Abstract: Processes and systems for degassing liquid sulfur may include mixing a gas, such as air, with a liquid sulfur mixture comprising sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen polysulfides to form a sulfur-gas mixture. The sulfur-gas mixture may then be transported to a separator, storage vessel or storage tank for separating the sulfur-gas mixture.

Abstract: Processes and systems for degassing liquid sulfur may include mixing a gas, such as air, with a liquid sulfur mixture comprising sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen polysulfides to form a sulfur-gas mixture. The sulfur-gas mixture may then be transported to a separator, storage vessel or storage tank for separating the sulfur-gas mixture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to glycosylated proBNP and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The present invention also relates to novel assays for measuring the total natriuretic activity that is present in a clinical blood sample.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of enhancing the biological activity of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The invention further concerns certain VEGF variants having enhanced biological activity, methods and means for preparing these variants, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. In a further aspect, the invention concerns methods of treatment using, and articles of manufacture containing such VEGF variants.

Abstract: A process for the production of styrene is disclosed, comprising the steps of: a) feeding to an alkylation unit a stream of benzene and a stream of ethylene; b) mixing the outlet stream from the alkylation unit with a stream of ethane and a stream of oxygen; c) feeding the mixture obtained in b) to an oxodehydrogenation unit containing a catalyst capable of contemporaneously oxidatively dehydrogenating ethane and ethylbenzene to give ethylene and styrene respectively; d) feeding the product leaving the oxodehydrogenation unit to a separation unit to produce a stream containing styrene and a stream containing ethylene; e) recycling the stream containing ethylene to the alkylation unit.

Abstract: This invention concerns novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) dimers, compositions containing such dimers, processes for making such dimers, and methods for the treatment of various diseases by administering such dimers or compositions.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of enhancing the biological activity of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The invention further concerns certain VEGF variants having enhanced biological activity, methods and means for preparing these variants, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. In a further aspect, the invention concerns methods of treatment using, and articles of manufacture containing such VEGF variants.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of enhancing the biological activity of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). The invention further concerns certain VEGF variants having enhanced biological activity, methods and means for preparing these variants, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. In a further aspect, the invention concerns methods of treatment using, and articles of manufacture containing such VEGF variants.

Abstract: A family of stimuli-induced in particular stress or cold-shock induced genes and proteins are disclosed which have conserved amino acid domains. Nucleic acid sequences of the genes and the promoters are also described. Various utilities of the promoters and of the proteins are disclosed.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a peptide having a pI above 8 or below 5 wherein the peptide is expressed as a fusion protein in which it is linked to a fusion partner through an acid cleavage site. The peptide is released from the fusion partner by acid cleavage in the absence of chaotrope. The fusion partner and its acid cleavage products, if any, have a net charge sufficiently different from that of the desired peptide to allow isolation of the peptide by ion-exchange chromatography.

Abstract: A family of stimuli-induced in particular stress or cold-shock induced genes and proteins are disclosed which have conserved amino acid domains. Nucleic acid sequences of the genes and the promoters are also described. Various utilities of the promoters and of the proteins are disclosed.