A dosing module (137) in an agricultural environment, arranged to apply a milk sample of an animal (100) onto a dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c). The dosing module (137) includes a milk insertion connection (340) arranged to receive milk; a needle (350) configured to receive the milk and apply the received milk to the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c); a first pump (611), configured to provide milk from the milk insertion connection (340) to the needle (350); and a position adjustment mechanism (510) configured to adjust the needle (350) between a retracted position (α) above the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c) when dosing milk to the dry stick (180a, 180b, 180c), and at an extended position (β) when flushing milk through the needle (350); and an evacuator (195) arranged to intercept liquid output by the needle (350).

Provided here are systems and methods for microtomy, including a microtome and a transfer tape system. The microtome can be used for sectioning a tissue section from a tissue block. The transfer tape system can include a transfer tape configured to adhere to a front face of the tissue block and collect one or more tissue sections sectioned by the microtome and to transfer the one or more tissue sections to one or more slides; and at least one tension device for controlling tension and an angle of the transfer tape relative the tissue block or the one or more slides. The at least one tension device can be configured to maintain the transfer tape at a predetermined tension or maintain the transfer tape at a predetermined angle relative to the tissue block or the one or more slides.

An inspection system for a plurality of separable inspection objects, including a feed device for the plurality of inspection objects, a conveying device for the plurality of inspection objects, an inspection unit and an ejecting device. The feed device is configured and disposed such that the plurality of inspection objects can be fed by the feed device to a feed position of the conveying device. The conveying device includes a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle is configured and disposed such that exactly one inspection object of the plurality of inspection objects can be conveyed along a conveying path in said receptacle and that two respective inspection objects from the plurality of inspection objects have a spacing along the conveying path that is defined by the plurality of receptacles. The inspection unit is disposed at an inspection position on the conveying path.

An automatic slicing and collecting device, the device including: a first tank, a vibrating microtome, a first pipeline, and a second pipeline. The first tank is filled with a buffer solution. The vibrating microtome is disposed in the first tank. One end of the first pipeline is connected to the vibrating microtome to collect sections, and the other end of the first pipeline is connected to a pump. The pump includes a reversible motor. The first pipeline is provided with a first valve, and a filter is disposed between the pump and the first pipeline. One end of the second pipeline is disposed between the first valve of the first pipeline and the pump, and the second pipeline is provided with a second valve.

A method for preparing for preparing a solution comprising a plurality of particles in a vial is disclosed. The method includes agitating the vial at a first predetermined mixing speed. The method also includes dispersing, into the vial, during the agitating, a first volume of buffer solution at a first predetermined dispensing rate to suspend the plurality of particles in the solution, wherein particles of the plurality of particles comprise a unique identifying feature.

Embodiments of the invention can sample particulates, aerosols, vapors, and/or biological components of ambient air utilizing spherical air-sampling filters. Components of the embodiments may include a storage magazine for holding a plurality of spherical air-sampling filters, an air-sampling manifold configured to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to a sampling location, and an air compressor to perform an air sampling operation and to transport a used air-sampling filter away from the sampling location. Operation of some embodiments may begin by rotating a slotted drum within the air-sampling manifold to deliver an air-sampling filter from the storage magazine to the sampling position. Operation may continue by using the air compressor to draw air from an ambient environment through the air-sampling filter. After sampling is complete, the air compressor may be utilized to pneumatically transport the used air-sampling filter away from the sampling position to a filter retrieval location via a transport tube. These operations can be pre-programmed locally or triggered by remote communication. Operation may continue uninterrupted due to a plurality of unused air-sampling filters retained in the storage manifold. Because operations can be triggered remotely and air samples are autonomously transported off site, embodiments of this invention eliminate unnecessary risks to human health created by other air-sampling devices, which require an operator to be present at a potentially hazardous sampling site to activate the device or retrieve air samples. Embodiments of the invention can be installed pre-emptively to eliminate risks to human health created when an operator must deliver a portable air-sampling device to a potentially contaminated sampling site. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow rapid retrieval of air samples following sample collection, which can expedite analysis and identification of aerosols and consequently help minimize human exposure to potentially dangerous and life-threatening chemical and biological contaminants.

Embodiments of the invention collect solid, vapor, and/or biological components of the air in air-sampling cartridges that are then transported to an off-site location by pneumatic pressure. Operation proceeds by first collecting a sample of air in an air-sampling cartridge in a sampling position, then advancing a cartridge assembly to move the now-used sampling cartridge into a transport position while simultaneously moving an unused sampling cartridge into the sampling position, and finally using pneumatic pressure to push the used sampling cartridge in the transport position to an off-site location via a transport tube. The sampling operation can begin again while the transport operation is in still in progress. These operations can be pre-programmed locally or triggered by remote communication. Continued operation is possible due to a plurality of unused air-sampling cartridges retained in the cartridge assembly. Since operations can be triggered remotely and air samples are autonomously transported off site, embodiments of this invention eliminate unnecessary risks to human health created by other air-sampling devices, which require an operator to be present at a potentially hazardous sampling site to activate the device or retrieve air samples. Additionally, embodiments of the invention can be installed preemptively to eliminate risks to human health created when an operator must deliver a portable air-sampling device to a potentially contaminated sampling site. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention allow rapid retrieval of air samples following sample collection, which can expedite analysis and identification of aerosols and consequently help minimize human exposure to potentially dangerous and life-threatening chemical and biological contaminants.

A milking system includes a device to sample and analyse a milk sample, including a control unit, a sample supply line connected to the milk line, a pump to control the sample flow, an optical radiation source, and an optical sensor device to detect and analyse optical radiation coming from the reagent pad with said sample, to provide an indication of a substance in the sample, a tape mover to move and unwind the tape from the tape reel, and a pump drive, external to the cassette, and releasably operably connected to the pump device for driving the pump device. The sampling and analysis device also includes a cassette with a sample receiving line, releasably connected to the sample supply line by a liquid connector, and arranged to receive the sample from the sample supply line, a tape reel with a tape that includes a base tape layer and a series of separate reagent pads, and a dosing device to provide a droplet of the sample onto a reagent pad. The dosing device includes a nozzle in fluid connection with the sample receiving line, and a nozzle mover arranged to move the nozzle in at least a longitudinal direction. The cassette is replaceably received in the milking system. Hereby, a large number of parts that are subject to wear and contamination by milk residues are exchanged regularly, which improves measurement reliability and accuracy.

An apparatus includes a body and a fluid sampling conduit disposed within the body. The body is configured to be disposed within a pipe flowing a fluid. The fluid sampling conduit is configured to obtain a sample of the fluid flowing in the pipe. The apparatus includes an odometer wheel coupled to the body and an elastomeric ring surrounding at least a portion of the body. The elastomeric ring is configured to remove material disposed on an inner wall of the pipe as the apparatus travels through the pipe. The apparatus includes a solid sampling subsystem coupled to an external to the body. The solid sampling subsystem includes a capsule, an inlet valve, and a tubing. The inlet valve, when opened, allows at least a portion of the material removed from an inner wall of the pipe to flow through the tubing and into the capsule.

A milking system includes a milking device, a milk line for carrying milk from the milking device, and a sampling unit that is arranged to take a sample from the milk line and to test the sample for the presence or concentration of at least one substance. The sampling unit is provided with a control unit and a housing. The housing includes therein a supply reel with a tape that carries reagent, and a sample supplier to supply, under control of the control unit, a part of the sample to the reagent on the tape. The sampling unit further includes a tape displacer displacing the tape under control of the control unit, a sample analyser, and a used tape collector device collecting tape with reagent to which a sample has been supplied. The supply reel at a surface thereof includes a desiccant, or is completely made of a desiccant material. This provides such a large volume of desiccant that the correspondingly high moisture absorption capacity ensures along uninterrupted useful life of the sampling unit, and thus of the milking system.