Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for connecting a user with a sports competitor whose athletics the user is not interested in, but with whom the user shares a personal connection. In some embodiments, a media guidance application determines that a user is viewing playback of a media asset comprising a sporting event, identifies competitors featured in the sporting event, and retrieves, from a information identifying competitors in which the user is interested. The media guidance application determines therefrom competitors featured in the sporting event in which the user is not interested, and compares interests of the user that are not commonly shared by a general population to interests of the determined competitors. An uncommon interest is identified as common between a competitor and the user, and the user is provided an option to perform an action associated with the competitor.

Abstract: This application discloses a geotextile-based structure for soil stabilization, erosion control, and vegetation-growth enhancement that is made from a cage having a hollow interior lined with a geotextile fabric designed to retain fine materials, which cage is attached to a geotextile mat capable of supporting vegetation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a media guidance application (e.g., implemented on a user device) for sharing content service provider subscriptions for user-selected media assets. The media guidance application may receive a media asset selection from the user and provide options to share subscriptions from the user's friends to allow the user to access the media asset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a media guidance application (e.g., implemented on a user device) for sharing content service provider subscriptions for media asset recommendations. The media guidance application may recommend a media asset to the user based the viewing histories of the user's friends and provide options to share subscriptions amongst friends to allow the user to access the media asset.

Abstract: This application discloses a geotextile-based structure for soil stabilization, erosion control, and vegetation-growth enhancement that is made from a cage having a hollow interior lined with a geotextile fabric designed to retain fine materials, which cage is attached to a geotextile mat capable of supporting vegetation.

Abstract: A brush assembly including a handle with a main brush, a first auxiliary brush detachably engaged with a cap, and a second auxiliary brush extending from the cap is described. The cap, when removed from the handle, exposes the first auxiliary brush. Disengagement of the cap from the first auxiliary brush exposes the second auxiliary brush.

Abstract: A first component receives from a second component a set of diagnostic parameters to include in a diagnostic heartbeat packet, and information identifying a data communication protocol to be used for transmitting the diagnostic heartbeat packet. The diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and the set of diagnostic parameters. The first component sets a first diagnostic parameter in the set of diagnostic parameters to a first value, the first value being selected to detect a first soft network error condition. A soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component configures the diagnostic heartbeat packet for transmission using the specified data communication protocol and including the set of diagnostic parameters, and sends the diagnostic heartbeat packet to the second component.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for a diagnostic heartbeat throttling are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A component, executing using a processor and a memory in a data processing system, sends diagnostic heartbeat packets over a communication link at a first rate, wherein a diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprises a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The component detects a change in data traffic over the communication link. The component changes a rate of sending diagnostic heartbeat packets from the first rate to a second rate responsive to the change in the data traffic over the communication link.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for a diagnostic heartbeat throttling are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A component, executing using a processor and a memory in a data processing system, sends diagnostic heartbeat packets over a communication link at a first rate, wherein a diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprises a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The component detects a change in data traffic over the communication link. The component changes a rate of sending diagnostic heartbeat packets from the first rate to a second rate responsive to the change in the data traffic over the communication link.

Abstract: A first component receives from a second component a set of diagnostic parameters to include in a diagnostic heartbeat packet, and information identifying a data communication protocol to be used for transmitting the diagnostic heartbeat packet. The diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and the set of diagnostic parameters. The first component sets a first diagnostic parameter in the set of diagnostic parameters to a first value, the first value being selected to detect a first soft network error condition. A soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component configures the diagnostic heartbeat packet for transmission using the specified data communication protocol and including the set of diagnostic parameters, and sends the diagnostic heartbeat packet to the second component.

Abstract: A first component receives from a second component a set of diagnostic parameters to include in a diagnostic heartbeat packet, and information identifying a data communication protocol to be used for transmitting the diagnostic heartbeat packet. The diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and the set of diagnostic parameters. The first component sets a first diagnostic parameter in the set of diagnostic parameters to a first value, the first value being selected to detect a first soft network error condition. A soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component configures the diagnostic heartbeat packet for transmission using the specified data communication protocol and including the set of diagnostic parameters, and sends the diagnostic heartbeat packet to the second component.

Abstract: A first component, executing using a processor and a memory in a first data processing system, receives a diagnostic heartbeat packet from a second component executing in a second data processing system, wherein the diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The first component determines, using a value of a diagnostic attribute in the diagnostic heartbeat packet, that a first communication link between the first and the second data processing systems is usable but includes a soft network error, wherein a soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component re-routes a synchronization message from the first component to the second component using a second communication link between the first and the second data processing systems.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for improving a distributed application using diagnostic heartbeating are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application, executing using a processor and a memory in a first data processing system, sends a registration to a component in the first data processing system. The registration requests state information for a set of member components in a distributed domain. After the application sends the registration to the component, the application receives the state information from the component. The state information includes current status and diagnostic information relating to the set of member components obtained from diagnostic attributes of diagnostic heartbeat packets received by the component. A diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes.

Abstract: A first component, executing in a first data processing system, receives, over a data communication network using a first adapter, a first diagnostic heartbeat packet from a second adapter in a second data processing system. The first heartbeat packet comprises a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The first component determines, based on a set of values corresponding to the set of diagnostic attributes, that a soft network error condition exists in the data communication network. The soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects the transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component stores the set of values in a state information record associated with the first component and re-routes data traffic from one link to a different link between the first and the second data processing systems.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for a diagnostic heartbeat throttling are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A component, executing using a processor and a memory in a data processing system, sends diagnostic heartbeat packets over a communication link at a first rate, wherein a diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprises a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The component detects a change in data traffic over the communication link. The component changes a rate of sending diagnostic heartbeat packets from the first rate to a second rate responsive to the change in the data traffic over the communication link.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for a improving a distributed application using diagnostic heartbeating are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application, executing using a processor and a memory in a first data processing system, sends a registration to a component in the first data processing system. The registration requests state information for a set of member components in a distributed domain. After the application sends the registration to the component, the application receives the state information from the component. The state information includes current status and diagnostic information relating to the set of member components obtained from diagnostic attributes of diagnostic heartbeat packets received by the component. A diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes.

Abstract: A first component, executing using a processor and a memory in a first data processing system, receives a diagnostic heartbeat packet from a second component executing in a second data processing system, wherein the diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The first component determines, using a value of a diagnostic attribute in the diagnostic heartbeat packet, that a first communication link between the first and the second data processing systems is usable but includes a soft network error, wherein a soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component re-routes a synchronization message from the first component to the second component using a second communication link between the first and the second data processing systems.

Abstract: A first component receives from a second component a set of diagnostic parameters to include in a diagnostic heartbeat packet, and information identifying a data communication protocol to be used for transmitting the diagnostic heartbeat packet. The diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and the set of diagnostic parameters. The first component sets a first diagnostic parameter in the set of diagnostic parameters to a first value, the first value being selected to detect a first soft network error condition. A soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component configures the diagnostic heartbeat packet for transmission using the specified data communication protocol and including the set of diagnostic parameters, and sends the diagnostic heartbeat packet to the second component.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.

Abstract: Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of the Omp85 proteins of N. gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, and fragments thereof are useful in vaccine compositions, therapeutic compositions and diagnostic compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of non-symptomatic gonococcal infection or symptomatic disease and non-symptomatic meningococcal infection and symptomatic disease. Antibodies are developed to these proteins and also useful in the compositions and methods described herein.