Abstract: Wheat bran culture mix is used to inoculate organic waste and produce an inoculated waste material, where the wheat bran culture mix includes soil derived microbes. The inoculated waste material is shredded to produce shredded inoculated waste material which is fermented the shredded inoculated waste material for at least 7 days. Contents from the fermenter are then transferred into a dewatering device to produce dewatered contents which are then separated into soluble and suspended products.

Abstract: Magnetic particles are distributed across a fluid flow by applied magnetic field to interact with a test substance in fluid. Alternatively or additionally, particles, which may be magnetic, are combined with cells and energy, e.g. ultrasonic energy, is applied to cause the particles to create a lysate. Alternatively or additionally, the size of a quantity of magnetic particles is assessed by its impact on the tuning mechanism of a controlled oscillator that is affected by the particles.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for staining tissue samples, said apparatus including a reagent section or reagent containers; at least one staining section or tissue samples, a robotic head or robotic element that may move reagent to a predetermined tissue sample, said robotic element being moveable above the reagent and the staining sections, a control element that may manage a staining process, a 2-D optical sensor to detect two-dimensional image data of a relevant property and that can feed the captured image data to the control element. By providing the robotic element with a 2-D optical sensor, a common image processor may be provided having multiple functions. By using a 2-D optical image processing system, the control system of the apparatus may easily be adapted to read various types of data presentations, just as actual images for sections of the apparatus may be identified in order to assess the condition of the apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for sonication of multiple samples and continuous sonication of an input fluid stream in flow-through arrangements useful for economical breakdown of particulates and organisms present in large volumes with relatively low-power sonication devices such as production of oil from algae. The system includes an electrical wave generator oscillating in the ultrasound range, a vibrating element electrically connected to the electrical wave generator, and a sonication plate that vibrates in certain modes. The sonication plate contains features for mating with sample tubes, and the sample tubes also possess complimentary mating features to those on the sonication plate. A method for sonication of multiple samples includes utilizing mating features to attach tubes to the sonication plate and energizing the sonicator to vibrate the sonication plate. The invention also relates to arrangements for continuous flow-through useful for sonicating large sample volumes.

Abstract: A rotatable sample disk configured for samples of biological material. The sample disk may include a fill chamber for storing a first biological material, a plurality of first sample chambers positioned in the sample disk farther from the rotational axis of the sample disk than the fill chamber, a plurality of second sample chambers, and a plurality of circumferential fill channels. Each of the second sample chambers may be configured to permit fluid communication with a respective first sample chamber. The plurality of circumferential fill conduits may be configured to permit transfer of the first biological material from the fill chamber to the plurality of first sample chambers upon a first rotation of the sample disk about the rotational axis. Methods of loading a plurality of sample chambers in a sample disk are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting objects in samples. The sample is held in the transmission path of light source to a detector, whereby light from the light source interacts with objects in the sample. The patterns of light incident on the detector subsequent to its interaction with the objects are directly used to determine the presence of objects in the sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing compost tea with an elongated container having a vortex chamber, cylindrical screen, and outlet wherein compost is placed inside the vortex chamber, nozzles spray water into the compost chamber under pressure forcing nutrients and micro-organisms from the compost into the water which passes through the screen and out of the outlet into a holding tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and related method for biological manipulation. With greater particularity, disclosed is a novel device and method for uniform cellular manipulation with economies of scale and operational uniformity. The device and related method utilize a cellular wounder (101) to uniformly remove portions of a cell monolayer in a multi-well plate (303) to create uniform cell samples with reduced time and expense to the user. The multi-channel mechanical wounder is a useful tool for performing cellular wounding by providing consistent and even denudation of a defined area of monolayer of cells in standard culture plates. This easy-to-assemble and user friendly device is most applicable for high throughput screening of samples such as in the manipulation of cells for cell migration or wound healing assay preparation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the isomerization and fermentation of xylose and hexose sugars using an immobilized enzyme system capable of sustaining two different pH microenvironments in a single vessel are disclosed. Bilayer particles are dispersed in a mixture comprising an ionic borate source and xylose. The bilayer particles have a first region with a first enzymatic activity comprising xylose isomerase and a pH of 6 or above, and a second region having a second enzymatic activity at an acidic pH.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treating and/or pre-treating liquid manure or biogas plant reject for eliminating harmful substances, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and odor molecules. Process tanks (5), which include inlet means (4) for supplying a process tank (5) with a substance to be treated, outlet means for passing a post-treatment matter out of the tank, and air inlet means (2) for supplying the process tank with air required by a biological process, are used for conducting a biological treatment on the matter to be treated. The process tanks (5) are first provided with a microbe population adapted for treating the matter to be treated. The matter to be treated is supplied gradually into the first process tank and then further into a subsequent process tank, such that the microbe population initially provided in the process tanks displaces in a step-by-step manner the original microbe population present in the matter to be treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a photobioreactor for the cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms and comprises a hydraulic circuit through which an aqueous solution containing culture of at least one type of photosynthetic organism circulates and gets exposed to a light source. The photobioreactor also comprises a means for feeding carbon dioxide into the system, a means for oxygen degasification, and a means for injecting nutrients into the system. The hydraulic circuit is comprised of two open receiving channels at the same relative elevation, a set of transparent or translucent tubes which connect receiving channels to each other, and at least one fluid moving device to move the fluid from the first to the second receiving channels through the tubes. Each receiving channel also comprises a dam which assists in maintaining two different surface levels of the aqueous solution within the upstream and downstream portions of each receiving channel.

Abstract: By maintaining the cell density during culture at an appropriate level and eliminating the procedure of transferring cells from a container to another container when a large amount of cells are cultured, damage on cells can be reduced, risk of contamination can be lowered, labor saving can be attained and automation can be attained. A cell culture apparatus including: a culture container 11 formed of a soft packing material and having an enclosure part 11-1 in which a culture medium and/or cells being cultured are enclosed is placed; a container table 12 on which the culture container 11 is placed; a roller 13 which is placed on the upper surface of the culture container 11 and divides the enclosure part 11-1 into two or more chambers; and a driving means 15 which relatively moves the roller 13 or the culture container 11, thereby to change the volume of the culture part 11-11 in the enclosure part 11-1 in which a culture medium or cells being cultured are enclosed.

Abstract: A device, a system, and a method for isolating biomolecules from biological materials are provided. The device comprises a quartz-based solid phase extraction matrix comprising one or more reagents impregnated therein; and an electroosmotic pump (EOP) operationally coupled to the quartz-based solid phase extraction matrix to elute the nucleic acids, wherein the EOP comprises a plurality of electroosmotic membranes comprising one or more positive electroosmotic membranes and one or more negative electroosmotic membranes disposed alternatively and a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more cathodes and one or more anodes, wherein at least one cathode is disposed on one side of one of the membranes and at least one anode is disposed on another side of that membrane and at least one cathode or anode is disposed between a positive electroosmotic membrane and a negative electroosmotic membrane.

Abstract: Wheat bran culture mix is used to inoculate organic waste and produce an inoculated waste material, where the wheat bran culture mix includes soil derived microbes. The inoculated waste material is shredded to produce shredded inoculated waste material which is fermented the shredded inoculated waste material for at least 7 days. Contents from the fermenter are then transferred into a dewatering device to produce dewatered contents which are then separated into soluble and suspended products.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid culture medium for substance introduction, which is capable of increasing the survival rate of cells after substance introduction as much as possible when the cells are irradiated with plasma for the purpose of introducing a target substance into each of the cells. Specifically disclosed is a liquid culture medium for substance introduction, which is used for the purpose of introducing a predetermined target substance into a cell and enables introduction of the target substance into the cell by having the cell in the liquid culture medium, which contains the target substance, irradiated with a plasma jet. The liquid culture medium contains a damage preventing component that prevents the cell from damage due to the plasma jet.

Abstract: A dynamically alterable cell support may be altered at a large scale to induce mechanical removal of adherent cells in culture without the use of a removal solution. For example, adherent cells may be cultured on an elastic support with one or more textured surface regions and removed by expansion/contraction of the support. Mechanical removal of adherent cells may reduce or minimize damage to cell surface markers, cellular morphology, and/or cellular physiology associated with the detachment and resuspension of cultured adherent cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample and related methods and apparatus for diagnosing a condition in an individual. The condition is associated with presence of nucleic acid produced by certain pathogens in the individual.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a reaction container plate which prevents the entry of foreign matter from the outside and the pollution of an outside environment. A reaction container plate (1) includes a sealed reaction container (5), a reaction container channel (15) connected to the reaction container (5), a sealed container (17) provided separately from the reaction container (5), a sealed container channel (17a) connected to the sealed container (17), a syringe (33) for sending a liquid, a switching valve (47) for connecting the syringe (33) to the introduction channel (15) or the sealed container channel (17a), and a sealed container air vent channel (17b) of which one end is connected to the sealed container (17).