Abstract: Apparatus and methods for monitoring embryos in an incubator are described. The apparatus comprises an incubation chamber defined by an incubation chamber housing and a sample platform comprising a plurality of receptacles for holding embryos within the incubation chamber for incubation. The sample platform may comprise a slide carrier on which embryo slides containing the receptacles may be placed incubation. The sample platform is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the incubation chamber housing so as to allow receptacles to be selectively rotated to a monitoring position that is aligned with a viewing port provided in the incubation chamber housing, for example an opening or window. An imaging device is located outside the incubation chamber and arranged to image embryos within the incubation chamber at the monitoring position through the viewing port.

Abstract: A system and method adapted to have high sensitivity to the formation of biofilm by mixed community bacteria in fluids. The system enhances corrosion imbalance by differentiating conditions between metal sensor elements immersed in the liquid being monitored. The liquid may be diverted to and flowed through a sample chamber where adjacent sensor elements may reside in different flow velocity or temperature regions. The differentiated conditions allow for different film formation on one of the sensor elements relative to the other, and also more quickly than in the main system from which the sampled liquid has been diverted. The differentiated formation allows the use of measurement of polarization current between the metal sensors to produce data with superior resolution relative to prior methods. The speed of film formation promoted by the differentiated conditions allows for determination of risk of film formation in the main system prior to that film's formation in the main system.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: A cell culture device (10) of the cultivation of cells. The cell culture device (10) includes a plurality of trays (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), each tray (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) having a cell growth surface (20) and at least one wall (22, 24) extending upwardly from the cell growth surface (20). The at least one wall (22, 24) is configured to receive an additional tray thereon. A ratio of the number of the plurality of trays (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) per a height dimension of the plurality of trays (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) is greater than or equal to about 1 tray per 12 mm.

Abstract: Bioreactors and components of bioreactors are described as may be beneficially utilized in development and conditioning of cellular materials for study or implant. The bioreactors are modular and components of the bioreactors can be easily assembled with alternatives provided to develop specific, predetermined conditioning environments for cellular materials (e.g., implantable tissue). By selection of one of multiple alternative compliance chambers, a bioreactor can be utilized to condition tissue in a low pressure circuit (e.g., a pulmonary heart circuit), and by utilization of an alternative compliance chamber, the bioreactor can instead condition tissue in a high pressure circuit (e.g., an aortic heart circuit).

Abstract: A sampling method using a sampling device (2) comprising a container (5) comprising a body (6) consisting of a soft pouch, and a lid (30), in which at least one among the container (5) and the lid (30) is provided with a discharging member (40) suitable for, in an open state, discharging at least one part of the gases contained in the internal space (7) of the body (6) of the container (5), wherein the sampling method comprises the steps consisting in: —collecting a biological material in the body (6) of the container (5), and assembling the lid (30) on the neck (10) of the container (5), —and placing an internal space (7) of the body (6) of the container (5) under anaerobic conditions by placing the discharging member (40) in the open state, by compressing the body (6) of the container (5) and by placing the discharging member (40) in a closed state.

Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide a cell culture platform with an array of tissue modeling environments and dynamic control of fluid flow. The cell culture platform includes an array of wells that are fluidically coupled by microchannel structures. The dynamically controlled flow of fluid interacts with cells grown within the microchannels.

Abstract: An incubator stand for holding a plurality of incubators in a stacked arrangement, the incubator stand comprising: a stand base; a shaft element upstanding from the stand base; and a plurality of incubator bases rotatably received on the shaft element, each incubator base forming a support for or forming part of an incubator. A stop element is also provided which prevents or limits angular displacement of each incubator base, so that each incubator base can be pivoted out from a stack of said incubator bases to in use access an incubator associated therewith without causing the stack to topple. An incubator docking system and incubator system for transferring incubators between different environmental conditions are also provided.

Abstract: A method and plant for waste disposal are provided. A recirculating arrangement recirculates leachates generated by the processes of waste treatment into the plant itself, namely into a biofilter. The leachates are treated without need for providing a dedicated arrangement for purification and disposal. In addition, the recirculated leachates introduced into the biofilter represents an additional irrigation system for the filtering material of the biofilter and contributes to maintain its humidity advantageously high. Preferably, the leachates are introduced into the biofilter at an intermediate height of the biofiltering material bed, so as to obtain a kind of “submerged irrigation” of the biofilter. More preferably, the leachates are introduced into the biofilter as homogeneously and dispersedly as possible, so as to obtain a kind of “micro-irrigation” system for the biofilter.

Abstract: A dark-environment simultaneous culturing-observing apparatus includes: an observation-subject holding unit for holding an observation subject; a dark-environment culturing chamber for culturing, in a dark environment, bacteria in the observation subject held by the observation-subject holding unit; an infrared light source for irradiating, with infrared light, the observation subject held by the observation-subject holding unit kept in the dark-environment culturing chamber; and an infrared light camera for photographing the observation subject irradiated with infrared light from the infrared light source.

Abstract: The insert shelf (1) is characterized in that it has at least one means (3) with which an incubation medium located in an incubation vessel placed on the insert shelf (1) can be set in motion during an incubation treatment or during an incubation process in an incubator (2). For this purpose, the at least one means (3) can be operated electrically and/or preferably moved mechanically.

Abstract: A testing device is provided. The testing device includes a capturing tool and a microfluidic chip having a plurality of chambers connected in a network, a sample receiving port connected to the network, and a guide structure configured to receive the capturing tool, wherein the capturing tool is configured to capture sample in a distal position from the guide structure and further configured to transfer the captured sample to the sample receiving port in a proximal position from the guide structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of devices for managing fluid transport. In particular disclosed embodiments, the devices are used to manage fluid transport in reactor systems, such as bio-assessment systems, chemical synthesis reactors, and the like. The devices disclosed herein include fluid management devices, reservoir assemblies, valving systems, pumps, and combinations thereof. The devices disclosed herein are cost-efficient and user-friendly and can be implemented in a variety of reactor systems.

Abstract: This instant disclosure provides methods of processing a sample in an automated sample processing device including devices configured for the automated extraction or isolation of nucleic acids. Also provided are plungers for use in such devices and methods of sample processing. Systems for performing the described methods and employing the described plungers are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus, kit and method embodiments are disclosed herein that provide for the production of a modified autologous platelet mixture at a patient bedside for contemporaneous reinjection to the patient using a platelet lysis apparatus. Representative platelet lysis apparatus include a sample tube and a compressed gas source connected to or near the sample tube. The compressed gas source provides for the release of expanding gas into direct or indirect contact with an exterior surface of the sample tube to freeze a platelet containing mixture within the sample tube. An optional housing supports the sample tube and compressed gas source in an operative relationship with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various bioreactor devices and systems for growing cellular material, and related methods of growing cellular material. In some cases, a system can include a well plate having a plurality of wells and a bioreactor situated in each well of the well plate. In some cases, a bioreactor can include an inner body which divides the bioreactor into several distinct chambers and facilitates the growth of a multi-tissue sample in the bioreactor. In some cases, a system can include a mechanical actuator situated to mechanically stress tissues grown in a bioreactor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method and system for determining quality of semen sample. Trajectories of objects, identified in each of plurality of image frames of semen sample, are generated by tracking movement of the objects across image frames, and compensating a drift velocity of the semen sample. Further, generated trajectories are classified into sperm and non-sperm trajectories. Finally, total concentration estimate and total motility estimate of the semen sample are computed to generate a semen quality index, which indicates quality of the semen sample. In an embodiment, the method of present disclosure uses a multi-level Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) analysis technique for effectively classifying the object trajectories into sperm and non-sperm objects. Also, since the present method includes estimating and compensating drift velocity in the semen sample, it enhances overall accuracy of motility estimation and semen quality analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides a structured cell growth matrix or assembly comprising a one or more spacer layers and one or more cell immobilization layers. The invention further provides a bioreactor comprising said matrix or assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a device for producing ultra-low sulfur biodiesel. The device for producing ultra-low sulfur biodiesel is a two-stage processing device, comprising a two-stage purification unit, a two-stage enzyme reaction unit, a two-stage distillation unit, and a decompression rectification unit. The present invention is green and environment-friendly, effectively and completely removing sulfur-containing impurities from the raw material, eliminating the attack of a sulfur-containing group in the synthesis process on fatty acids, and providing sufficient conditions for obtaining ultra-low sulfur content methyl esters in the product section.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for constructing and using a metastatic mimetic device. The device includes at least one chamber with a gate structure that allows a channel to selectively allow fluid communication between an interior of the chamber and an exterior of the chamber. The channel includes a porous member extending across a cross-section of the channel to control flow rates or allow the mimetic device to replicate transport across a member.