Abstract: A nucleic acid comprising a sequence section which modulates the expression of the VR1 receptor, a vector containing this nucleic acid and a host cell which is transformed with this vector are disclosed, along with related pharmaceutical formulations. Methods for modulating the expression of the VR1 receptor and the use of the nucleic acid or vector for alleviating, preventing or treating pain and for treating sensibility disorders associated with the VR1 receptor are also provided.

Abstract: A method is proposed for producing an anti-scatter grid or collimator for a radiation type, which is formed from at least one base body of prescribable geometry having transmission channels or slits for primary radiation of the radiation type which extend between two opposite surfaces of the base body. The base body is formed from a structural material that strongly absorbs the radiation type, either using the injection molding technique or by way of the technique of stereolithography. The method can be used to produce an anti-scatter grid or collimator with high accuracy and with the aid of only a few steps.

Abstract: A method is for producing an antiscatter grid or collimator for a radiation type, which is formed from a base body of predeterminable geometry having transmission channels for primary radiation of the radiation type which extend between two opposite surfaces of the base body. In the method, the base body is constructed by use of a rapid prototyping technique by layer-wise solidification of a structural material, which is substantially transmissive to the radiation type, under the action of radiation. Inner surfaces of the base body in the transmission channels are coated with a material, which strongly absorbs the radiation type, up to a layer thickness which suffices to virtually completely absorb incident secondary radiation of the radiation type. The opposite surfaces of the base body are not coated, or are aftertreated in such a way that they do not bear a coating or bear a coating of greatly reduced layer thickness made from the material strongly absorbing the radiation type.

Abstract: A flexible monolithic integrated circuit which is essentially formed from flexible circuit elements, connecting elements between the flexible circuit elements, and a flexible coating which comprises at least one layer of a coating material comprising a polymer, is suitable as a small and convenient integrated circuit for electronic devices on flexible data carriers for the logistic tracking of objects and persons. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible integrated monolithic circuit whereby integrated monolithic circuit elements and connecting elements are formed in and on a semiconductor substrate, the main surface of the integrated circuit elements facing away from the semiconductor substrate are coated with a polymer resin, and the semiconductor substrate is removed. The method is based on conventional process steps in semiconductor technology and leads to a flexible integrated monolithic circuit in a small number of process steps.

Abstract: A method is for producing and applying an antiscatter grid or collimator to an x-ray or gamma detector having matricially arranged detector elements which form a detector surface with detection regions sensitive to x-radiation and/or gamma radiation and less sensitive intermediate regions. In the method, a basic structure is firstly produced for the antiscatter grid or collimator by way of a rapid prototyping technique, through which transmission channels and intermediate walls of the antiscatter grid or collimator are formed which have at least in a first direction a center-to-center spacing which is equal to or an integral multiple of a center-to-center spacing of the sensitive detection regions of the detector. The intermediate walls are coated with a material which strongly absorbs x-radiation and/or gamma radiation in order to finish the antiscatter grid or collimator.

Abstract: A gas generating system for a fuel cell system as well as to a method of operating same. In order to provide hydrogen-containing combustible gas as rapidly as possible and to reduce the exhaust gas emissions, for the start of the operation of the gas generating system, at least one catalytic burner is started and the generated heat is used for evaporating a combustion agent and/or water and for the heating-up of an additionally connected partial reforming unit or partial oxidation stage in order to generate a hydrogen-containing gas for the fuel cell unit by reforming or partial oxidation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for the electrical actuator of a variable valve train, the actuator being embodied in the form of a worm gear in which a sensor detects a position value (measured position value) of an eccentric shaft, a control difference is generated in a feedback branch with the use of the measured position value, and the electrical actuator is actuated. To suppress interferences in the control system, an observer value is formed that is associated with the position value from the pulse duty factor of the pulse-width modulation. The observer value is composed to a comparison value formed from the measured position value. The detected measured position value is not accepted if the deviation of the observer value from the comparison value exceeds a defined limit.

Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for determining the high-frequency behavior of active circuit elements in circuits arranged on a wafer, in which, substitutionally for the active circuit elements in the circuits, active circuit elements are utilized in process control modules which are also arranged on the wafer, the oscillation frequency of ring oscillators comprised in the process control modules and constituted by active circuit elements is measured and evaluated.

Abstract: A flexible monolithic integrated circuit which is essentially formed from flexible circuit elements, connecting elements between the flexible circuit elements, and a flexible coating which comprises at least one layer of a coating material comprising a polymer, is suitable as a small and convenient integrated circuit for electronic devices on flexible data carriers for the logistic tracking of objects and persons.

Abstract: A gas generating system for a fuel cell system as well as to a method of operating same. In order to provide hydrogen-containing combustible gas as rapidly as possible and to reduce the exhaust gas emissions, for the start of the operation of the gas generating system, at least one catalytic burner is started and the generated heat is used for evaporating a combustion agent and/or water and for the heating-up of an additionally connected partial reforming unit or partial oxidation stage in order to generate a hydrogen-containing gas for the fuel cell unit by reforming or partial oxidation.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit with an anode-side feeding and removal pipe for feeding and removing a hydrogen-containing medium to and from the fuel cell unit and a cathode-side feeding and removal pipe for feeding and removing an oxygen-containing medium to and from the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell system also includes a combustible-agent tank for storing a combustible agent from which hydrogen is obtained for supplying the fuel cell unit in a gas generating system. At least one adsorbing device is provided for adsorbing combustible-agent vapors exhaled from the combustible-agent tank. An input side of the at least one adsorbing device is connected with the combustible-agent tank and an output side of the at least one adsorbing device is connected at least temporarily with the cathode-side feeding pipe of the fuel cell unit and/or upstream of a catalytically active component in the gas generating system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for the electrical actuator of a variable valve train, the actuator being embodied in the form of a worm gear pair, in which a sensor detects a position value (measured position value) of an eccentric shaft, a control difference is generated in a feedback branch with the use of the measured position value, and the electrical actuator is actuated. To suppress interferences in the control system, an observer value is formed that is associated with the position value from the pulse duty factor of the pulse-width modulation. The observer value is composed to a comparison value formed from the measured position value. The detected measured position value is not accepted if the deviation of the observer value from the comparison value exceeds a defined limit.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for producing a hydrogenous gas stream for a fuel cell system, the share of CO contained in the gas stream, is reduced by providing one or more selective oxidation stages which preferably are thermally coupled to a reformer for the reforming of hydrocarbons, or to a heat exchanger. In order to supply the fuel cell system, as quickly as possible, with a hydrogenous gas stream having a low share of CO, so that it can be placed in operation at the temperature of the surrounding environment, one or more additional, thermally decoupled, selective oxidation stages is series-connected to the existing selective oxidation stages at the beginning or end of the series, or at intermediate points.

Abstract: A process for making a polyolefin composition having improved adhesive and/or coating compatibility involving: (a) providing a polyolefin; (b) providing from 0.01 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polyolefin, of a migratable amphiphile; (c) providing from 0.01 to 1000 ppm, based on the weight of the polyolefin, of a transition metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, tin, and mixtures thereof; and (d) combining (a)-(c) to form the polyolefin composition.

Abstract: A fuel cell system (and a method for operating it) includes at least one fuel cell with an anode space and a cathode space, a first medium supply line for supplying a first medium to the anode space, a first medium outlet line for removing an outgoing anode stream from the anode space, a second medium supply line for supplying a second medium to the cathode space, a second medium outlet line for removing an outgoing cathode stream from the cathode space, and a heater device which is arranged downstream of the at least one fuel cell and is acted on by outgoing fuel cell stream. A starting material is evaporated in an evaporator.

Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen-rich gas has a reformer for catalytic water vapor reforming of a water vapor/fuel mixture by an input supply of thermal energy, and a CO oxidation stage for removing carbon monoxide from the hydrogen-rich gas while emitting heat, with the reformer and the CO oxidation stage being thermally coupled. An oxygen quantity fed to the CO oxidation stage is adjusted as a function of the gas temperature in or at the output of the reformer/oxidation stage. This can take place by an automatic (feedback) control, a combination of open loop control and automatic control or by an adaptive characteristic diagram.

Abstract: Polyolefine-based mouldings and foils contain internal bonding additives which are enriched by migration at the plastic surface and which have their molecular structure bonding substituents of higher polarity on an oleophilic hydrocarbon radical. At least one part of these internal additives is hardened via its hydrocarbon radicals in the area of the plastic surface and prevented from further migrating, and so permanent adhesive bondings and/or coatings of the polyolefine surface may be obtained without additional preliminary treatments. Also disclosed is a process for furnishing solid polyolefine surfaces with such adherence-improving, immobilised additive (mixtures), and other auxiliary agents used for that purpose.