Abstract: An extrusion system including a die located about and along an axis and defining at least one extrusion opening. A primary container defines a channel for holding a first billet to be extruded. The primary container is movable into a position in which the channel of the primary container is aligned with the die along the axis. At least one supplementary container defines a channel for holding a supplementary billet to be extruded. The supplementary container is movable into a position in which the channel of the supplementary container is aligned with the die along the axis. A ram is movable along the axis for axially pushing the first and supplementary billets toward the die for passing material of the billets through the at least one extrusion opening of the die.

Abstract: A method for producing components by hot forming comprises (a) heating a first portion and a second portion of a blank in a furnace to a temperature that is below AC3 temperature to provide a heated blank; (b) transferring the heated blank from the furnace to a conductive post-furnace heat station; (c) heating the first portion of the heated blank in the conductive post-furnace heat station to a temperature above the AC3 temperature by thermal conduction to provide a post-heated blank, while the second portion of the heated blank is sufficiently spaced from of the conductive post-furnace heat station so that the second portion of the heated blank is not heated in the conductive post-furnace heat station to the AC3 temperature; (d) transferring the post-heated blank from the conductive post-furnace heat station to a press; and (e) forming the post-heated blank into the shape of the component in the press.

Abstract: A system for producing components by hot forming includes a conductive post-furnace heat station, a furnace, a computer system, and a press. The computer system comprises one or more physical processors operatively connected with the furnace in and the conductive post-furnace heat station. The one or more physical processors being programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed cause the computer system to control the furnace to heat the blank to a temperature that is below AC3 temperature; and control the conductive post-furnace heat station to heat a portion of the heated blank to a temperature above the AC3 temperature by thermal conduction. The press is constructed and arranged to receive the post-heated blank from the post-furnace heat station and to form the post-heated blank into the shape of the component.

Abstract: A system for producing components by hot forming includes a conductive post-furnace heat station, a furnace, a computer system, and a press. The computer system comprises one or more physical processors operatively connected with the furnace in and the conductive post-furnace heat station. The one or more physical processors being programmed with computer program instructions which, when executed cause the computer system to control the furnace to heat the blank to a temperature that is below AC3 temperature; and control the conductive post-furnace heat station to heat a portion of the heated blank to a temperature above the AC3 temperature by thermal conduction. The press is constructed and arranged to receive the post-heated blank from the post-furnace heat station and to form the post-heated blank into the shape of the component.

Abstract: A system for producing components by hot forming includes a pre-heat station, a furnace, and a press. The pre-heat station is configured to receive a blank; and to pre-heat at least a portion of the blank to a pre-heat temperature by thermal conduction. The furnace is constructed and arranged to receive the pre-heated blank from the pre-heat station and to heat the entire blank to a deformation temperature. The deformation temperature is higher than the pre-heat temperature. The press is constructed and arranged to receive the heated blank from the furnace and to form the heated blank into the shape of the component.

Abstract: A method of forming a product from an initial blank comprises subjecting the initial blank to a hot forming and press hardening operation to form the product with substantially a uniform first tensile strength. Subsequently, the product is subjected to post hot-forming processing in which a first region of the product is heated selectively to above a known temperature, using one of conduction heating, resistance heating, and induction heating. The first region is then cooled, such that the first region attains a second tensile strength that is substantially less than the first tensile strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel biosensor. A resonance energy transfter (RET) biosensor comprising a beta(?)-arrestin tagged with a first and a second chromophore, wherein said first chromophore is a fluorophore and said second chromophore is a fluorophore or a bioluminophore is described.

Abstract: An intramolecular bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), biosensor for monitoring receptor activity and signalling cascades is disclosed. The “double-brilliance” biosensor sandwiches ?-arrestin (?-arr) between Renilla luciferase (Luc) and the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). ?-arr associates with G-protein coupled receptors GPCR following receptor activation, bringing Luc and YPF into close proximity that favours energy transfer. In addition to providing new insights into the agonist-induced conformational rearrangements of ?-arr in living cells, the double-brilliance ?-arr offers a universal biosensor for GPCR activation, allowing the study of native receptors in large-scale screening analysis. The activity of other signalling molecules known to interact with ? arrestin could also be monitored by double brilliance ? arr.

Abstract: An intramolecular bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), biosensor for monitoring receptor activity and signalling cascades is disclosed. The “double-brilliance” biosensor sandwiches ?-arrestin (?-arr) between Renilla luciferase (Luc) and the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). ?-arr associates with G-protein coupled receptors GPCR following receptor activation, bringing Luc and YPF into close proximity that favours energy transfer. In addition to providing new insights into the agonist-induced conformational rearrangements of ?-arr in living cells, the double-brilliance ?-arr offers a universal biosensor for GPCR activation, allowing the study of native receptors in large-scale screening analysis. The activity of other signalling molecules known to interact with ? arrestin could also be monitored by double brilliance ? arr.