Abstract: This invention relates to the production of 7-dehydrocholesterol, 25-hydroxy-7-dehydrocholesterol, and 25-hydroxy ergosterol in yeast such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It also related to various enzymes catalyzing the reduction of the double bond at position 24 of lanosterol, dimethyl zymosterol, methyl zymosterol, zymosterol, cholesta-7, 24-dienol, or cholesta-5,7,24-trienol; or the hydroxylation at position 25 of ergosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, cholesta-8-enol, and cholesta-7-enol. It also relates to various nucleic acids encoding cholesterol C25-hydroxylases and sterol ?24-reductases and their use to produce and hydroxylate 7-dehydrocholesterol or ergosterol. It also relates to the yeast strains so produced, and methods of making these sterols comprising the steps of cultivation a transformed yeast cell, and harvesting the resulting sterol(s).

Abstract: A vibration damper (2) that is effective in the direction of rotation of a drive shaft and has a small radial extension. For this purpose, a first shaft part (6) is provided as a sleeve (8) and a second shaft part (7) is provided as an inner part extending axially into the sleeve (8). The two shaft parts (6, 7) engage via rotary drivers in complementary negative profiles (15, 16) of an interposed elastic damper part (10) in the direction of rotation. In addition to the negative profiles, the damper part may be provided with recesses (40) which modify its damping characteristics.

Abstract: A ball joint having an inner hub which has an inner hub axis and an outer surface, in which inner races and cage guide surfaces are arranged in the inner hub; an outer hub which has an outer hub axis and an inner surface, in which outer races and cage guide surfaces are arranged in the outer hub, and a cage which is ring-shaped and has a cage axis. The inner surface of the cage extends in the direction of the cage axis, the outer surface of the cage extends away from the direction of the cage axis, an inner race is constructed to extend straight and/or parallel to the inner hub axis, and an outer race is constructed to extend straight and/or parallel to the outer hub axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a improved process for the biotechnological production of compounds for which ribose-5-phosphate, ribulose-5-phosphate or xylulose-5-phosphate is biosynthetic precursor like riboflavin (vitamin B2), FAD, FMN, pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6), guanosine, GMP, adenosine, AMP. The invention further pertains to the generation of the organism producing those compounds. It furthermore relates to the generation of mutated transketolases that allow normal growth on glucose but reduced growth on gluconate when introduced into the production strains and to polynucleotides encoding them.

Abstract: A method for assembling a cover glass in an endoscope and an endoscope with a cover glass. To assemble a cover glass in an endoscope, an uncoated cover glass is soldered into an intermediate ring, the cover glass soldered into the intermediate ring is provided with a coating, and the intermediate ring provided with the coated cover glass is joined into a sheath of the optical system of the endoscope.

Abstract: A ball joint having an inner hub which has an inner hub axis and an outer surface, in which inner races and cage guide surfaces are arranged in the inner hub; an outer hub which has an outer hub axis and an inner surface, in which outer races and cage guide surfaces are arranged in the outer hub, and a cage which is ring-shaped and has a cage axis. The inner surface of the cage extends in the direction of the cage axis, the outer surface of the cage extends away from the direction of the cage axis, an inner race is constructed to extend straight and/or parallel to the inner hub axis, and an outer race is constructed to extend straight and/or parallel to the outer hub axis.

Abstract: In a leak testing apparatus and a method for manufacturing unleaky closed containers having first and second flexible wall areas with different flexibility characteristics, a biasing member is moved toward and onto the first flexible area and a force detector monitors a biasing force at the second flexible area. A container is considered unleaky if a difference signal from force measuring signals at first and second points in time fulfills a test criteria. Sampling the biasing force monitored which results in the first force measuring signal includes determining maximum biasing force signal value which occurs during a time span up to and including the first point in time.

Abstract: It is suggested to use mass spectroscopy in in-line testing of closed containers. The method for evaluating a quality of a number of closed filled containers filled with a filling product comprises: detecting at least one analyte by means of a mass spectroscopy technique, wherein said at least one analyte comprises at least one of said filling product; one or more components of said filling product; a decomposition product of said filling product; one or more decomposition products of one or more components of said filling product.

Abstract: For testing metered-dose-ejection devices, whether the ejected dose accords with a rated dose, the device (1) is sealingly applied (26) to a test compartment (24) and upon machine manipulation on the device (M, 5) a dose is ejected into the test compartment (24). Pressure difference established by such injection and with respect to a pre-established reference pressure (30) in the test compartment (24) is monitored by a pressure sensor (32). The output signal (o) of this sensor (32) is indicative of the extent of the addressed dose.

Abstract: Closed containers which are filled with a consumer product are tested on leakiness by means of mass spectrometry (10) in that an impact (AN(P)) by the consumer product (P) upon the surrounding atmosphere (A(P)) of the container to be leak tested is monitored by the mass spectrometry (10).

Abstract: A licensing system is provided for transferring license information for at least one license-requiring software component of software-controlled devices. The licensing system comprises a first, portable license data storage medium (3), which is provided with a processor unit (8) and on which at least one license information for the at least one license-requiring software component is stored in a memory unit (9). A second, exchangeable license data storage medium (4; 4.1, 4.2) is provided with a processor unit (10; 10.1, 10.2). A data transfer channel (5) is provided for transferring data between the first license data storage medium (3) and the second license data storage medium (4; 4.1, 4.2). A license detection device (6) is provided which can poll the at least one license information of the first license data storage medium (3) and transfer same to the second license data storage medium (4; 4.1, 4.2) via the data transfer channel (5).

Abstract: A vibration damper (2) that is effective in the direction of rotation of a drive shaft and has a small radial extension. For this purpose, a first shaft part (6) is provided as a sleeve (8) and a second shaft part (7) is provided as an inner part extending axially into the sleeve (8). The two shaft parts (6, 7) engage via rotary drivers in complementary negative profiles (15, 16) of an interposed elastic damper part (10) in the direction of rotation. In addition to the negative profiles, the damper part may be provided with recesses (40) which modify its damping characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved biotechnological production of riboflavin (also referred herein as vitamin B2) through modification in the operon containing the riboflavin biosynthetic genes (rib operon), in particular modifications of/in the leader sequences (rib leader) upstream of the corresponding riboflavin biosynthetic genes (rib operon). Furthermore, the present invention relates to genetically engineered microorganisms carrying said modified sequences, processes to generate said modified sequences/microorganisms and the use thereof for production of riboflavin.

Abstract: A displacement unit comprising two shaft-shaped drive components which are displaceable in one another and each have a plurality of roller body raceways facing one another with roller bodies arranged between them. To both save weight and facilitate proper positioning of the components, a profile groove is provided between two adjacent roller body raceways of at least one drive component, the profile groove having a profile depth which is smaller than the profile depth of one of the adjacent roller body raceways.

Abstract: The present invention relates to modified GTP cyclohydrolase II enzymes that display increased specific activity, and to polynucleotides encoding them. The invention further pertains to vectors comprising these polynucleotides and host cells containing such vectors. The invention provides a method for producing the modified enzyme and a method for producing riboflavin, a riboflavin precursor, FMN, FAD, or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: For leak testing closed containers (9) which are filled with a filling product containing at least one liquid component the container is introduced in a test cavity (1) which is evacuated at least down to vapour pressure of that liquid component. The pressure in the surrounding of the container (9) and thus within test cavity (1) is monitored. Monitoring is performed by a vacuum pressure sensor (7), whereas lowering pressure surrounding the container (9) is performed by a vacuum pump (5). Leakage is detected by monitoring a pressure change in the surrounding of the container which is due to evaporation of liquid emerging from a leak and being evaporated in the low pressure surrounding.

Abstract: A method and device for testing containers, the method calling for a difference in pressure to be generated between the pressure inside the container and the pressure immediately surrounding the container, the behavior of one of these pressures permitting the gas tightness of the container to be assessed. A pressure value is stored and subsequently compared with one of the pressures, the stored pressure value being stored electronically and compared with at least one value of the output signal from a pressure sensor. The container is housed in an enclosure which is connected to a pressure or suction line, and a pressure-value storage unit, a comparator unit and a pressure sensor are associated with the pressure or suction line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to newly identified mRNA stabilizing elements useful for the production of a target fermentation product, such as e.g. vitamins or enzymes, in particular riboflavin (vitamin B2), biotin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), folic acid, thiamin, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), vitamin B12, xylanase, amylase, protease, glucanase, amylomaltase or maltogenic amylase.