Abstract: The present specification discloses papermaking additive compositions, articles of manufacture, containers or kits comprising such compositions, and methods and uses to increase separation of cellulose fibers from a pulp, to remove one or more impurities and/or one or more contaminates from a pulp and/or a paper material and to remove an ink from a pulp and/or a paper material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods that are based on expression of integrin alpha10 and integrin alpha11 on chondrocytes, used for determining purity, quality, degree of chondrocytic identity, chondrocytic potency, and/or degree of chondrocytic phenotype of a composition comprising chondrocytes, as well as for isolating and enriching a population of high quality chondrocytes and controlling culturing and expanding of high quality chondrocytes. The present invention relates also to composition comprising chondrocytes.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a method of synthesizing amaranthin or gomphrenin-I-glucuronide. Genes each having an amaranthin or gomphrenin-I-glucuronide synthesis ability have been isolated from quinoa and the like, and the isolated genes have been used to verify the amaranthin or gomphrenin-I-glucuronide synthesis ability in non-betalain-producing plants.

Abstract: Provided herein are bioluminescent polypeptides and compositions and methods for the assembly of a tripartite or multipartite bioluminescent complex. In particular embodiments, a bioluminescent complex is formed upon the interaction of three or more peptide and/or polypeptide components.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions to determine viability of an organ for transplantation and other medical purposes. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for assessing the viability of an organ by measuring the energy parameters to determine the energy level of the organ by determining the stored cellular energy (e.g., ATP levels), and/or energy consumption over a particular time period of viability. The energy parameters can be compared to reference energy parameters as a highly accurate and reliable prediction of viable cell yield, and organ viability. Another aspect of the invention relates methods to preserve or extend the time period of viability of an organ any combination of (i) preservation perfusion of the organ to prevent ischemic damage, (ii) chemical metabolic suppression of the organ e.g., using metabolic suppressants, (iii) metabolic suppression by physical or environmental conditions, e.g., sub-zero non-freezing storage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a symbiotic combination of i) a probiotic micro-organism comprising of a Lactobacillus strain, and ii) a catechin component comprising EGCG that acts as a second generation symbiotic with synergistic effects in improving the immune response and antioxidant capacity during aging that may beneficially affect the health of elderly.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of inducing formation of a gastric cells and/or a gastric tissue, such as in the form of a gastric organoid. The formation of gastric cells and/or tissue may be carried out by the activating and/or inhibiting of one or more signaling pathways within a precursor cell. Also disclosed are methods for using the disclosed gastric cells, gastric tissues, and/or gastric organoids derived from precursor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions, systems, and methods for assessing and monitory disease stage and phases, predicting likelihood of disease progression, and predicting and monitoring responses to disease therapies (e.g., in HBV infection).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition for promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria comprising growth factors, and more particularly, to a composition for promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria comprising growth factors, the composition being capable of efficiently promoting the growth of various lactic acid bacteria strains.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are modified soluble ?-Klotho proteins and isolated fragments of wildtype soluble ?-Klotho protein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including the modified soluble ?-Klotho proteins and/or isolated fragments of soluble ?-Klotho protein and methods of their use in treating a subject.

Abstract: The invention discloses a biological water-quality detection method using said obstructive multi-module biological water-quality detection device. This device includes an obstruction index-selecting device and a water-quality testing device, wherein the obstruction index-selecting device is used to select a qualified or valid stepped obstruction level combination, the water-quality testing device detects the water-quality of the water body to be tested depending on the behavior at each obstruction in the valid obstruction level combination after injecting indicator organisms into the water body to be tested. The relationship between the degree of water pollution and the distribution area of indicator organisms is established and the distribution area of indicator organisms is counted in this method based on the difference between the behaviors of indicator organisms in the clean water body and the polluted water body count, so as to determine the degree of water pollution.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for isolating bacterial cells, fungal cells, and single-celled parasites present in a blood sample containing higher eukaryotic cells; particularly wherein the microorganisms are present at a concentration significantly lower than the eukaryotic cells in the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a retinal pigment epithelial cell by (1) maintaining and/or expanding human pluripotent stem cells comprising culturing the human pluripotent stem cells in the absence of a feeder cell in a medium comprising a factor for maintaining an undifferentiated state, (2) a first step for culturing the maintained and/or expanded human pluripotent stem cells in a medium comprising a MEK inhibitor in the absence of feeder cells for a period of not less than 2 days and not more than 30 days, wherein the culture condition in the first step is a condition sufficient for inducing gene expression of at least one eye field transcription factor, and (3) a second step for culturing the cells obtained in the first step in the presence of a Nodal signal transduction pathway inhibitor and/or a Wnt signal transduction pathway inhibitor to form a retinal pigment epithelial cell.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for improved production of steviol glycosides in a host cell. In some embodiments, the host cell is genetically modified to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding a Stevia rebaudiana kaurenoic acid hydroxylase. In some embodiments, the host cell further comprises one or more heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding further enzymes of a pathway capable of producing one or more steviol glycosides in the host cell. The compositions and methods described herein provide an efficient route for the heterologous production of steviol glycosides, including but not limited to, rebaudioside D and rebaudioside M.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel Spirulina strain having a linear shape, which Spirulina strain can be used to achieve a harvest of Spirulina strain with high yield.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, the invention provides an antigen-presenting cell, for example, a dendritic cell that comprises a tumor mitochondrial molecule or a tumor mitochondrial molecule derived from tumor mitochondrial protein lysate or a specific mitochondria derived protein of mitochondrial protein lysate as antigen source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to organic thin film sensors and the preparation and use thereof in sensing applications, and in particular in glucose sensing. The sensor is characterised by a layered structure comprising a porous wicking layer whose surface is configured to receive a liquid sample. An enzyme is disposed on or within the porous layer for facilitating the generation of a charge carrier from an analyte. A polymer layer in contact with the porous layer is connected to an ohmic conductor for applying a gate voltage to the polymer layer, the polymer layer being conductive to the charge carrier; and an organic semiconducting layer is connected to a source electrode and a drain electrode.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to targeted protease compositions and uses related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to nanoparticles wherein a targeting molecule is linked to the nanoparticle and wherein a catalytic domain of a protease is linked to the nanoparticle. In certain embodiments, the targeting molecule and the catalytic domain are within a single polypeptide sequence. In certain embodiments, the targeting molecule binds a molecule more highly expressed on cancer cells then non-cancerous cells, and the nanoparticles disclosed herein are used for the treatment of cancer by further attaching an anti-cancer agent to the nanoparticle or incorporating an anticancer agent within the nanoparticle.

Abstract: An oral biology model which comprises biofilm, oral epithelial tissue and a suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media is disclosed. The biofilm, which comprises oral bacteria, is produced by culturing oral bacteria on a solid substrate. The oral epithelial tissue may be gingival epithelial tissue to model the gingival crevice or buccal epithelial tissue to model the oral check. The suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media comprises neutrophil-like cells that are differentiated HL60 cells induced to a neutrophil-like phenotype by treatment with retinoic acid. Methods of using the oral biology model to test and compare compounds and formulations or to screen compounds and formulations for their effect on release of inflammatory signals, their effect on biofilm and oral bacteria and/or their effect on the cellular components are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to purified, tissue-specific progenitors, methods of making and using such tissue-specific progenitors.