Abstract: A culture chamber for microbiological competition assays using volatile compounds is provided, having a first receptacle, a second receptacle and a central part between the first receptacle and the second receptacle, wherein the receptacles have an outer wall and a perimeter wall perpendicular to the outer wall and wherein the central part has an intermediate wall with at least one opening and two side walls that extend from the perimeter of the intermediate wall in opposite directions, such that the side walls of the central part surround the perimeter walls of the receptacles and the perimeter walls of the receptacles are supported on the intermediate wall.

Abstract: An asymmetrical cutting tool has a partially cord-wrapped handle with a first handle panel, a second handle panel, and an intercheangeable overlay. The cutting tool further includes a folding blade, pivotably attached to the cord-wrapped/overlaid handle, and having a partially concave edge and a punch tip. The folding blade is operable to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state. Lock wear is compensated by dual eccentric thumb studs which act as a camshaft lobe to alter the position of the blade with respect to the lock while in the locked state. The partially cord-wrapped handle is configured to receive the folding blade when the blade transitions from the locked state into the unlocked state.

Abstract: A pet toy is configured for interaction with an animal. The pet toy includes a core, a shell, and at least one camera. The core includes at least one processing device configured to control one or more operations of the pet toy. The core also includes at least one transceiver configured to transmit to and receive information from a wireless mobile communication device, where the received information includes control information associated with movement of the pet toy. The core further includes at least one motor configured to move the pet toy around a substantially planar surface based on the control information received from the wireless mobile communication device. The shell is durable, removable, and is configured to at least partially surround and protect the core. The at least one camera configured to capture still or video images of the animal while the animal interacts with the pet toy.

Abstract: An asymmetrical cutting tool has a partially cord-wrapped handle with a first handle panel, a second handle panel, and an intercheangeable overlay. The cutting tool further includes a folding blade, pivotably attached to the cord-wrapped/overlaid handle, and having a partially concave edge and a punch tip. The folding blade is operable to transition between a locked state and an unlocked state. Lock wear is compensated by dual eccentric thumb studs which act as a camshaft lobe to alter the position of the blade with respect to the lock while in the locked state. The partially cord-wrapped handle is configured to receive the folding blade when the blade transitions from the locked state into the unlocked state.

Abstract: An isolated DNA sequence that encodes a peptide with CPC-acetylhydrolase enzymatic activity is disclosed. Also, a method of expressing CPC-acetylhydrolase activity that includes the steps of (a) providing a microorganism that is susceptible to transformation with the isolated DNA sequence and that, upon transformation, expresses the CPC-acetylhydrolase activity encoded by the sequence, and (b) transforming the microorganism with the DNA sequence to cause expression of the CPC-acetylhydrolase activity in the microorganism is disclosed. Also, a method for producing a microorganism with increased capacity to aid in the production of cephalosporin, which method includes the steps of (a) providing a microorganism that has CPC-AH activity by virtue of expression of the DNA sequence or of a fragment thereof coding for the CPC-acetylhydrolase enzyme activity; and (b) inactivating the activity by disrupting expression of the DNA sequence is disclosed.

Abstract: A foam fractionator which can create a vortex is utilized to remove proteins from an aquatic environment by skimming. The vortex is created by a propeller arrangement located at the bottom of an internal chamber, centrally located within a main reaction chamber. Air sucked from the atmosphere by the vortex passes down through a central chamber and is dispensed outwardly into the main chamber where air bubbles form and rise to the surface. The air bubbles attract protein deposits which stick thereto which results in the formation of a protein-containing surface foam that is collected within a collection cup.

Abstract: Clustered antibiotic biosynthetic genes are employed for improvement of production of the antibiotic in microorganisms and for the isolation of other genes involved in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic. The invention is exemplified with improved production of penicillin in Penicillium chrysogenum, with the isolation of another clustered biosynthetic gene(s) and with the expression of penicillin biosynthetic genes in Acremonium chrysogenum.