Abstract: A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding an actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient. A retaining member prevents the actuator from exiting the chamber. Thus, the medicament may be delivered to the patient without the use of carrier particles.

Abstract: There is provided methods for administering a toroidal pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The method includes dispensing a toroidal pharmaceutical composition, and allowing the toroidal pharmaceutical composition to contact a target organ of the subject, thereby administering the toroidal pharmaceutical composition. There are additionally provided toroidal aerosol delivery systems.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding a bead-like actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The bead-like actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient.

Abstract: A dry powder inhaler includes a chamber holding an actuator to which a powdered medicament is adhered. Air is drawn into the chamber through an inlet flow channel and exits through an outlet flow channel. The actuator oscillates in response to the air flow, dislodging powdered medicament to be entrained in the air flow and delivered to the patient. A retaining member prevents the actuator from exiting the chamber. Thus, the medicament may be delivered to the patient without the use of carrier particles.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for buddy list pruning for instant messaging system performance enhancement. In one embodiment of the invention, a buddy list pruning method for instant messaging system performance enhancement can include comparing buddy list name entries in a buddy list to entries in a network directory used to authenticate users into a network supporting the instant messaging system. The method further can include characterizing selected ones of the buddy list name entries as either invalid where a buddy list name entry cannot be matched to an entry in the network directory, or as valid where the buddy list name entry can be matched to an entry in the network directory. Finally, the method can include performing presence awareness only on valid buddy list name entries in the buddy list.

Abstract: Rule selection is enforced on user email inboxes using an inbox monitor and administrative rules at an email server. The inbox monitor includes a first agent for identifying inactive user inboxes from email messages stored at the email database, and a second agent for identifying, from the inactive user inboxes identified by the first agent, user inboxes without appropriate user rules activated. For each user inbox identified by the second agent, administrative rules are applied to the user inbox if the user inbox has been inactive for at least a predetermined period of time. If the user inbox has not been inactive for at least the predetermined period of time, a notification message is sent to a user associated with the user inbox. The notification message informs the user that administrative rules will be applied to the user inbox if appropriate user rules are not activated.

Abstract: Rule selection is enforced on user email inboxes using an inbox monitor and administrative rules at an email server. The inbox monitor includes a first agent for identifying inactive user inboxes from email messages stored at the email database, and a second agent for identifying, from the inactive user inboxes identified by the first agent, user inboxes without appropriate user rules activated. For each user inbox identified by the second agent, administrative rules are applied to the user inbox if the user inbox has been inactive for at least a predetermined period of time. If the user inbox has not been inactive for at least the predetermined period of time, a notification message is sent to a user associated with the user inbox. The notification message informs the user that administrative rules will be applied to the user inbox if appropriate user rules are not activated.

Abstract: A method and system for enforcing rule selection on user email inboxes include an inbox monitor and administrative rules at an email server. The inbox monitor includes a first agent for identifying inactive user inboxes from email messages stored at the email database, and a second agent for identifying, from the inactive user inboxes identified by the first agent, user inboxes without appropriate user rules activated. For each user inbox identified by the second agent, administrative rules are applied to the user inbox if the user inbox has been inactive for at least a predetermined period of time. If the user inbox has not been inactive for at least the predetermined period of time, a notification message is sent to a user associated with the user inbox. The notification message informs the user that administrative rules will be applied to the user inbox if appropriate user rules are not activated.

Abstract: The present invention presents a solution for prioritizing instant messaging (IM) communications based on sender/receiver relationships and for presenting selective notifications based upon the established priorities. The invention can include a data store, a message prioritization engine, and a client-side IM application. The data store can manage information describing relationships among people and recipient configurable IM prioritizing information. The message prioritization engine can determine a priority value for IM communications based upon the relationships and recipient configurable IM prioritizing information of the data store. The client-side IM application can receive IM messages that have an associated priority value established by the message prioritization engine. The client-side application can present an indicator of the priority value for associated IM messages within a user interface.

Abstract: In a chat alert method and system, a chat user creates alert profiles that include the requestor's level in an organizational hierarchy as a parameter and the alert type for the level. When a chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, the chat client determines if there is a chat alert profile that matches the requestor's level. If so, then an alert is issued to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile. Optionally, the chat alert profile sets an alternate alert system, where if the receiver does not respond to the request within a specified time, an alert is sent using the alternate alert system. Chat requests from requesters higher up in the reporting chain can be highlighted for the receiver. The receiver can then prioritize the chat requests that he/she receives and respond to them in a timely fashion.

Abstract: A method and system for enforcing rule selection on user email inboxes include an inbox monitor and administrative rules at an email server. The inbox monitor includes a first agent for identifying inactive user inboxes from email messages stored at the email database, and a second agent for identifying, from the inactive user inboxes identified by the first agent, user inboxes without appropriate user rules activated. For each user inbox identified by the second agent, administrative rules are applied to the user inbox if the user inbox has been inactive for at least a predetermined period of time. If the user inbox has not been inactive for at least the predetermined period of time, a notification message is sent to a user associated with the user inbox. The notification message informs the user that administrative rules will be applied to the user inbox if appropriate user rules are not activated.

Abstract: In a chat alert method and system, a chat user creates alert profiles that include the requestor's level in an organizational hierarchy as a parameter and the alert type for the level. When a chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, the chat client determines if there is a chat alert profile that matches the requestor's level. If so, then an alert is issued to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile. Optionally, the chat alert profile sets an alternate alert system, where if the receiver does not respond to the request within a specified time, an alert is sent using the alternate alert system. Chat requests from requesters higher up in the reporting chain can be highlighted for the receiver. The receiver can then prioritize the chat requests that he/she receives and respond to them in a timely fashion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a text exchange facility that permits a user to combine multiple pre-existing text exchange interfaces into a single interface. When previous text exchange interfaces are joined, different tabs can be presented in a joined interface. A one-to-one correspondence can exist between tabs in the joined interface and active real-time text exchange sessions. Joining interfaces can have no effect on the underlying text exchange sessions or upon communications/activities experienced by communicators with whom the user exchanges textual messages. Joined interfaces can be identified by a user specified topic or name. In one embodiment, history and/or records concerning text exchange contents can be maintained on a topic-by-topic manner.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to buddy list management for instant messaging systems and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for buddy list pruning for instant messaging system performance enhancement. In one embodiment of the invention, a buddy list pruning method for instant messaging system performance enhancement can include comparing buddy list name entries in a buddy list to entries in a network directory used to authenticate users into a network supporting the instant messaging system. The method further can include characterizing selected ones of the buddy list name entries as either invalid where a buddy list name entry cannot be matched to an entry in the network directory, or as valid where the buddy list name entry can be matched to an entry in the network directory. Finally, the method can include performing presence awareness only on valid buddy list name entries in the buddy list.

Abstract: Swellable particles for delivery of a drug or other working agent to the pulmonary system are provided. The swellable particles include a dehydrated (dry) aerodynamic particle diameter of 5 ?m or less to enable delivery to the respiratory tract, such as for example to the tracheo-bronchial airways of the upper respiratory tract and/or to the alveolic regions of the deep lung, and a hydrated particle diameter that is greater than 6 ?m volume mean diameter to retard or prevent their phagocytosis by the macrophages present in airways of the respiratory tract.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a dry powder inhaler (DPI) that uses a patient's inhalation flow to concentrate energy in an aeroelastic element for deaggregation and dispersion of a powder dose. The result is a DPI that delivers a dose independent of inspiratory abilities of the patient, solving a major problem of conventional DPIs. Increased tension on the aeroelastic element causes higher frequency vibrations and improved powder dispersion. The tension of the aeroelastic element can be modified prior to dispensing the DPI to the patient, allowing for individualization for single patients or groups of patients. In addition, the DPI has features that increase the turbulence of the airflow as it passes through the device, further increasing the dispersion and deaggregation of the powder. The DPI can hold a single dose or multiple doses. The powder doses can be dispensed directly onto the aeroelastic element, or may be in adjacent blister packaging.

Abstract: A communication system and method for optimizing a network (or web) conference. A communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a network conference server, at least one mail server, a moderator's client device, a plurality of participants' client devices, a network interconnecting the servers and client devices, a network conference application executed by the network conference server, and an email application distributed amongst the mail server and the client devices. The network conference application receives from the moderator's client device a first communication comprising a conference schedule, participant details and conference material and transmits to the email application a second communication comprising a network address, the conference schedule, the participant details and the conference material.

Abstract: An inhalable dry powder formulation containing SAE-CD and an active agent is provided. The formulation is adapted for administration by DPI. The SAE-CD serves as a carrier rather than as an absorption enhancer. The average particle size of the SAE-CD is large enough to preclude (for the most part) pulmonary deposition thereof. Following release from the DPI device, the SAE-CD-containing particles dissociate from the active agent-containing particles in the buccal cavity or throat, after which the active agent-containing particles continue deeper into the respiratory tract. The physicochemical and morphological properties of the SAE-CD are easily modified to permit optimization of active agent and carrier interactions. Drugs having a positive, neutral or negative electrostatic charge can be delivered by DPI when SAE-CD is used as a carrier.

Abstract: There is provided a system, method and computer program product for managing an email comprising a plurality of email boxes with corresponding email addresses; a first selector for selecting, in one email box, an email that has been sent to at least one addressee; a second selector for selecting an incorrect email address in the sent email corresponding to an incorrect addressee; a change service for changing, in the sent email, the incorrect address to the correct address; and a distributor for making the change service available to at least one recipient box.