Abstract: Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements and, based on the type of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements and, based on the type of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a temperature condition indicator disposed upon the top surface of a lid or cap for a container or on the container or vial for a perishable product, such as a food or a drug composition. The indicator can change appearance when exposed to a temperature condition, such as a freezing event.

Abstract: Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.

Abstract: A dual-function heat indicator for monitoring two or more modes of heat exposure is described. A manufacturing process for the dual-function heat indicator is also described. Dual-function heat indicators as described may be useful for monitoring the exposure of host products, with which the dual-function heat indicators may be associated, to cumulative ambient heat exposure and to a peak ambient heat exposure, and for other purposes.

Abstract: Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.

Abstract: Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.

Abstract: Indicator inks, indicators formed by printing or otherwise utilizing the inks and host products utilizing the indicators are disclosed. Reactivity-enhancing adjuvants stimulate enhanced thermal reactivity of diacetylenic or other indicator agents capable of responding to ambient thermal conditions with a visual change signaling an end point. The diacetylenic or other agents may be sensitive or relatively insensitive to ambient temperatures. Use of a reactivity-enhancing adjuvant provides a useful means for adapting the reactivities of indicator agents to the response characteristics of prospective host products, for example perishables such as vaccines or fresh fish and maturables such as fruit, cheese and wine. Some exemplary adjuvants include low-temperature polymerization initiators, for example methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and polymerization accelerators, for example cobalt compounds. Such initiators and accelerators can also be used in combination.

Abstract: Solid polymerizable diacetylenic monomer compositions, including compositions co-crystallized from a diversity of solvent systems under diverse cooling conditions, can exhibit diffraction patterns associated with the color development reactivities of the compositions. High reactivity compositions are disclosed and high reactivity and low reactivity phases can be identified. A low angle powder X-ray diffraction peak can indicate the presence of one or more crystal phases in a composition. A fingerprint region can exhibit fingerprint patterns of diffraction peaks associated with different reactivities. Information about polymerization of the diacetylenic monomers is disclosed using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) characterization. Diacetylenic monomer compositions useful in ambient condition indicators, for example time-temperature indicators are disclosed.

Abstract: Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.

Abstract: Crystallized diacetylenic compounds having certain crystallographic and other characteristics; diacetylenic compounds and mixtures crystallized from diacetylenic solutions; methods of preparing and identifying solvent systems for dissolving diacetylenic compounds; diacetylenic solutions; methods of recrystallizing diacetylenic compounds; crystals of 2,4-hexadiyn-1,6-bis(alkylurea) compounds; and ambient condition indicators and time-temperature condition indicators comprising crystallized diacetylenic compounds.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: Indicator inks, indicators formed by printing or otherwise utilizing the inks and host products utilizing the indicators are disclosed. Reactivity-enhancing adjuvants stimulate enhanced thermal reactivity of diacetylenic or other indicator agents capable of responding to ambient thermal conditions with a visual change signaling an end point. The diacetylenic or other agents may be sensitive or relatively insensitive to ambient temperatures. Use of a reactivity-enhancing adjuvant provides a useful means for adapting the reactivities of indicator agents to the response characteristics of prospective host products, for example perishables such as vaccines or fresh fish and maturables such as fruit, cheese and wine. Some exemplary adjuvants include low-temperature polymerization initiators, for example methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and polymerization accelerators, for example cobalt compounds. Such initiators and accelerators can also be used in combination.

Abstract: Indicator inks, indicators formed by printing or otherwise utilizing the inks and host products utilizing the indicators are disclosed. Reactivity-enhancing adjuvants stimulate enhanced thermal reactivity of diacetylenic or other indicator agents capable of responding to ambient thermal conditions with a visual change signaling an end point. The diacetylenic or other agents may be sensitive or relatively insensitive to ambient temperatures. Use of a reactivity-enhancing adjuvant provides a useful means for adapting the reactivities of indicator agents to the response characteristics of prospective host products, for example perishables such as vaccines or fresh fish and maturables such as fruit, cheese and wine. Some exemplary adjuvants include low-temperature polymerization initiators, for example methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and polymerization accelerators, for example cobalt compounds. Such initiators and accelerators can also be used in combination.

Abstract: Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements and, based on the type of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

Abstract: Solid polymerizable diacetylenic monomer compositions, including compositions co-crystallized from a diversity of solvent systems under diverse cooling conditions, can exhibit diffraction patterns associated with the color development reactivities of the compositions. High reactivity compositions are disclosed and high reactivity and low reactivity phases can be identified. A low angle powder X-ray diffraction peak can indicate the presence of one or more crystal phases in a composition. A fingerprint region can exhibit fingerprint patterns of diffraction peaks associated with different reactivities. Information about polymerization of the diacetylenic monomers is disclosed using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) characterization. Diacetylenic monomer compositions useful in ambient condition indicators, for example time-temperature indicators are disclosed.

Abstract: Freeze indicators providing a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing or near-freezing temperature and their manufacture are disclosed. The freeze indicators employ colloidal dispersions as active elements and include flexible freeze indicators, freeze indicators protected against drying out and freeze indicators employing core shell composites, for example gold coated pigments as active indicator elements. Also disclosed are: a combination freeze indicator and threshold temperature indicator; a combination threshold indicator and cumulative temperature indicator; and three-way combination indicators that can provide indications of cumulative past temperature exposure, exposure to freezing temperatures and exposure to a temperature above a threshold.

Abstract: A product shelf life monitoring system comprises a label substrate bearing upon a limited portion of its area an active indicator composition responsive to varying temperature over time to effect a visible change in color density or the like. The susceptibility of the indicator composition to similarly respond to incidence of vagrant ultraviolet light is ameliorated by application of an area of ultraviolet light absorbent composition in register above the indicator composition and extending at most only slightly beyond the periphery of the area of indicator composition. In this manner, the remaining area of the label is preserved for ultraviolet light responsive implementations, and only a minimal, economical amount of ultraviolet light absorbent composition is expended.

Abstract: Freeze indicators providing a visual indication of exposure of the freeze indicator to a freezing or near-freezing temperature and their manufacture are disclosed. The freeze indicators employ colloidal dispersions as active elements and include flexible freeze indicators, freeze indicators protected against drying out and freeze indicators employing core shell composites, for example gold coated pigments as active indicator elements. Also disclosed are: a combination freeze indicator and threshold temperature indicator; a combination threshold indicator and cumulative temperature indicator; and three-way combination indicators that can provide indications of cumulative past temperature exposure, exposure to freezing temperatures and exposure to a temperature above a threshold.

Abstract: A freeze indicator employs, as active indicator element, dispersion of solid particles in a liquid medium which can be water or aqueous and which coagulates to provide an irreversible appearance change when subject to freezing. The liquid dispersion can be contained in an indicator volume around which extends a vapor block layer. The vapor block layer can prevent loss of liquid vapor from the dispersion and consequent drying out and dysfunctionality of the freeze indicator. For containing an aqueous medium, bilayer and trilayer laminate materials can be used which have a low water vapor transmission rate. The active indicator element can be a dilute colloidal dispersion of a metal such as gold or silver or other inorganic pigment material in water or an aqueous medium. Some embodiments avoid use of dispersants and the like and employ an active indicator element consisting of inorganic pigment particles, water and optionally an ice nucleating agent.