Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandizing based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandizing based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandizing based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information.

Abstract: A system and method, for utilizing a student account in a networked environment. In example embodiments, instructions to establish a student account for a minor from a verified adult that is verified as an adult based on financial information associated with an adult account established for the verified adult is received. A legal relationship between the verified adult and the minor for which the student account is being established is verified. Based on the relationship being verified, the student account for the minor that is linked to the adult account is created.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an account for a minor in a networked environment is provided. In example embodiments, instructions to establish the account for a minor from a verified adult that is verified as an adult based on financial information associated with an adult account established for the verified adult is received. The account for the minor that is linked to the adult account of the verified adult is created. A secondary payment account is linked to the account of the minor. The secondary payment account is a payment account established for the minor that is financially linked to an adult payment account of the verified adult.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a system and an associated method to provide a user-generated image gallery is provided. Initially, a product category of a product infrastructure associated with an item represented by an image is determined. A new product category may be generated based on a determination that the product category is not adequately associated with the item represented by the image. Subsequently, an upload of the image is received from the user. The uploaded image may then be stored whereby the uploaded image is associated with the user and the product category or the new product category is based on the determination.

Abstract: Preferably for use in a directory enquires system, a method and system are provided for processing user records to determine common entries between them. When two user records are determined to store common information then link data is generated and stored in each user record indicating a link between the two records. This link information is then used in subsequent searching of the user records to determine the most likely result from a list of possible results obtained from a search of the user records. In a directory enquiries system the user records contain user ID and telephone number details as well as address book data of each user's friends, family, or other acquaintances. The address book data is used to determine whether a link between user records should be formed.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for detecting the expression of genes encoding cytochrome p450, nuclear X receptors, phase H transferases, and solute carrier family uptake pumps. The materials include sets of primers, PCR amplicons and arrays. The methods of the invention include hybridization assays. Kits and assays for the detection of the expression of the genes are also provided by the invention. In addition, the invention provides the use of the materials and methods of the invention in drug screening assays.

Abstract: A computer security system for use in a network environment comprising at least a plurality of user computers arranged to communicate over a network, the system comprising a warning message exchange system operable to allow the communication from the user computers of warning messages relating to suspect data identified as a possible security threat; a message counting system operable to maintain a count for every particular piece or set of suspect data based on the number of warning messages communicated relating thereto; and network security means operable to act against any particular piece or set of suspect data for which the count maintained therefor exceeds at least one threshold value.

Abstract: The disclosure describes materials and methods for detecting the expression of genes and generating a gene expression profile from drug-treated rat primary cells or established rat cell lines using a unique combination of rat cytochrome p450 enzyme, nuclear xenobiotic receptor, transferase and transporter gene sequences. The materials include sets of primers, PCR amplicons and arrays. The methods include hybridization assays. Assays for the detection of the expression of the genes are also provided. In addition, the disclosure provides the use of the materials and methods in drug screening assays and, specifically, the detection of potential drug-drug interaction(s).

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for contextual advertising and merchandising based on user configurable preferences is disclosed. The system in an example embodiment includes an advertising (ad) preferences service to obtain user preference information related to advertising, enable user configuration of the user preference information related to advertising, and modify the presentation of advertising to the user based upon the user configured preference information.

Abstract: At least a part of a communications network is designed beginning with an initial network design, a set of traffic handling requirements and an initial set of design rules. Each rule includes a condition portion and an action portion and at least one such rule includes a portion expressed in terms of at least one variable parameter. An iterative procedure is implemented to evolve both a network design and a set of design rules including variations to rules from the initial rule set. A population of rule sets is generated with each rule set using a different combination of assigned parameter values. For each rule set in the population of rule sets, rules for which the condition portion is satisfied are applied to generate a modified network design. Measures of performance, including cost of each modified design are determined through simulation of the operation of the design on the basis of the traffic handling requirements and the performance and cost of different designs compared.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless network with a base station and a plurality of outstations comprises transmitting a broadcast signal from the base station and in response to reception of the broadcast signal, transmitting an acknowledgement signal from an outstation. At least some of the outstations serve to relay signals for other outstations. An outstation relaying an acknowledgement signal appends to the signal an identifier identifying the relaying outstation. The base station, upon receipt of an acknowledgement signal, stores any appended identifier(s) for later use in routing signals to the outstation which originated that acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: In a communications network of nodes connected by links, routing of traffic is done according to routing tables available to the nodes. The routing table for each node shows fields for destination nodes and for next hop nodes towards those destination nodes, and traffic is routed at each node according to values entered in those fields. The nodes modify the values in the fields according to messages received from neighboring nodes. This controls traffic flow in that values are raised on receipt of messages from neighboring nodes. If messages are received less frequently from a node, for instance because of congestion in the network or failure of a node, the values for that node will be relatively depressed and the network will tend to route traffic away from the node.

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless network with a base station and a plurality of outstations comprising i. transmitting a broadcast signal from the base station; ii. monitoring operational status of outstations in the wireless network from an outstation, iii. collecting data representative of outstation status, iv. in response to reception of the broadcast signal, transmitting an acknowledgement signal from the outstation; wherein an outstation relaying an acknowledgement signal appends to the acknowledgement signal data representative of the collected data, and wherein the base station, upon receipt of an acknowledgement signal, retrieves the collected data and varies the rate at which signals are broadcast from the base station in accordance with the collected data.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for detecting the expression of ABC transporter genes. The materials include sets of primers and PCR amplicons. The sets of primers are used to generate PCR amplicons, wherein each PCR amplicon is a unique portion of an ABC transporter gene. The methods of the invention include hybridization assays, such as DNA microarrays. Kits and assays for the detection of ABC transporter gene expression are also provided by the invention. In addition, the use of the materials and methods of the invention in drug screening assays is provided.

Abstract: Preferably for use in a directory enquires system, the invention provides a method and system for processing user records to determine common entries therebetween. When two user records are determined to store common information then link data is generated (18) and stored in each user record (22) indicating a link between the two records. This link information is then used in subsequent searching (20) of the user records to determine the most likely result from a list of possible results obtained from a search of the user records. In a directory enquiries system (14) the user records contain user ID and telephone number details as well as address book data of each user's friends, family, or other acquaintances. The address book data is used to determine whether a link between user records should be formed.

Abstract: A computer security system for use in a network environment comprising at least a plurality of user computers arranged to communicate over a network, the system comprising a warning message exchange system operable to allow the communication from the user computers of warning messages relating to suspect data identified as a possible security threat; a message counting system operable to maintain a count for every particular piece or set of suspect data based on the number of warning messages communicated relating thereto; and network security means operable to act against any particular piece or set of suspect data for which the count maintained therefor exceeds at least one threshold value

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless network with a base station and a plurality of outstations comprising

Abstract: A method of operating a wireless network with a base station and a plurality of outstations comprising transmitting a broadcast signal from the base station, and, in response to reception of the broadcast signal, transmitting an acknowledgement signal from an outstation;