Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating the activity or level of a sirtuin, thereby treating or preventing obesity or an insulin resistance disorder, such as diabetes in a subject. Exemplary methods comprise contacting a cell with a sirtuin activating compound or an inhibitory compound to thereby increase or decrease fat accumulation, respectively.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating the activity of sirtuin deacetylase protein family members; p53 activity; apoptosis; lifespan and sensitivity to stress of cells and organisms. Exemplary methods comprise contacting a cell with an activating compound, such as a flavone, stilbene, flavanone, isoflavone, catechin, chalcone, tannin or anthocyanidin; or an inhibitory compound, such as a sphingolipid, e.g., sphingosine.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for modulating the activity of sirtuin deacetylase protein family members; p53 activity; apoptosis; lifespan and sensitivity to stress of cells and organisms. Exemplary methods comprise contacting a cell with an activating compound, such as a flavone, stilbene, flavanone, isoflavone, catechin, chalcone, tannin or anthocyanidin; or an inhibitory compound, such as a sphingolipid, e.g., sphingosine.

Abstract: An Internet based method for ordering and supplying selected coded labels to be applied to a variety of fruits and vegetables at a plurality of labelling sites is provided. The supply of different coded labels at each labelling site is continuously and automatically inventoried. The inventorying is facilitated by the use of a data tag carried by the core on which a label strip is wound, the data tag including data sufficient to uniquely identify the labels carried by that core including the specific label identify and quantity. The label inventory for each of the labelling sites is stored. Approved customers or representatives may access the stored inventory data and display the data on a computer monitor and may order additional selected labels for one or more of the labelling sites.

Abstract: A shared resource allocation system for allocating a shared resource amongst a plurality of devices operable to access or use the resource. The system includes controlling means for controlling access to or use of the resource by each of the devices and means for receiving bids from one or more of the devices. Each bid indicates a requested amount of the resource and a price offered for the requested amount. The system also includes allocation means for processing the received bids to determine an appropriate allocation of the resource, and instructing means for instructing the controlling means to control access to or use of the shared resource in accordance with the determined allocation.

Abstract: A memory clock control system and method facilitates power reduction on a dynamic basis by detecting memory access request loading from a number of memory access devices, such as video and graphics engines. Based on the detected memory access requirements, the system and method adaptively varies a memory clock frequency in response to determining the desired memory usage at a given point in time. The memory clock is varied based on the priority of a given memory access engine, such that the clock is kept or increased to a higher rate for high priority engines such as real-time processing engines to facilitate high performance video capture.

Abstract: An Internet based method for ordering and supplying selected coded labels to be applied to a variety of fruits and vegetables at a plurality of labelling sites is provided. The supply of different coded labels at each labelling site is continuously and automatically inventoried. The inventorying is facilitated by the use of a data tag carried by the core on which a label strip is wound, the data tag including data sufficient to uniquely identify the labels carried by that core including the specific label identify and quantity. The label inventory for each of the labelling sites is stored. Approved customers or representatives may access the stored inventory data and display the data on a computer monitor and may order additional selected labels for one or more of the labelling sites.

Abstract: An assembly for measuring the condition of fruit and vegetable is disclosed which comprises an expandable resilient bellows arrangement (10) having a passive sensor (22) mounted therein. In use, the bellows (10) can be expanded so as to bring the passive sensor (22) into contact with, or adjacent to, and item of fruit or vegetable whereby the sensor can react to a property of the fruit or vegetable and produces a signal related to that property. The bellows (10) can the be contracted away from the fruit or vegetable. The sensor (22) can detect the properties of, for example, surface gas detection, chlorophyll fluorescence, visible and Near Infra Red spectrometry and change transfer. An arrangement is also disclosed in which a plurality of bellows (10) are mounted on a rotatable mounting (510) whereby by rotation of the mounting (510), the bellows (10) can be brought sequentially into a position in contact with, or adjacent to, a respective fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: A memory clock control system and method facilitates power reduction on a dynamic basis by detecting memory access request loading from a number of memory access devices, such as video and graphics engines. Based on the detected memory access requirements, the system and method adaptively varies a memory clock frequency in response to determining the desired memory usage at a given point in time. The memory clock is varied based on the priority of a given memory access engine, such that the clock is kept or increased to a higher rate for high priority engines such as real-time processing engines to facilitate high performance video capture.

Abstract: Methods of identifying agents or compounds which are capable of inhibiting the replication and/or accumulation of DNA circles in cells are described. Also described are methods of assessing the ability of a compound to extend life span, as well as methods of extending life span, comprising administering to a cell a compound identified by the assays described herein which extends life span. The invention also pertains to isolated mWRN, or an active derivative or fragment thereof and to an isolated nucleic acid molecule which encodes mWRN, or an active derivative or fragment thereof.

Abstract: A computer-driven information management system selectively matches credit applicants with money lenders through a global communications network. The system includes an applicant data entry device for entering applicant data into the system. The applicant data defines an electronic applicant profile of a credit applicant seeking financing. A model data entry device is provided for entering model data into the system. The model data is established by the lender and defines an electronic model profile representing characteristics of a desired applicant. A filter electronically compares the applicant profile with the model profile, such that for those credit applicants matching the model profile, the applicant data is made available through the system to lender. For those credit applicants not matching the model profile, no applicant data is made available through the system to the lender.

Abstract: A data communication network having a number of end stations connected together for data communication therebetween. At least one network interconnect device receives and transmits data packets. The network interconnect device further includes a memory and a processor, each end station and network interconnect device being adapted to transmit data in accordance with a protocol in which copies of a route recording data packet are transmitted along multiple routes through the network. The memory of the network interconnect device is adapted to store information relating to the manner in which route recording data packets reach the network interconnect device.

Abstract: A powder coating composition, suitable for providing a coating having certain appearance or performance attributes, which includes composite particles that are agglomerates of individual particulate components fused or bonded together into composite particles such that the composite particles are air-fluidizable and can be applied to a substrate by electrostatic spray without causing the individual particles in the composite particles to break down under the mechanical and/or electrostatic forces associated with their application to a substrate.

Abstract: An all-solid-state laser comprising a slab (1) of gain medium, a diode laser pump system (3) configured in an end pumping geometry with the gain medium (1) and a heat sink thermally contacted to the gain medium (1) wherein the diode laser pump system (3) and the gain medium (1) are cooperably arranged so that in use a positive thermal lens is capable of being formed within the medium, the gain medium (1) having a thickness (d-d') made as small as possible while permitting the substantially unhindered passage through the slab of the laser mode established between the two mirrors (M1, M2).

Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid level gauging sensor has a transducer at the lower end of a tube that is filled with liquid to the same height as liquid outside the tube. The sensor has an axial rod extending along the tube and supporting several calibration reflectors. The rod enables the sensor to be used at high tilt angles.

Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid-level sensing system has a sensor with a number of reflectors mounted one above the other along the length of a tube that extends upwardly from a transducer and is filled with liquid to the same height as outside the tube. Liquid height is calculated from the difference between the arrival times of the pulses reflected from the two uppermost submerged reflectors and the difference between the arrival times of pulses reflected from the surface of the liquid and the uppermost submerged reflector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid level sensor has a transducer mounted at the lower end of an aluminum tube that projects upwardly in a liquid tank so that the tube is filled with liquid to the same height as that outside the tube. Internally, the tube has a layer of an acoustically-absorbing plastics to damp the transmission of ultrasonic vibration from the wall of the tube into liquid within the tube.

Abstract: In a display system an array of data values such as, for example, an array of speech waveform samples, is represented in a display field by logically dividing the display field into a number of display areas and determining (e.g. in 16), for each value of the data array, the area of the display field within which that value should be displayed, comparing that value to a range for the area in question and updating the range to include that value if it lies outside the range previously defined for that area and then plotting, within each area of the display field, a line joining display screen positions defined by the range in the range storage for that area.

Abstract: An aircraft fuel gauging system has a capacitance level probe mounted in a fuel tank that receives an alternating signal from a drive unit. The output of the level probe is connected to two diodes one of which is connected in series to earth and the other of which is connected in the opposite sense to a measuring unit. The measuring unit includes a signal conditioning unit which is switchable between operating as a d.c. current to voltage amplifier and a d.c. voltage amplifier by switching a resistor out of or into series connection with the diodes. A constant current source backs off the current from the probe when the tank is empty. Periodically, the supply of signals from the drive unit is interrupted and the conditioning unit is switched to operating as a d.c. voltage amplifier, the measuring unit measuring the voltage drop across the two diodes caused by current from the constant source.

Abstract: Dark field viewing apparatus comprises either (a) a source of coherent plane wave radiation and focused coherent receiving means, or (b) a source of focused coherent radiation and a coherent receiver of plane wave radiation, the source and receiver being axially aligned in both cases; and elimination means to eliminate any radiation which in the region of the focus would travel substantially parallel to the axis of the apparatus. The apparatus may be a transmission or a reflection scanning acoustic microscope or a holographic recording system, and the elimination means may be a small acoustically-absorbent stop.