Abstract: The present invention is an agent for treating a hard surface comprising at least two components selected from the group consisting of (a) multi-armed stellate polyalkoxylates; (b) polyesteramides; and (c) copolymers prepared from a quaternary ammonium acrylamide and acrylic acid. The agents of the present invention find use in cleaning hard surfaces and/or providing a soil-repellant finish to hard surfaces such as ceramic, glass, stainless steel and plastic.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions for treating a hard surface, in particular for cleaning and/or dirt-repellent treatment of a hard surface, containing a) at least one multi-armed silyl polyalkoxylate of the formula (I) (H-A)n-Z-[A-B—Si(OR1)r(R2)3?r]m (I), where Z is a (m+n)=valent radical having at least three carbon atoms, A is a divalent polyoxyalkylene radical, wherein the m+n polyoxyalkylene radicals bound to Z can be different from one another, and wherein one radical A is in each case bound to Z via an oxygen atom belonging to Z, and one oxygen atom belonging to A is bound to B or hydrogen, B is a chemical bond or a divalent organic radical having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, OR1 is a hydrolysable group, R1 and R2 independently of one another are a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and r is an integer from 1 to 3, and m is an integer ?1 and n is 0 or an integer ?1, and m+n has a value from 3 to 100, b) at least one surfactant, c) water and/or at least one nonaqueous solvent, d) if

Abstract: Compounds of the Formula I, wherein A1 is O or NH; A2 is O or S; each of R1 and R2 is independently hydrogen, a methyl or C2-C8-saturated or mono- or doubly unsaturated, branched or linear hydrocarbon group; and R3 is a C1-C18-saturated or mono- or doubly unsaturated, branched or linear hydrocarbon group wherein, each of R1, R2 and R3 comprises a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O and S in the chain and/or is mono- or multiply-substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyl, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C6-C10-aryl, and C1-C6-alkyl-C6-C10-aryl are useful for controlling the interaction process between microorganisms such as in the development and/or maturation of biofilms; multicellular swarm behavior; the concerted development of antibiotic resistances; the concerted synthesis of antibiotics; the concerted synthesis of pigments; the concerted production of extracellular enzymes; or the concerted production of virulence factors.

Abstract: Multifunctional copolymers, washing and cleaning agents comprising said copolymers, and use of those copolymers for reduction of the attachment of microorganisms and/or for reduction of the formation of biofilm on surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions for treating a hard surface, in particular for cleaning and/or dirt-repellent treatment of a hard surface, containing a) at least one multi-armed silyl polyalkoxylate of the formula (I) (H-A)n-Z-[A-B—Si(OR1)r(R2)3?r]m (I), where Z is a (m+n)=valent radical having at least three carbon atoms, A is a divalent polyoxyalkylene radical, wherein the m+n polyoxyalkylene radicals bound to Z can be different from one another, and wherein one radical A is in each case bound to Z via an oxygen atom belonging to Z, and one oxygen atom belonging to A is bound to B or hydrogen, B is a chemical bond or a divalent organic radical having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, OR1 is a hydrolysable group, R1 and R2 independently of one another are a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and r is an integer from 1 to 3, and m is an integer ?1 and n is 0 or an integer ?1, and m+n has a value from 3 to 100, b) at least one surfactant, c) water and/or at least one nonaqueous solvent, d) if

Abstract: Compounds of the Formula I, wherein A1 is O or NH; A2 is O or S; each of R1 and R2 is independently hydrogen, a methyl or C2-C8-saturated or mono- or doubly unsaturated, branched or linear hydrocarbon group; and R3 is a C1-C18-saturated or mono- or doubly unsaturated, branched or linear hydrocarbon group wherein, each of R1, R2 and R3 comprises a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O and S in the chain and/or is mono- or multiply-substituted by a substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6-alkyl, trifluoromethyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C6-C10-aryl, and C1-C6-alkyl-C6-C10-aryl are useful for controlling the interaction process between microorganisms such as in the development and/or maturation of biofilms; multicellular swarm behavior; the concerted development of antibiotic resistances; the concerted synthesis of antibiotics; the concerted synthesis of pigments; the concerted production of extracellular enzymes; or the concerted production of virulence factors.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of substances that influence fungal dimorphism for reducing the adhesion of fungi to surfaces. The invention also relates to washing and/or cleaning agents, textile treating agents and cleaning agents for mouth, teeth or dentures and to the use of said substances in said agents. The inventive substances are selected from propolis extracts, plant extracts, cinnamic acid and the derivatives thereof, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes and the derivatives thereof, especially fucoidine, anethol, geraniol, farnesol or farnesol acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for quantitatively and/or qualitatively identifying germs in a sample, which method comprises a step (a) of preparing the sample by labeling at least some of the germs present in the sample by means of at least one fluorescent marker and a step (b) involving a quantitative and/or qualitative detection and/or evaluation by recording and/or measuring fluorescence emission, wherein, in step (b), the sample containing the fluorescently labeled germs, prepared in step (a), is subjected to an excitation radiation of a defined wavelength or a defined wavelength range for a defined period of time, and the time course of the fluorescence emission radiation generated due to said excitation is recorded, so that a discrimination first, between the measured signals caused by the fluorescently labeled germs, second, possible interfering signals is made possible, thereby identifying the fluorescently labeled germs in the sample in a quantitative and/or qualitative manner.

Abstract: A method for quantitative and/or qualitative determination of germs in a liquid sample comprises the steps of: (1) passing the sample through a filter thereby depositing the germs on a major portion of the filter so that a minor portion of the filter is free of germ deposits; (2) applying a fluorescent label to at least a portion of the deposited germs; (3) determining the presence and/or the amount of labeled germs by fluorescent reflection photometry. The method according to the present invention is suitable, for example, for quantitative and/or qualitative determination of germs in foodstuffs, surfactant-containing products such as washing and cleaning agents, surface treatment agents, dispersion products, cosmetics, hygiene products and personal care products, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, coolant lubricants, coatings and coating coagulations, as well as raw materials and starting materials for the aforesaid products.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of substances that influence fungal dimorphism for reducing the adhesion of fungi to surfaces. The invention also relates to washing and/or cleaning agents, textile treating agents and cleaning agents for mouth, teeth or dentures and to the use of said substances in said agents. The inventive substances are selected from propolis extracts, plant extracts, cinnamic acid and the derivatives thereof, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes and the derivatives thereof, especially fucoidine, anethol, geraniol, farnesol or farnesol acid.