Abstract: A method for treating fecal incontinence in a body of a mammal having a rectum formed by a rectal wall extending to an anus wherein the rectal wall includes a sphincter muscle surrounding the anus. At least one nonaqueous solution is introduced into the rectal wall in the vicinity of the anus. A nonbiodegradable solid is formed in the rectal wall from the at least one nonaqueous solution.

Abstract: An electronic trading system includes a plurality of trader terminals for receiving credit parameter data, arbitrage parameter data, and trading data from a trading entity, and a computer connected to the plurality of trader terminals via a communications network that receives and stores the credit parameter data and the trading data. The system also includes a detector circuit or program for automatically detecting an available arbitrage opportunity including a plurality of trades based on the credit parameter data, the arbitrage parameter data, and the trading data. A similar electronic trading system includes an automatic name switch feature wherein the plurality of trader terminals receive name switch parameter data, credit parameter data, and trading data from the trading entity. A circuit or program automatically detects and executes available name switch transactions based on the credit parameter data, the name switch parameter data, and the trading data.

Abstract: A system and method for spatially profiling a distribution of hydrophobicity of a transmembrane protein includes a scaler which generates scaled hydrophobicity values for the transmembrane protein, and a profiler which spatially profiles a hydrophobicity distribution for the transmembrane protein based on the scaled hydrophobicity values.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional system for assessing, coding, quantifying, displaying, integrating and communicating information relating to patient health and perioperative risk includes a mechanism for inputting patient information and providing an output relating to the patient health and perioperative risk. The output includes a score for the physical condition of the patient, a score for the degree of expected surgical risk and invasiveness, a score for other vital assessments of perioperative complexity, and alphanumeric codes for other factors that may require special preoperative preparation and planning.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to allow Internet Key Exchange (IKE) phase 1 keying materials to be periodically refreshed in a secure manner without requiring user interaction. A client and server perform authentication and key exchange during set up of a secure connection. A token is passed to the client by the server during or after the initial user authentication phase. The token is stored both at the client and at the server. Instead of requiring user credentials, the token can be used to securely prove the identity of the client.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing blood volume within a subject includes generating a cardiovascular waveform representing physiological characteristics of a subject and determining blood volume of the subject by analyzing the cardiovascular waveform. The step of analyzing includes generating a first trace of the per heart-beat maximums of the cardiovascular waveform, which is representative of the systolic pressure upon the cardiovascular signal, generating a second trace of the per heart-beat minimums of the cardiovascular waveform, which is representative of the diastolic pressure upon the cardiovascular signal, and comparing the respective first trace and the second trace to generate an estimate of relative blood volume within the subject. In accordance with an alternate method of analyzing harmonic analysis is applied to the cardiovascular waveform, extracting a frequency signal created by ventilation and applying the extracted frequency signal in determining blood volume of the subject.

Abstract: A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach and a pyloric sphincter and a wall forming the stomach and pyloric sphincter. At least one implant is formed in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

Abstract: A method for forming a valve-like mechanism in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer and a mucosal layer. The method comprises the step of forming at least one implant in the muscle layer of the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The at least one implant inhibits opening of esophagus at the lower esophageal sphincter and causes the mucosal layer to appose in the vicinity of the implants.

Abstract: A matching computer is provided for a negotiated matching system that includes a plurality of remote terminals associated with respective potential counterparties, a communications network for permitting communication between the remote terminals, and the matching computer. Each user enters first parameters for a trading instrument into his or her remote terminal. The matching computer uses the trading parameters from each user to identify potential transactions between counterparties that are mutually acceptable based on the first parameters, thereby matching potential counterparties to a potential transaction. Once a match occurs, the potential counterparties can transmit negotiating messages to negotiate some or all terms of the transaction. Thus, the matching computer first matches potential counterparties who are acceptable to each other based on first trading parameters, and then enables the counterparties to negotiate and finalize the terms of a transaction.

Abstract: An electronic trading system includes a plurality of trader terminals for receiving credit parameter data, arbitrage parameter data, and trading data from a trading entity, and a computer connected to the plurality of trader terminals via a communications network that receives and stores the credit parameter data and the trading data. The system also includes a detector circuit or program for automatically detecting an available arbitrage opportunity including a plurality of trades based on the credit parameter data, the arbitrage parameter data, and the trading data. A similar electronic trading system includes an automatic name switch feature wherein the plurality of trader terminals receive name switch parameter data, credit parameter data, and trading data from the trading entity. A circuit or program automatically detects and executes available name switch transactions based on the credit parameter data, the name switch parameter data, and the trading data.

Abstract: A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach and a pyloric sphincter and a wall forming the stomach and pyloric sphincter. At least one implant is formed in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

Abstract: A phosphate ester-based functional fluid composition incorporating at least one erosion inhibitor selected from the erosion inhibitors of the invention. The phosphate ester-based functional fluids are particularly useful as aviation hydraulic fluids.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing one or more protein structures. In one aspect of the invention, the technique comprises the following steps. A normalized second-order hydrophobic moment is determined for a protein structure. The normalized second-order hydrophobic moment is then used for analysis of the protein structure. A scoring function in accordance with the normalized second-order hydrophobic moment for the protein structure may be determined. A score for the protein structure may then be generated using the scoring function. The scoring function may represent an integral of the normalized second-order hydrophobic moment. The scores may be generated for a plurality of protein structures. The scores generated for the plurality of protein structures may then be compared.

Abstract: An article conveyor having live rollers driven by a polymeric driven pad which has a wear indicator element co-extruded with the driven pad. The element is visually distinct from the pad and has converging sides in the driven pad so that wear on the pad is indicated by the amount of the wear element visible to an observer.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes a set of D descriptors for each of N items. A value K′ representing a number of descriptors, and a value K for a number of items that should support an hypothesis are generated, preferably via user input. Collections involving K or more items for which there is an association involving a selection of values across at least K′ of the D descriptors are identified, and preferably reported to the user.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system describes molecules in a most fundamental and compact way using a set of attributes of the molecule derived from data representing the atomic structure and atomic charge of the molecule. The attributes include the shape of the molecule as defined by the moment of inertia of the molecule, the charge distribution of the molecule as defined by a novel representation of molecular quadrupole, and/or attributes that represent the relationship of the shape to the charge distribution of the molecule. A set of these physical attributes are represented by a set of descriptors. The set of descriptors may be used for molecular matching and activity prediction, as well as in 3D-QSAR analysis.