Abstract: This invention relates to a method to make an article comprising the steps of combining a semi-amorphous polymer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g with a plasticizer and optionally one or more additives, to produce a polymer concentrate, combining the polymer concentrate with one or more final materials to produce an article precursor; and forming the article at least partially from the article precursor, wherein the polymer concentrate preferably shows no visible phase separation as demonstrated by the polymer concentrate having no visually detectable loss of the plasticizer after a portion of the polymer concentrate is aged on an absorbent surface for 24 hours at 25° C. An article produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security check, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users.

Abstract: An adapter for inserting into a carton containing a non-reel coil of filamentary material or wire has a shaft-receiving sleeve supported by a box structure. The adapter's structure has top, front, bottom and back walls reinforced by side gussets. The underside of the top wall, the interior of the back wall, and the top of the bottom wall of the adapter define a channel. The channel is oriented such that it may receive a shaft or rod of a wire pulling rack. The adapter may be assembled from a blank of foldable material. The adapter blank may be manufactured as a detachable element of a carton blank which is also used to construct a carton to hold a non-reel coil of filamentary material.

Abstract: An adapter for inserting into a carton containing a non-reel coil of filamentary material or wire has a shaft-receiving sleeve supported by a box structure. The adapter's box structure has top and back walls joined at right angles and reinforced by side walls. Knobs extend outwardly from the side walls and have openings therethrough. Ribs on the underside of the top wall define a channel which is aligned with the openings in the knobs. The ribs, top wall and knobs define a sleeve which is oriented such that it may receive a shaft or rod of a wire pulling rack. Alternatively, said adapter having a box structure with walls only in two perpendicular planes. At least two of said walls forming a channel extending outwardly that may receive a shaft or rod.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to make an article comprising the steps of combining a semi-amorphous polymer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g with a plasticizer and optionally one or more additives, to produce a polymer concentrate, combining the polymer concentrate with one or more final materials to produce an article precursor; and forming the article at least partially from the article precursor, wherein the polymer concentrate preferably shows no visible phase separation as demonstrated by the polymer concentrate having no visually detectable loss of the plasticizer after a portion of the polymer concentrate is aged on an absorbent surface for 24 hours at 25° C. An article produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method to make an article comprising the steps of combining a semi-amorphous polymer having a heat of fusion of less than 70 J/g with a plasticizer and optionally one or more additives, to produce a polymer concentrate, combining the polymer concentrate with one or more final materials to produce an article precursor; and forming the article at least partially from the article precursor, wherein the polymer concentrate preferably shows no visible phase separation as demonstrated by the polymer concentrate having no visually detectable loss of the plasticizer after a portion of the polymer concentrate is aged on an absorbent surface for 24 hours at 25° C. An article produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for repairing a rotor of a turbine includes providing a rotor having a groove portion defined by a circumferential portion of the rotor. The circumferential portion of the rotor is removed to create an opening to provide access to the groove such that the opening, immediately adjacent the groove, is narrower than the groove. A guide block may be extended into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the rotor such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening. The opening may be welded adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening.

Abstract: An educational apparatus for children consisting of a rigid board that displays graphical and/or textual images is provided. A portion of the image is concealed by movable sections, such as flaps or sliding sections, and can be revealed by moving these sections. The concealed portion of the image may be on interchangeable cards.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plasticized polyolefin compositions comprising a polyolefin and a non-functionalized hydrocarbon plasticizer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing knowledge documents are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system may include a community of practice, including members and a knowledge management architecture managing knowledge documents used by the community of practice and maintaining a user profile for each member having criteria reflecting a preferred format for received knowledge documents. The knowledge management architecture may be configured to receive a search request for knowledge documents from a first member. The first member may be associated with a first user profile with first user profile criteria. The knowledge management architecture may also be configured to generate a search result based on the search request. The search result may include one or more of the knowledge documents.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering knowledge in a community of practice environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system may include a community of practice including members and a knowledge management architecture that manages knowledge used by the community of practice. The knowledge management architecture may also maintain a delivery profile for each member having parameters reflecting a preferred format for receiving updates regarding new knowledge. Further, the knowledge management architecture may be configured to detect new knowledge associated with the community of practice and determine, for a first member, that the new knowledge includes information related to a first profile parameter associated with the first member. Also, the knowledge management architecture may generate a notification for the first member including data associated with a portion of the new knowledge and deliver the notification to the first member.

Abstract: Methods and systems for collaborating communities of practice are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for collaborating communities of practice in a community of practice environment. Each community of practice includes a goal. The method may include searching information associated with each of the communities of practice for related information and identifying a set of communities of practice having related information. Further, the method may include determining whether any of the communities of practice in the set are related and establishing a collaborative communication session between the related communities of practice such that the related communities of practice share resources in achieving their respective goals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing knowledge documents in a community of practice environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a community of practice environment may include a set of communities of practice, each including respective members and each being assigned respective knowledge documents. The community of practice environment may also include a database system storing the knowledge documents used by the communities of practice. The database system may be configured to deliver copies of the knowledge documents to the communities of practices in response to requests to access the knowledge documents from respective community of practice members.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a community of practice including a plurality of users, one or more experts, and one or more community of practice managers. A need for a community of practice is identified. The roles and responsibilities of participants in the community of practice are identified. One or more goals are identified for the community of practice based on the identified need. A plurality of the participants in the community of practice collaborate to achieve the identified goals.