Sampling Setup Research Articles

Hybrid Boson Sampling

We propose boson sampling from a system of coupled photons and Bose–Einstein condensed atoms placed inside a multi-mode cavity as a simulation process testing the quantum advantage of quantum systems over classical computers. Consider a two-level atomic transition far-detuned from photon frequency. An atom–photon scattering and interatomic collisions provide interactions that create quasiparticles and excite atoms and photons into squeezed entangled states, orthogonal to the atomic condensate and classical field driving the two-level transition, respectively. We find a joint probability distribution of atom and photon numbers within a quasi-equilibrium model via a hafnian of an extended covariance matrix. It shows a sampling statistics that is ♯P-hard for computing, even if only photon numbers are sampled. Merging cavity-QED and quantum-gas technologies into a hybrid boson sampling setup has the potential to overcome the limitations of separate, photon or atom, sampling schemes and reveal quantum advantage.

Microdialysis-integrated HPLC system with dual-electrode detection using track-etched membrane electrodes for in vivo monitoring of dopamine dynamics

A capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with a dual-electrode detector utilizing track-etched membrane electrodes (TEMEs) was combined with a microdialysis sampling setup. The electrochemical detector benefits from the high electrolysis efficiency of TEMEs, allowing for calibration-free coulometric detection and simplifying data analysis to determine the dopamine recovery through a dialysis probe. Additionally, this system was used for in vivo monitoring of dopamine in the right striatum of a mouse brain. Temporal changes in dopamine levels, including an exponential decay immediately after the dialysis probe insertion and an excess release of dopamine induced by a high concentration of potassium ions, confirmed the system’s proper operation. Furthermore, subsequent measurements following the intraperitoneal injection of mirtazapine showed no increase in dopamine levels in the right dorsal striatum. The dual-electrode system displayed characteristic dopamine detection behavior, with anodic and cathodic peak pairs indicative of reversible electrochemical reactions. This capability facilitated the identification of the dopamine peak within the complex chromatogram of the mouse brain dialysate. The consistency between dopamine collection efficiency from standard solutions and dialysate indicated the absence of interfering electroactive substances overlapping with the dopamine peak in the chromatogram. This integrated analysis system successfully tracked temporal fluctuations in dopamine concentration within the mouse brain.

Characterization of the SPIRITAS: A Disposable Sampling Setup for Volatile Organic Compound Collection and Analysis

Analyzing exhaled breath for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) offers a non-invasive diagnostic approach for various diseases. Despite its promise, the method faces challenges like sampling heterogeneity and high costs. Following the European Respiratory Society’s advocacy for methodological standardization, we developed the SPIRITAS (Standardized Product for Inexpensive Respiratory InvesTigation: A breath Sampler), a low-cost, disposable breath sampler. This study evaluates the SPIRITAS’s effectiveness in detecting targeted VOCs. We tested the SPIRITAS using the Peppermint Experiment, a standardized protocol that allows for comparison between different breath sampling and analytical practices by assessing the ability to detect five peppermint-specific VOCs after ingestion of a 200-milligram peppermint oil capsule. We included ten subjects and performed six breath samples per participant, including a baseline measurement taken before ingestion. We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to evaluate whether baseline values were significantly lower than the peak values of the targeted VOCs. Additionally, we conducted an experiment utilizing humidified medical-grade air to identify any VOCs attributable to the SPIRITAS setup itself. Results showed successful detection of four out of five targeted “peppermint-associated” VOCs: alpha-pinene (p ≤ 0.01), beta-pinene (p ≤ 0.01), menthone (p = 0.01), and menthol (p = 0.02), indicating significant differences between the baseline and peak values in the volunteers’ breath. However, detection of eucalyptol was inconsistent. In addition, we identified 16 VOCs that were released by the SPIRITAS, one of which remains unidentified. Our findings underscore the SPIRITAS’s potential for clinical applications, paving the way for broader biomarker research. The combination of ease of use, low cost, reduced risk of contamination, and standardization makes SPIRITAS very suitable for large-scale international studies. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the SPIRITAS’s effectiveness in detecting specific VOCs and identified 16 compounds originating from the SPIRITAS, ensuring that these compounds would not be mis-qualified as potential biomarkers in future clinical studies.

Increasing terahertz spintronic emission with planar antennas

Spintronic THz emitters, consisting of Ta/Co/Pt trilayers patterned into lateral-sized rectangles in the 10 μm range, have been integrated in planar electromagnetic antennas of various types (dipole, bow-tie, and spiral). The antenna dimensions and shapes have been optimized with the help of electromagnetic simulations so as to maximize antenna efficiency in both narrow-band and broadband geometries at/around 1 THz. The THz emission has been studied using a pump–probe free space electro-optic sampling setup, both for single-emitter geometry and for arrays of emitters. The results show an increase in the detected THz signal for all antenna geometries, with enhancement ratios in the range of three to fifteen, depending on the antenna type and frequency range, together with changes in the emission bandwidth consistent with simulated characteristics.

Polynomial computational complexity of matrix elements of finite-rank-generated single-particle operators in products of finite bosonic states

It is known that computing the permanent of the matrix 1+A, where A is a finite-rank matrix, requires a number of operations polynomial in the matrix size. Motivated by the boson-sampling proposal of restricted quantum computation, I extend this result to a generalization of the matrix permanent: An expectation value in a product of a large number of identical bosonic states with a bounded number of bosons. This result complements earlier studies on the computational complexity in boson sampling and related setups. The proposed technique based on the Gaussian averaging is equally applicable to bosonic and fermionic systems. This also allows us to improve an earlier polynomial complexity estimate for the fermionic version of the same problem.

Single-photon level ultrafast time-resolved measurement using two-color dual-comb-based asynchronous linear optical sampling

We demonstrated an ultrafast time-resolved measurement method operating at the single-photon level and employing a two-color comb-based asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) setup. We harnessed the two-color ASOPS photon counting approach to achieve long-term averaging of the ultralow intensity signal with a synchronized optical trigger signal, which minimizes residual timing jitter between the two combs. A pulse-width limited picosecond cross-correlation signal was successfully obtained with a power level of <1 photon/pulse. This approach enables the thorough study of ultrafast time-resolved detection of entangled photon pairs, quantum mechanical correlations in the time-frequency domain and finds wide use in optical quantum technology.

A Class of Estimators for Estimation of Population Mean Under Random Non-response in Two Phase Successive Sampling

This paper presents some efficient classes of estimators of population mean on current occasion in the presence of random non-response under a two-phase successive sampling set-up. The suggested classes of estimators are proposed for simple random sampling under various situations of non-response. The properties of proposed estimators have been discussed up to first order of approximation. The efficiency of the presented estimators has been contrasted with the estimators for the complete response scenarios. Two real and two artificially generated data sets are used. The efficacy of the proposed classes of estimators over the existing estimators is checked theoretically and empirically. The numerical comparison supports the proposed estimators.

Comparative Analysis of Variance Estimation Methods in Two-Phase Sampling: A Focus on Regression-cum-Exponential Estimators with Multiple Auxiliaries

In this study, we introduce a regression-cum-exponential estimator designed for estimating population variance. Specifically, we focus on the estimation of unknown population variance in a two-phase sampling setup, considering the use of multiple auxiliary variables. We derive and discuss various cases pertaining to this estimation framework. Additionally, we compare the asymptotic properties of existing approaches with those of our proposed estimator. This allows us to assess the performance and efficiency of the different methods. Finally, we conduct a simulation study to evaluate the performance of our proposed estimator in finite samples, specifically utilizing multi-auxiliary variables. This empirical analysis provides insights into the practical effectiveness of the estimators.

Scent detection dogs as a novel method for oestrus detection in an endangered species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).

Captive breeding is a critical tool for conservation of endangered species. Identifying the correct time to pair males and females can be a major challenge for captive breeding programmes, with current methods often being invasive or slow. Detection dogs may provide a non-invasive way to determine female receptivity, but this has not been explored in captive wildlife. This exploratory study investigated the use of detection dogs as a novel method of oestrus detection in the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Faecal samples were collected from 11 captive female devils during the breeding seasons of 2020 and 2021. Three dogs with prior detection experience were trained and subsequently assessed (n = 188 searches per dog), on their ability to discriminate between oestrus and non-oestrus devil faecal samples, in a one sample set-up. When assessed on training samples, dogs were able to correctly discriminate oestrus from non-oestrus with a mean sensitivity of 69.1% and mean specificity of 65.7%. When assessed on novel samples, their sensitivity to oestrus dropped (mean sensitivity of 48.6%). However, they were still able to correctly identify non-oestrus samples (mean specificity of 68.1%). This study is the first to explore detection dogs' ability to identify oestrus in a captive breeding programme for endangered wildlife, providing a promising tool for non-invasive monitoring of reproductive status in wildlife.

Novel experimental technique to evaluate soil thermal conductivity in a transient state

novel experimental technique to evaluate soil thermal conductivity in a transient state

An open source 3D printed autosampler for capillary electrophoresis

BackgroundIn-house built capillary electrophoresis (CE) systems represent a significant share of laboratory instrumentation. In most of these instruments, sample injection is effected manually with low to moderate precision and requires skilled operators. Although few automated samplers have been previously developed, typically only one sample at a time can be injected. If a series of samples is to be analyzed, manual intervention is required. In the present work, we developed and constructed a fully automated, open source, CE autosampler, able to handle up to 14 different samples that can be used as a modular component of any in-house built CE instrument. ResultsAn inexpensive, 3D printed, open source, autosampler for CE was developed. The autosampler consists of two parts: an injection unit with carousel containing sample and electrolyte vials and a flushing unit, containing a miniature pressure/vacuum pump. The autosampler is operated by an Arduino Mega microcontroller and an Arduino code written in the laboratory. The injection sequence is entered through a keypad and LCD display by the user. The instrument can operate autonomously for extended periods of time. It was used for fully automated analysis and/or calibration of up to 14 samples with excellent injection repeatability reaching less than 2.7% RSD for peak areas. The sampler performance was tested with two independently built CE instruments, a CE system with contactless conductivity detection (C4D) and a CE system with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detector. Significance and noveltyA novel, 3D printed, Arduino-based autosampler for CE was developed. The autosampler allows autonomous hydrodynamic injection of up to 14 different samples with fully programmable injection sequence, including capillary flushing and high voltage and data acquisition control. It provides the missing instrumental sampling setup for laboratory made CE instruments. It can be simply constructed based on the open-source blueprints in any laboratory and be a useful and time-saving add-on to any modular CE instrument.

Recording the angular dispersion of a terahertz beam into its frequency spectrum for fast measurements.

The frequency-dependent divergence angle of terahertz (THz) beams is a crucial aspect in understanding the generation and transmission of broadband THz waves. However, traditional beam profiling methods, such as 1D or 2D translation/rotation scanning detection, are time-consuming and wasteful of THz energy, making them unsuitable for fast measurement applications, such as single-shot THz generation and detection. Here, we proposed a simple solution that involves passing the THz beam through a core-anti-resonant reflective (CARR) cavity (e.g., a paper tube). The spatial information of the beam is then recorded into its frequency spectrum, which can be easily detected by a following traditional THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) system or a single-shot sampling setup. Our method enables the acquisition of the angular dispersion without repetitive measurements, and represents a significant step forward in fast and efficient achievement of spatial properties of broadband THz beams.

Review on high-pressure spark plasma sintering and simulation of the impact of die/punch material combinations on the sample temperature homogeneity

This paper provides a thorough review on high-pressure spark plasma sintering (HP-SPS) experiments conducted to date, with a focus on different tooling materials and their impact on microstructural, mechanical and optical properties of the resulting materials. Any SPS experiment conducted with a pressure over 200 MPa was considered as “high-pressure”. This review was supported by a comprehensive finite-element modelling study of the temperature distribution in the sample and tool set-up as a function of the used geometries, tooling material combinations, temperature window and sample material properties. The effect of the electrical and thermal conductivities of the tool and sample material on the temperature gradients in some specific sample-tool material combinations was elucidated. Electrically and thermally conductive samples in combination with SiC tools showed the lowest temperature gradients during processing, whereas electrical insulators in combination with high pressure WC, steel or TZM tools with an inner graphite die showed the smallest temperature gradients over the sample.

New high-throughput screening method for Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing low reduced monoclonal antibody levels: application of a system controlling the gas phase over cell lysates in miniature bioreactors and facilitating multiple sample setup.

Interchain disulfide bonds in monoclonal antibodies may be reduced during large-scale mAb production using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. This reaction lowers the mAb product yield and purity; however, it may be prevented by screening cell lines that are unsusceptible to reduction and using them in mAb production. Antibody reduction susceptibility may be cell line-dependent. To the best of our knowledge, however, an efficient method of screening reduction-unsusceptible CHO cell lines has not been previously reported. Here, we report a novel screening method that can simultaneously detect and identify mAb reduction susceptibility in lysates containing ≤ 48 CHO cell lines. This evaluation system was equally effective and generated similar results at all culture scales, including 250 mL, 3L, and 1000L. Furthermore, we discovered that reduction-susceptible cell lines contained higher total intracellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and NADP+ concentrations than reduction-unsusceptible cell lines, regardless of whether they expressed immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 or IgG1. NADPH or NADP+ supplementation in the lysate of reduction-unsusceptible cells resulted in mAb reduction. Application of the innovative CHO cell line screening approach could mitigate or prevent reductions in large-scale mAb generation from CHO cells.

Interlaboratory comparison of battery impedance analyzers calibration

The paper reports a results of series of interlaboratory comparisons of low impedance measurements at frequencies relevant for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of commercial lithium-ion cells. Two comparisons are presented. The first, bilateral comparison has focused on low impedance standards calibration in a full complex plane using digital sampling setups. The second comparison has focused on calibration and use of commercial 4-terminal battery EIS meters. Both comparisons have covered the impedance range from 50μ℧ to 100m℧ across the full complex plane in a frequency range from 0.01Hz up to 5kHz. Finally, the paper summarizes practices identified as critical for achieving measurement compatibility among various labs.

Mechanical properties of structural metallic alloys for nuclear applications deduced by small punch test

Small Punch Test (SPT) techniques are becoming a popular tool for the characterization of the irradiation damage effects in nuclear materials thanks to a number of advantages as compared to conventional test methods. As of today, there are two standards available (ASTM and EN) and several methods are developed to extract the tensile properties from the SPT force-displacement relationship. Here, we carry a set of benchmark tests using SPT and conventional uniaxial tensile tests on a number of metallic materials commonly applied in nuclear facilities. The investigation includes reactor pressure vessel steel, high-Cr ferritic martensitic steel, copper-chromium-zirconium alloy, nickel based super alloy, austenitic stainless steel and titanium. The SPT sample geometry and setup is designed according to the requirements of the EN10371 norm. As a result, we have deduced the tensile properties using both techniques and thus have revealed the accuracy/reliability of the currently available standards for the determination of the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength by the SPT.The study has revealed that in an overwhelming number of tests, the yield stress extracted from the SPT (for both EN and ASTM standards) is systematically overestimated as compared to the value measured from the uniaxial tensile test. However, the prediction for the ferritic and austenitic steels is close to the uniaxial stress, for both standards. In the case of Inconel material, the yield stress is underestimated. The ultimate tensile strength extracted by either of the existing methods is in a good agreement with the value otherwise measured from the uniaxial tests for all the materials except the titanium. Based on the obtained results and discussion, a number of recommendations for the evaluation of yield and ultimate tensile stress from the small punch test is given.

Large‐scale long‐term passive‐acoustic monitoring reveals spatio‐temporal activity patterns of boreal bats

The distribution ranges and spatio‐temporal patterns in the occurrence and activity of boreal bats are yet largely unknown due to their cryptic lifestyle and lack of suitable and efficient study methods. We approached the issue by establishing a permanent passive‐acoustic sampling setup spanning the area of Finland to gain an understanding on how latitude affects bat species composition and activity patterns in northern Europe. The recorded bat calls were semi‐automatically identified for three target taxa; Myotis spp., Eptesicus nilssonii or Pipistrellus nathusii and the seasonal activity patterns were modeled for each taxa across the seven sampling years (2015–2021). We found an increase in activity since 2015 for E. nilssonii and Myotis spp. For E. nilssonii and Myotis spp. we found significant latitude ‐dependent seasonal activity patterns, where seasonal variation in patterns appeared stronger in the north. Over the years, activity of P. nathusii increased during activity peak in June and late season but decreased in mid season. We found the passive‐acoustic monitoring network to be an effective and cost‐efficient method for gathering bat activity data to analyze spatio‐temporal patterns. Long‐term data on the composition and dynamics of bat communities facilitates better estimates of abundances and population trend directions for conservation purposes and predicting the effects of climate change.

Online measurement of highly oxygenated compounds from organic aerosol

Abstract. Highly oxygenated compounds are important contributors to the formation and growth of atmospheric organic aerosol and thus have an impact on Earth’s radiation balance and global climate. However, knowledge of the contribution of highly oxygenated compounds to organic aerosol and their fate after condensing into the particle phase has been limited by the lack of suitable detection techniques. Here, we present a new online method for measuring highly oxygenated compounds from organic aerosol. The method includes thermal evaporation of particles in a new inlet, the vaporization inlet for aerosols (VIA), followed by identification of the evaporated highly oxygenated compounds by a nitrate chemical ionization mass spectrometer (NO3-CIMS). The method does not require sample collection, enabling highly time-resolved measurements of particulate compounds. We evaluate the performance of the method by measuring the detection limit and performing background measurements. We estimate a detection limit of below 1 ng m−3 for a single compound and below 1 µg m−3 for SOA with the sampling setup used here. These detection limits can be improved upon by optimizing the flow setup. Furthermore, we detect hundreds of particulate highly oxygenated compounds from organic aerosol generated from different precursors. Our results are consistent with previous studies showing that the volatility of organic compounds decreases with increasing m/z ratio and level of oxygenation and that organic aerosol consists of monomers and oligomeric compounds. By comparing the gas- and particle-phase compounds, we found indications of potential particle-phase reactions occurring in organic aerosol. Future work will focus both on further improving the sampling design and on better understanding the evaporation dynamics of the system, but already these initial tests show that the VIA coupled to the NO3-CIMS is a promising method for investigating the transformations and fate of the compounds after condensing into the particle phase.

Influence of ozone and humidity on PTR-MS and GC-MS VOC measurements with and without a Na2S2O3 ozone scrubber

Abstract. The measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be influenced by ozone (O3), resulting in sampling artefacts that corrupt the data obtained. Published literature reports both positive (false enhancements of signal) and negative (loss of signal) interference in VOC data due to ozonolysis occurring in the sample gas. To assure good data quality it is essential to be aware of such interfering processes, to characterize them and to try to minimize the impact with a suitable sampling setup. Here we present results from experiments with a sodium thiosulfate ozone scrubber (Na2S2O3), which is a cost-effective and easily applied option for O3 scavenging during gas-phase sampling. Simultaneous measurement of selected organic trace gases using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry was performed at different ozone levels (0–1 ppm) and different relative humidities (0 %–80 %). In this way both tropospheric and stratospheric conditions were examined. The measured data show that several carbonyl compounds including acetaldehyde, acetone and propanal show artificial signal enhancement when ozone is present at higher concentrations (&gt; 150 ppb) in dry air, while analytes with double bonds like isoprene (measured with GC-MS) and terpenes show lower signals due to reaction with ozone. Both effects can be eliminated or in the case of sesquiterpenes substantially reduced by using Na2S2O3 impregnated quartz filters in the inlet line. With the chosen scrubbing material, relative humidity (RH) substantially improves the scrubbing efficiency. Under surface conditions between 50 %–80 % RH, the filter allows for accurate measurement of all species examined.

Prospects of spectroscopic neutron imaging: optimizing experimental setups in battery electrolyte research.

Spectral neutron imaging methods provide valuable insights into the characterization of hydrogenous materials, including battery electrolytes. However, their application is constrained by sample geometry, setup parameters, and material chemistries, especially when studying physico-chemical changes in battery electrolytes. To address these limitations, we present a framework for simulating and optimizing the investigation of hydrogenous materials. Our approach combines quantitative modeling with experimental data to predict and optimize the contrast achievable in wavelength-resolved neutron imaging methods, thereby maximizing the information obtained in specific neutron imaging setups. While initially demonstrated at the BOA beamline of the Paul Scherrer Institute, this framework is applicable to any continuous source with spectral neutron imaging capabilities with a chopper disk. This work establishes a pathway for accurate studies of hydrogenous materials and their physico-chemical behavior, paving the way for advancements in the field of material characterization with wavelength-resolved neutron imaging.