Abstract: Polymer surfaces coated with organometallic layers, wherein the organometallic layers and polymer surfaces have functional groups that react to bond the organometallic layer to the polymer surface with organometallic functional groups remaining unreacted for the subsequent covalent attachment of organic overlayers. Coating methods and coated articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specific Lactobacillus strains with an anti-oxidant effect.

Abstract: Methods are provided for separating algae from an aqueous environment. An aqueous feed containing algae can be mixed in a turbulent manner in an aerated environment. The turbulent mixing can be sufficient to create a foam within the aqueous feed. The formation of the foam can also result in agglomeration of algae into larger size algae aggregates, which can then be filtered under pressure. Due to the larger size of the algae aggregates, the pressurized filtration can reduce/minimize the tendency to clog the filter, as the algae aggregates can generally be too large to fit within the pores of the filter. The filter can preferably be located at the bottom of the vessel holding the aqueous feed. This can assist in allowing the algae to remain in a cake above the filter, as opposed to having the algae dissolve back into the aqueous feed.

Abstract: Provided herein are silica shell particles modified on their surface with biomolecules, methods of making these particles, and methods of using these particles, e.g., in transfection methods, methods of inhibiting gene expression, and methods of delivering a therapeutic.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for cellular seeding onto three-dimensional fibroblast constructs, three-dimensional fibroblast constructs seeded with muscle cells, and uses therefore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for purifying a molecule of interest from a heterogeneous clarified fluid mixture. The apparatus of the invention generally comprises a continuous perfusion fermentation system, a continuous particle removal system integrated with the perfusion fermentation system; and a continuous purification system integrated with the particle removal system, which is maintained under sterile conditions. The process comprises filtering a heterogeneous clarified fluid mixture by continuous ultrafiltration at a specific flow rate below the transition point of the molecule of interest in the pressure-dependent region of the flux versus TMP curve, wherein the specific flow rate is maintained substantially constant throughout the continuous ultrafiltration.

Abstract: After culturing blood, a culture liquid determined as positive is transplanted into a plate medium and a bacterial cell suspension that is directly usable for identifying and testing antibiotics-sensitivity is prepared without forming colonies. Provided are a device for automatically analyzing microorganisms and a method therefor whereby blood culture and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be continuously operated. A device for automatically analyzing microorganisms which is configured so that a blood culture test and an identification and antibiotics-sensitivity test can be automatically and continuously conducted, wherein means for pretreating a cultured blood sample comprises a mechanism for removing culture liquid components in the course of the blood culture and a mechanism for controlling the microbial concentration (bacterial cell count) to a constant level after the blood culture.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed at a process to form bone grafting material. One may provide a porous collagen scaffold and insert the scaffold into a perfusion chamber of a perfusion flow system. This may then be followed by continuously providing a mineralization perfusion fluid flow through the scaffold at a flow rate to provide dynamic intrafibrillar mineralization of the scaffold and form a collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold. One may optionally provide the scaffold with bone tissue forming cells and then deliver a perfusion fluid including oxygen and one or more nutrients through the collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold and to the bone tissue forming cells at a flow rate such that the bone tissue forming cells remodel the collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffold and form a bone tissue extracellular matrix. The bone tissue extracellular matrix may then be decellularized to form an acellular bone repair scaffold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the presence of an intraerythrocytic organism within a sample of liquid whole blood is provided. The method includes the steps of a) creating an image of the sample quiescently residing within a sample chamber; b) evaluating the image for the presence of at least one red blood cell within the image containing at least one first region of decreased hemoglobin content and/or hemoglobin concentration within the red blood cell, which red blood cell has an otherwise homogenous distribution of hemoglobin; and c) determining the presence of an intraerythrocytic organism within the sample using the evaluation of the image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for propagating yeast using a feedstock material such as starch and one or more enzymes (e.g., an enzyme cocktail) to break down the feedstock material into one or more monosaccharides at a sufficient rate so that the yeast can use the monosaccharides as a carbon source for producing more yeast cells while not producing an undue amount of alcohol.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to oxygenated organic compound that use an in situ method for protecting the microorganisms from hydrogen cyanide contained in the syngas that passes to the fermentation broth. The fermentation broth is maintained at a pH of between about 4 and 6, and dissolved metal cation of one or more of iron, cobalt, nickel and zinc is provided to the fermentation broth in an amount sufficient to form, under the conditions of the fermentation broth, a substantially insoluble metal complex with the metal cation and cyanide anion. The rate of formation of the insoluble complex is sufficiently high that that the amount of cyanide that is taken up by microorganisms does not result in an undue adverse effect on the population of microorganisms.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the integration of processes for recovering products from algae-derived biomass. The enhanced process integration allows for increased use of input streams and other reagents that are derived from renewable sources. This increases the overall renewable character of the products extracted from the algae-derived biomass. The process integration can include exchange of input streams or energy between an algae processing system and a system for processing non-algal biomass. One example of improving process integration is using oxygenates that are generated in a renewable manner as a reagent for enhancing the algae processing system.

Abstract: A diagnostic kit for biomarkers of beneficial vaginal health is described. The kit includes a first detection zone within which a D-lactic acid detection signal is capable of being generated, wherein the presence or quantity of D-lactic acid, is determinable from the D-lactic acid detection signal. The kit further includes a second detection zone within which a hydrogen peroxide detection signal is capable of being generated, wherein the presence or quantity of hydrogen peroxide, is determinable from the hydrogen peroxide detection signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and assay useful for determining the sensitivity of the cells of a subject to genetic damage from electromagnetic radiation. The assay may comprise a substrate suitable for mounting a sample of lymphocytes from a subject and an electromagnetic radiation source.

Abstract: A method of hydrothermally treating stillage by heating stillage to 200 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., altering physicochemical properties of the stillage, enabling facile separation of the stillage, and creating unique product fractions. A method of performing ethanol fermentation by treating stillage to enable facile separation by heating the stillage to a temperature of 200 degrees F. to 350 degrees F., and separating the treated stillage to recover a high protein solids fraction, a stickwater fraction, and an oil fraction. A method of improving fermentation by heating stillage to a temperature of 200° F. to 350° F. resulting in hydrothermally treated stillage, using all or a portion of the hydrothermally treated stillage as a component of a media, and using the media for a process including fermentation and biomass production. Oil, stickwater, high protein solids fraction, high protein meal, metabolites, biomass, and media obtained from the methods above.

Abstract: A method for the biological decomposition of organic compounds of the group of hydrocarbons, fats, oils, waxes, and derivatives thereof as well as mixtures thereof in media polluted therewith, in the presence of at least one dispersant, wherein the medium polluted with the pollutants is treated with at least one dispersant and with microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sperm selecting system and the method thereof. The brief concept of the present invention is to generate a flow field by hydraulic pressure difference then utilize the property that the sperm swims against the flow field so as to difference the sperms by vitality thereof. One of the main features of the present invention is that the sperms be selected are initially set at the entrance of the flow field instead of the exit of the system. Furthermore, an activating design can be selectively added to the present invention so as to activate the sperm be affected by the process of freeze storing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pluripotent stem cells obtained from the dental pulp of patients of different ages, the invention furthermore comprises cultures of said cells, means for obtaining them and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, as well as their application in tissue regeneration.

Abstract: Methods and devices for preparing a biological sample for analysis are described. The biological sample from an organism has at least macromolecule having a primary structure that naturally degrades after the sample is removed from the organism. The method includes causing the biological sample to adopt a shape to permit rapid and uniform heating. The shaped sample is then rapidly and uniformly heated, thereby altering a secondary structure of the macromolecule while preserving its primary structure.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are hereby disclosed for reducing the numbers of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella or other pathogens in an animal. The methods include administering to the animal a lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively low dosage in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium, followed by administration of the lactic acid producing bacterium at a relatively high dosage. The disclosed methods help achieve pre-harvest food safety and enhance feed performance while keeping the total cost relatively low. The preferred lactic acid producing bacterium is Lactobacillus acidophilus/animalis and the preferred lactate utilizing bacterium is Propionibacterium freudenreichii.