Abstract: A method and apparatus for preprocessing and postprocessing content in an interactive information distribution system. Content is retrieved from a storage medium and encapsulated in accordance to an Internet Protocol (IP) format. The encapsulated content is then uploaded for storage in a stream caching server and for future streaming of content to different types of access networks.

Abstract: Guanidine derivatives having a condensed tricyclic ring of formula 1: are disclosed, wherein U is C(O), CRaRb, O, NRa or S(O)m; V is CRaRb or NRa; W is S(O)m; wherein Ra is H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl; Rb is H, alkyl, OH, ORa or OCORa, and m is the integer 0, 1 or 2; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 or R8 is guanidino or guanidino carbonyl. These derivatives are sodium-proton exchange inhibitors and are useful as medicaments for the treatment of, for example, organ disorders associated with ischemia and reperfusion, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension, cell proliferative disorders and diabetes.

Abstract: A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.

Abstract: A process for establishing secure mutual trust includes generating a one-time-password. The one-time-password is transferred between the devices in a communication occurring off of the network. Each device generates a set of authenticators by hashing a plurality of sub-strings of the password and the device's authentication certificate with a respective set of nonces. The devices exchange the respective sets of authenticators. Each device then alternates revealing its respective set of nonces and its authentication certificate in a multi-stage process. The devices re-calculate the authenticators based upon the respective set of nonces and authentication certificate revealed by the other device along with the one-time-password sub-strings that it posses. If each device determines that the authenticators re-calculated by the given device matches the authenticators previously received from the other device, secure mutual trust is established.

Abstract: A grade board with an integrally formed ledge projecting outwardly from the board. The board may be made of a polymeric and cellulosic composite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a patient's health condition by diverting pancreatic exocrine secretions include a flow diverter of material compatible with chronic residence within a small intestine of the patient. The flow diverter has a cover end and a discharge end. The flow diverter is sized to be placed within the small intestine with the discharge end placed distally from said cover end and with said flow diverter further sized so permit passage of chyme through the small intestine and past the flow diverter. The cover end is sized to cover a discharge papilla of the pancreatic duct. The diverter is adapted to divert at least a portion of pancreatic exocrine secretion from the papilla to the distal discharge end.

Abstract: A halftone method and apparatus provides a line screen frequency of N/2 for a printer resolution of N without negative print effects. A 300 lines per inch halftone screen for a 600 dpi printer may thus be created by alternating white and saturated colored lines when half of a given color component's pels are on. Empirical rules are used to create the screens based on how that printer creates consistent and reliable levels for each color component. These rules allow intermediate intensity values between white and full-on at each pel. Since the halftoning is done in the hardware just before printing, the print direction relative to the threshold matrix is known. No rotation capability is needed in the hardware. If an image needs to be rotated, it can be done previously to being sent to the hardware. Furthermore, because a pair of pels are turned on for the lightest values (or possibly with a one level difference between the first and second dots in the pair), the electronics are stressed less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ferrule assembly. The method including first and second polishing operations. The first polishing operation including polishing only the end face of a ferrule of an assembly. The second polishing operation including polishing only the optical fiber of the assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating the length of elongated elements in a sample. The disclosed systems and methods may include using a direct current stimulus to determine a direct current base length region corresponding to at least a portion of the sample. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include using an alternating current stimulus to determine that the direct current base length region corresponds to a first set of elongated elements and a second set of elongated elements. The first set of elongated elements may have a first base length and the second set of elongated elements may have a second base length. The elongated elements may comprise, for example, chain molecules, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), or proteins. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include measuring an ion current through a nanopore, the ion current produced by the alternating current stimulus.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for providing real-time notification and disposition of voice services in a cable television services system. A voice services application server enables communications between one or more telecommunications sources and subscriber set-top boxes in the cable television services system. The voice services application server, in communication with a telecommunications network, enables a subscriber to receive real-time notification of incoming telephone calls on a television connected to a set-top box and to issue disposition instructions for managing the incoming telephone calls. The disposition instructions may include answering a call, not answering a call, or forwarding a call to a voicemail system, or forwarding a call to an alternate telephone number.

Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences for soluble, ?-N-acetylglucosaminidase or active fragments or variants thereof which promote detachment of bacterial cells from a biofilm are provided. An isolated mutant bacteria which forms biofilm colonies which tightly adhere to surface but which are unable to release cells into the medium or spread over the surface is also provided. In additions, methods are described for modulating detachment of bacterial cells from biofilm by mutating soluble, ?-N-acetylglucosaminidase or altering its expression or activity are also provided. Also provided are compositions, methods and devices for preventing, inhibiting and treating bacterial infections.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for intelligently managing on-demand content in a cable services system. High demand video programs (e.g., movies, documentaries, mini-series, educational films, and the like) are stored at cable system hubs that service a number of individual cable customers. When a given video program is requested, the requested title is steamed from the hub servicing the requesting customer rather than streaming the requested program from the cable system head end. The video programs cached at the cable system hubs are determined based on attributes associated with individual video programs including time since initial release, association with other programs, association with hub locations, association with current events, and the like.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products dynamically filter an aggregate report based on values resulting from one or more filters previously applied to the aggregate report. A method involves maintaining a collection of filters to be applied in a designated evaluation order to the aggregate report, applying a first filter to the aggregate report, and evaluating values in the aggregate report to produce aggregate values resulting from applying the first filter. The method also involves applying a next filter to the aggregate report and evaluating the aggregate values in the aggregate report resulting from applying the first filter therein producing aggregate values resulting from applying the next filter to the aggregate report. Additionally, the method involves displaying the aggregate report wherein evaluating values resulting from previously applying any filter to the aggregate report involves evaluating visual values displayed in the aggregate report after each previous filter has been applied.

Abstract: A wall-mount distribution arrangement including a termination arrangement, a splicing arrangement, and a splitter arrangement. Each of the termination, splicing, and splitter arrangements being located within an interior of a wall-mount enclosure of the distribution arrangement. The arrangement further including a pivoting panel located within the interior of the wall-mount enclosure. The termination arrangement being mounted to a first side of the panel, one of the other of the splicing arrangement and the splitter arrangement being mounted to a second side of the panel.

Abstract: A task-based advertisement system and method are provided. The system employs high-order concepts (e.g., booking a flight, checking stock quotes etc.) embodied in “task(s)” which can then be bid upon by advertisers. The task(s) employed by the system are based upon a semantic solution to a natural-language query. The system includes a search engine that is capable of serving content in response to user query(ies). The system further includes a task server that can include hardware and/or software to retrieve task(s) in response to user query(ies). The task(s) retrieved by the task server can be presented to advertiser(s) who can bid on the task(s).

Abstract: A system and method for updating a source copy of an ordered list (the source list) comprising a plurality of list items according to modifications made to the order of the list items in a local copy of the ordered list (the local list) is provided. Each list item includes an order value. The order of the list items is determined according to the order values. To update the source list, the list items that have been moved in the local list are identified and placed on a temporary list, retaining the ordinal position in the local list. For each list item in the temporary list, the list item is placed back in the local list and its order value is set according to the average of the previous list item's order value and the subsequent list item's order value. The list item is then written to the source list.

Abstract: Displaying interrelated changes in a grid may be provided. Grid cells in a document may be modified when either a grid cell is directly changed by a user, or when a grid cell changes due to information residing in another cell changing. The modified grid cells allow the user to perceive how certain changes to data in one grid cell can affect other grid cells.

Abstract: A windrow merger has a frame supporting first, second and third pickup assemblies, with the two outside pickup assemblies foldable between an extended use position and a retracted travel position. Each of the pickup assemblies includes a reversible conveyor providing multiple windrow merging configurations. The pickup assemblies are interchangeable and aligned to define an unobstructed pickup face.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) and Formula (II) that are useful for modulating the biological activity of the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1b (PTP1B) enzyme. Compounds of this invention can be used to treat diseases and/or conditions in which the PTP1B enzyme is a factor. Such diseases and/or conditions include, but are not limited to, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, inadequate glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, atherosclerosis, vascular restenosis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, adipose cell tumors, adipose cell carcinoma, liposarcoma, dyslipidemia, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.