Abstract: A water continuous fat emulsion is formed from 10-30 wt %. fat, 5-57 wt % water, 13-85 wt % of one of an acidity regulator, thickener, bulking agent, emulsifier, sweetener, flavor, colorant, humectant or preservative by mixing the components at a temperature above the melting point of the fat. Then the emulsion is cooled at a shear of 30-1500 s.sup.-1 for less than two minutes while phase inversion occurs.

Abstract: Detergent tablets, compacted from detergent powder containing detergent active and detergency builder, contain a polymer which acts as binder and as a disintegrant when the tablets are added to water. Preferably the binder is sprayed into the powder before compaction. The strength of such tablets is improved, without detriment to other properties, by tabletting at a temperature above ambient but below melting point of the polymeric binder. Preferably the temperature is only 5.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. below the melting point of the binder.

Abstract: Lipase enzymes including mutant lipase enzymes, e.g. from Pseudomonas species, are produced and modified by recombinant DNA technique. The enzymes are applicable in detergent and cleaning compositions, with advantages for example of improved stability to proteolytic digestion.

Abstract: A seat post assembly attaching a seat to a bicycle is provided. The assembly includes an elastomeric shock absorbing subassembly bonded to a curved bar which is received in a tube of the bicycle at one end and attaches to a seat at the other. The subassembly is also retained on the inside of the tube.

Abstract: Personal wash compositions containing an anionic surfactant as a cleaning agent and a cationic dendrimer as a mildness aid. The dendrimer lowers the irritation potential of the surfactant. Cationic dendrimers remain dispersed in anionic surfactant solutions. The dendrimers are significantly less viscous than linear cationic polymeric mildness aids and are monodispersed. Furthermore, the dendrimers perform better than linear cationic polymers, especially in the presence of harsh anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Abstract: Edible spreads having a reduced fat level produced from a continuous fat phase and a dispersed aqueous phase containing a non-gelling, non-proteinaceous thickener system such that the viscosity of the aqueous phase is 30-4000 mPas and the awueous phase contains 0.01-4% by weight protein.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for roll crossing and shifting in which work roll chocks are mounted between Mae West blocks, the chocks and Mae West blocks being provided with opposed contact surfaces defining an angle .beta. to the roll axis, whereby, when the rolls are axially shifted, the rolls also cross, through an angle .alpha., due to forces acting on the chocks as they move along the contact surfaces of the Mae West blocks.

Abstract: A hair styling and conditioning process comprising the steps of: contacting the hair with a compound having an electrophilic group and at least one hydrophobic group whereby the electrophilic group reacts with nucleophilic sites in and on the hair to give the hair a plurality of hydrophobic groups at the surface, in which the hydrophobic group is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.10-30 and C.sub.10-30 alkenyl groups. Preferably the electrophilic group is azlactone.Also a reversible hair styling process in which the hydrophobic group is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-30 alkyl, C.sub.2-30 alkenyl, phenyl, diphenyl, other aromatics, and fluoroalkanes, and the electrophilic group is selected from the group consisting of azlactone, sulphide from disulphide, sulphide from thiosulphonate, vinyl zulphone, vinyl sulphoximines, banzoxazinones and isocyanates.Novel azlactones, including pentadecyl and hexyl azlactone.

Abstract: Methods for using reporter mycobacteriophage (RM) and p-nitro-.alpha.-acetylamino-.beta.-hydroxy-propiophenone (NAP) to identify TB complex mycobacteria and distinguish these species from MOTT. RM-infected MOTT show little or no reduction in signal when treated with NAP. In contrast, TB complex mycobacteria infected with RM are distinguishable from RM-infected MOTT by a reduction in signal with NAP treatment.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: A water-continuous spread containing from 0.1 to 20 wt. % of fat, said spread being a W/O/W emulsion comprising hydrolysed starch with a DE of 1-6 in the external phase at a concentration above its critical gelling concentration, said spread having a stress strain relation with a maximum stress occurring at a strain of 0.001-1, the maximum stress at this strain being 0.01 to 100 kPa and with a ratio of plastic stress and the maximum stress of 0.1 to 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to personal product compositions containing heteroatom containing alkyl aldonamide compounds and skin conditioning agent. Unexpectedly, applicants have found that when these heteroatom containing alkyl aldonamides are used, benefits such as enhanced stability and/or enhanced viscosity are obtained relative to the use of other known thickeners or non-heteroatom containing aldonamides.

Abstract: A bleach system is described that includes a peroxygen compound which is hydrogen peroxide or an inorganic substance that generates hydrogen peroxide in water, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.30 imine and a transition metal catalyst. Use of the transition metal catalyst promotes the interaction of the hydrogen peroxide and imine thereby enhancing bleach performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a die used in bar stamping. Specifically, it relates to the orientation of cavities found on the die whereby, by angling the x-axis across the cavities at 10.degree. to 90.degree. from the horizontal axis of the press on which they are mounted, it is possible to add more cavities over a fixed length and/or to reduce spacing between cavities and thereby reduce rework. Surprisingly, the cavities are all filled using the same billet volume and, because the same volume fills more cavities, there is less rework and higher ultimate throughput.