Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for determining the concentration of a free beta-lactam antibiotic in a biological sample. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for measuring a free beta-lactam antibiotic in a biological sample, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one class C beta-lactamase, a functional fragment or variant thereof; (b) providing at least one biological sample; (c) contacting said at least one class C beta-lactamase with said at least one biological sample; and (d) determining the concentration of said free beta-lactam antibiotic in said at least one biological sample.

Abstract: A compound useful for treating subjects in need of therapy involving sigma receptors or for alleviation of affects resulting from drug abuse having the general formula I in which R1 can be a radical of an optionally substituted C-4 to C-7 N-containing heterocycle such as, for example, radicals of optionally substituted piperidines, optionally substituted piperazines, optionally substituted tetrahydropyridines, optionally substituted azepanes, tertiary amines (cyclic or acyclic), isoindoline-1,3-dione, or optionally substituted tetrahydroisoquinolones (aromatically substituted): R2,3,4,5,6 can each independently be any one or combinations of the following moieties, cyano, nitro, acyl, alkyl, amido, azido, isothiocyanate, isocyanate optionally substituted anilino, halogens, ethers, sulfonamides, thioacyl, nitro, aromatic, heterocyclic, olefinic, acetylene, deuterium, or tritium; Y can be either CH, CH2, O, S, OCH2, N—R, N—Ar, C—R, C—Ar; Z can be either H, O, S, S—R or NR.

Abstract: A method of conducting in vitro toxicity testing is disclosed which includes the steps of exposing to a test agent a population of human liver progenitor or stem cells originated from human adult liver. The cells have the characteristics that the isolated human progenitor or stem cells express at least the mesenchymal markers vimentin and ?-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), the hepatocyte marker albumin (ALB), are negative for cytokeratin-19 (CK-19), and have mesenchymal-like morphology. One or more effects, if any, of the test agent on the population of human liver progenitor or stem cells are observed. Also disclosed are methods of conducting in vitro drug metabolism studies by exposing to a test agent a population of the human liver progenitor or stem cells and methods of testing infected human liver progenitor or stem cells for effects of a test agent.

Abstract: A process for metathesis of olefins, bringing olefins into contact with a catalyst activated by heating to a temperature in the range 100° C. to 1000° C. in an atmosphere of non-reducing gas, the catalyst containing at least one inorganic material having at least two elementary spherical particles, each of which are metal oxide particles with a size of at most 300 nm and containing at least one of tungsten, molybdenum, rhenium, cobalt, tin, ruthenium, iron or titanium, alone or a mixture, the metal oxide particles being present within a mesostructured matrix of an oxide of at least one element Y: silicon, aluminium, titanium, tungsten, zirconium, gallium, germanium, tin, antimony, lead, vanadium, iron, manganese, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, yttrium, cerium, gadolinium, europium or neodymium or a mixture thereof, the matrix having pore size 1.5 to 50 nm and amorphous walls with thickness 1 to 30 nm and maximum diameter of 200 ?m.

Abstract: A method of carrying out Suzuki-Miyaura CC-coupling reactions, includes reacting an aryl halide with an aryl boronic acid in an organic solvent in the presence of an oxide supported palladium catalyst and a base, characterized in that the base is added in the form of an aqueous solution with a constant flow rate within a predetermined period of time at the beginning of the reaction.

Abstract: A method of conducting in vitro toxicity testing is disclosed which includes the steps of exposing to a test agent a population of human liver progenitor or stem cells originated from human adult liver. The cells have the characteristics that the isolated human progenitor or stem cells express at least the mesenchymal markers vimentin and ?-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), the hepatocyte marker albumin (ALB), are negative for cytokeratin-19 (CK-19), and have mesenchymal-like morphology. One or more effects, if any, of the test agent on the population of human liver progenitor or stem cells are observed. Also disclosed are methods of conducting in vitro drug metabolism studies by exposing to a test agent a population of the human liver progenitor or stem cells and methods of testing infected human liver progenitor or stem cells for effects of a test agent.

Abstract: Compounds having the general formula II, III, or IV wherein R1 can be a radical of an optionally substituted C-4 to C-7 N-containing heterocycle or a radical of an optionally substituted cyclic or acyclic tertiary amine or isoindoline-1,3-dione: R2,3,4,5,6 can each independently be any one or combinations of the following moieties, cyano, nitro, acyl, alkyl, amido, azido, isothiocyanate, isocyanate, optionally substituted anilino, halogens, ethers, sulfonamides, thioacyl, nitro, aromatic, heterocyclic, olefinic, acetylene, deuterium, or tritium; Y can be either CH, CH2, O, S, OCH2, N—R, N—Ar, C—R, C—Ar; Z can be either H, O, S, S—R or NR.

Abstract: Isolated liver progenitor stem cells and cell populations of isolated liver progenitor stem cells are disclosed. The progenitor stem cells originate from adult liver, especially human adult liver. The isolated progenitor stem cells have uses in medicine, hepatology, inborn errors of liver metabolism transplantation, infectious diseases and liver failure. Methods of isolating these cells and their culture is described. The isolated cells are characterized before and after differentiation. Their use for transplantation and as animal models of human disease, toxicology and pharmacology is disclosed.

Abstract: The method of the invention comprises the following steps: positioning a field source (40) at at least one first distance from a target volume (10); positioning a field receiver (50) at at least one second distance from same target volume (10); for each couple of first and second distance, determining a measured signal Smes and a simulated signal Ssim; determining values of physical parameters of same target volume (10) by minimizing a function depending on the measured Smes and simulated signals Ssim. The method of the invention is characterized in that when determining a simulated signal Ssim, specific global reflection coefficients and receiver-receiver functions are introduced in feedback loops.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified pig islet capable of producing higher levels of glucagon than a native pig islet or capable of producing a glucagon analog, and methods for obtaining thereof. The invention also relates to a method for treating Diabetes Mellitus, and/or for regulating blood glucose levels in a subject in need thereof, comprising the administration of the modified pig islets of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell transplantation. In particular, the present invention provides a composition comprising procoagulant cells and at least one antithrombin activator, preferably unfractionated heparin, as well as at least one thrombin inhibitor, preferably bivalirudin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implant comprising: —a core material comprising polydimethylsiloxane or at least one hydrogel polymer; —a tube encasing said core material comprising an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer or at least one hydrogel polymer; —a sealant for closure of the open ends of said tube comprising polydimethylsiloxane or a mono-, di-, or triacetoxy derivative thereof, or at least one hydrogel polymer; and —at least one active ingredient; wherein said at least one active ingredient is selected from the group comprising celecoxib, sulindac, tamoxifen, oestrogen, oestradiol, ethinyl oestradiol, mestranol, dienogest, norgestrel, levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norgestimate, ethynodiol diacetate, leuprorelin, buserelin, gonrelin, triptorelin, nafarelin, deslorelin, histrelin, and supprelin; and with the proviso that when the sealant is said at least one hydrogelpolymer, the core material comprises polydimethylsiloxane. Furthermore, the invention relates to an implant for use as a medicament.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds of formula I and their use as anti-angiogenic agents and anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of carrying out Suzuki-Miyaura CC-coupling reactions, including reacting an aryl halide with an aryl boronic acid in an organic solvent in the presence of a carbon supported palladium catalyst and a base, wherein the reactions are carried out at constant pH. The invention is also directed to a palladium on carbon catalyst suitable for catalyzing Suzuki-Miyaura CC-coupling reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pencil comprising a core within a barrel, wherein the band composition consists of (a) at least one styrene-butadiene copolymer, (b) at least one styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, (c) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene polymer, styrene-acrylonitrile polymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer, acrylic-styrene-methylmethacrylate copolymer, or a combination thereof; and optionally (d) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a filler, a wax, a porogen, a blowing agent, a foaming agent, a coloring agent, or a combination thereof. The present invention also relates to a method for the preparation of said pencil and to the use thereof.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for normalising a SMS sequence in which the sequence is pre-processed to identify noisy segments in the sequence, normalising those noisy segments and normalising the rest of the SMS sequence in accordance with predefined rules. A morphosyntactic analysis is carried out on the normalised text before an output is provided either as a typewritten text or as a synthetic speech signal.

Abstract: A system for measuring a solution pH includes a potentiostat with a working electrode made of an electro-conductive solid polymer transducer, an input to receive the potential to be applied between the working electrode and a reference electrode, and an output to transmit a signal representative of the current flowing between a counter electrode and the working electrode, the three electrodes being immerged into the solution. The system further includes a digital processor connected to a digital to analog converter for generating the potential to be applied between the working and the reference electrodes; and to an analog to digital converter for receiving a digital value representative of the current. The digital processor is adapted to modify the potential to maintain the current inside a predetermined range such that the potential is representative of the solution pH when the current is inside the predetermined range.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a gene set, a kit and a method for diagnosis of lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Abstract: An ultra-low-power transconductance device is provided, (FIG. 1b, FIG. 1c), comprising a series connection of a transistor of a first channel type (A) and a transistor of a second channel type (B), the first channel type having a different polarity than the second channel type. The transistors each have a source, a drain and a gate. The source of the transistor of the first channel type (A) is coupled with the source of the transistor of the second channel type (B) and the drain of the transistor of the first channel type (A) is coupled with the gate of the transistor of the second channel type (B).

Abstract: A method for forming an organic material layer on a substrate in an in-line deposition system is disclosed. In one aspect, the organic material is deposited with a predetermined non-constant deposition rate profile, which includes a first predetermined deposition rate range provided to deposit at least a first monolayer of the organic material layer with a first predetermined average deposition rate and a second predetermined deposition rate range provided to deposit at least a second monolayer of the organic material layer with a second predetermined average deposition rate. The injection of organic material through the openings of the injector is controlled for realizing the predetermined deposition rate profile.