Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules, comprising a functional mammalian EGR-1 (early growth response protein 1) promoter region that is operatively linked to a gene encoding a fluorescent protein and controls expression of said gene. The present invention further relates to nucleic acid vectors, comprising said nucleic, cells comprising said nucleic acids or vectors, being capable of sensing and indicating fluid shear stress acting on themselves, and methods of generating the same. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods of evaluating fluid shear stress acting on cells in real-time during the operation of a biotechnological device or system, methods of evaluating a biotechnological device or system with respect to fluid shear stress acting on cells caused by operation of said device or system, and methods of designing a biotechnological device or system, said methods using said cells.

Abstract: Determining optimum operating binding capacity for a MCC process using one column, the process including N number of columns, comprises loading target product on a first column at a first residence time and/or flow rate; loading the product on the column at a second residence time and/or flow rate, the first residence time and/or flow rate being different than the second residence time and/or flow rate; generating a first breakthrough curve for the first residence time and/or flow rate and a second breakthrough curve for the second residence time and/or flow rate, wherein the first curve represents product breakthrough for the first column and the second curve represents product breakthrough for an Nth column; and using the curves to determine product loading capacity of the first column before product breakthrough at the Nth column; the product loading capacity of the first column equaling optimum operating binding capacity for the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved diatomaceous earth composition containing salt water. The diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention comprises an agglomerated mixture of calcined diatomaceous earth particles, water and at least one inorganic salt, wherein the mass ratio of the calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water is in the range of 1:1.0 to 1:2.0, and wherein the content of the at least one inorganic salt is equal to or more than 0.25 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of water. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention as an agent for precoat filtration or dynamic body feed filtration in biopharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A bioreactor (1; 2; 3) includes a receiving container (10) for receiving a disposable bag (44). A bottom surface (11) of the receiving container (10) is designed to support the disposable bag (44) in the receiving container (10). An outlet opening (5) is formed in the bottom surface (11) and tapers down with respect to the ground for receiving a drain port (45) of the disposable bag (44). The drain port is complementary to the outlet opening (5).

Abstract: An assembly is provided that comprises: a valve cassette block (20) comprising a plurality of valves (25) which are controllable via a control surface (24) of the valve cassette block (20); a valve control block (10) having an operation surface (11), the valve control block (10) being configured to control each of the plurality of valves when the operation surface (11) is in close contact with the control surface (24) of the valve cassette block (20) in an operation position; at least one swiveling door (30) hinged to the valve control block (20) such that an open state of the swiveling door (30) allows arranging the valve cassette block (20) into the operation position with its control surface (24) arranged at the operation surface (11) of the valve control block, while a closed position of the swiveling door (30) is configured to hold the valve cassette block (20) in the operation position with an inner surface of the swiveling door (30) abutting a rear surface (26) of the valve cassette block (20) oppos

Abstract: An analysis container includes an outer tube and a plurality of inner tubes. The outer tube defines a buffer volume that is configured to receive a buffer material. The plurality of inner tubes is disposed within the buffer volume. Each inner tube has an inner diameter equal to or less than 6 mm and is configured to receive a biopharmaceutical composition therein. The outer tube is configured such that the buffer material and the biopharmaceutical composition are axially frozen.

Abstract: An organizer assembly including a belt and a ribbon. The ribbon has a first clamp member, a second clamp member, and a first carrier portion. The first clamp member is configured to receive a conduit or a support to fix the conduit or the support relative to the ribbon. The belt includes an elongated body that is slidably received in the first carrier portion. The organizer assembly may include one or more adapters that are received in a respective clamp member of the ribbon and configured to receive a conduit or a support to fix the conduit or support relative to the ribbon.

Abstract: A sealed airflow system suitable for use with a sample shaker assembly. The sealed airflow system includes at least one component which accommodates movement of the sample shaker assembly while maintaining an air tight assembly between components of the sealed air flow system. A compliant sliding seal compensates for movement of the sample shaker assembly with regard to an air intake side of the sealed airflow control system. Additionally, a flexible conduit provides an air tight passage between an outlet of the sealed airflow control system and an exhaust port. The flexible conduit compensates for movement of the sample shaker assembly in a manner that does not permit unwanted airflow into or out of sealed airflow control system.

Abstract: A clamp for closing a flexible tube includes an anvil and a hammer. The anvil includes a passage and a slot defined therein. The passage is configured to receive a flexible tube therethrough. The hammer is slidably received within the slot of the anvil. The hammer is securable in a first position in which the passage of the anvil is substantially unoccluded and a second position in which the passage of the anvil is occluded. The hammer and the anvil are configured to prevent fluid from flowing through the flexible tube received in the passage when the hammer is in the closed position. The hammer is substantially within the anvil in the closed position.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images of a biological specimen using a computational model is described, the method including processing a cell image of the biological specimen and a phase contrast image of the biological specimen using the computational model to generate an output data. The cell image is a composite of a first brightfield image of the biological specimen at a first focal plane and a second brightfield image of the biological specimen at a second focal plane. The method also includes performing a comparison of the output data and a reference data and refining the computational model based on the comparison of the output data and the reference data. The method also includes thereafter processing additional image pairs according to the computational model to further refine the computational model based on comparisons of additional output data generated by the computational model to additional reference data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for biotechnological applications (1, 101), comprising an improved holder system (4) with at least one carrier (10) for the mounting of components (5) of the installation (1, 101) on the installation (1, 101). The carrier (10), which comprises a frame (12) with two arms (14) and with a recess (16) and includes a deformable element (30) with at least two fastening sections (32), which may be understood to have a flat base (20) by which the carrier (10) can be fastened to the installation (1, 101). The deformable element (30) is designed to assume the following states: a receiving state AUZ, in which the deformable element (30) is available for receiving a component (5) of the installation (1, 101); and a locking state ARZ.

Abstract: Techniques for predicting an amount of at least one biomaterial produced or consumed by a biological system in a bioreactor are provided. Process conditions and metabolite concentrations are measured for the biological system as a function of time. Metabolic rates for the biological system, including specific consumption rates of metabolites and specific production rates of metabolites are determined. The process conditions and the metabolic rates are provided to a hybrid system model configured to predict production of the biomaterial. The hybrid system model includes a kinetic growth model configured to estimate cell growth as a function of time and a metabolic condition model based on metabolite specific consumption or secretion rates and select process conditions, wherein the metabolic condition model is configured to classify the biological system into a metabolic state. An amount of the biomaterial based on the hybrid system model is predicted.

Abstract: A bioreactor system for receiving a disposable bioreactor bag comprises a receiving container having a container wall which defines a receiving space in which the disposable bioreactor bag is received in an operating state of the bioreactor system. A stirring system projects at least partially into the receiving space and is designed and configured to stir a biomedium present in the disposable bioreactor bag in the operating state of the bioreactor system. At least one baffle, which makes the receiving space smaller and differs from the container wall, serves to reduce a laminar flow of the biomedium. A temperature control medium flows through at least part of the at least one baffle, said temperature control medium controlling the temperature of the baffle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically imaging and analyzing cell samples in an incubator. An actuated microscope operates to generate images of samples within wells of a sample container across days, weeks, or months. A plurality of images is generated for each scan of a particular well, and the images within such a scan are used to image and analysis metabolically active cells in the well. Tins analysis includes generating a “range image” by subtracting the minimum intensity value, across the scan, for each pixel from the maximum intensity value. This range image thus emphasizes cells or portions of cells that exhibit changes in activity over a scan period (e.g., neurons, myocytes, cardiomyocytes) while de-emphasizing regions that exhibit consistently high intensities when images (e.g., regions exhibiting a great deal of autofluorescence unrelated to cell activity).

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising: a sheet of flexible film material folded along a longitudinal direction to bring edges of the sheet together, the edges being sealed to form a longitudinal rear seam; a first end of the folded sheet is sealed by a first end seam, and a second end of the folded sheet is sealed by a second end seam to form a space for items, wherein said space is defined by the sealed ends and a side wall formed of the folded sheet; an opening initiation point in one of the end seams, the opening initiation point configured to provide a point for initiating tearing of the flexible film material to form an opening; a tear control element configured to guide tearing initiated from the initiation point along a longitudinal direction, from the first end seam to the second end seam and across the sidewall, upon applying a tearing force.

Abstract: A fluid processing system includes a fluid processing unit and a tubing arrangement providing fluid flow to and from the fluid processing unit. The tubing arrangement includes one or more flow cells and the fluid processing unit is selected from a unit comprising a single use tangential flow filtration mobile skid and a unit comprising a device for chromatographic separation. Each one of the flow cells includes a body having an inlet and an outlet and a fluid flow channel extending from the inlet to the outlet of the body.

Abstract: A biocontainer including a rigid frame and a flexible membrane. The frame includes a lattice core. The membrane may flex to adjust to a volume of biomaterial sealed within the interior of the biocontainer as a temperature of the biomaterial changes.

Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for mounting a device on a manipulator, wherein a second unit is adjustably attached to a first unit so that it is movable in at least one direction with respect to the base plate and wherein the first unit has at least a locked position and an open position, the mounting rail being movable with respect to the first unit when the first unit is in the open position and wherein the mounting rail is fixed with respect to the first unit when the first unit is in the closed position.

Abstract: An organizer assembly including a belt and a ribbon. The ribbon has a first clamp member, a second clamp member, and a first carrier portion. The first clamp member is configured to receive a conduit or a support to fix the conduit or the support relative to the ribbon. The belt includes an elongated body that is slidably received in the first carrier portion. The organizer assembly may include one or more adapters that are received in a respective clamp member of the ribbon and configured to receive a conduit or a support to fix the conduit or support relative to the ribbon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and reagents for determining immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) antibody isotype concentration from biological samples, and for analyzing a plurality of cell samples for IgG antibody production.