Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing itaconic acid. Further the present invention relates to nucleic acids encoding an aconitate-delta-isomerase (ADI) and trans-aconitate decarboxylase (TAD) and uses of such nucleic acids. Provided is additionally a recombinant host cell engineered to overexpress nucleic acids of the present invention. Furthermore an expression cassette and a vector are provided which include the respective nucleic acid.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a disease associated with a DNA repeat sequence is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) determining the number of repeats of a DNA sequence in DNA molecules of a sample of the subject; and (b) determining the CpG methylation status of the DNA molecules, wherein the number of repeats of the DNA sequence and the CpG methylation status of the DNA molecules is indicative of the disease.

Abstract: A hearing aid for compensating for an occlusion effect while emitting an acoustic useful signal into an auditory canal of a human ear comprises an earbud that can be inserted into the auditory canal, a speaker for emitting a compensation signal into the auditory canal, a microphone for receiving an error signal from the auditory canal, and a control unit for processing a recorded signal to be emitted. The controller is designed by measuring a nominal secondary path between a speaker and the microphone and determining a transmission function that describes behavior of the nominal secondary path, determining a first requirement as a tolerance band about the transmission function, determining a second requirement as a desired sensitivity function of the hearing aid, designing the controller using an optimization method while simultaneously taking the first and second requirements into consideration, and implementing the controller in the control unit.

Abstract: Complexes suitable for targeting and killing a human target cell comprising a first polypeptide with a binding structure for binding the complex to the cellular surface receptor CD89 (e.g. with an anti CD89 antibody) presented on the cell surface of the human target cell and a second polypeptide comprising a toxic effector domain, preferably Pseudomonas exotoxin A); to nucleic acid molecules encoding said complexes, vectors, host cells containing the nucleic acids and methods for preparation and producing such complexes; compositions and methods for using said complexes for the treatment of diseases, in particular of cancer diseases like leukemia.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a disease associated with a DNA repeat sequence is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) determining the number of repeats of a DNA sequence in DNA molecules of a sample of the subject; and (b) determining the CpG methylation status of the DNA molecules, wherein the number of repeats of the DNA sequence and the CpG methylation status of the DNA molecules is indicative of the disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary piston pump, in particular for pumping blood, comprising a piston rotor (1) which has particularly two or three faces when seen in cross-section, which is mounted in a piston chamber (2) and eccentrically rotates, the piston rotor (1) having in its interior a plurality of magnetically interacting elements (4, 4a, 4b), in particular permanent magnets and/or coils, and being driven by the magnetic interaction of these elements (4, 4a, 4b) with at least one moving magnetic field.

Abstract: An electrical circuit comprising an n-port m-phase active bridge converter with n?2 and m?1, where each port can be operated as an input or an output port, wherein each of the n ports has m phase legs with multiple active switches with parallel connected snubber or resonant capacitors, whereby the n ports can convert a DC-voltage into an AC voltage, the n ports connected via an m-phase transformer or over m separate transformers each connected to each of the m phase legs of each of the n ports to transfer power between the ports, wherein an auxiliary circuit is connected to the transformers to convert a part of a transformer input voltage and energy via an auxiliary voltage source into a DC mid-point capacitor of a DC-link of at least one of the n-port m-phase active bridge converters to recharge the DC mid-point capacitor.

Abstract: A method for producing an inorganic silica gel fiber or aerogel fiber, comprising the following steps: a) extrusion of a gel, in particular a hydrogel or alcogel, by means of a spinneret directly into a coagulation bath to form at least one filament, b) stretching of the filament in the coagulation bath, c) regeneration of the filament by extraction from the coagulation bath, and d) supercritical drying or freeze drying in order to convert the filament into a silica fiber, in particular an aerogel fiber.

Abstract: A superstructure for thermal desalination is optimized by controlling various parameters, wherein the variable parameters include a feed routing for flow of a liquid feed; brine routings for flow of concentrated brine from the liquid feed; vapor routings for vapor generated from the liquid feed; a series of multi-effect distillation effects, each of the effects coupled with at least one routing selected from the feed routing and the brine routings and with one of the vapor routings; and a series of multi-stage flash stages coupled with at least one routing selected from the feed routing and the brine routings and with one of the vapor routings. The superstructure may or may not contain a thermal vapor compressor.

Abstract: The technology provided herein relates to novel isolated polypeptides and peptides having a growth inhibitory effect on human cancer cells. Nucleic acid molecules encoding said polypeptides/peptides, vectors, host cells containing the nucleic acids and methods for preparation and producing said polypeptides/peptides. Compositions and methods for using such polypeptides/peptides for the prevention and treatment of cancer are also encompassed by the present disclosure.

Abstract: A method for the reduction organic molecules comprising a Ruthenium-Triphosphine complex with aromatic ligands at the phosphors which are ortho or meta substituted.

Abstract: A method for the reduction organic molecules comprising a Ruthenium-Triphosphine complex with aromatic ligands at the phosphors which are ortho or meta substituted.

Abstract: The invention relates to an androgynous coupling device (10) for connecting modules, in particular for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, wherein, in order to connect the modules, the coupling device (10) can be coupled to an identically constructed further androgynous coupling device and has a plurality of coupling elements (30, 32). It is provided that the androgynous coupling device (10) has a covering element (18) which covers the coupling elements (30, 32) in a passive state of the coupling device (10), wherein a first of the coupling elements (30) can be moved outwardly through the covering element (18) for active coupling to the identically constructed further coupling device. The invention furthermore relates to a module, in particular a module for constructing a spacecraft of modular design, having at least one such coupling device (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for performing respiratory training, in particular altitude training, comprising a mouthpiece (1) through which a person can exhale respiratory gas into a volume (2, 3a, 7) or can inhale it out of the volume (2, 3a, 7), wherein this volume (2, 3a, 7) is formed at least in part by a container (2) which is adjustable in terms of its volume and which is connected to the mouthpiece, wherein the volume (2, 3a, 7) adjoins one side of at least one gas-permeable membrane (4), to the other side of which at least one gas exchange chamber (3b) is connected, through which a fluid provided for the gas exchange, in particular CO2 and/or O2 gas exchange, can actively flow.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is new membranes in which tailor-made membrane transport proteins (such as e.g. TCDB classified proteins) act as pore-forming proteins (e.g. FhuA) or peptides which act as pores in the membrane. The membranes can preferably be produced both by linking synthesised protein-polymer conjugates and by direct linking of the pore-forming proteins and peptides. Such membranes are distinguished by many outstanding features which existing membranes have not been able to offer to date.

Abstract: The present invention relates to kits comprising plus-sense single stranded RNA viral vectors, as well as mixtures of these vectors and uses thereof, and methods for producing in a plant, or plant tissue, or plant cell simultaneously two or more polypeptides using the kits and vectors.

Abstract: The present invention relates in a first aspect to new methods for diagnosing or identifying breast cancer or pre-forms thereof in a subject as well as methods for monitoring the development or progress of breast cancer or pre-forms thereof in a subject and methods for the stratification of the therapeutic regimen of a subject suspected to be afflicted with breast cancer or being at risk of developing breast cancer or pre-forms thereof whereby the level or amount of methylation of at least one of the promoters selected from SPAG6-, PER1- and NKX2-6-gene in a sample of said subject is determined followed by the step of diagnosing or identifying breast cancer or pre-forms thereof based on the level on amount of methylation of the at least one promoter. Further, the present invention relates to the use of a kit in a method according to the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for monitoring a substratum (1) with regard to damage and/or for protecting a substratum (1) from damage. The system comprises: an electrolytically active layer (4), which has a moisture-dependent electrical resistance; at least one electrode pair, the spaced-apart electrodes (3a, 3b) of which are connected to each other by means of the electrolytically active layer (4); and a measuring device, by means of which a property, in particular an electrical quantity of the electrolytically active layer (4) or of the electrodes (3a, 3b), can be measured by using electrodes (3a, 3b) of at least one electrode pair, in particular of each electrode pair, and/or a control device, by means of which a voltage can be applied to the electrodes (3a, 3b) of at least one electrode pair, in particular of each electrode pair.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the propensity of a fluid for calcification.

Abstract: A compound comprising a photosensitizer covalently coupled to a protein selected from the group consisting of antibodies or their derivatives or fragments thereof, synthetic peptides such as scFv, mimotopes which bind CD antigens, cytokine receptors, interleukin receptors, hormone receptors, growth factor receptors, more particularly tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor of the ErbB family, wherein the photosensitizer is coupled to the binding protein via O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGTm), a modified human DNA repair protein.