Abstract: In the present invention it is shown that the inactivation of the Pyk2 gene does not alter hippocampal development but prevents hippocampal-dependent memory tasks and LTP. Inventors clearly provide evidence for multiple roles of Pyk2 in spine morphology and postsynaptic structure. Thus, the inventors used direct overexpression of PYK2 by AAV-mediated gene transfer into the brain of Huntington's and Alzheimer's mouse models and found that overexpression of PYK2 in these 2 models improves synaptic properties and spine density deficits which is also accompanied by a rescue of spatial memory. Accordingly it was demonstrated that PYK2 may restore cognitive functions in neurodegenerative diseases. Thus the present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an osteotropic bone replacement material from a starting material which substantially has portlandite, calcium oxide, aragonite; calcite and/or apatite. The starting material is introduced into an autoclave with a strontium, fluorine and/or gallium source, wherein when using a starting material which substantially has portlandite, calcium oxide, aragonite; calcite a phosphate source is introduced. In addition, H2O is added into the autoclave as part of a solvent and the pH value in the autoclave is set to a range above 7. Afterwards, the closed and filled autoclave is heated for at least 1 hour and then cooled. The osteotropic bone replacement material thus developed is subsequently cleaned from residues of the phosphorus, strontium, fluorine and/or gallium source. Furthermore, the invention relates to an osteotropic bone replacement material which substantially consists of apatite and in which strontium ions are incorporated into the crystal lattice.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a measurement system for determining and localizing incorrect positioning of support rollers (1) in support roller stations (13) of belt conveyor installations, wherein a unit of pressure sensors (4) is detachably mounted on the underside of a conveyor belt (2); the number of pressure sensors (4) corresponds at least to the number of support rollers (1) of a support roller station (13); and as the sensor (4) is led over a support roller (1), a signal of the contact pressure point is generated upon contact and the signal is measured and evaluated.

Abstract: An occlusion device (210) is provided for occluding a left atrial appendage (LAA), including a compliant balloon (230) defining a fluid-tight balloon chamber (232), and an actuating shaft (234), which is disposed at least partially within the balloon chamber (232) for setting a distance between distal and proximal end portions (236, 238) of the balloon (230). A proximal LAA-orifice cover (70) includes a frame (72) and a covering (74) fixed to the frame (72). An orifice-support stent (290) is fixed to and extends distally from the proximal LAA-orifice cover (70), and is generally cylindrical when in a radially-expanded state. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for operating a drive train having a power generator, a mechanical power transmission device, and a power receiver wherein the power transmission device is monitored to detect mechanical damage and/or the development of mechanical damage to the power transmission device, wherein detected damage and/or detected damage development is localized and the power generator, the power transmission device, and/or the power receiver are/is controlled such that a mechanical load at the localized damage location and/or damage development location is selectively reduced. A program product including program code sections with which such a method is feasible when the program product is executed on a programmable controller, a computer, or other programmable device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a patient-specific tumor treatment targeting individual expression patterns of tumor antigens, in particular shared tumor antigens, and individual tumor mutations. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for preventing or treating cancer in a patient comprising the steps of: (i) inducing a first immune response against one or more tumor antigens in the patient, and (ii) inducing a second immune response against one or more tumor antigens in the patient wherein the second immune response is specific for cancer specific somatic mutations present in cancer cells of the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel and improved catalyst and catalysts systems for the oligomerization of the higher olefins, which produce lubricants having improved properties, such as end-saturated oligomer chains which are needless to hydrogenation process, low kinematic viscosity and/or high viscosity index, low pour point, and high flash point lubricants.

Abstract: The present invention provides the modular design and assembly of novel targeting bio-conjugates, exclusively assembled by means of biotin-biotin binding element conjugation, comprising mono-biotinylated cell binding component, a tetrameric biotin-binding element, and mono-biotinylated payload for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In addition, there is provided a method of delivering the payload, such as therapeutic oligonucleotides, via mono-biotinylated targeting devices, such as antibodies or ligands, into eukaryotic cells by means of receptor-mediated endocytosis. The targeting bio-conjugates are suitable for use in the areas of medicine, pharmacy and biomedical research.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula 1 or 2, wherein R1 and R3 are purine or a purine analog and R2 and R4 are a small functional group. The invention also relates to intermediates of the synthesis of compounds of formula 1 or 2. Compounds of formula 1 or 2 are Janus kinase inhibitors and thus useful in the treatment of a disease, particularly an autoimmune disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease or useful in preventing the rejection of an allograft or xenograft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds which bind and/or inhibit prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) comprising at least one group electron dense substituent (EDS), and at least one moiety which is amenable to radiolabeling; and therapeutic and diagnostic uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to determine a homology directed repair (HDR) event within a eukaryotic cell, wherein the cell expresses a first isoform of a surface protein, which is different from a second isoform of said surface protein with regard to an amino acid marker. The method comprises the steps of inducing a DNA double strand break, providing a HDR template DNA construct comprising the amino acid marker corresponding to the second isoform of the surface protein and subsequently determining the expression of the first or second isoform of said surface protein on said cell, wherein expression of the second isoform indicates a successful HDR event. The invention also relates to a method for editing a genomic location of interest within a eukaryotic cell, and to a method of selectively depleting or enriching an edited cell in a composition of non-edited and edited cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, in particular amyloid inhibitory peptides, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such peptides. Furthermore, the present invention relates to such peptides, in particular such amyloid inhibitory peptides, for use in methods of treating or diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, or for use in a method of treating or diagnosing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a kit for the in-vitro or in-vivo detection and, optionally, quantification of amyloidogenic polypeptides, amyloid fibrils or amyloid aggregates, and/or for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or type 2 diabetes in a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for color visualization and separation of a natural and medical image comprising pixels defined by color pixel vector a=[a1a2, a3] in a Cartesian color space (e.g. RGB), where the color pixel vector is represented by a pure quaternion q=+a1i+a2j+a3k with i,j, k satisfying: i2=j2=k2=ijk=?1, ij=?ji=k,jk=?kj=i, ki=?ik=j and the image is decomposed into q+ and q using the orthogonal 2D planes split concept according to: (formula (I)) wherein/and g are pure unit quaternions or f and g describe interactively determined or computed colors (s1, s2). The method allows not only visualizing and separating certain colors in a digital image in a rapid fashion, but also permits a flexible definition pertinent to the kind of colors that can be visualized or separated by defining the corresponding decompositions by means of pure unit quaternions/and g. Colors s1, s2 can be defined manually or computed automatically from the image.

Abstract: The invention relates to alkaline secondary batteries. The secondary battery contains a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte, said secondary battery being arranged between the cathode and anode and comprises an alkali metal ion conductive contact to the cathode and to the carbon layer of the anode. The anode contains or consists of a carbon layer, whereby the carbon layer, alone or in combination with an electrically conductive substrate, forms with an electrically conductive contact.

Abstract: A method can be provided for analyzing a fluidic sample with dispersed particles. Using such exemplary method, it is possible to irradiate the sample with light, so that the photons of the light transfer momentum to the particles. It is also possible to measure at least one property of the particles that is altered by the momentum transfer. The light can be a propagating beam with an intensity distribution that has gradients pointing to more than one point within each plane normal to the direction of propagation, while varying steadily along the direction of propagation, and/or a 3D vortex trap beam that is configured to confine the particles in a three-dimensional volume by means of high-intensity gradients. An exemplary device can also be provided (e.g., for performing the method), comprising a chamber for holding a sample that is elongate along an axis and configured to pass a beam of light along the axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a density-optimized and high temperature-resistant alloy based on molybdenum-sili-con-boron, wherein vanadium is added to the base alloy in order to reduce the density.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the synthesis of a biodegradable calcium release material that shows controlled ion release properties for tissue engineering, biomaterials containing the calcium particles as well as the calcium particles obtainable therefrom. By varying the treatment temperature of the described method, the calcium material shows different calcium release profiles. Contrary to a specific chemical composition such as CaCO3 which is associated to a specific calcium release profile, the present invention allows a manifold of compositions, with a manifold of calcium release profiles, all starting from a single specific chemical composition calcium precursor. Therefore, the invention also relates to the use of the controllable release, calcium material in tissue regeneration such as wound healing processes.

Abstract: In a method (100 to 208) in which hyperpolarizable tracer molecules (20, 88 to 98) are hydrogenated and then optionally also hyperpolarized for magnetic resonance imaging, it is provided that, in a first method step (104, 202), a hydrogen solution (10, 12, 4) having a saturation factor of at least 50% be prepared and that the hydrogenation reaction (186 to 190, 206) not be triggered until a subsequent, second method step (106, 204). An apparatus (1) with which the method of the invention (100 to 208) is executable is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stabilization of RNA, in particular mRNA, and an increase in mRNA translation. The present invention particularly relates to a modification of RNA, in particular in vitro-transcribed RNA, resulting in increased transcript stability and/or translation efficiency. According to the invention, it was demonstrated that certain sequences in the 3?-untranslated region (UTR) of an RNA molecule improve stability and translation efficiency.

Abstract: A light-curable composition is provided which may be used as a photopolymerizable material in an additive manufacturing process. The additive manufacturing process involves heating the light-curable composition which has a viscosity at 20° C. of at least 20 Pa·s. The light-curable composition includes a photopolymerizable matrix material, at least one thermoplastic polymer dissolved therein, and at least one photoinitiator. Polycaprolactone or a derivative thereof is used as the dissolved thermoplastic polymer.