Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a stent graft. The method comprises providing a graft made of a first polymer-based material and applying a stent structure comprising a plurality of struts made of a second polymer-based material onto the graft by means of an additive manufacturing method. The invention further relates to a stent graft produced by means of the method.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for critical changes in batteries having multi-layered structures, a battery system including the diagnostic device, and a method of use thereof. The device determines critical changes relative to a target state in battery cells having a plurality of layers frictionally connected to each other, at least one receiver and, optionally, a transmitter. The receiver receives acoustic plate waves and/or acoustic torsion waves and transmits a corresponding signal to an evaluating unit that evaluates parameters characteristic for an actual state of the battery cell, and compares them to at least one previously defined threshold. Exceeding or falling short of the threshold is evaluated as identification of battery cells having a critical change to the physical properties thereof. A transmitter of the diagnostic device is suitable for exciting the acoustic plate waves or torsion waves in the battery cell having a propagation direction along the layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amphiphilic block copolymer for drug delivery and a controlled release system comprising the same copolymer. The copolymer comprises at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophobic block is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, methacrylamides, vinylethers and their aromatic derivatives, wherein at least one hydrophobic block contains an aryl group, which is bound to the hydrophobic block with a degradable linker. The controlled release system of the invention shows high stability and high drug retention when administered in vivo enabling accumulation and drug release at the site of action.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a rotor for an electric machine, wherein the rotor is composed of at least one electric sheet wherein at least one electric sheet is thermally treated regionally to directly modify its magnetic permeability in the treated region.

Abstract: A three-dimensional knitted fabric with a large-diameter circular knitting machine is knitted with a plurality of stitches that form a plurality of stitch courses oriented in each case in a stitch-course direction of the knitted fabric and a plurality of stitch wales oriented in each case in a stitch-wale direction of the knitted fabric, wherein at least one of the stitches is in the form of at least one corrugation-forming stitch, which extends in the stitch-wale direction over a plurality of stitch courses and binds at least one corrugation in the knitted fabric.

Abstract: AN endovascular stent graft including a hydrogel capable of retarded swelling when coming into contact with blood upon implantation in a patient is provided. Methods for the treatment of aneurysms and the prevention of ischemic neurological damage, in particular spinal cord damage, in patients receiving aneurysm repair procedures, using said endovascular stent grafts is also provided.

Abstract: An electrical circuit comprising an n-port m-phase active bridge converter with n?2 and m?3, 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 ports can convert a DC-voltage into an AC voltage and vice versa, whereby the ports are connected via a m-phase transformer or over m separate transformers each connected to each of the m phase legs of each of the m ports to transfer power between the ports, wherein an auxiliary circuit is connected to a star point of the transformers to feedback a fraction of a transformer input voltage and energy into a DC mid-point capacitor of a DC-link of at least one of the n-port m-phase active bridge converters to charge the DC mid-point capacitor.

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: An artificial cartilage is provided whereby a fixed negative charged hydrogel has been infused within a restrictive swelling network, which limits and restricts the thickness of the artificial cartilage. At least 60% of the volume of the artificial cartilage is composed of the restricted and swollen hydrogel. The restrictive swelling network restricts the hydrogel to swell not more than 10% with respect to its maximum swelling capacity, i.e. a swelling capacity to swell 10-fold more is retained. The hydrogel within the restrictive swelling network has an equilibrium stiffness between 0.5 and 2 MPa to resist external loads applied to the top surface layer or the bottom surface layer of the artificial cartilage. The hydrogel has a fixed negative charge density of ?0.17 to ?0.23 mEg/ml and is capable of swelling between 2-15 times compared to the volume of the hydrogel without being restricted.

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 method of producing 5-ketofructose using an acetic acid bacterium which is genetically modified to express a fructose dehydrogenase as well as to microorganisms which can be used in said method.

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 circuit assembly for linking different electrical voltage levels in a motor vehicle, comprising: an electric machine containing induction coils in a star circuit connection with a star point; a first switch unit containing switch elements for generating an AC voltage for the electric machine from a DC voltage of a first voltage level; a DC voltage of a second voltage level; and a second switch unit for a bidirectional electrical energy flow between the DC voltage of the first voltage level and the DC voltage of the second voltage level, wherein the second switch unit has two switch elements arranged in series in an auxiliary switch branch, wherein the auxiliary switch branch is connected in parallel to the DC voltage of the first voltage level, and each connection of the switch elements is connected to the star point.

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 provides a multimodal ultrasound and photoacoustic contrast agent based on polymeric microparticles having a gas core and carrying at least one photoacoustic agent in its shell that stabilizes the gas core, for use in ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Such multimodal ultrasound and photoacoustic contrast agent is also suitable as a carrier of drugs and for use in photodynamic therapy, and for tissue imaging ex vivo.

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 for a targeted shaping of the magnetic field of a single permanent magnet or an arrangement of a plurality of permanent magnets, wherein magnetic material from selected locations of the single permanent magnet or at least one of said permanent magnets of the arrangement is removed by means of at least one of the following removal procedures for shaping the magnetic field: laser ablation using laser radiation, high-pressure waterblasting using high-pressure water jets and mechanical ablation using a non-magnetic tool.

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).