Abstract: Described herein is an application-to-friend data service for constructing and maintaining an application-to-friend index. The data service has a first service component that is triggered when an end-user opens an application. The first service component performs operations to update the database table with current data concerning other end-users who are friends of the end-user on whose behalf the data service has been invoked. The data service includes a second service component to receive and process a query by efficiently returning, for a given end-user and a given application, a list of connections or friends of the given end-user who are also end-users of the application.

Abstract: Described herein is an online service having an integral age gating service. The age gating service is accessible to third-party applications via an application programming interface (API). Consistent with some embodiments, the API includes a method or function call that allows a third-party application developer to establish for a third-party application, age gating logic, for use by the third-party application. The age gating logic may specify a global age threshold, or more than one regional age threshold. The age gating service relies on an access token of an open standards authentication protocol, to provide the third-party application with a Boolean value indicating whether an end-user is above or below an age threshold, without revealing to the third-party application the stated age of an end-user.

Abstract: A system to perform operations that include: executing an application at a client device; presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the application at the client device, the GUI including an icon to initiate a request for a payment to a merchant; receiving an input that selects the icon from the client device; accessing a user profile associated with the client device in response to the request to initiate the payment, the user profile comprising user profile data; generating a payment credential based on the user profile data from the user profile; authorizing the payment to the merchant based on the payment credetitial; executing the payment to the merchant at the client device, within the application, based on the authorizing the payment; and passing a payment token to the merchant responsive to the executing the payment to the merchant within the application, the payment token comprising a validation.

Abstract: A methodology is described that provides access to an augmented reality (AR) component maintained by a messaging server system directly from a web view application. When a user activates, from a web view application executing in the messaging client, a user selectable element that references an AR component, a web view AR system obtains the identification of the AR component, performs validation of the identification and of any additional launch data, and launches a camera view user interface (UI) with the AR component loaded in the camera view UI. Content captured from the camera view UI can be shared to other computing devices.

Abstract: Provided are formulations of anti-CD38 antibodies suitable for subcutaneous administration to a subject in need thereof. The formulations include a high concentration of antibody, a viscosity lowering agent, a stabilizing agent, a buffering agent and a surfactant. In certain embodiments, the viscosity of the solution is at most 25 mPa·s, and the pH of the solution is 5.9 to 7.0. In certain embodiments, the anti-CD38 antibody is isatuximab. The formulations will find use in treating CD38+ hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma, as well as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, in humans.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions such as aqueous liquid compositions and lyophilized compositions comprising a recombinant human acid sphingomyelinase. Provided also are methods for using the compositions to treat patients who are deficient in acid sphingomyelinase.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing an IMS session originated by a UE after restart of a S-CSCF that was previously assigned to a user of the UE during registration with the IMS, when a further S-CSCF is currently assigned to the user. The method comprises, at a HSS, receiving a request to register a user identity of the user from the previously assigned S-CSCF, determining that the previously assigned S-CSCF is not the same as a S-CSCF currently assigned to the user, determining if IMS restoration procedures are supported for the UE, and, if IMS restoration procedures are not supported for the UE, sending a response to the previously assigned S-CSCF, the response identifying the further S-CSCF currently assigned to the user.

Abstract: According to a first aspect there is provided a method of processing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) session originated by a User Equipment (UE) after failure of a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) that was previously assigned to a user of the UE during registration with the IMS. The method comprises, at a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), upon determining that the P-CSCF is unable to forward a session establishment request for the session to the previously assigned S-CSCF, selecting an alternative S-CSCF from a S-CSCF pool, and sending the session establishment request for the session to the alternative S-CSCF.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing an IMS session originated by a UE after restart of a S-CSCF that was previously assigned to a user of the UE during registration with the IMS, when a further S-CSCF is currently assigned to the user. The method comprises, at a HSS, receiving a request to register a user identity of the user from the previously assigned S-CSCF, determining that the previously assigned S-CSCF is not the same as a S-CSCF currently assigned to the user, determining if IMS restoration procedures are supported for the UE, and, if IMS restoration procedures are not supported for the UE, sending a response to the previously assigned S-CSCF, the response identifying the further S-CSCF currently assigned to the user.

Abstract: A system for aggregating resources for the purchase of at least one item by a plurality of individual participants includes a server accessible over a network or Internet, an administrator terminal operable to communicate with the server and allow an administrator to enter and transmit to the server, a purchasing scenario for at least one item, the purchasing scenario specifying at least a group membership condition, an identifier of a recipient, and a purchasing goal, web pages operable to display to a plurality of invitees satisfying the group membership condition the identifier of the recipient and at least one of the purchasing scenario and the purchasing goal, and a plurality of individual participant terminals operable to display the web pages, communicate with the server, and allow the plurality of invitees to indicate to the server a participation in the purchasing scenario, whereby the server is operable to calculate a purchasing threshold defined by the purchasing goal to determine whether the plura

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising excipients or solubilizing agents for proteins. The invention relates to the discovery that a peptide derived from the N-terminus extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2 has properties that enhance the solubility of proteins. The invention also relates to methods of resolubilizing a protein that has precipitated, by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2. The invention also relates to methods of increasing the solubility of a protein by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising excipients or solubilizing agents for proteins. The invention relates to the discovery that a peptide derived from the N-terminus extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2 has properties that enhance the solubility of proteins. The invention also relates to methods of resolubilizing a protein that has precipitated, by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2. The invention also relates to methods of increasing the solubility of a protein by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising excipients or solubilizing agents for proteins. The invention relates to the discovery that a peptide derived from the N-terminus extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2 has properties that enhance the solubility of proteins. The invention also relates to methods of resolubilizing a protein that has precipitated, by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2. The invention also relates to methods of increasing the solubility of a protein by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising excipients or solubilizing agents for proteins. The invention relates to the discovery that a peptide derived from the N-terminus extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2 has properties that enhance the solubility of proteins. The invention also relates to methods of resolubilizing a protein that has precipitated, by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2. The invention also relates to methods of increasing the solubility of a protein by contacting the protein with a peptide comprised of the 17 amino acid extension of the T266 isoform of rhBMP-2.

Abstract: Disclosed are allocolchinones, which are anti-mitotic agents. Allocolchinones bind to tubulin reversibly and are more effective at inhibiting microtubule formation than colchicine. 7-Acetamido-allocolchinone inhibits the growth of a number of tumor cell lines at concentrations about 100 times lower than colchicine. Also disclosed is a method of treating an individual with cancer by administering a composition which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an allocolchinone which inhibits microtubule assembly. Administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition which comprises an allocolchinone which inhibits microtubule assembly can also be used for treating inflammatory diseases, multiple sclerosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Alzheimer's Disease and Behcet's Disease.

Abstract: A direct drive working tool drive system is provided for a drawing machine. Electromagnetic means move the working tool downward toward the working surface of the drawing machine. Resilient means move the working tool upward from the working surface. First and second stroke limit means limit the upward and downward movement of the working tool. The electromagnetic means, resilient means, and first and second stroke limit means are disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the working tool. Suitably, the electromagnetic means comprise a magnetic core having the working tool fixed within it, with the magnetic core being disposed within a solenoid coil. The magnetic core and solenoid coil are disposed coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the working tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting parts out of a sheet of material including a cutting table, an endless gas permeable conveyor movable in a feed direction along the cutting table for supporting the sheet material thereon, a suction box for applying a vacuum to the conveyor and holding the material firmly against the conveyor during a feeding step and a cutting step, a plasma arc cutter for cutting parts from the material supported on the conveyor and a carriage for supporting the plasma arc cutter and moving it along pattern coordinates of the parts. A brake is mounted on the carriage for selectively engaging the conveyor with the carriage to thereby selectively advance the conveyor along the feed direction. A controller stores pattern coordinates of the parts and controls movement of the carriage and actuation of the brake.