Abstract: A technique for wastewater treatment involves ensuring that all paths for wastewater must pass through at least one porous microbial support to go from the inlet to the outlet, and allowing a biofilm to grow on the porous microbial support under microaerobic conditions (concentration of oxygen between 0.05 and 0.35 mg/L). The biofilm formed comprises a population of anaerobic microbes for digesting organics in the wastewater including methanogenic microbes, and an aerobic methanotrophic and heterotrophic population that catabolizes methane from the methanogenic microbes, and oxygen from the injector, to produce heat. The support may be an electrode, and the technique is applied in a microbial electrolysis cell, with substantial COD removal rates.

Abstract: A method of producing in a bioreactor a biogas rich in methane involves electrolyzing water in an aqueous medium at a voltage in a range of from 1.8 V to 12 V in the presence of electrochemically active anaerobic microorganisms that biocatalyze production of hydrogen gas, and, contacting a species of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic microorganisms with the hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide to produce methane. Volumetric power consumption is in a range of from 0.03 Wh/LR to 0.3 Wh/LR. Current density is 0.01 A/cmE2 or lower. The voltage is sufficient to electrolyze water without destroying microbial growth. Such a method results in improved electrolysis efficiency while avoiding the use of noble metal catalysts. Further, a combination of water electrolysis with anaerobic degradation of organic matter results in increased biogas quality and in increased biogas quantity and yield.

Abstract: Provided is a method of using soluble CD14 or peptides derived therefrom for protecting cells from death, specifically from apoptotic cell death. Further provided are compositions including CD14 or CD14 peptides and methods for protecting cells, in particular lymphocytes, from apoptotic cell death. The compositions and methods are relevant, in particular, for the treatment of various immune deficiencies associated, for example, with cell transplantation procedures, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases such as HIV.

Abstract: The invention disclosure is a method of bioremediation of wastewater, particularly groundwater, by utilizing coupled anaerobic and aerobic biological treatment, more specifically, methanogenic (strictly anaerobic) and methanotrophic (strictly aerobic) microbial populations, in combination with a supply of in-situ generated water-dissolved oxygen and hydrogen. Water electrolysis is used to produce water-dissolved oxygen and hydrogen. The immediate advantage of using H2 from the electrolysis is to provide electron donors to methanogens to reductively dechlorinate the chloroaliphatics, and to reduce the water carbonates and generate methane which is used as energy and carbon source for the methanotrophic bacteria. Oxygen is used as electron acceptor by the aerobic bacteria, including the methanotrophs. The addition of an organic carbon source can be minimized or even eliminated, so as to diminish the competition between methanotrophic bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria for oxygen.

Abstract: A non-invasive method of analyzing a genetic material of a fetus is provided. The method is achieved by detecting a cell-free nucleus in a sample such as a transcervical specimen obtained from a pregnant woman and/or detecting in a cell-free nucleus at least one fetal-nucleus specific marker thereby identifying a fetal nucleus; and molecularly analyzing the genetic material in the fetal nucleus, thereby analyzing the genetic material of the fetus.

Abstract: A fluorometric system for on-line monitoring of biological processes uses a plurality of light sources, each with a different spectral width, to illuminate a sample, the light sources selected to produce emission of fluorescent light, and usually also dispersed light, from the illuminated sample. One of the light sources has a wide spectral range. The light sources are operated sequentially or in combination. Spectra acquired from the emitted light are combined and processed to evaluate properties of the sample, such as concentration of the fluorescing components or particle concentration. The system preferably uses an electro-optical probe in which excitation optical energy is transmitted to the sample directly from the light sources, typically LEDs, without an optical waveguide.

Abstract: The invention disclosure is a method of bioremediation of wastewater, particularly groundwater, by utilizing coupled anaerobic and aerobic biological treatment, more specifically, methanogenic (strictly anaerobic) and methanotrophic (strictly aerobic) microbial populations, in combination with a supply of in-situ generated water-dissolved oxygen and hydrogen. Water electrolysis is used to produce water-dissolved oxygen and hydrogen. The immediate advantage of using H2 from the electrolysis, is to provide electron donors to methanogens to reductively dechlorinate the chloroaliphatics, and to reduce the water carbonates and generate methane which is used as energy and carbon source for the methanotrophic bacteria. Oxygen is used as electron acceptor by the aerobic bacteria, including the methanotrophs. The addition of an organic carbon source can be minimized or even eliminated, so as to diminish the competition between methanotrophic bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria for oxygen.

Abstract: A fluorometric system for on-line monitoring of biological processes uses a plurality of light sources, each with a different spectral width, to illuminate a sample, the light sources selected to produce emission of fluorescent light, and usually also dispersed light, from the illuminated sample. One of the light sources has a wide spectral range. The light sources are operated sequentially or in combination. Spectra acquired from the emitted light are combined and processed to evaluate properties of the sample, such as concentration of the fluorescing components or particle concentration. The system preferably uses an electro-optical probe in which excitation optical energy is transmitted to the sample directly from the light sources, typically LEDs, without an optical waveguide.

Abstract: This invention provides rapid sample processing, simultaneous analysis of individual cells, of defined cell populations which enables the measurements of apoptotic cellular marker protein level and function for the diagnosis of a subject with depression, monitoring of disease state and predicting and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy. This invention further provides anti-apoptotic compositions useful for the treatment of depression.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for the denitrification of groundwater in situ in an aquifer under substantially anaerobic conditions, the method comprising (a) providing a network, including an extraction well for removal of groundwater from the aquifer and a plurality of injection wells for returning groundwater to the aquifer, the injection wells being arranged in a line substantially perpendicular to the direction of groundwater flow, the extraction well being located downstream or upstream of the line of injection wells, and the spacing of the wells and the number of injection wells being determined by the mathematical relationship J = C p + nC 1 W → min

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for the denitrification of groundwater in situ in an aquifer under substantially anaerobic conditions, the method comprising