Abstract: The invention relates to a device for locking an adjusting means (5), in particular an electrical addressing device, mounted on a printed circuit board (1) which extends in an x and/or y direction. The device includes an essentially flat base plate (2) having a length (L), a width (B), and a thickness (D), to which a first detent spring (4) is attached for locking engagement with marking means (23, 23?) of the adjusting means (5). The first detent spring preferably has an oblong spring leg (7), wherein in the installed state the base plate (2) is mounted on the printed circuit board (1).

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the provision of a polynucleotide encoding an AAV capsid polypeptide comprising an inserted peptide and a vector comprising said polynucleotide. Moreover, contemplated is a host cell comprising said polynucleotide or vector, a method for the manufacture of said capsid polypeptide as well as said polypeptide. Further included is an antibody specifically binding to said polypeptide and a medicament comprising said polynucleotide, vector, polypeptide, or antibody. Also contemplated are the use of said polynucleotide, vector, polypeptide, or antibody for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of vascular disease and a method for the identification of a compound binding to said polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the provision of a polynucleotide encoding an AAV capsid polypeptide comprising an inserted peptide and a vector comprising said polynucleotide. Moreover, contemplated is a host cell comprising said polynucleotide or vector, a method for the manufacture of said capsid polypeptide as well as said polypeptide. Further included is an antibody specifically binding to said polypeptide and a medicament comprising said polynucleotide, vector, polypeptide, or antibody. Also contemplated are the use of said polynucleotide, vector, polypeptide, or antibody for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of vascular disease and a method for the identification of a compound binding to said polypeptide.

Abstract: Described is a method of producing a repertoire of random peptides on the surface of AAV particles wherein said random peptides are expressed as a fusion with an AAV capsid protein of an AAV particle which displays at its surface said random polypeptides. Also described is a peptide library obtainable by said method as well as a method of selecting a gene therapy vector specific for a desired cell type comprising the steps of (a) infecting the desired cell type with a peptide library of the invention and (b) harvesting AAV library particles from the supernatant and/or cell lysates. Finally, AAV vectors obtained by said method are described which are useful for gene therapy, e.g., AAV vectors targeting primary human coronary artery endothelial cells which are suitable for the treatment of diseases associated with a dysfunction of said cells.

Abstract: Described are recombinant AAV vectors characterized in that they carry capsid protein modification(s) resulting in a reduced or eliminated heparin binding function. The AAV vectors of the present invention are particularly suitable for gene therapy by systemic application, since (a) transduction of the liver is eliminated or at least drastically reduced and (b) the transduction efficiency of non-hepatic tissues is increased.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AAV DNA having helper virus sequences which are necessary for developing AAV viral particles, a system containing such a DNA and the use of both.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting a causative agent of the so-called spontaneous early abortion by investigating patients' samples for the presence of adeno-associated virias DNA (AAV DNA), or AAV antigen or antibodies, preferably of the IgM type, directed to AAV. Furthermore, the present invention relates to antibodies suitable for said method.

Abstract: An exhaust pipe includes first and second length portions, each having an outer pipe and an inner pipe positioned relative to one another to define an annular gap therebetween. The length portions are placed in confronting disposition with their adjacent first ends interconnected for relative movement in a longitudinal direction. An end piece of the outer pipe of the first length portion is disposed in surrounding relationship to an end piece of the outer pipe of the second length portion at interposition of an end portion of the inner pipe of the first length portion, wherein the end pieces of the outer pipes of the first and second length portions and the end portion of the inner pipe of the first length portion are positioned for relative movement in the longitudinal direction, so as to define a triple sliding fit.

Abstract: Speckle of a laser beam is reduced by inserting an anti-speckle apparatus in the beam path to disrupt its spatial coherence while maintaining its temporal coherence. In one embodiment, the anti-speckle apparatus is a phase retarder plate bearing periodic optically-coated regions. Transmission or reflection of the beam through coated and uncoated regions causes an internal phase shift of first beam portions relative to second beam portions, thereby disrupting spatial coherence. Size and thickness of the coated regions can be carefully tailored to meet requirements of stepper and scanner equipment manufacturers for maximum allowable spatial coherence expressed as a minimum permissible number of coherent cells across the beam cross-section. An alternative embodiment of an anti-speckle apparatus is a scattering plate bearing a roughened surface. Transmission or reflection of the beam by the roughened surface disrupts the beam's spatial coherence.

Abstract: The invention relates to AAV helper plasmids for the helper virus-free packaging of AAV vectors. These AAV helper plasmids comprise the following DNA sequences: (a1) the rep gene of AAV-2, and (a2) the cap gene of AAV-1, AAV-3, AAV-4, AAV-5 or AAV-6, or (b) the cap gene and the rep gene of AAV-1, AAV-3, AAV-4, AAV-5 or AAV-6 each, and (c) all of the other helper virus DNA sequences necessary for forming AAV particles. The invention also relates to the use of these AAV helper plasmids or AAV particles with a coat encoded by these AAV helper plasmids and an AAV expression vector for gene therapy.

Abstract: An exhaust system used for a motor vehicle and extending between an exhaust-generating internal combustion engine and an exhaust pipe for release of exhaust into the surrounding environment, includes a three-way catalytic converter disposed in proximity of the combustion engine, a NOx-adsorber disposed upstream of the exhaust pipe, and an exhaust line, which extends between the catalytic converter and the NOx-adsorber, for conducting exhaust. The exhaust line includes an inner tube, an outer tube in spaced-apart surrounding relationship to the inner tube to define a space, and a separation tube received in the space, to thereby define between the inner tube and the separation tube an inner annular gap for conducting exhaust, and between the outer tube and the separation tube an outer annular gap for conducting a coolant. A shut-off device is integrated in the inner tube for regulating the flow of exhaust through the inner tube.

Abstract: In a method of making an exhaust gas collector, a collector housing is made from a tubular blank, and subsequently, an inlet duct is formed through a widening process to provide a substantially rectangular cross section with rounded narrow sides. The inlet duct is provided with a head flange. At the outlet side, the collector housing is necked by a press-forming process so as to shape an outlet duct having a substantially circular cross section which is reduced in size compared to the cross section of the collector housing. Attached to the outlet duct is an end flange.

Abstract: A wavelength calibration system determines an absolute wavelength of a narrowed spectral emission band of an excimer or molecular laser system. The system includes a module including an element which optically interacts with a component of an output beam of the laser within the tunable range of the laser system around the narrowed band. An inter-level resonance is detected by monitoring changes in voltage within the module, or photo-absorption is detected by photodetecting equipment. The absolute wavelength of the narrowed band is precisely determinable when the optical transitions occur and are detected. When the system specifically includes an ArF-excimer laser chamber, the module is preferably a galvatron containing an element that photo-absorbs around 193 nm and the element is preferably a gas or vapor selected from the group consisting of arsenic, carbon, oxygen, iron, gaseous hydrocarbons, halogenized hydrocarbons, carbon-contaminated inert gases, germanium and platinum vapor.

Abstract: An exhaust pipe includes first and second length portions, each having an outer pipe and an inner pipe positioned relative to one another to define an annular gap therebetween. The length portions are placed in confronting disposition with their adjacent first ends interconnected for relative movement in a longitudinal direction. An end piece of the outer pipe of the first length portion is disposed in surrounding relationship to an end piece of the outer pipe of the second length portion at interposition of an end portion of the inner pipe of the first length portion, wherein the end pieces of the outer pipes of the first and second length portions and the end portion of the inner pipe of the first length portion are positioned for relative movement in the longitudinal direction, so as to define a triple sliding fit.

Abstract: An F2-excimer laser has multiple closely-spaced spectral lines of interest around 157 nm, and one of the lines is selected by wavelength selection optics. The wavelength selection optics of a first preferred embodiment include a birefringent Brewster window enclosing the laser gas volume of the discharge chamber. The window preferably comprises MgF2 and is located at one end of the discharge chamber. One line is selected of the two when the optical thickness of the window is selected in coordination with rotatably adjustable, orthogonal refractive indices of the window. The transmissivity of the window is dependent on the orthogonal refractive indices and the optical thickness of the window. The wavelength selection optics of a second preferred embodiment include are at least partially within the laser active volume. In this way, line selection is performed in a manner which optimizes the combination of optical and discharge efficiency, resonator size and cost.

Abstract: An exhaust system used for a motor vehicle and extending between an exhaust-generating internal combustion engine and an exhaust pipe for release of exhaust into the surrounding environment, includes a three-way catalytic converter disposed in proximity of the combustion engine, a NOx-adsorber disposed upstream of the exhaust pipe, and an exhaust line, which extends between the catalytic converter and the NOx-adsorber, for conducting exhaust. The exhaust line includes an inner tube, an outer tube in spaced-apart surrounding relationship to the inner tube to define a space, and a separation tube received in the space, to thereby define between the inner tube and the separation tube an inner annular gap for conducting exhaust, and between the outer tube and the separation tube an outer annular gap for conducting a coolant. A shut-off device is integrated in the inner tube for regulating the flow of exhaust through the inner tube.

Abstract: A line-narrowed excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a gain medium surrounded by a resonator for generating a laser beam, a discharge circuit including a plurality of electrodes for energizing the gain medium and a line-narrowing unit within the resonator for narrowing the bandwidth of the laser system. The resonator includes a deformable resonator reflector. A technique for adjusting the bandwidth of the laser system includes adjusting a surface contour of the deformable resonator reflector. A desired bandwidth may be selected manually or using a processor which automatically controls the surface contour adjustment.

Abstract: An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system generates a laser output bandwidth of less than 0.6 pm, and preferably 0.5-0.4 pm or less. The laser resonator has a line-narrowing unit preferably including a grating, and preferably also a beam expander, and may include one or more etalons or other interferometric devices. The grating may be preferably a blazed grating having a blaze angle greater than 76°, and is preferably around 80°. The grating structure is preferably defined by the surface of the grating substrate. The substrate is preferably aluminum. The system may further include an amplifier for increasing the energy of the sub-0.6 nm output beam.

Abstract: A line-narrowed excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a gain medium surrounded by a resonator for generating a laser beam, a discharge circuit including a plurality of electrodes for energizing the gain medium and a line narrowing unit within the resonator for narrowing the bandwidth of the laser system. The resonator includes a deformable resonator reflector. A technique for adjusting the bandwidth of the laser system includes adjusting a surface contour of the deformable resonator reflector. A desired bandwidth may be selected manually or using a processor which automatically controls the surface contour adjustment.

Abstract: A laser, especially an excimer laser, is designed to generate narrow-band radiation and comprises a laser resonator, including two reflecting elements (12, 14) between which there is disposed a laser active medium (10), and further comprises a group of several refractive dispersive elements (32, 34) arranged in the laser beam path and each deflecting, incident light at an angle &ggr;a,&ggr;b) which is specific of the wavelength of the incident light. It is provided to reduce variations of the emission wavelength which are temperature responsive and time dependent during burst operation by giving at least one of the refractive dispersive elements (32) a refractive index which increases as the temperature goes up and at least one of these elements (34) a refractive index which drops as the temperature rises.