Abstract: An appendage massaging device that includes an appendage wrap having an inner band and an outer layer and one or more artificial muscles disposed between the inner band and the outer layer of the appendage wrap. Each of the one or more artificial muscles include a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying pressure to the inner band of the appendage wrap.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus and a method for determining the degree of bacterial contamination of process liquids uses at least one gas sensor for measuring the gas concentration of a gas producible by aerobic bacteria in the process liquid. An evaluating device is connected with the sensor for evaluating a sensor signal generated by the sensor and correlated with the degree of bacterial contamination. To determine the degree of bacterial contamination a funnel-shaped gas collecting bell is partly immersed in the process liquid so that a gas collection cavity for collection of the escaping gas is formed directly above the process liquid surface in the gas collecting bell. The gas escaping can be fed by a gas pump via a gas feed line to the sensor, conducted via the sensor and pumped back again to the gas collection cavity by way of a gas return line.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus and a method for determining the degree of bacterial contamination of process liquids uses at least one gas sensor for measuring the gas concentration of a gas producible by aerobic bacteria in the process liquid. An evaluating device is connected with the sensor for evaluating a sensor signal generated by the sensor and correlated with the degree of bacterial contamination. To determine the degree of bacterial contamination a funnel-shaped gas collecting bell is partly immersed in the process liquid so that a gas collection cavity for collection of the escaping gas is formed directly above the process liquid surface in the gas collecting bell. The gas escaping can be fed by a gas pump via a gas feed line to the sensor, conducted via the sensor and pumped back again to the gas collection cavity by way of a gas return line.

Abstract: A process for the removal of acids from reaction mixtures, comprising at least one product of value which is sparingly soluble in water, by at least one unpolar amine as an auxiliary base, which includes: a) reacting the auxiliary base with the acid with formation of a salt; b) reacting the salt formed in step a) with a further base which accepts the acid with liberation of the auxiliary base and combines with the acid to be accepted from the auxiliary base to form a salt which is very readily soluble in water; c) extraction of the mixture obtained in step b) with water or an aqueous medium, wherein the salt of the further base dissolves in the aqueous phase and the product of value, or the solution of the product of value, in a suitable solvent and the auxiliary base form at least one separate nonaqueous phase; and d) removal by distillation of at least part of any solvent present from the at least one nonaqueous phase obtained in step c), to form two nonmiscible liquid phases.

Abstract: The invention relates to preparations with improved urease-inhibitory effect which comprise at least two different (thio)phosphoric triamides and to urea-comprising fertilizers which comprise these preparations. The invention furthermore relates to a method of preparing these preparations, to the use of these preparations in the fertilization with urea-comprising fertilizers, and to the use of urea-comprising fertilizers which comprise these preparations in agriculture or in horticulture.