Abstract: This invention describes ways of obtaining nano-particulated adjuvants formed by different synthetic variants of GM3 ganglioside. Depending on the fine structure of the fatty acid in the ceramide of the synthetic GM3, said adjuvants are able to stimulate specifically and in a specialized way the humoral or cellular immune response against accompanying antigens. Particularly, this invention provides immunogenic vaccine compositions that comprise peptides, polypeptides or proteins and the aforementioned nanoparticles, which are formed through the dispersion of hydrophobic proteins of the outer membrane complex (OMC) of Neisseria meningitidis in solutions containing fully synthetic variants of the GM3 ganglioside.

Abstract: A circuit includes a primary light emitting diode (LED) string, a secondary LED string, a reference line, and primary and secondary transistors. The primary string includes a voltage drop, and a node disposed between two adjacent LEDs of the primary string. The secondary string is configured in parallel with the primary string. The secondary string has a voltage drop that is less than the primary voltage drop. The reference line is coupled to the node. The primary transistor includes a drain, a gate, and a source. The drain is coupled to a primary string output terminal. The gate is coupled to the reference line, and the source is coupled to a ground. The secondary transistor includes a drain, a gate, and a source. The drain is coupled to a secondary string output terminal. The gate is coupled to the reference line, and the source is coupled to the ground.

Abstract: A dynamic step dimming interface is provided that allows a ballast to energize a lamp in a dim mode or a normal mode. The ballast includes a lamp controller that energizes the lamp using an oscillating current. The oscillating current is also provided to a voltage monitor, which indicates the voltage level of the oscillating current, and to a rectifier, which provides an output indicative of the oscillating current. The rectifier is responsive to user input indicating whether the dim mode or the normal mode is to be used. A processing circuit receives the voltage level from the voltage monitor and provides a mode command to the ballast, indicating the lamp mode, based on inputs received, and provides a reference voltage to a comparator. The comparator receives the rectifier output and the reference voltage, and generates a voltage indicative of a power level of the lamp for the processing circuit.

Abstract: A dynamic step dimming interface is provided that allows a ballast to energize a lamp in a dim mode or a normal mode. The ballast includes a lamp controller that energizes the lamp using an oscillating current. The oscillating current is also provided to a voltage monitor, which indicates the voltage level of the oscillating current, and to a rectifier, which provides an output indicative of the oscillating current. The rectifier is responsive to user input indicating whether the dim mode or the normal mode is to be used. A processing circuit receives the voltage level from the voltage monitor and provides a mode command to the ballast, indicating the lamp mode, based on inputs received, and provides a reference voltage to a comparator. The comparator receives the rectifier output and the reference voltage, and generates a voltage indicative of a power level of the lamp for the processing circuit.

Abstract: A high-efficiency self-regulated electronic ballast with a single characteristic curve for operating high-pressure sodium vapor lamps by means of an AC-to-DC converter circuit, a power factor correcting regulator circuit for reducing harmonic distortion, a high-frequency DC-to-AC converter circuit, a reducing autotransformer circuit with a current limiting inductor and an igniter, and a light-controlled switching circuit. The ballast is characterized in that it supplies a controlled high-frequency alternating voltage to the assembly of the limiting inductor and the lamp, whereby the ballast has a single characteristic curve, and in that the average power consumption of the lamp is determined on the basis of the single characteristic curve of the ballast within the standard regulation trapezoid defining the average consumption of the ballast/lamp assembly.