Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming. Relative to a gaming table, a player may provide a commercial bank card to access funds via a table client. A request for funds from an account associated with the bank card is transmitted to a banking network. Upon approval, a monetary value voucher is generated, such as by a casino voucher system, and is printed and provided to the player at the gaming table. The player may redeem the voucher for funds, such as monetary value gaming chips for wagering at the gaming table.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a fiber-reinforced rubber layer can help prevent foreign objects from penetrating/extending beyond the tread and into its underlying layer(s), thereby desirably increasing the overall lifespan of the tire. In one embodiment, the tire includes at least one fiber-reinforced rubber layer, which can be generally supported by a tire carcass and interposed directly between a tread portion and belt ply. The fiber-reinforced rubber layer can define a barrier/barrier layer between the tread portion and belt ply and includes a rubber compound that is reinforced with one or more types of fiber (e.g., chopped nylon fiber) and has one or more specific chemical compounds that can provide desirable barrier properties (e.g., abrasion resistance, penetration energy, and DIN properties), thereby helping to prevent foreign objects from penetrating/extending beyond the tire tread and into its underlying layer(s), such as the belt ply and carcass.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit in response to a refusal of an EFT transaction, including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card having cash advance limits commensurate with credit limits for gaming oriented transaction, the approval of the account preferably based on EFT gaming transaction history.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a base configured to support a propane tank. The base can include a curved interior sidewall defining a cavity configured to receive the propane tank therein, the curved interior sidewall configured to frictionally engage the propane tank when the propane tank is inserted within the base and a roughened exterior surface positioned on an underside of the cavity, the roughened surface configured to frictionally engage with a surface on which the base is positioned. Further, the base can be constructed from a biodegradable molded pulp material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr): 100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; and from 1 to 100 phr of a carbon dioxide-generated carbon reinforcement produce by a method comprising: mixing a first gas stream containing carbon dioxide and a second gas stream containing a gaseous reducing agent to form a reaction gas mixture; supplying the reaction gas mixture to a reaction zone; reacting the carbon dioxide with the gaseous reducing agent in the reaction zone in the presence of an iron-containing catalyst to form water and the solid carbon product; and separating at least a portion of the water formed in the reaction zone from the reaction gas mixture during the reaction of the carbon dioxide with the gaseous reducing agent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr):100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 1-80 phr of carbon black; from 0 to 100 phr of silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a surface-functionalized carbon allotrope; from 1 to 20 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the silica; and from 0.1 to 10 phr of a tetrazine compound of formula 1 where X1 and X2 each represent a heterocyclic group. The invention also includes a pneumatic tire comprising the vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: An induction hob uses induction heating to provide safe, energy efficient and flexible heating of vessels by using multiple coils and a controllable magnetic fluid. In addition, the hob provides increased control over electromagnetic (EM) field spatial distribution in the vicinity of the hob by guiding the EM field through the controllable magnetic fluid, and allows for more precise tuning of each load (which varies with vessel geometry, material properties, and placement) by controlling the volume and spatial distribution of magnetic fluid at each load coil, effectively acting as a tunable inductance in each load.

Abstract: Antimicrobial metal ion coatings and implants including them. In particular, described herein are coatings including an anodic metal (e.g., silver and/or zinc and/or copper) that is co-deposited with a cathodic metal (e.g., palladium, platinum, gold, molybdenum, titanium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, manganese, niobium or rhenium) on a substrate so that the anodic metal is galvanically released as antimicrobial ions when the apparatus is exposed to a bodily fluid. The anodic metal may be at least about 25 percent by volume of the coating, resulting in a network of anodic metal with less than 20% of the anodic metal in the coating fully encapsulated by cathodic metal. The implant may be configured as an implant such as a bone-screw or intramedullary rod-like body configured to receive a treatment cartridge having a coating as described.

Abstract: An induction hob uses induction heating to provide safe, energy efficient and flexible heating of vessels by using multiple coils and a controllable magnetic fluid. In addition, the hob provides increased control over electromagnetic (EM) field spatial distribution in the vicinity of the hob by guiding the EM field through the controllable magnetic fluid, and allows for more precise tuning of each load (which varies with vessel geometry, material properties, and placement) by controlling the volume and spatial distribution of magnetic fluid at each load coil, effectively acting as a tunable inductance in each load.

Abstract: Antimicrobial metal ion coatings and implants including them. In particular, described herein are coatings including an anodic metal (e.g., silver and/or zinc and/or copper) that is co-deposited with a cathodic metal (e.g., palladium, platinum, gold, molybdenum, titanium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, manganese, niobium or rhenium) on a substrate so that the anodic metal is galvanically released as antimicrobial ions when the apparatus is exposed to a bodily fluid. The anodic metal may be at least about 25 percent by volume of the coating, resulting in a network of anodic metal with less than 20% of the anodic metal in the coating fully encapsulated by cathodic metal. The implant may be configured as an implant such as a bone-screw or intramedullary rod-like body configured to receive a treatment cartridge having a coating as described.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising, based on parts by weight per 100 parts by weight elastomer (phr):100 phr of at least one diene-based elastomer; from 20 to 80 phr of carbon black; from 0 to 40 phr of silica; from 1 to 10 phr of a surface-functionalized carbon allotrope; and from 50 to 300 parts by weight of a sulfur-containing organosilane per 100 parts by weight of the surface-functionalized carbon allotrope. The invention also includes a pneumatic tire comprising the vulcanizable rubber composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel designer osteogenic proteins having altered affinity for a cognate receptor, nucleic acids encoding the same, and methods of use therefor. More preferably, the novel designer osteogenic proteins are designer BMPs and have altered affinity for a cognate BMP receptor. The designer BMPs demonstrate altered biological characteristics and provide potential useful novel therapeutics.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit in response to a refusal of an EFT transaction, including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card having cash advance limits commensurate with credit limits for gaming oriented transaction, the approval of the account preferably based on EFT gaming transaction history

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively recovering a target metal from an ion exchange resin are generally described. In certain embodiments, such methods and systems can be employed for metal purification and enrichment of target metal species from mixtures containing contaminating or non-target metals. In some embodiments, ion exchange is accomplished in the presence of one or more species that facilitate the recovery of a metal from a composition further comprising one or more other metals. The recovered metal-containing composition may contain the recovered metal at relatively high purity and/or in relatively large amounts. In some embodiments, the conditions present during ion exchange are varied in a manner that facilitates the enrichment of a metal from an initial (e.g.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit in response to a refusal of an EFT transaction, including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card having cash advance limits commensurate with credit limits for gaming oriented transaction, the approval of the account preferably based on EFT gaming transaction history.

Abstract: A system and method for a vehicular alert that detects a person or animal, determines an environmental noise level from a microphone, determines an alert characteristic response to detection of the person or animal, and emits the alert signal based on the determined alert characteristic, which is adjusted based on the environmental noise level. The alert signal draws the attention of the person or animal to the vehicle to reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an augmented reality by defining a model representing a real-world system. After defining the model, a plurality of model simulations are performed using the defined model which produce predicted field data that is stored in memory. In turn, data from one or more sensors in the real-world system is received and the defined model is calibrated using the received field data relative to the stored predicted field data. Then, an augmented reality of the real-world system is provided using the calibrated model.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an augmented reality by defining a model representing a real-world system. After defining the model, a plurality of model simulations are performed using the defined model which produce predicted field data that is stored in memory. In turn, data from one or more sensors in the real-world system is received and the defined model is calibrated using the received field data relative to the stored predicted field data. Then, an augmented reality of the real-world system is provided using the calibrated model.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating and protecting teeth against erosion by use of oral compositions comprising polymeric mineral surface active agents, metal ions such as stannous and zinc and combinations thereof. The present methods provide improved resistance of teeth to erosive demineralization or dissolution and prevention of tooth damage by subsequent exposure of teeth to erosive chemicals such as acidic foods and beverages.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating the funding of gaming and preferably the purchase of gaming vouchers with commercial bank cards and/or with casino and/or new credit accounts and/or the prompting of opening of a new credit account, including an automated kiosk located on a gaming floor proximate to gaming machines but separate from particular gaming machines, including reading and printing equipment in communication with a voucher host; also including a prompt to open new a gaming oriented line of credit in response to a refusal of an EFT transaction, including a preferred gaming oriented credit card account and card having cash advance limits commensurate with credit limits for gaming oriented transaction, the approval of the account preferably based on EFT gaming transaction history