Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of decreasing a crop residue of a plant, enhancing the availability of a nutrient in a crop residue of a plant, increasing soil organic matter (SOM) with a crop residue of a plant, and reducing erosion with a crop residue of a plant by applying a composition comprising a culture of microalgae to the crop residue.

Abstract: A system and process is disclosed for adding pre-fermentation separated non-fermentables, e.g., fiber, germ/oil, and/or protein, to a post-fermentation stream in a corn (or similar carbohydrate-containing grain) dry milling process for making alcohol and/or other biofuels/biochemical. The process includes mixing grain particles with a liquid to produce a slurry having starch and non-fermentables. The slurry is subjected to liquefaction to convert the starch in the slurry to complex sugars and produce a liquefied stream including the complex sugars and non-fermentables. After liquefaction but prior to fermentation of simple sugars resulting from conversion of the complex sugars, the non-fermentables are separated out to define a non-fermentables portion and an aqueous solution including the complex and/or simple sugars. The simple sugars are fermented to provide a fermented stream. Then, the separated non-fermentables portion is reincorporated back into the process into a post-fermentation stream.

Abstract: The present invention features general-purpose microbiological growth media capable of supporting growth of microorganisms on membranes. The media contain casein digest, soybean digest, animal tissue digest, yeast extract, dextrose, a phosphate buffer, hemin, and L-cystine. The invention features an all-purpose microbiological growth media that can support the growth of anaerobes, molds, injured spores, and general aerobic bacteria to a greater extent than other media.

Abstract: Engineered trimeric CD70 proteins for use in ex vivo T cell manufacturing are described. Use of the proteins during manufacturing creates expanded T cell populations with enhanced properties such as earlier proliferation in culture; selective expansion of nave and memory T cell subsets; longer persistence in vivo following administration to a subject; and improved therapeutic effect. Use of the proteins as therapeutics provide anti-cancer and anti-viral effects. The proteins can also be used as agonistic cell culture reagents in in vitro uses.

Abstract: A synthetic microbial community (SynCom) agricultural crop fertilizer composition comprises a microbial stabilizing buffer and bacterial strains configured to mimic the natural diversity of the bacterial community found in the crop phyllosphere microbiome, but at a reduced complexity, yet sufficient to effectively provide increased plant productivity and/or disease protection.

Abstract: Provided are a cell population substantially consisting of mammalian cells that are positive for cell surface markers CD31 and CD200 and negative for CD45; a cell population substantially consisting of mammalian cells that are positive for cell surface markers CD31, CD157 and CD200 and negative for CD45; a mammalian vascular endothelial stem cell that is positive for the cell surface marker CD31, positive for at least one of CD157 and CD200, and negative for CD45; and a medicament for vascular regeneration, comprising any of the cell populations or the vascular endothelial stem cells as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided is a use of Rhodococcus ruber cell wall skeleton in promoting the proliferation of stem cells, promoting the growth of stem cells, promoting the differentiation of stem cells, promoting the migration of stem cells, and improving the survival rate of stem cells; the stem cells are selected from: adult stem cells, iPSCs, and mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel isolated bacterial strains, which are members of the genus Paenibacillus, originally isolated from soil and showing antagonistic activity against a broad range of pathogens and being capable of producing antimicrobial metabolites. It was found that the strains Lu16774 and Lu17007 belong to a novel subspecies named Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp. plantarum while the strain Lu17015 belongs to a novel species which is proposed to be Paenibacillus epiphyticus. The present invention also relates to microbial pesticide compositions comprising at least one of such novel bacterial strains, whole culture broth or a cell-free extract or a fraction thereof or at least one metabolite thereof, and/or a mutant of at least one of said novel bacterial strains having all the identifying characteristics of the respective bacterial strain or whole culture broth, cell-free extract, fraction and/or metabolite of the mutant thereof showing antagonistic activity against plant pathogens.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides testers for detecting a bacterial infection and methods of production and uses thereof.

Abstract: Compositions for use in oral hygiene contain a Lactobacillus helveticus strain. Compositions further containing a Lactobacillus plantarum strain, especially Lactobacillus plantarum SD5870, are particularly effective. The combination of Lactobacillus helveticus LAFTI L10 and Lactobacillus plantarum SD5870 synergistically improves oral hygiene. The compositions are particularly useful against dental caries.

Abstract: Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of compositions and methods for targeted treatment and imaging of cancers or tumors.

Abstract: A thin film culture device for enumerating mold colonies is provided. The device comprises water-resistant first and second substrates with a growth region disposed therebetween, a dry, cold water-soluble gelling agent disposed in the growth region, and an effective amount of a calcium-chelating compound disposed in the growth region. The effective amount of calcium-chelating compound is capable of reducing a rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit growing in the culture device relative to the rate of lateral enlargement of a colony of the same mold species growing in an otherwise identical culture device that does not contain the effective amount disposed in the growth region, wherein reducing the rate of lateral enlargement of the colony-forming unit does not substantially delay detection of the colony. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of generating retinal pigment epithelium cells is disclosed. Cell populations comprising same and uses thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to T cells that are modified to enhance the efficiency of adoptive cellular therapy by modulating dendritic cell activity, a composition comprising modified T cells, vectors and methods for the treatment of cancer comprising administering modified T cells. In particular, the present invention provides modified T cells for use in adoptive cellular therapies for the treatment of solid tumours.

Abstract: A low-cost process is provided to render lignocellulosic biomass accessible to cellulase enzymes, to produce fermentable sugars. Some variations provide a process to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass (such as sugarcane bagasse or corn stover), comprising introducing a lignocellulosic biomass feedstock to a single-stage digestor; exposing the feedstock to a reaction solution comprising steam or liquid hot water within the digestor, to solubilize the hemicellulose in a liquid phase and to provide a cellulose-rich solid phase; refining the cellulose-rich solid phase, together with the liquid phase, in a mechanical refiner, thereby providing a mixture of refined cellulose-rich solids and the liquid phase; enzymatically hydrolyzing the mixture in a hydrolysis reactor with cellulase enzymes, to generate fermentable sugars; and fermenting the fermentable sugars to produce ethanol. Many alternative process configurations are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel immobilized nanoflowers made of Transglutaminase (TGase), a method for their synthesis and applications thereof. The Transglutaminase nanoflowers of the present invention are catalytically more active without mass transfer limitation, stable and reusable, wherein the overall flower is in the nano-range, is homo-dispersed and small-sized, and wherein Transglutaminase functions both as a cross-linking enzyme and as a seeding template.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the invasive potential of a tumor cell and predicting the efficiency of a treatment. The method is based on the combination of at least three parameters, namely the internuclear distance, the polarization and the cell-cell connectivity.

Abstract: Provided herein are scaffold biomaterials comprising a decellularised fungal tissue from which cellular materials and nucleic acids of the tissue are removed, the decellularised fungal tissue comprising a cellulose- or chitin-based 3-dimensional porous structure. Methods for preparing such scaffold biomaterials, as well as uses thereof as an implantable scaffold for supporting animal cell growth, for promoting tissue regeneration, for promoting angiogenesis, for a tissue replacement procedure, and/or as a structural implant for cosmetic surgery are also provided. Therapeutic treatment and/or cosmetic methods employing such scaffolds are additionally described.

Abstract: A method is described for enhancing arteriogenesis in animals with comorbidities commonly found in patients with ischemic disease, and in animals with a genetically-impaired arteriogenesis response. Administration to an animal of satellite derived myoblasts increases maximum diameter of collateral arteries. In embodiments, the animal is an obese animal or an animal having impaired arteriogenesis due to genetic variation causing the phenotype. The administration of such myoblasts to a non-obese animal does not increase maximum diameter of the animal's collateral arteries. Blood flow is increased, and ischemia is decreased. Compositions and kits comprising the myoblasts are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to treating a connective tissue injury. The treatment involves injecting, or otherwise administering, a therapeutic composition into an animal, such as a human being, in need thereof. The therapeutic composition may contain transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-?1) and/or transforming growth factor ?2 (TGF-?2), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or a secondary agent.