Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a water heater is provided comprising an electric heating element circuit; a circuit coupled to the electric heating element circuit and configured to supply current to the electric heating element; a sensor coupled to the circuit and configured to detect a temperature associated with operation of the electric heating element circuit; and a controller coupled to the circuit.

Abstract: A water heater system includes a first water heater including a first controller configured to transmit and receive a token; and a second water heater including a second controller configured to transmit and receive the token. The first water heater is plumbed to the second water heater in a twinned configuration, and the first controller is in communication with the second controller. The first controller is configured to control the first water heater to perform a first heating cycle while in possession of the token, and then transmit the token to the second controller, and the second controller is configured to control the second water heater to perform a second heating cycle while in possession of the token, and then transmit the token to the first controller.

Abstract: There is provided a biosensor device comprising: a doped graphene layer structure having at least first and second electrical contacts and a sample-surface between said electrical contacts for receiving an analyte composition to be tested; wherein the doped graphene layer structure is doped with nitrogen and/or phosphorus atoms in an amount of from 1 at% to 10 at%; and wherein the sample-surface is functionalised with a plurality of analyte-receptors, each analyte-receptor being bound to a nitrogen or phosphorus atom of the doped graphene layer structure by a covalent linker moiety.

Abstract: Systems and/or methods for establishing and maintaining authenticity of a plurality of records and/or documentary materials to be persisted in an electronic archives system are provided. Each record and/or documentary material may be safeguarded throughout its entire lifecycle by monitoring and recording both intended changes to each said record and/or documentary material and its corresponding status, as well as unintended changes to each said record and/or documentary material. Context and structure associated with each said record and/or documentary material may be extracted and preserved. Substantially uninterrupted proof-of-custody including at least a source may be established and preserved for each said record and/or documentary material throughout its entire lifecycle. Essential characteristics of each said record and/or documentary material may be captured and preserved throughout its lifecycle in dependence on one or more changeable definitions of essential characteristic.

Abstract: Novel aqueous thickener or thixotropic polymers are prepared by the copolymerization of (A) about 15-60 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, preferably acrylic or methacrylic acid or a mixture thereof with itaconic or fumaric acid, (B) about 15-80 weight percent of a nonionic copolymerizable C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, preferably a monovinyl ester such as ethyl acrylate or a mixture thereof with styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride or vinyl acetate, and (C) about 1-30 weight percent of a new and novel nonionic ethylenically unsaturated nonionic biphillic monomer such as tristyrylpoly(ethyleneoxy).sub.x methyl acrylate, to provide a stable aqueous colloidal dispersion at an acid pH lower than about 5.0 but becoming an effective thickener for aqueous systems upon adjustment to a pH of about 5.5-10.5 or higher. These polymers adjusted to a pH of about 5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hair conditioning composition comprising as the active ingredient, a homopolymer of the formula. ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl;R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently lower alkyl;R.sub.4 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.25 alkyl or aryl group;n is 1-6; andX is lower alkyl sulfate or aryl sulfonate and to the use thereof for treating hair.

Abstract: Novel aqueous thickener or thixotropic polymers are prepared by the copolymerization of (A) about 15-60 weight percent of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, preferably acrylic or methacrylic acid or a mixture thereof with itaconic or fumaric acid, (B) about 15-80 weight percent of a nonionic copolymerizable C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, preferably a monovinyl ester such as ethyl acrylate or a mixture thereof with styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride or vinyl acetate, and (C) about 1-30 weight percent of a new and novel nonionic ethylenically unsaturated nonionic biphillic monomer such as tristyrylpoly(ethyleneoxy).sub.x methyl acrylate, to provide a stable aqueous colloidal dispersion at an acid pH lower than about 5.0 but becoming an effective thickener for aqueous systems upon adjustment to a pH of about 5.5-10.5 or higher. These polymers adjusted to a pH of about 5.

Abstract: A detergent composition useful for cleaning and/or conditioning human hair or skin or cleaning dishes or clothing which contains NaCl or NH.sub.4 Cl and further contains a nonionically and cationically derivatized polygalactomannan, the molecular substitution of the nonionic substituent being between about 0.4 and about 1.2 and the degree of substitution of the cationic substituent being between about 0.20 to about 1.0, said detergent composition having a viscosity of greater than about 500 centipoises and said composition having greater than 75% light transmission at a wavelength of from about 500-600 nanometers is provided. Also disclosed is the use of an amphoteric and nonionic substituted derivatized polygalactomannan for such uses.

Abstract: Novel copolymerizable esters of cinnamic acid or an .omega.-alkenoic acid of from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, such as undecylenic acid, with certain hydroxyalkane sulfonic acids, such as isethionic acid, are described together with processes of making them and copolymers thereof. These novel copolymerizable esters may be made by reaction of the .omega.-alkenoic or cinnamic acid with the hydroxyalkane sulfonic acid or a sultone, such as propane sultone. These novel ester are useful as copolymerizable surfactants in the emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers; particularly for the production of self-stabilizing latices of polymeric materials possessing excellent mechanical stability and from which can be deposited films having improved adhesion, pigment wetting and bonding properties and greatly improved resistance to water.