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

Abstract: The invention provides inhibitors capable of binding to a member of the inflammasome group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B with a dissociation constant of 10-8 mol/l or smaller for the prevention and treatment of acne, specifically an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antibody-like molecule, an oligopeptide of 6 to 30 amino acid residues, a nucleic acid aptamer molecule of 10 to 75 nucleotides in length or a soluble polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least 30 amino acids comprised within the protein sequence of a member of the group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, IL-1 receptor type 2, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Similarly, an interfering RNA or an antisense modulator of gene expression of IL-1?, I L-1? receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B are provided for the prevention or treatment of acne.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an image or spectrum of a subject or object residing within the magnetic field of a magnetic resonance apparatus, comprises the steps of: executing a predetermined pulse sequence for applying gradient magnetic fields and for coupling in electromagnetic excitation pulses to induce nuclear magnetic resonance within the subject or object; detecting an electromagnetic signal resulting from said magnetic resonance; and constructing at least one image or magnetic resonance spectrum of said subject or object from said detected electromagnetic signal. According to the invention, said coupling in of the electromagnetic excitation pulse and/or said detecting of the electromagnetic signal are carried out substantially by means of travelling electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: A miR-323-3p inhibitor is provided for the prevention or therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, comprising a sequence capable of forming a hybrid to miR-323-3p as an oligonucleotide or a vector from which such oligonucleotide is transcribed, or as a miRNA decoy or sponge.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method for the detection of FeLV infection in a patient, wherein a sample obtained from the patient is contacted in-vitro with a recombinant transmembrane p15E protein in a p15 (E) antibody binding step.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a private-public key pair, for encrypting a message for transmission through an unsecure communication medium (30), and for decrypting the message are disclosed. The methods are based on the well-known McEliece cryptosystem or on its Niederreiter variant. More general transformation matrices Q are used in place of permutation matrices, possibly together with an appropriate selection of the intentional error vectors. The transformation matrices Q are non-singular n×n matrices having the form Q=R+T, where the matrix R is a rank-z matrix and the matrix T is some other matrix rendering Q non-singular. The new Q matrices, though at least potentially being dense, have a limited propagation effect on the intentional error vectors for the authorized receiver. The use of this kind of matrices allows to better disguise the private key into the public one, without yielding any further error propagation effect.

Abstract: Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Acute complications of Sickle cell anemia are treated symptomatically with analgesics and transfusions, and a prophylactic treatment of sickle cell crisis is long term application of hydroxyurea. According to the present invention, an N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) blocker is used for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and for manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. Moreover, a method for screening for a compound effective in the treatment of sickle cell anemia comprises contacting a candidate compound with the NMDAR and selecting said candidate compound as effective if it is found to selectively reduce activity of the NMDAR.

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

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: 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.

Abstract: Template-fixed ?-hairpin mimetics and libraries including a plurality of these mimetics are provided. The template-fixed ?-hairpin mimetics are of the following general formula: R1-Cys-Z-Cys-R2??I wherein the two cysteine residues are bridged by a disulfide bond, thereby forming a cyclic peptide; R1 and R2 are di- or tripeptide moieties of certain types, as defined herein; and Z is a chain of n amino acid residues with n being an integer from 4 to 20 and with each of these n amino acid residues being, independently, derived from any naturally occurring L-?-amino acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular supporting prosthesis capable of growing, comprising a mesh structure, wherein the mesh structure comprises at least two structural rings, which are connected to each other via connecting members and are disposed point-symmetrically about the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis, wherein the structural rings and/or the connecting members have at least one predetermined breaking point.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genetically-modified non-human animal whose somatic and germ cells contain an exogenous gene encoding a recombinant fusion protein, wherein the presence, and expression, of said recombinant fusion protein renders said genetically-modified non-human animal sterile. Tools for generating such sterile genetically-modified non-human animal as well as methods of use thereof are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular supporting prosthesis, comprising two terminal regions relative to the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis and a center region disposed between the two terminal regions, wherein every terminal region is provided with a mesh structure made of at least two structural rings, which are connected to each other via connecting members and are disposed point-symmetrically about the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis. The center region is formed by elongated connecting members, which are connected to the structural rings respectively disposed adjacent to the center of the longitudinal supporting prosthesis axis. An aortic valve, which is produced by means of tissue engineering, is fastened and/or integrated in the center region.

Abstract: A method of delivering a radioactive liquid, includes, performing an initialization, including; extracting at least a first amount of a radioactive liquid from a source of radioactive liquid, measuring a radioactivity level for the first amount of radioactive liquid, and performing a calibration phase. The calibration phase includes, extracting a second amount of radioactive liquid from the source of radioactive liquid wherein the second amount is calculated based on the radioactivity level of the first amount to provide a total dose of radioactive liquid having a predetermined radioactivity level, and delivering the total dose and performing at least one more calibration and delivery phases.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for evaluating an input polynomial (p(x)) in a (possibly trivial) extension of the finite field of its coefficients, which are useful in applications such as syndrome evaluation in the decoding of cyclic codes. The apparatus comprises a decomposition/evaluation module (110) configured to iteratively decompose the input polynomial into sums of powers of the variable x, multiplied by powers of transformed polynomials, wherein each transformed polynomial has a reduced degree as compared to the input polynomial, and to evaluate the decomposed input polynomial. In another aspect, an apparatus and method of identifying errors in a data string based in a cyclic code are disclosed, which employ the Cantor-Zassenhaus algorithm for finding the roots of the error-locator polynomial, and which employ Shank's algorithm for computing the error locations from these roots.

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.

Abstract: A hopper having a passage through which a medicine can be passed downward is provided. A part of a lower portion of the hopper is a deformable portion having flexibility, and the deformable portion is deformable so as to open and close the passage. According to this configuration, the deformable portion that is a part of the hopper is deformed to open and close the passage. Thus, there is no portion such as an opening and closing plate on which the medicine remains, thereby preventing a gap in which the medicine remains from being formed in the hopper, and preventing the medicine from easily remaining in the hopper.