Abstract: Methods and systems for managing supplier activities. In one embodiment, a computer-based system allows a company that contracts with one or more suppliers in a global supplier base to create electronic documents for placing new work packages with those suppliers. These documents can include S.O.W.'s, work schedules, and P.O.'s. In one aspect of this embodiment, the computer-based system allows the company and the respective suppliers to update these documents during performance of the work packages. In one embodiment, the method is initiated on a general-purpose computer by the company who accesses a user interface display page from a server computer to create a new work package document. A supplier can then access the server computer to review the work package document or to update the information contained on the document.

Abstract: Surfactants useful as dispersing aids in the preparation of compositions comprising a hydrophilic colloid having hydrophobic particles dispersed therein have the structure ##STR1## wherein M is a cation; X represents a group having the structure ##STR2## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represents hydrogen or alkyl; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent cycloalkyl; or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 taken together represent cycloalkyl; and, n represents 0 or 1; provided that the total number of carbon atoms in each X group is 3 or 4, and when R.sup.1 is hydrogen R.sup.2 is other than methyl. Such surfactants offer coating and photographic property advantages when incorporated in multilayer photographic materials comprising a support bearing a plurality of hydrophilic colloid layers.

Abstract: Surfactants useful as dispersing aids in the preparation of compositions comprising a hydrophilic colloid having hydrophobic particles dispersed therein have the structure ##STR1## wherein M is a cation;X represents a group having the structure ##STR2## wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represents hydrogen or alkyl; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent cycloalkyl; or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 taken together represent cycloalkyl; and,n represents 0 or 1;provided that the total number of carbon atoms in each X group is 3 or 4, and when R.sup.1 is hydrogen R.sup.2 is other than methyl. Such surfactants offer coating and photographic property advantages when incorporated in multilayer photographic materials comprising a support bearing a plurality of hydrophilic colloid layers.

Abstract: An antistatic composition comprises a hydrophilic colloid, e.g. gelatin, and a plurality of surface active agents comprising an anionic surface active agent and a cationic surface active agent. At least one of the anionic and cationic surface active agents comprises at least one polyoxyalkylene group. The accumulation of electrostatic charge on an element, e.g a photographic element, may be prevented by coating a surface of the element with an aqueous dispersion of the antistatic composition and drying the coated surface.