Abstract: A method of diagnosing cystic fibrosis in a human subject is provided. The method includes the steps of: i) determining in a biological sample from the subject the level of one or more metabolic biomarkers; ii) comparing the level of the biomarker to a control level and determining the difference between the biomarker level and the control level; and iii) determining that the subject has cystic fibrosis or a related disorder when the difference in the level of the biomarker in the sample is statistically different from the control level.

Abstract: The microorganism-containing biocatalysts disclosed have a large population of the microorganisms irreversibly retained in the interior of the biocatalysts. The biocatalysts possess a surprisingly stable population of microorganisms and have an essential absence of debris generation from metabolic activity of the microorganisms. The biocatalysts are composed of highly hydrophilic polymer and have an internal, open, porous structure that promotes community phenotypic changes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell culture media compositions comprising deep eutectic solvents and/or ionic liquids.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cartridge, detection module, system, and kit for cell and particle detection and analysis. Devices disclosed herein may include at least an optical source, a fluidic chip, and a detection module, wherein the sample flows within the fluidic chip past a detection window, where the cells or particles are imaged by an image acquisition and analysis module that may include an optical detector. The image acquisition and analysis module may count the cells or particles of interest in real-time, or near real-time, or the module may capture images of the cells in order to analyze the sample from combined images at a later time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of microorganisms. The device can comprise a base, a coversheet, and a nonporous spacer member disposed therebetween. The spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a growth compartment. At least one adhesive layer is adhered to the base or the coversheet in the growth compartment. A cold water-soluble gelling agent and an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent are adhered to the at least one adhesive layer. The carbon dioxide-generating reagent consists essentially of particles having a diameter of less than 106 microns.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the prevention and treatment of Influenza, and more particularly Influenza A Virus Subtype H1N1, with the use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more digestive enzymes, such as pancreatic enzymes and porcine pancreatic enzymes. The disclosure further relates to the use of an individual's fecal chymotrypsin level as an indicator, e.g., biomarker of whether an individual may be more susceptible to Influenza, e.g., Influenza A Subtype H1N1, and/or whether an individual will benefit from administration of the described pharmaceutical compositions. Use of the compositions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and detergents, e.g., to reduce or eradicate influenza virus present on living or inanimate surfaces is also contemplated.

Abstract: A method and device for standardizing myoblast differentiation into myotubes, including a substrate (1) and at least one cell-adhesive pattern (2) for culturing myoblasts on the substrate. The pattern (2) has an elongated surface. A central region (2C) and two lateral regions (2L) extend from the central region in both directions along a longitudinal axis of the pattern. The ratio between the maximum width (WC) of the central region (2C) and the maximum width (WL) of the lateral regions (2L) is greater than or equal to 2. The ratio between the length (L) and the maximum width (WC) of the pattern (2) is less than or equal to 4. The method includes providing a device as described above, depositing myoblasts on at least one cell-adhesive pattern of the device, culturing the myoblasts in a differentiation medium to promote cell differentiation into myotubes and constrain elongation of the myotubes.

Abstract: There is provided a method for easily determining an undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells without relying on the judgment of a skilled technician. The method includes: a step of evaluating an undifferentiated state of pluripotent stem cells based on a time-dependent change in a variation value of an extracellular metabolite contained in a culture medium in which the pluripotent stem cells are cultured, wherein the extracellular metabolite is at least one selected from a group consisting of L-glutamic acid, L-alanine and ammonia.

Abstract: This method for producing a compound uses a continuous tank reactor which is provided with two or more reaction tanks for producing the compound and with a reaction liquid feeding pipe that feeds a reaction liquid from an upstream reaction tank to a downstream reaction tank, said method being characterized in that the Reynold's number of the reaction liquid that flows in the reaction liquid feeding pipe is configured to be 1800-22000. Furthermore, this compound production system is used in said method for producing a compound, and is formed by housing at least one of the reaction tanks in a portable container.

Abstract: A container system and method for cryopreservation of sperm includes first containers having walls of a desired thickness and thermal conductivity. At least one layer of thermally insulating walls of a desired thickness and thermal conductivity is disposed around the at least one row of first containers. The first containers and thermally insulating walls are capable of being immersed from a range of about 5° C. to room temperature directly into a liquid cryogenic fluid below a surface thereof and freezing the sperm, without vitrification, at a cooling rate sufficient to maintain post-thaw quality of the sperm. The cooling rate is controlled solely by the thermal conductivity of the walls of the first containers, the layer(s) of thermally insulating walls and any substance between the walls of the first containers and the at least one thermally insulating container.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of medical technology, which provides methods and apparatuses for identifying red blood cells infected by plasmodium. The methods may include: obtaining a forward-scattered light signal, a side-scattered light signal and an optional fluorescence signal from cells in a blood sample; obtaining a first two-dimensional scattergram according to the forward-scattered light signal and the side-scattered light signal, or obtaining a three-dimensional scattergram according to the forward-scattered light signal, the side-scattered light signal and the fluorescence signal; and identifying cells located in a predetermined area of the first two-dimensional scattergram or the three-dimensional scattergram as the red blood cells infected by plasmodium. The apparatuses perform the methods. The methods and apparatuses can have better identification accuracy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the generation of an activated platelet product in which one or more of the presence or absence of clots, the timing of clot formation (if present), and/or the mechanical strength of clots (if present) is controlled by the presence or concentration of calcium ions during the activation process. In certain embodiments, the calcium ion concentration is controlled in the presence of pulsed electric fields or a chemical activator (e.g., thrombin) as part of the activation process.

Abstract: The invention is related to a new bacterium comprising a partial 16S rDNA nucleic acid sequence having more than 85% sequence identity to the sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:1, or the complement thereof and a consortium of micro-organisms improving manure or soil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of gingival fibroblast-derived products to reduce hair loss and promote hair growth. Specifically, the invention relates to a product derived from gingival fibroblasts to be used in the treatment or prevention of alopecia, as well as in the promotion of natural hair growth and/or in the control of natural hair loss.

Abstract: A virus infection inhibitor containing a fermentation by-product such as an amino acid fermentation by-product and a nucleic acid fermentation by-product is sprinkled onto a plant body of a plant, such as tobacco, tomato, bell pepper, and chili pepper to control a disease induced by infection of a virus such as Tobamovirus viruses and Cucumovirus viruses.

Abstract: Microencapsulation of bioactive and chemical cargo in a stable, cross-linked polymer matrix is presented that results in small particle sizes and is easily scaled-up for industrial applications. A formulation of a salt of an acid soluble multivalent ion, an acid neutralized with a volatile base and one or more monomers that cross-link in the presence of multivalent ions is atomized into droplets. Cross-linking is achieved upon atomization where the volatile base is vaporized resulting in a reduction of the pH of the formulation and the temporal release of multivalent ions from the salt that cross-link the monomers forming a capsule. The incorporation of additional polymers or hydrophobic compounds in the formulation allows control of hydration properties of the particles to control the release of the encapsulated compounds. The operational parameters can also be controlled to affect capsule properties such as particle-size and particle-size distribution.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cosmetic use of an effective amount of at least one monounsaturated fatty acid, of a salt thereof and/or of an ester thereof, as a nailcare active agent.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for reagents and methods for rapidly isolating viable microbial cells, including S. pneumoniae, from positive blood culture samples. The resulting microbial pellet can be used for both identification and growth-based methods such as antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The buffers described herein may contain a base solution, non-ionic detergents, thiols, and optionally, ammonium chloride. The disclosed methods provide a process for rapidly isolating and concentrating viable microorganism (s) from PBC samples using only one sample preparation tube and centrifugation while removing cellular debris from the mammalian blood cells that may interfere with identification methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to cassettes for culturing cells. The invention also relates to analytical and preparative incubators for housing the cassettes. The invention also relates to methods of using the cassettes, for example, to culture cells wherein the processes of feeding and passaging cells are automated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium composition containing an Ecklonia cava extract for dedifferentiation into an induced pluripotent stem cell. Also, the present invention relates to a method for differentiating an induced pluripotent stem cell produced by using the medium composition into adipocytes.