Abstract: The invention provides methods for managing livestock for breeding or production based on one or more measurements of mitochondrial function. Measurement of mitochondrial function may also be correlated with a calculated or known feed efficiency of livestock animals to yield a predicted feed efficiency for the animal. The invention overcomes deficiencies associated with phenotypic assays for predicted breeding and production value.

Abstract: A process for integrated utilization of the energy and material contents of hydrolysates and solids obtained in the enzymatic hydrolysis of renewable raw materials, in which the resulting hydrolysis solution is used as a carbon source in fermentations and the unhydrolysed solids are sent to biogas production.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions for high throughput screening of genetically modified photosynthetic organisms for plasmic state. The present invention provides methods of producing one or more proteins, including biomass degrading enzymes in a plant. Also provided are the methods of producing biomass degradation pathways in alga cells, particularly in the chloroplast. Single enzymes or multiple enzymes may be produced by the methods disclosed. The methods disclosed herein allow for the production of biofuel, including ethanol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for isolating polyhydroxyalkanoates from production cells which comprises i) disintegrating the production cells, subsequently ii) separating off the cell fragments from the polyhydroxyalkanoate grains by means of a continuous jet separator; iii) the concentrated polyhydroxyalkanoate grains are washed with an aqueous alkali solution and then iv) with an aqueous acid.

Abstract: A phenotron assay can be used for determining an adverse effect on health by: identifying an exposure condition to be studied for an adverse effect on the health of an organism; providing a phenotron having one or more sensors each configured to sense a signal; introducing one or more test founder organisms into the phenotron, said test founder organisms each having a signal emitting tag that is sensed by the one or more sensors and each being exposed to the exposure condition; introducing one or more control founder organisms into the phenotron, said control founder organisms each having a signal emitting tag that is sensed by the one or more sensors and none of said control founder organisms being exposed to the exposure condition; collecting, from the one or more sensors, signals from the tags to obtain data indicative of a parameter of the health of the one or more test founder organisms compared to the one or more control founder organisms; and determining from the data whether the exposure condition has

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one of more sulfide (hydrosulfide) salt and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: A method for producing glucose from a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock with acid to produce a pretreated feedstock composition. A calcium-containing stream is provided that comprises calcium that is obtained from the lignocellulosic feedstock and a calcium carbonate-containing stream is obtained by precipitation of the calcium from the calcium-containing stream. The pH of the pretreated feedstock is adjusted with (a) the calcium carbonate-containing stream; (b) a calcium hydroxide-containing stream that is derived from said calcium carbonate-containing stream by subjecting said calcium carbonate-containing stream to calcination; or (c) a combination of the calcium carbonate-containing stream and the calcium hydroxide-containing stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of an aqueous glucose solution from maize or maize kernels. The invention also relates to a glucose solution obtainable by this process, and to its use for the production of organic compounds. The process according to the invention comprises: a) fractionating dry milling of maize kernels, where the maize kernels are separated into a maize-starch-comprising endosperm fraction and a high-oil germ fraction and, if appropriate, a bran fraction; b) enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification of the maize starch in an aqueous suspension of the endosperm fraction, which gives an aqueous glucose solution comprising maize gluten; and c) depletion of the maize gluten and, if appropriate, any bran present from the aqueous glucose solution.

Abstract: Spalted wood veneer, which can be used in the commercial production of engineered wood flooring having a spalted wood veneer decorative layer, is produced by forming a wood veneer piece, inoculating the wood veneer piece with spalting spores, subjecting the inoculated veneer piece to a predetermined environment, then inspecting the inoculated veneer piece to determine the degree of spalting, and when a desired degree of spalting is reached, deterring continued spalting.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide: a dry analytical element for analyzing pancreatic lipase wherein the triglyceride is not transcribed on the support to contaminate a transportation slip or other analytical elements and wherein an additive solution of the triglyceride neither reaggregates nor precipitate, so that the dry analytical element is stable and is compatible with production. The present invention provides a dry analytical element for measuring pancreatic lipase contained in body fluid, which comprises triglyceride of long chain alkyl fatty acid having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, monoglyceride lipase, and a glycerin measurement reagent, and which comprises a water-impermeable support and at least one spreading or reagent layer, wherein a hydrophilic polymer at a weight ratio of 1.8:1 or greater with respect to the triglyceride is contained.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method, process and apparatus for the conversion of biomass to carboxylic acids and/or primary alcohols. The system may include a pretreatment/fermentation subsystem operable to produce a fermentation broth containing carboxylic acid salts from biomass, such as lignocellulosic biomass. The system may also include a dewatering subsystem operable to remove excess water from the fermentation broth to produce a concentrated product. The system may also includes an acid springing subsystem operable to produce a mixed carboxylic acid product. The system may also include a hydrogenation subsystem operable to produce an alcohol mixture, such as a mixture containing primary alcohols. Methods of operating this system or other systems to obtain a carboxylic acid or alcohol mixture are also provided.

Abstract: Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution, under alkaline conditions, in the presence of one or more organo-mercaptan and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of continuously producing edible lipid-based composition, including the steps: preparing alcohol and organic acid in a predetermined ratio and a reaction tank received with immobilized candida cylindracea; continuously providing a supercritical state solvent into the reaction tank and draining the supercritical state solvent out, and mixing and pressurizing the alcohol and the organic acid and sending the alcohol and the organic acid to the reaction tank for a esterfication of the alcohol and the organic acid by the candida cylindracea; getting an edible lipid-based composition and water in the reaction tank; and quickly separating the edible lipid-based composition from the water and the supercritical state solvent.

Abstract: A process for cultivating photosynthetic microbes comprising Closed Systems for continuous cultivation and Open Systems for batch cultivation, in which (a) the Closed System Area occupies no more than 20% of the Total Land Area of the cultivation facility; (b) batch cultures in the Open Systems are initiated with an inoculum from the Closed Systems containing a cell biomass of no less than 5% of the carrying capacity of said Open System; (c) the doubling rate of said photosynthetic microbe is no less than once every 16 hours; and (d) the residence time of the batch culture in said Open System is no more than a period of 5 days.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an integrated method for the processing of palm fruit bunches to oil and other products. The method comprises inter alia separating palm fruit carrying bunches into fruits and lignocellulosic empty fruit bunches, processing the fruits to form palm oil, and at least one lignocellulosic processing coproduct; generating an aqueous stream; producing a non-oil, non-alcohol, non-fatty acid ester third product from the oil, the lignocellulosic processing coproduct, the aqueous stream or from a combination thereof; processing at least a portion of the lignocellulosic empty fruit bunches, lignocellulosic processing coproduct or a combination thereof into a fourth product and optionally producing at least one fifth conversion product from the fourth product; and using at least a portion of the fourth product or a product of its conversion or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite yeast suitable for high concentration alcohol fermentation from sugar-containing raw materials, characterizing in that the composite yeast comprises any kind of dried yeast selected from Brewers yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, grape wine yeast Saccharomyces uvarum Beijerinek, and nutritious materials which are necessary for yeast growth, the nutritious materials include: the dried yeast 40-70 parts by weight, a nitrogen source 20-40 parts by weight, a phosphorous source 5-10 parts by weight, an other inorganic salt 2.5-5 parts by weight, a trace vitamin 1-2.5 parts by weight and a bacteriostatic 0.5-1.2 parts by weight. The present invention further relates to a method for preparation of the composite yeast suitable for high concentration alcohol fermentation from sugar-containing raw materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing Saccharomyces strains that are capable of growth on xylose as a sole carbon source at a desired growth rate, (such as at least one generation per 48 hours), strains made by such methods, and Saccharomyces strains that grow at a growth rate of at least one generation per 48 hours using xylose as a sole carbon source for growth made by non-recombinant methods.

Abstract: The apparatus and methods disclosed herein relate to the production of dried co-products from stillage produced by an ethanol production facility.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol from a pretreated feedstock is provided. The feedstock is selected from grasses, cereal straws, stover, and combinations thereof, and least about 80% of the feedstock has a particle length of between about 2 cm and about 40 cm. This process comprises wetting the feedstock in liquid, pressing the wet feedstock through one roll press or a series of roll presses to remove at least a portion of water and soluble substances from the wetted feedstock and to shear the feedstock to produce feedstock particles of a size suitable for pumping at a solids concentration of about 8% to about 20% when slurried. At least one roll press, or at least one roll press in the series of roll presses comprises rolls with circumferential v-shaped grooves. The pressed feedstock particles are slurried to produce a slurried feedstock having a consistency of between about 8% and about 20%, and the slurried feedstock pumped into a pretreatment reactor.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of formula Wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6a, R6b, R6c, R6d, R6e and R7 are defined in the specification. These compounds are useful as antibiotic agents.