Abstract: The present invention provides a fixative polymer derived from about 55-60% by weight of ethyl acrylate; about 30-50% by weight of (meth) acrylic acid; about 1-5% by weight of an associative monomer comprising a methacrylic ester with an oxyalkylated ethylenic unsaturation terminated by a hydrophobic, non-aromatic branched chain with 12 to 22 carbon atoms; and about 0.01-4% by weight of a cross-linking agent, personal care compositions comprising these fixative polymers and the use of these polymers in hair styling products.

Abstract: A datastore that includes property listings (e.g., for rental properties) may be accessed by a computing resource configured to execute a thumb printing algorithm to generate summary data values (e.g., thumbprint values, hash values) of digital data included one or more images of a property listing. The summary data values along with listing attributes (e.g., address, zip code, geolocation, brand, number of bedrooms/bathrooms/sleeps, amenities) of the property listing may be compared with summary data values and listing attributes of other property listings to determine if the summary data values of one or more images match and if one or more listing attributes match. A threshold number of image matches and listing attribute matches may indicate that the property listings are duplicate property listings, which may be merged, removed or replaced with links/pointers by the computer resource to increase data storage space and/or reduce data search latency times of the datastore.

Abstract: Technology for identifying virtual computing instance issues is described. An operating information report of a virtual computing instance may be parsed to obtain a diagnostic result. The diagnostic result may be compared against a data store of known computing instance issues to determine whether there is an issue for the virtual computing instance. The issue may be flagged when identified and provided for resolution.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of an acrylic acid polymer which contains bound phosphonite groups is provided. The acrylic acid polymer is prepared by a feed operation polymerization which results in the formation of phosphinite groups bound within the acrylic acid polymer chain. The dried acrylic acid polymer is also provided. Dispersions of inorganic pigments prepared in the presence of the acrylic acid polymer or the aqueous solution of the acrylic acid polymer are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method can use memory change tracking to lessen an amount of data that is synchronized between a primary virtual machine and a failover virtual machine so that the failover virtual machine can take over operations should the primary virtual machine become unavailable. A hardware-based memory synchronization manager on a primary physical host can be used to track the changes in the memory and transmit the same to a failover physical host so that the changes can be available, if necessary, by the failover virtual machine. The change tracking can be synchronized in nearly real time between the two physical hosts and can be small enough data updates to allow minimal network bandwidth over the network.

Abstract: A chemical analyzer analyzes a sample for a target chemical. The sample and reagent are added to a measurement cell until a detectable change is observed. A reference compound, which does not take part in the reaction between the target chemical and reagent, is added to the reagent. By measuring the concentration of the reference compound, the amount of reagent used may be determined. In one embodiment, a mechanism introduces the sample, adds reagent, mixes, cleans, and flushes the measurement cell, which incorporates a longitudinal chamber having inlets for the sample and reagent and an outlet for measured sample/reagent mixtures. A detector located in or adjacent to the chamber between the inlets and outlet and a piston movable in the chamber carries seals such that movement of a piston sequentially opens the inlets and expels the fluid. The analyzer also includes a device that delivers reagent to a measurement cell.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of acrylic acid polymers are prepared by polymerization of acrylic acid in a feed operation with a free-radical initiator in the presence of hypophosphite in water as solvent, by a process comprising (i) initially charging water and optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, (ii) continuously adding acrylic acid in acidic, unneutralized form, optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, aqueous free-radical initiator solution and aqueous hypophosphite solution, and (iii) adding a base to the aqueous solution on completion of the acrylic acid feed, wherein a comonomer content does not exceed 30% by weight and the aqueous hypophosphite solution is added during a total feed time made up of three consecutive feed time spans ?tI, ?tII, and ?tIII, wherein the average feed rate in the second feed time span ?tII is greater than the average feed rates in the first and third feed time spans ?tI and ?tIII.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of an acrylic acid polymer which contains bound phosphonite groups is provided. The acrylic acid polymer is prepared by a feed operation polymerization which results in the formation of phosphinite groups bound within the acrylic acid polymer chain. The dried acrylic acid polymer is also provided. Dispersions of inorganic pigments prepared in the presence of the acrylic acid polymer or the aqueous solution of the acrylic acid polymer are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a single colorimetric reagent for the measurement of oxidising agents such as free chlorine in a liquid sample which contains a food dye, whereby the oxidising agent undergoes a reaction with said food dye. A preferred food dye is Brilliant Blue FCF. There is also provided a control system for regulating the volume of reagent added to a fixed volume of sample according to a control algorithm to give a chosen excess of a reagent compound beyond that required to stoichiometrically react with the target analyte in the sample. Also disclosed are single reagents for colorimetric determination of total alkalinity and calcium hardness.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of acrylic acid polymers are prepared by polymerization of acrylic acid in a feed operation with a free-radical initiator in the presence of hypophosphite in water as solvent, by a process comprising (i) initially charging water and optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, (ii) continuously adding acrylic acid in acidic, unneutralized form, optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated comonomers, aqueous free-radical initiator solution and aqueous hypophosphite solution, and (iii) adding a base to the aqueous solution on completion of the acrylic acid feed, wherein a comonomer content does not exceed 30% by weight and the aqueous hypophosphite solution is added during a total feed time made up of three consecutive feed time spans ?tI, ?tII, and ?tIII, wherein the average feed rate in the second feed time span ?tII is greater than the average feed rates in the first and third feed time spans ?tI and ?tIII.

Abstract: A chemical analyser analyses a sample for a target chemical. The sample and reagent are added to a measurement cell until a detectable change is observed. A reference compound, which does not take part in the reaction between the target chemical and reagent, is added to the reagent. By measuring the concentration of the reference compound, the amount of reagent used may be determined. In one embodiment, a mechanism introduces the sample, adds reagent, mixes, cleans, and flushes the measurement cell, which incorporates a longitudinal chamber having inlets for the sample and reagent and an outlet for measured sample/reagent mixtures. A detector located in or adjacent to the chamber between the inlets and outlet and a piston movable in the chamber carries seals such that movement of a piston sequentially opens the inlets and expels the fluid. The analyzer also includes a device that delivers reagent to a measurement cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quenching medium for treating a heated metal part, said medium comprising water and a polyacrylate terpolymer comprising acrylamide and/or methacrylamide monomer units, acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid monomer units and alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomer units where the acid groups are in the form of an alkali metal salt and where the alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomers are of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to about 30, R is ethylene, propylene or butylene and G is an alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Also disclosed is a method for quenching a heated metal part, which process comprises immersing said metal part in the quenching medium. Also disclosed are the polyacrylate ternary copolymers.

Abstract: Thickener compositions for addition to paper coating compositions in order to obtain low high shear viscosity and good water retention are disclosed. The thickener compositions comprise an associative polymer with an associative monomer content below 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer, a weight average molecular weight below one million and an acid monomer content of at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quenching medium for treating a heated metal part, said medium comprising water and a polyacrylate terpolymer comprising acrylamide and/or methacrylamide monomer units, acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid monomer units and alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomer units where the acid groups are in the form of an alkali metal salt and where the alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomers are of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to about 30, R is ethylene, propylene or butylene and G is an alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Also disclosed is a method for quenching a heated metal part, which process comprises immersing said metal part in the quenching medium. Also disclosed are the polyacrylate ternary copolymers.

Abstract: A liquid sample is analysed for a target chemical. A sample solution is added to a measurement cell of known volume and a reagent is incrementally added to the cell until a detectable change is observed. A reference compound, of a known concentration, that does not take part in the reaction between the target chemical and reagent, is added to the reagent and by measuring the concentration of the reference compound the amount of reagent used may be determined. A single mechanism introduces a sample, adds reagent mixes cleans and flushes the measurement cell which incorporates a longitudinal chamber having a number of fluid inlets for sample and reagent and an outlet for measured sample/reagent mixtures, a detector being located in or adjacent to said chamber between the inlets and said outlet and a piston movable in said chamber carrying a series of seals such that movement of the piston sequentially opens the inlets and expels the fluid.

Abstract: A food slicing machine using a linear servo motor to reciprocate a carriage holding food products through a path that includes a slicing blade. The slicing apparatus is a modular apparatus that can be mounted to and removed from slicing machines as a unit without the need for disassembly of the components of the slicing apparatus. An adjustment mechanism for the blade guide uses two shafts that extend from a bearing plate into a finger that is mounted to the blade guide. The lower shaft has a cam nut that displaces the finger about the upper shaft to bend the blade guide. There is also an adjustment mechanism for the idler pulley of the band blade apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a quenching medium for treating a heated metal part, said medium comprising water and a polyacrylate terpolymer comprising acrylamide and/or methacrylamide monomer units, acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid monomer units and alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomer units where the acid groups are in the form of an alkali metal salt and where the alkyl alkoxylate allyl ether monomers are of the formula where n is an integer from 1 to about 30, R is ethylene, propylene or butylene and G is an alkyl group of 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Also disclosed is a method for quenching a heated metal part, which process comprises immersing said metal part in the quenching medium. Also disclosed are the polyacrylate ternary copolymers.

Abstract: Thickener compositions for addition to paper coating compositions in order to obtain low high shear viscosity and good water retention. The thickener compositions comprise an associative thickener with an associative content below 10%, a molecular weight below one million and an acid content of at least 10% by weight.

Abstract: A flow divider for use with fluent materials, such as raw sausage. The flow divider is a combination of at least two housing bodies with chambers defined by elliptical cylindrical sidewalls. Hubs with transverse vanes have necked-down regions at one end that are rotatably mounted in a similarly-sized aperture in an endwall of each housing body. The vanes' tips follow the elliptical cylindrical sidewalls in the manner of a vane pump. Sausage is conveyed from a conventional pump into the inlet of the flow divider, and flows through passages into inlet cavities, one inlet cavity per chamber, through the sub-chambers formed by the space between the vanes, and outlet cavities, one outlet cavity per chamber. The amount of sausage that flows through each chamber is equal due to the driving linkage between the hubs of each housing body.