Abstract: The present invention describes compounds modulating the function of mitochondrial complex I (NADH-quinone oxidoreductase) having formula (I)

Abstract: It is important to recognize the severity of an accident more accurately and reliably. To do so, the present invention consists of installing a compression element (25) that can be compressed reversibly into an impact absorption device (2) in order to dampen the impact on a vehicle component. A pressure sensor is integrated in this compression element (25) which detects the pressure during compression of the compression element (25). From the pressure signal, data such as the collision speed can be determined and a safety device such as an airbag can be triggered. By doing so, expensive early crash sensors and similar devices become unnecessary, while the severity of an accident can be reliably determined.

Abstract: It is important to recognize the severity of an accident more accurately and reliably. To do so, the present invention consists of installing a compression element (25) that can be compressed reversibly into an impact absorption device (2) in order to dampen the impact on a vehicle component. A pressure sensor is integrated in this compression element (25) which detects the pressure during compression of the compression element (25). From the pressure signal, data such as the collision speed can be determined and a safety device such as an airbag can be triggered. By doing so, expensive early crash sensors and similar devices become unnecessary, while the severity of an accident can be reliably determined.

Abstract: A sheet material is produced by pressing to sheet form in the presence of water a material derived from a plant of the type Beta Vulgaris (sugarbeet and beetroot). Fresh plant material can be used as well as plant material already used for sugar production. The plant material preferably has a particle size of 0.1 to 10 mm. The sheet material may be water soluble or water insoluble the latter condition being achieved by mixing with the plant material a dialdehyde, such as glyoxal, dialdehyde starch or other bivalent substance capable of reacting with hydroxyl groups or by heat treatment or a combination of both. The degree of water solubility of the sheet material can be controlled in this way. The sheet material can be expanded by thermal shock treatment.

Abstract: The invention concerns porous fibers and membranes, methods for their preparation and for their use. The fibers are characterized by a smooth porous surface and an apparent density of between about 10 to 90% of the true density of the polymeric starting material employed. The process involves the formation of a homogeneous mixture of at least two components, one of which is a meltable polymer and another liquid inert with respect to the polymer. The mixture formed must be of a binary type, in which there is a temperature range of complete miscibility and a range in which there is a miscibility gap. The mixture is extruded at a temperature above the separation temperature into a bath containing at least some of the inert liquid which is at a temperature below the separation temperature. Upon introduction of the mixture into the bath, the fiber structure of the product is fixed.

Abstract: A method for production of porous hollow polymer fiber membranes. A homogeneous mixture is prepared from at least two components where one component is a fusible polymer (10 to 30 percent) and a solvent component (70-90%) is inert relative to the polymer and where said components form a binary system having in the liquid state a region of complete miscibility as well as a miscibility gap. The mixture is extruded at a temperature above the phase segregation temperature of the mixture through a hollow fiber nozzle into a spinning tube containing a solvent inert to the polymer and having a temperature below the segregation temperature. Fiber and liquid are moved in the spinning tube in the same direction at about the same speed. After solidification the hollow fiber membrane is washed with a solvent.

Abstract: Staple fibers made from crimped, in particular compression crimped, multicomponent filaments of the matrix/segment type, the cross section of which shows, in addition to the matrix, at least 6 peripheral wedge-shaped or lenticular segments, not completely covered by the matrix, are processed into a web, which is then mechanically bonded, preferably by needling. Subsequently, the fabric is subjected to a shrinkage process, by which its density is increased by more than 30%, themulticomponent fibers being completely or partly split up into their components. The difference in shrinkage between the components should be at least 10%. The liquids used for the shrinkage treatment are in particular organic liquids, such as methylene chloride, as well as other liquids producing a difference in shrinkage of at least 20%.

Abstract: The invention concerns porous fibers and membranes, methods for their preparation and for their use. The fibers are characterized by a smooth porous surface and an apparent density of between about 10 and 90% of the true density of the polymeric starting material employed. The process involves the formation of a homogeneous mixture of at least two components, one of which is a meltable polymer and another liquid inert with respect to the polymer. The mixture formed must be of a binary type, in which there is a temperature range of complete miscibility and a range in which there is a miscibility gap. The mixture is extruded at a temperature above the separation temperature into a bath containing at least some of the inert liquid which is at a temperature below the separation temperature. Upon introduction of the mixture into the bath, the fiber structure of the product is fixed.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for enriching liquids with oxygen by means of a catalyst and a liquid which gives off oxygen under the effect of that catalyst. The process involves passing the oxygen-yielding liquid through a porous molding, in the pores of which the catalyst is incorporated in known manner, thereby giving off oxygen, the side of the porous molding which gives off a greater quantity of oxygen being in contact with the liquid to be enriched with oxygen. The oxygen-yielding liquid is passed through the porous molding under its own static pressure, or under the effect of the excess pressure built up in the container through the formation of oxygen. Preferred embodiments include use of 0.1 to 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen-yielding liquid; using manganese dioxide, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 or nickel oxide as the catalyst.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for enriching liquids with oxygen by means of a catalyst and a liquid which gives off oxygen under the effect of that catalyst. The process involves passing the oxygen-yielding liquid through a porous molding, in the pores of which the catalyst is incorporated in known manner, thereby giving off oxygen, the side of the porous molding which gives off a greater quantity of oxygen being in contact with the liquid to be enriched with oxygen. The oxygen-yielding liquid is passed through the porous molding under its own static pressure, or under the effect of the excess pressure built up in the container through the formation of oxygen. Preferred embodiments include use of a 0.1 to 5% solution of hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen-yielding liquid; using ruthenium oxide or hydroxide as the catalyst.

Abstract: A new and useful hydrophilic polyester fiber and process of making same are disclosed; the fiber has a stable pore system exhibiting a moisture pickup (regain) of at least about 2 percent by weight at 40.degree. C. and a relative humidity of 92%. Our experiments indicate that the proportion of moisture regain is attributable to capillary condensation in an amount of at least 25%. The hydrophilic properties are the result of a certain pore system within the fiber which enables capilliary condensation to occur significantly. The invention describes one way to accomplish this, namely by the addition of a predetermined amount of a suitable oxalato-complex to a suitable polyester mass. Most preferably, about 10% by weight K.sub.3 Al(C.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.3 is added to the polyester mass.

Abstract: Fibrillatable multicomponent fibers of the matrix segment type and a process for production of fiber structures by splitting shrinkable, basically unset, multi-component fibers consisting of at least two incompatible components which in the fiber cross section are arranged in the form of a matrix and several segments, the latter accounting for about 20% to 80% of the total cross section. After having been processed into fiber structures such as staple fibers, yarns or fabrics, the multicomponent fibers are treated with a liquid or gaseous organic solvent, particularly chlorinated lower alkanes, to partially or completely split the segment filaments from the matrix component. Useful solvents are those which will reduce the zero-shrinkage temperature of the matrix or the segment polymer by at least 160.degree. C. and in which the polymer components constituting the fiber show different shrinkage behavior. Splitting may be further enhanced by the application of mechanical agitation, e.g. by ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: Production of a polyurethane embedding material from an aromatic diisocyanate in stoichiometric excess with a polyol mixture consisting essentially of castor oil and trimethylolpropane to first form a prepolymer containing unreacted isocyanate groups and being sufficiently flowable to permit coating onto membrane surfaces in all types of coating methods, and subsequently hardening the prepolymer by addition of a cross-linking agent consisting essentially of castor oil alone or another mixture of castor oil with trimethylolpropane in an amount sufficient to cross-link the prepolymer through at least a majority of its unreacted isocyanate groups. The products obtained in the invention are the embedding materials or the resulting hardened or cured embedded products or more simply "bedded" final products which have excellent properties particularly adapted to the mounting of semipermeable membranes in dialysis equipment to give an improved and more useful construction.

Abstract: Staple fibers made from crimped, in particular compression crimped, multicomponent filaments of the matrix/segment type, the cross section of which shows, in addition to the matrix, at least 6 peripheral wedge-shaped or lenticular segments, not completely covered by the matrix, are processed into a web, which is then mechanically bonded, preferably by needling. Subsequently, the fabric is subjected to a shrinkage process, by which its density is increased by more than 30%, the multicomponent fibers being completely or partly split up into their components. The difference in shrinkage between the components should be at least 10%. The liquids used for the shrinkage treatment are in particular organic liquids, such as methylene chloride, as well as other liquids producing a difference in shrinkage of at least 20%.

Abstract: An ultrafiltration membrane comprised of a linear polyurethane having a hydraulic permeability for water of about 50 to 500 1/m.sup.2 .multidot. h and a separation factor .alpha. of about 2.times.10.sup.-3 to 1.times.10.sup.-4, the permeability being based on determination with a membrane of a thickness of about 0.02 mm, a pressure differential of 1 bar and a temperature of 20.degree. C. and the separation factor .alpha. being established with a 2% oil-water emulsion at 25.degree. C. The membrane is particularly suited for operation of oil-water mixtures or emulsions.

Abstract: A molded polymer body with very fine, discrete, solid particles composed of a metal, metal compound or a mixture of the same incorporated within the molded body in a uniform pattern of distribution, substantially free of agglomerations, as obtained by a process of first impregnating the molded body with a bath solution of a metal compound and then gassing the molded body with a gaseous precipitating agent to precipitate the metal-containing particles. The products are especially useful in catalytic membranes, e.g. as used in artificial lungs or artificial kidneys.

Abstract: A new and useful hydrophilic polyester fiber and process of making same are disclosed; the fiber has a stable pore system exhibiting a moisture pickup (regain) of at least about 2 percent by weight at 40.degree. C. and a relative humidity of 92%. Our experiments indicate that the proportion of moisture regain is attributable to capillary condensation in an amount of at least 25%. The hydrophilic properties are the result of a certain pore system within the fiber which enables capilliary condensation to occur significantly. The invention describes one way to accomplish this, namely by the addition of a predetermined amount of a suitable oxalato-complex to a suitable polyester mass. Most preferably, about 10% by weight K.sub.3 Al(C.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.3 is added to the polyester mass.

Abstract: Production of a polyurethane embedding material from an aromatic diisocyanate in stoichiometric excess with a polyol mixture consisting essentially of castor oil and trimethylolpropane to first form a prepolymer containing unreacted isocyanate groups and being sufficiently flowable to permit coating onto membrane surfaces in all types of coating methods, and subsequently hardening the prepolymer by addition of a cross-linking agent consisting essentially of castor oil alone or another mixture of castor oil with trimethylolpropane in an amount sufficient to cross-link the prepolymer through at least a majority of its unreacted isocyanate groups. The products obtained in the invention are the embedding materials or the resulting hardened or cured embedded products or more simply "bedded" final products which have excellent properties particularly adapted to the mounting of semipermeable membranes in dialysis equipment to give an improved and more useful construction.

Abstract: A molded polymer body with very fine, discrete, solid particles composed of a metal, metal compound or a mixture of the same incorporated within the molded body in a uniform pattern of distribution, substantially free of agglomeration, as obtained by a process of first impregnating the molded body with a bath solution of a metal compound and then gassing the molded body with a gaseous precipitating agent to precipitate the metal-containing particles. The products are especially useful in catalytic membranes, e.g. as used in artificial lungs or artificial kidneys.

Abstract: Fibrillatable multicomponent fibers of the matrix segment type and a process for production of fiber structures by splitting shrinkable, basically unset, multi-component fibers consisting of at least two incompatible components which in the fiber cross section are arranged in the form of a matrix and several segments, the latter accounting for about 20% to 80% of the total cross section. After having been processed into fiber structures such as staple fibers, yarns or fabrics, the multicomponent fibers are treated with a liquid or gaseous organic solvent, particularly chlorinated lower alkanes, to partially or completely split the segment filaments from the matrix component. Useful solvents are those which will reduce the zero-shrinkage temperature of the matrix or the segment polymer by at least 160.degree. C. and in which the polymer components constituting the fiber show different shrinkage behaviour. Splitting may be further enhanced by the application of mechanical agitation, e.g. by ultrasonic waves.