Abstract: The present invention provides product available varieties information. In one embodiment, a method of providing information regarding items for sale is provided. The method comprises displaying items for sale on a graphic user interface (GUI). Providing an available varieties link on the GUI for items having different varieties and displaying the available varieties of an associated item when the varieties link has been activated.

Abstract: An apparatus including: a display including an array of picture elements which are configurable to provide information to a user; a first sensor for sensing force applied to the display by the user, the first sensor comprising a substantially transparent conductive member extending over at least a portion of the array of picture elements and configured to be deformable by the user, the first sensor being configured to provide an output associated with the deformation of the conductive member.

Abstract: A composition is provided comprising N. meningitidis outer membrane vesicles, wherein said outer membrane vesicles are enriched with at least one antigenic component. The composition is suitable for use in vaccines and for treatment of infection, particularly meningococcal infection, demonstrating a broad spectrum of protection. A number of preferred antigenic components are described and include antigenic proteins and proteoglycans derived from N. meningitidis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system has a two dimensional array arranged in multiple patches of multiple transducer elements. Each patch of transducer elements is coupled to a group of microbeamformer delay lines having outputs coupled to a channel of a system beamformer, which beamforms the partially summed beams of each patch into a final beamformed signal. The outputs from multiple patches which are not simultaneously used in the active receive aperture are coupled to a common beamformer channel, enabling the number of patches of the array to exceed the number of channels of the system beamformer without the use of multiplexers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and applications for controlling an interactive program guide (IPG) to be displayed on a display screen are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, among others, an application is stored in memory and is configured to control an IPG. The application comprises logic configured to maintain a data structure. The data structure includes a first category corresponding to a plurality of media services and a second category corresponding to a first value representing the number of times that a tuner system tunes to each one of the media services. The application also comprises logic configured to detect when the tuner system tunes to a particular media service channel. In addition, the application comprises logic configured to increment the first value related to the particular media service channel in response to detecting the tuner system tuning to the particular media service channel.

Abstract: A composition is prepared from a mixture of different vesicles, such as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and vaccines are based thereon. Another composition comprises in a single vesicle a combination of antigens and/or other vesicle components deriving from separate vesicles; again vaccines are prepared therefrom.

Abstract: An ad delivery and implementation system is provided. One method includes attaching a unique identifier to a brand ad. Providing the brand ad to be displayed on a graphic user interface (GUI). Upon selection of the brand ad, reading the unique identifier and identifying the brand ad by reading the unique identifier.

Abstract: A method of determining a refund on a communications network The method comprises the steps of allowing a user to request responses to a query through the medium of the communications network in return for a fee paid by the user. A selected time the request for responses terminates, and a determination is made of whether to give a refund to the user. The determination is based or a criterium on criteria independent of the user.

Abstract: The invention consists in a promotional system useable on a network. The network provides means for experts to answer questions submitted by enquirers. Means are provided for an advertiser to offer advertisements to experts and further means are provided to allow individual experts to either supply or not supply the advertising material supplied by the advertiser to the expert.

Abstract: A power supply providing current interruption based on the energy from the supply over a sliding window of time is disclosed. The output current from the supply is periodically reestablished.

Abstract: A receiver particularly suited for an M-BUS is described. During transmission, the receiver is disabled. After each transmission, nodes and states in the receiver are set to prepare the receiver to receive a signal. Once data is sensed, a feedback loop clips the input signal to the receiver to limit the swing of the input signal. The line of the power supply at the lower potential is modulated, rather than modulating the line at the higher potential, for the transmission of data.

Abstract: A water valve assembly including a housing, an inlet chamber defining a water inlet for receiving a flow of water into the inlet chamber and a valve for controlling the flow of water through the inlet into the inlet chamber. A mixing chamber is connected to the inlet chamber so as to receive water from the inlet chamber, the mixing chamber defining a supplementary water inlet for receiving a supplementary flow of water and defining a mixed water outlet from which a mixture of water from the inlet chamber and the supplementary water inlet may be provided. The inlet chamber and the mixing chamber are both provided within the first housing and are arranged one within the other. A second housing may be provided with an inlet chamber, a valve for controlling flow of water into the inlet chamber and a supplementary water outlet for connection to the supplementary water inlet of the first housing.

Abstract: The invention consists in a computer network based method for rating persons who rate rateable factors. The method comprising the steps of providing a reward to a person making a rating of a rateable factor. The quantum of the reward is adjusted according to at least one criteria, which may be at least one of, promptness of the submission of the rating, to what extent the persons rating deviates from the average rating by other persons to the same rateable factor, and to what extent that persons rating deviates from the average rating of similar rateable factors in the past.

Abstract: An automatic optical power management system for use with an optical communications system includes a light source residing in a first circuit pack and adapted to emit light at a nominal power level only absent receipt of an indicator signifying a loss of signal resulting from a fiber discontinuity relating to the first optical fiber, wherein the nominal power level is of sufficient magnitude to violate laser safety guidelines in the event of the fiber discontinuity. A redundant detection system includes a first optical detector residing in the first circuit pack, and a second optical detector residing in a second circuit pack that is optically adjacent to the first circuit. A redundant response system communicates an indicator signifying loss of signal from the first and second optical detectors to the light source upon detection of loss of signal by either detector.

Abstract: An information service includes a network and material on the network provided by an entity. The network provides or is linked to, a request for information elements for submission of a request by the submitter to the entity. Elements are provided to optionally provide an inducement to likely submitters or selected subgroup or subgroups of likely submitters to submit a query.

Abstract: A tool for use in affixing an optical component, such as glass, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) using a silicone gel mixture of dimethyl siloxane and a vinyl terminated dimethyl polymer includes, in one embodiment, a unitary metallic platen that is shaped to define a central window. A narrow shelf is defined around the outer periphery of the central window, the shelf serving to support the optical component during the application of the silicone gel thereon. A upwardly extending partition is formed onto the top surface of the platen around the shelf, the partition serving, among other things, to retain the optical component fixed in place on the platen during the assembly process. A plurality of identical, spaced apart, upwardly extending standoffs are formed onto the free end of the partition and are designed to support the LCD a fixed distance away from the optical component.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of microbial infection, and in particular meningococcal disease, comprise a commensal Neisseria or an extract of a commensal Neisseria. Further methods and compositions comprise commensal Neisseria which express genes from virulent strains of Neisseria and/or heterologous gene products from non-neisserial sources. Such compositions are used in vaccine preparations for the treatment of microbial infection.

Abstract: Apodization control techniques for a microbeamformer including a plurality of microbeamformer channels each including a transducer, a microbeamformer transmitter for driving the transducer, a microbeamformer receiver for receiving signals from the transducer and usually a delay element for delaying the received transducer signals. To improve the generation of waveforms by the transducers, the voltage provided to the microbeamformer transmitters is adjusted and/or the current provided by the microbeamformer transmitters is adjusted. The microbeamformer channels can also be grouped together into patches and/or clusters with the patches and clusters being provided with a common voltage source or current.

Abstract: Providing product information to a consumer based on the likelihood the consumer will purchase the product. In one embodiment, a method recognizes a consumer. A data scoring algorithm is applied to sale products based on the shopping history of the consumer. The scoring algorithm is adapted to determine the likelihood of the consumer to purchase the sale items and display select sale products based on the data scoring algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention provides product available varieties information. In one embodiment, a method of providing information regarding items for sale is provided. The method comprises displaying items for sale on a graphic user interface (GUI). Providing an available varieties link on the GUI for items having different varieties and displaying the available varieties of an associated item when the varieties link has been activated.