Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing biologically active polymer nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates by polymerizing vinyl monomer with a low-water solubility in an aqueous solution, then reacting the resulting polymer suspensions with the nucleic acids. The process is characterized in that the vinyl monomers are emulsion polymerized in the presence of cationic radical starters but in the absence of any emulsifier. The thus obtained polymer nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates are sufficiently stable in biological media and are characterized by a high transport efficiency through cellular membranes.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of creatine and/or creatine derivatives for treating typical disorders in women, for example PMS or dysmenorrhea, which involves the prophylactic of therapeutic use, in particular, of creatine monohydrate, creatine pyruvates, creatine ascorbates and creatine &agr;-ketoglutarates as creatine derivatives in preferred daily doses of 0.1 g to 20 g. The invention also provides for the use of creatine or its derivatives as mixtures with a pyruvate, ascorbate or &agr;-ketoglutarate. The creatine or its appropriate derivatives are not restricted to any particular form of application, which makes them all the more suitable for the many symptoms of typical female disorders.

Abstract: A method of producing calcium pyruvates is described, in which calcium salts of organic acids or acidic organic keto or hydroxy compounds are reacted with pyruvic acid at a temperature in the range from −20 to +120° C., if necessary in the presence of a solvent or diluent. In this way, high-purity calcium pyruvates are obtained which can be largely free of water and have a very long shelf life.

Abstract: Water-soluble zinc pyruvates and hydrates thereof of the formula I where x=1.8 to 2.2 and n=0 to 5 are described. The inventive zinc pyruvates are distinguished by a high purity and excellent storage stability and thermal stability and can be employed especially for use as therapeutic agent for treating diabetes, cold prophylaxis, virus inhibition, cytoprotection, as microbicide and as radical absorber and as food supplement or supplement for the prophylaxis and prevention of zinc deficiency symptoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to oil-free glycerophospholipid formulations which contain a homogeneous mixture of glycerophospholipids and an anhydrous, liquid polyol compound such as glycerol in a molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1. These formulations are produced, eg, by extracting a starting material consisting of an oil-containing glycerophospholipid (mixture) and the polyol component with a compressed hydrocarbon (mixture) in a rectifying column. The oil-free formulation can be obtained from the melt at the bottom of the column in the form of free-flowing powder, which is ideally suited for stabilising oil-in-water emulsions.

Abstract: A method for producing alkali metal and alkaline earth metal pyruvates is disclosed, in which salts of organic acids or acidic organic keto or hydroxy compounds containing as cation one from the group comprising Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Sr and Ba, or mixtures of these salts, are reacted with pyruvic acid at a temperature ranging from −20 to +120°C., if necessary in the presence of a solvent or diluent. In this way, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal pyruvates of high purity are obtained, which can be largely anhydrous and have a very long shelf life. In addition, novel Rb, Cs, Sr and Ba pyruvates are disclosed. These pyruvates are used, for example, to enhance endurance and strength in the field of sport, as protective substances for body cells and tissues, and as food supplements. They are also used for technical applications.

Abstract: Creatine pyruvates are described which have the general formula (I) (creatine)x(pyruvate)y(H2O)n  (I) where x=1 to 100 y=1 to 10 and n=0 to 10 These creatine pyruvates, which are produced by way of the relatively simple reaction of creatine with pyruvic acid, can be used to enhance long-term performance and strength in the field of sport, to reduce weight and body fat in the field of health, to treat conditions of oxygen deficit (ischemia), obesity and overweight, as food supplements and radical scavenger.

Abstract: Creatine pyruvates are described which have the general formula (I)(creatine).sub.x (pyruvate).sub.y (H.sub.2 O).sub.n (I)wherex=1 to 100y=1 to 10 andn=0 to 10These creatine pyruvates, which are produced by way of the relatively simple reaction of creatine with pyruvic acid, can be used to enhance long-term performance and strength in the field of sport, to reduce weight and body fat in the field of health, to treat conditions of oxygen deficit (ischemia), obesity and overweight, as food supplements and radical scavenger.

Abstract: Flow improving agents for binder suspensions containing cement are described, which consist of:a) Graft polymers which have been prepared by radical grafting of a polyalkylene oxide of the general formula (I) with an ethylenically unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acid or the anhydride thereof, and then by derivatizing with a primary or secondary amine and/or alcohol, and also ofb) Casein.These flow improving agents have the advantage that the ability to flow is considerably improved in comparison, for example, with casein alone, and the improved ability to flow is preserved over a longer period of time.

Abstract: According to this method for the adsorptive extraction of hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions of hydrocyanic acid, the initial solutions containing 1 to 50 wt. % hydrocyanic acid and 2 to 1000 wt. ppm aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons, the latter having 6 to 30 C atoms each, are passed, preferably continuously, at temperatures between 2 and 50.degree. C. and at a maximum flow velocity of 500 m/h through a fixed-bed, activated-carbon adsorber whose interior surface is preferably>100 m.sup.2 /kg. In this way it is possible to quantitatively free aqueous solutions of hydrocyanic acid from hydrocarbons, in particular from benzene, with means of relatively low technical complexity.

Abstract: To prepare N-phosphonomethyl glycine,a) aminomethylphosphonic acid or one of its salts in water, if necessary or desirable with the addition of lyes, is reacted with an alkali carbonate and/or alkali hydrogencarbonate or with carbon dioxide and a lye,b) the resulting alkali salt of N-phosphonomethylcarbamic acid is subsequently hydroxymethylated with formaldehyde,c) the salts, resulting from b), of N-hydroxymethyl-N-phosphonomethyl-carbamic acid, if necessary or desirable with addition of a lye, are reacted with hydrocyanic acid and/or a cyanide andd) the N-carboxy-N-phosphonomethylglyconitrile salts thus obtained are treated with acids and converted by means of hydrolysis and decarboxylation into N-phosphonomethyl glycine.In this way, it is possible to obtain excellent yields of high-purity N-phosphonomethyl glycine.

Abstract: A solids composition based on clay minerals and consisting of a) 40-99.8 wt. % of a clay mineral with a reduced moisture content of .ltoreq.7 wt. %, b) 0.01-30 wt. % of a mixed metal hydroxide and c) 0.01-30 wt. % of a solid base, and if necessary other additives, is described. The solids composition of the invention is an easy-to-use thickening agent for water-based drilling fluids, and has a long-term stability of at least three months.

Abstract: By providing a new method of producing sintered silicon nitride, this invention takes into account the fact that parts made of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 are often used in temperature ranges below 1200.degree. C. and sometimes even below 500.degree. C. and therefore needn't be designed to withstand temperatures above 1200.degree. C. The sintered silicon nitride for these low-temperature applications is obtained by sintering silicon nitride powder of <2 .mu.m with 5 to 20 wt. % of one or more glass components of the same particle size at temperatures below 1400.degree. C. It is a prerequisite that the glass components used, preferably alkali metal borate glasses with a coefficient of thermal expansion .alpha. which matches that of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, have a transformation point T.sub.g which is below 750.degree. C., and that the individual glass components have a free enthalpy .DELTA.G which is at least 60% of the free enthalpy of SiO.sub.2. For low-temperature applications, Si.sub.3 N.sub.

Abstract: A method of producing calcium pyruvates is described, in which calcium salts of organic acids or acidic organic keto or hydroxy compounds are reacted with pyruvic acid at a temperature in the range from -20 to +120.degree. C., if necessary in the presence of a solvent or diluent. In this way, high-purity calcium pyruvates are obtained which can be largely free of water and have a very long shelf life.

Abstract: Water-soluble formaldehyde-free polycondensation products based on amino-s-triazines with at least two amino groups and glyoxylic acid, which contain as further component at least one amino compound and where the molar ratio of amino-s-triazine to glyoxylic acid to amino compound is 1:0.5 to 6.0:0.1 to 2.0. These polycondensation products are excellently suited as additives for aqueous suspensions of inorganic binders, especially cement, lime and gypsum. Building material mixtures which contain these polycondensation products remain workable for a considerably longer time and, in spite of this, also set more quickly.

Abstract: Creatine ascorbates are described which have the general formula (I)(creatine).sub.z (ascorbate).sub.y (H.sub.2 O).sub.n (I)wherez=1 to 100y=1 to 100 andn=0 to 20.These creatine ascorbates, which can be produced by way of the relatively simple reaction of creatine with ascorbic acid, can be used for enhancing muscular development and strength in the field of sport, as prophylactics against and for the treatment of conditions of oxygen deficit (ischemia) and as immune system stimulants in the field of health, for the treatment of muscular atrophy and as food supplements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a co-polymer based on oxyalkyleneglycol alkenyl ethers and unsaturated dicarboxylic acid derivatives, as well as vinylic polyalkyleneglycol, polysiloxane or ester compounds. These co-polymers can be used as additives for hydraulic binding agents, especially cement. The co-polymers of the invention have an excellent and long-lasting liquefying action without introducing large amounts of air pores into the binding agent mixtures, thereby preventing the loss of strength and stability of the hardened building materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly viscous condensation product containing sulfonic acid groups based on amino-s-triazines with at least 2 amino groups and formaldehyde which has a viscosity of 500 to 100,000 cp at 20.degree. C. and a pH value of 8.0 to 13.0 as an aqueous solution with a solids content of 20% by weight. The product is obtainable by (a) condensation of amino-s-triazine, formaldehyde and sulfite in a molar ratio of 1:1.9 to 2.9:0.7 to 1.3 in aqueous solution at a pH value of 9.0 to 12.0 and a temperature of 50.degree. to 90.degree. C. until the sulfite is no longer detectable, and (b) subsequent further condensation at a pH value of 2.0 to 5.0 and a temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. until the viscosity exhibits the desired value.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of carotenoid dyes from pre-dried natural starting materials is described using compressed gases such as propane and/or butane in which organic entraining agents can be additionally added in order to facilitate and complete the extraction process. With the aid of this process highly concentrated carotenoid dyes are obtained in high yield.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing calcium cyanamide by reacting urea with an oxygen-containing calcium compound in at least two stepsa) in a first step the reaction components are allowed to react under compression and/or while being revolved or by applying them to a hot surface at temperatures of 120.degree. to 500.degree. C. until a solid is formed andb) the solid reaction mixture that is formed is subsequently calcined at temperatures of 600.degree. to 900.degree. C.In this process it is possible to obtain high yields and throughputs of calcium cyanamide without requiring a time-consuming processing of the reaction product after the first or second step.