Abstract: The invention relates to methods for assessing a level of T cell activation by one or more antigens or for assessing functional avidity of T cells for one or more antigens, the methods comprising providing a cell population comprising T cells, contacting said cell population with one or more antigens in vitro, and determining a level of a T-cell receptor (TCR) complex and/or component thereof in a sub-set of T cells of said cell population.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method for hybrid localization in a first area and in a second area comprises the following steps: operating (A) a device in a first mode of operation, while the device is in the first area in which a wireless communication is available, detecting (B) that the device transitions from the first area to the second area in which a short range radio signal transmission is available, switching (C) the device to a second mode of operation upon detection that the device transitions from the first area to the second area, wherein in the first mode of operation the device uses a first technology for localization, wherein in the second mode of operation the device uses at least a second technology for localization in which the device emulates the short range radio signal transmission during at least one idle period of the wireless communication.

Abstract: For suppression of continuous wave interferers at, e.g., up to four interferer frequencies (f1, f2, f3, f4) in a GNSS receiver base band circuit a raw digital signal is, in a band stop unit (21), shifted, by a first mixer (31a), by the negative of the first interferer frequency (f1) in the frequency domain whereupon the continuous wave interferer is suppressed by a band stop filter (30a), a linear phase FIR filter with a suppression band centered at zero, e.g., a filter subtracting a mean over previous subsequent signal values from the actual signal value. After further shifting of the shifted digital signal by the negative of the difference between the second interferer frequency (f2) and the first interferer frequency (f1) the shifted digital signal is again filtered by an identical band stop filter (30b) and so on.

Abstract: For suppression of continuous wave interferers at, e.g., up to four interferer frequencies (f1, f2, f3, f4) in a GNSS receiver base band circuit a raw digital signal is, in a band stop unit (21), shifted, by a first mixer (31a), by the negative of the first interferer frequency (f1) in the frequency domain whereupon the continuous wave interferer is suppressed by a band stop filter (30a), a linear phase FIR filter with a suppression band centered at zero, e.g., a filter subtracting a mean over previous subsequent signal values from the actual signal value. After further shifting of the shifted digital signal by the negative of the difference between the second interferer frequency (f2) and the first interferer frequency (f1) the shifted digital signal is again filtered by an identical band stop filter (30b) and so on.

Abstract: For suppression of continuous wave interferers at, e.g., up to four interferer frequencies (f1, f2, f3, f4) in a GNSS receiver base band circuit a raw digital signal is, in a band stop unit (21), shifted, by a first mixer (31a), by the negative of the first interferer frequency (f1) in the frequency domain whereupon the continuous wave interferer is suppressed by a band stop filter (30a), a linear phase FIR filter with a suppression band centered at zero, e.g., a filter subtracting a mean over previous subsequent signal values from the actual signal value. After further shifting of the shifted digital signal by the negative of the difference between the second interferer frequency (f2) and the first interferer frequency (f1) the shifted digital signal is again filtered by an identical band stop filter (30b) and so on.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of identifying or separating activated regulatory T cells that have a demethylated Foxp3 TSDR region from a mixture of activated T cells. The mixture is depleted of cells bearing the CD154 molecule (CD40 ligand). The desired cells can be recovered using a Treg marker such as CD25, GITR, CTLA4, CD137, latent TGF-beta (LAP), GARP (LRRC32) or CD121a/b. The Treg cells having a demethylated Foxp3 TSDR region can be used, for example for preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for use in treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying and separating non-regulatory T-cells (conventional T-cells) from a mixture comprising regulatory T-cells by using of the CD154 molecule (CD40 ligand) through depletion of CD154+ T-cells from the mixture or in combination with additional positive selection of Treg using markers that are specific for regulatory T-cells, such as for example, CD25, GITR, CTLA4 or markers which are specific for activated regulatory T-cells, such as, for example, CD137, “latent TGF-beta (LAP)”, GARP (LRRC32), CD121a/b, thereby generating a cell composition of activated Treg cells. The invention relates also to a kit comprising an antibody for detecting CD154 and at least one additional antibody for detecting markers for activated or non-activated regulatory T-cells. The antibodies can be coupled to a fluorescent dye or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: A satellite positioning receiver. The receiver comprises: an RF front end, for receiving satellite positioning signals; an analog to digital converter, for sampling the received signals to generate signal samples; a memory; and a processor, for processing the signal samples to derive code-phases and pseudo-ranges and to calculate a position fix. The processor has a first mode in which it is operable to process the samples as they are generated, to calculate the position fix. It also has a second mode in which it is operable to store the samples or the code-phases or pseudo-ranges in the memory for later processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the 4-1BB receptor for identifying and/or separating specific regulatory Th cells after activation with an antigen, polyclonal regulatory Th cells after polyclonal activation and to a method for the identification and/or separation of regulatory Th cells, the regulatory T cells being detected on the basis of the expression of the 4-1BB receptor by an antibody, an antigen or ligands which are coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles. The invention also relates to a kit comprising an antibody, an antigen or ligands for detecting the 4-1BB receptor for the identification and/or separation of a regulatory Th cell, the antibody being coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit comprises a correlator (40) with a correlator shift register (43) to which a correlation sequence derived from a basic sequence characteristic for a satellite is fed by a code generator (41). Each of the N=32 or more memory cells of the correlator shift register (43) is connected to two correlator cells (44a, 44b) for multiplying digital values of the correlator sequence from the memory cell with data values of a data sequence, adding up the products and storing the sum in a register as a correlation value pertaining to one of N relative phase positions of the correlation sequence relative to the data sequence during a correlation phase.

Abstract: An analog die (3) and a digital die (4) are supported by a plate (1) consisting of an electrically conductive material. Pads (5) of the dies (3, 4) are connected to each other, to plate (1) or to pins (2) surrounding the latter by bond wires (6). The upper side of the plate (1) is covered by a plastic mold (7) encapsulating the dies (3, 4), the bond wires (6) and, in part, the pins (2). For the suppression of external jamming signals as well as internal ones picked up by bond wires the digital die (4) comprises an adjustable notch filter which suppresses narrow frequency bands where jamming signals have been detected.

Abstract: A satellite positioning receiver. The receiver comprises: an RF front end, for receiving satellite positioning signals; an analogue to digital converter, for sampling the received signals to generate signal samples; a memory; and a processor, for processing the signal samples to derive code-phases and pseudo-ranges and to calculate a position fix. The processor has a first mode in which it is operable to process the samples as they are generated, to calculate the position fix. It also has a second mode in which it is operable to store the samples or the code-phases or pseudo-ranges in the memory for later processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying and separating non-regulatory T-cells (conventional T-cells) from a mixture comprising regulatory T-cells by using of the CD154 molecule (CD40 ligand) through depletion of CD154+ T-cells from the mixture or in combination with additional positive selection of Treg using markers that are specific for regulatory T-cells, such as for example, CD25, GITR, CTLA4 or markers which are specific for activated regulatory T-cells, such as, for example, CD137, “latent TGF-beta (LAP)”, GARP (LRRC32), CD121a/b, thereby generating a cell composition of activated Treg cells. The invention relates also to a kit comprising an antibody for detecting CD154 and at least one additional antibody for detecting markers for activated or non-activated regulatory T-cells. The antibodies can be coupled to a fluorescent dye or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the 4-1BB receptor for identifying and/or separating specific regulatory Th cells after activation with an antigen, polyclonal regulatory Th cells after polyclonal activation and to a method for the identification and/or separation of regulatory Th cells, the regulatory T cells being detected on the basis of the expression of the 4-1BB receptor by an antibody, an antigen or ligands which are coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles. The invention also relates to a kit comprising an antibody, an antigen or ligands for detecting the 4-1BB receptor for the identification and/or separation of a regulatory Th cell, the antibody being coupled to a fluorescent substance, haptenes or magnetic microparticles.

Abstract: What is suggested herein is the use of CD154 for the detection and/or isolation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes and a method for the detection and/or isolation of antigen-specific T lymphocytes, wherein the suspension is contacted with a CD40/CD154 system inhibitor, intra- or extracellular determination of CD154 is effected, and the cells having CD154 are detected and/or isolated.

Abstract: For suppression of continuous wave interferers at, e.g., up to four interferer frequencies (f1, f2, f3, f4) in a GNSS receiver base band circuit a raw digital signal is, in a band stop unit (21), shifted, by a first mixer (31a), by the negative of the first interferer frequency (f1) in the frequency domain whereupon the continuous wave interferer is suppressed by a band stop filter (30a), a linear phase FIR filter with a suppression band centered at zero, e.g., a filter subtracting a mean over previous subsequent signal values from the actual signal value. After further shifting of the shifted digital signal by the negative of the difference between the second interferer frequency (f2) and the first interferer frequency (f1) the shifted digital signal is again filtered by an identical band stop filter (30b) and so on.

Abstract: An acquisition unit of a GNSS receiver base band circuit comprises a correlator (40) with a correlator shift register (43) to which a correlation sequence derived from a basic sequence characteristic for a satellite is fed by a code generator (41). Each of the N=32 or more memory cells of the correlator shift register (43) is connected to two correlator cells (44a, 44b) for multiplying digital values of the correlator sequence from the memory cell with data values of a data sequence, adding up the products and storing the sum in a register as a correlation value pertaining to one of N relative phase positions of the correlation sequence relative to the data sequence during a correlation phase.

Abstract: An analog die (3) and a digital die (4) are supported by a plate (1) consisting of an electrically conductive material. Pads (5) of the dies (3, 4) are connected to each other, to plate (1) or to pins (2) surrounding the latter by bond wires (6). The upper side of the plate (1) is covered by a plastic mold (7) encapsulating the dies (3, 4), the bond wires (6) and, in part, the pins (2). For the suppression of external jamming signals as well as internal ones picked up by bond wires the digital die (4) comprises an adjustable notch filter which suppresses narrow frequency bands where jamming signals have been detected.

Abstract: A sychronization circuit comprising an analog feedback shift register for generating an internal sequence which is synchronized with an external sequence containing repetitions of a fundamental sequence has a feedback circuit which, for the formation of a new value of a fundamental sequence, combines at least two values (x1,x2) stored in the shift register according to a feedback function (f(x1,x2)), which is then scaled with a factor k, 0.9<k<0.99. The synchronization behaviour is improved, especially in the case of signals with strong background noise, by using a feedback function which is substantially linear in the sectors defined by the signs of the arguments and whose sign corresponds to that of the negative of the product of the negative arguments and whose magnitude is 1 if the magnitudes of the arguments are each 1. A function which meets these requirements and has proved useful is f(x1, . . . , xm)=?sig((?x1)· . . . ·(?xm))·(|x1|+ . . . +|xm|)/m.

Abstract: A method for generating an internal sequence of analog values having a specific period includes producing an intermediate value by a logical combination of an actual value of the external sequence with an actual value of a second generating sequence, producing an input value to an analog feedback shift register by superposition of the intermediate value with an analog feedback value derived according to a feedback function from analog values in the analog feedback shift register, and feeding the input value to an input of the analog feedback shift register. A position of an actual value of the second generating sequence corresponds to a position of a segment in the first generating sequence, the segment including a determinative set of n binary values derived from the analog values in the analog feedback shift register.