Abstract: The cell surface c-Met receptor, through which hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signals are mediated, has now been identified as the Angiotensin-IV receptor (AT(4)R) in processes that include HGF-regulated cell motility, angiogenesis, cancer metastasis, adipogenesis and others. Disclosed are angiotensin-like factor compositions and methods for using them to diagnose, prevent and/or treat conditions associated with c-Met dysregulation, including cancer, obesity and conditions associated with obesity, and other disorders, for example, by altering hepatocyte growth factor activity or c-Met receptor activity by administering an angiotensin-like factor that specifically binds to a cell surface c-Met receptor.

Abstract: In an internet connection system for connecting a terminal in each of a plurality of predetermined locations to internet accessed by the terminal, each location, in which a terminal in communication is provided, is discriminated. The used communication band is recorded for each location, and a communication fee is determined based on the used communication band recorded for each location. The communication extent of the access line connected via the gateway is compared for each location, and the terminal is connected to internet via the gateway, to which a less communication extent access line is connected.

Abstract: A finFet controls conduction channel conditions using one of two gate structures, preferably having a gate length shorter than the other gate structure to limit capacitance, which are opposed across the conduction channel. An asymmetric halo impurity implant performed at an angle adjacent to the gate structure for controlling conduction channel conditions forms a super steep retrograde well to limit short channel effects in the portion of the conduction channel which is controlled by the other gate structure.

Abstract: A method and system provide for secure sharing of arbitrary data between users with limited mutual trust. A user can encode its information by using a Slepian-Wolf code at a rate which enables a second user to correctly decode only if the side-information it has satisfies a conditional entropy constraint. The key advantages are as follows. Firstly, it is very flexible, in that it enables secure sharing for general data including multimedia data. Secondly, by appropriate Slepian-Wolf code selection, it enables compression in conjunction with security. Thirdly, it can be used for the case where the data model is imperfectly known and trust is to be built up incrementally.

Abstract: An optimization problem models the dynamic placement of applications on servers under two types of simultaneous resource requirements, those that are dependent on the loads placed on the applications and those that are independent. The demand (load) for applications changes over time and the goal is to satisfy all the demand while changing the solution (assignment of applications to servers) as little as possible.

Abstract: A composite antenna apparatus is disclosed. A rod member accommodates a first antenna element and a second antenna element therein. A base member accommodates a circuit board therein. A connector couples an end portion of the rod member and the base member. The connector includes a first conductive member configured to transmit a first signal received by the first antenna element to the circuit board therethrough, and a second conductive member configured to transmit a second signal received by the second antenna element to the circuit board therethrough.

Abstract: In a capacitor element in which a highly dielectric metal oxide film formed between wiring layers is used as a capacitor insulation film, the diffusion and thermal oxidation of a lower-layer wiring material are reduced, and the surface on which a thin capacitor insulation film that constitutes a capacitor element is formed is kept flat. A lower electrode (111b) having the ability to prevent diffusion of the wiring material is embedded and formed so as to be in direct contact with a lower-layer wiring (105) in a prescribed area of a wiring cap film (103), and the surface on which the capacitor insulation film is formed is flat. The wiring cap film functions to prevent diffusion and oxidation of the wiring material formed on a wiring disposed in a lower layer of the capacitor element.

Abstract: A computerized system, method and process allows telecommunications carriers to find, evaluate and select locations for equipment through direct access to end users, while providing citizens the opportunity to offer the use of their dwelling or other assets to carriers. The system and method further provides a computerized mechanism for (a) creating an inventory and marketplace for available properties for use in telecommunications networks, (b) providing quality and/or performance monitoring and control for wireless communication systems based on data in the clearinghouse, and (c) providing localized content over wireless networks using the clearinghouse.

Abstract: The present invention includes a solar water heating system including: a water tank to hold water to be heated, an heat transfer fluid circuit including an heat exchanger associated with said water tank to heat water therein, a solar collection means in communication with said heat exchanger, an inlet connection to carry heat transfer fluid from said solar collection means to said heat exchanger where said water will be heated; and an outlet connection to carry heat transfer fluid from said heat exchanger to said solar collection means where said heat transfer fluid will be heated, said heat transfer fluid circuit including a reversibly evaporable heat transfer fluid which will absorb heat from said solar collection means and which will transfer said heat to said water in said water tank by means of said heat exchanger; and an diversion path being provided in said heat transfer circuit, whereby when a portion of heat transfer fluid changes to a gaseous state in said solar collection means, heat transfer fluid

Abstract: A service-oriented architecture for enterprise project management integrates business processes, human resources and project management within an enterprise or across the value chain network. A representation having direction and attributes is provided to show the dependencies between a business value layer and a project-portfolio layer, and between the project-portfolio layer and resources. The representation is mapped to a Web Services representation in UDDI, Web Services interfaces, and Web Services based business processes through rope hyper-linking.

Abstract: A vaccine for human hookworm is provided. The vaccine comprises at least one L3 larval stage antigen (e.g. Na-ASP-2 or Na-SAA-2) and at least one adult stage human hookworm antigen (e.g. Na-APR-1, Na-CP-2, Na-CP-3, Na-CP-4, Na-CP-5, or Na-GST-1) and adjuvants.

Abstract: Nonlinear optimization is applied to resource allocation, as for example, buffer pool optimization in computer database software where only the marginal utility is known. The method for allocating resources comprises the steps of starting from an initial allocation, calculating the marginal utility of the allocation, calculating the constraint functions of the allocation, and applying this information to obtain a next allocation and repeating these steps until a stopping criteria is satisfied, in which case a locally optimal allocation is returned.

Abstract: A customized, specialty-oriented database and index, of a subject matter area and methods for constructing and using such a database are provided. Selection and indexing of articles is done by experts in the topic with which the database is concerned. As a result, articles are indexed in a manner that allows facile, rapid retrieval of highly relevant articles with few or no false positives with much reduced database maintenance cost through frugal limitation of number of documents in the database, number of terms in a Master Index, and number of codes assigned to each document. A thesaurus allows indexing and search in accordance with terminology familiar to different anticipated groups of users (e.g. doctors, patients, nurses, technicians, and the like). Key articles collections and rapid access to documents therein are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided hearing device improvements using modulation techniques adapted to the characteristics of auditory and vestibular hearing. One embodiment provides for extending hearing to the infrasonic range by extracting sounds from the high ambient noise in this range and applying them to a carrier in the ultrasonic “quiet zone.” Further extension of hearing into the ultrasonic range is provided by a modulation scheme which uses a fluid conduction coupler to match impedance for a vibration transducer applied to the skin. A variation on this embodiment integrates this ultrasonic hearing extension with normal acoustic headphones. Another embodiment compensates for high frequency hearing loss by a modulation scheme which uses middle ear resonance as an amplifier. A further embodiment combines ultrasonic transposition with wireless modulation to obtain secure communication.

Abstract: An enhancement for an electronic calendar provides a single call-in number and, preferably a pass code established for a user/participant in any and all conference call(s) in which use of the invention is authorized by an owner/caller initiating a conference call. The call-in number accesses the computer corresponding to the user/participant and is redirected to the conference call using information which is stored in memory separate from the electronic calendar and thus not accessible therefrom.

Abstract: A method and system for combining the bandwidth available to a user communications device from multiple access points by switching output requests and corresponding replies to such requests among a plurality of such access points. In the simplest implementation the switching can be on a round-robin basis, but the switching can be enhanced to prioritize and use quality of service requirements associated with each output request, and also to measure congestion at each access point and base switching upon the congestion level. The invention operates by generating subset ISO communication stacks for each available access point, preferably the subset from the IP layer to the data control link, and switching between these stacks.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for tracking notification messages from a message publisher to a message subscriber. The system includes a plurality of entities that are operatively coupled to one another via an electronic network, and each entity includes at least one processor configured as a message publisher, a channel and/or a message subscriber. According to the invention, at least one entity is configured as a channel, which is assigned to the function of acting as a meta-channel and comprises (i) means for receiving one or more channel descriptions; and (ii) means for publishing a digest of one or more channel descriptions and/or message transformations to facilitate tracking of message transformations from raw forms to processed forms. The system may have more than one meta-channel, and the meta-channels may subscribe to or publish to each other.

Abstract: A loader parking stand includes a support leg pivoted to a loader arm which is movable between an extended and a retracted position. A retaining latch can releasably secure or lock the stand in the extended position and the retaining latch can be unlocked or released to unlock the support leg by motion of or engagement with a movable portion of the loader.

Abstract: Detecting ingress of a transmitted signal into a cable communication system due to a radio frequency signal transmitted from a moving vehicle and interrogation of transmitter location over a separate wireless link provides monitoring of shielding integrity or flaws there in a cable communication system. The location of a shielding flaw may then be precisely located in a closed loop fashion without risking overload of the cable communication system or interference with upstream signaling therein by detecting ingress signal strength and controlling transmitted signal strength while providing a user-perceptible indication of ingress signal strength which is compensated for the control of transmitted signal strength and thus indicates proximity of a hand-held instrument or transmitter to said shielding flaw.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a first ink-jet recording head which forms a first layer having first undulations in accordance with an image to be recorded, a second ink-jet recording head which performs image recording of the image to be recorded and a third ink-jet recording head which forms a second layer having second undulations that are also in accordance with the image to be recorded but larger than such that the first undulations of the first layer that is to be formed by the first ink-jet recording head are large and the second undulations are fine or smaller in comparison therewith.