Abstract: A thermal cycler system for use with a sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples includes a sample block configured to receive the sample holder, a cover lid configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from an open position to a closed position, a heated cover operatively coupled to the cover lid and configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a raised position to a first lowered position, in which the heated cover contacts the sample holder when the sample holder is received by the sample block, and a drive assembly including a motion guide configured to move in a direction toward the sample block from a first position, wherein the cover lid is in the open position and the heated cover is in the raised position, to a second position, wherein the cover lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: A device that produces a sugar solution from cellulose-containing biomass includes: a horizontal reaction tank that includes a stirring shaft provided along a horizontal direction in the horizontal reaction tank and a stirring blade provided to the stirring shaft, the horizontal reaction tank being configured to obtain a saccharified slurry by reacting the cellulose-containing biomass with a saccharification enzyme by stirring the cellulose-containing biomass and the saccharification enzyme; a vertical reaction tank configured to obtain a saccharified liquid by saccharifying the saccharified slurry; a saccharified slurry feed line that connects the horizontal reaction tank and the vertical reaction tank; and a warming part provided around the horizontal reaction tank or on a wall surface of the horizontal reaction tank and heats the horizontal reaction tank.

Abstract: Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Bacteria that reduce oxidized nitrogenous species (13) may be used to supply reduced nitrogenous compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).

Abstract: A kitchen waste treatment device in environment-protection-device field comprises a main fermentation barrel comprising a barrel body mounted on supporting brackets and including a feed inlet, a discharge outlet and a material chamber, push plates located within the material chamber to push materials therein to move along barrel body axial direction and further a gas inlet system having gas inlets located at same barrel body end as the discharge outlet and a gas-exhaust system having gas-exhaust ports located at same barrel body end as the feed inlet; a feeding apparatus whose feed end communicates with the feed inlet; and a power apparatus driving the barrel body to rotate around its axis. The gas inlets/gas-exhaust ports communicate with the material chamber. The treatment device has simple compact structure and small occupied area and realizes material horizontal propulsion and repeated rotational-stirring in the barrel body by barrel body rotation, achieving material-degrading-and-fermenting object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods for conducting multiple simultaneous micro-volume chemical and biochemical reactions in an array format. In one embodiment, the format comprises an array of microholes in a substrate. Besides serving as an ordered array of sample chambers allowing the performance of multiple parallel reactions, the arrays can be used for reagent storage and transfer, library display, reagent synthesis, assembly of multiple identical reactions, dilution and desalting. Use of the arrays facilitates optical analysis of reactions, and allows optical analysis to be conducted in real time. Included within the invention are kits comprising a microhole apparatus and a reaction component of the method(s) to be carried out in the apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a localized environment for a cell culture plate are described herein. An example system can include a dock shaped to receive the cell culture plate, and a gas distribution device positioned on the dock. The gas distribution device can include a frame including a plurality of sides connected to form an opening, an internal channel within the frame for directing a gas mixture within the gas distribution device, an inlet port in fluid communication with the internal channel for receiving the gas mixture, and a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the internal channel. The plurality of apertures can be spaced apart from one another along the frame and configured to direct the gas mixture toward the opening.

Abstract: A system for acquiring a fluid sample from a flow pipe, comprising a sampling probe placed within the flow pipe, a curved separating pipe in fluid communication with the sampling probe, the separating pipe having formed therein an inwardly-opening lengthwise channel along the outside curve thereof, the separating pipe terminating in a sample area, and a lengthwise inwardly-opening sample passage in fluid communication between at least a portion of the sample area and a sample port, the sample passage being formed substantially opposite the channel, whereby inertial effects induced in the separating pipe cause relatively higher density inorganic and dead organic material to funnel into the channel and out a non-sample drain formed in the sample area substantially opposite the separating pipe while allowing live organisms to navigate the sample passage and out the sample port.

Abstract: A lung model device for inhalation toxicity testing is provided. The device has a plurality of mesh tissue panels having lung cells attached thereto arranged inside a case so as to have a similar structure to a human lung, and air and nanoparticles are supplied into the case through a separate respiratory operating unit, thereby enabling inhalation toxicity testing on nanoparticles to be simply and conveniently performed in an indirect way by determining changes in the state of the lung cells without using real laboratory animals. The mesh tissue panels having a smaller lattice spacing size are sequentially positioned according to the nanoparticle inflow direction, thereby providing a structure similar to the structure of a real lung.

Abstract: A bioreactor consumable unit (50; 500) comprises a bioreactor part (60); a fluid feed container part (80) integrally connected with the bioreactor part and including at least one fluid feed container (82) in fluid communication with the bioreactor (60); and an integral pumping element (100, 110; 160, 206) configured to enable fluid to flow from the at least one fluid feed container (82) to the bioreactor (60). The bioreactor part (60) includes a bioreactor chamber (62) and a stirrer (64) for agitation of a cell culture (66) in the chamber. The pumping element comprises a combination of a syringe pump (110) and an associated three-way valve (102). The bioreactor consumable unit (50; 500) may be inserted into a receiving station (20) of a cell culture module (10) for the processing and control of a bioreaction in the bioreactor chamber (62).

Abstract: The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions. The present application describes a method for using lactate measurement in the arterial and the venous blood lines of the Organ Care System Heart perfusion device to evaluate the: 1) The overall perfusion status of an isolated heart and 2) The metabolic status of an isolated heart and 3) the overall vascular patency of an isolated donor heart. This aspect of the present invention uses the property of myocardial cell's unique ability to produce/generate lactate when they are starved for oxygen and metabolize/utilize lactate for energy production when they are well perfused with oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a circulating magnetoelectric-induction reaction system and application thereof. The system comprises an alternating induction voltage unit, an alternating induction magnetic field unit, a low-frequency power supply, and a feed liquid container. The alternating induction voltage unit is mainly composed of a closed iron core, a primary coil, a secondary coil, and an induction voltage cavity. The alternating induction magnetic field unit is mainly composed of a C-shaped iron core, a primary coil, and a magnetic field cavity. The low-frequency power supply is connected to the primary coils in the alternating induction voltage unit and the alternating induction magnetic field unit and provides excitation voltage for the primary coils. The secondary coil comprises an insulating pipeline, which serves as a feed liquid circulating pipeline, and has both ends exposed out of the induction voltage cavity, with one end as a feed inlet and the other as a discharge outlet.

Abstract: A system for the production of ethanol is disclosed. The system comprises a system for recycling water in an ethanol production process. The system may comprise: a water supply that supplies water to the ethanol production process, a cooling tower system that supplies water to the ethanol production process, and a treatment system that supplies water to the ethanol production process. The treatment system may be a reverse osmosis system that supplies a retentate stream to the ethanol production process.

Abstract: A device including an applicator capable of dispensing a suspension of microorganisms on a culture medium and to the use of the device for dispensing the suspension of microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for subnanosecond rise time high voltage (HV) electric pulse delivery to biological loads. The system includes an imaging device and monitoring apparatus used for bio-photonic studies of pulse induced intracellular effects. The system further features a custom fabricated microscope slide having micro-machined electrodes. A printed circuit board to interface the pulse generator to the micro-machined glass slide having the cell solution is disclosed. An low-parasitic electronic setup to interface with avalanche transistor-switched pulse generation system is also disclosed. The pc-board and the slide are configured to match the output impedance of the pulse generator which minimizes reflection back into the pulse generator, and minimizes distortion of the pulse shape and pulse parameters. The pc-board further includes a high bandwidth voltage divider for real-time monitoring of pulses delivered to the cell solutions.

Abstract: A medical carbon monoxide generator provides for a solid carbon material that may be heated at substantially normal atmospheric pressure to provide a source of medical quality carbon monoxide. The heating source may be an electrical filament or laser controllable by a microcontroller to provide accurate delivery rates and amounts. In one embodiment, a replaceable cartridge holding the carbon material may be used.

Abstract: The present approach relates to the design and use of a functionally closed bioreactor designed to immobilize, culture, and mature tissue on a loading platform. The bioreactor may be equipped with sensors for tissue monitoring which in conjunction with stiffness data can provide closed-loop control of tissue maturation. Based on a relationship between cartilage stiffness and tissue maturity, measurements of stiffness can be acquired and used as a surrogate for cartilage maturity without the need for destructive tests.

Abstract: Methods for detecting micro-organisms and/or biological substances in a fluid are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an automated system for producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult somatic cells. Further, the system is used for producing differentiated adult cells from stem cells. The invention system is useful for isolating somatic cells from tissue samples, producing iPSC lines from adult differentiated cells by reprogramming such cells, identifying the pluripotent reprogrammed adult cells among other cells, and expanding and screening the identified reprogrammed cells.

Abstract: A fluid sample vessel includes inlet and vent tube fittings formed at one end of a container with an opposite open end closed by a needle septum. A support cap is removably engaged to the container to support the container and protect terminal ends of inlet and vent tubular branches coupled to the fittings. The support cap includes a pair of opposite legs with outwardly directed tabs for mounting within a centrifuge while supporting the cryopreservation container.

Abstract: An apparatus that produces a sugar liquid by a method including hydrolyzing cellulose includes a hydrolysis tank to which a recovered enzyme feed pipe and a fresh enzyme feed pipe are connected; a device for solid-liquid separation of a hydrolysate; a sugar liquid-retaining tank having a water supply pipe that washes an ultrafiltration membrane and/or removes recovered enzyme retained in a circulation pipe; and an ultrafiltration membrane device that separates enzyme and a sugar liquid.