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: In a sensor system and a corresponding method for image capture of an object, an imaging sensor is arranged in a recording area of an optical sensor, the recording area being defined for the object, in such a way as to be essentially stationary relative to said object. By means of an evaluation unit, relative movements between the imaging sensor and the object can be derived from the recorded image data of the optical sensor, and a three-dimensional object image can be reconstructed from the imaging data as a function of the relative movements. When determining the relative movements, it is in particular possible as well to detect relative movements caused by the object's own motion which can be taken into account when reconstructing the object image. As a result, a high image quality of the object image is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve for controlling a flow of a fluid through a fluid channel, comprising a tube of flexible material in which a section of a fluid channel is formed, a valve component assigned to the tube, a squeeze element, which is formed and configured on the valve component by pressing against an outside surface of the tube to control a flow of a fluid through the fluid channel, optionally up to the closing of the fluid channel, a guide section, which is formed on the valve component, and a guide assigned to the valve component, which cooperates with the guide section in a relative movement of the guide and valve components relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the tube, such that the squeeze element is displaced in the relative movement, changing the pressure on the outside surface of the tube and thus changing the flow through the fluid channel.

Abstract: It is applied to bifocal, multifocal or progressive intraocular lenses or contact lenses, multifocal corneal ablation or other multifocal configurations, comprising means for projecting the image of a point light source on the retina of a patient and an assembly for directly recording the light reflected in said retina after the double passage of the light through the ocular means, integrating a first focus corrector device inserted in the path of the light beam guided towards the retina and a second focus correction device inserted in the light beam reflected from the retina, to be guided towards the mentioned recording means, each of said focus correction devices having independent control means for controlling the operation thereof.

Abstract: A sensor system is located in an environment composed of a first medium, where waves propagate with a first phase velocity, the sensor system including at least one main enclosure and a sensor array with at least two sensors, said sensor array being arranged inside the main enclosure, wherein the space inside the main enclosure between the sensor array and the inner surface of the main enclosure is filled with a second medium, in which waves propagate with a second phase velocity, the second phase velocity being different from the first velocity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising specific compounds which may be obtained from Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Edelweiss). A preferred compound is leoligin (=(2S,3R,4R)-4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) -2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)tetrahydrofuran-3-yl]methyl(2Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoat]). Corresponding means and methods in respect of medical uses of the compounds are described. The present invention also provides a medical device comprising, containing or having been contacted with the compound. The compounds provided herein may particularly be used in the treatment of hyperplastic diseases, in particular intimal hyperplasia, e.g. stenosis, restenosis, atherosclerosis and the like. Also envisaged herein is the use of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as leukemia, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Abstract: An apparatus for impedance matching of an electrical load to a generator has input connections for connection to the generator and output connections for connection to the load. The apparatus has a converter which connects the input connections to the output connections. An input voltage which is applied between the input connections can be converted into an output voltage. The converter has energy storage means connected to one of the output connections by an active diode, a controllable switching device, and an actuation device. The switching device can be moved to a first and a second switching state so that energy from the generator is stored in the energy storage means in the first switching state. Energy which is stored can be output to the load in the second switching state. A detector is connected to the input connections for detecting a measurement signal for the impedance matching. The actuation device has an activation signal and can be moved to a first and a second operating state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (1) for the online-detection of a deterioration in the state of an insulation in an electric machine (2). A stepped voltage is applied to the winding(s) (3) of the machine (2) with the aid of a converter (41), and the current (i) induced in this manner, and/or the time derivative (di/dt) thereof, is acquired as a measurement signal with the aid of at least one sensor (6, 7, 8) and is then oversampled with a frequency higher than the frequencies characteristic for settling. The signal obtained by said oversampling is then evaluated with regard to parameters of the settling process such as overshooting (Ah) and/or natural frequency (1/?T) and/or a damping constant, in order to detect any deterioration in the insulation.

Abstract: In a method for producing a whey protein hydrolysate, a whey substrate, selected from the group consisting of whey, commercially available whey powder, whey protein isolate, whey protein preparations, and ?-Lactalbumin obtained from whey, is enzymatically hydrolyzing at least with alcalase and trypsin as enzymes at a ratio of g enzymes/g whey substrate between 1:10 and 1:10,000 and at a temperature of between 30° C. and 70° C. within an incubation period of between 18 hours and 30 hours, until a hydrolysis degree of more than 50% of the protein of the whey substrate have a molecular weight of less than 4 kDa. The enzymes are inactivated by heating the enzymes to a temperature of 80° C. to 100° C. after the desired hydrolysis degree has been reached.

Abstract: A method for automated decision making includes using situated agents with real time reactivity skills for making decisions according to their individual perceptions and motivations, and further includes integrating into the situated agents one or more pre-established plans by using a model representing sequences of causally related events for supporting the decision making to fulfil coordinately the one or more pre-established plans.

Abstract: What is described is an actuator system (2) comprising at least one actuator (29, 29?) and an associated control system (8) which is designed for at least two operating modes, at least one of which may be deactivated, whereby one of the operating modes is a high efficiency operating mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides polymer aggregates as delivery vehicles for therapeutics and diagnostics. The present invention additionally provides methods of synthesis and uses for such aggregates.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 1, (b) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a peptide having an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID: NO 2, (c) a nucleic acid molecule whose complementary strand hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to (a) or (b) and which codes for a peptide which binds to ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR), the peptide binding with lower affinity than ciliary neurotrophic factor to the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), (d) a nucleic acid molecule whose nucleotide sequence differs from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to (c) due to the degenerated genetic code, the codon at positions 82-84 of the nucleic acid molecule according to (a) coding for a non-positively charged amino acid, and the peptide at position 28 shown in SEQ ID: NO 2 having a non-positively charged amino acid residue.

Abstract: Described is a vaccine for prevention and treatment of cancer characterized by microsatellite instability (MSI). The vaccine contains an MSI-specific frameshift peptide (FSP) generating humoral and cellular responses against tumor cells or a nucleic acid encoding said FSP. The vaccine of the present invention is particularly useful for the prevention/treatment of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, gastric cancer or small bowel cancer.

Abstract: Described are particular fragments of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16 capable of increasing IFN-? secretion of T cells or inducing proliferation of T cells and the use of said fragments for immunizing an individual against HPV-associated or other p16INK4a expressing carcinomas, preferably advanced carcinomas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a tissue biopsy sample obtained from a tumor, comprising determining a plurality of stiffness values for said sample by measuring a plurality of points on the sample with a spatial resolution of at least 100 ?m and assigning the sample to a probability of malignancy. A sample showing a unimodal stiffness distribution is assigned to a high probability of being non-malignant, and a sample showing an at least bimodal stiffness distribution is assigned to a high probability of being malignant, wherein said stiffness distribution is characterized by a first peak exhibiting an at least two-fold higher stiffness value than a second peak. The present invention further relates to a system for classifying a tumor tissue biopsy sample.

Abstract: A method of equalizing a signal received over transmission channel defined by BEM coefficients of a basis expansion model of its channel taps, comprising the step of approximately solving the relation (I) for x[n] by an iterative method, n being the index of time, y[n] being the received signal, x[n] being the equalized signal, Bm[n] being the mth basis function of the basis expansion model, M being the model order of the basis expansion model, and blm being the BEM coefficient of the mth of the basis function of the lth channel tap, and w[n] being optional noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for diagnosing bone disorders and/or cardiovascular disorders in a subject, by contacting a biological sample from the subject with (a) a nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes to miR-31 or its 5 or 3? isoforms or variants, or (b) an agent that binds to miR-31 or its 5? or 3? isoforms or variants; detecting and evaluating the hybridization signal of the nucleic acid molecule or agent with a polynucleotide or said miR-31 or its 5? or 3? isoforms or variants; and comparing the detected and evaluated hybridization or binding signal with that of a control sample, wherein a stronger hybridization signal or a stronger binding signal in the sample of the subject compared to that of the control sample is indicative for a risk of developing or having a bone disorder and/or cardiovascular disorder

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmitting device for producing an analog-modulated pulse train and for emitting the same, comprising a pulse generator, with which a pulse train with an individual pulse form can be produced such that the pulse train falls in a predefined frequency band and/or into a predefined frequency mask, a modulation unit connected to the pulse generator and with which a pulse train can be analog-modulated by means of a predefined modulation scheme with respect to the amplitude thereof and/or the position of the individual pulses thereof, and an emitting unit, in particular an antenna, connected to the pulse generator and/or to the modulation unit and suitable for emitting in the predefined frequency band and/or in the frequency range of the predefined frequency mask, with which emitting unit the analog-modulated pulse train can be emitted, in particular beamed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermoplastic paste with a highly thixotropic rheology, the components of which are a block biopolymer and a bioceramic. The material described herein can be used in bone implants and in the regeneration of both animal and plant live tissues.