Laboratory System Research Articles

APPLICATIONS OF CAD/CAM TECHNOLOGY IN DENTISTRY

Digital dentistry has been introduced for over 40 years, but their overspread use has become available in the last two decades, after year 2000. First to introduce it in dentistry was a dentist, but the widespread of the digital dentistry was carried out mostly by dental technicians. In Romania, digital dentistry had become available with state funding projects for the dental field. Objective The aim of the study was a broader assessment of the use of CAD/CAM systems in dental practices and dental technology laboratories. Materials and method. The study consisted in a survey based on a questionnaire, distributed in electronic form, applied to two branches of dentistry, respectively, for dentists and dental technicians. The study was attended by dentists and dental technicians, from the urban environment. Results were analyzed using statistical methods with Microsoft Excel. Results. The results of the present study showed a high degree of knowledge regarding CAD/CAM technology, as most of the participants were aware of the introduction and use of digital technology in dentistry. Majority of dental technicians have introduced and have worked with CAD_CAM systems, comparative with dentists, which only a third part worked usually with these technologies. Conclusions. Even though digital dentistry is a modern technology with advantages, there are still some concerns from dentists and technicians about the quality and costs of CAD/CAM restorations.

Eddy current actuated fast valve development for disruption mitigation applications

Shattered Pellet Injection (SPI) is a common technique used in Disruption Mitigation Systems to prevent or minimize the effect of plasma disruptions in Tokamaks. To operate an SPI system, a fast-acting valve is needed for accelerating pellets. An eddy current actuated high-pressure fast valve was developed in 2021, dedicated to the SPI system of the ITER DMS Support Laboratory at the Centre for Energy Research. Based on the experiences of SPI operation, a novel fast valve has been developed to improve durability and reliability, while the design has been simplified in terms of manufacturing and assembly aspects. The results of the development and laboratory testing of this novel eddy current actuated fast valve are discussed in this contribution.

Lab Inventory Management using QR Code

Laboratory inventory management is vital for the efficient operation of scientific research institutions. Conventional inventory tracking methods often involve manual data entry, which can be error-prone and time-consuming, leading to operational inefficiencies and potential research disruptions. To address these challenges, this project introduces a Lab Inventory Management System (LIMS) that leverages QR code technology. The LIMS assigns unique QR codes to each laboratory item, encoding critical information such as item name, quantity, and expiration date. This technology enables mobile devices equipped with QR code scanners to facilitate real-time updates, eliminating manual data entry errors and ensuring the accuracy of inventory information. Furthermore, a centralized database supports data integrity and enables seamless integration with existing laboratory systems. The project's advantages include enhanced accuracy, significant time and cost savings, and streamlined workflow efficiency. However, the successful implementation of the LIMS necessitates careful planning and comprehensive user training to ensure a smooth transition to this innovative inventory management solution. Key Words: Automated, Scientific Research, Data Integrity, Data Visualization, Barcode Scanning

Evaluation of the lighting system in the science laboratory at school X in South Tangerang based on SNI 6197: 2020

Evaluation of the lighting system in the science laboratory at school X in South Tangerang based on SNI 6197: 2020

2D Time-Domain Spectroscopy for Determination of Energy and Momentum Relaxation Rates of Hydrogen-Like Donor States in Germanium.

We present measurements of the coherence times of excited states of hydrogen-like arsenic impurities in germanium (Ge:As) using a table-top two-dimensional time-domain spectroscopy (2D-TDS) system. We show that this laboratory system is capable of resolving the coherence lifetimes of atomic-like excited levels of impurity centers in semiconductors, such as those used in solid-state quantum information technologies, on a subpicosecond time scale. By fitting the coherent nonlinear response of the system with the known intracenter transition frequencies, we are able to monitor coherent population transfer and decay of the transitions from the 2p0 and 2p± states for different low excitation pulse fields. Furthermore, by examining the off-diagonal resonances in the 2D frequency-domain map, we are able to identify coherences between excited electronic states that are not visible via conventional single-frequency pump-probe or Hahn-echo measurements.

Networked explicit hybrid predictive control of an industrial benchmark process

Hybrid systems have acquired deep attention in research as many systems in industries and laboratories manifest hybrid dynamic behaviors. Optimal control design for hybrid systems exhibits challenges for controlling the interacting continuous and discrete dynamics. A double-tank hybrid system (DTHS) is proposed in this paper with a mixed-integer actuation mechanism. The proposed DTHS aims to control the liquid level of the two tanks simultaneously by a networked hybrid predictive controller. Hybrid frameworks are provided to investigate the system through reachability analysis. An explicit hybrid model predictive control (EHMPC) has been developed to control the levels of the DTHS. Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) simulation is performed for assessing the performance of the EHMPC with a hardware real-time networked controller. The networked real-time controller is constructed and implemented using the Node.js frameworks. The simulation and realtime results are presented and discussed to evaluate the hybrid controller performance.

Rotating curved spacetime signatures from a giant quantum vortex.

Gravity simulators1 are laboratory systems in which small excitations such as sound2 or surface waves3,4 behave as fields propagating on a curved spacetime geometry. The analogy between gravity and fluids requires vanishing viscosity2-4, a feature naturally realized in superfluids such as liquid helium or cold atomic clouds5-8. Such systems have been successful in verifying key predictions of quantum field theory in curved spacetime7-11. In particular, quantum simulations of rotating curved spacetimes indicative of astrophysical black holes require the realization of an extensive vortex flow12 in superfluid systems. Here we demonstrate that, despite the inherent instability of multiply quantized vortices13,14, a stationary giant quantum vortex can be stabilized in superfluid 4He. Its compact core carries thousands of circulation quanta, prevailing over current limitations in other physical systems such as magnons5, atomic clouds6,7 and polaritons15,16. We introduce a minimally invasive way to characterize the vortex flow17,18 by exploiting the interaction of micrometre-scale waves on the superfluid interface with the background velocity field. Intricate wave-vortex interactions, including the detection of bound states and distinctive analogue black hole ringdown signatures, have been observed. These results open new avenues to explore quantum-to-classical vortex transitions and use superfluid helium as a finite-temperature quantum field theory simulator for rotating curved spacetimes19.

Accurate and reproducible enumeration of CD4 T cell counts and Hemoglobin levels using a point of care system: Comparison with conventional laboratory based testing systems in a clinical reference laboratory in Cameroon.

Measurements of CD4 T cells and hemoglobin (Hb) are conventionally used to determine the immunological state and disease progression for HIV-infected patients. We obtained a small lightweight point-of-care device, the BD FACSPrestoTM in order to demonstrate its ability to deliver CD4 and Hb analysis in comparison with two larger clinical machines the BDFACSCantoTM analyzer and Sysmex XN 1000 haematology analyzer. The advantages of using the POC device include access to HIV patient data in remote and in resource limited settings. The analytical performance of the BD FACSPrestoTM, compared with the FACSCantoTM II flow cytometer and the Sysmex XN 1000 haematology analyzer was evaluated by testing 241 routine clinical specimens collected in EDTA tubes from patients attending the Immunology and Microbiology laboratory of Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre (Yaounde, Cameroon) between January and May 2016. The mean in absolute counts and percentage of CD4 T cells was 606 cells/mL and 25% respectively via the FACSPrestoTM, and 574 cells/mL and 24% respectively via the BD FACSCantoTM II. The mean concentration of Hb levels was 11.90 on the Sysmex XN 1000 and 11.45 via the BD FACSPrestoTM, A high correlation (R2 = 0.95, P < 0.001) of Hb level measurements was noted between the BD FACSPrestoTM and Sysmex XN 1000 hematology analyzer. Overall, a Bland-Altman plot of the differences between the two methods showed an excellent agreement for absolute and percentage CD4 counts and hemoglobin measurements between POC and conventional methods evaluated here. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the ease of use of the BD FACSPrestoTM POC technology in remote areas. The BD FACPrestoTM is a suitable tool for CD4 enumeration in resource-limited settings, specifically providing a deployable, reliable POC testing option. The BD FACSPrestoTM performed appropriately in comparison to the conventional reference standard technologies. The BD FACSPrestoTM, system provides accurate, reliable, precise CD4/%CD4/Hb results on venous blood sampling. The data showed good agreement between the BD FACSPrestoTM, BD FACSCantoTM II and Sysmex XN 1000 XN 1000 systems.

ROS OS Based Environment Mapping of Cyber Physical System Lab by Depth Sensor

The 21st century is a century of Robotics and thus the appearance of robots in the industries made the “Industrial Revolution 4.0” in which we can control and analyse the system using HMI’s or wirelessly over network and it’s a great example of industry 4.0 component. Nowadays robots are very important part of industry’s processing unit as they have the tendency to work 24*7 thus increases the efficiency of processing and production unit.&#x0D; In our project a depth sensor (Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect) is mounted on a mobile robot whose main task is to map our Cyber Physical System Lab in 3-Dimensional which uses a ROS OS software installed on linux machine.&#x0D; The robot will use a Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) process to map an environment while currently generating an estimate for the location of the Robot.

A multiplex direct PCR method for the rapid and accurate discrimination of three species of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in fruit orchards in Beijing.

Spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) are polyphagous pests of economic importance in agriculture, among which the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch has spread widely worldwide as an invasive species, posing a serious threat to fruit tree production in China, including Beijing. The hawthorn spider mite, Amphitetranychus viennensis Zacher, is also a worldwide pest of fruit trees and woody ornamental plants. The cassava mite, Tetranychus truncatus Ehara, is mainly found in Asian countries, including China, Korea and Japan, and mainly affects fruit trees and agricultural crops. These three species of spider mites are widespread and serious fruit tree pests in Beijing. Rapid and accurate identification of spider mites is essential for effective pest and plant quarantine in Beijing orchard fields. The identification of spider mite species is difficult due to their limited morphological characteristics. Although the identification of insect and mite species based on PCR and real-time polymerase chain reaction TaqMan is becoming increasingly common, DNA extraction is difficult, expensive and time-consuming due to the minute size of spider mites. Therefore, the objective of this study was to establish a direct multiplex PCR method for the simultaneous identification of three common species of spider mites in orchards, A. viennensis, T. truncatus and T. urticae, to provide technical support for the differentiation of spider mite species and phytosanitary measures in orchards in Beijing. Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of the two-spotted spider mite and the cassava mite and the 18S gene sequence of the hawthorn spider mite as the amplification target, three pairs of specific primers were designed, and the primer concentrations were optimized to establish a direct multiplex PCR system for the rapid and accurate discrimination of the three spider mites without the need for DNA extraction and purification. The method showed a high sensitivity of 0.047ng for T. truncatus and T. urticae DNA and 0.0002ng for A. viennensis. This method eliminates the DNA extraction and sequencing procedures of spider mite samples, offers a possibility for rapid monitoring of multiple spider mites in an integrated microarray laboratory system, reducing the time and cost of leaf mite identification and quarantine monitoring in the field.

Power quality investigation with multilevel inverter by photovoltaic-fed dynamic voltage restorer

ABSTRACT In this research endeavor, a novel approach has been presented to enhance the power quality through a Photovoltaic (PV)-based Dynamic Voltage Restorer (PV-DVR). The proposed work is designed to address voltage fluctuations, flicker, and harmonics within medium or low voltage micro-grid systems. Unlike existing DVR systems that often neglect injected harmonics and converter losses, in the proposed work there is an integration of a PV-fed multilevel inverter system employing Selected Harmonic Elimination and Moderation-based Pulse Width Modulation (SHEAM-PWM). This innovative configuration, coupled with a DC – DC boost converter and a series injection transformer, not only aims to alleviate voltage stress on devices but also optimizes the number of switches to minimize switching losses. The proposed setup successfully reduces the overall voltage Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) to a significant extent, delivering superior dynamic performance. To determine optimal switching angles for the SHEAM-PWM technique, ensuring the elimination or mitigation of the maximum number of harmonics from the output voltage waveform, we employ the Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO) approach. The computation of these angles is performed offline to eliminate lower-order harmonics, and the results are stored in the microcontroller’s memory using mixed model equations for online applications. The efficacy of our proposed method is demonstrated through both simulation and experimental validation in a real-time laboratory system. The simulation and experimental results obtained underscore the potential utility of our technique for Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) applications, particularly those requiring low harmonic injection. The proposed method introduces a comprehensive and innovative solution for power quality enhancement, combining PV technology, multilevel inverter systems, and advanced optimization techniques. The proposed PV-DVR system exhibits promising results, showcasing its potential for practical implementation in residential micro-grid systems with a focus on minimizing harmonics and ensuring efficient grid compensation.

Effective chloramine management without “burn” in biofilm affected nitrifying tanks using a low dose of copper

This paper highlights the potential to effectively inhibit nitrification and restore chloramine levels using a low copper concentration in a biofilm-affected (surface-to-volume ratio 16 m−1) continuous-flow laboratory-scale chloraminated system. High nitrite and low chloramine containing tanks are always recovered with chlorine “burn” by water utilities. The “burn” is not only costly and operationally complex, but also compromises the water quality, public health, and customer relations. A laboratory system comprising five reactors connected in series was operated. Each reactor simulated conditions typically encountered in full-scale systems. Low amount of copper (0.1–0.2 mg-Cu L−1) was dosed once per day into nitrified reactors. At any given time, only one reactor was dosed with copper. Not only inhibition of nitrification, chloramine decay associated with bulk water, biofilm and sediments also improved. However, the improvement was quicker and more significant when the influent to the reactor contained a high chloramine and a low nitrite concentration. Ammonia oxidising microbes exhibited resilience when exposed to low copper and chloramine concentrations for an extended period. Chloramine decay due to planktonic microbes and chemical reactions in bulk water decreased more rapidly than decay attributed to biofilm and sediments. The concept “biostable residual chlorine” explained how copper and chloramine can inhibit nitrification. Once nitrification was inhibited, the chloramine supplied from upstream effectively continued to suppress downstream nitrification, and this effect lasted more than 50 days even at 22 °C. The findings could be used to develop short-term copper dosing strategies and prevent negative impacts of nitrification and breakpoint chlorination.

NOMAD CAMELS: Configurable Application for Measurements, Experiments and Laboratory Systems

NOMAD CAMELS: Configurable Application for Measurements, Experiments and Laboratory Systems

An adaptive evacuation system for the Gran Sasso underground laboratory

The Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS) is, at present, the largest deep underground laboratory in operation for astroparticle physics and rare event research. The LNGS was created to carry out this research exploiting an overburden of 1,400 m of rock to reduce the flux of muons from cosmic rays. Operating an underground laboratory and its facilities implies a high level of risk. To mitigate risks at the LNGS, a crucial aspect is represented by the evacuation of people from an underground environment during emergencies. The connection between the underground facilities and the outside infrastructure is limited, and the intervention by rescue teams is complicated. This paper reports the study of an adaptive evacuation system to improve the evacuation performance in underground laboratories. The system proposed is composed of a combination of passive, dynamic, and adaptive signage that is able to adapt itself to lead the laboratory occupants to the safe location for evacuation (assembly point). The system collects information from all safety plants, and the data are processed using a customized path-finding algorithm. In the computational algorithm, the underground laboratory is represented as a grid, and the customized path-finding algorithm discovers all available paths to reach the identified evacuation assembly point.

Dog and cat exposures to drugs of abuse identified by the California animal health and food safety laboratory system 2013-2023.

While known animal exposures to human "drugs of abuse" (DA) were previously considered relatively uncommon in veterinary medicine, the trends are changing. Marijuana and amphetamines are among the 20 toxicants most frequently consulted about with the Pet Poison Helpline. When such exposures occur, they are typically considered emergencies. This retrospective study describes confirmed cases of DA exposure in pets from the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), 2013-2023. Fifty-seven samples tested positive for DA through liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis (qualitative method). In 75% (43/57) of the DA screen tests, the detected drugs included amphetamine-type stimulants and metabolites (methamphetamine, amphetamine, or both). In 47% (27/57) of cases, a combination of more than one drug group was found. Most cases were diagnosed from a urine specimen. In at least 32% (18/57) of cases, the samples were submitted due to suspicions of animal cruelty, and at least 41% (23/57) of the patients were deceased when the samples were submitted. More studies on the prevalence of illicit drugs in small animals, using confirmatory testing, are warranted to fully understand the significance of this emerging toxicological hazard in veterinary medicine.

A Prototype Reactor Promoting the Hg(0) Capture in the Simulated Flue Gas from Small-Scale Boilers by Using Copper Oxide- and Copper Sulfide-Coated Teflon Pipes

In this study, we designed a prototype reactor, the multiple pipes reactor (MPR), for Hg(0) capture, which can be applied in small-scale boilers. It was tested on a laboratory scale by comparing it with a fixed-bed type, the vertical glass reactor (VGR). In total, 200 mg of CuO and CuS was applied as sorbent materials to reduce the concentration of Hg(0) from the simulated flue gas, in both VGR and MPR reactors. The mercury capture measurements were performed in the same laboratory system at 125 °C and a flow rate of 54 L/h. The contact time between the sorbents and simulated flue gas in the VGR was 0.035 s for both materials. In the case of the MPR, it was 0.44 s (CuO coating) and 0.63 s (CuS coating), depending on the coating area. The contact area inside the VGR was 5.31 cm2, contrasting with the values of 13.19 cm2 (CuO coating) and 18.84 cm2 (CuS coating) in the MPRs. The average Hg(0) capture effectiveness of CuO (granulate) and CuS (granulate) was 51% and 67% in VGR, respectively. The MPR with CuO- and CuS-coating Teflon (PTFE) pipes promoted an average Hg(0) capture effectiveness reaching 65 (by 268%) and 94% (by 158%), respectively.

Development and evaluation of three automated media pooling and molecular diagnostic systems for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Pooled testing combined with molecular diagnostics for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 is a promising method that can increase testing capacities and save costs. However, pooled testing is also associated with the risks of decreased test sensitivity and specificity. To perform reliable pooled testing, we developed and validated three automated media pooling and molecular diagnostic systems. These pooling systems (geneLEAD-PS, Panther-PS, and Biomek-PS) comprised existing automated molecular detection platforms, corresponding automated media pooling devices, and laboratory information management systems. Analytical sensitivity analysis and mock sample evaluation were performed, and the obtained data were used to determine the sizes of the pool for the validation study. In the validation study, a total of 2,448, 3,228, and 6,420 upper respiratory samples were used for geneLEAD-PS, Panther-PS, and Biomek-PS, respectively, and the diagnostic performances were compared with the reference RT‒PCR assay. A pool size of 6 for geneLEAD-PS and a pool size of 4 for Panther-PS and Biomek-PS were selected for the validation studies. All three systems showed high positive percent agreement values of ≥90.5% and negative percent agreement values of ≥99.8% for any specimen type. Pooled testing resulted in a 65%-71% reduction in cost per sample. The testing capacities of geneLEAD-PS, Panther-PS, and Biomek-PS were 144 samples in 3 hours, 384 samples in 5.5 hours, and 376 samples in 4 hours, respectively. The developed pooling systems showed robust diagnostic performances and will increase the testing capacities of molecular diagnostic tests while saving costs and may contribute to infection control of COVID-19.IMPORTANCEDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been surges in demand for accurate molecular diagnostic testing and laboratory supply shortages. Pooled testing combined with highly sensitive molecular testing, which entails mixing multiple samples as a single sample, is a promising approach to increase testing capacities while reducing the use of consumables. However, pooled testing is associated with risks that compromise diagnostic performance, such as false negatives due to dilution of positive samples or false positives due to cross-contamination. To perform reliable pooled testing, three different pooling systems (an automated pooling device, an automated molecular detection platform, and a laboratory information management system) were developed to accurately interpret pooled testing results. These three systems were validated using multiple clinical samples and showed high concordance with individual testing. The developed pooling systems will contribute to increasing reliable molecular testing capacities while using fewer consumables and saving costs.

Development and field application of a jetting and helical combination tool

Liquid loading occurs in gas wells after a period of production, and the vortex drainage gas recovery technology can alleviate this problem by removing liquid. To substantially enhance the efficiency of this technology, a novel tool combining jetting and helical mechanisms has been introduced. To validate its effectiveness, a laboratory system for detailed analysis of pressure drops by using various tools at multiple gas flow rates has been set up. The analysis approach encompasses both single-factor and orthogonal analyses of tool structure parameters to find out the optimal tool structural parameters under different operating conditions. Consequently, a correlation between the gas flow rates observed in controlled laboratory environments and those in actual gas wells has been established. The study indicates that the tool’s main structural parameters significantly impact pressure drops along the wellbore. Furthermore, it is evident that distinct well profiles require unique tool setups to minimize such pressure drop. Field tests of the optimized tool have shown notable enhancements: The average gas flow rate increased by 25.9%, reaching 5.39 × 104 m3/d (1.90 × 106 scf/d), while the average liquid flow rate increased by 20.1%, reaching 1.46 m3/d (9.18 bbl/d). These results highlight the superior drainage stimulation effect of the new jetting and helical combination tool, presenting novel insights and methodologies for enhancing gas recovery in liquid-loaded gas wells.

Centralized design and production of the ultra-high vacuum and laser-stabilization systems for the AION ultra-cold strontium laboratories

This paper outlines the centralized design and production of the ultra-high-vacuum sidearm and laser-stabilization systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilization, and on the loading rate for the 3D magneto-optical trap are presented. Streamlining the design and production of the sidearm and laser stabilization systems enabled the AION Collaboration to build and equip in parallel five state-of-the-art Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories within 24 months by leveraging key expertise in the collaboration. This approach could serve as a model for the development and construction of other cold atom experiments, such as atomic clock experiments and neutral atom quantum computing systems, by establishing dedicated design and production units at national laboratories.

Dissociation Phenomenon of Erythrocyte Agglutination and Its Application to Assay of Functional Activity of the Complement System in Clinical Laboratory.

The objective of the study was to validate the dissociation phenomenon of erythrocyte agglutination which is based on erythrocyte fragments and to apply it in the functional activity assay of the complement system. The dissociation-agglutination effect of erythrocyte fragments was validated by detecting the number of free erythrocytes after the action of erythrocyte fragments on agglutinated erythrocytes. The number of free erythrocytes produced after hemolysis of agglutinated erythrocytes caused by complements and complement activators(CAs) was detected by auto hematology analyzer and the results were indicated by mean hemoglobin concentration of erythrocytes (MCHC). We optimized the test conditions and validated the inter-batch stability, explored the resolution of the assay method, and assayed for the total complement activity (AC) and the CAs activated complement activity (ACA) in serum from patients and healthy individual groups. Erythrocyte fragments have a dissociative effect on agglutinated erythrocytes. The auto hematology analyzer was able to detect AC and ACA, where AC showed an inverse correlation with MCHC, and ACA demonstrated a positive correlation with MCHC. The inter-batch CV of AC, ACA, and ACA/AC was found to be 5%, 9%, and 11.7%, respectively, with good stability. The study found that serum samples from acute phase reaction patients showed significant differences in ACA compared with healthy individuals, with a p value of 0.018; serum samples from patients with nephrotic syndrome showed significant differences in AC, ACA, and ACA/AC compared with healthy individuals, with p values of 0.014, 0.002, and 0.041, respectively. Erythrocyte fragments have dissociation-agglutination effect. The complement system immunological functional detection method, based on this effect, has potential clinical application value due to its sensitivity and accuracy.