Abstract: Spiro compounds of the formula (I), in which at least one of the radicals K1, L, M, N1, R1, R2, R3, R4 is one of the following groups are suitable as charge transport materials, in particular for photovoltaic cells, and as electroluminescence materials.

Abstract: The monostable ferroelectric active matrix display contains a liquid crystal layer in from of a monodomain with an unambiguously defined direction of the normal z to the layer of the smC* phase and is characterized by the fact that the normal z to the layer and the preferential direction n of the nematic or cholesteric phase (N* phase) form an angle of more than 5°.

Abstract: The monostable ferroelectric active matrix display comprises a liquid-crystal layer in the form of a monodomain having an unambiguously defined direction of the layer normal z of the smC* phase, the liquid-crystal layer preferably having a chevron C-1, chevron C-2 or bookshelf geometry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a coating having a titanium boride content of at least 80% by weight, in which a coating having a thickness of from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, a porosity of not more than 10% by volume and an oxygen content of less than 1% by weight is applied to the surface of a substrate by plasma spraying in an atmosphere which is virtually or completely free of oxygen, with no metallic powder being added to the spraying powder.

Abstract: In a monostable ferroelectric active matrix display comprising a liquid-crystal layer in the form of a monodomain having an unambiguously defined direction of the layer normals z of the smC* phase, the layer normals z and the preferential direction n of the nematic or cholesteric phase (N* phase) form an angle of more than 5°.

Abstract: A method for disrupting frozen cells and/or tissue in a solid, frozen state in the presence of a solid denaturing substance is provided. The method comprises providing frozen cells and/or tissue in frozen solid form, adding thereto the solid denaturing substance in sold form, and applying mechanical force thereto for disruption of the frozen cells and/or tissue. The frozen cells and/or tissue include muscle cells and/or muscle tissue, wheat cells and/or wheat tissue, and maize cells and/or maize tissue. Further, the solid, denaturing substance in solid form is a crystalline substance and can be selected from urea, thiourea, guanidium chloride, guanidium thiocyanate and ammonium sulfate. Also the solid, denaturing substance in solid form is added to the frozen cells and/or tissue in frozen form in an approximately 1 to 20 fold (w/w) excess.

Abstract: Provided is a method for characterising an analyte, which method comprises: a) providing a compound in which the analyte is attached by at cleavable linker to a mass marker relatable to the analyte; b) cleaving the mass marker from the analyte; and c) identifying the mass marker, thereby characterising the analyte, wherein the mass marker comprises a metal ion-binding moiety.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test system comprising (a) one or more identical or different immobilized nucleic acid(s) having at least one spliceable nucleic acid, (b) at least one gel-free detection system for detecting a splicing reaction, where appropriate (c) at least one composition comprising splicing components, and preferably (d) suitable detection probes, and, where appropriate, (e) further aids.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for examining chemical reactions in the presence of potentially catalytical substances, wherein reactions are triggered in miniaturized reactors with volumes of 0.001 cm3 to 1 cm3 arranged parallel to each other, and the nature and amount of the reaction mixture are analyzed during the reaction time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pentopyranosylnucleoside of the formula (I) or of the formula (II) 1

Abstract: A process for preparing polymerizable biaryl derivatives comprises reacting an aromatic comprising a 6-membered ring which bears ester or benzylic OH groups in the 1,4 position with a second aromatic in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction to give a biaryl and converting the ester or benzylic OH groups into polymerizable groups in one or more steps. The biaryls obtained are suitable for preparing polymers which are used as electroluminescence materials.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture, especially useful for operation in the &tgr;Vmin−mode, comprises a 5-Arylindane derivative of the formula (I), wherein Y is CH, CF or N and R1(—A1—M1)a(—A2—M2)b—, (M3—A3—)cR2 are mesogenic groups.

Abstract: Fluorinated derivatives of phenanthrene, and their use in liquid-crystal mixtures Fluorinated phenanthrene derivatives of the formula (I)  in which G1 is —CH═CH— or —CH2CH2— X is H or F Y is H or F, and R1 and M1—A1—R2 are mesogenic radicals, are suitable as components of liquid-crystalline mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a poly(A)-specific 3′-exonuclease activity which can be obtained by chromatographically purifying a crude extract of animal or human cells and to its use for deadenylating 3′-poly(A) tails of nucleic acids and as a pharmaceutical or diagnostic agent, or for identifying functional interactors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the racemization of N-acylamino acids of the formula (I) R—CH(NR1COR2)CO2H   (I) in which, in a solvent, an enantiomerically enriched mixture or an enantiomerically pure compound of the formula (I) is reacted in the presence of a transition metal salt, transition metal complex or transition metal complex salt or of a mixture thereof comprising at least one element from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, preferably at a temperature of 10-150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to sophoroselipids of formula (I) wherein R4 represents H, —CH2CH3, —CH2CH2CH3, n is an integer number from 2 to 27, R1 and R2 represent, independently from each other, H or a group of formula (II), and R3 represents H or —OH. The invention also relates to a method for producing sophoroselipids of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and n have the aforementioned meanings and R4 represents —CH3, —CH2CH3 or —CH2CH2CH3. According to this method, a yeast capable of secreting a sophoroselipid in the form of a lactone in the culture excess, is fermented in a culture medium containing a glycerin. a succinate, a mono-, di- and/or tri-saccharide and a lipid precursor, said sophoroslipid being then isolated from the culture solution. The inventive method is characterised in that the lipid precursor contains one or more 3-alkanols, 4-alkanols or an alkanone with a chain length from 6 to 30 carbon atoms or mixtures of said alkanoistalkanone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support body with a coating of at least 95% by weight titanium boride, said coating having an oxygen content of less than or equal to 1% by weight, a metallic impurities content of less than or equal to 0.5% by weight, and a specific electrical resistance of less than or equal to 10 &mgr;&OHgr;·m at room temperature.

Abstract: Thermoplastic mixture based on biopolymers for producing shaped biodegradable articles with improved properties, preparation of the mixture, and also its use. A novel thermoplastic mixture based on biopolymers, in particular on starch, features the presence of lignin and is used for producing shaped biodegradable articles with improved properties, preferably with improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of &ggr;-linolenic acid (GLA) from Colpidium and its use in foodstuffs, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Colpidium can be fermentatively cultured up to a high absolute yield of GLA in an optimized medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification and molecular-biological and biochemical characterization of novel DEAH-box proteins which show structural similarity with other known helicases. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such proteins. It is demonstrated that such proteins bind ATP and nucleic acid and possess helicase and ATPase activities. This invention further relates to processes for preparation of such proteins and their use in pharmacologically relevant test systems and therapeutic applications.