Abstract: A device for measuring one or more different properties of soil or a soil-related substance is provided. The device includes a probe that is inserted into the soil or soil-related substance. The probe includes a tip. The tip is electrically insulative and defines apertures. Electrodes are fitted into the apertures. The tip and electrodes are machined together to have a desired shape that is suitable for insertion into a sample. A printed circuit board (“PCB”) is located inside the probe. The electrodes are soldered directly to the PCB in one embodiment. A temperature sensing element is also located in the tip, near the electrodes, and is connected electrically to the PCB.

Abstract: A novel microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium longum, in particular to its genomic and plasmid sequence and to a method of producing polypeptides of said Bifidobacterium, respectively. Also methods of detecting these nucleic acids or polypeptides, respectively. A data carrier is provided comprising nucleotide sequences and/or polypeptide sequences of NCC2705. In addition, the Bifidobacterium longum strain NCC2705 and also to food and pharmaceutical compositions containing said Bifidobacterium or active components thereof for the prevention and/or treatment of diarrhoea brought about by rotaviruses and pathogenic bacteria are provided.

Abstract: A user of a computer aided design (CAD) system graphically places fire alarm appliances, such as smoke detectors and sirens, in a drawing area. After elements are placed and physical paths are determined, a series of electrical circuit connections between alarm source elements and alarm appliance elements are determined. Labels for alarm system device are automatically generated and automatically resequenced. Riser details may be generated in multiple formats. The system also allows standard CAD drawings to be imported into the alarm CAD system. This feature includes a gravitate command which automatically connects unconnected wire paths to the nearest alarm appliance. Circuit requirements can be listed with either a base unit, an appliance, or both. When both the base unit and the corresponding appliance have circuit requirements listed, the circuits are combined into a single listing.

Abstract: A circuit and associated method for safety shutdown of an optical amplifier, wherein the power of an amplified spontaneous emission ASE is subject to a correction factor and subtracted from a measured signal extracted from the optical signal.

Abstract: A gaming device, wherein a player's skill at an action or event determines the player's success or failure in the round. The game is readily adaptable to becoming a pseudo-skill game that would be required in most gaming jurisdictions. In one pseudo-skill embodiment, the skill game is converted to a game employing skill, but which is controlled by a set number of successful outcomes. That is, the player keeps playing until the player's skill produces the set number of successful outcomes. In another pseudo-skill embodiment, the game only appears to the player as involving skill. Instead, the gaming device randomly determines when and how many times to produce a successful outcome and increase the player's award.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for airport safety areas, runways and taxiways is provided. Various attachment systems for installing a synthetic covering are described. The use of artificial turf as well as various embodiments for a suitable synthetic matting for the installation are also described. Also, solar energy, heating and fire suppression systems are disclosed. A method of financing the turf system is also described using a synthetic covering with advertising.

Abstract: An IC card issuer issues an IC card and requests a card memory area operator to lend part of a memory area of the IC card to another card memory area user. The card memory area operator provides a memory area division apparatus and various data to the memory area division apparatus under the control of an operator communication apparatus 12. The card memory area user divides the memory area of the IC card into a memory area to be used by the IC card issuer and a memory area to be used by the card memory area user. The operation file registration apparatus writes file data for the card memory area user to the memory area of the card memory area user obtained by the above division.

Abstract: Pyridinium-Betain compounds of the general formula (A): wherein R1 is H or a primary amino acids that is attached to the structure, X is OH or its ionized form O?, Y is OH, SH, or their ionized forms O? and S?, Z is H, an alkyl group, or a glycosidic group, or a phosphate or ester derivative thereof, and n is an integer of 0 to 4 to represent the chain length of the compound. A counter-ion is associated with these compounds and is preferably an ion of sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, nitrate, carbonate, sulphate, phosphate, or the like. These compounds can be used as taste modifiers in various foodstuffs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending or receiving an E-mail using animated representation as if a pet were going out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating the insides of both a sender's room and a receiver's room for letter delivery and dispatch. Moreover, the pet, represented by animation, is virtually kept. Specifically, agent data updated responsive to experiences acquired by the pet is sent as annexed papers to the E-mail, while the receiver returns only pet data. Thus, animation represented on a GUI picture simulating the insides of both a sender's room and a receiver's room for imparting an impression as if a pet were going out of or coming into a GUI picture simulating the insides of both the sender's room and the receiver's room for letter delivery and dispatch.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a frame of a disposable unit for a medical fluid system is provided. The frame includes a body having a pair of opposing sides and defining a space between the sides, and a number of membranes sealed to the body along the opposing sides. The body and the membranes form at least one medical fluid pathway in the space between the opposing sides, and the opposing sides are bowed.

Abstract: Methods of operating a fuel cell and a power supply systems are provided. The methods and systems of the present invention are capable of suppressing condensation of moisture obstructing an air passage without the need of any complicated system configuration. The method of operating a fuel cell includes controlling a supply of air while monitoring a relative humidity of exhausted air. The step of controlling the supply of air can be performed such that the relative humidity of exhausted air becomes equal to or less than a specific humidity. The power supply system including, as a power supply, a fuel cell having an air supply unit, an air exhaust unit, and a fuel gas supply unit includes a humidity sensor provided on the air exhaust unit, and a control mechanism for controlling a supplied amount of air in the air supply unit based on the information provided from the humidity sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming device that has an award modification function for player selectable awards that may be implemented with a primary or bonus game. More specifically, the present invention provides a processor controlled gaming device that randomly generates a plurality of positions or digits of an award and enables the player to pick which position or digit receives a first randomly generated number, which digit receives a second randomly generated number, etc., until each of the positions have a number, whereby the gaming device determines the player's ultimate award. The present invention further provides a plurality of modification methods for modifying the digits of the award.

Abstract: A mechanical display and a mechanical indicator for gaming devices includes various embodiments, each of which have a number of elements in common. First, the embodiments each include a rotating set of symbols or indicia. Second, each of the embodiments includes an oscillating indicator, such as an arrow. The symbols rotate, appear and disappear from the player's view. In this manner, the player sees each of the symbols and hopes that the gaming device awards the symbol having the highest or best value. The one or more indicators move in a sequence to point out or indicate one of the symbols or one of the groups of symbols. The indicators provide a second random, visual element to the outcome, wherein the player's attention must account for both the changing symbols and the moving indicators. The symbol eventually indicated produces, at least in part, a game outcome.