Abstract: Described herein are oral care compositions comprising (i) a magnesium alkali metal silicate complex clay, and (ii) an orally acceptable anionic polymer, in a dentifrice base, which compositions are useful for alleviating dental sensitivity. Also provided for, are methods of making and using the compositions described herein.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions comprising zirconium amino acid complexes suspended in a hydrophobic carrier; and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Methods and devices for repairing a cardiac valve. A minimally invasive procedure includes creating an access in the apex region of the heart through which one or more instruments may be inserted. The device can implant artificial heart valve chordae tendineae into cardiac valve leaflet tissues to restore proper leaflet function and prevent reperfusion. The device punctures the apex of the heart and travels through the ventricle. The tip of the device rests on the defective valve and punctures the valve leaflet. A suture or a suture/guide wire combination is inserted, securing the top of the leaflet to the apex of the heart. A resilient element or shock absorber mechanism adjacent to the outside of the apex of the heart minimizes the linear travel of the device in response to the beating of the heart or opening/closing of the valve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, methods are described to measure bandwidth limits through multiple test sites. A testing quantity of network packets is generated, the network packets are sent through a service provider network to a plurality of receivers at a testing transmission rate that exceeds an upstream transmission rate limit of the service provider network, a report indicating a received number of packets is received from each of the plurality of receivers, and an upstream transmission rate limit of the service provider network is determined based on the testing transmission and the reports. By using multiple test sites, potential bottlenecks at any one test site are reduced. A similar method can be used to calculate a downstream transmission rate limit. Once measured, the bandwidth limits may be used to adjust quality of service on an edge router or compared against a known service level agreement of the service provider network.

Abstract: Spreadsheet functions are provided that enable interactivity with web services and manipulation of data retrieved from a web service call. One function takes a URL as an argument and performs an HTTP GET request asynchronously to return the response into the spreadsheet application. Another function URL encodes its argument. The URL encoded argument can then be used as part of the URL of the web service call. Yet another function is a filtering function that takes XML, JSON, HTML, and other forms of data that may be returned via a web service call to obtain specific data such as via an XPath standard when XML is used. These functions may be used together or separately.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for procuring functions, including Web service functions, for use in a spreadsheet application. A Web service function manifest can be managed by a function marketplace. A client device running a spreadsheet application can request available functions from the function marketplace. Information about available functions can be received by the client device. A selection of a function can be made in order to receive the manifest associated with the selected function. A local copy of the manifest may be stored for repeated invocation.

Abstract: Methods and devices for repairing a cardiac valve. A minimally invasive procedure includes creating an access in the apex region of the heart through which one or more instruments may be inserted. The device can implant artificial heart valve chordae tendineae into cardiac valve leaflet tissues to restore proper leaflet function and prevent reperfusion. The device punctures the apex of the heart and travels through the ventricle. The tip of the device rests on the defective valve and punctures the valve leaflet. A suture or a suture/guide wire combination is inserted, securing the top of the leaflet to the apex of the heart. A resilient element or shock absorber mechanism adjacent to the outside of the apex of the heart minimizes the linear travel of the device in response to the beating of the heart or opening/closing of the valve.

Abstract: A STUN message is received at a router device in a network from a client device in the network along a network path. The STUN message is evaluated for information that indicates to the router device to modify media that is subsequently sent along the network path. If the evaluating indicates that the router device is to modify the media, the media is modified in accordance with information in the STUN message that indicates attributes of the network.

Abstract: A oral care composition includes: (a) a guanidine active; (b) a film-forming polymer; (c) a hydrophobic viscosity modifier in an amount sufficient to provide the oral care composition with a particle settling time greater than 20 minutes; and (d) an oil carrier. The guanidine active is preferably L-arginine. The film-forming polymer is preferably GANTREZ. The hydrophobic viscosity modifier is preferably a gelled mineral oil. The oil carrier is preferably a vegetable oil. A method of cleaning teeth includes applying to the teeth the oral care composition such that the oral care composition cleans the teeth. A oral care implement includes: a handle; a head mounted to the handle, the head having an outer surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface; and a gelatin capsule containing the oral care composition positioned on the head.

Abstract: A oral care composition includes: (a) a hydrophilic film-forming polymer; and (b) a hydrophobic carrier, wherein the hydrophilic film-forming polymer is a film-forming polymer effective to occlude dentinal tubules and the oral care composition contains 0-10 wt. % water. The hydrophilic film-forming polymer is preferably GANTREZ S. The hydrophobic carrier is preferably a vegetable oil. A method of cleaning teeth includes applying to the teeth the oral care composition such that the hydrophilic film-forming polymer occludes dentinal tubules. A toothbrush includes: a handle; a head mounted to the handle, the head comprising an outer surface and a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending outwardly from the outer surface; and a gelatin capsule containing the oral care composition positioned on the head.

Abstract: An oral care composition includes an effective amount of calcium silicate particles. The calcium silicate particles have an average diameter of less than about 5 microns, such that they can occlude dentinal tubules of the teeth. An oral care method includes applying the composition to an oral cavity of a subject to reduce or inhibit hypersensitivity of the teeth and to achieve other benefits.

Abstract: Gadgets integrate with spreadsheets and the spreadsheet calculation engine. A gadget is bound to a range of cells (one or more) within a sheet. When one or more of the cells of the bound range is accessed (e.g. selected, hovered over, edited, deleted, added), the gadget is notified. The gadget may use this information for updating a display rendered by the gadget and/or performing some other action. The gadget uses an Application Programming Interface (API) to create the binding, communicate with the spreadsheet, and perform actions in the spreadsheet. The gadget is a Named Item object within the spreadsheet such that the gadget may be viewed/displayed differently from other objects. Out of date requests from the gadget are attempted to be detected and prevented from being processed such that the gadget is not acting on the latest data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device information on paths to a destination node, determining a number of common nodes or links between at least two of the paths, calculating a path diversity index based on the number of common nodes or links, and selecting a route to the destination node based on the path diversity index. An apparatus for calculating path diversity index for use in route selection is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oral care composition includes an effective amount of a basic amino acid in free or salt form; and an effective amount of calcium silicate particles. The calcium silicate particles have an average diameter of less than about 5 microns, such that they can occlude dentinal tubules of the teeth. An oral care method includes applying the composition to an oral cavity of a subject to reduce or inhibit hypersensitivity of the teeth and to achieve other benefits.

Abstract: The smart phone and tablet applications are akin to news and media websites available on the Internet in that the applications provide the latest content, richest media experience and an evolving community around the brand. The disclosure provides an efficient and inexpensive process and system for creating and managing of software applications for multiple smart phone and tablet platforms via an online platform. The systems and processes facilitate creation of applications, which communicate with a workflow implemented and powered by an online server. The systems also provides a feed server system that continuously fetches content from various feed sources, aggregates content, and maps into a local data model that can be defined dynamically. The applications are containers that request content from the served based on a token that is preinstalled into the application. The containers are built with the mechanism to bind data to layouts dynamically using the scripting code downloaded from an online server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device information on paths to a destination node, determining a number of common nodes or links between at least two of the paths, calculating a path diversity index based on the number of common nodes or links, and selecting a route to the destination node based on the path diversity index. An apparatus for calculating path diversity index for use in route selection is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of connections couple to a plurality of service providers (SPs) that each provide services at a cost. The cost of the services of each SP is determined according to a tiered pricing structure that includes one or more tiers. Each tier correlates a particular amount of data transferred with the SP to a particular cost. A data collector collects measurement data that indicates an amount of data transferred with each SP. A processor selects a target tier in the tiered pricing structure of each SP based on the measurement data. The processor also generates a momentary target utilization rate (MTUR) for each SP based on the target tier for the SP and the measurement data. The processor then distributes utilization of services among the SPs based on the MTUR and tiered pricing structure of each SP to minimize the cost of the services provided by the SPs.

Abstract: A technique performs route optimization of services provided by one or more service providers (SPs) for communication links that are combined in a computer network. According to the novel technique, performance characteristics and statistics (“link data”) for two or more combined links are merged to form link data for a single “virtual combined link.” Route optimization techniques (e.g., priority-based route optimization) may then be applied to one or more virtual combined links based on the combined link data, in addition to link data for zero or more conventional single links (physical or virtual). Illustratively, a route optimization technique may be used in accordance with the present invention to efficiently and accurately minimize costs associated with services provided by a plurality of SPs, wherein each SP charges for utilization of its service based on a tiered pricing structure.

Abstract: A technique for efficiently and accurately minimizing costs associated with services provided by a plurality of service providers (SPs) that bill for their services based on a tiered cost structure. Target tiers are generated based on the utilization of the SPs' services and the SPs' cost structures. Utilization of the SPs' services is monitored. A momentary target utilization rate (MTUR) is generated for each SP based on the cumulated utilization of the SP's service and the SP's target tier. Utilization of the SPs' services is distributed based on the generated MTURs in a manner that minimizes cost. If the utilization of the SPs' services indicates the MTURs have been exceeded, new target tiers and MTURs are generated and utilization of the SPs' services is redistributed among the SPs in a manner that minimizes cost.

Abstract: An “ownership tag” in a special area of memory of a computer system identifies an owner of the computer system by displaying the ownership tag during initialization of the computer system. The ownership tag may be presented during the installation and execution of the Basic Input Output System. (BIOS) preferably during Power on Self Test (POST) process. An administrator may access the ownership tag by interrupting the process by pressing the an appropriate key, which transitions the computer to an administrator set up mode. An administrator able to enter the administrator password may then alter the contents of the protected memory, changing the ownership tag. The ownership tag is preferably stored in a region of memory not accessible to a typical user, but accessible to an administrator aware of the administrator password. The ownership tag is stored in a flash memory, which is very difficult to remove from the system board, or to modify without administrator-level security access.