Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user of a computing device on a scheduled basis and interpreting the user's responses to the prompting, are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising on a computing device are described.

Abstract: An advertising system where user's are rewarded for having advertisements displayed on their computing devices is described. Advertisement and scheduling information is provided by a server to the computing devices. Rewards are accrued by the server on behalf of the users.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for inducing a protective immune response in a mammal against a virus, in which a construct including a promoter and a DNA sequence encoding a protein or peptide producing an immune response against the virus is introduced into muscle or skin of the mammal via a microprojectile. Sufficient amounts of the construct are administered so as to produce a protective immune response in the mammal.

Abstract: A novel lead zirconium titanate (PZT) material having unique properties and application for PZT thin film capacitors and ferroelectric capacitor structures, e.g., FeRAMs, employing such thin film material. The PZT material is scalable, being dimensionally scalable, pulse length scalable and/or E-field scalable in character, and is useful for ferroelectric capacitors over a wide range of thicknesses, e.g., from about 20 nanometers to about 150 nanometers, and a range of lateral dimensions extending to as low as 0.15 ?m. Corresponding capacitor areas (i.e., lateral scaling) in a preferred embodiment are in the range of from about 104 to about 10?2 ?m. The scalable PZT material of the invention may be formed by liquid delivery MOCVD, without PZT film modification techniques such as acceptor doping or use of film modifiers (e.g., Nb, Ta, La, Sr, Ca and the like).

Abstract: The instant invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a Chlamydia genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically synthesized promoters that circumvent the disadvantages of the universal CMV promoter/enhancer elements. The promoter may be used in a variety of applications, particularly in genetic immunization. The chemically synthesized promoter overcomes the common problems of the CMV promoter element such as: low transgene expression levels, transient expression, and the large amount of plasmid DNA needed for intramuscular injection in subjects.

Abstract: The invention generally concerns compositions and methods for genetic vaccination with amyloid beta (A?) protein. Such vaccines may provide effective treatment for neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Vaccination methods are can be used to induce a Th2 type immune response directed to A?. This immune response id shown to substantially reduce A? concentration and A? plaque size in an Alzheimer's model system.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a Chlamydia genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation techniques.

Abstract: A novel lead zirconium titanate (PZT) material having unique properties and application for PZT thin film capacitors and ferroelectric capacitor structures, e.g., FeRAMs, employing such thin film material. The PZT material is scalable, being dimensionally scalable, pulse length scalable and/or E-field scalable in character, and is useful for ferroelectric capacitors over a wide range of thicknesses, e.g., from about 20 nanometers to about 150 nanometers, and a range of lateral dimensions extending to as low as 0.15 ?m. Corresponding capacitor areas (i.e., lateral scaling) in a preferred embodiment are in the range of from about 104 to about 10?2 ?m2. The scalable PZT material of the invention may be formed by liquid delivery MOCVD, without PZT film modification techniques such as acceptor doping or use of film modifiers (e.g., Nb, Ta, La, Sr, Ca and the like).

Abstract: A method of preventing oxygen deficiency in a ferroelectric or high ? film material having a top electrode layer deposited thereon. Process conditions are employed that either enable the top electrode layer to be formed without oxygen abstraction from the ferroelectric or high ? film material in the vicinity and at the top surface thereof, or else provide the ferroelectric or high ? film material in the vicinity and at the top surface thereof with a surplus of oxygen. In the latter case, the deposition formation of the top electrode layer on the ferroelectric or high ? film material depletes the over-stoichiometric excess of the oxygen in the film material, to yield a device structure including an electrode on a film material having a proper stoichiometry, e.g., of PbZrTiO3.

Abstract: A support for a bundle of tubes, which support has more than one transverse support plates spaced apart along the direction of the tubes to be supported, and which support plates are provided with openings for accommodating the tubes, wherein the support plates are segmental baffle support elements and expanded metal support elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enhancing an immune response in a subject by providing to a subject a genetic immunization vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a COMP domain linked to a an antigen domain.

Abstract: The invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a Borrelia genome, in particular an B. burgdorferi genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation techniques.

Abstract: A general method for vaccinating against any pathogen is presented. The method utilizes expression library immunization, where an animal is inoculated with an expression library constructed from fragmented genomic DNA of the pathogen. All potential epitopes of the pathogen's proteins are encoded in its DNA, and genetic immunization is used to directly introduce one or more expression library clones to the immune system, producing an immune response to the encoded protein. Inoculation of expression libraries representing portions of the Mycoplasma pulmonis genome was shown to protect mice from subsequent challenge by this natural pathogen. Protection against Listeria was also obtained using the method.

Abstract: The Parapox B2L virus envelope protein is used as an adjuvant to enhance a subject's response to an administered antigen. Both antibody and cellular immune responses can be modified. B2L protein is particularly useful as an adjuvant for poorly immunogenic tumor vaccines and subunit vaccines, such as those useful for preventing and/or treating flu, tuberculosis, respiratory syncytial virus, anthrax and HIV.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to antigens and nucleic acids encoding such antigens obtainable by screening a herpesvirus genome, in particular an HSV-1 genome. In more specific aspects, the invention relates to methods of isolating such antigens and nucleic acids and to methods of using such isolated antigens for producing immune responses. The ability of an antigen to produce an immune response may be employed in vaccination or antibody preparation technique.

Abstract: A method of transferring a gene to vertebrate cells is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing microprojectiles, the microprojectiles carrying polynucleic acid sequences, the sequences comprising, in the 5′ to 3′ direction, a regulatory sequence operable in the tissue cells and a gene positioned downstream of the regulatory sequence and under the transcriptional control thereof; and (b) accelerating the microprojectiles at the cells, with the microprojectiles contacting the cells at a speed sufficient to penetrate the cells and deposit the polynucleic acid sequences therein. Preferably, the target cells reside in situ in the animal subject when they are transformed. Preferred target cells are dermis or hypodermis cells, and preferred genes for insertion into the target cells are genes which code for proteins or peptides which produce a physiological response in the animal subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically synthesized promoters that circumvent the disadvantages of the universal CMV promoter/enhancer elements. The promoter may be used in a variety of applications, particularly in genetic immunization. The chemically synthesized promoter overcomes the common problems of the CMV promoter element such as: low transgene expression levels, transient expression, and the large amount of plasmid DNA needed for intramuscular injection in subjects.

Abstract: The Parapox B2L virus envelope protein is used as an adjuvant to enhance a subject's response to an administered antigen. Both antibody and cellular immune responses can be modified. B2L protein is particularly useful as an adjuvant for poorly immunogenic tumor vaccines and subunit vaccines, such as those useful for preventing and/or treating flu, tuberculosis, respiratory syncytial virus, anthrax and HIV.