Abstract: The present invention relates to a resorbable implant material made of magnesium or magnesium alloy and to a process for the production thereof. A disadvantage of the known resorbable implants is that their resorption has hitherto only been trackable using x-ray or CT examinations. The invention provides a resorbable implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy. Fluorescent nanodiamonds are biologically nonhazardous and provide a stable emission in the near infrared range due to nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV centres). This allows detection of the implant material in the blood plasma of the patient. The resorbable implant material according to the invention is produced by a process wherein magnesium or a magnesium alloy is melted, nanodiamonds are added to the melt and the melt of magnesium or a magnesium alloy provided with nanodiamonds is subjected to an ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing tanks for storing or containing a fluid under pressure and a method for manufacturing pipes for containing or channeling a fluid under pressure, such as for storing, containing or channeling hydrogen, natural gas or a hydraulic fluid. The method is less complex than known procedures, can be employed in a continuous or semi-continuous manner and allows for a lower thickness of the shell made from the fibres. The method comprising providing a liner having a cylindrical portion with two ends and two dome portions at the respective ends of the cylindrical portions or a liner having a cylindrical portion and one or two open ends; fabricating a tube of fibre filaments by means of the pullwinding method; and wrapping the tube of fibre filaments onto the liner such that at least the cylindrical portion of the liner is enclosed by the tube of fibre filaments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material for hydrogen storage based on metal hydrides and to a method of operating a hydrogen storage system based on metal hydrides capable of releasing and absorbing hydrogen. Such hydrogen storage systems based on metal hydrides may be applicable as a fuel source for a fuel cell. The composite material for hydrogen storage comprises a powder or pellets of a hydride and a phase changing material (PCM), wherein the PCM is an encapsulated phase changing material (EPCM) which is homogeneously dispersed within the powder or pellets of the hydride.

Abstract: A system and methods for determining a mechanical tissue characteristic (?) are provided. The system comprises a providing unit for providing a set of images of a tissue region of interest, wherein the provided set of images comprises image features indicative of one or more structural properties (?, a0, CO, PG) of the tissue region of interest and has been acquired using an imaging modality suitable for in-vivo imaging of the tissue region of interest. The system further comprises a determining unit for determining, based on the provided set of images, a mechanical tissue characteristic (?) indicative of a mechanical responsiveness of the tissue region of interest. The determining unit comprises a machine learning architecture adapted to receive the provided set of images as an input and to provide the mechanical tissue characteristic as an output.

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided, comprising or consisting of: (A) a first polymer component, being a copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure and selected from poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and (B) a second polymer component different from the first polymer component (A) selected from poly(L-lactide), poly(D-lactide), poly[(L-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)] and poly[(D-lactide)-co-(£-caprolactone)], wherein the first and second polymer components (A) and (B) are selected such that the resulting polymer blend comprises a combination of constitution units derived from L-lactide and constitution units derived from D-lactide. The highly elastic material may be processed by electrospinning to produce elastic porous objects having a non-woven fibrous structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a surface-functionalised polymeric object (10), comprising: a bulk material (11) comprising a copolymer containing constitution units derived from a first comonomer and constitution units derived from a second comonomer, the first comonomer being selected from L-lactide and D-lactide and forming sequences of oligo(L-lactide) or oligo(D-lactide) in the copolymer the copolymer having a substantially random, partially blocky structure with a dyad ratio of (lactide-lactide)-dyads to (lactide-second comonomer)-dyads of at least 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing tetrahydridoborate salts with high efficiency at low cost. The method for the production of metal borohydride salts according to the present invention comprises the steps of providing an anhydrous metal borate salt and milling the anhydrous metal borate salt in the presence of a metal material based on magnesium or magnesium alloys in a hydrogen atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce the metal borohydride salt. In another embodiment of the invention, the method for the production of metal borohydride salts according to the present invention comprises the steps of providing an hydrated metal borate salt and milling the hydrated metal borate salt in the presence of a metal material based on magnesium or magnesium alloys in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce the metal borohydride salts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material for hydrogen storage based on metal hydrides and to a method of operating a hydrogen storage system based on metal hydrides capable of releasing and absorbing hydrogen. Such hydrogen storage systems based on metal hydrides may be applicable as a fuel source for a fuel cell. The composite material for hydrogen storage comprises a powder or pellets of a hydride and a phase changing material (PCM), wherein the PCM is an encapsulated phase changing material (EPCM) which is homogeneously dispersed within the powder or pellets of the hydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material for hydrogen storage based on metal hydrides and to a method of operating a hydrogen storage system based on metal hydrides capable of releasing and absorbing hydrogen. Such hydrogen storage systems based on metal hydrides may be applicable as a fuel source for a fuel cell. The composite material for hydrogen storage comprises a powder or pellets of a hydride and a phase changing material (PCM), wherein the PCM is an encapsulated phase changing material (EPCM) which is homogeneously dispersed within the powder or pellets of the hydride.

Abstract: The invention relates to membrane modules, in particular membrane pocket modules, which comprise membrane pocket stacks which are disposed in a housing having at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and at least one permeate outlet. The invention also relates to the use of the membrane module according to the invention for separating mixtures of liquids and/or gases. The membrane of the previously known type, also referred to as a GS module, comprises a housing which for forming a container interior space by means of finisher discs at two end sides is closed in a pressure-tight manner. The finisher discs comprise at least one feed inlet, at least one retentate outlet, and one permeate outlet, wherein at least one membrane pocket stack which has a plurality of membrane pockets which are lined up beside one another and are mutually separated by seals and which are push-fitted onto a permeate tube is disposed in the container interior space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coated hollow fiber membrane which has an isoporous inner skin and a porous outer support membrane, i.e. an inside-out isoporous composite hollow fiber membrane, and to a method of preparing such membranes. The coated hollow fiber membrane is prepared by a method comprising providing a hollow fiber support membrane having a lumen surrounded by the support membrane, and coating and the inner surface thereof by first passing a polymer solution of at least one amphiphilic block copolymer in a suitable solvent through the lumen of the hollow fiber support membrane and along the inner surface thereof, thereafter pressing a core gas stream through the lumen of the coated hollow fiber mebrane, and thereafter passing a non-solvent (precipitant) through the lumen of the coated hollow fiber membrane. In order to remove the solvent or solvents completely, the membranes are kept in water for 1-2 days and washed prior to use.