Abstract: The invention relates to the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for a bacteria to grow anaerobically (fermentatively) on a glycerol substrate. The method requires culturing bacteria having a functional 1,2-propanediol pathway and a functional type II glycerol dehydrogenase-dihydroxyacetone kinase pathway in a culture medium containing high concentrations of glycerol, a neutral to mildly acidic pII, low levels of potassium and phosphate, and high levels of CO2, such that glycerol is thus converted into a desirable product, such as ethanol, hydrogen, formate, succinate, or 1,2-propanediol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of making non-spherical nanoparticles that includes (a) combining a source of a Group 12, 13, 14, or 15 metal or metalloid; a source of a Group 15 or 16 element; and a source of a quaternary ammonium compound or phosphonium compound; and (b) isolating non-spherical nanoparticles from the resulting reaction mixture. Other embodiments of the invention provide non-spherical nanoparticle compositions, that are the reaction product of a source of a Group 12, 13, 14, or 15 metal or metalloid; a source of a Group 15 or 16 element; and a source of a quaternary ammonium compound or phosphonium compound; wherein nanoparticle tetrapods comprise 75-100 number percent of the nanoparticle products.

Abstract: This invention relates to biomass pyrolysis through the use of a hot liquid refinery feedstock as a heat transfer medium, preferably a vacuum gas oil feedstock.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for removing contaminants from a fluid stream and chemically upgrading the stream at the same time. More particularly, the invention relates to a catalytic moving bed filter for removing contaminants from a gas or vapor stream and to compositions comprising both moving bed filter materials and one or more catalysts intimately admixed therewith.

Abstract: A rectal balloon apparatus has a shaft with a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A balloon is affixed over an end of the shaft such that the fluid passageway communicates with an interior of the balloon. The balloon has a laterally flat surface thereon when inflated. The laterally flat surface of the balloon has a longitudinal groove formed thereon. A valve assembly is affixed to the shaft at an end opposite the balloon. The valve assembly selectively allows a fluid to pass therethrough to move the balloon from a non-inflated condition to an inflated condition. A fluid introducing means is removably attached to the valve assembly to introduce the fluid into the valve assembly.

Abstract: A protein fragment complementation assay for thermophiles is provided wherein a thermophilic bacteria having a temperature-sensitive adenylate kinase is transformed with one or more vectors having sequences encoding a first test peptide operatively fused to a first portion of a thermostable adenylate and a second test peptide operatively fused to a second portion of the thermostable adenylate kinase. Association of the first and second test peptides allows association of the first and second portions of the thermostable adenylate kinase and growth of the thermophilic bacteria at a temperature greater than 70° C.

Abstract: A method of producing biological products using bacteria with an inactivated ptsHI and wild type err and no added glucose transport activity and which consumes nearly all glucose in the media is described. The ?ptsHI bacteria produce large quantities of recombinant protein without producing significant amounts of acetate. The bacteria grow well on standard LB broth without additional supplementation.

Abstract: New and useful compounds C. roseus cultured hairy roots are provided, by Isolating flavone glycosides together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This is accomplished by immersing powdered the hairy roots in methanol to produce an extract, concentrating the extract, resuspending the extract in water, extracting the compound with organic solvent, and isolating the compound from the organic solvent.

Abstract: An external immobilizer for cancer treatment has a foot section with at least one inflatable bladder therein, a knee section connected to an end of the foot section, a pelvic section connected to an end of the knee section opposite the foot section, and an inflation device. The knee section has an elevated surface thereon. The pelvic section has at least one inflatable bladder cooperative with a surface thereof. The inflation device is cooperative with the foot section and the pelvic section and is used to selectively inflate the bladders of the foot section and the pelvic section.

Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of polyketides in Actinomycetes by overexpression of pantothenate kinase and supplementation with pantothenic acid. This results in increasing in vivo CoA production and thereby drives increased production of secondary metabolites, such as polyketides.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of appropriate cultivation conditions for a bacteria to grow anaerobically (fermentatively) on a glycerol substrate. The method requires culturing bacteria having a functional 1,2-propanediol pathway and a functional type II glycerol dehydrogenase-dihydroxyacetone kinase pathway in a culture medium containing high concentrations of glycerol, a neutral to mildly acidic pH, low levels of potassium and phosphate, and high levels of CO2, such that glycerol is thus converted into a desirable product, such as ethanol, hydrogen, formate, succinate, or 1,2-propanediol.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for nucleic acid analysis includes a monolithic semiconductor body (13), a microfluidic circuit (10), at least partially accommodated in the monolithic semiconductor body (13), and a micropump (11). The microfluidic circuit (10) includes a sample preparation channel (18) formed on the monolithic semiconductor body (13) and at least one microfluidic channel (20, 22) buried in the monolithic semiconductor body (13). The micropump (11), includes a plurality of sealed chambers (40) provided with respective openable sealing elements (41) and having a first pressure therein that is different from a second pressure in the microfluidic circuit (10). In addition, the micropump (11) and the microfluidic circuit (10) are configured so that opening the openable sealing elements (41) provides fluidic coupling between the respective chambers (40) and the microfluidic circuit (10). The openable sealing elements (41) are integrated in the monolithic semiconductor body (13).

Abstract: A biological molecule detection device that includes a detection array, arranged on a body and having one or more probes for detecting corresponding electrically charged molecules, wherein a time varying electric field generating circuit is provided for generating at least one time varying electric field around the detection array within the detection region. The time varying electric field moves the electrical charged molecules repeatedly back and forth over the probes, thus providing increased opportunities for interaction and speeding the detection process.

Abstract: We have shown that the control of solventogenesis and sporulation can be genetically uncoupled in C. acetobutylicum. In strain 824(pASspo), the absence of SpoIIE causes sporulation to be blocked at stage II. The cell remains in a vegetative state, and this allows solvent production to proceed for longer and for solvents to accumulate more rapidly and to a higher concentration. The characteristic drop in OD600 observed in wild type and control strains of C. acetobutylicum after 48-72 hours as the cells transition from the solventogenic phase to sporulation is notably absent in the fermentations of 824(pASspo). Mutant S (wild type background, spoIIE disrupted), Mutant BS (Mutant B background, spoIIE disrupted), Mutant HS (Mutant H background, spoIIE disrupted) and Mutant bukS (buk- background, spoIIE disrupted) were generated to create stable solvent producing bacteria with complete inactivation of the SpoIIE protein. Similarity between the SpoIIE protein of C. acetobutylicum, B.

Abstract: A rectal balloon apparatus has a shaft with a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A balloon is affixed over an end of the shaft such that the fluid passageway communicates with an interior of the balloon. The balloon has a laterally flat surface thereon when inflated. The laterally flat surface of the balloon has a longitudinal groove formed thereon. The balloon having a pair of bulges formed thereon when the balloon is inflated. A ring is affixed to the shaft adjacent the balloon. The shaft has a plurality of holes formed thereon opening to an interior of the balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to internally provide apertures inside polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), or any polymeric pie, plastic pipe-riser (blank casing) in existing landfill gas recovery wells (extraction wells) that have been installed at Municipal Solid Waste Facilities are described. By creating additional apertures in landfill gas recovery well risers, landfill gas derived from the decomposition of waste is allowed to enter the existing riser and extraction/recovery system. This process saves time and cost associated with drilling additional wells to capture landfill gas from subsequent layers of the waste body. The process assists in maintaining regulatory compliance by capturing landfill gas and preventing it from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A plurality of planar electrodes (5) in a microchannel (4) is used for separation, lysis and PCR in a chip (10). Cells from a sample are brought to the electrodes (5). Depending on sample properties, phase pattern, frequency and voltage of the electrodes and flow velocity are chosen to trap target cells (16) using DEP, whereas the majority of unwanted cells (17) flushes through. After separation the target cell (16) are lysed while still trapped. Lysis is carried out by applying RF pulses and/or thermally so as to change the dielectric properties of the trapped cells. After lysis, the target cells (16) are amplified within the microchannel (4), so as to obtain separation, lysis and PCR on same chip (1).

Abstract: A microreactor includes a shell structure (2, 3), having a bottom wall (2) and a peripheral wall (3); a layer (5), accommodated in the shell structure (2, 3) and having cavities (9, 10) formed therein, the cavities being accessible form outside the shell structure (2, 3); reagents (17), arranged between the bottom wall (2) and the layer (5), at locations corresponding to the cavities (9, 10). The layer (5) is made of a meltable material that is solid at room temperature, has a melting point (TMP) lower than a maximum operative temperature (TMAX) required by reactions performable through the microreactor (1) and is not miscible with water. The melting point (TMP) may be between 50° C. and 70° C. In one embodiment, the melting point (TMP) is lower than a minimum operative temperature (TMIN) required by reactions performable through the microreactor (1).

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition comprising a hybrid composite organic-inorganic membrane. The hybrid organic-inorganic membrane according to the present invention may comprise an amorphous porous layer incorporating organic functionalities. The amorphous porous layer may be deposited on a porous alumina substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The amorphous porous layer may comprise a single top-layer (STL), multiple top-layers (MTL) or mixed top-layers (XTL). The substrate may comprise a single layer or multiple graded layers of alumina.

Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.