Abstract: The present invention provides variants of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) comprising one or more deletions; additions of and/or substitutions with natural amino acids, unnatural amino acids and/or peptidomimetics (including peptide bond isosteres); amino acid extensions; and/or other chemical moieties such as, e.g., poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic acids. The CNP variants are useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of diseases responsive to CNP, including but not limited to bone-related disorders such as, e.g., skeletal dysplasias and achondroplasia, and vascular smooth muscle disorders such as, e.g., restenosis and arteriosclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and biologically active mutants, fragments and analogs thereof as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases caused all or in part by deficiencies in human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase including MPS VI and methods for producing and purifying the recombinant precursor enzyme to a highly purified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and biologically active mutants, fragments and analogs thereof as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases caused all or in part by deficiencies in human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase including MPS VI and methods for producing and purifying the recombinant precursor enzyme to a highly purified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and biologically active mutants, fragments and analogs thereof as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases caused all or in part by deficiencies in human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase including MPS VI and methods for producing and purifying the recombinant precursor enzyme to a highly purified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and biologically active mutants, fragments and analogs thereof as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases caused all or in part by deficiencies in human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase including MPS VI and methods for producing and purifying the recombinant precursor enzyme to a highly purified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase and biologically active mutants, fragments and analogs thereof as well as pharmaceutical formulations comprising highly purified recombinant human precursor N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase. The invention also provides methods for treating diseases caused all or in part by deficiencies in human N-acetylgalactosamine-4-sulfatase including MPS VI and methods for producing and purifying the recombinant precursor enzyme to a highly purified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and mutants thereof, large scale methods to produce and purify commercial grade recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase enzyme as well as methods to treat certain genetic disorders including &agr;-L-iduronidase deficiency and mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS 1).

Abstract: The present invention provides a recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase and biologically active fragments and muteins thereof with a purity greater than 99%. The present invention further provides large-scale methods to produce and purify commercial grade recombinant human &agr;-L-iduronidase enzyme thereof.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for the biosynthetic production of indigo, the improvement comprising removing unwanted by-products such as isatin or indirubin from the broth in which such indigo is produced. Isatin can be removed by enzymatic activity using an isatin-removing enzyme such as an isatin hydrolase, or by other techniques such as process parameters (elevated temperature, pH), or by contacting the broth containing the isatin with appropriate adsorption compounds/compositions such as carbon or appropriate resins. Since isatin is the precursor of indirubin, the indirubin levels are decreased as a result of isatin removal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel variant EGIII or EGIII-like cellulases which have improved stability. The variant cellulases have performance sensitive residues replaced to a residue having improved stability.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for the biosynthetic production of indigo, the improvement comprising removing unwanted by-products such as isatin or indirubin from the broth in which such indigo is produced. Isatin can be removed by enzymatic activity using an isatin-removing enzyme such as an isatin hydrolase, or by other techniques such as process parameters (elevated temperature, pH), or by contacting the broth containing the isatin with appropriate adsorption compounds/compositions such as carbon or appropriate resins. Since isatin is the precursor of indirubin, the indirubin levels are decreased as a result of isatin removal.

Abstract: There is provided an improved process for the biosynthetic production of indigo, the improvement comprising removing unwanted by-products such as isatin or indirubin from the broth in which such indigo is produced. Isatin can be removed by enzymatic activity using an isatin-removing enzyme such as an isatin hydrolase, or by other techniques such as process parameters (elevated temperature, pH), or by contacting the broth containing the isatin with appropriate adsorption compounds/compositions such as carbon or appropriate resins. Since isatin is the precursor of indirubin, the indirubin levels are decreased as a result of isatin removal.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed which includes a susceptor heating means having selective responsiveness to microwave radiation. The susceptor surface has a plurality of regions, where at least one region has an altered responsiveness to microwave radiation which is achieved by disruptions in the susceptor surface. A method for making regions of a susceptor selectively responsive to microwave heating by disrupting the continuity of the metallized film of the susceptor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed which includes a susceptor that heats when exposed to microwave radiation, and which has a selective responsiveness to microwave radiation. The susceptor surface has a plurality of regions, where at least one region has an altered responsiveness to microwave radiation which is achieved by disruptions in the susceptor surface. A method for making regions of a susceptor selectively responsive to microwave heating by disrupting the continuity of the metallized film of the susceptor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a food item in a microwave oven is disclosed which has heater regions in combination with a reflective lattice structure. The combination of the reflective lattice structure and heater regions provides a food heating device which substantially maintains its reflectance, absorbance and transmittance during microwave heating. Substantial uniformity of heating is also achieved. The reflectance, transmittance and absorbance of the food heating device can be adjusted by changing the relative configuration and construction of the lattice structure and the heater regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for a system for heating food products in a variety of microwave ovens. The invention allows the temperature profile of the food product to be set at a predetermined level. A grid is used in combination with a conductive ring. There is preferably a spacing between the grid and the surface of the food product between about 0.25 inch and about 2.4 inches, a margin between openings in the grid between about 0.6 inch and about 1.8 inches, and the openings in the grid are of a size between about 0.75 inch and about 1.75 inches. A single iris embodiment is disclosed. The single iris may be in contact with the surface of the food product or spaced therefrom. An embodiment is also disclosed wherein a grid is in contact with the food surface.

Abstract: A food container for use in a microwave oven is disclosed. The container contains a plurality of food substances, and employs a metal shield to shield at least one of the food substances from microwave radiation. Arcing and other problems associated with the use of metal shielding are avoided by proper selection of the geometry of the metal shield. The metal shield is preferably looped in a manner which provides some electrical inductance, and the ends of the metal shield are overlapped and separated by a dielectric material to provide some electrical capacitance. The geometry of the shield is selected so that the inductance and the capacitance in effect form a "tuned circuit" which minimizes problems associated with resonance and which eliminates arcing.

Abstract: A food package for a microwave oven is disclosed which has a grid in combination with a susceptor means. The combination of the grid and susceptor means provides a heater element which substantially maintains its reflectance, absorbance and transmittance during microwave heating. Substantial uniformity of heating is also achieved. The reflectance, transmittance and absorbance can be adjusted by changing certain design factors, including hole size, susceptor impedance, grid geometry, spacing between the grid and susceptor, and the spacing between adjacent holes.

Abstract: A package for heating food in a microwave oven is disclosed. The package includes metal shielding or other metal components which cause a gain in electric field strength which is greater than 3. The present invention also involves low load microwave environments where the electric field strength is greater than 10 volts per centimeter. A rigid, dimensionally stable dielectric support is provided in close proximity to a conductive sheet, being spaced less than 0.5 inch from the conductive sheet. The dielectric support is composed of material selected to avoid failure of the dielectric support in high electrical fields which may exist near the conductive sheet during microwave irradiation. The dielectric support material has a dielectric loss factor less than 0.005, and a failure temperature greater than 101.degree. C. The present invention relates to intrinsically nonarcing packages.

Abstract: A food container for use in a microwave oven is disclosed. The container contains a plurality of food substances, and employs a metal shield to shield at least one of the food substances from microwave radiation. Arcing and other problems associated with the use of metal shielding are avoided by proper selection of the geometry of the metal shield. The metal shield is preferably looped in a manner which provides some electrical inductance, and the ends of the metal shield are overlapped and separated by a dielectric material to provide some electrical capacitance. The geometry of the shield is selected so that the inductance and the capacitance in effect form a "tuned circuit" which minimizes problems associated with resonance and which eliminates arcing.