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; bonding between adjacent monomers takes place at positions 4, 6 or 8; a bond of an additional monomeric unit in position 4 has alpha or beta stereochemistry; X, Y and Z are selected from the group consisting of monomeric unit A, hydrogen, and a sugar, with the provisos that as to the at least one terminal monomeric unit, bonding of the additional monomeric unit thereto (the bonding of the additional monomeric unit adjacent to the terminal mono

Abstract: An information transfer network, comprising: a plurality of client terminals which comprise a presentation system having a control and management agent system; a plurality of servers which comprise a database system and an application system, and a control and management agent system; a request broker system which permits the exchange of information between said client terminals and said servers through a communication path between said terminal and said server, and an information management system for dynamically controlling the location, access and transfer of information between said client terminals and said servers through a plurality of communication paths connecting said control and management agent system of each of said client terminals and servers to said information management system.

Abstract: A device for reducing the contamination of a disc being coated during an ion beam deposition process. The ion beam deposition process is performed in a chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion with the disc being disposed in the lower portion of the chamber. An ion source is introduced into the lower chamber for generating an ion beam for depositing ions on the disc. In the upper portion of the chamber is a pump for creating negative pressure in the chamber. A portion of the ion beam contacts the pump forming contaminants on the pump which cause the contamination of the disc. A baffle assembly is disposed in the chamber between the pump and the ion source. Said baffle assembly includes a baffle that reduces the portion of the ion beam contacting said pump thereby reducing the forming of contaminants on the pump.

Abstract: A vacuum operated electrolytic generator producing a solution of chlorine dioxide from a buffered aqueous alkali metal chlorite solution in one pass through the cell is disclosed. The cell contains a high surface area anode, a corrosion-resistant highly conductive cathode, and a cation ion exchange membrane between the anode and cathode. An eductor is used on the anolyte effluent line to create a vacuum and draw the anolyte through the cell. Preferably, an eductor is used n the catholyte effluent line. Ascending anolyte effluent line with a non-corrosive check valve leads from the cell to the anode eductor. Sensors are used to monitor the composition of the anolyte effluent and/or the anolyte feed.

Abstract: Process for producing alkenyl aromtic foams utilizing a cycloaliphatic gas as blowing agent, are described. Also disclosed are alkenyl aromatic foams produced by the process which exhibit increased thermal insulation properties.

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: A communication system, comprising at least one mobile handheld telephone handset adapted to communicate with a telephone network handling system. The handset comprises means to produce first signals dependent thereupon, means to produce a voice transmission signal and means to transmit the voice transmission signal. The handset also comprises first processing means to carry out a speech recognition process to produce initial feature analysis parameter coefficients data dependent thereupon. The first processing step preserves predetermined information. The handset further comprises means to produce a data transmission. The telephone network handling system comprises means to receive the voice signal, means to forward the voice signal, and means to receive and process the data transmission signal. The telephone handling system also comprises means to carry out the remote second processing step in a speech recognition process on the regenerated data.

Abstract: A method for reducing postprandial oxidative stress and associated pathologies by the dietary intake of cocoa procyanidins, such as epicatechin is disclosed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of polyphenol oligomers having n polyphenol monomers, 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 monomers. Advantageously, polyphenol monomers forming the polyphenol oligomers may be the same or different.

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 features computer-based methods and apparatuses to automate document generation. The methods include user interaction to identify a collection of available modifiable text segments and user interaction to identify customization data. The identified text segments are used to form the package of interrelated documents and the customization data can be used to complete the identified text segments. The customized package of interrelated documents is automatically assembling based on the identified collection and customization data. The method may also include identifying a collection of information element questions that will be used to request information element data from a user. Interacting with a user to identify associations being between the collection of information element questions and a collection of available modifiable text segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing cross track positioning of a disk drive head relative to a formatted track on a disk platter. A load beam is attached via a living hinge to a cradle. Piezo crystals are mounted on the cradle in plane with the load beam. The crystals are attached to levers formed into a proximal end of the load beam and activated with electric signals from a microactuator control to elongate or contract. Activated simultaneously the crystals exert a push force on one lever and a pull force on the other lever causing the load beam to pivot about the living hinge acting as a fulcrum. The load beam is attached to the cradle via cradle panels located at the distal end portion of the load beam. The cradle panels are preferably perpendicular to the load beam thereby providing low resistance in the cross rack direction and support in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A method of therapeutical treatment of tumors, by photodynamic therapy comprising administering to a subject in need of said treatment an effective amount of a tumor-localizing photosensitizer consisting of a metal phthalocyanine, together with a minor amount of a tracer consisting of said metal phthalocyanine labelled with a radioactive isotope and non-invasively monitoring the concentration of said tracer in the target tumoral tissue and in the peritumoral tissue, thereby to identify the appropriate post-administration interval for performing the photodynamic therapy.

Abstract: The tamper evident closure of the present invention includes a twist cap made of plastic that comprises a top portion and an interior sealing means which coacts with the rim of the container neck to provide a gas-tight seal. The top portion also has an annular depending skirt which includes an interior retaining means to coact with an exterior retaining means on the neck finish of the container. The exterior retaining means of the container has a positive stopping means to coact with interior retaining means of the cap so that when the cap is screwed onto the container neck the positive stopping means is engaged at a predetermined level of sealing force and capping torque. The depending skirt also includes locking means which lock the cap into place after the container is sealed. The locking means coacts with the positive stopping means on the container to prevent the cap from being unscrewed or twisted off the container after it has been screwed onto the container neck.

Abstract: Bracket for connection to a chassis of an electronic apparatus without the use of screws is described. The bracket may feature a support arm having at least one connection means, a ledge portion connected to the top of the support arm, and a flexible section connected to the ledge portion. The flexible section may extend at an angle to the ledge portion to impart a tension force on the chassis when installed, and contains an engagement device for attachment to a chassis connection element. In a described embodiment, when installed, a protrusion of the flexible section engages a pre-existing hole in the chassis of the electronic apparatus, and the flexible section exerts a bias force against the chassis to ensure a secure connection. The bracket may also include a handle attached to the flexible section, to permit a person to disengage the engagement device of the flexible section from the chassis connection element.

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: Novel catechin and epicatechin dimers with (88), (66), and (86) linkages are prepared, as well as digallated dimers. A novel process for preparing these compounds is disclosed which involves the oxidative or reductive coupling of protected monomers.

Abstract: A device and method for managing storage media is disclosed herein. The storage media is initially associated with a first set or a second set in the device. The device comprises a managing device for executing selectable storage rules. The selectable storage rules are for determining a first storage media, initially in the first set, to which data is to be stored. The managing device is also for executing selectable usage rules, wherein the selectable usage rules are for determining a second storage media, initially in the second set, to be transferred from the second set to the first set.

Abstract: A glide testing apparatus includes a motor assembly, a sensor element, a positioning assembly, and detection circuitry. The motor assembly rotates a magnetic disk about an axis. The sensor element produces a detection signal in response to disk surface characteristics. The positioning assembly positions the sensor element at selected radii from the axis of disk rotation, and the detection circuitry receives a signal from the sensor element to detect movement of the sensor element between a first zone on the disk and a second zone on the disk. Methods of distinguishing between two adjacent zones on a magnetic disk include rotating a magnetic disk about an axis and positioning a sensor element at selected radii from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A communication system comprising at least one mobile handheld telephone handset adapted to communicate via a wireless telephony medium with a telephone network handling system.The handset comprises input devices to receive input from a user and produce signals dependent thereupon, an onboard processor to adapt speech input to produce a voice transmission signal as part of a telephone conversation with a third party; and an antenna to transmit the voice transmission signal via the wireless telephony medium.The telephone network handling system comprises a receiver to receive the voice transmission signal, and means to forward the voice signal to a third party.