Abstract: A method for enhancing cashless gaming. Preferably, game player is provided with an incentive to redeem winnings on a cashless device. The method preferably includes providing a wagering game to a player, allowing the player to transfer value to the wagering game, recording the amount transferred, allowing the player to make a wager, presenting a game to the player, determining whether the game outcome is a wining or losing outcome, updating the amount recorded, allowing the player to cash-out at least a portion of the recorded value, and triggering an award event if the cash-out is made using a cashless device. In one embodiment, the player is given an award when the value redeemed exceeds a predetermined qualifying amount. Also provided is a system for allowing a player to redeem winnings, including a gaming machine with a processing system, a cashless gaming device, and a cashless device cash-out system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for determining downhole conditions including a time domain reflectometer (172) that is operable to generate a transmission signal and receive a reflected signal. A tubular (192) is positioned downhole in a downhole medium (214, 216, 218, 220, 222) and a waveguide (186), which is in electrical communication with the time domain reflectometer (172), is operably contacting the downhole (214, 216, 218, 220, 222). The waveguide (186) is operable to propagate the transmission signal and operable to propagate the reflected signal that is generated responsive to an electromagnetic property of the downhole medium (214, 216, 218, 220, 222).

Abstract: Cement compositions that include improved lost circulation materials are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, the improved lost circulation materials include inelastic particles of polyethylene, polystyrene, and/or polypropylene. Optionally, the cement compositions also may include additives such as fly ash, a surfactant, a dispersant, a fluid loss control additive, a conventional lost circulation material, an accelerator, a retarder, a salt, a mica, fiber, a formation-conditioning agent, fumed silica, bentonite, expanding additives, microspheres, weighting materials, or a defoamer.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling and limiting the amount of time that a television, computer game, or other electrical appliance can be utilized. The apparatus is inserted in the electrical cord leading to the electrical appliance and is programmable to limit the amount of time that electricity flows through the electrical cord tot he electrical appliance. The plug end of the electrical cord of the appliance is locked into the apparatus to prevent the electrical appliance from being unplugged from the apparatus and plugged into an electrical wall outlet.

Abstract: This invention is generally directed towards a system designed to assist the rig operator by alerting him/her that the air pressure is too low to be using the drum clutch, to provide a log for studies on rig operation technique, and to provide a training tool for rig operators. If the pressure on the clutch bladder is above a predetermined range, the clutch is allowed to engage. If the signal is below the range, the clutch is assumed to have not been engaged. If the signal is within the range, the clutch is not allowed to engage and the rig operator is notified of the problem.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) is provided. The automated banking machine may include a fascia (50) in operative connection with a frame (110). The machine may include a plurality of hardware devices which are accessible through the fascia. The hardware devices may include a cash dispenser (24), receipt printer (20), and a card reader (22). The fascia may include replaceable bezels (550,552) with apertures therein for providing access to hardware devices. The bezels may be operative to float with respect to the fascia and hardware devices to automatically align hardware devices with the bezels. In addition the hardware devices may include movable portions which are operative to automatically align with the bezels. The bezels may include ramps, ribs, or other angled surfaces which guide the hardware devices into alignment with the openings in the bezels.

Abstract: A remote monitoring system which enables the owner and the custodian of a facility to recognize an intrusion from the outside and the owner himself to confirm the details of the intrusion, and which comprises a monitor device (11) for detecting abnormalities of facility and photographing them, and a control server (24) for receiving information from the monitor device (11) to transmit it to mobile terminals (28). The control server 24 (24) comprises an image DB (48) for storing received images in conjunction with the monitor device, a customer/facility specifying unit (44) in the monitor device for specifying mobile terminals carried by customers, and a message preparing unit for preparing messages to be notified to mobile terminals, thereby transmitting messages and contents to mobile terminal (28).

Abstract: A database search system includes a database of search terms, each search term associated with a bid amount payable by an advertiser of a plurality of advertisers and a search engine responsive to search queries from searchers for searching the database. A flight management agent is responsive to advertiser-specified parameters for adjusting bid amounts of search listings to manage expenditures over a time interval.

Abstract: A beverage container for a carbonated beverage includes a floating hollow insert (1) comprising an upper moulding (2) and a lower moulding (3) defining a chamber for containing gas, a first one-way duck-bill type valve (4) integrally formed with the upper moulding (2) at the bottom of a down pipe (6) and arranged to allow gas to enter the chamber and a second duckbill valve (5) integrally formed with the lower moulding (3) and arranged to allow gas to exit the chamber and be jetted into the beverage upon opening the beverage container.

Abstract: The invention relates to enhancing the conductivity of fractures in a subterranean formation so as to enhance fluid flow therethrough. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising: providing a proppant matrix composition, the proppant matrix composition comprising at least a plurality of proppant particulates and at least a plurality of composite particles, the composite particles comprising a degradable material and a filler material; introducing the proppant matrix composition to the fracture so as to form a proppant matrix in the fracture; and allowing the degradable material of the composite particles to degrade so as to form at least one void in the proppant matrix.

Abstract: Processes for removing oil from a solid wellbore material such as drill cuttings or water such as produced by a subterranean formation include contacting the solid material/water with an amino-substituted polymer such as chitosan and a halogenating agent. The oil separates from the solid material and becomes bound within a flocculated solid. The flocculated solid containing the oil subsequently may be combined with a solvent of the amino-substituted polymer. Further, the flocculated solid may be contacted with a reducing agent, converting the flocculated solid back into the amino-substitute polymer and forming an oil-phase separate from the solvent-phase. The oil-phase may then be separated from the solvent phase and recovered. The solvent in which the amino-substituted polymer is dissolved may be recycled for treating more solid material removed from the well bore.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for diagnosing foot-and-mouth disease virus infection, comprising the steps of applying a predetermined amount of a test sample to a loading region of a strip; coupling a detection reagent including a given labeling reagent to an analyte of interest in the test sample to form a complex therebetween; developing the complex onto a wicking membrane; and observing changes in appearance of a reactivity zone having at least more than one immobilized phase selected from antigen, antibody or hapten on the predetermined region of the wicking membrane, derived from FMDV or obtainable from FMDV through an immunological reaction to determine the presence or absence of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon industry servicing fluid comprises an irradiated fluid that is biologically inert. The fluid may be irradiated with ultraviolet light. A method comprises performing a hydrocarbon industry service operation with an irradiated fluid that is biologically inert. The method may comprise disposing of the irradiated fluid to the environment or capturing the irradiated fluid when the service operation is complete. The method may further comprise re-irradiating the captured irradiated fluid to produce a remediated fluid, and performing a service operation with the remediated fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively enabling power including a power supply, and a device having a controller and an input activated by a user. The controller is selectively powered by the power supply. While the device is in a sleep state, a sensing circuit senses activation of the input by the user and enables the power supply to provide power to the controller in response to the sensed activation of the input by the user. A latch circuit causes the power supply to continue to provide power to the controller. The controller is responsive to the sensed activation of the input by the user for enabling the latch circuit and for disabling the latch circuit, thereby reentering the device into a sleep state.

Abstract: A display device comprising a plurality of prize balls, a ball holder adapted to hold the balls in an individually controlled manner, a controller adapted to select a prize ball, a display mechanism adapted to display the selected prize ball to the player; and a positioning mechanism in communication with the controller adapted to position the selected prize ball relative to the display mechanism. The display device may be combined with a jumbled ball display wherein the balls displayed by the display device appear to originate from the jumbled ball display. The display device may also be combined with a game apparatus that is adapted to allow players to play a game. In this embodiment, the display device may provide a bonus award for the player. Several games are also provided that may be used with the display device. In an alternative embodiment, the jumbled ball display is replaced with a video display device that displays the balls in video form.

Abstract: A device is provided including a processor and a display configured to list more than one presence enabled contact. A user agent is configured to indicate an availability status of the device to a presence server. The user agent is at least partially executed by the processor. Moreover, at least one input is configured to enable a device user to request a communications session with at least one of the plurality of presence enabled contacts. The request is initiated by the user agent when the requested presence enabled contact is available.

Abstract: New styles of hepatitis C virus (HCV), referred to as HCV-3 and HCV-4, have been identified and sequenced. Antigenic regions of HCV-2, HCV-3 and HCV-4 polypeptides have been identified. Immunoassays for HCV and antibodies thereto are described, which allow more complete screening of blood samples for HCV, and allow HCV genotyping.

Abstract: A method comprises rendering a hydrocarbon industry servicing fluid biologically inert without using chemical biocides. One method of rendering a hydrocarbon industry servicing fluid biologically inert comprises irradiating at least one constituent of the servicing fluid to produce an irradiated fluid. Another method comprises irradiating a used hydrocarbon industry servicing fluid to produce a remediated fluid that is biologically inert. A fluid treatment system comprises an irradiation apparatus, inlet piping directing an untreated fluid into the irradiation apparatus, outlet piping directing an irradiated fluid out of the irradiation apparatus, and a connection to a hydrocarbon industry application.

Abstract: A zero liquid discharge (ZLD) power plant (20) includes an advanced oxidation system (72) for reducing contaminants in source water (70) to form feed water (40) for a boiler (24). The system (72) includes an ozonation module (86) for applying high concentration ozone to the source water (70) to form a mixed stream (104), an ozone reactor (92) in which the mixed stream is retained (104) under pressure, an ultraviolet reactor (98) downstream from the ozone reactor (92) for enhanced contaminant reduction, and a retention tank (103) downstream from the reactor (98). In one configuration, the source water (70) is evaporator distillate from an evaporator (52) that recycles cooling tower blowdown 30. The system (72) achieves organic contaminant reduction at total organic carbon (TOC) levels of less than three hundred parts per billion.

Abstract: An approach is provided for remote workflow management. The workflow repository, management and monitoring is performed from a remote facility while the resources that are required to execute the workflow may be in a completely different network. The resources of a subscriber network are identified. The identified resources are registered within a repository, wherein the repository is maintained by a service provider. The repository is configured to store rules for allocating the identified resources according to the defined business process flow. The allocated resources are applied to a workflow.