Abstract: A virtual payment card system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment card system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment card system is a secure closed system comprising registered merchants and consumers. A consumer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment card. Likewise, a merchant becomes registered by applying for a merchant account. A consumer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the consumer's virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The consumer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a merchant and charge it to the virtual payment card.

Abstract: A virtual payment system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual payment system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit processing server component (53). The virtual payment system is a secure, closed system comprising registered sellers and buyers. A buyer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual payment account. Likewise, a seller becomes registered by applying for a seller account. A buyer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit processing component (53) immediately evaluates the buyer's virtual payment card application and assigns a credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The buyer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a seller and charge it to the virtual payment account.

Abstract: A computer system and method for a pay for performance advertising system which comprises an account database maintained in computer readable media, the account database comprising a plurality of advertising accounts having funds associated therewith. The computer system further comprises an advertiser database maintained in computer readable media, the advertiser database comprising an advertising unit associated with one or more participating advertisers and bid denominations associated with the participating advertisers. The computer system also comprises a query processing section operatively coupled to the advertiser database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of predicting the risk of developing cancer and in particular to a method for diagnosing, and/or predicting the risk of developing gastric cancer in a subject infected with Helicobacter.

Abstract: A computer system for a pay for performance advertising system comprises an advertiser account database maintained in computer readable media the advertiser account database including a plurality of advertising accounts having funds associated with a plurality of transactional channels, an advertiser keyword database maintained in computer readable media, the advertiser keyword database divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition capable of having an advertiser listing associated with an advertising content page of an advertising client computer and including a keyword having a bid denomination. A query processing subsection is operatively coupled to the advertiser keywords database and is programmed to submit a search query responsive to a search term generated on a query client to the advertiser keyword database to determine a set of advertiser listings associated with a partition in the advertising keyword database in which to process the query, and to return search results to the query client.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of a cardiovascular disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more agents for upregulating a cytokine profile characteristic of a Th1 T-cell response relative to a cytosine profile of a Th2 T-cell response associated with the disorder. There is further disclosed compositions for use in the methods.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with methods of assessing performance and performance potential in horses using measurement of immunoglobulin levels, particularly levels of IgA and/or IgG. The invention is also concerned with methods for predicting impaired performance, fatigue and/or susceptibility to infection in horses exposed to stressors, in particular physical stressors.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with novel compositions and vaccines useful for prophylactic an/or therapeutic treatment of mucosal infections, and in particular it is concerned with oral vaccines and with methods of enhancing mucosal resistance to infection or for treating established infections, of the respiratory tract.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preventing and treating endotoxemia and related disorders. In particular, the invention relates to methods of preventing and treating endotoxemia and related disorders using a probiotic. The invention also relates to methods for assessing the efficacy ot a probiotic in the prevention and treatment of endotoxemia and related disorders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for monitoring treatment of Helicobacter infection and in particular to methods for monitoring eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection using immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2). The invention also relates to methods for predicting the likelihood of successful eradication of Helicobacter infection in a subject to be treated or being treated for the infection and in particular, to methods for predicting the likelihood of successful eradication including determining the levels of interleukin, interferon-&ggr; and IgG in the subject to be, or being treated.

Abstract: A method for providing advertising services in general media using a pay-for-performance model is provided. A service provider defines at least one biddable advertisement for presentation in advertising media. A bid amount chargeable to a participating advertiser upon a response to the at least one biddable advertisement is determined, generally by an open auction conducted by the service provider. The biddable advertisement is associated with a participating advertiser based, at least in part, on the bid amount. As responses to the biddable advertisement are received by the service provider, they are provided to the associated participating advertiser and that participating advertiser is charged the bid amount for the response. The advertiser associated with a biddable ad can change in real time based on the auction and association mechanisms used by the service provider, such as a bid weighted rotation which associates the biddable ad to a number of participating advertisers.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of disorders associated with mucosal surfaces and in particular to treatment of infectious disorders at mucosal sites by enhancing non-specific mucosal immunity, especially with probiotics such as lactobacillus or mycobacterium vaccae.

Abstract: Novel antigens from H. pylori are provided. Their use in diagnosing H. pylori infection is also disclosed, including methods for said diagnosis, and kits for use in such a method. In addition, novel antigenic fragments of the antigens are provided, as well as vaccines comprising either at least one of the antigens or one or more antigenic fragments.

Abstract: A novel protein extracted from H. pylori has a molecular weight of about 50-65 kDa and an amino terminal amino acid sequence that has at least 60% identity to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: 1  M  V   T   L   I   N   N   E   D   D Met-Val-Thr-Leu-Ile-Asn-Asn-Glu-Asp-Asp; and S   V   T   L   I   N   N   E   N   N   E   R Ser-Val-Thr-Leu-Ile-Asn-Asn-Glu-Asn-Asn-Glu-Arg- Y   Y   F   E   T Tyr-Tyr-phe-Glu-Thr.

Abstract: Novel antigens from H. pylori are provided. Their use in diagnosing H. pylori infection is also disclosed, including methods for said diagnosis, and kits for use in such a method. In addition, novel antigenic fragments of the antigens are provided, as well as vaccines comprising either at least one of the antigens or one or more antigenic fragments.

Abstract: Contemporary infection by Helicobacter pylori in a human or other mammal can be detected by detecting H. pylori-specific IgG antibody in saliva, or other mucous secretion, with an antigen preparation from H. pylori. Diagnosis depends on detection of the antigen-antibody complex. For improved reliability, the antigen preparation comprises H. pylori-derived components of about 265 kDa and about 340 kDa and is substantially free of an H. pylori-derived component of about 440 kDa. The antigen preparation may be immobilised onto a solid support such as a nitrocellulose strip.

Abstract: Red blood cells or derivatives thereof such as ghost preparations, whole cell membrane preparations or fragments thereof, can act as a potent carrier for orally administered antigens. Mucosal immunity in particular can be effectively induced against such viruses as influenza when adsorbed to chicken red blood cells and orally administered.

Abstract: Red blood cells or derivatives thereof such as ghost preparations can act as a potent carrier for orally administered antigens. Mucosal immunity in particular can be effectively induced against such viruses as influenza when adsorbed to chicken red blood cells and orally administered.