Abstract: An ergonomic push broom. The push broom includes a broom head and a primary handle. The broom head has a plurality of bristles that extend downwardly from the broom head. The primary handle includes a linearly extending rod having first and second ends. The first end of the linearly extending rod is attached to the broom head such that the linearly extending rod extends upwardly and at an angle away from the broom head with respect to the downwardly extending bristles. The primary handle also includes a downwardly radially curving portion extending from a second end of the linearly extending rod and includes a plurality of grasping locations.

Abstract: This invention provides amidases, polynucleotides encoding the amidases, methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides enzymes having secondary amidase activity, e.g., having activity in the hydrolysis of amides, including enzymes having peptidase, protease and/or hydantoinase activity. In alternative aspects, the enzymes of the invention can be used to used to increase flavor in food (e.g., enzyme ripened cheese), promote bacterial and fungal killing, modify and de-protect fine chemical intermediates, synthesize peptide bonds, carry out chiral resolutions, hydrolyze Cephalosporin C. The enzymes of the invention can be used to generate 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) and semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotics, including caphalothin, cephaloridine and cefuroxime. The enzymes of the invention can be used as antimicrobial agents, e.g., as cell wall hydrolytic agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides combinatorial libraries of nucleoside analog compounds and methods of making the libraries. In addition, the present invention provides methods of assaying the libraries for agonists or antagonists of a broad array of targets of therapeutic importance.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of discovering nitroreductases and biocatalytic methods for reducing compounds comprising a nitro group.

Abstract: The present invention provides combinatorial libraries of nucleoside analog compounds and methods of making the libraries. In addition, the present invention provides methods of assaying the libraries for agonists or antagonists of a broad array of targets of therapeutic importance.