Abstract: A press-hardened component and a method for producing press-hardened components, in particular a bodywork component, from a semi-finished product made from unhardened, hot-formable steel sheet. Various process steps are carried out in the process. A component blank is formed from the semi-finished product by a cold-forming process, in particular a drawing process. The component blank is trimmed at the margin side to a margin contour which approximately corresponds to the component to be produced. The trimmed component blank is heated and press-hardened in a hot-forming tool, and then the press-hardened component blank is covered with a corrosion-prevention layer in a coating step.

Abstract: A partial flow cell may include a cathode chamber, an anode chamber, and a separator arrangement sandwiched between the cathode and anode chambers. The separator arrangement may be configured to permit ionic flow between electroactive materials disposed within the cathode and anode chambers. One of the cathode and anode chambers may be configured to permit an electroactive material to flow through the chamber during operation. The other of the cathode and anode chambers may be configured to hold an electroactive material fixed within the chamber during operation.

Abstract: A press-hardened component and a method for producing press-hardened components, in particular a bodywork component, from a semi-finished product made from unhardened, hot-formable steel sheet. Various process steps are carried out in the process. A component blank is formed from the semi-finished product by a cold-forming process, in particular a drawing process. The component blank is trimmed at the margin side to a margin contour which approximately corresponds to the component to be produced. The trimmed component blank is heated and press-hardened in a hot-forming tool, and then the press-hardened component blank is covered with a corrosion-prevention layer in a coating step.

Abstract: A method for the production of press-hardened components, in particular a vehicle body component, from a semifinished product (2) made of unhardened, hot-workable steel sheet. A component blank (10) is formed from the semifinished product (2), pre-coated with a first coating (33), by a cold-forming method, in particular a drawing method. The component blank (10) is trimmed at the margins to a marginal contour (12?) approximately corresponding to the component (1) to be produced. The trimmed component blank (17) is heated and press-hardened in a hot-forming tool (23); then the press-hardened component blank (18) is covered with a second, anticorrosion coating (34) in a coating step.

Abstract: A device for providing biofeedback information to a subject, including a receiver for receiving heart rate data from a sensor, said heart rate data corresponding to a human subject, a storage device for storing a time series of the received heart rate data, a display, and a processor that is programmed to enable access to the storage device and to perform actions including estimating an RSA strength of the subject's heart from the time series of the received heart rate data, calculating an accumulated RSA strength from a designated starting time until the present time, determining a motion by a virtual agent based on the accumulated RSA strength at the present time, said virtual agent being a graphical object or character that represents the subject, and displaying the motion of the virtual agent determined by said determining on the display.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inductor having high DC bias characteristics using a Fe alloy core and provides a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention relates to a wire-wound inductor which includes: a wire-wound inductor core obtained by grinding a compression molded mixed magnetic material powder including magnetic substance powder mixed with binder; and a metal conductive wire wound around a groove section of the wire-wound inductor core. For example, the magnetic substance powder has content ratio of 4 to 13 wt % of Si; 4 to 7 wt % of Al; the balance Fe; and unavoidable impurity. The magnetic substance powder has particle diameter distribution in which equal to or greater than 90% of the magnetic substance powder has particle diameter equal to or lower than 75 ?m.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for producing a composite magnetic material, wherein the non-magnetic binder comprises a layered compound having an insulation property and the non-magnetic binder and soft magnetic metal powder is admixed with each other, the admixture is compacted to a desired shape, and the compact is heat-treated under predetermined condition to form a thin insulating layer made of the insulating layered compound on the surface of the soft magnetic metal powder, thereby producing the composite magnetic material having a withstand voltage of 20 V or more.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a composite magnetic material for an inductor, wherein a non-magnetic material contains a first binder as a compacting additive, and is added to and mixed with the soft magnetic metal powder, and a second binder that is impregnated to a compact as a binder after the heat treatment of the compact obtained by adding the first binder to the soft magnetic metal powder and compacting it, and the soft magnetic metal powder contains 40% by mass or more (including 100%) of spherical particles of which the ratio L2/L1 between a perimeter L1 of a particle cross-section in the two dimensional plane view and a perimeter L2 of a circle having equivalent cross-sectional area is 0.5 or more.

Abstract: Provided is a lead-based alloy for a lead-acid battery, comprising not less than 0.02% and less than 0.05% by weight of calcium, not less than 0.4% and not more than 2.5% by weight of tin, not less than 0.005% and not more than 0.04% by weight of aluminum, not less than 0.002% and not more than 0.014% by weight of barium, and the balance of lead and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: Single-use devices configured to sanitize accessible surfaces of needleless medical valves at risk of contamination with infectious agents are described, as are methods for making and using such devices. Such devices include a sanitizing element securely attached to an inner surface of at least one of the two or more layers that make up the container inside of which the sanitizing element is stored until it is ready to be used. Examples of containers include laminated foil pouches or packets.

Abstract: Single-use devices for sanitizing accessible surfaces of needleless medical valves at risk of contamination with infectious agents are described, as are methods for making and using such devices.

Abstract: Galvanically protected reinforcement dowel pins and methods of producing the same. In one embodiment, the reinforcement dowel pins comprise a bar or tube, the longitudinal exposed surfaces of which are covered by a heavy gauge of a sacrificial metal, such as zinc, zinc alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. The bar or tube comprises steel, carbon steel, or other ferrous metal. The heavy gauge of sacrificial metal is applied to the ferrous metal by various processes, such as roll bonding, lock seaming, welding, die casting, flame spraying, plasma spraying, dipping, sinking, and drawing. The resulting reinforcement dowel pins resist corrosion without sacrificing structural integrity, and are reasonable in materials and manufacturing costs. These dowel pins may be installed in adjacent concrete panels using conventional methods, and therefore do not introduce additional costs in installation.

Abstract: Single-use devices for sanitizing accessible surfaces of needleless medical valves at risk of contamination with infectious agents are described, as are methods for making and using such devices.

Abstract: Metals having a silvery-white appearance and methods of producing the same. In one embodiment, the composite material of the present invention comprises a metallic core, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer encases the external surfaces of the metallic core and is produced by electroplating copper or copper alloy from a first bath containing copper ions. The second layer encases the first layer and is produced by electroplating white bronze from a second bath containing copper and tin ions. According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the first layer is electroplated on the metallic core and the second layer is electroplated on the first layer. In another embodiment of the composite material and method of the present invention, the material comprises only the metallic core and a first layer of white bronze. The resulting composite has a silvery-white appearance and does not include exposed nickel so that persons allergic to nickel metals are not affected by the composite.

Abstract: A battery charging system comprising: a current source; a battery; and a voltage and current regulator, which regulates voltage applied to the battery and current supplied to the battery. The battery charging system shapes the current supplied to the battery, and may be used to taper the current supplied to the battery. The voltage and current regulator may comprise: an adjustable band-gap voltage reference diode, a potentiometer, a resistor, and a transistor, or an adjustable shunt regulator, and a transistor operating in conjunction with the adjustable shunt regulator, or other suitable voltage and current regulator means. The battery charging system regulates the current flow supplied to the battery, which originates from a constant charging current source. As the battery voltage exceeds a predefined terminal voltage, the battery charging system diverts charging current through a transistor, thus clamping the battery at the terminal voltage and shaping the current supplied to the battery.

Abstract: Substrates having an alloy finish and methods of producing the same. The finished product according to one embodiment of the present invention is a substrate having an alloy finish comprising two or more metals, and is made by the method of the present invention. Generally, the method of the present invention comprises provision of a substrate, electroplating two or more metals onto the substrate, and then baking the plated substrate to result an alloy of the plated metals through diffusion. Substrates made according to the present invention can be covered with a variety of types of alloy finishes, and a variety of characteristics of such finishes can be achieved. The method of the present invention uses steps of electroplating and heating that are well-known in the art, and does not require the use of toxic, cyanide-based plating baths.

Abstract: Galvanically protected reinforcement dowel pins and methods of producing the same. In one embodiment, the reinforcement dowel pins comprise a bar or tube, the longitudinal exposed surfaces of which are covered by a heavy gauge of a sacrificial metal, such as zinc, zinc alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. The bar or tube comprises steel, carbon steel, or other ferrous metal. The heavy gauge of sacrificial metal is applied to the ferrous metal by various processes, such as roll bonding, lock seaming, welding, die casting, flame spraying, plasma spraying, dipping, sinking, and drawing. The resulting reinforcement dowel pins resist corrosion without sacrificing structural integrity, and are reasonable in materials and manufacturing costs. These dowel pins may be installed in adjacent concrete panels using conventional methods, and therefore do not introduce additional costs in installation.

Abstract: An improved, simplified process is disclosed for non-continuous galvanization of a metal object in a molten Zn—Al alloy bath. Before immersion in the molten alloy, the object is immersed in a dilute hydrochloric solution containing additional chlorides, wherein both of the following occur: (1) The object is pre-coated with a metallic layer of sufficient thickness to protect the object from oxidation, and yet sufficiently thin to permit the pre-coating to substantially completely react with or dissolve in the molten Zn—Al bath, and (2) the pre-coated object is subjected to a surface activation treatment. After removal from the hydrochloric acid solution, the object is allowed to dry, leaving a protective surface coating of a chloride salt. Thereafter, the object is immersed in the Zn—Al bath.

Abstract: A heterogeneous, cellulose battery separator made of a mixture of cellulose and a polymer with hydrogen permeability for use in zinc-based batteries exhibiting increased hydrogen transport through the membrane while maintaining low electrical impedance and exhibiting resistance to zinc ion transport preventing zinc dendrite formation.

Abstract: Metals having a silvery-white appearance and methods of producing the same. In one embodiment, the composite material of the present invention comprises a metallic core, a first layer, and a second layer. The first layer encases the external surfaces of the metallic core and is produced by electroplating copper or copper alloy from a first bath containing copper ions. The second layer encases the first layer and is produced by electroplating white bronze from a second bath containing copper and tin ions. According to one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the first layer is electroplated on the metallic core and the second layer is electroplated on the first layer. In another embodiment of the composite material and method of the present invention, the material comprises only the metallic core and a first layer of white bronze. The resulting composite has a silvery-white appearance and does not include exposed nickel so that persons allergic to nickel metals are not affected by the composite.