A system for automatically monitoring merchandise in a retail sales environment is provided. The system includes a display fixture configured to store and display for sale a group of perishable items and one or more gas emission sensors associated with the display fixture and configured to measure gas emissions from the group of perishable items. The system further includes a control circuit coupled to the one or more gas emission sensors and configured to receive a gas emission measurement taken at the display fixture, compare the gas emission measurement with stored gas emission data associated with a category of the group of perishable items; and make a determination corresponding to the group of perishable items based on the comparison.

In a measuring device 50, a microwave receiving unit 52 is disposed behind a microwave transmitting unit 51 with respect to a powder object 2, and the microwave transmitting unit 51 and the microwave receiving unit 52 are each enclosed by a waveguide box. A waveguide box 6 for the transmitting unit is smaller than a waveguide box 8 for the receiving unit, and is enclosed by the waveguide box 8 for the receiving unit. An opening portion 7 of the waveguide box 6 and an opening portion 9 of the waveguide box 8 are mounted on a flat window material 5, and are aligned. The window material 5 is in contact with the powder object 2. Microwaves 3 transmitted from the microwave transmitting unit 51 are reflected by the powder object 2, are received, as scattered microwaves 4, by the microwave receiving unit 52, and are measured.

Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

A validation method applied to sensor data prior to submitting to a blockchain, a computer program product, and a system for validating chemical data. One embodiment may comprise receiving a sensor captured result at an application, applying the sensor captured result to a domain-specific statistical model of expected range of variability of measured results to extract a distribution of expected sensor values, computing a confidence value in the sensor captured result using the domain-specific statistical model, validating the confidence value against a required threshold of confidence, and submitting the sensor captured result for appending to the blockchain if the confidence level is validated against the threshold of confidence.

A validation method applied to sensor data prior to submitting to a blockchain, a computer program product, and a system for validating chemical data. One embodiment may comprise receiving a sensor captured result at an application, applying the sensor captured result to a domain-specific statistical model of expected range of variability of measured results to extract a distribution of expected sensor values, computing a confidence value in the sensor captured result using the domain-specific statistical model, validating the confidence value against a required threshold of confidence, and submitting the sensor captured result for appending to the blockchain if the confidence level is validated against the threshold of confidence.

A maturity determination device includes an image capturing device to capture a image including a plurality of first and second pixels; and a signal processing circuit configured to find an area size ratio of an intensity distribution of light of a first wavelength band on the basis of a predetermined reference value based on pixel values obtained from the plurality of first and second pixels, and to generate maturity determination information in accordance with the area size ratio. The first pixel includes a first light transmission filter, and the second pixel includes a second light transmission filter. The intensity of the light of the first wavelength band reflected by the fruits and vegetables varies in accordance with the maturity level, and the intensity of the light of the second wavelength band reflected by the fruits and vegetables is substantially the same regardless of the maturity level.

A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric food items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of food are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the food items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each food item. Asymmetric food items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric food items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

Nanoreactors comprising a metal precursor in a carrier are provided as well as methods of initiating, methods of preparing, and methods of using nanoreactors. In some embodiments, upon exposure to heat, the metal precursor forms nanoparticles that can be detected, e.g., by detecting a color change in the nanoreactor and/or by detecting the number and/or size and/or size distribution and/or shape of the nanoparticles. The nanoreactors can be used, in some embodiments, as time-temperature indicators for perishable goods.

Nanoreactors comprising a metal precursor in a carrier are provided as well as methods of initiating, methods of preparing, and methods of using nanoreactors. In some embodiments, upon exposure to heat, the metal precursor forms nanoparticles that can be detected, e.g., by detecting a color change in the nanoreactor and/or by detecting the number and/or size and/or size distribution and/or shape of the nanoparticles. The nanoreactors can be used, in some embodiments, as time-temperature indicators for perishable goods.