Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the production of linear and branched procyanidin oligomers having “n” procyanidin monomeric units where n is 2 to 18. The processes include coupling protected, activated monomers with an unprotected monomer to produce a partially protected (4?8) dimer. The dimer is optionally blocked, coupled with an activated protected monomer to produce a partially protected, optionally blocked trimer, and deprotected. The steps can be repeated to produce higher oligomers. Processes are also provided for producing (8?8), (8?6), and (6?6) dimers and doubly branched oligomers. Crystalline 8-bromo-tetra-O-benzyl-(?)-epicatechin is produced under certain conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts, compounds, combinations thereof and compositions containing the same, such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, compounds and compositions, as well as uses for them, especially a polymeric compound of the formula An, wherein A is a monomer of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 2 to 18, such that there is at least one terminal monomeric unit A, and one or a plurality of additional monomeric units; R is 3-(&agr;)-OH, 3-(&bgr;)-OH, 3-(&agr;)-O-sugar, or 3-(&bgr;)-O-sugar.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a light source section, which is constituted of a plurality of arrayed light source units, each of the light source units comprising multiple kinds of light emitting devices, which produce light beams having wavelengths falling within different wavelength ranges, and an optical system for combining the light beams, which have been radiated out from the multiple kinds of the light emitting devices, with one another to form a combined light beam, and converging the combined light beam onto one end of an optical fiber. An exposure head is located so as to stand facing a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive material capable of being conveyed. The other end of the optical fiber is connected to the exposure head. A driving mechanism moves the exposure head in a straight line along a direction, which is normal to the direction of conveyance of the photosensitive material.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the preparation of 2-methylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. The continuous vapor-phase processes are commercially viable and efficient because they permit the preparation of 2-methylfuran and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran using commercially-available catalysts, namely, a reduced copper-based catalyst consisting essentially of cupric oxide, chromium (III) oxide, manganese oxide and barium chromate and a reduced nickel-based catalyst consisting essentially of nickel, nickel (II) oxide, aluminum oxide and silica. An apparatus comprising two inline hydrogenators is used for preparing the 2-methylfuran or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, as well as uses for them, especially as antineoplastic agents and antioxidants. Disclosed and claimed are antineoplastic compositions containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins-and methods for treating patients employing the compositions. Additionally disclosed and claimed is a kit for treating a patient in need of treatment with an antineoplastic agent containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins as well as a lyophilized antineoplastic composition containing cocoa polyphenols or procyanidins. Further, disclosed and claimed is the use of the invention in antioxidant, preservative and topiosomerase-inhibiting compositions and methods.

Abstract: Amusement equipment can be easily installed in a building at low cost. Also, desired amusement equipment can be renewed easily and at low cost. In a building, an amusement facility is provided by installing a container provided therein with amusement equipment. The building is formed with an opening portion for carrying-in-and-out the container therethrough. A container supporting portion for permitting carrying-in-and-out the container is provided in the building. Accordingly, the container is placed on the container supporting portion through the opening portion to install the amusement equipment in the building. Also, by replacing the container in the building, the amusement equipment can be replaced.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing the assembly workcell layout in the context of industrial robotic CAD/CAM/CAE software products. The criterion to be minimized is the cycle time for completing a given sequence of operations, which is achieved by determining the relative positions of peripheral machines on the workcell floor. The method is constructive: each machine is placed one at a time in the robot neighborhood, by means of a modified simulated annealing method. This method yields several possible and optimal positions for a machine and several layouts are thus obtained at the end of execution.

Abstract: Cocoa extracts which include procyanidin monomers and their oligomers are useful in the modulation of inflammatory pathways, in the maintenance of the vascular health of a mammal and as an antibacterial treatment. The liquid or dry cocoa extracts can be included in foods, food supplements and pharmaceuticals for the inhibition of COX activity, the inhibition of LOX activity, the enhancement of nitric oxide production, the modulation of eicosanoids and endothelin, and the modulation of platelet activity.

Abstract: A composition for use in forming a dry film coating on metal surfaces to at least temporarily protect the surfaces from oxidation comprises at least 20% by weight of a combination of at least one saturated linear carboxylic monoacid with at least one unsaturated linear carboxylic monoacid. The monoacids are in the form of alkaline, alkaline-earth or amine salts. The carbon chain of each acid comprises an uneven number of carbon atoms varying from 5 to 21. At least 0.5% by weight of a triazole derivative can be added to enhance the anti-corrosion effect. The composition is water-soluble and the dry protective film can be formed by diluting the composition in water, applying the diluted composition to a metal surface and then air drying it.

Abstract: With an electronic endoscope, a wide band video signal is output to connected instruments without giving electric shocks to a body even when the connected instruments are not insulated. The video signal V is converted to differential signals V1, V2 by a differential amp 31 and input to buffers 42, 43 via capacitors 32, 33. The clamp signal CP generated by the clamp signal output means 44 is input to the end terminals of the switches SW1, SW2 via the photocoupler 46. The differential signals V1, V2 undergo pulse clamping in the buffers 42, 43 and the DC components are restored. The video signal restoring portion 49 restores the video signal V on the basis of the differential signals V1, V2 having undergone DC restoration and outputs the video signals to the connected instruments.

Abstract: A software control method includes forming groups of software application functions. A different characteristic is associated with each of the groups, and a different graphical user interface (GUI) object is formed for each function in each of the groups. Each GUI object includes the characteristic associated with its function's group and a second characteristic that distinguishes its function from other functions within its function's group. A computer program residing on a computer-readable medium includes instructions for causing a computer to form a different graphical user interface (GUI) object for each of a collection of software functions. Each GUI object may include a first visual characteristic that identifies a first characteristic of the object's associated function, and a second visual characteristic that identifies a second characteristic of the object's associated function.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in single or multi-axis scan patterns.

Abstract: A liquid crystal pixel interpolating mechanism is provided in a liquid crystal photo printer, wherein an image displayed on a liquid crystal panel, which is constituted of a plurality of pixels arrayed in two-dimensional directions and at predetermined pitch dimensions, is projected through a projecting lens onto a photosensitive material and printed on the photosensitive material. The mechanism comprises a liquid crystal panel support member, which is supported with resilient members, and pushing device for pushing the liquid crystal panel support member. With the mechanism, a pixel shifting operation is capable of being performed with a simple constitution and accurately.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are cocoa extracts, compounds, combinations thereof and compositions containing the same, such as polyphenols or procyanidins, methods for preparing such extracts, compounds and compositions, as well as uses for them, especially a polymeric compound of the formula An, wherein A is a monomer of the formula: wherein n is an integer from 2 to 18, such that there is at least one terminal monomeric unit A, and one or a plurality of additional monomeric units; R is 3-(&agr;)-OH, 3-(&bgr;)-OH, 3-(&agr;)-O-sugar, or 3-(&bgr;)-O-sugar.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of polyphenol oligomers having n polyphenol monomeric units, n being an integer from 2-18. The process includes coupling of a protected polyphenol, having protected phenolic hydroxyl groups, with a C-4 functionalized polyphenol monomer. The protected polyphenol may be a protected polyphenol monomer or a protected polyphenol oligomer having 2-17 monomeric units. Advantageously, polyphenol monomeric units forming the polyphenol oligomers may be the same or different flavanoid compounds.

Abstract: An Internet billing method comprises establishing an agreement between an Internet access provider and a customer, and an agreement between the Internet access provider and a vendor, wherein the Internet access provider agrees with the customer and the vendor to bill the customer and remit to the vendor for products and services purchased over the Internet by the customer from the vendor. The provider creates access to the Internet for the customer. When the customer orders a product or service over the Internet from a vendor, transactional information transmitted between the customer and the vendor is also transmitted to the provider. The provider then bills the transaction amount to the customer and remits a portion of the transaction amount to the vendor, keeping the differential as a fee for providing the service. As a result of this method, there is no need for any customer account numbers or vendor account numbers to be transmitted over the Internet, thereby maintaining the security of that information.

Abstract: The invention provides food products, including confectioneries and chocolates, having conserved concentrations of polyphenols, and in particular cocoa polyphenols. The method of this invention avoids the significant and detrimental losses of polyphenols that occur during conventional manufacture by controlling the handling of ingredients in batching processing to provide a product having a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenol concentration present in the raw materials conserved in the finished product. Additionally, the production steps of milling/refining and conching may also be controlled and modified to provide the confectioneries of the present invention having conserved concentrations of cocoa polyphenols relative to the concentration of the polyphenols present in the starting ingredients. The cocoa polyphenol ingredient may be a cocoa ingredient, an extract of a cocoa ingredient (beans, liquor, or powder, etc.

Abstract: The invention provides generally a method and system for selecting an element of a computer generated drawing model graphically represented on a computer screen wherein each selectable element of the model occupies a position in a hierarchical tree describing the model. A pointer can be used to specify a position on the screen and pre-selecting an element on an axis extending from the position of the pointer along a predetermined direction such that the direction is not in the plane of the screen. Pre-selection can be moved from a first position on the hierarchical tree to a second position on the hierarchical tree in response to activation of an arrow mechanism. Full selection can be accomplished by activating a selection mechanism.

Abstract: A platform is provided for the manufacture of microwave, multilayer integrated circuits and microwave, multifunction modules. The manufacturing process involves bonding fluoropolymer composite substrates into a multilayer structure using fusion bonding. The bonded multilayers, with embedded semiconductor devices, etched resistors and circuit patterns, and plated via holes form a self-contained surface mount module. Film bonding, or fusion bonding if possible, may be used to cover embedded semiconductor devices, including embedded active semiconductor devices, with one or more layers.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for automated trading of fixed income securities which enables institutional investors, broker dealers and others, to transact directly and anonymously for the purpose of trading investment grade, high yield corporate bonds, municipal bonds or other fixed income securities. A financial institution acting as a Fixed Income Securities system sponsor can act as counterparty to transactions, from trade execution through settlement, and can also serve as a credit intermediary. Computer systems are utilized in conjunction with an electronic communications network to facilitate such fixed income security trading activities. Software routines can direct a trader to various fixed income securities available according to specific criteria put forth by the trader. Software routines can also provide information and services related to the automated trading of fixed income securities.