Abstract: Input messages are received at respective ports (10, 11, 12) of a message controller 4 from a plurality of external devices (100, 110, 120) which use different protocols. When an incoming message arrives at an input port a message object is created, the message object including a label identifying the respective input port. The conversion and subsequent handling of the messages uses program data which is retrieved from a program data store (5) according to the label indicating the input port. The program data retrieved is thus specified by the input port and allows conversion of messages into a common protocol to allow subsequent processing of the messages. This architecture allows the same program data to be called for external devices using the same protocol. Other processes may also be called from the program data store, covering functions such as validation, data enrichment, and exception handling processes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating carbohydrate metabolism in a host are provided. In the subject methods, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity (specifically DGAT1 activity) is modulated, e.g., reduced or enhanced, to achieve a desired insulin and/or leptin sensitivity, thereby modulating carbohydrate metabolism, e.g., increasing or decreasing blood glucose levels, glucose uptake into cells and assimilation into glycogen. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of applications, including the treatment of hosts suffering conditions associated with abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, such as obesity or diabetes.

Abstract: A system and method for accepting a recipient identifier, wherein the recipient identifier can be used to identify an electronic mail (email) recipient; generating a petition based on the recipient identifier and at least one petition rule, wherein the at least one petition rule includes at least one of: 1) a sender identification method; and 2) a recipient; and wherein the petition can be used by a email provider to allow a recipient to receive email from a sender.

Abstract: A system and method for permitting a sender to provide electronic mail (email) to a recipient, said method comprising providing a recipient email address to the sender; requesting of the recipient that the sender be allowed to send email to the recipient; determining whether the request is acceptable based on at least one of: 1) a sender identity verification method; 2) user input; and 3) third party information; adding the sender to an email access list if the request is acceptable; and wherein the email access is used to determine whether or not email from the sender is permitted to reach the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for accepting a recipient identifier, wherein the recipient identifier can be used to identify an electronic mail (email) recipient; generating a petition based on the recipient identifier and at least one petition rule, wherein the at least one petition rule includes at least one of: 1) a sender identification method; and 2) a recipient; and wherein the petition can be used by a email provider to allow a recipient to receive email from a sender.

Abstract: A system and method for governing the delivery rate of electronic mail (email) messages, said method comprising providing for the delivery of email messages, controlling the rate of the delivery based on delivery efficiency and a target delivery rate, and wherein the delivery efficiency is based on the performance of a plurality of mail transfer agents (MTAs) that are capable of delivering email simultaneously.

Abstract: A rotating field mass spectrometer includes an ionizing structure having a pair of conductive electrodes located closer to one another than the mean free path of the gas being ionized, and a rotating field mass spectrometer part for analyzing ions produced by the ionizing structure. The membrane may include a supporting portion, and a relatively thin non-supporting portion where the ions are formed.

Abstract: A method for quantitating cellular proteins in tissue, by means of a cell imaging densitometer in conjunction with immunohistological staining and a reference standard, is provided. Unlike prior art methods, which provide ordinal measures of relative amounts of protein among different cells, the method enables the quantitation of antigenic proteins in terms of absolute mass of protein/tumor or protein/patient, molecules of protein per cell, and volume or fraction of a tissue sample expressing the protein of interest. The method is useful for research purposes in the study of protein expression, and is shown to improve the accuracy of clinical histopathological analysis of tumor tissue sections for diagnosis and prognosis. The method is expected to be useful for prescribing in situ treatment dosages.

Abstract: A system and method for permitting a sender to provide electronic mail (email) to a recipient, said method comprising providing a recipient email address to the sender; requesting of the recipient that the sender be allowed to send email to the recipient; determining whether the request is acceptable based on at least one of: 1) a sender identity verification method; 2) user input; and 3) third party information; adding the sender to an email access list if the request is acceptable; and wherein the email access is used to determine whether or not email from the sender is permitted to reach the recipient.

Abstract: A rotating field mass spectrometer includes an ionizing structure having a pair of conductive electrodes located closer to one another than the mean free path of the gas being ionized, and a rotating field mass spectrometer part for analyzing ions produced by the ionizing structure. The membrane may include a supporting portion, and a relatively thin non-supporting portion where the ions are formed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating sebaceous gland activity in a host are provided. In the subject methods, DGAT1 activity is modified, e.g., reduced or enhanced, to achieve the desired sebaceous gland activity modulation, e.g., reduction in sebum production and/or sebaceous gland size. Also provided are pharmaceutical preparations for use in practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of applications, including the treatment of hosts suffering from sebaceous gland related conditions, e.g., acne and related conditions.

Abstract: A field ionizing element formed of a membrane that houses electrodes therein that are located closer to one another than the mean free path of the gas being ionized. The membrane includes a supporting portion, and a non supporting portion where the ions are formed. The membrane may be used as the front end for a number of different applications including a mass spectrometer, a rotating field mass spectrometer, a thruster, an ion mobility element, or an electrochemical device such as a fuel cell.

Abstract: A fluid flow management system for enhancing cooling of a circuit pack. The system includes a bar extending transverse to the direction of fluid flow. The bar breaks up the otherwise laminar flow into a turbulent flow.

Abstract: High volume electronic mail messaging transfer systems and methods employ several groups of servers in order to more efficiently handle processing and transmission of messages to large numbers of recipients. A first group of servers designated as the A servers in the preferred exemplary embodiment provide storage for databases containing various electronic mail lists. These servers also preferably contain the majority of software which is used in manipulation and processing of messages for transmission to the recipients identified on the lists. A second class or group of servers referred to as the B servers is preferably employed under the control of the A servers. It is the B servers which actually perform mass delivery of the electronic mail messages. In a further preferred exemplary embodiment, yet another group of servers known as the C servers is used to collect bounced electronic mail messages and to provide this information to the A servers.

Abstract: A rotatable latch is provided for securing an object to a holder and for preventing unintended removal of the object. In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable latch has at least two actuators flexibly mounted to a body. Each actuator has a hooked portion which engages a portion of the holder. A lever portion may be provided for releasing the hooked portion. The hooked portion is rotated about a pivot point to release the object from the holder. Rotation occurs when actuators are released through use of at least two lever portions. To prevent accidental removal of the object, the second actuator cannot be released until the first actuator has been released. The latch requires at least two actions, pressing the levers in succession, to release the object. The invention is applicable, for example, to circuit packs for electronic circuit boards.

Abstract: A fuse for interfacing electrical current with electronic components and for shielding the electronic components from potentially damaging electrostatic discharge. The fuse includes a fuse body having an edge and first and second electrical contacts. A fuse indicator is connected to one electrical contact and a fuse element extends between the indicator and the other contact for providing a conduit for operating current to reach the interfaced electronic components. A window is disposed on the edge of the fuse body and positioned over the fuse indicator. Sealant is disposed between the window edge and the fuse body edge to prevent the accumulation of air therebetween and, thereby, preventing such accumulated air from functioning as a transmission medium through which an electrostatic discharge can travel and reach the electronic components.

Abstract: The shaft monitoring device for monitoring the rotation of a shaft about a longitudinal axis is comprised of an encoder, a stationary housing, and a shaft-engaging member rotatably attached to the stationary housing. The encoder has a target and a proximity sensor located within the housing. The housing is mounted to a stationary object such as a block-type bearing supporting one end of the rotating shaft to be monitored. A first end of the shaft-engaging member is placed against the shaft. The first end firmly engages the rotating shaft, thereby allowing the shaft-engaging member to rotate in unison with the rotating shaft. As the shaft rotates, the target attached to a second end of the shaft-engaging member also rotates in unison. As the target passes over the end of the proximity sensor, the sensor reads the presence of the target and closes a switch. Each time the switch is closed, a pulse is generated.

Abstract: A harmonic and subharmonic filter is coupled between a high power RF energy source and a non-linear RF load via a matching network, such as a plasma chamber. The filter passes high power RF energy in a band centered on a predetermined radio frequency, i.e., 13.56 MHz, but blocks and attenuates out-of-band energy at frequencies which are multiples of or fractions of the predetermined frequency. The harmonic and subharmonic filter comprises an input terminal, an output terminal, a series LC resonance path connected between the input and output terminals, and tuned to the predetermined radio frequency, a series resistive path formed of first and second resistors, and a parallel LC resonance path between the junction of the two resistors and ground.

Abstract: The present invention achieves constant voltage at radio frequencies to drive a constant voltage to constant current converter, by employing a tightly coupled d.c. feedback loop to control the voltage via a transformer to the drain of a FET operated as a Class C amplifier in the saturated mode whereby among other advantages, the amplifier can withstand, without damage, very high VSWRs. Control is affected by a high gain differential amplifier which compares a d.c. voltage derived from the r.f. output of the system against a highly stable d.c. voltage reference. A controller, responding to the output of the differential amplifier causes a first level of voltage to be applied to the drain of the FET when the system is not loaded and causes a second voltage varying between said first level and a higher level when the system is loaded.