Abstract: Artificial insemination of female animals and in vitro fertilization of oocytes with fresh or frozen-thawed semen have been applied to the reproduction of animals. According to the traditional theory and conventional procedures, a great number of sperm cells are needed to ensure a successful fertilization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting stained particles in a fluid stream, each of the method and apparatus including an epi-illumination optics system with a focusing lens. The optics system being operable to direct a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the focusing lens in a forward direction along a beam axis intersecting particles in the fluid stream at the first location so that the particles pass through the beam, resulting in the fluorescence emissions from the particles being directed along the beam axis in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting a mixture of stained particles in a fluid flow path, including stained particles from two distinguishable groups. The system and method can include an electromagnetic radiation source for exciting fluorescence emissions from the stained particles, a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence emissions from the stained particles, a processor for classifying the stained particles; and a photo-damaging laser for damaging selected particles in the flow path.

Abstract: A flow cytometry nozzle and method for orienting sperm cells in a fluid flow path including an interior surface of a nozzle. The interior surface of the nozzle having a first, a second and a third axially tapered region for progressively accelerating the speed of a fluid stream in a downstream direction toward a nozzle exit. At least two of the regions having generally elliptical cross sectional shapes oriented in different directions for applying torsional forces to a fluid stream passing there through, tending to bring sperm cells in the stream into a desired orientation.

Abstract: A method of sorting stained particles in a flow cytometer by generating a mathematical model based upon extracted features of waveform pulses produced in response to the stained particles. Waveform pulses can then be analyzed to determine the probability the stained particles belong in either a first or a second population and a decision boundary can be established. Sorting decisions can be made based upon the extracted features of the waveform pulses relative to the decision boundary in combination with other desirability factors for particles or droplets containing the particles.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting a mixture of stained particles including a digital signal processor for analyzing and classifying the digital information generated from the particles and providing a sorting signal to a sorting system as a function of the analyzed and classified digital information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for transporting and/or storing products, particularly of cryostat type, having an external packaging structure (14) comprising walls defining an internal volume (16) within which is a double-walled insulating bulb (12) whose body (32) is formed by an outer wall (34) and an inner wall (36) defining an internal volume (38), bulb (12) comprising an upper neck (40) defining an upper filling opening (42), and the device (10) comprising bulb (12) supporting means (46) that comprise attachment means (48) capable of engaging with the inner wall (36) only of bulb (12) in order to suspend the bulb (12) vertically by its neck (40) in such a way that the bulb (12) hangs freely in the empty space inside the internal volume (16) defined by the packaging structure (14, 18, 22), with no contact between the outer wall (34) of the bulb (12) and the walls (24, 22) of the packaging structure (14), said device being characterized in that the means (46) for the suspended support of the bulb

Abstract: A composition for treatment of HSV-related pathologies including an expression vector for altering expression of a target sequence in an HSV-infected cell by production of single-stranded cDNA (ssDNA) in the cell in vivo suspended for topical application to an affected site in a suitable delivery vehicle. The expression vector is comprised of a cassette comprising a sequence of interest, an inverted tandem repeat, and a primer binding site 3? to the inverted tandem repeat, and a reverse transcriptase/RNAse H coding gene, and is transfected into the infected cells for inhibition of HSV replication. The resulting ssDNA binds to the target sequence to alter expression of the target sequence for such purposes as gene activation or inactivation using duplex or triplex binding of nucleic acids, site-directed mutagenesis, interruption of cellular function by binding to specific cellular proteins, or interfering with RNA splicing functions.