Abstract: Topical administration of a generator of H2S in biological tissues for the treatment of eye disorders, such as glaucoma. NaHS caused a time-dependent decrease in intraocular pressure in normotensive, conscious albino rabbits indicating a similar role for H2S in the regulation of aqueous humor dynamics in animals and humans. H2S donors, NaHS and Na2S, inhibited field-stimulated [3H]NE release from porcine isolated iris-ciliary bodies and produced relaxation of pre-contracted iris muscle strips indicating a pharmacological role for H2S in the anterior uvea. The observation that donors of H2S can alter sympathetic neurotransmission and induce an inhibitory action on iris smooth muscle suggests that this gas has the potential to influence several physiological/pathological processes in the eye. The ability of NaHS or Na2S to inhibit [3H]NE release mimics the well-established action some antiglaucoma drugs (e.g.

Abstract: A method and system implementing a variable pricing structure that applies to goods and services available from a vendor, and rewards customers who spend more is described. Customers can select a combination of the offered goods and services offered by a vendor, rather than choosing from among a few, pre-bundled packages. A progressive discount is employed in the determination of the price of the combination, such that increasing the number of goods or services, or increasing the level of service, results in greater discounts. The offering price of this combination is conveyed to the customer, and opportunities to make changes to the selected combination are provided. The opportunity to initiate the purchase of the selected combination is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for an automated departure strategy from an automated system includes a track engine and an error engine. The track engine allows for the tracking and storing of one or more utterances spoken by a caller in response to one or more prompts. In addition, the track engine classifies each of the utterances with a confidence level. The error engine determines when one of the utterances initiates an error condition and transfers the caller to an operator on the occurrence of the error condition. In addition to transferring the caller to the operator, the error engine plays to the operator an error utterance, causing the error condition, and a preceding utterance, preceding the error utterance. Furthermore, the error engine populates an operator screen with information provided by the caller in the utterances for utterances classified with a high level of confidence.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for facilitating communication. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving first communication data from a communications device and creating an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the first communication data. Some embodiments include determining whether second communication data has been received for the communications device and in response to determining that data has been received for the communications device, combining the second communication data with the acknowledgement in a single data packet.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for utilizing a scanning threshold. More specifically, one embodiment of a method includes entering a standby mode, wherein in the standby mode, at least one component of a communications device is shutdown, and wherein in the standby mode, at least one channel is scanned to determine potential interference and monitoring exchanged traffic with the communications device. Some embodiments include determining a relative volume of the exchanged traffic, compared to a predetermined threshold and based on the determination of the relative volume of the exchanged traffic and the predetermined threshold, entering a power save standby mode, wherein in the power save standby mode, scanning of the at least one channel is terminated.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method for providing a service in a packet-switched network at a selected Quality of Service (QoS) level. The method includes receiving a request for a service from a customer gateway at server connected to the packet-switched network; correlating the requested service to available network resources; and enabling the network to provide the requested service based on a result of the correlation.

Abstract: A system for generating two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional model is provided. The system includes an active building model system generating one or more user-selected two-dimensional views of a three-dimensional building model. A floor plan view location system receives user control data and places a two-dimensional floor plan view in a user-selected location of a viewing window. An elevation view location system receives user control data and places a two-dimensional elevation view in a user-selected location of the viewing window.

Abstract: A comb filter system that utilizes host memory is disclosed. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include a comb filter. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include an allocated host memory. The comb filter system that utilizes host memory may include an interface in signal communication with the comb filter and allocated host memory.

Abstract: Methods are provided for amplification and monitoring of oligonucleotide amplification in which a primer has an overlap with one or more bases of a detection probe.

Abstract: Presently many audio chips suffer from pop issues, which is especially serious for single ended audio drivers. An audio pop is a disturbance in the output caused by a sudden transition of chip power, particularly when a chip is powered on or powered off. Furthermore, compensation networks included in the amplifiers on audio chips for stability offer a significant path for transmitting power disturbances to the output. Hence, circuitry is developed to suppress pops in the output stages of an amplifier.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the extracorporeal ablation of target cells circulating in blood of an organism. Exogenous material introduced into the blood preferentially associates with target cells (e.g. cancer cells, bacteria, viruses) in the blood. An extracorporeal continuous flow pathway accesses the patient's blood to apply an external energy source to the blood at an ex vivo ablation device in a portion of the extracorporeal continuous flow pathway. The exogenous material interact with the applied energy so as to result in the damage or death of the target cells. The blood is then returned to the body in a continuous-flow pattern. By applying the energy while the blood is in the ex vivo ablation device, shielding of the target cells by the body is reduced and detrimental effects on the organs and tissues of the body are avoided or mitigated.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the secure encryption, enrollment, verification, and decryption of biometric and biographical identification information. The unique sequence of steps and the use of a combination of visible watermarking, invisible-fragile watermarking decoding, invisible-robust extraction, and decryption watermarking and encryption provides multiple layers of protection with four biometric based keys and makes it practically impossible for the information to be tampered with.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a distributed power amplifier topology and device that efficiently and economically enhances the power output of an RF signal to be amplified. The power amplifier comprises a plurality of push-pull amplifiers interconnected in a novel circular geometry that preferably function as a first winding of an active transformer having signal inputs of adjacent amplification devices driven with an input signal of equal magnitude and opposite phase. The topology also discloses the use of a secondary winding that matches the geometry of primary winding and variations thereof that serve to efficiently combine the power of the individual power amplifiers. The novel architecture enables the design of low-cost, fully-integrated, high-power amplifiers in the RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequencies.

Abstract: A method and system for providing enhanced intelligent agents that are moveable by a user from a browser application to a desktop. In specific embodiments, agents provide advanced interactive graphics and communications back to a server.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of hydrogel nanoparticles and methods of making the aqueous dispersion of hydrogel nanoparticles having an interpenetrating polymer network (“IPN”) are described. The uniformed sized mono-disperse IPN nanoparticles have inverse thermo gelation properties that allow therapeutic medications to be uniformly distributed in a liquid form of the aqueous dispersion of hydrogel nanoparticles. Such medications can then be released from a solid form of the aqueous dispersion of hydrogel nanoparticles in time dependant manor.

Abstract: A system for processing transaction data and payment data is provided. The system includes a front-end system that receives transaction data from one or more merchants, such as an employee identifier. A back-end system receives payment data from one or more payment systems, such as fraud data. A reporting system that is connected to the front-end system and the back-end system correlates the transaction data the payment data, such as to show employee identifier data and fraud data in a single record.

Abstract: A triangular waveform generator is converted to a free running oscillator controlled by a calibration code. The free running oscillator can be synchronized to an external clock signal by comparing the external clock frequency to the frequency of the triangular waveform and adjusting the calibration code until the discrepancy in frequency is minimized.

Abstract: A system for processing transaction data is provided. The system includes a fraud policy system that provides merchant fraud policy data. An order information data system receives order information data and the merchant fraud policy data and generates order information fraud score data, such as by modifying the order information data using the merchant fraud policy data and then scoring the modified order information data. A transaction authorization system receives the order information fraud score data and the merchant fraud policy data and generates client authorization data.

Abstract: In a data communication system comprising a plurality of peripherals having respective interfaces, the interfaces having device drivers and being coupled to a common bus for communication with a management system, the interfaces having different real time requirements; an ATM SAR and scheduler employs a predefined PHY level interface with different levels of service, the PHY interface being used as a QOS (Quality of Service) aware common master-slave bus for the peripherals which act as slave devices, whereby respective device driver requirements can be simplified or eliminated. A predefined PHY level interface is the ATM Forum UTOPIA, each peripheral being addressed as a separate UTOPIA slave port. The invention discloses how a system required to support interfaces with differing real time requirements may be supported through the use of a common bus.

Abstract: A system for updating merchant on file payment data at a payment processor. The system includes a merchant processing selection system receiving selection data for one of two or more types of on file payment data update processing. A merchant account update system receives the selection data and processes account update data based on the selection data.