Asphaltene onset pressure of a formation fluid is determined by subjecting the fluid to a plurality of tests where depressurization is conducted at a different depressurization rate for each test while optically monitoring the fluid for asphaltene flocculation. The pressures at which asphaltene flocculation are detected in each test are fit to a curve as a function of depressurization rate, and the curve is extrapolated to a pressure (e.g., 0 psi) to provide the asphaltene onset pressure.

The disclosure describes methods and devices with which to process and analyze difficult chemical, biological, environmental samples including but not limited to those containing bulk solids or particulates. The disclosure includes a cartridge which contains a separation tube as well as one or more valves and cavities for receiving raw sample materials and for directing and containing various fluids or samples. The cartridge may contain a separation fluid or density medium of defined density, and structures which direct particulates toward defined regions of the cartridge. Embodiments can include a rotational device for rotating the cartridge at defined rotational rates for defined time intervals. Embodiments allowing multiple assays from a single sample are also disclosed. In some embodiments, this device is used for direct processing and chemical analysis of food, soil, blood, stool, motor oil, semen, and other samples of interest.

Provided is an information processing device that performs display control to display a vessel image obtained by imaging a vessel in which a cell is seeded on a display and includes at least one processor. The processor acquires two or more vessel images obtained by imaging the same vessel at different dates and times and displays the acquired two or more vessel images on the display such that different imaging dates and times are distinguishable.

The inventive concept relates to an apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus includes a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to a substrate, a cover that is formed of a light transmitting material and installed on a component provided in the liquid supply unit and that provides an inspection area, and an inspection unit that inspects bubbles contained in the liquid flowing in the component provided in the inspection area. The inspection unit includes a light source that applies light toward the inspection area from outside the cover, a light receiving part that is located outside the cover and that receives the light passing through the inspection area, and an inspection part that inspects the bubbles from the light received by the light receiving part.

The inventive concept relates to an apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus includes a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to a substrate, a cover that is formed of a light transmitting material and installed on a component provided in the liquid supply unit and that provides an inspection area, and an inspection unit that inspects bubbles contained in the liquid flowing in the component provided in the inspection area. The inspection unit includes a light source that applies light toward the inspection area from outside the cover, a light receiving part that is located outside the cover and that receives the light passing through the inspection area, and an inspection part that inspects the bubbles from the light received by the light receiving part.

A method for the isolation, or isolation and detection, of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood or lymph, or disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from bone marrow. CDCP1 is used as a biomarker for the isolation of CTCs or DTCs having a mesenchymal phenotype (mCTC, mDTC) or a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype (emCTC, emDTC). Isolation can, for example, be done immunomagnetically using anti-CDCP1 antibodies coupled to magnetic particles.

The invention provides a device and method for the real-time detection of aeropathogens. The device includes an aerosampler having an air inlet and at least one collector tube, a microfluidic system which includes a container, piping, a micro pump for flowing a liquid and a viral detection chamber. The viral detection chamber has an electrode which may be equipped with functionalized bio sensors, a counter electrode, an electronic detection system connectable to the electrodes of the viral detection chamber, and an embedded electronic processing system for processing data from the electronic detection system.

A SAP evaluation apparatus includes: a main body installed with a lifting bar that is raised or lowered; a container portion installed under the lifting bar in the main body and having an internal containing space for containing an absorber; an operating portion connected to the lifting bar and having a lifting plate that is raised or lowered within the containing space and applies pressure to the absorber and an injection portion for injecting an ink in the direction of the absorber; a dispersion measurement portion for measuring the dispersion of the ink through the absorber; and a controller installed at the main body to measure absorption of the ink into the absorber and measure swelling capacity of the absorber while the ink is injected into the absorber.

To uniformly dilute particulate matter contained in a sample gas, a diluter includes an inflow portion, a mixing portion, a discharge portion, a connection portion, and an introduction portion. The inflow portion allows a sample gas to flow in. The mixing portion has an inner diameter larger than that of the inflow portion, and mixes the sample gas with a dilution gas to generate a diluted sample gas. The discharge portion discharges the diluted sample gas. The connection portion has a first tapered part whose inner diameter increases from a side connected to the inflow portion toward a side connected to the mixing portion. The introduction portion introduces the dilution gas into an internal space from a position downstream of the connection between the first tapered part and the inflow portion.

A method is provided for manipulating objects in a cavity including a liquid, the method including providing in at least one region of the cavity objects capable of absorbing light in a given wavelength range, forming an aggregate of the objects by submitting them to an acoustic field, and disrupting the aggregate by submitting the aggregate to a light beam emitting at the given wavelength range. Also provided is a device for manipulating objects.