Abstract: During the simultaneous casting and directional solidification of several castings in pre-heated casting moulds (11), these standing around a central cavity (H) on a ring-shaped cooling plate (5) after pouring off are continuously removed from a heating chamber (14) by a vertical movement relative to the heating chamber in accordance with the solidification temperature and the castings are cooled by heat radiation to below the solidus temperature. In order to increase the production rate and the product quality, the casting moulds (11) are moved over a firm heat sink (9) during the directional solidification by continuous relative movement of the cooling plate (5), said heat sink thereby penetrating into the cavity (H).

Abstract: The invention provides transgenic non-human animals in which genes encoding colony-stimulating factors have been specifically disrupted, so that the animals do not express the respective factors. In specific embodiments the invention provides mice in which expression of GM-CSF, G-CSF and/or CSF-1 is disrupted. These animals do not produce any bioactive CSF of the respective type. They are useful as models for a variety of conditions, and particularly for testing of therapeutic methods.

Abstract: For the determination of an immunologically detectable substance based on a heterogeneous immunoassay by use of a solid phase on which one of the immunologically active reaction components is bound, a reaction vessel is used as the solid phase on the inner surface of which streptavidin or avidin is bound in such an amount that 0.1 to 2.5 .mu.g are present per ml reaction volume.A suitable reaction vessel for this has optically transparent wall areas which face one another and has avidin or streptavidin coated walls which are at least partially within the inner wall region intended as a receptacle for liquid, wherein the inner space of the container intended as a receptacle for liquid and the respective streptavidin or avidin content of the coating are so matched that 0.1 to 2.5 .mu.g streptavidin or avidin are present per ml reaction volume.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the electroless deposition of a copper coating on an iron or iron alloy surface wherein the workpiece surface is contacted with a solution which contains hydrogen ions, 5 to 30 g/l Cu as well as 0.2 to 5 g/l Mg and preferably copper and magnesium with a weight ratio of Cu:Mg of (35 to 5):1 for a treatment time of 3 sec to 15 min at a temperature of the solution of 20.degree. to 65.degree. C.The invention also comprises a solid concentrate for preparing and replenishing the solution for carrying out the process, which consists of at least 85 wt-% CuSO.sub.4.5H.sub.2 O and MgSO.sub.4 (anhydrous) with a weight ratio of (35 to 5):1, and preferably contains in addition a maximum of 10 wt-% polyglycol and a maximum of 5 wt-% sodium chloride.

Abstract: A vertically disposed drive spindle (5) rotates turntable (6) supporting a substrate (7) at high speed, the turntable having a smaller diameter than the substrate. Coaxial with the turntable (6), a centering ring (10) having a frustoconical inside surface can be raised vertically between a lower and upper position. The latter has on its upper side a greater diameter and on its lower side a smaller diameter than the substrate (7). In its lower position the centering ring (10) is at a distance from a substrate (7) lying on the turntable (6), but in its upper position its inside surface supports the substrate (7) at an axial distance above turntable (6).

Abstract: A solid or hollow cylindrical heat-resistant substrate having a tapered shape is rotated about its axis, the degree of tapering being essentially constant along the entire length. The substrate has an outer diameter in the range of 20 mm to 500 mm and a length in the range of 500 mm to 5,000 mm. A mother material body made of porous quartz glass is formed on the outer surface of the substrate by chemical deposition, and vitrified by heating while holding it vertically with the larger outer-diameter side of the heat-resistant substrate positioned downward. Alternatively the heat-resistant substrate is extracted from the mother material body and a heat-resistant tapered body with a taper similar to that of the substrate is inserted into the hole left after extraction in the central region of the mother material body. The mother material body is vitrified starting at the lower end with the larger outer-diameter side positioned downwardly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a melanoma-inhibiting protein, nucleic acid sequences coding for this protein, process for the isolation of this protein as well as its use for the production of a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: In at least one operating situation, especially while the vehicle is stopped, pressure is built up in a defined manner and then released for test purposes without waiting for a steady state value to be reached. On the basis of the pressure-time or force-time curve in at least one wheel brake, a determination is made on whether or not an unacceptable amount of undissolved gas is present in the brake system.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering film containers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a separating device for withdrawing a film stored in a wound state within a film container held at a holding portion from the film container and then separating the film from the film container and a recovering section for recovering into a collecting section the film container from which the film has been separated. According to the spirit of the invention, the recovering section includes a classifying device for classifying the film container according to the type and a plurality of collecting sections for collecting a plurality of film containers type-classified by the classifying device separately from each other according to the type.

Abstract: A rotating head (11) for crystal pulling systems (1) according to Czochralski has a reference platform (16) which is able to rotate around a vertical rotation axis (A--A) with a vertical feed-through opening (25) for a pulling cable (13) that can be wound up and a drive assembly (23) for driving a shaft (22). A winding drum (15) with a helical winding groove (29) for the pulling cable is located on this shaft in a fixed manner so it cannot rotate, but can be moved axially. In order to avoid abrasion and contamination and to accurately guide the cable (13), a helical guiding element (30) with the same pitch as the winding groove is located on the shaft (22) at a location remote from the vertical rotation axis (A--A). This guiding element is able to rotate with the shaft. The guiding element works together with a guiding nut (31) in such a way that the part of the cable (13) which faces tangentially away from the winding drum (15) is directly guided in the vertical rotation axis (A--A).

Abstract: The invention involves dimeric forms of the protein known as fibroblast activation protein alpha, or "FAP.alpha." and its uses.

Abstract: A porous silica body with a density of 0.1 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 and a density variation of less than 30% is subjected to a first heat-treatment in an ammonia-containing atmosphere, a second heat-sintering in non-oxidizing atmosphere, and further heat-treatment at a temperature in the range of 1400.degree. C. to 2000.degree. C. under an increased pressure of 500 kg/cm.sup.2 or more in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention provides for monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to type I phospholipase A.sub.2 for use as a diagnostic agent and as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent, which is particularly suitable for application in acute pancreatitis. The invention further provides for pharmaceutical compositions including the antibodies of the invention. The invention also provides for a method for treating subjects suffering from inflammatory symptoms and for detecting the activity of type I phospholipase A.sub.2 in a sample.

Abstract: A method for determining lung adenocarcinomas is described. The method involves assaying for expression of a gene coding for at least one of tumor rejection antigen precursors MAGE-1, 2 and 3, or their expression product.

Abstract: A continuous process of producing beer is described. Starch-containing raw materials are disintegrated and are optionally processed to form malt, a wort is produced from the disintegrated and optionally malted raw materials, and the wort is subjected to alcoholic fermentation. In that process all process steps are performed continuously. The mash is initially heated in a reactor system to a temperature of 75.degree. to 85.degree. C. The grain residue is removed from the mash. The wort is subsequently hopped and is heated to a temperature from 105.degree. to 140.degree. C. This is succeeded by a flash evaporation, a removal of the dregs and a cooling of the wort, which is subsequently fermented at 6.degree. to 25.degree. in the presence of a biocatalyst. The fermenting process may be succeeded by a partial or full continuous de-alcoholization of the beer.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleoside derivatives having photolabile protective groups of the general formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 .dbd.H, NO.sub.2, CN, OCH.sub.3, halogen or alkyl or alkoxyalkyl having 1 to 4 C atomsR.sup.2 .dbd.H, OCH.sub.3R.sup.3 .dbd.H, F, Cl, Br, NO.sub.2R.sup.4 .dbd.H, halogen, OCH.sub.3, or an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 C atomsR.sup.5 .dbd.H or a usual functional group for preparing oligonucleotidesR.sup.6 .dbd.H, OH, halogen or XR.sup.8, where X.dbd.O or S and R.sup.8 represents a protective group usual in nucleotide chemistry,B=adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, 2,6-diaminopurin-9-yl, hypoxanthin-9-yl, 5-methylcytosin-1-yl, 5-amino-4-imidazolcarboxamid-1-yl, or 5-amino-4-imidazolcarboxamid-3-yl, where in the case of B=adenine, cytosine or guanine, the primary amino function optionally exhibits a permanent protective group.These derivatives may be used for the light-controlled synthesis of oligonucleotides on a DNA chip.

Abstract: A puller (22) above the melt extracts a crystal (8) upwardly out of the melt surface into a laterally turnable airlock chamber (5) An uncoupling device (7) provided between the crystal (8) and the puller permits the severance of the crystal (8) from the puller. The device (7) is formed by a coupling ring (10) connected to the pull shaft (22) and having a longitudinal slot (9) which cooperates with a crystal holder which is provided with a mushroom-shaped head part (11), and by an airlock ring (14) held by the cover plate (15) of the airlock chamber (5). Airlock gates (13, 13') journaled on the airlock ring (14) pivot about horizontal axes (35, 35') from a horizontal locking position to a vertical open position and vice versa, their end faces (16, 16') forming an opening (17) in the locking position, thereby encompassing the shaft (19) of the seed holder (12) to lock it in the plane of the airlock ring (14).

Abstract: In a process for cleaning oil-wetted structural parts, a vacuum furnace (1) is first evacuated to a defined first pressure to eliminate residual air. Then an inert gas is introduced until a second, subatmospheric pressure is reached, which is above the first pressure, and the inert gas is circulated inside the vacuum furnace. To reduce the heat-up times and to conserve energy and inert gas:(a) the second pressure is above the vapor pressure curve of the wetting oil and is reached by flooding the vacuum furnace (1);(b) the inert gas feed and the evacuation are interrupted after the flooding, and the inert gas and the oil vapors are circulated exclusively in the interior of the vacuum furnace (1); and(c) upon completion of the heat-up period, a connection is established from the vacuum furnace (1) to a condenser (11) and to a vacuum pump (12); the pressure is lowered to a value below the vapor pressure curve; and the oils thus evaporated are withdrawn and condensed.

Abstract: A method for determining lung adenocarcinomas is described. The method involves assaying for expression of a gene coding for at least one of tumor rejection antigen precursors MAGE-1, 2 and 3, or their expression product.