Abstract: A method for producing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with introduced genes coding for xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase and with improved ethanol production, improved xylose conversion and reduced xylitol production is described. The method comprises culturing the cells in a repetitive batch series in a medium at a xylose concentration of about 15-25 g/l and at a temperature of about 28-32° C., and thereafter lowering the xylose concentration in at least one step at a temperature of about 28-32° C. to obtain an increased selection pressure for improved xylose fermentation, improved ethanol production and reduced xylitol production, and continuing the culturing of the cells in said repetitive batch series. Further, strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by the method according to the invention are described.

Abstract: Disinfection device for installation into a water dispenser having an accumulating reservoir for drinking water filled from an external source of drinking water, including a flow-through ozone-air mixture generator provided with an air pump for external air delivery via an air filter to the ozone-air mixture generator. An output of the ozone-air mixture generator is connected with a delivery pipeline for delivery of ozone-air mixture or air inside the delivery pipeline. An electromechanical ultrasonic frequency irradiator is mounted on the delivery pipeline to generate ultrasonic oscillations in the pipeline walls and in water filling the pipeline, and a program control unit controls operation of the ozone-air mixture generator, air pump and electromechanical irradiator for disinfection and cleaning of inner surfaces of the pipeline and water therein. A method for the disinfection of water dispensers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with introduced genes coding for xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase and with improved ethanol production, improved xylose conversion, reduced xylitol production and improved inhibitor tolerance is described. The method comprises culturing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a continuous mode with a medium comprising essentially only xylose as carbon source at a temperature of 25-38° C., preferably 30-35° C., and an airflow of 0.040-0.055 vvm, and increasing the dilution rate to maintain a constant cell level, said cell level being in the range of 1.5-3.0 determined by optical density or equivalent analytical means, and adding at least one inhibitor to the cells and gradually increasing the addition of said inhibitor. Further, strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by the method according to the invention are described.

Abstract: A device for heating and cooling, respectively, includes a heat pump (1), a first heat exchanger (2) arranged at a first side of the heat pump (1), which first heat exchanger (2) is thermally connected to a first heat carrier being circulated in a first loop (10), and a second heat exchanger (3) arranged at a second side of the heat pump (1), which second heat exchanger (3) is arranged to transfer thermal energy to or from a second heat carrier which is circulated in a second loop (20). The first (10) and the second (20) loops are interconnected by a conduit (4) so that the first loop (10), the second loop (20) and the conduit (4) together form a connected system, in which connected system one and the same heat carrier is arranged.

Abstract: A method for producing biogas by anaerobic digestion of organic matter may involve feeding organic matter suitable for biogas production to a first tank reactor, and in the first tank reactor, contacting the organic matter with biogas producing microorganisms for digestion under anaerobic conditions. The organic matter may be digested in the first tank reactor while producing biogas. The method may further involve providing digested sludge from an anaerobic digestion process in a second tank reactor, which differs from the first tank reactor, the digested sludge containing a desired composition of nutriments. The nutriments may be fed into the first tank reactor.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising at least one test channel, which test channel comprises an upper test channel section with an upstream end and a sampling region at its upstream end and at least one reference channel, which reference channel comprises an upper reference channel section with an upstream end and a sampling region at its upstream end. The test channel and the reference channel comprise a merging region downstream to the upper test channel section and a common downstream channel section. The merging region and the common downstream channel section are arranged such that a reference liquid flowing from the upper reference channel section into the merging region will block a test liquid flow in the upper test channel section when the test liquid flow has not yet reached the merging section. The microfluid device may be used for detecting change of flow properties e.g. due to agglomeration, agglutination or viscosity change in a liquid preferably selected from water, urine, blood, or blood plasma.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow through system for quantifying a target component in a liquid. The flow through system comprises a flow-through device comprising a flow path comprising a marker section, a capture section downstream to said marker section, and at least two quantification sections. The marker section comprises a non-immobilized marker. The capture section comprises a capture zone with an immobilized capture agent, and the at least two quantification sections comprise a pre-capture quantification section placed downstream to the marker section and up stream to the capture section, and a post-capture quantification section placed downstream to the capture section. The system further comprises a quantification unit for each of said quantification sections. The quantification unit(s) being arranged to quantify marker containing components and/or particles passing through said respective quantification sections.

Abstract: A sterilization system uses an ozone-air mixture for treatment of a water-intake finger and an air space of a water source bottle of a water dispenser in which the bottle is installed with its neck downwards for discharge. The system includes a cone for holding the bottle vertically, the water-intake finger for water delivery from the bottle into a reservoir, an ozone generator, and a control device. Two longitudinal channels in the water-intake finger separately deliver water from the bottle into the reservoir and ozone-air mixture delivery into the bottle. The water-intake finger has a preventive cup, to prevent air penetration into the bottle from the air space of the reservoir, having an inlet channel connected to the generator for ozone-air mixture delivery into the preventive cup during water off-take from the reservoir when water poured out of the bottle is replaced with the ozone-air mixture delivered from the generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis in an industrial scale. The microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system comprises at least one microwave generator; a chamber comprises: at least one feedstock inlet, at least one baffle plate, a microwave-transparent rotating window, and at least one microwave inlet, at least one wet gas outlet, and at least one dry end product outlet. The present invention also provides a method using the same system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for renovation and replacement of existing under-ground pipes and/or the installation of new pipes by using module pipes. The method comprises the step of screwing a second and further module pipe together with the first or consecutive module pipe, if the first or consecutive module pipe has mainly been pushed or pulled into the existing underground pipe.

Abstract: A method for increasing the presentation of ETEC CS6 antigen on cell surface, comprising the step of contacting cells expressing said antigen with an aqueous solution comprising 0.6-2.2 percent phenol by weight, such that the presentation of said antigen is increased by at least 100%. A method for the manufacture of a killed whole cell vaccine for immunization against CS6-expressing ETEC. Cells and vaccines obtainable by the above methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a L-arabinose utilizing yeast strain for the production of ethanol, whereby a yeast strain is modified by introducing and expressing araA gene (L-arabinose isomerase), araB gene (L-ribulokinase D121-N) and araD gene (L-ribulose-5-P 4-epimerase) and carrying additional mutations in its genome or overexpressing a TAL1 (transaldolase) gene, enabling it to consume L-arabinose, to use it as the only carbon source, and to produce ethanol, as well as a method for producing ethanol using such a modified strain.

Abstract: A disintegrating system for treatment of organic material may include multiple disintegrating units, each having an inlet for receiving material, and an outlet for outputting treated material. A first inlet of a first disintegrating unit may be configured to receive organic material, and a first feedback pipe may be connected between the outlet of the first disintegrating unit and the inlet of a second disintegrating unit. An outflow of the disintegrating system may be connected to the outlet of at least the first disintegrating unit, wherein the sum of the introduced material is available at the outflow.

Abstract: A method for producing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with introduced genes coding for xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase and with improved ethanol production, improved xylose conversion and reduced xylitol production is described. The method comprises culturing the cells in a repetitive batch series in a medium at a xylose concentration of about 15-25 g/l and at a temperature of about 28-32° C., and thereafter lowering the xylose concentration in at least one step at a temperature of about 28-32° C. to obtain an increased selection pressure for improved xylose fermentation,improved ethanol production and reduced xylitol production, and continuing the culturing of the cells in said repetitive batch series. Further, strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by the method according to the invention are described.

Abstract: A method for producing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with introduced genes coding for xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulokinase and with improved ethanol production, improved xylose conversion, reduced xylitol production and improved inhibitor tolerance is described. The method comprises culturing a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a continuous mode with a medium comprising essentially only xylose as carbon source at a temperature of 25-38° C., preferably 30-35° C., and an airflow of 0.040-0.055 vvm, and increasing the dilution rate to maintain a constant cell level, said cell level being in the range of 1.5-3.0 determined by optical density or equivalent analytical means, and adding at least one inhibitor to the cells and gradually increasing the addition of said inhibitor. Further, strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by the method according to the invention are described.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a flow channel with an inlet and a gas escape opening is described. The flow channel comprises a liquid flow channel section and a flow controlling section downstream to the liquid flow channel section and upstream to or coinciding with the gas escape opening. The flow controlling section provides a flow resistance to gas, which is sufficiently high to reduce velocity of a capillary flow of a liquid in the liquid flow channel section. The microfluidic device with the flow controlling section provides a device in which the velocity of the flow can be reduced to a desired level. Also is described a method of performing a test using the microfluidic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum sealable container system comprising a container and a lid assembly having a movable valve insert. The valve insert includes a vacuum indicator for informing the user when a vacuum is present in the container. The valve insert is pneumatically movable within a chamber by way of a pump assembly to open and close a fluid communication between the container and the exterior of the container to remove fluid to form the vacuum. The vacuum indicator collapses into an opening formed in the lid assembly to inform the user of the vacuum as well as reinforce the seal formed by the valve insert.