Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for manufacturing polyamides. The polyamides are of the type obtained from diacids and diamines. The process comprises an operation of continuous mixing of a compound which is rich in amine end groups and a compound which is rich in acid end groups and a polycondensation operation using the mixture. The invention relates to the starting phase of such a process, during which an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of monomers in substantially stoichiometric proportions is used.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel stilbene compounds having the general formula (I): as well as to pharmaceutical compositions for use in human or veterinary medicine, including dermatological, rheumatic, respiratory, cardiovascular and ophthalmic conditions and cosmetic compositions and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel diarylselenide compounds corresponding to the general formula (I) and the use thereof in pharmaceutical compositions in human or veterinary medicine (in the treatment of dermatological, rheumatic, cardiovascular and ophthalmologic pathologies in particular), or in cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: Photoprotective cosmetic/dermatological compositions well suited for the UV-photoprotection of human skin and/or hair, comprise (a) at least one organic UV-screening agent and (b) an SPF-improving amount of at least one amphiphilic polymerizate of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer which comprises a sulfonic group, whether in the free acid or in partially or totally neutralized state, and which amphiphilic polymerizate also comprises at least one hydrophobic moiety.

Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing copper values for, by way of example, treating, preventing or ameliorating tissue damage such as, for example, tissue damage that may be caused by (i) disorders of the heart muscle (for example, cardiomyopathy or myocarditis) such as idiopathic cardiomyopathy, metabolic cardiomyopathy which includes diabetic cardiomyopathy, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, drug-induced cardiomyopathy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and hypertensive cardiomyopathy, (ii) atheromatous disorders of the major blood vessels (macrovascular disease) such as the aorta, the coronary arteries, the carotid arteries, the cerebrovascular arteries, the renal arteries, the iliac arteries, the femoral arteries, and the popliteal arteries, (iii) toxic, drug-induced, and metabolic (including hypertensive and/or diabetic disorders of small blood vessels (microvascular disease) such as the retinal arterioles, the glomerular arterioles, the vasa nervorum, cardiac arterioles, and associated capillary beds of the eye, the kidney

Abstract: A pattern can be precisely formed by irradiating, with an active energy beam, a positive sensitive resin composition according to this invention comprising a base polymer, an ether-bond-containing olefinic unsaturated compound and an acid-generating agent, where the base polymer is a copolymer comprising the structural units represented by formulas (1) to (3): where R1 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or methyl and R2 is C1-C6 straight or branched unsubstituted alkyl or C1-C6 straight or branched substituted alkyl, wherein a, b and c are 0.05 to 0.7, 0.15 to 0.8 and 0.01 to 0.5, respectively and a+b+c=1.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device is provided according to the present invention for magnetic recording on a recording medium. The magnetic recording device includes a magnetic pole and a C-aperture structure disposed adjacent the magnetic pole. A focusing element receives light from a light source and focuses the received light onto the C-aperture structure, such that the light incident upon the C-aperture structure and a magnetic flux flowing through the magnetic pole are co-locatable on a recording medium disposed adjacent to the magnetic recording device. The focusing element may include a planar waveguide receiving and focusing the light onto the C-aperture structure.

Abstract: The aromatic diamine compound of the present invention is represented by the following formula (1), and from the aromatic diamine compound a polyimide having a repeating unit represented by the following formula (4), which has low-temperature adherability, can be obtained. In the formulas (1) and (4), n is an integer of 3 to 7, each R is independently an atom or a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom and a hydrocarbon group, the same or different two hetero atoms selected from nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms bonded to each benzene ring are at the ortho- or meta-positions to each other on at least one benzene ring, and when n is 3, the hetero atoms are at the ortho- or meta-positions to each other on all the benzene rings. In the formula (4), Y is a tetravalent organic group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating an individual with diabetes mellitus by administering to said individual an effective amount of copper chelators, hydrazine compounds, and/or substrate analogues. The invention also relates to methods of treating an individual with diabetes mellitus by lessening fructosamine odixase activity in said individual. Provided within is disclosure pertaining to treatment, pharmaceutical compositions, dosage ranges, and uses of fructosamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors to lessen fructosamine oxidase activity.

Abstract: A roll-up shade with cord capture has a headrail, a bottomrail, a panel of window covering material between the headrail and the bottomrail and a plurality of looped cords extending from the headrail down one side of the panel of window covering material, around the bottom edge, up an opposite side of the panel of window covering material and into the headrail such that movement of the looped cords into the headrail will cause the panel of window covering material to roll up and movement of the cords out of the headrail will cause the window covering material to unroll. A rod extends across one side of the panel of window covering material and captures the looped cords between the rod and the surface of the window covering material or in apertures through the rod or in apertures formed by clips or eyelets attached to the rod.

Abstract: Methods whereby, by reference to fructosamine oxidase activity in blood plasma of a patient or patients, the risk of diabetes associated vascular complications can be assessed, candidate fructosamine oxidase inhibitors and/or antagonists can be identified or tested and the inhibition and/or antagonism of the fructosamine oxidase inhibition and/or antagonism of a patient can be assessed.

Abstract: A web-based mission certification quiz for educating various persons involved in a fundraising campaign is disclosed. A web-based method for educating solicitors, donors, participants and others involved in a fundraising campaign about the campaign's mission includes providing, on a website, information about the campaign's mission, taking, on the website, a mission certification quiz by answering one or more questions, wherein the questions are designed to test a participant's knowledge about the campaign's mission. The method further includes determining a final score based on the number of correct answers, and creating a mission certificate on the website based on the final score.

Abstract: In a coal preparation plant which receives a raw coal feed and separates the raw coal feed into a clean coal feed and a refuse feed, an apparatus is provided for use therein. The apparatus mixes the sized raw coal feed particles with a slurry of media and water used for separating the raw coal feed into clean coal and refuse. The inventive apparatus includes a pulping column integrally designed with the discharge chute of a deslime screen and the drain section underpan of clean coal and refuse screens. The pulping column having a coal inlet receiving the sized raw coal directly from the deslime screen, a media inlet receiving the slurry of media and water directly from an underpan of at least one of the refuse screen and the clean coal screen, and an outlet discharging the mixture of sized raw coal and slurry. The pulping column mixes the sized raw coal and the slurry of media and water according to a select proportion, and it is then pumped to a heavy media separation section of the coal preparation plant.

Abstract: In a method of removing metals such as mercury from flue gas produced by combustion devices, ammonia and optionally carbon monoxide are injected into the flue gas in a manner so that there are sufficient amounts of these materials in the flue gas when the flue gas is at a temperature of from 900° F. to 1350° F. to oxidize the metals within the flue gas. The oxidized metals are then attracted to particulates present in the flue gas. These particulates bound with oxidized metals are removed from the flue gas by a particulate removal device such as an electrostatic precipitator or baghouse.

Abstract: A unitized railcar brake equipment can have a relatively small, integrated air supply and can be controlled electronically. The equipment can have a brake cylinder portion and a control valve portion. The brake cylinder portion can have a brake cylinder housing a piston head with a rod end of the piston connected to a railcar brake member. A pair of air chambers communicate on opposite sides of the piston head and an air reservoir can be integral with the brake cylinder housing. Selective coupling of the air chambers and the air reservoir to each other, a source of pressure, or to the atmosphere can be controlled by appropriate valves to control the pressure in the brake cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides additive packages for polyolefins The additive packages of the present invention comprise at least one non-phenolic antioxidant and a hindered amine light stabilizer. The additive packages may contain other additives as needed, and may optionally include an acid scavenger. Articles made from the resultant polymers, such as radiator surge tanks, exhibit enhanced stain and discoloration resistance upon exposure to high temperatures and harsh chemicals such as those experienced in “under the hood” spaces of modern automobiles.

Abstract: A light controllable window covering has a transparent front face and a transparent back face, either or both of which are formed from a series of spaced apart parallel threads, and a series of opaque slats attached between the two faces. The parallel threads which form the front face and back face are spaced apart an amount which allows light to readily pass while providing a soft fabric like appearance. The slats are preferably knitted or woven fabric treated to have a given light impeding property. The front and back longitudinal edges of each slat are respectively attached to the front face and the back face. The resulting structure when combined with a hardware system is a light control honeycomb window covering. Movement of the light impeding slats from a position perpendicular to the front face and back face to a position generally parallel to the front and back face controls the amount of light which is admitted through the window covering.

Abstract: A digital audio recorder having a compact disk player for playing at least one compact disk having multiple tracks also has a hard drive and associated memory. The memory contains a database containing data relating to specific CD's such as album name, artist name, song title, and track, and may also contain playlists. The playlists can be loaded by the manufacturer or created by the user. There are correlations among the data. A central processor is connected to the compact disk player, the hard drive and associated memory, a second memory, display, audio output and buttons or knobs. Turning knobs or pushing buttons directs signals to the central processor and enables a user to operate the compact disk player, store in the second memory audio selections from a disk placed in the compact disk player, select and create playlists, and output audio selections contained in the second memory in an order according to a selected playlist. A keyboard communicates with the player through infrared signals.

Abstract: A versatile and ergonomic utility cart is provided. The utility cart can be constructed to various heights, depending upon the length of support posts secured between a top and bottom shelf. The cart can be any shape or design: triangular; rectangular; octagonal and so forth. A vertically adjustable tray support arm mounts a support tray in close proximity to the utility cart. The tray support arm includes a vertical member which is inserted through the top shelf and into the support post and is frictionally secured thereto by a spring-loaded wedge assembly. An articulated arm is rotatably mounted to the vertical member at one end and rotatably mounted to a support tray at an opposite end. The interior of the utility cart between the top and bottom shelves may be left exposed and accessible or may be enclosed by a plurality of panels and door assembles.