Abstract: A three-dimensional surface of the upper cover of the crops is recognized and recorded by a contactless scanning from above the field; a referential height h of the crop's stem is determined and the three-dimensional surface of the field from which the crops grow is determined. A reached height x of the vegetation for the individual points is computed by comparison of the three-dimensional surface of the upper cover of the crops with the three-dimensional surface of the field, whereby in case the reached height x of the vegetation is smaller than the referential height h of the crop's stem this difference between the reached height x of the vegetation and the referential height h of the stem determines in a given point of the field the angle ? of lodging pursuant to the goniometric function.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to determination of contact angle of sessile drops. In one example, a method includes determining a volume of a sessile drop of fluid disposed on a test surface; determining a height of the sessile drop of fluid; and determining a contact angle of the sessile drop of fluid based upon the volume and the height of the sessile drop. In another example, a system includes a volume sensing, a height sensing, and computing that can determine a volume and height of a sessile drop using volume and height data from the sensing, and determine a contact angle of the sessile drop with the volume and the height. The contact angle and surface tension can be determined with at least three of volume, a height, a footprint radius, a radius of maximum horizontal extent, and/or an apex radius of curvature of the drop.

Abstract: A calibration standard for calibrating a tool for measuring the surface energy of a data storage component is prepared by providing a standardized sized, dimensionally stable bead having a diameter selected from a length of from 1 to 100 ?m and depositing the bead on a surface of a substrate and adhering the bead to the surface with an adhesive. The calibration standard made by these processes is also contemplated.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a rock wettability alteration include circulating a first brine fluid into a test cell that includes a rock sample and a hydrocarbon fluid disposed on a surface of the rock sample, the first brine fluid having a property at a first value; contacting the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid with the first brine fluid; measuring a first contact angle between the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the first brine fluid; at least partially displacing the first brine fluid with a second brine fluid in the test cell, the second brine fluid having the property at a second value; contacting the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid with the second brine fluid; measuring a second contact angle between the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the second brine fluid; and determining a wettability alteration of the rock sample based on at least one of the measured first or second contact angles.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a rock wettability alteration include circulating a first brine fluid into a test cell that includes a rock sample and a hydrocarbon fluid disposed on a surface of the rock sample, the first brine fluid having a property at a first value; contacting the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid with the first brine fluid; measuring a first contact angle between the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the first brine fluid; at least partially displacing the first brine fluid with a second brine fluid in the test cell, the second brine fluid having the property at a second value; contacting the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid with the second brine fluid; measuring a second contact angle between the rock sample and the hydrocarbon fluid in contact with the second brine fluid; and determining a wettability alteration of the rock sample based on at least one of the measured first or second contact angles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to, inter alia, systems and methods for measuring contact-line mobility of a liquid on a solid substrate. The system includes a motion-generation component, a motion-measurement component, and a computer component. The motion-generation component can include an actuator and a controller, the actuator being adapted to mount a solid substrate and effective to impart periodic forcing to the solid substrate when a test droplet of the liquid is deposited thereon, and the controller being adapted to tune frequency and amplitude of the forcing to induce measurable contact-line displacement of the test droplet on the solid substrate. The motion-measurement component includes an image acquisition device adapted for capturing images of the test droplet.

Abstract: The cleaning process of cleaning an imprinting mold including a release layer coupled via siloxane bonds to a substrate of that release layer includes a first cleaning step and a second cleaning step. In the first cleaning step, the angle of contact of the surface of the release layer with water is made small, and in the second cleaning step, the alkali cleaning agent is brought in contact with the release layer that has gone through the first cleaning step.

Abstract: Interfacial tension between first and second immiscible liquids is determined using a device in which entrance and exit channels are connected by a cavity with wider cross-section. A flow of the first liquid enters the cavity as a jet and breaks into droplets within the cavity. Passage of a droplet through the exit channel feeds back to perturb the jet entering the cavity. An alternating signal applied to a heating element perturbs the incoming jet and is progressively scanned over a frequency range which includes the system's resonant frequency (frequency of droplet formation with no signal to the heating element). A bandwidth of frequency is observed in which the frequency of droplet formation is phase locked to the frequency applied to the heater. The ratio of resonant frequency to this bandwidth is a measurement of the interfacial tension between the two liquids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the contact angle and/or surface tension of a liquid on a solid surface is described. The method involves placing a fluid drop on a solid surface, and gradually increasing its volume by adding more fluid, while continuing to determine the corresponding increase in fluid height, until the drop attains maximum height beyond which additional fluid only increases the drop footprint and not height, and determining the equilibrium height and in turn the contact angle by means of an equation that correlates contact angle with depth below the fluid surface, together with the fluid surface tension and liquid density. The method may in turn be used to determine the fluid surface tension from the equilibrium height when the contact angle and density of the fluid are known.

Abstract: A surface tension measuring device and a method thereof are revealed. The surface tension measuring device includes a container and a hole. A liquid analyte is filled into the container and the hole is disposed on a wall surface of the container while the liquid analyte forms a drop on the hole. The surface tension of the liquid analyte is correlated with an internal gas pressure inside the container, an external gas pressure outside the container and a level of the liquid analyte. Thus the surface tension of the liquid analyte is obtained by control of the increasing of the liquid analyte level or pressure difference inside and outside the container. Therefore, the reduction of measuring time, less space occupied, lower equipment cost and reduced operation complexity are achieved.

Abstract: Described herein are a device and method for measuring the wetting characteristics of a liquid on a surface of a material by depositing a volume of liquid on the surface of the material, imparting kinetic energy to the liquid, and obtaining information about the geometry of the volume of the liquid on the surface. The device includes a liquid dispensing component, a kinetic energy imparting component, a position determining component, and a data generating component.

Abstract: Methods for fast fresh surface formation between two fluids as well as a device employing this method to measure dynamic or equilibrium interfacial tension between the fluids.

Abstract: A transfer structure for droplet-based microfluidic analysis is characterized by a first conduit containing a first stream having at least one immiscible droplet of aqueous material and a second conduit containing a second stream comprising an aqueous fluid. The interface between the first conduit and the second conduit can define a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures are sized to prevent exchange of the first and second streams between conduits while allowing lossless transfer of droplets from the first conduit to the second conduit through contact between the first and second streams.

Abstract: A droplet actuator drive including a detection apparatus for sensing a property of a droplet on a droplet actuator; circuitry for controlling the detection apparatus electronically coupled to the detection apparatus; a droplet actuator cartridge connector arranged so that when a droplet actuator cartridge electronically is coupled thereto: the droplet actuator cartridge is aligned with the detection apparatus; and the detection apparatus can sense the property of the droplet on a droplet actuator; circuitry for controlling a droplet actuator coupled to the droplet actuator connector; and the droplet actuator circuitry may be coupled to a processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for efficiently transporting or dispensing transport objects including not only particles but also liquid samples. A liquid in a first liquid transport pipe (3) is fed at a liquid feed velocity (V1), and a liquid droplet is formed toward an open end of a second liquid transport pipe (4) disposed with an air gap (11) in between. The particle is released into the liquid droplet, so that the particle is enclosed in the liquid droplet. Suction with a liquid feed velocity (V2) is applied to the inside of the second liquid transport pipe. Since the relationship between V1 and V2 is V1<V2, the liquid droplet, after reaching the open end (10) of the second liquid transport pipe, is sheared off by suction, thereby forming a liquid section in the second liquid transport pipe.

Abstract: A surface tension measuring device and a method thereof are revealed. The surface tension measuring device includes a container and a hole. A liquid analyte is filled into the container and the hole is disposed on a wall surface of the container while the liquid analyte forms a drop on the hole. The surface tension of the liquid analyte is correlated with an internal gas pressure inside the container, an external gas pressure outside the container and a level of the liquid analyte. Thus the surface tension of the liquid analyte is obtained by control of the increasing of the liquid analyte level or pressure difference inside and outside the container. Therefore, the reduction of measuring time, less space occupied, lower equipment cost and reduced operation complexity are achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus (Oscosurvismeter) for measuring osmotic pressure, surface tension, viscosity and conductance. Oscosurvismeter is made of Borosil glass material for measuring osmotic pressure, specific conductance, viscosity and surface tension of solutions. Solutions of different strengths are taken in two cells/compartments, partitioned by semi permeable membrane (SPM), respectively. Concentration gradient makes the solvent move towards concentrated solution to establish equilibrium that measures osmotic pressure. The Oscosurvismeter saves time and material, and enhances accuracy and precision in measurements, the instrument consists of six parts: Survismeter, Osmometer, Electrode, Metallic clamp, Semipermeable membrane (SPM), and High Potential metallic springs. The high accuracies data are noted with the instrument.

Abstract: A microfluidic sensor is disclosed that has a first inlet channel for a first fluid, a second inlet channel for a second fluid, and a measurement channel intersecting with both first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. A signal source system is provided for receiving a signal from a signal emitter, as is a signal detection system for receiving the signal from the signal source system. The signal source system and the signal detection system are for recording physical characteristics of at least one of the droplets in the measurement channel. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drop on a sample surface in a gaseous environment has a curved surface with a symmetry axis and a defined volume. To determine the contact angle, an object is imaged based on the reflection property of the surface of the drop, the position of the object with respect to the optical axis of an optical measuring system and the position of the object with respect to the sample surface, with the symmetry axis of the drop being arranged in or in the vicinity of the optical axis. The distance between the image and the optical axis of the drop is measured. The radius of curvature of the drop is determined based on the measured distance, and the contact angle is determined from the radius of curvature.

Abstract: Dispensers and refills for volatile liquids, such as fragrances, are disclosed. Dispensers and refills in combination with dispensers according to the present invention may comprise a volatile liquid and a housing. In certain embodiments, the volatile liquid of the present invention has a predetermined evaporation rate, measured and calculated by the method described herein. In other embodiments, the volatile liquid exhibits a predefined relative evaporation rate. In addition to the housing, the present invention includes optional components, such as a motorized fan and/or a wick, to facilitate release of the volatile liquid into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Systems for controlling a droplet microactuator are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided and includes a controller, a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, and a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller, wherein the system is programmed and configured to permit a user to effect a droplet manipulation by interacting with the user interface. According to another embodiment, a system is provided and includes a processor, a display device electronically coupled to the processor, and software loaded and/or stored in a storage device electronically coupled to the controller, a memory device electronically coupled to the controller, and/or the controller and programmed to display an interactive map of a droplet microactuator.

Abstract: Dispensers and refills for volatile liquids, such as fragrances, are disclosed. Dispensers and refills in combination with dispensers according to the present invention may comprise a volatile liquid and a housing. In certain embodiments, the volatile liquid of the present invention has a predetermined evaporation rate, measured and calculated by the method described herein. In other embodiments, the volatile liquid exhibits a predefined relative evaporation rate. In addition to the housing, the present invention includes optional components, such as a motorized fan and/or a wick, to facilitate release of the volatile liquid into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Described herein are a device and method for measuring the wetting characteristics of a liquid on a surface of a material by depositing a volume of liquid on the surface of the material, imparting kinetic energy to the liquid, and obtaining information about the geometry of the volume of the liquid on the surface. The device includes a liquid dispensing component, a kinetic energy imparting component, a position determining component, and a data generating component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring viscosity and/or surface tension of a liquid are described in which droplets are formed at a needle or pipette containing a sample of the test liquid and a size-related characteristic of the droplets such as droplet size, volume, diameter, or weight of the test liquid are measured by means of by capturing an image of the droplets and obtaining the size-related characteristic from the captured image. Subsequently or previously, a volume of the same sample of the test liquid is drained from the needle or pipette under pump pressure or a hydrostatic pressure, and an elution time is measured. The method and apparatus allows or includes determining the viscosity from the elution time, and determining the surface tension from the viscosity and the size-related characteristic of the droplet such as droplet size, volume, diameter, or weight of the test liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring surface tension includes: a U-shaped communicating tube having a base section that defines a horizontal line, and first and second sections that extend from the base section, and that respectively have first and second top open ends distal from the base section; and a capillary connected to the second top open, and having a top open end. The U-shaped communicating tube has a diameter greater than that of the capillary such that the U-shaped communicating tube does not exhibit capillary property when a liquid is filled therein. The first top open end has a height relative to the horizontal line that is greater than that of the top open end of the capillary such that the height difference therebetween is greater than that between the liquid level at the first section and a liquid drop formed on the top open end of the capillary.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring surface tension includes: a U-shaped communicating tube having a base section that defines a horizontal line, and first and second sections that extend from the base section, and that respectively have first and second top open ends distal from the base section; and a capillary connected to the second top open, and having a top open end. The U-shaped communicating tube has a diameter greater than that of the capillary such that the U-shaped communicating tube does not exhibit capillary property when a liquid is filled therein. The first top open end has a height relative to the horizontal line that is greater than that of the top open end of the capillary such that the height difference therebetween is greater than that between the liquid level at the first section and a liquid drop formed on the top open end of the capillary.

Abstract: A microfluidic sensor is disclosed that has a first inlet channel for a first fluid, a second inlet channel for a second fluid, and a measurement channel intersecting with both first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. A signal source system is provided for receiving a signal from a signal emitter, as is a signal detection system for receiving the signal from the signal source system. The signal source system and the signal detection system are for recording physical characteristics of at least one of the droplets in the measurement channel. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: For measuring the surface tension between a liquid and fluid such as a gas, a capillary (3, 3?) is used in which the liquid slowly flows and at the end of which drops (11) are formed, falling off into a closed space (7) containing the fluid. Using a pressure sensor (5, 5?) the pressure is measured which can be the absolute pressure of a fluid volume enclosed in the closed space or alternatively a differential pressure measured as the pressure difference between the liquid in the capillary and fluid contained in the closed space. The pressure is measured when one or more drops are formed and full off. The obtained pressure curves are evaluated electronically (12) and provide a value of the surface tension. The measurement can be made within a fairly short time with a high operational reliability. The temperature difference between the drop and the surrounding fluid is small resulting in a little precipitation of salts dissolved in the liquid, reducing the risk that the liquid capillary with be blocked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for studying properties, especially physical properties of a surfactant. A fluid is introduced in the form of a sample volume in another fluid which is immiscible with said fluid so that an interface is formed between the one fluid and the other fluid, at least in a partial area of a surface of the sample volume. The sample volume is configured so as to be axially symmetrical around a given defining axis, whereby the interface is formed axially symmetrically with respect to the given defining axis. The surfactant is spread across the interface to form a surface film in the area of the interface with the surfactant. Thereupon the surface film can by studied microscopically.

Abstract: A simple method for evaluating an optical information medium by judging quantitatively and reproducibly the surface quality of the optical information medium by the use of an artificial fingerprint liquid as an evaluation dispersion liquid, is provided. An optical information medium having a remarkably excellent anti-staining property of the surface which is on the incident side of recording/reproducing beam is provided. A method for evaluating an optical information medium, comprising: adhering an artificial fingerprint liquid containing a fine-particle-form substance and a dispersion medium capable of dispersing the fine-particle-form substance onto the surface of the optical information medium which is on the incident side of a recording/reproducing beam; observing the state of the artificial fingerprint liquid droplets adhered to the surface; and judging the quality of the medium surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a surface coating as well as the use of surface coatings to increase the surface tension of objects. The surface coating is obtained by depositing a layer of at least one element that can be oxidized with water or an alloy that can be oxidized with water. Subsequently, the deposited layer is subjected to boiling water or water vapor. The element is generally derived from the following group of elements: Al, Si, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Cd, In, Sn, Sb.

Abstract: A liquid to solid material surface contact angle measurement system operating by way of detecting a transition in the behavior of a liquid sample with the solid material in a changing angular confinement environment along with use of a mathematical algorithm to then determine contact angle. Measurement of the angle at which the tested liquid transitions between apparent wetting and apparent non-wetting behavior, regardless of whether the liquid and solid material are truly classified as wetting or non-wetting, provides a measurement from which disclosed mathematical algorithms can predict the surface wetting characteristics of the liquid on the solid material. Automated performance of the confinement environment measurement and examples are included.

Abstract: For measuring the surface tension between a liquid and fluid such as a gas, a capillary (3,3′) is used in which the liquid slowly flows and at the end of which drops (11) are formed, falling off into a closed space (7) containing the fluid. Using a pressure sensor (5, 5′) the pressure is measured which can be the absolute pressure of a fluid volume enclosed in the closed space or alternatively a differential pressure measured as the pressure difference between the liquid in the capillary and fluid contained in the closed space. The pressure is measured when one or more drops are formed and fall off. The obtained pressure curves are evaluated electronically (12) and provide a value of the surface tension. The measurement can be made within a fairly short time with a high operational reliability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the adhesion properties of a surface of an article by holding the article so that the surface is facing downwards and placing a droplet of liquid against the surface. The volume of the droplet is incremented until the droplet reaches a critical weight at which some of the liquid drops for the action of the gravity force. The higher is the critical weight, the stronger the mutual adhesion forces between the liquid and the surface. If the characteristics of the liquid are kept constant, it is possible to obtain an immediate evaluation of the adhesiveness of a surface by comparing the measured critical weight with experimental results.

Abstract: A library of materials is screened for mechanical properties such as surface tension or interfacial tension. A library of materials is provided. A stimulus such as a stress or force is provided to each member of the library. A response (e.g., a resistance) of each of the materials due to the stimulus is measured and the response, the stimulus or both are recorded and related to provide data. Thereafter, the data is analyzed to reach conclusions regarding the material samples.

Abstract: A system and method of fluid analysis in a hydrocarbon borehole is disclosed. Acoustic energy is emitted into the production fluid downhole at a level which causes a phase transition in the fluid. The pressure associated with the phase transition is determined using the level of emitted acoustic energy. Advantageously, the determination of the phase transition pressure need not rely on mechanical means to substantially alter the volume of a sample of the fluid. An acoustic transducer can be installed either semi-permanently or permanently downhole in the well. The bubble point or the dew point can be detected. In the case of bubble point detection, the bubbles in the fluid can be detected by sensing variations in impedance of the acoustic transducer, and the level of emitted acoustic energy can determined by measuring the electrical energy used to drive the transducer. A control system for a hydrocarbon well is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the degree of cleanliness of a substrate surface by measuring the surface wettability, particularly of an inorganic surface used in the manufacturing of electronic components. The wettability of the substrate surface is measured by depositing a droplet of test liquid on the substrate surface and measuring the speed at which the droplet evaporates. This speed is proportional to the droplet liquid surface area, which depends on the substrate surface wettability. A good surface wettability indicates a clean surface.

Abstract: An improved method of fluid analysis in the borehole of a well. A fluid sampling tool is fitted with a pumpout module that can be used to draw fluids from the formation, circulate them through the instrument, and then expel this fluid to the borehole. It has been determined that certain measurements would be most valuable to implement down hole, such as the formation fluid bubble point and dew point. Accurate bubble point and dew point measurements are made by forming bubbles or a liquid drop in a measured sample, and detecting same.