Author: claimsbot

1. A method for processing a request received by a bridge, comprising:
receiving a request from a requesting core of a plurality of cores in a processor;
selecting the request for further processing based on a selection algorithm;
determining if a line to be stored in a shared memory, which is associated with the request, is owned by a non-requesting core of the plurality of cores; and
sending a defer reply from a bridge to the requesting core to transfer ownership of the line from the non-requesting core to the requesting core in response to the line being owned by the non-requesting core.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if other agents in a computer system including the processor own the line.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
in response to determining other agents do not own the line:
determining if the line is present in the shared memory;
sending data from the line to the requesting core in response to the line being present in the shared memory; and
deferring the request to a system interface of the processor in response to the line not being present in the shared memory.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if other agents in a computer system and determining if the line is present in the shared memory is done before determining if the line is owned by a non-requesting core.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending a snoop to a cache in the non-requesting core.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the selection algorithm is based on an age order matrix stored in the bridge, the age order matrix including an entry associated with the request.
7. A method comprising processing incoming snoops to a bridge, comprising
allocating an incoming snoop request in a first queue of a processor, the incoming snoop request being from an external agent;
determining a core of a plurality of cores in the processor to send the snoop request;
allocating the snoop request in a second queue associated with the core; and
passing data based on the snoop request to a system interconnect.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said allocating comprises:
initializing all agent valid bits to one in a global ordering queue; and
copying valid bits to an age matrix.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said copying comprises setting the valid bit.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein deallocating a request by resetting the valid bit if all the bits are set to zero.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining a core in the processor to send the snoop request is based on coherency information of a line of a memory in the processor referenced by the snoop request.
12. A processor comprising:
a caching bridge, wherein the caching bridge comprises a global ordering queue to hold an age order matrix and a core valid bit vector;
a system interconnect coupled to the caching bridge; and
one or more cores coupled to the caching bridge, wherein said global ordering queue enforces ordering for requests to and from the system interconnect to the one or more cores based at least on the age order matrix and the core valid bit vector.
13. The processor of claim 12 wherein the global ordering queue is to hold a core valid bit vector for each valid request in the queue.
14. The processor of claim 13 further comprising a snoop queue and a request queue, wherein an entry in the snoop queue and the request queue has a corresponding entry in the global ordering queue.
15. The processor of claim 14 wherein the core vector comprises a valid entry indicates the one or more cores to which the entry is sending snoop request or sending request completion.
16. The processor of claim 15 wherein the age matrix indicates all other entries allocated prior to the requested entry.
17. The processor of claim 16 wherein the entries are allocated in the age matrix in order in which they are received.
18. The processor of claim 17 wherein the global ordering queue computes oldest entry which may snoop or request complete to the one or more cores.
19. A multicore multiprocessor system comprising:
a first processor comprising:
a caching bridge, wherein the caching bridge comprises a global ordering queue to hold an age order matrix and a core valid bit vector,
a system interconnect coupled to the caching bridge, and
one or more cores coupled to the caching bridge, wherein said global ordering queue enforces ordering for requests to and from the system interconnect to the one or more cores based at least on the age order matrix and the core valid bit vector;

a first interface coupled to a second processor; and
a second interface coupled to an inputoutput device.
20. The processor of claim 19 wherein the global ordering queue is to hold a core valid bit vector for each valid request in the queue.
21. The processor of claim 20 further comprising a snoop queue and a request queue, wherein an entry in the snoop queue and the request queue has a corresponding entry in the global ordering queue.
22. The processor of claim 21 wherein the core vector comprises a valid entry indicates the one or more cores to which the entry is sending snoop request or sending request completion.
23. The processor of claim 22 wherein the age matrix indicates all other entries allocated prior to the requested entry.
24. The processor of claim 23 wherein the entries are allocated in the age matrix in order in which they are received.
25. The processor of claim 24 wherein the global ordering queue computes oldest entry which may snoop or request complete to the one or more cores.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic amount of an opioid drug; a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
2. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the opioid drug targets one or more opioid receptors selected from the group consisting of \u03bc-opioid receptors, \u03b4-opioid receptors and \u03ba-opioid receptors.
3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the opioid drug comprises one or more opioid drugs selected from the group consisting of alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, bezitramide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, cyclazocine, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, diamorphone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetylbutyrate, dipipanone, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylmethylthiambutene, ethylmorphine, etonitazene fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levallorphan, levorphanol, levophenacylmorphan, lofentanil, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nalorphine, normorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papavereturn, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenomorphan, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, piritramide, propheptazine, promedol, properidine, propiram, propoxyphene, sufentanil, tilidine and tramadol.
4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 3, wherein the opioid drug comprises morphine.
5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis targets at least one ceramide-biosynthetic enzymes selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and combinations thereof.
6. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of Fumonisin B1 (FB1), tyclodecan-9-xanthogenate (D609), myriocin and combinations thereof.
7. A method for reducing, preventing or delaying the development of tolerance to, andor physical dependence on an opioid drug upon administration of the opioid drug to a subject, the method comprising: administering to a subject in need thereof, an analgesic amount of the opioid drug and a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis is administered to the subject at a therapeutically effective time with respect to administering the opioid drug to the subject.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours before administering the opioid drug.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 15 minutes before administering the opioid drug.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 2 hours before administering the opioid drug.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 24 hours minutes before administering the opioid drug.
13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered at substantially the same time the opioid drug is administered.
14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours after administering the opioid drug.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 15 minutes after administering the opioid drug.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 2 hours after administering the opioid drug.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 24 hours after administering the opioid drug.
18. A method according to claim 7, wherein the opioid drug targets one or more opioid receptors selected from the group consisting of \u03bc-opioid receptors, \u03b4-opioid receptors and \u03ba-opioid receptors.
19. A method according to claim 7, wherein the opioid drug comprises one or more opioid drugs selected from the group consisting of alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, bezitramide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, cyclazocine, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, diamorphone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetylbutyrate, dipipanone, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylmethylthiambutene, ethylmorphine, etonitazene fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levallorphan, levorphanol, levophenacylmorphan, lofentanil, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nalorphine, normorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papavereturn, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenomorphan, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, piritramide, propheptazine, promedol, properidine, propiram, propoxyphene, sufentanil, tilidine and tramadol.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the opioid drug comprises morphine.
21. A method according to claim 7, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis is an antisense nucleic acid, a ribozyme, a triplex-forming oligonucleotide, a siRNA, a probe, a primer, an antibody or a combination thereof.
22. A method according to claim 7, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis targets at least one ceramide-biosynthetic enzyme selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and combinations thereof.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of FB1, D609, myriocin and combinations thereof.
24. A method according to claim 7, wherein the subject is a human.
25. A method of screening for an agent that reduces, prevents or delays the development of tolerance to, andor physical dependence on an opioid drug upon administration of the opioid drug to a subject, the method comprising:
a) contacting a cell comprising the opioid receptor, with an opioid drug;
b) contacting the cell with a test agent;
c) determining whether the test agent inhibits biosynthesis of ceramide in the presence of the opioid drug andor reduces or prevents an increase in ceramide levels elicited by the opioid drug; and
d) selecting the test agent as an agent that may reduce, prevent or delay the development of tolerance to andor physical dependence on the opioid drug if the test agent inhibits biosynthesis of ceramide andor reduces or prevents an increase in ceramide levels elicited by the opioid drug.
26. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein the opioid receptor is selected from the group consisting of a \u03bc-opioid receptor, \u03b4-opioid receptor and \u03ba-opioid receptor.
27. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein the opioid drug comprises one or more opioid drugs selected from the group consisting of alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, bezitramide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, cyclazocine, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, diamorphone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetylbutyrate, dipipanone, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylmethylthiambutene, ethylmorphine, etonitazene fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levallorphan, levorphanol, levophenacylmorphan, lofentanil, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nalorphine, normorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papavereturn, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenomorphan, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, piritramide, propheptazine, promedol, properidine, propiram, propoxyphene, sufentanil, tilidine and tramadol.
28. A screening method according to claim 27, wherein the opioid drug comprises morphine.
29. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein the test agent is an antisense nucleic acid, a ribozyme, a triplex-forming oligonucleotide, a siRNA, a probe, a primer, an antibody or a combination thereof.
30. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein the test agent inhibits a ceramide-biosynthetic enzyme selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and combinations thereof.
31. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein said contacting is in vitro.
32. A screening method according to claim 25, wherein said contacting is in vivo.
33. A method for treating or preventing a biological condition associated with ceramide biosynthesis accompanying administration of an opioid drug to a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof receiving administration of the opioid drug, a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the biological condition is opioid tolerance, nitroxidative stress or neuroimmune activation.
35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis is administered to the subject at a therapeutically effective time with respect to a time the subject receives administration of the opioid drug.
36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours before the subject receives the opioid drug.
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 15 minutes before the subject receives the opioid drug.
38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 2 hours before the subject receives the opioid drug.
39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 24 hours minutes before the subject receives the opioid drug.
40. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered at substantially the same time the subject receives the opioid drug.
41. A method according to claim 35, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered from about 15 minutes to about 24 hours after the subject receives the opioid drug.
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 15 minutes after the subject receives the opioid drug.
43. A method according to claim 41, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 2 hours after the subject receives the opioid drug.
44. A method according to claim 41, wherein the ceramide synthesis inhibitor is administered about 24 hours after the subject receives the opioid drug.
45. A method according to claim 33, wherein the opioid drug targets one or more opioid receptors selected from the group consisting of \u03bc-opioid receptors, \u03b4-opioid receptors and \u03ba-opioid receptors.
46. A method according to claim 33, wherein the opioid drug comprises one or more opioid drugs selected from the group consisting of alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, bezitramide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, cyclazocine, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, diamorphone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetylbutyrate, dipipanone, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylmethylthiambutene, ethylmorphine, etonitazene fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levallorphan, levorphanol, levophenacylmorphan, lofentanil, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nalorphine, normorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papavereturn, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenomorphan, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, piritramide, propheptazine, promedol, properidine, propiram, propoxyphene, sufentanil, tilidine and tramadol.
47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the opioid drug comprises morphine.
48. A method according to claim 33, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis is an antisense nucleic acid, a ribozyme, a triplex-forming oligonucleotide, a siRNA, a probe, a primer, an antibody or a combination thereof.
49. A method according to claim 33, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis targets at least one ceramide-biosynthetic enzyme selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase, and combinations thereof.
50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the ceramide biosynthesis inhibitor comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of FB1, D609, myriocin and combinations thereof.
51. A method according to claim 33, wherein the subject is a human.
52. A dsRNA for inhibiting ceramide biosynthesis in a cell, the dsRNA comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand,
wherein the sense strand is substantially complementary to the antisense strand,
wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of an RNA encoding a ceramide biosynthesis enzyme,
wherein the target sequence is not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides in length, and
wherein the dsRNA, upon contact with a cell comprising the target sequence, inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
53. A dsRNA according to claim 52, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, and dihydroceramide desaturase.
54. A dsRNA according to claim 53, wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
55. A dsRNA according to claim 54, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
56. A dsRNA according to claim 53, wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
57. A dsRNA according to claim 56, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
58. A vector for expressing shRNA for inhibiting ceramide biosynthesis in a cell, the vector comprising a sense strand, a hairpin linker, and an antisense strand,
wherein the antisense strand is substantially complementary to the sense strand,
wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of an RNA encoding a ceramide biosynthesis enzyme,
wherein the target sequence is not more than 30 contiguous nucleotides in length, and
wherein the shRNA, upon contact with a cell, inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
59. A vector according to claim 58, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, and dihydroceramide desaturase.
60. A vector according to claim 59, wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
61. A vector according to claim 60, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
62. A vector according to claim 59, wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
63. A vector according to claim 62, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
64. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting ceramide biosynthesis in a cell, the pharmaceutical composition comprising a dsRNA that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,
wherein the dsRNA comprises a sense strand and an antisense strand,
wherein the sense strand is substantially complementary to the antisense strand,
wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of an RNA encoding a ceramide biosynthesis enzyme,
wherein the target sequence is not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides in length, and
wherein the dsRNA, upon contact with a cell comprising the target sequence, inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
65. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 64, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, and dihydroceramide desaturase.
66. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 65, wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
67. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 66, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
68. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 65, wherein the antisense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
69. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 68, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
70. A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting ceramide biosynthesis in a cell, the pharmaceutical composition comprising a vector for expressing an shRNA that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,
wherein the vector comprises a sense strand, a hairpin linker, and an antisense strand,
wherein the antisense strand is substantially complementary to the sense strand,
wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of an RNA encoding a ceramide biosynthesis enzyme,
wherein the target sequence is not more than 30 contiguous nucleotides in length, and
wherein the shRNA, upon contact with a cell, inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
71. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 70, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, and dihydroceramide desaturase.
72. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 71, wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
73. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 72, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of a sequence encoding SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33 or SEQ ID NO: 35.
74. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 71, wherein the sense strand comprises a region of complementarity having a sequence substantially complementary to a target sequence of not more than about 30 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
75. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 74, wherein the region of complementarity comprises from about 19 to about 21 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34 or SEQ ID NO: 36.
76. A method for treating a biological condition associated with a compound downstream of ceramide in a metabolic pathway that includes ceramide, in a subject: the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis.
77. A method according to claim 76, wherein the compound downstream of ceramide is selected from the group consisting of peroxynitrite, a cytokine, transcription factor NK-\u03baB, manganese superoxide dismutase and combinations thereof.
78. A method according to claim 77, wherein the compound downstream of ceramide is a cytokine selected from the group consisting of TNF-\u03b1, IL-\u03b2, and IL-6.
79. A method according to claim 77, wherein the compound downstream of ceramide is transcription factor NK-\u03baB.
80. A method according to claim 77, wherein the compound downstream of ceramide is manganese superoxide dismutase.
81. A method according to claim 76, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis is an antisense nucleic acid, ribozyme, triplex-forming oligonucleotide, siRNA, probe, primer, antibody or a combination thereof.
82. A method according to claim 76, wherein the agent that inhibits ceramide biosynthesis targets at least one ceramide-biosynthetic enzyme selected from the group consisting of a sphingomyelinase, serine palmitoyltransferase, 3-ketosphinganine reductase, ceramide synthase, dihydroceramide desaturase and combinations thereof.
83. A method according to claim 82, wherein the ceramide biosynthesis inhibitor comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of FB1, D609, myriocin and combinations thereof.
84. A method according to claim 76, wherein the subject is a human.

1. A stacked EBG (electromagnetic bandgap) structure comprising:
a first ground plane;
a first power plane;
a via;
a second power plane, connected with the first power plane via the via;
a second ground plane;
a third power plane, and
a plurality of ground vias, wherein the first ground plane, the second power plane and the second ground plane are connected through the ground vias, the ground vias and the second power plane do not have actually electrical connection, the first ground plane, the first power plane, the second power plane, and the via forms a first EBG structure, the first ground plane, the second ground plane, the third power plane and the ground vias forms a second EBG structure.
2. The stacked EBG structure of claim 1, wherein the first EBG structure and the second EBG structure have different stopband bandwidths, the ground vias has characteristic of guard ring, thereby the stacked EBG structure achieves an increase in stopband bandwidths.
3. The stacked EBG structure of claim 2, wherein a frequency band of a stopband provided by the stacked EBG structure is wider than with a frequency band of a stopband provided by the first EBG structure and the second EBG structure respectively.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method comprising:
determining whether to direct at least some traffic of at least one user equipment (UE) connected to a local area (or macro) access point (AP) to be connected to a macro (or local) AP; and
causing, in an instance in which it is determined to direct the at least some traffic of at least one UE to be connected to the macro (or local) AP, at least one signal to be transmitted to the at least one UE, the at least one signal being configured to direct the at least some traffic of the at least one UE to connect to the macro (or local) AP.
2-52. (canceled)
53. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing program code instructions, the at least one memory and program code instructions being configured to, with the at least one processor, direct the apparatus to at least:
determine whether to direct at least some traffic of at least one user equipment (UE) connected to a local area (or macro) access point (AP) to be connected to a macro (or local) AP; and
cause, in an instance in which it is determined to direct the at least some traffic of at least one UE to be connected to the macro AP, at least one signal to be transmitted to the at least one UE, the at least one signal being configured to direct the at least some traffic of the at least one UE to connect to the macro (or local) AP.
54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one signal comprises a paging message.
55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the paging message comprises a switch-back paging indicator.
56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the paging message comprises an indication of one or more dedicated Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) parameters.
57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the paging message comprises an indication of what traffic is to be served by the local AP connected to the UE.
58. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the paging message comprises an indication of what traffic is to be served by the macro AP connected to the UE.
59. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the paging message comprises an indication of a link problem regarding the local area AP.
60. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein a set of PRACH resources are predefined for the at least one UE, a particular PRACH resource being determined by the UE based on a subframe index in which the UE detects the paging message.
61. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one signal comprises or further comprises a Downlink Control Information (DCS) message.
62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the DCI message comprises a DCI format 1A1C message.
63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the DCI message comprises a reserved bit indicating that the UE is to connect to the macro AP.
64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the reserved bit is included in a plurality of bits representing a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) process number.
65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the DCI message is scrambled with a Paging Radio Network Temporary Identity (P-RNTI).
66. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one signal is transmitted during a switch-back Paging Occasion (PO).
67. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one first signal, the apparatus being further directed to cause transmission of in an instance in which the at least one first signal is transmitted during a RACH procedure, at least one second signal comprising an indication of a RACH purpose.
68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the at least one second signal comprises a msg 2.
69. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the at least one second signal comprises a Random Access Response (RAR) message and further wherein the indication of the RACH purpose comprises a reserved bit in a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) of the RAR message.
70. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the at least one second signal comprises a msg 4.
71-104. (canceled)
105. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code portions embodied therein, the program code portions being configured to, upon execution, cause an apparatus to at least:
determine whether to direct at least some traffic of at least one user equipment (UE) connected to a local area (or macro) access point (AP) to be connected to a macro (or local) AP; and
cause, in an instance in which it is determined to direct the at least some traffic of at least one UE to be connected to the macro (or local) AP, at least one signal to be transmitted to the at least one UE, the at least one signal being configured to direct the at least some traffic of the at last one UE to connect to the macro (or local) AP.
106-156. (canceled)