Abstract: A lightweight, portable, interchangeable and effective overlay plate that will increase the efficiency of brachytherapy radiation treatment and reduce the duration of the radiation exposure during the radioactive seed insertion and positioning in brachytherapy. The overlay plate has a limited number of apertures specific to the treatment of a particular patient and is attached to the matrix used to position and guide the needles with the radioactive seeds. The apertures of the overlay plate may further be truncated-cone-shaped, with the narrow ends aligned with corresponding apertures in the matrix and the flared ends facing the user. The overlay plate minimizes the radiation exposure as much as reasonably possible because any amount of radiation exposure carries a risk to the exposed individual, and the overlay plate may also be manufactured from radiation-protective material to further minimize the radiation exposure.

Abstract: Methods, systems and/or kits for the preparation, purification and isolation of oligonucleotide conjugates, comprising conjugation of modified antibodies or proteins with at least one modified oligonucleotide at greater than 80% efficiency to form oligonucleotide conjugates and isolating the oligonucleotide conjugates from the conjugation solution by binding the conjugates to an immobilized binder, wherein the binder may be a metal ion or an antibody.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to implementing locale-based sorting and to creating temporary metadata sorting values. In one scenario, a computer system sends a request for a contact list, where the request includes an indication of the user's locale. The contact list includes contact information for contacts of a specified user. The computer system receives the requested contact list, which includes various portions of appended, locale-specific sorting metadata for at least one of the user's contacts' fields. The computer system then sorts the contacts of the contact list according to the selected sorting criterion using the sorting metadata, where the sorting metadata includes a sorting order specific to the user's locale. After the contacts are sorted, the computer system presents the sorted contacts to the user in a user interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating product advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a product target generation server system includes a processor, product data including a plurality of attribute-value pairs describing a set of products, semantic models including data describing relationships between product targets, concepts described using categories and attribute-value pairs, and target grouping data constituting a set of groupings of product targets, global performance data including performance data, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one category in a portion of the product data, determine a product advertising structure based on the product data and the identified at least one category, match a portion of the groupings of product data with the product targets within the global performance data, identify performance data, and generate at least one product target using the identified performance data and the product data.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to locally storing a snapshot of a personal information management web application, efficiently booting a personal information management web application and to managing personal information management web application snapshots. In one scenario, a client computer system determines that various portions of stored content for a personal information management web application have been changed. The client computer system creates a snapshot of certain, specified portions of data that are used for booting the personal information management web application and stores the created snapshot in local storage on the client computer system. As such, the snapshot is available for the next personal information management web application boot-up.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating product advertising campaigns in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a product target generation server system includes a processor, product data including a plurality of attribute-value pairs describing a set of products, semantic models including data describing relationships between product targets, concepts described using categories and attribute-value pairs, and target grouping data constituting a set of groupings of product targets, global performance data including performance data, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one category in a portion of the product data, determine a product advertising structure based on the product data and the identified at least one category, match a portion of the groupings of product data with the product targets within the global performance data, identify performance data, and generate at least one product target using the identified performance data and the product data.

Abstract: A method for telephony includes receiving at an Internet telephony service provider a subscriber request to place a call to a telephone number. A cache associated with the internet telephony service provider is queried to check if the cache holds a record for the telephone number. If the cache holds the record, the record is obtained. If the cache does not hold the record, a request is sent to a database server that maintains a database of records associating endpoint user terminal telephone numbers of subscribers with respective packet network addresses of the endpoint user terminal. The call is placed to the endpoint user terminal telephone number via a public switched telephone network while the request is sent to the database server to retrieve the packet network address of the endpoint user terminal to which calls to the telephone number should be placed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting the extent of DNA damage in a subject suspected of having DNA damage wherein the damage results in the formation of aldehyde moieties in DNA comprising, obtaining a DNA sample from the subject, combining the DNA sample with a fluorescent, chromogenic, pro-fluorescent or pro-chromogenic hydrazine compound to from a fluorescent DNA, detecting the presence of the fluorescent DNA by monitoring the fluorescent emission and quantitating the fluorescent emission thereby determining the extent of DNA damage in the subject.

Abstract: The invention provides diagnostic and therapeutic targets for pulmonary disease, in particular, fibrotic lung disease. The inventors have found that a genetic variant MUC5B gene is associated with increased expression of the gene, increased risk of developing a pulmonary disease, and an improved prognosis and survival among those developing the pulmonary disease.

Abstract: Novel Hydrazone-based Fluorescent and Pro-Fluorescent Reagents and Linkers, including conjugationally extended hydrazine compositions, fluorescent hydrazone compositions, methods of the formation of hydrazones from the reaction of conjugationally extended hydrazines with conjugationally extended carbonyls, and methods of their use in assays systems are described. Use of these conjugationally compositions for direct colorimetric and fluorometric assays wherein a chromophore or the fluorophore is incorporated into the linker that is positioned between a reactive linking moiety and a biotin molecule.

Abstract: This invention relates to an adjustable foot support including a mount housing and lower housing. The mount housing is configured to be externally mounted to a piece of furniture and includes an internal, threaded column. The lower housing also includes an internal threaded column with the column configured to mate with the mount housing.

Abstract: A Digital Shopping Network allows consumers to interact with a call to action (CTA) displayed with a unique serialized actionable medium. The actionable medium is associated with a uniquely identifiable variable offer at a public site. When the consumer responds to the CTA, a time variable offer response is generated by a processor accessing variable data stored in a Digital Network Database (DND) for that serialized actionable medium. The DND may include an Offer Database for multiple offer responses, including the time variable offer response, each offer response corresponding to a time variable description for a corresponding CTA available to the consumer at the public site. The offer response is communicated to the consumer, or to a designated recipient, via a mobile communication network, the Internet or other electronic means. The invention includes a network system, software program and a method of operating the network.

Abstract: The invention provides diagnostic and therapeutic targets for pulmonary disease, in particular, fibrotic lung disease. The inventors have found that a genetic variant MUC5B gene is associated with increased expression of the gene, increased risk of developing a pulmonary disease, and an improved prognosis and survival among those developing the pulmonary disease.

Abstract: A device and method restricting water flow from a bathroom fixture is provided herewith. A preferred embodiment of the improved flow restrictor assembly comprises a metallic fitting or housing that accommodates an interior ring assembly and a flow-restrictor disk. The fitting is substantially tubular with a top section, a bottom section and an intersection. The top section of the fitting is defined by an opening, a hollow interior and a ledge upon which the interior ring assembly and flow-restrictor disk are positioned when the flow restrictor assembly is installed and in use. The bottom section features a pair of gripping planes which can be gripped by a specialized tool for purposes of uninstalling the improved flow restrictor assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and formulations comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and adapted for use in a bath or soak or bath beads, powders, salts, and oils, kits, and methods of treatment using the same. Also disclosed are lozenges, suppositories, patches, and topical creams comprising glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of joint conditions and methods of treatment using the same. In some embodiments the joint conditions include osteoarthritis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and/or uses of oligonucleotide conjugates for assays and detections and related systems and/or kits for suppressing background due to cross-hybridization. Certain methods are directed to a method for detecting one or more biological targets of a sample in a detection assay, comprising: providing a molecular probe, comprising a binding moiety and an oligonucleotide sequence, to a sample comprising one or more biological targets; binding the one or more biological targets with the binding moiety; providing a detectable component to the sample, wherein the detectable component comprises a signal generating moiety conjugated to an oligonucleotide sequence complementary to the oligonucleotide sequence of the molecular probe; hydridizing the oligonucleotide sequence of the target-bound molecular probe to the detectable component; and detecting a signal generated from the hydridized detectable component. Various other embodiments, applications etc. are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention provides the compounds of formula (): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, A, X, Y, a, b and n are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods for making the compounds of formula (I) and their use in treating or preventing diseases associated with cell overproliferation and dysfunctional sphingolipid signal transduction. The invention also encompasses the use of the compounds in combination with an apoptosis-signaling ligand, such as Fas ligand. Preferably, the Fas ligand is administered in the form of a gene therapy agent.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting the extent of DNA damage in a subject suspected of having DNA damage wherein the damage results in the formation of aldehyde moieties in DNA comprising, obtaining a DNA sample from the subject, combining the DNA sample with a fluorescent, chromogenic, pro-fluorescent or pro-chromogenic hydrazine compound to from a fluorescent DNA, detecting the presence of the fluorescent DNA by monitoring the fluorescent emission and quantitating the fluorescent emission thereby determining the extent of DNA damage in the subject.

Abstract: A device and method restricting water flow from a bathroom fixture is provided herewith. A preferred embodiment of the improved flow restrictor assembly comprises a metallic fitting or housing that accommodates an interior ring assembly and a flow-restrictor disk. The fitting is substantially tubular with a top section, a bottom section and an intersection. The top section of the fitting is defined by an opening, a hollow interior and a ledge upon which the interior ring assembly and flow-restrictor disk are positioned when the flow restrictor assembly is installed and in use. The bottom section features a pair of gripping planes which can be gripped by a specialized tool for purposes of uninstalling the improved flow restrictor assembly.

Abstract: Conjugationally extended hydrazine compositions of the formula (RR2)N(H)n(NH2)n, fluorescent hydrazone compositions of the formula (RR2)NN?C(R1R2), methods of the formation of hydrazones from the reaction of conjugationally extended hydrazines with conjugationally extended carbonyls and methods of their use in assays systems are described. Use of these conjugationally extended hydrazine and oxime compositions for direct calorimetric and fluorometric assays wherein a chromophore or the fluorophore is incorporated into the linker that is positioned between a reactive linking moiety and a biotin molecule.