Abstract: Methods according to aspects of the present invention relate to the determination of whether a female ruminant ungulate is open or not open using flow cytometry to detect an expression level of an interferon-stimulated gene in leukocytes of a biological sample from the female ruminant ungulate.

Abstract: A method for combining two or more maximum moieties to yield functional cassettes with ultra-high binding affinities, in which at least two binding sequences are incorporated into the same linear polypeptide such that each is separated by between five and forty amino acids, to create a polypeptide having geometrically increased binding affinity compared to the arithmetically summed binding affinities of the individual maximum moieties.

Abstract: An apparatus to lyophilize, store, transport, rehydrate, and process aqueous biological materials in a container which maintains sterility of its contents, allows container shrinkage after lyophilization, and optimally permits filtration or dialysis of the contents in situ, without the need for a second or series of additional containers. These benefits are met by a microporous container constructed of a membrane that is water vapor permeable, yet water impermeable.

Abstract: A device and method allowing evaluation of the contents of a sealed primary container by means of an integral sensor which is separated from the contents of the sealed primary container yet provides information on quality of the contents of the primary container without breaking the sealed system. The integral sensor device includes a biosensor retained within a plastic construct by a gated-pore membrane. Pores in the membrane open in response to an environmental change in the primary container allowing the contents of the primary container to contact the biosensor. Status of the contents of the primary container can be determined by inspection of the biosensor, visually or via a fiberoptic probe, through the optical window of the plastic construct.

Abstract: A comprehensive system (10) for the growing, analyzing, storing, validating and distributing of cells or tissues for a variety of purposes, in which the comprehensive system (10) generally uses a macrocontainer (12) for each of the steps from beginning to end. The macrocontainer (12) may include a number of elements, an essential one of which is the primary container (14). In every case, the primary container (14) includes a biosensor and a data registry device (15) (usually a microchip) to record and to display the handling history of the primary container (14) throughout the implementation of the system (10). The macrocontainer (14) provides process control, sterility and a matrix within and around which associated inlets, outlets and data lines may be coordinated.

Abstract: A device and method allowing evaluation of the contents of a sealed primary container by means of an integral sensor which is separated from the contents of the sealed primary container yet provides information on quality of the contents of the primary container without breaking the sealed system. The integral sensor device includes a biosensor retained within a plastic construct by a gated-pore membrane. Pores in the membrane open in response to an environmental change in the primary container allowing the contents of the primary container to contact the biosensor. Status of the contents of the primary container can be determined by inspection of the biosensor, visually or via a fiberoptic probe, through the optical window of the plastic construct.

Abstract: An apparatus to lyophilize, store, transport, rehydrate, and process aqueous biological materials in a container which maintains sterility of its contents, allows container shrinkage after lyophilization, and optimally permits filtration or dialysis of the contents in situ, without the need for a second or series of additional containers. These benefits are met by a microporous container constructed of a membrane that is water vapor permeable, yet water impermeable.

Abstract: A pore plugging material, for pH dependent membrane diffusion, in which cyclic olefins having phosphazene-functional moieties provide predictable erosion properties when used to plug pores in separation barriers and other porous membranes. Specific properties of the polymers are dependent on several factors, including molecular weight and identity of side groups attached to the phosphazene moiety. However, as a class, phosphazene-functional cyclic olefins provide both predictable erodibility and uniformly benign hydrolysis products and are, therefore, uniquely suitable as pore plugging polymers for separation barriers and membranes of all kinds. The invention, therefore, embraces the provision of a pH-sensitive erodible pore plugging material for pores in separation barriers and membranes of all kinds.

Abstract: A device allowing rapid and gentle concentration of cells at essentially unit gravity using solvent flow, under hydrostatic pressures equivalent to as little as ≦1 cm of water, through capillary-pore walls, more or less vertical, of a construct serving as both the separation device and receptacle for accumulating cells. The device can be used in a batch or continuous mode. The device contains a solid lower end fabricated with a shape to facilitate collection of the desired cells in an appropriate volume, and a more or less vertical active wall, extending upward from the solid lower end and providing an appropriate surface area with pores having a diameter appropriate for retention of the desired cells and outward passage of all smaller cells or solvent.

Abstract: A pore plugging material, for pH dependent membrane diffusion, in which cyclic olefins having phosphazene-functional moieties provide predictable erosion properties when used to plug pores is separation barriers and other porous membranes. Specific properties of the polymers are dependent on several factors, including molecular weight and identity of side groups attached to the phosphazene moiety. However, as a class, phosphazene-functional cyclic olefins provide both predictable erodibility and uniformly benign hydrolysis products and are, therefore, uniquely suitable as pore plugging polymers for separation barriers and membranes of all kinds. The invention, therefore, embraces the provision of a pH-sensitive erodible pore plugging material to pores in separation barriers and membranes of all kinds.

Abstract: An apparatus in which cryoprotectant in cryopreserved samples is removed with the use of turbulence and convective-dispersion around the cells within the primary cryopreservation container. Convective-dispersion is applied via the combined action of gravity and pulsatile transmembrane flow of buffer through the pores of containers fabricated from appropriate membrane material. By using mechanical forces to aid the process of cryoprotectant removal, the benefits of slow cryoprotectant removal are retained while the actual removal time is markedly decreased.

Abstract: A purified polypeptide which provides for initial binding of sperm to oocyte investments and has an active amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 (Cys-Gln-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Asn-Gln-Arg-Gln-Leu-Glu-Ser-A sn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Ala-Arg-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ser-Asn-Ile- Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn -Glu-Asp-Val-Cys); or SEQ ID NO:13 (Cys-Glu-Ser-Leu-Gln-Lys-His-Leu-Ala-Glu-Leu-Asn-His-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Glu-S er-Asn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Leu-Asp-Met-Thr-Glu-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ala-Asn- Ile-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Lys-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Asp -Asn-Gly-Asp-Val-Cys); or the shorter but biologically active SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:9 (Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-X-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn, where X is Thr or Pro).

Abstract: A synthetic peptide with enhanced pro-fertility action was produced by inclusion of additional amino acids at the carboxyl end of a previously disclosed synthetic peptide. Improvement in bioactivity over the previously disclosed peptide was demonstrated. A direct comparison of an earlier known synthetic peptide and an extended peptide involved brief exposure of sperm in vitro to one or the other peptide at several concentrations. When sperm then were evaluated in vitro using an egg-membrane substrate, an increased percentage of sperm bound for cells exposed to the new extended peptide. Similarly, when fertility of sperm after artificial insemination was the criterion, a greater percentage of eggs was fertilized by sperm exposed to the new extended peptide.

Abstract: A long rectangular slotted-sheath construct generally referred to as a "cassette," functions both in the positioning of and the treating of the individual, cell-containing primary units held therein. The invention also embraces a cooling and thawing system within which primary containers of cells, with or without a surrounding cassette, may be cooled, stored and rewarmed.

Abstract: A purified polypeptide which provides for initial binding of sperm to oocyte investments and has an active amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 (Cys-Gln-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Asn-Gln-Arg-Gln-Leu-Glu-Ser-A sn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Ala-Arg-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ser-Asn-Ile- Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn -Glu-Asp-Val-Cys); or SEQ ID NO:13 (Cys-Glu-Ser-Leu-Gln-Lys-His-Leu-Ala-Glu-Leu-Asn-His-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Glu-S er-Asn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Leu-Asp-Met-Thr-Glu-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ala-Asn- Ile-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Lys-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Asp -Asn-Gly-Asp-Val-Cys); or the shorter but biologically active SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:9 (Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-X-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn, where X is Thr or Pro).

Abstract: A purified polypeptide which provides for initial binding of sperm to oocyte investments and has an active amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 (Cys-Gln-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Asn-Gln-Arg-Gln-Leu-Glu-Ser-A sn -Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Ala-Arg-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ser-Asn-Ile-P ro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-Pro -Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn-Glu-Asp-Val-Cys); or SEQ ID NO:13 (Cys-Glu-Ser-Leu-Gln-Lys-His-Leu-Ala-Glu-Leu-Asn-His-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Glu-S er-Asn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Leu -Asp-Met-Thr-Glu-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ala-Asn-Ile-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-P ro-Gln-Asp-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Lys-Pro-Gln -Pro-Lys-Asp-Asn-Gly-Asp-Val-Cys); or the shorter but biologically active SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:9 (Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-X-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn, where X is Thr or Pro).

Abstract: A method for testing the potential fertility of spermatozoa in a sample by contacting an aliquot of the sperm sample onto a protein extracted from native vitelline membranes removed from chicken or turkey eggs to enable quantification of the number of sperm which bind to the protein. Typically, the vitelline membrane protein is coated onto a solid substrate and the protein extract is first prepared by dissecting vitelline membranes (lamina perivitelline plus lamina extravitellina) from either a group of chicken eggs or a group of turkey eggs, rinsing the membranes free of albumin and yolk, and subdividing the membranes into small particles. The resulting protein is heat solubilized, purified with centrifugation and concentrated to yield the protein extract in solution. The extracted protein then is used as a protein substrate for spermatozoa binding, with sequential contacting of the protein extract with the spermatozoa and measuring the amount of sperm-egg binding that takes place.

Abstract: A noningestible separation barrier having one or more pores or micropores (of one or more diameters) therein, with the pores or micropores being initially plugged with one or more materials selected for its/their solubility and/or integrity characteristics relative to certain environmental conditions. Ordinarily, the pores or micropores of the noningestible separation barrier are initially filled with at least one material having greater erodibility, under a given environmental condition, than the material constituting the separation barrier itself.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing fluids is described which includes a flexible tubular member disposed between opposed ends. Filling and clamp systems are placed adjacent each of the opposed ends, creating sealed chambers in the tubular member, each chamber including a reagent fluid. The sealed reagent chambers are separated by a mixing chamber, and all of the chambers are disposed within the tubular member. A spring driven plate pressurizes each of the reagent chambers. A control system is coupled to each of the clamp systems for selectively opening a channel between at least one reagent chamber and the mixing chamber, with reagent in a reagent chamber being forced, via the open channel, into the mixing chamber by the spring biased pressurizing plate.

Abstract: A purified polypeptide which provides for initial binding of sperm to oocyte investments and has an active amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 (Cys-Gln-Ser-Leu-Gln-Glu-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Asn-Gln-Arg-Gln-Leu-Glu-Ser-Asn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Val-Asp-Leu-Ala-Arg-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ser-Asn-Ile-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-Pro-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn-Glu-Asp-Val-Cys); or SEQ ID NO:13 (Cys-Glu-Ser-Leu-Gln-Lys-His-Leu-Ala-Glu-Leu-Asn-His-Gln-Lys-Gln-Leu-Glu-Ser-Asn-Lys-Ile-Pro-Glu-Leu-Asp-Met-Thr-Glu-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Met-Ala-Asn-Ile-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Gly-Pro-Arg-Ser-Lys-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Asp-Asn-Gly-Asp-Val-Cys); or the shorter but biologically active SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:9 (Tyr-Pro-Gln-Asp-Arg-X-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Gln-Pro-Lys-Ala-Asn, where X is Thr or Pro).