Cancer patients frequently bear therapeutically relevant genome alteration. For instance, lung adenocarcinomas of patients that have never smoked carry genome alterations affecting kinases, such as EGFR mutations and translocations affecting ALK, ROS1, and RET genes. These patients can be effectively treated with an ever-growing number of kinase inhibitors. However, despite substantive cancer genome sequencing efforts a majority of tumors still lacks therapeutically tractable alterations. Scientists of the University of Cologne identified NRG1 gene fusions as ideal diagnostic and prognostic markers and targets for various tumours. The MTSS1-NRG1 fusion event has e.g. been detected in patients with small cell lung cancer and the gene fusion CD74-NRG1 has been shown to occur frequently in never smokers with invasive mucinous lung adenocarcinoma lacking KRAS mutation. The latter has been verified by several other groups.

So far the analysis of indoor concentrations of formaldehyde is only possible via expensive methods, normally requiring GC or HPLC analysis in the lab. So called MOX (metal oxide) sensors theoretically permit an online-monitoring, but there is so far no instrument available for the detection of relevant concentrations in the ppb-range at reasonable costs.
Our invention presents a novel MOX-sensor based on In4Sn3O12 as sensitive layer with sensitivities for formaldehyde being two orders of magnitude above those of established reference sensors. Our sensor allows an online/realtime-monitoring of formaldehyde in day to day settings, at low cost.

The invention reveals a cost effective method for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Using common 3D printer technology a template based on patients tumor shape is generated, which can be used for defining the position of the individual leaves of a multi leave collimator.

The present invention provides compounds acting as an effective and selective medicament for the treatment of neoplastic diseases or proliferative disorders, in particular compounds which induce selectively apoptosis of degenerated cells providing reduced side effects in living organisms. The compounds of the present invention are characterized by a high selectivity towards neoplastic cells. CLL cells show a higher sensitivity towards the compounds than PBMCs opening a therapeutic window. The EC50 for CLL cells is in the lower micromolar range.

The invention offers a method to create and use electronic coupons in a new way. The coupons can be spread both directly between smartphones and by means of social networks or by means of classical advertisement, such as posters or fliers. The value of each single coupon can be increased by sharing it, initiating a viral distribution by rewarding the users for the sharing. As each coupon is unique, statistics can be performed allowing insight on the acceptance, use and distribution ways of every used coupons, allowing insight in the own mobile couponing procedures on a new level.

Researchers at Reutlingen University have succeeded in developing a label-free method for the characterization of metaphase chromosomes. The method and the corresponding analysis algorithm allow for visualization of both the chemical properties (absorption) and the morphological properties (stray light) of a chromosome. Using this method, the bands and sub-bands can be characterized with high resolution. Thus, no staining is required for unambiguous identification. The technology can be integrated into all imaging methods (e.g.microscopy).

In a new study published in the latest edition of the scientific journal PLOS Biology*, a research team from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal)…

The object of this invention was to develop a sealing material that allows the transport of flower arrangements in a suitable vessel with continuous liquid contact. To achieve this, a suitable transport vessel is filled with water and the flowers are placed into it. Then, a hydrophobic substance with a density of <1 g/cm3, like a suitable grease, is applied in liquid form into the vessel. The grease floats on the water surface, penetrates between the stems and solidifies. Afterwards a water-containing liquid is applied on this layer and penetrates between the stems, too. Finally it solidifies into a gel with sufficient stability. The method allows an uninterrupted supply of water, nutrients and fresh-keeping agents for the flowers. As a result, the durability of the flowers will be increased under certain circumstances.

The invention relates to the usage of a tunable, resonant electromagnetic field for both, the targeted fabrication of structures with dimensions smaller than the used beam diameter and the targeted fabrication of ultra small particles. Therefor the electromagnetic field that is created by an ultra short laser pulse on the surface of an object is superposed with an external field to achieve a resonance rise specific to the processed material.

Piezo electric, low frequency and broadband converter of vibrational energy: Energy harvesters convert mechanical vibrational into electrical energy due to piezo electric effect. Here the piezo is coupled in a non-linear way with other spring elements allowing energy conversion from significantly lower frequencies.

The findings appear Feb. 23 online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. A PDF is available on request.

Perfusion analysis in animal models (e.g. myocardial infarction) is currently determined by using fluorescent particles or dyes that are injected into circulation. They distribute throughout all blood vessels and stain them permanently. Thus it is possible to distinguish areas that are supplied with blood and those that are not. Since the dyes are long-lasting in the tissues they interfere with subsequent methods of analysis. A model animal that is used for perfusion analytics can therefore only be used for this specific analytical method.
The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by injecting non fluorescent inert particles that are the first component of an orthogonal system. After perfusion with these particles, the second component is added to frozen tissue sections of interest. Thus, perfusion analysis is solely performed on a selected tissue section, without any limitations for the remaining tissue.
This approach allows a background-free subsequent tissue analysis, optimizes data harvest, is economic and reduces animal consumption.

Future electro-mobility concepts require advanced battery technologies. Main drawbacks today are restrictions in energy density, cycling stability, and cost. The presented invention provides a solution that helps to overcome these problems. Extensive laboratory tests have already demonstrated the advantages of the invented process for preparing lithium-ion battery electrodes. Further improvement is currently under development. PROvendis offers licenses for this invention to interested companies on behalf of the University of Muenster, Germany.

Temperaturstabilisierung ist bei hochauflösenden Mikroskopen sehr wichtig. Die von DKFZ entwickelte Technologie ermöglicht mit Durchstrom von exakt temperierter Flüssigkeit durch die Temperiereinheiten die genaue Regulation der Temperatur und somit eine Wärmeaufnahme und -abgabe am Mikroskopaufbau.

Invention of a stretcher on wheels for rescuing persons on big events with increased ease of operation for the rescue staff. The retractable cover protects the patient from rain and looks of bystanders.

Itaconic acid (ITA) – also known as methylenesuccinic acid or butanedioic acid – is one of the top 12 bio-based chemical building blocks and thus a promising platform compound for production of biofuels, chemical compounds, including e.g. detergents, and polymers, including plastics and artificial glass.
Itaconic acid (C5H6O4) is an organic dicarbonic acid which is soluble in water, ethanol, and acetone.
The new method for production of itaconic acid uses genes encoding for the itaconic acid biosynthesis pathway of the genus Ustilago maydis.

Eye drops of blood serum are an established and very effective therapeutic agent in many ophthalmological diseases such as keratitis and dry eye syndrome.The production of serum eye drops and the partition in one-day-doses must be operated under clean room conditions in order to prevent any contamination of the eye drops.
This product allows a fast and easy production of eye drops from blood serum without the need of a clean room laboratory. The single use product utilizes a closed system, which guaran-tees the sterility of the serum eye drops.

Electrical sensing array for the detection of multiple biological or chemical species in complex samples with applications e.g. in chemical analysis and medical diagnostics.
Such a device allows for simultaneous and spatiotemporal detection of concentration gradients in test samples. A direct integration of the proposed sensor array into many kinds of sensing platforms like microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip systems is possible and a combination with conventional optical read-out techniques can be realized.

The present invention addresses the AD-converter in the receiver which is in respect to power consumption a highly crucial component. By reducing the resolution down to 1 bit and simultaneously improving the signal-to-noise ratio by a new demodulator concept the invention offers a cost and power efficient design for the RF front-end.

Moguntinones, a class of small molecule compounds comprise 3-(indolyl)- or 3-(azaindolyl)-4-arylmaleimide derivatives with tumor and vascular targeting properties. The present invention relates to the use of Moguntinones for treatment of colorectal or gastric adenocarcinoma.

Tumor growth and metastasis are highly associated with the overexpression of protein kinases. Therefore protein kinases are an interesting class of target molecules for improved therapeutic attempts. These proteins are known to regulate the majority of cellular pathways including such relevant for control cell growth, movement and death – all processes relevant for cancer growth and progression.

A physiological process focused on in development of anti-cancer agents is apoptosis, a controlled form of cell death eliminating damaged, aberrant, infected, old or superfluous cells. In particular often mucosa tissue such as gastrointestinal mucosa is characterized by a rapid epithelial cell turnover in which homeostasis is maintained predominantly by apoptosis.

One essential prerequisite for growth and metastasis of cancers which form tumors is angiogenesis, a process involving the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing capillary endothelial cells. Tumor cells may enhance angiogenesis by overexpression of proangiogenic factors, e.g. VEGF or interleukins. In general, this is especially pronounced with tumors having a high microvessel density as well as a particular aggressive behavior and high tendency to metastasize. Therefore, inhibitors of angiogenesis are researched as antitumor agents.

[Ref. UMZ252]