Abstract: The invention present provides a method (and suitable apparatus) to convert biomass to ethanol, comprising gasifying the biomass to produce raw syngas; feeding the raw syngas to an acid-gas removal unit to remove at least some CO2 and produce a conditioned syngas stream; feeding the conditioned syngas stream to a fermentor to biologically convert the syngas to ethanol; capturing a tail gas from an exit of the fermentor, wherein the tail gas comprises at least CO2 and unconverted CO or H2; and recycling a first portion of the tail gas to the fermentor and/or a second portion of the tail gas to the acid-gas removal unit. This invention allows for increased syngas conversion to ethanol, improved process efficiency, and better overall biorefinery economics for conversion of biomass to ethanol.

Abstract: A system and method for vertically-oriented, modular, automated, emissions-controlled composting. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method involve construction of a vertically-oriented set of composting modules comprising a receiving and offloading level, one or more composting bay levels, a feedstock staging level, a biofilter level, a vertical conveyor for uploading feedstock to the feedstock staging level, a freight and personnel elevator, and a leachate tank. This composting system and method reduces the land area required for composting, increases the capture of emissions from composting, and reduces the labor-intensive and heavy-equipment-intensive nature of current methods.

Abstract: A gene sequencing reaction device, a gene sequencing system and a gene sequencing reaction method. The gene sequencing reaction device includes: a supporting platform; a dipping container disposed on the supporting platform, wherein the dipping container has a dipping reaction area, and the dipping reaction area is configured to hold a chemical reagent for gene sequencing reaction, so as to dip a sequencing chip having a DNA sample loading structure on the surface and having a DNA sample loaded thereon in the chemical reagent to perform a gene sequencing reaction; a temperature control apparatus, configured to control the temperature of the chemical reagent in the dipping reaction area; and a transfer apparatus, configured to insert the sequencing chip into the dipping reaction area or pull out the sequencing chip from the dipping reaction area.

Abstract: A calculation device (10) includes a calculation unit (14) that: acquires culture data over time indicating a relationship between a DO value detected in a culture solution and an oxygen supply amount controlled by a freely-selected control method, the culture solution being stored in a first culture tank (2) in which a culturing target material is cultured; identifies a culture model indicating a relationship between the oxygen supply amount for the culturing target material increasing over time and the DO value, based on the culture data; and executes simulation of virtually culturing the culturing target material in a second culture tank (20) using a culture control method of culturing the culturing target material based on the culture model and the oxygen supply amount in the second culture tank, and calculates parameters to be used in the culture control method based on the simulation result.

Abstract: This disclosure describes microfluidic tissue biopsy and immune response drug evaluation devices and systems. A microfluidic device can include an inlet channel having a first end configured to receive a fluid sample optionally containing a tissue sample. The microfluidic device can also include a tissue trapping region at the second end of the inlet channel downstream from the first end. The tissue trapping region can include one or more tissue traps configured to catch a tissue sample flowing through the inlet channel such that the fluid sample contacts the tissue trap. The microfluidic device can also include one or more channels providing an outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for examining a medium (100) inside a bioreactor (200; 201), comprising a sample-taking module (20) for taking a sample of the medium (100). The sample-taking module (20) comprises an uptake region (10; 10a; 10b) that can be arranged to make contact with the medium (100) inside the bioreactor (200; 201). At least two different membranes (15, 16) are positioned on the uptake region (10; 10a; 10b) of said sample-taking module (20), for the purpose of taking a sample of the medium (100).

Abstract: A glomerulus on a chip (GOAC) to recapitulate the human glomerular filtration barrier, the structure responsible for filtering the blood and preventing the loss of proteins, is provided using human podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells seeded into microfluidic chips. In long-term cultures, cells maintain their morphology, form capillary-like structures and express slit diaphragm proteins. This system recapitulates functions and structure of the glomerulus, including permselectivity. When exposed to sera from patients with anti-podocyte autoantibodies, the chips show albuminuria proportional to patients' proteinuria, phenomenon not observed with sera from healthy controls or individuals with primary podocyte defects. Also shown is its applicability for renal disease modeling and drug testing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for containing and manipulating liquids, including vessels and unit operations or components of cell culture, cell containment, bioreactor, and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing systems. In certain embodiments, such vessels and unit operations are directed to continuous perfusion reactor or bioreactor systems and may include one or more disposable components. In one aspect, a system includes an apparatus in the form of a bioreactor for harvesting cells. The apparatus may include a disposable, collapsible bag for containing a liquid, the collapsible bag in fluid communication with a liquid-solids separation device. An outlet of the collapsible bag may be connected to an inlet of the separation device, and an outlet of the separation device may be connected to an inlet of the collapsible bag. After separating the cells from the liquid in the separation device, the cells can flow back into the collapsible bag for re-harvesting.

Abstract: A pressure buffering system includes a housing, a pump module, a pressure sensor and a pressure cylinder. The pump module, the pressure sensor and the pressure cylinder are disposed in the housing. The pressure cylinder is communicated between the pump module and the pressure sensor. A biological culture device is further provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a structured cell growth matrix or assembly comprising a one or more spacer layers and one or more cell immobilization layers. The invention further provides a bioreactor comprising said matrix or assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite sensor assembly includes: providing a port including a high surface tension thermoplastic, the port having a hollow tubular portion and a base having a polymer surface; fusing the polymer surface of the port to a wall of a polymeric bioprocess vessel so that the port communicates with an opening in the wall; and retaining a sensor unit within the hollow tubular portion of the port with an adhesive, at least a portion of the sensor unit being polymeric, wherein the port provides the sensor unit access to an interior of the polymeric bioprocess vessel.

Abstract: A system for fluorescence activated cell sorting includes at least two excitation lasers having different orientations relative to an objective such that light from the at least two lasers passes through the objective and intersects a fluidic channel at different positions within an interrogation region. The fluidic channel directs a flow of a plurality of fluorescently labeled particles through the interrogation region. The system further includes at least one detector and at least one optical element that directs light emitted from the plurality of fluorescently labeled particles and transmitted through the objective to the at least one detector. The system may further include optics for generating and detecting side and forward scattered light. Methods for operating example systems to collect fluorescent, side scattered and forward scattered light from a plurality of particles are also described herein.

Abstract: A cell culture microdevice for maintaining and culturing a cell therein comprising a cell culture unit having at least a first cell carrier unit defining a cell culture chamber formed therein, the first cell carrier unit formed from at least, a chamber base shaped to support the cell thereon, and one or more chamber walls having one or more chamber wall surfaces enclosing the cell culture chamber about a chamber boundary, the first cell carrier unit further providing a guiding surface to guide instruments or fluids into the cell culture chamber located at an aperture through a chamber wall, wherein the cell culture microdevice is configured at a scale to substantially enclose a single cell or cell mass therein. Embodiments of the cell culture microdevice may be suitable for in vitro fertilisation procedures and drug efficacy testing.

Abstract: Disclosed devices for recovering cryopreserved tissue can comprise a receptacle that receives a sealed, frozen tissue container containing cryopreserved tissue and cryopreservation media, with at least one recovery media chamber and a waste material chamber fluidly coupled to the tissue container receptacle. The recovery device can be inserted into a regulator apparatus that facilitates thawing and warming of the media and tissue, and regulation of the flow of recovery media through the tissue container to flush out the thawed cryopreservation media into the waste chamber. The regulator can identify the tissue based on an ID tag on the tissue container and automatically apply an appropriate algorithm for thawing, culturing, and maintaining the tissue in a viable state.

Abstract: An improved method of culturing cells for cell therapy applications that includes growing desired cells in the presence of antigen-presenting cells and/or feeder cells and with medium volume to surface area ratio of up to 1 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is not comprised of gas permeable material and up to 2 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is comprised of gas permeable material. The desired cells are at a surface density of less than 0.5×106 cells/cm2 at the onset of a production cycle, and the surface density of the desired cells plus the surface density of the antigen presenting cells and/or feeder cells are at least about 1.25×105 cells/cm2.

Abstract: A filtration assembly is provided, comprising a reservoir for holding a sample to be filtered, the reservoir having open top and bottom ends, and inwardly facing arms arranged at the bottom end, the reservoir having an elastic side wall; a fluid port in fluid communication with the reservoir; a porous microorganism-capturing filter element disposed across a flow path between the reservoir and the port, the filter element being releasably retained by the inwardly facing arms; an absorbent pad arranged below the filtration element and the inwardly facing arms, disposed across the flow path between the reservoir and the port; a base detachably mounted to the reservoir, the base including the port, and a support surface for supporting the pad; wherein compressing the elastic side wall releases the filter element from the inwardly facing arms after the base is detached from the reservoir.

Abstract: A fermentation unit and a method of carrying out fermentation are described. The fermentation unit can be transported from one facility to another to carry out a fermentation process. The fermentation unit and method allow for the fermentation of a C1-containing substrate from a source at a particular facility to produce products such as alcohols and acids. Examples of the source of the C1-containing substrate include without limitation steel manufacturing processes, coal and biomass gasification processes, coke manufacturing processes, etc. The fermentation unit can be housed within a container having a volume of less than about 6 m3.

Abstract: A cell culture device includes a control unit that includes a first gas supply source, a second gas supply source, and a decompression source, and a culture unit that includes a first container, a second container, a first gas channel that connects a third container, the first gas supply source, the second container to a connection point, a second gas channel, a third gas channel, a first liquid channel, a second liquid channel, a gas-liquid channel, a first valve, a second valve, a third valve, a fourth valve, and a fifth valve.

Abstract: A perfusion bioreactor and a perfusion device. Each perfusion device has a mesh structure, and an encapsulated organ tissue (EOT) disposed in the mesh structure. The EOT has a body with a thickness defined between a first surface of the body and a second surface of the body. The body has at least one channel extending into the body from one of the first and second surfaces to receive a fluid therein. The at least one channel has a diameter selected to diffuse solutes out of the fluid and into the body. The perfusion devices are arranged one adjacent to another and spaced apart from each other along the length of the bioreactor to receive fluid, and to perfuse the fluid to the EOT of each perfusion device and to the at least one channel therein. A method of processing blood plasma and an artificial liver system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a microfluidic device comprising at least one cell culture chamber, the at least one cell culture chamber being connected to at least two openings, the device being configured to supply at least one physiologically active substance from at least one of the openings to the at least one cell culture chamber in such a manner as to form a concentration gradient or concentration gradients in the at least one chamber when cells and a hydrogel are introduced into the at least one cell culture chamber to culture the cells in a 3D-gel medium.