Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a stack assembly with a plurality of plates and a plurality of frames arranged in an alternating stacked relationship with the plates along a stack direction. The stack assembly also includes a plurality of foam blocks disposed within the plurality of frames. A first and second fluid flow path extend through the stack assembly, with the first fluid flow path in thermal contact with the second fluid flow path and fluidly isolated from the second fluid flow path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger, particularly an exhaust gas heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing jacket that is open at both ends, and a tube bundle which is inserted into said housing jacket and is penetrated by the hot exhaust gas. The aim of the invention is to produce said heat exchanger in an inexpensive and functionally safe manner. Said aim is achieved by the fact that only the tube bundle with the tube bottoms thereof, which are located on the front side, are made of metal while the housing jacket into which the tube bundle is inserted along with the tube bottoms is made of plastic.

Abstract: The invention is a heat exchanger transferring heat from a small heat source to a moving fluid. The inherent limitation of such a system is that most of the heat transfer to the fluid occurs only in the immediate vicinity of the heat input even though a large surface area heat transfer structure such as fins or small fluid passages is used to enhance the heat transfer within the heat exchanger. The invention adds a heat pipe inside the heat exchanger enclosure and in contact with the heat transfer structure. The heat pipe spreads the incoming heat over a larger part of the surface area of the heat transfer structure and improves the heat transfer to the cooling fluid by furnishing multiple heat transfer locations without adding extra thermal resistance between the heat source and the fluid flow.

Abstract: An adaptive interactive preceptored teaching system for the remote education of a student provides lessons, obtains the student's profile, uses the profile to select one of the lessons to be sent to the student, and sends that lesson to the student. A method for remote care of a diabetic patient involves providing lessons, obtaining the patient's profile, using the profile to select a lesson to be sent to the patient, sending that lesson to the patient, offering the patient information reflecting the patient's health, and offering the patient's healthcare provider information regarding at least one of the patient's study of the lesson, the patient's health, and the patient's medical appointments. Communication can take place via the Internet, and can be effected in a secure manner.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining player's game state (award credits or game pieces) in a gaming environment is disclosed. In particular, the player may restore the game state from previously played games either from the same game device or from another game device. The invention also provides for award redemption of the award credits (or game pieces) earned by a player during game play.

Abstract: An induction heater (14) for use in conjunction with an associated furnace (10) for material processing includes essentially straight induction coil (16, 50) arranged inside the furnace shell (12). The induction coil (16, 50) has an attachment end (32, 54) extending outside of the furnace shell through a first opening (40) therein. A replacement induction coil (54R) is selectively connected with the attachment end (32, 54) of the induction coil (16, 50) and slidably inserted into the furnace shell (12) whereby the essentially straight induction coil (16, 50) is simultaneously slidably pushed out of the furnace shell (12) through a second opening therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a hematoma for encouraging the increased production of hemoglobin. The apparatus for producing a hematoma includes a pressure bell having a wall defining an interior space and a lip extending around a lower periphery of the wall designed for providing a substantially airtight seal against a skin of a user, a housing removably coupled to and in fluid communication with an insertion port of the pressure bell, and a vacuum assembly positioned within the housing for removing air from the interior space of the pressure bell such that a lower pressure area is created within the pressure bell thereby drawing blood to a surface of the skin of the user.

Abstract: A pump includes a cylinder housing having a mouth for a fluid to flow out of the housing and a port for the fluid to flow into the housing, a piston slidably engaged in the housing. A tube is coupled to the piston for allowing the fluid to flow out through the tube when the piston moves away from the mouth. A check valve may block the tube when the piston moves toward the mouth. Another check valve may block the port when the piston moves toward the port. Another housing includes a mouth for coupling and supplying a pressurized fluid to the previous housing.

Abstract: A game machine displays a target on a display plane with four known points. An image sensor with an image plane on which an image of the display plane is formed with the known points included. The game machine calculates an attitude of the image plane relative to the display plane in response to the image of the known points on the image plane. The game machine causes a change in the target depending on the calculated attitude. The game machine calculates the position of a point on the display plane corresponding to a predetermined position on the image plane in response to the image of the known points on the image plane. The game machine compares the position of the target point with the calculated position to cause a change in the image of the target point on the display plane in response to the comparison.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a coding competition. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coding competition includes transmitting a coding problem to contestants, receiving computer code created by a contestant, determining a response of the computer code to test data, and evaluating the response of the computer code to the test data. In another embodiment, a method for evaluating a skill level of a contestant includes electronically communicating a coding problem to contestants, electronically receiving a software program in response to the coding problem from one of the contestants, evaluating the received software program, awarding points to the contestant based on the received software program, and determining a rating for the contestant for the competition based on the number of points awarded to the contestant.

Abstract: When users simultaneously play the same game with interconnected game machines, processing delays would conventionally cause inconsistencies in game content between different game machines. To solve this problem, the game machines are not synchronized with one another, but each game machine outputs operation key status data representing the state of a set of number of operation controls to the other game machines in accordance with predetermined data communication timing. A received FIFO data buffer in each game machine, sequentially stores operation key status data received from the other game machines. Only valid operation control status data is transferred to an operation data buffer for use in game processing. Inconsistencies in game content between different game machines are prevented through software-based synchronization which does not require hardware-based synchronization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer product to evaluate a user's learning style. The user is presented with a series of interactive assessment exercises, wherein each exercise contains one or more clues, a number of correct cards, and a number of incorrect cards. The user's responses, which include the types and number of moves made, the time it takes to select another card, and the like are received, recorded, or captured. Based on the user's responses, the responses are evaluated and used in a learning style formula to determine the learning style of a user. The invention also provides for a method, system, and computer product that evaluate a user's comprehension of a certain topic or subject matter. The user is presented with an interactive assessment exercise, wherein such exercise contains one or more clues, a number of correct cards, and a number of incorrect cards.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical device used to prevent the cross contamination of patients or injectors.

Abstract: An essay is analyzed automatically by accepting the essay and determining whether each of a predetermined set of features is present or absent in each sentence of the essay. For each sentence in the essay a probability that the sentence is a member of a certain discourse element category is calculated. The probability is based on the determinations of whether each feature in the set of features is present or absent. Furthermore, based on the calculated probabilities, a sentence is chosen as the choice for the discourse element category.

Abstract: In an embodiment as a video gaming machine, a racetrack and a plurality of racers in the form of racecars are generated. The program driving the game includes a function for randomly assigning a finishing position for racers at the end of a race. A racecar is selected, as by player input, as the player's racer. The player inputs a wager, with the wager further preferably requiring an input by the player as to a number of races desired to be completed up to a preset maximum number for the game. The player can thus choose to bet upon all stages (races or laps) potentially available, or some lesser consecutive number of races. The first race is initiated, with the racecars being randomly assigned finishing positions. In this embodiment, there is the elimination of at least one racer as a result of a predetermined threshold finishing position required at the end of a race; that position could be anything other than last, for instance.

Abstract: A game machine comprises shift and display means for shifting and displaying a plurality of rows each having a plurality of symbol marks thereon; prize winning state determining means for determining a prize winning state based on random number lottery; stop control means for controlling the stop of the shift and display means to have a predetermined set of symbol marks shifted and displayed on the basis of the prize winning state determined by the prize winning state determining means; notifying means for notifying a game player of notifying information in notifying states including a current notifying state and subsequent notifying states following the current notifying state, while the game player is enjoying games including a current game and subsequent games following the current game; and subsequent notifying state determining means for determining and selecting in advance the subsequent notifying states on the basis of the current notifying state.

Abstract: A system and method provides an interactive puzzle to a user and scores the attempted solutions to the puzzle. Portions of a representation of a puzzle object are successively provided to a user over time and a user is allowed to attempt to solve the puzzle by guessing the puzzle object. If the attempt succeeds, a score is provided that is higher the faster the solution is reached. If the attempt fails, the user may make other attempts until a short time after the entire puzzle has been provided, at which time a minimum score is assigned. Another puzzle is provided after a different puzzle is scored. Points for a user are cumulated and may be redeemed for cash, discounts or other prizes, either upon request or automatically on or near a predetermined date.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

Abstract: To increase a feeling of competitiveness between players of a music-oriented game. Based on evaluation of performance of the first and second players on their steps, the number of times step guidance is presented is varied. Specifically, while reference arrows 46, 48 are displayed, a plurality of timing guidance arrows 50, 62 approaching the reference arrows 46, 48 are also displayed on a game screen image 40, whereby a state of step timing gradually arriving is shown to the player. In addition, the number of timing guidance arrows 50 62, namely the number of times step guidance is presented to each player, is changed based on the result of evaluation on steps by each player.

Abstract: The present invention includes a gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device. The gaming device of the present invention includes: (i) a central game in which a player picks at least one masked central game outcome, including a transfer; (ii) at least one peripheral game that begins after the player's pick of the transfer, wherein the player picks at least one masked peripheral game outcome, including a return; (iii) whereby the game enables the player to return to the central game and pick at least one more masked central game outcome after the player picks the return in the peripheral game.