Abstract:
A vented building includes a structure with a roof, the roof including a sloping support surface having an opening therein and roofing materials on the support surface. A housing with peripheral walls surrounded by and connected to a flashing is mounted on and in alignment with the opening in the support surface such that the flashing is supported by the support surface and covered by roofing material. At least one opening in the housing is spaced above the flashing, and a gasket is located within the housing and sealing the inside of the housing. A pipe extends from within the structure to the gasket with the gasket sealingly receiving the pipe. Thus, the pipe is provided with a vent through the opening in the housing to vent the pipe to the exterior of the building through the building's roof while preventing the ingress of precipitation to the interior of the building.
Abstract:
Laser light pulses are reflected off a scanning mirror. A time-of-flight distance measurement device receives reflected light pulses and determines distances. The light pulses have abrupt changes in amplitude. Reflected pulses are differentiated to reduce sensitivity to amplitude variations. Differentiated pulses may be compressed to keep the receiver from saturating. Distance measurements are combined with location information to produce a 3D image of a surface.
Abstract:
Tetrahydroprotoberbine (THPB) compounds and their use in the treatment of neurological, psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases is provided. The compounds include d-govadine, l-govadine and racemic govadine, as well as d-THPBs of general formula (I). Enantioselective processes for preparing compounds of formula (I), and d- and l-govadine are also provided.(I)
Abstract:
Profile information and other information about users are received from information sources into a unified messaging platform. Multimedia messages and files for users are converted to text using approximation algorithms. Text and multimedia messages and files for users are analyzed using confidence scores and thresholds. Profile information, file keyword information and message keyword information are used to identify and transmit a limited amount of information about users to information consumers and content service providers. Information consumers and content service providers can customize their content that is presented to users.
Abstract:
A toilet seat cover assembly includes a panel including a central section with a first arm and a second arm each attached to and extending away from a front edge of the central section. The first and second arms are spaced from each other and each has a distal end with respect to the central section. The panel has a top side and a bottom side and the bottom side is substantially planar. The central section has a break therein extending through the front edge and a rear edge of the central section to define a pair of central ends. A central hinge is attached to the central section and hingedly couples together the central ends. The central hinge is positioned on the bottom side of the panel.
Abstract:
Systems and methods to secure authorized access are disclosed. A method includes receiving, an electronic device, a request to generate function-authorization settings including function-access data associated with a particular function of the electronic device to be protected. The method also includes prompting for and receiving function-access data. The received function-access data includes first function-access data that specifies access credentials of a first user to access the particular function and second function-access data that specifies access credentials of a second user to access the particular function. The method also includes associating the received function-access data with the particular function and storing the function-authorization settings including the received function-access data at a memory of the electronic device.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to environmental remediation, and specifically to materials, systems, and methods for oil spill clean up. A system for oil spill containment incorporates an oil adsorbing material and bacterial nutrient material. The oil adsorbing material may be a polymeric material. The polymeric material may be one or more of a synthetic polymer and a natural product. Suitable synthetic polymers include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester, and combinations thereof. The synthetic polymer may be recycled. Suitable natural produces include palm oil and beeswax. The bacterial nutrient may be organic or inorganic. A suitable organic bacterial nutrient is bee pollen. Suitable inorganic bacterial nutrients include nitrates and phosphates. A method for containing oil in an oil spill at a location incorporates applying the oil spill containment system to the oil and removing the oil and the oil spill containment system from the location. The system and method have the advantage of both short term adsorption of oil by the oil adsorbing particles and long term degradation of the oil by bacteria fed by the bacterial nutrient material.
Abstract:
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller adapted to establish communications with a voicemail system over a Public Switched Telephone Network port of the communication device, receive from the voicemail system by way of a broadband port of the communication device an invitation to switch to a video call over the broadband port, transmit a Session Initiation Protocol message to establish video communications with the voicemail system, and transmit to the voicemail system a video message to be recorded by the voicemail system as a video voicemail message. Additional embodiments are disclosed.