Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low-profile refrigerator/freezer. The refrigerator/freezer may comprise a housing, a refrigerator door, a freezer door, divider walls, operator controls, and a refrigeration subsystem. The refrigerator/freezer may be adapted for use by a wheelchair-bound user. The housing may be less than or equal to 38 inches high, less than or equal to 42 inches wide, and less than or equal to 18 inches deep such that the wheelchair-bound user may be able to reach an interior space of the refrigerator/freezer from a wheelchair. A refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment may be side-by-side such that the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment provide the same visibility. The operator controls may be placed within reach of the wheelchair-bound user. The refrigerator/freezer may be mounted on a plurality of caster wheels. Two front wheels may comprise brakes for safety.

Abstract: A separator bead is disclosed for separating layers of manufactured concrete products, wherein the separator bead is characterized in that: the separator bead is preferably fabricated from a biodegradable bead material; the separator bead is configured with a thickness selected from 2 mm to 5 mm, a width selected from 2 mm to 10 mm, a depth selected from 2 mm to 10 mm, and a thickness-to-width aspect ratio selected from 0.2 to 0.9; the separator bead is preferably configured with one or more nodules, each with a nodule diameter selected from 0.01 mm to 2 mm; and the separator bead is characterized by a thickness compression from 5% to 50%, under a load of 60 lb per bead at a temperature of 120° F. for 5 minutes. The disclosed separator beads overcome known problems in the art of manufactured concrete products. The optimized separator beads prevent surface scratches and defects.

Abstract: In some variations, this disclosure provides a method of verifying the presence of an admixture in association with a solid base material, by combining the admixture with a stable inorganic tracer. A sample of the solid base material may be analyzed, using suitable analytical techniques, to detect the presence of the inorganic tracer in excess of any native inorganic tracer. When the inorganic tracer is positively detected, it is confirmed that the traceable admixture has been properly dosed within the base material. The inorganic tracer may comprise a rare earth metal, such as selenium, molybdenum, bismuth, and combinations, alloys, or oxides thereof, for example. The solid base material may be a cementitious material, in some embodiments. The traceable admixture may be a water-repellent admixture, in some embodiments. The principles of the invention, however, are widely applicable.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved water-repellent admixtures for cementitious materials. The water-repellent admixtures are incorporated during masonry processing to improve the water resistance of the final product. Solid water-repellent admixtures may be conveniently incorporated into pre-blended dry mortar mixes. In some variations, a pre-blended dry mortar mix comprises a cementitious material, an aggregate, and a dry water-repellent admixture, wherein the water-repellent admixture contains one or more materials selected from the group consisting of silanes, siloxanes, free fatty acids, fatty acid derivatives, particulated polymers, and particulated copolymers, and wherein the water-repellent admixture is present in the pre-blended dry mortar mix in a dosage from about 0.01% to about 1.00% by weight of the pre-blended dry mortar mix.

Abstract: A wireless communications terminal that communicates in a communications infrastructure and methods therefor including opening a push-to-talk (PTT) contact list application (220) on the terminal when the terminal is in a dormant state, for example, by depressing a PTT input, and transitioning the terminal from the dormant state to an active state when the PTT contact list application is opened. Other PTT features include among others indicating on the terminal whether PTT contacts in the contact list are available for a PTT session, and indicating which PTT participant is talking.

Abstract: A wireless communications terminal that communicates in a communications infrastructure including opening a push-to-talk (PTT) contact list application (220) on the terminal when the terminal is in a dormant state, for example, by pressing a PTT input at least once, and transitioning the terminal from the dormant state to an active state when the PTT contact list application is opened. Other PTT features include indicating whether PTT contacts in the contact list are available for a PTT call, and indicating which PTT call participant is talking, among other PTT features.

Abstract: An improved bonding strip for a printed circuit to facilitate quality inspection. The bonding strip has functional regions and non-functional regions. A functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a first dimension in width. A non-functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a second dimension in width. The first dimension may be either wider or narrower than the second dimension.

Abstract: An improved bonding strip for a printed circuit to facilitate quality inspection. The bonding strip has functional regions and non-functional regions. A functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a first dimension in width. A non-functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a second dimension in width. The first dimension may be either wider or narrower than the second dimension.

Abstract: An improved bonding strip for a printed circuit to facilitate quality inspection. The bonding strip has functional regions and non-functional regions. A functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a first dimension in width. A non-functional region is indicated by an area of the bonding strip having a second dimension in width. The first dimension may be either wider or narrower than the second dimension.