Abstract: The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried bacteria, in particular Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in food industry or in human or animal health applications.

Abstract: A method of treating neurodegenerative diseases using hUCB plasma is presented herein. hUCB plasma attenuated the hyperactive response (Group III) and potentiated the normal response in Group I ALS patients, but did not alter that of the non-responders to PHA (Group II). The elevated activity of caspase 3/7 observed in the MNCs from ALS patients was significantly reduced by hUCB plasma treatment. The ability of hUCB plasma to modulate the mitogen cell response and reduce caspase activity suggest that the use of hUCB plasma alone, or with stem cells, may prove useful as a therapeutic in ALS patients. hUCB plasma was shown to increase therapeutic efficacy of MNCs as well as decrease apoptosis of MNCs. The cytokine profile of hUCB plasma supports its usefulness as a sole therapeutic as well as an additive to MNCs.

Abstract: A microbiological testing device for testing a liquid to be analysed that is liable to contain at least one microorganism, includes a closed inner space, a microbiological filtration member and an inlet port. The device has a nutritive layer in contact with the filtration member, and in that, in a configuration for providing the device an open/close member of the inlet port is in a closed state; the absolute gas pressure inside the closed inner space is strictly less than the standard atmospheric pressure, such that the device is able to create suction through the inlet port during a first opening of the open/close member.

Abstract: Medical instrument includes a substrate, in which cells are in contact with or held on a surface of the substrate, and at least the surface of the substrate which holds the cells is formed of a fluorine-containing cyclic olefin polymer which contains a repeating structure unit represented by Formula (1), wherein in Formula (1), at least one of R1 to R4 is fluorine, an alkyl with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, an alkoxy with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, or an alkoxyalkyl with 2 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, R1 to R4 are selected from hydrogen and certain non-fluorinated groups when R1 to R4 do not contain fluorine, R1 to R4 may be the same as or different from each other, and R1 to R4 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure.

Abstract: Transfer of genetic and other materials to cells is conducted in a hands-free, automated and continuous process that includes flowing the cells between electroporation electrodes to facilitate delivery of a payload into the cells, while acoustophoretically focusing the cells. Also described is a control method for the acoustophoretic focusing of cells that includes detecting locations of cells flowing through a channel, such as with an image analytics system, and modulating a drive signal to an acoustic transducer to change the locations of the cells flowing in the channel. Finally, an electroporation driver module is described that uses a digital to analog converter for generating an electroporation waveform and an amplifier for amplifying the electroporation waveform for application to electroporation electrodes.

Abstract: The present application discloses a cell culture media for growth, maintenance and induction of reversion to a less mature state of a cell comprising a MUC1* activating ligand.

Abstract: Methods to form a surface coating and surface pattern, which are based on adsorption of hydrocarbon chains that can be used with imaging optics to visualize macrophage fusion and multinucleated giant cell formation with living specimens are described.

Abstract: An aqueous storage solution for the storage of red blood cells, comprising an aqueous solution and at least one lipid, wherein the at least one lipid is effective in suppressing hemolysis in red blood cells and wherein the at least one lipid is emulsified within the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A nasal composition is provided comprising or consisting of a first composition part in the form of a liquid for nasal application to a patient in use, and a second composition part in the form of a powder for nasal application to the patient in use. The first and second composition parts are applied to the patient separately or together as required.

Abstract: A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.

Abstract: Described herein are engineered organelles comprising multi-component proteins from different species incorporated into a membrane structure with interior and exterior aspects. In one embodiment the artificial organelle incorporates one or more protein complexes that absorb optical energy and catalyze electron transfer in biochemical reactions that can be used to reduce NAD+ to NADH or analogues thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to compositions and methods for the detection of zinc. In particular, compositions and methods are provided to detect changes in cellular zinc concentration and to correlate them to cellular phenomena.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of cultivating microalgae and a joint method of same jointed with denitration. During the microalgae cultivation, EM bacteria is added into the microalgae suspension. In the nutrient stream for cultivating microalgae, at least one of the nitrogen source, phosphorus source and carbon source is provided in the form of a nutrient salt. During the cultivation, the pH of the microalgae suspension is adjusted with nitric acid and/or nitrous acid. The joint method includes (1) a step of cultivating microalgae; (2) a separation step of separating a microalgae suspension obtained from step (1) into a wet microalgae (microalgae biomass) and a residual cultivation solution; and (3) a NOx absorbing/immobilizing step of denitrating an industrial waste gas with the residual cultivation solution obtained from step (2). The nutrient stream absorbed with NOx obtained from step (3) is used to provide nitrogen source to the microalgae cultivation of step (1).

Abstract: Therapeutic methods for administering gut microbiota and oncolytic viruses to a subject are provided. The gut microbiota serve to pre-condition, the subject's immune system to antitumor responses and augments anticancer activity of the oncolytic vims. Combinations of the gut. microbiota and viruses and uses thereof for treating and preventing cancer are provided. The present disclosure also provides methods for building elite responder selection platforms through hierarchical clustering analysis of genomic profiles for human gut microbiome.

Abstract: Described herein are molded dehydrated placental tissue compositions, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compositions have numerous medical applications. Methods for making and using the molded dehydrated placental tissue compositions are also described herein.

Abstract: A method for producing a partially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material is provided including treating a lignocellulosic material with an acid and/or an alkali and then a polyol. Also provided are methods of producing a fermentable sugar, or a fermentable sugar and a fermentation product from said partially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material. A partially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material, a fermentable sugar, and fermentation product produced by such methods are also provided. Also provided is an apparatus for producing a partially hydrolysed lignocellulosic material, such as by the aforementioned method.

Abstract: The specification describes an improved serum-free animal cell culture medium, which can used for the production of a protein of interest. Ornithine, or a combination of ornithine and putrescine can be added to serum-free media or chemically defined media to improve viable cell density, to reduce cell doubling time, and to increase the production of a protein of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to human facilitating cells (hFC), and methods of isolating, characterizing, and using such hFCs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for growing vegetation are provided. The disclosed systems (100) and methods (1100, 1200) use rotating growth mats (102) and a cutting device (112). The rotating growth mats and cutting device can be coupled to an anaerobic digester (402) to generated methane gas using vegetation grown on the growth mats. The systems and methods may further use C artificial light sources (108) and a nutrients delivery system (110) to assist growth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method of a cell aggregate containing an anterior eye segment tissue or a partial structure thereof, or a precursor tissue thereof, including culturing pluripotent stem cell aggregates in suspension in the presence of a bone morphogenic factor signal transduction pathway activating substance to induce self-organization of an anterior eye segment tissue or a partial structure thereof, or a precursor tissue thereof. In one embodiment, the bone morphogenic factor signal transduction pathway activating substance is BMP4. In one embodiment, the suspension culture is performed entirely or partially in the presence of a fibroblast growth factor. The produced cell aggregate can further contain a neural retinal tissue.