Abstract: There is disclosed a peptide with mucolytic activity, The peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 60% sequence identity to the amino add sequence defined in SEQ ID NO: 1, but does not consist of the amino sequence defined in SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a variety of different integrated, multi-tiered methods and systems for preventing various types of attacks on computer systems, including denial-of-service attacks and SYN-flood attacks. Components of these integrated methods and systems include probabilistic packet droppers, packet-rate throttles, resource controls, automated firewalls, and efficient connection-state-information storage in memory resources and connection-state-information distribution in order to prevent draining of sufficient communications-related resources within a computer system to seriously degrade or disable electronics communications components within the computer system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a variety of different integrated, multi-tiered methods and systems for preventing various types of attacks on computer systems, including denial-of-service attacks and SYN-flood attacks. Components of these integrated methods and systems include probabilistic packet droppers, packet-rate throttles, resource controls, automated firewalls, and efficient connection-state-information storage in memory resources and connection-state-information distribution in order to prevent draining of sufficient communications-related resources within a computer system to seriously degrade or disable electronics communications components within the computer system.

Abstract: Nonlinear adaptive resource management systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a controller identifies and prevents resource starvation in resource-limited systems. To function correctly, system processes require resources that can be exhausted when under high load conditions. If the load conditions continue a complete system failure may occur. Controllers functioning in accordance with embodiments of the present invention avoid these failures by distribution shaping that completely avoids undesirable states. According to one embodiment, a Markov Birth/Death Chain model of the resource usage is built based on the structure of the system, with the number of states determined by the amount of resources, and the transition probabilities by the instantaneous rates of observed consumption and release.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shredded food products, such as cheese, is disclosed. The method and apparatus permits the production of cheese shreds to be accomplished in a unified operation wherein a sheet of cheese is produced and that sheet of cheese is cut to desired dimensions directly from the casting line. An arrangement of the invention may comprise a sheet former, a casting line, and a shredding assembly, all of which function as a single unit. The shredding assembly, itself a unique arrangement, first slices the incoming sheet of cheese into ribbons, and then cuts each of these ribbons to length. The sheet of cheese may be sliced into ribbons by passing the cheese through a pair of rollers having grooves or slots machined into their surfaces, the width of the slots corresponding to the desired width of the cheese ribbons. The cheese ribbons are presented to a plurality of transversely mounted elongate blades, each of which revolves about a common axis.