var speed = 3000;
var frequency = 5;
var duration = 2.0;
var index=0;
var placeholder = "";
var url = "";
var pars = "";

function initProfile(placeholder, url, pars, speed) { 
	this.speed = speed;
	this.frequency = speed/1000 + duration;
	
	new Ajax.PeriodicalUpdater(placeholder, url, {
		frequency: this.frequency, parameters: pars, onSuccess: function() {
			Effect.Appear(placeholder, { duration: this.duration});
			setTimeout("Effect.Fade('"+placeholder+"', { duration: this.duration});", this.speed);
		}
	});
}