Abstract: Described is an N-terminal hexapeptide fragment of maximakinin, QUB 698.8, which exhibits potent tissue selective actions on smooth muscle. It demonstrates a high degree of selectivity for arterial smooth muscle over small intestinal smooth muscle, causing potent relaxation of arterial smooth muscle, while causing less potent contraction of ileal smooth muscle. It may be used treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system and in promotion of angiogenesis.

Abstract: A brokered information sharing system including a primary broker configured with software to store cards of a principal, to transmit the cards when requested by the principal, to authenticate the principal, and to provide a master authentication of the principal to at least one issuing party. A selector is used by the principal and is configured with software to provide authentication of the principal to the primary broker, and to request and receive cards from the primary broker.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a request for authorization to enter a physical space over a payment processing network that processes financial transactions. The financial transactions are transmitted between an acquirer institution and an issuing institution via the payment processing network. A response is received, granting or denying authorization to enter the physical space from the payment processing network.

Abstract: A regenerative adsorption gas dryer has a wet gas inlet, first and second drying towers, and a dried gas outlet. The inlet, towers and outlet are arranged such that, in use, a flow of purge gas regenerates an off-stream one of the towers, while a stream of wet gas from the wet gas inlet enters an on-stream one of the towers to exit that tower as a stream of dried gas which then continues to the dried gas outlet. The roles of the off-stream and on-stream towers are reversible. The dryer further has a first check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the first drying tower and the dried gas outlet, and a second check valve for controlling a stream of dried gas between the second drying tower and the dried gas outlet.

Abstract: A method of producing a filter unit, such as an air/oil separator, having a tubular filter element bonded at one end to an end cap, is proposed. The method includes the steps of: providing a tubular filter element and an end cap; melting a portion of the end cap; and embedding an end of the filter element into the melted portion of the end cap. The melted portion, on cooling, solidifies to bond the tubular filter element to the end cap. The end cap can be formed of thermoplastic containing an electrically conductive filler. The end cap can be formed of a thermoplastic having a melting point of at least 180 C. The method may further include, after the embedding step, a step of forcing melted thermoplastic from the melted portion radially against a side wall of the tubular filter element.

Abstract: A method for preparing carpet by using polyurethane to anneal secondary backing to a greige, comprising fibers attached to a primary backing. The polyurethane monomers are mixed just prior to application to the greige primary backing allowing the relatively low viscosity polyurethane to penetrate the fibers of the primary backing to aid in fiber lock. The polyurethane is puddle between two rollers that coat a layer of polyurethane onto the greige. The polyurethane coated greige is then contacted with the secondary backing before complete polymerization to insure sufficient tack to hold the backings together resulting in a durable carpet requiring a relatively low weight of polyurethane monomers.

Abstract: Described are specific binding members e.g. antibodies which may be used in the treatment of diseases associated with cathepsin S activity. The specific binding members bind cathepsin S and inhibit its proteolytic activity. The binding members may be used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases associated with excessive, deregulated or inappropriate angiogenesis.

Abstract: A transmitter and method for determining impedance measurement in an active radio frequency transmitter of an antenna are provided. Voltage and current samples are obtained from a modulating signal delivered to an antenna. The voltage and current samples are converted from analog to digital format, and decimation occurs to reduce the number of samples. Complex demodulation is performed of each of the voltage and current samples to baseband levels and decimation of the voltage and current samples is performed to reduce the number of samples. An impedance estimate can then be estimated from the voltage and current samples.

Abstract: Described are specific binding members e.g. antibodies which may be used in the treatment of diseases associated with cathepsin S activity. The specific binding members binds cathepsin S and inhibits its proteolytic activity. The binding members may be used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune disorders, and other diseases associated with excessive, deregulated or inappropriate angiogenesis.

Abstract: A video at a host is authenticated using a watermark in the video, wherein the watermark includes metadata related to the video, wherein authenticating the video includes comparing metadata in the watermark to unwatermarked metadata attached to the video. Watermarked host-related information is added to the video by the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of myocardial infarction. In particular the invention relates to the treatment of myocardial infarction using inhibitors of a particular enzyme involved in glucocorticoid metabolism.

Abstract: An apparatus to protect areas adjacent a toilet bowl when training young children to go to the potty by themselves. Such apparatus includes a generally cylindrically shaped member to be positioned above and in engagement with a top portion of one of a toilet bowl and a toilet bowl seat. There is a generally C-shaped member formed integrally with and extending upwardly from the generally cylindrically shaped member while leaving a front portion open for a child to stand against and in front of such toilet bowl and a mechanism is provided which is one of engageable with and secured to a portion of at least one of such generally cylindrically shaped member and such generally C-shaped member for preventing the apparatus from shifting during use.

Abstract: A method for managing information and rendering discounts in a billing system utilizes a rule-based engine. Customer records are processed with a rule-based accumulation engine to accumulate the data in a plurality of predetermined target accumulators. A plurality of target accumulators are processed with a rule-based discount engine to render discounts applicable to the customer.

Abstract: A system and method of creating trace information of an application. Trace data of the application is stored in a trace heap. Processing of stored trace data including a hard-coded string is deferred.

Abstract: Pausing a graphic processing operation in order to continue processing a thread on a different desktop. When a graphic processing unit (GPU) is lost when a screen saver desktop is activated, the buffer containing the video frame that is currently being processed is discarded and a device is attempted to be created on the screen saver desktop which enables continued graphic processing.

Abstract: Video editing and video playback utilizing a render-ahead queue for storing rendered video frames. The render-ahead queue facilitates the smooth playback of video in forward and reverse timeline direction, avoiding video glitches that occur when video frames are rendered at a rate that is less than the timeline rate of the video file. Embodiments of the present invention also include the use of a graphics processing unit in conjunction with the render-ahead queue to further ensure smooth playback of video.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated light emitting diode display is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes the step of biologically forming a pn junction over a substrate, the pn junction capable of emitting a light having a predetermined color upon the application of energy thereto. In another exemplary embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light emitting diode is provided. The method includes depositing a biological material over the substrate, the biological material having an affinity for a pn junction material, and exposing the deposited biological material to the first pn junction material to form a doped area of a pn junction. In still another exemplary embodiment, a light emitting diode is provided. The light emitting diode includes a substrate and a biologically formed pn junction disposed over the substrate, wherein light having a predetermined color is emitted upon application of energy to the pn junction.

Abstract: A method for clearing and delivering digital rights management (DRM) licenses to websites and IP connected devices is disclosed. The method utilizes one or more Web services to receive one or more license requests from devices connected by IP Networks and generates, clears and delivers licenses containing license keys and rights or rules that govern the use of one or more digital media file or live broadcast. Use of a Web service unifies numerous complex steps and insures proper interface between otherwise potentially incompatible software and hardware modules which may be distributed at various remote locations. License clearing and delivery may then be performed seamlessly and transparently to a virtually unlimited number of devices connected by IP Networks.

Abstract: Providing resiliency to a multimedia application. A list of filters associated with the multimedia application is identified. It is determined if one or more filters of the identified list of filters are suitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters are disabled if the one or more filters are determined to be unsuitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters of the list of filters may also be presented to a user of the multimedia application as a function of suitability of each of the list of filters for the multimedia application. The user is allowed to manage the presented one or more filters.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed for controlling gas flow in a gas dryer such as a twin tower regenerative gas dryer. The device has a housing in which is mounted an electronic control circuit. At least two electrically operated valves (e.g. solenoid valves) for controlling functions of the dryer are provided with plugs or sockets and adapted to co-operate with corresponding sockets or plugs in a wall of the housing electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The valves are mounted on, externally of, the housing and are electrically connected to the control circuit.