Abstract: A heat pipe having a working chamber having an evaporator region operatively connected to a heat source, and a condenser region operatively connected to a heat sink. A working fluid is provided in the working chamber, and heat is transferred from the heat source to the heat sink by the working fluid in a first state of operation. The heat pipe is a switchable and/or programmable thermal diode or a switchable and/or programmable heat switch, at least one activatable functional material is provided, which is arranged and configured to keep the evaporator region free of the working fluid and/or to prevent the working fluid from evaporating in a second state of operation, in order to reduce and/or hinder heat transfer and/or to alter the preferential direction of heat conduction. A system and method for switching and/or programming heat transfer in a heat pipe are also provided.

Abstract: Reinforcement for a material may be provided that includes a moldable composition, particularly for a building material, in which barley awns and seed parachutes, such as from bulrush seeds, are present as components in the reinforcement. The seed parachutes may comprise stem fibers and lateral fibers branching off therefrom, where the lateral fibers of the seed parachutes are connected to one another by the barley awns. The barley awns may have a weight proportion of approximately 0.1 to approximately 2 times, such as approximately 0.5 to approximately 1 time, higher than the weight proportion of the seed parachutes. A building material may be provided that includes the described reinforcement. A method for producing the building material may also be provided.

Abstract: Reinforcement for a material may be provided that includes a moldable composition, particularly for a building material, in which barley awns and seed parachutes, such as from bulrush seeds, are present as components in the reinforcement. The seed parachutes may comprise stem fibers and lateral fibers branching off therefrom, where the lateral fibers of the seed parachutes are connected to one another by the barley awns. The barley awns may have a weight proportion of approximately 0.1 to approximately 2 times, such as approximately 0.5 to approximately 1 time, higher than the weight proportion of the seed parachutes. A building material may be provided that includes the described reinforcement. A method for producing the building material may also be provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting the formation of mold fungus, and to the uses of said method for optimizing buildings and construction products, or food products or the like. The inventive method is characterized in that biological germination conditions or growth conditions for at least one mold fungus, which are determined experimentally or by a computer, are compared with the hygrothermic conditions on an object to be examined, said hygrothermic conditions also being determined experimentally or by a computer. Based on the data obtained, it is determined whether the germination conditions or the growth conditions are obtained on said object.