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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to disposing of waste in a safe manner by supplying an apparatus with a sealing system configured to only apply a seal to an elongated tube of material when several conditions are met, wherein the conditions indicate that the apparatus is in a safe configuration for applying the seal. The apparatus includes a push switch for sensing when the lid has been closed, and another push switch for sensing when a bin has been locked in the apparatus. Thus, when the lid and bin are closed and locked, a child cannot reach into the apparatus and the seal can be applied safely without fear of burning a child.

Abstract: A method to determine a position of a piston reciprocating inside a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder between a first end position and a second end position, with the piston parting the cylinder in first and second chambers, and with at least one of the chambers at least partly filled with a fluid. The method includes the steps of driving a wheel structure of a hydraulic motor or a pneumatic motor by the force of the fluid led to or from the first or second chamber, driving a shaft encoder by the hydraulic motor or the pneumatic motor, measuring at least one parameter corresponding to a rotation or an angular displacement of the wheel structure using the shaft encoder, and calculating the position of the piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethanol producing microbial strain, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, being able to grow and produce ethanol from lignocellulosic hydrolysates comprising growth inhibiting compounds of the group furfural and 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, in a batch, fed-batch or continuous fermentation, said microbial strain being tolerant to such inhibiting compounds, which strain is upregulated and/or over expressed with regard to one or more of the following genes: LAT1, ALD6, ADH5, ADH6, GDH3, OYE3, SER3, GND2, MDH2, IDP3, ADH7, AAD15, ERG27, HMG1, LYS5, SPS19, SGE1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ethanol producing microbial strain, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, being able to grow and produce ethanol from lignocellulosic hydrolysates comprising growth inhibiting compounds of the group furfural and 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, in a batch, fed-batch or continuous fermentation, said microbial strain being tolerant to such inhibiting compounds, which strain is upregulated and/or over expressed with regard to one or more of the following genes: LAT1, ALD6, ADH5, ADH6, GDH3, OYE3, SER3, GND2, MDH2, IDP3, ADH7, AAD15, ERG27, HMG1, LYS5, SPS19, SGE1.

Abstract: A S. cerevisiae strain expressing both arabinose and xylose utilization pathways, and in particular to a S. cerevisiae strain fermenting both arabinose and xylose to ethanol, and more particularly a S. cerevisiae strain with overexpression or upregulation of xylose- or aldose reductase (XR, AR) with xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) together with overexpression or upregulation of genes forming an arabinose utilization pathway. The invention encompasses both laboratory and industrial strain having these properties.

Abstract: Heat pump assembly for seasonal balancing of temperatures in buildings, includes a heat pump (1) having a cold side and a warm side, respectively. The heat exchangers (2, 3) are connected to the cold and the warm side, respectively, in that one of the heat exchangers (3) is connected to a heating/cooling element (4), in that the other heat exchanger (2) is connected to a heat/cold buffer (6), in that the heat pump (1) is of the type liquid-liquid, and in that a valve assembly (7) is arranged in the heat pump (1) to optionally connect the warm or cold side of the heat pump (1) to the heating/cooling element (4), whereby the heating/cooling element (4) optionally may heat or cool.

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: Device for heating and cooling, respectively, more than one house, where at least two small houses (1) are connected to a common energy storage (2) in the ground and where a control device (3) is arranged to transport a heat carrier in a pipe work (4) connected to the energy storage (2). The small houses (1) are each arranged to have a separate respective heat pump device, and in each heat pump device is connected to the pipe work (4), so that, firstly, the heat carrier can flow through the heat pump device and, secondly, the small houses (1) are connected in parallel in relation to each other to the pipe work (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a registration sign for vehicles, where the registration sign (2) comprises a sign package (38) consisting of individual plastic film sections (6a, 9a), a bottom sheet (18) and a front panel (12), and also comprises a frame (21) which surrounds the sign package. According to the invention, the registration sign (2) comprises in addition at least one transponder (50) for receiving and/or transmitting radio signals and the transponder (50) is embedded in the frame (21). The present invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a registration sign whereby at least one transponder (50) is fastened on and/or in the sign package (38) for the registration sign (2) and the transponder 50 is embedded in the frame (21) when the latter is injection-molded round the edges of the sign package (38).

Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic system comprising a microfluidic device having a first and a second opposite surfaces and an optical detector, the microfluidic device comprises a flow channel with a detection channel section having a length of at least about 1 mm, the microfluidic device comprises at least one aperture section comprising at least a part of said detection channel section and a transparent window into said detection channel section, the optical detector is arranged to be in optical communication with said aperture section to determining at least one optical property of said aperture section as a function of time. The flow channel may have capillary dimensions and/or it may wholly or fully be arranged to drive a fluid flow by applying external forces.

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: 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: Heat pump assembly for seasonal balancing of temperatures in buildings, includes a heat pump (1) having a cold side and a warm side, respectively. The heat exchangers (2, 3) are connected to the cold and the warm side, respectively, in that one of the heat exchangers (3) is connected to a heating/cooling element (4), in that the other heat exchanger (2) is connected to a heat/cold buffer (6), in that the heat pump (1) is of the type liquid-liquid, and in that a valve assembly (7) is arranged in the heat pump (1) to optionally connect the warm or cold side of the heat pump (1) to the heating/cooling element (4), whereby the heating/cooling element (4) optionally may heat or cool.