Abstract: A water releasing composition in the form of an emulsion and process for using the composition are provided. The composition includes an aqueous phase and an oil phase. The aqueous phase includes at least one water-soluble active ingredient at a concentration by weight of from about 0.1% to about 20%, based upon weight of the composition. The oil phase includes dimethicone at a concentration by weight of about 1% to about 25%, and an emulsifying crosslinked siloxane elastomer at a concentration by weight of about 0.1% to about 20%, both based upon weight of the composition. The composition has a phase ratio of the aqueous phase to the oil phase of about 3.0 to about 12.0. The composition converts from an emulsion to a plurality of droplets upon application of shear.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions for improving sinus microbiota and treating sinusits. Further provided are methods of detecting imbalance in the sinus microbiota that can be indicative of sinusitis, and methods of determining whether an individual has or is at risk of developing sinusitis, e.g., chronic sinusitis.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards managing sponsored online content based upon advertiser behavior. Defining mini-markets to represent such advertiser behavior may be accomplished by clustering queries that generate revenue from one or more campaigns. Query revenue data between queries and a set of campaigns may be used to determine such mini-markets. To illustrate, a query whose highest revenue is attributed to a campaign may be selected for that campaign's mini-market. When that query is entered as a search term, the campaign's mini-market helps allocate space for advertisements.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein may be directed to push notifications for location-based content delivery. Many merchants use coupon printers to print post-purchase coupons. The systems and methods described herein are directed to generating incentives, such as coupons or loyalty points which may be based at least in part on purchases, the current location of the user in proximity to items or stores, and associating the incentives to a user profile associated with the user. The incentives may then later be retrieved by a point of sale (POS) system of a merchant and then applied to any future purchase transactions the customer may desire.

Abstract: The present publication describes a calibration method and apparatus, in which an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analyzed, and the system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The calibration signal is formed in the loudspeaker in such a way that it is essentially a sinusoidal signal, the frequency of which scans at least substantially through the entire audio frequency range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a sound-reproduction system, in which method an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the loudspeaker system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The operator is permitted to made additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the measurement performed, the effects of the alterations are calculated and displayed to the operator without additional measurements, and the additional settings are implemented in real time in the loudspeaker system.

Abstract: The present publication describes a calibration method and apparatus, in which an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The calibration signal is formed in the loudspeaker in such a way that it is essentially a sinusoidal signal, the frequency of which scans at least substantially through the entire audio frequency range.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group-member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a sound-reproduction system, in which method an electrical calibration signal is formed, an audio signal is formed in the loudspeaker from the calibration signal, the response of the audio signal is measured and analysed, and the loudspeaker system is adjusted on the basis of the measurement results. The operator is permitted to made additional alterations to the settings of the loudspeaker system on the basis of the measurement performed, the effects of the alterations are calculated and displayed to the operator without additional measurements, and the additional settings are implemented in real time in the loudspeaker system.

Abstract: A graph is selected for preprocessing. Partial shortest path trees are constructed for the vertices of the graph and shortcuts are added to the graph to reduce the reach of certain vertices. The partial trees can be used to divide the arcs into two groups, a high reach group and a low reach group wherein a reach threshold is used to divide the groups. This threshold may be a function of the number of iterations of the preprocessing algorithm performed thus far. Upper bounds on reach of the low reach arcs are computed, and these arcs are deleted from the graph. The preprocessing algorithm is applied iteratively to the remaining arcs in the graph, with the reach threshold changing based on the current iteration. At the end of the preprocessing phase all arc reaches are below the current threshold and are deleted. The graph obtained from the input graph by adding the shortcuts, together with the reach values, may then be used during a query phase to compute shortest paths between two vertices.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group-member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pricing, selling, and/or otherwise distributing electronic content using auction mechanisms. A randomized auction mechanism is used to determine both the number of goods that are sold and the selling price. The auction mechanism automatically adapts to the bid distribution to yield revenue that is competitive with that which could be obtained if the vendor were able to determine the optimal fixed price for the goods. In one embodiment a set of bids is randomly or quasi-randomly partitioned into two or more groups. An optimal threshold is determined for each group, and this threshold is then used to select winning bids from one or more of the other groups. In another embodiment, each bid is compared to a competing bid that is randomly or quasi-randomly selected from the set of bids. If the bid is less than the randomly-selected competing bid, the bid is rejected. Otherwise, the bid is accepted and the bidder buys the auctioned item at the price of the randomly-selected bid.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pricing, selling, and/or otherwise distributing electronic content using auction mechanisms. A randomized auction mechanism is used to determine both the number of goods that are sold and the selling price. The auction mechanism automatically adapts to the bid distribution to yield revenue that is competitive with that which could be obtained if the vendor were able to determine the optimal fixed price for the goods. In one embodiment a set of bids is randomly or quasi-randomly partitioned into two or more groups. An optimal threshold is determined for each group, and this threshold is then used to select winning bids from one or more of the other groups. In another embodiment, each bid is compared to a competing bid that is randomly or quasi-randomly selected from the set of bids. If the bid is less than the randomly-selected competing bid, the bid is rejected. Otherwise, the bid is accepted and the bidder buys the auctioned item at the price of the randomly-selected bid.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for computing shortest paths among a set of locations. A small set of landmarks is chosen and the distance between each location and each landmark is computed and stored. Given source and destination locations, the landmark distances are used to compute lower-bound estimates of distances from locations to the destination. The estimates are then used with a heuristic search to find the shortest path from source to destination.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for computing shortest paths among a set of locations. A set of landmarks is dynamically selected by starting with two original landmarks and then improving the landmark selection based on distance to other landmarks. The landmarks are then used with A* search to find the shortest path from source to destination. Additional improvements are provided to reduce the amount of storage required. Landmarks may be generated or selected from a subset of landmarks during pre-processing using one or more selection heuristics, such as using tree-based heuristics and using a local search.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group -member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.

Abstract: A communications system having a pre-defined calling group with a plurality of members is disclosed. A plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) each have a system ID and a group ID, and each member of the group is assigned one of the PCDs. The system ID and the group ID both have a predetermined characteristic, where each system ID has a first variation thereof and each group ID has a second variation. A first group member having a first PCD contacts a second member having a second PCD by entering into the first PCD the second PCD group ID. The first PCD transmits the first PCD system ID and the second PCD group ID to a communications switch. Based on the first PCD system ID, the communications switch locates a record for the first PCD in a switch database and determines therefrom that the first PCD can contact the second PCD by way of the second PCD group ID. A group database in switchable communication with the communications switch has the system ID and group ID for each group member PCD.