Abstract: The present disclosure provides flavor altering and/or sweetness enhancing compositions, methods, and food and beverage products using a soluble oligomeric component selected from soluble dietary fiber and polydextrose to alter flavor and/or enhance sweetness.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a free-flowing composition having controllable properties of bulk density, particle morphology, flowability and shakeability suitable, for example, for use on or in a foodstuff or a beverage. The composition includes a blend of: (i) a plurality of substantially discrete composite particles, each composite particle comprising a core of a first edible material provided with a discontinuous surface coating formed from a first plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of a second edible material; and (ii) a second plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of said second edible material. A foodstuff comprising the composition is claimed and so are methods of employing it.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a free-flowing composition having controllable properties of bulk density, particle morphology, flowability and shakeability suitable, for example, for use on or in a foodstuff or a beverage. The composition includes a blend of: (i) a plurality of substantially discrete composite particles, each composite particle comprising a core of a first edible material provided with a discontinuous surface coating formed from a first plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of a second edible material; and (ii) a second plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of said second edible material. A foodstuff comprising the composition is claimed and so are methods of employing it.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, systems, and methods are provided for prompting a customer of a service to submit digital content to the service in order to generate an online compilation. Input from the customer may be received in response to communications from the service. Temporal preference information may then be extracted from the input by determining time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input in response to the communications. Based on the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides input, a prompting scheme may be derived, where the prompting scheme governs scheduling an automatic distribution of subsequent communications to the customer at the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input. The subsequent communications may then be distributed to the customer in accordance with the prompting scheme.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sharing a screen from a mobile device. For example, a method includes receiving an image from a mobile device, performing recognition on the image to identify space-delimited strings, and generating a content graph for the image, the content graph having content nodes that represent at least some of the strings and the content graph having edges that represent a relative position of strings associated with the content nodes connected by the edges. The method may also include repeating the receiving, performing recognition, and generating for a plurality of images, the plurality of images belonging to a session, and generating a combined graph from the plurality of content graphs based on similarity of content nodes between content graphs, the combined graph representing text from the plurality of images in reading order.

Abstract: Multi-stage gas packaging systems and methods are provided that may be implemented in a first bulk packaging stage for bulk shipping of multiple items and then converted to a second single pack stage for single item shipment in an environment that is totally different from the bulk shipment environment.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, systems, and methods are provided for prompting a customer of a service to submit digital content to the service in order to generate an online compilation. Input from the customer may be received in response to communications from the service. Temporal preference information may then be extracted from the input by determining time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input in response to the communications. Based on the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides input, a prompting scheme may be derived, where the prompting scheme governs scheduling an automatic distribution of subsequent communications to the customer at the time periods at which the customer most commonly provides the input. The subsequent communications may then be distributed to the customer in accordance with the prompting scheme.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing methods are provided for establishing and updating a prompting scheme for soliciting feedback from a customer. Initially, the customer provides a type of occasion to monitor and temporal criteria for receiving communications from a service. The service generates a prompting scheme based on the type of occasion in order to properly compose solicitations for feedback from the customer. Also, the service uses the temporal criteria for establishing the prompting scheme, which influences the scheduling of communications bearing the solicitations, respectively. Upon delivering the communications, interaction between the customer and the service is monitored and evaluated in order to update the prompting scheme.

Abstract: Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing methods are provided for establishing and updating a prompting scheme for soliciting feedback from a customer. Initially, the customer provides a type of occasion to monitor and temporal criteria for receiving communications from a service. The service generates a prompting scheme based on the type of occasion in order to properly compose solicitations for feedback from the customer. Also, the service uses the temporal criteria for establishing the prompting scheme, which influences the scheduling of communications bearing the solicitations, respectively. Upon delivering the communications, interaction between the customer and the service is monitored and evaluated in order to update the prompting scheme.

Abstract: Multi-stage gas packaging systems and methods are provided that may be implemented in a first bulk packaging stage for bulk shipping of multiple items and then converted to a second single pack stage for single item shipment in an environment that is totally different from the bulk shipment environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound comprising an ?,? amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as ?-glutamylcysteine or a ?-glutamylcysteine derivative, the process comprising providing a cysteine derivative, a ?-glutamyl donor and an enzyme capable of transferring the ?-glutamyl group to said cysteine derivative in a reaction environment promoting transfer of the ?-glutamyl group to said cysteine derivative. The invention also relates to compounds comprising an ?,? amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as ?-glutamylcysteine or a ?-glutamylcysteine derivative, when obtained by processes of the invention, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound comprising an ?,? amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as ?-glutamylcysteine or a ?-glutamylcysteine derivative, the process comprising providing a cysteine derivative, a ?-glutamyl donor and an enzyme capable of transferring the ?-glutamyl group to said cysteine derivative in a reaction environment promoting transfer of the ?-glutamyl donor and cysteine derivative. The invention also relates to compounds comprising an ?,? amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as ?-glutamylcysteine or a ?-glutamylcysteine derivative, when obtained by processes of the invention, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring properties and health of structures are disclosed. The system comprises a number of sensors connected to a single antenna. Each sensor has a body that defines an electromagnetic resonator. The electromagnetic resonator produces a response signal in response to an interrogation signal. The body is coupled to the structure to so as to allow the parameters of interest alter the resonance properties of the electromagnetic resonators thereby altering the response signal. The sensor further includes a coupler that is coupled to the body. The coupler transfers the interrogation signal into the electromagnetic resonator and transfers the response signal from the electromagnetic resonator. The system further includes an interrogator that generates and transmits the interrogation signal to the sensor. The interrogator also receives the response signal.

Abstract: An item transporting apparatus includes a transporting container including a container entrance, and a container access channel defined by the transporting container and located adjacent the container entrance. A plurality of items may be transported in the container positioned in a manner which occupies a minimal volume, and the plurality of items may be removed from the transporting container by using a vacuum lifting device which accesses the items through the container access channel.

Abstract: A portable robotic system having a folding carriage is disclosed. The carriage in one embodiment includes two legs and a lateral stabilizer. The folding legs and stabilizer allow the carriage to be maneuvered into a plurality of open and closed positions. In the open positions, the legs and stabilizer are spaced apart to support the robotic system during operation. In the closed positions, the legs and stabilizer and substantially parallel to one another. In one closed position with one leg or stabilizer extended to within reach of a person, the carriage may be rolled like a dolly. In another closed position with one leg or stabilizer collapsed against the carriage, the carriage may be carried like a suitcase. Methods of folding and transporting a robotic system and carriage are also disclosed.

Abstract: Precision dispense pumps comprise a housing that has an internal chamber disposed therein. A pressurizing assembly disposed within the chamber and includes a cylindrical pressurizing member having a head, a thin-walled skirt extending axially away from the head, and a flange is positioned circumferentially around the skirt. The pressurizing assembly includes a support coupled to backside of the pressurizing member. The support has a cylindrical outside surface sized support the skirt when it is translated from a chamber surface during pressurizing assembly axial movement. A shaft projects through an opening in the support and into a partial opening in the pressurizing member. A fluid transport body is attached to the housing and includes a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. An actuator is disposed within an actuator housing attached to the housing and is coupled to the shaft to cause axial movement of the pressurizing assembly within the housing chamber.

Abstract: A reinforced packaging system is provided that includes a slit and an insert at a location in the foam frame that is susceptible to puncture. The presence of the slit and insert provides localized support against puncture by the shipped unit or an external component of the shipped unit. The insert may be composed of a paper, plastic, or other suitable product that is able to absorb the force from the shipped unit and transfer this force across the insert and the adjacent foam.