Abstract: Methods, systems, articles, and the like related to fantasy sports games are described. In various aspects, a selection of a fantasy roster for a first game period can be received from a fantasy sports participant. The fantasy roster can include one or more selected real players selected by the fantasy sports participant from a pool of eligible real players who are eligible for use by the fantasy sports participant during the first game period. Statistics representative of performance of the selected real players during the first game period can be recorded and a total season score for the fantasy sports participant can be adjusted based on the recorded statistics. The pool of eligible real players for use by the fantasy sports participant during a second game period that follows the first period can be updated by deleting the selected real players from the pool.

Abstract: A method is described for providing advertisements on a mobile device. The method includes monitoring tactile input from a user, providing a game comprising identifiable game pieces on a playing surface, and displaying an advertisement adjacent to the playing surface. Play of the game is initiated based upon the monitored tactile input from the user. One or more of the plurality of identifiable game pieces is associated to a prize based upon input from a random number generator. A user is able to select a game piece from the plurality of game pieces in an attempt to select the game piece associated with the prize. Upon selection of the associated game piece, the user is awarded the prize. By requiring shaking of the mobile device to initiate a game the user is more engaged in game play, better retaining focus to the game and advertisement.

Abstract: Virtual competitive group management systems and methods are provided herein. Exemplary systems may execute methods via one or more processors, which are programmed to compare one or more skill levels of a player to skill levels of a plurality competitors, wherein a skill level is associated with player competitiveness within the interactive game, determine at least one of the plurality of competitors who have at least one skill level that is greater than the skill level of the player, and place the player and the at least one of the plurality of competitors into a competitive group such that the player is at a competitive disadvantage to at least one of the plurality of competitors.

Abstract: A server device connected to a first player terminal used by a first player and a second player terminal used by a second player to communicate with each other, including: a storage unit that stores player information in which each of items owned by players is associated with each of the players; a reception unit that receives, from the first player terminal, an exchange request to exchange a first item owned by the first player for a second item different from the first item, and receives, from the second player terminal after the exchange request, an acquisition request that the second player acquire the first item in an exchange source from the first player; a judging unit that judges whether or not the second player owns the second item based on the player information when the reception unit receives the acquisition request; and an item exchange processing unit.

Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU sets a moving direction, that is, a position and an orientation of a moving object within a game space on the basis of angular velocity data transmitted from a first controller, that is, an attitude of a gyro sensor unit (gyro sensor). Then, when a second controller is drawn toward a near side in a state that a C button and a Z button thereof are simultaneously pressed, and the C button and the Z button are simultaneously released in that state, the moving object is shot.

Abstract: An exemplary posted information sharing system includes: a game processing unit configured to execute a multiplayer game application through a plurality of users each using a terminal; a group formation unit configured to form a playgroup for playing the game application, wherein the game processing unit includes: a group formation request unit configured to output, to the group formation unit, a playgroup formation request that specifies a group, according to input of the terminals, wherein the group formation unit is configured to form the users of terminals that specify the same group into a playgroup, based on the specified group.

Abstract: Game rhythm in an electronic game can be synchronized, allowing a desired emotional state to be achieved. Specifically, a desired emotional state of a user playing an electronic game is identified. Then a beats-per-minute (bpm) level corresponding to the desired emotional state is selected. Game music may then be played at the selected bpm level, while animation for one or more game objects within the electronic game is synchronized with the selected bpm level. In some example embodiments, the game rhythm is synchronized based upon which game object a user selects, and there remain some game objects whose animations are synchronized at a different bpm level than the selected game object.

Abstract: There is provided a game control device that allows a user, while executing or intending to execute a certain game, to know information about himself or herself in relation to another game. The game control device includes an execution means for executing a first game, a first determining means for determining whether a state of the first game satisfies a first condition when the user is executing the first game, an information obtaining means for obtaining user information of the user for a second game associated with the first game when the first condition is determined to be satisfied by the first determining means, and a notifying means for notifying the user about the user information for the second game obtained by the information obtaining means.

Abstract: There is presented a means of making a player more likely to receive a notification notifying the occurrence of a game event. The server device includes: a storage unit; an acceptance processing unit that accepts from a corresponding player terminal a priority display request for displaying a player on a priority basis in a notification candidate list; an update processing unit that performs, when the priority display request is accepted, an update by subtracting data on a consideration charged for the priority display request from data on player information about the player requesting for priority display; a probability setting unit that sets a probability of the player requesting for priority display being selected as a player displayed in the notification candidate list higher than probabilities of other players not requesting for priority display being selected; and a list creating unit that creates the notification candidate list.

Abstract: A server device includes a storage unit which stores data of player information including information on the amount of virtual currency possessed by the player in the game and data of a friend player associated with the player; an acceptance processing part which accepts a help request asking for help in the battle from a first player in the battle to another player; an update processing part which, when the help request from the first player is accepted, deducts data of compensation to be paid for making the help request from the data of the player information relevant to the first player and stores/updates the data in the storage unit; and a screen data generation part which generates screen data of a game page including a link which invites the friend player and a second player different from the friend player to participate in the battle to help the first player.

Abstract: A belt swing comprises a belt having a front edge, a rear edge, a first end and a second end for attaching to suspension lines, a lower surface and an upper seating surface. A plurality of treads are on the upper seating surface.

Abstract: A self-right apparatus is a device for automatically returning an overturned vehicle to an upright orientation. The device features a base plate that is mountable to a vehicle and a flip plate that is hingedly connected to the base plate via a pivot axle. The flip plate is held in place by a trigger mechanism engaged to a catch until the device is ready to be deployed to flip the overturned vehicle. The device utilizes a clutched servo mechanism that is connected to the trigger mechanism. The clutched servo mechanism is actuated in order to release the trigger mechanism from the catch and allow the flip plate to rotate about the pivot axle via force provided by a plurality of torsion springs. The flip plate is pressed against the surface on which the vehicle has become overturned, causing the vehicle to flip and return to its original upright orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting parameters in a stabilizing device (4) for stabilizing a flying attitude of a remote-controlled fixed-wing aircraft. To adjust a first parameter for a first axis, a first adjustment signal is transmitted from the transmitter (1) to the stabilizing device (4). The first parameter (P1) is stored during the flight as a result of a first memory signal transmitted from the transmitter (1). A second parameter (P2) for a second axis is then adjusted and stored in a similar manner.

Abstract: A kit for constructing a variety of play structures for children includes a plurality of arcuate tubes, a plurality of linear tubes, a plurality of connectors, a plurality of couplers, and a plurality of panels. At least one of the tubes is releasably assembled together with another one of the tubes using one of the couplers and the connectors to form a frame. The frame may also include at least one panel releasably coupled to at least one of the couplers. An instruction manual provides directions for releasably assembling the tubes, the connectors, the couplers, and the panels to form the variety of play structures from the kit. The kit may also include at least one covering and at least one covering connector to releasably affix the covering to at least a portion of the frame of the play structure.

Abstract: A toy includes a generally disk-shaped body, a periphery of which includes a bottom which lies generally on a plane. The disk-shaped body further includes a series of protrusions on an undersurface of the disk, disposed radially inward of the periphery, which extend beyond the plane on which the periphery lies, such that the disk is supported by the protrusions when resting on a support surface, such as the ground, leaving the periphery elevated from the support surface.

Abstract: The crank-n-foam is a toy gun that is able to propel bubbles and a foamy water mixture from the barrel after rapidly cranking a handle on the reservoir shell, which builds foam and pressure within the reservoir, and then releasing the foam and bubbles by opening a manual switch on the barrel shell. The toy provides safe entertainment for the user.

Abstract: A liquid chromatography agglomerated bed comprising component A comprising (a) substrate particles and polymer chains (e.g. a condensation polymer) bound to the substrate particles and projecting therefrom, and (b) component B comprising substrate particles having external surfaces of opposite charge to that of the charged polymer chains, components A and B being bound at least in part by electrostatic forces between the component A charged polymer chains and the component B external surfaces to form in composite an agglomerated bed of ion exchange particles packed in a chromatography column.

Abstract: An apparatus for capillary ion chromatography comprising a suppressor comprising flow-through ion exchange packing in a housing and capillary tubing formed of a permselective ion exchange membrane, and at least partially disposed in said ion exchange packing. Also, a recycle conduit for aqueous liquid from the detector to the packing. Further, the capillary tubing may have weakly acidic or weakly basic functional groups. Also, a method for using the apparatus.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for separating at least one amine from one or more hydrocarbons for regenerating the at least one amine. The process can include passing the at least one amine after contacting with the one or more hydrocarbons from a first vessel to a second vessel. Often, the second vessel includes one or more walls surrounding one or more baffles and contains at least one coalescing zone.

Abstract: A gas separator is configured to separate gas from a two-phase fluid. The gas separator includes a rotatable shaft and one or more separation stages. At least one of the one or more separation stages includes a rotor connected to the rotatable shaft and a channeled compression tube, wherein the channeled compression tube includes a compression tube hub and a plurality of channels. The channels are configured to isolate abrasive solid particles from the rotary components within the gas separator. The gas separator may optionally include a streamer upstream from the separation stage that reduces rotational currents upstream from the rotor.

Abstract: Provided are a deforming method and device that use laser-induced breakdown. The provided method and device make it possible to shorten the focal distance, thereby improving laser beam convergence, and increase the utilization efficiency of sound waves that contribute to defoaming. Pulsed laser light is focused and irradiated into a space inside an acoustic waveguide (4), thereby generating pulsed sound waves from the illumination point (7). The pulsed sound waves propagate down the acoustic waveguide as plane waves, then propagate beyond an open end (16) as spherical waves, and break up a foam outside the open end of the acoustic wave guide.

Abstract: A feedwell system for delivering a slurry (for example a bituminous slurry) to a separation vessel (for example a primary separation vessel) includes a feedwell barrel with an inlet for receiving the slurry, internal baffles, and a bottom outlet. A downpipe extends from the bottom of the barrel directing the existing slurry onto a deflector plate deflecting the slurry radially and outwardly. A protector plate located between the downpipe and the deflector plate improves the underwash layer stability. Ventilation openings in the protector plate induce inflow which reduces the discharge velocity, limits the formation of an adverse pressure gradient and encourages circumferential distribution.

Abstract: A spin-on filter that eliminates the use of a nut plate and reduces the number of separate components. Instead, the spin-on filter utilizes the end plate of the filter cartridge to perform a number of functions, including closing the open end of the filter shell, sealing between the dirty and clean fluid sides, sealing between the filter and the mounting head to prevent leakage outside the filter to environment, attaching the filter cartridge to the shell, and sealing the end of the filter media.

Abstract: Filter media are described. The filter media may include multiple layers. In some embodiments, the filter media include a nanofiber layer adhered to another layer. In some embodiments, the layer to which the nanofiber layer is adhered is formed of multiple fiber types (e.g., fibers that give rise to structures having different air permeabilities and/or pressure drops). In some embodiments, the nanofiber layer is adhered to a single-phase or a multi-phase layer. In some embodiments, the nanofiber layer is manufactured from a meltblown process. The filter media may be designed to have advantageous properties including, in some cases, a high dust particle capture efficiency and/or a high dust holding capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are supersonic separation systems that can be used for the removal of CO2 from a mixed gas stream. Also disclosed are methods for the separation and subsequent collection of solidified CO2 from a gas stream.

Abstract: A filter element includes a media pack and a gasket member. The gasket member includes first and second gasket regions separated by a channel. One or more filter elements are usable in a dust collector. One example dust collector includes a collector housing having a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a tube sheet dividing the housing between an unfiltered air volume and a clean air volume. At least one filter element is removably mounted and sealed within the tube sheet. A gasket member secured to the element includes first and second gasket regions separated by a channel. At least one projection angled relative to a plane of the tube sheet extends into the channel of the gasket member.

Abstract: A bag filter assembly for cleaning dust-laden gases has a housing, which is divided into a filtered-gas side and an unfiltered-gas side by a bag bottom formed with openings. Several filter bags with a flat cross-section and support baskets are arranged in the bag bottom openings. The filter bags have support baskets and injector nozzle at the open end for conducting and accelerating compressed-air pulses for dedusting. The injector nozzle protrudes at least partially into the openings of the bag bottom. Sealing elements are arranged on the outside of the injector nozzle at the level of the bag bottom in order to form a defined gap for a defined compression of the filter bag between the sealing elements and the jacket surface of the opening in the bag bottom and thus to independently seal the filter bag with respect to the opening of the bag bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering contaminant-containing air has a base, an air filter positioned upon the base, a plate affixed over an end of the filter opposite the base, and a motor or fan suitable for drawing the contaminant-containing air through the inlet of the plate and into the interior volume of the air filter. The air filter has a generally annular cross-section. The air filter has an interior volume suitable for receiving the contaminant-containing air therein. A screen can be affixed over the exterior surface of the air filter. The air filter will have a structural integrity suitable for supporting the plate thereon.

Abstract: An air filter including two opposing open ends, and a filter area circumferentially enclosing a cavity in between. The first open end frictionally and sealingly engages the filter housing including an air port, while the second end engages the housing to close the second end from passage of air. The filter area may be reinforced to provide a durable, reusable filter. The filter material may be selected to provide depth loading and increase the particulate capacity of the filter.

Abstract: Air cleaner and preferred components for an air cleaner are provided. In certain arrangements, a band is permanently mounted to the media pack, surrounding the media. Also, the cartridge is non-circular and includes a radial seal thereon.

Abstract: A filter element includes: a filter member formed of a non-woven fabric formed by laminating a plurality of non-woven fabric layers and folding the thus formed non-woven fabric in form of pleat having a predetermined size along a width direction of the filter member; a holder frame formed of a soft material and disposed along an outer peripheral edge of the filter member, the holder frame being constituted by first and second frame members; and a reinforcing member having one end connected to the first frame member disposed along the width direction of the holder frame and having another end formed as a free end free from connection. The reinforcing member extends so as to intersect the width direction of the filter member.

Abstract: A filter element includes a filter member provided with a plurality of pleat portions and a frame body holding an outer peripheral portion of the filter member. The frame body is provided with a comb-shaped portion having a comb-tooth portion which is inserted into adjacent pleat portions and contacts to a surface of the filter member, and the comb-shaped member is formed by an insert-molding process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a moisture swing sorbent for carbon dioxide capture from air are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a heterogeneous ion-exchange material; soaking the material in deionized water; washing the material in hydroxide or carbonate solutions; rinsing the material in deionized water; collecting and titrating residuals of the soaking and the washing steps into a residual solution; measuring an amount of chloride in the residual solution; repeating all of the steps if the amount of chloride measured in the residual solution is greater than zero; and drying the material with either dry nitrogen gas or air free of carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: Composite materials for carbon dioxide (C02) capture that include: (1) a mesoporous carbon source; and (2) an in situ polymerized polymer that is associated with the mesoporous carbon source, where the in situ polymerized polymer is selected from the group consisting of thiol-based polymers, amine-based polymers, and combinations thereof. Methods of making the composite materials for C02 capture include: (1) associating a mesoporous carbon source with monomers, where the monomers are selected from the group consisting of thiol-based monomers, amine-based monomers, and combinations thereof; and (2) polymerizing the monomers in situ to form said composite materials. Further embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of capturing C02 from an environment by associating the environment with one or more of the aforementioned composite materials.

Abstract: A carbon pyrolyzate adsorbent is described that is selective for carbon dioxide in contact with gas mixtures including carbon dioxide and methane. The adsorbent has a carbon dioxide adsorbent capacity at 1 bar pressure of greater than 50 cm3 carbon dioxide per gram of adsorbent at 273K, a methane adsorption capacity at 1 bar pressure of less than 35 cm3 methane per gram of adsorbent at 21° C., and a bulk density of greater than 0.55 gram per cubic centimeter of volume. Such adsorbent can be utilized, for example, for biogas upgrading, natural gas purification, coal bed methane purification, and refining operations.

Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment device including a casing including a gas passage formed in the casing, a granular adsorbent filled in the gas passage, the granular adsorbent serving to adsorb and desorb fuel vapor, and a desorption promoting structure to promote desorption of the fuel vapor in a central portion of a cross-sectional area of the gas passage as compared to an outer peripheral portion of the cross-sectional area of the gas passage.

Abstract: Sulfur contaminants, such as elemental sulfur (S8), hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur components in fluids (e.g., air, natural gas, and other gases, as well as water and other liquids) are removed using a silicone-based chemical filter/bath. In one embodiment, a silicone-based chemical filter includes a membrane having a cross-linked silicone that is a reaction product of an olefin and a polyhydrosiloxane. For example, sulfur contaminants in air may be removed by passing the air through the membrane before the air enters a data center or other facility housing computer systems. In another embodiment, a silicone-based chemical bath includes a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber containing a silicone oil. For example, sulfur contaminants in air may be removed by passing the air through the silicone oil in the chamber before the air enters a data center or other facility housing computer systems.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide recovery device can perform a carbon dioxide adsorption treatment, a carbon dioxide separation treatment, a carbon dioxide adsorbing material repair treatment, and a carbon dioxide adsorbing material manufacture treatment. The carbon dioxide recovery device includes: a casing including a fluid treatment passage, a gas supply port through which a fluid is supplied to the fluid treatment passage, and a gas exhaust port through which the gas supplied to the fluid treatment passage is discharged; a plurality of housing tanks provided in a fluid treatment passage and each configured to house carbon dioxide adsorbing materials K; and an adsorbing liquid supplying portion configured to supply an adsorbing liquid to the housing tanks. Passage opening-closing mechanisms configured to store the adsorbing liquid in or discharge the adsorbing liquid from the housing tanks are respectively provided at bottom portions of the housing tanks.

Abstract: A column structure is described for the containment of high surface area packing and absorbent liquid reagent for the removal of a target gas from a gas stream. The column structure comprises a plurality of vessel column modules each having an elongate upright wall structure, each column module comprises a plurality of vertically disposed sub-modules, the modules being disposed together alongside one another in two dimensional array to constitute collectively the column structure. A column top support structure is located in the vicinity of the upper part of a column structure so assembled and each column module is mechanically supported from the column top support structure. A method of assembly of such a column and to a method of removal of a target gas from a gas phase using such a column are also described.

Abstract: Method for cool drying gas containing water vapor, where a gas is led through a secondary part of a heat exchanger, whose primary part is an evaporator of a cooling circuit. The temperature or the dew point is measured in the environment of the place where, when cool drying, the temperature of the gas to be dried is the lowest. The above-mentioned method also has the step of switching off the cooling circuit when the decrease of the lowest measured gas temperature (LAT) or the dew point during a predetermined period of time amounts to less than a preset value (y).

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling and/or separating a component from a fluid are disclosed herein. Such systems and methods can include one or more of a separator (e.g., a dehumidifier), a chiller, and/or an expirator, each of which can include a selective transfer membrane. Such systems and methods can be used for a wide variety of applications including, for example, cooling and/or dehumidifying air.

Abstract: A wall-flow filter for filtering particulate matter from a flowing exhaust gas comprises a catalyst for catalyzing both the conversion of solid carbon in the particulate matter by oxygen and the selective reduction of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust gas with a nitrogenous reductant, which catalyst comprising optionally stabilized ceria and at least one metal selected from (i) tungsten and (ii) both tungsten and iron.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to easily reduce dust having large particle diameter that affects blocking and abrasion to prevent deposition thereof in a reactor. An exhaust gas NOx removal apparatus comprises a NOx removal rector having a catalyst layer for removing nitrogen oxides in a combustion exhaust gas; a duct structure having a stab-up point at which a flow of the exhaust gas changes from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction in an exhaust gas duct on the upstream side of the NOx removal reactor; a tilt thin plate slit in which a number of thin plates are disposed in the duct of the horizontal direction of an inlet of the stub-up point or/and in an inlet of the catalyst layer in the NOx removal reactor in a vertical direction with a slit width smaller than an opening width of the catalyst layer at a predetermined inclination angle relative to the cross-section of an exhaust gas flow path; and a dust collecting/discharging portion attached to the lower end of a tilt thin plate slit.

Abstract: Presteralized manifolds are provided which are designed for sterile packaging and single-use approaches. Disposable tubing and flexible-wall containers are assembled via aseptic connectors. These manifolds interact with valves and pumping equipment which can be operated by a controller which provides automated and accurate delivery of biotechnology fluid. The manifold also being used in conjunction with one or more conductivity sensors used to measure the conductivity of the biotechnology fluid. Such sensors interact with the controller or are connected to a separate user interface. The combination of disposable tubing, flexible-wall containers, aseptic connectors, manifold, controller, and conductivity sensors provides an aseptic environment while avoiding or reducing cleaning and quality assurance procedures.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for separating liquid mixtures, which includes passing a liquid stream of the liquid mixture over a membrane, the membrane being selective for at least one of a first compound and a second compound, whereby at least part of the liquid stream passes through the membrane leaving the other side of the membrane as a vapor, with the remainder of the liquid stream forming a retentate stream, and condensing the vapor on a condenser surface having a lower temperature than the liquid stream to give a distillate stream, the condenser surface forming a non-permeable heat conducting separation wall between the distillate stream and a cooling stream which cooling stream is a) a feed stream, or b) the retentate stream.

Abstract: A pervaporation membrane may be an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole (PBI) membrane. The acid-resistant PBI membrane may be a PBI membrane chemically modified by a process selected from the group consisting of sulfonation, phosphonation, cross-linking, N-substitution, and/or combinations thereof. The membrane may be thermally stabilized. A method for the dehydration of an acid material may include the steps of: contacting an acidic aqueous solution with a membrane of an acid-resistant polybenzidimazole; taking away a permeate stream rich in water; and taking away a concentrate steam rich in the acid material. The acidic aqueous solution may be acetic acid.

Abstract: A gas separation membrane module is formed from a woven fabric of weft membrane hollow fibers and warp yarns. The membrane module includes an active hollow fiber region spanning the inner edges of the two tubesheets. The membrane module also includes two tubesheets formed by encapsulating membrane fiber on one or both ends. The tubesheet on the end includes a first sub-region adjacent the active fiber and a second sub-region extending from first sub-region to the outer face of the tubesheet. The spacing of the warp threads is relatively denser in the first sub-region than in the active region or the second sub-region.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a porous polymer membrane that is excellent not only in water permeability and alkali resistance but also in mechanical strength. The porous polymer membrane of the present invention includes a fluoropolymer (A) that includes a vinylidene fluoride unit and a tetrafluoroethylene unit.

Abstract: A beverage package includes a bottle including a base, a sidewall extending from the base, a shoulder extending from the sidewall, and a neck extending from the shoulder and including an interior, an interior surface, and a mouth having an end surface. The beverage package also includes an aerator separate from the bottle, extending across the interior of the bottle neck, and disposed entirely within the interior of the neck and spaced axially from the end surface of the bottle neck, and including an inlet end, an outlet end axially spaced from the inlet end, an outer wall in contact with the interior surface of the bottle neck, and a baffle disposed radially inwardly of the outer wall and axially between the inlet and outlet ends.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for dispensing an off-gassing liquid product mixed with a diluting product are provided. A liquid product or product solution is moved through a primed product line and towards a dispenser. The liquid product is combined with the diluting product to create a solution. The solution is dispensed. The product line is cleared of unused or displaced liquid product by redirecting at least a portion of the unused or displaced liquid product in the product line to a displacement system operatively attached to the product line. The displacement system includes a check valve including a crack pressure that allows the unused or displaced product to be dispensed back into the product source or a separate, secondary container.