Abstract: Mould for casting of thin samples made of cement-based materials, for a maximum of 10 small samples (10×10×2 mm or ?×?× 1/16 inch), consists of a solid stainless steel base plate, stainless steel upper frame-plates and thin plastic foil. The stainless steel frame plates of various lengths are assembled on the base plate and fastened with screws to form a frame with 10 free spaces (‘cells’) into which the concrete/cementitious material is poured. The thickness (2 mm or 1/16 inch) of the thin frame plates determines the thickness of the cast samples. Plastic transparent foil is placed over the surface of the base plate for easier sample removal. The advantages of the mould are: possibility of assembling and disassembling of all mould parts and hence safe sample removal after 24 hours, multiple usage as well as easy maintenance and cleaning.

Abstract: The design of a stainless-steel cylindrical tool for manual grinding and polishing of cement-based thin sample (two cylinders one within the other, connected by the movable threaded holder with a plate, that passes through the middle) enables very precise removal of sample layers to its thickness of 1-mm ( 1/32 inch) and less. The squared, young aged sample rests on the circular plate on a holder, that can be slowly and safely rotated during thin layer removal, to obtain a smooth and flat sample surface, which can produce sharp digital images in ESEM, necessary for detailed and accurate image analysis. The cylindrical tool can be reassembled. It is reusable, easy to maintain and clean. Its design is practical since inner cylinder can be replaced if damaged, with the identically designed inner cylinder or with differently designed inner cylinder adjusted to another sample size.

Abstract: The invention provides inhibitors capable of binding to a member of the inflammasome group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B with a dissociation constant of 10-8 mol/l or smaller for the prevention and treatment of acne, specifically an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antibody-like molecule, an oligopeptide of 6 to 30 amino acid residues, a nucleic acid aptamer molecule of 10 to 75 nucleotides in length or a soluble polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least 30 amino acids comprised within the protein sequence of a member of the group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, IL-1 receptor type 2, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Similarly, an interfering RNA or an antisense modulator of gene expression of IL-1?, I L-1? receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B are provided for the prevention or treatment of acne.

Abstract: The invention provides inhibitors capable of binding to a member of the inflammasome group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B with a dissociation constant of 10-8 mol/l or smaller for the prevention and treatment of acne, specifically an antibody, an antibody fragment, an antibody-like molecule, an oligopeptide of 6 to 30 amino acid residues, a nucleic acid aptamer molecule of 10 to 75 nucleotides in length or a soluble polypeptide comprising a contiguous amino acid sequence of at least 30 amino acids comprised within the protein sequence of a member of the group comprised of IL-1?, IL-1 receptor type 1, IL-1 receptor type 2, NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Similarly, an interfering RNA or an antisense modulator of gene expression of IL-1?, I L-1? receptor type 1, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and cathepsin B are provided for the prevention or treatment of acne.