Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in an organism by introducing, into the organism, nucleic acids which encode polypeptides with ?5-elongase activity. Advantageously, these nucleic acids can be expressed in the organism together with further nucleic acids which encode polypeptides of the biosynthesis of the fatty acid or lipid metabolism. Especially advantageous are nucleic acids which encode ?6-desaturases, ?5-desaturases, ?4-desaturases and/or ?6-elongases. These desaturases and elongases are advantageously derived from Thalassiosira, Euglena or Ostreococcus. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of oils and/or triacylglycerides with an elevated content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and oils and/or triacylglycerides thus obtained.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises: receiving a measurement data set, the measurement data set including energy resolved data based on a computed tomography scan of the patient; reconstructing a morphology preserving image data set based on a first photon-energy band or a first combination of photon-energy bands described by the measurement data set; segmenting a blood pool within a myocardium in the morphology preserving image data set; reconstructing a contrast agent map based on a second photon-energy band or a second combination of photon-energy bands described by the measurement data set; determining a reference value based on at least one pixel or voxel of the contrast agent map within the segmented blood pool; and determining a respective myocardial extracellular volume fraction depending on the reference value and a value given for at least one respective pixel or voxel outside the segmented blood pool by the contrast agent map.

Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.

Abstract: A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.

Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for onsite generation of acid and base solutions for cleaning purposes through the utilization of bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPED) are described. The methods eliminate the need to s store large quantities of acids and bases onsite or to transport the acid and base solutions to the cleaning site. A method of recycling substantially neutralized waste salt solutions into acid and base solutions for additional cleaning, thus decreasing the amount of waste salt discharged to the environment, also is described.

Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.

Abstract: Remote access, soft tissue tunneling dilators are used for the placement of central venous catheters of varying sizes into one or more jugular veins, for forming pathways of varying sizes through subcutaneous soft tissue, or for enlarging internal renal access pathways of varying sizes to accommodate access by urological instruments. Dilators comprise a tapered body extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, where both an outer diameter and a material hardness of the tapered body gradually increase distally-to-proximally from the distal tip toward the proximal end of the tapered body. The tapered body may include a plurality of visual indicators disposed upon the body at one or both of a plurality of distally-to-proximally increasing length increments and a plurality of distally-to-proximally increasing diameter increments. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Remote access, soft tissue tunneling dilators are used for the placement of central venous catheters of varying sizes into one or more jugular veins, for forming pathways of varying sizes through subcutaneous soft tissue, or for enlarging internal renal access pathways of varying sizes to accommodate access by urological instruments. Dilators comprise a tapered body extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, where both an outer diameter and a material hardness of the tapered body gradually increase distally-to-proximally from the distal tip toward the proximal end of the tapered body. The tapered body may include a plurality of visual indicators disposed upon the body at one or both of a plurality of distally-to-proximally increasing length increments and a plurality of distally-to-proximally increasing diameter increments. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.

Abstract: An integrated treatment system using electrodialysis and pressure-driven membranes for deionizing and decontaminating liquids to a near-pure quality for use or reuse in industrial or municipal operations. The integrated system includes steps of pre-filtering contaminated feed liquids blending the filtered liquids in preparation for treating the mixed liquids in parallel or sequential treatment steps utilizing nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, proceeded by or followed by an integrated electrodialysis treatment. A control means selectively directs mixed liquids to each of the treatment units for treatment in parallel or in series depending on the conductivity and residual contaminants in the mixed liquids. In comparison with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis only systems, or electrodialysis only systems, the integrated system provides improved efficiencies for treatment, requires less energy to operate, and reduces maintenance and capital costs.

Abstract: A device for fixing and/or positioning objects (6) in a transport container (1) has a first and a second structural part (7, 8). One of the structural parts (7) is configured as an assembly element and another of the structural parts (8) is configured as a holding element. At least one swivel mechanism (9, 15) connects the two structural parts (7, 8) and has two legs pivotally connected to one another. One leg is adjustably disposed for the creation of selected positions of the two structural parts (7, 8) relative to one another. A mechanism for locking the structural parts (7, 8) in the creatable relative positions is provided. The swivel mechanism (9, 15) is Y-shaped and has a long leg (10, 16) connected to both structural parts (7, 8) and also a short leg (11, 17) connected to one of the structural parts (7, 8) and a central region of the long leg (10, 16).

Abstract: In a process for insuring data integrity of software for a control unit of a motor vehicle, a central system (trust center) can issue certificates to authorized parties, enabling them to properly sign software for the control unit and import it into a vehicle to enable operation of the vehicle. For this purpose, the trust center (or the vehicle itself) provides a pair of control unit keys having a first and second key. The first key is stored during production of the vehicle in such a manner that it is accessible to the control unit. By means of the second key of the trust center, a first certificate for an authorized party (certificate holder) is signed.

Abstract: An integrated treatment system using electrodialysis and pressure-driven membranes for deionizing and decontaminating liquids to a near-pure quality for use or reuse in industrial or municipal operations. The integrated system includes steps of pre-filtering contaminated feed liquids blending the filtered liquids in preparation for treating the mixed liquids in parallel or sequential treatment steps utilizing nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, proceeded by or followed by an integrated electrodialysis treatment. A control means selectively directs mixed liquids to each of the treatment units for treatment in parallel or in series depending on the conductivity and residual contaminants in the mixed liquids. In comparison with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis only systems, or electrodialysis only systems, the integrated system provides improved efficiencies for treatment, requires less energy to operate, and reduces maintenance and capital costs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation process for a compound (I) or a salt thereof, in which Q, X*, Y, Z, R, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in claim 1, which comprises a) ammonolyzing a comp. (II) in which Hal=halogen atom to give (III), pref. (a1) carrying out the reaction in an organic solvent mixture (org. solv. mixture) comprising (1) opt. halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and (2) polar aprotic solvents, in a weight ratio of solv. (1): solv. (2) of 20:1 to 1:1, (b) phosgenating the comp. (III) with phenylsulfonyl isocyanate of the formula (IV), pref. (b1) in the case X*=halogen, carrying out the reaction with phosgene in an org. solv. in the presence of isocyanates R?-NCO as catalyst, where R?=(subst.) hydrocarbon, with or without addition of an amine base, (c) reacting the resulting compound (IV) in org. solv. with the aminoheterocycle H2N-Het (Het=heterocycle as in (I)) to give the comp. (I) or a salt thereof, pref. (c1) carrying out the reaction in a solv. mixture of opt. halogenated arom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing and/or positioning objects (6) in a transport container (1) and comprising a first and a second structural part (7, 8). One of the structural parts (7) is configured as an assembly element and another of the structural parts (8) is configured as a holding element. At least one swivel mechanism (9, 15) connects the two structural parts (7, 8) and has two legs pivotally connected to one another. One leg is adjustably disposed for the creation of selected positions of the two structural parts (7, 8) relative to one another. Means for locking the structural parts (7, 8) in the creatable relative positions are provided. According to the invention, the swivel mechanism (9, 15) is Y-shaped and has a long leg (10, 16) connected to both structural parts (7, 8) and also a short leg (11, 17) connected to one of the structural parts (7, 8) and a central region of the long leg (10, 16).

Abstract: In a process for ensuring the data integrity of software for influencing operation of a control unit of a motor vehicle, a pair of keys is provided for encrypting and decrypting electronic data. The first key is stored for access by a control unit in the motor vehicle, and software which is to be imported is signed by means of the second key. The signed software is imported into the memory of the control unit and the signature of the software is checked by means of the first key. The signature is accepted if the check has a positive result.

Abstract: An electrodialysis treatment system utilizing a plurality of disparate layers of an electrodialysis cell stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures. The system for electrodialysis treatment for purification and deionizing liquids includes providing an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic and organic contaminants and generating a filtrate effluent. An adsorbing operation for adsorbing organic contaminants from the filtrate effluent of the pretreatment operation is provided by utilizing activated carbon adsorption and generating a liquid fraction. A deionizing operation for continuously purifying the liquid fraction is provided by utilizing an electrodialysis stack having a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions from the liquid fraction of the adsorbing operation.

Abstract: In a process for ensuring the data integrity of software for influencing operation of a control unit of a motor vehicle, a pair of keys is provided for encrypting and decrypting electronic data. The first key is stored for access by a control unit in the motor vehicle, and software which is to be imported is signed by means of the second key. The signed software is imported into the memory of the control unit and the signature of the software is checked by means of the first key. The signature is accepted if the check has a positive result.

Abstract: In a process for insuring data integrity of software for a control unit of a motor vehicle, a central system (trust center) can issue certificates to authorized parties, enabling them to properly sign software for the control unit and import it into a vehicle to enable operation of the vehicle. For this purpose, the trust center (or the vehicle itself) provides a pair of control unit keys having a first and second key. The first key is stored during production of the vehicle in such a manner that it is accessible to the control unit. By means of the second key of the trust center, a first certificate for an authorized party (certificate holder) is signed.