Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the targeted selection of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) consisting of two single strands that exhibits increased effectiveness in inhibiting the expression of a target gene by means of RNA interference, whereby the sequences of the single strands of the dsRNA are selected in such a way that on both ends of the dsRNA the last complementary nucleotide pair is a G-C, or at least two of the last four complementary nucleotide pairs are G-C pairs; whereby the dsRNA exhibits a single-stranded overhang consisting of 1 to 4 unpaired nucleotides at the first end, and no overhang at the second end; whereby the unpaired nucleotide of the single-stranded overhang that is directly adjacent to the last complementary nucleotide pair contains a purine base.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of preparing alpha-1-antiproteinase inhibitor and controlling the amount of des-lys alpha-1-antiproteinase inhibitor in the preparation, and compositions comprising the same, as well as methods of treatment using the same.

Abstract: Compounds for determining the activity of phospholipase A2, are described herein, and include embodiments having formula (1) wherein L1 is derived from an ether (R1—OR2)m, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected and are derived from a hydrocarbon having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, with m being an integer from 1 to 4, or from a hydrocarbon R having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; F is unsubstituted or substituted pyrene as a flouraphore; Q is a quencher, and L2 is C(O)-L1 or C(O)-L1-NH, wherein L1 is as defined above. These compounds may be used to determine the activity of phospholipase A2, in particular PAF-AH.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling installation (100) and a method for its operation known rolling installations (100) typically include a reversing stand (110) for rolling a metal strip (200) in several steps until the metal strip reaches a desired thickness. The reversing stand (110) is usually associated with at least one reversing reel (130) with a reel mandrel (132) for an intermittent storage of the metal strip (200) after separate rolling steps. In addition, the known rolling installations (100) have a sensor device for determining the thickness of the metal strip (200).

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection module for telecommunications and data systems, comprising a base plate, on which connection modules for optical fibres or electric conductors can be arranged. According to the invention, the connection modules and the base plate have corresponding fixing elements and the base plate is provided with at least one connection module for optical fibres and at least one connection module for electric conductors. The invention also relates to a suitable connection module for the optical fibres and to a method for connecting said optical fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pallet truck comprising a lifting device, which is mounted on the axle of two wheels, and having a supporting frame, which is mounted on two rollers, provided with two bearers and is displaceably connected to the lifting device. The lifting device has a lifting pump mounted on a console which is placed on a support that is, in turn, mounted on the axle extending between both wheels. A rod is mounted on the lifting pump, and the lifting pump has a piston rod whose head projects upwardly out of the housing of the lifting pump. A roller is mounted at the rear end of each bearer, and the bearers are connected to one another at the front end via a crossbar. A holding frame having a socket is provided on the front end of the bearers and is mounted in an articulated manner on the head of the piston rod. A two-armed linkage is mounted on both sides of the console.

Abstract: Pre-stressed, strip-type tension members are applied to supporting structures, especially concrete supporting structures. To this end, a clamping device is used to pre-stress the tension member at least at one end, at a distance from the surface of the supporting structure, by a temporary clamping element which is fixed to the tension member, and the tension member is then pressed onto the surface by at least one permanent brace. The two temporary clamping elements are removed from the surface once the tension member has been pressed onto the surface.

Abstract: Methods for the treatment of cancer with combination therapies that include anti-VEGF antibodies are provided. Methods for diagnosing resistant tumors are also provided.

Abstract: In a system for the electrical contacting of at least one connection element of an electronic circuit in a hermetically sealed housing with a conductor element having a base plate for holding the at least one connection element, the conductor element is provided with a press-in pin which may be pressed-in in one section of the connection element to form a contact.

Abstract: A novel immunodeficiency virus is disclosed which has the designation MVP-5180/91 and which has been deposited with the European Collection of Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC) under No. V 920 52 318. The characteristic antigens which can be obtained from it and which can be employed for detecting antibodies against retroviruses which are associated with immunodeficiency diseases are also disclosed, as are the DNA and amino acid sequences of the virus.

Abstract: A drying apparatus that allows the wet washed dishes located in the washing container to be dried quickly from an economic and hygienic point of view is provided. The drying apparatus for drying washed dishes is disposed inside a dishwasher and circulates exclusively the air located in a washing container of the dishwasher. The drying apparatus is provided with a suction port for introducing the air from the washing container into the drying apparatus, a blow-out port for discharging the air from the drying apparatus into the washing container, a conveying section between the suction port and the blow-out port, and a fan for conveying the air from the suction port to the blow-out port via the conveying section with the conveying section having a condensing section with at least one wall operable as a condensing surface upon which the humidity contained in the air condenses.

Abstract: A method for pressure-independent temperature determination using a metal diaphragm is provided. A bridge circuit having multiple resistors is provided on this diaphragm. One pair of resistors is near the center of the diaphragm and another pair of resistors is situated at a distance from the center. The resistors are provided on the metal diaphragm in such a way that the tensile elongation of the pair of resistors near the center corresponds in absolute value to compressions of the pair of resistors far from the center.

Abstract: A method of forming a wiring level and an electrical isolation associated with the wiring level on a surface of a semiconductor wafer comprises the steps of providing the semiconductor wafer having said surface, forming a plurality of electrically conductive wiring lines upon said surface, each of the wiring lines having a spacing with respect to neighboring one of the wiring lines, depositing a first layer of amorphous carbon upon the wiring lines by means of non-conformal plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), such that air-filled voids formed below the first layer within the spacings between neighboring wiring lines. Alternatively, OSG (organo-silicon glass) or FSG (fluorine doped silicon glass) may be deposited to yield air-filled voids within the spacings. According to an embodiment, the carbon, OSG or FSG layers are used as an IMD-layer (line-to-line isolation), added by a further layer of a dielectric material, which then serves as an ILD-layer (level-to-level isolation).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a focussing lens (100) for focussing a charged particle beam (7) onto a specimen (3) at a predetermined landing angle (42; 42?; 42) comprising at least one first electrode (26, 105, 105a) having a first aperture (106) to generate a focussing electric field (110) for focussing the charged particle beam (7) onto the specimen (3); and a correcting electrode having a curved surface (115) to compensate for landing angle dependent distortions of the focussing electric field (110) caused by the specimen (3). With the curved surface (115) of the correcting electrode it is possible to improve the focussing of a charged particle beam at landing angles that differ from the perpendicular landing angle.

Abstract: Provided are methods of treating kidney disorders in a subject by administering an effective amount of VEGFR agonist, e.g., a Flt1 agonist to a subject. The agonists are composed of compositions comprising VEGFR agonists, e.g., VEGF, antibodies directed to Flt1, Flt1 ligands, Flt1 small molecule activators, or Flt1 selective agents in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for use in activating Flt1.

Abstract: In a rolling mill for rolling metal strip (1), especially steel strip, which has at least one rolling stand (2), an upstream coiler (3), and a downstream coiler (4), wherein an “S” roll unit (5, 6), which has two rolls (7, 8; 9, 10) that guide the strip (1) in the form of an “S”, is arranged between the upstream coiler (3) and the rolling stand (2) and/or between the rolling stand (2) and the downstream coiler (4), the invention provides that a first roll (7, 9) of the “S” roll unit (5, 6) is arranged in a fixed manner, and a second roll (8, 10) of the “S” roll unit (5, 6) is arranged in such a way that it can move relative to the first roll (7, 9).

Abstract: A supply arrangement includes a supply reservoir element and a microfluidic device, wherein the supply reservoir element has a first reservoir unit having a prefilled liquid reagent therein, and the microfluidic device has a reception device adapted for receiving the liquid reagent from the first reservoir unit. The supply reservoir element is coupled to the microfluidic device. One of the supply reservoir element and the microfluidic device includes a puncturing element in order to cause fluid flow of the liquid reagent from the first reservoir unit to the reception device when the puncturing element is operated. The supply reservoir element has a basal plane, and the first reservoir unit has a first blister element arranged on the basal plane.

Abstract: What is claimed is a process for preparing amino- or hydroxybenzonitriles, in which, in the course of an ammonolysis, the corresponding amino- or hydroxybenzoic acid compounds are reacted with ammonia in the presence of a supported catalyst comprising phosphate at temperatures between 250° C. and 500° C. The actual preparation step is performed in a reaction gas (mixture) and without involvement of an organic solvent, and is followed by an at least 2-stage purification step. In this purification step, the gaseous mixture obtained from the preparation step is first converted to an aqueous basic suspension and then the product present in the solid is released from this suspension. The main advantage of this combination process is that the starting materials are not esters, which is why the resulting products, in contrast to the processes which are otherwise customary, are free of the by-products which are otherwise customary, which leads to a high product purity.

Abstract: A charging method is provided for a communications service in a cellular communications system, especially for a prepaid communications service. A prepaid service processing node (PSPN) processes a communications service. A prepayment support node information (PI) is received from a subscriber profile database (SPD). A prepayment support node address (PA) is determined from the prepayment support node information (PI). The determined prepayment support node address (PA) is stored. A request for the communications service to be charged on a subscriber's prepayment account is detected, and a credit information request is sent to a prepayment support node (PPSC) identified by the stored prepayment support node address (PA). A credit information is received, and the requested communications service is processed according to the credit information. The invention provides a device for said charging as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, m and X are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds are useful for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with the modulation of CB1 receptors.