Abstract: The present invention provides novel marker genes for the specific identification and characterization of human suppressive and/or regulatory T cells including natural, adaptive, and expanded CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells in healthy individuals as well as tumor patients or patients with autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: A method for the identification of regulatory T cells based on the diminished abundance or even absence of the global gene regulator SATB1 in such regulatory T cells. In particular, the invention relates to a method utilizing ligands that specifically bind to SATB1 for identifying regulatory T cells which are cells showing a reduced binding to said ligand. Such method is suitable for quality determination of a regulatory T cell population. A kit or diagnostic composition for such method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel marker genes for the specific identification and characterization of human suppressive and/or regulatory T cells including natural, adaptive, and expanded CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells in healthy individuals as well as tumor patients or patients with autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for overcoming the adverse effects of disintegration of molten steel streams due to sub-surface growth of carbon monoxide bubbles when exposed to reduced pressures and thus permits refining of liquid scrap much the same way as if it were a quiescent liquid melt. Steel scrap contaminated with copper, tin, zinc and organics, such as PVC coating, is preheated and melted continuously using melt circulation and then continuously refined in-line to yield high quality liquid steel and separate non-ferrous metal byproducts by straightforward physical desorption under reduced pressure using an inert strip gas within a desorber and then subsequent iron vapour condensation by direct contacting with liquid steel followed by selective condensation of copper initially and then recovery of tin. Formation of dioxins from scrap containing chlorine is precluded by inline scrubbing of pyrolysis gas formed during scrap preheating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing metal oxide material to metal comprising the steps of forcibly circulating molten carrier material in a closed loop path serially through a charge reduction zone on one arm of the loop, a combined melt desulphurisation zone and post combustion or heating zone on the other, reducing said metal oxide to solid metal by the carbonaceous material contained within a mixed composite charge of the metal oxide, carbonaceous reductant and flux in said reduction zone, the metal oxide and carbonaceous reductant being utilised in proportions such that the carbon from the carbonaceous reductant is converted to carbon monoxide; reacting carbon monoxide with oxygen in the refining loops downstream from the reduction loop before being combusted to completion in the heating zone at the surface of the molten carrier material so that heat generated by the reaction is transferred to the molten carrier material which is circulated to the reduction zone; separating a metallised ra

Abstract: The present invention provides a process plant for the production of molten steel from primary and/or secondary ferrous materials in which no free oxygen is permitted to contact directly carbon-containing iron melts, comprising:—i) at least three pairs of furnaces (1,2; 3,4;5,6), each furnace of a pair having a hearth base (36) and being interconnected so as to form a continuous flowpath loop for molten metal, the first pair (1,2) defining an iron making loop (A) and the second and third pair (3,4;5,6) defining primary and secondary steel refining loops (B,C) respectively, (ii) means (8) for transferring molten metal from the ironmaking loop (A) to the first refining loop (B) and from the first refining loop (B) to the second refining loop (C), (iii) means for controllably supplying heat to, and removing heat from metal in the furnaces (1,2,3,4,5,6), whereby, in use a central region of metal (19a) in the furnace (1,2,3,4,5,6) becomes or is maintained in its molten state and a peripheral region of the metal (2