Abstract: Disclosed are biological markers for obesity and methods for diagnosing and treating obesity and related conditions by detecting and modulating the activity of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor. Also disclosed are methods for discovering new therapeutics which modulate the activity of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor, in particular which prevent the binding of auto-antibodies against the melanocortin-4 receptor or a portion of the melanocortin-4 receptor.

Abstract: A communications apparatus includes an input for receiving a data stream being transmitted from a first network node to a second network node using a main channel. A processing resource of the communications apparatus identifies data signifying an idle period within the data stream and determines whether the idle period is at least a suitable minimum duration to support initiating transmission of sub-channel data in place of at least part of the data signifying the idle period. Further, the processing resource is arranged to identify when the idle period is not of the suitable minimum duration and a need arises to transmit the sub-channel data within a predetermined period of time. In such circumstances, the processing resource sends a flow control message upstream to the first network node to halt transmissions therefrom, thereby generating the idle period of at least the suitable minimum duration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable photodiode, as well as a simple method of fabricating such a photodiode. During fabrication of the photodiode, a grading layer is epitaxially grown on a top surface of an absorption layer, and a blocking layer, for inhibiting current flow, is epitaxially grown on a top surface of the grading layer. The blocking layer is then etched to expose a window region of the top surface of the grading layer. Thus, the etched blocking layer defines an active region of the absorption layer. A window layer is epitaxially regrown on a top surface of the blocking layer and on the window region of the top surface of the grading layer, and is then etched to form a window mesa.

Abstract: A DC coupled driver is described for modulating a vertical cavity surface emitting laser at high speeds with active termination. High speed and low total power dissipation is achieved by improving the driver immunity to pulse reflections, which can arise due to impedance mismatch between the driver output impedance and the VCSEL impedance. The rise and fall times of the driver may be adjusted for particular applications. The driver may be fabricated using a choice of bipolar, NMOS and PMOS technologies.

Abstract: A networking system may include a traffic generator. The traffic generator may include a scripting module configured to create a script. The traffic generator may execute the script to send and/or receive network messages within the networking system, which may help test one or more components of the networking system. The script may include one or more entries. An entry may be configured to instruct the traffic generator to send one or more network messages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for displaying information for analyzing a signal transmitted in a communication system. The method can include displaying digital diagnostic data received from a monitoring interface of a transceiver. An eye-diagram for the signal is also displayed. The digital diagnostic data, network protocol analysis results, and/or the eye-diagram can be selectively displayed using a combined unit or stand alone units. Additionally, results of network protocol analysis can also be displayed with the digital diagnostic data and eye diagram.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing historical data includes receiving a compiled application program and a declarative specification. An enhancer generates one or more representations of at least one data class defined in the application program based on at least one historical metatag and historical metadata associated therewith from the declarative specification. The enhancer also generates configuring instructions for configuring a database in accordance with the storage representation(s), an enhanced compiled application program including instructions for accessing data in the configured database, and a historical updater program for updating the data in the database based on the historical metadata.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transfection of cells using at least one protein capable of forming nucleoprotein filaments, wherein the protein is initially modified with at least one functional component which influences one or more steps of the transfection, the nucleic acid to be transfected is then loaded with the modified protein, whereby the nucleic acid and the protein form a filament-like complex, and this complex is finally added to the cells to be transfected. The invention further relates to a transfection agent consisting of nucleoprotein filaments (NPF), with at least one nucleoprotein filament-forming protein being modified with at least one functional component for the transfection. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the transfection agent according to the invention for producing a drug for gene therapeutic treatment of humans and animals.

Abstract: A contrast compensator for improving the panel contrast of liquid crystal (LC) microdisplays having a high-order waveplate configured as an O-plate and supporting a thin film transistor layer is provided. The contrast compensator includes a counter high-order waveplate configured as an O-plate, which has a birefringence opposite in sign to a birefringence of the thin film transistor substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for constructing transactions by requesting content from content providers, such as web sites, according to automatically generated content references. From that content and according to user-defined rules, the system can generate other content references, and request and access further content. Statistics can be maintained for each content access. The system and method can be used to test electronic networks, such as wireless communications networks.

Abstract: A Wireless Whooper system for use in wireless networks is provided with a collection of wireless client stations arranged to transmit and receive wireless streams of information, and wireless Access Points (APs) arranged to wirelessly link with the wireless client stations, each supporting a group of wireless client stations; and a supervisory processing unit (SPU) arranged to monitor and dynamically switch between available wireless APs, forward and transmit streams of information through the wireless networks. Such a supervisory processing unit (SPU) can be installed as a separate control device or integrated within each wireless AP to handle the dynamic switching and routing of streams of information between available wireless APs within the system.

Abstract: A change in loading conditions of fiber amplifiers in an optical communications network causes rapid variations in the gain profile of the amplifiers due to spectral hole burning and stimulated Raman scattering. An apparatus for reducing such gain profile variations is described which monitors optical signal perturbations and reacts by adjusting pump powers of the amplifiers and, or fast variable optical attenuator according to a pre-determined function stored in the form of constants in controller's memory. The optical signal is monitored as total power, and the power of light after passing through one or more optical filters. The light detection is relatively fast, whereby the gain profile variations are compensated by fast controlled variable optical attenuator and pump power adjustment upon the change in loading conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for end-of-line monitoring of HFC networks by using a main tuner dedicated to receiving measurement requests from a network monitoring server via a DOCSIS downstream channel, and an auxiliary tuner used for the purpose of performing measurements of the downstream channel by analogue and digital measurement circuits. A cable modem is used to transmit measurement results to the server over a DOCSIS upstream channel. The addition of the auxiliary tuner, permits faster measurements to be performed by the EOL monitoring system and reported back to the server, thereby affording real-time remote testing and diagnostics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a broad-band light emitting diode having an active layer composed of a plurality of light emission regions of differing materials for emitting light at a plurality of wavelengths, wherein each of the emission regions of the active layer is electrically controlled by a separate electrode for providing a broad-band emission or optical gain with a multi-point control of its spectral profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating on a surface, including a carrier and a plurality of flakes dispersed therein. The flakes are oriented quasi-normally to the surface and have grooves extending quasi-parallel to the surface, wherein the plurality of flakes forms at least 50% of all grated flakes in the coating. The invention also relates to a method of aligning the flakes using external fields of different orientations.

Abstract: A device for mounting and removing a substrate from a baseplate, in particular a substrate holder assembly device, including automated features for latching and unlatching a substrate, for use in a coating mechanism, from a baseplate, which includes an adjustable snap ring holder.

Abstract: A method for monitoring laser light launched into a core of a single mode fiber includes launching a portion of light directly into the cladding about the core. The cladding launched light is a known fraction of the core launched light and can be monitored by placing a detector about the cladding. Detected light including light that was launched into the cladding and has leaked through the cladding is used as a known fraction of light in the core and can be used to control the laser light source. This can be done with a straight section of single mode optical fiber and does not require bending the fiber. Advantageously, most of the core launched light remains in the core as guided light.

Abstract: Recreating errors in a network device. In one embodiment, a method for recreating an error condition in a network device includes capturing a first set of commands sent to a network device; identifying an error condition in the network device, the error condition corresponding to the captured first set of commands; and sending a second set of commands to the network device in a second attempt to recreate the error condition. The second set of commands includes the first set of commands as well as additional commands that are configured to place the network device in substantially the same state as at the time that the first set of commands was sent to the network device.

Abstract: A scanning optical spectrometer with a detector array is disclosed, in which position of focused spot of light at the input of a dispersive element such as arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) with a slab input, is scanned using a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) tiltable micromirror so as to make the dispersed spectrum of light scan over the detector array coupled to the AWG. Sub-spectra recorded using individual detectors are concatenated by a processor unit to obtain the spectrum of input light.

Abstract: The communication apparatus includes a VoIP phone, a VoIP gateway, a communication network, and a network analyzer. The VoIP phone is a transmitting/receiving device to transmit and receive a VoIP phone call. A plurality of VoIP phone calls are transmitted and received over the communication network via the VoIP gateway. The network analyzer analyzes and monitors the plurality of VoIP phone calls transmitted and received over the communication network. Accordingly, a respective VoIP phone call is identified from the plurality of phone calls and associated with a respective data stream to be monitored and analyzed by the network analyzer.