A toilet is disclosed. The toilet has a bowl adapted to receive excreta, a shelf for receiving feces in the bowl, and one or more sensor for detecting a property of the feces. The property may be related to a user's heath and wellness and may be presented to a person for their review and assessment.

Techniques for multi-dimensional signal analysis are described herein. The techniques may be used in one or more sequencing applications. For example, according to some aspects, there is provided a method comprising: determining information about a sample that emits emission light in response to excitation light based on at least one of pulse duration and interpulse duration and at least two of wavelength, intensity, and lifetime of the emission light, wherein the sample comprises a reagent configured to be coupled to a luminescent label, and wherein a shielding element is disposed between the reagent and the luminescent label.

Techniques for multi-dimensional signal analysis are described herein. The techniques may be used in one or more sequencing applications. For example, according to some aspects, there is provided a method comprising: determining information about a sample that emits emission light in response to excitation light based on at least one of pulse duration and interpulse duration and at least two of wavelength, intensity, and lifetime of the emission light, wherein the sample comprises a reagent configured to be coupled to a luminescent label, and wherein a shielding element is disposed between the reagent and the luminescent label.

A seed sampling system is provided comprising an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds or enable loading of individually stored seeds and an automated seed sampling assembly comprising at least one sampling module operable to remove tissue samples from one of the singulated seeds. The system also includes an automated seed transport assembly comprising at least one retention member operable to transfer the singulated seeds from at least one elevator unit of the seed loading assembly to the at least one sampling module of the seed sampling assembly. In connection therewith, the at least one sampling module includes multiple sampling locations, each associated with a sampler, where the at least one sampling module is operable to remove tissue samples from seeds at one of sampling locations while another one of the sampling locations is cleaned to remove residual seed tissue therefrom.

Provided is a method for predicting and evaluating adhesion of combustion ash in a coal-mixed combustion boiler in which biomass is used as renewable energy, the method comprising: ashing a sample to prepare an ashed test sample, the sample being obtained by mixing the biomass with coal that is main fuel of the coal-mixed combustion boiler, at a predetermined additive ratio; sintering the ashed test sample under a combustion temperature condition of the coal-mixed combustion boiler to generate sintered ash; testing the sintered ash by a rattler tester to obtain a sticking degree from a ratio obtained by dividing a weight of the sintered ash after the test by a weight of the sintered ash before the test; and evaluating in advance an adhesion state of the combustion ash in the coal-mixed combustion boiler on a basis of the sticking degree.

Disclosed herein are systems for imaging and ablating a sample. An imaging/ablating device includes an optical assembly, a sample stage, and a receiver. The optical assembly enables ablation of a region of interest within the sample. The laser light propagated from the optical assembly during ablation propagates substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the ablation plume toward the receiver. A laser focus detection unit including at least one reference laser and photodetector generates at least one real-time detection signal indicative of one or more characteristics of the sample during ablation and/or of a distance from the objective to the sample stage or a surface of the sample. A controller coupled with the laser focus detection unit dynamically controls in real-time one or more parameters of the ablation laser and/or a position of the objective and/or a position of the receiver relative to the sample to improve MS imaging quality.

Disclosed is a method for evaluating in vivo protein nutrition based on an LC-MS-MS technique, including the following steps: (1) collecting contents from different intestinal segments, and extracting and isolating protein ingredients; (2) determining the concentration of proteins; (3) treating before carrying out mass spectrometry: including digestion and desalting of a whole protein solution; (4) LC-MS-MS analysis; (5) database searching; and (6) data processing. Proteomic technology is used to identify proteins in the contents of different intestinal segments and digestive products thereof, and the source of the proteins in the contents of different intestinal segments and the contents thereof can be determined therefrom. Through bioinformatic analysis, the function of differential proteins in the body can be further understood, where the gene expression of enzymes related to protein digestion and metabolism may be different, thereby providing a scientific basis for further scientific evaluation of protein digestion and utilization.

Disclosed is a method for evaluating in vivo protein nutrition based on an LC-MS-MS technique, including the following steps: (1) collecting contents from different intestinal segments, and extracting and isolating protein ingredients; (2) determining the concentration of proteins; (3) treating before carrying out mass spectrometry: including digestion and desalting of a whole protein solution; (4) LC-MS-MS analysis; (5) database searching; and (6) data processing. Proteomic technology is used to identify proteins in the contents of different intestinal segments and digestive products thereof, and the source of the proteins in the contents of different intestinal segments and the contents thereof can be determined therefrom. Through bioinformatic analysis, the function of differential proteins in the body can be further understood, where the gene expression of enzymes related to protein digestion and metabolism may be different, thereby providing a scientific basis for further scientific evaluation of protein digestion and utilization.

A lysis device including a sample vessel, at least one piezo element, and a controller is disclosed. The sample vessel has a microchannel formed therein. The sample vessel has at least one port extending through a surface to the microchannel. The piezo element is attached to the surface of the sample vessel. The controller has logic to cause the controller to emit a first signal including a series of frequencies to the at least one piezo element to cause the at least one piezo element to generate ultrasonic acoustic standing waves in the sample vessel, to receive a second signal indicative of measured vibration signals from the sample vessel detected by the at least one piezo element, and to determine a resonant frequency of the sample vessel using the measured vibration signals.

The present invention is a specimen preparation method of preparing an observation specimen by placing an observation object on a light transmitting plate, comprising a conveyance step of conveying the observation object by a conveyance mechanism including a placement portion configured to place the observation object, and a transfer step of transferring the observation object from the placement portion of the conveyance mechanism onto the plate at a conveyance terminal end of the conveyance mechanism, wherein in the transfer step, a liquid is supplied to the placement portion on which the observation object is placed, and the observation object is carried by a flow of the liquid and transferred onto the plate.