The use of light for information transfer allows high data transfer rates. Processing of the data is done almost exclusively electronically in integrated, silicium based components. The novel electro-optical component is based on the rapid change of transmission characteristics of an optical wave guide by means of the application of electric potentials, respectively the induction of electrical currents. It offers high electric band and can be operated on low voltages.

This technology here describes an immune-therapeutic approach with dendritic cells (DC) for the treatment of cancer. It overcomes constraints of current DC therapy models like limited IL-12 production, a cytokine which is critical for immunologic memory. Therefore and most importantly, cytotoxic T cells induced by these designer DC combine a memory-like phenotype and a markedly increased secondary expandability with a high lytic capacity. Furthermore, this approach is by far more cost efficient than competing products.

Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC) is a green and renewable material that has recently gained huge interests. Due to its interesting properties it has a wide possible application range and can be used as reinforcement material in the construction industry as well as in drug delivery systems and as material for implants. However, at the moment its complicated and expensive manufacturing process represents a significant obstacle to a widespread application of NCC. The present invention is characterized by a neutralization step terminating the acidic hydrolysis of the cellulose fibers during the production procedure. This uncomplicated, but very effective further step enables an ?easy-made-separation? of the NCC by centrifugation. Therefore, this innovative technology will pave the way for a wide range of applications of this fascinating new material.

Arrangement and Method for Detecting an Object which is Attached to a Body, in Particular for Carrying out a Security Check.

Ship hulls and other underwater hulls are treated with paints and varnishes which contain toxic additives to prevent barnacle, algae and mussel growth. Growths on ships can therefore increase fuel consumption by up to 50%. Since the launch of the global ban on tributyltin (TBT) there is a great need for alternative, non-toxic coatings to prevent biofouling.
Researchers from the Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre at Bremen University of Applied Sciences have developed a non-toxic alternative coating which uses sharkskin as a model.
The microstructure of sharkskin helps to reduce water resistance when afloat as well as it is an efficient means against the colonisation of organisms. Studies show that a silicon-based coating imitating the surface structure of the sharkskin causes a reduction in fouling growing on test plates by 70%.
Initial product development – a painting product with randomised structure for the recreational craft sector – has already been realised. A sprayable version of the product is currently being developed to tailor it to the spray process used in this sector.

The new technology relates to a compliant manipulator designed with a significantly improved agility. The individual segments of the manipulators are covered with permanent magnetic guideway discs. The arrangement of the segments is designed in such a way that these repel each other and with a change in length of the manipulator an equal distance of the segments is the result. The motion of the manipulator is e.g. initiated by cables or rods. The change of segment length can be enabled by sliding concentric tubes formed from a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.

The driving manner has an enormous influence on the fuel consumption of cars. Possible savings by changing the manner range from 10% to 60%. The described invention can help to unlock this potential. It comprises an assistance system, which captures the characteristics of the way ahead of the driver, e.g. using a navigation system, and then calculates driving recommendations in the form of “tasks”. The tasks are suposed to motivate the driver to adapt his driving, resulting in a changed manner in the long run. It is possible to implement a broad and extensive gamification-concept based on the invention.

This novel software technique automates the comparison of HTML pages across many browsers and a diverse range of formats. In a first step, screen shots from different browser and format combinations are automatically superimposed and compared. Relevant differences are highlighted in color to alert the web designer where additional work is required. To scale up for a large number of pages, the process can generate key numerical metrics that characterize the visual match.

Novel electro-spun fibers with integrated molecular switches (e.g. spin-crossover compounds) offer a multitude of interesting applications in the field of bio-medical research and microsensor technology. Future applications can be the new implants like e.g. cochlea implants.

Chinese Hamster ovary (CHO) cells are commonly used as a mammalian expression system for the production of recombinant proteins. They are one of the few cell types that can be grown at high cell density as the cells are resistant to metabolic stress. However, given the considerable production costs it is of major importance to maximize the recombinant protein yield. The present invention allows for significantly increasing the recombinant protein expression level in CHO cells using a standard promoter. This is achieved by silencing the Galectin-1 gene through RNAi. The lentiviral Galectin-1-knockdown (>90%) increases the expression level of the protein of interest more than 1,5-fold. No further amendments are required.

The invention concerns a process for the production of bifurcated vascular prostheses by the polymer-processing technology electrospinning.

The present innovation provides stable aqueous suspensions of water-insoluble, but biodegradable diblock copolyesters which can be further processed in multiple ways, for instance via electrospinning.

The novel fuel cell electrode has a porous and mechanically stable layer due to its production via selective laser melting and therefore comprises a high power density at a low power-to-weight ratio and can be used at a wide range of temperatures.

Scientists at Aalen University have developed a device which allows the rotation of samples. It can be used in conjunction with a range of microscopy methods, including single-plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) and laser scanning microscopy. This enables scientists for the first time to observe 3D samples from all sides using conventional microscopes. Since the sample is kept in a fixed position relative to the microscope, the method opens up new possibilities for the 3D reconstruction of samples, for example in combination with single plane imaging.

In commercially available piezoelectric nebulizers, the properties of the generated aerosols are largely predefined by the design of the nebulizer device. Particle size distribution and output can hardly be varied and it is often only inadequately possible to generate a sufficiently large fraction of fine particles for pulmonary deposition.
Aerodynamic properties and the mass flow of the generated aerosols can however be influenced without changing the piezoelectric nebulizer device by an addition of modified polymers.

Objective of this innovation is a coating of nebulizer membranes that is aimed at an improvement of the aerosol physical parameters of the aerosol which is generated. This is achieved by reducing the hole diameter of the coated membrane used.

This innovation concerns biocompatible polymeric nano-, meso- and micro-polymer particles which are able to bind pathogenic proteins that penetrate into the lining layer of the lung. These particles can be used for the prevention and treatment of lung diseases which are associated with an increased lung surface tension and a damage of the pulmonary surfactant.

Diamondoids are molecules whose framework structure represents a section of the diamond lattice. Due to their size in the range of 0.5 ? 2 nm, they can be considered as ?nano diamonds? with a hydrogen-terminated surface. Despite their small size, they comprise several properties which are characteristic for diamonds, such as a negative electron affinity and, in particular, chemical inertness.

The test procedure demonstrates the efficacy of substances and/or methods which eliminate infectivity using several quantitative measurement parameters (HBsAg, HBeAg, mRNA, cccDNA) for the detection of HBV infection after a titer reduction by more than 4 log 10 steps and is, thus, the first HBV infectivity test to meet the new guidelines of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the German Association for the Control of Virus Diseases (DVV) for the efficacy of disinfectants and virus-inactivating procedures.

Simultaneous insights into the micro dynamics and nano functionality of biological samples can be facilitated via correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Scientists from Goethe University Frankfurt am Main developed novel software CLEM. It allows for the automated and efficient correlation of light- and electron-microscopic images from any two light and electron microscopes of choice with a precision of up to 25 nm.