Disclosed herein is an industrial scale process of cultivating cultivating Ganoderma lucidum mycelia. As high as 15 Kg dried Ganoderma lucidum mycelia may be produced from about 300 liters liquid culture every 30 days, and the resulting dried Ganoderma lucidum mycelia are rich in triterpenoids that include at least ganoderic acid S (GAS), ganoderic acid T (GAT), ganoderic acid Me (GAMe), ganoderic acid R (GAR), and ganodermic acid S (GMAS).

Bioreactor systems and controlled operation of bioreactor systems are disclosed herein. The bioreactor systems can include at least one bioreactor chamber, at least one reservoir, a plurality of sensors, and a fluid circuit. The operational methods disclosed herein are directed towards growing cells or tissue while measuring various parameters, and a controlled operation of the various parameters during the operation of the bioreactor systems. The controlled operation of the parameters includes, for example, cell concentration; a rate of flow; a volume; a pH; a temperature; a level of oxygen; a level of carbon dioxide; a level of bicarbonate ion; nutrient compound; and any combination thereof.

A nutrient combination for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is described. The nutrient combination comprises a source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N.sub.2). The nutrient combination is preferably substantially fee of gaseous oxygen and/or gaseous NO.sub.x and/or SO.sub.x. In various embodiments the nutrient combination may comprise a two-phase mixture of a solution of the soluble source of phosphorus (P) and gaseous nitrogen (N.sub.2). A process for enhancing biogenic methane production from a carbonaceous material is also described. The process involves dispersing the nutrient combination of the invention throughout the carbonaceous material for a period of time to biogenically produce methane and subsequently collecting methane from the carbonaceous material.

The United States faces significant environmental burden to treat and transport ˜0.61 billion kg of defective tomatoes (culled tomatoes) every year. The present disclosure provides for the treatment and processing of culled tomatoes in microbial-electrochemical systems, using the microbial fuel cell as a model reactor. The fundamental differences between the long-term oxidative behavior of unprocessed culled tomatoes compared to the three readily soluble substrates (dextrose, acetate, and wastewater) are disclosed. AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses indicate the influential impedance contributions of the peel & seed to the cull oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry tests indicate that the indigenous redox-active pigments in the cull influence the faradaic processes involved in the cull oxidation.

The systems and methods disclosed herein are generally related to a cell culture system. More particularly, the systems and methods enable the culturing and interconnecting of a plurality of tissue types in a biomimetic environment. By culturing organ specific tissue types within a biomimetic environment and interconnecting each of the organ systems in a physiologically meaningful way, experiments can be conducted on in vitro cells that substantially mimic the responses of in vivo cell populations. In some implementations, the organ systems are fluidically connected with a constant-volume pump.

An isolator system 1 includes: a main isolator 3 in which an aseptic state is maintained and which is for performing an aseptic operation; an incubator 4 in which the aseptic state is maintained and which is connected to the main isolator 3 and is for culturing cells and the like; decontamination means 35 for decontaminating the inside of the main isolator 3; and a decontamination station 9 that decontaminates the inside of the incubator 4. The isolator system 1 further includes a blocking member 30 for sealing a connection port 13 from the outside, the port being provided in the main isolator 3 and being for connection with the incubator 4. When the inside of the main isolator 3 is decontaminated, the connection port 13 is sealed from the outside with the blocking member 30. The isolator system that can efficiently decontaminate the main isolator and the subisolator connected to this main isolator can be provided.

The present disclosure provides a biomimetic cell culture apparatus that mimics interactions among organs in a human body. The present disclosure includes a plurality of culture units for culturing cells, a conduit for connecting the plurality of culture units to each other to form a circulating path, a pump unit disposed on the conduit for forming a flow in culture medium such that the culture medium circulates through the plurality of culture units, and an agitating module for agitating the plurality of culture units.

Provided are an apparatus and method for reducing the phenol concentration in a commercial enzyme solution and/or feedstock.

A controlled environment enclosure comprises a robotic arm manipulation system used to protect and unprotect a fluid path and a swab within the controlled environment enclosure. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be protected against dangerous decontamination vapors and chemicals before the controlled environment enclosure is decontaminated. The apparatus allows the fluid path to be unprotected without the use of gloves or other means that degrade the integrity of the controlled environment enclosure when decontamination is completed. The apparatus and method allow for the protecting, unprotecting and decontaminating sequences to be automated. In some embodiments the fluid path comprises a fill needle that can removably and aseptically be sealed with a disposable monolithic injection moulded polymeric fill needle sheath. The apparatus and method further allow for the use of a swab disposed in a swab holder that is aseptically and removably sealable to a swab cap to protect the swab against decontamination vapors.

The invention provides a device for growing cells—referred to as a cassette. The cell culturing device includes a housing that contains a lid having an optically clear window; a fluid distribution channel; a sample injection port fluidically connected to the fluid distribution channel; a base housing a porous media pad; and a media injection port fluidically connected to the media pad. The lid mates to the base to form a sterile seal; the fluid distribution channel is disposed over the media pad, which is viewable through the optical window; and sample fluid introduced into the fluid distribution channel is distributed evenly to the media pad, e.g., via a plurality of channels. The invention also provides kits that include cassettes of the invention and a tube set.