Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base housing having a suction nozzle with a front suction nozzle opening provided on the front of the base housing, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream through the upper unit, and a diverter assembly to selectively restrict a portion of the front suction nozzle opening.

Abstract: A method to enable a participant within a plurality of participants in an online group conversation to add at least one additional participant as an observer to the online group conversation is provided. The method may include receiving a request to add the observer to the online group conversation. The method may include adding the observer to the online group conversation. The method may also include detecting a message being sent from the added observer. The method may include redirecting the detected message to the enabled participant. The method may also include displaying the redirected message in a user interface (UI) to the enabled participant. The method may further include detecting a modification or a deletion of the displayed redirected message by the enabled participant. The method may include sending the message to the plurality of participants, whereby the sent message is in an original format or a modified format.

Abstract: A multi-functional self-defense device comprises primarily a main body, a tube body embedded in the main body, and a bottle body sheathed in the tube body. At a top edge of the main body is disposed a positioning groove. At a bottom edge of the tube body is disposed a sliding block. With the sliding block and the positioning groove the tube body and the main body are embedded in or disengaged from each other. In an interior of the main body is disposed a control circuit comprising a microcontroller, alarm module, voice recognition module, emitting module, and GPS module, and buttons connected to the control circuit. An interior of the bottle body is provided for holding chemical agent and high pressure gas. When under attack a user may press the button on the main body or shout a specific word to activate the alarm, notify rescue units such as a police station, and inform them of the user's location.

Abstract: A system for determining the location of a man-made object based upon symmetry of the object comprising a receiver configured to receive radar signals comprising cross-polarized and co-polarized responses; at least one processor configured to combine the horizontal-horizontal polarimetric responses and vertical-vertical polarimetric responses to form co-polarimetric images and operate on one or both of the vertical-horizontal polarimetric responses and horizontal-vertical polarimetric responses to form cross-polarized images; the at least one processor configured to process the co-polarized and cross-polarized images to locate areas of interest containing a maximum in the co-pol image and a null state in the co-pol image indicating the potential detection of a man-made object; the at least one processor being configured to filter data using buffer regions and/or skipping of pixels in the vicinity of an area of interest. A method for detection of man-made objects is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a micro-server configured for providing access to specific information through a private wireless network and without requiring Internet access. When a Wi-Fi-enabled device is connected to the micro-server over the wireless network, the specific information is provided automatically to the web browser or a software application of the Wi-Fi-enabled device. The micro-server facilitates interactive communication with the connected Wi-Fi-enabled device within an encapsulated area defined by the wireless connection. When the wireless connection is disconnected, the Wi-Fi-enabled device can continue to access the same or at least a variant of the specific information from a web server on the Internet.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a man-made object comprising a transmitter and receiver combination or transceiver configured to emit mixtures of polarizations comprising HH, VV, VH and or HV polarization images, at least one processor configured to form co-polarimetric and cross-polarimetric images, to select a pixel under test and analyze the surrounding pixels by performing spatial averaging using the cross polarimetric image, and to replace the pixel under test and the pixels adjacent thereto with an average pixel value calculated from the pixel under test and pixels adjacent thereto; the at least one processor configured to diminish background effects to produce clearer co-polarimetric and cross-polarimetric images and to locate the left-right point of symmetry indicative of a man-made object by comparing each pixel under test in the cross-polarimetric image to pixels in the vicinity to locate an intensity differential in excess of 3 dB.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a man-made object comprising a transmitter and receiver combination or transceiver configured to emit mixtures of polarizations comprising HH, VV, VH and or HV polarization images, at least one processor configured to form co-polarimetric and cross-polarimetric images, to select a pixel under test and analyze the surrounding pixels by performing spatial averaging using the cross polarimetric image, and to replace the pixel under test and the pixels adjacent thereto with an average pixel value calculated from the pixel under test and pixels adjacent thereto; the at least one processor configured to diminish background effects to produce clearer co-polarimetric and cross-polarimetric images and to locate the left-right point of symmetry indicative of a man-made object by comparing each pixel under test in the cross-polarimetric image to pixels in the vicinity to locate an intensity differential in excess of 3 dB.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing and determining prognosis of gastric cancer in a subject by detecting suppressed expression of the SCNN1B gene, which in some cases is due to elevated methylation level in the genomic sequence of this gene. A kit and device useful for such a method are also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating gastric cancer by increasing SCNN1B gene expression or activity.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to processes for making zilpaterol and salts thereof, as well as processes for making intermediates that, interalia, may be used to make zilpaterol and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method for sending a plurality of alternate contact information associated with an online communication system. The method may include receiving an electronic message associated with the online communication system, wherein the electronic message is addressed to a recipient from a sender. The method may also include identifying a recipient inbox using a plurality of directory information associated with the received electronic message. The method may further include determining the identified recipient inbox satisfies at least one of a plurality of alternate contact criteria. The method may also include transmitting a plurality of alternate recipient contact information within a simple message transfer protocol (SMTP) response to the sender based on the plurality of determined alternate contact criteria being satisfied.

Abstract: A method for sending a plurality of alternate contact information associated with an online communication system. The method may include receiving an electronic message associated with the online communication system, wherein the electronic message is addressed to a recipient from a sender. The method may also include identifying a recipient inbox using a plurality of directory information associated with the received electronic message. The method may further include determining the identified recipient inbox satisfies at least one of a plurality of alternate contact criteria. The method may also include transmitting a plurality of alternate recipient contact information within a simple message transfer protocol (SMTP) response to the sender based on the plurality of determined alternate contact criteria being satisfied.

Abstract: A method to enable a participant within a plurality of participants in an online group conversation to add at least one additional participant as an observer to the online group conversation is provided. The method may include receiving a request to add the observer to the online group conversation. The method may include adding the observer to the online group conversation. The method may also include detecting a message being sent from the added observer. The method may include redirecting the detected message to the enabled participant. The method may also include displaying the redirected message in a user interface (UI) to the enabled participant. The method may further include detecting a modification or a deletion of the displayed redirected message by the enabled participant. The method may include sending the message to the plurality of participants, whereby the sent message is in an original format or a modified format.

Abstract: A method to enable a participant within a plurality of participants in an online group conversation to add at least one additional participant as an observer to the online group conversation is provided. The method may include receiving a request to add the observer to the online group conversation. The method may include adding the observer to the online group conversation. The method may also include detecting a message being sent from the added observer. The method may include redirecting the detected message to the enabled participant. The method may also include displaying the redirected message in a user interface (UI) to the enabled participant. The method may further include detecting a modification or a deletion of the displayed redirected message by the enabled participant. The method may include sending the message to the plurality of participants, whereby the sent message is in an original format or a modified format.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base housing having a suction nozzle with a front suction nozzle opening provided on the front of the base housing, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for generating a working air stream through the upper unit, and a diverter assembly to selectively restrict a portion of the front suction nozzle opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods for presenting user-generated content in as easily accessible manner using an interactive media guide are provided. In particular, a user may be able to peruse user-generated content through an interactive media guide which is also used to access non-user-generated media content such as linear programming (e.g., over-the-air broadcast, cable, and satellite scheduled programming) and on-demand media. The interactive media guide may include a provider of user-generated content populated with user-generated content according to the user's interests or most recently added to the provider.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to processes for making zilpaterol and salts thereof, as well as processes for making intermediates that, interalia, may be used to make zilpaterol and salts thereof.

Abstract: There is provided in a preferred embodiment a mounting brace assembly for securing a steering column member to a vehicle cross-support member in a position braced against a vehicle cowl top. The assembly includes a cowl top bracket for engaging the vehicle cowl top, and a mounting base arm extending longitudinally along a base axis from a first axial end portion to a second axial end portion. The base arm includes an anchor flange sized for generally upward mated insertion in at least part of a flange receiving slot. The cowl top bracket is coupled to the base arm proximal to a vehicle forward end, and includes a load transfer portion shaped for juxtaposed abutment with a load bearing portion of the vehicle cowl top. Contact between the cowl top bracket and the vehicle cowl top transfers rotational bearing forces from the assembly towards the vehicle cowl top.

Abstract: A device for detecting a substance includes a light source arranged to emit a light signal through a sample cell, wherein the sample cell is arranged to temporally house a sample compound having a portion of the substance, and an optical processing module arranged to detect the light signal emitted through the sample cell to identify physical attributes of the light signal altered by the sample compound, wherein the physical attributes of the light signal altered by the sample compound is processed so as to detect the substance within the sample compound.

Abstract: There is provided in a preferred embodiment a retention bracket for coupling a steering column member to a vehicle cross-support member. The bracket includes a mounting shoe and a reinforcing rod. The mounting shoe has gusset plates integrally joined by a forward end plate, and a lowermost flange extending inwardly along a bottom edge portion of one gusset plate towards the other gusset plate to define a lowermost channel. The reinforcing rod includes an elongated reinforcement portion and a threaded bored portion, the reinforcing rod being positioned in the channel with an outer peripheral surface coupled to the flange and the other gusset plate. The threaded bore portion defines an internally threaded bore for complementary mated engagement with a threaded end of an attachment bolt in the securement of the steering column member to the retention bracket.

Abstract: A method for forming a conductive pattern on a substrate deposits, onto a surface of the substrate, a nanoparticle ink that comprises nanoparticles of a conductive or semiconductor material, at least one low boiling point solvent, and from 0.1 weight % to 50 weight % of a high boiling point solvent. The method forms a partially wet patterned substrate by drying the deposited nanoparticle ink to a wetness range between about 3 weight % and 8 weight % solvent. The method directs a patterned illumination of laser light to cure the deposited ink pattern on the partially wet patterned substrate.