A method for preparing one or more biopsy tissue samples for histological examination includes positioning a tissue sample in a tissue cassette, closing a peripheral portion of a frame including a cassette lid, and moving the lid and the tissue cassette from a first position to a second position. The tissue cassette is coupled to a frame by a frame-cassette connector and moving the lid and the tissue cassette from the first position to the second position includes breaking the frame-cassette connector. The tissue cassette has a recess including at least one side wall and a bottom wall and is formed of a first material that can be successfully sectioned in a microtome. In the second position, the bottom wall and at least a portion of the side wall extend downwardly beyond a bottom edge of the frame for sectioning in the microtome.

An integrated molecular diagnosis apparatus including a buffer tube into which a sample collection tool collecting a sample is inserted, the buffer preparing a sample solution that contains nucleic acid extracted from the collected sample, a cartridge combined with the buffer tube and supplied with the sample solution, the cartridge transporting the sample solution to a reaction chamber through a fluid channel and performing a nucleic acid amplification reaction, and a diagnosis module main body detachably combined with the cartridge, the diagnosis module main body supplying heat at a predetermined temperature to the reaction chamber, detecting the nucleic acid amplification reaction, and determining whether or not a diagnosis target is present.

A tissue core sample in a metal core collector or stylet is touched to a substrate channel filled with as special liquid such as a hydrogel to which the tissue core sample is attracted to thereby transfer the tissue sample to the channel while preserving the integrity of the sample, speeding up the transfer and preserving the sample orientation so it can be unambiguously associated with its anatomical origin.

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.

A valve block assembly for a bottle attachment apparatus for handling liquids has a valve block, an intake valve insert and/or an exhaust valve insert, and a valve receptacle assigned to the respective valve insert. The valve insert is inserted in a replaceable and sealing manner in the valve receptacle. The valve insert has a stop portion, a fastening portion distinct therefrom and a sealing portion distinct from both. The associated valve receptacle has stop, fastening, and sealing portions matching the equivalent portions of the valve insert. When the valve insert is installed correctly both the stop portions and the sealing portions bear on one another in a planar manner.

A sample management module for receiving a fluid sample for an immunoassay is provided. The module comprises: a sample reception device for receiving a sample; a detection reagent; a controller configured to initiate a reaction timer on the basis of an actuation event when the sample and detection reagent are brought into contact.

The subject matter disclosed herein includes a cassette device for lateral flow immunoassay testing, including a housing; a receptacle located on a top portion of the housing; and a gating device. The housing defines an interior space to accommodate a test strip. The receptacle is arranged to hold a fluid above the test strip. The gating device includes a sealing portion that selectively seals an opening defined in a base of the receptacle. The gating device is configured to be actuated between (i) a first position in which the sealing portion engages the opening in the base of the receptacle to form a seal and (ii) a second position in which the sealing portion disengages the opening in the base of the receptacle to break the seal.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radicle absorbance capacity (ORAC), or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

The present invention is a cuvette assembly for use in optically measuring at least one characteristic of particles within a plurality of liquid samples. The cuvette assembly comprises a main body having internal walls and external walls, and a plurality of cuvettes within the main body at least partially being defined by the internal walls. Each of the plurality of cuvettes has a liquid-input chamber for receiving a respective one of the plurality of liquid samples, a filter, and an optical chamber for receiving a respective filtered liquid sample caused by passing the respective one of the plurality of liquid samples through the filter. Each of the optical chambers includes an entry window for allowing transmission of an input light beam through the filtered liquid sample and an exit window for transmitting a forward scatter signal caused by the particles within the filtered liquid sample.

Provided herein is technology relating to collecting and containing samples and particularly, but not exclusively, to technology for collecting and containing a stool specimen. The technology provides a device for collecting and containing a stool specimen, the device comprising ergonomic features optimized for a geriatric user. The technology also provides an enclosing holder for securing the ergonomic stool specimen container in a leak-proof manner e.g., during mechanical shaking.