Abstract: A method of producing graphene sheets and plates from graphitic material including (a) mixing graphitic material particles in a liquid medium to form a suspension; (b) compressing the suspension; (c) directing the compressed suspension through a local constriction into an area of reduced pressure to decompress the suspension in less than 2×10?6 second to a pressure less than 20% of the compression pressure, thereby exfoliating graphene sheets and plates from the graphitic material.

Abstract: An optical observation unit (1) has an illumination apparatus (43) for illuminating an observation object (3). The illumination apparatus (43, 143) has a light source (45) emitting illumination light with a first color temperature, and a spectral filter (49) that can be inserted in the illumination beam path. The spectral filter (49) converts the illumination light with the first color temperature into illumination light with a second color temperature. The illumination apparatus further has an attenuator (51) that can be inserted in the illumination beam path in place of the spectral filter (49) and has a transmission characteristic that leads to an intensity reduction of the illumination light with the first color temperature that corresponds to the intensity reduction of the illumination light with the second color temperature by way of the spectral filter (49).

Abstract: A surgical microscope for imaging structures of an eye includes: a front optical unit, an illumination device which has an illumination-radiation-emitting illumination source and which illuminates the retina of the eye with an illumination spot via an illumination beam path which extends through the front optical unit, a camera and an adjustable camera optical unit disposed upstream thereof, an imaging beam path which extends through the front optical unit and the camera optical unit, and a control device which controls the camera optical unit and sets the latter in such a way that the retina of the eye in the region of the illumination spot is imaged on the camera. The control device varies a focusing state of the camera optical unit and, as a result thereof, records a plurality of images of the retina in the region of the illumination spot, the images being focused in different depth planes, and establishes a refractive value of the eye from these images.

Abstract: Described herein are processes for increasing biogas yield and reducing volatile solids in biosolids sludge. The biosolids sludge is passed through a controlled flow, hydrodynamic cavitation apparatus and further subjected to anaerobic digestion. The biosolids sludge can be treated with hydrodynamic cavitation prior to or after the sludge is exposed to a thermal hydrolysis step to hydrolyze the sludge.

Abstract: A method for reducing neutral oil losses during a neutralization step including (1) mixing an acid-treated vegetable oil with a base to neutralize (a) free fatty acid and (b) added acid in the acid-treated vegetable oil to obtain a pretreated mixture; (2) subjecting the pretreated mixture to at least two successive cycles of localized shear effects, each cycle including a step of forcing the pretreated mixture at a pressure through one or more nozzles, each cycle of localized shear effects having a shear duration time of less than 5×10?5 seconds and a shear rate of at least about 6000 sec?1.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic cavitation method for degumming triglyceride oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities. The residence time of the oil for degumming in the cavitation field is reduced to enhance removal of impurities such as phosphorus without prolonged exposure of the oil to cavitation conditions. The mass transfer of impurities from an oil phase to non-oil components or water is carried out in a non-cavitational, mass transfer reactor positioned downstream of a hydrodynamic cavitation device. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the treated oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: A process for increasing oil yield from grain that includes passing a grain-based liquid stream of an alcohol production process through a cavitation apparatus to apply cavitational energy to the grain-based liquid stream, wherein the cavitational energy is applied to the grain-based liquid stream prior to a distillation phase of the alcohol production process.

Abstract: A method for reducing neutral oil losses during a neutralization step including (1) mixing an acid-treated vegetable oil with a base to neutralize (a) free fatty acid and (b) added acid in the acid-treated vegetable oil to obtain a pretreated mixture; (2) subjecting the pretreated mixture to at least two successive cycles of localized shear effects, each cycle including a step of forcing the pretreated mixture at a pressure through one or more nozzles, each cycle of localized shear effects having a shear duration time of less than 5×105 seconds and a shear rate of at least about 6000 sec?1.

Abstract: A method of producing graphene sheets and plates from graphitic material including (a) mixing graphitic material particles in a liquid medium to form a suspension; (b) compressing the suspension; (c) directing the compressed suspension through a local constriction into an area of reduced pressure to decompress the suspension in less than 2×10?6 second to a pressure less than 20% of the compression pressure, thereby exfoliating graphene sheets and plates from the graphitic material.

Abstract: A surgical microscope for imaging structures of an eye includes: a front optical unit, an illumination device which has an illumination-radiation-emitting illumination source and which illuminates the retina of the eye with an illumination spot via an illumination beam path which extends through the front optical unit, a camera and an adjustable camera optical unit disposed upstream thereof, an imaging beam path which extends through the front optical unit and the camera optical unit, and a control device which controls the camera optical unit and sets the latter in such a way that the retina of the eye in the region of the illumination spot is imaged on the camera. The control device varies a focusing state of the camera optical unit and, as a result thereof, records a plurality of images of the retina in the region of the illumination spot, the images being focused in different depth planes, and establishes a refractive value of the eye from these images.

Abstract: A process for increasing oil yield from grain that includes passing a grain-based liquid stream of an alcohol production process through a cavitation apparatus to apply cavitational energy to the grain-based liquid stream, wherein the cavitational energy is applied to the grain-based liquid stream prior to a distillation phase of the alcohol production process.

Abstract: A vehicle seat longitudinal adjuster includes a lower rail (5) and an upper rail (3) which is guided therein such that it can be displaced in the longitudinal direction, and at least one bearing element (30) which is arranged between the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5). At least one additional supporting element (20) is provided which is in contact with the upper rail (3) and the lower rail (5) and has a rotatable supporting roller (22). The supporting roller (22) can be rotated about a rotational axis (A) which runs in the vertical direction. The at least one supporting element (20) includes a supporting spring (26) which loads the supporting roller (22) in the vertical direction. A vehicle seat (1) with the longitudinal adjuster is also provided.

Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus has a light source including a first individual light source and a second individual light source arranged in a plane. The first individual light source has a first midpoint and the second individual light source has a second midpoint. An axial direction is defined by a vector from the second midpoint to the first midpoint. An illumination optical unit defines an optical axis which is arranged perpendicularly to the plane and intersects the plane at an intersection point. The light source is imaged toward infinity by the illumination optical unit. The first individual light source has an extent along the axial direction. The midpoint is offset by an amount (?) in a positive direction along the axial direction relative to the intersection. The relationship 0.1*L1???1*L1 is satisfied for the offset.

Abstract: A multi-stage homogenization method for degumming triglyceride oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities. Two high-pressure homogenizers are used in series. The homogenizers have multiple flow constrictions to finely disperse reagents in the oil while simultaneously suppressing cavitation in the fluid. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the treated oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: A process for increasing oil yield from grain that includes passing a grain-based liquid stream of an alcohol production process through a cavitation apparatus to apply cavitational energy to the grain-based liquid stream, wherein the cavitational energy is applied to the grain-based liquid stream prior to a distillation phase of the alcohol production process.

Abstract: An illumination arrangement includes illumination optics defining an optical axis and a light source for generating at least one illumination beam path for illuminating an object field at a specific illumination angle with a viewing beam path. At least one mirror is provided in the illumination beam path for deflecting light from the light source and the mirror has a longitudinal extent along the optical axis. A light-emitting surface region of the light source is variable (x) perpendicular to the optical axis without movable components. The illumination optics are embodied in such a way for obtaining a desired illumination that an illumination pupil is imaged within the longitudinal extent of the mirror.

Abstract: A multi-stage homogenization method for degumming triglyceride oil is used to increase oil yield and reduce impurities. Two high-pressure homogenizers are used in series. The homogenizers have multiple flow constrictions to finely disperse reagents in the oil while simultaneously suppressing cavitation in the fluid. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides and other impurities from the treated oil to form a purified oil product.

Abstract: An illumination device for an optical viewing apparatus defines an illumination beam path and includes an illumination light source having mutually independently controllable individual light sources arranged in a first plane in a two-dimensional array. The illumination device defines an illumination beam path and includes illumination optics defining an optical axis. The illumination optics form a second plane conjugated with respect to the first plane. A diaphragm unit is arranged in the second plane. The diaphragm unit has a plurality of apertures and the apertures are assigned to corresponding ones of the individual light sources.

Abstract: A multi-stage agitation system is used for degumming vegetable oil to increase yield and reduce phosphatides. A high-shear mixing phase, that can include multiple stages, subjects an oil mixed with acid and base to a shear rate of greater than 15,000 s?1 to form a neutralized oil mixture. A low-shear mixing phase is further used to disperse water into the neutralized oil mixture. A separation step can be used to remove the phosphatides from the treated oil to form a degummed oil product.

Abstract: An input coupling module selectively couples a beam path into a first or second stereoscopic component beam in a surgical microscope having an optical interface for guiding a beam path to be coupled-in. The input coupling module has a first beam splitter arranged in the first component beam and a second beam splitter arranged in the second component beam. The input coupling module contains an adjustable optics assembly, which selectively guides a beam path provided at the optical interface for coupling into the first or second component beam to the first beam splitter or the second beam splitter. The adjustable optics assembly includes an optical element displaceable by a linear movement from a first position to a second, position, and vice versa, for switching the beam path. The displaceable optical element is arranged in the beam path to be coupled-in in the first position and/or the second position.