Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous microemulsion, comprising a) one or more liquid carboxylic acid esters, b) one or more water-soluble salts having one or more cations, preferably selected from the group comprising sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium, c) one or more salts of sulphosuccinic acid ester, d) one or more nonionic surfactants selected from alkoxylated sorbitan ester and alkoxylated vegetable oil, and e) one or more boosters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlled modulation of physiological and pathological neuronal rhythmic activity in the brain by means of sensory stimulation, which is capable of diagnostically ascertaining functional disorders in the brain and of alleviating or eliminating the symptoms of a functional disruption. According to the invention, the method comprises generating a plurality of pulses at a plurality of excitation frequencies, respectively, to stimulate neuronal rhythmic activity in a patient's brain; measuring the neuronal rhythmic activity in response to the pulses; determining an excitation frequency in which the measured neuronal rhythmic activity has a maximum amplitude of pathological rhythm; generating an entraining periodic pulse sequence operating at the excitation frequency; and generating a desynchronization pulse following the entraining periodic pulse sequence to desynchronize the neuronal rhythmic activity, where the pulse are either visual or acoustic or tactile.

Abstract: A device for desynchronizing neuronal brain activity involving a neuron population firing in a synchronized manner at a pathological frequency. The device includes an electrode configured to generate stimuli that stimulate the neuron population; and a control unit configured to control the electrode to generate the stimuli in sequence, wherein the stimuli succeed each other with a predetermined frequency f. The predetermined frequency f is substantially equal to g×n/m, where g is the pathological frequency, and n and m are integers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nanomanipulator that is used for analyzing or machining objects. Said nanomanipulator is equipped with several moving elements which can be adjusted to perform movements and support the object that is to be moved or an object holder in order to move at least one object relative to an analyzing position or machining position. Each of said moving elements is provided with one support area for the object that is to be moved or the object holder. The moving elements support at least one load-bearing plane in an axial direction of the nanomanipulator. The inventive nanomanipulator is characterized by moving elements comprising shearing piezo elements so as to move the load-bearing plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of passivated defining surfaces (6a, 6b) between a first layer, such as a silicide (5), and an adjacent layer. Passivating elements, such as S, Se and Te are used in said layer structure during said method and the first layer is enriched on the adjacent layer during heat treatment on at least one defining surface. Schottky barriers can be reduced and output work of the transition can be adjusted. Components, e.g. Schottky barrier MOSFETs with small or negative Schottky barriers arc disclosed as source and/or drain contacts and spin transistors.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a protective coating on a chromium oxide-forming substrate, which comprises the steps of: (a) applying on the chromium-oxide-forming substrate having at least one alloying addition selected from the group consisting of manganese, magnesium, and vanadium, a coating consisting essentially of at least one spinel-forming element selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, copper and vanadium, (b) forming a chromium oxide layer at the substrate/applied coating interface, and (c) at a temperature of 500° C. to 1000° C. causing the diffusion of the at least one alloying addition through the chromium oxide layer and forming a compound thereof with the at least one spinel-forming element diffusing from the applied coating and forming between the chromium oxide layer on the substrate and the applied coating, a uniform, compact, adherent chromium-free gas-tight spinel layer.

Abstract: In a biosensor system for detecting trace compounds resulting from a fire or from plants damaged by destructive insects, a live chemoreceptor is provided for sensing the trace compounds, and a semiconductor component is connected to the chemoreceptor for providing sensor signals when the chemoreceptor senses the presence of trace compounds.

Abstract: In a process for the continuous enzyme-catalyticzed enzymatic production of hydrophobic products in an aqueous solution of a reaction mixture, the product is extracted from the product containing reaction mixture by way of a product-permeable microporous membrane into an organic solvent and the product-depleted reaction mixture is recycled.

Abstract: In a scanning probe microscope for the atomic resolution of the surface structure of an object wherein a detector probe is supported on a sensor head by a probe holder so as to be movable relative to the surface of an object to be scanned, the sensor head includes a first light conductor with an end face disposed opposite the detector probe and a second light conductor having an end face disposed opposite the object surface and an interferometer is connected to each light conductor for determining the distance between the first light conductor and the detector probe and, respectively, between the second light conductor and the object surface and an indicating instrument is provided which indicates the combined signal in such a way that the structure of said object surface is given independently of changes in distance between the sensor head and the object.

Abstract: A current pass-through arrangement for a rodlike electrode passing substantially perpendicularly through a hot wall of a container features an inner seal and an outer seal, with the outer seal located at a substantially cooler position than the hot wall. Preferably, a portion of the electrode is tightly fitted into a cylindrical bushing of electrically insulating material. The electrode projects out of this bushing, at least at the container-adjacent end. In turn, the bushing is tightly fitted into a wall element (4) having a smaller-diameter end and a larger-diameter end which is sealed into the container wall. The wall element (4) and the electrode centered within it define an annular space which is at least partly filled with sealing material (5). According to a further embodiment, the electrode also projects from the container-remote end of the bushing (3).

Abstract: For reliably improving the strength of the composite body formed by hot-pressing together the silicon nitride surfaces at which parts of the composite body are joined, one of the silicon nitride surfaces to be joined is covered by a set of three thin layers applied by sputtering, the first a nitrogen-deficient layer of SiN.sub.x where 1.3>x and .gtoreq.0, a second layer of SiN.sub.y in which y>1.33 and a third layer like the first. The first and third layers have the same thickness and the second layer has twice that thickness. The three layers together have a thickness not exceeding 3 .mu.m and the overall composition of the set of three layers is Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. With such a set of layers, the wetting of the surfaces of the bodies to be joined during hot-pressing is substantially improved, resulting in better bonding of the parts across the joint seam.