Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (100) for monitoring the development of a biological material, said device in the orientation intended for use comprising: a housing (2) having an extension in a longitudinal direction (X) and an extension in a transversal direction (Y), said housing comprises: two or more culture dish compartments (4), each adapted to accommodate a culture dish (6) comprising a biological material (8) to be monitored, each said compartment being separated from each of said other compartments, said two or more compartments being arranged along the longitudinal direction; each said culture dish compartment (4) comprising a lid (10) adapted to be able to be shifted between an open configuration in which access to the interior (12) of said culture dish compartment is provided, and a closed configuration sealing off the interior of said culture dish compartment from its surroundings; wherein each said culture dish compartment comprises an inlet (14) for supplying gas to and an outlet (16

Abstract: In one embodiment, an algae cultivation system includes a basin that contains a liquid and a photobioreactor at least partially immersed in the liquid of the basin, the photobioreactor comprising a closed container including multiple panels that together define an interior space in which algae can be cultivated, at least one of the panels being transparent, the photobioreactor further comprising an inflatable float associated with the container that can be filled with a gas to change one or both of the position and orientation of the container within the liquid.

Abstract: A dark-environment simultaneous culturing-observing apparatus includes: an observation-subject holding unit for holding an observation subject; a dark-environment culturing chamber for culturing, in a dark environment, bacteria in the observation subject held by the observation-subject holding unit; an infrared light source for irradiating, with infrared light, the observation subject held by the observation-subject holding unit kept in the dark-environment culturing chamber; and an infrared light camera for photographing the observation subject irradiated with infrared light from the infrared light source.

Abstract: A screw shaft for a vertically stirred grinding mill is arranged so as to be accommodated within a grinding chamber of the grinding mill while extending in a longitudinal direction. The screw shaft comprises a central shaft and at least one screw flight surrounding the central shaft, and the central shaft comprises an outer shaft wall defining a cavity within the interior of the central shaft, which cavity is closed at least at one longitudinal end of the central shaft.

Abstract: A reciprocating stirrer device with which favorable gas absorption into the stirred substance can be obtained. The reciprocating stirrer device is obtained from: a stirring vessel in which the substance to be stirred is placed; a reciprocating drive shaft provided inside the stirring vessel; a stirring blade connected and affixed so as to intersect the drive shaft; and a microbubble-generating unit. The microbubble-generating unit is obtained from a sparger that is made of a porous body and a gas supply means for supplying a gas to the sparger. Bubbles are generated in the substance being stirred by passing gas supplied to the sparger by the gas supply means through pores of the porous body.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided including a base having a bore disposed therein extending from a first surface of the base through a second surface of the base, a fluid transport tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter, at least the second end of the tube being received within the bore of the base, and at least one fluid transport enhancing groove having at least a first section disposed in the second surface of the base and in fluid communication with the bore.

Abstract: A device for collecting cellular material from a fluid sample comprises first and second chambers that are releasably connected and which define a fluid flow path from the first chamber to the second chamber. A porous membrane is between the chambers when they are connected to each other, in the fluid flow path. An absorbent body is positioned in close proximity to the downstream surface of the porous membrane, and a resilient member is arranged to urge the absorbent body towards the porous membrane. In use, a sample introduced into the first chamber contacts the upstream surface of the porous membrane and fluid is drawn through the porous membrane and is absorbed by the absorbent body. Cellular material is retained upon the upstream surface of the porous membrane. After separation of the chambers, the porous membrane can be removed from the device for analysis of the deposited cellular material.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided herein a system and method wherein knowledge of the syngas fermentation is combined with standard instrumentation to provide a stable control of gas supply to automatically poise the fermentation to provide both high conversion of CO and H2, and high selectivity for production of ethanol. The control is based on an automatic feedback loop that corrects for operational imbalance and maintains a stable continuous fermentation required for commercial operation. In a further embodiment, feed of syngas to ethanol fermentation can be optimally controlled using the pH of the broth as the input variable for flow control of the gas. This concept will automatically maintain the correct supply of syngas to the fermentation, and provide stable operation at optimal rates.

Abstract: An insulated chamber having an interior chamber for storing items therein includes a phase change material to facilitate controlling the temperature of the interior chamber and the items. A heating device or cooling device may be used to melt or freeze the phase change material, which may be in various locations such as the walls of the chamber or packets which may serve as shelves and may be removable from the interior chamber with the items thereon. The packets may have recesses for receiving the items. The phase change material may be within capsules which may be within a liquid or a solid matrix. Controls may be provided to control humidity and carbon dioxide within the interior chamber.

Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Abstract: A photobioreactor includes an upper layer of transparent film and a lower layer of film wherein the upper layer and lower layer are attached to each other along the perimeter to form a sealed structure, the upper layer and lower layer also attached to form pathways comprising independent channels within the confines of the outer perimeter, a first manifold and second manifold on opposite ends of the parallel channels within the sealed structure wherein a first portion of the first manifold is in fluid communication with each of an inlet of a first subset of the channels and a second portion of the first manifold is in fluid communication with each of an outlet of a second subset of the channels and wherein the second manifold is in fluid communications with the distal end of the parallel channels plumbing apparatus comprising a degas vessel in fluid communication with the first manifold; and wherein the structure is substantially horizontal in operation.

Abstract: An incubator is fitted with an enclosure which surrounds the incubator. A cold air generation system supplies relatively cold air to a space formed between enclosure and the incubator. The system supplying the cold air can be embodied in a cart or base upon which the incubator sits. The enclosure is also placed on the base in a manner such that it substantially envelops the incubator. The top of the cart has openings for egress of cold air and return of air so that air may circulate in a closed loop. The incubator, cold air supply system and enclosure present a solution for incubating samples in a nominal 20-25° C. temperature environment. The enclosure, which is preferably insulated, may include a void or opening which exposes doors or other access device of the incubator, allowing direct access to the samples in the incubator while the rest of the incubator is enveloped by the enclosure.

Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Abstract: A biogas system operates according to the principle of dry fermentation with multiple biogas fermenters that are run in batch mode. One of the biogas fermenters has just been loaded with fresh biomass and the other biogas fermenters are in the state of producing biogas with a higher concentration of methane. The biogas fermenter just loaded with fresh biomass is closed and connected to the other biogas fermenters that are already producing biogas. In addition, there is a return of the biogas mixture from the freshly loaded biogas fermenter to at least one of the other biogas fermenters producing biogas. After expiration of a defined time duration, the return of the biogas mixture from the freshly loaded biogas fermenter is stopped. The defined time duration is determined based on the concentration of methane in the mixture of biogas generated in all of the biogas fermenters.

Abstract: The present invention provides for passive V0C recovery in the fermentation process that does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the fermentor vessel and does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the headspace of the fermentor vessel itself while using the production of CO2 emitted during the fermenting process as the source of driving energy to move a portion of the gaseous/vaporous material in the headspace of the fermentor through an appropriately sized conduit to a chilled surface condensing device to condense the V0Cs (principally ethanol) for recovery and to exhaust the CO2 to the atmosphere or to recover the CO2 for other uses.

Abstract: Bioreactor system and method for cloning the physiological state of microorganisms comprises in preferred embodiment of a mother-reactor and one or more daughter-reactors with sensors, stirrers, fluid and gas flow channels, scales, pumps, controllers, computer, software, valves and accessory devices. The bioreactors are inter-connected with culture transfer hose. To achieve the method, the mother-reactor is filled with necessary volume, inoculated, stabilised in continuous cultivation, the microbial culture's volume is increased in variable volume cultivation while maintaining constant physiology, microbial culture is transferred from the mother-reactor into the daughter-reactors while maintaining constant physiology, experiment in the daughter reactor follows. After the experiment daughter-reactors are sterilized and rinsed.

Abstract: A totipotent plant tissue multiplication system can include a plurality of bioreactors, an agitator to agitate culture in the bioreactors, and a gas source and control system. The gas source and control system can include a dissolved gas sensor in each of the bioreactors, gas sources, a manifold connected to each of the gas sources, and valves connected to the manifold. Each of the valves can be connected to one of the bioreactors. A controller can open the valves and control amounts of gas released from the gas sources into the manifold based on signals received from the dissolved gas sensors in each of the bioreactors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic bioaccelerator for obtaining biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements: octagonal biomass converters (1), seawater reserve tanks (3), particle filters (4), UV light filters (5), feedback and mixture tanks (6), pressurization feed tanks (8), manometers (9), pressure controllers (10), buffer tanks (11), expansion tanks with a safety valve (12), heat exchangers (13), temperature control thermostats (14), recycled water feedback tanks (15), reinjection pumps (16), centrifuges for separating the biomass from the water (17), desuperheaters (18); control panels (25), recirculation pumps (26), densimeters (27), biomass mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) and biomass accumulation tanks (33).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing particles in a solution including a unit configured to place a flow cell having a flow path for flowing a sample solution containing the particles; a unit configured to illuminate the sample solution flowing through the flow path of the flow cell; a photodetector that detects a scattered light and/or fluorescence generated from the particles in the sample solution; and a unit configured to analyze the particles based on their signal intensities detected by the photodetector, wherein the flow cell has the flow path formed in a substrate, a reflection plane is formed on the side surface of the flow path, the reflection plane leads the lights generated in the flow path of the flow cell and advancing in the substrate in-plane direction to a specified region of the surface of the flow cell, and the photodetector detects the light exiting from the specified region to the outside.

Abstract: A method for the continuous liquefying of organic solids in a fermenter, wherein an outwardly directed flow of solids is produced in a dammed-up liquid, the solids are added in the lower region of the fermenter and the solid fermentation residues are essentially collected and removed below the level of the dammed-up liquid.

Abstract: A biological growth monitoring and parameter extraction system includes a comparison group platform and an experimental group platform. First environmental sensing modules of the comparison group platform extracts first environmental parameters of a biological comparison area, a first control module transmits the parameters to the experimental group platform, and a first biological inspection module extracts growth conditions of organisms of the biological comparison area. A biological experiment area of the experimental group platform emulates growth environment of the biological comparison area, second environmental sensing modules extract second environmental parameters of the biological experiment area, and the first environmental parameters are used as reference inputs of the experimental group platform, so as to enable the second control module to obtain an error value by comparing the second and the first environmental parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods using the same in various types of thermal cycling reactions. Certain devices include a rotary microfluidic channel and a plurality of temperature regions at different locations along the rotary microfluidic channel at which temperature is regulated. Solution can be repeatedly passed through the temperature regions such that the solution is exposed to different temperatures. Other microfluidic devices include an array of reaction chambers formed by intersecting vertical and horizontal flow channels, with the ability to regulate temperature at the reaction chambers. The microfluidic devices can be used to conduct a number of different analyzes, including various primer extension reactions and nucleic acid amplification reactions.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device for feeding and/or discharging fluids in microreactor arrays through one or several fluid ducts that extend into each individual microreactor and can be individually controlled and regulated, in order to control, regulate, influence, and/or verify processes. The fed or discharged amounts of fluid are introduced into or discharged from the volume of the reaction liquid during a continuous shaking process and are evenly mixed as a result of the shaking process. The continuous shaking process causes sufficient mass transfer and thorough mixing of the reaction partners or fluids while the reaction is not limited or restricted by the mass transfer conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself.

Abstract: Disclosed are an extractor having a “pottery with dark brown glaze” called “Onggi” in Korean, and a method of extracting using the same. The extractor includes a body, a body cover, a heating part, a pottery and a gas valve. The pottery is located within the body. The extractor extracts by injecting nitrogen gas, etc. into the body through a gas valve, thereby rendering the inside of the body to be high pressure state during extraction. Thus, the inside of the body is maintained under high pressure during extraction. Accordingly, an extract is located only within the pottery, and thus changes that can be caused while an extract contacts with the body can be prevented.

Abstract: Cell expansion systems are provided. The cell expansion systems generally include a hollow fiber cell growth chamber, and first and second fluid flow paths associated with the interior of the hollow fibers and exterior of the hollow fibers, respectively. The hollow fibers have a hydrophilic interior surface and a hydrophobic exterior surface. Detachable flow circuits are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for micro-aeration of large scale fermentation systems is provided. The micro-aeration system includes a fermentation reactor, a sparging apparatus, and a micro-aeration gas mixture delivered to the fermentation reactor via the sparging apparatus. The micro-aeration gas mixture is a very low oxygen concentration mixture comprising: (i) an oxygen containing gas; and (ii) an inert carrier gas or reactive carrier gas that is recycled through the fermentation reactor. The gas mixture is introduced to the fermentation reactor at a minimum superficial velocity of about 0.04 m/sec to produce a uniform dispersion of the oxygen throughout the fermentation broth while concurrently mixing the entire fermentation broth. For a reactive gas consuming fermentation process, the amount of reactive carrier gas included as part of the gas mixture exceeds the reaction stoichiometric requirements in order to provide sufficient dispersion and agitation of the broth.

Abstract: A biogas plant has at least one fermenter (1) and a first gas store (3) and a second gas store (5) for storing biogas. The gas store (3) is connectable to a first biogas conduit (4) that is connectable to a gas outlet (7) of at least one fermenter (1) while the second gas store (5) is connectable to a second biogas conduit (6) that is connectable to a gas outlet (7) of the at least one fermenter (1). A biogas utilization appliance (2) is connectable to the first biogas store (3) and/or to the first biogas conduit (4) and to the second biogas store (5) and/or to the second biogas conduit (6). The biogas plant has a control appliance (8) for controlling the quantitative ratios of the biogas streams conducted from the biogas conduits (4, 6) and/or the biogas stores (3, 5) to the biogas utilization appliance (2).

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for using an air removal chamber as a control for a process in a cell expansion system. The air removal chamber may be mounted on a fluid conveyance assembly for use with the system. Fluid is pumped into a fluid containment chamber of the air removal chamber, in which the level of fluid in the fluid containment chamber may be monitored through the use of one or more sensors. The sensors are capable of detecting air, a lack of fluid, fluid, and/or a gas/fluid interface, e.g., an air/fluid interface, at measuring positions within the air removal chamber. Protocols for use with the system may include one or more stop conditions. In an embodiment, the stopping of a process is automated based on the detection of air, a lack of fluid, and/or a gas/fluid interface in the air removal chamber.

Abstract: A fluorescence-intensity detecting unit detects fluorescence intensity by injecting a first solution containing a fluorescent reagent into a second solution that does not form an interface with the first solution through an injecting member. A calculating unit calculates the injection amount of the first solution from the fluorescence intensity based on a correlation between fluorescence intensities and injection amounts measured in advance. A computing unit obtains a correlation between an injection amount, pressure and pressurizing time based on the calculated injection amount. An adjusting unit adjusts the amount of the first solution to be injected into the endoplasmic reticulum by controlling pressure and pressurizing time based on the obtained correlation.

Abstract: This invention describes an advanced cooling system for a laboratory instrument to maintain laboratory samples at a predetermined temperature. The advanced cooling system uses an algorithm that incorporates information from at least one sensor and other operational parameters including thermal effects from the operation of the instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for sampling and/or controlling the productivity of a bioreactor.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive sample carrier carrying one or more samples for processing by the sample processing apparatus, and a thermal control system that controls a thermal cycling of the one or more samples for processing by the sample processing apparatus by selectively varying a pressure over a fluid in substantial thermal communication with the sample carrier, thereby varying a boiling point temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: An isolator for cultivating cells including a working chamber having a plurality of gloves arranged side by side into which operator's hands are inserted to operate cells, the working chamber being sectioned into at least an operation area for operating the cells, and an auxiliary working area for opening a packaged auxiliary instrument used to operate the cells, a gas supply unit that supplies gas into the working chamber so that the gas flows downwardly from an upper side in the working chamber, and a gas flow control unit for controlling the flow of the downwardly flowing gas so that the gas flows from the operation area to the auxiliary working area around the gloves, wherein the gas flow control unit has an exhaust hole portion that has an opened area for passing the gas therethrough and is provided at a lower portion of at least the auxiliary working area, and through which the gas in the auxiliary working area is exhausted.

Abstract: A hydrogel tissue engineering scaffold having microbubbles dispersed therein is disclosed. Also, a system for cell culturing including a controller and actuator to apply dynamic deformational loading to a hydrogel is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for producing hydrogels with microbubbles and for culturing cells using hydrogels with microbubbles.

Abstract: The invention relates to growth hormone (GH) formulations having sustained-release properties, in particular human growth hormone (hGH) and methods for their preparation. The growth hormone formulations can be manufactured without denaturing of the protein and can conveniently be administrated to the person in need thereof by using a conventional syringe via a needle having a small diameter.

Abstract: Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is dispersed in a liquid medium and then saccharified.

Abstract: Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention, provides a flow cytometry apparatus for the detection of particles from a plurality of samples comprising: means for moving a plurality of samples comprising particles from a plurality of respective source wells into a fluid flow stream; means for introducing a separation gas between each of the plurality of samples in the fluid flow stream; and means for selectively analyzing each of the plurality of samples for the particles. The present invention also provides a flow cytometry method employing such an apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating adult stem cells from fatty tissue, wherein the fatty tissue is mixed with a fluid and the stem cells are subsequently separated. The fatty tissue with fat cells and adult stem cells is exposed to a fluid jet (38) having a pressure adjusted such that the adult stem cells are separated from the fat cells and the adult stem cells are separated from the fat cell-stem cell-fluid mixture. A container (12) is provided for receiving fatty tissue removed from a biological structure, which includes fat cells (62) and adult stem cells (64), wherein the container (12) has a feed device (28) for a pressurized fluid and the feed device (28) includes an outlet the arrangement (30) for the fluid which is introduced or can be introduced into the fatty tissue.

Abstract: An extracorporeal filtration and detoxification system and method generally comprise separating ultrafiltrate from cellular components of blood, treating the ultrafiltrate independently of the cellular components in a recirculation circuit, recombining treated ultrafiltrate and the cellular components, and returning whole blood to the patient. A recirculation circuit generally comprises an active cartridge including active cells operative to effectuate a selected treatment; in some embodiments, the active cells are the C3A cell line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for micro-aeration of large scale fermentation systems is provided. The micro-aeration system includes a fermentation reactor, a sparging apparatus, and a micro-aeration gas mixture delivered to the fermentation reactor via the sparging apparatus. The micro-aeration gas mixture is a very low oxygen concentration mixture comprising an oxygen containing gas and an inert carrier gas that is preferably recycled through the fermentation reactor. The inert carrier gas is preferably nitrogen whereas the oxygen containing gas is oxygen or and is introduced to the fermentation reactor at a minimum superficial velocity of about 0.02 m/sec to produce a uniform dispersion of the oxygen/air throughout the fermentation broth while concurrently mixing the entire fermentation broth. The micro-aeration method and apparatus further comprises a controller operatively coupled to one or more control valves for regulating the micro-aeration conditions in the fermentation reactor.

Abstract: A bioreactor for sampling the headspace above cells includes a glass reactor vessel having an interior space and a plurality of valves operatively coupled to the interior space of the glass reactor vessel. The bioreactor includes a sample holder configured to reside in the interior space. The interior space includes a charge of air with a known composition of volatile organic gases and, in some instances, doped with carbon dioxide. The sample holder may hold cells, bacteria, or viruses. The headspace may be sampled after incubation to determine the VOC content or content of specific VOC constituents. Examples include acetaldehyde and hexanaldehyde.

Abstract: A method of managing resources of a histological tissue processor, the tissue processor comprising at least one retort (12, 14) selectively connected for fluid communication to at least one of a plurality of reagent resources (26) by a valve mechanism (40), the method comprising the step of: nominating resources according to one of: group, where a group nomination corresponds to a resource's function; type, where a type nomination corresponds to one or more attributes of a resource within a group; station, where a station nomination corresponds to a point of supply of a resource.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transforming refuse into compost. The device includes a first chamber having a grinding mechanism to grind refuse. The device also includes a second chamber attached to the first chamber, and a conduit interconnecting the first chamber to the second chamber. The second chamber stores the ground refuse to promote the composting process, and the conduit allows thermal energy and moisture to be shared between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, methods and solutions using an organ ex vivo.

Abstract: A bioreactor with an upward flowing impeller system for controlling a mammalian cell culture process is provided. The disclosed system enables control of the cell culture process by controlling the level of dissolved carbon dioxide in the cell culture media and prevent increases in the osmolality level is achieved by enhanced stripping of carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with little or no damage to the mammalian cells. The use of an upward flow impeller combined with vertical baffles converts the swirling motions of the cell culture media into a largely vertical flow and promotes the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with a sweep gas flowing over the top surface of the cell culture media within the bioreactor vessel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for converting algae to liquid methane are disclosed. The system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an algae cultivator, an anaerobic digester operatively coupled to the algae cultivator to receive algae and produce biogas, and a biogas converter coupled to the anaerobic digester to receive the biogas and produce liquefied methane and thermal energy, at least a portion of the thermal energy resulting from a methane liquefaction process. The system can further include a thermal path between the biogas converter and at least one of the algae cultivator and the anaerobic digester. The system can still further include a controller coupled to the biogas converter and at least one of the algae cultivator and the anaerobic digester. The controller can be programmed with instructions that, when executed (e.g., based on measured variables of the system), direct the portion of thermal energy between the biogas converter and the algae cultivator and/or anaerobic digester.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the ideal time for and outcome of reproductive health procedures including in vitro fertilization by establishing a correlation between the successful outcome of said procedure and the spectra of a body fluid obtained using a chosen analytical modality for a population of patients, acquiring for a patient a spectrum of the body fluid of the patient using said chosen modality.

Abstract: In order to uniformly sow cells on the culture surface of a cartridge-type closed culture vessel and remove bubbles contaminating in liquid culture medium in the course of automatic culture, an automatic culture equipment is provided with a flow-controlling mechanism section for solving the non-uniformity in cell distribution by, after filling up a culture space in the cartridge-type closed culture vessel, said cartridge-type closed culture vessel being in an upright position, with cell suspension, turning the cartridge-type closed culture vessel into a horizontal position, and then repeatedly supplying the cell suspension and sucking the same multiple times to thereby create a mixing flow in the cell suspension.