Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining artificial graphite powder for electrical engineering, manufacturing synthetic diamonds and in other fields of technology with especially high requirements for graphite purity. The novelty of the inventive method is the use of pyrolytic carbon material obtained by methane pyrolysis at a temperature of 2100-2400° C. Pyrolytic carbon obtained as a waste product of pyrolytic anisotropic material can be used as a carbon material. The method includes grinding carbon material and its graphitizing at a temperature of 2600° C.-2700° C. The inventive method simplifies the process of preparing artificial graphite powder and enhances the degree of graphitization, which improves the quality of the final product.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides encoding histatin polypeptides expressed in bovine tissues, including mammary gland and paratoid salivary gland tissues, are provided, together with genetic constructs and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides that encode plant transcription factors are provided, together with DNA constructs comprising such polynucleotides. Methods for using such constructs in modulating the expression of endogenous and/or heterologous genes are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.

Abstract: Optical detection techniques for the assessment of the physiological state, health and/or viability of biological materials are provided. Biological materials which may be examined using such techniques include cells, tissues, organs and subcellular components. The inventive techniques may be employed in high throughput screening of potential diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel cement-bound material with a mineral binding agent, a mineral filler and/or mineral aggregates. Said cement-bound material has a proportion of a mass hydrophobing agent comprised of stearates, siliconates, silanes or siloxanes ranging from 0.5 to 20 wt. % with regard to the weight of the mineral binding agent. The cement-bound material also has a proportion of a corrosion inhibitor, which is capable of migrating and which is comprised of nitrites, benzoates, amio alcohols or of sodium monofluorophosphates ranging from 01. to 20 kg per m3 of the active substance, and/or has a proportion of flexible fibers.

Abstract: The intralumenal material removal system includes a cutter assembly positionable in the lumen of a mammalian subject and operably connected to system controls. The cutter assembly is axially advanceable by translating the drive shaft and rotatable by rotating the drive shaft. One cutter assembly comprises an adjustable cutter that is adjustable between a smaller diameter condition and a larger diameter condition by rotation of the drive shaft in opposite directions. The cutter may thus be introduced to and withdrawn from the material removal site in a retracted, smaller diameter condition that facilitates translation and navigation of the device through various lumens. The adjustable cutting assembly may be selectively expanded at the material removal site to facilitate cutting, removal and aspiration of the occlusive material. One composite cutter assembly comprises both a distal, fixed diameter cutter and a proximal adjustable diameter cutter.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides derived from mammalian fsn -/-lymph node stromal cells are provided, together with expression vectors and host cells comprising such isolated polynucleotides. Methods for the use of such polynucleotides and polypeptides are also provided.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides that encode polypeptides involved in plant cell signaling are provided, together with genetic constructs comprising such polynucleotides. Methods for using such constructs for the modulation of cell signaling in plants are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.

Abstract: A water circulation and filtration system for maintaining a high level of water quality in aquariums is provided. In one embodiment, the inventive system comprises a vertical water flushing tube connected to a water supply or a reverse power-head pump and having an opening positioned in proximity to the base of the aquarium. A water circulation tube and water draining tube, each of which has openings located immediately above the base of the aquarium, are provided at the opposing end of the aquarium. The water circulation tube is connected at its other end to a standard filter, while the water draining tube is connected at its other end to a hose leading to a sink, drain or external container. In a second embodiment, water from the aquarium passes through a water draining tube to a filtration chamber which is connected in series to at least one additional filtration chamber. A pump is connected to the final filtration chamber and positioned, in the direction of water flow, after the final filtration chamber.

Abstract: An electronic stethoscope comprises a headpiece, a chest-piece and two earpieces. The headpiece is fitted with a display arrangement in the form of a liquid-crystal display. A microphone, one or more sensors and fixed electrodes and movable electrodes are mounted in the headpiece. The movable electrodes are fixed to pivoted arms which form a contact ring.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving living biological materials that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate, bisulfate and iodide. In one embodiment, preferred for the preservation of platelets, the solutions comprise betaine, sodium chloride and sodium citrate. For the preservation of many living biological materials, the inventive solutions preferably contain a calcium salt selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Mobile Tele-Medical Maintenance system (MTMM system) that applies different IT methods to perform different functions for the tele-medical maintenance of large numbers of individuals. The MTMM system includes a system kernel residing on web servers, linked to a large number of peripheral units on the individuals. The kernel contains a collection of all the “Private Medical Web Sites” and “Personal Health Plans” of the individuals. The MTMM system periphery includes walk-in care offices and intelligent physiological sensors that can communicate directly with the kernel's programs via the Internet or similar communication networks, preferably using the user's phone and its traditional interfaces, message display plus message voice, and push-button plus voice input. The system kernel controls the actuators directly in the periphery and uses message display and message voice output of the telephone to interact with the individual.

Abstract: Methods for the prevention and treatment of disorders, including disorders of the skin and respiratory system, such as infection with mycobacteria such as M. tuberculosis or M. avium, sarcoidosis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis and lung cancers are provided, such methods comprising administering a composition comprising at least one derivative of delipidated and deglycolipidated M. vaccae cells.

Abstract: A free movement guiding installation is provided, which comprises a number of guide gratings suspended on a motor-drivable profile ring. The guide gratings revolve in the region of a circular longeing path and are each distanced to one another. The intermediate space between two neighboring guide gratings forms a horse guiding region. The profile ring is movably held on supports over the circular longeing path by way of a suspension which comprises a frame element with support wheels for the profile ring.

Abstract: In the outer sleeve there runs a threaded spindle which is mounted in a bearing sleeve (5) and on which a piston (30) is movable up and down. The outer sleeve (1) is in relation to its inner diameter Ad considerably longer than with known glue sticks. The ratio of the inner diameter Ad of the outer sleeve (1) to the length AL of the part of the outer sleeve which serves for receiving a rod-like adhesive mass (10) here lies in the region of 1:6 to 1:15. This however according to the invention demands that the threaded spindle is configured such that it simultaneously serves as a conveyor worm. Thanks to the special configuration of the piston (30) is spite of the great length of the threaded spindle there is achieved a bending-breakage stabilization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tape dispenser for producing lengths of tape. The tape dispenser comprises a rotatable roller on which the tape is wound up and a rotatable take-off roller across which the tape to be taken off is guided. The take-off roller has at least one perforation element that is directed against the surface of support of the tape and that is used to perforate the tape. The dispenser is further provided with latch elements that block the take-off roller if the tape has covered a certain distance once it has been perforated. The latch elements release the take-off roller once the perforated section at the tape's end is separated from the tape.

Abstract: Novel isolated polynucleotides associated with the lignin biosynthetic pathway are provided, together with constructs including such sequences. Methods for the modulation of lignin content, lignin structure and lignin composition in target organisms are also disclosed, the methods comprising incorporating one or more of the polynucleotides of the present invention into the genome of a target organism.

Abstract: Methods for the separation of chaotropic and kosmotropic enantiomers within a racemic mixture are provided. Such methods comprise differentially partitioning the enantiomers into stabilized microdomains of low density water and high density water abutting a porous surface.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical preparation adhering to the skin, in particular a transdermal therapeutic system, for the release of the active substance 17-&bgr;-estradiol, contained therein in dissolved form being between its saturation concentration in equilibrium with a gas phase of less than 10% relative air humidity and its saturation concentration in equilibrium with a gas phase of more than 90% relative air humidity, in all matrix levels and, if present, also in an adhesive layer, characterized in that the estradiol quantity contained in in the preparation amounts to at least three times the saturation solubility measured at 95% relative air humidity, and that the air enclosed in the package is adjusted to a relative air humidity between 5% and below 0.5%.