Abstract: Disclosed is a method for diagnosing melanoma in a human subject, as well as a method for providing a prognosis to a human subject who is at risk of developing melanoma recurrence, and a method for determining the stage of melanoma in a human subject, comprising the step of determining the level of expression of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) gene, or fragments thereof, either alone or in combination with the level of expression of secreted integrin-binding phosphoprotein (SPP1), preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF 15), and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) genes. Further, the invention relates to a diagnostic kit, comprising at least one substance for detection of the expression of PHACTR1, or fragments thereof, either alone or in combination with the detection of SPP1, PRAME, GDF15, and CXCL10, for the diagnosis or prognosis of melanoma.

Abstract: A method and system are described including retrieving a sparseness indication, retrieving an indication of a number of failed transmissions, comparing the sparseness indication to an optimal sparseness, comparing the number of failed transmissions to a first threshold, adjusting a size of a set of triggering events responsive to both the first and the second comparison, comparing a data buffer push rate to a data buffer arrival rate, further adjusting the size of the triggering set responsive to the third comparison, determining system fairness, comparing the size of the triggering set to a second threshold and further adjusting the size of the triggering set responsive to one of the determination and a combination of the determination and the fourth comparison.

Abstract: A user accessing a media service desires to find out more information about the media service by formulating a query, by operation of an input device, where a region of interest of said media service is selected by the user. The query is submitted to other users who are defined by various tiers defined by different types of criteria. The users belonging to such tiers respond back to the query with new information, which is rendered on the media device being used by the user. Such responses are then rendered on the media device of the user. Optionally, a computer assistance mode is operated where keywords are extracted from said communications between users, and such keywords a used to obtain additional results from a resource such as a search engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for network transmission in a network system, e.g. WLAN is provided. In the network system, there is a media server for multicasting video stream, a QoS server for obtaining important packets from the media server and reconstructing the obtained important packets into a QoS multicast stream. Then there is an AP for receiving and sending out the multicast video stream to mobile stations directly, and for receiving the QoS multicast stream, re-encapsulating and sending out the stream in multicast-over-unicast way.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sending a message to a network device with a specific MAC address, in an IP network implementing a interne group management protocol IGMP, comprising: sending, by a network terminal, to the network device, a multicast group management status message including a destination address set as the specific MAC address.

Abstract: A method to implement an adaptive multicast data rate transmission selection includes determining the lowest signal strength station in a multicast group, using signal strength as an indicator to increase data rate, and determining if the increase in data rate is viable for multicast transmission by determining frame or packet loss using the increased data rate.

Abstract: In the context of IEEE 802.11 WLAN networks, enhancement to the Relaxed Deterministic Backoff (R-DEB) for random access of shared (Medium Access Control MAC) method. For all available candidate resource slots, a busy index is calculated that reflects the level of use/occupation in the past and infers a probability of use in the future by another concurring device. The method assumes the use of a sub-set of resource slots for transmission, and updates this set by replacing resource slots for which collisions are frequent with a not currently used candidate resource for which the busy index is the lowest. Passive Spoofing/overhearing of all resources for clear channel assessment (CCS) is used for resource monitoring purposes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the identification of breast cancer grade signatures are provided. The signature profiles are identified based upon multiple sampling of reference breast tissue samples from independent cases of breast cancer and provide a reliable set of molecular criteria for identification of cells as being in one or more particular stages and/or grades of breast cancer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including receiving a report from an associated station, updating a list responsive to the report, adjusting a timeslot allocation map responsive to the updated list, encapsulating the adjusted map, transmitting the encapsulated adjusted map and assigning a timeslot specified in the timeslot allocation map to the associated station.

Abstract: It provides a method for encoding a set of elements by using components defining the structure of each of the set of elements, wherein each element comprises data structure information and at least one data value. The method comprises the steps of: selecting a current element for encoding; determining whether the current element has the same data structure information as a previously encoded element; in the negative, encoding the data structure information of the current element and the at least one data value of the current element; and in the affirmative, encoding the at least one data value of the current element and providing an indication value associated with the current element indicating the current element has the same data structure information as said previously encoded element. The method is used to reduce the encoding redundancy of the structure information.

Abstract: The disclosure includes the identification and use of gene expression profiles, or patterns, with clinical relevance to cancer. In particular, the disclosure includes the identities of genes that are expressed in correlation with tumor grade. The levels of gene expression are disclosed as a molecular index for determining tumor grade in a patient and predicting clinical outcome, and so prognosis, for the patient. The molecular grading of cancer may optionally be used in combination with a second molecular index for diagnosing cancer and its prognosis. The disclosure further includes methods for predicting cancer recurrence, and/or predicting occurrence of metastatic cancer. For diagnosis or prognosis, the disclosure further includes methods for determining or selecting the treatment of cancer based upon the likelihood of life expectancy, cancer recurrence, and/or cancer metastasis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including determining a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect a priority. Further, a method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including receiving a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect a priority.

Abstract: A method for Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding in a transmitter, the method comprising: receiving a data stream from a data source; generating a first Forward Error Correction data for respective data block with a first block size of the data stream; and generating a second Forward Error Correction data for respective data block with a second block size of the data stream, wherein the second block size is different with the first block size and wherein the data blocks of the first block size form the data stream, and the data blocks with the second block size form the data stream.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the identification of breast cancer grade signatures are provided. The signature profiles are identified based upon multiple sampling of reference breast tissue samples from independent cases of breast cancer and provide a reliable set of molecular criteria for identification of cells as being in one or more particular stages and/or grades of breast cancer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including determining address using an access point address and a multicast group address, transmitting a recovery request message to a recovery server to request recovery data using the address and receiving the recovery data from the recovery server. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a registration message, transmitting a reply to the registration message, receiving a recovery request message, transmitting recovery data responsive to the recovery request message and transmitting a message to a recovery multicast group to determine status of the recovery multicast group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including transmitting data if a slot count is equal to a triggering event, selecting a new triggering event responsive to a failed data transmission and replacing the triggering event with the new triggering event.

Abstract: A method for scheduling wake/sleep cycles by a central device in a wireless network is provided. The wireless network comprises at least one mobile device. The method comprises: attributing a wake/sleep cycle length to each mobile device, wherein the wake/sleep cycle length is an integer multiple of a system schedule cycle; assigning a sleep period and a wake period within the wake/sleep cycle of each mobile device; and arranging the wake/sleep cycle of each mobile device to avoid collision of the wake period with those of other mobile devices. The present invention can keep the maximum sleep cycle period of each MS to guarantee the QoS requirement and to efficiently utilize the system bandwidth.

Abstract: A user assigns a major and minor channel number combination to a media service which does not have such a pre-existing combination, where such a media service is accessed by using such a channel combination without having to resort to the typical means of accessing the media service, such as using a web site URL or radio frequency. Optionally, the invention will automatically update the minor numbers associated with a media service when older versions of the media service become unavailable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including determining a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect a priority. Further, a method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including receiving a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect a priority.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including determining a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect one of a priority and traffic patterns. Further, a method and apparatus are described for gaining access to a communication medium in a contention-based network, including receiving a slot count based on a number of stations in the contention-based network, adjusting the slot count, initiating a frame transmission when the slot count reaches a predetermined value and wherein said number of stations and an address queue are adjusted to reflect a priority.