Background
Using the electroporation process, electrical pulses create pores that allow genetic material to permeate the bacterial membrane of electrocompetent cells. The limiting factor for this standard laboratory method is the efficiency by which DNA can be introduced into E. coli. Commercially available electrocompetent cells are being delivered frozen at about -70 to -80°C. The conventional wisdom is that storage at a higher temperature, for example at -20°C or higher, will result in a significant decrease in viability and transformation efficiency.

Invention

Inventors of Saarland University have established a new method and created a new bacterial strain to generate electrocompetent bacterial cells with a transformation efficiency of up to 5,6 x 1010, which can be handled at room temperature. This electrocompetent cells can be stored at 4°C without losing transformation efficiency. Also the new established protocol is able to improve the transformation efficiencies of commercially available bacterial cells.

The invention can be used for cutting high-strength materials, e. g. during disassembly of nuclear power plants, in under water or offshore applications. Benefits: Immediate start or stop the cutting operation possible; davings of abrasive suspension and time; efficiency improvement.

The technology consists of a new algorithm for the control of the charging pressure in turbocharged engines. It enables a secure and efficient usage of the engine without need for additional cost intensive parts. It is highly suitable for all kinds of internal combustion engines in all classes.

Acoustic measurements are often subject to unwanted background noise, which compromise the validity of noise measurements. By using a statistical prediction model the invention automatically identifies the disturbed sections and then systematically suppresses these areas in the level detection. In contrast to the frequently used method of percentile ranks the inventive method is not fixed to fixed proportions of background noise.

This invention for the examination of metallic nanoparticles in a sample exploits the plasmonic properties of metals. A metal tip with a Raman-active coating is used as a sensor to converge on the particle to be examined. The tip and particle form a resonator structure in the case of a metallic nanoparticle. This resonator structure causes the Raman signal belonging to the sensor coating to be amplified and thus enables the metallic particle to be identified under normal conditions.

This is a device for patients self-determination of implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) therapy delivery. Depending on symptoms of the patient, he can decide himself to abort or delay ICD-therapy and thereby effectively
prevent inappropriate ICD therapy.

The invention allows placing structures specifically in the centre of the depressions in the nanometer range. The specific binding in the centre is particularly suited for single-molecule applications, single-molecule sequencing and other high-throughput methods.

clamping system with integrated shoulder element for friction stir welding.

Unique nano-seals allow for forgery-proof object identification. Due to a combination of ion irradiation and simultaneous co-deposition of metal atoms a unique surface pattern is created. Its manufacturing process and its size of only a few square micrometers make it impossible to be reproduced, thus creating a forgery-proof identifier.

A method and components to fibre-couple multiple light sources in a highly efficient way is proposed. The new technique simplifies the process with which a side coupling arrangement for a double-cladded target fibre can be realized. In addition it improves the coupling efficiency compared to the so far existing state of the art.

Hybrid plasma-laser micro-structuring provides a tool for treating fused silica without the need for a time consuming preconditioning of the surface or the use of expensive vacuum-UV- respectively mid-wavelength-IR-lasers. The use of a hydrogenous plasma prior to the ablation process causes a temporary increase of the absorption in a more easily accessible wavelength region.

The invention describes a procedure to improve fluid mechanically the efficiency of chemical reactions and methods for emulsification and dispersion. This is done by generating hydrodynamically oscillating cavitations in a very efficient and homogenous way.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. Cure of HCC is only possible by complete resection in early stages, but only 10–20% of tumors can be curatively resected and the risk of HCC recurrence is high. In addition, HCC is resistant to conventional radio- or chemotherapy. As a result, the prognosis of HCC remains poor and new therapies are urgently needed. The discovery of so far unknown immunodominant epitopes of the tumor-associated antigen Glypican-3 and the according HLA-A2 restricted T-cell-receptor enable the development of an adoptive T cell therapy for HCC patients. Adoptive T cell therapies showed very promising results in cancer therapy over the last years. The Science Magazine even awarded this technology as “Breakthrough of the year 2013”. Therefore, the current invention provides the tools for a promising new approach for the therapy of HCC.

The novel pH value sensor works according to an optical electrochemical principle and comprises a photoluminescent or fluorescent layer, a light source and a detector. The layer comprises an electric potential and acts as a working electrode which is implemented as a nanostructure (nanowires with quantum dots). Furthermore, spatial resolution can be achieved by using numerous nanowires contacted individually on a carrier and a visual array detector (analogous to CCD sensors in digital cameras).
Other reactions or concentrations of substances can also be detected.

This novel sensor works according to an optical electrochemical principle and comprises a photoluminescent or fluorescent layer, a light source and a detector. The layer comprises an electric potential and acts as a working electrode which is implemented as a nanostructure (nanowires with quantum dots). Furthermore, spatial resolution can be achieved by using numerous nanowires contacted individually on a carrier and a visual array detector (analogous to CCD sensors in digital cameras).

Currently, continuous fibers in the form of woven or braided structures are used as reinforcement of oxide fiber composites. For the first time, short-fiber reinforced oxide fiber composites with a bending strength of more than 100 MPa can be fabricated. A short-fiber preform made of stapled fiber bundles fulfills the demand of a high fiber volume content, which is required to adjust good mechanical characteristics.

The invention describes a process which enables the separation of permanent magnets out of a crap mixture. In order to achieve this thermal treatment is realized which leads to a partly demagnetization. This enables the following separation in an alternating magnetic field. This process leads to a separate fraction of corresponding permanent magnets. A German as well as an international patent application are pending.

An experimental plant is build up. A proof-of-concept is realized. On behalf of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences PROvendis offers licenses to interested companies.

This invention concerns a device for internal high-pressure forming of micro-components from tubular moulding blanks. In this novel design, a carriage is sliding along guides, moved by a drive mounted separately from the guides. Hereby, the drive is coupled to the carriage free of any transverse forces. This minimises elastic deformations. Bending stresses in the plungers are avoided. The relative position between guide and forming tool is maintained.

The functional capability of the invention has been proven in many tests. Patents are granted in USA, Germany, France, Great Britain and Suisse. PROvendis is offering licences of the invention to interested parties on behalf of Cologne University of Applied Sciences.

This invention presents a process and an apparatus for the production of water-insoluble lignin granulates for material and energetic usage.
Pulp extraction for manufacturing paper from wood or grasses generates lignin, which has a high calorific value, in large amounts as a side-product and component of waste liquor.

The further use of lignin is prevented especially because of heterogeneity, aroma, water solubility, dust formation, and high reactivity.

This invention proposes a method to make plants more resistant to (repeated) heat stress. This is done by means of using microRNA156 (miRNA156) to increase heat stress tolerance. miRNA156 is expressed under the control of a special heat-inducible promoter to minimize negative side effects such as enhanced leaf induction and later flowering. The proposed invention expresses miRNA156 exclusively by means of heat. The heat-inducible promoter HSP21 ensures that the expression of miR156 is “switched on” by
the application of heat.