Abstract: Isolated non-naturally occurring populations of spermatozoa (15) having high purity and technologies to differentiate spermatozoa (28) based on characteristics such as mass, volume, orientation, or emitted light including methods of analysis and apparatus such as beam shaping optics (30) and detectors (32).

Abstract: Femtoliter to milliliter volumes of one or a plurality of different liquids are accurately transported, dispensed and/or treated where the fluids are energized purely electrokinetically or in a hybrid mode where auxiliary coordinated energy sources including but not limited to pneumatic, piezoelectric; peristaltic; ultrasonic; thermal; gravitational, acoustic are employed concurrently or sequentially to transport liquids for various purposes from diverse devices to targets of all types being made of a conductive, non-conductive or semiconductive materials. Liquids in nested Gaussian surfaces or common liquid handling devices (e.g.

Abstract: The assembly comprises a filtration unit and a gel growth medium cassette, the unit and the cassette being adapted to cooperate in order to occupy a nested position in which a membrane covers the gel growth medium, the unit and the cassette each being equipped with an intermediate stop, it being possible for at least one of the two stops to move clear so as to allow the unit to move from an intermediate position, in which the membrane is spaced away from the said gel growth medium, into the nested position. The method comprises selecting such an assembly, of engaging the unit on the cassette until the intermediate stop of the unit comes into contact with the intermediate stop of the cassette, and the step of moving clear the stop able to move clear so as to allow the unit to move from the intermediate position into the nested position.

Abstract: A method of controlling corrosion-related plant operation costs is provided, the method including: accumulating real-time corrosion measurements relating to a plant operation; calculating a relative degree of corrosion value that includes consideration of the real-time corrosion measurements; comparing the relative degree of corrosion value to an expected corrosion progression value associated with a predetermined target maintenance cycle; and adjusting a plant operation based on a comparison of the relative degree of corrosion value to the expected corrosion progression value associated with a predetermined target maintenance cycle. An apparatus for controlling corrosion-related plant operation costs is also provided.

Abstract: Techniques and devices are presented for communicating exposure to a potentially harmful stimulus. The devices include a stimulus sensitive gel which changes volume in response to exposure to the stimulus and thereby presents a contrast in color that serves as a visual indicator that exposure to the stimulus has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing a test strip includes a container configured to store a stack of test strips. The container maintains appropriate environmental conditions, such as humidity, for storing the test strips. An engaging member is disposed in the container and is adapted to contact one test strip of the stack of test strips. An actuator actuates the engaging member to dispense the one test strip from the container. Since one test strip is dispensed at a time, the remaining test strips are not handled by the user. Accordingly, the unused test strips remain free of contaminants such as naturally occurring oils on the user's hand.

Abstract: A cultivation apparatus and a cultivation method of a culture such as a cell or tissue. Provided are an incubator unit for accommodating a culture and a lever that penetrates through the incubator unit and can move in circular arc around a fulcrum as a center, the fulcrum being set at a wall of the incubator unit or in the vicinity thereof, then displacement is imparted to the culture by operating the lever. Bending force can be acted on the culture (cell construct) such as a cell or tissue, so that without any increase or decrease of a culture fluid in the incubator unit, namely, without any increase or decrease of pressure to the culture fluid, displacement required for cultivation can be imparted to the culture in the incubator unit. By curving, continuous compression and extension are generated in a direction of thickness from a concave portion to a convex portion of the curving.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating cooperatively the pressures and flows of input vessels such as both the portal vein and hepatic artery for the liver. This invention solves problems of less-than-therapeutic portal vein flow during perfusion preservation by implementing cooperative regulation between the inputs, e.g., portal vein and hepatic artery pumping systems, on an organ preservation apparatus. It includes an algorithm that adapts to the situation wherein the portal vein has reached minimum flow and maximum pressure. The cooperative regulation algorithm senses the problem with the portal vein and solves it by adjusting the hepatic artery flow conditions.

Abstract: A high-density multiwell-plate for performing thermocycled amplification reactions of polynucleotides in liquid samples comprising a plurality of reaction wells is disclosed. In order to provide a better thermal insulation, the plate comprises a rigid well-forming structure placed above a bottom layer, wherein substantially horizontal well-covering areas cover the liquid sample comprised in the wells, and a substantially plane cover placed above the well-forming structure providing a thermal insulating air distance between the well-covering areas and the cover.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems and methods for imaging sample materials within a microfluidic device during an assay reaction process. In accordance with certain aspects of the invention, images are formed with a pixel array and a region of interest (“ROI”) is defined within the pixel array. Image values, such as fluorescent intensity, can be computed as averages of individual pixel values within the ROI. Where the ROI is subject to non-uniform conditions, such as non-uniform heating, the ROI can be divided into sub-ROIs which are sufficiently small that the condition is uniform within the sub-ROI.

Abstract: A system and method of use is provided, relating to an analytical system in which a disposable unit configured to contain a plurality of test strips is inserted into a hand-held device, the test strips being successively presented at a measuring position by a drive provided with the device, wherein after a disposable unit is removed and replaced, the drive is activated to position the test strip that is first in order at the measuring position and it is determined whether the test strip is present, and if the first test strip is not present, the test strip that was presented last when the device was actuated is again positioned at the measuring position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and a process for generating a chemical precursor used in a vapor deposition processing system. The apparatus includes a canister (e.g., ampoule) having a sidewall, a top, and a bottom encompassing an interior volume therein, inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with the interior volume, and a thermally conductive coating disposed on or over the outside surface of the canister. The thermally conductive coating is more thermally conductive than the outside surface of the canister. The thermally conductive coating may contain aluminum, aluminum nitride, copper, brass, silver, titanium, silicon nitride, or alloys thereof. In some embodiments, an adhesion layer (e.g., titanium or tantalum) may be disposed between the outside surface of the canister and the thermally conductive coating. In other embodiments, the canister may contain a plurality of baffles or solid heat-transfer particles to help evenly heat a solid precursor therein.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for isolating and purifying nucleic acids from large sample volumes and a device suitable for this. The device comprises a funnel, a separating column, and a tab which are detachable from each other. The method according to the invention in which the device according to the invention is used ensures a higher yield of nucleic acids.

Abstract: A fluidic device holder configured to orient a fluidic device. The device holder includes a support structure configured to receive a fluidic device. The support structure includes a base surface that faces in a direction along the Z-axis and is configured to have the fluidic device positioned thereon. The device holder also includes a plurality of reference surfaces facing in respective directions along an XY-plane. The device holder also includes an alignment assembly having an actuator and a movable locator arm that is operatively coupled to the actuator. The locator arm has an engagement end. The actuator moves the locator arm between retracted and biased positions to move the engagement end away from and toward the reference surfaces. The locator arm is configured to hold the fluidic device against the reference surfaces when the locator arm is in the biased position.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: An autoanalyzer includes a measurement unit which measures a reaction liquid produced by an interaction between a reagent and an examined sample contained in a reaction container, a sample probe which sucks the examined sample from a sample container and discharges the examined sample to the reaction container, a probe elevating arm which elevates the sample probe with respect to the sample container, and a control unit which controls the probe elevating arm so that a speed at which the sample probe enters a liquid surface of the examined sample to perform an n-th suction operation (n?2) of the examined sample is slower than a speed at which the sample probe enters the liquid surface of the examined sample to perform a first suction operation of the examined sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for decomposing kitchen waste by the use of vermiculture includes a container. A conduit is disposed along a bottom of the container and is attached to a spigot that exits from the container. A plurality of fluid collection openings are arranged in spaced-apart rows along a bottom of the conduit and in a cluster proximate the spigot. Gravel or other means for producing a volume for the collection of an effluent is provided along the bottom of the container up to the uppermost height of the conduit, which is sloped downward toward the spigot. A screen is placed over the conduit and gravel. A starter material is placed over the screen and provides a habitat for a preferred species of earthworm which are then added.

Abstract: A device and system for growing of a photosynthetic culture is provided which employs one or a plurality of vertically disposed photopanels having interior cavities configured for holding liquid and the photosynthetic culture such as algae. Interior surfaces are enhanced in size by projections defined by deformation in sidewalls of the photopanels. The projections communicate between the sidewalls also providing structural integrity to the photopanel and allowing for thinner sidewalls and increased light transmission therethrough. The system may employ a support rack and pivotal mount to each such photopanel to allow positioning adjacent to each other in rows. Pivoting during different lighting conditions afforded the racked photopanels provides a manner to reduce light blockage to individual photo panels from adjacent photopanels.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced by contacting syngas components such as CO or a mixture of CO2 and H2 with a surface of a membrane under anaerobic conditions and transferring these components into contact with a biofilm on the opposite side of the membrane. These steps provide a stable system for producing liquid products such as ethanol, butanol and other chemicals. The gas fed on the membrane's gas contact side transports through the membrane to form a biofilm of anaerobic microorganisms that converted the syngas to desired liquid products. The system can sustain production with a variety of microorganisms and membrane configurations.

Abstract: Ethanol and other liquid products are produced from biomass using indirect gasification of the biomass to produce a syngas containing CO2, CO, H2 and methane that passes the syngas without substantial removal of the methane to a fermentation zone for the conversion of the CO and CO2 and H2 to ethanol and the production of a methane rich stream followed by the methane reforming of the methane rich stream to produce additional CO and CO2 and H2 that passes to the fermentation zone.