Abstract: Provided is a method of preparing a high-purity galactooligosaccharide composition by fermentation of a low-purity galactooligosaccharide mixture with a yeast strain, Kluyveromyces lactis ATCC 8585. The high-purity galactooligosaccharide composition includes at least 99% of galactooligosaccharides selected from the group consisting of galactotriose, galactotetrose, galactooligosaccharides with five or more sugar units, and combinations thereof and lower than 1% of monosaccharides and disaccharides. Also provided is a high-purity galactooligosaccharide composition and applications thereof in regulating blood glucose level and improving gut microbiota. For example, the high-purity galactooligosaccharide composition may be used to manufacture food products, beverages, health food products, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceutical compositions for patients or pets afflicted with diabetes mellitus or lactose intolerance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Streptococcus thermophilus strains, usable as starter cultures, able to provide both satisfactory rheological and organoleptic properties, and satisfactory shelf life to the media into which they are incorporated. In particular, these strains are also bacteriophage-resistant, thereby minimizing bacteriophage infection. The invention also provides a composition comprising one of these Streptococcus thermophilus strains, and feed or food products obtained with these strains.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for obtaining a microbial oil comprising one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PU-FAs) from one or more microbial cells by lysing the cells to form a lysed cell composition and then recovering the oil from the lysed cell composition. Further disclosed herein is microbial oil comprising one or more PUFAs that is recovered from microbial cells by at least one process described herein.

Abstract: A process for reducing cell death in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms includes the steps of mixing the organisms with water in a first reactor, strobing light onto the mixture of organisms and water for a period of time, passing the strobed mixture into another reactor, and discharging the mixture from the another reactor. The step of strobing light includes strobing light to the mixture of organisms and water at a frequency of between 10 Hz and 40 Hz. The strobing of the light is between twenty flashes per second and eighty flashes per second. The first reactor is a continuously stirred reactor. The another reactor is a plug flow reactor. The organisms are in an algal culture.

Abstract: The invention provides schemes for the integration of a fermentation process, with an electrolysis process, and a C1-generating industrial process. In particular, the invention provides process for utilizing electrolysis products, for example H2 and/or O2, to improve the process efficiency of at least one of the fermentation process or the C1-generating industrial process. More particularly, the invention provides a process whereby, H2 generated by electrolysis is used to improve the substrate efficiency for a fermentation process, and the O2 generated by the electrolysis process is used to improve the composition of the C1-containing tail gas generated by the C1-generating industrial process.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for obtaining a lipid from a cell by lysing the cell to form a lysed cell composition, adding an acid to lower the pH of the lysed cell composition, and demulsify the lysed cell composition, and obtaining the lipid from the demulsified lysed cell composition. Also disclosed are lipids prepared by the processes of the present invention wherein the lipids have a particular anisidine value, peroxide value, and/or phosphorus content.

Abstract: Processes and systems for maintaining a live culture of activated sludge in the activated sludge unit of a petroleum refinery during an extended refinery shut-down. In the absence of a source of refinery wastewater, a living culture of activated sludge comprising aerobic prokaryotes and/or eukaryotes that nitrify ammonia is maintained by redirecting at least a portion of clarified wastewater leaving the clarifier portion of an activated sludge unit. The redirected clarified wastewater is mixed with an organic food source that may be ammonia and/or ethyl acetate, a source of phosphate ion, and the pH is adjusted to produce a growth media that is returned to the aeration chamber of the activated sludge unit. After a time exceeding one week, the input of refinery wastewater to the aeration chamber is resumed while discontinuing the redirecting of the clarified wastewater.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of differentiating stem cells in order to obtain hepatocyte-like cells, the method comprising the steps of a) subjecting definitive endoderm to at least one epigenetic modulator to obtain hepatoblasts and b) subjecting the hepatoblasts to at least one stem cell differentiation pathway inhibitor to obtain hepatocyte-like cells; wherein steps a) and b) do not comprise the use of a growth factor. In one preferred embodiment, the epigenetic modulator may be sodium butyrate and/or DMSO and the stem cell differentiation pathway inhibitor may be SB431542 and/or DMSO. Also disclosed are hepatocyte-like cells obtained from the method and uses of these cells such as drug screening.

Abstract: Provided is a antimicrobial susceptibility testing device, including: an ATP examination culture plate that includes a reaction vessel, a reagent holding parts for holding reagents to be supplied to the reaction vessel, and a culture solution holding part for holding a culture solution to be supplied to the reaction vessel, and has plural layers that can be joined and separated; a gas feeding path for feeding a gas into the ATP examination culture plate; a heater; an optical detection unit; and a determination unit for determining sensitivity of a bacterial strain contained in the culture solution to a drug based on a detection result of the optical detection unit, wherein when the plural layers of the ATP examination culture plate are joined, at least the culture solution holding part and the reaction vessel are in a sealed state while communicating with each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides distinct therapeutic populations of cells that form a pharmaceutical composition useful in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplant. For example, the present disclosure provides a therapeutic population of cells, comprising an enriched population of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, memory T cells, regulatory T cells, and wherein the population of cells is depleted of naïve conventional ??-T cells. The present disclosure further provides methods of treatment using the therapeutic population of cells. In other embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of producing a therapeutic population of cells.

Abstract: This document provides materials and methods related to bacterial compositions containing at least one bacterial organism having tryptophan decarboxylase activity. For example, bacterial compositions containing at least one bacterial organism having tryptophan decarboxylase activity and methods for using such bacterial compositions to improve gastrointestinal epithelial function and/or to treat gastrointestinal disorders are provided.

Abstract: A fluid pumping and bioreactor system including at least two cassettes, at least one storage reservoir, at least one bioreactor, at least one manifold including valve modules, and tubing to connect the cassettes to the storage reservoir and the bioreactor. The cassettes can include pumps, valves, and fluid conduits and can be communicatively connected to the at least one manifold. The bioreactor can include an adapter and fluid conduits extending through the adapter from the exterior of the bioreactor to the interior of the bioreactor. System and method for generating a tissue for transplant by decellularizing and recellularizing a supplied tissue.

Abstract: Organic matter digesting apparatus and methods are provided that can include a digestion tank operatively coupled to a vertically aligned gas collection tower and methods that can include providing a biodigesting apparatus; inputting organic matter into the biodigesting apparatus; initiating the biodigesting apparatus; and outputting water, methane gas, and solid carbon-based material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for making and using pluripotent stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for determining the toxicity of fresh-water and marine sediments and sediment pore water containing indigenous or introduced toxicants from each as a one-time analysis and/or for analysis over a period of time. The present disclosure further provides kits assembled for the afore-mentioned determination. The methods and kits of the present disclosure can be used for analyzing sediment and pore water samples from, among other locations, all environments where species having a dormant life stage may exist including, for example, natural zooplankton.

Abstract: Improvements in biological conversion processes and associated apparatuses are disclosed for the generation of useful end products such as ethanol, through metabolic pathways of C1-fixing bacteria that utilize, as a nutrient, a C1-carbon source from a C1-containing substrate such as an industrial waste gas. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the downstream recovery of ethanol and/or isopropanol from bleed and permeate streams and more particularly to performing such recovery with improved efficiency that can advantageously reduce capital (e.g., equipment) and/or operating (e.g., utility) costs.

Abstract: Methods of culturing mixotrophic microorganisms in a state of balanced gas composition are disclosed. Parameters of a culture of mixotrophic microorganisms may be controlled to reduce the requirements of externally supplied gases and optimize the production and consumption of gases within the culture by the phototrophic and heterotrophic metabolisms of the mixotrophic microorganisms.

Abstract: Lactic acid bacteria, which are isolated Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis LL358 and isolated Lactobacillus salivarius LS159 respectively. By administering a composition comprising the lactic acid bacteria of the invention, renal injury, metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia, and other disorders can be effectively ameliorated or treated.

Abstract: Cosmetic use of an effective amount of at least one lysate of at least one microorganism of the genus Bifidobacterium species and/or a fraction thereof, for preventing and/or treating a skin disorder in the case of sensitive skin.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least a mixture of molecules obtained at least from: Chrysanthellum indicum, Cynara scolymus, and Vaccinium myrtillus and wherein the mixture of molecules also comprises piperine. The composition is particularly useful as a nutritional product or health product for preventing and/or combating carbohydrate and/or fat metabolism disorders in humans and animals.