Abstract: Methods and systems to control loads coupled to an electric energy or power grid within corresponding ranges of load values in response to one or more factors, such as to manage variability in production of renewable energy. Loads may be controlled in response to an indication of balance between available power and loads and/or in response to new loads and/or grid disconnections, and may be controlled repeatedly over time to adjust a sum load in response to changes in one or more of balance between available power and loads, new loads, and grid disconnections. A load may be repeatedly adjusted over time to provide an electrical power requirement within a time frame while accommodating at least a portion of variations in the balance between available electric power and load.

Abstract: A dice shaker for randomly changing the positional state of dice including a sealable cylindrical body member constructed of a rigid and transparent material and defining an inner chamber for securely storing the dice therein, a sleeve defining a tube dimensioned for receiving the cylindrical body member therein and constructed of an non-transparent material, and a padding adhered to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cylindrical body member, wherein the pad is constructed of a resilient material having sound-reducing qualities.

Abstract: Non-transitive gaming elements, including a first, a second and a third one or more gaming elements, respectively, wherein the second provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the first, the third provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the second and the first provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the third, and wherein each of the three respective advantages are all less than 3 percent and each advantage does not differ from the mean of the three advantages by more than 20 percent.

Abstract: Non-transitive gaming elements, including a first, a second and a third one or more gaming elements, respectively, wherein the second provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the first, the third provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the second and the first provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the third, and wherein each of the three respective advantages are all less than 3 percent and each advantage does not differ from the mean of the three advantages by more than 20 percent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-transitive casino game which utilizes a group of non-transitive gaming devices, One embodiment uses dice. Accordingly, each pair of dice has advantage over one other pair of non-transitive dice in the group. Each pair of dice has a different color to allow a banker or dealer to identify the hierarchy of the dice. In a table game version, a player first selects one pair of non-transitive dice from a group of non-transitive dice. A dealer then selects one of the remaining pair of the non-transitive dice. The dealer's selection ensures the dealer dice have a better than fifty percent advantage over the player-selected dice, neglecting any ties. A game comprises the player rolling the player-selected dice and the dealer rolling the dealer selected dice three successive times. Each of the player roll outcomes are compared to the corresponding dealer roll outcomes. Players are able to wager on either the player or dealer, and on a number of ties and other related outcomes.

Abstract: Methods and systems to control loads coupled to an electric energy or power grid within corresponding ranges of load values in response to one or more factors, such as to manage variability in production of renewable energy. Loads may be controlled in response to an indication of balance between available power and loads and/or in response to new loads and/or grid disconnections, and may be controlled repeatedly over time to adjust a sum load in response to changes in one or more of balance between available power and loads, new loads, and grid disconnections. A load may be repeatedly adjusted over time to provide an electrical power requirement within a time frame while accommodating at least a portion of variations in the balance between available electric power and load.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-transitive casino game which utilizes a group of non-transitive gaming devices, One embodiment uses dice. Accordingly, each pair of dice has advantage over one other pair of non-transitive dice in the group. Each pair of dice has a different color to allow a banker or dealer to identify the hierarchy of the dice. In a table game version, a player first selects one pair of non-transitive dice from a group of non-transitive dice. A dealer then selects one of the remaining pair of the non-transitive dice. The dealer's selection ensures the dealer dice have a better than fifty percent advantage over the player-selected dice, neglecting any ties. A game comprises the player rolling the player-selected dice and the dealer rolling the dealer selected dice three successive times. Each of the player roll outcomes are compared to the corresponding dealer roll outcomes. Players are able to wager on either the player or dealer, and on a number of ties and other related outcomes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing system can receive data from at least two ultrasonic transducers and process the data in parallel to each other. The testing system can compress the data by a fixed ratio by storing the value of the sample having the highest-amplitude out of a group of samples. The testing system can also provide threshold-based run-length encoding by compressing data by only storing samples which exceed a user-defined threshold value as well as a user-defined range of samples surrounding said samples. The ultrasonic testing system also provides a hardware gate for storing a peak amplitude and associated time-of-flight for a user-defined interval and a gate for storing the time-of-flight for the first excursion of the data through a user-defined threshold and interval. The operation of these gates or the storage of waveform data may be delayed by a constant delay or until the data exceeds a user-selectable threshold during a user-selectable time interval.

Abstract: Traditional techniques such as filtering and edge enhancement have been applied to restoring images that have been distorted due to lossy image compression. However, these techniques have ignored a unique feature that can be exploited when working with digital compression. Before the image is stored or transmitted, the sender has access to both the original and the distorted images, enabling the encoder to transmit information specifying the regions where the enhancement was successful. To utilize this feature, before storage or transmission the sender produces a codec file, and assesses the efficacy of one or more enhancement schemes. To determine which image regions have been improved by the enhancement, the enhanced codec is compared to the original. A map of where the enhancement scheme was successful is encoded into the image by making tiny adjustments to the image itself.

Abstract: A hand-held jeweler's vacuum comprises an elongated vacuum member with an opening at one end, motor drive means located at the other end and an aperture in the bottom of the elongated member. A detachable box member is mounted beneath the aperture to receive stones and metal pieces. Internally, a mesh filter and a vacuum filter are positioned in the intake path at approximately a 45 degree angle to the air flow and a pre-determined distance apart. In operation, the vacuum picks up metal and stones which are stopped by the mesh filter and the vacuum filter from proceeding through the vacuum filter and the stones and metals fall into the box. The stones and metals can the be removed while other particles are collected in the storage space beyond the filters. The invention permits the salvage of small stones and precious metals which otherwise would be lost during the manufacturing process.