Abstract: The invention relates to a process for isolating a desired water-soluble product from a fermentation broth wherein the broth is circulated along a ceramic membrane, and wherein a trans-membrane pressure of at least 1.5 bar is applied, whereupon an aqueous solution containing the desired product traverses the membrane, and is subsequently collected. Advantageously, during this filtration process the temperature of the broth is maintained at 20 to 50° C., preferably at 30 to 45° C. According to the invention, a decreased process time and a higher capacity and efficiency of the filtration are obtained.

Abstract: An air sampler device and method for collecting airborne pathogens and psychrometric data for room or remote air samples wherein the sample volume is electronically controlled. Particulates in the air are caused to impact the surface of the growth/inhibitor media contained in the pathogen dish thereby depositing pathogenic microorganisms in the media. The growth/inhibitor media may be a solid, liquid, gel, or mixture thereof. After the pathogen dish is incubated, colony forming units are counted for determination of air quality parameters. A chip-based sensor measures psychrometric properties of the air sample.

Abstract: A highly reliable method of measuring an analyte in a sample using a redox reaction. In this method, a tetrazolium compound is added to a sample prior to the redox reaction so as to eliminate the influence of any reducing substance in the sample, then a reducing substance or an oxidizing substance derived from the analyte is formed, the quantity of the formed substance derived from the analyte is measured by the redox reaction, and the quantity of the analyte is determined from the quantity of the formed substance derived from the analyte. As the tetrazolium compound, for example, 2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt can be used.

Abstract: This relates to methods for the detection of psychoactive compounds in an in vitro neuronal tissue sample by detecting oscillations of extracellular voltage desirably before and after the introduction of a candidate sample onto an in vitro neuronal tissue sample and for devices useful in practicing the methods. Analysis of the extracellular voltage parameters leads to indication of the presence of psychoactive material in the candidate sample and information as to its pharmacological activity and/or composition. Further, it relates to a process of initiating and maintaining the presence of repetitive neuronal activity within the in vitro sample. Additionally, this includes a method for the stimulation of or initiation of repetitive neuronal activity, e.g.

Abstract: A glass capillary for DNA analysis is provided, which allows the DNA detection efficiency of a DNA analyzer that uses electrophoresis to be increased, and allows the DNA analyzer to have a simple structure. A glass capillary for DNA analysis has an internal hole, and each of the glass capillary and the internal hole has a rectangular cross section. Since the glass capillary and the internal hole each have a rectangular cross section, scattering of the laser beam at the surfaces of the glass capillary can be prevented and hence the transmittance of the laser beam can be increased. As a result, the detection efficiency of the electrophoretic DNA analyzer can be increased, and moreover the analyzer can be given a simple structure.

Abstract: A rapid method for detecting the presence or absence of coliform bacteria in a liquid or liquified dairy sample, for example, skimmed milk, lowfat milk, or whole milk. A growth medium containing a fluorogenic substrate is combined with the dairy sample and is incubated for a brief period of time, for example for about 4 hours, after which a first fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. The dairy sample is incubated again for about 2-8 hours after which a second fluorescence value of 4-methylumbelliferone is measured. Total, fecal, or thermotolerant coliform bacteria are determined to be present in the sample if the second fluorescent value exceeds the first fluorescent value by a predetermined 4-methylumbelliferone concentration threshold.

Abstract: A method for detecting Helicobacter pylori in a subject's gastroenteral tract involves measuring a change in resistance of an electronic or electrochemical sensor, notably a polypyrrole film, on exposure to gas from the subject's lungs and/or stomach. Depending on the magnitude of the change (if any) a positive or negative result is indicated visually by electronics means. Two sensors are used, one of which receives a sample of gas which has passed through an amonia-absorbing means to provide a corrected baseline value for the ammonia. The invention also provides apparatus suitable for carrying out the method.

Abstract: It has been discovered that when pluripotent stem cells are cultured in the presence of a hepatocyte differentiation agent, a population of cells is derived that has a remarkably high proportion of cells with phenotypic characteristics of liver cells. In one example, human embryonic stem cells are allowed to form embryoid bodies, and then combined with the differentiation agent n-butyrate, optionally supplemented with maturation factors. In another example, n-butyrate is added to human embryonic stem cells in feeder-free culture. Either way, a remarkably uniform cell population is obtained, which is predominated by cells with morphological features of hepatocytes, expressing surface markers characteristic of hepatocytes, and having enzymatic and biosynthetic activity important for liver function.

Abstract: An amino acid-trehalose composition comprising an amino acid composition which comprises proline, alanine, glycine, valine, threonine, leucine, histidine, lysine, isoleucine, arginine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine; and trehalose. The amino acid-trehalose composition has effects of compensating the reduction of the blood level of amino acids associated with severe exercise, of improving the exercise, of reducing the degree of fatigue after exercise and of recovering from fatigue. In addition, the administration of the composition permits the inhibition of the consumption of amino acids associated with exercise and any induction of fatigue accompanied by exercise.

Abstract: An additive formulation comprising heparinase and trehalose, a method for using the formulation and a device containing the formulation. The additive formulation is useful in substantially neutralizing residual heparin from a blood sample when used in a blood collection tube without interfering with the clinical analysis of the blood sample.

Abstract: New biologically active compounds are described which inhibit the cellular formation of niacinamide mononucleotide, and essential intermediate of the NAD(P) biosynthesis in the cell. These compounds can represent the active ingredient of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of cancers, leukaemias or for immunosuppression. Furthermore, screening methods are described as a tool for detecting the above active compounds, and for examination of a given cell type for its dependency on niacinamide as a precursor for NAD synthesis.

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical element for determining the amount of an analyte in a liquid containing a sample application zone (1) and a detection zone (2) which are in liquid-transferring contact, the latter containing at least one enzyme and an indicator substance, the enzyme catalysing a reaction in which the analyte or a substance derived from the analyte participates and the indicator substance forming a signal when the analyte is present which signal correlates with the amount of analyte, and containing a liquid-permeable interference-reducing layer (3) in direct contact with the detection zone (2) arranged such that liquid does not reach the detection zone until it has passed through the interference-reducing layer, the interference-reducing layer containing at least one enzyme which participates in a reaction of the analyte to be determined or of a substance derived from the analyte, wherein the analyte or the substance derived from the analyte is converted enzymatically in the interference-re

Abstract: A sensor for detecting analytes of interest is described. Analyte presence or concentration is determined through measurement of changes in induced electromotive force, current or other electrical property in a sensor strip during analyte exposure to the sensor. According to one class of embodiments, the present device immobilizes natural or synthetic macromolecules sufficiently close to an electrically-conductive base member to insure that interaction of analyte with the macromolecules will lead to altered de novo electrical signals in the sensor strip of base member and macromolecules. Performance of the sensor is enhanced by the use of resistance-modifying element in a circuit that includes the sensor strip, and by an adhesive agent disposed between the base member and at least one electrical lead of a detection unit.

Abstract: A non invasive method for determining the blood coagulation status of a human or an animal is described. F1+2, F1, F2, FpA, D-dimers, F1+2 combined with F1, or F1+2 combined with F2 are measured in saliva, sputum and related biological samples. The respective concentrations are inversely correlated to the time it takes blood to coagulate and the probability of bleeding, and directly correlated to the probability of in-vivo formation of a thrombus or emboli. The method can be used in any coagulation disorder study, including congenital, acquired or drug-induced.

Abstract: A device and method to detect oxidant adulterants added to a sample to prevent detection of tetrahydrocannabinol and/or tetrahydrocannabinol metabolites. The device and method detect popularly available adulterants such as chromate and nitrite through their reaction with a chromogenic substrate for a peroxidase enzyme. The substrate may be applied to a pad. A change in color in the presence of the oxidant may be detected directly or indirectly. The device and method may be used to detect the presence of any oxidant adulterant and is not specific for only one or a few adulterants added to a urine sample submitted for drug testing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting ATP in a sample, wherein the sample is contacted with a reaction mixture to effect a light signal, the reaction mixture comprising luciferin, luciferase and one or more water-soluble salts, the total salt concentration being at least 0.05 mole/liter, and wherein the light signal is measured. A kit is described for detecting ATP in a sample comprising luciferin, luciferase and a buffer solution comprising salts. A composition for detecting ATP in a sample comprising a total salt concentration of at least 0.05 mole/liter for prolonging a light signal occurring in a luciferin-luciferase reaction is also provided.

Abstract: A device for detecting and indicating the caffeine concentration of a beverage includes a disposable test sheet having a reagent section and a color chart. The reagent section is impregnated with a reagent which, when reacted with caffeine, produces a characteristic chromogenic and color change. These changes vary according to the caffeine concentration of a tested beverage sample. The color chart includes a plurality of color gradations corresponding to ranges of caffeine concentrations and includes numerical indicia corresponding to respective color gradations. The color chart further includes indicia indicative of representative beverages corresponding to respective color gradations and numerical ranges. The color chart may be arranged concentrically about the reagent section or in tabular list form. The test sheet includes a polymeric layer to prevent a beverage sample from soaking through the reagent section.

Abstract: A method for the diagnostic detection of diseases associated with protein depositions (pathological protein depositions) by measuring an association of substructures of the pathological protein depositions, structures forming pathological protein depositions, structures corresponding to pathological protein depositions and/or pathological protein depositions as a probe; to substructures of the pathological protein depositions structures forming pathological protein depositions, structures corresponding to pathological protein deposition and/or pathological protein depositions as targets; characterized in that the target is detected in liquid phase wherein, in the case of detecting Alzheimer's disease, the liquid phase is obtained from body fluids or is itself a body fluid; with the proviso that the association of the probe to the target is measured before self-aggregation of the probe predominates.

Abstract: An improved cell carrier grid. The grid is capable of containing and retaining individual living cells in an array discrete locations and includes a body that defines having an ordered array of holes arranged according to an organizational plan such that each of the holes is identifiable. Each of said holes can contain at least a portion of an individual living cell. According to some embodiments of the invention, individual cells contained within said holes reside substantially in a single focal plane so that accuracy of data collected is increased. According to some embodiments of the invention, said body is at least partially coated with a biologically active material. According to some embodiments of the invention, said body is designed and constructed such that said individual cells contained within said holes are recoverable by a recovery device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns class II cytochrome P450s, electrochemical systems for assaying cytochrome P450 catalytic activity, apparatus and methods for same.