In one embodiment, authentication of a beverage is performed by forming an airtight seal with a bottle that contains the beverage, the bottle being sealed with a closure, applying a vacuum to the bottle to draw a sample from the closure that includes traces of the beverage, collecting the sample over time as the vacuum is applied to the closure, and performing testing on the collected sample.

Described are systems and methods for the simple and rapid measurement of an analyte, such as sulphur dioxide, in liquid samples, including beverages such as wine or beer. The systems and methods utilize voltammetry with a particulate carbon or copper electrode, and may be conducted outside of a laboratory in ten to sixty seconds using a small portable instrument or mobile device using, for example, 2nd harmonic Fourier Transform (FT) AC voltammetry.

A method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics associated with each type of coffee, each reference characteristic being associated with a respective reference signal, said method comprising the steps of: sensing, by one or more sensors, the concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the coffee in a sampling time interval; generating a coffee-representative sampling signal for each sampling time interval, as a function of the volatile organic compounds; comparing each sampling signal so generated to detect a change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee at successive sampling time intervals; generating a signal representative of the change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee when the change is sensed; comparing the change-representative signal so generated with the reference signals associated with each reference characteristic; generating a characteristic-recognition signal as a function of the comparison between the signal representative of the change over time and the reference signals.

A method of monitoring at least one characteristic of a type of coffee from a plurality of reference characteristics associated with each type of coffee, each reference characteristic being associated with a respective reference signal, said method comprising the steps of: sensing, by one or more sensors, the concentration of one or more volatile organic compounds in a mixture of volatile organic compounds released from the coffee in a sampling time interval; generating a coffee-representative sampling signal for each sampling time interval, as a function of the volatile organic compounds; comparing each sampling signal so generated to detect a change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee at successive sampling time intervals; generating a signal representative of the change over time in one or more volatile organic compounds released from the coffee when the change is sensed; comparing the change-representative signal so generated with the reference signals associated with each reference characteristic; generating a characteristic-recognition signal as a function of the comparison between the signal representative of the change over time and the reference signals.

A bottle with sensors for probing and optimizing bottling line performance is disclosed. According to one embodiment a bottle, comprises an outer layer and a reservoir tube inside the outer layer that connects a reservoir inside the outer layer to a neck of the bottle. The bottle has a battery inside the outer layer and one or more sensors powered by the battery.

A processing apparatus (700) is configured to receive a sense signal from a capacitive fluid sensor (610) comprising a first electrode (611) and a second electrode (612) with a sensing region (613) between the electrodes. The processing apparatus (700) is configured to receive an alternating drive signal applied to the capacitive fluid sensor (610). The processing apparatus (700) is configured to determine a complex impedance of the fluid sensor (610) based on the sense signal and the drive signal, the complex impedance comprising an in-phase component indicative of a conductivity quantity of a fluid in the sensing region and a quadrature component indicative of a capacitance quantity of the fluid sensor. The processing apparatus (700) is configured to determine a temperature of the fluid in dependence on at least the determined capacitance quantity of the fluid sensor (610).

A processing apparatus (700) is configured to receive a sense signal from a capacitive fluid sensor (610) comprising a first electrode (611) and a second electrode (612) with a sensing region (613) between the electrodes. The processing apparatus (700) is configured to receive an alternating drive signal applied to the capacitive fluid sensor (610). The processing apparatus (700) is configured to determine a complex impedance of the fluid sensor (610) based on the sense signal and the drive signal, the complex impedance comprising an in-phase component indicative of a conductivity quantity of a fluid in the sensing region and a quadrature component indicative of a capacitance quantity of the fluid sensor. The processing apparatus (700) is configured to determine a temperature of the fluid in dependence on at least the determined capacitance quantity of the fluid sensor (610).

A chromogenic assay includes a substrate comprising an array of 5 or more dyes which react with volatile organic compounds, wherein the dyes are chromogenic when reacted with volatile organic chemical biomarkers, wherein the volatile organic chemical biomarkers comprise acids, alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, amines, antioxidants, aromatic compounds, esters, ethylene, lactones, ketones, organosulfur compounds, sulfides, reactive oxygen species, terpenes, or a combination thereof. A method of detecting volatile organic chemical biomarkers includes contacting the chromogenic assay with a sample or sample headspace, wherein the sample or sample headspace is suspected of containing volatile organic chemical biomarkers, and identifying, based on a colorimetric pattern on the chromogenic assay after contacting, the source of the volatile organic chemical biomarkers. Also included are articles and systems including the chromogenic assay.

A chromogenic assay includes a substrate comprising an array of 5 or more dyes which react with volatile organic compounds, wherein the dyes are chromogenic when reacted with volatile organic chemical biomarkers, wherein the volatile organic chemical biomarkers comprise acids, alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, amines, antioxidants, aromatic compounds, esters, ethylene, lactones, ketones, organosulfur compounds, sulfides, reactive oxygen species, terpenes, or a combination thereof. A method of detecting volatile organic chemical biomarkers includes contacting the chromogenic assay with a sample or sample headspace, wherein the sample or sample headspace is suspected of containing volatile organic chemical biomarkers, and identifying, based on a colorimetric pattern on the chromogenic assay after contacting, the source of the volatile organic chemical biomarkers. Also included are articles and systems including the chromogenic assay.

A first series of images of a first fluid is received. A first set of fluid characteristics of the first fluid is determined from the first series of images. A second series of images of a second fluid is received. A second set of fluid characteristics of the second fluid is determined from the second series of images. A match is determined to be found between the first set of fluid characteristics and the second set of fluid characteristics. The second fluid is identified based upon determining that the first set of fluid characteristics matches the second set of fluid characteristics.