A dilution apparatus (100) for diluting a fluidic sample in accordance with a specifiable dilution ratio, wherein the dilution apparatus (100) comprises a dilution fluid supply device (102) configured for supplying a dilution fluid at a first quantity per time, a transport fluid supply device (104) configured for supplying a transport fluid at a second quantity per time, a first fluid accommodation unit (106) configured for accommodating a first fluid volume, a second fluid accommodation unit (108) configured for accommodating a second fluid volume, and a control device (110, 112) configured for controlling the flow of the dilution fluid, the transport fluid and the fluidic sample so that in a first operation mode, the fluidic sample, being accommodated in the first fluid accommodation unit (106), is forced to flow to the second fluid accommodation unit (108) while being diluted by being mixed with dilution fluid, and in a second operation mode, the mixture of dilution fluid and fluidic sample, being accommodated in the second fluid accommodation unit (108), is forced to flow from the second fluid accommodation unit (108) to the first fluid accommodation unit (106) while being further diluted by being mixed with further dilution fluid.

The present invention provides an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid producing apparatus capable of reducing the possibility of intermitting supply of a UFB-containing liquid. An ultrafine bubble-containing liquid producing apparatus includes producing units that produce an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid containing ultrafine bubbles by using a liquid supplied from a liquid introducing unit and deliver the produced ultrafine bubble-containing liquid to a liquid delivering unit. The producing units include a plurality of ultrafine bubble generating units capable of operating independently. Each of the plurality of ultrafine bubble generating units is provided to be capable of independently switching between communicating with and being disconnected from the liquid introducing unit and the liquid delivering unit.

Systems and methods have demonstrated the capability of rapidly cooling the contents of pods containing the ingredients for food and drinks.

An apparatus, method, and sample vessel for recombining a sample fluid. The sample fluid is received in a sample vessel. Sample parameters are recreated in the sample vessel. The sample fluid is agitated within the sample vessel. Optical measurements of the sample fluid are performed within the sample vessel utilizing one or more optical sensors. A determination is made whether recombination is complete in response to the optical measurements of the sample fluid performed by the one or more optical sensors.

A surgical system including a surgical tool and a navigation system for tracking the position of the surgical tool. The surgical tool comprising a housing including a variable speed motor and control module disposed within the housing. The navigation system comprising a navigation console in communication with the control module of the surgical tool, the navigation console may be configured to communicate instructions to the control module of the surgical tool based on the position of the surgical tool relative to a defined zone. The navigation console may be configured to deactivate the surgical tool based on the position of the surgical tool relative to the defined zone. The navigation console may also be configured to provide a user-selectable override option to allow continued operation of the surgical tool within the defined zone.

The controller that receives at least one sensor signal indicative of a measured profile of a particulate material within a storage tank of an agricultural system. The controller also determines whether a variation between the measured profile and a target profile is greater than a threshold value. The controller outputs a first output signal to a user interface indicative of instructions to inform an operator of a profile variation, outputs a second output signal to an agitator indicative of activation of the agitator, or a combination thereof, in response to determining that the variation between the measured profile and the target profile is greater than the threshold value.

A method of producing a paste for production of a negative electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery, which includes a negative electrode active material, a thickening agent, and an aqueous binder. The method includes preparing a mixture containing the negative electrode active material and the thickening agent by dry mixing the negative electrode active material and the thickening agent in a powder state under reduced pressure; preparing a paste precursor by adding one or two or more kinds of liquid components selected from an aqueous medium and an emulsion aqueous solution containing the aqueous binder to the mixture and wet mixing the mixture; and preparing the paste for production of a negative electrode by further adding one or two or more kinds of liquid components selected from the aqueous medium and the emulsion aqueous solution containing the aqueous binder to the paste precursor and wet mixing the mixture.

Aspects of the disclosure include a method for tracking the quality of a beverage produced according to a batch process that includes adding ingredients to water to form a batch, measuring the density of the batch in real time using an in-line density device, monitoring changes in density of the batch, detecting deviations from the batch process based on the changes in density, and correcting for any detected deviations from the batch process in real time. Other aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of detecting inhomogeneity in real time for a batch process for producing a beverage. Other aspects of the disclosure include a method of tracking addition of ingredients for producing a beverage in a batch process includes sequentially adding a plurality of ingredients to water according to a standard recipe to form a batch and correcting for any detected deviations from the recipe in real time.

A dispensing device, comprising a plurality of microfluidic pumps, microfluidic valves, and a microfluidic mixer chip, for receiving and mixing microfluidic amounts of a plurality of fluids having differing viscosities, is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of pathways for moving fluids from associated reservoirs to the microfluidic mixer chip. A mix controller controls the microfluidic pumps and valves so that the fluids, having different viscosities, can be accurately mixed at specified microfluidic amounts or volumes according to a specified microfluidic recipe, and the microfluidic mixture dispensed from the device. The device can be in communication with a software application implemented on a mobile compute device, such as a smartphone, and receive instructions for implementing the specified microfluidic recipe from the software application such that the operation of device components is at the direction of the software application executed on the mobile compute device.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing an electricity storage material are provided which allow easily measuring the dissolution rate to solubility of a solution of a powder thickener dissolved in a liquid solvent. An apparatus for manufacturing an electricity storage material includes: a dissolving device that dissolves in a liquid solvent a thickener as powder that is ionized when dissolved; and a dissolution-rate-to-solubility determining device that measures conductivity of the solution produced by the dissolving device and determines a dissolution rate to solubility of the solution based on the measured conductivity. The dissolution rate to solubility can thus be determined without the need to stop the dissolving device during dissolution of the thickener in the liquid solvent. This can significantly improve production efficiency. Since excessive operation of the dissolving device can be prevented, energy saving can be achieved.