Abstract: To provide a high-throughput automatic analysis apparatus at a lower cost. The automatic analysis apparatus includes an incubator which accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels; a specimen dispensing mechanism which dispenses a specimen into each of the plurality of reaction vessels; a mounting unit which mounts a dispensing tip on the specimen dispensing mechanism; a suction unit which sucks a specimen from a specimen vessel containing the specimen by means of the specimen dispensing mechanism having the dispensing mounted thereon; a discharging unit which is provided in the incubator and discharges the specimen from the specimen dispensing mechanism to the reaction vessel; a disposal unit which discards the dispensing tip; a sensor which detects whether the dispensing tip is mounted to the specimen dispensing mechanism; and a control unit which controls the specimen dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to proactive dosing optimization chemical feed units producing an output solution (such as an oxidizing biocide) therefrom. Online sensors generate signals corresponding to directly measured variables for respective process components. Information is selectively retrieved from models relating combinations of input variables to respective industrial process states, wherein various current process states may be indirectly determined based on directly measured variables for respective system components. An output feedback signal is automatically generated corresponding to a detected intervention event based on the indirectly determined process state. A controller may receive the signal and implement, e.g., regulation of oxidizing biocide feed for optimization of end products and/or performance metrics.

Abstract: A method of operating an analytical laboratory is presented. The method comprises the steps of: setting a load limit for each laboratory instrument at maximum instrument capacity; dispatching biological samples to laboratory instrument(s) at a dispatch rate not greater than the instrument load limit; each laboratory instrument sending test order queries to the laboratory middleware upon identifying a biological sample; in response to the test order queries transmitting test orders to the laboratory instruments corresponding to the biological samples; the laboratory middleware monitoring a query rate of the plurality of laboratory instruments in order to determine an effective flow rate corresponding to each laboratory instrument; decreasing the load limit of a first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is lower than the dispatch rate; increasing the load limit for the first laboratory instrument if its effective flow rate is greater than or equal to the dispatch rate.

Abstract: A method for executing multiple chemical experiments in parallel may be provided. The method comprises receiving a list of actions to be performed for synthesizing a chemical product. Thereby, the actions correspond to at least two chemical partial reactions and the list comprises a delimiter symbol separating two chemical partial reactions, determining identical chemical partial reactions, and building a reaction commonality tree (RCT) of the chemical reactions. Furthermore, the method comprises executing a plurality of the identical chemical partial reactions independent of a sequence of chemical partial reactions of the reaction commonality tree only once. Each of the identical chemical partial reactions is executed in a different chemical reactor and each resulting intermediate product has a quantity of the sum of the related identical chemical partial reactions.

Abstract: Computer-based process modeling and simulation methods and systems combine first principles models and machine learning models to benefit where either model is lacking. In one example, input values (measurements) are adjusted by first principles techniques. A machine learning model of the chemical process of interest is trained on the adjusted values. In another example, a machine learning model represents the residual (delta) between a first principles model prediction and empirical data. Residual machine learning models correct physical phenomena predictions in a first principles model of the chemical process. In another example, a first principles simulation model uses the process input data and predictions of the machine learning model to generate simulated results of the chemical process.

Abstract: A method for managing a skin care system. The skin care system includes circuitry to receive skin information from a user. The circuitry determines treatable skin conditions based on the skin information. The skin care system generates severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility information based on the treatable skin conditions. The skin care system is further able to virtually display user-specific compatible cosmetic formulations based on at least one parameter associated with the severity information and cosmetic formulation compatibility.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining a sequential ordering of predefined transfers for transferring an object from source points of a source array to destination points of a destination array in a laboratory automation system. For each transition to a next transfer, first and second component travel costs between current and next transfer positions are determined. A transition travel cost is determined from the first and second component travel costs. The cost of each sequential ordering of the predefined transfers is based upon an aggregate of the transition travel costs for each ordering of the transfers. The resolved sequential ordering may be based upon the sequential ordering that has the lowest cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic cleaning and separating device for removing uncombined components in reactants in a reaction container. The automatic cleaning and separating device includes: a liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism, a removal assembly and a liquid suction mechanism; wherein a liquid injection driver is mounted on the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism, a liquid suction driver is mounted on the liquid suction mechanism, the liquid injection driver drives the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism to move up and down so as to complete liquid injection, the liquid suction driver drives the liquid suction mechanism to move up and down to complete liquid suction, and the removal assembly removes the reaction container from the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism under the relative motion of the liquid suction mechanism and the liquid injection and uniform mixing mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is an automated analysis device with which sufficient reaction process data can be acquired irrespective of the scale of the device, and with which it is possible to ensure freedom of the device configuration. An automated analysis device 100 is provided with: a reaction disk 1 which circumferentially accommodates a plurality of reaction vessels 2; a specimen dispensing mechanism 11 which dispenses a specimen into the reaction vessels 2; a reagent dispensing mechanism 7 which dispenses a reagent into the reaction vessels 2; a measuring unit 4 which measures a reaction process of a mixture of the specimen and the reagent in the reaction vessels 2; and a cleaning mechanism 3 which cleans the reaction vessels 2 after measurement.

Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus of the present invention includes: a measurement section that measures a sample; a remaining quantity detecting section that detects that a remaining quantity of a consumable article used in the measurement section has become less than or equal to a predetermined quantity that is set in advance; a setting section that is capable of setting in which mode, of a first mode and a second mode applied for operation control of the measurement section, to operate the measurement section for each consumable article when the remaining quantity detecting section detects that the remaining quantity of the consumable article has become less than or equal to the predetermined quantity; and a control section that controls operation of the measurement section based on the setting of the setting section.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Abstract: Techniques for predicting an amount of at least one biomaterial produced or consumed by a biological system in a bioreactor are provided. Process conditions and metabolite concentrations are measured for the biological system as a function of time. Metabolic rates for the biological system, including specific consumption rates of metabolites and specific production rates of metabolites are determined. The process conditions and the metabolic rates are provided to a hybrid system model configured to predict production of the biomaterial. The hybrid system model includes a kinetic growth model configured to estimate cell growth as a function of time and a metabolic condition model based on metabolite specific consumption or secretion rates and select process conditions, wherein the metabolic condition model is configured to classify the biological system into a metabolic state. An amount of the biomaterial based on the hybrid system model is predicted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reagent container rack used in a specimen analyzer configured to analyze a specimen by use of a reagent. The reagent container rack includes a holder configured to hold a reagent container that contains the reagent; and a lid configured to cover a mouth portion of the reagent container to form an airtight space between the lid and the mouth portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling temperature of a chemical reaction without measuring a temperature of the chemical reaction. Changes in mass of a chemical reaction are monitored and are used to calculate the temperature of the system. The reaction can be maintained at a desired temperature (T) without measuring the temperature. The disclosed method is useful for reactions that occur at non-equilibrium conditions where any measured temperature would presume steady-state conditions.

Abstract: An automated laboratory system includes a storage system including a frame and a platform slidably mounted to the frame such that the platform is slidable relative to the frame between a docked position and an undocked position, the platform being configured to carry an instrument. The system also includes a robotic device proximate the storage system and being configured to access the instrument carried by the platform. Another automated laboratory system includes a storage system including a table and a tabletop having a central axis and being rotatably positioned on the table such that the tabletop is rotatable about the central axis between a docked position and an undocked position, the tabletop being configured to carry an instrument. The system also includes a robotic device proximate the storage system and being configured to access the instrument carried by the tabletop.

Abstract: Arrays of droplet-on-demand dispensers are controlled by a row-column addressing scheme that can reduce the number of on-chip address lines, thereby making it feasible to construct large dispenser arrays. Decoders are used to further reduce the number of control lines that select a specific address line. A microfluidic logic controller includes row-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same row, and column-select lines, each coupled to dispensers disposed on the same column such that each dispenser is associated with a unique row-column address. A logic circuit can actuate a dispenser only if the logic circuit receives signals from both of the row-select line and the column-select line corresponding to the row-column address of the selected dispenser. Reagents can be dispensed from the dispenser array, thereby allowing for rapid formatting of a reagent library into microfluidic droplets.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for customizing protocols for use with a cell expansion system. Through a user interface, a user may create a custom task for loading, growing and/or harvesting cells. A custom task may comprise one or more steps, in which a user may add or omit steps, as desired. Data may be entered for settings associated with a custom task, in which embodiments provide for such data to be entered each time the custom task is performed. In another embodiment, the settings for a custom task may be configured, in which such settings may be stored and retrieved upon selection of the custom task. Customization and configuration of a custom task may occur using a diagram view of the cell expansion system, in which process settings are associated with graphical user interface elements.

Abstract: High-throughput digital microfluidic (DMF) systems and methods (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF apparatuses, etc.), are described herein. The systems, apparatuses and methods integrate liquid handling with the DMF apparatuses, providing flexible and efficient sample reactions and sample preparation. These systems, apparatuses and methods may be used with a variety of cartridge configurations and sizes.

Abstract: A method to optimize analyzer use in a laboratory having a plurality of analyzers based on laboratory workload is presented. The method comprises determining current laboratory workload, calculating workload capability of the plurality of analyzers minus one analyzer if the current laboratory workload is below a threshold criteria and if there are two or more analyzers in the plurality of analyzers, masking one of the plurality of analyzers if the current workload is met by the plurality of analyzers minus one analyzer, proceeding with current workload, and repeating the above steps until the current laboratory workload has been completed.

Abstract: A data collection hub and method wherein a controller is configured to receive data from a plurality of sensors sensing conditions related to the performance of operations on cells by at least one instrument. A database stores the data from the plurality of sensors and the controller is configured to compare data from the plurality of sensors for a past operation with the data for a more recent operation.