Abstract: Spore carriers suitable for use in biological indicators are described. The spore carriers include a substrate such as polymeric film or non-woven web with a hydrophilic nanostructured layer bonded to it. Spores are bonded to the nanostructured layer. Nanostructured layers including nanoparticles, such as acid-sintered silica nanoparticles are described. Biological indicators including such spore carriers are also described.

Abstract: A method for fermenting stalks of the Poaceae family is provided. This includes sugarcane, sorghum and maize stalks. This method compresses stalks between rollers to between 20% and 90% of their diameter while the stalks are submerged in an aqueous reagent solution. This fractures the stalks in the axial direction without significant loss of juice while simultaneously pulling the reagent solution into the resulting network of cracks in the parenchyma tissue. In some variants, the aqueous reagent solution contains fermentation organisms, the sugars diffuse from the parenchyma cells, come into contact with the fermentation organisms located in the cracks in the stalks and produce ethanol and lactic acid within the stalks. In some variants, combinations of enzymes, acids and Fenton reagent in the aqueous reagent solution diffuse into and degrade the lignocellulosic matrix in the stalks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Specifically, the present invention relates to the use of breath tests based on isotope-labeled octanoate in the detection and monitoring of HCC.

Abstract: The method of making a fermented dairy product from camel milk includes heating camel milk at 85° C. for thirty minutes, cooling the milk to about 60° C. and adding a stabilizer or hydrocolloid (preferably 0.02% by weight ?-carrageenan) to avoid whey off (whey separation) problems, then cooling the milk and adding a probiotic bacterial culture. The camel milk is fermented at between 40° C. and 45° C. for a time ranging between 4 and 12 hours, depending upon the particular bacterial culture used. The fermented camel milk is subjected to three successive storage steps to enrich the D-amino acid, antioxidant and antimicrobial content, storing the fermented camel milk at a temperature of 10° C. for 14 hours, then storing the fermented camel milk in a cold room at a temperature of 4° C., and then storing the fermented camel milk in a refrigerator at a temperature of 4° C. for between 1 and 15 days.

Abstract: A method produces a sugar liquid by repeating a sugar liquid production process including (1) to (3): (1) adding a filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to cellulose to perform primary hydrolysis; (2) adding a fresh filamentous fungus-derived cellulase to the hydrolysate in Step (1) to perform secondary hydrolysis; and (3) subjecting the hydrolysate in Step (2) to solid-liquid separation to obtain a sugar liquid, from which a recovered enzyme is obtained; wherein the recovered enzyme obtained in Step (3) is used for Step (1) of the next and later sugar liquid production processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode assembly 20, in particular for applying at least one electric field to adherent cells, comprising at least two electrodes 21, each having at least one surface 32 which is arranged opposite the corresponding surface 32 of the other electrode 21, wherein an electrically insulating material 26 is arranged at least partially between the surfaces 32 of the electrodes 21. The solution according to the invention allows the electric field to be concentrated in the region of the cells to be treated such that a voltage pulse, or the current produced thereby, flows through the cells without the majority flowing away over the cells unused in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of determining the thrombogenicity of an implantable medical device is disclosed. The implanted device is exposed in vitro to platelet rich plasma, the activity of an indicator is assayed, and the thrombogenicity is determined.

Abstract: Methods for the selection, evaluation, and/or treatment of a patient having cancer with an inhibitor of a glutamine-utilizing enzyme or a glutamine-depleting agent, by evaluating E-cadherin or vimentin expression are disclosed.

Abstract: An analytical apparatus is disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample, where in an analyte measurement at least an electrical or optical property changeable by presence of the analyte at least one test chemical of a test element is recorded, and where the analytical apparatus also can perform at least one quality measurement on the at least one test chemical such as an intrinsic luminescence, which is recorded and from the intrinsic luminescence a conclusion is drawn on a quality of the test chemical and thus the test element. Methods also are disclosed for detecting at least one analyte in a sample that include a quality measurement of the at least one test chemical of the test strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of the viable cells in an endodontic sample in or taken from an endodontic cavity in the tooth, such as the root canal, enables the rapid and low cost identification of the presence or absence of bacteria or other viable cell tissue in the endodontic space by first incubating a viable cell indicator with an endodontic sample for a pre-determined period suitable for chair-side test and then measuring and/or detecting a change in a parameter (e.g. fluorescence) associated with the viable cell indicator. Thereby, the required level of root canal treatment can be reached which minimizes the risk of re-infection without the time, cost and potentially harm of over-preparation and over treatment by the dental surgeon or of a re-treatment.

Abstract: Osteochondral graft composition that include a cartilage component and a bone component, and which include one or more perforations in the bone component and/or the cartilage component, are provided. Methods of manufacturing and using such osteochondral graft compositions are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to scaffold-free three dimensional nerve fibroblast constructs and method of generating the nerve fibroblast constructs. The invention also relates to methods or repairing nerve transection and replacing damaged nerve tissue using the nerve fibroblast constructs of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and materials for culturing and transporting stem cells in a three-dimensional culture. The materials comprise cellulose nanofibrils in a form of three-dimensional discontinuous entities in a biocompatible hydrogel.

Abstract: A neuroinhibitory substance for use in a method for treating or preventing headache comprising injecting a neuroinhibitory substance such as botulinium toxin in close proximity to the sphenopalatine ganglion or otic ganglion wherein an injection device comprising said neuroinhibitory substance is brought into close proximity to the sphenopalatine ganglion or otic ganglion by inserting said injection device into the patient transnasally or infrazygomatically and the neuroinhibitory substance injected in close proximity to the SPG or OG.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a device for transporting and preparing cellular material in a fluid for subsequent diagnostic purposes, comprising a cylinder having a fluid-tight screw-on cap and a fluid-tight base part that can be screwed off of the cylinder. The cap can be screwed onto the base part in a fluid-tight matter. The device provides for introducing cellular material to be diagnosed into a fluid in the cylinder, closing the cylinder by a cap for transport, removing the cap, introducing a filter device and concentrating the cellular material on a filter surface, after which the fluid level is at that part of the base part below the connection to the cylinder, disposing of the filtrate, removing the base part, pressing the filter surface onto an object carrier for a cell analysis, and closing the base part by the cap for further transport.

Abstract: The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried bacteria, in particular Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in food industry or in human or animal health applications.

Abstract: A method of removing a floatation liquid from between a microscope slide and a paraffin embedded biological specimen including position the microscope slide with the paraffin embedded biological specimen floated thereon onto a slide support element. The slide support element is rotated to cause the microscope slide and the paraffin embedded biological specimen to move in a way that causes the floatation liquid disposed between the microscope slide and the paraffin embedded biological specimen to be removed from between the microscope slide and the paraffin embedded biological specimen.

Abstract: Methods for performing dry chemistry, lateral flow-reconstituted chromatographic enzyme-driven assays are described. A combination of components necessary to elicit a specific enzyme reaction are predeposited as substrate in dry form together with ingredients necessary to produce a desired color upon occurrence of the desired reaction. The strip is equipped with a sample pad placed ahead of the substrate deposit in the flowstream, to which liquid sample is applied. The sample flows from the sample pad into the substrate zone where it immediately reconstitutes the dried ingredients while also intimately mixing with them and reacting with them at the fluid front. The fluid front moves rapidly into the final “read zone” wherein the color developed is read against predetermined color standards for the desired reaction. The assay in the format of the invention is faster and easier to perform than analogous wet chemistry assays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a predisposition for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in a subject, said method comprising the step of assessing in a sample obtained from said subject the amount of one or more metabolite(s) selected from (a) a first group comprising the metabolites glycine, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:2, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C17:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:1, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C34:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:3 and isobaric metabolites having the same molecular mass as glycine, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:2, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C17:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:0, lysoPhosphatidylcholine acyl C18:1, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C34:2, phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:2 or phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C36:3 but different chemical formula; and/or (b) a second group comprising the metabolite acetylcarnitine C2 and an isobaric m

Abstract: Described herein are porcine lactic acid bacterial strain compositions and processes of obtaining porcine lactic acid bacterial strains. Further aspects of the invention relate to food additives, supplements and probiotic compositions comprising said bacterial strains, and therapeutic uses of said bacterial strain compositions.