Abstract: The present invention relates to chest radiography. In order to improve image quality and consistency, there is provided a breathing status determination device, which comprises an input unit, a processing unit, and an output unit. The input unit is configured to receive a sequence of depth images that is continuously captured with a sensor having a field of view covering a torso of a patient positioned for a chest radiography image examination. The processing unit is configured to analyse the received sequence of depth images to determine a change of depth values inside one or more region-of-interests (ROIs) overtime that represents a respiratory motion of the patient, and to determine a breathing signal based on the determined change of depth values inside the one or more ROIs over time. The output unit is configured to provide the determined breathing signal.

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided, comprising or consisting of: (A) a first polymer component, being a copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure and selected from poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and (B) a second polymer component different from the first polymer component (A) selected from poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)], wherein the first and second polymer components (A) and (B) are selected such that the resulting polymer blend comprises a combination of constitution units derived from L-lactide and constitution units derived from D-lactide. The highly elastic material may be processed by electrospinning to produce elastic porous objects having a non-woven fibrous structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface-functionalised polymeric object (10), comprising: a bulk material (11) comprising a copolymer containing constitution units derived from a first comonomer and constitution units derived from a second comonomer, the first comonomer being selected from L-lactide and D-lactide and forming sequences of oligo(L-lactide) or oligo(D-lactide) in the copolymer the copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure with a dyad ratio of (lactide-lactide)-dyads to (lactide-second comonomer)-dyads of at least 2.

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided, comprising or consisting of: (A) a first polymer component, being a copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure and selected from poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and (B) a second polymer component different from the first polymer component (A) selected from poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)], wherein the first and second polymer components (A) and (B) are selected such that the resulting polymer blend comprises a combination of constitution units derived from L-lactide and constitution units derived from D-lactide. The highly elastic material may be processed by electrospinning to produce elastic porous objects having a non-woven fibrous structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface-functionalised polymeric object (10), comprising: a bulk material (11) comprising a copolymer containing constitution units derived from a first comonomer and constitution units derived from a second comonomer, the first comonomer being selected from L-lactide and D-lactide and forming sequences of oligo(L-lactide) or oligo(D-lactide) in the copolymer the copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure with a dyad ratio of (lactide-lactide)-dyads to (lactide-second comonomer)-dyads of at least 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spin coater for a device for the additive manufacture of an object, having a support that can be connected to the device in a rotable manner about a rotational axis; and a coating element that is coupled to the support and that is suitable for applying or leveling a powder layer on a plane in the device while the support is rotating, the plane running perpendicularly to the rotational axis. The coating element substantially maintains its orientation during the rotational movement of the support within a specified rotational range. The coating element does not substantially move in a longitudinal direction of the coating element during the rotational movement of the support within a specified rotational range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spin coater for a device for the generative production of an object, having a support (1) which can be connected to the device in a rotable manner about a rotational axis (z); and a coating element (2) which is coupled to the support (1) and which is suitable for applying or leveling a powder layer on a plane in the device while the support (1) is rotating, said plane running perpendicularly to the rotational axis (z); wherein the coating element (2) substantially maintains its orientation during the rotational movement of the support (1) within a specified rotational range; and the coating element (2) substantially does not move in a longitudinal direction of the coating element (2) during the rotational movement of the support (1) within a specified rotational range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object (3) by means of a device, comprising the following steps: a) layerwise applying a powdery material (11) onto a support (5) of the device or a previously applied layer; b) selectively solidifying the powdery material (11) by energetic radiation (8?) at locations corresponding to the cross-section of the object (3) in the layer, c) repeating the steps a) and b) until the object (3) is completed. The object (3) has at least one cavity (13), which opens to an opening (14) at the surface of the object (3), and the powdery material (11) is solidified such that a broaching member (12) is formed, which extends in the cavity (13) and can be withdrawn through the opening (14) from the cavity. The invention also relates to an associated method of generating a data set of the three-dimensional object (3).

Abstract: Filovirus subunit protein immunogens are produced using a recombinant expression system and combined with one or more adjuvants in immunogenic formulations. The subunit proteins include GP95, GP-FL, VP40, VP24, and NP derived from Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus. Adjuvants include saponins, emulsions, alum, and dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors. The disclosed immunogenic formulations are effective in inducing strong antibody responses directed against individual Filovirus proteins and intact Filovirus particles as well as stimulating cell-mediated immune responses to the Filoviruses.

Abstract: A method and device for explosives identification bombards a sample with neutrons the energy of which is to the positron activation energy of nitrogen and to the required energy for a neutron proton nuclear reaction of neutrons with 16O to 16N. Electron positron annihilation radiation emitted by the sample due to the neutron bombardment is then detected as a function of time. The respective concentration and the concentration ratio of oxygen and nitrogen in the sample is determined from the time dependency of the annihilation radiation, and the explosive is identified by the comparison of the concentration ratios of the specific concentrations of oxygen and nitrogen with the corresponding substance ratios of known explosives. By radiation with neutrons at the same time radionuclides 13N are created from the nitrogen contained and 16N from the oxygen contained, the decay of which generates electron positron annihilation radiation with characteristic half-lives.

Abstract: Filovirus subunit protein immunogens are produced using a recombinant expression system and combined with one or more adjuvants in immunogenic formulations. The subunit proteins include GP95, GP-FL, VP40, VP24, and NP derived from Ebola Virus and Marburg Virus. Adjuvants include saponins, emulsions, alum, and dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors. The disclosed immunogenic formulations are effective in inducing strong antibody responses directed against individual Filovirus proteins and intact Filovirus particles as well as stimulating cell-mediated immune responses to the Filoviruses.

Abstract: An electrical terminal screw apparatus for the purpose of connection of electrical conductors having a housing with a shaft in which is provided a screw and featuring a screw head and shaft which are adjusted relative to one another in such a way that during revolution of the screw in a first angle range there is a minimal torsional moment and maximum torsional moment in a second rotational angle range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of macrocyclic compounds, which are useful as cysteine protease inhibitors. Also provided are novel intermediates and methods of preparing the compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The compounds and compositions are useful in methods of treating or preventing one or more diseases associated with cysteine protease activity, particularly those associated with calpain activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to particles which exhibit a stimulable shape change and allow control of their uptake in active cells. The particles can be used as carrier systems for bioactive molecules or as diagnostic agents, and the spherical shape thereof has a size permitting uptake in a cell. Each particle assumes a temporary, non-spherical and thus non-uptakeable or only slightly uptakeable shape which can be transformed into a spherical and thus uptakeable shape by a suitable stimulus.