Abstract: A method for preparing a kefir product involves providing bacterial strains selected from Acetobacter, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, or Lactobacillus; providing yeast strains selected from Pichia, Saccharomyces, Kazachstania, or Kluyveromyces; adding the bacterial and yeast strains to milk to form a mixture; and allowing the mixture to ferment to yield the kefir product.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and kits directed to a method of assaying a sample to determine the presence of a source of pink discoloration defect of a dairy product, such as cheese. In some embodiments, the method comprises the steps of assaying the sample to detect the presence of a Thermus species of bacteria, such as Thermus thermophilus bacteria, wherein detection of Thermus thermophilus bacteria in the sample indicates that the sample contains a source of pink discoloration of a dairy product.

Abstract: Content such as user interface items provided to a user during a session of an interactive application is personalized. One or more environmental context attribute values for the session are determined. Responsive to a request for content, for at least one item of the content, each of the environmental context attribute values are mapped to respective values indicating a users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values. Content is retrieved from a content database and the content is personalized as a function of the users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values before being returned to the application.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for segmenting a content stream. In use, a content stream associated with an event is identified. Additionally, user generated content associated with the content stream is identified. Further, a timing of one or more key events within the content stream is determined, based on the user generated content. Further still, the one or more key events are identified, based on the user generated content. Also, the content stream is segmented, utilizing the one or more key events and the timing of the one or more key events. In addition, a subset of the user generated content and a subset of the one or more key events is associated with a segment of the content stream. Furthermore, a search index associated with the segment of the content stream is generated, utilizing the subset of the user generated content and the subset of the one or more key events. Further still, a search query is received from a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nisin derivative comprising amino acid substitutions in the peptide sequence encoding the hinge region of the protein, wherein the derivative exhibits an increased anti-microbial activity.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for recommending web content to a user. In one embodiment, a user is directed to a page of a website, the page including links to a plurality of subpages. Additionally, a number of visits by the user directed from the page to each of the subpages are tracked. Further, one of the subpages with a highest number of visits is designated as a new entry page for the user. Moreover, the user is automatically redirected to the new entry page during subsequent visits by the user to the website.

Abstract: A method for detecting click fraud. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: directing a user to an item but delaying the internal ratings update of the item; collecting data to build a model of the user; building the model of the user in response to the collected data; determining the trustworthiness of the user in response to the model of the user; and updating internal ratings of the item in response to the trustworthiness of the user. In various embodiments, the click fraud can be the inflation of advertisement clicks, the inflation of popularity or the inflation of reputation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nisin derivative comprising amino acid substitutions in the peptide sequence encoding the hinge region of the protein, wherein the derivative exhibits an increased anti-microbial activity.

Abstract: A method for personalizing content such as user interface items provided to a user during a session of an interactive application is disclosed. One or more environmental context attribute values for the session are determined. Responsive to a request for content, for at least one item of the content, each of the environmental context attribute values are mapped to respective values indicating a users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values. Content is retrieved from a content database and the content is personalized as a function of the users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values before being returned to the application.

Abstract: A method for personalizing content such as user interface items provided to a user during a session of an interactive application is disclosed. One or more environmental context attribute values for the session are determined. Responsive to a request for content, for at least one item of the content, each of the environmental context attribute values ate mapped to respective values indicating a users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values. Content is retrieved from a content database and the content is personalized as a function of the users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values before being returned to the application.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalization engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.

Abstract: A method for making an online content recommendation. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of data source modules having data; providing a plurality of function modules, each function module adapted to be connected to at least one of the plurality of data source modules and other function modules; receiving a recommendation request; dynamically connecting at least one of the plurality of the data source modules and at least one of the plurality of function modules in response to the recommendation request; and generating the recommendation by using the connected at least one data source module and the at least one function module.

Abstract: A method for detecting click fraud. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: directing a user to an item but delaying the internal ratings update of the item; collecting data to build a model of the user; building the model of the user in response to the collected data; determining the trustworthiness of the user in response to the model of the user; and updating internal ratings of the item in response to the trustworthiness of the user. In various embodiments, the click fraud can be the inflation of advertisement clicks, the inflation of popularity or the inflation of reputation.

Abstract: A method for providing personalized advertisement to a first user. The method includes the steps of: displaying a first advertisement to users; defining segments for a user community preference; assigning each of the users to one of the segments in response to the user's level of interest in the user community preference; identifying a first group of the users interested in the first advertisement; identifying a second group of the users not interested in the first advertisement; determining the percentage of the first group of users assigned to the segment; determining the percentage of the second group of users assigned to the segment; determining whether each segment is an indicator for user interest in the first advertisement by comparing the two percentages associated with the segment; and targeting a second advertisement to users assigned to the segment if the segment is an indicator for user interest in the first advertisement.

Abstract: Proxy service that enables a domain join operation for a client over a non-secure network. The join operation is achieved with minimal security exposure by using machine identity information rather than user credentials. The proxy only uses permission associated with adding a new machine account to the enterprise directory, and not for adding a user account or take ownership of existing accounts. The proxy enables authentication based on actual machine account credentials to obtain a signed certificate, rather than conventional techniques such as delegation. Moreover, the enrollment process employs an original trust relationship between the device and the proxy rather than requiring or depending on public trust.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalization engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.

Abstract: A method for personalizing content such as user interface items provided to a user during a session of an interactive application is disclosed. One or more environmental context attribute values for the session are determined. Responsive to a request for content, for at least one item of the content, each of the environmental context attribute values ate mapped to respective values indicating a users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values. Content is retrieved from a content database and the content is personalized as a function of the users level of interest in the item for the environmental context attribute values before being returned to the application.

Abstract: An internet website which presents a hierarchical menu structure to users includes a personalisation engine 14 to automatically modify the menu structure for each user at least according to that user's previous browsing history at the site. In one embodiment the engine 14 provides, as menu options for a selected menu page of the hierarchical menu, a plurality of the most probable links which the user may wish to reach from the selected menu page. In another embodiment there are provided, as additional menu options for a particular menu page, a plurality of links which are similar, as determined by meeting a predetermined similarity metric, to menu options present on the particular menu page other than through meeting the similarity metric.