Abstract: The invention relates to a method for depositing functional groups on a surface of an object, and to the object treated as such, by generating and maintaining a plasma, bringing the object surface close to or in a space between the plasma electrodes, an atmosphere being present between the two electrodes, and depositing a plurality of functional groups on at least part of the surface of the object, whereby the atmosphere between the two electrodes comprises a multi-functional hyperbranched compound which is a polymer based on ABm type monomers, or a derivative of such polymer, whereby m is at least 2, and A and B are two reactive functional groups selected such that group A is able to react at least m times with group B, and whereby the hyperbranched compound is having a degree of branching (DB) in the range of 10.0-99.9%.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a method for identifying the elemental composition of and/or quantifying the presence of mono-isotopic elements in a molecule in a sample by computing a solution of a system of linear equations ??Ei?n?=Fi, whereby the set of numbers Fi comprises said set of relative peak heights from the aggregated isotopic distribution and the coefficients Ei? of said linear system comprise powers and/or power sums of roots r?,i?. The present invention also provides a method for analysing at least part of an isotopic distribution of a sample, comprising obtaining data comprising at least one probability qj with which a j'th aggregated isotopic variant of said molecule with mass number Aj occurs within said aggregated isotopic distribution; and computing a probability qi with which an i'th aggregated isotopic variant occurs within said aggregated isotopic distribution, by taking a linear combination of said at least one probability qj.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for determining the sensitizing potential of a chemical (test) compound, comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a suitable cell culture of a specific cell type and providing a test sample and a control sample thereof, said test sample and said control sample being identical, (b) Exposing said test sample to a chemical compound in a solvent and exposing said control sample to said solvent for a predetermined period of time, (c) Determining for the test sample and the control sample gene expressions xi for a subset of i=1 to n genes selected from the group of genes corresponding to SEQ ID NOs 1 to 153, (d) For this subset of n genes looking up in a database the gene expressions xi for a set of control and test samples, the test samples being exposed for said predetermined period of time to a set of chemical sensitizing model compounds comprising both sensitizers and non-sensitizers, (e) Using the gene expressions of the said test sample and the said control sample

Abstract: A kit of parts is for assembling a diffusive dosimeter for the detection of pollutants, said kit of parts includes a housing (1, 50), a first adsorbant (2) to be placed inside the housing and a first spacer (3) to be placed on top of the adsorbant, to define a thickness (L) and a first surface area (A) of a diffusive layer. The kit also has a first protective layer (5) placed on top of the spacer and a first cover (6) having an opening (7), to be placed on top of the protective layer, in a manner to close off the assembled dosimeter at its circumference. The kit has at least one or more additional spacers (15,16,17), each additional spacer being able to replace the first spacer and each spacer defines a different surface area, so that each spacer allows a measurement with a different uptake rate.

Abstract: A desalination plant, includes a sea water intake, a desalination unit having a reverse osmosis or a thermal desalination unit, a fresh water outlet and a brine outlet. The plant also includes a salinity gradient power unit having a brine inlet, a seawater inlet and a mixed water outlet. The brine outlet is connected to the brine inlet and the salinity gradient power unit is arranged to generate an electrical current. A solar power heater is between the brine outlet and the brine inlet. A method for reducing the power consumption of a desalination plant providing fresh water and brine from sea water, includes a first step of providing a salinity gradient power unit, a next step of feeding the salinity gradient power unit with brine from the desalination plant as high salinity feed and sea water as low salinity feed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are for disinfection and purification of a liquid, gaseous or solid phase, or a mixture thereof. The apparatus includes: a central electrode, a dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode, a first area adjacent to the dielectric layer, and is configured to introduce a first medium into the first area, a second area adjacent to the first area. The apparatus is also configured to introduce a second medium into the second area, and for creating a plasma in the first medium, while the first medium is present in the first area, by applying a voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode. An injector injects the plasma into the second area, in order to be mixed with the second medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are seamless membrane bags, for example, a membrane bag comprising a spacer fabric and a volume for permeate collection, the spacer fabric comprising a first part and a second part that are spaced apart and tied together at a predefined distance by monofilament thread and the first and second parts are at least partially embedded with membrane substance and the volume for permeate collection is interposed between the first and second parts. The membrane substance embeds portions of the monofilament thread and fills the spacer fabric along the border of the membrane bag. The membrane substance completely enclosing the volume is seamless. Also disclosed are processes for producing such bags, a filtration unit comprising such a membrane bag, and their uses in the separation of fluids, vapors and particles.

Abstract: A system for measuring individual cell voltages of a fuel cell stack includes a plurality of voltage scanning units (VSU). Each VSU is arranged for being connected to a group of cells, belonging to the fuel cell stack, the group of cells being provided with terminals that allow measuring a cell voltage. Each VSU comprises a filter/regulator that provides a voltage reference signal Vref, that is applied to a first terminal of a first cell of the group of cells. The VSU further includes a multiplexer arranged for consecutively connecting the other terminals of the group of cells to a first input of an A/D converter, whereby the A/D converter is further provided with a second input for receiving the voltage reference signal Vref. The ADC is further arranged for being fed with a supply voltage Vsup+ and for A/D converting a signal derived from the signals at the first and second input.

Abstract: A kit of parts is for assembling a diffusive dosimeter for the detection of pollutants, said kit of parts includes a housing (1, 50), a first adsorbant (2) to be placed inside the housing and a first spacer (3) to be placed on top of the adsorbant, to define a thickness (L) and a first surface area (A) of a diffusive layer. The kit also has a first protective layer (5) placed on top of the spacer and a first cover (6) having an opening (7), to be placed on top of the protective layer, in a manner to close off the assembled dosimeter at its circumference. The kit has at least one or more additional spacers (15, 16, 17), each additional spacer being able to replace the first spacer and each spacer defines a different surface area, so that each spacer allows a measurement with a different uptake rate.

Abstract: A membrane has a permeate channel including a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and a lower fabric surface (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance, the permeate channel being interposed between two membrane layers (12, 13), wherein the membrane layers are linked at a multitude of points with the upper and lower fabric surfaces to form an integral structure with a high bonding strength suitable for backflush operations. A method provides an integrated permeate channel membrane, including the steps of: —Providing a 3D spacer fabric having an upper and lower surface fabric (2,3) spaced apart by monofilament thread (4) at a predefined distance; and—Applying a membrane layer to both the upper and the lower surface fabric.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing asymmetric braid reinforced capillary ultra- or micro-filtration membranes (1), including the subsequent steps of pulling a tubular braid (5) through a spinneret (7) and coating the braid with a dope. Prior to the coating step, the braid is impregnated with a non-coagulation liquid, being a liquid which does not cause coagulation of the dope, when brought in contact with the dope. The result is a membrane with an outer skin, i.e. smaller pores near the outside diameter than near the inside diameter, and a coating which is closely arranged around the outside diameter of the braid, without any substantial penetration of the coating into the braid.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for immobilising a biomolecule on a surface by generating and maintaining an atmospheric pressure plasma, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a sample in the space between two electrodes, a mixed atmosphere being present between the electrodes, applying an alternating voltage to the electrodes for generating and maintaining a plasma in the volumetric space between the electrodes, characterized in that the mixed atmosphere comprises an inert gas or nitrogen, an aerosol comprising a reactive precursor and an aerosol comprising a biomolecule, the reactive precursor and biomolecule being deposited and immobilized during the depositing step.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are for disinfection and purification of a liquid, gaseous or solid phase, or a mixture thereof. The apparatus includes: a central electrode, a dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode, a first area adjacent to the dielectric layer, and is configured to introduce a first medium into the first area, a second area adjacent to the first area. The apparatus is also configured to introduce a second medium into the second area, and for creating a plasma in the first medium, while the first medium is present in the first area, by applying a voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode. An injector injects the plasma into the second area, in order to be mixed with the second medium.

Abstract: A desalination plant, includes a sea water intake, a desalination unit having a reverse osmosis or a thermal desalination unit, a fresh water outlet and a brine outlet. The plant also includes a salinity gradient power unit having a brine inlet, a seawater inlet and a mixed water outlet. The brine outlet is connected to the brine inlet and the salinity gradient power unit is arranged to generate an electrical current. A solar power heater is between the brine outlet and the brine inlet. A method for reducing the power consumption of a desalination plant providing fresh water and brine from sea water, includes a first step of providing a salinity gradient power unit, a next step of feeding the salinity gradient power unit with brine from the desalination plant as high salinity feed and sea water as low salinity feed.

Abstract: A method for applying a coating (4) on a substrate (1), includes: —scanning a laser beam (2) along a line on the surface of said substrate. The method also includes supplying a coating forming material from a supply system (3), the system moving along the same line as the laser beam but coming up behind the laser beam, so that the coating forming material is deposited on a spot which has previously been heated by the laser beam to a temperature above the melting temperature of the coating forming material. Substantially no physical contact occurs between the laser beam and the coating forming material. Preferably, the method further includes a second step of scanning the surface a second time with the laser beam, without adding coating forming material during the second step.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ion-permeable web-reinforced separator membrane includes the steps of: providing a web (2A) and a suitable paste (5), guiding the web (2A) in a vertical position, equally coating both sides of the web with the paste to produce a paste coated web (2B), and applying a symmetrical surface pore formation step and a symmetrical coagulation step to the paste coated web to produce a web-reinforced separator membrane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus coats a substrate with an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer material. The method generates and maintains a plasma according to the Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) technique, method including the steps of introducing a sample in the space between two electrodes, generating a plasma discharge between the electrodes and admixing aerosols containing hybrid organic/inorganic cross-linked pre-polymers to the plasma discharge. Also, an apparatus generates the plasma and admixes the liquid coating material (precursor solution) in the form of aerosol to the plasma discharge.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and devices for controlling at least one load connected to an AC power line. The method is based on the introduction of interruptions in the line voltage, which correspond to data being sent. The method centers on interruptions of variable length, yielding the opportunity of sending more data with a reduced number of interruptions. The invention is further related to a particular design of the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is equipped with a means for measuring the line current. The receiver is equipped with a comparator with a feedback connection. The receiver is also capable of increasing momentarily the line current, which creates the possibility of sending information back towards the transmitter.

Abstract: A recombinant nucleic acid sequence comprising an SOS regulated promoter with an induction ratio higher than 40, said promoter being operatively linked to a reporter encoding nucleic acid sequence encoding a reporter resulting in a signal that can be assayed as light production. A biosensor compromising such a nucleic acid sequence and methods for determining genotoxicity and the presence of multiple genotoxic compounds using such a biosensor are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a purification method metal(s) containing water wherein: the process is fully continuous, the water flows through a sand filter, inoculated with viable micro-organisms, a part of the micro-organism biomass, loaded with metals, is evacuated, and the micro-organism biomass loss is equal to the micro-organism biomass growth.