Abstract: An arrangement of floating platforms is provided, including (a) an anchored main platform and (b) one or more outer platforms, each of which being connected to the main platform by at least one connection element. One or more of the main and/or outer platforms are rotatable about a vertical axis by drive units which are fixed thereon. Marine engines having a propeller propulsion system are provided as drive units on the main platform and/or the outer platforms.

Abstract: A copolymer that has sufficient dispersibility to various kinds of cements, including those having low fluidity (difficult cement). The copolymer is obtained by polymerizing monomer components including an unsaturated (poly)alkylene glycol ether monomer (a), an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (b), and an unsaturated cross-linkable monomer (c) or an unsaturated cross-linkable monomer (d). The unsaturated cross-linkable monomer (c) is allyl itaconate or allyl citraconate, or ester thereof. The unsaturated cross-linkable monomer (d) is an ester obtained by reaction of at least one acid, selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, and citraconic acid and ester derived from the acids, with a (poly)alkylene glycol or a (poly)alkylene glycol ether.

Abstract: A device adapted for generating a rotatory ultrasonic vibration on a tool that includes a first part which is adapted for the rotationally fixed connection of the device to a spindle of a machine tool that rotates about an axis of rotation, and a second part which is adapted for the rotationally fixed connection of the device to a tool. The device also includes a claw coupling which is configured to connect the first and second parts for rotation with one another and has a form fit of at least one first flank on the first part and at least one second flank, lying opposite the first flank, on the second part. The device also includes at least one piezoelectric oscillation element arranged between first and second flanks of the claw coupling configured for generating a rotatory ultrasonic vibration about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to a method for measuring the oxygen saturation of the blood flowing in a peripheral human or animal body part (20), in which electromagnetic radiation (q1?(t), q2?(t)) having a first and a second wavelength is irradiated into the peripheral body part or irradiated through the peripheral body part, the reflected or transmitted radiation (x1?(t), x2?(t)) is measured to form two measurement signals (x1(t), x2(t)), and the oxygen saturation of the blood is determined by evaluating the two measurement signals.

Abstract: A method for state monitoring of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is described. The method comprises: measuring an acceleration of the rotor blade with a first signal, wherein the acceleration is measured at a first position at a predetermined distance from the rotor blade root in at least one direction comprising a first directional component orthogonal to the axis of the rotor blade, measuring a strain of the rotor blade with a second signal, wherein the strain is measured at a second position disposed in the area of the first position to the rotor blade root, determining a first positional change at the first position on the basis of the acceleration, determining a first value corresponding to the rotor blade stiffness or to the rotor blade elasticity by means of calculation on the basis of the first positional change and the strain, and determining the rotor blade state from the first value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for installing at least one sensor device within a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A first substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade. Finally, at least one second substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade, wherein the plane of the first planar light beam is oriented at a predetermined angle to the plane of the second planar light beam. Further, the planes of the first and second planar light beams are aligned on the blade flange of the rotor blade. At least one sensor device is subsequently aligned in reference to the planar light beams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic micromechanical system having integrated active elements (7) and a method for microfluidic process control in a microfluidic micromechanical system. According to the invention, the microfluidic system comprises integrated active elements (7), which can be activated without auxiliary energy by means of ambient variables that can be influenced and which are designed to bring about active functions as a result of the change of the swelling state thereof or the mechanical properties thereof. The microfluidic micromechanical system further comprises at least one structural support (2) having at least one first (3) and one second (4) channel, wherein a reaction chamber (6) bounded by active elements (7) is formed in an overlapping region (5) of the first and second channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel composite materials based on a collagen matrix mineralized with silicate and calcium phosphate phases, to a method for the production thereof and use thereof as an implant material which can be shaped in a plurality of ways, a biological coating or active substance carrier. The claimed composite material comprises a collagen matrix which is mineralized with silicate and a calcium phosphate phase, said collagen being a recombinate collagen, collagen from Eumetazoa, sponge collagen from a sponge of the Demospongia class (horn sponges) or Calcarea (calcareous sponges), a synthetic collage analog, a collagen derivative or a mixture of said collagens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system of sliding elements which are formed by a base body and a counter-body. It is the object of the invention to provide a system of sliding element comprising a base body and a counter-body which has a reduced mass with a sufficient strength and which achieves improved properties of friction and wear. The system of sliding elements in accordance with the invention is formed by a counter-body and a base body as friction partners. The base body is formed from a fiber-reinforced polymer material and the counter-body is coated with diamond-like carbon at the surface subject to friction. At least the base body is formed from a textile-reinforced polymer matrix structure.

Abstract: Increased in vivo and/or in vitro stability is imparted to a biologically active protein by fusing to an amino acid sequence consisting of at least about 100 amino acid residues, which consist essentially of Alanine, Serine and Proline, which form a random coil conformation. Specific examples are described. Also described are related nucleic acids, vectors and cells encoding such amino acids; compositions of biologically active proteins fused to a random coil domain, and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and components for producing polarized retinal progenitor cells (RPC) from pluripotent stem cells in high yield and purity. The polarized retinal progenitor cells are preferably further differentiated with high efficiency and speed into retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE cells). The cells obtained are particularly suitable for use in cell transplantation or in the generation of transplant tissue and are particularly applicable to screening systems for substances that modulate the function of polarized retinal progenitor cells and/or RPE cells.

Abstract: We discovered that a biosynthetic polypeptide, consisting of at least about 50 proline (Pro) and alanine (Ala) amino acid residues, forms a random coil, and increases the stability of other compounds to which it is conjugated, such as small molecules and polypeptides. We describe such biosynthetic polypeptides, constructs containing such polypeptides, ways of making them, and their use.

Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for producing an electro-optical component (10, 200) suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation (120), wherein in the method a first intermediate layer (60) is applied on a carrier, a second intermediate layer (70) is applied on the first intermediate layer, and after the second intermediate layer has been applied, the buried first intermediate layer is locally modified, wherein as a result of the local modification of the buried first intermediate layer in a lateral direction a refractive index jump is produced which brings about a lateral wave guiding of the electromagnetic radiation (120) in the unmodified region of the first intermediate layer.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) as defined herein is useful in the treatment and prevention of a disorder such as cachexia, stroke, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes and pharmaceutical compositions of the same. Also, a method of screening for lipase inhibitors using a compound of formula (I) and determining its lipase inhibitory activity. The method includes in vitro assays of compounds using ATGL and/or HSL, and cellular assays wherein inhibition is followed by observing indicators of efficacy. Also, methods for treatment or prevention of a condition involving cachexia, stroke, artherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, diabetes, preferably diabetes type II by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent which is able to inhibit ATGL. Also contemplated herein, are compositions comprising one or more ATGL-inhibiting agents optionally in combination with one or more lipase inhibitors or inhibitors of inflammatory cytokines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power circuit breaker that is suitable for switching electrical voltages. The power circuit breaker according to the invention comprises two main electrodes, to each of which a respective pole of the voltage to be switched can be connected. During the switching process, at least one of said main electrodes follows a switching path. The power circuit breaker is characterized in that secondary electrodes are additionally provided, which protrude into the vicinity of the switching path and are designed and arranged in such a way that arcs can be produced (a) between the main electrodes and the secondary electrodes and (b) between the individual secondary electrodes during the switching process. The power circuit breaker according to the invention can be advantageously used in vehicles and in ultra-high-voltage AC and HVDC (high-voltage direct current) transmission systems and causes arcs to be extinguished as early as possible during the switching process.

Abstract: Method for compensating illumination deficiencies in microscopic “shape from focus (SFF)”, wherein firstly the reflectance of the scene is estimated by way of a projector-camera system and then microscopic “shape from focus (SFF)” is applied to a stack of reflectance maps rather than to the original image data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for production of single-stranded macronucleotides by amplifying and ligating an extended monomeric single-stranded target nucleic acid sequence (targetss) into a repetitive cluster of double-stranded target nucleic acid sequences (targetds), and subsequently cloning the construct into a vector (aptagene vector). The aptagene vector is transformed into host cells for replication of the aptagene and isolated in order to optain single-stranded target sequences (targetss). The invention also relates to single-stranded nucleic acids, produced by a method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the non-covalent, self-organizing hydrogel matrix for biotechnological applications containing a covalent polymer peptide conjugate, wherein the covalent polymer peptide conjugate includes conjugates of two or more peptides that are coupled to a polymer chain and the peptide sequence contains a recurring dipeptide motif (BA)n wherein B is an amino acid having positively charged side chain, A is alanine and n is an integer between 4 and 20.

Abstract: A shaft power plant for energy conversion of a discharge between a headwater and a tailwater, comprising a vertical shaft, the top of which forms an inflow plane which is parallel to the bed and extends below the headwater water level, wherein the shaft is open toward the top and is closed by a base at its bottom end, a unit composed of a turbine and an electrical machine, wherein the unit is arranged entirely under water in the shaft and wherein the turbine is arranged for water to pass through vertically, and an outflow, which is connected to the turbine, represents a closed flow channel and leads through a through-passage in the shaft to the tailwater, wherein, in a horizontal plane of a turbine runner of the turbine, a first cross-sectional area of the shaft is much larger than a second cross-sectional area taken up by the turbine runner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a suitable apparatus for determining the state of a rechargeable battery and for checking contact resistances in a battery system. According to the invention, an impedance curve is determined using signals at different frequencies and a value for an area, which results from the impedance curve, is then calculated from a predetermined threshold value and an x axis. The value for the area is a measure of the ageing of the battery. A control signal is generated on the basis thereof. In one preferred embodiment, said control signal is used to drive a signaling apparatus and thus to present the state of the battery to a user. The present invention can be used, for example, in motor vehicles that are electrically driven.