Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising comprising a first chain comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1; a second chain comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:2; and a linker linking the first and second chain. In addition, the present invention is directed to methods of using these polypeptides as calibrators and standards in diagnostic methods.

Abstract: A hand-held applicator (10) for collecting, mixing, diluting and discharging a sample liquid, comprising a main body (20) having an inlet-aperture (24), an outlet-aperture (26) and a chamber (22) for storing a liquid solution, wherein the chamber is connected to the inlet-aperture and the outlet-aperture, a lid (12) for covering the inlet-aperture and a tube (40), moveably supported in the inlet-aperture when the lid is covering the upper portion of the main body, wherein the tube (40) is moveable between a predetermined position outside the chamber and a position, in which the tube is at least partly located in the chamber.

Abstract: A test device (10) for testing a sample liquid with a test stripe (60), comprising the test stripe (60) comprising a backing (62) and an analytical membrane (64) in the centre portion of the backing, a housing comprising a housing base (20) and a housing lid (40), which are connected with each other, the housing base (20) comprises an accommodation portion (22) for accommodating the test stripe (60), the accommodation portion (22) comprises restricting elements (24) that restrict the movement of the test stripe (60) in y-direction, and the housing lid (40) comprises an inlet opening (42) for introducing the sample liquid into the housing, wherein the inlet opening (42) is located opposite to the accommodation portion (22), wherein the accommodation portion (22) of the housing base further comprises a plurality of lower bridges (26) on pre-defined positions for supporting the test stripe (60) and the housing lid (40) comprises a plurality of upper bridges (48) on pre-defined positions opposite to the accommoda

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for determining the concentration of a protein in a gastrointestinal (GI) tract sample taken from a human or an animal. The present invention is characterized by the feature that a dilution of the sample in the buffered aqueous extraction medium in a range of 1:100 to 1:10,000 is obtained. The present invention leads to a significant improvement of the technical situation, and provides a simple, sensitive and specific determination tool of proteins in GI tract samples. The determination of proteins, e.g. calprotectin, elastases or hemoglobin, in GI tract samples leads to more accurate and reproducible results.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for determining the concentration of a protein in a gastrointestinal (GI) tract sample taken from a human or an animal. The present invention is characterized by the feature that a dilution of the sample in the buffered aqueous extraction medium in a range of 1:100 to 1:10,000 is obtained. The present invention leads to a significant improvement of the technical situation, and provides a simple, sensitive and specific determination tool of proteins in GI tract samples. The determination of proteins, e.g. calprotectin, elastases or hemoglobin, in GI tract samples leads to more accurate and reproducible results.

Abstract: A hand-held applicator (10) for collecting, mixing, diluting and discharging a sample liquid, comprising a main body (20) having an inlet-aperture (24), an outlet-aperture (26) and a chamber (22) for storing a liquid solution, wherein the chamber is connected to the inlet-aperture and the outlet-aperture, a lid (12) for covering the inlet-aperture and a tube (40), moveably supported in the inlet-aperture when the lid is covering the upper portion of the main body, wherein the tube (40) is moveable between a predetermined position outside the chamber and a position, in which the tube is at least partly located in the chamber.

Abstract: A tube for mixing, diluting and preserving a sample includes a hollow first container for receiving and storing a solution, the first container having first and second ends, wherein at least the first end has a through-hole, and a transport-pin located in the through-hole of the first end having a shape closely matching to the through-hole, the transport-pin including a recess with a predetermined size. The recess is suitable to be filled by a sample, wherein the transport-pin is movable between an initial position in which the recess is positioned at least partially on the outer side of the first container, and an end position in which the recess is positioned at least partially on the inner side of the first container.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of production of natural products and, in particular, in the field of production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin. It provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods for the production of natural products, in particular methods for the production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin, using such polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded therein, as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Abstract: A tube for extracting, diluting and discharging a sample: able to control the amount of discharged diluted solution in the tube, after the sample has been diluted; that improves the hygienic conditions of discharging the sample; that enables introduction of a predetermined amount of a sample in any liquid or solid state; and that is able to transfer a specific amount of a diluted sample into another tube for further processing without any hygienic problems and with no risk of accidents.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of production of natural products and, in particular, in the field of production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin. It provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods for the production of natural products, in particular methods for the production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin, using such polynucleotides and polpeptides encoded therein, as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for determining the concentration of a protein in a gastrointestinal (GI) tract sample taken from a human or an animal. The present invention is characterized by the feature that a dilution of the sample in the buffered aqueous extraction medium in a range of 1:100 to 1:10,000 is obtained. The present invention leads to a significant improvement of the technical situation, and provides a simple, sensitive and specific determination tool of proteins in GI tract samples. The determination of proteins, e.g. calprotectin, elastases or hemoglobin, in GI tract samples leads to more accurate and reproducible results.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the determination of vitamin B6 in samples as well as to reagent compositions for assaying a sample for vitamin B6 and to a test kit suitable for carrying out the methods according to the present invention. Further, the invention relates to the use of such methods for the application to different analyzing devices such as micro-titer plate readers and fully automated clinical chemistry analyzers (autoanalyzers).

Abstract: The invention pertains to the field of production of natural products and, in particular, in the field of production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin. It provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods for the production of natural products, in particular methods for the production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin, using such polynucleotides and polpeptides encoded therein, as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Abstract: A tube for extracting, diluting and discharging a sample: able to control the amount of discharged diluted solution in the tube, after the sample has been diluted; that improves the hygienic conditions of discharging the sample; that enables introduction of a predetermined amount of a sample in any liquid or solid state; and that is able to transfer a specific amount of a diluted sample into another tube for further processing without any hygienic problems and with no risk of accidents.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for the determination of vitamin B6 in samples as well as to reagent compositions for assaying a sample for vitamin B6 and to a test kit suitable for carrying out the methods according to the present invention. Further, the invention relates to the use of such methods for the application to different analyzing devices such as micro-titer plate readers and fully automated clinical chemistry analyzers (autoanalyzers).

Abstract: The invention pertains to/the field of production of natural products and, in particular, in the field of production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin. It provides polynucleotides encoding polypeptides involved in the biosynthesis of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods for the production of natural products, in particular methods for the production of cornexistin and hydroxycornexistin, using such polynucleotides and polpeptides encoded therein, as well as vectors and recombinant microorganisms comprising such polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for the determination of basophil activation induced by a test substance by flow cytometric measurement of the changes of the mean or median fluorescence intensities (WI) of the basophilic Fc?RI receptor present on the cell surface of basophils (MFI-Fc?RI) and/or the IgE antibodies bound to the Fc?RI receptor (MFI-IgE), and the CD63 antigen exposed on the cell surface of basophils after their activation (MFI-CD63), by means of a mixture of anti-CD63, anti-Fc?RI or anti-IgE, and anti-CCR3 antibodies each labelled with a distinct fluorophore, of which at least one antibody acts as a basophil selection marker and at least two antibodies act as basophil activation markers, and bringing the mean fluorescence intensities of the activation markers in correlation to obtain an Activation Index.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the induction of hypothermia in humans in a predictable and dose responsive fashion by use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of (1) vanilloid receptor agonists, capsaicinoids or capsaicinoid-like agonists reaching and binding to vanilloid receptors, and (2) cannabinoids or cannabimimetic agonists reaching and binding to cannabinoid receptors, thereby inducing hypothermia, thus benefiting patients suffering from illnesses characterized by tissue anoxia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the induction of hypothermia in humans in a predictable and dose responsive fashion by use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a vanilloid receptor agonists, capsaicinoid or capsaicinoid-like agonist capable of inducing hypothermia, thereby benefiting patients suffering from illnesses characterized by tissue anoxia.

Abstract: An installation for decontaminating a radioactively contaminated surface with a dry mechanical abrasive includes an extractor for suction extraction of an extraction gas together with an abrasive/dust mixture produced during blasting. A separator separates the abrasive/dust mixture aspirated by the extractor into a dust fraction and a re-usable abrasive fraction. A storage bin is connected between the extractor and the separator. The storage bin includes a filter device having a filter for filtering the extraction gas flowing through the storage bin to the extractor, and a blowoff line to be connected to the filter device for blowing off the filter.