Abstract: A tool for fusing optical fibers is provided. The tool is preferably sized to be hand held and includes a housing having clamps that are positioned to engage recesses within a fusion sleeve placed in a chamber within the housing for holding down the sleeve. The housing includes a current source and conducting terminals for contacting and for providing an electric current to portions of the sleeve so that a heating element within the sleeve can fuse the first and second optical fibers together.

Abstract: A tumble dryer article comprising: a mixture of at least two surfactants, (i) a first surfactant present in an amount of about 5 wt. % to about 70 wt. % and having an endotherm peak temperature of from about 75.degree. C. to about 155.degree. C., (ii) a second surfactant present in an amount of about 30 wt. % to about 95 wt. % and having an endotherm peak temperature of from about 35.degree. C. to about 70.degree. C., wherein the peak temperatures of the first and second surfactant of the mixture are different from each other by at least about 1.degree. C. as measured in a differential scanning calorimeter device and a melting transition temperature of the mixture being from about 50.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C.; and dispenser means for dispensing the mixture onto fabrics in a tumble dryer.

Abstract: The invention concerns laminated doughs, wherein an aqueous gel containing 20-50 wt. % of maltodextrin and 0-30 wt. % of .beta.-glucan and/or pentosans is present as fat replacer; in this way, doughs can be made that contain less than 14 wt. % of fat so that a fat reduction (compared with a conventional dough) of at least 50% can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing narrow range alkoxylated isethionates while reducing amounts of undesirable product using water levels and stir rates unappreciated in the art.

Abstract: A method of protecting sensitive or reactive adjuncts, preferably of the type incorporated in detergent compositions, by dissolving said adjunct in a biopolymer, thereby forming a stable particulate adjunct product comprising a molecular solid solution of adjunct in a biopolymer. Preferred adjuncts to be protected include bleach catalysts, bleach catalyst precursors, bleach precursors, enzymes, fluorescers, germicides, perfumes, anti-dye transfer and anti-dye damage agents and effervescent agents. The protected adjunct is especially useful for incorporation in non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions.

Abstract: A detergent composition which prevents tarnishing of silver and silver-plated articles comprising 1-20 weight percent of a peroxygen or hypohalite bleaching agent, 0.05 to about 10 weight percent of a 1,3-N azole compound, from 1 to 75 weight percent of a builder, and 0 to 40 weight percent of a surfactant is described, provided the pK.sub.a of the 1,3-N azole compound is lower than a pH of the aqueous solution of the composition. A method for preventing silver tarnishing of articles in an automatic dishwashing machine is also described.

Abstract: A bleaching composition is described that includes a peroxygen compound such as sodium perborate, an oxygen transfer agent in the form of a quaternary imine salt and a bleach precursor. The quaternary imine salt at relatively low concentrations enhances the activity of the precursor. A method for bleaching substrates is also provided, especially a method for cleaning fabrics.

Abstract: A push-in rivet for being mounted on and interconnecting a connector and a circuit board. The rivet body includes a head portion, a plurality of spaced-apart flexible legs, and a shank portion which interconnects the head portion and the legs. The legs are flexible and are subsequently radially inwardly movable for passage through a hole formed in the board and radially outwardly movable after passage through the hole so as to interconnect the connector and the board. The method of riveting the connector to the board includes the steps of passing the rivet through a hole in the connector so that the head portion abuts a surface of the connector, drawing a mandrel through the bore so as to outwardly expand the legs, and passing the legs of the rivet through a hole in the board so as to radially inwardly compress the legs for passing through the hole in the board and subsequently radially outwardly expanding the legs so as to secure the board to the connector.

Abstract: A novel pseudoceramide which has improved dispersibility in aqueous solutions and which can be produced by an economical manufacturing process. The process for producing new pseudoceramides and cosmetic compositions containing the new pseudoceramides are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions to deposit an active substance on a target surface (i.e. fabric, sun, hair, teeth). The active substance is left on the surface, after the product is rinsed off the surface. The preferred deposition is from compositions containing an anionic or nonionic active in the co-presence of an anionic surfactant. The compositions contain carrier particles having a zwitterionic or cationic surface and a plurality of outwardly protruding filaments containing charged organocarbyl groups. The active substance is contained within the carrier particles.

Abstract: A time-temperature indicator device for recording the duration of time over which a temperature has been established above a predetermined temperature, which device includes a dye-compatible polymer composition having a softening point above the predetermined temperature and a polymer-compatible dye composition in contact with the polymer composition and present in a quantity with respect to the polymer composition sufficient for diffusion through the polymer composition whenever the polymer composition is above the predetermined temperature, which quantity is selected so that the extent of diffusion corresponds to the duration of exposure above the predetermined temperature relative to the total time required for substantially complete diffusion. Articles for which a heat history above a predetermined temperature is to be record, in combination with the disclosed time-temperature indicator devices are also described.

Abstract: Compositions for treating skin, hair and nails which contain 25-hydroxycalciferol in combination with a lipid ingredient. The compositions avoid the toxic effects of 1,25-dihydroxycalciferol, yet attain keratinocyte differentiation and provide additional benefits. Also disclosed is a method of improving or preventing the appearance of wrinkled, flaky, aged, photodamaged skin by applying to skin a composition containing in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle 25-hydroxycalciferol and a lipid ingredient.

Abstract: A sunscreen composition for application to human skin comprises an ultraviolet absorber which is introduced as an anion into a layered double hydroxide of the general formula[N.sub.m N.sub.n (OH).sub.2(m+n) ].sup.y+ X.sup.x-.sub.y/x .multidot.zH.sub.2 Owhere M is a divalent metal or lithium, N is a trivalent metal and X denotes anions present as an interlayer between layers of metal atoms joined through the OH groups.Such layered double hydroxides are, for this invention, suspended in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

Abstract: Skin treatment compositions for the enhancement of lipid production in the skin. Compositions contain a thiol, or an S-ester, in combination with L-serine or N-acetyl-L-serine.

Abstract: Milk is curdled by adding a suitable coagulant, other additives optionally also being added, and a mesophilic starter culture is applied,after curdling, cutting the curd formed and separating off the whey, andpressing the cheese mass, whereinlive yoghurt bacteria are added to the milk, such as Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus in a weight ratio of mesophilic culture to yoghurt culture of 0.30 to 0.02 and preferably 0.1 to 0.04. The cheese product possesses a Gaba/Glu (gamma amino butyric acid/glutamic acid) ratio of at least 0.1 and preferably 0.25. The cheese product comprises eyes with a total volume of at least 4% (w/w) of the total cheese volume.

Abstract: A venetian type window blind having a wand which is rotatable to control tilting of slats and lift cord operating mechanism on the wand for raising and lowering the blind and locking the blind in adjusted positions. The venetian blind lift cords extend into a lengthwise cord passage inside the wand and the lift cord operating mechanism includes a lift member mounted for movement along an outer side of the wand and lift cord, an engaging member in the cord passage for moving the lift cords to raise and lower the blind in response to movement of the lift member along the wand. The operating means includes lock means for locking the lift cord engaging member at selected positions along the wand.