Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position and orientation of first and second rigid bodies in relation to each other. The apparatus includes a light source mounted to the first rigid body, an image sensor mounted to either the first or second rigid body and positioned in a field of light, a shadow mask mounted to either the first or second rigid body and arranged in the field of light, and a computation unit configured to calculate at least one angle by evaluating a shadow image which passes the shadow mask and is detected by the image sensor. The apparatus may include a mechanical constraint mounted to the first and second rigid bodies that defines a fixed distance between the first and second rigid bodies, is stationary in relation to one of the first or second rigid body, and is variably inclinable in relation to the other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a composition as a fungicide, wherein said composition comprises at least one compound of formula (I) or formula (II) wherein wherein R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently of each other H, OH or OCH3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample holder (1) for holding a sample, particularly for use with an atomic force microscope.

Abstract: The invention relates to a core biopsy needle (1) for obtaining a tissue sample comprising a hollow outer needle (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (L), and an inner needle (20), which is at least partially arranged or arrangeable within said outer needle along said longitudinal axis (L), wherein said inner needle (20) comprises at least one tissue-holding surface (21), wherein said tissue-holding surface (21) is adapted such that a tissue (3) adheres to the at least one tissue-holding surface (21), when the core biopsy needle (1) is inserted into the tissue (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to carbohydrate ligands presenting the minimal Human Natural Killer-1 (HNK-1) epitope that bind to anti-MAG (myelin-associated glycoprotein) IgM antibodies, and their use in diagnosis as well as for the treatment of anti-MAG neuropathy. In particular, the invention relates to disaccharides of formula (I) and (II) wherein Z is optionally substituted phenyl, heteroaryl, arylcarbonyl, or heteroarylmethyl, and to therapeutically acceptable polymers comprising a multitude of substitutents of formula (I) and/or formula (II), wherein Z is a bifunctional linker connecting the disaccharides to the polymer backbone.

Abstract: A computer-implemented image processing method, system, and computer program product for representation of static objects in a digital target image including a plurality of target pixels. The method includes at least receiving a plurality of digital source images of the static objects, computing diffuse components for target pixels of surface elements by computing for each target pixel of the surface elements a set of diffuse reflection coefficients from a best-fit function when fitted into reflected light intensity values of corresponding source pixels of the source images under different illumination angles, generating normal vectors for the target pixels by using the computed diffuse reflection coefficients, and determining glossy coefficients for the target pixels of the one or more surface elements as the distances between the corresponding best-fit function values and the reflected light intensity values of the corresponding source pixels for the different illumination angles.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3k), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and PI3k-related kinase (PIKKs) inhibitor compounds of formula (I), wherein X1, X2 and X3 are N or CH, with the proviso that at least two of X1, X2 and X3 are N; Y is N or CH, These compounds are useful, either alone or in combination with further therapeutic agents, for treating disorders mediated by lipid kinases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device and a method for determining mass and/or mechanical properties of a biological system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a top-cover for a controlled environmental system (CES) for use with a measurement technique that requires introducing a probe to a sample placed on a sample holder, a CES and a procedure to control the environment for a sample in a system in particular a CES during a measurement with a probe based technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of isolating a T cell that expresses a T cell receptor capable of binding specifically to an antigen presented by a cancer cell in association with an MR1 molecule. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a preparation of T cells, (b) contacting the preparation with cancer cells expressing MR1 protein; (c) isolating a T cell that is specifically reactive to said cancer cells. The invention further relates to a method of preparing a T cell preparation expressing select MR1 recognizing T cell receptors from transgene expression vectors, the use of such T cell preparations in treatment of cancer, and to collections of MR1 reactive T cell receptor encoding nucleic acids and cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a HLA-B57 open conformer or a HLA-B57 Fc fusion protein for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer. The Fc open conformer comprises or consists of a first and a second monomer, and each monomer comprises a HLA-B57 chain. The Fc fusion protein further comprises a protein stabilizing polypeptide sequence and optionally an amino acid linker. Further aspects of the invention provide combination medicaments comprising the HLA-B57 Fc open conformer and immune checkpoint inhibitors and/or checkpoint agonist agents. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of HLA-B57 open conformer as an immunomodulator, particularly in diseases where modulation of diverse immune cell components (e.g. cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, Tregs) is a therapeutic strategy, e.g. infectious diseases.

Abstract: Method for preparing a sample, wherein the sample is provided as a thin film on a support structure; the temperature of the support structure is adjusted to a value above the dew point temperature of the environment to decrease the film thickness, light is directed at the support structure, an intensity value of the transmitted light is measured, and the support structure is automatically inserted into a liquid cryogen dependent on the measured intensity value. The application further relates to a system comprising a support structure, a temperature-controlled stage for keeping the support structure at a pre-defined temperature, a transfer mechanism for moving the support structure into a container containing a liquid cryogen, a light source, a photodetector for measuring an intensity value of the transmitted light, and a control device for triggering the transfer mechanism dependent on the measured intensity value.

Abstract: The invention relates to MHC-Ia open conformers as immunomodulatory agents, particularly in the treatment or prevention of cancer. The open conformer comprises or consists of a first and a second monomer, and each monomer comprises a HLA-heavy chain from the MHC-Ia molecules. The open conformer further comprises a protein stabilizing polypeptide sequence and optionally an amino acid linker. Further aspects of the invention provide combination medicaments comprising the MHC-Ia open conformers and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of MHC-Ia open conformers as immunomodulators, particularly in diseases where the interaction to diverse immunoregulatory receptors such as KIR3DL1, KIR3DL2, KIR3DL3, LILRB1, LILRB2, and PTPRJ modulates an immune response, and in diseases were the negative modulation of Tregs is a therapeutic strategy, e.g. infectious diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solid oral pharmaceutical dosage forms that provide extended release of active ingredients and have abuse deterrent properties and the methods of making the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to solid oral extended release abuse deterrent dosage forms comprising at least one polycaprolactone (PCL) and at least one gelling agent.

Abstract: A method for the mobilization of a transposable element is provided. The method comprises the steps of a) providing an inhibitor of DNA methylation, and/or an inhibitor of transcription, and b) contacting the inhibitor(s) with a cell comprising inactivated transposable elements, yielding a cell with mobilized transposable elements. In a second aspect of the invention a method for increasing the genetic and/or epigenetic variation in a plurality of eukaryotic organisms is provided. The method comprises the steps of i. providing an inhibitor of DNA methylation and/or an inhibitor of transcription, ii. contacting the organism with the inhibitor(s) and iii. propagating the organism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for classifying a tissue sample obtained from mammary carcinoma. The method comprises determining a stiffness value for each of a plurality of points on said tissue sample, resulting in a stiffness distribution, and assigning said sample to a breast cancer subtype and nodal status based on said stiffness distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to carbohydrate ligands and moieties, respectively, mimicking glycoepitopes comprised by glycosphingolipids of the nervous system, particularly glycoepitopes comprised by glycosphingolipids of the cerebroside, the globoside-, the ganglioside- and the sulfoglucuronyl paragloboside type, which are bound by anti-glycan antibodies associated with neurological diseases. The invention further relates to the use of these carbohydrate ligands/moieties, in diagnosis as well as for the treatment of neurological diseases associated with anti-glycan antibodies. In particular, the invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and (II) and to therapeutically acceptable polymers comprising a multitude of these compounds, including polymers with loading of one compound of formula (I) or (II) or combinations of several compounds of formula (I), and/or (II).

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation system for preparing a sample for electron microscopy, comprising:—a liquid handling system (0) comprising a dispensing head (1), wherein said liquid handling system (0) is configured to aspirate and dispense a volume of a sample via the dispensing head (1),—a support structure (2) that is configured to accommodate the sample, a temperature-controlled stage (4) that is configured to keep said support structure (2) at a pre-defined temperature when the support structure (2) is arranged on the temperature-controlled stage (4), a first adapter (3) configured to hold said support structure (2), a transfer mechanism (60) that is configured to be connected to the first adapter (3) holding the support structure (2) and to move said support structure (2) into a container (8) containing a liquid cryogen (80) so that the sample on the support structure (2) contacts the cryogen (80). Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method.

Abstract: A device for sensing a microwave magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+) of a microwave relative to a static magnetic field B0, comprising a preparation means to prepare atomic vapor (10) comprising thermal atoms in a first hyperfine state, particularly a dark state to applied laser light, which first hyperfine state is split from other hyperfine state due to zero-field hyperfine splitting and/or due to a static magnetic field (B0) generated by preparation means, at least one cell enclosing the thermal atoms (10), the microwave is adapted to drive Rabi oscillations of thermal atoms between first hyperfine state and second hyperfine state, Rabi frequency of Rabi oscillations being proportional to magnetic field polarization component (B?, B?, B+) of the microwave, and imaging means to capture state image of plurality of atoms representing spatial atomic density distribution (Ne) as a function of the Rabi frequency (?i(r)) of Rabi oscillations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a HLA-B27 Fc open conformer or a HLA-B27 Fc fusion protein for use in the treatment or prevention of cancer. The Fc open conformer comprises or consists of a first and a second monomer, and each monomer comprises a HLA-B27 chain. The Fc fusion protein further comprises a protein stabilizing polypeptide sequence and optionally an amino acid linker. Further aspects of the invention provide combination medicaments comprising the HLA-B27 Fc open conformer and immune checkpoint inhibitors.