Abstract: A broadcast response system provides, e.g., a radio broadcast listener with the ability to obtain media content such as music or speech while listening to the radio. The user can respond to items in the radio broadcast such as advertisements, fund raising drives, or interactive listener polls during the broadcast. Data such as song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using, e.g., the RBDS/RDS data stream. A reference number representing song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation. This reference number can reside in a lookup table to be accessed by broadcast response server.

Abstract: A broadcast response system provides, e.g., a radio broadcast listener with the ability to obtain media content such as music or speech while listening to the radio. The user can respond to items in the radio broadcast such as advertisements, fund raising drives, or interactive listener polls during the broadcast. Data such as song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using, e.g., the RBDS/RDS data stream. A reference number representing song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation. This reference number can reside in a lookup table to be accessed by broadcast response server.

Abstract: A portable optical magnifying device (1), for observing specimens within a specimen-vessel having a transparent flat wall, comprises an eyepiece (4) and an objective (3), a light-path being defined therebetween. The device (1) includes a spacer (7) arranged at least partly around the objective (3) and which is adapted in use to seat the device (1) against the flat wall of the specimen vessel with the objective (3) closely adjacent but spaced therefrom, and with its optical axis normal thereto. The device (1) further includes means (9) for releasably attaching the device (1) to the flat wall, with the space (7) bearing against the flat wall of the specimen vessel. Attachment is achieved by evacuation of the space between objective lens, spacer and flat wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides various pharmaceutically active topical delivery compositions. In particular, compositions of the present invention are present in a pressurized container comprising a quick-breaking alcoholic foaming agent, such that when the composition is released, i.e., dispensed, from the pressurized container, a quick-breaking temperature sensitive foam is formed. In addition, the present invention provides various aspects related to such compositions, including methods for modulating a foam characteristic, methods for improving the shelf-life of a pharmaceutically active compound, methods for the percutaneous treatment of various diseases, infections, and illnesses, and methods for evaluating foam characteristics.

Abstract: A solid detergent composition comprising a clay system, said clay system comprises a hectorite clay and a dioctahedral smectite clay, wherein the weight ratio of said hectorite clay to said dioctahedral smectite clay is less than 1:1. The two clay types may be present in a solid detergent composition in the form of an agglomerate.

Abstract: A solid detergent composition comprising a clay system, said clay system comprises a hectorite clay and a dioctahedral smectite clay, wherein the weight ratio of said hectorite clay to said dioctahedral smectite clay is less than 1:1. The two clay types may be present in a solid detergent composition in the form of an agglomerate.

Abstract: A portable optical magnifying device (1), for observing specimens within a specimen-vessel having a transparent flat wall, comprises an eyepiece (4) and an objective (3), a light-path being defined therebetween. The device (1) includes a spacer (7) arranged at least partly around the objective (3) and which is adapted in use to seat the device (1) against the flat wall of the specimen vessel with the objective (3) closely adjacent but spaced therefrom, and with its optical axis normal thereto. The device (1) further includes means (9) for releasably attaching the device (1) to the flat wall, with the space (7) bearing against the flat wall of the specimen vessel. Attachment is achieved by evacuation of the space between objective lens, spacer and flat wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions which comprise a flocculating agent and an organophilic smectite clay whereof at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the exchangeable cations in the clay is replaced by one or more long-chain organic cations, preferably having at least one long carbon chain of at least 10 or even 12 carbon atoms. The compositions provide improved fabric softening and deliver good cleaning.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pouched compositions which comprise an alkoxylated compound. Preferably the alkoxylated compound has an average alkoxylation degree of at least 50, preferably at least 80.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computerized business method for determining the fairness of a purchase of an item relative to previous purchases of the item by other buyers. The method comprises comparing an offer for an item to a fairness indicator determined through analyses of a plurality of sets of sales contract terms controlling a plurality of previous purchases of the item by a group of previous buyers, with each of the sets of sales contract terms controlling a previous purchase.

Abstract: To reduce the tendency for high center of mass vehicles to roll, or vault over a guardrail barrier or dive under it, the guardrail barrier has outer curved portions selected to adjust the moment of inertia of the guardrail barrier by providing a sufficiently high moment of inertia to slow the vehicle but sufficiently low to avoid excessive force against the occupant compartment. A central portion connecting the outer curves sized to provide an effective depth of 12.25 inches to capture high bumper vehicles and small vehicles and an area of 1.99 inches to provide rigidity enough to the curved portions to avoid flattening and penetration. The outer curves are asymmetrical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a highly customizable CRM system that can: utilize iterative scripts to interact with existing and potential customers (collectively “customers”). Customer responses to scripted questions can be stored and ranked in a database. The invention supports decision trees automatically linking future actions to feedback provided by the customer. Numerical values can be attributed to customer responses in accordance with predetermined criteria set by the user. An overall customer value can be generated from the aggregate responses of a customer. A customer rating can be generated by applying the customer value to a predetermined threshold. Decision trees can also link response values, customer values, and customer ratings to future customizable events. Decision trees can be embedded in a particular script, and decision trees can also span across several different scripts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a substantially anhydrous effervescent particle, having an average particle size of from 75 microns to 2 cm, comprising an anhydrous particle core, which comprises one or more components of an effervescence system intimately mixed with a substantially anhydrous stabilizing agent.

Abstract: To reduce the tendency for high center of mass vehicles to roll or vault over a guardrail barrier or dive under it, the guardrail barrier has outer curved portions selected to adjust the moment of inertia of the guardrail barrier by providing a sufficiently high moment of inertia to slow the vehicle but sufficiently low to avoid excessive force against the occupant compartment. A central portion connecting the outer curves sized to provide an effective depth of 12.25 inches to capture high bumper vehicles and small vehicles and an area of 1.99 inches to provide rigidity enough to the curved portions to avoid flattening and penetration. The outer curves are asymmetrical.

Abstract: The invention provides pesticidal, algicidal, herbicidal and/or fungicidal compositions, containing a complexing agent containing ethylene diamine disuccinic acid and one or selected metal ions, preferably cobalt, zinc or ions. The invention also relates to an aqueous pesticidal, algicidal, herbicidal, fungicidal composition comprising specific levels of calcium ions and complexing agent, containing a complex of a specific metal ion and a complexing a compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid cleaning composition or shampoo comprising a surfactant system containing a dianionic or alkoxylated dianionic surfactant having a structural skeleton of at least five carbon atoms to which two anionic substituent groups spaced at least three atoms apart are attached, wherein one anionic substituent group is a sulfate group or an alkoxy-linked sulfate group and the other anionic substituent is selected from sulfate and sulfonate optionally alkoxy-linked, in combination with one or more other co-surfactants.

Abstract: A suspension system for magnetically suspending an object O comprises an electromagnetic coil L having an axially extending core 13 of magnetically permeable material and a permanent magnet 14 disposed on its axis. A permanent magnet 10 is also provided in the object O and is arranged such that it is in attraction with the permanent magnet 14 on the coil L, and with the magnetically permeable core 13 so that the object O is suspended at a position below the coil L by the attractive force. Sensors 15,16 on the coil L detect the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 10 in the object O, and provide signals to a control circuit, which applies current to the coil L to attract the object O when the detected field is below a predetermined limit and to repel the object when the detector field is above a predetermined limit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions or components thereof containing a detersive enzyme and one or more cationic surfactants of the formula:R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 N.sup.+ X.sup.-in which R.sup.1 is a hydroxyalkyl group having no greater than 6 carbon atoms; each of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is independently selected from C.sub.1-4 alkyl or alkenyl; R.sup.4 is a C.sub.5-11 alkyl or alkenyl; and X.sup.- is a counterion.

Abstract: Detergent compositions comprising: a) a dianionic cleaning agent comprising a structural skeleton of at least five carbon atoms to which two anionic substituent groups spaced at least three atoms apart are attached, wherein one anionic substituent group is a sulfate group and the other anionic substituent is selected from sulfate and sulfonate; b) a nonionc surfactant (preferably alkyl ethoxylates, especially alkyl ethoxylates having an average of at least 3 ethoxylates); c) in total, less than about 20% by weight anionic surfactants; d) optionally, co-surfactants selected from the group consisting of amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; and e) detergent composition adjunct ingredients; and wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant to nonionic surfactant plus any optional co-surfactant d) is with the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:10.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising lipases, a lipase compatible anionic surfactant system, and a gemini polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. The anionic surfactant system comprises alkyl alkoxylated sulphates having specific ratios of mono-, di- and tri-alkoxylated sulphates. The detergent compositions provide improved greasy soil removal over a wide range of temperatures.