Abstract: Lipid assemblies, such as liposomes, comprising transfection enhancer elements (TEE's), which are complexed with the lipid assemblies by means of ionic interactions, or lipids incorporating such TEE's are disclosed for enhancing the fusogenicity of the lipid assemblies. The TEE's have the formula: hydrophobic moiety-pH sensitive hydrophilic moiety??(II) The pH sensitive hydrophilic moiety of each TEE is a weak acid having a pka of between 2 and 6 or a zwitterionic structure comprising a combination of acidic groups with weak bases having a pKa of between 3 and 8. Lipids incorporating one or more such TEEs have the formula (I): Lipid moiety-[Hydrophobic moiety-pH sensitive hydrophilic moiety]??(I).

Abstract: An amphoteric liposome composed of a mixture of lipids, said mixture comprising a cationic amphiphile, an anionic amphiphile and optionally one or more neutral amphiphiles, at least one of said cationic and anionic amphiphiles being chargeable and the respective amounts of said cationic and anionic amphiphiles being selected such there is a stoichiometric excess of positively charged cationic amphiphile at a first lower pH, a stoichiometric excess of negatively charged anionic amphiphile at a second higher pH and said mixture has an isoelectric point intermediate said first and second pHs; characterised in that said positively charged cationic and negatively charged anionic amphiphiles are adapted to form a lipid salt with one another at said isoelectric point. Also disclosed are methods of predicting the fusogenicity of an amphoteric liposome at a given pH, formulating an amphoteric liposome and loading an amphoteric liposome with a cargo moiety.

Abstract: The invention describes the use of acidic aluminum compounds that in cosmetic preparations result in hair softening and a reduction of the shaving frequency.

Abstract: Aromatic amines are produced from aromatic hydrocarbons by a) reacting the aromatic hydrocarbon(s) with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid to generate a two-phase reaction mixture, b) separating the reaction mixture into an aqueous acid phase and an organic phase containing the nitroaromatic compounds c) washing the organic phase to purify the nitroaromatic compound(s), d) hydrogenating the nitroaromatic compound(s) in the presence of a catalyst to produce the aromatic amine(s) and water of reaction, and e) separating the water of reaction formed in step d) from the aromatic amine(s), in which the water of reaction separated in step e) is used to wash the organic phase containing the nitroaromatic compounds in step c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to topical pharmaceutical compositions containing ambroxol or one of the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, preferably in the form of the hydrochloride, for direct application or administration to the skin and/or mucosa with anti-inflammatory and local anesthetic properties.

Abstract: Aromatic amines are produced from aromatic hydrocarbons by

Abstract: Described is a film having at least a single layer and at least one copolyamide layer (I) containing dispersed nanoscale nucleating particles. Crystalline structures extending from the dispersed particle surfaces are formed after the layer (I) is cooled from a molten state at a cooling rate of from 10° C. to 20° C. per minute. The dispersed nanoscale nucleating particles are present in layer (I) in an amount of from 10 ppm to 2000 ppm, based on the total weight of layer (I). Also described is a method of using the film of the present invention in packaging foodstuffs.

Abstract: A multilayer film having a lamination side and a heat-sealable side is described. The multilayer film comprises, a) an inner layer (i) ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; b) a coupling agent layer (ii) and a separate coupling agent layer (ii′), said inner layer (i) being interposed between and in contact with each of said coupling agent layer (ii) and said separate coupling agent layer (ii′); c) at least one further layer (iii), said separate coupling agent layer (ii′) being interposed between and in contact with each of said inner layer (i) and said layer (iii); d) at least one layer (iv), said coupling agent layer (ii) being interposed between and in contact with each of said inner layer (i) and said layer (iv); and e) a heat-sealable layer (v), said layer (iv) being interposed between and in contact with each of said coupling agent layer (ii) and said heat-sealable layer (v). Layers (i), (ii), (ii′), (iii) and (v) of the multilayer film contain 0.1 to 3 wt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new radioactive iodine-125 miniature radiation sources (seeds) comprising a radioactive carrier matrix which consists of a porous and mechanically stable inorganic material, the pores of which contain inorganic insoluble iodide-125, and which is enclosed within a capsule made of a corrosion-resistent and body-compatible material or which is coated with such a material. The iodine seeds according to the present invention further may contain (a) usual X-ray marker(s). Another object of the present invention are methods for manufacturing said novel iodine-125 seeds.

Abstract: An explanation system for use in an expert system is described. The rule base used in the inference engine of the expert system is divided into groups of rules called rule classes. With each rule class, three types of explanations are associated: strategy explanations, reason explanations and inference explanations. The rule classes are arranged in a hierarchical explanation tree structure. Each time a first rule is fired within a rule class, a frame is created into which the explanations relating to that rule class are copied. After the completion of the reasoning process, the frames can be used to generate an explanation of the reasoning process.