Abstract: A system that may automatically and rapidly process blood culture bottles. Such processing includes obtaining an image of a label placed on the cylindrical surface of the blood culture bottle. The system may also determine an amount of blood sample that has been added to the blood culture bottle by comparing a sample level to pre-placed fiducial. The distance between the liquid meniscus in the blood culture bottle and fiducial may be used to determine blood volume. The imaging apparatus may also detect internal conditions of the blood culture bottle such as the presence of foam or the presence of culture media in a neck portion of the blood culture bottle. The image of the label is obtained from one or more images captured by a camera or scanner. The information on the label may be read automatically and therefore the blood culture bottles do not have to be processed manually, increasing throughput of the apparatus.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides fluidic systems having a plurality of reaction sites surrounded by optical barriers to reduce the amount of optical cross-talk between signals detected from various reaction sites. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing fluidic systems and methods of using the systems.

Abstract: A biodegradable delivery particle having a benefit agent containing core and a shell.

Abstract: A system and methods for generating dynamic market pricing that is fair for both publishers and advertisers and the use of the pricing in real-time auctions. When a user views content over the internet, an online publisher provides content to the user with executable instructions, which notify an advertisement source that there is an impression for filling by an advertiser. The impression is submitted to a real-time bidding market for competing advertisers to bid to fill the impression with an advertisement. The system and methods generate dynamic pricing for the individual competing advertisers and use the dynamic pricing to compare advertiser bids to determine a highest or winning bid and a clearing price associated with the highest or winning bid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positive dispense verification. In one aspect, a system has a plurality of light emitters. The light from the emitters is directed toward a plurality of light detectors across a proximately horizontal plane. The liquid dispense device is positioned above the horizontal plane of light emission from the plurality of light emitters to the plurality of light detectors such that the dispensed liquid will travel through the horizontal plane defined by the emitted light and onto the container being inoculated. Each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to an amplifier. The amplifier generates a signal in response to an interrupt in the transmission of light from the light emitters to the light detectors when the light path is disrupted by the dispense of liquid confirming the liquid was dispensed onto the container.

Abstract: A method of recovering lead, antimony tin from lead acid batteries, lead bearing scrap and other lead bearing materials which includes smelting lead bearing materials in a reverb furnace to recover metallic lead; leaching the resultant slag produced in the reverb furnace with ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) to produce a slurry; precipitating antimony from the slurry with ferric chloride (FeCl3); performing a solid-liquid separation of the slag away from the resulting pregnant leach solution; precipitating lead carbonate (PbCO3) from the pregnant leach solution with carbon dioxide (CO2); recovering the precipitated lead carbonate (PbCO3) through solid-liquid separation; and processing the precipitated lead carbonate (PbCO3) in a reverb furnace to recover metallic lead.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to gait assist. In one example, a gait assist assembly includes a foot strap that can be positioned on a foot of a lower extremity; an inferior knee strap that can be positioned below a knee of the lower extremity; a superior knee strap that can be positioned above the knee; belt straps or vest; and at least one resistance band or tube for connection to or through a combination of connectors of the foot strap, the inferior knee strap, the superior knee strap, and/or belt straps or vest. In another example, a gait assist assembly includes a foot strap; a knee brace including inferior and superior knee connections; a vest or belt straps; and at least one resistance band or tube for connection to or through a combination of connectors of the foot strap, the knee brace, and/or vest or belt straps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positive dispense verification. In one aspect, a system has a plurality of light emitters. The light from the emitters is directed toward a plurality of light detectors across a proximately horizontal plane. The liquid dispense device is positioned above the horizontal plane of light emission from the plurality of light emitters to the plurality of light detectors such that the dispensed liquid will travel through the horizontal plane defined by the emitted light and onto the container being inoculated. Each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to an amplifier. The amplifier generates a signal in response to an interrupt in the transmission of light from the light emitters to the light detectors when the light path is disrupted by the dispense of liquid confirming the liquid was dispensed onto the container.

Abstract: An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium.

Abstract: Systems and methods for positive dispense verification are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system has a plurality of light emitters. The light from the emitters is directed toward a plurality of light detectors across a proximately horizontal plane. The liquid dispense device is positioned above the horizontal plane of light emission from the plurality of light emitters to the plurality of light detectors such that the dispensed liquid will travel through the horizontal plane defined by the emitted light and onto the container being inoculated. Each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to an amplifier. The amplifier generates a signal in response to an interrupt in the transmission of light from the light emitters to the light detectors when the light path is disrupted by the dispense of liquid confirming the liquid was dispensed onto the container.

Abstract: An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium.

Abstract: Described herein, an anhydrous cosmetic composition includes one or more water-absorbing components; a malodour-controlling component; a cosmetically acceptable carrier; wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition has a burst resistance pressure greater than about 137.9 mBar (2 psi); wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition has a water vapor sorption per 100 g of the composition from about 2.0 g to about 15 g; and wherein the anhydrous cosmetic composition is essentially free of aluminium-based antiperspirant actives.

Abstract: A consumer product comprising a biodegradable delivery particle having a benefit agent containing core and a shell.

Abstract: An improved system and method for the selection and dispensing of reagents onto a target testing medium in an automated laboratory environment. The system utilizes multiple carousels rotatably-mounted upon a central turntable. The position of the central turntable, as well as the rotation of each carousel is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system. Multiple dispensers, each capable of storing and dispensing a particular reagent, are mounted about the circumference of each carousel. This configuration provides much higher reagent density than previously available. The testing medium is positioned at one or more loading stations. The control system directs the central turntable to a position from which a selected one of the carousels can be rotated so as to position a selected dispenser above the testing medium. The selected dispenser is then actuated to release a predetermined reagent onto the testing medium.

Abstract: An automated method for preparing a sample suspension. The sample suspension can be used for both MALDI and antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). A suspension is prepared, and a portion of that suspension is removed for a first analysis (e.g. MALDI), leaving a remaining volume. The turbidity of the remaining volume is measured. If the turbidity is below a first threshold, the suspension is not used for a second analysis (e.g. AST) and is subjected to a concentration protocol to raise the turbidity of the suspension. If the turbidity is within a predetermined range, a volume of the suspension is calculated that will deliver a predetermined amount of sample to a vessel for the second analysis. If the turbidity of the suspension is above the predetermined range, and the suspension has not been diluted a predetermined number of times, the suspension is diluted according to a dilution protocol.

Abstract: A system and methods for generating dynamic market pricing that is fair for both publishers and advertisers and the use of the pricing in real-time auctions. When a user views content over the internet, an online publisher provides content to the user with executable instructions, which notify an advertisement source that there is an impression for filling by an advertiser. The impression is submitted to a real-time bidding market for competing advertisers to bid to fill the impression with an advertisement. The system and methods generate dynamic pricing for the individual competing advertisers and use the dynamic pricing to compare advertiser bids to determine a highest or winning bid and a clearing price associated with the highest or winning bid.

Abstract: A process for recovering copper from copper sulfide minerals, the method comprising the steps of leaching copper sulfide minerals with an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride containing cupric chloride at a temperature of between about 40° C. and about 95° C. at atmospheric pressure, to produce a solution of cuprous/cupric chloride.

Abstract: A method and automated apparatus for locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish and subjecting the obtained sample to a plurality of downstream tests including a test to identify the microorganism and a test to identify the susceptibility of the microorganism to antibiotics. The method includes the automated steps of locating and selecting a colony of microorganisms on a culture dish; obtaining a sample of the selected colony of microorganisms; preparing a suspension of a sample of microorganisms automatically by submerging the pick tool with the sample in a suspension, after which the pick tool is vibrated in at least the vertical direction to release the sample from the pick tool in the suspension. The turbidity of the suspension is monitored to ensure that the concentration of microorganism in suspension is sufficient so that the suspension is used a source for sample for both identification and antibiotic susceptibility of the microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: A system and methods for generating dynamic market pricing that is fair for both publishers and advertisers and the use of the pricing in real-time auctions. When a user views content over the internet, an online publisher provides content to the user with executable instructions, which notify an advertisement source that there is an impression for filling by an advertiser. The impression is submitted to a real-time bidding market for competing advertisers to bid to fill the impression with an advertisement. The system and methods generate dynamic pricing for the individual competing advertisers and use the dynamic pricing to compare advertiser bids to determine a highest or winning bid and a clearing price associated with the highest or winning bid.

Abstract: A device and method of using the device for high throughput production of emulsions having low coefficient of variation droplet/particle sizes.