Abstract: The present invention is based on two important experimental observations: The first observation is that increased extracellular concentrations of ionized calcium are found in erosive arthritis and stimulate monocytic IL-1? release via the CaSR and GPRC6A. Simultaneous stimulation of monocytes with calcium ions and selected TLR ligands results in a 20-fold increased IL1? response compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone. During the crosstalk between GPCR and TLR signaling, phospholipase C is activated, which triggers calcium dependent potassium channels, resulting in potassium efflux, caspase-1 activation and IL-1? release. The amplification of IL1? secretion at sites of locally increased calcium ion concentrations aggravates rheumatoid arthritis. The second important observation is that both CaSR and GPRC6A, are highly expressed in the synovial membrane of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but expression of GPRC6A, but not of CaSR, is lower in patients with osteoarthritis (s. FIG. 1).

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: Monomeric eqFP611 variants exhibit red fluorescent properties and DNA encoding monomeric eqFP611 variants.

Abstract: An interband cascade laser amplifier medium having an amplifier region (V) comprising a hole quantum film (1) comprising a first semiconductor material and an electron quantum film (2) comprising a second semiconductor material, an electron collector region (K) comprising at least one collector quantum film (4) comprising a third semiconductor material and separated by a first barrier layer (3), and an electron injector region (I) following the latter and comprising at least one injector quantum film (5) comprising a fourth semiconductor material and separated by a second barrier layer (3). The first semiconductor material of the hole quantum film (1) is a III-V compound semiconductor comprising at least four elements, at least two of the elements selected from Ga, In and Al, and at least two of the elements selected from As, Sb, P and N. The amplifier medium exhibits an efficient laser emission at wavelengths above 2.5 ?m.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or their stereoisomers or mixtures of stereoisomers, where: R1 is selected from the group consisting of: phenyl, and phenyl mono-, di-, or tri-substituted by a radical independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, (C1-C6)-alkyl, COO—(C1-C6)-alkyl, and (C1-C6)-alkoxy; and R2 is a radical selected from the same group as R1, further including a phenyl substituted in 4-position by a radical independently selected from the group consisting of —O(CH2)CONH(CH2)3CH3 and OCH2COOC(CH3)3, a biphenyl-4-yl, thiazol-2-yl, and a thiazol-2-yl mono- or di-substituted by a radical selected from F and phenyl; inhibit cell proliferation of tumor cells independently of p53 protein and may also induce apoptosis in several tumor cells independently of p53 protein, being useful for the treatment of several types of cancer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a peptide comprising or consisting of at least 8 consecutive amino acid residues of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, provided that said peptide does not consist of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, or a corresponding peptidomimetic, wherein said peptide or peptidomimetic binds to an anti-KIR4.1 antibody comprised in a sample from a patient, said patient having multiple sclerosis or a predisposition therefor, wherein preferably (i) said at least 8 consecutive amino acid residues are a subsequence of an extracellular domain of KIR4.1, said extracellular domain consisting of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2; or (ii) said peptide comprises or consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for diagnosing multiple sclerosis or a predisposition for multiple sclerosis in a subject, the method comprising determining the presence of an anti-KIR4.

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 concerns antibodies or fragments thereof that are directed against a Staphylococcus aureus epitope.

Abstract: A slit m is projected onto an object surface in which reference point X1 is in a horizontal axis x closest to best in focus position P. One image of a field of view area F is acquired after reflection of light comprising said reference point X1. Position Z1 of the object in a vertical axis z is determined. Images of respective field of view areas F are acquired after reflection of light having reference points X2, X3 . . . Xn by simultaneously moving the object along axis z to maintain reference points X2, X3 . . . Xn closest to best in focus position P. Positions Z2, Z3 . . . Zn in which images were acquired are determined. The best in focus position P along horizontal axis x is determined for each image. A correction differential ?1, ?2 . . . ?n between best in focus position P and reference points X1, X2 . . . Xn is calculated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific beta-lactone compounds and compositions thereof for the treatment of infections, such as, e.g., infections with bacteria or infections with protozoa, in particular infections with Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria and of infectious diseases caused by or related to Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria, and to the modulation of virulence of Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria or of protozoa by specific beta-lactone compounds. The invention further relates to the use of the compounds or compositions for preventing or eliminating biofilms.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting damage to silicone implants. In an embodiment, the method includes taking at least two computed tomography recordings at different X-ray spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation and reconstruction thereof. A data point is determined in a diagram for each voxel of interest, the X-ray attenuation values for different X-ray energies being plotted against one another; The data point, or another value for each voxel of interest determined from the X-ray attenuation values, is compared to known data points or values of body tissue and/or of silicone, and a note or warning is output if the data point or other value deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by at least a first threshold value and/or in the event of simultaneous approximation to the known data point or value for silicone by less than a second threshold value.

Abstract: A device for measuring yaw rate, having a mechanical yaw rate sensor, which has an inert mass that can be set into a primary vibration along a primary axis by means of an excitation device and can be deflected along a secondary axis extending transversely with respect to the primary axis so that when a yaw rate occurs about a sensitive axis extending transversely with respect to the primary and to the secondary axis, said device carries out a secondary vibration excited by the Coriolis force. A sensor element detects an amplitude-modulated signal for the secondary vibration. A sigma-delta modulator has a low pass filter connected to the sensor element, a quantizer and a secondary actuator disposed in a feedback path for applying a force which counteracts the Coriolis force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds according to general formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds according to general formula (I) and the use of the compounds for the treatment of a bacterial infection, particularly for use as an antibiotic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for diagnosing and/or monitoring in a subject a gastrointestinal stromal tumor or a predisposition to develop a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, comprising detecting and/or analyzing in a test sample derived from the subject one or more mutations at the DNA level in any one or both of the marker genes cKIT (GenBank acc. no. NM_000222.2) and PDGFRA (GenBank acc. no. NM_006206.4), wherein the DNA is circulating DNA, and wherein the presence of any one of the mutations detected in the test sample is indicative of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor or a predisposition to develop a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the subject.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for coherent multi-dimensional optical spectroscopy employs a beam splitter for splitting a base light pulse into at least first to fourth light pulses, three of which are suitable for interaction with a sample, lens system focuses the first to fourth light pulses at a sample site, and an optical delay varies the arrival times of the first to fourth light pulses at the sample. A detector detects an interference signal. The beam splitter is a non-diffractive optical element. The light pulses, at least along part of their light paths, are guided pairwisely such that changes in the optical path length due to vibration of the beam splitter or due to the delay element are identical for each pair of pulses, where the pulse pairs compensate for any change in the interference signal due to a change of the arrival times of the pair of pulses.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for classifying a video sequence (VS), characterized by the steps of analyzing the video sequence using a plurality of genre-specific detector modules (M1-M5), each genre-specific detector module providing a probability value (P1-P5) indicating the probability that the video sequence belongs to the genre assigned to the genre-specific detector module; and analyzing the probability values of the plurality of genre-specific detector modules using a combiner (CM) which analyzes said probability values and generates a classification signal (SC) classifying the video sequence as belonging to a specific genre (g).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluorescent dye of general formula I or II wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic, functionally substituted, or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, wherein at least one of the R1 or R2 radicals and one of the R3 or R4 radicals is not hydrogen and the R1 and R3 radicals and/or R2 and R4 radicals in formula I can be bridged to each other, and X and Y independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C1 or C2 hydrocarbon radical wherein any one carbon unit can be replaced by an N or S heteroatom. The dye is remarkable for its high fluorescence intensity and large Stokes shift in combination with a long fluorescence lifetime.

Abstract: An electromechanical energy converter for generating electric energy from mechanical vibrations has a bending bar clamped to a holder that can be set in vibration and elastically deflected at an end area along a path curve from a neutral position transversely to the longitudinal extension of the bending bar. A deflectable point on the bending bar is connected to the mount via a deflectable bridge part extending along the bending bar for applying to the bending bar a mechanical prestress oriented substantially in the direction of longitudinal extension of the bending bar. The bending bar has a drive connection to at least one electromechanical converter element for converting mechanical vibration energy into electric energy. The bridge part is arranged outside of the bending bar such that when the bending bar is deflected out of the neutral position, the bending bar and the bridge part extend along lines having different courses.

Abstract: A tent or covering with a pyramid-shaped structure, with an inner dark-coloured sheet and an outer transparent sheet, installed on a supporting base anchored to the ground or on floats on the surface of the sea, wherein in the apex of the pyramid there are included vaporizers with micronebulisers for nebulising the water to be treated, a device for capturing humid air through a continuous or sectioned condensation column and for subsoil distillation and heat dissipation in the smaller, water-collecting tank and recirculation of the air devoid of humidity into the enclosure. In addition, it includes a computerised control system of the processes includes controls of the air and nebulised water flow rates and of the working regime of the facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixed-dose association of phytate and zinc in synergic proportions for use in the treatment of crystallization of hydroxyapatite. Advantageously, said association is in a molar ratio between the phytate and the zinc exceeding 4:1. The invention also relates to the use of said association for manufacturing a drug for the treatment, prophylaxis and/or prevention crystallization of hydroxyapatite in humans.