Systems and methods for recycling of organic waste to produce lactic acid by fermentation are provided, which utilize dried or partially-dried compositions of spores of the lactic acid-producing bacterium Bacillus coagulans.

An immobilized enzymatic reactor can include a wall defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a solid stationary phase covalently linked to an enzyme and disposed within the chamber; and a pressure modulator in a fluid communication with the chamber and adapted to support continuous flow of a liquid sample comprising a polymer analyte through the inlet, over the solid stationary phase, and out of the outlet under a pressure between about 2,500 and 35,000 psi. In one example, the solid stationary phase includes inorganic/organic hybrid particles in an ultra performance liquid chromatography system, the enzyme is a protease, and the polymer analyte is a polypeptide. The immobilized enzymatic reactor can prepare an analyte for applications such as for hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

A device for treatment of cells with particles is disclosed. The device includes a semi-permeable membrane positioned between two plates, the first plate defining a first flow chamber and comprising a port, a flow channel, a transverse port, and a transverse flow channel, the first flow chamber constructed and arranged to deliver fluid in a transverse direction along the first side of the semi-permeable membrane, the second plate defining a second flow chamber and comprising a port. A method for transducing cells is disclosed. The method includes introducing a fluid with cells and viral particles into a flow chamber adjacent a semi-permeable membrane such that the cells and the viral particles are substantially evenly distributed on the semi-permeable membrane. The method also includes introducing a recovery fluid to suspend the cells and the viral particles, and separating the cells from the viral particles. A method of activating cells is disclosed.

An allergen inactivation method includes an inactivation step of inactivating an allergen present in a reaction system by reduction via a reduced redox protein, and a reduction process of reducing an oxidized redox protein produced by oxidation of the reduced redox protein in the inactivating to the reduced redox protein by donating an electron from an electrode connected to an external power supply outside the reaction system to the oxidized redox protein.

A sample collection device including a collection tube at least partially defining a storage volume therein, a mouthpiece coupled to the collection tube, the mouthpiece defining a channel providing access to the storage volume, and a filter at least partially positioned within the channel, where the filter is configured to filter a sample as it passes through the channel and into the storage volume.

Aspects of the invention include methods of removing carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from a CO.sub.2 containing gas. In some instances, the methods include contacting CO.sub.2 containing gas with a bicarbonate buffered aqueous medium under conditions sufficient to produce a bicarbonate rich product. Where desired, the resultant bicarbonate rich product or a component thereof may then be stored or further processed, e.g., combined with a divalent alkaline earth metal cation, under conditions sufficient to produce a solid carbonate composition. Aspects of the invention further include systems for practicing the methods, as well as products produced by the methods.

The invention includes novel, systems, methods and compositions for the in vitro production of polynucleotides, and in particular the production of mRNA for use in therapeutic applications.

The present disclosure provides a conversion of a gaseous substrate with the use of a microorganism. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a microbial gas-phase reaction system for converting a gaseous substrate with the use of a microorganism. This microbial gas-phase reaction system comprises at least one member selected from among a carrier having the microorganism immobilized thereon, a gas supply part for supplying the gaseous substrate to the gas phase of the microbial gas-phase reaction system, and a water supply system for supplying water to the carrier. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for converting a gaseous substrate with the use of a microorganism. This method comprises a step for exposing a surface of a carrier, on which the microorganism is immobilized, to a gas phase containing the gaseous substrate.

A hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17 as a biomass processing apparatus that decomposes a biomass material 11 into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin under a high temperature and high pressure condition to remove a lignin component and a hemicellulose component, a biomass solid discharging unit 18 that discharges a biomass solid (a hot-water insoluble component) 20 processed in the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus 17, and a slurrying vessel 21 communicating with the biomass solid discharging unit 18, into which water 19 is injected and the discharged biomass solid 20 is added to make it slurried are provided to an apparatus body 13, which is a processing vessel having a gas-liquid interface 13a.

Provided are an amadoriase that is less likely to be influenced by oxygen concentration and a method and a reagent kit for measurement of HbA1c using such amadoriase. Provided are an amadoriase that is obtained via substitution of one or more amino acid residues at a position or positions corresponding to the position(s) selected from the group consisting of positions 280, 267, 269, 54, and 241 of the amadoriase derived from the genus Coniochaeta, a method for measurement of HbA1c, a reagent kit for measurement, and a sensor using such amadoriase. The modified amadoriase according to the invention has a lowered oxidase activity and an enhanced dehydrogenase activity, and this enables the use of an electron mediator, and this reduces the influence of oxygen concentration. Thus, HbA1c can be measured with high sensitivity.