A quick-fermented feed is prepared by incorporating plant concentrate materials into alkali-treated wastes of agricultural products to lower the pH to a level below 10, inoculating the mixture with lactic acid bacteria capable of growing under alkaline conditions or high salt conditions, and fermenting the resulting mixture.

Silage is preserved by treatment with a small, but silage preserving effective amount of a seven strain inoculant, in which five of the strains are members of the Lactobacillus plantarum taxon and the remaining two strains are members of the Enterococcus faecium taxon. This seven strain inoculant is particularly effective in improving the aerobic stability as well as the rate and extent of digestibility of whole plant corn silage. It is also effective in improving animal milk and meat performance when animals are fed inoculated silage.

Lactobacillus strains that have a genetic Profile I based on Apa I, Not I, and Xba I digests are provided. Preferably, the strains decrease level of at least one of coliforms and E. coli within the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. A direct-fed microbial that includes the strain is additionally provided. A method of feeding an animal the strain and a method of forming a direct fed microbial that includes the strain is also provided.

The present invention relates to a biologically active serum-derived composition of matter (SDF), having a low molecular weight, being electrically charged at acidic pH and having absorption at 280 nm. The molecular weight of said SDF was determined by electron spray mass spectrometry and is of 316 Da. SDF of the present invention or its complex with ceruloplasmin (CP) have several therapeutic properties. For example, SDF or its complex with CP is capable of inducing terminal cell differentiation of leukemic cells, which as a result, may lose their ability to proliferate and their ability for self cell renewal. Further, SDF or the complex with CP is capable of stimulating the proliferation of early, normal progenitor cells and inhibiting enhanced angiogenesis. In addition, SDF or its complex with CP is capable of ex vivo expanding normal stem and progenitor cells. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising as active ingredient SDF or its complex and optionally further comprising pharmaceutically acceptable additives. Such pharmaceutical compositions may be for inhibiting enhance angiogenesis, for inducing remission of tumors, for maintaining tumor remission, and for expanding hematopoietic normal stem and progenitor bone marrow transplants.

This invention relates to a process of treating a lignocellulosic material to produce bio-ethanol. The process includes the steps of: (a) exposing the lignocellulosic material to conditions including a pH not less than about 8, and steam at a first pressure, to produce a step (a) product; (b) explosively discharging the step (a) product to a second pressure less than the first pressure to produce a step (b) product; and (c) further processing the step (b) product to produce bio-ethanol and other co-products. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a conical auger fractionation column. The fractionation column includes a column body having an input and an output. A conical filter is positioned inside the column body, the filter having a larger diameter end directed toward the input and a smaller diameter end directed toward the output. A conical auger is positioned inside the conical filter, the conical auger having an outer diameter which is approximately the same as an inner diameter of the conical filter. The auger and filter are adapted to cooperate to separate cellulosic solids from a liquid stream in a process of producing bio-ethanol from a lignocellulosic material.