Abstract: An ethanol distillation system that aims to increase the yield from an ethanol distillation process from 17 percent to a number approaching 100 percent through the use of a series of P-traps, condensers, heaters and coolers. A series of 4 P-traps are placed in-line in relation to one another, with exit lines exiting each P-trap. Each P-trap has its own pair of heating elements and a single distillation apparatus, with the distillation apparatus condensing evaporated alcohol into liquid form and placing it into the exit line so it can be collected. Any liquids left over after it has passed through the series of 4 P-traps and a cold condenser will enter into a return pipe to be reused by the yeast in this process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules. The present invention in one embodiment provides a system that includes a microfluidic channel comprising a PCR processing zone and an HRTm analysis zone; and an image sensor having a first image sensor region having a first field of view and a second image sensor region having a second field of view, wherein the second field of view is different than the first field of view, wherein at least a portion of the PCR processing zone is within the first field of view; and at least a portion of the HRTm analysis zone is within the second field of view.

Abstract: A conditioning device (100) for biological cells includes a support (10), adapted to support at least one biological cell (1) in a supporting zone (11), and a contact device (20), adapted to support at least one conditioning sample (3) and to displace the at least one conditioning sample (3) relative to the support (10) in such a manner that the at least one conditioning sample (3) touches the at least one biological cell (1), the contact device (20) including at least two mechanical supporting elements (21, 22) that can be displaced from various spatial directions towards the support (10). The invention also relates to methods for conditioning, especially imprinting or differentiating biological cells and to uses of the conditioning device.

Abstract: The invention concerns decontamination of the neck of thermoplastic performs (4) designed for making containers through a blow forming or extrusion blow molding process, when feeding (in A) the performs (4) sequentially into a unit (B) for manufacturing containers, which consists in passing the neck of the performs (4) through a mist (in 9) of a decontaminating product, then in subjecting the neck of the performs (4) wetted by the decontaminating products to the action of an ultraviolet radiation (in 7) for a least a predetermined minimum time interval.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting a reaction at a selected temperature or range of temperatures over time. An array device is provided. The array device contains separate reaction chambers and is formed as an elastomeric block from multiple layers. At least one layer has at least one recess that recess has at least one deflectable membrane integral to the layer with the recess. The array device has a thermal transfer device proximal to at least one of the reaction chambers. The thermal transfer device is formed to contact a thermal control source. Reagents for carrying out a desired reaction are introduced into the array device. The array device is contacted with a thermal control device such that the thermal control device is in thermal communication with the thermal control source so that a temperature of the reaction in at least one of the reaction chamber is changed as a result of a change in temperature of the thermal control source.

Abstract: A stack of communicating trays for cultivation of cells, whereby the tray stack is equipped with a gas exchanger having at least one processed aperture for fast and substantially uniform distribution of gas to the trays.

Abstract: A streaker device for streaking a microbial inoculum for single colonies on the surface of a solid growth medium. The streaking device has a row of spaced apart contact surfaces for contact with the surface of the solid growth medium. The spaced apart contact surfaces are resiliently flexibly supported by a common support member so as to accommodate variations in depth of growth medium. The spaced apart contact surfaces may be provided on lowermost part of axially curved portions of plastics straps, that are angled backwardly. It is found that formation of a single band can give separation into single colonies. Also provided is an automatic streaking apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sampling tube for collecting and processing a whole blood sample. The sampling tube contains a reagent for differential hemolysis of whole blood, wherein said reagent for differential hemolysis comprises a chemical for differential hemolysis and an anti-coagulant, and wherein said sampling tube is a ready-to-use and single-use sampling tube. It also relates to the use of said sampling tube in the processing of a whole blood sample for liquid chromatography and also to the use of a blood sample processed in such sampling tube in a liquid chromatography-based analysis.

Abstract: Disclosed are portable, disposable, centimeter-scale, integrated diagnostics incubators for use in biological culturing. An exemplary incubator comprises an optically accessible enclosure having a plurality of fluidic ports. A heating element is disposed within the enclosure that is coupled to an external heater controller. An autoclavable microfluidic perfusion chamber is disposed within the enclosure that comprises a cell culture life support chamber, an inlet port disposed in the perfusion chamber, a collection chamber in communication with the culture chamber, an outlet port coupled to the collection pool, and a perfusing substrate. An optically transparent, gas permeable membrane is attachable to the top of the perfusion chamber. The incubators have optical accessibility, forced flow fluidic control, temperature control, are portable and modular, and are inexpensively manufactured. The incubators permit in-the-field drug testing and culturing of biological tissues.

Abstract: A closure for a microreactor includes a cap that is configured to be inserted into a well of the microreactor. The cap, or at least a portion of the cap, is compliant so as to form a seal with the well when the cap is inserted. The cap includes an aperture that provides an airway between the inside of the well to the external environment when the cap is inserted into the well. A porous plug is inserted in the aperture, e.g., either directly or in tube that extends through the aperture. The porous plug permits gas within the well to pass through the aperture while preventing liquids from passing through to reduce evaporation and preventing microbes from passing through to provide a sterile environment. A one-way valve may also be used to help control the environment in the well.

Abstract: A nucleic acid detection device includes a flow channel through which a solution containing a nucleic acid recognition body flows, probe electrodes having immobilized nucleic acid probes, and a counter electrode used to measure an electrochemical response of the nucleic acid recognition body. The flow channel includes a curved portion and a straight portion continued from and located downstream of the curved portion. The probe electrodes are arranged at intervals along the straight portion, avoiding an upstream end of the straight portion that is located within a distance L from the curved portion. The distance L is given by L=0.065×Re×D, Re=?uD/?, and D=4S/Lp where ?, u, and ? are a concentration, a flow velocity, and a viscosity of the solution, and S and Lp are a sectional area and a wall peripheral perimeter of the flow channel, respectively.

Abstract: An entry of air from the outside of an incubator into an incubation room is prevented. The incubator comprises an adiabatic box main body having an opening on a front face thereof, an adiabatic door mounted to the adiabatic box main body to be opened/closed, a transparent inner door which closes the opening to be opened, and a storeroom surrounded with the inner door and the adiabatic box main body to incubate samples such as cells or microbes. The adiabatic box main body comprises a metal outer box, a metal inner box, a heat insulating material arranged in the outer box between the outer box and the inner box, and an air layer arranged more inside than the heat insulating material. Pressure of the storeroom is set higher than that of an outside space of the incubator.

Abstract: An apparatus for establishing a sulfide bath includes a sulfide supply means for introducing sulfide into water for a water bath, a water chemistry monitoring means for monitoring at least a sulfide concentration of water from the water bath, an electronic controller connected with the sulfide supply means and the water chemistry monitoring means, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the sulfide supply means to regulate the sulfide concentration in the water bath based on input from the water chemistry monitoring means. A variation of the apparatus is portable and can be used in connection with existing water baths. Another variation of the apparatus is for preserving biological materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for composting organic material (1). The inventive installation comprises an assembly of cells (10) in which the organic material (1) is stored for fermentation purposes and a ventilation device (20) which blows or draws air through the organic material (1) that is stored in the aforementioned cells (10), each cell (10) comprising a base slab (11) and partition walls (12). The above-mentioned ventilation device (20) comprises at least one ventilator fan (21), which is equipped with a suction opening (211) and a discharge port (212), and a ventilation duct (22) which connects the suction opening (211) or the discharge port (212) to one or more cells (10). According to the invention, the installation comprises an apron (40) forming the base slabs (11) of the different cells (10), said apron comprising means (41) and reserves (42) which are used to install the partition walls (12) of the cells (10) at different pre-determined positions.

Abstract: The present invention is an anaerobic reactor and preferably a vertically oriented plug flow anaerobic reactor for producing methane from various organic materials. The organic materials preferably have a high organic content. The reactor includes cutting members for cutting bridged or agglomerated material within the reactor. The present invention also includes a process for producing methane from an organic feed stock by continuously charging an organic material into the top portion of a vertically oriented vessel and rotating one or more cutting members at a sufficiently slow rate so that the cutting members cut through bridged or agglomerated material but do not substantially mix contents within the reactor, anaerobically digesting the organic material under mesophilic or thermophilic conditions to produce methane while allowing the organic material to propagate downward through the vessel in a plug flow-like manner and collecting methane gas produced from the anaerobic digestion of the organic material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the generation of compost are provided. In one embodiment, the system for generating compost comprises a positively aerated floor, a semi gas and liquid impermeable compost cover sized to cover a compost biomass pile placed on the positively aerated floor, and a suction system positioned under or substantially close to the compost cover and generally near a top of the compost biomass pile, wherein the floor comprises a plurality of channels connected to at least one gas flow pipe installed below or above grade, wherein gas drawn by suction system at the top of the biomass compost pile maintains a negative pressure across the compost cover, thereby generating suction between the compost cover and the top of the compost biomass pile, and wherein the compost cover directs substantially all of the gas flow towards the suction system.

Abstract: A culture dish (1) comprising a basic structure (2) with a number of macro wells (4) for culturing oocytes and embryos, the culture dish further comprising a lid (3) with a movable part (8), the movable part (8) having an opening (11) adapted to the size of the macro wells (4), the movable part (8) being movable between a first position where all macro wells are closed by the lid (3) and further positions where for each further position (11) the opening (11) is aligned with one of the macro wells (4) to allow access to this macro well (4) through the opening (11) in the lid (3).

Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling temperature of a first structure having a first flat face comprises a second structure having a second flat face for planar contact with the first flat face, a pressure-applying means for pressing the first structure, a second supporting means for supporting the second structure to be capable of changing inclination of the second flat face, a first supporting means for supporting the first structure by contact with a portion of the first structure other than the first flat face, and a temperature-controlling means, wherein the first structure is supported by pressing the first structure by the pressure-applying means, and the second structure is brought into contact with the temperature-controlling means with interposition of the second supporting means.

Abstract: The invention relates, generally, to a method of removing sharp edges from a microscope coverslip comprising grinding down the edges and polishing the edges The invention also relates to a device for determining cell motility comprising a slide, a coverslip, comprising at least one edge that has been smoothed and a chamber, created by the slide and the coverslip and which is tangential to the coverslip, such that motile cells entering the chamber are substantially undamaged. The invention also relates to a method for using the device to determine cell motility.

Abstract: A holder for a microtitreplate or an array of separate test tubes comprising a first panel (1) provided with a recess (2) for receiving each well (3) of the microtitreplate or test tubes and a second panel (7), which together with the first panel (1) and three side walls (5) form an inner space (8). The fourth side (9) comprises an inlet (10) for gas or liquid, whereby the gas or liquid entering the inner space (8) via the inlet (10) leaves the inner space (8) via said recesses (2), along the outside of the wells (3). A method for cooling or heating samples contained in wells (3) of a microtitreplate or an array of separate test tubes by inserting the microtitreplate or array of separate test tubes into such a holder and letting gas or liquid enter said inner space (8).