Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated determination of error handling. Data is received including one or more procedural operations to be tested. A first test is run on the data to capture one or more first tracebacks, where each traceback is associated with a procedural operation. A determination is made as to whether each captured first traceback is unique, where unique tracebacks are added to a unique traceback list. An error condition is simulated on each unique traceback on the unique traceback list by running a second test. The second test is run once for each unique traceback. One or more second tracebacks are captured during each run of the second test. When a unique traceback being tested matches a captured second traceback, an error code is returned and the second test may be run to completion. Errors encountered during each iteration of the second test running to completion are identified.

Abstract: An investment program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the investment program that includes an employer owned trust account and at least one life, disability, health or annuity contract (including a terminal annuity) obtained directly or indirectly from a partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company. The insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company is a least partially, wholly or non-owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a grid computing system that performs analytical calculations on data stored in a distributed database system. A grid-enabled software component at a control node is configured to invoke database management software (DBMS) at the control node to cause the DBMS at a plurality of the worker nodes to make available data to the grid-enabled software component local to its node; instruct the grid-enabled software components at the plurality of worker nodes to perform an analytical calculation on the received data and to send the results of the data analysis to the grid-enabled software component at the control node; and assemble the results of the data analysis performed by the grid-enabled software components at the plurality of worker nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for importing data into a spreadsheet from an external data source. A set of cells containing formulas is identified. A first user defined function is executed to access a particular data record from the external data source. The execution of the first user defined function includes determining which of the stored formulas contain user defined functions to access data records from the external data source, resolving parameters of the identified user defined functions, generating a bulk query to the external data source requesting data for certain user defined functions having sufficient parameters resolved for identifying a data record plus more data records than are specified by the user defined functions, storing the data records specified in a hash table, storing the more data records than are specified in a memory, and returning the particular data record to the spreadsheet.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods generate a near-optimum product markdown plan for a plurality of uniform pricing levels having a required inventory sell-through target over all of the plurality of uniform pricing levels. A plurality of feasible markdown schedules are generated for the uniform pricing level, where each of the plurality of feasible markdown schedules meets all individual constraints for the uniform pricing level. All dominated feasible markdown schedules are removed for the uniform pricing level to generate one or more candidate markdown schedules for the uniform pricing level. A near-optimum product markdown plan is generated, where generating the near-optimum product markdown plans includes executing a limited exact algorithm solver for a plurality of iterations, and executing a dynamic programming solver if no product markdown plan generated by the limited exact algorithm solver is within the threshold percentage of the revenue upper bound.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods provide near real-time graph data feedback to a user during a drag-and-drop graph display creation process. A graph creation display region is displayed, where a graph display data structure contains associations between graph display components and variables, the associations in the graph display data structure defining what graph components are to be displayed on the graph creation display region. The display device contains a plurality of graph hotspot regions that are associated with a graph display component, where using the user manipulation device to drag a variable from the variable selection region to the graph hotspot results in an association between the graph display component and the dragged variable. While the variable is being dragged over a hotspot, the graph creation display region is modified to provide near real-time feedback to the user of a temporary association between the graph display component and the dragged variable.

Abstract: An electrical device is powered by a battery. The device includes transition phase determining circuitry operatively connected to the battery to determine that the battery has entered a transition phase based on the occurrence of a change in direction of current flowing through the battery. Battery capacity determining circuitry is operatively connected to the transition phase determining circuitry and configured to determine, in response the transition phase determining circuitry determining that the battery is in the transition phase, a capacity of the battery based on a transition phase battery capacity model of capacity-vs.-voltage. The transition phase determining circuitry is further configured to determine an end of the transition phase based on the transition phase battery capacity model and a non-transition battery capacity model of capacity-vs.-voltage yielding the same capacity value for a given measured voltage of the battery.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel chimeric VEGF receptor proteins comprising amino acid sequences derived from the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors flt-1 and KDR, including the murine homologue to the human KDR receptor FLK-1, wherein said chimeric VEGF receptor proteins bind to VEGF and antagonize the endothelial cell proliferative and angiogenic activity thereof. The present invention is also directed to nucleic acids and expression vectors encoding these chimeric VEGF receptor proteins, host cells harboring such expression vectors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such proteins, methods of preparing such proteins and to methods utilizing such proteins for the treatment of conditions associated with undesired vascularization.

Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme or protein expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. A method for producing 1,3-BDO that includes culturing the this non-naturally occurring microbial organism under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing films using sequential ion implantation, and films formed using same, are provided herein. A structure prepared using ion implantation may include a substrate; an embedded structure having pre-selected characteristics; and a film within or adjacent to the embedded structure and including ions having a perturbed arrangement arising from the presence of the embedded structure. The perturbed arrangement may include the ions being covalently bonded to each other, to the embedded structure, or to the substrate, whereas the ions instead may be free to diffuse through the substrate in the absence of the embedded structure. The embedded structure may inhibit or impede the ions from diffusing through the substrate, such that the ions instead covalently bond to each other, to the embedded structure, or to the substrate. The film may include, for example, diamond-like carbon, graphene, or SiC having a pre-selected phase.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a valve housing having an inlet port, a first chamber with a first outlet port, and a second chamber with a second outlet port. A first valve opens between the inlet port and the first chamber under a first level of pneumatic pressure at the inlet port. A second valve opens between the first chamber and the second chamber under a second, greater level of pneumatic pressure in the first chamber. A third valve opens between the second chamber and the first chamber under a third level of pneumatic pressure in the second chamber, with the third level being less than the first level.

Abstract: Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of a selective cytokine inhibitory drug alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of a selective cytokine inhibitory drug. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer system and method are provided for making modifications to runtime coding of object-oriented software that enables distributed execution by automatically modifying object class definitions as the objects are loaded into the executing process. The code modifications cause instances of the classes to interact with a distributed runtime system that allows all objects to be transparently migrated between processes, thereby permitting load balancing and periodic maintenance, without manual recoding of the application source code and without need for a priori knowledge of the program flow.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating the activation of nuclear factor ?B (NF-?B) are provided. The compositions comprise one or more agents that modulate ubiquitination of phosphorylated I?B? and/or I?B?. Such compositions may be used for treating diseases associated with NF-?B activation. Modulating agents include human E3 ubiquitin ligases, antibodies thereto and variants thereof, as well as related proteins.

Abstract: Provided herein are placental perfusate, placental perfusate cells, and placenta-derived intermediate natural killer cells, and combinations thereof. Also provided herein are compositions comprising the same, and methods of using placental perfusate, placental perfusate cells, and placenta-derived intermediate natural killer cells, and combinations thereof, to suppress the growth or proliferation of tumor cells, cancer cells, and the like, and to treat individuals having tumor cells.

Abstract: A composition has a water dispersible esterified trimer acid (ETA) and a block co-polymer, especially a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer having EO and PO blocks. The composition may also have a polymeric surfactant antifoaming agent and an oil (especially a mineral oil or ester oil).

Abstract: A battery-management method is performed by a battery-operated device. The method includes allocating a first portion of a battery capacity to a first function and a second portion of the battery capacity to a second function. The method further includes simultaneously displaying a first indicator relating to the first portion of the battery capacity and a second indicator relating to the second portion of the battery capacity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of using Bv8 and EG-VEGF polypeptides and nucleic acids to promote hematopoiesis. Also provided herein are methods of screening for modulators of Bv8 and EG-VEGF activity. Furthermore, methods of treatment using Bv8 and EG-VEGF polypeptides or Bv8 and EG-VEGF antagonists are provided.