Abstract: Bioelectrochemical systems comprising a microbial fuel cell (MFC) or a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) are provided. Either type of system is capable of fermenting insoluble or soluble biomass, with the MFC capable of using a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) organism to also hydrolyze an insoluble biomass, and an electricigen to produce electricity. In contrast, the MEC relies on electricity input into the system, a fermentative organism and an electricigen to produce fermentative products such as ethanol and 1,3-propanediol from a polyol biomass (e.g., containing glycerol). Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: A microchannel device includes: an upstream channel portion configured to allow an upstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a downstream channel portion configured to allow a downstream liquid plug and a gas to flow therethrough; a liquid holding portion provided between a downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion and an upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the liquid holding portion being configured to hold a main liquid plug therein; and a gas bypass channel portion provided so as to bypass the liquid holding portion from the downstream end portion of the upstream channel portion to the upstream end portion of the downstream channel portion, the gas bypass channel portion being configured to allow the gas to flow therethrough in a state in which the liquid holding portion holds the main liquid plug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the remediation of contaminated solids and liquids. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to the bioremediation of solids and liquids by a composition comprising a biocatalyst or mixture of biocatalysts. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the bioremediation compositions and methods for applying the bioremediation compositions to contaminated sites, including treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, as well as various contaminated water sources, such as aquifers and reservoirs.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation. Hydrocarbon-containing materials are also used as feedstocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mass-spectrometric method to determine microbial resistances to antibiotics, in which the microbes are cultured in a medium comprising an antibiotic, and a mass spectrum of the microbes is acquired after they have been cultured. The method is characterized by the fact that any microbial growth taking place during the culture is mass-spectrometrically determined with the aid of a reference substance, which is added in a dosed amount and is co-measured in the mass spectrum, wherein a growth in microbes indicates the resistance to the antibiotic.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems that can provide independent energy generation as well as systems for the generation of other useful products, such as chemicals. In addition, the systems and methods can provide ways of harnessing the potential of biomass feedstock to generate of multitude of products including green crude, biogas, electricity, heat, fatty acids, biodiesel, ammonia, and chemical products. In many cases, the systems and methods herein utilize anaerobic microorganisms, including aquatic and ruminant organisms, to digest material and create products.

Abstract: Ear corn is picked from corn fields by ear corn harvesters and transported to a central shelling station associated with an ethanol manufacturing facility. Shelled corn from the central shelling station is processed into ethanol at the ethanol manufacturing facility, and corn cobs from the central shelling station are burned to provide process heat for the ethanol manufacturing process. Energy is conserved and costs are reduced during the picking and shelling of the ear corn and by the burning of cobs for process heat.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an electroporation method for treating vesicles with exogenous material for insertion of the exogenous material into the vesicles which includes the steps of: a. retaining a suspension of the vesicles and the exogenous material in a treatment volume in a chamber which includes electrodes, wherein the chamber has a geometric factor (cm.sup.?1) defined by the quotient of the electrode gap squared (cm.sup.2) divided by the chamber volume (cm.sup.3), wherein the geometric factor is less than or equal to 0.1 cm.sup.?1, wherein the suspension of the vesicles and the exogenous material is in a medium which is adjusted such that the medium has conductivity in a range spanning 50 microSiemens/cm to 500 microSiemens/cm, wherein the suspension is enclosed in the chamber during treatment, and b. treating the suspension enclosed in the chamber with one or more pulsed electric fields.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using encapsulated microbubbles to process biological samples are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for using encapsulated microbubbles to process a biological sample includes creating a mixture comprising encapsulated microbubbles mixed with a biological sample and adding activation energy to the mixture to cause at least some of the microbubbles to oscillate or burst and thereby process the sample, including effecting cell lysis, shearing DNA, and/or performing tissue dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention provides Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55 KCTC 11401BP, a composition for treating bowel disease containing the lactobacillus, and a composition for immunological enhancement containing the lactobacillus.

Abstract: The present invention provides Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP56 KCTC 11402BP, a composition containing the Lactobacillus for treating intestinal diseases, and a composition containing the Lactobacillus for enhancing immunity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a secreted fungal catalase, for hydrogen-peroxide neutralization in growth media for the detection of microorganisms as well as to a method for detecting microorganisms in hydrogen peroxide-bearing aerosol or on a hydrogen peroxide bearing surface, said method comprising contacting said aerosol or surface with a growth medium comprising a secreted fungal catalase, and detecting growth of microorganisms in said medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains as well as a composition containing the novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains or a culture thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains as well as a composition containing the novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains or a culture thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains as well as a composition containing the novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains or a culture thereof.

Abstract: Methods are provided for microbial electrosynthesis of H2 and organic compounds such as methane and acetate. Method of producing mature electrosynthetic microbial populations by continuous culture is also provided. Microbial populations produced in accordance with the embodiments as shown to efficiently synthesize H2, methane and acetate in the presence of CO2 and a voltage potential. The production of biodegradable and renewable plastics from electricity and carbon dioxide is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting xanthine oxidase and for reducing uric acid levels using a pharmaceutical composition or a food product obtained by culturing Gluconacetobacter hansenii or Acetobacter pasteurianus in a medium. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition and a food product that each include a metabolite of Gluconacetobacter hansenii or Acetobacter pasteurianus for reducing uric acid levels in a subject and methods for producing the pharmaceutical composition and the food product.

Abstract: Solubilizing compositions are provided that include a 3-(alkyl dimethyl ammonia) propane sulfonate zwitterionic surfactant and a polyethylene glycol alkyl ether nonionic surfactant, provided that the zwitterionic surfactant and the nonionic surfactant are not simultaneously and respectively 3-(decyl dimethyl ammonia) propane sulfonate and polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether. Also provided are methods for solubilizing cells and/or tissue of a subject in vivo and methods for recovering proteins from skin cells of a subject in vivo using the solubilizing compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains as well as a composition containing the novel Lactobacillus plantarum strains or a culture thereof.

Abstract: Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.