Abstract: This document provides methods and materials for treating a mammal (e.g., a human) having one or more stenotic blood vessels. For example, amnion coated balloons that can be used in balloon angioplasty are provided.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a basophil analysis. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye; and then (b) using measurements of light scatter and fluorescence emission to distinguish basophils from other WBC sub-populations. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include performing a basophil cluster analysis of the blood sample, based on the combination of light scatter and fluorescence measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a white blood cell (WBC) differential analysis. The systems and methods screen WBCs by means of fluorescence staining and a fluorescence triggering strategy. As such, interference from unlyzed red blood cells (RBCs) and fragments of lysed RBCs is substantially eliminated. The systems and methods also enable development of relatively milder WBC reagent(s), suitable for assays of samples containing fragile WBCs. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye, which corresponds in emission spectrum to an excitation source of a hematology instrument; (b) using a fluorescence trigger to screen the blood sample for WBCs; and (c) using measurements of (1) axial light loss, (2) intermediate angle scatter, (3) 90° polarized side scatter, (4) 90° depolarized side scatter, and (5) fluorescence emission to perform a differentiation analysis.

Abstract: An adjuvant for rapid proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro is provided to overcome the problem of low cell amplification efficiency of human mesenchymal stem cells in a culture process. The adjuvant added for the culture of human mesenchymal stem cells includes at least one antioxidant, and a basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). The adjuvant is added into a medium containing the human mesenchymal stem cells, and the culture takes place in a normal oxygen environment (21% oxygen tension), and the cells are divided rapidly, and the cell cycle at synthesis phase (S phase) percentage is increased to reduce ageing and improve differentiation potential. The adjuvant not only amplifies human mesenchymal stem cells rapidly to harvest the growth factor, but also maintains the characteristics of the multifunction of stem cells for the purposes of culturing and amplifying the human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and compositions comprising a microalgae consortium. A composition comprises at least one genera of microalgae flocculated by Paenibacillus polymyxa strain, Strain 2, deposited under the Budapest Treaty as ATCC Accession No. PTA-12841. Methods of treating the soil comprise adding a composition of the present invention to soil.

Abstract: Processes for transesterifying wax esters. Implementations may include providing a feedstock including wax esters, introducing into the feedstock an alcohol with a carbon number ranging from 1 to 34 carbons where the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of a straight chain alcohol, a branched chain alcohol, any combination of straight chain alcohols, any combination of branched chain alcohols, and any combination thereof. The process may include contacting the feedstock with a lipase, and catalytically transesterifying the wax esters in the feedstock with the lipase to form a transesterified product. The enzymatically transesterified product may be adapted to produce a finished product having a certain formula that has a viscosity that substantially matches a viscosity of a finished product having the same certain formula including chemically catalyzed transesterified wax esters.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are solutions for use with machine perfusion of one or more organs. In some embodiments, the solutions comprise acellular cross-linked hemoglobin in a physiologically acceptable medium. Also disclosed herein are methods for machine perfusion of one or more organs, for example utilizing the disclosed perfusion solutions. In some embodiments, the methods include perfusing an organ with an oxygenated solution (such as the disclosed solutions) which is at a temperature between about 12-37° C., for example at a temperature of about 21° C.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical products, including a surgical mesh, with a layer of dehydrated modified basement membrane preparation formed thereon. The basement membrane has been modified before dehydration of remove low molecular weight components. In some embodiments, the basement membrane is crosslinked. Methods of making and using the products also are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of isolating cells includes providing a microfluidic device having at least one microfluidic channel coupled to an inlet and an outlet, the at least one microfluidic channel comprises at least one expansion region disposed along the length thereof. The at least one expansion region is an abrupt increase in a cross-sectional dimension of the at least one microfluidic channel configured to generate a vortex within the at least one expansion region in response to fluid flow. A solution containing a population of cells at least some of which have diameters ?10 ?m flows into the inlet. A portion of cells is trapped within vortex created within the at least one expansion region. The trapped cells may then released from the expansion region.

Abstract: The present invention concerns rhodamine based fluorescent probes which have use in detecting coagulase-producing bacterial strains. In particular, wherein the bacterial strain is MRSA or MSSA.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to treatment of sepsis and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods for predicting a response of a sepsis patient to treatment with L-carnitine.

Abstract: A method of treating a cardio-renal disease is described that includes administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-6 (PCSK6), or an effective fragment thereof, which functions as a corin activator.

Abstract: Viral infections of the eye, and particularly viral infections in the Herpesviridae and Adenoviridae families, can be treated by administration of a pharmaceutical made up of an enzymatically active ribonuclease and a vehicle. Advantageously, the enzymatically active ribonuclease is ranpirnase, the '805 variant, rAmphinase 2, and Amphinase 2, and the vehicle is an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a panel of bacteriophage, wherein the panel comprise any one or more bacteriophage selected from the group consisting of:—NCTC 12081404, NCTC 12081405, NCTC 12081406, NCTC 12081407, NCTC 12081408, NCTC 12081409 and NCTC 12081410. The invention also relates to the use of such panels for treating C. difficile infection, or for prophylactic treatment of subjects not yet colonized by C. difficile or that have been colonized but the colonization has not yet progressed to infection.

Abstract: The process aseptically inoculates a liquid media with a vegetative Xylaria fungal species to form a culture; statically incubates the culture in a vessel for a time sufficient to begin initiation of fruit body development and asexual sporulation and halts incubation at maximum conidia production prior to the beginning of sexual sporulation. Thereafter, the entire culture contents of the incubation vessel are macerated to homogenize the fungal biomass and conidia therein and form an inoculum.

Abstract: Provided is a method of screening for a microorganism having enhanced cellulose productivity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are bioreactor systems and methods of utilizing said systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two stage continuous microbiological process for the production of solvents such as acetone, butanol and ethanol. The process involves the use of a solventogenic bacteria such as clostridia. In the first(acidogenic) stage, the culture vessel is fed with fresh growth media at dilution rates that support fast growth and acid production. The culture flows into the second (solventogenic) stage, which is a separate culture vessel or vessels, designed to provide the culture with sufficient residence time to convert acids into solvents. This vessel can be tubular or a series of linked batch vessels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of nanoscale materials, and more specifically to the field of nanoscale materials for activating delivered molecules at a target location.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for generating methane from a carbonaceous feedstock with simultaneous in situ sequestration of carbon dioxide to afford a biogas comprising at least 85 percent by volume methane, the method comprising anaerobically incubating a particulate additive in contact with a carbonaceous feedstock in a neutral or alkaline aqueous culture medium containing a culture of methanogenic consortia and collecting methane generated therefrom. The additive comprises at least one material selected from a biochar, an ash produced by gasification or combustion of a carbonaceous material, a black carbon soil, and a Terra Preta soil.