In the two decades which passed since the discovery of the first planet outside the Solar system, astronomers have made a great progress in the study of these…

How do galaxies like our Milky Way form, and just how do they evolve? Are galaxies affected by their surrounding environment? An international team of…

The invention provides small molecular compounds as potential drugs against trypanosome infection diseases including African trypanosomiasis (human “sleeping sickness” and cattle “Nagana pest”), Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis.

Researchers at Cardiff University are trying to work out the possible sounds scientists might expect to hear when the ultra-sensitive LIGO and Virgo detectors…

Steven Blusk, associate professor of physics, has identified particles known as Xi_b'- and Xi_b*-. Although the particles had been predicted to exist, nobody…

The section food process engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed a processing concept and the required homogenization valve to produce dispersions of solid particles with reproducible and uniform characteristics without the use of special additives (emulsifiers or protective colloids). The particle size can be adjusted within a broad range, with the possibility of even submicron-sized particles. Particles generated by this process are of particular use in paints, varnishes and pharmaceuticals.

An innovative, energy-saving heat forming method has been developed at the University of Stuttgart for the fabrication of thermoplastic molded parts, in particular fibre-reinforced composites from semi-finished products (organic sheets). The method provides a more effective and surface-preserving way of heating and forming semi-finished products. In addition, it is possible to achieve a process-integrated quality assurance, a documentation of the quality as well as an individual quality assessment.

At the University of Stuttgart (Germany) a new method was developed to significantly improve the stability of laminar flow over e.g. a wing, tail plane or wind turbine rotor in order to reduce drag and therefore reach higher efficiency of machines.

The novel measurement system permits minimally invasive measurements of tracer LIF-signals by a combination of fibre and microoptical elements integrated into a fully functional spark plug. Thus e.g. fuel distribution, temperature or air-fuel ratio can be measured.

The invention describes a new magnetic information storage medium with a uniform and regular array of magnetic nanostructures (<10 nm). Because of its reduced, monodisperse grain size and high magnetic anisotropy with an adjustable easy axes, as well as its intrinsic magnetic decoupling it is capable of increasing information density on the storage medium beyond limits of current technologies. One possible application for this new technology is the production of improved computer harddisks.

A novel device for handling samples sensitive to the atmosphere has been developed at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It allows samples prepared under vacuum or inert gas atmosphere to be stored safely for introduction into the measurement chamber of an analytical instrument. A complex and expensive air-lock or manipulator is thus not required. The novel vacuum container is simple, cost-effective and reusable.

Scientists at the University of Stuttgart developed a new process for confocal transmission microscopy, which permits measuring moving phase objects. The process is ideal for the determination of optical thickness and depth position of living cells or chromosomes. For transparent and opaque micro particles it is possible to determine the spatial distribution and the lateral dimensions quantitatively.

Reading up to 100 superimposed layers in an optical storage volume simultaneously offers a very high data transfer rate such as is needed for example in databases or data storage. Modified DVDs can be used as data storage media.

At present only the symptoms of the hereditary disease CF, which results in death at a young age, are being treated, not the actual cause. The novel preventive therapeutic strategy consists of an early treatment of CF before any disease-specific symptoms can be detected. In animal trials the early therapy with sodium channel blocker amiloride, commencing immediately after birth, prevents the development of CF. Clinical trials of amiloride as an early intervention preventive therapy against CF are already in the planning phase.

The multiresistant hospital microbe Pseudomonas aeruginosa can form protective biofilms, which make its treatment significantly more difficult. Chronic infections, such as urinary tract infections, enterocolitis, and meningitis, can be fatal, particularly for patients with a depressed immune system. The present invention consists of compounds with high specificity and high affinity which are based on the natural ligand Mannose and act against the lectin LecB, which is a component of the biofilm. This opens the opportunity for a more effective antibiotics therapy by inhibiting the formation of the biofilm through the application of these new glycomimetics.

An innovative procedure has been developed to control induction heating of material used for semi-solid metal casting. By analyzing electrical value and permeability of the material the grain structure can be determined during the heating process. The induction heating can be regulated accordingly so that the material retains the optimal grain structure for forming.