Abstract: A chromatographic device is disclosed. The device comprises in combination a housing, a strip of bibulous material non-removably confined in the housing. The strip has a length and width only slightly less than the length and width of the inner walls of the housing. The inner walls of the housing have means attached thereto for supportively confining the strip in the housing. The strip is confined so that (1) the front and back of the strip are essentially free from contact with the walls of the housing and (2) the capillary action of the strip remains substantially unchanged, and (3), where the strip is paper, the strip is allowed to expand as it is traversed by the liquid medium. The bottom end of the housing contains means for enabling contact of a portion of the strip with the liquid medium. The housing further contains means for visually observing the strip and can also contain indicating means cooperative therewith to assist in determining the result of a chromatographic test.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of sewage in which the sewage is supplied to an aeration basin and treated therein by a biomass of aerobic microorganisms with simultaneous supply of air and addition of calcium phosphate. Thereafter, the mixture of the biomass and the deteriorations being the substrate of said microorganisms (M. L. S. S.) is forwarded to a clarifier, wherein the biomass and the effluent are separated from each other and withdrawn separately. The calcium super phosphate is advantageously added in an amount of 0.35 mg/g-2 mg/g M. L. S. S. as a 10% aqueous slurry.

Abstract: A novel analytical method for bilirubin in biological fluids. Bilirubin is catalytically oxidized to biliverdin in the presence of bilirubin oxidase (BOX) and the latter is revertedly back-converted to initial bilirubin in the presence of suitable reducing agents. The corresponding oxidation of said reducing agents provides a signal which is monitored and provides the desired analytical data.When using selected organic fluoro-compound, said signal is provided by the release of F.sup.- ions which can be measured electrometrically.

Abstract: Antifoaming agents are commonly used during culturing of enzyme-producing microorganisms. These antifoams often persist through enzyme processing, slowing filtrations, clogging filtration membranes and adversely affecting the quality of the final product. The present invention describes a method for removing antifoams, and often carbohydrates and pigments, from enzyme systems using mineral clay, the preferred clay being bentonite.

Abstract: A method is provided for the quantitative determination of L-fucose in a sample solution. According to the method an L-fucose dehydrogenase having its optimum pH around neutrality is allowed to act upon the sample solution in the presence or absence of an .alpha.-L-fucosidase, and the amount of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide thus formed is measured.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target microbe in a sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.

Abstract: A novel material and device useful in solid-phase binding assays to determine the presence or amount of an analyte in a test sample, particularly antigens, antibodies, or other ligands or DNA segments. The material and device comprises a reaction site having procedural controls and an analyte binding area capable of being simultaneously contacted by the sample and reagent used in the performance of the assay. The procedural controls and analyte binding areas operate to provide readable results as to the presence or absence of analyte and simultaneously verify the assay procedure and therefore the assay result.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for identifying in vitro an animal-infective form of a parasitic protozoan which comprises recovering total mRNA from the protozoan and detecting in the mRNA so recovered the presence of a mRNA transcript encoding a heat shock protein associated with animal-infective parasitic protozoans, which transcript is present only in the animal-infective form of the protozoan, or quantitatively determining in the mRNA so recovered the number of a mRNA transcript encoding a heat shock protein associated with animal-infective parasitic protozoans, which transcript is present in increased number only in the animal-infective form of the parasitic protozoan.This invention also concerns a method for identifying an agent capable of blocking the formation of the animal-infective form of a parasitic protozoan.

Abstract: A testing device allows field tests to determine the presence of microorganisms in a given fluid. A container may have a culture medium in dry form, and a floatable device in the container. When a liquid sample is placed into a container, the floatable device floats on the surface and intercedes the exchange of oxygen from the atmosphere to the liquid. An oxygen content sufficient for aerobes is provided at the surface of the liquid, a reduced oxygen content for microaerobes provided just below the intercedent device, and no-oxygen content for anaerobes is provided at the bottom of the container. Selection of the culture medium can assist in detecting specific organisms, and further information can be gained by observing colorations, gas bubbles, precipitates and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for photosynthesis has a reaction bath in which a plurality of narrow tubular photoradiators are arranged to radiate light therefrom and spaced from each other by a distance which is not more than about 2 mm. Each photoradiator has a cross-section which is cylindrical, equilateral triangular, tetragonal or hexagonal. A baffle plate is disposed below the photoradiators and is formed with a number of apertures therethrough in a predetermined area thereof which may be a radially central area or a generally annular peripheral area. CO.sub.2 -containing air is fed into the reaction bath through the apertures in the baffle plate to circulate along a predetermined path inside the reaction bath due to the remaining non-apertured part of the baffle plate. The function of the baffle plate may be performed by plugging which blocks the passage of the air through the spacings between the lower ends of the adjacent photoradiators in the predetermined area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the deodorization of foul-smelling substances by the use of a single strain or a few strains of autotrophic bacteria.

Abstract: A process for the production of microbial cells by fermentation of carbonaceous material in a foam fermenter containing an oxygen-enriched nutrient medium. The process uses a source of carbon which is assimilable by the microorganism for the produciton of the microbial cells. The microbial cells are separated and removed from the foam fermenter for use as a food product high in protein content. The process includes the controlled release of a quantity of the constituents of a portion of the microorganism within the fermenter to increase the maintenance of the source of carbon and the nutrient medium in a foamed condition at a predetermined level in the fermenter. Also dislosed are various forms of apparatus for practicing the process of the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for screening microorganisms for the production of extracellular enzymes. Colonies growing on the surface of a solid medium capable of extracellular enzyme synthesis are identified by reacting the enzyme or enzyme product surrounding each cology with an analytically indicatable reagent which does not adversely effect the viability of said colonies.

Abstract: In a method for culturing and cultivating fungi according to the present invention, the woods with the small diameter are used as the host woods. Into these woods with the small diameter, the fungi are inoculated through a cellulose sheet. The inoculated fungi are cultured and cultivated in a plastic bag having a porous site.According to the culture and cultivation method of the present invention, the mushroom of high quality can be harvested in a very short period.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a unique biologically pure culture of a microorganism belonging to Alcaligenes species. The microorganism has the property of producing novel 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17.beta.-HSD) capable of enzymatic reaction with an androgen and an estrogen. The methods of isolation the microorganism and the 17.beta.-HSD have been described. An assay and a kit for detecting the presence of C.sub.18 and C.sub.19 steroids in biological samples have also been disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of the microorganisms. The operation is conducted in two stages. The first stage is conducted in the absence of ultrafiltration while the pH of the growth medium is maintained within the range of 6-7 by the addition of a neutralizing agent. Nutrient substratum and dilution water are added during the first stage to maintain the growth rate at a constant level, and the volume of growth medium is permitted to increase. When the amount of growth inhibiting agent produced in the fermentation reaches a predetermined maximum level, the second stage is initiated and the growth rate is maintained in a range of 0.10 to 0.50/hr, which is less than the growth rate in the first stage. By increasing the amount of dilution water the concentration of the growth inhibiting agent is maintained so as to achieve the desired moderate growth rate.

Abstract: A patient's acceptance of a transplanted organ or tissue from a donor may be enhanced by irradiating donor-specific blood with ultraviolet-B radiation at a dosage of less than 1000 J/M.sup.2 so as to render the blood capable of inducing donor-specific immunological unresponsiveness in the patient, transfusing the irradiated, donor-specific blood into the patient prior to transplanting the organ or tissue into the patient to enhance subsequent acceptance of the organ or tissue by the patient, and thereafter transplanting the organ or tissue into the subject.A patient's acceptance of transplanted organs and tissues can also be enhanced by removing the organ or tissue from the donor and irradiating the organ or tissue to be transplanted with ultraviolet-B radiation at a dosage of less than 1000 J/m.sup.2 so as to enhance acceptance of the transplanted organ or tissue and then transplanting the irradiated organ or tissue into patient.

Abstract: There is provided a hermetically closed culture vessel in which miroorganisms are cultivated simultaneously or consecutively on a liquid culture medium and on one or more solid culture media.The culture vessel is transparent, and contains in its lower part a liquid culture medium. From the cap, closing the vessel, there extends downwardly an elongated support for the solid culture medium or media, which is essentially parallel with the central axis of the vessel, which terminates above the liquid culture medium.The growth on the solid culture medium is conveniently inspected from the side of the culture vessel.

Abstract: A method is described for kinetic measurement of enzyme activity bound to a solid matrix which improves both the sensitivity and speed of one immunoassay method. The immunoassay typically consists of reaction of the analyte with two specific antibodies, one fixed to the surface of a polymeric bead or wall of a test tube, the other added in solution and labeled by covalent coupling to an enzyme. By reaction between analyte and both antibodies, the enzyme-labeled antibody becomes fixed to the surface in a quantity proportional to the quantity of the analyte. After washing sufficiently to remove unreacted enzyme-labeled antibody, fixed enzyme activity is measured by incubation with a substrate and measurement of the rate of the reaction catalyzed. Fixation of the enzyme causes the reaction products to be localized near the surface. To measure the concentration of reactant or product repeatedly during the reaction, the solution must be mixed before each measurement, which can interfere with the measurement.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for at least semi-automated plant tissue culture propagation comprising: providing plant tissue culture containing a large number of densely packed meristematic areas, automatically separating and thinning the tissue into small clusters of meristematic tissues, bulk transporting the separated tissue aseptically to a separating apparatus wherein the tissue is washed and propagules of substantially uniform size and substantially free of phytotoxic cell debris are obtained, aseptically transporting the propagules to a culture vessel and distributing the propagules on the surface of a culture medium.