Abstract: The invention relates to a method to determine drug resistance in microbes. The method relates to measuring the drug resistance conferring protein by mass spectrometry. The mass spectrum acquired provides information whether an drug resistance conferring protein is present and information on the type of drug resistance conferring protein, on mutations of the drug resistance conferring protein as well as on the expression level of this protein.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to assay methods and kits for detecting resistance of any enzyme to its inhibitor due to functional alteration of the enzyme, comprising, conducting two or more reactions with two or more reagent mixes optionally containing substrates for the enzyme. The mixes are substantially similar, except that one contains no enzyme inhibitor whereas the others contain an enzyme inhibitor being tested for resistance. The ratio of the signal from the reaction with an inhibitor to that from a reaction without an inhibitor is used to indicate whether the enzyme is resistant to the enzyme inhibitor and also determine the susceptibility or resistance of the enzyme to various inhibitors and further identify enzyme variants. Embodiments further relate to assay methods comprising only two reactions—one conducted in a mix containing the inhibitor and the other without the inhibitor. Further included are devices for conducting such assays.

Abstract: Described are compositions of matter, protocols, and treatment means for induction of immune mediated killing in dogs suffering from cancer. The invention provides means of extracting peripheral blood from a canine patient, expanding immunocytes capable of killing cancer cells in vitro, and re-administering said immunocytes into a patient in need of therapy. In one embodiment, immunocytes expanded are T cells possessing tumor cytotoxic activity induced by stimulation of NKG2D.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of treating or preventing respiratory condition and/or for treating an IgE-mediated allergy and/or for reducing an allergic response to an allergen and/or for inducing anergy to an allergen in a subject and/or improving lung function in a subject suffering from an allergy comprising administering to a subject a population of cells enriched for STRO-1+ cells and/or progeny thereof and/or soluble factors derived therefrom.

Abstract: A protein retrieval treatment system used for activating proteins contained in a deparaffinized tissue section obtained by removing paraffin from a formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue section. The protein retrieval treatment system includes: a dispensing unit for dispensing a retrieval treatment solution over a dispensing area including a measurement area on the deparaffinized tissue section; and a moist-heat treatment unit for heating, in a saturated water vapor, the deparaffinized tissue section with the dispensing area covered with the retrieval treatment solution.

Abstract: A sustained-release composition for stimulating endothelial cell growth including a nitric oxide synthase within a nanoparticle comprising a biocompatible polymer is described. The sustained-release composition can be administered as part of a pharmaceutical composition, or can be coated on a medical device. The nitric oxide synthase-containing nanoparticles can be used in a method of inducing endothelium formation in a blood vessel.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and compositions useful for identifying a subject's predisposition to a gastrointestinal disease or disorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for activating a surface by increasing the hydrophilicity and/or for binding target structures, particularly selected from the group consisting of proteins, cellular proteins, proteins, cells, carbohydrates, peptides and amino acids. It also relates to the use of an oxidoreductase for activating a surface for the mentioned bonds and to corresponding activated surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fractionated coupled apparatus for saccharifying biomass and a method for saccharifying biomass using the apparatus, and more particularly, to a fractionated coupled apparatus and method for saccharifying biomass, in which biomass mixed with enzyme is first saccharified in a single-tubular plug-flow reactor (PFR) unit, and then distributed into and saccharified in a second multi-tubular PFR unit comprising 2-100 PFRs, each having a diameter smaller than that of the single-tubular PFR unit. According to the present invention, biomass is first saccharified in a PFR having a relatively large diameter, and then distributed into and saccharified in PFRs having a relatively small diameter. Thus, a high concentration of a sugar compound can be obtained without having to use an additional mixer.

Abstract: A system for delivering a therapeutic agent to a nasopharyngeal mucosa target comprises a foam generating mechanism, a gas, a therapeutic agent in liquid form that inhibits mucus production, and a delivery device. Actuation of the foam generating mechanism entraps gaseous bubbles from the gas in the liquid thereby forming a foam. The therapeutic agent is dispersed in the foam which has an expanded configuration adapted to fill a nasopharyngeal space and deliver the therapeutic agent to the mucosa targets. The delivery device is for delivering the foam to the nasopharyngeal space. The foam may also have a collapsed configuration for removal from the nasopharyngeal space or for concentration of the therapeutic agent onto the mucosa.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for the alteration and/or transfer of fungal functional traits, e.g., phenotypic activity, via the controlled transfer of endohyphal symbionts, e.g., bacteria, among fungal species. Also described are methods for the identification of endohyphal bacterial symbionts as determinants of cellulase and ligninase activity in fungi, and the use of endohyphal bacterial symbionts to alter the activity, including cellulase and ligninase activities, of the fungi. In particular, the fungi described herein are endophytic fungi, that is, fungi which colonize living, and subsequently senescent, plant tissue.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition is formulated in a therapeutic amount to treat and alleviate symptoms of joint pain. The composition includes pro-inflammatory low molecular weight microbial fermented sodium hyaluronate fragments having a molecular weight of 0.5 to 300 kilodaltons (kDa) in an oral dosage form.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for improving pancreatic function in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject STRO-1+ cells and/or progeny cells thereof and/or soluble factors derived therefrom. The method of the invention is useful for treating and/or preventing and/or delaying the onset or progression of a disorder resulting from or associated with pancreatic dysfunction, e.g., resulting from abnormal endocrine or exocrine function of the pancreas.

Abstract: A biological sensing device and a method for separating a biomolecule are provided. The biological sensing device includes an amino acid sequence and a signal-generating unit. The amino acid sequence includes SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, and is for binding with UlaG protein labeled on a biomolecule. The signal-generating unit connects to the amino acid sequence.

Abstract: A light-trapping cancer cell stage testing method includes: measuring a first average escape velocity or range of first cancer cells and a second average escape velocity or range of second cancer cells whose stage is known and differ from that of the first cancer cells and whose types are known; utilizing the first average escape velocity and the second average escape velocity to calculate a reference ratio to build a database; selecting stage-unknown cancer cells and measuring an escape velocity of the stage-unknown cancer cells (type-known); utilizing the escape velocity of the stage-unknown cancer cells and an escape velocity of reference-stage cancer cells to calculate a ratio; and determining a stage of the stage-unknown cancer cells with a result comparing the ratio of the escape velocities for the stage-unknown cancer cells with the reference ratios stored in the database.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for conducting a non-invasive analysis of a bodily fluid to determine the presence and level of a certain constituent carried by the bodily fluid. An indicator formulation of the device changes color in response to exposure to the constituent to provide a visible indication of the presence and level of the constituent carried by the bodily fluid. A carrier substrate of the device is constructed of a material having voids providing a high void volume within the substrate. The device is made by applying a chromagen to the carrier substrate to create a chromagen-laden carrier member. Then, a selected reagent having a particular constituent-specific formulation is applied to the chromagen-laden member. The selected reagent then combines with the chromagen thereby establishing the indicator formulation within the carrier substrate in place for reception of a sample of the bodily fluid.

Abstract: A method for growing organically derived building materials in the form of a moldable substrate that can be engineered to serve a wide range of manufacturing and construction applications is presented. In particular, the embodiments consider a plurality of fungal molded shapes preferably grown from fungal inoculum and mechanically compressed at least once during the growing process as well as integration of structure support members to the fungal structure. The present invention provides a fungal substrate which could be molded, and easily and cheaply preprocessed to precise geometric specifications. The organically derived building materials also incorporate layers of structural reinforcements to improve load bearing and other structural capacities.

Abstract: CoQ10 and vitamin E are both lipid-soluble nutrients with redox potential. Tocopherol and/or tocotrienol protect CoQ10 from oxidative damage and reduce ubiquinone in situ. Specifically, vitamin E protects the oxidation of ubiquinol to ubiquinone ex vivo and reduces ubiquinone to ubiquinol in situ. Vitamin Es with higher ratio of tocotrienol-to-tocopherol cause a higher ratio of ubiquinol-to-ubiquinone. Additionally tocopherol and/or tocotrienol protect vitamin A oxidation from retinol to retinoic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a staining methodology employing a particle contrast agent composition capable of rapidly staining cells in a single step. The particle contrast agent composition can be comprised of a combination of one or more particle contrast agents and one or more permeabilizing agents, optionally including one or more fixing agents and other components. The particle contrast agent composition can include Crystal Violet, 5PD-Lytic, and Proclin 300.

Abstract: The amount of dietary fiber in a sample can be quantified by dissoluting the sample to produce a dietary fiber solution and then centrifuging the dietary fiber solution to produce a pellet and a supernatant liquid. After separating the supernatant liquid from the pellet, the pellet can be analyzed to determine a content of non-dietary fiber components in the pellet. The dietary fiber content in the pellet can be determined from the content of the non-dietary fiber components in the pellet. By using centrifugation to help isolate the dietary fiber in the sample, fiber loss may be minimized, leading to a more accurate determination of the content of dietary fiber in the sample.