two oligonucleotides. A first oligonucleotide of the mediator probe according to the invention comprises a probe region and a mediator binding region, wherein the probe region has an affinity to a target molecule and/or template molecule, and the mediator binding region has an affinity to at least one mediator. At least one further oligonucleotide of the mediator probe is a mediator which is bound to the first oligonucleotide of the mediator probe via the mediator binding region and has an affinity for at least one detection molecule, wherein the mediator triggers a detectable signal by interaction with the detection molecule after release from the first oligonucleotide of the mediator probe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing oligosaccharides which can be used among others as food additives to reduce calorie content, to sweeten food products, to increase the fiber content of food products, to improve the texture of food products and to stimulate the gut microbiome bacteria. Furthermore they can be applied in the fields of animal feed, or other applications. More particularly, this invention is directed to a high temperature hydrolysis of xyloglucan polysaccharide to defined xyloglucan oligosaccharides. The invention further relates to oligosaccharide hydrolysates produced with the method of the invention and to the use of said oligosaccharide hydrolysates in human and/or animal nutrition, as prebiotic or other uses. Further provided are novel endoglucanases for use in the method of the invention as well as in other applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel bispecific anti-CD28 antibody format which is bivalent and comprises two CD28 binding sites, and at least one target binding site. The bispecific anti CD28 antibody of the invention is surprisingly advantageous due to its costimulatory activity which is strictly target cell restricted. The bispecific CD28 antibody of the invention is provided for use in the treatment of diseases either alone or in combination with a further bispecific antibody inducing a CD3/T cell receptor signal.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improved mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) preparation and a method for producing the same. The invention provides a new strategy to isolate MSC from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) by pooling BM-MNCs of multiple unrelated (third-party) bone marrow donors. The MSC preparation manufactured in accordance with the methodology of the invention is characterized by a stable proliferative capability and an increased immunosuppressive potential when compared to individual donor MSC preparations or a pool of individual MSCs generated from multiple donors. The MSCs prepared according to the invention are particularly useful for medical applications such as the treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in recipients with hematopoietic stem cell transplants, patients with autoimmune disorders and as a cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved Helminthosporium turcicum-resistant plant, in particular a maize plant which comprises a polynucleotide with one or more resistance-conferring genes, for example on a truncated chromosome fragment from the accession Pepitilla, as well as a cell, a tissue, a part, grain and seeds thereof, an isolated polynucleotide which comprises one or more resistance-conferring genes against Helminthosporium turcicum, a vector, a transgenic plant cell and a transgenic plant containing this polynucleotide. Furthermore, the invention encompasses suitable markers and their use in introducing resistance or the transgene into a plant, as well as the identification of improved maize plants which comprise a truncated chromosome fragment.

Abstract: A ligand regulated protein-protein interaction system based on a lipocalin-fold molecule including: (a) a lipocalin-fold molecule; (b) a lipocalin-fold ligand with a low molecular weight of 1500 Da or below; and (c) a lipocalin-fold binding interaction partner; wherein the lipocalin-fold molecule can bind to the lipocalin-fold ligand; and wherein the lipocalin-fold molecule bound to the lipocalin-fold ligand binds to the lipocalin-fold binding interaction partner with an affinity which is at least 10-fold higher than the affinity of the lipocalin-fold molecule not bound to the lipocalin-fold ligand; and wherein the lipocalin-fold binding interaction partner is not a naturally occurring protein which has an affinity of <10 ?M to any naturally occurring lipocalin-fold molecule in the presence of any lipocalin-fold ligand.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for specifically altering the DNA sequence in a genome, in particular for genome editing by deleting or replacing a sequence of interest. Advantageously, the invention uses two non-identical sequences naturally occurring in a genome as target sites two which DNA-recombining enzymes are generated. The invention is in particular useful for medicine, in particular to repair a mutation in a genome or to delete predefined genetic material from cells or tissue and to cure diseases. An advantage of the invention is that it allows precise site directed altering of DNA without engaging host DNA repair pathways and thereby works without inducing random insertions and deletions (indels).

Abstract: A method for determining an optimized nucleotide sequence encoding a predetermined amino acid sequence, wherein the nucleotide sequence is optimized for expression in a host cell, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) generating a plurality of candidate nucleotide sequences encoding the predetermined amino acid sequence; (b) obtaining a sequence score based on a scoring function based on a plurality of sequence features that influence protein expression in the host cell using a statistical machine learning algorithm, wherein the plurality of sequence features comprises one or more sequence features selected from the group consisting of protein per time, average elongation rate and accuracy for each of the plurality of candidate nucleotide sequences of step (a); and (c) determining the candidate nucleotide sequence with optimized protein expression in the host cell as the optimized nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The 3D printing method disclosed here for the production of vascularized tissues and organs requires a droplet printer to produce photorealistic high-resolution prints and a device for applying non-directional or directional electromagnetic waves. The process uses a new type of capillary ink that crosslinks or undergoes a layer-forming reaction only in the edge area of the ink drops. Unbound capillary ink components are removed. The resulting cavities form a capillary network with diameters of up to approx. 10 ?m. Also disclosed is a novel printer table for supplying the printed tissue with medium during printing and a printer head supply unit for individually mixing the bio-inks from cell concentrate and various ink concentrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing mixtures of hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds, for use as fuel components (preferably in the range C5-C16), by means of catalytic conversion of the oxygenated organic compounds contained in aqueous fractions derived from biomass treatments, wherein said method can comprise at least the following steps: (i) bringing the aqueous mixture containing the oxygenated organic compounds derived from biomass in contact with a catalyst comprising at least Sn and Nb, Sn and Ti, and combinations of Sn, Ti and Nb; (ii) reacting the mixture with the catalyst in a catalytic reactor at temperatures between 100 and 350° C. and under pressures from 1 to 80 bar in the absence of hydrogen; and (iii) recovering the products obtained by means of the liquid/liquid separation of the aqueous and organic phases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector for an acoustic shock or pressure wave head, wherein the reflector comprises an acoustically reflective surface formed by a body of rotation, said body of rotation being formed by rotation of an elliptical segment about a rotation axis which extends through a focal point of the ellipse and encloses an angle ? between 0.1° and 30° with the main axis of the ellipse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide for use in a method of detecting the presence of hepatitis D virus (HDV) and/or of diagnosing an HDV infection and/or of monitoring the treatment of an HDV infection. The present invention further relates to an in vitro method, an immunographic test device as well as a kit. In particular, the present invention relates to a point of care diagnostic for HDV infections.

Abstract: A system for detecting moisture including: moisture sensors and a control module including a reader module, the control module is configured to: obtain a numerical value related to the feature of the selected response signal of the sensor element which is shielded against liquid; obtain a numerical value related to the feature of the selected response signal of the sensor element which is not shielded against liquid; determine a difference between the obtained numerical value related to the feature of the selected response signal from the sensor element which is shielded against liquid and the obtained numerical value related to the feature of the selected response signal from the sensor element which is not shielded against liquid; determine the detection of moisture if the determined difference is above or below a threshold. A method of detecting moisture is also provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer engineered heart muscle that includes (i) providing a liquid reconstitution mixture in a mould and (ii) culturing the mixture. The method includes a sequential addition of one or more further liquid reconstitution mixtures to obtain a multilayer engineered heart muscle. The muscle ideally has the form of a patch, a pouch, or a cylinder. Furthermore, a multilayer engineered heart muscle having collagen, cardiac myocytes and non-myocytes originating from at least 2 layers is disclosed. The multilayer engineered heart muscle forms the basis for several in vitro and in vivo applications such as the production of a multilayer engineered heart muscle for use in a patient, for example for use in heart repair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved methanation process, wherein energy released during the methanation process is used to drive a turbocharger to drive and/or maintain the process. The present invention is further concerned with a system for the production of methane-enriched gas and power from hydrogen and carbon-containing starting materials comprising at least one methanation reactor and at least one turbocharger.

Abstract: High affinity macrocyclic FKB51-Inhibitors (HAM-FKB51-Inhibitors), which enable the selective inhibition of FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs). The molecules are useful for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, metabolic disorders, pain diseases, and cancers.