Design Of Experimental Setup Research Articles

Motor imagery with cues in virtual reality, audio and screen

Training plays a significant role in motor imagery (MI), particularly in applications such as Motor Imagery-based Brain-Computer Interface (MIBCI) systems and rehabilitation systems. Previous studies have investigated the intricate relationship between cues and MI signals. However, the medium of presentation still remains an emerging area to be explored, as possible factors to enhance Motor Imagery signals..
Approach: We hypothesise that the medium used for cue presentation can significantly influence both performance and training outcomes in MI tasks. To test this hypothesis, we designed and executed an experiment implementing no- feedback MI. Our investigation focused on three distinct cue presentation mediums -audio, screen, and virtual reality(VR) headsets-all of which have potential implications for BCI use in the Activities of Daily Lives.
Main Results: The results of our study uncovered notable variations in MI signals depending on the medium of cue presentation, where the analysis is based on 3 EEG channels. To substantiate our findings, we employed a comprehensive approach, utilizing various evaluation metrics including Event- Related Synchronisation(ERS)/Desynchronisation(ERD), Feature Extraction (using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE)), Machine Learning methodologies (using Ensemble Learning), and participant Questionnaires. All the approaches signify that Motor Imagery signals are enhanced when presented in VR, followed by audio, and lastly screen. Applying a Machine Learning approach across all subjects, the mean cross-validation accuracy (Mean ± Std. Error) was 69.24 ± 3.12, 68.69 ± 3.3 and 66.1±2.59 when for the VR, audio-based, and screen-based instructions respectively.
Significance: This multi-faceted exploration provides evidence to inform MI- based BCI design and advocates the incorporation of different mediums into the design of MIBCI systems, experimental setups, and user studies. The influence of the medium used for cue presentation may be applied to develop more effective and inclusive MI applications in the realm of human-computer interaction and rehabilitation.

Experimental optimization of the FSW parameters to weld the dissimilar Al- and Cu-alloys by using additives at their joints

Friction stir welding (FSW) stands as a promising technique for joining materials, offering advantages over conventional methods. This study investigates the influence of tool tilt angle, rotational speed and profile on welded joint characteristics using a design of experiment (DOE) approach. The research objective aims to determine optimal parameter combinations for improved mechanical properties. Methodology entails the systematic variation of tilt angle, rotational speed and tool profile in a DOE setup, with subsequent FSW of samples. Mechanical testing, including tensile, bend and hardness tests, is conducted on 24 samples, with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microstructure analysis on two specimens. Results reveal that higher tilt angles, rotational speeds and threaded profiles yield increased tensile strength but decreased ductility. Similarly, bend tests show higher fracture loads but reduced deflection before fracture under these conditions. Hardness tests indicate elevated hardness in welded areas, with variations based on input parameters. Main findings highlight the importance of parameter optimization for desired mechanical properties. Lower tilt angles and rotational speeds promote smoother material flow and uniform heating, resulting in consistent microstructure and hardness distribution. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for optimizing FSW parameters to achieve desired mechanical properties in welded joints. The combination of a 2° tilt angle, threaded tool profile and 1500 rpm rotational speed demonstrated the highest tensile strength, while a 1° tilt angle, cylindrical tool profile and 1000 rpm rotational speed yielded highest ductility.

Thrombogenicity assessment of perfusable tissue engineered constructs: a systematic review.

Vascular surgery faces a critical demand for novel vascular grafts that are biocompatible and thromboresistant. This urgency particularly applies to bypass operations involving small caliber vessels. In the realm of tissue engineering, the development of fully vascularized organs holds great promise as a solution to organ shortage for transplantation. To achieve this, it is imperative to (re-)construct a biocompatible and non-thrombogenic vascular network within these organs. In this systematic review, we identify, classify and discuss basic principles and methods used to perform in vitro/ex vivo dynamic thrombogenicity testing of perfusable tissue engineered organs and tissues. We conducted a pre-registered systematic review of studies published in the last 23 years according to PRISMA-P Guidelines, comprising a systematic data extraction, in-depth analysis and risk of bias assessment of 116 included studies. We identified shaking (n=28), flow loop (n=17), ex vivo (arterio-venous shunt, n=33) and dynamic in vitro models (n=38) as main approaches for thrombogenicity assessment. This comprehensive review unveils a prevalent lack of standardization and serves as a valuable guide in the design of standardized experimental setups.

Study on Leachate Management and Design of Experimental Setup for Treatment of Leachate using Bio-absorbent

Study on Leachate Management and Design of Experimental Setup for Treatment of Leachate using Bio-absorbent

On the importance of the experimental setup design in hydrodynamic journal bearing friction measurement

Improving operating conditions and reducing the friction-related power losses of hydrodynamic journal bearings could lower emissions and contribute to efforts for a faster green transition. Experimental studies play an important role in evaluating and improving the performance of plain journal bearings. The concept of the experimental setup for friction measurements of journal bearings is well defined in the relevant standards, but the actual design is always left to the researchers conducting a particular study. Our study reveals that common practical assumptions about the frictional power losses caused by components of the experimental setup can lead to misleading conclusions about the measured coefficient of friction. The research premises were tested on the developed experimental setup using two methods for measuring the coefficient of friction and different load interfaces. In particular, the direct torque measurement using strain gauges on the shaft demonstrated the strongest correlation with theoretical values. However, the result was affected by the correct evaluation of the frictional losses of the support ball bearings. Conversely, the Stribeck curves showed that the combination of the indirect cantilever method and load interface with direct radial force application led to inferior results. The intricate interactions between setup components and unknown frictional conditions made straightforward geometric corrections challenging. The study encourages researchers in the field to critically assess their experimental setups and to rely on their own assessment of frictional losses.

Flow-based bioconjugation of coumarin phosphatidylethanolamine probes: Optimised synthesis and membrane molecular dynamics studies

A series of phosphatidylethanolamine fluorescent probes head-labelled with 3-carboxycoumarin was prepared by an improved bioconjugation approach through continuous flow synthesis. The established procedure, supported by a design of experiment (DoE) set-up, resulted in a significant reduction in the reaction time compared to the conventional batch method, in addition to a minor yield increase. The characterization of these probes was enhanced by an in-depth molecular dynamics (MD) study of the behaviour of a representative probe of this family, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine labelled with 3-carboxycoumarin (POPE-COUM), in bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/1-stearoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SLPC) 2:1, mimicking the composition of the egg yolk lecithin membranes recently used experimentally by our group to study POPE-COUM as a biomarker of the oxidation state and integrity of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The MD simulations revealed that the coumarin group is oriented towards the bilayer interior, leading to a relatively internal location, in agreement with what is observed in the nitrobenzoxadiazole fluorophore of commercial head-labelled NBD-PE probes. This behaviour is consistent with the previously stated hypothesis that POPE-COUM is entirely located within the LUVs structure. Hence, the delay on the oxidation of the probe in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays performed is related with the inaccessibility of the probe until alteration of the LUV structure occurs. Furthermore, our simulations show that POPE-COUM exerts very little global and local perturbation on the host bilayer, as evaluated by key properties of the unlabelled lipids. Together, our findings establish PE-COUM as suitable fluorescent lipid analogue probes.

Design of an economic, portable, compact, and indigenous instrument setup for measuring sensing characteristics of thin film gas sensors.

Thin film gas sensor characterization is very demanding for various applications because of technical design trade-offs in commercially available gas sensors. For gas sensing characterization, a suitable gas-testing experimental setup is very much needed in this context. Various factors in the experimental setup can affect a thin film gas sensor's response beyond gas exposure. These factors include the test chamber's volume, relative humidity, uniform operating temperature, uniform pressure, uniform gas density, uniform gas distribution, uniform gas concentration in the gas chamber, and uniform relative gas flow velocity over the surface of the sensor. All these environmental parameters, not being so predictive in nature, induce an inherent design trade-off in the experimental setup design. Although all the commercially available gas testing experimental setups are equally good considering the dedicated purpose for which they are made. However, all of them are for generic applications but not for specific applications because of their inherent trade-offs in their usability features. Those trade-offs always provide an opportunity to introduce a new setup with its own unique advantages. Hence, in this article, we have presented a portable, compact, indigenous gas sensing experimental setup for studying the performance of gas sensors. We have characterized and tested the setup using a ZnO based thin film gas sensor when exposed to CO2 gas at concentrations ranging from 1445 to 4631 ppm. The proposed gas sensing setup's compact size offers unique advantages, including portability and compatibility for uniform environmental conditions.

Real-Time Multiphoton Intravital Microscopy of Drug Extravasation in Tumours during Acoustic Cluster Therapy.

Optimising drug delivery to tumours remains an obstacle to effective cancer treatment. A prerequisite for successful chemotherapy is that the drugs reach all tumour cells. The vascular network of tumours, extravasation across the capillary wall and penetration throughout the extracellular matrix limit the delivery of drugs. Ultrasound combined with microbubbles has been shown to improve the therapeutic response in preclinical and clinical studies. Most studies apply microbubbles designed as ultrasound contrast agents. Acoustic Cluster Therapy (ACT®) is a novel approach based on ultrasound-activated microbubbles, which have a diameter 5-10 times larger than regular contrast agent microbubbles. An advantage of using such large microbubbles is that they are in contact with a larger part of the capillary wall, and the oscillating microbubbles exert more effective biomechanical effects on the vessel wall. In accordance with this, ACT® has shown promising therapeutic results in combination with various drugs and drug-loaded nanoparticles. Knowledge of the mechanism and behaviour of drugs and microbubbles is needed to optimise ACT®. Real-time intravital microscopy (IVM) is a useful tool for such studies. This paper presents the experimental setup design for visualising ACT® microbubbles within the vasculature of tumours implanted in dorsal window (DW) chambers. It presents ultrasound setups, the integration and alignment of the ultrasound field with the optical system in live animal experiments, and the methodologies for visualisation and analysing the recordings. Dextran was used as a fluorescent marker to visualise the blood vessels and to trace drug extravasation and penetration into the extracellular matrix. The results reveal that the experimental setup successfully recorded the kinetics of extravasation and penetration distances into the extracellular matrix, offering a deeper understanding of ACT's mechanisms and potential in localised drug delivery.

An experimental set-up design for synchronization and control of coupled Hindmarsh–Rose neurons with Markov-jump dynamics: A case study on finite-time sliding-mode synchronization

This paper introduces a real-time experimental set-up design to realize the robust synchronization of chaotic systems with Markov-Jump behavior, where the control law is designed based on a finite-time sliding-mode controller. First, master and slave chaotic systems are designed with the dynamics of biological Hindmarsh–Rose (HR) neurons using electronic circuit elements. In order to create the Markov-Jump behavior, the printed circuit board is adjusted to add or remove the resistors so that it is possible to obtain the time-varying dynamic of a chaotic system in the synchronization process. In the realization of chaotic neurons, Matlab and Multisim environments are used for the simulations, and Proteus software is utilized for the design of PCB layout. The Arduino microcontroller is used for signal processing and closed-loop control, where the states of chaotic neurons are recorded and control signals are produced and applied to the slave chaotic system to be synchronized. The real-time data corresponding to the behavior of the circuits was recorded, and Lyapunov exponents were calculated to check whether the neuron circuits are chaotic or not. Second, a sliding-mode controller (SMC) was designed to guarantee a finite-time convergence of synchronization error where its parameters are optimized using a recently developed efficient optimization method, namely the adolescent-identity search algorithm. Robust finite-time synchronization results with sliding-mode control were recorded in simulation and real-time experiments. Finally, the difficulties encountered in general and unachievable results related to experimental system design and finite-time synchronization are discussed for future studies.

Solid- and aqueous-phase approaches on zinc oxide-based photocatalytic system for degradation of plastics and microplastics: A review

The accumulation of plastics and microplastics in the environment is a major global concern because of their negative impact on ecosystems and human health. The use of zinc oxide (ZnO)-based systems for photocatalytic degradation of these pollutants has shown promise. This review presents an overview of the solid- and aqueous-phase approaches employed for the degradation of plastics and microplastics using ZnO-based photocatalytic systems. The preparation of microplastic samples is discussed, highlighting various techniques used to generate representative samples for testing. The experimental setup or reactor design is explored, encompassing different configurations employed in both the solid- and aqueous-phases. Next, the impact of reaction conditions on degradation efficiency is investigated, including catalyst concentration, pH, temperature, and irradiation source. Sampling techniques for post-reaction analysis are explored, discussing methods for collecting and analyzing degraded products and byproducts in solid- and aqueous-phases. The comparative discussion was meant to assess the effectiveness and suitability of solid- and aqueous-phase methods, revealing their potential for practical use. This review paper presents an extensive analysis of the methods used in ZnO-based photocatalytic systems for plastic and microplastics degradation which the output will aid researchers and practitioners in developing effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution.

Influencing factors and mechanism of CO2 adsorption capacity of FA-based carbon sequestration materials.

Carbon dioxide mineral carbonisation is a means to achieve permanent carbon dioxide storage, this paper to solid waste materials as the main raw material to prepare fly ash-based carbon dioxide storage materials. Through the design of carbon dioxide adsorption experimental setup to study the main factors affecting the adsorption capacity of the fly ash-based storage materials, the experimental results show that, the fly ash mass fraction decreased from 90 to 10%, the water-cement ratio increased from 0.4 to 0.8 when the CO2 adsorption of fly ash-based materials increased by 82% and 30%, respectively. The effect of strong alkali on CO2 adsorption capacity was also investigated in this paper, and the results showed that the CO2 adsorption of the fly ash-based material sample with 10 ml NaOH added increased by 197% compared with that of the sample with 5 ml NaOH added, whereas the adsorption amount was reduced by 85% when 25 ml NaOH was added instead, which was attributed to the accelerated hydration process of the material due to the excessive alkalinity that consumed the calcium and magnesium ions in the material, and at the same time the production of hydration products hindered the transport of CO2 within the material, which led to a decrease in CO2 adsorption.

Development of EUV interference lithography for 25 nm line/space patterns

In this study, we present the performance of an extreme ultraviolet interference lithography (EUV-IL) setup that was reconstructed at Taiwan Light Source 21B2 EUV beamline in the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), Taiwan. An easy-to-perform fabrication method to produce a high-quality transmission grating mask and a simple design of experimental setup for EUV-IL were developed. The current EUV-IL setup is capable of fabricating line/space patterns down to 25 nm half-pitch in hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) resist. Preliminary exposure results revealed that optimized slit width and exposure time significantly improved line/space pattern quality. The current EUV-IL tool at NSRRC can be used for nano-patterning and resist screening to advance the next generation of semiconductor devices.

Synchronized measurement of instantaneous convective heat flux and velocity fields in wall-bounded flows

This work presents an experimental setup for acquiring synchronized wall and flow field measurements in a turbulent boundary layer (TBL). Instantaneous measurements of the convective heat transfer distribution at the wall and of the flow field are carried out simultaneously, using synchronized wall-parallel planar particle image velocimetry and infrared thermography. A low-thermal-inertia heated-thin-foil sensor is embedded in the wall beneath the TBL to measure the wall temperature maps with enough temporal resolution. The unsteady energy balance of the heated foil can be solved to restore the instantaneous value of the convective heat transfer coefficient on the wall. A detailed description of the sensor design is included. Furthermore, owing to the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio of instantaneous temperature fluctuation measurements, a recipe for data processing is proposed. A study to characterize the uncertainty of the experimental setup design is also performed. The overall agreement in the correlation between wall heat transfer and velocity fields with the literature supports the validity of the proposed approach. This solution is potentially interesting for flow control purposes, where sensing is performed at the wall.

Design and Validation of Experimental Setup for Cell Spheroid Radiofrequency-Induced Heating.

While hyperthermia has been shown to induce a variety of cytotoxic and sensitizing effects on cancer tissues, the thermal dose-effect relationship is still not well quantified, and it is still unclear how it can be optimally combined with other treatment modalities. Additionally, it is speculated that different methods of applying hyperthermia, such as water bath heating or electromagnetic energy, may have an effect on the resulting biological mechanisms involved in cell death or in sensitizing tumor cells to other oncological treatments. In order to further quantify and characterize hyperthermia treatments on a cellular level, in vitro experiments shifted towards the use of 3D cell spheroids. These are in fact considered a more representative model of the cell environment when compared to 2D cell cultures. In order to perform radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating in vitro, we have recently developed a dedicated electromagnetic field applicator. In this study, using this applicator, we designed and validated an experimental setup which can heat 3D cell spheroids in a conical polypropylene vial, thus providing a reliable instrument for investigating hyperthermia effects at the cellular scale.

Strategies for a practical advantage of fault-tolerant circuit design in noisy trapped-ion quantum computers

Fault-tolerant quantum error correction provides a strategy to protect information processed by a quantum computer against noise which would otherwise corrupt the data. A fault-tolerant universal quantum computer must implement a universal gate set on the logical level in order to perform arbitrary calculations to in principle unlimited precision. In this paper we characterize the recent demonstration of a fault-tolerant universal gate set in a trapped-ion quantum computer [Postler et al., Nature (London) 605, 7911 (2022)] and identify aspects to improve the design of experimental setups to reach an advantage of logical over physical qubit operation. We show that various criteria to assess the break-even point for fault-tolerant quantum operations are within reach for the ion trap quantum computing architecture under consideration. Furthermore, we analyze the influence of crosstalk in entangling gates for logical state preparation circuits. These circuits can be designed to respect fault tolerance for specific microscopic noise models. We find that an experimentally informed depolarizing noise model captures the essential noise dynamics of the fault-tolerant experiment that we consider, and crosstalk is negligible in the currently accessible regime of physical error rates. For deterministic Pauli state preparation, we provide a fault-tolerant unitary logical qubit initialization circuit, which can be realized without in-sequence measurement and feed-forward of classical information. Additionally, we show that nondeterministic state preparation schemes, i.e., repeat until success, for logical Pauli and magic states perform with higher logical fidelity over their deterministic counterparts for the current and anticipated future regime of physical error rates. Our results offer guidance on improvements of physical qubit operations and validate the experimentally informed noise model as a tool to predict logical failure rates in quantum computing architectures based on trapped ions.

Hybrid monitoring and measurement of concrete shielding activation at the ProtherWal proton therapy centre

Proton therapy systems produce large fluxes of energetic secondary particles when tailoring the beam energy and transverse profile to the specificities of each irradiation plan. A Low Activation Concrete (LAC) mix is foreseen for parts of the shielding of the Ion Beam Applications (IBA) Proteus® One (P1) compact system at the ProtherWal proton therapy centre in Charleroi, Belgium, to limit the long-term activation of the concrete shielding. To experimentally monitor the long-term activation and validate the beneficial impact of the LAC mix, a setup of four removable cores to be placed at critical locations in the cyclotron vault is optimised. We report on the experimental and simulation monitoring setup design. Our validated BDSIM/FISPACT-II methodology combines particle tracking and Monte-Carlo particle-matter interactions simulations using Beam Delivery Simulation (BDSIM) and the computation of the activation using FISPACT-II. We show that the evaluation of the short-term activation of the cores is essential to the measurement analysis. We detail a hybrid workflow based on numerical simulations that uses logging data of the workloads of the clinical and research beam production and experimental measurements to evaluate and monitor the short- and long-term activation at any point during the centre lifetime and decommissioning period. The activation of the cores using a realistic foreseen irradiation pattern is studied, allowing for the characterisation of the measurement process and radiation protection considerations related to the measurement campaign. The final experimental setup and the supporting online simulation tools are discussed in detail.

Numerical investigation of a condensation-driven dilution refrigerator

The dilution refrigerator is the most popular subkelvin refrigerator and important for research fields such as condensed matter physics, astronomical observation, and quantum computing. For applications requiring small cooling powers as well as small footprints, the cold-cycle dilution refrigerators without ambient mechanical pumps and complex connecting gas circuits have become a new research frontier. In this paper, a condensation-driven dilution refrigerator, as a kind of cold-cycle dilution refrigerator, is studied numerically. A comprehensive model covering the thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid dynamics is established and systematical simulations are carried out to analyze the system performance and the influence of key operating parameters. Through simulations, the T-S and P-T figures of the cold cycle at typical operating conditions are given, and the thermodynamic processes and irreversibility are analyzed. Typically, a COP of 0.025 with the corresponding thermodynamic second-law efficiency of 7.5% can be obtained at 100 mK with the still temperature being 450 mK and the condensation pump temperature being 400 mK. The results reveal the mechanism of the condensation-driven dilution refrigerators and provide useful guidance to the design and operation of experimental setup.

Experiment Design Considerations for Estimating Energy Expenditure during Wheelchair Propulsion

We propose a methodology for estimating energy expenditure (EE) during wheelchair propulsion. The method is based on measured physiological and kinematic signals from wearable sensor devices in an experimental setup design. More specifically, we have developed regression models based on features extracted from heart rate, acceleration and gyroscope data collected during nine experiment stages with twenty participants. Support Vector regression and Gaussian process regression methods were implemented to provide an estimate of EE for each participant during the experiment. Extensive cross validation techniques were applied to evaluate the performance of the proposed models and investigate the necessity of personalizing the algorithms based on personal characteristics.

Experimental Installation Elaboration for Studying Structural and Mechanical Qualities of Meat Raw Materials and the Process of their Cutting

Topicality. The article provides an analysis of problematic issues related to the study of structural and mechanical values of food raw materials on the example of beef stomach and esophagus offal. Additionally, some tasks are presented in order to study the efforts in cutting offal with proper elements of different shape and parameters.
 Aim and methods. The aim of this article is to elaborate a fundamental design of experimental setup for studying structural and mechanical qualities of food raw materials and the process of their cutting on the example of meat raw, offal of category II beef stomach and esophagus. The following research methods have been chosen: an analytical review of modern and previously developed structures, technical design with three-dimensional modelling.
 Results. Based on the results of conducted work and studies, a model of experimental installation for studying structural and mechanical qualities of food raw materials and the process of their cutting has been offered. The main structural elements have been presented; practical recommendations have been given for their use on the example of beef offal (esophagus and stomach); the functionality of such installation and directions for further development have been highlighted.
 Conclusions and discussions. The scientific novelty of obtained results lies in the substantiation and ensuring the reproduction of the process of cutting meat raw materials with edgy elements of any shape, and ensuring the necessary movement nature in laboratory conditions. The installation design, according to its capabilities, allows to conduct comprehensive studies of the cutting process of two types of meat raw materials, that are different in their structure and set – beef esophagus and stomach. From the point of view of structural and mechanical values research (module of elasticity, plasticity, elasticity, etc.), studies can also be carried out for a wide range of meat raw materials without changing sensors. With such a replacement, the range of studies expands to the research of foam and gel-like structures.
 Practical significance of the obtained results. Carried out with the help of designed installation, the data can make it possible to clarify the rational parameters of geometric shape of the designed equipment working units for cleansing offal, and to determine the rational operating parameters.
 Prospects for further scientific studies. The presented design satisfies the set aims, still, the issues of software for the installation operation remain unsolved.

Derivation of a simple engineering equation for the minimum voltage of inverted fireball onset

This paper describes the derivation of a simple engineering equation to calculate the minimal necessary bias voltage for the onset of an inverted fireball. The calculation uses the electron density in the absence of an inverted fireball as well as the grid constant and the working gas species as input parameters. It will be shown that the interplay between ionsation potential, dissociation potential (for molecular working gases), as well as the electron density in the background plasma, play an important role in the necessary minimum bias on the fireball electrode. Some of the most common working gases and their relevant parameters will also be listed in this paper. This should give experimentalists and engineers a practical equation that can be used to quickly determine the most important electrical properties of the anode that is used to trap the inverted fireball. Thus, the planning and design of experimental setups or technological devices will be made much less time-consuming and, thus, more convenient.