Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating lupus nephritis and muscle atrophy with anti-TWEAK antibodies are provided. Methods that include administering therapeutically effective amounts of anti-TWEAK antibodies to human subjects already receiving a standard treatment for lupus nephritis are also encompassed. Particularly useful dosages are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of directing medical instruments towards an intervertebral disc space, removing intervertebral disc material from such disc space, and filling such disc space with a material to fuse vertebrae. Embodiments of the invention are further directed to a path that passes structural portions of an ilium. In some aspects, embodiments of the invention are directed to using electro stimulation to avoid certain nerve roots to access an L5-S1 disc space for the purposes of bone fusion.

Abstract: A ball includes a bladder and a cover disposed over the bladder. The bladder is typically filled with air. The cover may be made of leather, rubber, or other material. One or more electrical components are positioned inside the ball.

Abstract: Predictive modeling of consumer financial behavior, including determination of likely responses to particular marketing efforts, is provided by application of consumer transaction data to predictive models associated with merchant segments. The merchant segments are derived from the consumer transaction data based on co-occurrences of merchants in sequences of transactions. Merchant vectors represent specific merchants, and are aligned in a vector space as a function of the degree to which the merchants co-occur more or less frequently than expected. Supervised segmentation is applied to merchant vectors to form the merchant segments. Merchant segment predictive models provide predictions of spending in each merchant segment for any particular consumer, based on previous spending by the consumer. Consumer profiles describe summary statistics of each consumer's spending in the merchant segments, and across merchant segments.

Abstract: Predictive modeling of consumer financial behavior, including determination of likely responses to particular marketing efforts, is provided by application of consumer transaction data to predictive models associated with merchant segments. The merchant segments are derived from the consumer transaction data based on co-occurrences of merchants in sequences of transactions. Merchant vectors represent specific merchants, and are aligned in a vector space as a function of the degree to which the merchants co-occur more or less frequently than expected. Supervised segmentation is applied to merchant vectors to form the merchant segments. Merchant segment predictive models provide predictions of spending in each merchant segment for any particular consumer, based on previous spending by the consumer. Consumer profiles describe summary statistics of each consumer's spending in the merchant segments, and across merchant segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the location of objects arranged on a convex surface. A plurality of cameras is arranged in a stationary array about the surface, and is used to capture images of the objects. A parameterized model of the surface is developed using optimization techniques, and then the locations of the objects are established by triangulation. The method is applied to location of electrophysiological sensors on the head, for purposes of electroencephalographic source analysis, or for registration with other imaging modalities such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).