Abstract: A soap powder having a bulk density of at least 600 g/liter contains 35-80 wt % of organic detergent-active material, of which 70-100 wt % is fatty acid soap of low (.ltoreq.20.degree. C.) Krafft temperature, and 20-65 wt % of inorganic and/or builder salts, and may be prepared by granulation and densification in a high-speed mixer/granulator. The high bulk density soap powder shows improved powder properties and better wetting and dispersion behavior in the wash than corresponding undensified powder.

Abstract: A formable sheet-form textile material for lining noise-affected rooms, particularly the passenger compartment of motor vehicles, consisting of a fabric, a needled or tufted layer as the visible surface, at least one thermoformable and foam-backable layer and a foamed backcoating, in which the layer serving as the visible surface consists of needlefelt or of a tufted surface (2) needled into felt as the backing layer (1), to the back of which a layer (3) of foamed latex, an impermeable barrier layer (4) and, optionally, the foamed backcoating (5) are applied. The backing layer may also be a thin layer of a lightly bonded felt onto which a thicker layer of an unbonded felt is laminated by means of a binder which simultaneously binds the needling into the backing layer. The layers have a permeability to sound which continuously decreases from the backing layer (1) to the backcoating (5). The barrier layer (4) is formed by a film or by a coating of unfoamed latex.

Abstract: Improved hybridization probe compositions and method for detecting nucleic acids of interest are provided. A hybridization probe constructed to contain thionucleotides and a detectable label is hybridized to a nucleotide sequence of interest in the absence of nonpolar solvents, reducing agents and volume exclusion agents. The thionucleotides serve to increase the mass of bound probe molecules, thereby amplifying the signal available to detect the presence of the nucleic acid sequence of interest. Certain cations interact specifically with the thiol moiety of phosphorothioate groups of nucelic acid molecules in a manner that can be exploited to amplify probe binding or convey a detectable label. Thus, the mass of bound probe molecules can be further increased by the presence of specified multivalent cations from the transition metal group, such as Cu.sup.2+ or Fe.sup.3+, during the annealing step.

Abstract: Powders prepared by drying a slurry and suitable for use as detergent powders or components thereof contain (or consist of) sodium carbonate and/or the sodium carbonate/sodium sulphate double salt Burkeite the crystal forms of which have been modified by means of a low level of an organic polycarboxylate. The powders are able to absorb and retain very high levels of liquid components such as nonionic surfactants.

Abstract: A particulate composition for softening textile fabrics in the wash comprises:(a) from 5 to 30% by weight of a primary, secondary or tertiary amine capable of softening fabrics, sorbed onto(b) from 70 to 95% by weight of a particulate carrier comprising a porous crystal-growth-modified carbonate-based salt.The preferred particulate carrier is the sodium carbonate/sodium sulphate double salt Burkeite modified by means of a polymeric polycarboxylate. The softening composition may be incorporated in a detergent powder, suitably in an amount providing from 0.5 to 15% by weight of amine in the total powder.

Abstract: Low or zero-phosphate spray-dried detergent powders containing less than 10% sodium silicate are structured with a combination of a succinic acid salt and a film-forming polymeric polycarboxylate. The preferred detergency builder is alkali metal aluminosilicate.

Abstract: Limted slip differential mechanism for dividing input torque, applied to a splined sleeve (5) unequally between a front propeller shaft (7) and a rear propeller shaft (8) comprises a casing (10) (carrying the sleeve 5) in which are mounted for rotation about their respective axes a wormwheel (21ad) and front and rear worms (18D, 18A) meshing with opposite sides of the wormwheel (21ad) and being of sufficient length also to mesh with helical output gears (15,16) on the respective shafts (7,8). The rear output gear (16) is larger than the front output gear (15) so the torque is divided between the output gears in the ratio of their pitch circle diameters in the absence of substantial relative rotation while normal traction is maintained, but with limited slip if potential loss of traction occurs.

Abstract: A spray-dried detergent powder contains from 15 to 40% by weight of anionic surfactant, from 20 to 70% by weight of sodium carbonate, from 5 to 20% by weight of sodium silicate and from 1 to 7.5% by weight of sodium bicarbonate, the weight ratio of sodium bicarbonate to sodium silicate being within the range of from 0.20:1 to 0.45:1. Optionally further sodium bicarbonate (up to 15% by weight) is postdosed to the spray-dried powder. The benefits of the invention are improved powder properties and, when further sodium bicarbonate is postdosed, mildness to hands.

Abstract: Improved hybridization probe compositions and method for detecting nucleic acids are provided. A hybridization probe constructed to contain thionucleotides is hybridized to a nucleotide sequence of interest in the absence of formamide, DTT and dextran sulfate. If a cold (.sup.32 S) thionucleotide is incorporated into the probe molecule, the probe is provided with a detectable label, radioactive or otherwise.

Abstract: A process for the production of synthetic rubber latices by the emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture of:40 to 80 parts by weight of a conjugated diene;0 to 45 parts by weight of an aromatic vinyl compound;0 to 30 parts by weight of (meth)acrylonitrile0 to 30 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid ester containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms in the alcohol component or other copolymerizable compounds, and0.5 to 5.0 parts by weight of an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated mopnocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid,the sum of the monomer compounds amounting to 100 parts by weight, characterized in that from 0.5 to 2.0 parts by weight of a chain transfer agent are used per 100 parts by weight of monomer. Said latices can be used for producing pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Abstract: The invention provides bleaching and detergent compositions containing a diacyl peroxide of general formula ROOR.sup.1 in which R represents a phthaloyl radical and R.sup.1 a radical such that ROOR.sup.1, ROOR and R.sup.1 OOR.sup.1 are all soluble in mildly alkaline aqueous solutions. The compositions, optionally containing a persalt such as sodium perborate, preferably in a mole ratio of one mole per mole of diacyl peroxide, are particularly suitable for washing or bleaching at a temperature of from 30.degree.- 60.degree. C. The invention also provides diacyl peroxide compositions desensitized to impact or abrasion by intimate contact with a diluent, e.g. magnesium sulphate, lauric acid or sodium tripolyphosphate and protected against destructive interaction with other components of the bleaching on detergent composition during storage. Preferred diacyl peroxides include diphthaloyl peroxide, especially for colored fabrics.