Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the production of chondroitin sulphate with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 10-30 kDa by chemical sulphation starting from an unsulphated chondroitin backbone, obtained in turn by acid hydrolysis of capsular polysaccharide K4 made directly from E. coli strain O5:K4:H4, or directly produced from a genetically modified strain of E. coli. Sulphation of the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue at position 4 or 6 takes place simultaneously in the same polysaccharide chain, simulating the sulphation pattern observed in natural chondroitin sulphate, unlike the sulphation obtained with the synthesis methods described to date.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-molecular-weight (1000-5000 daltons) chondroitin sulphate (CS) produced by chemical sulphation and subsequent depolymerisation of a non-sulphated chondroitin backbone obtained with biotechnology techniques. The CS described is substantially monosulphated, mainly at the 6-position, with very little sulphation at the 4-position, and with a mono/disulphated disaccharide ratio and charge density similar to those of natural CS. Said biotechnological chondroitin 6-sulphate (C6S) is useful in the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis and in acute and chronic inflammatory processes.

Abstract: The present invention describes combinations comprising chondroitin sulphate (CS), one or more enzymes or enzymatic mixtures possessing proteolytic activity, and sulphydryl compounds, for the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis and correlated acute and chronic inflammatory processes, or as nutraceutical compositions for the maintenance of musculoskeletal well-being in humans and animals. The characteristic of said combinations is that they increase the intestinal absorption of CS when administered orally. The effect of said combinations is exerted on a wide range of molecular weights of CS, including CS samples with very low molecular weights which already possess greater bioavailability than samples with a higher molecular weight. The effect is exerted on CS samples of any origin.

Abstract: An optical network packet configured to transmit over an optical communication link from a first optical network having a first control plane to a second optical network having a second control plane is generated. Generating the optical network packet comprises generating the packet configured to be transmitted from the first optical network to the second optical network in the optical domain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-molecular-weight (1000-5000 daltons) chondroitin sulphate (CS) produced by chemical sulphation and subsequent depolymerisation of a non-sulphated chondroitin backbone obtained with biotechnology techniques. The CS described is substantially monosulphated, mainly at the 6-position, with very little sulphation at the 4-position, and with a mono/disulphated disaccharide ratio and charge density similar to those of natural CS. Said biotechnological chondroitin 6-sulphate (C6S) is useful in the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis and in acute and chronic inflammatory processes.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for using light path priority of service information in an optical network. At a node in the optical network, priority of service information is stored for a plurality of light paths used in the optical network. The node serves traffic in the optical network using the plurality of light paths based on the priority of service information. These techniques provide for prioritizing light paths (wavelengths) for scenarios such as restoration, congestion and resource contention.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for the production of chondroitin sulphate with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 10-30 kDa by chemical sulphation starting from an unsulphated chondroitin backbone, obtained in turn by acid hydrolysis of capsular polysaccharide K4 made directly from E. coli strain O5:K4:H4, or directly produced from a genetically modified strain of E. coli. Sulphation of the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue at position 4 or 6 takes place simultaneously in the same polysaccharide chain, simulating the sulphation pattern observed in natural chondroitin sulphate, unlike the sulphation obtained with the synthesis methods described to date.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shark-like chondroitin sulphate and a process for the preparation thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a shark-like chondroitin sulphate, having a very low amount of 4-sulphate, a high charge density and a biological activity comparable to natural chondroitin sulphates. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of said shark-like chondroitin sulphate affording substantially higher productivities and better reproducibility of product quality. The shark-like chondroitin sulphate of the invention shows a high molecular mass and its in vitro biological and anti-inflammatory effectiveness has been shown to be comparable to that of natural products making this polysaccharide potentially useful as a drug in pharmaceutical preparations and nutraceuticals.

Abstract: In an OTN (Optical Transport Network), an OTN interface of a network element may receive a BDI (Backwards Defect Indicator) signal from a far end network element to which OTN frames are being transmitted. A BDI signal indicates the occurrence of a unidirectional failure in the transmission of OTN frames to which the far end network element responds by switching its routing to the network element. The OTN interface generates an AIS (Alarm Indication Signal) for its network element so that the network element switches network communication channels to the far end network element to ensure bidirectional switching upon a unidirectional failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to silicone compositions which comprise at least one ketoximosilane-terminated polydiorganosiloxane and also at least one alkoxysilane. These compositions are neutrally crosslinking and combine a low odor with high adhesion and good storage stability.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for using light path priority of service information in an optical network. At a node in the optical network, priority of service information is stored for a plurality of light paths used in the optical network. The node serves traffic in the optical network using the plurality of light paths based on the priority of service information. These techniques provide for prioritizing light paths (wavelengths) for scenarios such as restoration, congestion and resource contention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shark-like chondroitin sulphate and a process for the preparation thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a shark-like chondroitin sulphate, having a very low amount of 4-sulphate, a high charge density and a biological activity comparable to natural chondroitin sulphates. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of said shark-like chondroitin sulphate affording substantially higher productivities and better reproducibility of product quality. The shark-like chondroitin sulphate of the invention shows a high molecular mass and its in vitro biological and anti-inflammatory effectiveness has been shown to be comparable to that of natural products making this polysaccharide potentially useful as a drug in pharmaceutical preparations and nutraceuticals.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a chondroitin sulphate salt with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 10-30 kDa via chemical sulphation of an unsulphated chondroitin backbone is provided. The unsulphated chondroitin can be obtained by acid hydrolysis of a capsular polysaccharide K4 made directly from E. coli strain O5:K4:H4 or directly produced from a genetically modified strain of E. coli. Sulphation of the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue at position 4 or 6 takes place simultaneously in the same polysaccharide chain, simulating the sulphation pattern observed in natural chondroitin sulphate.

Abstract: Techniques and a control architecture (apparatus and logic) are provided for an adaptive hybrid DWDM-aware computation scheme. The architecture is one that is a hybrid of a centralized control scheme and a distributed control scheme that performs adaptive physical impairment computations for an optical network. A central control server is connected to multiple client control devices each of which resides in a node in a dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) optical network, wherein each client control device is part of an optical control plane associated with the optical network. The control server obtains data for path route analysis from the client control devices.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network; comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node; determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently allowing protection switch information to be communicated on bidirectional lines are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for communicating protection switch information from a first network element to a second network element across bidirectional links that include at least one working line and a protection line involves obtaining a generic framing procedure GFP frame at the first network element. The GFP frame has a payload area with a client payload field. The method also includes defining a command field associated with the GFP frame that is in the payload area but not in the client payload field, and storing protection switch information in the command field.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a SONET/SDH over Ethernet demapping point utilizes a pointer offset mechanism for clock recovery and timing. The pointer offset is determined by the difference between a client clock and a reference clock.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for detecting at a controller associated with a physical layer of a network an occurrence of a failure within the physical layer of the network. In response to detecting the failure, the controller sends messages to at least first and second nodes in a transport layer of the network, where the messages are configured to indicate normal operations in the physical layer so as to prevent execution of transport layer protection processes for a period of time.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a method may include receiving a resource request for optical resources within a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network; comparing one or more parameters of the resource request to a list of pre-validated paths for the WDM optical network, each pre-validated path identifying an optically feasible label switched path between a source node and a destination node; determining that there is a pre-validated path on the list that matches the one or more parameters of the optical resource request; and sending a message to request a reservation of resources along the matching pre-validated path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently allowing protection switch information to be communicated on bidirectional lines are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for communicating protection switch information from a first network element to a second network element across bidirectional links that include at least one working line and a protection line involves obtaining a generic framing procedure GFP frame at the first network element. The GFP frame has a payload area with a client payload field. The method also includes defining a command field associated with the GFP frame that is in the payload area but not in the client payload field, and storing protection switch information in the command field.