Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for depolymerization of polyurethanes under mild conditions, wherein polyether polyols and polyamines can be recovered in high yields. The method is practiced by hydrolyzing a polyurethane by contacting with water in the presence of a base containing an alkali metal cation and/or an ammonium cation and having a pKb value at 25° C. of from 1 to 10 and a catalyst selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts containing an ammonium cation containing 6 to 30 carbon atoms and organic sulfonates containing at least 7 carbon atoms to yield an active hydrogen containing polyether.

Abstract: A method of hydrolyzing a polyurethane is disclosed in which the polyurethane is contacted with water in the presence of a strong inorganic base having a pKb value at 25° C. of below 1, and a catalyst that is a quaternary ammonium salt containing an ammonium cation containing 6 to 14 carbon atoms if the ammonium cation does not contain a benzyl residue or containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms if the ammonium cation contains a benzyl residue. An active hydrogen containing polyether and an organic polyamine can be recovered in high yields. The present method finds use in polyurethane recycling.

Abstract: A DNA methylation-based array includes at least: a first plurality of distinct locations, each location having at least one probe molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a CpG site from a first plurality of CpG sites of a first animal species; and a second plurality of distinct locations, each location having at least one probe molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a CpG site from a second plurality of CpG sites of a second animal species, wherein the first and second animal species are each independently selected from the group consisting of virus, mammals, birds and aquatic animals, and wherein the first plurality of CpG sites comprises at least 1000 CpG sites of the first animal species; and the second plurality of CpG sites comprises at least 1000 CpG sites of the second animal species.

Abstract: A synbiotic preparation may include at least one probiotic strain and at least one amino acid or derivative thereof selected from glutamine, glutamic acid or salts thereof, conjugated glutamine, or oligopeptides of 2-10 amino acid units in length, wherein the amino acid units may be natural amino acids, and at least one amino acid unit being a glutamine or glutamic acid unit.

Abstract: An in vitro method for predicting the biological age of a subject includes: (a) bisulfite treatment of genomic DNA extracted from a biological sample obtained from the subject; (b) amplifying the bisulfite treated genomic DNA from step (a) with specific primers that target at least two Low Methylated Region (LMR) in the genomic DNA from (a) to obtain at least one PCR product; (c) measuring the methylation level of CpG sites in the PCR product of step (b); and (d) determining the biological age of the subject with a statistical prediction algorithm, wherein the statistical prediction algorithm is applied to the measured methylation level to determine the epigenetic age of the subject; wherein the subject is from the Galliformes family; and wherein at least three LMRs are amplified in step (b); and with a proviso that the CpG sites associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms are not considered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the supplier from which a test animal-derived product sample originates, the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining a test methylation profile of one or more pre-selected methylation sites within the genomic material contained in the test animal-derived product sample; and (b) comparing the test methylation profile determined in (a) with a panel of predetermined reference methylation profiles of the same biological taxon of the test animal from which the product sample derives, wherein each of the predetermined reference methylation profiles is from a different reference animal and/or different supplier, wherein if the test methylation profile of (a) is significantly similar to one of the predetermined reference methylation profiles, the test animal-derived product sample is confirmed of originating from a first supplier from which a first reference animal with the predetermined reference profile is obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for classifying the gut inflammation status of an avian subject or of a group of avian subjects to be tested, the method comprising the comparison of the average methylation levels within a panel of pre-selected LMRs in the genomic DNA isolated from gut sample material deriving from the individual avian subject or of the group of avian subjects to be tested with the average methylation levels of the same panel of LMRs in the genomic DNA pertaining to one or more reference samples having a negative gut inflammation status.

Abstract: An improved process can be used for depolymerization of polyurethanes under mild conditions. Polyether polyols and polyamines can be recovered in high yields.

Abstract: A new and improved process can be used for depolymerization of polyurethanes with a strong inorganic base. Polyether polyols and polyamines can be recovered in high yields.

Abstract: A composition contains at least one lipase selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 and its respective at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, especially preferably at least 95%, 98%, or 99%, homologues at the amino acid level; at least one biosurfactant; and optionally, at least one non-bio surfactant. The composition can be used to to remove fat and/or oil-containing stains from a surface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of controlling a livestock farm housing a population of animals, the method comprising the steps of obtaining, by means of one or more, preferably a plurality of, sensors, farm sensor data indicative of the condition of the livestock farm; optionally combining said farm sensor data with further data, indicative of the condition of the livestock farm, but not obtained via sensors, to obtain farm condition data; obtaining, by means of one or more, preferably a plurality, of measurement devices, animal status data of the livestock farm population; and selecting and continuously adjusting, dependent on the obtained farm sensor data or farm condition data and the animal status data, a set of animal supply values using a feedback loop such that a value of at least a selected one of the animal status data is optimized.

Abstract: A synbiotic preparation may include at least one probiotic strain and at least one amino acid or derivative thereof selected from glutamine, glutamic acid or salts thereof, conjugated glutamine, or oligopeptides of 2-10 amino acid units in length, wherein the amino acid units may be natural amino acids, and at least one amino acid unit being a glutamine or glutamic acid unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for guiding measures against the propagation of Salmonella and/or against the propagation Campylobacter in an animal flock, the method comprising i.) determining the amount of at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter in a test sample and ii.) comparing the amount of said at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter determined in the test sample with a control sample, wherein an increase in the amount of said at least one marker gene being specific for Salmonella or Campylobacter in the test sample vs. the control sample by at least a factor of two, indicates the necessity of initiating or enhancing measures against the propagation of Salmonella and/or against the propagation Campylobacter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide having a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the alr gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the alr gene is present in attenuated form and a vector which carries at least the alr gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide having a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the alr gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the alr gene is present in attenuated form and a vector which carries at least the alr gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide having a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the alr gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the alr gene is present in attenuated form and a vector which carries at least the alr gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: L-lysine-producing strains of corynebacteria with enhanced lysE gene (lysine export carrier gene), in which strains additional genes chosen from the group comprising the dapA gene (dihydrodipicolinate synthase gene), the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), the dapB gene (dihydrodipicolinate reductase gene) and the pyc gene, but especially the dapA gene and the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), are enhanced and, in particular, over-expressed, and a process for the preparation of L-lysine.

Abstract: L-lysine-producing strains of corynebacteria with enhanced lysE gene (lysine export carrier gene), in which strains additional genes chosen from the group comprising the dapA gene (dihydrodipicolinate synthase gene), the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), the dapB gene (dihydrodipicolinate reductase gene) and the pyc gene, but especially the dapA gene and the lysC gene (aspartate kinase gene), are enhanced and, in particular, over-expressed, and to a process for the preparation of L-lysine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide having a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the alr gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the alr gene is present in attenuated form and a vector which carries at least the alr gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide from coryneform bacteria containing at least one polynucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a) polynucleotide which is at least 70% identical to a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID no. 2, b) polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide which contains an amino acid sequence which is at least 70% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID no. 2, c) polynucleotide which is complementary to the polynucleotides of a) or b), and d) polynucleotide containing at least 15 successive nucleotides of the polynucleotide sequences of a), b) or c), and to a process for the fermentative production of L-amino acids, in particular L-lysine.