Abstract: A method for conducting blackjack-style wagering games includes favorable player options to enhance its appeal. The player elects to undo a pair of initial cards in a two-card blackjack hand split to increase his chance of winning his hand.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using continuous-loop wires to drive circular flat-surfaced disk-type workholders which are positioned between two opposed upper and lower abrasive-surfaced rotatable platens. Flat-surfaced workpieces are mounted in receptacle openings in the workholders where both surfaces of the workpieces are simultaneously abraded by the two opposed platen that have annular bands of abrasive coatings. The drive wires allow the workholders to be driven at high speeds because of the smooth-action interface between the wires and the circular workholder disks that have circular wire grooves around the peripheries of the workholders. Each workholder assembly consists of a workholder disk, a drive wire, wire idlers, workholder idlers, a wire-tension device, a workholder disk support device and a wire drive motor. The workholder assemblies can be moved away from the platen surface to change platen abrasive disks. Three workholders provide stable three-point support of a floating upper platen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably attaching flexible abrasive disks to a flat-surfaced platen that floats in three-point abrading contact with three rigid flat-surfaced rotatable fixed-position workpiece spindles that are mounted on a flat surface of an abrading machine base where the spindle surfaces are in a common plane. Three spindles are positioned to form a three-point triangle of platen supports where the rotational-centers of each of the spindles are positioned at the center of the annular width of the platen abrading surface. The spindles are supported by two-piece spindle-mount devices having a common-radius spherical joint that allows the spindles to be rotated to co-planar align the top flat surfaces of the rotatable spindle-tops and then to be locked into this aligned position. Spindle-mount spherical-action locking devices include mechanical fasteners and stress-free adhesive tabs. Precision-flat platens can be used as an alignment jig for co-planar alignment of the spindles.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus performs a gaming method with a symbol display system for a wagering game, a processor controlling the symbol display system and software executed by the processor, has software perform electronic functions of: a) providing a method of value crediting and debiting system; b) providing a game control component that determines rules of play of a game; c) providing activation of selection from virtual spinners that have individual game determinant outcomes or individual symbol determinant outcomes mathematically distributed within the virtual outcome determinant space of the virtual spinner; d) providing a file of images available for display on the symbol display system; e) the software randomly accessing the predetermined weighted portions of the outcome determinant space to select individual symbols, sets of symbols or collective symbols for use in the game; f) determining game outcomes; and g) resolving all value placed at risk in the play of the game.

Abstract: A method removes organic liquids from surfaces or volumes by identifying the presence of organic liquids on a surface or within a volume; providing absorbent, solid non-glass inorganic particles onto areas of the surface or within a volume where the organic liquids are present; absorbing or adsorbing organic liquids into the particles; and removing the particles with organic liquid therein.

Abstract: A maize inbred line having the characteristics selected from those of FAR045, including plant parts, tissue, and pigments of the inbred is disclosed.

Abstract: A method centrally controls communication at a single venue. A central communications point with a moderator is provided. User information, at least at the venue, is provided to users for transmitting electronic signals to the central communication point. The moderator enables at least one electronic communication transmission from a user who has access to the central communication point to have at least part of the transmission broadcast at the venue or allow open communication from the user to be broadcast at the venue.

Abstract: Anthocyanin pigments/dyes are extracted from corn kernels by adding corn kernels with less than 5% by weight of corn kernels comprising broken kernels to an aqueous medium to form an aqueous-corn medium. The corn kernels have in excess of 0.1 mg of anthocyanin pigment/dye per gram of corn kernel therein. The anthocyanin pigment/dye in the corn kernels has greater than 40% by weight of anthocyanin as an acid or acylated form of the anthocyanin. The aqueous corn medium is agitated at a temperature above 35° C. The solid corn kernels are separated from the aqueous corn medium to form an extract of anthocyanin in aqueous medium having less than 1.0% solids therein before concentration or purification steps are performed on the extract.

Abstract: A data providing device associated with a trajectory sensing system has at least a frame. The frame supports at least two sensing receivers and at least one emitter for the sensing receivers. The sensors sense movement and/or position with respect to a surface. The frame supports a third sensor that senses information (e.g., image data) from the surface at least in addition to movement. There is also a communication link from the two sensing receivers to a data storage device; a communication link from the third sensor to a data storage device or to a processor and then a data storage device; and a processor that determines position of the system with respect to the surface based at least in part on data from the two sensing receivers.

Abstract: A cell delivery catheter having one of more apearutres is used to positon and deliver cells to an implant site in a patient.

Abstract: A structure is provided having a base and relatively vertical structural support element (such as a post, pole, platform, stairs, etc.) from which extend arms that support removable image holders. The removable image holders may contain images that can be readily replaced. The removable image holders can restrain the images in six directions (up, down, forward, backward, left and right), although restraint may be effected by only friction or gripping, rather than an immovable wall. The removable image holders may be relatively secured to the arms, although they may easily swing for ease of viewing. The structure may have ornamentation thereon that is indicative of a theme (birthday, wedding, graduation, holiday, memorial, season, sports event and the like).

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems form structures from nanoparticles by: providing a source of nanoparticles, the particles being capable of being moved by application of a field, such as an electrical field, magnetic field and even electromagnetic radiation or fields such as light, UV, IR, radiowaves, radiation and the like; depositing the nanoparticles to a surface in a first distribution of the nanoparticles; applying a field to the nanoparticles on the surface that applies a force to the particles; and rearranging the nanoparticles on the surface by the force from the field to form a second distribution of nanoparticles on the surface. The second distribution of nanoparticles is more ordered or more patterned than the first distribution of nanoparticles as a result of the rearranging.

Abstract: A device, system and method deliver an agent to a soft mass, such as an area of the body, and more specifically the brain. One aspect includes creation of one or more channels, tunnels or grooves in tissue using a relatively small diameter, minimally-invasive stylet and then removing the stylet prior to infusion. The stylet-created channels become paths of increased hydraulic conductivity, through which the infusate will tend to flow and produce a predictable infusion pattern. Infusate will be carried into these channels with relatively low resistance, and then infuse outward from these channels into the surrounding tissue. By carefully positioning these channels, one can control and modify the preferred paths and duration of distribution.

Abstract: A rotatable abrasive lapper machine platen assembly is attached to a lapper machine frame. The assembly has at least: a) a circular-shaped rotatable horizontal platen having i) a front surface and ii) a back surface; b) the circular platen having a platen radius, a platen outer circumference and a platen outer periphery; c) the circular platen front surface having an outer annular planar portion where the platen outer annular planar portion extends radially to the circular platen outer circumference; and d) a flexible abrasive disk secured in conformable flat contact with the circular platen front surface outer annular planar portion wherein the abrasive disk is positioned concentric with the circular platen.

Abstract: A high energy, stable, electrically activated explosive replacement comprises at least a mixture of a metal, a highly-halogenated polymer moiety (HHPM) and a reduced (or non-) halogenated polymer moiety (RHPM). These replacements can also be used as detonators, initiators, or explosive devices alone or with other explosive systems and materials. The two polymer moieties, the HHPM and RHPM, may be provided in the following manners and generally in the following proportions. The halogen on the polymer preferably comprises chlorine or fluorine, preferably fluorine, and preferably at least 50% of halogen atoms in the polymer comprise fluorine. The fluorine is preferably provided on the polymer backbone (as in polymers formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomeric units such as tetrafluoroethylene, trifluoromonochloroethylene, difluorodichloroethylene, trichloromonofluoroethylene, trifluoroethylene, and the like).

Abstract: A device for automatically calibrating for card size during card handling is disclosed. The device includes a card receiving area, a card stacking area and a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area. An elevator located in the card stacking area has a movable platform for moving a stack of cards, and has a collection surface on the platform. A motor moves the platform within the elevator. At least one sensor senses at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling is also disclosed.

Abstract: Biofertilizers have been identified as an alternative to chemical fertilization to increase soil fertility and crop production using sustainable farming. Treatment is with at least a proprietary formulation of a nitrogen-fixing consortium and Azospirillum brasilense. The application of biofertilizers resulted in higher biomass compared to chemical fertilizer treatment. Chlorophyll and nitrogen levels in these grass plants are also likely to be improved.

Abstract: A method of mechanical, electromechanical or video slot play on networked gaming machines is disclosed. The method comprises a base game, a progressive jackpot opportunity and a dual-usage point system. The point system feature allows the player the flexibility to choose to either redeem the points for benefits (i.e., cash, credits, casino player points, free spins, and the like) or save the points as entries into a progressive prize-related lottery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical devices that are inserted or implanted into patients and that have antimicrobial coatings that release free radicals into the vicinity of the device. These devices may have coatings that alter their rate of flow release or elution release of an antibacterial agent from a coating on the device upon external stimulation. The coating should therefore be responsive to external control such as by heating, external RF stimulus, sonic control, visible or ultraviolet light exposure and the like. By having control of the release rate, and in some structures without invasion of the patient by mechanical means in addition to the device itself, the release rate can be in response to need at the implant site. The class of compounds to be released are free radical generating or initiating compounds, or compounds that release free radicals upon immersion or stimulation, the free radicals acting as the antimicrobial agent.