Abstract: The invention includes a method of detecting the presence or absence of mold in a sample. The method can include the step of applying a sample suspected of containing the mold to a growth medium, optionally fragmenting the sample, associating the sample with a labeling agent, and detecting the presence or absence of the mold by detection of the labeling agent. The invention can also include a medium for growing mold that includes a stimulation agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microbial compositions and methods for reducing the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the gut as a way to reduce energy uptake and manage obesity. More specifically, the invention provides for decreasing short-chain fatty acids available for absorption in the human gut, such as acetate, using one or more of: a probiotic including a homo-acetogenic, acetate oxidizing bacterium that converts acetate to H2; a probiotic including an acetoclastic methanogen; a microbial electrolysis cell comprising a homo-acetogenic bacterium and/or an acetoclastic methanogen; a prebiotic that enhances the growth or function of acetate-scavenging microbiota; or a highly selective antibiotic that targets H2-oxidizing methanogens.

Abstract: An apparatus arranged for examining particles, comprising: a cartridge having at least one microchannel, a viscoelastic fluid flowing in the microchannel, the fluid comprising a suspension of particles, thereby effecting alignment of the particles in at least one-dimensional array parallel to the fluid flow, and an optical magnifying means generating an image of the particles in the microchannel.

Abstract: The process described herein discloses purification process of a secondary metabolite produced by fermentation route. The process involves selective removal of impurities at various stages of washings, charcoalization followed by crystallization. The product is closely related to class of echinocandins and is found to be potent antifungal compound & a key ingredient in the synthesis of antifungal drugs.

Abstract: A histological and cytological fixing composition, includes at least alcohol, ethylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide, water, and sodium chloride. Also, process for preparing this fixer, as well as to its use in particular in processes for staining cells or cellular structures are described.

Abstract: A method for intracellular delivery of single proteins or other cargo molecules by encapsulation within nanocapsules formed by interfacial polymerization of one or more types of monomers and selected protease cleavable cross-linkers is provided. The thin positively charged capsules are readily brought into the cytosol of target cells by endocytosis. The capsules are degraded by the action of endogenous proteases or co-delivered proteases on the cross-linkers releasing the functional cargo unaltered. The cross-linkers can be adapted to be cleavable by specific enzymes selected from available intracellular enzymes within the target cell or co-delivered or self-cleaving when the cargo itself is a protease. The nanocapsules produced by the methods have been shown to have long-term stability, high cell penetration capability, low toxicity and efficient protease-modulated specific degradability without affecting cargo protein function.

Abstract: A method for producing laccase by liquid fermentation of Lentinus edodes comprises the following steps of: (1) inoculating strains of Lentinus edodes into the PD liquid fermentation medium to perform activation culture and obtain a seed liquid; (2) inoculating the seed solution into a liquid fermentation medium to perform liquid fermentation culture, then adding an expansin solution to perform further culture, separating the supernatant to obtain a ferment solution; (3) extracting laccase from the ferment solution. A plant expansin and an optimized fermentation method are applied for producing laccase by liquid fermentation of Lentinus edodes, which increases the liquid fermentation output of laccase of Lentinus edodes remarkably, by more than 3 times in comparing with traditional fermentation production methods.

Abstract: A method for increasing the yield of total flavonoids in Ganoderma lucidum mycelium by an expansin comprises: (1) inoculating Ganoderma lucidum into the PD liquid fermentation medium, activating the culturing of the strains and obtaining a seed solution; (2) inoculating the seed solution into a liquid fermentation medium, culturing and adding the expansin solution, then further culturing, isolating and obtaining Ganoderma lucidum mycelium; (3) extracting flavonoids from the Ganoderma lucidum mycelium and obtaining total flavonoids. A plant expansin is used for the liquid fermentation production of flavonoids ingredients of Ganoderma lucidum, and the fermentation process and extraction method are optimized to increase greatly the yield of total flavonoids in Ganoderma lucidum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for remediating one or more impurities (e.g., diacetyl) that are present in manufacturing an alcohol (e.g., ethanol) from cellulosic biomass. The methods and systems include reacting the one or more impurities with at least one treatment compound (e.g., an oxidizing agent, an alkali compound, or a mixture thereof) to form a reaction product that can be separated from the alcohol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, including a two stage steam pretreatment process. The first stage of the steam pretreatment is carried out by heating the biomass with high pressure steam to a first stage temperature of 140° C. to 180° C. for a first stage time of 30 minutes to 2 hours at a first stage pressure of 105 to 150 psig; and the second steam pretreatment stage is carried out by heating the biomass with high pressure steam to raise the biomass temperature to a second stage temperature of 190° C. to 210° C. for a second stage time of 2 to 10 minutes at a second stage pressure of 167 to 262 psig. Hemicellulose and inhibitors (inhibitory compounds) to downstream hydrolysis and fermentation are preferably removed between the first and second pretreating stages, more preferably after each pretreatment stage.

Abstract: Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for promoting fertilization comprising cyclic ADP-ribose or its derivative, CD38 and to a method of promoting fertilization by promoting the synthesis of cyclic ADP-ribose to increase sperm motility. Also, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for contraception and a method for inhibiting fertilization, which can inhibit the expression or function of cyclic ADP-ribose to reduce sperm motility, thereby inhibiting fertilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microspheres comprising protein signal precursor molecules, or a carrier protein bonded to signal precursor molecules, wherein said signal precursor molecules are activatable to generate a detectable signal whilst remaining bonded to the carrier protein. Also disclosed is a method of making such microspheres comprising the steps of mixing protein molecules with a matrix former in solution; adding a reducing reagent to the mixture; removing the reducing reagent; and removing the matrix former to leave microspheres of protein molecules. Also disclosed are bioassay methods using the microspheres to provide signal amplification, including an amplification cycling procedure.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the general field of microbiology, and more specifically to transfer, inoculation and/or streaking of micro-organisms, e.g. for the purpose of obtaining individual colonies. Provided is a method for streaking a microbial sample onto a solid carrier, comprising the steps of: a) contacting at least one ferromagnetic particle with a solid carrier, followed or preceded by providing the particle with at least part of said sample, and b) applying a magnetic field gradient to allow for magnetically controlled motion of said particle on said surface, such that at least part of the sample is streaked onto the solid carrier. Also provided is an apparatus for carrying out such method in an (semi-)automated fashion.

Abstract: A method of chemically treating partially de-ashed pulp and/or paper mill sludge to obtain products of value comprising taking a sample of primary sludge from a Kraft paper mill process, partially de-ashing the primary sludge by physical means, and further treating the primary sludge to obtain the products of value, including further treating the resulting sludge and using the resulting sludge as a substrate to produce cellulase in an efficient manner using the resulting sludge as the only carbon source and mixtures of inorganic salts as the primary nitrogen source, and including further treating the resulting sludge and using the resulting sludge to produce ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decreasing the fermentation inhibition in a fermentation of cellulose-derived material in a fermentor, wherein fermentation inhibitory properties of the material subjected to fermentation is decreased by an addition of at least one reducing agent to the fermentor. Further, there is provided a method of increasing the fermentability of a fermentation process comprising the steps of measuring the fermentability of the fermentation process and if the fermentability is below a reference value, then adding at least one reducing agent to the fermentation process.

Abstract: Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for separating, characterizing and/or identifying microorganisms in a test sample. The method of the invention comprises an optional lysis step for lysing non-microorganism cells that may be present in a test sample, followed by a subsequent separation step. The method may be useful for the separation, characterization and/or identification of microorganisms from complex samples such as blood-containing culture media. The method may also be useful for the physical separation and/or enrichment of two or more different or individual microorganism species contained in a mixed test sample. The invention further provides for spectroscopic interrogation of the separated microorganism sample(s) to produce measurements of the microorganism and characterizing and/or identifying the microorganism(s) in the sample using said spectroscopic measurements.