Abstract: A shower drain adapter system configured to allow use of a bondable waterproof membrane with a shower pan drain system comprises a drain body and an integrated bonding flange extending upwardly from the drain body. The integrated bonding flange is operable to be sealably attached to a bondable waterproof membrane to provide a substantially waterproof seal between the membrane and the adapter. A lower mating flange is separable from the drain body, the lower mating flange operable to mate with a component of a shower pan drain system installable on a waste pipe. The lower mating flange includes a substantially rigid frame; and a pliable gasket disposed at least partially about the frame, the pliable gasket having an inner diameter sized to correspond to an outer diameter of a portion of the drain body.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment defining a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body within the encapsulated volume. The impoundment includes a water vapor outlet for removing water vapor from the encapsulated volume. A heating device is also embedded within the permeable body to provide convective heating thereof. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via the outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can then be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices are provided. One such method may include forming a transparent diamond layer having a SiC layer coupled thereto, where the SiC layer has a crystal structure that is substantially epitaxially matched to the transparent diamond layer, forming epitaxially a plurality of semiconductor layers on the SiC layer, and coupling a diamond substrate to at least one of the plurality of semiconductor layers such that the diamond support is oriented parallel to the transparent diamond layer. In one aspect such a method may further include electrically coupling at least one of a p-type electrode or an n-type electrode to at least one of the plurality of semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A frictional holding pad removably attaches handheld items, such as a cell phone, to a surface, such as a dash, to allow storage of handheld items on the surface with the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the support surface. A smoother application side of the pad clings to the handheld item by specific or mechanical adhesion, and a contoured exposed side of the pad clings to the surface by specific or mechanical adhesion. The smoother application side of the pad can have a greater surface area than the contoured exposed side so the pad remains with the handheld item when removed from the surface. Indicia can be formed on the pad. The pad can be translucent or transparent. The pad can include an expanded vinyl material or a polyurethane material.

Abstract: A frictional holding pad for removably attaching items, such as a cell phone or sunglasses, to a vehicle surface, such as a dash or console, to allow storage of items on the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the vehicle. The holding pad includes a top surface having an uppermost contact surface configured to contact and frictionally cling to the item and a bottom surface having a lowermost contact surface configured to contact and cling to the vehicle surface. The top and the bottom surfaces are configured to provide a greater frictional engagement between the lowermost contact surface and the vehicle surface than the uppermost contact surface and the item.

Abstract: A polycrystalline abrasive composite cutter, including a tool body with a top cutting surface and a flank surface. The composite cutter, joined to a substrate, constitute a shear cutter for a PDC bit, roller-cone bit insert, or other tool that can be highly useful for petroleum drilling or other applications. The body of the polycrystalline abrasive composite cutter includes a plurality of polycrystalline abrasive layers (90) and a plurality of arresting layers (100). The polycrystalline abrasive layers (90) and the arresting layers (100) are arranged to alternate throughout the tool body in a direction normal to the top cutting surface (92) and in a direction normal to a flank surface (94).

Abstract: Superabrasive tools and methods for the making thereof are disclosed and described. In one aspect, superabrasive particles are chemically bonded to a matrix support material according to a predetermined pattern by a braze alloy. The brazing alloy may be provided as a powder, thin sheet, or sheet of amorphous alloy. A template having a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern may be used to place the superabrasive particles on a given substrate or matrix support material.

Abstract: A muffler for attenuating acoustic noise in a gas flow which includes a casing having an inlet and an outlet, such that the gas flow passes through the casing from the inlet to the outlet. The muffler also includes an acoustic trap disposed within the casing and which spans the distance between opposing top and bottom walls of the casing. The acoustic trap further comprises a first arcuate deflector having a concave frontside surface configured to direct the gas flow from the inlet through a first segment of an expanding spiral revolution, and one or more second arcuate deflectors which are radially offset from the first arcuate deflector and configured to direct a portion of the inlet gas flow through a remainder segment of the expanding spiral revolution.

Abstract: A system and method for sending a response message over a wired communication channel in an automation network is disclosed. The method includes the operation of defining a radio frequency (RF) network between a central controller and a plurality of automation devices. A control signal is transmitted from the central controller to at least one of the plurality of automation devices over the RF network. A response message is sent from at least one of the plurality of automation devices to the central controller using a wired network.

Abstract: A method of measuring the electrical properties of a microparticle is provided, which can include multiple steps. Steps can include situating the microparticle within an array of electrodes submerged in a conductive medium so that the microparticle and electrodes are in electrical communication when the electrodes are energized, and delivering an electrical signal into the medium from one electrode to an immediately adjacent electrode. High frequency signals can be used to penetrate the microparticle boundary and characterize the same, and low frequency signals can be used to characterize the shape and orientation of the microparticle. Characterization can be carried out by measuring the impedance affecting the current using at least one of a remaining electrode in the array.

Abstract: A device for separating platelets from a fluid suspension comprises a mixing chamber operable to receive and mix fluid suspensions and an aggregating agent to form platelet aggregates and residual fluid components. A filter can be configured to be in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and can be further configured to collect platelet aggregates and allow residual fluid components to pass therethrough. The mixing chamber and the filter are operable by a user without input from an external energy source.

Abstract: A collaborative system and method are used to capture, organize, share and preserve life stories. Life stories can be expressed in first person or third person. In either case, the process of developing the life stories is carried out with collaboration with and contributions from other users. The collaboration among the users is desirable because it serves to encourage and prompt users to record their life stories and also increases the relevance of the recorded life stories, so that an online community of users containing highly relevant and meaningful content, that is also relatively permanent in nature, about the users can be created.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spectrometer arrangement (10) having a spectrometer for producing a spectrum of radiation from a radiation source on a detector (34), comprising an optical imaging Littrow arrangement (18, 20) for imaging the radiation entering the spectrometer arrangement (16) in an image plane, a first dispersion arrangement (28, 30) for the spectral decomposition of a first wavelength range of the radiation entering the spectrometer arrangement, a second dispersion arrangement (58, 60) for the spectral decomposition of a second wavelength range of the radiation entering the spectrometer arrangement, and a common detector (34) arranged in the image plane of the imagine optics, characterized in that the imaging optical arrangement (18, 20) comprises an element (20) that can be moved between two positions (20, 50), wherein the radiation entering the spectrometer arrangement in the first position is guided via the first dispersion arrangement and in the second position via the second dispersion arran

Abstract: Methods and devices that are capable of measuring physiological parameters of at least two contact points and determining whether the measured parameters reflect favorable or unfavorable physiological responses are disclosed herein. Specifically, the present invention encompasses a method that can non-invasively monitor physiological parameters of at least two contact points before and after a stimulus is applied to a subject and compare the measured parameters to determine whether the physiological state of the subject is favorable or unfavorable.

Abstract: A composition of and method for forming activated carbon with magnetic properties for magnetic separation of the activated carbon from a liquid being treated is disclosed wherein a solution iron magnetic precursor is intimately mixed or absorbed into a porous carbon precursor or mixed with a solution or meltable carbon precursor to form an essentially homogeneous mixture or solution that when dried and pyrolized forms activated carbon particles with magnetic material evenly dispersed throughout the activated carbon material. The activated carbon particles may be of fine particle size, even powdered, and still retain magnetic properties sufficient for magnetic separation. In a particular aspect of the invention, a carbon precursor of soft wood is soaked in a solution of a ferric salt, dried, pyrolized and activated.

Abstract: A seal material and a washer are fitted on a piping main body of a first piping, a bead portion is inserted into a bead portion insertion hole and the seal material and the washer are inserted into a seal material insertion hole. In this state, a female screw is threaded onto a male screw until a piping side stopper and a nut side stopper are abutted, and the nut member is joined to a piping side tube portion. In a state where the piping side stopper and the nut side stopper are abutted, the seal material is compressed in an axial direction via the washer by the small diameter tube portion and the seal material pressure-contact surface. The seal material is elastically joined to an outer circumferential surface of the piping main body and an inner circumferential surface of the bead portion insertion hole in a radial direction.

Abstract: Light structural mortar compositions containing light loads, type II synthetic anhydrite and additives and methods for the production and use thereof are disclosed and described. Such compositions may be useful for application in ferro-cement constructive systems in order to provide thermal, acoustic and anti-seismic characteristics desirable for coating on interior and exterior walls and ceilings/roofs, as a substitution of cement-based mortar.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for removably coupling a movable element of a piston pump to an actuator mechanism with the movable element including a resilient member which prevents radial movement of the movable element relative a catch member of the actuator mechanism from a coupled orientation unless the resilient member is deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.

Abstract: Short spreading is used within a random access channel in an OFDM based network to spread data for transmission through the channel. The resource allocation of the random access channel is divided into a number of resource blocks in frequency, time, or both frequency and time. Each resource block has a dimension that is only a portion of the overall size of the resource allocation. During contention, a randomly selected short spreading code may be used to provide data spreading within a randomly selected resource block.