The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.

The present invention comprises methods and devices for modulating the activity or activities of living cells, such as cells found in or derived from humans, animals, plants, insects, microorganisms and other organisms. Methods of the present invention comprise use of the application of ultrasound, such as low intensity, low frequency ultrasound, to living cells to affect the cells and modulate the cells' activities. Devices of the present invention comprise one or more components for generating ultrasound waves, such as ultrasonic emitters, transducers or piezoelectric transducers, composite transducers, CMUTs, and which may be provided as single or multiple transducers or in an array configurations. The ultrasound waves may be of any shape, and may be focused or unfocused.

A yeast extract is produced by preparing a suspension containing yeast, applying an electric field treatment to the suspension, and then autolyzing the suspension. In this electric field treatment, a voltage to be applied is less than 1000 V/mm, and a temperature of the suspension during an application period of the voltage is 64° C. or less. According to such a production process, a content of amino acids in the yeast extract can be improved. Among amino acids, branched chain amino acids or the like can be efficiently increased.

A yeast extract is produced by preparing a suspension containing yeast, applying an electric field treatment to the suspension, and then autolyzing the suspension. In this electric field treatment, a voltage to be applied is less than 1000 V/mm, and a temperature of the suspension during an application period of the voltage is 64° C. or less. According to such a production process, a content of amino acids in the yeast extract can be improved. Among amino acids, branched chain amino acids or the like can be efficiently increased.

A method of cultivating algal cells of an algae belonging to a class selected from Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Haptophyceae includes: irradiating the algal cells with an artificial light having a ratio of (i) photon flux density in a wavelength range of 520-630 nm to (ii) photosynthetic photon flux density, that is 65% or more; and measuring a cell size of the algal cells. Irradiation and non-irradiation of the algal cells with the artificial light are switched, or the photon flux density in the wavelength range of 520-630 nm is changed, according to the measured cell size.

A method of cultivating algal cells of an algae belonging to a class selected from Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Haptophyceae includes: irradiating the algal cells with an artificial light having a ratio of (i) photon flux density in a wavelength range of 520-630 nm to (ii) photosynthetic photon flux density, that is 65% or more; and measuring a cell size of the algal cells. Irradiation and non-irradiation of the algal cells with the artificial light are switched, or the photon flux density in the wavelength range of 520-630 nm is changed, according to the measured cell size.

A method and system is provided for increasing lipids, biomass, and metabolite yields of a microalgae culture of cells and other organisms with conserved metabolic pathways compared to an untreated culture or organism when maintained under normal conditions. The method includes irradiating with electromagnetic ionizing radiation to induce rapid and reproducible hormetic metabolic activation in the organism cells. In an embodiment, the irradiation can be applied in a exponential or stationary phase of microalgae growth. The hormetic effect involves up-regulation of expression of lipid metabolism genes encoding enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of lipids with accumulation of energy reserves in the form of lipids and/or accumulation of other metabolites. The method can be implemented in a system that can interface with existing microalgae cultivation platforms, standard microalgae cultivation conditions, alongside standard microalgae culture types, and similarly with organisms with conserved metabolic pathways in their growth substrates.

A method of controlling a needle actuator to interact with a cell is provided, the method comprising: providing an actuator comprising a tower, a stage and a needle, wherein the needle is mounted on the stage; applying an electrostatic potential between the tower and the stage to retract the needle; moving the actuator towards the cell; reducing the potential so as to allow the stage and needle to move towards the cell; applying calibration data to detect when the needle has pierced the cell; and reducing the potential further once it has been detected that the needle has pierced the cell. The cell can be a biological cell. The needle can be a micro-needle and the stage can be a micro-stage.

A method for improving a biogas production is provided in which an organic substrate is pretreated by various methods. In particular, the method includes a combination of a magnetic and an enzymatic pretreatment of the substrate with an attractive specific energy gain. The application of a magnetic field induces changes in biological systems

A method for improving a biogas production is provided in which an organic substrate is pretreated by various methods. In particular, the method includes a combination of a magnetic and an enzymatic pretreatment of the substrate with an attractive specific energy gain. The application of a magnetic field induces changes in biological systems