Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3[2H]-furanone and new uses thereof.4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3[2H]-furanone may be extracted from the plants of Pinaceae species and may advantageously be used as an anti-oxidant or for whitening the skin. The compound or extracts containing same is not irritative to the skin and can safely be applied to the skin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is novel kojic acid derivatives represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein, R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group; and R.sub.2 is a hydroxyl group, having a strong activity of inhibiting tyrosinase, which is involved in a melanin formation.The compounds of the present invention shows a stronger tyrosinase-inhibiting and radical scavenging activities, and has a low side effects to the human skin.

Abstract: Kojic acid derivatives of the following formula (I) ##STR1## where R is a hydrogen atom or methyl group, as radical scavengers and strong inhibitors of tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in a melanin formation.

Abstract: A parallel distributed sample scrambling and descrambling system for fixed-sized packet transmission comprising a parallel scrambler and a parallel descrambler. The scrambler includes; a parallel shift register generator 61 for generating parallel sequences; a sampling means 62 for generating samples from said parallel shift register generator 61; a parallel scrambling means 63 for performing parallel scrambling function by modulo-2 adding the parallel sequences to parallel input data sequences; and a multiplexing means 64.

Abstract: A plurality of digital signals of one or more digital transmission bit rates are combined into a single transmission signal by employing a unique common channel frame format and one step multiplexing process. The channel frame format includes a plurality of data bit positions and a plurality of overhead bit positions. The number of data bit positions used is dependent on the particular incoming signal. Similarly, the number of frames generated during a specific common framing interval is dependent on the digital transmission bit rate of the particular signal. Specifically, the number of channel frames generated during the common channel frame interval is dependent on a number of equivalent so-called lowest transmission bit rate signals included in the particular signal being formatted. The overhead bits are distributed in the channel frame format. Digital words from the channel frames are inserted into predetermined groups of data word positions in a repetitive frame of a single transmission signal.

Abstract: A plurality of digital signals of one or more digital transmission bit rates are arranged to be combined by employing a unique common channel frame format. The channel frame format includes a plurality of data bit positions and a plurality of overhead bit positions. The number of data bit positions used is dependent on the particular incoming signal. Similarly, the number of frames generated during a specific common framing interval is dependent on the digital transmission bit rate of the particular signal. Specifically, the number of channel frames generated during the common channel frame interval is dependent on a number of equivalent so-called lowest transmission bit rate signals included in the particular signal being formatted. The overhead bits are distributed in the channel frame format.

Abstract: In a transmission system, adding and/or dropping any one or more of a plurality of digital signals of one or more digital transmission bit rates is facilitated by employing a unique transmission signal in which data words associated with individual digital signals are arranged in prescribed groups. The transmission signal data word groups are obtained by formatting the individual digital signals to be combined into a unique channel frame format common to all of the digital signals and by employing a unique one-step multiplexing process to insert digital words from the channel frames into the group of data word positions in the transmission signal associated with the particular signal being combined. Consequently, digital signals may be added to the transmission signal by formatting them into the common channel frame format and, then, inserting the digital words therefrom in the one-step multiplexing process into an associated group of data words positions in the transmission signal.