Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring equipment data including; identifying at least one group of equipment, compiling, at least one piece of equipment within the at least one group of equipment, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is based on the at least one group of equipment, assigning, at least one parameter for the at least one group of equipment, wherein the at least one parameter is applied to each of the at least one pieces of equipment within the at least one group of equipment, setting, a range of acceptable values for a first group of the at least one parameters, and receiving, at least one value associated with at least one piece of equipment of the at least one group of equipment.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring equipment data comprising; identifying at least one group of equipment, compiling, at least one piece of equipment within the at least one group of equipment, wherein the at least one piece of equipment is based on the at least one group of equipment, assigning, at least one parameter for the at least one group of equipment, wherein the at least one parameter is applied to each of the at least one pieces of equipment within the at least one group of equipment, setting, a range of acceptable values for a first group of the at least one parameters, and receiving, at least one value associated with at least one piece of equipment of the at least one group of equipment.

Abstract: A gas recirculation system for an incubated controlled environment for the development of human embryos, the system comprising: a first mixing box; a second mixing box in fluid communication with the first mixing box; a manifold in fluid communication with the second mixing box; a plurality of incubation chambers in fluid communication with the manifold, the incubation chambers configured to maintain the proper temperature for the safe and proper growth of human embryos; a return manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of incubation chambers and in fluid communication with the first mixing box; and where the gas recirculation system is configured to monitor and maintain the plurality of incubation chambers at the proper provides a proper gas mixture and gas flow for the incubation of human embryos in the incubation chambers CO2, N2 and O2 gas levels for the safe and proper growth of human embryos.

Abstract: A device for the observation, imaging and uninterrupted culturing of embryos and cells, the device comprising: an incubator; a mixing box located above the incubator; gas sensors located in the mixing box; solenoid valves attached to the mixing box; a first clear panel located on the top of the incubator, and configured to allow one to see into the incubator; a first light source located above the first clear panel, and the first light source configured to provide light into the incubator; a door attached to the incubator, the door configured to provide access to the inside of the incubator, and the door located below the access door; a rotatable platter located below the incubator, the rotatable platter comprising: a first insert configured to removably sit on the platter; a first culture dish configured to removably sit in the first insert; a second insert configured to removably sit on the platter; a second culture dish configured to removably sit in the second insert; a first moveable camera located under

Abstract: An oocyte and embryo-positioning apparatus enables a plurality of oocytes, embryos or other cell specimens to be held and positioned for injection therein of fluid molecular reagents such as DNA, RNA, protein, cells, spermatozoa and cells; and removal of cells, fragments of cells, cytoplasm, nuclei and cellular organelles. The oocytes and embryos are kept separate from each other in open marked or unmarked well-compartments that are located in the culture container. Each well-compartment comprises one or more finger like structures that can position one oocyte or one embryo. The lanes between the digits of the fingers may be sloped allowing the oocytes or embryo to position at the narrowest and lowest point of the compartment. The method and oocytes and embryo-positioning apparatus of this invention includes a culturing container, such as a Petrie dish, in which the oocytes and embryos are held for micromanipulation.

Abstract: A gas recirculation system for an incubated controlled environment, the system comprising: a first mixing box; a second mixing box in fluid communication with the first mixing box; a manifold in fluid communication with the second mixing box; a plurality of incubation chambers in fluid communication with the manifold; a return manifold in fluid communication with the plurality of incubation chambers and in fluid communication with the first mixing box.

Abstract: An oocyte and embryo-positioning apparatus enables a plurality of oocytes, embryos or other cell specimens to be held and positioned for injection therein of fluid molecular reagents such as DNA, RNA, protein, cells, spermatozoa and cells; and removal of cells, fragments of cells, cytoplasm, nuclei and cellular organelles. The oocytes and embryos are kept separate from each other in open marked or unmarked well-compartments that are located in the culture container. Each well-compartment comprises one or more finger like structures that can position one oocyte or one embryo. The lanes between the digits of the fingers may be sloped allowing the oocytes or embryo to position at the narrowest and lowest point of the compartment. The method and oocytes and embryo-positioning apparatus of this invention includes a culturing container, such as a Petrie dish, in which the oocytes and embryos are held for micromanipulation.

Abstract: This invention comprises peptides, methods and a kit for identifying DNA fragmentation in non-viable sperm. Specific peptide sequences are claimed that bind to ssDNA and fragmented DNA.

Abstract: An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognized by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

Abstract: An apparatus for the culturing of oocytes, embryos, stem cells and cells allows the culturing of the specimens by communally growing or grouping of the specimens and maintains identification of the specimens and allows for the ease in use and location of the specimens in the apparatus. The ability to group the embryos increases cleavage rates, embryos scores and increases the likelihood of better embryos and pregnancy results. This will increase the chances of the survival and future growth or use of the specimens. The apparatus takes the form of a dish which is formed with a plurality of integral wells in which the specimens are placed. The wells or chambers may be subdivided into separate compartments which contain individual embryos or other specimens that are being cultured.

Abstract: An oocyte and embryo-positioning apparatus enables a plurality of oocytes, embryos or other cell specimens to be held and positioned for injection therein of fluid molecular reagents such as DNA, RNA, protein, cells, spermatozoa and cells; and removal of cells, fragments of cells, cytoplasm, nuclei and cellular organelles. The oocytes and embryos are kept separate from each other in open marked or unmarked well-compartments that are located in the culture container. Each well-compartment comprises one or more finger like structures that can position one oocyte or one embryo. The lanes between the digits of the fingers may be sloped allowing the oocytes or embryo to position at the narrowest and lowest point of the compartment. The method and oocytes and embryo-positioning apparatus of this invention includes a culturing container, such as a Petrie dish, in which the oocytes and embryos are held for micromanipulation.

Abstract: A recombinant heteromultimeric protein including at least (a) a polypeptide fusion molecule A consisting of a C4BP ?-chain C-terminal fragment and a polypeptide fragment heterologous to said ? chain, and (b) a polypeptide fusion molecule B consisting of a C4BP ?-chain C-terminal fragment and a polypeptide fragment heterologous to said ?-chain, wherein (a) and (b) are linked in the C-terminal portion to form said multimeric protein.

Abstract: A container or dish is useful for the micro manipulation, micro injection, biopsy and fertilization in oocyte and embryo manipulation and culturing. The dish allows the user to more readily perform procedures used to fertilize oocytes by Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or other procedures, biopsy embryos and perform additional procedures for use in assisted reproductive techniques (ART), human reproduction and in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The invention allows ease in use, the reduction in the number of micro tools used in the procedure, as opposed to conventional dishes and procedures, and will allow the user to more readily locate the oocytes and embryos to be handled and worked on. The invention will add repetitiveness, consistency, improve efficacy and ease of procedure and may improve outcomes. The invention will also give the user a more ergonomically practical dish for these types of procedures and related protocols.

Abstract: A biological specimen processing dish assembly includes a dish portion for use in treating specimens such as oocytes, embryos, tissues, and the like sequientially with different reagents or media. The dish includes a plurality of geometrically arranged wells disposed in related sets. The wells are operative to receive reagents or media for the use in treatment of the specimens in question. The specimens can be subjected to a sequence of different treatment media in the wells in a set thereof so as to provide a coherant device for subjecting specimens to a treatment procedure that requires the specimens to be subjected to different media or reagents during sequencial steps in the treatment protocol. The dish can be partially filled with a layer of oil that overlies the reagents in the wells and protects the specimens from exposure to air during the treatment protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus for the culturing of oocytes, embryos, stem cells and cells allows the culturing of the specimens by communally growing or grouping of the specimens and maintains identification of the specimens and allows for the ease in use and location of the specimens in the apparatus. The ability to group the embryos increases cleavage rates, embryos scores and increases the likelihood of better embryos and pregnancy results. This will increase the chances of the survival and future growth or use of the specimens. The apparatus takes the form of a dish which is formed with a plurality of integral wells in which the specimens are placed. The wells or chambers may be subdivided into separate compartments which contain individual embryos or other specimens that are being cultured.

Abstract: A method for preparing recombinant dimeric proteins using a nucleic acid coding for the C-terminal fragment of the C4BP protein ? chain including amino acid residues 193 to 252 or a functional variant of the fragment, wherein the fragment enables covalent bonding of the heterologous polypeptides to which it is fused. Dimeric proteins obtained by means of the method and cells for carrying out the method are also described.