Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatuses, and kits for producing ethanol and other alcohols. The methods involve fermenting organic material in a fermentation mixture to a biogas comprising methane; converting at least a portion of the biogas to synthesis gas comprising CO and H2; and contacting at least a portion of the synthesis gas with a catalyst to produce alcohol. In some embodiments, a microorganism that reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron is included in the fermentation mixture to enhance the efficiency of the fermentation and the yield of alcohol.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to decrease emission of carbon dioxide from combustion of fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons and to enhance the efficiency of methane production from anaerobic biodigesters. The invention involves feeding carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas of hydrocarbon fuel combustion to an anaerobic biodigester where biomass is anaerobically fermented to produce methane. Carbon dioxide is an electron acceptor for anaerobic fermentation, and thus some of the carbon dioxide is reduced to methane, which can again be used for fuel. In this way, at least a portion of the exhaust gas CO2 is recycled to form fuel methane instead of being released into the atmosphere. Thus, the net CO2 emission from burning a given amount of fossil fuel is decreased. Adding carbon dioxide to an anaerobic fermentation also increases the efficiency and amount of methane production in the fermentation.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing hydrogen and methane gases by microbial fermentation. The process involves a first reactor in which a fermentation produces hydrogen and a liquid effluent. The liquid effluent is fermented in a second reactor to produce methane. The ratio of hydrogen to methane produced is adjusted by adjusting the liquid volume of the first reactor.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated p49/STRAP protein, and isolated nucleic acids encoding a p49/STRAP protein. The inventors have discovered a new protein, named p49/STRAP that is expressed in cardiac tissue and other tissues in mammals. The p49/STRAP protein binds to serum response factor (SRF) and regulates transcription of SRF-responsive genes in the heart. p49/STRAP is also discovered to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and thus the invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation by contacting the cells with p49/STRAP.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of collecting biogas from a landfill that results in more complete collection of biogas produced in the landfill, and with less contamination with air. The method involves providing the landfill with an upper gas containment layer near the surface of the landfill to retard biogas escape and air entrainment into the landfill. Underneath the gas containment layer is provided a gas-permeable conductive layer. Underneath the conductive layer, a well withdraws biogas from the landfill. Withdrawal of biogas from the well creates a partial vacuum that draws gas from the gas-permeable conductive layer down through the waste mass to the well. If the rate of gas withdrawal from the well is too rapid, air will be entrained from the atmosphere into the gas-permeable conductive layer. But if the rate of gas withdrawal from the well is too slow, biogas may percolate through the gas-containment layer and the surface of the landfill to escape.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of detecting bacteria in fluids, including blood, platelets and other blood products for transfusion, and urine. The methods are based on lysing the bacteria to release ATP and detecting the ATP. Eukaryotic cell contamination is a problem to be overcome, because eukaryotic cell contain large amounts of ATP. Thus, some of the methods involve separating intact eukaryotic cells (e.g., platelets) from intact bacterial cells before lysing the bacterial cells to release ATP, contacting the ATP with an ATP-consuming enzyme that catalyzes a reaction, and monitoring the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Typically, the enzyme is luciferin, and the reaction is monitored by detecting light produced by the luciferin. Other methods of the invention involve contacting a fluid sample with a support surface that binds bacterial cells, lysing the bacterial cells to release ATP, contacting the ATP with an ATP-consuming enzyme, and monitoring the enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated p49/STRAP protein, and isolated nucleic acids encoding a p49/STRAP protein. The inventors have discovered a new protein, named p49/STRAP that is expressed in cardiac tissue and other tissues in mammals. The p49/STRAP protein binds to serum response factor (SRF) and regulates transcription of SRF-responsive genes in the heart. p49/STRAP is also discovered to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and thus the invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation by contacting the cells with p49/STRAP.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of collecting biogas from a landfill that results in more complete collection of biogas produced in the landfill, and with less contamination with air. The method involves providing the landfill with an upper gas containment layer near the surface of the landfill to retard biogas escape and air entrainment into the landfill. Underneath the gas containment layer is provided a gas-permeable conductive layer. Underneath the conductive layer, a well withdraws biogas from the landfill. Withdrawal of biogas from the well creates a partial vacuum that draws gas from the gas-permeable conductive layer down through the waste mass to the well. If the rate of gas withdrawal from the well is too rapid, air will be entrained from the atmosphere into the gas-permeable conductive layer. But if the rate of gas withdrawal from the well is too slow, biogas may percolate through the gas-containment layer and the surface of the landfill to escape.

Abstract: A E. coli recombinant plasmid expressing a fusion protein having the human erythropoietin receptor extracellular domain is disclosed. A purified fusion protein produced from such a vector is also disclosed, the fusion protein having a cleavage site suitable for separating the erythropoietin receptor extracellular domain from the remainder of the fusion protein. Antibodies having specific binding affinity for a purified extracellular domain polypeptide are also disclosed. The purified human erythropoietin receptor fragment polypeptide binds erythropoietin. The articles, compositions and methods of the invention are useful for studying ligand binding to erythropoietin receptor and for quantitating the amounts of erythropoietin receptor, as well as for understanding receptor structure and signal transduction.