Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments based on platelet-shaped transparent substrates with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) a nonabsorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8, b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8 having an optical layer thickness >150 nm, c) an absorbing high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also, d) optionally an outer protective layer D, wherein the multilayer pearlescent pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of the volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ?D of 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with the formula ?D=(D90?D10)/D50. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pigments, and to their use.

Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments comprising platelet-shaped transparent substrates provided with an optically active coating, where the coating includes at least (a) a nonabsorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8, (b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8, (c) a nonabsorbing high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also (d) optionally at least one outer protective layer D where the pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of a volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ?D in a range from 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with formula (I) ?D=(D90?D10)/D50??(I). The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pearlescent pigments, and also to their use.

Abstract: Particles colored with at least one colorant, where the colored glass particles are glass platelets with an average diameter of 1 to 500 ?m and the colorants at least include at least one of metallic nanoparticles and metal oxides. The glass platelets are planar and the colorants are present in a concentration from 1% to 55% by weight, based on the total weight of the colored glass platelets. The disclosure further relates to a method to a method for producing the colored glass particles and to the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to metallic effect pigments having a plateletlike metal core and, surrounding the plateletlike metal core, a homogeneous synthetic resin coating, the synthetic resin coating comprising polyacrylate and/or polymethacrylate and also organofunctional silane. The invention further relates to a process for preparing such metallic effect pigments, and to their use.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assisting credit account holders during economic hardship. More specifically, aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing a rebate of at least a portion of a finance charge applied to a credit account. Unlike certain prior art systems and methods, embodiments disclosed herein may benefit both the credit account holder as well as the financial institution that extends the credit account. In one embodiment, it may be determined that several credit accounts meet a threshold of probability of having a charge-off. In certain embodiments, the number of accounts that receive a rebate may be limited to a certain percentage of credit accounts with a non-zero balance.

Abstract: The invention relates to copper-containing metal pigments, wherein the copper-containing metal pigments have an elemental copper content of at least 50 wt. %, relative to the total weight of the uncoated copper-containing metal pigment, wherein the copper-containing metal pigments have at least one enveloping metal oxide layer and at least one enveloping chemically non-reactive plastic layer, wherein the sum of the amounts of the at least one chemically non-reactive plastic layer and of the at least one metal oxide layer lies in a range of from 10 to 50 wt. %, relative to the weight of the uncoated metal pigment, and the weight ratio of the at least one metal oxide layer to the at least one chemically non-reactive plastic layer lies in a range of from 1:2 to 1:20. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing these pigments and the use thereof.

Abstract: A silver-colored pigment is provided having a nonmetallic platelet-shaped substrate and at least one ilmenite-containing coating, wherein the nonmetallic platelet-shaped substrate is a nonmetallic platelet-shaped synthetic substrate and the amount of iron compounds, calculated as elemental iron, in the pigment is less than 5.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the pigment. Processes for preparing the pigment also are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to assisting credit account holders during economic hardship. More specifically, aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing a rebate of at least a portion of a finance charge applied to a credit account. Unlike certain prior art systems and methods, embodiments disclosed herein may benefit both the credit account holder as well as the financial institution that extends the credit account. In one embodiment, it may be determined that several credit accounts meet a threshold of probability of having a charge-off. In certain embodiments, the number of accounts that receive a rebate may be limited to a certain percentage of credit accounts with a non-zero balance.

Abstract: According to one or more aspects, financial transactions may be conducted using a financial card product, such as a hybrid secured credit card that permits transactions up to a predetermined total credit limit, and then allows transactions in excess using a security interest in assets. The asset may be the available balance in an interest-bearing checking account (e.g., a DDA account), a brokerage account, or other type of account that may hold funds/assets. The available balance of the asset(s) may be monitored in real-time (or near real-time) such that the available spending limit on the hybrid secured credit card may be floating (e.g., dynamic). In one example, backend systems may be configured to monitor in real-time an available balance in security accounts in order to prevent spending over the amount of secured funds. In addition, in some examples, more than one account may be associated with the card such that the total spending limit on the card is greater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cosmetic formulation including a cosmetically acceptable medium and at least one silver-colored pigment, the silver-colored pigment including a nonmetallic platelet-shaped substrate and at least one ilmenite-containing coating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for determining, recommending, and/or executing a payment strategy. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided for determining a payment strategy for using at least some funds from a first account to make two or more payments on a second account during a single pay period. In such embodiments, the method includes: (1) determining that the second account includes a payment due date and a minimum payment due; (2) determining a number of payments to make on the second account; (3) determining a payment amount for each payment, such that the total payment amount for all of the payments is sufficient to at least offset the minimum payment due; and (4) determining a triggering event for each payment, such that each of the payments is made on or before the payment due date.

Abstract: The invention relates to pearlescent pigments comprising a largely transparent platelet-shaped synthetic substrate having a density ?S and at least one optically active coating having a density ?m, the substrate having an average size d50 from a range from 2.0 ?m to 8.0 ?m and an average height hS from a range from 40 nm to 110 nm and the total lead content of the pearlescent pigments is ?10 ppm. The invention further relates to a method for producing the pearlescent pigments, and also to the use thereof.

Abstract: According to one or more aspects, financial transactions may be conducted using a financial card product, such as a hybrid secured credit card that permits transactions up to a predetermined total credit limit, and then allows transactions in excess using a security interest in assets. The asset may be the available balance in an interest-bearing checking account (e.g., a DDA account), a brokerage account, or other type of account that may hold funds/assets. The available balance of the asset(s) may be monitored in real-time (or near real-time) such that the available spending limit on the hybrid secured credit card may be floating (e.g., dynamic). In one example, backend systems may be configured to monitor in real-time an available balance in security accounts in order to prevent spending over the amount of secured funds. In addition, in some examples, more than one account may be associated with the card such that the total spending limit on the card is greater.

Abstract: Effect pigments with a platelet-shaped substrate provided on at least one side with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ?2.0. The platelet-shaped substrate includes at least one mixed inorganic/organic phase. Also, a method of producing effect pigments including the following steps: a) combining at least one organic network former, at least one reactive organic component, at least one inorganic network former and/or nanoscale inorganic particles and a liquid phase to form a reaction composition, b) applying the reaction composition to a sheetlike base, c) forming a solidified mixed inorganic/organic phase, d) converting the mixed inorganic/organic phase into platelet-shaped substrates, and e) coating the platelet-shaped substrates with at least one coating of semitransparent metal and/or at least one high-index coating having a refractive index ?2.0.

Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments comprising platelet-shaped transparent substrates provided with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) an absorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8 b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8 c) a high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also d) optionally at least one outer protective layer D and where the multilayer pearlescent pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of a volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ?D in a range from 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with formula (I) ?D=(D90?D10)/D50??(I). The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pearlescent pigments, and also to their use.

Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments based on platelet-shaped transparent substrates with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) a nonabsorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8, b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8 having an optical layer thickness >150 nm, c) an absorbing high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also, d) optionally an outer protective layer D, wherein the multilayer pearlescent pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of the volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ?D of 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with the formula ?D=(D90?D10)/D50. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pigments, and to their use.

Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments comprising platelet-shaped transparent substrates provided with an optically active coating, where the coating includes at least (a) a nonabsorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8, (b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8, (c) a nonabsorbing high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also (d) optionally at least one outer protective layer D where the pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of a volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ?D in a range from 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with formula (I) ?D=(D90?D10)/D50??(I). The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pearlescent pigments, and also to their use.

Abstract: Glass particles colored with at least one colorant, where the colored glass particles are glass platelets with an average diameter of 1 to 500 ?m and the colorants comprise or consist of at least one of metallic nanoparticles and metal oxides. The glass platelets are planar and the colorants are present in a concentration from 1% to 55% by weight, based on the total weight of the colored glass platelets. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing the colored glass particles and to the use thereof.

Abstract: Multilayer pearlescent pigments with a silver interference color, based on platelet-shaped transparent substrates with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) a high-index layer A having a refractive index n?1.8 b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8 c) a high-index layer C having a refractive index n?1.8 and also d) optionally an outer protective layer D. The multilayer pearlescent pigments have the indices D10, D50, D90 from the cumulative frequency distribution of the volume-averaged size distribution function, with a span ?D of 0.7-1.4, the span ?D being calculated in accordance with the formula ?D=(D90?D10)/D50. The invention further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pearlescent pigments, and also to their use.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for determining, recommending, and/or executing a payment strategy. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided for determining a payment strategy for using at least some funds from a first account to make two or more payments on a second account during a single pay period. In such embodiments, the method includes: (1) determining that the second account includes a payment due date and a minimum payment due; (2) determining a number of payments to make on the second account; (3) determining a payment amount for each payment, such that the total payment amount for all of the payments is sufficient to at least offset the minimum payment due; and (4) determining a triggering event for each payment, such that each of the payments is made on or before the payment due date.