Methods and apparatus to reduce biological carryover using induction heating are disclosed herein. An example method includes washing an aspiration and dispense device. The example method includes generating an alternating electromagnetic field and introducing the aspiration and dispense device into the alternating electromagnetic field. The example method includes inductively heating the aspiration and dispense device with the alternating electromagnetic field. In the example method, the washing is to occur in concert with the heating.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a probe carrier, an optical system and a sensor; wherein the probe carrier comprises a substrate, a first layer and a second layer; wherein the substrate comprises a first surface, a second surface, one or more locations on the first surface configured to be deposit sites for one or more probes; wherein the second surface is at an opposite side of the substrate from the first surface; wherein the first layer is on the first surface of the substrate or is embedded in the substrate under the first surface; wherein the second layer is on the second surface of the substrate or is embedded in the substrate under the second surface; the first and second layers are configured to reduce crosstalk between probes at different locations.

Disclosed is an intelligent measurement cup, comprising a cup body and a cup cover, which covers the cup body and has an electronic module provided therein. The electronic module comprises a battery, a main control circuit board electrically connected to the battery, and a laser detection unit electrically connected to the main control circuit board. The laser detection unit comprises a laser probe and a transparent shielding sheet which covers the laser probe. The laser probe is arranged at a side facing toward the cup body. A through hole is formed in the cup cover in a manner of corresponding to the laser probe so as to allow light of the laser probe to pass through. A laser emitted from the laser probe penetrates the shielding sheet and is then incident in the cup body in a scattered manner, so as to ensure that sufficient feedback photons are formed. The spectra reflected back through different emission media are different, therefore, the conditions of a liquid, conditions comprising the remaining amount, the type, whether the liquid has deteriorated, etc., in the cup body can be accurately detected.

A coffee roasting apparatus (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for holding coffee beans (10); a roasting element (140) for roasting the coffee beans in said compartment; and a controller (130) for controlling the roasting element. The controller is adapted to control the roasting element as a function of a change in the volume of the coffee beans residing in the compartment. A coffee brewing apparatus including such a coffee roasting apparatus and a coffee roasting method are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for determining a damage value of one or more composite components and/or a vehicle using digital image correlation are disclosed. Digital image correlation is used to evaluate a displacement of one or more nanoparticles that are deposited on and/or embedded within the composite component. Digital image correlation is performed by identifying a first reference entry indicating a reference position of the one or more nanoparticles and correlating the first reference entry with sensor data of the composite component indicating a position of the one or more nanoparticles. The damage value of the composite component is determined based on the digital image correlation between the sensor data and the first reference entry.

An in-line holographic microscope can be used to analyze on a frame-by-frame basis a video stream to track individual colloidal particles' three-dimensional motions. The system and method can provide real time nanometer resolution, and simultaneously measure particle sizes and refractive indexes. Through a combination of applying a combination of Lorenz-Mie analysis with selected hardware and software methods, this analysis can be carried out in near real time. An efficient particle identification methodology automates initial position estimation with sufficient accuracy to enable unattended holographic tracking and characterization.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a device for tracking one or more items. The device may include a plurality of sensors for detecting light, temperature, humidity, pressure, and acceleration. The device may also include a memory for storing information received from the plurality of sensors.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for tracking one or more items. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a device for tracking one or more items. The device may include a plurality of sensors for detecting light, temperature, humidity, pressure, and acceleration. The device may also include a memory for storing information received from the plurality of sensors.

Provided are a sintered ceramic and a ceramic sphere which are inhibited from suffering surface peeling due to fatigue resulting from repetitions of loading and can attain an improvement in dimensional accuracy when subjected to surface processing and which have excellent wear resistance and durability.

Systems and methods for improved measurement of absorbance/transmission through fluidic systems are described. Specifically, in one set of embodiments, optical elements are fabricated on one side of a transparent fluidic device opposite a series of fluidic channels. The optical elements may guide incident light passing through the device such that most of the light is dispersed away from specific areas of the device, such as intervening portions between the fluidic channels. By decreasing the amount of light incident upon these intervening portions, the amount of noise in the detection signal can be decreased when using certain optical detection systems.