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This technical note describes in detail a method for associating individual sheets of blank A4 white paper from the same ream by the physical fit of machine‐cut edges. A large‐scale laboratory trial involving ~700 sheets of paper from 24 different reams (plus one spoiled sample), and more than 20,000 potential physical fits, correctly associated and sequenced 219 pairs of sheets together with a 100% empirical success rate and no false associations. The edge profile of each short machine‐cut end of a sheet of A4 paper allows us to physically fit sheets of paper from the same ream to each other and use this to predict the sequence of sheets in a set of documents. In a real‐life scenario, it may now be possible to detect the substitution or addition of a sheet in a multipage document, link documents from different sources to each other or to a common source of paper (e.g. to paper from a seized printer or from an accused's address) or to date documents. The study provides data for the application of this method in forensic casework and supports the practitioner when forming conclusions in this type of case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the topic of paper laboratories and science in the pen of early modern authors. The importance of knowledge as power and its relationship with the scientific revolution of the 17th century is highlighted. The creation of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge in 1660 and its relationship with Francis Bacon's empiricism are mentioned. During the Restoration period in England (1660-1689), women had greater participation in public and cultural life, thanks to the social and cultural openness promoted by the Charles II regime. The figures of Margaret Cavendish and Aphra Behn, two English authors who ventured into literature and science of the time, are highlighted. Both authors used satire to criticize the misuse of technology and science. In the article "A Soup of Amorphism and Extravagance: Science in The Emperor of the Moon," Behn's satire on science and the spectacular practices of the time is analyzed. The article also highlights the participation of women in scientific thinking and debates of the time. [Extracted from the article]

Recent research has indicated high economic and environmental costs of human paper usage. Technologies have been developed to reduce consumers' paper use behavior, including mechanical dispensers that institute a delay between opportunities to obtain each consecutive unit. However, there is no empirical evidence that these dispensers or delays reduce paper use. In Experiment 1, implementing a delay between paper-unit deliveries using mechanical dispensers in a university café resulted in a significant decrease in units per person, material per person, and cost per person, compared to free-access dispensers. In Experiment 2, a relatively long delay was more effective than a short delay in reducing paper consumption in a laboratory experiment using mechanical dispensers. These results indicate that delays could be used to decrease paper use in many contexts on a larger scale. More research is necessary to determine the underlying behavioral mechanisms responsible for the observed reduction and the cost–benefit relationship under different circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of structural health monitoring (SHM) are often challenged by changing environmental and operational conditions (EOC). This paper presents a novel experimental testing field specifically designed for studying the effects of EOC on black box vibration‐based output‐only SHM methods. The experimental testing field consists of two identical mechanical structures that are exposed to mass and stiffness perturbations: one in a controllable laboratory setup and one under the influence of varying EOC in a field setup. The paper demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of the dual experimental testing field for studies about EOC influences on SHM. The results of a preliminary study of the occurring EOC in the field setup are presented, and a modular measurement system that provides high‐quality data is introduced. By providing the experimental acceleration data, a new experimental benchmark dataset for various studies and future use in the field of SHM is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdessamad Oussarhana and Tijani AmahroqbaLIMATI Laboratory, Poly-disciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco; bLAMAI Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco We provide a counterexample to Proposition 2.3 in our paper [Optimization 20, 69(12), pp. 2611–2627] where we said that the convex set A and the element $ x_0 $ x 0 can be properly separated by a closed hyperplane if $ x_0\notin {\rm pri}(A) $ x 0 ∉ pri (A) , with $ {\rm pri}(A) $ pri (A) is the pseudo relative interior of A. In addition, we re-establish all results rely on this proposition, more precisely, [Amahroq and Oussarhan Infinite-dimensional vector optimization and a separation theorem. Optimization. 2020;69(12):2611–2627, Lemma 2.1 (ii)–(iv)], [Amahroq and Oussarhan Infinite-dimensional vector optimization and a separation theorem. Optimization. 2020;69(12):2611–2627, Theorem 3.1] and [Amahroq and Oussarhan Infinite-dimensional vector optimization and a separation theorem. Optimization. 2020;69(12):2611–2627, Corollary 5.1] (see Section 1). A revision to the proof of [Amahroq and Oussarhan Infinite-dimensional vector optimization and a separation theorem. Optimization. 2020;69(12):2611–2627, Theorem 4.1] is also done (see Section 2). We claim that, the rest of the paper (Amahroq and Oussarhan Infinite-dimensional vector optimization and a separation theorem. Optimization. 2020;69(12):2611–2627) is independent of the above incorrect statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this introduction to the Special Section 'Laboratory Times', the editors argue that a focused body of scholarship at the intersection of time and the laboratory has yet to materialize. To contextualize the papers that comprise the Special Section, we survey the role of the lab within time studies, as well as the place of temporality within Science and Technology Studies (STS). We show how time is made to structure and shape scientific practice and how scientists work with and create time to suit the frames and needs of experimentation. While one might expect to find as many forms of scientific time as there are branches of science, the specific temporalities of bench science have been largely overlooked by scholars. We introduce the arguments of the papers in this Special Section - observing their shared interest in the ways that time is materialized, negotiated and produced in laboratory settings. We conclude by imagining a future in which a research trajectory focused on 'Laboratory TImes' brings scholars in time studies and STS further into conversation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to measure the anaerobic biodegradation of different types of paper products in laboratory-scale landfill reactors. The study included (a) measurement of the loss of cellulose, hemicellulose, organic carbon, and (b) measurement of the methane yields for each paper product. The test materials included two samples each of newsprint (NP), copy paper (CP), and magazine paper (MG), and one sample of diaper (DP). The methane yields, carbon storage factors and the extent of cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition all consistently show that papers made from mechanical pulps (e.g., NPs) are less degradable than those made from chemical pulps where essentially all lignin was chemically removed (e.g., CPs). The diaper, which is not only made from chemical pulp but also contains some gel and plastic, exhibited limited biodegradability. The extent of biogenic carbon conversion varied from 21 to 96% among papers, which contrasts with the uniform assumption of 50% by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for all degradable materials discarded in landfills. Biochemical methane potential tests also showed that the solids to liquid ratio used in the test can influence the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the nature of thermally upgraded Kraft electrical insulating papers and their characterization by measurement of nitrogen content is discussed. A historical context and explanation of the basics of the various chemical methods used to measure nitrogen content in electrical papers is presented. The Kjeldahl and Dumas methods for quantifying nitrogen content were compared using six insulating papers in different laboratories in an effort to correlate the results obtained with both techniques. The results provide an insight into the viability of the Dumas combustion method as a proposed industry standard test for measuring the nitrogen content of paper. Moreover, data on the accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability of the Dumas method is provided for the analysis of thermally upgraded electrical papers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ISO 15189 requires laboratories to estimate the uncertainty of their quantitative measurements and to maintain them within relevant performance specifications. Furthermore, it refers to ISO TS 20914 for instructions on how to estimate the uncertainty and what to take into consideration when communicating uncertainty of measurement with requesting clinicians. These instructions include the responsibility of laboratories to verify that bias is not larger than medically significant. If estimated to be larger than acceptable, such bias first needs to be eliminated or (temporarily) corrected for. In the latter case, the uncertainty of such correction becomes part of the estimation of the total measurement uncertainty. If small enough to be acceptable, bias becomes part of the long term within laboratory random variation. Sources of possible bias are (not limited to) changes in reagent or calibrator lot variation or calibration itself. In this paper we clarify how the rationale and mathematics from an EFLM WG ISO/A position paper on allowable between reagent lot variation can be applied to calculate whether bias can be accepted to become part of long-term imprecision. The central point of this rationale is to prevent the risk that requesting clinicians confuse changes in bias with changes in the steady state of their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency Domain Spectroscopy is a popular non-invasive method that is widely used for condition assessment of oil-paper insulation in real-life power transformers. Conventional Frequency Domain Spectroscopy is done using sinusoidal excitation over a wide frequency range. In this work, a different approach has been taken to investigate some more possibilities of Frequency Domain Spectroscopy using non-sinusoidal excitation for a better condition assessment of oil-paper insulation. For that, triangular waveshape was chosen as non-sinusoidal excitations whose slope can be changed to vary the harmonic content and amplitudes of constituent components. Samples with preset moisture contents that emulate the oil-paper insulation of real-life transformer have been prepared in the laboratory for the assessment of insulation condition. For a comparative study, both sinusoidal and triangular excitations having same peak as well as time period are applied to the prepared samples under controlled environmental condition and corresponding dielectric response currents are measured. From the applied voltages and corresponding dielectric response currents, dielectric dissipation factors are calculated and compared. It has been observed that use of nonsinusoidal excitation provides better results than sinusoidal excitation in the estimation of paper moisture content. It has also been observed that among the applied non-sinusoidal excitations, a particular waveform provides more accurate information about the paper moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the common threads in the six data integrity guidance documents published to date is the need to control any blank forms used in regulated GXP laboratories. This month's "Questions of Quality" is focused on how to interpret the regulator's requirements for this topic. We also pose the question: Is paper the best way to record regulated data? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose a monitoring method that allows the inclusion of point clouds into a geodetic monitoring network. Consequently, network adjustment and a rigorous deformation analysis can be performed allowing consistent error propagation and trustful significance calculation. We introduce a supervised pipeline based on ICP-matching of small-scale laser scan patches. It is specially designed for geo-monitoring applications and allows to improve the spatial resolution as well as the network geometry of monitoring networks in inaccessible hazardous areas in the mountains, where the installation of a sufficient number of targets is difficult. We apply our method to two datasets. The first is a monitoring setup in the laboratory, where we establish the parameters for the supervised patch selection and demonstrate how the network geometry is improved. Second is the real case study of Mt. Hochvogel, where the proposed method helps to clearly improve the spatial resolution of deformation vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments are routinely conducted to evaluate the toxicity of water effluents or chemicals. In a Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction test, organisms are exposed to varying concentration levels of the toxicant or other adverse treatment and the number of young produced after a given experiment period are recorded. To analyze the test outcomes, mean reproduction is modeled as a function of the concentration, and the estimated concentrations associated with specified levels of adverse effect often are used in risk management. While aquatic toxicity analyses often focus on outcomes from the current test, laboratories commonly have a history of conducting such tests using the same species, following a similar experimental protocol. So it seems reasonable to assume that the same underlying biological process generates the historical and current tests. In the present study, we propose using a calibrated power prior approach to incorporate historical control outcomes as prior input, and compare the behavior of the method when different congruence measures are used to determine the amount of historical input that will be incorporated. Simulation results show that three of the congruence measures can improve precision and reduce bias of the potency estimates.Supplementary material to this paper is provided online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the history of the customs laboratories in the United States between the 1870s and the 1930s, focusing especially on the decades up to World War I. It pays attention to the various dimensions of these laboratories, in particular the context of their creation. The first customs laboratory was established in New York in 1878, and over the subsequent years, similar laboratories were set up across the country. The evolution of this network was influenced by factors such as the increasing specialization of these spaces, their geographic distribution, and changes in their organization and scope. The article also explores the types of imported merchandise analyzed in these labs; the roles of their staff, especially customs chemists, both within and outside these laboratories; their impact on the circulation of goods and in generating revenue from taxation; and the main challenges faced by customs chemists in adapting and standardizing their work. After discussing the necessity of customs laboratories in the United States, the article examines their progressive specialization, with a detailed study of the customs laboratory in New York. This laboratory was the largest and most significant due to its location and longevity. Finally, the paper considers the relationship between customs labs and the law, and how these spaces adapted to new challenges during the first third of the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Geopyörä breakage test uses two counter-rotating wheels to nip and crush rock specimens with a tightly controlled gap between rollers. This paper presents the detailed measures conducted to evaluate the accuracy and precision of energy measurements across various ore types using the Geopyörä. Force measurement was assessed just for its precision. The outputs were compared directly to the drop weight test (DWT) measures of fragmentation at the same energy and fitted A and b parameters. Test reproducibility was evaluated using a Round-Robin methodology, testing several samples in multiple laboratories. The results confirmed that the new test has sufficient accuracy to match DWT results and excellent precision to assure reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates 16 year results of the Allergy EQA program shared by EQA organisers in Belgium, Finland, Portugal, and The Netherlands. The performance of Thermo Fisher and Siemens user groups (in terms of concordance between both groups, between laboratory CV, prevalence of clinically significant errors) and suitability of samples (stability and validity of dilution of patient samples) are evaluated using data of 192 samples in the EQA programs from 2007 to 2022. Measurands covered are total IgE, screens and mixes, specific IgE extracts and allergen components. There is perfect (53 %), acceptable (40 %) and poor (6 %) concordance between both method groups. In case of poor concordance the best fit with clinical data is seen for Thermo Fisher (56 %) and Siemens (26 %) respectively. The between laboratory CV evolves from 7.8 to 6.6 % (Thermo Fisher) and 7.3 to 7.7 % (Siemens). The prevalence of blunders by individual laboratories is stable for Siemens (0.4 %) and drops from 0.4 to 0.2 % for Thermo Fisher users. For IgE, the between year CV of the mean of both user groups is 1 %, and a fifteen-fold dilution of a patient sample has an impact of 2 and 4 % on the recovery of Thermo Fisher and Siemens user groups. The analytical performance of Thermo Fisher is slightly better than that of Siemens users but the clinical impact of this difference is limited. Stability of the sample and the low impact of dilution on the recovery of measurands demonstrates the suitability for purpose of the EQA program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this laboratory, students perform a synthetic reaction in two ways: (i) by traditional bulk-phase reaction and (ii) in the course of reactive paper spray ionization. Mass spectrometry (MS) is used both as an analytical method and a means of accelerating organic syntheses. The main focus of this laboratory exercise is that the same ionization source can be operated to perform chemical analysis or to accelerate synthesis. More specifically, students explore the effect on reaction progress of operating in one of two modes of paper spray ionization. The modes relate to droplet size that changes as the solvent is depleted from the paper over time. The online mass spectral data for the two modes allow students to see the differences that small changes to spray conditions can have on the MS of a reaction mixture, allowing transition from traditional analysis to accelerated chemical synthesis by simply allowing the paper to partially dry. Chemical analysis and accelerated synthesis can be performed sequentially in one simple, 2 min paper spray experiment with the haloform oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper presents an analysis of safety practices in chemical laboratories. It encompasses a systematic exploration of various facets including risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and the implementation of safety protocols. Emphasis is placed on the critical role of continuous education and training, advocating a proactive safety culture, and adapting to technological advancements. Additionally, the paper underscores the importance of adhering to regulatory standards, promoting exceeding baseline compliance toward establishing best practices in laboratory safety. This comprehensive approach highlights the dynamic, multifaceted nature of laboratory safety, positioning it as a fundamental aspect of scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the study of the effectiveness of horizontal transfer of local isolates of the pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) on adults of olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) at a concentration of 106 spores/ml in laboratory conditions (this work was carried out in specialized scientific laboratories). In addition, it is not possible to reach the desired results in such experiments effectively when the data and observations of the study are not clear and accurate. For this reason, in this paper, experimental data will be presented with inaccurate or uncertain observations using neutrosophic statistics. The purpose is to know the success of males contaminated with pathogenic isolates in the transmission of infection to females. In laboratory conditions through a neutrosophic reading of the study data. This proposed presentation provides greater accuracy, flexibility, and applicability than the classic experimental design in the case of uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HAL is the national open repository for documents and data from French scientists. The deposits are organized in institutional portals and collections from research laboratories and projects. The paper analyses how grey literature is represented in the collections of French research laboratories on HAL. We assess the grey literature deposits on HAL from the 66 research laboratories affiliated to the University of Lille, covering all STM and SSH fields. The focus is on conference papers, reports, working papers, theses and dissertations. The study distinguishes between deposits of documents and records without documents, compares deposits from different disciplines, different laboratory collections and different document types. Typical strategies (or lack of strategies) on the local level of research laboratories are identified. Conditions and variables that may explain these differences are discussed, together with potential effects on the visibility, impact and evaluation of the laboratories' research output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human capacity to sense and respond to the suffering of non-human animals is key to animal care and welfare. Intuitively these modes of relating seem best suited to interactions between humans and warm-blooded mammals who share human-like facial features and characteristics. Animal geographers and those working in animal welfare have noted the challenges that humans face in learning to care about fishes, and how this leads to welfare guidelines and regulations which are poorly suited to aquatic species. This paper draws on interviews with laboratory aquarists and biomedical researchers to explore how they have learnt to sense and respond to the needs of fishes in the laboratory. We offer two key observations. Firstly, despite significant bodily differences, humans find ways to empathise with fishes. Secondly, whilst observations of bodies and behaviours predominate in laboratory mammal welfare assessments, when working with fishes water quality serves as an important proxy for species health. We conclude that the laboratory aquarium signifies methodological and conceptual limits in contemporary animal geographies. We further argue that these barriers should be understood as cultural, and – as we demonstrate – that there is consequently scope and capacity to reach beyond them by engaging in amphibious ethics and speculative immersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last fifty years, a number of higher energy X‐ray sources have been suggested as alternatives for the usual AlKα source found in the first commercial XPS systems and still the standard anode material for XPS today. This paper reviews the development of a number of such sources, predominantly in the authors' laboratory, and the rationale behind the desire to extend the binding energy range of the technique. The achromatic sources SiKα, ZrLα and TiKα are described along with monochromatic sources AgLα and CrKβ, both based on the standard quartz monochromator geometry but taking higher orders of diffraction. The driving force for much of this development was the desire to probe deeper core levels and CCC Auger transitions. These could be combined into initial or final state Auger parameters as described in much of the work cited in this review. The highest energy source considered is the CuKα source based around an external X‐ray tube, which provides much insight into the electronic structure of steels by measurement of the Fe1s and FeKLL peaks. The last decade or so has seen a significant increase of interest in HAXPES, and all manufacturers of turn‐key XPS instruments offer HAXPES options of one form or another, there are three dedicated HAXPES systems commercially available, which are very briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual Reality (VR) laboratories are a new pedagogical approach to support psychomotor skills development in undergraduate programmes to achieve practical competency. VR laboratories are successfully used to carry out virtual experiments in science courses and for clinical skills training in professional courses. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a VR-based microbiology laboratory on Head-Mounted Display (HMD) for undergraduate students. Student and faculty perceptions and expectations were collected to incorporate into the laboratory design. An interactive 3-dimensional VR laboratory with a 360° view was developed simulating our physical laboratory setup. The laboratory environment was created using Unity with the (created) necessary assets and 3D models. The virtual laboratory was designed to replicate the physical laboratory environment as suggested by the students and faculty. In this VR laboratory, six microbiology experiments on Gram staining, bacterial streaking, bacterial motility, catalase test, oxidase test and biochemical tests were placed on the virtual platform. First-year biomedical science students were recruited to evaluate the VR laboratory. Students' perception of the virtual laboratory was positive and encouraging. About 70% of the students expressed they felt safe using the VR laboratory and that it was engaging. They felt that the VR laboratory provided an immersive learning experience. They appreciated that they could repeat each experiment multiple times without worrying about mistakes or mishaps. They could personalise their learning by concentrating on the specific experiments. Our in-house VR-based microbiology laboratory was later extended to other health professions programmes teaching microbiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of fibers to asphalt mixtures has the potential to improve the resistance of asphalt mixtures to cracking and permanent deformation (rutting). However, the state (distribution) of fibers in the asphalt mix is critical parameter in determining performance enhancement. This study evaluated the impact of different laboratory mixing methods (mainly Hobart and bucket) on fiber distribution and selected a method comparable to plant-produced fiber-reinforced mixes. The laboratory performance of plant-mixed lab-compacted (PMLC) and lab-mixed lab-compacted (LMLC) fiber-reinforced mixtures was compared. Four types of laboratory and plant mixtures [unreinforced, polyolefin and aramid (PFA) fibers at 0.05% dosage, and Sasobit-coated aramid (SCA) fibers at 0.01% and 0.02% dosages] were produced to compare the laboratory performance of asphalt mixtures. The cracking resistance [evaluated using indirect tensile strength (ITS) and semicircular bend (SCB) tests], rutting susceptibility [evaluated using flow number (FN) and the Hamburg wheel tracking test (HWTT)], durability (evaluated using Cantabro loss), and fatigue (evaluated using a uniaxial fatigue test) performance of control and fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures were evaluated. Among laboratory mixing methods, a bucket mixer was selected to produce LMLC samples because it produced the maximum fiber distribution (87% of fibers in the individual state). Laboratory performance testing results showed that PFA-reinforced mixtures enhanced the rutting performance regardless of mixing method. The mixtures with PFA 0.05% and SCA 0.01% fibers were highly durable and had better dynamic modulus (|E*|) at low frequency and high temperature. Cracking performance was improved with the addition of SCA fibers into the mix; however, fiber-reinforced mixes (PFA 0.05% and SCA 0.01%) had higher fatigue damage tolerance, except SCA 0.02% reinforced mix. The laboratory bucket mixing method is representative of plant-produced fiber-reinforced mixtures, and laboratory performance results were consistent for laboratory bucket and plant produced mixtures. This paper showcases laboratory mixing method equivalent to fiber distribution that produce fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures comparable to those produced at an asphalt plant. Different laboratory mixing equipment, including Hobart and bucket mixers, was used to produce fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures in the laboratory. Aramid fibers were added into these mixers after separation by hand. In addition, the same fiber-reinforced mixtures were produced at a batch plant for comparison purpose. Fibers and binder were extracted from all mixtures and individual fibers (indicating better fiber distribution) were quantified. According to the results, the use of a bucket mixer led to better fiber distribution within the produced asphalt mixtures than did a Hobart mixer. Laboratory performance comparison results showed that the mixes produced using the bucket mixer had identical results to plant-produced mixtures. Hence, using a bucket mixer and introducing aramid fibers after hand separation is an effective way to produce plant-representative fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures. This is a major step toward designing and producing fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures and enhancing the cracking performance of asphalt mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on laboratory objectives in engineering education research is scattered and inconsistent. Systematic literature reviews identified the need for better understanding. This paper ranks the laboratory learning objectives across the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains to improve scaffolding. It provides an opportunity for reflection, a pathway to confirm assessment alignment, and opens future research areas. To accomplish this, the Laboratory Learning Objectives Measurement (LLOM) instrument is used to survey 160 academics from around the world representing 18 engineering disciplines. The results suggest that the collective ranking order does represent a framework that can be used broadly. However, for greater alignment with consensus thinking, discipline rankings should be used. The cognitive domain was deemed the most important. These results provide the community's opinion and may not necessarily be best practice, providing an opportunity for reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 40 years, immersive visualization laboratories have existed in different forms across academia, industry, and government, each one typically unique in their own ways. The following paper will discuss the success story of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery Virtual Environments (WIDVE) research group, located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The paper will discuss the rich history of immersive visualization displays that members of the lab have worked with, display systems that exist throughout the lab space at present day, future plans, and thoughts on the importance of a focus on immersive displays beyond only commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) VR devices. The paper will highlight several workflows and data pipelines that the lab has developed over the years. Finally, the paper will outline a recommended set of dos and don'ts for immersive visualization laboratories in regards to sustainability, before providing some conclusions regarding the future of immersive visualization laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow tests (LFTs) are an ingenious format for rapid and easy-to-use diagnostics, but they are fundamentally limited to assay chemistries that can be reduced to a single chemical step. In contrast, most laboratory diagnostic assays rely on multiple timed steps carried out by a human or a machine. Here, we use dissolvable sugar applied to paper to create programmable flow delays and present a paper network topology that uses these time delays to program automated multi-step fluidic protocols. Solutions of sucrose at different concentrations (10–70% of saturation) were added to paper strips and dried to create fluidic time delays spanning minutes to nearly an hour. A simple folding card format employing sugar delays was shown to automate a four-step fluidic process initiated by a single user activation step (folding the card); this device was used to perform a signal-amplified sandwich immunoassay for a diagnostic biomarker for malaria. The cards are capable of automating multi-step assay protocols normally used in laboratories, but in a rapid, low-cost, and easy-to-use format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At variance with vitamin K antagonists, the new oral anticoagulants (NOAs) can be prescribed at fixed dosage without adjustment by laboratory testing. However, this does not necessarily mean that the laboratory does not play a role for their management. This position paper represents the consensus document of three Italian scientific societies dealing with laboratory issues in thrombosis and hemostasis. It is aimed at reviewing: 1) which test(s) should be used to evaluate the anticoagulant effect of each of the NOAs presently available (i.e., dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban); 2) the patients to be investigated; and 3) the timing of investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory-based animal rearing is a common tool used to control environmental variation. However, important differences between lab and field environments may affect the biological relevance of results. Moreover, how lab rearing affects social dynamics in groups has received little attention. We investigated the effects of lab rearing on gene expression, physiology, behavior, and colony dynamics in a behavioral model system. The primitively eusocial paper wasp Polistes fuscatus has been studied in both lab and field and is an important system for understanding social evolution and caste (queen vs. worker) development. High nourishment has been implicated as a key factor in the development of prequeen ("gyne") traits. Because the nutritional environment is altered in the lab, understanding the effects of lab rearing on caste-related traits is critical to properly interpreting experimental results. Lab-reared wasps have access to ad lib food, whereas field colonies are likely food-limited. Our results support the hypothesis that lab rearing (and associated excess nourishment) biased the development of wasp physiology and to some extent, behavior, toward being more gyne-like. Expression levels of 4 caste-related genes, however, were in the opposite direction, toward more worker-like. Lab rearing also affected colony traits: lab-reared colonies dramatically halted nest construction and began producing male eggs 1 week later than field-reared colonies. These results demonstrate the complex effects of lab-rearing on eco-physiological traits of social species, and we discuss some pros and cons of studying ecological model systems in both lab and field settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratories have long been integral to science and engineering education. They encompass diverse formats, repeatedly engaging students in technical programs. These various forms entail distinct pedagogical approaches, expectations, and technical requirements. Scholarly discourse on laboratory education exhibits both historical context and recurrent debates. Despite the laboratory's potential, the focus often centers on knowledge and skill development rather than forward-looking competencies. This paper categorizes these discussions, providing an overview of laboratories' contributions to learning. It delves into the potential role of laboratories in modern education, covering hands-on and Cross Reality (XR) labs, instructional methods, objectives, and research-based learning. The paper aims to illuminate laboratories' capabilities in enhancing the learning process, and it explores the role of research-based learning in conjunction with the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April of 2011, Bio-Rad Laboratories Quality System Division (Irvine, CA, USA) hosted its third annual convocation of experts on laboratory quality in the city of Salzburg, Austria. As in the past 2 years, over 60 experts from across Europe, Israel, USA and South Africa convened to discuss contemporary issues and topics of importance to the clinical laboratory. This year's conference had EN/ISO 15189 and accreditation as the common thread for most discussions, with topics ranging from how to meet requirements like uncertainty to knowledge gained from those already accredited. The participants were divided into five discussion working groups (WG) with assigned topics. The outcome of these discussions is the subject of this summary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As efforts are made to develop detection, identification and monitoring equipment to provide capabilities to meet emerging threats, particular attention should be paid to the real-life operational environment and the uncontrollable factors which can impact on effectiveness and usability. All too often, laboratory-proven, sophisticated and effective instrumentation can suffer from degraded performance, and even failure, when deployed in demanding or harsh conditions, and may entail unacceptable handling or health and safety requirements. This Forum article looks at some of the technical and procedural considerations which should be taken into account when developing operational capabilities from proven scientific techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing hands-on practical education without access to laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic has required creativity and innovation. In this paper, co-authored by academic staff and students, we describe an at-home mobile phone-based 'spectrophotometer' experiment used in an introductory undergraduate biology course. Using colour picker apps, a smartphone can be used to quantify concentration, which was used to compare the strengths of different brands of tea. The protocol is designed to be low-cost and safe to perform outside of a laboratory. Students used the methods to learn important biochemical methods such as preparing dilutions, constructing calibration curves, normalising data and testing a hypothesis. We reflect on the experience of developing and using the protocol from a staff and student perspective, which highlights the advantages of this approach in terms of student independence and inclusivity. We also suggest alternative experiments that could be performed using the protocol. We encourage biology educators to think creatively about the possibilities for using mobile phones or at-home experiments in their teaching. Our experience suggests that at-home experiments like this protocol will have value even after the pandemic is over, particularly in terms of inclusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory experiments offer one way to introduce more realism in education and play a key role for the acquisition of practical skills, especially in engineering. This paper addresses the development of an equipment to teach fundamentals of industrial process control engineering mainly for undergraduate courses at the University of Extremadura. The laboratory consists of the DELTALAB–COSIMI wastewater treatment plant SP244, which is controlled by a CompactRIO-9014 high-performance real-time embedded controller, a kind of programmable logic controller of National Instruments. Learning objectives and a summary of students activities carried out in the laboratory lessons are given to illustrate the possibilities of use of this equipment for teaching of industrial process control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the basic concepts and the peculiarities of teaching electrochemistry on the example of St. Petersburg University. We discuss the main courses in electrochemistry and the role of theory and laboratory practice in the education of BSc and MSc students in Chemistry or Materials Science, including those, who will specialize in electrochemistry. The tight integration of basic lecture courses with seminars and experimental laboratory works is considered as the key element of electrochemistry education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently developed monitoring-systems show the need as also the possibilities for online- and offline-onsite-diagnostics. The limit in sensitivity for electrical pd-measurements according to IEC 60270 which is reached using filters for sinusoidal disturbances and compensation for corona impulses is still not satisfactory. The acoustic partial discharge measurement (pd-measurement) is also a well known and reliable method often used by transformer manufacturers in testing. In laboratory setups a gain in sensitivity of the acoustic in comparison to the electrical pd measurements could be established. This is reached by adapting the sensors to the propagation path, a modern but moderately priced acquisition hardware and the introduction of new signal processing algorithms. The developed sophisticated measuring, systems show remarkable results in online acoustic pd-measurements onsite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at paper versus electronic records in the context of complete data under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations for quality control (QC) laboratories in the U.S. It considers whether complete data includes the electronic files generated from a chromatographic analysis or just the signed paper printouts. The requirements for complete data for laboratories working under the FDA GMP regulations are highlighted.

For many processes in the pulp and paper industry there exist no reliable analytical models, but qualitative linguistic expert knowledge and data from on-line and laboratory measurements. Knowledge about the wood chip refiner in fibre board production is used to formulate the if-parts of Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy rules. Laboratory and on-line data are then used to fit the then-parts of these rules. The rule-based model serves as a soft sensor that enables the operators to manually control and optimise this process. An optimisation module based on sequential quadratic programming and/or simulated annealing automates this process. All modules are integrated in the commercial Siemens tool WinCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Interspecific C transfer was studied in laboratory microcosms containing pairs of 6-month-old Betula papyrifera Marsh. and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco seedlings growing in individual, root-restrictive (28 μm pore size) pouches filled with field soil. Interspecific transfer was examined by reciprocal labelling of seedlings with 13CO2(gas) and 14CO2(gas). At the time of labelling, the root zones of ectomycorrhizal (EM) B. papyrifera and P. menziesii were interconnected by an extensive network of EM mycelium. Carbon transferred through EM connections was distinguished from that through soil pathways by comparing microcosms where interconnecting hyphae were left intact vs. those where they were severed immediately before labelling. Transfer was bidirectional, and represented 5% of total isotope uptake by both B. papyrifera and P. menziesii together. P. menziesii received on average 50% more 14C and 66% more 13C from paper birch than vice versa, however, differences between species were not statistically significant. Neither net nor bidirectional transfer differed between severing treatments, leaving in question the relative importance of EM hyphae versus soil transfer pathways. The tendency for P. menziesii to receive more isotope than B. papyrifera corresponded with a 10-fold greater net photosynthetic rate per seedling and two-fold greater foliar N concentration of B. papyrifera than P. menziesii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates algorithms of motion planning for a six-legged walking machine over complex terrain. Application of the Rodrigues-Hamilton parameters for describing the orientation of the body enables one to develop algorithms of motion planning for the body and legs in an absolute coordinate frame with automatic adaptation to the surface. Experiments with a laboratory scale walking machine have demonstrated the efficiency of proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lists reports presented at the General Scientific Meetings of the Marine Biological Laboratory on August 14-16, 1995.

This paper uses a cascade-connected fuzzy-PI controller to control the position and speed of a differential drive and four-wheel drive of an autonomous mobile robot for optimal path planning. The angular speed information obtained from the encoder of each motor and the instantaneous position and angle information of the robot were calculated. The angle and position error between the reference points and these values is applied to the fuzzy logic controller as an input signal. The robot angular and linear speed data obtained from the fuzzy logic output were converted into reference speed values with kinematic equations to be applied to the motors. The speed controls of the motors were carried out with a PI controller based on these reference values. The study was performed both as a simulation in the MATLAB program and experimentally in the laboratory environment for one and more reference coordinates. In the experimental study, reference values were sent to the robot via Bluetooth with the Android application designed. At the same time, the instant data of the robot was also collected on the Android device through the same application. These data collected in Excel format were transferred to the computer via e-mail and the graphics were drawn in the MATLAB program. When the results were examined, it was seen that both speed and position control were successfully implemented with the fuzzy-PI controller for optimum path planning of the robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth faults is a challenging fault type to locate in resonant grounded networks due to their naturally low fault current, and the problem increases with an increased fault impedance. This paper describes the detailed implementation and laboratory testing of a method for detection, location and clearing of earth faults with very small fault currents. The method consists of two indicators used in the fault detection stage, where their simultaneous operation ensures selective fault detection and faulty feeder selection. One of these indicators also enables continuous fault indication throughout a sectionalizing process. The laboratory tests demonstrate that both indicators function as intended, and it is the current sensors which ultimately limit the attainable sensitivity. Faults up to 15 kΩ were detected successfully in the laboratory network based on phase current measurements, while the sectionalizing indicator showed much higher sensitivity and functioned as intended in a 50 kΩ fault. Measurements from one field test in a 22 kV network corroborate the laboratory results and demonstrate the expected earth fault indicator response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]