Experimental Design Process Research Articles

A Renaissance in Material Appreciation: Case Study in Zero Waste Fashion

ABSTRACTCurrent practices in the fashion industry and the use of textile materials are unsustainable. The consumption of clothing and textile products has increased simultaneously with an exponential increase in production volumes. This study focuses on how to newly appreciate material in fashion design through a case study in Zero Waste Fashion (ZWF) practices. The focus in this research is on experimental garment and textile design processes in the area of ZWF and its connection to textile appreciation. The data include interviews with teachers and fashion designers who have experimented with the strategy in design practice. The data also include students’ learning diaries from a ZWF course as well as the course Webpage. This course was organized at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in August 2012 and was conducted by fashion designer Holly McQuillan. Qualitative and descriptive research methods have been used to construct an understanding of how a new appreciation for textiles can be fostered in fashion design through a ZWF approach. The main results show that it is possible to facilitate a new kind of appreciation for how fabric is used in fashion design. Additionally it is possible to design new fashion aesthetics through intergrading textile design and fashion design in ZWF practices. For example, combining hand-printing or hand-weaving with creative pattern design can result in a new fashion aesthetic. Additionally, through self-made and handmade approaches in textile design, fashion designers’ understanding and appreciation of textiles can be deepened.

Using Constructivist and Collaborative Approach to Enhance Pre-service Teachers’ Attitude Toward Computer in Computer Course: Learning and using MS Excel Functions in Problem-based Scenarios

The purpose of present research is to determine the difference between teacher centered training & individual application process (TCT&Iapp) group and problem-based scenarios & collaborative application process (PBS&Capp) group according to their attitudes toward computer (AtC) by an experimental design process. The study group of the research includes 125 pre-service teachers attending to department of primary school teacher education program. TCT&Iapp group (n=65) was assigned as control group and the PBS&Capp group (n=60) was assigned as experimental group. The application continued six weeks period during four course hours in a week. The results of the study reveal that the AtC scores of the students in PBS&Capp group are significantly higher than scores of TCT&Iapp group.

DESIGN OF A 3D PHYSICAL AND NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT ON FLOATING OFF-SHORE WIND TURBINES

The knowledge of the behavior of floating offshore wind turbines (W/T) under wave and/or wind action remains one of the most difficult challenges in offshore engineering which is mostly due to the highly non-linear response of the structure. The present study describes the design process of a 3D physical experiment to investigate the behavior of the most promising structure technology of floating W/T: spar buoy (SB) and tension leg platform (TLP) under different meteo conditions. In order to properly design the two W/T models, the following topics have been analyzed: mooring lines, mass distribution, appropriate scaling factor and data relative to the geometrical characteristics, wave basin dimensions and wind and waves conditions. In addition, the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method (SPH) (Monaghan 1994) has been considered to simulate the 3D behavior of a floating offshore W/T. In particular, the SPH, calibrated and verified on the basis of the experimental observations, may represent a reliable tool for preliminary test of changes in the floater geometry.

A laboratory course for teaching laboratory techniques, experimental design, statistical analysis, and peer review process to undergraduate science students

This article describes a 13-week laboratory course called Human Toxicology taught at the University of Otago, New Zealand. This course used a guided inquiry based laboratory coupled with formative assessment and collaborative learning to develop in undergraduate students the skills of problem solving/critical thinking, data interpretation and written discussion of results. The laboratory practices were a guided inquiry based around retinol's ability to potentiate acetaminophen-mediated hepatotoxicity. To induce critical thinking, students were given a choice as to which assay they could use to determine how retinol affected acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Short summaries were handed in following each assay and formed the bases of the formative assessment. To complete the feedback loop, a summative assessment that consisted of all the graphs and concepts from the short summaries were combined into a manuscript. To give the students exposure to science communication, the manuscript had to be written in accordance to the submission guidelines for Toxicological Sciences. Evaluation of this course was determined by a student questionnaire using a Likert scale and students' responses were very favorable. While the subject matter was toxicological centric, the content could be easily modified to suit another subject matter in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Obtenção de extratos de guaraná ricos em cafeína por processo enzimático e adsorção de taninos

As bebidas sabor guaraná são muito populares no Brasil e têm apresentado um excelente potencial de vendas no mercado externo. De acordo com as leis brasileiras, bebidas sabor guaraná devem conter entre 0,02 g a 0,2 g de semente de guaraná ou equivalente, para cada 100 mL de produto. Tais teores são usualmente obtidos pela adição de um extrato concentrado hidroalcoólico ou xarope de açúcar contendo extrato de guaraná diretamente à bebida. A utilização desses extratos em concentrações mais elevadas, entretanto, é limitada pela presença dos taninos, que conferem adstringência e coloração escura ao produto final. Neste trabalho, foi estudado o desenvolvimento de um processo enzimático para obtenção de extratos não alcoólicos de guaraná, de forma a produzir um extrato contendo baixas concentrações de taninos e teores elevados de cafeína, utilizando-se planejamento experimental e processos de adsorção. Por meio de um planejamento fatorial fracionário, foram determinadas as quantidades de 0,25% (v/v) de pectinase e 0,1% (v/v) de glucoamilase, sendo mantidas no planejamento composto central, que obteve como condições ótimas: 0,23% (v/v) de celulase, 0,86% (v/v) de hemicelulase e 1% (v/v) de alfa-amilase durante 5,5 h de extração a 200 rpm e 50 °C, obtendo-se uma relação cafeína/tanino de 1,65. Com o processo de adsorção com óxido de magnésio a 10% (p/v), foi alcançada uma relação de cafeína-tanino de 7,3.

Quality by design approach: application of artificial intelligence techniques of tablets manufactured by direct compression.

The publication of the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) Q8, Q9, and Q10 guidelines paved the way for the standardization of quality after the Food and Drug Administration issued current Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines in 2003. "Quality by Design", mentioned in the ICH Q8 guideline, offers a better scientific understanding of critical process and product qualities using knowledge obtained during the life cycle of a product. In this scope, the "knowledge space" is a summary of all process knowledge obtained during product development, and the "design space" is the area in which a product can be manufactured within acceptable limits. To create the spaces, artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be used to emphasize the multidimensional interactions of input variables and to closely bind these variables to a design space. This helps guide the experimental design process to include interactions among the input variables, along with modeling and optimization of pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this study was to develop an integrated multivariate approach to obtain a quality product based on an understanding of the cause-effect relationships between formulation ingredients and product properties with ANNs and genetic programming on the ramipril tablets prepared by the direct compression method. In this study, the data are generated through the systematic application of the design of experiments (DoE) principles and optimization studies using artificial neural networks and neurofuzzy logic programs.

Formation of Poly(vinylidenefluoride) Nanofibers: Part I Optimization by Using of Central Composite Design

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning process. Several different factors influence on this process and application of experimental design for its optimization is of great importance. The central composite design (CCD) was used for planning and optimizing of the experiments and also, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for the statistical validation of regression models. In this research, we found optimal condition for the effects of four factors, i.e. PVDF concentration, flow rate, voltage and interval on the fiber diameter. The model indicated that the flow rate (negatively) and solution concentration (positively) influence extremely on the fiber diameter, whereas the voltage and interval influence equally together on the response (negatively).

Forming Shape of Narrow Groove Machined by Electro Jet Machining

In order to study small size three dimensional shape processing of electro jet machining, the micro-channel principle is introduced firstly. Moreover, narrow groove processing experiment design and construction process is described, and experimental purpose is to change the cycle times to research the rule of groove width and depth. The experimental results indicate that when the width of the groove reaches a certain value, it will be stabilized and fluctuate around the value. However, with the increasing of the cycle number, groove depth increases. If cycle times are less than 7, the overall shape of the groove is a part of an approximate ellipse, otherwise it is changed but the bottom shape of the groove is still a part of an approximate ellipse.

Investigating a Method of Scaffolding Student-Designed Experiments

The process of designing an experiment is a difficult one. Students often struggle to perform such tasks as the design process places a large cognitive load on students. Scaffolding is the process of providing support for a student to allow them to complete tasks they would otherwise not have been able to complete. This study sought to investigate backwards-design, one form of scaffolding the experimental design process for students. Students were guided through the design process in a backwards manner (designing the results section first and working backwards through typical report components to the materials and safety sections). The use of reflective prompts as possible scaffold for metacognitive processes was also studied. Scaffolding was in the form of a computer application built specifically for this purpose. Four versions of the computer application were randomly assigned to 102 high school chemistry students and students were asked to the design of an experiment, producing a report. The use of backwards-design scaffolding resulted in significantly higher performance on lab reports. The addition of reflective prompts reduced the effect of backwards-design scaffolding in lower-level students.

Using MazeSuite and Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Learning in Spatial Navigation

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments1. MazeSuite can be used to design and edit adapted virtual 3D environments, track a participants' behavioral performance within the virtual environment and synchronize with external devices for physiological and neuroimaging measures, including electroencephalogram and eye tracking.Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) is an optical brain imaging technique that enables continuous, noninvasive, and portable monitoring of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation related to human brain functions2-7. Over the last decade fNIR is used to effectively monitor cognitive tasks such as attention, working memory and problem solving7-11. fNIR can be implemented in the form of a wearable and minimally intrusive device; it has the capacity to monitor brain activity in ecologically valid environments. Cognitive functions assessed through task performance involve patterns of brain activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that vary from the initial novel task performance, after practice and during retention12. Using positron emission tomography (PET), Van Horn and colleagues found that regional cerebral blood flow was activated in the right frontal lobe during the encoding (i.e., initial naïve performance) of spatial navigation of virtual mazes while there was little to no activation of the frontal regions after practice and during retention tests. Furthermore, the effects of contextual interference, a learning phenomenon related to organization of practice, are evident when individuals acquire multiple tasks under different practice schedules13,14. High contextual interference (random practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a non-sequential, unpredictable order. Low contextual interference (blocked practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order.Our goal here is twofold: first to illustrate the experimental protocol design process and the use of MazeSuite, and second, to demonstrate the setup and deployment of the fNIR brain activity monitoring system using Cognitive Optical Brain Imaging (COBI) Studio software15. To illustrate our goals, a subsample from a study is reported to show the use of both MazeSuite and COBI Studio in a single experiment. The study involves the assessment of cognitive activity of the PFC during the acquisition and learning of computer maze tasks for blocked and random orders. Two right-handed adults (one male, one female) performed 315 acquisition, 30 retention and 20 transfer trials across four days. Design, implementation, data acquisition and analysis phases of the study were explained with the intention to provide a guideline for future studies.

Using MazeSuite and Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Study Learning in Spatial Navigation

MazeSuite is a complete toolset to prepare, present and analyze navigational and spatial experiments1. MazeSuite can be used to design and edit adapted virtual 3D environments, track a participants' behavioral performance within the virtual environment and synchronize with external devices for physiological and neuroimaging measures, including electroencephalogram and eye tracking. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIR) is an optical brain imaging technique that enables continuous, noninvasive, and portable monitoring of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation related to human brain functions2-7. Over the last decade fNIR is used to effectively monitor cognitive tasks such as attention, working memory and problem solving7-11. fNIR can be implemented in the form of a wearable and minimally intrusive device; it has the capacity to monitor brain activity in ecologically valid environments. Cognitive functions assessed through task performance involve patterns of brain activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that vary from the initial novel task performance, after practice and during retention12. Using positron emission tomography (PET), Van Horn and colleagues found that regional cerebral blood flow was activated in the right frontal lobe during the encoding (i.e., initial naïve performance) of spatial navigation of virtual mazes while there was little to no activation of the frontal regions after practice and during retention tests. Furthermore, the effects of contextual interference, a learning phenomenon related to organization of practice, are evident when individuals acquire multiple tasks under different practice schedules13,14. High contextual interference (random practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a non-sequential, unpredictable order. Low contextual interference (blocked practice schedule) is created when the tasks to be learned are presented in a predictable order. Our goal here is twofold: first to illustrate the experimental protocol design process and the use of MazeSuite, and second, to demonstrate the setup and deployment of the fNIR brain activity monitoring system using Cognitive Optical Brain Imaging (COBI) Studio software15. To illustrate our goals, a subsample from a study is reported to show the use of both MazeSuite and COBI Studio in a single experiment. The study involves the assessment of cognitive activity of the PFC during the acquisition and learning of computer maze tasks for blocked and random orders. Two right-handed adults (one male, one female) performed 315 acquisition, 30 retention and 20 transfer trials across four days. Design, implementation, data acquisition and analysis phases of the study were explained with the intention to provide a guideline for future studies.

Attributes affecting preferences for traffic safety camera programs

With just a few notable exceptions, research supports the concept that red light cameras (RLCs) improve safety. However, many communities that have implemented RLC programs have faced a firestorm of public opinion associated with the use of RLCS, with many communities having to remove the cameras. What makes or breaks a red light camera program? Because of the experimental design process, stated choice is recognized as a tool that can resemble a laboratory experiment for the public policy arena. In this research, a stated choice model was developed and used to explore public preferences for a RLC program through an internet survey and a convenience sample drawn from a typical college town. The results suggest while independently the opposite is true, that when there is an increase in both the fine for violators and the number of cameras together (i.e., the interaction of these two) there is a perceived public safety gain. The interacted variable positively increases utility from the selected RLCS program we analyzed and could be key in generating public support for RLC programs. The results suggest some important deterrence theory implications for improving accident prevention through the use of RLC programs that are designed to avoid unnecessary public scrutiny.

The Influences of Inquiry Learning-Based Analogical Experiments on Experimental Design Processes of Science-Gifted Students

In this study, we developed analogical experimental activities to foster scientific creativity in inquiry learning and applied them to 7th grade science-gifted students. The influences of inquiry learning-based analogical experiments were investigated with respect to the experimental design processes. We classified the patterns of experimental design processes by creative thinking processes and analyzed performance levels by the elements of experimental design processes. The students' experimental design processes were categorized into three kinds of patterns such as reinitiated motion, backward-divergent motion and stationary motion. Those belonging to the reinitiated motion performed precise experimental design from new perspectives by identifying the mapping in depth and considering the elements of experimental design processes. In the case of the backward-divergent motion, they shifted their positions to new directions, but the concreteness of experimental design was insufficient due to the lack of mapping or considering the elements. In the type of stationary motion, maintaining their previous positions, they showed less performance of experimental design without considering the elements sufficiently. Educational implication of these findings are discussed.

Before You Analyze a Human Specimen, Think Quality, Variability, and Bias

Personalized medicine requires capabilities to detect and measure health-associated biomarkers with increasingly specific and sensitive methods, putting analytical chemists at the front lines of translational research. Analytical scientists must be upstream in the experimental design process because the analysis of a biospecimen (tissue, blood, etc.) presents technical and experimental design complexities. (To listen to a podcast about this feature, please go to the Analytical Chemistry multimedia page at pubs.acs.org/page/ancham/audio/index.html.).

Experiment design through dynamical characterisation of non-linear systems biology models utilising sparse grids

The sparse grid-based experiment design algorithm sequentially selects an experimental design point to discriminate between hypotheses for given experimental conditions. Sparse grids efficiently screen the global uncertain parameter space to identify acceptable parameter subspaces. Clustering the located acceptable parameter vectors by the similarity of the simulated model trajectories characterises the data-compatible model dynamics. The experiment design algorithm capitalizes on the diversity of the experimentally distinguishable system output dynamics to select the design point that best discerns between competing model-structure and parameter-encoded hypotheses. As opposed to designing the experiments to explicitly reduce uncertainty in the model parameters, this approach selects design points to differentiate between dynamical behaviours. This approach further differs from other experimental design methods in that it simultaneously addresses both parameter- and structural-based uncertainty that is applicable to some ill-posed problems where the number of uncertain parameters exceeds the amount of data, places very few requirements on the model type, available data and a priori parameter estimates, and is performed over the global uncertain parameter space. The experiment design algorithm is demonstrated on a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade model. The results show that system dynamics are highly uncertain with limited experimental data. Nevertheless, the algorithm requires only three additional experimental data points to simultaneously discriminate between possible model structures and acceptable parameter values. This sparse grid-based experiment design process provides a systematic and computationally efficient exploration over the entire uncertain parameter space of potential model structures to resolve the uncertainty in the non-linear systems biology model dynamics.

Experimental design process of archiving for regional information

Experimental design process of archiving for regional information

Web API design considerations for resolving inherent issues in web environment

The recent trend in web application development is moving towards exposing the service functionality through application programming interface (API). Many web-based services start to offer APIs to support application-to-application integration with their consumers on top of the web. The trend has raised the demand for average web developers to know how to design APIs for web-based services. In this paper, we summarise a list of inherent issues in the web that developers should pay attention to, describe how web architecture may help to resolve these issues, and suggest design considerations for web API design. In addition, we demonstrate an experimental design process through a case study to design web API for social bookmarking service.

Sensitivity analysis and robust experimental design of a signal transduction pathway system

AbstractExperimental design for cellular networks based on sensitivity analysis is studied in this work. Both optimal and robust experimental design strategies are developed for the IκB‐NF‐κB signal transduction model. Based on local sensitivity analysis, the initial IKK intensity is calculated using an optimal experimental design process, and several scalarization measures of the Fisher information matrix are compared. Global sensitivity analysis and robust experimental design techniques are then developed to consider parametric uncertainties in the model. The modified Morris method is employed in global sensitivity analysis, and a semidefinite programming method is exploited to implement the robust experimental design for the problem of measurement set selection. The parametric impacts on the oscillatory behavior of NF‐κB in the nucleus are also discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 730–741, 2008

Enhancement of Student Learning in Experimental Design Using a Virtual Laboratory

This paper describes the instructional design, implementation, and assessment of a virtual laboratory based on a numerical simulation of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, the virtual CVD laboratory. The virtual CVD laboratory provides a capstone experience in which students synthesize engineering science and statistics principles and have the opportunity to apply experimental design in the context similar to that of a practicing engineer in industry with a wider design space than is typically seen in the undergraduate laboratory. The simulation of the reactor is based on fundamental principles of mass transfer and chemical reaction, obscured by added ldquonoise.rdquo The software application contains a 3-D student client that simulates a cleanroom environment, an instructor Web interface with integrated assessment tools, and a database server. As opposed to being constructed as a direct one-to-one replacement, this virtual laboratory is intended to complement the physical laboratories in the curriculum so that certain specific elements of student learning can be enhanced. Implementation in four classes is described. Assessment demonstrates students are using an iterative experimental design process reflective of practicing engineers and correlates success in this project to higher order thinking skills. Student surveys indicate that students perceived the virtual CVD laboratory as the most effective learning medium used, even above physical laboratories.

Optimizing a recycling process of SMC composite waste

Investigations about the recycling of sheet moulding compounds (SMC) waste as incorporation material for thermoplastic polymer matrix are reported in this paper. A new efficient process is developed in order to strongly increase the reinforcement glass fraction of SMC leading to good mechanical performance of the new thermoplastic compounds. The overall process is composed of two main steps: mechanical and chemical. The second stage is characterised in terms of optimization and capability by means of experimental design and statistical process control techniques for finding the optimal chemical conditions and validating the process.