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This invention enables an easy and economical way for the stratification of patients (e.g. for treatment with tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors) with a state-of-the-art sensitivity, which might be even be more sensitive than mutation detection by next-generation-sequencing technologies. In addition this detection technology is based on the established and worldwide accessible RT-PCR-platform. It can even be used – in combination with suitable enrichment strategies – for the non-invasive analysis of CTCs or free DNA from plasma/serum samples to facilitate continuous monitoring of treatment response.
Currently, the inventors are establishing strategies for detecting a panel of the most common oncogenic mutations with similar impressive sensitivities.

Hepatic failure is a terminal picture of many liver diseases such as hepatic steatosis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and is treated by liver transplantation, but a lack of donor organs is a worldwide problem. Thus, there is a demand for a means for safe and rapid liver regeneration for small grafts. One possibility would be the generation of a patient’s own liver tissue using isolated stem cells. The inventors found that mesenchymal stem cells can reprogrammed into hepatocytes by treatment with bile acids. Already after 7 days of treatment in serum-free medium, the resulting cell population showed markers characteristic for hepatic differentiation like albumin expression. Bile acids exert their function via the farnesoid X receptor and the G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (TGR5). Cells obtained by the protocol may be used in a tissue replacement therapy.

Achieving economic and environmental viability of hydrogen production through water splitting especially using energy derived from green and sustainable sources is the hallmark of the hydrogen economy. In this invention non-precious metal containing catalysts replacing platinum group metal-based ones are introduced which is key to enable cost-effective water splitting and affordable fuel cells.

The Snail/Gfi1 (SNAG) family of zinc finger proteins is a group of transcriptional repressors. Gfi1 is expressed in the hematopoietic and nervous system. Consequently, mutations of Gfi1 cause defects in hematopoiesis and inner ear development. In the Gfi1P2A/P2A mouse strain, a point mutation has been inserted in the SNAG domain that replaces a proline at amino acid position 2 by alanine (P2A). This completely abrogates the activity of Gfi1 as transcriptional repressor. Gfi1 and its paralogue Gfi1b have overlapping, however differential functions in hematopoiesis. Loss of Gfi1 in mice affects pre-T-cell differentiation, the development of neutrophil granulocytes and inner ear hair cells, whereas in contrast loss of Gfi1b impairs the development of erythroid cells and megacaryocytes. Therefore, Gfi1P2A/P2A mice can be used as a model to study and treat deafness as a consequence of defects of inner ear development as well as defects of hematopoiesis in immunological disorders.

Bei der vorliegenden Erfindung handelt es sich um ein Verfahren zur Herstellung dünner Polymer-Elektrolyte, die zudem mechanisch stabil und gleichzeitig auch flexibel sind. Diese zeichnen sich durch gute ionische Transporteigenschaften aus, d.h. die Leitfähigkeit bei Raumtemperatur beträgt 1 mS/cm. Die Membranen können aufgrund ihrer mechanischen Eigenschaften in Lithium-basierten Energiespeichen gleichzeitig als Elektrolyt und Separator eingesetzt werden. Das Verfahren ermöglicht die Verarbeitung von Polyacrylnitril basierten Membranen zusammen mit dem Lithiumleitsalz und ermöglicht eine gleichmäßige Materialstärke.

The invention consists of a cooled cylinder unit for a rheometer
and a method to identify rheological properties. By use of the
invention the cooling time in convective cooled rheometers can be
reduced. This can be necessary to reduce or prevent thermal
degradation of thermal sensitive polymers (i.e. biobased or bio-
degradable polymers).