Abstract: A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

Abstract: A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

Abstract: A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

Abstract: A multilevel online tournament is provided. The first tournament round has a single bracket and each subsequent tournament round has a winners bracket and a losers bracket corresponding to a bracket in the previous tournament round. The tournament format allows players to match-up against any other player located within the same bracket. The online tournament format also allows participants to start playing match in a round of the tournament prior to the official start of that round. Thus, players are able to more quickly advance through the tournament and spend less time waiting for a suitable opponent. The tournament format also allows for players to request available tournament byes and to automatically progress when they are unable to connect with other players due to quality of service issues.

Abstract: This invention relates to sensors for Capnometry or Capnography applications wherein measurement is made on the mainstream of the patients breathing tube gases. Provision is made for sampling the respired gases and periodically stopping them off from the sensing mechanism while introducing instead, gases of known concentrations into the sensing cell for calibrating purposes. Several methods are described for activating the valving mechanism included in the miniature sensor. In principle this invention overcomes the time delay and complexity inherent in side-stream Capnometry/Capnography where rapid, up-to-date readings of CO.sub.2 concentration in the patients air stream are delayed due to the length of the sampling tube to the measuring instrument by reversing the process and carrying calibration gases which need not change rapidly to the main-stream sensor where they can be periodically sampled and thus not impairing the higher speed response possible with main-stream sensing systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to an instrument for the detection of microorganisms in a culture media by means of the measurement of the gaseous products generated during bacterial metabolism, without the need for extracting the products of metabolism from the culture vessel in order to perform the measurement. A special vial containing a gas-liquid separation system permits the measurement through the walls of the vial by determination of the infrared absorption by the gaseous contents within the vessel. While intended primarily for blood-culture testing, the method is applicable to other microbiological and physical chemistry investigations where changes in gas concentrations must be determined in a simple, convenient manner. An alternate embodiment is shown and described whereat a high concentration of gas is present and the infrared energy path is too long for accurate measurement.

Abstract: An emergency exit sign auxiliary lamp flashing system operates from self-contained rechargeable batteries upon failure of the electrical power from the AC power mains supplying power to the exit sign, including a charging circuit for recharging the batteries, with provisions for preventing overcharging and for disconnecting the load from the batteries before the battery voltage drops to a level which would impair its service life. Included is a solid state circuit which provides for automatically exercising and self-testing the proper functioning of the system to ensure its being serviceable when called upon to function during a power failure by periodically simulating the effect of a failure of AC power and verifying that the battery, lamp and flashing circuit operate normally or signalling a visual and/or audible alarm if they fail to operate properly.

Abstract: A thermostat has a temperature responsive element coupled to a pivoted arm which closes the circuits to operate temperature control apparatuses. A slotted cam with leaf spring members projecting from one end is slidably mounted to move toward or away from the pivoted arm in response to removing or replacing a weight which operates a cam follower element connected to the slotted cam. When the slotted cam is positioned away from the pivoted arm, the thermostat operates in conventional fashion. When the slotted cam is positioned toward the pivoted arm, the arm has the additional load of the leaf spring members to overcome, and the set point temperature of the thermostat is changed.