Abstract: Male menopause is characterized by significant decreases in serum levels of bioavailable androgens. The administration of antiestrogens to men experiencing male menopause can remedy the relative androgen deficiency in men by stimulating the body's production of testosterone.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a two-dimensional image, and for comparing the two-dimensional image to stored data representative of a known image. The optical scanning device comprises a sensor for capturing the two-dimensional image, which sensor includes an LED array for projecting an emitted light towards the two-dimensional image. The sensor also includes a lens disposed forward of the LED array for focussing the emitted light and thereby framing the two-dimensional image. The sensor further includes an optical assembly for focussing an ambient light reflected from the framed two-dimensional image. And the sensor includes a CMOS (or CCD) detector for detecting the focussed ambient light, the CMOS detector including a photodiode array for sensing the focussed ambient light and a processor for processing the ambient light to obtain an electrical image signal. The optical scanning device also compresses the electrical image signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of processing a fat-containing bean, e.g., cocoa beans, for producing solids comprising active polyphenols and/or fat-containing products, comprising extracting the fat to produce solids and fat-containing products. Additionally, the inventive method also provides cocoa compositions comprising at least one active polyphenol, wherein the concentration of the polyphenol(s) with respect to the nonfat solids is conserved with respect to the concentration of the active polyphenol(s) in the bean from which the compositions are derived.

Abstract: The use of liposomal formulations, particularly formulations of positively charged and neutral lipids facilitates cellular uptake of SDI molecules. The transcription and/or expression of SDI-1-encoding nucleic acid molecules is facilitated by constructs that contain intervening untranslated regions.

Abstract: A paper conveying mechanism comprises at least one pair of right and left conveying rollers, which are rotated at an identical speed and convey paper, and a driving device. The driving device simultaneously inclines the at least one pair of the right and left conveying rollers toward an identical direction along the surface of the paper, such that the axes of the at least one pair of the right and left conveying rollers are kept parallel with each other. The direction, along which the paper is conveyed with the conveying rollers, is altered easily with the simple constitution.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for allowing an end-user to define at run-time the way an object in the system will react to existing operations, or events, that are later performed on the object. In the system of the invention, the end-user can attach to the object code specifying behavior that the user wishes the object to exhibit from that point forward. The code defining the new or additional behavioral features will be interpreted by the applications software so that each time an event or operation is performed on the object, the system will recognize that the object has user-specified behavior associated therewith. The code remains associated with the object. In the system of the invention, there is no need to exit the application software. The new code specifying the desired behavior is immediately callable and executable by the system upon being input.

Abstract: Disk formatting pattern methods and apparatus are disclosed. The methods feature forming a magnetic disk format information pattern on magnetic disk media by elevating the temperature of a pattern area and exposing the area to a magnetic field. The magnetic field has a field strength sufficient to alter magnetic properties of the elevated temperature region, but insufficient to substantially alter magnetic properties of disk regions at the disk's ambient temperature. A patterning system is also featured. The system includes a light source assembly, a pattern mask, and a magnetic field source. The light source assembly is arranged to project a light beam toward a surface of a magnetic disk. The pattern mask is arranged in the path of the light beam to produce a pattern image on the disk surface, and the magnetic field source produces a magnetic field at disk surface regions receiving the pattern image.

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: A method and system for lapping a magnetic transducer using an electrical lapping guide is presented. This includes rough lapping the transducer based on a first signal and fine lapping the transducer based on a second signal from a dummy transducer. The dummy transducer can have electrical properties substantially similar to electrical properties of the magnetic transducer. The first signal can include a stripe height calculated as a function of a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The second signal can include lap to reader resistance from the dummy transducer and a stripe height calculated from a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The dummy transducer can also provide process noise monitoring capability during lapping.

Abstract: A scanner determines whether a target is a bar code symbol and, if so, whether that symbol is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. For two-dimensional symbols, the scanner aligns a scanning pattern with the symbol and expands the scanning pattern to reach only to the top and bottom edges of the symbol, not beyond. The scanner also has a microprocessor-control scanning engine that uses a coil to drive a scanning element and pick up feed back signals from the scanning element. A pulse-width-modulated regulator also provides fast and efficient operation for driving the coil. The scanning engine can also be designed to generate a pattern that precesses across the target, and a powerful interface to the scanning engine allows decoding and control logic to work efficiently with and independently of the scan engine.

Abstract: A Virtual Campus including interactive work plans and administrative resources presented online through a WEB interface. Through the Virtual Campus a learner can communicate with others, create and update an individual work plan, access required resources, store work, and be apprised of Virtual University announcements. While online, learners may create work groups with other learners, use a suite of business tools, interact with a registrar, or open a library data base. In addition, an online Virtual Campus can assess those skills a student has successfully mastered by analyzing progress through the aggregate of course modules completed. Academic and career guidance can be formulated referencing the accumulated detail of the students learning experience. Each software module and element can have a list of skills associated with it. The database of skills can reflect a students capabilities in greater detail than is possible using only a final course grade or grade point average.

Abstract: A system for reading a two-dimensional image, and for comparing the two-dimensional image to stored data representative of a known image. The optical scanning device comprises a sensor for capturing the two-dimensional image, which sensor includes a light source for projecting an emitted light towards the two-dimensional image and an optical assembly for focussing light, which may be ambient and or emitted light from the light source, reflected from the framed two-dimensional image onto a CMOS or CCD detector for detecting the focussed light, the detector including a photodiode array for sensing the focussed light and generating a signal therefrom.

Abstract: A high velocity oxygen fuel thermal spray powder comprising a superalloy having the formula MCrAlY—X, wherein M is at least one metal taken from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and iron; X is at least one reactive element taken from the group consisting of hafnium, rhenium, lanthanum, and tantalum; and yttrium is present in levels greater than 1% by weight of the total composition and up to about 6% by weight of the total composition. In addition, the powder may be blended with an agglomeration of M′CrAlY and a ceramic, wherein M′ is at least one metal taken from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and iron. The invention offers improved high temperature oxidation, corrosion and creep resistance.

Abstract: A method for tracking the location of mobile units, comprises providing a plurality of mobile units each having a wireless transmitter and a unique address and at least one stationary base unit having a phase array antenna with antenna elements. A signal including an address is received from at least one mobile unit by the at least base unit via the phase array antenna. The phase difference of the signal arriving at the antenna elements from each mobile unit is measured and the coordinates of the location of each mobile unit are calculated as a function of the phase differences.

Abstract: A method for producing a substantially smooth surface on a computer disk media comprises providing a substantially smooth master surface. A curable polymer dielectric composition is applied to the master surface as well as the surface of the disk to be smoothed. The master surface is then pressed onto the disk surface and the polymer is cured. The master surface is then removed and the cured polymer forms a smooth surface on the disk.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing and repair wherein a component composed of equiaxed cast or wrought alloys has at least one section joined thereto composed of directionally solidified or single crystal material

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating the outer surface of a workpiece comprises disposing a workpiece in a fixed position along an axis and rotating a thermal spray gun around the axis on a support with a thermal spray thereof directed towards the axis. The powder, fuel and oxygen are rotatably coupling to the gun and the thermal spray gun and the support are moving along the axis while rotating.

Abstract: Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods of transmitting modules between a first computer and a second computer are disclosed. At the first computer, a module set is formed by selecting a sequence of modules from a collection of available modules. Each of the selected modules are associated with an application executing at the second computer. The selected modules may then be transparently streamed from the first computer to the second computer. The selection of modules is made in accordance with predetermined selection criteria and is independent of the second computer's execution environment. At the second computer, received modules may be integrated with the executing application. Systems for transmitting modules between a first computer and a second computer are also featured. The disclosed systems include a first computer and a second computer.

Abstract: A collaborative learning system and method for implementing innovative criteria fashioned into an electronic learning experience that can be utilized at great distances. Learners can participate in the learning experience asynchronously thereby taking advantage of diverse schedules. A system is provided for offering network based education including software running on a computer or a plurality of computers for delivering educational services online. The network can include an internet protocol network wherein the servers can be accessed via a WEB interface. Software operative with a processor can cause an adaptive assessment tracking the learning style and progress of an individual learner. The system can also be responsive to an online assessment with remediation and guidance.