Compounds useful as fluorescent or colored dyes that enable visual detection of biomolecules and other analytes are disclosed. The compounds comprise a phenylethynylnapthalene moiety represented by the following structure (I): ##STR00001## including salts thereof, wherein R.sup.1a, R.sup.1b, R.sup.1c, R.sup.1d, R.sup.1e, R.sup.1f, R.sup.2a, R.sup.2b, R.sup.2c, R.sup.2d, R.sup.2e, R.sup.2f, R.sup.2g, R.sup.2h, R.sup.2i, R.sup.2j, x and y are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds for visually detecting a biomolecule are also provided.

This invention relates to bis-azo colorants for use as bluing agents, laundry care compositions comprising bis-azo colorants that may serve as bluing agents, processes for making such bluing agents and laundry care compositions and methods of using the same. The bluing agents are generally comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. These bluing agents are advantageous in providing a whitening effect to fabrics, while not building up over time and causing undesirable blue discoloration to the treated fabrics.

This invention relates to bis-azo colorants for use as bluing agents, laundry care compositions comprising bis-azo colorants that may serve as bluing agents, processes for making such bluing agents and laundry care compositions and methods of using the same. The bluing agents are generally comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. These bluing agents are advantageous in providing a whitening effect to fabrics, while not building up over time and causing undesirable blue discoloration to the treated fabrics.

The invention is directed to a method for detecting a target moiety in a sample of biological specimens by: a) providing at least one conjugate with the general formula (I) X.sub.n—P—Y.sub.m, b) contacting the sample of biological specimens with at least one conjugate, thereby labeling the target moiety recognized by the antigen recognizing moiety Y with the conjugate c) exciting the labelled target moieties with light having a wavelength within the absorbance spectrum of fluorescent moiety X d) detecting the labelled target moieties by detecting the fluorescence radiation and e) degrading the fluorescent moiety X of the labelled target moieties by irradiating the conjugate with light having a wavelength within the absorbance spectrum of fluorescent moiety X Use of the method in fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometer, spectrofluorometry, cell separation, pathology or histology.

The present invention relates to new photochromic, fused naphthopyran systems having specific substituents R.sub.1, which can be used to attain very rapid lightening speeds, without detriment to the depth of darkening after excitation, and also to the use thereof in plastics of all kinds.

##STR00001##

Compounds useful as fluorescent or colored dyes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the compounds have the following structure (I):

##STR00001##

or a stereoisomer, tautomer or salt thereof, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3, L.sup.4, M.sup.1, M.sup.2, m, and n are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of such compounds is also provided.

A data storage system and method are provided for storing data in non-volatile memory devices. Binary data is received for storage in a non-volatile memory device. The binary data is converted into non-binary data comprising base-X values, where X is an integer greater than two. The non-binary data is encoded to generate a codeword and the codeword is written to a wordline of the non-volatile memory device.

This invention relates to a laundry care composition comprising a laundry care ingredient and a polymeric thiophene hueing agent.

In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a melanin composition extracted from black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) using an acid-base extraction technique. In one or more embodiments, the melanin composition is extracted from the black outer layer of a black knot fungus by obtaining a powder including a black outer part of one or more black knot fungus, adding a quantity of an aqueous solution comprising one or more base, heating the mixture to solubilize a melanin in the aqueous solution to form a black alkaline supernatant containing said melanin, adding one or more acids to said black alkaline supernatant until the melanin precipitates out of said black alkaline supernatant, said melanin precipitate further comprising proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; collecting the melanin precipitate and adding one or more acids to hydrolyze some or all of said proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and produce the melanin composition.

In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a melanin composition extracted from black knot fungus (Apiosporina morbosa) using an acid-base extraction technique. In one or more embodiments, the melanin composition is extracted from the black outer layer of a black knot fungus by obtaining a powder including a black outer part of one or more black knot fungus, adding a quantity of an aqueous solution comprising one or more base, heating the mixture to solubilize a melanin in the aqueous solution to form a black alkaline supernatant containing said melanin, adding one or more acids to said black alkaline supernatant until the melanin precipitates out of said black alkaline supernatant, said melanin precipitate further comprising proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; collecting the melanin precipitate and adding one or more acids to hydrolyze some or all of said proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and produce the melanin composition.