When conducting an analysis of a sample using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, a user allows a sample holder to hold the sample such that the sample is sandwiched between a first film and a second film, and mounts the sample holder in this state to the spectrometer. When conducting an analysis of the sample using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, the user allows the sample holder to hold the sample such that the sample is not sandwiched between the first film and the second film, and mounts the sample holder in this state to the spectrometer.

An automated method for the production of cells and/or biomolecules such as protein or peptides includes culturing cells in at least one high cell density bioreactor, thereby fluidly connecting said bioreactor with a culture medium supply and a gas or gaseous mixture; fluidly connecting said bioreactor with a downstream unit; and growing cells to a density at least 50 million cells per ml. The total volume of the bioreactor is at least 10 liters. A system suitable for implementation of the automated method above is a small-scale and cupboard-sized system, which can be placed in a portable clean room.

A fluidic device (1) has a culture chamber (10) configured to house a 3D culture matrix (2) comprising a culture of microorganisms (6). A concentration gradient of a test substance is established over the 3D culture matrix (2) by providing respective fluid flows at different end portions (12, 14) of the culture chamber (10) and comprising different concentrations of the test substance. The response of the microorganisms (6) to the test substance is determined based on the position of a border zone (5) in the 3D culture matrix (2).

A fluidic device (1) has a culture chamber (10) configured to house a 3D culture matrix (2) comprising a culture of microorganisms (6). A concentration gradient of a test substance is established over the 3D culture matrix (2) by providing respective fluid flows at different end portions (12, 14) of the culture chamber (10) and comprising different concentrations of the test substance. The response of the microorganisms (6) to the test substance is determined based on the position of a border zone (5) in the 3D culture matrix (2).

A system for digesting biodigestible feed that preferably includes the steps of comminuting the feed, introducing feed, an oxygen-containing gas, an accelerant, and bacteria into a digestion zone, the bacteria being suitable for digesting the feed under aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions. The contents of the digestion zone can be changed from aerobic operation to either anoxic or anaerobic operation, or vice versa, without changing the bacteria in the digestion zone.

Methods, apparatus, and system for a compost system to reduce operator time, reduce power utilization, increase intensity of land use by the compost system, increase efficiency of biological activity in bulk material composted by the compost system, reduce odor production by the compost system, and to reuse water applied to and which may leach out of bulk material. The compost system may comprise an aerated pad, a pivot arm attached to a center of the aerated pad, and a control module. The aerated pad may receive a bulk material to be composted into a compost product. The aerated pad may comprise an air nozzle and a drain to direct water from the bulk material to a water collection system. The pivot arm may deposit the bulk material on the aerated pad. The control module may manage a temperature inside the bulk material using the air nozzle.

Described herein is functionalized glass allowing for robust attachment of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) withstanding extended culturing periods. By first treating glass with a sulfur silane reagent, the treated glass can be activated via an amine-sulfur linker, after which ECM proteins are attached to the linker. The Inventors observed that this glass treatment combination (sulfur silane-linker-ECM) resisted degradation when compared to conventional surface coatings, such as poly-L-orthinine coated glass.

The present disclosure provides methods for treating one or more grains in an ethanol plant or alcohol brewery, methods of drying, cooling, disease control of dried distillers grains with soluble (DDG), barley, or brewer's spent grain (BSG), and a system for treating one or more grains in an ethanol plant or alcohol brewery by these disclosed methods.

An active solid state fermentation bioreactor for producing gases, liquid(s) or solids from gaseous or gaseous and liquid starting materials and a fermentation process using the reactor are disclosed. The bioreactor includes three major phases; a solid phase including the porous solid support, a liquid phase comprising liquid, and a gaseous phase. The solid phase includes a porous solid support, in which at least 20% of the pore volumes have a size resulting in a liquid suction of about 0.01 to about 0.1 bars if these pores are filled with liquid, the porous solid support is inoculated with desired micro-organisms, the volume of the gaseous phase is 20% to 60% of the volume of the bioreactor, and the liquid phase is at least 20% of the reactor volume. The unsaturated capillary conductivity of filling/packing solid material of the bioreactor is at least 0.1 cm/h. The solid state fermentation bioreactor enables a large gas-liquid interface, in which the filling material has a good capillary conductivity despite the unsaturated state.

A system and method adapted for continuous growth and harvesting of fungal fruiting bodies. The system includes a growth chamber, one or more mycelium feed assemblies, a nutrient reservoir with liquid media, one or more environmental controls to control an environment within the growth chamber and of the liquid media within the nutrient reservoir. One or more mycelium feed assemblies are arranged within the growth chamber. Each of the one or more mycelium feed assemblies includes a nutrient supply member and a mycelium colony which grows around the nutrient supply member, that continuously supplies liquid media to the mycelium colony. The method includes starting one or more mycelium colonies on the nutrient supply member, establishing that a mature colony has formed, and then maintaining the mature mycelium colony by continuous delivery of liquid medium to the mycelium colony, thus allowing for contiguous generation and harvesting of fungal fruiting bodies.