Abstract: An audio signal distortion detection device for simplifying the detection of harmonic distortion to aid in setting an amplifier's gain control to match an audio source unit's output voltage. The audio signal distortion detection device generally includes a housing having a plurality of status indicators thereon for indicating the status of an audio signal being fed into the housing's audio input. By utilizing a scaling circuit and processing unit, the present invention may be configured to detect four audio frequencies and compare DC levels of the frequencies to each other to determine if harmonic distortion is present. A distortion illuminator will illuminate when such distortion is detected and thus significantly reduce the effort required to setting an amplifier's gain control.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a reactor (100) for manufacturing carbon black, said reactor (100) comprising flow guide means (110) provided between a fuel burner (106) and an air inlet (108) for altering the flow path of combustion air entering at the air inlet (108) to result in a better mixing between the fuel and the combustion air, thereby, producing higher temperature hot combustion gases which are subsequently received in a reaction chamber (104) where they react with a carbonaceous feedstock to produce carbon black. The reactor (100) of the present invention increases the carbon black production by 5-20%. Further, the positioning of the flow guide means (110) stabilizes the flame from the fuel burner (106) to maintain it along the reactor axis, thus, increasing the life of the refractory lining (114).

Abstract: Methods for treatment of neurological disorders with respect to microglial activation are presented herein. Other examples and related pharmaceutical combinations and compositions are also described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to separate grease and solids from wastewater before reaching the sewers using a grease trap, wherein said grease trap comprises a detachable residue trap reducing turbulence and including a mesh which efficiently trap solid particles from the water waste in other to make easier the compliance with regulating agencies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: (a) adding an aqueous solution comprising a quaternary ammonium salt to an organic solvent in a vessel under an inert atmosphere, thereby forming a first mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt and the solvent; and (b) mixing the first mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove water and a portion of the solvent from the first mixture, wherein the mixing is performed in an inert atmosphere and the temperature is less than the decomposition temperature of the quaternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to separate grease and solids from wastewater before reaching the sewers using a grease trap, wherein said grease trap comprises a detachable residue trap reducing turbulence and including a mesh which efficiently trap solid particles from the water waste in other to make easier the compliance with regulating agencies.

Abstract: A method for scoring a golf tournament that incorporates, in part, a worst ball format is presented. The invention is directed to a tournament or rounds of golf of teams of two golfers each. On certain of the holes, the format is a best ball format. On other holes, the format is a worst ball format, and on yet other holes, the format is a weighted one, in which the scores of the golfer for each hole are added together, and then either the best or worst score for that hole is added again. The team having the lowest total score at the end of the tournament is the winner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: (a) adding an aqueous solution comprising a quaternary ammonium salt to an organic solvent in a vessel under an inert atmosphere, thereby forming a first mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt and the solvent; and (b) mixing the first mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove water and a portion of the solvent from the first mixture, wherein the mixing is performed in an inert atmosphere and the temperature is less than the decomposition temperature of the quaternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: A retractable road median used to divide a road that may be retracted to allow vehicles to cross it in the event of an emergency, comprising a median assembly, a frame assembly, a winch assembly, and a longitudinal base assembly. The retractable road median has means to move the median assembly from a retraced position into an extracted position and vise versa. In the retracted position, a cavity built underneath a road surface, retractably receives the median assembly therein. The longitudinal base assembly includes two angled lateral walls that, in the extracted position, are in a substantially vertical disposition and their longitudinal edges rest on the sidewalls of the median assembly. In the retracted position, the median assembly collapses into the cavity so that the angled lateral walls rotate into a nearly horizontal position to cover the cavity entrance, permitting vehicles to cross to the other side.

Abstract: Under the present invention source code can be shared among nodes in a peer-to-peer network. Specifically, source code to be shared will first be analyzed to identify a set of code patterns, assigned one or more predetermined categories based on the set of code patterns, and then selectively indexed. A developer desiring to use previously created source code when creating a new program can perform a context dependent search based on his/her working code to identify and retrieve relevant source code.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preserving shellfish using a modified atmosphere which is rich in oxygen and which contains a second main nitrogen component, such as to preserve the live bivalve shellfish and safeguard the quality of said food for as long as possible throughout the marketing and sales process. The shellfish sales packaging must be full and well compacted, for which purpose, the units must be perfectly inserted during the filling operation using a vibrator, such that the bivalve shellfish cannot open their valves and lose intervalvular liquid throughout the sales process. The invention relates to the most popular bivalve on the market in terms of sales and price and, as a result, is of particular interest to the mussel industry.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1,7?-dimethyl-2?-propyl-2,5?-bi-1H-benzimidazole of formula (I) reacting N-methyl-o-phenylenediamine of formula (II) or the salts thereof with 2-propyl-4-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-6-carboxylic acid of formula (III) or the salts thereof wherein the coupling and cyclization is achieved using 1,3,5-triazine and tertiary amine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating vascular calcification in subjects using calcimimetics.

Abstract: Under the present invention, a best practice violation (BPV) engine resource is first built. This typically occurs by: receiving sets of source code from a plurality of sources; detecting a programming language of each of the sets of source code; extracting code patterns from the sets of source code; defining meta data for each code pattern that indicates a quality thereof; classifying each code pattern; and assigning a rank to each of the code pattern based on it's corresponding meta data as well as a skill level and an experience level of the developer thereof. Once the BPV engine resource is built, it will be used to detect best practice violations in other sets of source code.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of functionalized perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimides as initiator and/or co-reactant for polymerization reactions, to polymers prepared using the perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide compounds, to the use of these colored and/or fluorescent polymers, and to novel functionalized perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite fabric having a plurality of substantially parallel, coaxially aligned tow groups, each of the tow groups having one or more tows wherein a portion of the tow groups contain two or more tows, wherein the spacing between tows in a tow group is less than the spacing between adjacent tow groups. The spacing between adjacent tow groups form flow channels which permit resin to flow evenly and quickly through the fabric. This results in shorter processing time and a more consistent resin distribution, decreasing the likelihood of resin starved areas within the cured laminate.

Abstract: An automatic search index/meta data self-enhancement system includes a search system log analyzer, which periodically looks through the search system log, of a database, for search queries that did not bring satisfactory results; a search query analyzer which applies query enhancement techniques to the unsatisfactory queries by using glossary terms, synonyms, known typos, translated words, etc. to enhance the queries and categorize them; a relevant document finder which, based on the enhanced query terms and their categorization and subject, uncovers documents that were not previously found and links the documents to the query terms in the search index; and a search index/meta data enhancer, that enhances the meta/data of the documents based on the enhanced query terms in the search index, to reflect these new keywords to allow documents turned up by the enhanced query to be returned when similar future searches are entered by users.

Abstract: A table configured for play of the game Monte in a casino includes a number of player positions and a dealer position. It further includes a number of card areas and a number of bet areas. Chips are used to place bets. The casino pays bets in an amount less than the original bet for a window winner and in an amount equal to the bet for a match winner. The bets are paid in chips.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of functionalized perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimides as initiator and/or co-reactant for polymerization reactions, to polymers prepared using the perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid diimide compounds, to the use of these colored and/or fluorescent polymers, and to novel functionalized perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimides.

Abstract: A nasal air passage device is provided that includes connected tubes for insertion into the nostrils. The tubes support the nostrils' interior walls, allowing an increased amount of air to pass through the nostrils, particularly during sleep. Each tube has an exterior surface that has nonconformities, such as mound-shaped, including bubble-shaped, and ridge-shaped protrusions, and the like, that are distributed in a substantially uniform manner across the exterior surface. The nonconformities cause discontinuities between the exterior surface area and the nostril interior wall tissue, thus reducing the tendency to dry and stick. The nonconformities can be arranged in substantial alignment or randomly, can be uniform or varied in size, and can be resilient or inelastic. Each tube has a forward and rearward end that is inwardly tapered, thus eliminating the presentation of a right-angled forward or rearward end to the nostril interior wall tissues.