Abstract: The invention features polymeric biomaterials formed by nucleophilic addition reactions to conjugated unsaturated groups. These biomaterials may be used for medical treatments.

Abstract: A method is specified for operating a rotating electrical machine, in which the rotating electrical machine is connected in terms of phase to a converter circuit, having a DC voltage circuit, for connecting at least two voltage levels, and the phases of the converter circuit are connected to the DC voltage circuit in accordance with a selected switching state combination of switching states for power semiconductor switches in the converter circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides polarizing devices and illumination devices that include the polarizing devices. The polarizing devices and illumination devices can be advantageously used in a wide variety of applications, such as in liquid crystal displays. Polarizing devices provided by the present invention include those having an isotropic waveguiding layer with a refractive index ni and an anisotropic separating layer having an anisotropic region with principal refractive indices nx and ny, wherein nx>ny and wherein ni is substantially smaller than nx and substantially larger than ny. An example of a further polarizing device provided by the present invention is one having a waveguiding layer and a separating layer, wherein the separating layer includes a form birefringent region.

Abstract: Disclosed are materials that may be used in the design of improved devices and wound treatment platforms though covalent and/or non-covalent attachment of bioactive proteins. The proteins comprise any variety of cell growth and/or healing promoting proteins, such as growth factor. The incorporation of these whole proteins may be designed to provide controlled release thereof in a biological system through further use of enzyme degradation sites. Heparin-binding protein or fusion proteins synthesized to contain a heparin-binding domain are two mechanisms that may be used in providing these properties to a matrix, such as a fibrinogen matrix. The proteins will be used to provide enhanced healing in various tissues including vasculature, skin, nerve, and liver. The materials disclosed will be used to enhance would?? Healing and other generative processes by engineering the fibrin gel to contain appropriate proteins with specifically designed release and/or degradation characteristics.

Abstract: The invention features polymeric biomaterials formed by nucleophilic addition reactions to conjugated unsaturated groups. These biomaterials may be used for medical treatments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calorimeter comprising a reactor (1) that is fitted in an intermediate thermostat (2). Said intermediate thermostat (2) cooperates with an external thermostat (3) and comprises a metal block (4) as the heat transfer medium. The inventive calorimeter can be produced at lower costs than those comprising a double-walled reaction vessel and allows especially IR probe analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic machine tool, for the production of base structures, for false teeth, in particular, for tooth crowns and/or tooth bridges of exact three-dimensional shape. Said base structures may be fixed to prepared natural and/or artificial tooth stumps. The machine tool comprises a machine frame, or a body, a work piece carrier, with a rotation shaft, at least one digitization unit, at least one machining unit and an electronic arithmetic and control unit for all drive lines. A carrier for the workpiece, a blank, and/or for the machining unit(s), serves as displacement unit, with three translational axes in the x-, y- and z-directions. The digitization of the preparation model and the machining of the blank are carried out on the same machine tool, at different times. The machining paths for the blank are calculated from the measured and stored digitized data and a predetermined material-specific scaling factor, before the machining of the blank.

Abstract: Proteins are incorporated into protein or polysaccharide matrices for use in tissue repair, regeneration and/or remodeling, and/or drug delivery. The proteins can be incorporated so that they are released by degradation of the matrix, enzymatic action, and/or diffusion. In one embodiment, a fusion protein, which contains a crosslinking region, such as a factor XIIIa substrate, and a native protein sequence, such as a bioactive factor, is constructed. Degradable linkages may be included between the crosslinking region and the bioactive factor.

Abstract: Display devices are disclosed of a high brightness, high contrast and large viewing angle that comprise at least one thin, photoluminescent layer that is characterized in a high degree of polarization in its absorption. Also disclosed are methods for making same.

Abstract: Multifunctional, polyionic copolymers with molecular architectures and properties optimized for specific applications are synthesized on/or applied to substrate surfaces for analytical and sensing purposes. The coatings are particularly useful for suppression of non-specific interaction, adsorption or attachment of molecular or ionic components present in an analyte solution. Chemical, biochemical or biological groups that are able to recognize, interact with and bind specifically to target molecules in the material containing the analyte to be detected can be coupled to, integrated into, or absorbed to the multifunctional copolymers. These multifunctional copolymer coatings are compatible with a variety of different established methods to detect, sense and quantify the target molecule in an analyte.

Abstract: Melt-processible, thermoplastic polyethylene compositions of high resistance against wear are disclosed and methods for making and processing same. Additionally, products comprising these compositions are described.

Abstract: A simple and reproducible preparative method for the fabrication of surface-chemical gradients is described herein. Surface-chemical gradient films are prepared by using a liquid front in relative motion to the substrate (e.g. immersion by a linear-motion drive or the use of a spreading droplet) to gradually expose substrate samples to very dilute solutions of adsorbates. As demonstrated by XPS, the self-assembled monolayer gradients produced in this way display a high packing density. This method can be used in the preparation of other gradients of various chemical or biochemical functionalities in one or two dimensions. Such gradients can be used in a wide variety of applications in such diverse areas as cell motility studies, nanotribology research, and high-throughput screening.

Abstract: An optical transient sensor circuit includes a photodiode in series with a MOS feedback transistor connected across a voltage difference. An inverting amplifier having its input connected to the common connection between the photodiode and the MOS feedback transistor and its output connected to an output-node for a measure of the incoming irradiance. A charge/discharge circuit, having an input connected to the output of the inverting amplifier, having an output connected to the gate of the MOS feedback transistor and having a first and second output for half-wave rectified and thresholded contrast encoding measures of positive and negative irradiance transients. A capacitor connected between a constant potential and the gate of the MOS feedback transistor.

Abstract: Melt-processible, thermoplastic polyethylene compositions of high resistance against wear are disclosed and methods for making and processing same. Additionally, products comprising these compositions are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for production of a sintered oxide ceramic of composition CexMyDzO2-a with dense structure without open porosity or with a predetermined porosity. The first doping element M is at least one element of the group consisting of the rare earths but M≠Ce, alkali and earth alkali metals. The educts are used with a second doping element D of at least one metal of the group consisting of Cu, Co, Fe, Ni and Mn, in the submicron particle size or as a salt solution, and sintered at a temperature in the range of 750-1250° C. into an oxide ceramic with extremely fine structure of a grain size of maximum around 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Boronic acid containing polymers are used to form bioinert gels and multilayer surface structures. These polymers form crosslinked hydrogels, which are highly swollen in water. The crosslinking can either be chemical or physical. Water soluble polymers containing boronic acid groups, such as phenylboronic acid (PBA), can be physically crosslinked by mixing the polymers in water with other polymers containing hydroxyls or carboxylic acids. Alternatively, surfaces can be treated by stepwise incubation with a solution of the boronic acid containing polymer, followed by incubation with a solution of a diol or carboxylic acid containing polymer. Many successive layers can be generated, increasing the thickness of the formed structure at each step.

Abstract: Proteins are incorporated into protein or polysaccharide matrices for use in tissue repair, regeneration and/or remodeling and/or drug delivery. The proteins can be incorporated so that they are released by degradation of the matrix, by enzymatic action and/or diffusion. As demonstrated by the examples, one method is to bind heparin to the matrix by either covalent or non-covalent methods, to form a heparin-matrix. The heparin then non-covalently binds heparin-binding growth factors to the protein matrix. Alternatively, a fusion protein can be constructed which contains a crosslinking region such as a factor XIIIa substrate and the native protein sequence. Incorporation of degradable linkages between the matrix and the bioactive factors can be particularly useful when long-term drug delivery is desired, for example in the case of nerve regeneration, where it is desirable to vary the rate of drug release spatially as a function of regeneration, e.g.

Abstract: Proteins are incorporated into protein or polysaccharide matrices for use in tissue repair, regeneration and/or remodeling and/or drug delivery. The proteins can be incorporated so that they are released by degradation of the matrix, by enzymatic action and/or diffusion. As demonstrated by the examples, one method is to bind heparin to the matrix by either covalent or non-covalent methods, to form a heparin-matrix. The heparin then non-covalently binds heparin-binding growth factors to the protein matrix. Alternatively, a fusion protein can be constructed which contains a crosslinking region such as a factor XIIIa substrate and the native protein sequence. Incorporation of degradable linkages between the matrix and the bioactive factors can be particularly useful when long-term drug delivery is desired, for example in the case of nerve regeneration, where it is desirable to vary the rate of drug release spatially as a function of regeneration, e.g.

Abstract: A device for controlling a physical system, such as a flow of pedestrians, in an extended area is suggested. In comprises a plurality of identical cell units with preferably hexagonal shape. The cell units are assembled in tile-like manner to form a floor. Each cell unit is equipped with a weight sensor, lamps of different colors, and optical communication ports as well as power connectors for connecting it to its neighboring cells. The cell units can be programmed to generate signals that control the physical system, such as signs understood by the pedestrians. Due to its modularity and simple design, the device is easy to install and maintain.

Abstract: Heparin-binding regions of several proteins, such as neural cell adhesion molecule, fibronectin, laminin, midkine, and anti-thrombin III have been shown to promote neurite extension on two-dimensional surfaces. The effect of heparin-binding peptides on neurite extension through three-dimensional matrices was investigated by culturing embryonic chick dorsal root ganglia (DRG) within fibrin gels containing chemically attached heparin-binding peptide (HBP). The length of neurites within fibrin gels containing cross-linked HBP was increased by more than 70% over extension through fibrin gels containing no peptide. The HBP sequence of antithrombin III was incorporated into the fibrin gel as the C-terminal domain of a bidomain, chimeric peptide; the N-terminal second domain of this peptide contained the &agr;2-plasmin inhibitor substrate for Factor XIIIa. Factor XIIIa, a transglutaminase, was used to chemically attach the HBP-containing chimeric peptide to the fibrin gels during polymerization.