Abstract: A technique is provided for providing virtual services. The technique includes generating a virtual environment comprising a plurality of user interface (UI) objects that corresponds to a plurality of services provided by a service provider. The technique further includes rendering the generated plurality of UI objects on an electronic device of a user in a manner to provide a user experience (UX) to the user that emulates a physical experience of the user with the services provider. The technique further includes processing a request received from the user corresponding to a selection of a UI object from the rendered plurality of UI objects. The technique further includes providing a service to the user that corresponds to the selected UI object.

Abstract: A technique is provided for providing virtual services. The technique includes generating a virtual environment for a service provider offering a plurality of services. The generated virtual environment comprises a plurality of conversational prompts and a plurality of user interface (UI) objects to be rendered to a user. The technique further includes receiving one or more inputs from the user in response to the rendered plurality of conversational prompts and the plurality of UI objects. The technique further includes determining one or more services desired by the user based on a processing of the received one or more inputs. The technique further includes providing the desired one or more services to the user based on the determination.

Abstract: A technique is provided for providing virtual services. The technique includes generating a virtual environment comprising a plurality of user interface (UI) objects that corresponds to a plurality of services provided by a service provider. The technique further includes rendering the generated plurality of UI objects on an electronic device of a user in a manner to provide a user experience (UX) to the user that emulates a physical experience of the user with the services provider. The technique further includes processing a request received from the user corresponding to a selection of a UI object from the rendered plurality of UI objects. The technique further includes providing a service to the user that corresponds to the selected UI object.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for straining an amorphous alloy at ambient temperature to plastically and homogeneously deform the amorphous alloy, such that at least an exterior surface of the deformed amorphous alloy is substantially free of shear bands. An amorphous alloy may be strained at a rate of less than about 9×10?5 s?1 or by multiple passes of cold rolling. A pattern from a die may be imprinted into the amorphous alloy when strained, and the amorphous alloy may be used as a die to plastically strain other materials.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for straining an amorphous alloy at ambient temperature to plastically and homogeneously deform the amorphous alloy, such that at least an exterior surface of the deformed amorphous alloy is substantially free of shear bands. An amorphous alloy may be strained at a rate of less than about 9×10?5 s?1 or by multiple passes of cold rolling. A pattern from a die may be imprinted into the amorphous alloy when strained, and the amorphous alloy may be used as a die to plastically strain other materials.

Abstract: A bus node for an electric coupling of a bus system to a functional module arrangement, having an electronic circuit for converting electrical signals between a bus protocol provided by the bus system and an internal communications protocol provided by the functional module arrangement, and having a first coupling means for electrically connecting the electronic circuit to the functional module arrangement, and having a second coupling means for electrically connecting the electronic circuit to the bus system, wherein the first coupling means comprises a first contact means that is configured for a direct electrical contact with a ground connection of the functional module arrangement.

Abstract: A control device (1) for a vehicle with a housing (2) having a pressure sensor (3), arranged in a pressure chamber (4) in a pressure-tight manner with respect to the interior space of the housing (2). The housing (2) having a membrane aperture (2.1) closed by an air-permeable but not water-permeable membrane (5). The housing (2) is designed with a housing duct (6) which in an installation position of the control device (1) extends downward in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and in relation to the volume of the pressure chamber (4) the housing duct (6) has a duct volume in such that with the control device (1) completely immersed in water, a residual volume of air remains upstream of the membrane (5).

Abstract: A bus node for an electric coupling of a bus system to a functional module arrangement, having an electronic circuit for converting electrical signals between a bus protocol provided by the bus system and an internal communications protocol provided by the functional module arrangement, and having a first coupling means for electrically connecting the electronic circuit to the functional module arrangement, and having a second coupling means for electrically connecting the electronic circuit to the bus system, wherein the first coupling means comprises a first contact means that is configured for a direct electrical contact with a ground connection of the functional module arrangement.

Abstract: High-strength, beryllium-free moulded bodies made from zirconium alloys which may be plastically deformed comprise a material essentially corresponding to the following formula in composition: Zra(E1)b(E2)c(E3)d(E4)e, where E1=one or several of Nb, Ta, Mo, Cr, W, Ti, V, Hf and Y, E2=one or several of Cu, Au, Ag, Pd and Pt, E3=one or several of Ni, Co, Fe, Zn and Mn, E4=one or several of AI, Ga, Si, P, C, B, Sn, Pb and Sb, a=100?(b+c+d+e), b=5 to 15, c=5 to 15, d=0 to 15 and e=5 to 15 (a, b, c, d, e in atom %). The moulded body essentially comprises a homogeneous, microstructural structure which is a glass-like or nano-crystalline matrix with a ductile, dendritic, cubic body-centered phase embedded therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving the plastic ductility of high-strength molded bodies from bulk metallic glasses from Zr, Ti and Hf base alloys and molded bodies so produced. An object is to find ways to substantially increase the plasticity and toughness of bulk metallic glasses produced on the basis of early transition metals (Zr, Ti, Hf) which is comparatively low as compared to their very high strength, thereby further increasing their potential applicability as materials for airplane structures. Hydrogen in defined ranges of concentration is introduced into the molded bodies in a concentration below the brittle hydride formation concentration. The molded bodies produced comprise hydrogen in a homogenous distribution in the amorphous short-range order structure and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced local enrichment of ductile alloy components and/or in the form of hydrogen-induced precipitations of ductile nanocrystalline phases while excluding brittle hydrides.

Abstract: A d.c. signal controlled oscillator includes a frequency-determining network having a control input and a modulation input. A phase regulating loop includes the oscillator and components that provide a control signal to the control input. A circuit apparatus for driving the oscillator includes a modulation generator that provides a modulation signal to the modulation input, and a circuit arrangement that autonomously generates a signal depending on and representing a slope of the modulation and provides this slope signal to the modulation generator, which generates the modulation signal dependent on the slope signal.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to create high-tensile molded bodies that are made of titanium alloys and are malleable at room temperature and that, compared with the metallic glasses, have macroscopic plasticity and work hardening, without other properties, such as breaking resistance, elastic elongation or corrosion behavior being thus greatly impaired.

Abstract: High-strength, beryllium-free moulded bodies made from zirconium alloys which may be plastically deformed comprise a material essentially corresponding to the following formula in composition: Zra(E1)b(E2)c(E3)d(E4)e, where E1=one or several of Nb, Ta, Mo, Cr, W, Ti, V, Hf and Y, E2=one or several of Cu, Au, Ag, Pd and Pt, E3=one or several of Ni, Co, Fe, Zn and Mn, E4=one or several of AI, Ga, Si, P, C, B, Sn, Pb and Sb, a=100−(b+c+d+e), b=5 to 15, c=5 to 15, d=0 to 15 and e=5 to 15 (a, b, c d, e in atom %). The moulded body essentially comprises a homogeneous, microstructural structure which is a glass-like or nano-crystalline matrix with a ductile, dendritic, cubic body-centred phase embedded therein.

Abstract: A d.c. signal controlled oscillator includes a frequency-determining network having a control input and a modulation input. A phase regulating loop includes the oscillator and components that provide a control signal to the control input. A circuit apparatus for driving the oscillator includes a modulation generator that provides a modulation signal to the modulation input, and a circuit arrangement that autonomously generates a signal depending on and representing a slope of the modulation and provides this slope signal to the modulation generator, which generates the modulation signal dependent on the slope signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MgB2 based powder for the production of superconductors, having high reactivity which can be sintered at visibly lower temperatures and which can be compacted in large high density samples having a high superconductive transition temperature and a high critical current. The aim of the invention is achieved by virtue of the fact that the powder is a mechanical alloy powder, whose particles have an average size of d<250 &mgr;m and a substructure consisting of nanocrystalline grains whereby the dimensions thereof are <100 &mgr;m. The inventive powder can also contain additional chemical elements in the crystal grating of the MgB2-power particles.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to develop a method for producing massive-amorphous layers on massive metallic shaped bodies. According to the method, amorphous layers having a thickness of >20 &mgr;m can be produced in only one procedure step. To this end, alloys which can be used for producing massive metallic glasses under quick solidification conditions or alloy elements which can be used for producing massive metallic glasses together with the elements of the shaped body material and under quick solidification conditions are molten by means of high-energy radiation are directly applied onto the massive metallic shaped body for producing an amorphous layer that is >20 &mgr;m up to several millimeter thick or are alloyed into the surface of the shaped bodies. The melt is quickly solidified by means of natural cooling and/or forced air cooling of the shaped body. The inventive method enables to coat metallic shaped bodies with massive metallic glasses which improve the surface characteristics.

Abstract: A control unit and two negative feedback branches limit the amplitudes of the output signal of an inverting differential amplifier. Each feedback branch includes a threshold value switch including a transistor as well as an adjustable current source and a resistor forming a voltage divider between a supply voltage and the amplifier output. The voltage divider output is connected to the transistor's base. The transistor selectively connects or disconnects the input of the amplifier with either the supply voltage or the amplifier output. The control unit controls the two current sources based on external programming commands, to establish two adjustable threshold values within which the negative and positive amplitudes of the output signal are limited, symmetrically or independently, in a hard or soft clipping manner. Even with small supply voltages, the limited output will not overdrive subsequent amplifier input stages and will not superimpose harmonics on the useful signal.

Abstract: A control unit and two negative feedback branches limit the amplitudes of the output signal of an inverting differential amplifier. Each feedback branch includes a threshold value switch including a transistor as well as an adjustable current source and a resistor forming a voltage divider between a supply voltage and the amplifier output. The voltage divider output is connected to the transistor's base. The transistor selectively connects or disconnects the input of the amplifier with either the supply voltage or the amplifier output. The control unit controls the two current sources based on external programming commands, to establish two adjustable threshold values within which the negative and positive amplitudes of the output signal are limited, symmetrically or independently, in a hard or soft clipping manner. Even with small supply voltages, the limited output will not overdrive subsequent amplifier input stages and will not superimpose harmonics on the useful signal.

Abstract: An upright section having two section legs extending spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the section and connected with each other by a section bridge. The section bridge is equipped with at least one elastic segment having low transverse spring temper and extending in the longitudinal direction of the section. The elastic segment is shaped out of the plane put up by the section bridge and connects the section legs with bending elasticity. Since the section bridge is equipped with at least one elastic segment extending lengthwise, the upright section is divided in two section parts that are connected with each other only via the elastic segment arranged between the two parts.

Abstract: The production of compact molded bodies of rare-earth transition-metal boron carbide and boron nitride compounds configured so as to avoid a selective evaporation of individual components in the production process and enable an exact adjustment of the desired stoichiometry. The process is characterized in thata) a powder mixture with particles sizes from 1 to 250 .mu.