Abstract: A reel spinning gaming device 10 includes a plurality of selectable reels 20 each having game symbols 30 located thereon, a selection system 40, an actuating system 50, and a prize controller 60. Each reel displays an outcome symbol 30 after having been spun. The number of selectable reels 20 included in the gaming device 10 is larger than that utilized for an individual game. In this regard, the selection system 40 designates a subset of the selectable reels as the initial active reels 70 for the initial game. The actuating system 50 then spins the initial active reels 70, after which the prize controller 60 determines whether or not a prize is to be awarded dependent upon the combination of the outcome symbols 30 from the initial active reels 70.

Abstract: In a system and method for securely storing and controlling the dispensing of a payout, the system includes a payout dispenser for securely storing and dispensing a payout, and a terminal for controlling the dispensing of the payout and for interfacing with an attendant in connection with the payout. The system further includes a network for interconnecting the payout dispenser and the terminal. The system may also include a device for indicating a payout payable responsive to the input of a person to whom the payout is payable, wherein the payout indicating device may be connected to the payout dispenser and the terminal by a network. The system may further include a device for enabling the dispensing of a payout breakage amount which is the difference between the payout in a payout dispenser denomination and the payment to be paid out.

Abstract: A field emission cathode consisting of atomic-scale composite material comprising three atomic networks is proposed. The first and the second atomic networks penetrate into each other and form carbon-based stabilized dielectric medium and the third atomic network is a conductive network of metallic atoms. The atomic scale composite material may also contain conductive nano-crystals immersed into the carbon-based stabilized dielectric medium. The atomic-scale conductive network and nano-crystals reach the film surface and film edge forming nanometer scale field emission sites. They may be partially exposed by etching the other components of the cathode material thereby forming atomic-scale and/or nano-scale field emission metallic tips. The field emission cathode can be used as an efficient cold cathode in a variety of electronic devices, such as flat panel field emission displays, microwave diodes, triodes and more complex devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily measuring a brake mean effective pressure of a running vehicle. An air flow sensor, a ? sensor and a data collecting apparatus are mounted to the vehicle. A running speed and engine speed from the vehicle while actually running on a road surface, and output of the air flow sensor an the ? sensor are inputted to the data collecting apparatus. Specific fuel consumption is obtained from an intake air amount and ratio of excessive air in exhaust gas. Output of an engine is obtained from a relation between the specific fuel consumption and the engine speed.

Abstract: A pressure pad has two sets of cells with a sensor pad positioned under the pad. During inflation, part of the flow goes to the sensor pad to exhaust and the rest fills the cells. Any change in patient position/weight causing a change in airflow in tube will alter the differential pressure measured at a pressure transducer. Based on this feedback a microprocessor directly controls the power level to the pump, thus adjusting the airflow to the cells to prevent bottoming or to rung at a minimum pressure. The pressure pad is segmented into a heel section, upper leg section, torso section, and a head section. The heel, head, and upper leg sections are maintained at a lower pressure, and the torso section at a higher pressure. A control module to control the flow in the segments is provided inside the pressure pad. The pressure pad can be an alternating or static pad.

Abstract: A system and method are set form for increasing a players participation and entertainment value in the play of a gaming device such as a slot machine. The system and method includes offering a prize award such as a product or service for the player obtaining a predetermined outcome such as a jackpot. The prize has an acquisition cost (A) to the game operator who assigns to the prize a pay table value (B) for calculation and configuring the performance of the gaming device. The player attributes a value (C) to the prize. The system and method are configured such that (A)?(B)<(C).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ranking a plurality of pages identified during a search of a linked database includes forming a linear combination of two or more matrices, and using the coefficients of the eigenvector of the resulting matrix to rank the quality of the pages. The matrices includes information about the pages and are generally normalized, stochastic matrices. The linear combination can include attractor matrices that indicate desirable or “high quality” sites, and/or non-attractor matrices that indicate sites that are undesirable. Attractor matrices and non-attractor matrices can be used alone or in combination with each other in the linear combination. Additional bias toward high quality sites, or away from undesirable sites, can be further introduced with probability weighting matrices for attractor and non-attractor matrices. Other known matrices, such as a co-citation matrix or a bibliographic coupling matrix, can also be used in the present invention.

Abstract: This specification discloses trays for use with a gaming machine. At least a first tray is mountable in adjacent intermediate the gaming interface side of a gaming machine and a game player so that the user may readily rest or access a drink and food located on the tray. A second tray may also be mountable on the first tray in order to expand or alter the tray support configuration provided the two trays together. The tray(s) may be removably mounted to the front of the gaming machine, or they may be rotatably or moveably mounted on the side of the gaming machine. The trays are preferably made of economical, molded, lightweight, resilient, and machine-washable materials, such as polystyrene or other plastic. The trays may also be made of other materials, which when used in conjunction with covers, can help maintain the temperature of food at other than room temperature.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of operating a particle size distribution measuring apparatus sample solution circulation system is constructed so as to reverse a flow direction of a sample solution which flows through a flow cell prior to a measurement of the particle size distribution within the sample solution.

Abstract: A two wire exchange system is disclosed that enables a gaming machine having one communication port to function as a gaming machine having a plurality of communication ports. The two-wire exchange system allows a gaming machine having only a single communication port to connect to two or more system hosts simultaneously. The two wire exchange system is an intelligent multiplexer that communicates using the same protocol as the system hosts to which it is connected. The two-wire exchange system has the ability to respond to a poll from the system host by indicating that the gaming machine is busy, and that the system host should poll the gaming machine again. This is provided to avoid and to prevent data collisions.

Abstract: Signal strength measurements for different frequencies in different cells are calibrated in a cellular communications system. The signal strength of first and second frequencies in at least one cell of a plurality of cells is repeatedly measured. A measurement history is created for said first and second frequencies in at least the one cell. Each measurement history is based on the signal strength measurements of one of the first and second frequencies in the respective one cell. The measurement histories are stored. A respective correction factor is determined for each possible pair of first and second frequencies in at least the one cell. Each correction factor is based on the stored measurement history of the first and second frequencies in the pair. The respective correction factor for a pair of first and second frequencies cell is applied when comparing the signal strength measurements of the first and second frequencies in said pair.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a shim assembly for supporting a hardware module flush with a bottom side of a printed circuit board. A bottom side of the shim assembly is attached to a top side of the printed circuit board and generally conforms to the shape of a slot in the printed circuit board into which the hardware module is inserted. The shim assembly is of sufficient thickness to fill a gap between the hardware module and the top side of the printed circuit board such that the hardware module does not materially extend past a bottom side of the printed circuit board when inserted in the slot.

Abstract: A portable device that receives data provided by one or more sensors and displays statistical data related to the sensor data or otherwise related to the person. Statistical data may include high, low, average, mean value, median value, standard deviation, least square, variance, distribution, compilation, etc. for or at any given time or period of time for the person being monitored, as well as for such values for segments or groups of the population, or limit values, or target values, etc. The values may represent measurements and other data related to physiological signs and parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, electrocardiogram, glucose level, substances and/or chemical presence or level, analyze measurements, etc. The portable device may also display such measurements. The portable device may compute the statistical data, with or without the aid of a remote computer, and/or store statistical data, and/or a remote computer may compute and/or store statistical data.

Abstract: Conformationally restricted 2′, 4′-bridged nucleoside analogues are described herein. The compounds can be prepared by cyclization at C2′ and C4′ of nucleosides through a linker or linking molecule. These novel nucleosides have a desired, locked sugar pucker and are potentially useful as pharmaceutical ingredients, and especially for use in treatment of HCV.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside analogs having substituents at the C4′ and C5′ positions of the ribofuranose moiety are presented. Contemplated compositions exhibit, among other things, anti-cancer and immunomodulating effects at reduced cytotoxicity.

Abstract: Thin type TEM dual-mode rectangular-planar dielectric waveguide bandpass filter is disclosed. The bandpass filter disclosed in the specification is constituted of a dielectric block 11 having a top surface, a bottom surface and first to fourth side surfaces, a metal plate 12 to be in a floating state substantially entirely formed on the top surface of the dielectric block 11, a metal plate 13 to be grounded formed on the bottom surface of the dielectric block 11, and exciting electrodes 14 and 15 formed on the bottom surface of the dielectric block 11. The metal plate 13 has a removed portion 16 exposing a part of the bottom surface of the dielectric block 11. The removed portion 16 destroys the symmetry of the resonator structure of each mode so that a coupling between the dual-mode is provided. According to this structure, because the exciting electrodes 14 and 15 are formed on the bottom surface of the dielectric block 11, thickness of the dielectric block 11 can be easily reduced.

Abstract: Data storage and retrieval methods are described in which data is stored in records within a file storage system, and desired records are identified and/or selected by searching index files which map search criteria into appropriate records. Each index file includes a header with header entries and a body with body entries. Each header entry comprises a header-to-body pointer which points to a location in the body of the same index file which is the starting point of the body entries related to the header-to-body pointer pointing thereto. The body entries in turn comprise body-to-record-pointers, which point to the records within the file storage system satisfying the search criteria. Alternatively, the body entries may comprise body-to-body pointers which point to body entries in a second index file, which in turn point to the records within the file storage system satisfying the search criteria. The records are stored in HTML format.

Abstract: A system and method for generating computer applications in an arbitrary object framework. The method separates content, form, and function of the computer application so that each may be accessed or modified separately. The method includes creating arbitrary objects, managing the arbitrary objects throughout their life cycle in an object library, and deploying the arbitrary objects in a design framework for use in complex computer applications.

Abstract: A method of formatting digital data and a method of decoding the formatted digital data. User selectable format parameters vary the dimensions and other attributes of spots and the cells containing those spots as well as other features which the formatting process formats into a pattern. A method of encoding the formatted digital data using these format parameters allows for encoding a substrate optimally for any given printer or scanner. One embodiment provides for markers to facilitate determination of cell locations. In one embodiment the decoding process achieves a pyramid gain of knowledge by locating a landmark (801), which is located in a known position relative to a metasector (802), which contains information about the encoding process used to encode the main body of data (803), which the decoding process decodes to recover the original digital data. Further embodiments include encryption, transmission by facsimile, inclusion of human readable information, and automatic launches of computer files.

Abstract: Nucleosides, novel nucleoside analog compounds and their novel prodrug forms are disclosed. The novel compounds, prodrugs, or pharmaceutically acceptable esters or salts thereof may be used in pharmaceutical compositions, and such compositions may be used to treat an infection, an infestation, a neoplasm, or an autoimmune disease. The novel compounds may also be used to modulate aspects of the immune system, including modulation of Type 1 and Type 2 activity.