Abstract: Content information networks may be provided that may each include a plurality of content consumption devices. One or more of the content consumption devices within a content information network may be capable of serving as a content consumption hub device that coordinates the receipt and dissemination of content consumption event information pertaining to content consumption events from and to various content consumption devices within the content information network. The content consumption hub device may further communicate, to various content consumption devices within its network, content-related information relating to content consumed on content consumption devices within its network and/or devices outside of its network. The content consumption hub device may be configured to receive content-related information from one or more content information hubs. The content consumption hub device may also receive content consumption event information from a content consumption platform.

Abstract: Content information networks may be provided that may each include a plurality of content consumption devices. One or more of the content consumption devices within a content information network may be capable of serving as a content consumption hub device that coordinates the receipt and dissemination of content consumption event information pertaining to content consumption events from and to various content consumption devices within the content information network. The content consumption hub device may further communicate, to various content consumption devices within its network, content-related information relating to content consumed on content consumption devices within its network and/or devices outside of its network. The content consumption hub device may be configured to receive content-related information from one or more content information hubs. The content consumption hub device may also receive content consumption event information from a content consumption platform.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a main magnet having spaced-apart polepieces which define a gap, the main magnet producing a magnetic field in the gap, an ion source to generate ions and to accelerate the ions into the magnetic field in the gap, the ion source located outside the gap, and an ion detector to detect a selected species of the ions generated by the ion source and deflected by the magnetic field. The ion detector is located in the gap at a natural focus point of the selected species of ions. The mass spectrometer may be used in a trace gas leak detector.

Abstract: Mass spectrometers for trace gas leak detection and methods for operating mass spectrometers are provided. The mass spectrometer includes an ion source to ionize trace gases, such as helium, a magnet to deflect the ions and a detector to detect the deflected ions. The ion source includes an electron source, such a filament. The method includes operating the electron source at an electron accelerating potential relative to an ionization chamber sufficient to ionize the trace gas but insufficient to form undesired ions, such as triply charged carbon.

Abstract: A barrier for containing oil spills or other debris on the surface of a body of water includes buoyant sections connected by a sliding seal for allowing sliding relative vertical motion and limited relative angular movement between the sections to accommodate extreme and abrupt variations in water surface level and turbulence resulting from wave action. The seal connection is made up of a vertical inner slide member, either integral with or attached to one end of one section, and a mating outer member integral with or attached to the opposite end of a similar section, the outer member having an undercut, open-ended slot for engaging the slide member with sufficient clearance to permit relative vertical sliding movement between the members while at the same time providing an effective seal between the sections.

Abstract: A simply constructed and inexpensive syphon for rapidly lifting liquid out of a container, the syphon consisting of a flexible plastic tube in which there is a spongy plastic piston attached to a flexible cord which extends out of one end of the tube so it can be manually pulled whereby liquid is pulled into the tube behind it.