Abstract: A process for producing a spring or torsion bar from a steel wire by hot forming may involve providing a steel wire; thermomechanically forming the steel wire; cooling the steel wire thermomechanically; cutting the steel wire to length to give rods; heating the rods; hot forming the rods; and tempering the rods to give a spring or torsion bar, comprising quenching the rods to give a spring or torsion bar to a first cooling temperature, reheating the spring or torsion bar to a first annealing temperature, and cooling the spring or rod to a second cooling temperature. Further, in some examples, the cooling of the steel wire may be cooled to a temperature below a minimum recrystallization temperature such that at least a partly ferritic-pearlitic structure is established in the steel wire.

Abstract: A process for producing a spring and/or torsion bar from a steel wire by cold forming may involve providing a steel wire; thermomechanically forming the steel wire above a minimum recrystallization temperature of the steel wire; cooling the steel wire; tempering the steel wire, which may involve heating, quenching, reheating, and cooling the steel wire; cold forming the steel wire at a cold forming temperature, the cold forming temperature being a temperature below the minimum recrystallization temperature of the steel wire; and separating the steel wire. With respect to the cooling of the steel wire, the steel wire may be cooled to a temperature below the minimum recrystallization temperature such that at least a partly ferritic-pearlitic structure is formed in the steel wire.

Abstract: A process for producing a spring or torsion bar from a steel wire by hot forming may involve providing a steel wire; thermomechanically forming the steel wire; cooling the steel wire thermomechanically; cutting the steel wire to length to give rods; heating the rods; hot forming the rods; and tempering the rods to give a spring or torsion bar, comprising quenching the rods to give a spring or torsion bar to a first cooling temperature, reheating the spring or torsion bar to a first annealing temperature, and cooling the spring or rod to a second cooling temperature. Further, in some examples, the cooling of the steel wire may be cooled to a temperature below a minimum recrystallization temperature such that at least a partly ferritic-pearlitic structure is established in the steel wire.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assay for determining a health state of a subject using a combination of detecting the presence of a virus and detecting the presence of a genomic target or marker indicative of a health state.

Abstract: An assay for detecting HPV comprising treating the viral nucleic acid with an agent that modifies cytosine to form derivative viral nucleic acid, amplifying at least a part of the derivative viral nucleic acid to form an HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule, and looking for the presence of an HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule, wherein detection of the HPV-specific nucleic acid molecule is indicative HPV.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample including treating a sample containing nucleic acid with an agent that modifies unmethylated cytosine; providing to the treated sample a detector ligand in the form of an intercalating nucleic acid (INA) capable of binding to a target region of nucleic acid, and allowing sufficient time for the detector ligand to bind to the target nucleic acid, and detecting binding of the detector ligand to nucleic acid molecule in the sample to indicate the presence of the target nucleic acid.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric, parallel spaced semiconductor converters arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and other external influences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for suppressing or eliminating nonlinear current drawing characteristics, while at the same time substantially eliminating high order current harmonics. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, an energy transfer system, for example a pulse width modulator (PWM) flyback converter (22), comprises an inductor (L) interposed between the AC line voltage and the load (Rload), with a controllable switch (26) provided between the inductor (L) and the negative supply leg of a rectifier circuit (10). The duty cycle of the converter switch (26) is suitably controlled to produce a substantially constant DC output from the converter (22). Proper synchronization of the converter switch (26) ensures that the current through the inductor (L) and the output current through the load (Rload) remains in phase with the AC supply voltage. Thus, a power factor on the order of unity is maintained while substantially eliminating nonlinear current drawing characteristics.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric, parallel spaced semiconductor converters arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and other external influences.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric, parallel spaced semiconductor converters arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and other external influences.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for suppressing or eliminating nonlinear current drawing characteristics, while at the same time substantially eliminating high order current harmonics. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, an energy transfer system, for example a pulse width modulator (PWM) flyback converter (22), comprises an inductor (L) interposed between the AC line voltage and the load (R.sub.load), with a controllable switch (26) provided between the inductor (L) and the negative supply leg of a rectifier circuit (10). The duty cycle of the converter switch (26) is suitably controlled to produce a substantially constant DC output from the converter (22). Proper synchronization of the converter switch (26) ensures that the current through the inductor (L) and the output current through the load (R.sub.load) remains in phase with the AC supply voltage.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp without mercury is disclosed radiating a selected spectrum of which can be almost entirely in the visible range from an envelope that contains a sulfur containing substance. The lamp utilizes a signal source that generates an excitation signal that is externally coupled to the exterior surface of the envelope to excite the enclosed sulfur containing substance. Various embodiments of the lamp use electrodes adjacent the envelope to couple the excitation signal thereto with the face of the electrodes shaped to complement the shape of the exterior surface of the envelope. Two shapes discussed are spherical and cylindrical. To minimize filamentary discharges each envelope may include an elongated stem affixed to the exterior thereof whereby a rotational subsystem spins the envelope.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp without mercury is disclosed radiating a selected spectrum of which can be almost entirely in the visible range from an envelope that contains a sulfur containing substance. The lamp utilizes a signal source that generates an excitation signal that is externally coupled to the exterior surface of the envelope to excite the enclosed sulfur containing substance. Various embodiments of the lamp use electrodes adjacent the envelope to couple the excitation signal thereto with the face of the electrodes shaped to complement the shape of the exterior surface of the envelope. Two shapes discussed are spherical and cylindrical. To minimize filamentary discharges each envelope may include an elongated stem affixed to the exterior thereof whereby a rotational subsystem spins the envelope.

Abstract: The PWM control scheme is illustrated in conjunction with a power distribution control circuit (30), wherein the duty cycle of converter (32) is suitably controlled by a number of feedback loops embodying various parameters, for example a voltage error signal, an average (e.g. RMS) value of the input voltage (Vin). Circuit (30) comprises a rectifying circuit (42), a converter circuit (32), for example an AC-DC converter, a capacitor (C), an oscillator and PWM circuit (44), an error signal (46), a multiplier circuit (48), a differencing amplifier (50), and a synthesizing circuit (52). Circuit (30) appears as a resistive load to the line for feed PWM, a fixed load, and a fixed RMS input voltage. To stabilize the output voltage (Vout), the pulse width signal (44a) applied to converter suitably varies in proportion to both changes in the RMS value of the input voltage and the output voltage.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit (215) for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric parallel spaced semiconductor converters (214A, 214B, 216A, 216B) arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and another external influences.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit (215) for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric parallel spaced semiconductor converters (214A, 214B, 216A, 216B) arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and another external influences.