Abstract: A method for producing fatty acid alkyl esters, comprising providing a system comprising an oil phase/hydrophobic phase an a hydrophilic phase, and reacting a fatty acid feedstock present in said oil phase/hydrophobic phase with alcohol in the presence of water and one or more lipolytic enzymes.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide novel multi-targeted microbiological screening and monitoring methods having substantial utility for monitoring and control of microbial growth and contaminants, microbiological processes, predictive microbiology, and for exposure and risk assessment. Microbial markers shared by both target and index microbes are used in novel methods for microbial monitoring, monitoring of microbial performance potential, trend analysis, and statistical process control (SPC) in processes or systems that are receptive to a plurality of genetically distinct microbes.

Abstract: This invention provides an amadoriase that can react with a wide variety of glycated peptides generated upon hydrolysis of the ? chain of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to generate hydrogen peroxide, a method for measurement of HbA1c using such amadoriase, and a reagent kit for measurement of HbA1c using such amadoriase. Provided is an amadoriase obtained by substitution of one or more amino acids at positions corresponding to amino acids selected from the group consisting of amino acids 62, 63, 102, 106, 110, 113, and 355 in the amino acid sequence of the amadoriase derived from the genus Coniochaeta or the like which amadoriase is capable of oxidizing a wide variety of glycated peptides to generate hydrogen peroxide. Further provided is a method for measurement of HbA1c comprising using such amadoriase as well as a reagent kit for measurement of HbA1c comprising such amadoriase.

Abstract: The present invention describes a process for in situ generation of stable GOS in different dairy products by the use of a transgalactosylating ?-galactosidase.

Abstract: To provide an accelerated aging seed testing kit system, a single sheet of plastic or other suitable formable sheet material is pressed into the shape of a compartment base having recesses for mounting a seed holder. A seed holder that includes a seed support and a seed support holder is formed. The seed support holder is formed of a single sheet of plastic having radially extending tabs that fit into the recesses of the container to support the seed support above the rest of the test kit. A lid is formed out of one piece of plastic having a bendable tab to serve as a port and the openings and connecting points of the lid and seed holder are positioned so they can only fit together in one orientation having the port above a bypass channel.

Abstract: A collagen material is characterized in being constituted of collagen gel fragments. Furthermore, the collagen gel fragments may have an orientation. A method for producing a collagen material is characterized in comprising a step for preparing collagen gel fragments, a step for arranging the collagen gel fragments in a desired shape, and a step for drying the collagen gel fragments arranged in the desired shape. Moreover, in one embodiment of the method for producing a collagen material a step may include imparting an orientation to the collagen gel fragments.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase) enzyme for prevention or amelioration of toxicity associated with various cytostatic and/or cytotoxic chemotherapeutic compounds and radiation therapy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a Streptomyces sp. strain and a method for preparing a sulfide oxidase preparation from the same. This strain is a Streptomyces sp. strain DS021-Z5D2 which is a mutant having a high yield of sulfide oxidase obtained by taking a Streptomyces sp. strain DS021 as a starting strain and performing strain mutation by means of compound mutation of ultraviolet light and diethyl sulfate, and the preservation number is CGMCC No. 12808. This strain has the advantages of quick growth speed, high enzymatic productivity and the like. When this strain is fermented by a high-density fermentation method, this strain can produce sulfide oxidase preparations at a high yield. This strain has the advantages of inexpensive and easily-available culture substrates, high enzymatic productivity, short fermentation period, low production and use cost, and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to materials and methods of conjugating a water soluble polymer to an oxidized carbohydrate moiety of a therapeutic protein comprising contacting the oxidized carbohydrate moiety with an activated water soluble polymer under conditions that allow conjugation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the aforementioned materials and methods wherein the water soluble polymer contains an active aminooxy group and wherein an oxime or hydrazone linkage is formed between the oxidized carbohydrate moiety and the active aminooxy group on the water soluble polymer, and wherein the conjugation is carried out in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst.

Abstract: A process for converting a sugar from a hemicellulose-containing material into the form of a compound having at least one ionic binding site, which is characterized in that the hemicellulose-containing material is hydrolyzed enzymatically or non-enzymatically and the obtained hydrolysate is subjected to a conversion involving at least one enzymatic step, wherein sugars are released and the released sugars are converted into compounds having at least one ionic binding site, and the use of such a process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining carbonyl ratio and/or concentration of oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose in a sample. In accordance with the invention oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose comprised in the sample is enzymatically hydrolyzed into oxidized cellobioses which are specific markers to oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose. The cellobioses may be then analyzed and quantified to reveal the amount of oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose in the sample. A method for determining the concentration of oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose in a sample comprises steps of providing an analytical sample of material comprising oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose; hydrolyzing the analytical sample to breakdown products of oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose in presence of one or more enzymes; subjecting the breakdown products to a separation analysis to reveal the relative amounts of the breakdown products; and determining the concentration of oxidized nanofibrillar cellu-lose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrophobed porous oil binder in the form of a nonwoven fabric composed of lignocellulose-containing raw materials having a biologically functionalized surface for removing mineral-oil-based contaminants in seas, rivers, inland waters, and stormwater basins or wastewater treatment plants, wherein the density of the oil binder is 10 to 900 kg/m3, the oil binder is 1 to 25 mm thick, the broad surface of the oil binder has a dimension of 9 to 200 cm2, the porosity of the oil binder is 30 to 96%, measured with respect to the total fraction of the oil binder, and the flexural strength of the oil binder is at least 1.5 N/mm2.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of preparing a functional peptide from a germinated bean, including the steps of: germinating a bean until a sprout length is about 0.5-1.0 cm; adding water to the obtained germinated bean, and then blending and crushing the germinated bean; adjusting the obtained slurry to a pH value between 6.5-8.0, and then adding neutral protease, papain and compound flavor protease to perform enzymatic reaction under stirring condition, wherein an enzymatic reaction solution is obtained including the functional peptide; subjecting the enzymatic reaction solution to ultrafiltration using an ultrafiltration membrane; keeping the ultrafiltrated enzymatic reaction solution at a temperature between 70-80° C. or using ozonated water at a concentration between 20-25 mg/L thereby avoiding decomposition by microorganisms; and performing spray drying to obtain the functional peptide.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as hydroxy-carboxylic acids and hydroxy-carboxylic acid derivatives. A method includes treating a reduced recalcitrance lignocellulosic or cellulosic material with one or more enzymes and/or organisms (such as lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Rhizopus, Enterococcus) to produce an alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxycarboxylic acid (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid); and converting the alpha, beta, gamma and/or delta hydroxy-carboxylic acid to the product (such as esters, polymers, and copolymers).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for improving observed or determined efficacy by administration of agents to more severely diseased subjects, as contrasted with less severely diseased subjects. The present disclosure specifically demonstrates that, with respect to treatment of certain skin conditions, and particularly conditions associated with dysregulated and/or diseased skin cells, administration to more severely diseased subjects improves observed or determined efficacy.

Abstract: The present invention is methods and assays for identifying single proteins from a sample, without the use of affinity reagents. The methods and assays combine endopeptidase-based component of conventional peptide mapping with single molecule labeling and a microreactor array platform. The invention also includes kits for performing the methods and assays.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective and less invasive approach for direct delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including a step of administering intrathecally to a subject suffering from or susceptible to a lysosomal storage disease associated with reduced level or activity of a lysosomal enzyme, a composition comprising a replacement enzyme for the lysosomal enzyme.

Abstract: A device and method for the rapid on-site detection of inhibitors of enzymes, such as, acetylcholinesterase is described where the device contains 2 reaction zones containing a reporter enzyme substrate. One reaction zone is for the test sample while the other is for an onboard negative control. Sample and control fluids are preincubated with the enzyme in separate reaction containers, then an aliquot of each reaction mixture is added to designated reaction zones on the test device. A purpose-built reader or an illuminating device, such as, containing an incandescent light source, a diode, a UV light source or any other illumination source that is suitable for the reporter or mere visualization is used to determine the level of reporter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mass spectrometric method for determining microbial resistances to antibiotics. The invention provides specific methods comprising cultivation in synthetic media, in which several amino acids, preferably only a single amino acid, are isotopically labeled by incorporating 13C, 15N, 18O or 34S. If several amino acids are isotopically labeled, they are labeled in such a way that they are each heavier than the corresponding unlabeled amino acids by the same integer mass difference ?m. This ensures that the mass shifts of the peaks always amount to an integer multiple of the mass difference ?m. The total mass difference can be kept relatively small by selecting suitable amino acids. A mass shift of the protein peaks in media with antibiotics indicates that the microbes are resistant. A second embodiment first produces isotopically labeled microbes, which are then tested for their resistance by cultivating them in normal media.