Abstract: The disclosure relates to compositions for use before, during, and/or after the hair is subject to a process for altering the color thereof. The compositions comprise a combination of citric acid and at least one urea compound. The compositions provide strength and other benefits to treated hair. The disclosure also relates to methods of using the compositions as well as kits comprising the compositions.

Abstract: A solventborne pigment dispersion having a volatile organic chemical (VOC) content that is less than 250 g/L for tinting solvent-based surface coatings is formulated using a vegetable oil-derived solvent component that is one or more methyl esters of vegetable oils, an acrylic resin containing at least 60% solids, one or more highly concentrated surfactants containing up to 100% by weight of active constituents and that contains no PMA or free aromatic moieties, and one or more organic pigments or one or more inorganic pigment, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A solventborne pigment dispersion having a volatile organic chemical (VOC) content that is less than 250 g/L for tinting solvent-based surface coatings is formulated using a vegetable oil-derived solvent component that is one or more methyl esters of vegetable oils, an acrylic resin containing at least 60% solids, one or more highly concentrated surfactants containing up to 100% by weight of active constituents and that contains no PMA or free aromatic moieties, and one or more organic pigments or one or more inorganic pigment, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.

Abstract: Sphingomonas strains have extracellular polysaccharide (e.g., gellan, diutan) that is firmly attached to the cell surface. This attachment may limit polysaccharide production by impairing uptake of nutrients into the cell or due to limited sites for polysaccharide biosynthesis on the cell surface. Two genes for polysaccharide biosynthesis, designated gelM and gelN in gellan-producing strains and dpsM and dpsN in diutan-producing strains, have been inactivated by deletion mutations and shown to produce polysaccharide that is not firmly attached to the cell surface, i.e., slime form. Another gene for polysaccharide biosynthesis, designated gelI in gellan producing strains, was inactivated by insertion mutation and also shown to produce the slime phenotype. The homologous gene dpsi in the diutan producing strain should also be involved in the attachment of the polysaccharide to the cell surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant strains of the genus Sphingomonas which have a mutation in at least one gene encoding a protein involved in polyhydroxybutyrate (“PHB”) synthesis that allows the mutant strains to produce PHB-deficient sphingans. The invention is also directed to a process for preparing a clarified sphingan solution comprising heating aqueous sphingan solution, in particular PHB-deficient sphingan solution, to a clarification temperature of about 30° C. to about 70° C., and treating the solution with a clarification agent and enzymes. In addition, the invention is directed to a food or industrial product comprising a PHB-deficient and/or clarified sphingan. One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a clarified, PHB-deficient high-acyl gellan and the processes of making thereof.

Abstract: Mutational inactivation of proteins involved in para-cresol production in certain milk products results in improved taste and odor. The undesirable para-cresol forms over time as a result of enzymes produced by the bacterium that produces gellan gum. Since the gellan is typically used in a relatively unpurified form, the enzymes are added to the milk along with the gellan. Inactivation of the enzymes is a genetic means of eliminating the enzymes without requiring any additional purification or processing.

Abstract: Increasing the molecular length of xanthan polymer makes a higher viscosity xanthan composition. Xanthan with higher specific viscosity characteristics provides more viscosity at equivalent concentration in food, industrial and oilfield applications. Methods for increasing the viscosity of xanthan include inducing particular key genes and increasing copy number of particular key genes.