Abstract: The present invention relates to subtilisin BPN′ variants comprising at least one or more amino acid positions having a different amino acid than that occurring in wild-type subtilisin BPN′ (i.e., substitution) at specifically identified positions, whereby the BPN′ variant has decreased adsorption to, and increased hydrolysis of, an insoluble substrate as compared to wild-type subtilisin BPN′. The present invention further relates to various cleaning compositions comprising such BPN′ variants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to subtilisin BPN′ variants having a modified amino acid sequence of wild-type BPN′ amino acid sequence, the wild-type amino acid sequence comprising a first loop region, a second loop region, a third loop region, a fourth loop region and a fifth loop region; wherein the modified amino acid sequence comprises different amino acids than that occurring in wild-type subtilisin BPN′ (i.e., substitution) at specifically identified positions in one or more of the loop regions whereby the BPN′ variant has decreased adsorption to, and increased hydrolysis of, an insoluble substrate as compared to the wild-type subtilisin BPN′. The present invention also relates to the genes encoding such subtilisin BPN′ variants. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising such subtilisin BPN′ variants for cleaning a variety of surfaces.

Abstract: A hair coloring composition comprising: (a) from about 0.0003 moles (per 100 g of composition) to less than about 0.09 moles (per 100 g of composition) of an inorganic peroxygen oxidizing agent; and (b) an oxidative hair coloring agent; wherein the pH of each of (a) and (b) is in the range of from about 1 to about 6 and wherein the combined mixture of (a) and (b) has a pH in the range of from about 1 to about 6. The products can provide excellent hair coloring and in-use efficacy benefits including excellent initial color and good wash fastness in combination with reduced hair damage at low pH.

Abstract: Packaged hair coloring composition comprising a stable aqueous hair coloring composition comprising a compound of formula (I): wherein the variables are each as defined in the claims. The packaged hair coloring compositions of the present invention provide improved wash fastness of dye on hair, less color fade over time, improved consumer acceptance in terms of providing a single packaged hair dye composition and improved product stability.

Abstract: A hair coloring composition comprising: (a) an inorganic peroxygen oxidizing agent; and (b) an oxidative hair coloring agent; wherein the pH of each of components (a) and (b) is in the range of from about pH 1 to about pH 4.5 and wherein the pH of the composition is in the range of from about pH 1 to about pH 4.5. The products can provide excellent hair coloring and in-use efficacy benefits including excellent initial color and good wash fastness in combination with reduced hair damage at low pH.

Abstract: Disclosed are hair conditioning compositions comprising a water-insoluble high molecular weight oily compound having a molecular weight of at least about 800, specific gravity of at least about 0.9, is in a liquid form at 25° C. and has formula (I): wherein A1, A2, A3 and A4 are independently alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyl, alkoxyalkyl, acyl, acylalkyl, and alkylacyloxyl group having C1 to about C30 or the formula —(CH2)n—O—OCR wherein R is from C1 to about C30 of branched or straight chain alkyl or alkenyl and n is an integer from 1 to about 30; and a carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated BMP, (bone morphogonic protein) receptor kinase protein or soluble fragment thereof, a DNA sequence coding for the BMP receptor kinase protein or the soluble fragment thereof, a recombinant expression vector comprising the DNA sequence, a host cell comprising the recombinant expression vector, and a method of expressing the BMP receptor kinase protein or soluble fragment thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fibers, and nonwovens comprising said fibers, comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units (RRMU) wherein the first RRMU monomer unit has the structure ##STR1## and the second RRMU has the structure ##STR2## wherein at least 50% of the RRMUs have the structure of the first RRMU. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a biodegradable liquid impervious backsheet comprising the above fibers and/or nonwovens, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Abstract: Psyllium-containing drink mix compositions comprising acid (e.g., citric acid) and granulated, less water soluble base (e.g., calcium carbonate agglomerated with maltodextrin).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units (RRMU) wherein the first RRMU monomer unit has the structure ##STR1## and the second RRMU has the structure ##STR2## wherein at least 50% of the RRMUs have the structure of the first RRMU. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a biodegradable liquid impervious backsheet comprising the above film, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fibers, and nonwovens comprising said fibers, comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units (RRMU) wherein the first RRMU monomer unit has the structure ##STR1## and the second RRMU has the structure ##STR2## wherein at least 50% of the RRMUs have the structure of the first RRMU. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article comprising a liquid previous topsheet, a biodegradable liquid impervious backsheet comprising the above fibers and/or nonwovens, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film comprising a biodegradable copolymer, wherein the copolymer comprises at least two randomly repeating monomer units (RRMU) wherein the first RRMU monomer unit has the structure ##STR1## and the second RRMU has the structure ##STR2## wherein at least 50% of the RRMUs have the structure of the first RRMU. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a biodegradable liquid impervious backsheet comprising the above film, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biomass, the process comprising extracting the polyhydroxyalkanoate with at least one PHA solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, acetonitrile, benzene, butyl acetate, butyl propionate, .beta.-butyrolactone, .gamma.-butyrolactone, diethyl carbonate, diethylformamide, dimethyl carbonate, dimethyl succinate, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol diacetate, methyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, toluene, xylene, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biological source material containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate, the process comprising: a) comminuting the biological source material; b) suspending the comminuted biological source material in a fluid; c) partitioning the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the other components of the biological source material by centrifugal fractionation to form a solid-solid separation; and d) recovering the polyhdroxyalkanoate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering polyhydroxyalkanoate from biological source material containing the polyhydroxyalkanoate, the process comprising: a) comminuting the biological source material; b) suspending the comminuted biological source material in a fluid; c) partitioning the polyhydroxyalkanoate from the other components of the biological source material by centrifugal fractionation to from a solid-solid separation; and d) recovering the polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering polyhydroxyalkanoate from a biological source material comprising the polyhydroxyalkanoate, the process comprising: a) comminuting the biological source material; b) air classifying the biological source material such that the polyhydroxyalkanoate particles are separated from other components of the biological source material; and c) recovering the polyhydroxyalkanoate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from a biomass comprising the PHA, the process comprising: a) treating the biomass with a PHA solvent and a marginal nonsolvent for PHA; b) removing any insoluble biomass, thereby leaving behind a solution of PHA and marginal nonsolvent for PHA; and c) removing the PHA solvent from the solution, thereby resulting in a suspension of precipitated PHA in the marginal nonsolvent for PHA. Optionally, the process further comprises removing the marginal nonsolvent for PHA, thereby leaving behind the PHA. The present invention further relates to the suspension and the PHA produced by the process.

Abstract: A method for generating new bone growth in a mammal comprising administrating to the mammal a safe and effective amount of a Vitamin D compound in combination with a safe and effective amount of osteoinductive extract or at least one BMP.

Abstract: The present invention comprises processes for preparing biodegradable fibrils from one or more biodegradable homopolymeric or copolymeric resins, said process comprising: a) forming a liquid resin mixture by melting or solvating the resin or resins; and b) introducing the liquid resin mixture to a flow of a gaseous substance. The present invention further comprises biodegradable fibrils made according to the processes of the present invention. The invention further comprises nonwoven fabrics comprising biodegradable fibrils. The invention further comprises disposable absorbent articles comprising a water-permeable topsheet, an absorbent core, and a water-impermeable backsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises a nonwoven substrate comprising biodegradable fibrils. The invention further comprises disposable articles comprising biodegradable fibrils.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated human hair specific keratin gene or fragment thereof, comprising a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:11; and a DNA sequence comprising DNA sequences SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:10. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting the level of hair specific keratin in a biological sample. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying hair growth regulating compounds and compositions comprising: a) treating a subject with a compound or composition of interest; b) isolating a sample of hair from the subject; and c) using a DNA sequence, or fragment thereof, which encodes hair specific keratin as a marker in a biological assay to detect an increase in the production of hair specific keratin in the hair sample.