An apparatus is provided for measuring the spreadability of powders and granular materials for applications that require powders to be spread in a thin layer. The apparatus consists of a test surface or powder bed for receiving a material sample layer, one or more spreading devices that form a layer of material sample on the test surface or powder bed when there is relative motion between the test surface or powder bed and the spreading device, and one or more scraping blades that remove the layer of material sample created by the spreading device from the test surface or powder bed and move it to one or more measuring devices to determine the amount of material in the layer of the material sample. The amount and consistency over time of sample material removed by the scraping blade from the test surface or powder bed indicate the spreadability of the material sample.

A sensor for obtaining downhole data includes a first piezoelectric layer. The sensor also includes a second piezoelectric layer having a trench extending a depth below a surface of the second piezoelectric layer. The sensor also includes an electrode positioned within the trench. The first piezoelectric layer is directly coupled to the second piezoelectric layer.

A sensor for obtaining downhole data includes a first piezoelectric layer. The sensor also includes a second piezoelectric layer having a trench extending a depth below a surface of the second piezoelectric layer. The sensor also includes an electrode positioned within the trench. The first piezoelectric layer is directly coupled to the second piezoelectric layer.

The present invention relates to a device for determining the correct viscosity of a liquid, comprising member which either remains in or assumes a substantially upright or pre-determined position when placed in a fluid having at least the desired or specified viscosity and is unable to remain in a substantially upright or pre-determined position if a fluid has less than the desired or specified viscosity. The invention also relates to methods and uses of particular devices and is particularly suited to assisting patients suffering from dysphasia (or similar conditions) and who wish to thicken liquids to enable them to allow safe swallowing without aspiration to take place.

The present invention relates to a device for determining the correct viscosity of a liquid, comprising member which either remains in or assumes a substantially upright or pre-determined position when placed in a fluid having at least the desired or specified viscosity and is unable to remain in a substantially upright or pre-determined position if a fluid has less than the desired or specified viscosity. The invention also relates to methods and uses of particular devices and is particularly suited to assisting patients suffering from dysphasia (or similar conditions) and who wish to thicken liquids to enable them to allow safe swallowing without aspiration to take place.

Provided is an analysis apparatus configured to analyze characteristics of a viscoelastic material based on a viscoelastic material constitutive law in which an elastic element and a viscoelastic element are arranged in parallel with each other; calculate, in a viscoelastic material model divided into a finite number of elements each having a node, a displacement amount of the node; calculate a strain rate at the node through use of the displacement amount; calculate, as a relaxation time of the viscoelastic element, a value proportional to a value of a power using the strain rate as a base and a value of a power using a shift factor of a temperature-time conversion law as a base; and calculate a stress at the node through use of the relaxation time.

Provided is an analysis apparatus configured to analyze characteristics of a viscoelastic material based on a viscoelastic material constitutive law in which an elastic element and a viscoelastic element are arranged in parallel with each other; calculate, in a viscoelastic material model divided into a finite number of elements each having a node, a displacement amount of the node; calculate a strain rate at the node through use of the displacement amount; calculate, as a relaxation time of the viscoelastic element, a value proportional to a value of a power using the strain rate as a base and a value of a power using a shift factor of a temperature-time conversion law as a base; and calculate a stress at the node through use of the relaxation time.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the biofilm-forming capacity of microorganisms. The present invention also relates to a method for classifying microorganisms according to the biofilm-forming capacity thereof. In particular, the present invention is useful in the fields of analysis, biological and enzymological research, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and/or medicine. The present invention is also useful in the clinical, environmental and food-processing fields.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the biofilm-forming capacity of microorganisms. The present invention also relates to a method for classifying microorganisms according to the biofilm-forming capacity thereof. In particular, the present invention is useful in the fields of analysis, biological and enzymological research, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and/or medicine. The present invention is also useful in the clinical, environmental and food-processing fields.

Exemplary apparatus and method can be provided for obtaining data regarding a plurality of samples. For example, using at least one arrangement, it is possible to receive interferometric information that is based on radiations provided from a reference and the samples that are provided in respective chambers. Alternatively and/or in addition, based on the interferometric information, it is possible to discriminate between agents to identify a particular agent that affects a particular function within at least one of the samples.