The invention generally provides devices and methods for sampling, detecting and/or characterizing particles, for example, via collection, growth and analysis of viable biological particles such as microorganisms. Devices and methods of the invention include particle samplers and impactors for collecting and/or analyzing biological particles in manufacturing environments requiring low levels of particles, such as cleanroom environments for electronics manufacturing and aseptic environments for manufacturing pharmaceutical and biological products, such as sterile medicinal products. Devices and methods of the invention incorporate an integrated sampler and impact surface, such as the receiving surface of a growth media, in a manner to minimize, or entirely eliminate, risks associated with user handling, such as the occurrence of false positive determinations due to contamination of the impact surface during particle sampling, growth or analysis processes.

A SCBI useful in ambient air pressure systems is disclosed. The SCBI includes a body which serves as the culture tube, a glass media ampoule, an inoculated stainless steel disc positioned on the top of the glass media ampoule so that the spores are close to the top/opening of the SCBI, filter paper on the top of the body and overlying the disc, and a cap.

A microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic network is described. The device comprises a base, a microfluidic channel and a cover, and the base comprises a diaphragm forming at least part of an inner surface of the microfluidic channel. The device finds use in methods for assessing mechanical strain induced in or by cells, such methods also being described.

The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous production of a solid transformation product of the substrate and crude ethanol comprising the following steps: •preparing a substrate from milled or flaked biomass comprising proteinaceous matter which originates from soya bean, rape seed, or mixtures thereof, optionally in further mixture with proteinaceous matter originating from fava beans, peas, sunflower seeds, lupine, cereals, and/or grasses, •mixing said substrate with live yeast in a dry matter ratio of from 1:1 to 10,000:1 and adding water in an amount which provides a ratio of wet bulk density to dry bulk density from 0.60 to 1.45 in the resulting mixture; •incubating said mixture for 1-48 hours at a temperature of about 20-60° C.; and •separating crude ethanol and wet solid transformation product from said mixture; further comprising that the incubation is performed as a continuous plug-flow process in a vertical, non-agitated, closed incubation tank with inlet means for said mixture and additives and outlet means for the solid transformation product and crude ethanol. The invention further relates to the products of this method as well as uses thereof.

Inoculating systems/devices, methods for inoculating a target, and coating methods are disclosed. An example inoculating system may include an inoculating member having a transfer region and a handle region. A pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms may be disposed on the transfer region. The inoculating member may be configured to transfer the pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms to a target during an inoculation operation without having to rehydrate the pre-determined quantity of viable microorganisms prior to the inoculating operation.

A bioreactor system for conditioning of pluripotent cells or cell media is provided. In further aspects, conditioned pluripotent cells and methods for making such cells are provided.

A coverslip for cell culture, capable of achieving seamless adhesion between the coverslip for cell culture and a target culture device, so as to solve the technical problem that cell suspension flows into gaps between the coverslip and a culture dish. Moreover, the coverslip for cell culture has exquisite structure, and is easy to carry out batch experiment and comparison. The coverslip is flake-like with upper and lower surfaces being parallel to each other, and comprises: a coverslip substrate (1) and sub-coverslips (2); the coverslip substrate (1) is provided with at least N hollowed-out parts (11); the sub-coverslips (2) are fixedly connected in the hollowed-out parts (11) by means of M fragile connecting pieces (3), wherein both N and M are natural numbers which are not related to each other.

The present invention provides a parallel bioreactor system, comprising: an oscillator for generating oscillating motion; a plurality of culture vessels mounted on the oscillator, wherein each culture vessel is provided with an inner cavity, the inner cavity comprises a cylindrical portion at the upper part and an inverted truncated conical bottom at the lower part, a cross section of the cylindrical portion is consistent with the cross section of the top of the inverted truncated conical bottom, and the bottom of the cylindrical portion is joined with the top of the inverted truncated conical bottom; disposable culture bags arranged in the inner cavities of the culture vessels and used for accommodating culture solution, wherein each disposable culture bag is provided with a multifunctional cover plate, and the multifunctional cover plate is connected to the top of the culture bag to seal the culture bag, and is provided with a plurality of connection holes leading to interior of the disposable culture bag; and a control system, wherein the control system controls the oscillating motion of the oscillator and parameters of the culture solution in the disposable culture bags.

A hypoxic chamber system comprises a hypoxic chamber having: a housing, an internal receiving chamber formed within the housing, a lid operably connectable to the housing to seal the receiving chamber in a closed position, a first input and a second input in communication with the receiving chamber, and an oxygen sensor positioned in the receiving chamber; a first regulator valve operatively connected to the first input and an oxygen source; a second regulator valve operatively connected to the second input and a non-oxygen source; and a controller electrically connected to the first regulator valve, the second regulator valve, and the oxygen sensor.

The present invention relates to a gas collection device and is directed to a gas collection device for collecting a gas which is generated while microorganisms are cultured in a super absorbent polymer product. The gas collection device may comprise a constant temperature chamber having an interior that is configured to be maintained at a set temperature; a culture flask unit located inside the constant temperature chamber and configured to culture a bacteria therein; an adsorption unit located outside the constant temperature chamber and configured to receive a gas inside the culture flask unit; a pump unit connected to a rear end of the adsorption unit and configured to suck the gas inside the culture flask unit into the adsorption unit; and a mass flow controller located outside the constant temperature chamber and configured to control a flow rate of the gas sucked into the adsorption unit.