Abstract: This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.

Abstract: System and method provide wireless distributed lighting control systems implementing a secure peer-to-peer, self-organizing and self-healing mesh network of actuators and system inputs. The system and method can be designed specifically for indoor and outdoor lighting where actuators include in-fixture, on-fixture and circuit control modules with ON/OFF and full range dimming capabilities, and system inputs include occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and switches. A unique messaging protocol facilitates wireless and wired communication between actuators and system inputs, and provides web-based commissioning and monitoring of the lighting control system using a wireless access point accessible from a local network or Internet which can provide an intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for administering actual and virtual investment portfolios based on social media activities associated with and information consumed by one or more users. The disclosed embodiments may be configured to obtain digital activity data identifying an interaction between the user and one or more social networks, and further, one or more elements of electronic content accessed by the user. The disclosed embodiments may also be configured to identify a loyalty program associated with the user, and a geographic region associated with the user. The disclosed embodiments may also be configured to identify one or more first securities based on the digital activity data, an investment risk tolerance of the user, and at least one or the loyalty program or the geographic region, and to transmit information identifying a first set of the one or more first securities to a user device.

Abstract: Improved NMR sample tube shapes and inserts for standard tubes to shape the sample for greater homogeneity to provide symmetry of liquid sample and tube to a greater distance from the observe region for the same volume of sample as used in the prior art.

Abstract: An NMR probe having RF shield means to confine the RF magnetic field to an axial region having a length less than the length of the coil form.

Abstract: Parasitic excitation of an NMR sample is minimized by providing shielding of the sample against RF pick-up from coil leads or like proximate conductive structure in the interior region of the RF coil.