Abstract: Energy efficiency is improved in a grain alcohol production plant (60) by capturing heat energy that otherwise would be lost to the environment when stillage evaporator last effect vapors (22) are condensed to recycle their water content. The low temperature/pressure heat energy of these vapors is efficiently recovered and reused by placing the vapors in direct physical contact (301, 402) with a working fluid (38) to form heated working fluid (54, 66), then using the heated working fluid directly in a process of the plant. In an embodiment, cook water used for the plant fermentation process is preheated by direct contact with stillage evaporator overhead vapor via one or more direct contact heat exchangers (301, 401) and/or a thermocompressor (402).

Abstract: Bioreactor systems for culturing mixotrophic microorganisms in open cultures on a large scale are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the system comprise organic carbon delivery systems and submersible thrusters suspended on adjustable support structures.

Abstract: An object is to provide a neuron cultivation device which promptly develops bundles of axons extending from neurons in vitro. A device for cultivating neuron with axon, the device comprising a cultivation plate and a plurality of modules arranged in the cultivation plate. Each of the modules includes at least one of first chambers receivable of cell bodies of neurons at least one of second chambers, and at least one of channels receivable of a bundle of axon extended from the cell bodies. The channels connect the first chambers and the second chambers. Bottom ends of the first chambers, the second chambers and the channels are closed and top ends of the first chambers and the second chambers are open.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a regular and high-density regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation similar to the hair follicle tissue of a mammal in a simple manner. A regenerated hair follicle primordium aggregation manufacturing method of the present invention includes a step of forming hair follicle primordia by inoculating a microwell plate, which includes regularly arranged microwell portions, with mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells and culturing a mixture of the cells while supplying oxygen thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus 100 for cultivating bacteria, comprising a conduit 101 having an upstream and a downstream section and the downstream section of the conduit 101 comprising first Venturi eductor means 111 with at least two inlet ports 117, 118 wherein one of said inlet ports 117 is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another one of said inlet ports 118 is in fluid communication with a supply of bacteria such that, in use, nutrient and bacteria are drawn into said Venturi eductor means 111 by a fluid passing along said conduit 101 and said Venturi eductor means 111.

Abstract: Since a drive unit is disposed in a body of a switching valve included in a suction-discharge device in the related art and a sample flows in the body of the switching valve, a treatment, such as autoclave sterilization, could not be performed. For this reason, a contamination cause, such as bacteria, could not be completely removed. Since a switching valve of the invention is formed of a mechanism for blocking tubes by pressing the tubes, in which a sample flows, from the outside, a contamination cause, such as bacteria, is not spread to the switching valve. Further, tubes and a syringe pump, which are installed on a suction-discharge device of the invention, form an assembly that can be easily replaced even though contamination is generated.

Abstract: A method detects the presence or absence of at least one first inhibition zone having a culture of biological particles on a culture medium in the presence of a chemical agent. The method of detection has a first step of seeding the culture medium with the biological particles, a second step in which the culture medium receives the chemical agent, a third step of incubation of the culture medium, and a fourth step of measurement of the first inhibition zone of the culture medium, which includes a first phase of taking an image of the first inhibition zone by ombroscopy.

Abstract: A method of preparing Cordyceps cicadae mycelium active substances for preventing and/or treating xerophthalmia is provided. The method comprises: (a) culturing a Cordyceps cicadae mycelium in a plate media at 15 to 35° C. for 5 to 14 days; (b) inoculating the mycelium of step (a) to a flask containing liquid media and culturing it at 15 to 35° C. with a pH of 2 to 8 for 3 days; (c) inoculating the mycelium of step (b) to a fermenter tank and culturing it at 15 to 35° C. with a pH of 2 to 8 for 3 days, so as to obtain a Cordyceps cicadae mycelium fermentation liquid; (d) freeze-drying and grating the fermentation liquid, so as to obtain a Cordyceps cicadae mycelium powder; (e) extracting the powder with solvent, so as to obtain a Cordyceps cicadae mycelium extract; and (f) drying the extract, so as to obtained the Cordyceps cicadae mycelium active substances.

Abstract: Thin film devices, e.g., multilayer thin film devices, that encapsulate cells for transplantation into a subject are provided. Also provided are methods of using and methods of preparing the subject devices. The thin film devices include a first porous polymer layer and a second porous polymer layer that define a lumen therebetween and encapsulate a population of cells within the lumen. The thin film devices can promote vascularization into the lumen of the device via the pores in the first polymer layer and/or second polymer layer; limit foreign body response to the device; limit ingress of cells, immunoglobulins, and cytokines into the lumen via the first and the second polymer layers; and release from the first polymer layer and/or the second polymer layer molecules secreted by the population of cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adenovirus E4ORF1 gene and to endothelial cells engineered to express the E4ORF1 gene. The present invention also relates to uses of the E4ORF1 gene, and cells expressing the E4ORF1 gene, and to compositions comprising the E4ORF1 gene, or comprising cells expressing the E4ORF1 gene.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for improving the culture conditions of cultures of primary sweat gland cells and/or three-dimensional sweat gland equivalents, where the culture with from about 500 to about 500,000 sweat gland cells and a diameter of from about 100 to about 6,000 nm is initially prepared and then cultivated in a culture medium with neurotransmitters and/or from about 11 to about 100 ng/ml of at least one growth factor. Cultivation of these cells and models in a culture medium containing at least one neurotransmitter and/or from about 11 to about 100 ng/ml of at least one growth factor leads to an increase of sweat-gland-specific marker proteins. As a result, a loss of function, which occurs with an absence of or only low expression of these markers, can be avoided.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally regards methods and compositions for providing multi-lineage hematopoietic precursor cells from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). The PSCs comprise an expression construct encoding an ETS/ERG gene, GATA2 and HOXA9. Also provided are methods for providing hematopoietic stem cells capable of long-term engraftment in mammals, such as humans. Further provided are therapeutic compositions including the provided hematopoietic stem cells and precursors of hematopoietic cells, and methods of using such for the treatment of subjects.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for reducing immune tolerance associated with CAR T cell therapy. Embodiments of the present disclosure include isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes modified programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and a nucleic acid sequence that encodes chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production and use of clonal lineages of embryonic progenitor cell lines derived from differentiating cultures of primordial stem cells, in particular, said methods and compositions relate to methods of differentiating cells in the presence of members of the BMP family of growth factors and the applications of said cell lines in the treatment of degenerative orthopedic diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for inducing or enhancing the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocyte via casein kinase 1 inhibition said method comprising culturing the stem cells in the presence of a medium comprising a casein kinase 1 inhibitor of the formula (I) or (II) or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or a salt thereof wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently from another represent hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl or aryl; X represents NR4, O or S; and R4 represents hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl or aryl. The method can be used in the late phase of stem cell differentiation and in the compounds of formula (I) or (II) in combination with other small molecules can lead to especially high differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The invention further relates to novel compounds which can be used in the method of the invention and kits for stem cell differentiation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of isolation, pooling and further culturing of Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSC) for clinical application. Present invention also discloses the method of establishing Master Cell bank, followed by Working Cell Bank from which the final therapeutic composition referred to as Investigational Product/Investigational Medicinal Product comprising of allogenic bone marrow-derived MSC is formulated for clinical applications.

Abstract: Provided in the present invention are adult stem cells derived from human skin dermis, and a method for isolating same. Further provided in the present invention are osteoblastic cells and adipocytes differentiated from the adult stem cells derived from human skin dermis, and a differentiation method therefor. Further provided in the present invention is a composition for osteogenesis or lipogenesis containing the stem cells, osteoblastic cells, or adipocytes. The isolation method of the present invention enables the adult stem cells derived from human skin dermis to be obtained in an easy and simple manner at a high yield rate. Genes and growth factors which are specifically expressed in the adult stem cells derived from human skin dermis isolated using the method can be separated, identified, and used later.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing pancreatic endocrine cells and uses of the cells obtained using the methods. The method utilises inhibitors or combinations of factors to provide increased quantities of endocrine material, for example for transplantation purposes.

Abstract: An in vitro co-culture system comprising cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer cells for producing and maintaining cancer stem cells and uses thereof for identifying agents capable of reducing cancer cell stemness. Also disclosed herein are a paracrine network through which CAFs facilitate production and/or maintenance of cancer stem cells and the use of components of such a paracrine network for prognosis purposes and for identifying cancer patients who are likely to respond to certain treatment.

Abstract: This application is directed generally to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 3C proteases that have been modified by mutating a polynucleotide sequence coding for the FMDV 3C protease. The modified FMDV proteases exhibit proteolytic activity on FMDV P1 precursor protein and exhibit a reduction in one or more toxic or inhibitory properties associated with an unmodified FMDV 3C protease on a host cell used to recombinantly produce it. Vectors carrying polynucleotides encoding modified FMDV 3C protease sequences can induce production of FMDV virus-like particles in a host cell when expressed in the host cell. The modified FMDV 3C proteases can generally be used to produce immunogenic FMDV preparations capable of inducing an immune response against FMDV.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an alcohol dehydrogenase mutant and application thereof in synthesis of diaryl chiral alcohols, and belongs to the technical field of bioengineering. The alcohol dehydrogenase mutant of the present disclosure has excellent catalytic activity and stereoselectivity, and may efficiently catalyze the preparation of a series of chiral diaryl alcohols in R- and S-configurations. By coupling alcohol dehydrogenase of the present disclosure to glucose dehydrogenase or formate dehydrogenase, the synthesis of chiral diaryl alcohol intermediates of various antihistamines may be achieved. Compared with the prior art, a method for preparing diaryl chiral alcohols through asymmetric catalytic reduction using the alcohol dehydrogenase of the present disclosure has the advantages of simple and convenient operation, high substrate concentration, complete reaction and high product purity, and has great industrial application prospects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glutamate dehydrogenase mutants and their application in preparation of L-phosphinothricin. The amino acid sequences of the glutamate dehydrogenase mutants are as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1-9, 11, 13, 15, 17-19 and 22. By means of molecular engineering, mutating the specific alanine in glutamate dehydrogenase substrate-binding pocket into glycine and/or mutating the specific valine in glutamate dehydrogenase substrate-binding pocket into alanine, the present invention has obtained NADPH-specific glutamate dehydrogenase mutants with high enzyme activity in catalyzing the substrate 2-oxo-4-[(hydroxy)(methyl)phosphinoyl]butyric acid or its salt for L-phosphinothricin preparation or NADH-specific glutamate dehydrogenase mutants with catalytic activity toward PPO; this has significantly improved substrate conversion, and increased the product concentration of the L-phosphinothricin preparation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to acetyl transferases, nucleic acid sequences coding therefore, expression constructs and vectors comprising these sequences, microorganisms transformed therewith and use thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are glucosyltransferases with modified amino acid sequences. Such engineered enzymes exhibit improved alpha-glucan product yields and/or lower leucrose yields, for example. Further disclosed are reactions and methods in which engineered glucosyltransferases are used to produce alpha-glucan.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system to produce soluble, folded, and post-translationally modified proteins. The system includes a fusion protein comprising a catalytic domain of an enzyme involved in post-translational protein modification and a targeting domain, and a substrate protein comprising a protein of interest and a sequence that interacts with the targeting domain. The present disclosure also provides polynucleotide sequences encoding fusion proteins and substrate proteins, vectors for expressing polynucleotide sequences, vectors comprising the polynucleotide sequences, and isolated cells comprising said vectors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tagatose-6-phosphate phosphatase consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a nucleic acid encoding the tagatose-6-phosphate phosphatase, and a transformant comprising the nucleic acid. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to a composition for producing tagatose, which comprises the tagatose-6-phosphate phosphatase of the present disclosure, and a method for producing tagatose using the tagatose-6-phosphate phosphatase of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for modifying the 3?-terminal ends of nucleic acids using DNA polymerase ? terminal transferase activity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are recombinant polynucleotide sequences, vectors, host cells and methods for producing astaxanthin. The recombinant polynucleotide sequence is designed to provide a higher level of astaxanthin precursors via a shorter metabolic pathway, and thereby attains higher level of end products (e.g., astaxanthin) with desired stereoisomeric form and/or esterified form.

Abstract: The present invention provides lipolytic enzyme variants. Specifically, the present invention provides lipolytic enzyme variants having one or more modifications as compared to a parent lipolytic enzyme having at least one improved property. In addition, the present invention provides compositions comprising a lipolytic enzyme variant of the invention. The present invention also provides methods of cleaning using compositions comprising a lipolytic enzyme variant of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to glucoamylase variants having improved thermostability. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.

Abstract: Modified PH20 hyaluronidase polypeptides, including modified polypeptides that exhibit increased stability and/or increased activity, are provided. Also provided are compositions and formulations and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to proteases comprising an amino acid sequence which has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO. 1, over the entire length thereof, and in which the amino acids in the positions corresponding to positions 24, 33, 53, 78, 101, 128 and 217 according to SEQ ID NO. 1 are substituted at 24G, 33T, 53G, 78N, 101N, 128A and 217Q, and to the production and use thereof. Said type of proteases have a very good cleaning performance compared to reference proteases.

Abstract: The present invention provides engineered penicillin G acylase (PGA) enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, compositions comprising the enzymes, and methods of using the engineered PGA enzymes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions related to the engineering of a protein with L-cyst(e)ine degrading enzyme activity are described. For example, disclosed are modified cystathionine-?-lyases comprising one or more amino acid substitutions and capable of degrading L-cyst(e)ine. Furthermore, compositions and methods are provided for the treatment of cancer and cystinuria using the disclosed modified enzymes or nucleic acids encoding said enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aspartase mutant, a recombinant expression vector and recombinant bacterium containing the aspartase mutant, and the use thereof, and belongs to the technical field of genetic engineering. The amino acid sequence of the aspartase mutant is as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1. In the aspartase mutant of the present invention, on the basis of wild type aspartase (with an amino acid sequence as set out in SEQ ID NO: 3), glutamic acid at position 427 is mutated into glutamine. In the present invention, by mutating the amino acid residue at position 427 into glutamine, the polar environment near an active site is changed, and thus ammonia supply during substrate reaction is further facilitated, thereby improving an enzyme activity, enhancing the ability of the enzyme in synthesizing a ?-amino acid, and providing a practical and effective strategy for industrial production of the ?-amino acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a maltooligosyl trehalose synthase mutant with improved thermal stability, and belongs to the technical fields of enzyme engineering and protein engineering. The residual enzyme activities of the MTSase mutants S361R, S444E, S361R/S444E, S361K/S444E, G415P/S361R/S444E and G415P consistent with the present disclosure after treatment at 60° C. for 10 min are respectively 70.3%, 50.1%, 83.5%, 65.9%, 100% and 80.7%, which are respectively 1.6, 1.1, 1.9, 1.5, 2.3 and 1.9 times of that of the wild type. The half-lives of the S361R/S444E and G415P/S361R/S444E at 60° C. are respectively 14.9 min and 90.8 min which are respectively 3.2 and 19.7 times of that of the wild type, indicating that the thermal stability of the MTSase mutant consistent with the present disclosure is significantly improved than that of the wild type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ALS inhibitor herbicide tolerant Beta vulgaris plant and parts thereof comprising a mutation of an endogenous acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene, wherein the ALS gene encodes an ALS polypeptide containing an amino acid different from tryptophan at a position 569 of the ALS polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method based on the use of restriction enzyme digestion and ligation via the cleavage sites, thereby to prepare two or more standardized expression cassettes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chimeric antigen-receptor polypeptide heterodimer comprising two polypeptides, wherein the first contains an extracellular part of the major histocompatibility complex I alpha chain and the second contains a 32-microglobulin domain, or the first contains an extracellular part of the major histocompatibility complex II alpha chain and the second contains a major histocompatibility complex II beta chain. One of the polypeptides further contains a transmembrane domain, a hinge region and an intracellular domain of the T cell receptor alpha chain and the other one contains a transmembrane domain, a hinge region and an intracellular domain of the T cell receptor beta chain, and additionally an antigen-peptide covalently linked to said extracellular MHC domain. The invention further relates to a method for the identification of a TCR recognizable peptide sequence making use of the heterodimer of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oligonucleotide-encoded libraries and methods of tagging such libraries. In particular, the methods and oligonucleotides can include one or more 2?-substituted nucleotides, such as 2?-O-methyl or 2?-fluoro nucleotides, and other conditions or reagents to enhance enzyme ligation or one or more chemical functionalities to support chemical ligation.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to next-generation sequencing and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and compositions for preparing a next-generation sequencing library comprising short overlapping DNA fragments and using the library to sequence one or more target nucleic acids.

Abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) has been identified herein as a therapeutic target for the treatment or prevention of heart diseases, metabolic diseases, and other related disease or conditions. IGFBP7 inhibitors having IGFBP7 expression and/or activity reducing properties are described herein. Treatment methods, and uses, relating to such IGFBP7 inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of heart failure, IGFBP7-related metabolic diseases, and related diseases or conditions are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides oligomeric compounds comprising at least one ?-?-constrained nucleic acid as provided herein. More particularly, the ?-?-constrained nucleic acid provided herein comprise an optionally modified nucleoside with a phosphorus containing constrained internucleoside linkage such as for example a cyclic phosphate internucleoside linkage. The ?-?-constrained nucleic acid provided herein are expected to be useful for enhancing one or more properties of oligomeric compounds they are incorporated into such as for example nuclease resistance. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds provided herein hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, compounds, and compositions useful for inhibiting DNM2 expression, which may be useful for treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease associated with DNM2.

Abstract: Provided are a dsRNA construct of an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR160 gene related to prostate cancer and the use thereof, wherein the dsRNA construct of the GPR160 gene and a composition thereof can prevent or treat prostate cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of recombinant biotechnology, in particular in the field of protein expression. The invention generally relates to a method of expressing a protein of interest (POI) from a host cell. The invention relates particularly to improving a host cell's capacity to express and/or secrete a protein of interest and use of the host cell for protein expression. The invention also relates to cell culture technology, and more specifically to culturing cells to produce desired molecules for medical purposes or food products.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for compound discovery. Modified yeast that have their endogenous yeast shikimate pathway disrupted or deleted, and replaced with homologous pathway genes from one or more distinct organisms, are provided and used in assays of test agents. The homologous pathway genes are designed to supplement the disrupted or deleted shikimate pathway genes. The assays are designed to identify whether or not the test agents can interfere with the function of enzymes in the shikimate pathway from organisms that are distinct from the yeast avatar hosts. In embodiments, the disruption/deletion of the yeast endogenous shikimate pathway results in the yeast being incapable of producing chorismic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of Agrobacterium- and Rhizobium-mediated plant cell transformation by use of additional transformation enhancer sequences, such as overdrive or TSS sequences, operably linked to a T-DNA border sequence on a recombinant construct that comprises T-DNA.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating Type II diabetes. The compositions comprise plant expressed Exendin 4. Particularly exemplified are plant derived compositions that include a CTB-EX4 conjugate that is bioencapsulated in chloroplasts.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods for increasing and/or improving photosynthetic efficiency in plants, and in particular, C3 plants. In particular, the subject invention provides for means to increase the number of bundle sheath (BS) cells in plants, to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in BS cells, and to increase channels between BS and mesophyll (M) cells. In one embodiment, a method of the invention concerns altering the expression level or pattern of one or more of SHR, SCR, and/or SCL23 in a plant. The subject invention also pertains to genetically modified plants, and in particular, C3 plants, that exhibit increased expression of one or more of SHR, SCR, and/or SCL23. Transformed and transgenic plants are contemplated within the scope of the invention.