Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a polymer coating on a substrate. The method comprising the steps of providing in an evacuated reaction chamber a substrate having a surface to be coated; and providing a first source of polymer forming material and a second source of radicals. According to the invention the first source and the second source are separated from each other and from the reaction chamber, and the polymer forming material as well as the radicals are, at least temporarily, conducted contemporaneously but spatially separated to the substrate's surface, so that a reaction of the polymer forming material with the radicals is avoided before they reach the substrate's surface. Further, the present invention is directed to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container for storing and planting seeds, bulbs or tubers, the container comprising a housing made of a non-water soluble material, wherein the housing comprises a first compartment for receiving a seed, bulb or tuber, wherein the first compartment is essentially free of water, and a second compartment arranged below the first compartment, for receiving nutrients promoting growth of the seed, bulb or tuber. Still in accordance with the present invention, the container comprises a separation layer between the first and the second compartments, wherein the housing has a rounded shape at its bottom and the container has a center of gravity arranged such that the container is adapted to erect itself when it is deposited on a supporting surface in a tilted manner.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and kit for the separation and purification of cellular components including polar and non-polar metabolites, genomic DNA, RNA and proteins from a single biological sample where two steps of lysis of the cells are performed sequentially, before and after a metabolite isolation step. The first lysis step is mechanical and performed in order to be incomplete, whereas the second is chemical or both mechanical and chemical. A sequential isolation of genomic DNA, RNA and proteins is carried out after the second lysis step.

Abstract: An electrode for forming an electrochemical cell with a substrate and a method of forming said electrode. The electrode comprises a carrier provided with an insulating layer which is patterned at a front side. Conducting material in an electrode layer is applied in the cavities of the patterned insulating layer and in contact with the carrier. A connection layer is applied at the backside of the carrier and in contact with the carrier. The periphery of the electrode is covered by the insulating material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for online and direct control of production of biogas in an anaerobic digester comprising the steps of: a) feeding the anaerobic digester with organic substrate, b) extracting a sample of biogas from the headspace of the anaerobic digester, c) analyzing the composition of the sample of biogas and detecting the quantity of one or more volatile fatty acids in said sample of biogas, d) controlling feeding of the anaerobic digester in view of the quantity of the one or more volatile fatty acids detected in said sample of biogas.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a porous colorimetric gas sensing layer. In various embodiments, the method comprises providing a mixture of an organic solvent, a polymer forming material and a gas sensing compound or gas sensing particles. The method additionally comprises depositing the mixture (sprayed or vaporized) on at least a surface portion of a substrate. Thereafter, an atmospheric pressure plasma is applied to the surface portion to form a polymer layer comprising the gas sensing compound or particles. The steps of depositing the mixture and applying the plasma can be repeated multiple times to form a plurality of stacked or superposed polymer layers comprising the gas sensing compound or particles.

Abstract: The cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue visualization method includes providing a fluorescence intensity image and a fluorescence lifetime image of the tissue; identifying in the fluorescence lifetime image first pixels corresponding to a region of healthy tissue and second pixels corresponding to a region of cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue; defining a weighting function mapping fluorescence lifetime values onto weighting factors in a range from a low weighting factor to a high weighting factor such that the weighting function maps a lifetime value contained in the first pixels onto the low weighting factor and a lifetime value contained in the second pixels onto the high weighting factor; producing a weighted fluorescence intensity image by weighting the intensity values contained in the pixels of the fluorescence intensity image with weighting factors obtained by evaluation of the weighting function at the lifetime values contained in corresponding pixels of the fluorescence lifetime image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying the electronic properties of a surface to analytical ends, such as SIMS or electron spectroscopy, characterised in that it comprises in situ deposition of pure neutral cesium (Cs0), under ultra-high vacuum, said neutral cesium being enabled in the form of a collimated adjustable stream. The invention relates also to the special column designed for implementing the method and to the corresponding energy and/or mass analyser instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for modifying the electronic properties of a surface to analytical ends, such as SIMS or electron spectroscopy, characterised in that it comprises in situ deposition of pure neutral cesium (Cs0), under ultra-high vacuum, said neutral cesium being enabled in the form of a collimated adjustable stream. The invention relates also to the special column designed for implementing the method and to the corresponding energy and/or mass analyser instrument.