Abstract: A device and a method for detecting deposits in a membrane module which produces a permeate and which comprises at least one permeable or semipermeable membrane layer. At least one polymer optical fiber for detecting deposits on the membrane layer is integrated in the membrane module such that the polymer optical fiber is in contact with at least one membrane layer. A method of detecting deposits in a membrane module producing a permeate and to a membrane module for producing a permeate from a feed stream of a fluid, in particular an aqueous solution, with the membrane module comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed or stacked sheets of a permeable or semipermeable membrane layer and with at least one polymer optical fiber being embedded or integrated in the membrane module, which polymer optical fiber is in contact with at least one sheet of the membrane layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined preparation comprising (i) a modulator of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) activity, and (ii) an agent providing high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) polypeptide or a derivative thereof. The present invention also relates to the aforesaid combined preparation for use as a medicament and for use in the treatment of inappropriate cellular proliferation, preferably in the treatment of cancer. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject suffering from inappropriate cellular proliferation is amenable to a treatment comprising administration of a modulator of PKM2 activity as the only PKM2 inhibitor and to treatment methods related thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a patient, a method of monitoring the course of pulmonary hypertension in a patient, a method of determining the severity of pulmonary hypertension in a patient, and a method of differentiating between pulmonary hypertension and at least one condition selected from a group consisting of a disease associated with a risk of developing pulmonary hypertension and metabolic syndrome. In addition, the present invention relates to a kit comprising means for carrying out the above methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aptamer comprising a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 or a fragment thereof of at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the aptamer comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety conjugated to the 5? or the 3? end. The invention further relates to a composition comprising the aptamer, and the use of the aptamer in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly hormone refractory prostate tumours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the neurological outcome of a patient after cardiac arrest, the method comprising the step(s) of: (I) a) determining the level of alpha-enolase in a biological sample obtained from a patient after cardiac arrest; and b) comparing the level of alpha-enolase obtained in (a) with the median or mean level of alpha-enolase in biological samples from patients with positive neurological outcome after cardiac arrest, wherein said patient is diagnosed as having a negative neurological outcome if the alpha-enolase level is increased by at least 100% over the median or mean level of alpha-enolase, and/or a positive neurological outcome if the alpha-enolase level is below 150% as compared to the median or mean level of alpha-enolase; or (II) determining the level of alpha-enolase in a biological sample obtained from a patient after cardiac arrest, wherein said patient is diagnosed as having a negative neurological outcome if the alpha-enolase level is above 50 ?g/L

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable valve (1) for a drainage system for discharging cerebrospinal fluid, comprising: a valve housing (10) extending along a valve axis (A), an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) as well as a valve housing (10) surrounding an interior space (4), a valve body assembly (600) arranged in the interior (4) and movably arranged in the interior space (4), a first valve seat (5), wherein the valve body assembly (600) is configured to abut the first valve seat (5) to close a flow connection between the inlet (2) and the interior space (4) of the valve housing (10), a second valve seat (7) which faces the first valve seat (5), wherein the valve body assembly (600) is configured to abut the second valve seat (7) to close a flow connection between the outlet (3) and the interior space (4) of the valve housing (10), and a spring device (800) arranged in the interior space (4) which exerts a spring force on the valve body assembly (600) in the direction of the first valve seat (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chipless RFID tag (T), comprising: —a dielectric substrate (1); and —electromagnetic resonators (3) excitable by an external electromagnetic field and respectively arranged on separate spatial locations of the dielectric substrate (1) forming a row, and configured to resonate at a common resonant frequency. The dielectric substrate (1) defines several predetermined encoding areas that include the separate spatial locations, so that data is encoded by the presence/absence of operative electromagnetic resonators (3) thereon. The present invention also relates to a system comprising the chipless RFID tag of the invention and a RFID reader (R) reading an encoded code by detecting the presence/absence of attenuation peaks on an electromagnetic wave providing the external electromagnetic field to the electromagnetic resonators (3). The present invention also relates to a method for encoding data on a chipless RFID tag defined according to the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of programming an analogue electronic neural network comprising a plurality of layers of somas. Any two consecutive layers of somas are connected by a matrix of synapses. The method comprises: applying test signals to inputs of the neural network; measuring at a plurality of measurement locations in the neural network responses of at least some somas and synapses to the test signals; extracting from the neural network, based on the responses, a first parameter set characterising the behaviour of the at least some somas; carrying out a training of the neural network by applying to a training algorithm the first parameter set and training data for obtaining a second parameter set; and programming the neural network by using the second parameter set. The invention also relates to the neural network and to a method of operating it.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of detecting and preventing infectious diseases caused by Enterococcus faecalis and/or Enterococcus faecium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement and a method for reading a capacitive vibratory gyroscope with an at least primary mass and at least one secondary mass that is connected to the primary mass, wherein the primary mass is excited to a primary vibration during operation, and wherein the secondary mass is deflected out of a resting position in a direction that is transversal to the primary vibration when the vibratory gyro-scope rotates around a sensitive axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor for use in the prevention or treatment of metastasis in a cancer patient defined by the presence of CTC clusters in the bloodstream. In certain embodiments the Na+/K+ ATPase is a cardiac glycoside and is selected from: digitoxin, ouabain, convallatoxin, proscillaridin, lanatoside C, gitoformate, peruvoside, strophanthidin, metildigoxin, deslanoside, bufalin, digoxin and digoxigenin. The invention further relates to the use of nucleic acid agents inhibiting the expression of genes related to CTC cluster formation and maintenance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally activatable adhesive composition for use in a method for producing a stack of metal sheets from glued together sheet metal components, the use of the adhesive composition in a method for producing a stack of metal sheets from glued together sheet metal components, the method for producing a stack of metal sheets from glued together sheet metal components, a sheet metal component coated with the adhesive composition, and a stator or rotor core containing one or more of such sheet metal components.

Abstract: An exemplary laser microscope can be provided, comprising at least one first laser source which emits at least one (e.g., pulsed) excitation beam, a scanning optical configuration (e.g., configured to scan the excitation beam over the surface of a sample), a focusing optical configuration (e.g., configured to focus the excitation beam onto the sample), and at least one detector configured to detect light emitted by the sample due to an optical effect in response to the excitation beam. A second laser source facilitates a pulsed ablation beam for a local ablation of the material of the sample. The ablation beam can be guided to the sample via the scanning and focusing optical configurations. The first and second laser sources can be fed by a mutual continuous wave pump laser and/or a mutual pulsed pump laser. The first laser source can emit pulses with at least two different wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods useful for the treatment and prevention of conditions associated with myocardial infarction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation within a subject's tissue by near-infrared spectroscopy is disclosed. Embodiments of the apparatus and method use the multi-distance method and take into account the attenuation of the light signal due to light absorbers other than hemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin and the scattering properties of a subject's tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ion guide for guiding an ion beam along an ion path, said ion guide having a longitudinal axis which corresponds to said ion path. Said ion guide comprises a plurality of electrode plates which are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, each electrode plate having an opening and being arranged such that said longitudinal axis extends through its respective opening, wherein said openings collectively define an ion guide volume. The ion guide extends or is configured to extend through a separation wall separating adjacent first and second pumping chambers. The ion guide has a first portion, in which gaps are formed between at least some of said electrode plates such that uncharged gas can escape from said ion guide volume, wherein said first portion is completely located in said first pumping chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for predicting the probability of a treatment response of a human cancer patient to an immune checkpoint blocker treatment e.g. with anti PD-1, and to methods for predicting the probability of survival of a human cancer patient following an immune checkpoint blocker treatment, and to apparatuses and kits which can be used in these methods.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus and method for determining transmission characteristics of an optical waveguide in which the receiving apparatus includes a waveguide interface for receiving a mixed light beam having a plurality of modes from a multi-mode optical waveguide and for receiving a blended shifted light beam from the multimode optical waveguide, wherein the mixed light beam has an associated phase for each mode of the plurality of modes, and wherein the mixed shifted light beam has an associated shifted phase for each mode of the plurality of modes; and one or more processors for determining mode information for the intermixed light beam and shifted mode information for the intermixed shifted light beam using a trained neural network and for determining, for each mode of the plurality of modes, the respective associated phase using the intermixed shifted light beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of plant extracts from the genus Daphne for the cosmetic treatment of the skin and to cosmetic preparations which comprise extracts of Daphne giraldii and/or Daphne gnidium or other members of the genus Daphne containing daphnetoxin and/or other daphnane diterpenoids for skin treatment. The plant extracts and cosmetic preparations are particularly useful for stimulation of the lymphatic system.

Abstract: A method for producing induced photoreceptor cells from an initial cell is provided, the method includes providing one or more transcription factors (TFs) including at least GON4L to the initial cell. In some versions, the initial cell is a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). In other embodiments the method includes providing the TFs OTX2 and/or NEUROD1 to the initial cell. Cells produced and obtainable by the method are also provided, the use of these cells as a medicament in the treatment of retinopathy, vectors for inducing the photoreceptor cells and combinations of transcription factors intended for this use.