Abstract: The present invention provides highly dispersible spray-dried powder compositions, and in particular, inhaleable dry powder compositions for aerosolized delivery to the lungs. The powders of the invention are produced by spray drying a 4 ?-helix bundle protein under conditions which both (i) protect the protein from aggregation and (ii) provide particles suitable for inhalation (i.e., demonstrating superior aerosol performance).

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly dispersible formulation comprising an active agent and a dipeptide or tripeptide comprising at least two leucyl residues. The composition of the invention possesses superior aerosol properties and is thus preferred for aerosolized administration to the lung. Also provided are a method for (i) increasing the dispersibility of an active-agent containing formulation for administration to the lung, and (ii) delivery of the composition to the lungs of a subject.

Abstract: According to the subject invention, dispersible dry powder pharmaceutical-based compositions are provided, including methods for their manufacture and dry powder dispersion devices. A dispersible dry powder pharmaceutical-based composition is one having a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight (% w) water, usually below about 5% w and preferably less than about 3% w; a particle size of about 1.0-5.0 &mgr;m mass median diameter (MMD), usually 1.0-4.0 &mgr;m MMD, and preferably 1.0-3.0 &mgr;m MMD; a delivered dose of about >30%, usually >40%, preferably >50%, and most preferred >60%; and an aerosol particle size distribution of about 1.0-5.0 &mgr;m mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), usually 1.5-4.5 &mgr;m MMAD, and preferably 1.5-4.0 &mgr;m MMAD. Such compositions are of pharmaceutical grade purity.

Abstract: The flow of packet-based traffic is controlled to meet a desired rate by calculating, as a moving average, a current rate of packet-based traffic on a link, calculating the sum of the error between the calculated current rate and the desired rate, and determining whether or not packets can flow in response to the calculated sum of the error. When the sum of the error between the current rate and the desired rate indicates that the current rate is less than the desired rate, packets are allowed to flow and when the sum of the error indicates that the current rate is greater than the desired rate, packets are not allowed to flow. The magnitude of bursts can also be controlled by artificially controlling the minimum values of the current rate and the sum of the error. The flow control algorithm can be used for rate shaping or rate limiting.

Abstract: Clock information related to a reference clock is distributed from a master network node to a slave network node in an asynchronous packet-based network by embedding the clock information into an additional bit stream and multiplexing the additional bit stream with a primary data stream using an out-of-band channel. Multiplexing the additional bit stream with the primary bit stream using an out-of-band channel may involve selecting yB codes of an xB/yB encoded bit stream to represent bits of the additional bit stream or to balance the running disparity of the xB/yB encoded bit stream. The clock information that is embedded into the additional bit stream is used to generate a clock that is synchronized with a reference clock. In an embodiment, the clock information represents the time difference between a transmitted frame of the additional bit stream and a next edge of the reference clock.

Abstract: Managing a primary bit stream involves converting a qB/rB encoded bit stream to an xB/yB encoded bit stream and multiplexing an additional bit stream with the xB/yB encoded bit stream at a transmission side of a link. The additional bit stream is then demultiplexed from the xB/yB encoded bit stream and the xB/yB encoded bit stream is converted back to the qB/rB encoded bit stream at the receiver side of the link. The qB/rB encoded bit stream is converted to and from the xB/yB encoded bit stream so that the additional bit stream can be multiplexed with the qB/rB encoded bit stream using multiplexing/demultiplexing systems that are compatible with the xB/yB multiplexing system. In an application, a 4B/5B encoded bit stream is converted to an 8B/10B encoded bit stream and an additional bit stream is multiplexed with the 10B code-words of the 8B/10B encoded bit stream using code-word manipulation.

Abstract: Protection from a distributed clock failure in a packet switched network device involves monitoring primary clocking information that is received from an input port of the network device, distributing the clocking information to an output port for use in synchronous transmissions, and supplying backup clocking information from within the packet switched network device to the output port if the primary clocking information fails. In an embodiment, the integrity of the primary clocking information is directly monitored in hardware and the backup clocking information is provided by a local clock source that is located within the network device. If a failure in the primary clocking information is detected, the backup clocking information is supplied to the output port from the local clock source.

Abstract: Preventing transmission loops in a ring network that utilizes label switching involves generating right side and left side ring packets from an ingress packet and setting right and left TTL values for the packets that prevent the packets from traveling on the same transmission link. Setting the right and left TTL values of the ring packets to values that prevent the packets from traveling on the same link transforms the physical topology of the ring into a logical arc. In an embodiment, the logical arc established by a network node can be dynamically rotated in response to various network conditions to avoid packet transmissions on a particular link of the ring network.

Abstract: A system and a method for managing forwarding table lookups and updates involve maintaining a first forwarding table in a first memory and a second forwarding table in a second memory, and then utilizing the first forwarding table to forward packets while the second forwarding table is updated with current route entries. The second forwarding table is updated in the background and therefore conventional CPU speeds do not cause performance problems. Once the second forwarding table is completely updated, a forwarding table pointer is switched and the second forwarding table is utilized to forward packets while the first forwarding table is updated. Because the second forwarding table has been completely updated in the background, switching the forwarding table pointer causes newly arriving packets to be forwarded according to a forwarding table that is free of inconsistencies.

Abstract: According to the subject invention, dispersible dry powder pharmaceutical-based compositions are provided, including methods for their manufacture and dry powder dispersion devices. A dispersible dry powder pharmaceutical-based composition is one having a moisture content of less than about 10% by weight (%w) water, usually below about 5%w and preferably less than about 3%w; a particle size of about 1.0-5.0 &mgr;m mass median diameter (MMD), usually 1.0-4.0 &mgr;m MMD, and preferably 1.0-3.0 &mgr;m MMD; a delivered dose of about >30%, usually >40%, preferably >50%, and most preferred >60%; and an aerosol particle size distribution of about 1.0-5.0 &mgr;m mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD), usually 1.5-4.5 &mgr;m MMAD, and preferably 1.5-4.0 &mgr;m MMAD. Such compositions are of pharmaceutical grade purity.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling data flow through a network device involve regulating a first flow of network traffic with a first traffic control rule, regulating a second flow of network traffic with a second traffic control rule, and then regulating the passed portion of the two flows with a third traffic control rule that is generic to both the first flow and the second flow. The third traffic control rule regulates the passed portions of the first flow and the second flow on an aggregate basis, such that the total amount of traffic passed by the third traffic control rule does not exceed a predefined bandwidth limit. By regulating the bandwidth consumption of a group of flows with at least two levels of traffic control rules, bandwidth consumption can be simultaneously controlled for narrowly defined flows and more broadly defined flows.

Abstract: Managing a reusable resource, such as a pool of integers, involves a doubly linked list of elements that represents free integers in an integer pool. Each element of the doubly linked list includes a next pointer for identifying a next element and a previous pointer for identifying a previous element. A specific free integer can be allocated from the integer pool in an order of one, O(1), operation by indexing into the linked list and then utilizing the next and previous pointers of the linked list element to remove the linked list element from the linked list. The desired element is removed by adjusting the next pointer of the previous element and the previous pointer of the next linked list element. A non-specific free integer can be allocated from the integer pool in an O(1) operation through a head element that identifies a next free integer in the linked list.

Abstract: Multiplexing an additional bit stream with a primary bit stream, where the primary bit stream is encoded into an xB/yB encoded bit stream, involves selecting yB code-words to convey the additional bit stream. Each xB word is represented by one yB code-word from a corresponding group of yB code-words, with each group of yB code-words including at least one yB code-word belonging to a category of code-words that tends to exhibit positive DC balance and at least one yB code-word belonging to a category that tends to exhibit negative DC balance. Bits of the additional bit stream are multiplexed with the primary bit stream by selecting code-words from one of the two categories to convey 1's and from the other category to convey 0's. Code-words that are not selected to convey bits of the additional bit stream are selected to balance the running disparity of the encoded bit stream.

Abstract: Updating a content addressable memory (CAM) involves identifying a new entry that is to be added to the CAM, identifying a free location in the CAM that is the fewest number of prefix levels away from the prefix level of the new entry, moving an existing CAM entry into the free location to create a newly freed location that is a fewer number of prefix levels away from the prefix level of the new entry, repeating the move process until a free location is created at the desired prefix level of the new entry, and then adding the new entry into the newly freed location. The specific algorithm for moving entries to free a location in the desired prefix level is a function of whether the prefix level of the first free location is above or below the prefix level of the new entry.

Abstract: Dispersibility of a respirable powder, administrable by inhalation, is increased by including a pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention provides highly dispersible spray-dried powder compositions, and in particular, inhaleable dry powder compositions for aerosolized delivery to the lungs. The powders of the invention are produced by spray drying a 4 &agr;-helix bundle protein under conditions which both (i) protect the protein from aggregation and (ii) provide particles suitable for inhalation (i.e., demonstrating superior aerosol performance).

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing clocks related to telecommunications throughout s point-to-multipoint optical network utilizes downstream data timed using a high frequency transmission clock to distribute timing information of a central telecom-based clock to remote terminals. In an exemplary embodiment, the point-to-multipoint optical network system is an Ethernet-based passive optical network (PON) system that operates in accordance with a Gigabit Ethernet standard. The timing information of the central telecom-based clock is extracted from the downstream data at each remote terminal by recovering the high frequency transmission clock and then, deriving a reference clock, which is synchronized with the central telecom-based clock, from the recovered transmission clock. The reference clock is then used to generate one or more telecom-related clocks that are needed by the remote terminal.

Abstract: Novel pharmaceutical formulations for treating a cellular proliferative disease are provided comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of a Golgi apparatus disturbing agent; a biocompatible carrier; and a solvent. In preferred formulations, the Golgi apparatus disturbing agent is brefeldin A (BFA) and the biocompatible carrier is a polymer such as chitin or chitosan. Methods of treating cellular proliferative diseases using the pharmaceutical formulations are also described.

Abstract: This invention provides combination therapy methods, pharmaceutical combinations and compositions for inducing tumor cell regression in cancer patients, particularly metastatic breast cancer patients. The combination methods, combinations and compositions employ both edatrexate and a taxane which are administered simultaneously or sequentially. The combination therapy described here permits the administration of unusually high doses of edatrexate.

Abstract: An input-buffered multipoint switch having input channels and output channels includes multilevel request buffers, a data path multiplexer, and a scheduler. The switch has a distinct multilevel request buffer associated with each input channel and each request buffer has multiple request registers of a different request buffer priority. The request registers store data cell transfer requests that have been assigned quality of service (QoS) priorities, where the QoS priorities are related to packet source, destination, and/or application type. The multilevel request registers are linked in parallel to the scheduler to allow arbitration among requests of different input channels and different request buffer priority levels. The preferred arbitration process involves generating QoS priority-specific masks that reflect the output channels required by higher QoS priority requests and arbitrating among requests of the same QoS priority in QoS priority-specific multilevel schedulers.