Abstract: Apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a contract repository (200) in which details of each of a plurality of contracts established with a supplier of a good or service is stored. Similarly, each of a plurality of purchase orders (30) submitted by one or more buyers are stored in a purchase order repository 300. A subsystem (1) for linking purchase orders (30) to contracts (20) and for aggregating information is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in making a purchase decision regarding purchase of a plurality of units of a good or service from a plurality of potential suppliers (14) at one or more purchasing times, the apparatus being arranged to determine, estimate or otherwise obtain one or more outcomes for each purchasing time based on one or more quantities of units (16) of the good or service potentially or actually required to be purchased at the purchasing time and/or predicted fluctuations of price of said good or service during said purchase period and access details (10) of terms under which said good or service may be purchased from each of the potential suppliers (14).

Abstract: A method of determining a bidding strategy for the simultaneous purchase of at least one individual service component (34) from one or more forward auctions (22a,22b), and the provision of a composite service (36) requested by a reverse auction (20), is described. The method comprises: identifying forward auctions (22a,22b) selling the at least one individual service component (34); identifying a reverse auction (20) requesting a composite service (36) comprising the at least one service component (34); determining a plurality of possible combinations of the identified forward (22a,22b) and reverse auctions (20); estimating the expected benefit of bidding in each of the plurality of possible combination of auctions (20,22a,22b) by use of likelihood models (44), wherein each likelihood model (44) establishes the likelihood of a particular bid succeeding in a given auction; and selecting the combination of auctions to increase the expected benefit for use as the bidding strategy.

Abstract: A system and method for actively alerting the viewer of any television program to the occurrence of one or more content-based events previously specified as desired by the user that occur in other programs and giving that user the opportunity to tune to, record or perform other functions with those programs. The system integrates data obtained from a data feed with corresponding electronic program data to generate content-based events that the user is alerted to, based on his or her preferences.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) 1

Abstract: The invention relates to the finding that the VHL tumour suppressor protein regulates hypoxia inducible factor &agr; subunits, by targeting HIF &agr; for destruction in normoxic, but not hypoxic cells. The invention provides assays for modulators of this interaction, and peptides based upon HIF &agr; subunit sequence which may modulate this interaction.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) in which R2, X, Y, Cy, L and Lp(D)n have the meanings given in the specification, are inhibitors of the serine protease, factor Xa and are useful in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract: An electrical parameter imaging apparatus and method includes the acquisition of a charge distribution pattern on an array of electrodes that surround an object being imaged. In addition the exterior boundary, or contours of the object is measured by an array of light beams and associated light sensors. The contour measurement is employed to provide a first estimate of the object geometry needed to compute an electrical parameter image from the acquired charge distribution pattern.

Abstract: A system for loading self-expanding stents into a stent delivery system that comprises a lubricious coating on one or more components to substantially reduce the frictional forces associated with loading stents. The stents may be bare or coated stents. The lubricious coating comprises a solution of Dow Corning® MDX4-4159 Fluid 50% Medical Grade Dispersion.

Abstract: A cold water infusible tea leaf product is shown which brews in cold water to produce an iced tea beverage with the color and flavor of iced teas prepared by hot brewing methods. The product when brewed in water at about 15° C. for about 5 minutes at a water to tea ratio of 100 water to 1 tea has a cold water infusion Hunter L Value of about 25 to 45; a Hunter “a” value of about 24 to 34; a Hunter haze value of less than 40 and at least 0.15% soluble tea solids.

Abstract: A computerised method for measuring compatibility among negotiation proposals of participants which communicate using an electronic communications network comprises the steps of: submitting proposals to a centralised negotiation processor from the participants; returning information on compatible or near-compatible proposals to each participant from a centralised negotiation processor; locally measuring compatibility of the returned proposals based on the participant's preferences over the parameters being negotiated using a local compatibility measurer; and ranking the returned proposals based on the local measurements of compatibility of the proposals.

Abstract: A system comprising

Abstract: A system for loading self-expanding stents into a stent delivery system that comprises a lubricious coating on one or more components to substantially reduce the frictional forces associated with loading stents. The stents may be bare or coated stents. The lubricious coating comprises glycerol.

Abstract: A novel class of hydroxylases is described having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6 and 8, and variants and fragments thereof having HIF hydroxylation activity. The polypeptides of the invention have in particular prolyl hydroxylase activity. An assay method monitors the interaction of the HIF hydroxylase with a substrate. Modulators of HIF hydroxylase are provided for use in the treatment of a condition associated with increased or decreased HIF levels or activity or for the treatment of a condition where it is desirable to modulate HIF levels or activity.

Abstract: Compounds of formula (I) 1

Abstract: There is provided computerised apparatus and a method of converting a financial portfolio strategy into a set of tactics.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of neuroscience, growth factors and depression. More particularly, the present invention addresses the need in the art for methods and compositions for treating neurological disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, bi-polar disorder, insomnia, obsessive compulsive disorder, dysthymic disorder and schizophrenia. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to non-covalent binding interactions between insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs).

Abstract: Compounds of formula I 1

Abstract: A wheeled bogie unit is engageable with one end of a chassis of a treatment plant to support that end of the chassis above the ground for the suspended transport of the plant. The bogie unit has a chassis, at least one wheel set supporting the chassis, a lifting cradle mounted on the chassis and having a projecting end which is engageable with the end of the plant chassis, a support and guide surface provided on the projecting end of the cradle which is engageable with a lifting surface provided on the end of the plant chassis, in order to suspend one end of the plant chassis above the ground, and a slide mounting the cradle on the bogie chassis for relative slidable movement between a lowered position and a raised lifting position. In the lowered position, the end of the plant chassis is standing on the ground adjacent thereto. In the raised lifting position, the end of the plant chassis is lifted off the ground and is supported by the support and guide surface of the lifting cradle.

Abstract: A computerised method for improving security in multi-party multivariate negotiation between negotiating participants which communicate using an electronic communications network comprises the steps of: submitting proposals from the participants to the centralised negotiation processor via the electronic communications network; returning compatible proposals to each participant from the centralised negotiation processor; locally assigning a utility score to each compatible proposal based on the participant's preferences over the parameters being negotiated; and submitting the assigned utility scores for the compatible proposals to the centralised negotiation processor from each participant.