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This work presents a unique approach to the design, fabrication, and characterization of paper-based origami robotic systems consisting of stackable pneumatic actuators. These paper-based actuators (PBAs) use materials with high elastic modulus-to-mass ratios, accordion-like structures, and direct coupling with pneumatic pressure for extension and bending. The study contributes to the scientific and engineering understanding of foldable components under applied pneumatic pressure by constructing stretchable and flexible structures with intrinsically nonstretchable materials. Experiments showed that a PBA possesses a power-to-mass ratio greater than 80 W/kg, which is more than four times that of human muscle. This work also illustrates the stackability and functionality of PBAs by two prototypes: a parallel manipulator and a legged locomotor. The manipulator consisting of an array of PBAs can bend in a specific direction with the corresponding actuator inflated. In addition, the stacked actuators in the manipulator can rotate in opposite directions to compensate for relative rotation at the ends of each actuator to work in parallel and manipulate the platform. The locomotor rotates the PBAs to apply and release contact between the feet and the ground. Furthermore, a numerical model developed in this work predicts the mechanical performance of these inflatable actuators as a function of dimensional specifications and folding patterns. Overall, we use stacked origami actuators to implement functionalities of manipulation, gripping, and locomotion as conventional robotic systems. Future origami robots made of paper-like materials may be suitable for single use in contaminated or unstructured environments or low-cost educational materials.

A noise-suppressing low-light image enhancement approach is proposed in this paper based on the extent of exposedness at each image pixel. To this end, a progressive, structure-aware exposedness estimation procedure is presented that quantifies local and global exposedness. These exposedness values are leveraged to produce a locally smooth pixel-level map that signifies the required degrees of enhancement at image pixels. This map is subsequently used in an enhancement function, which satisfies a few important properties, to generate the enhanced image. Before the enhancement, inherent noise in the low-light image is diminished employing a detail-preserving, low gradient magnitude suppression method. Subjective and quantitative analysis of results on a wide variety of natural and synthetically generated low-light images from standard databases using PSNR, iRSE, SSIM, and measures of perceptual quality, natural image statistics and brightness preservation suggests that our approach in general outperforms the state-of-the-art. Ablation studies and further experiments show the importance of a few components of our approach, and that our approach is computationally fast.

Background The screening of biological hazards, chemical contaminants and allergens in food products is a major concern of food industry since they can cause serious illnesses and even lead to death. Therefore, there is a significant interest in developing low-cost, robust, and rapid detection methods for food safety and quality analysis. Conventional methods provide accurate analytical characteristics, but require well-equipped laboratories, trained personnel, costly reagents, and complicated sample preparation procedures prior to the detection in order to obtain reliable results. Hence, they are not always ideal for on-site food surveillance. Scope and approach This paper discusses the fundamentals of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) and reviews the recent progress in their usage for screening biological hazards, harmful chemical residues, and allergens in food products to systematically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this technology. It then covers future trends and useful strategies that could be employed in μPADs design and fabrication procedures to address the critical challenges in equipment-free food analysis. Key findings and conclusions μPADs offer promising avenues to revolutionize food safety and quality analysis with merits of equipment-free sample preparation and detection at low-cost. Despite the advancement in the microfluidic technology, the manufacturing of user-friendly sample-to-answer μPADs still requires intensive research studies to be employed for robust and sensitive food safety and quality analysis.

The appearance and quick spread of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease, COVID-19, brought major societal challenges. Importantly, suitable medical diagnosis procedures and smooth clinical management of the disease are an emergent need, which must be anchored on novel diagnostic methods and devices. Novel molecular diagnostic tools relying on nucleic acid amplification testing have emerged globally and are the current gold standard in COVID-19 diagnosis. However, the need for widespread testing methodologies for fast, effective testing in multiple epidemiological scenarios remains a crucial step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Biosensors have previously shown the potential for cost-effective and accessible diagnostics, finding applications in settings where conventional, laboratorial techniques may not be readily employed. Paper- and cellulose-based biosensors can be particularly relevant in pandemic times, for the renewability, possibility of mass production with sustainable methodologies, and safe environmental disposal. In this review, paper-based devices and platforms targeting SARS-CoV-2 are showcased and discussed, as a means to achieve quick and low-cost PoC diagnosis, including detection methodologies for viral genomic material, viral antigen detection, and serological antibody testing. Devices targeting inflammatory markers relevant for COVID-19 are also discussed, as fast, reliable bedside diagnostic tools for patient treatment and follow-up., The authors acknowledge funding through projects Eco2Covid (POCI-01-02B7-FEDER-068174) and TecniCov (POCI-01-02B7-FEDER-069745), co-funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020 and Lisboa2020. T.P., A.R.C. and A.C.M. acknowledge funding to National Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., FCT, through their PhD grants, references DFA/BD/8606/2020, SFRH/BD/130107/2017 and SFRH/BD/115173/2016, respectively, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The majority of chemical experiments conducted during educational programs are carried out in laboratories because they require instructors with special skills, in addition to large, expensive instruments. Recently, there has been an increasing demand for chemical experiments that can be carried out anywhere. Herein, we propose a novel type of paper-based analytical device (PAD) for enabling quantitative analysis without the requirement for a micropipette, since the PAD features a large sample loading zone and a waste zone, enabling accurate volume control of a liquid sample. We initially employed a micropipette to evaluate the PAD and demonstrate the quantitative analysis of ascorbic acid (AA) and pH using different loading volumes. Finally, we determined the AA concentrations and pH values of commercially available beverages using disposable plastic droppers, and the obtained results were in good agreement with those obtained through conventional methods. This PAD format can therefore be used as a novel educational tool for conducting certain chemical analyses in remote learning environments.

Tracer Study or alumni tracking is one of the methods used by several universities in Indonesia, to obtain input and feedback from alumni. Input and feedback obtained from alumni can be an improvement and development of the quality of the education system implemented at the university. Tracer studies are also useful in providing important information about the relationship between institutions and the world of work. The Tracer Study of the Indonesian Methodist University is still using a form (Paper Based), one of which is the D-III study program of Informatics Management and Computerized Accounting. The D-III study programs from previous years have produced many alumni who are ready to work, alumni data and the management system have not been saved to the database, so the stored data can be damaged, lost and it will take time to find alumni data. Therefore, a web-based tracer study information system is needed so that the system can be computerized. The website is built using the HTML, PHP, Bootstrap and MYSQL programming languages ​​as a data storage system or commonly called a database. The existence of this alumni tracer study website can facilitate the process of implementing the alumni tracer study. The system built is expected to improve and develop the quality of the current system.

Speech recognition in noisy environments is one of the long-standing research themes but remains a very important challenge nowadays. Therefore, there is much research into all techniques and approaches to improve the performance of speech recognition systems, even in poor conditions. This paper presents a comparative study under various conditions based on two architectures (GMM-HMM and DNN-HMM), the Hybrid GMM-HMM models using the CMU Sphinx tools and the Hybrid DNN-HMM using the KALDI toolkit in noise environment. In this study, we compare the Hybrid GMM-HMM models and the Hybrid DNN-HMM models to evaluate the performance of the proposed system. The novelty of this paper is to test if the presented tools could be, with good accuracy, recognize the Arabic speech principally in noisy environment. In addition, we adopted the noisy training theory in this paper based on GMM-HMM and DNN-HMM model. We use the public Arabic Speech Corpus for Isolated Words (20 words), three noise levels, and three noise types. The implementation of our system consists of two phases: Features extraction using Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC) and the classification phase will use separately the previous two models. In order to test the performance of these methods a simulation will presented for different SNR and for different district type of noise.

Teaching about biodiversity and its conservation could be an effective way to teach the importance of different species and human dependence on ecological support systems. This study compares the effectiveness of a digital and a paper-based dichotomous identification key for teaching pre-service teachers about plantspecies diversity. Twenty-four Slovenian teachers in pre-service training used a digital version of the key on tablet computers and twenty-nine used a paper-based version to identify woody species in the garden near their university faculty. Both keys contained the same species, identical photographs and the same sequence of steps to identify the species. The accuracy and time taken to identify the five species were measured. The participants also completed a questionnaire about the usability of the identification key. Overall, both versions of the key were equally good for determining species names. The digital version of the key was found to be more time-effective than the paper version only when multiple identification steps were required to identify species. The results confirm that those who scored better on the identification tasks have a better general opinion about the usability of the key especially students using digital version of the key. Implications for teachers using or creating identification keys are discussed in the conclusion.

The health status monitoring of special transformers is of great significance to ensure the secure operation of the distribution network and the power quality of special transformer users. Given this background, an operation health status monitoring algorithm of special transformers is proposed in this paper based on balanced iterative reducing and clustering using hierarchies (BIRCH) and Gaussian Cloud methods (GCM). The algorithm is composed of two parts, i.e., the offline and online parts. For the offline part, the operating indexes of special transformers are extracted based on historical operating data, and Gaussian clouds of normal operating conditions of the special transformers are determined by BIRCH clustering and Gaussian cloud methods. For the online part, Gaussian clouds of real-time operating conditions of special transformers are determined by BIRCH clustering and Gaussian cloud methods based on real-time operation data. Then, the monitoring results of operating health status are determined by the distance between the standard Gaussian clouds and the real-time Gaussian clouds of special transformers. Finally, case studies for actual special transformers are performed to verify the proposed method, and the results show that the proposed model can effectively identify the abnormal operation of the special transformer.

One of the most cited limitations of biochemical detection is its poor sensitivity, owing to the relatively high complexity of micro-samples. Moreover, some samples cannot be easily self-replicated and their abundance cannot be increased through traditional technologies. Therefore, the preconcentration of low-abundance samples is a key requirement for microfluidic biological analysis. In recent years, the ion-concentration polarization phenomenon has aroused widespread interest in the application of microfluidic technology. In addition, paper-based materials are readily available, easy to modify, and exhibit good hydrophilicity. The study of the ion-concentration polarization preconcentration of micro-samples in paper-based microfluidic chips is of considerable significance. In this review, we discuss the development and applications of ion-concentration polarization paper-based preconcentrator in the past 5 years, with emphasis on key progresses in chip fabrication and performance optimization under different conditions. The current needs and development prospects in this field have also been discussed.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have developed rapidly in recent years, because of their advantages, such as small sample volume, rapid detection rates, low cost, and portability. Due to these characteristics, they can be used for in vitro diagnostics in the laboratory, or in the field, for a variety of applications, including food evaluation, disease screening, environmental monitoring, and drug testing. This review will present various detection methods employed by μPADs and their respective applications for the detection of target analytes. These include colorimetry, electrochemistry, chemiluminescence (CL), electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and fluorescence-based methodologies. At the same time, the choice of labeling material and the design of microfluidic channels are also important for detection results. The construction of novel nanocomponents and different smart structures of paper-based devices have improved the performance of μPADs and we will also highlight some of these in this manuscript. Additionally, some key challenges and future prospects for the use of μPADs are briefly discussed.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices are emerging as promising options for on-the-spot detection of chemical contaminants in water. The coupling of these devices with digital imaging technol...

A newly developed research topic, fabricated paper-based microfluidic sensors, was discussed in the field of low-cost environmental detection. Distinguished with the traditional dipstick or lateral-flow setups, these paper-based microfluidic sensors can serve as a tool for onsite quantitative and semi-quantitative measurements, without risks to cause environmental pollution. They have attracted increasing interest since the first easy-fabricated paper-based setup reported by Whitesides group in 2007. Most of the publications utilized paper-based sensors in clinical detection. In recent years, some groups started to use these sensors in environmental measurement, leading to precise, easy operation, low-cost, and eco-friendly methods for onsite detection. In this review, paper-based microfluidic sensors were briefly introduced, followed by literatures review and discussion for future perspectives.

The development of industry and of the Internet of Things (IoTs) have brought energy issues and huge challenges to the environment. The emergence of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) has attracted wide attention due to their advantages, such as self-powering, lightweight, and facile fabrication. Similarly to paper and other fiber-based materials, which are biocompatible, biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and are everywhere in daily life, paper-based TENGs (P-TENGs) have shown great potential for various energy harvesting and interactive applications. Here, a detailed summary of P-TENGs with two-dimensional patterns and three-dimensional structures is reported. P-TENGs have the potential to be used in many practical applications, including self-powered sensing devices, human–machine interaction, electrochemistry, and highly efficient energy harvesting devices. This leads to a simple yet effective way for the next generation of energy devices and paper electronics.

The main topic of the paper is storage rationalization. Specifically, the proposal of a methodology related to the rationalization of storage systems in warehouses of industrial companies. The methodology emphasizes the new concept of Warehouse 4.0, including Industry 4.0 warehouse applications in general. Firstly, the theoretical basis of the paper is described. This part of the paper starts with a description of logistics, Logistics 4.0, warehouse systems, Warehouse 4.0 and modern approaches linked to Industry 4.0 that can be implemented in logistics. Then the factors influencing the effectiveness of the warehouse are summarized – this is original summary in the paper based on the available literature and other sources. After this, storage rationalization and the costs linked to it are described. The first part of the paper ends with a summary of the theoretical basis of the information. The main subject of the paper is explained in the second part of the paper, which concentrates on the proposal of a methodology related to storage rationalization of warehouses in industrial companies. The individual steps are described. The purpose of the paper is to share our approaches firstly about the summarised factors influencing the effectiveness of a warehouse and secondly about the methodology proposal itself. This information may inspire other research institutions to consider aspects of this topic which could be otherwise overlooked.

Antimicrobial resistance is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global health. To combat this emerging threat, accessible antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be prioritized as a key component of stewardship efforts. In this work, we developed a user-friendly paper-based test that provides visual readout of bacterial antibiotic susceptibility in a semiquantitative format. We leveraged on-chip paper microfluidics to enable multiplexed testing of multiple antibiotic dilutions with a single sample addition step, replicating the functionality of traditional broth-dilution-based susceptibility testing in a simplified format. Our paper-based test offers several advantages including low sample volume requirement and lack of need for humidity control during incubation, an innovation that addresses a key limitation of conventional paper-microfluidic devices. Using several clinically relevant bacterial organisms and antimicrobial agents, we demonstrate that our colorimetric readout approach provides a strong predictor of susceptibility category.

Edible oils form an integral component in the human diet as well as in the industrial preparations. Any adulteration in oil is concerning from nutritional as well as economical perspective. Although analytical techniques exist for detection of adulterants in oil, most of them require sophisticated instruments, and trained professionals. Microfluidic based lab-on-a-chip technologies have rapidly progressed over the recent years and offer promising alternatives in this regard. In this work, we report development of a paper-based microfluidic lab-on-a-chip for detection of palm oil contamination in sunflower oil. We use the paper-based microfluidic colorimetric detection approach that indicates the presence of adulteration in a visual manner. The data is analyzed using digitally acquired images along with ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The paper-based microfluidic device is fabricated and tested for 10–50% (v/v) palm oil adulteration in sunflower oil. Further, we employ the device for free fatty acid content tests in oil samples. Visual signal acquired from the device is optimized by varying phenolphthalein proportions. The stability of visual colorimetric signal is examined over time and is found to remain steady over the trial period of six days considered in this work. The integration of the detection device with smartphone imaging can prove to be useful for onsite data collection. We believe the approach presented here can be extended to food quality monitoring portable platforms.

Introduction We developed low-cost, portable paper-based diagnostic devices for detection of human immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum without any sample preparation. These devices can be used to help identify presence of diseases, used to provide rapid results ( Materials and Methods We successfully accomplished colorimetric detection of human IgG and human IgM using a sandwich-style assay within the microfluidic paper device via vertical flow immunoassay configuration. The reaction zone in the wax printed paper layer is a small circular pattern. Gold nanoparticles conjugated with anti-human IgG and IgM antibodies have been used for colorimetric detection of IgG or IgM by naked eye. Colorimetric signal can be precisely quantified through implementation of image analysis software which can be developed as an app for a smartphone. The size of the device is 2 cm × 2 cm × 1 mm. Results Colorimetric detection of human IgG was accomplished at 100 fg/mL concentration using a gold nanoparticle–conjugated anti-human IgG antibody. The developed platform has a dynamic range of IgM and IgG concentrations between 0.1 pg/mL and 100 μg/mL. These devices provided a color readout in Conclusions Because of the inherent simplicity of the device operation and their ease of use, there is no variation between samples and users of the device. This low-cost approach enables multiplexing with >1 measurement performed in parallel at the same time. We anticipate that because of the sensitivity, specificity, ease of use, and overall reliability, this approach will become a standard for diagnosis of diseases and health conditions.

pH of fluids is an important indicator in biomedical and environmental studies. Conventional pH analysis techniques are often either instrumentation-intensive, expensive or qualitative in nature. Microfluidics based analytical devices have emerged as powerful alternative to overcome some of the existing limitations. These devices are characterized by low reagent and sample volumes, controlled flow, cost-effectiveness and portability. In this work, we report a microfluidic paper-based lab-on-a-chip pH sensing platform that incorporates passive fluid flow of samples. The colorimetric pH detection is integrated with mobile phone based image acquisition, followed by digital image processing and analysis for quantitative interpretation of data. The images are analyzed using image processing algorithms and color space. Regression analysis of data acquired from digital image analysis was used to evaluate the mathematical model for estimation of pH. The insights gained by this work would prove useful in development and deployment of portable and miniaturized sensors.

Cocaine (COC) is one of the most widely consumed illegal drugs around the world. Street COC is commonly adulterated with pharmaceutical compounds that mimic or intensify the COC's sensory effect. Adulteration is performed to increase the profit of criminal organizations and each one has their own way of doing it. Therefore, determining the composition of seized COC samples (chemical profile) provides evidence for the police to track criminal organization networks and their activity patterns. Using filter paper as a substrate, we developed a multiple detection paper-based analytical device (PAD) that combines colorimetric and electrochemical measurements to discriminate COC samples according to adulterant's content. A regular graphite lead modified with a gold film made from Au leaf (graphite/Au) to improve electron transfer was used as a working electrode. Silver and Ag/AgCl were used as auxiliary and reference electrodes, respectively. The colorimetric device was patterned using a laser cutter and coupled to the electrochemical device using a double-sided tape, allowing simultaneous analysis to gather more analytical information about COC samples. Graphite/Au was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies and electrochemical assays. The simultaneous colorimetric and electrochemical analyses combined to principal component analysis improved the analytical characterization of COC trial samples and provided a fast discrimination based on the assembled database.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have been fabricated in various ways to improve flexibility. Flexibility could be enhanced via active materials, separators, electrodes, and electrolytes, which could then be integrated to form flexible electronic devices with promising electrochemical properties compared to traditional non-flexible Li-ion batteries. Recent progress towards flexible Li- ion batteries fabrication, materials, and their electrochemical properties are investigated in this review. Additionally, recent developments in electronic devices utilizing flexible batteries and their future applications are explored. Portable and wearable electronics, as the primary beneficiaries of the flexible, rechargeable, and high-performance Li-ion batteries, are examined. In the end, various applications and challenges of flexible batteries in healthcare and various energy storage systems, considering practical implementation, are argued.

The main purpose of this paper is to present the methodology for calculating the electromagnetic behaviour of real integrated circuit (IC) parts using a no-mesh local Finite Differential Method (FDM). Furthermore, the comparison of computational results and measurements is presented. All considerations are based on typical long transmission lines (TLs) in modern ICs. The obtained results have been analysed in detail and compared with measured values. The measurement data are de-embedded using the test board model. This problem is illustrated in this paper based on a practical example of the Multi-Conductor Transmission Lines test structure whose electrical responses to various excitations are presented and analysed in detail.

Zinc and its compounds, alloys and composites play an important role in the modern day world and find application in almost every aspect that can improve the quality of our lives. This ranges from supplements and pharmaceuticals that are meant to improve our health and wellbeing to additives meant to guard or reduce corrosion in metals. However, over the past several years, a new area of technology has been garnering a great deal of attention and has made use of zinc and its compounds. This is with reference to paper-based microfluidic technology that offers several advantages and that keeps expanding in the amount of applications it covers. In this paper, a review is offered for the applications that have used zinc or zinc compounds in paper-based microfluidic devices.

Infectious diseases cause millions of deaths annually in the developing world. Recently, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have been developed to diagnose such diseases, as these tests are low cost, biocompatible, and simple to fabricate. However, current μPADs are difficult to use in resource-limited areas due to their reliance on external instrumentation to measure and analyze the test results. In this work, we propose an electricity and external instrumentation-free μPAD sensor based on the colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of infectious disease (3D-tPADs). Designed based on the principle of origami, the proposed μPAD enables the sequential steps of the colorimetric ELISA test to be completed in just ∼10 min. In addition, in order to obtain an accurate ELISA result without using any instrument, we have integrated an electricity-free "timer" within the μPAD that can be controlled by the buffer viscosity and fluid path volume to indicate the appropriate times for washing and color development steps, which can avoid false positive or false negative results caused by an extended or shortened amount of washing and development times. Due to the low background noise and high positive signal intensity of the μPAD, positive and negative detection results can be distinguished by just the naked eye. Furthermore, the ELISA result can be semi-quantified by comparing the results shown on the μPAD with a color chart diagram with a detection limit of HIV type 1(HIV-1) p24 antigen as low as 0.03 ng mL-1. These results demonstrate the proposed sensor can perform infectious disease diagnosis without external instrumentation or electricity, extending the application of the μPAD test for on-site detection and use in resource-limited settings.

Introduction: Water is essential for normal functioning of the human body. Total fluid intake assessment using fluid record method is considered to be a burden for respondents, and the development of technology is expected to contribute favourably to this issue. My Fluid Diary is a smartphone-based application developed by the researcher as a fluid intake recording tool. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of manual, paper-based fluid intake recording compared to using My Fluid Diary as a trial among Indonesian vocational female students. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to explore students’ acceptance of fluid intake recording using the smartphone-based application. An exploratory case study approach involving 38 female students as key informants was used via focus group discussion and in-depth interview as a method of triangulation. Results: Based on the data, female adolescents admitted that the application was more acceptable for fluid intake than recording manually using a book, in consideration of three aspects - the benefits, the easiness, and the application display or features. Based on its benefits, My Fluid Diary was mentioned as easy to learn and use. However, in order to improve the application, there is still a need for research development. Conclusion: My Fluid Diary was an application with respectable acceptance for fluid record compared to the manual, paper-based method among female adolescents.

The built environment of an older person’s home can reduce or promote the possibility of a fall or other injury. A user-friendly tool can help the residents to evaluate their home environment withi...

Summary Aims Statistical analysis for the big data of marathon score. Methods Taking the Boston Marathon as an example and using statistical analysis, this paper studies the distribution of all players’ performances in 2001–2018 from the multiple perspectives of age, gender and digital statistics in the context of big data. A series of valuable information and research conclusions that are instructive for the organizers and participants of the event are obtained. Then an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model for the statistics of male and female entrants’ average finishing time is established and the ARMA model has excellent explanation and prediction ability for the marathon average result. The statistical analysis and modeling method of big data for marathon results proposed in this paper based on Boston can also be extended to other cities and events. In addition, the ARMA method can also be used to model other marathon statistics according to the needs of researchers.

The growing need for reliable analytical tools to perform measurements at the point-of-need has prompted the development of novel sensors that are low cost, portable, sensitive, easy to use, and capable of multiplexed analysis. Miniaturization of the sensors into microfluidic platforms has become a promising approach to achieve these self-contained sensors. However, traditional microfluidics often require relatively expensive and complicated pumping mechanisms that increase the cost and limit the portability of the sensors. From a material perspective, paper is an attractive substrate for constructing point-of-need sensors because of its affordability, vast availability, and self-pumping ability, particularly when combined with electrochemical detection. In this mini-review, we discuss various strategies to achieve multiplexing or simultaneous detection of multiple analytes in electrochemical paper-based devices and provide a brief guide on selecting the detection strategy based on the electrochemical property of the analytes.

Purpose/audience: this study targets designers, clinicians and biomedical engineers who are involved in digital surgical planning and patient-specific medical device design, either in hospitals, universities or companies. A commonly accepted, standardized design process does not exist in this specialized but highly variable field, and this can make regulatory compliance via the implementation of quality standards more difficult. Methodology/approach: an article-based design pro-forma was created based on needs identified in previous work. It was structured in order to broadly standardize the design process; consolidate planning and modelling behaviours into discrete clusters; anticipate decision-making on key product requirements; facilitate focused discussion with clients (surgeons); create a pleasurable experience for the designer; and encourage detailed reporting of design decisions and therefore to lower barriers to Quality Management System (QMS) implementation and adherence. The performance of the pro-forma was verified using observation, simultaneous verbalization and semi-structured interviews. Three participants across two contexts were observed designing without and then with the pro-forma. Their behaviours and comments were recorded, their designed outcomes evaluated and their quality compliance assessed. Findings: The design workflow was shown to be segmented and contained within distinct and repeatable steps when using the pro-forma. Reported participant confidence increased and stress decreased. Contact time between participants and clients was consolidated. Designed outputs and documented records successfully complied with generalizable aspects of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 13485 standard. However, it did not, and by definition could never, wholly implement a complete certifiable QMS, which must be tailored to a specific organization. Implications for practice, society or research: as demand for patient-specific devices continues to rise, and as regulatory requirements about QMS adherence extend to cover all contexts, organizations will need to react accordingly. This pro-forma offers a clear direction for how to introduce evidence-based best practices, and a starting point for full QMS certification. Originality/value: this research marks the first attempt to standardize this highly specialized design process across users, tools and contexts.

An evaluation for the development of a paper-based test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for English Education Department students at one of the colleges in Langsa, Aceh, Indonesia, is necessary, considering their unsatisfactory scores even though the preparation program has been conducted. This research employed context, input, process, and product (CIPP) model developed by Stufflebeam upon the program. Methodologically, interviews, questionnaires, and observation were executed to five TOEFL lecturers and 34 students, while the data obtained were analyzed with the qualitative analysis method of Miles and Huberman. Based on the evaluation of context, the program had an appropriate background, goals, and objectives. Regarding the input, it still had problems related to the availability of resources and facilities. There were no standardized learning materials available, including the broken language laboratory. It affected the process since the lecturers could not maximize the facilities to create an effective learning environment. Eventually, it affected the product since most students could not reach an expected score. Most of the participants agreed that the program needed to be improved. Several improvements can be made to overcome these problems by providing required learning facilities, designing standardized learning materials, and clustering classes in accordance with students’ abilities.

Advancements in technology have led to the use of smartphones as biosensor detectors. However, it is difficult to obtain stable color information of colorimetric sensors using multiple smartphones owing to different light conditions and image correction operations. In this study, we attempted color detection of the colorimetric paper chip using smartphone-embedded light-emitting diode (LED) and simple transformation calculation. This method enables the acquisition of stable color information using different smartphones by reducing the influence of external light sources. Moreover, we studied characteristics such as convergence and distinction of detection result details by the manufacturers and smartphones. These findings suggested the necessity of classification criteria for the use of smartphones to achieve optimal detection. In addition, white and black references were used to set the standard for color correction of various light sources. Based on our results, we conclude that this approach presents the possibility of smartphone-based colorimetric detection in practical applications.

This study aimed to describe and test environmental problem solving ability, analyze differences in environmental problem solving ability when viewed from gender and school differences. To test the ability of students environmental problem solving, a test instrument that refers to the Sanjaya indicator in 2008 was developed. The items on the test were developed by researchers and validated by material and language experts. After revising the results of expert validation, then the environmental problem solving instrument was tested. The trial results obtained a test instrument was valid and reliable. The test was conducted on 136 students in Banjarmasin Indonesia. Quantitative data obtained from students' answers were then analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests with the assistance of SPSS 23 for Windows. The results show that: 1) the ability of students environmental problem solving was still low, 2) there is no relationship between gender differences and the ability of environmental problem solving. 3) There is no relationship between school differences and problem solving abilities. The result of study suggests further researchers need to facilitate students through teaching materials in the implementation of learning and improve student activity in learning to increase environmental problem solving ability

Development of paper-based microfluidic devices that perform colorimetric measurements requires quantitative image analysis. Because the design geometries of paper-based microfluidic devices are not standardized, conventional methods for performing batch measurements of regularly spaced areas of signal intensity, such as those for well plates, cannot be used to quantify signal from most of these devices. To streamline the device development process, we have developed an open-source program called ColorScan that can automatically recognize and measure signal-containing zones from images of devices, regardless of output zone geometry or spatial arrangement. This program, which measures color intensity with the same accuracy as standard manual approaches, can rapidly process scanned device images, simultaneously measure identified output zones, and effectively manage measurement results to eliminate requirements for time-consuming and user-dependent image processing procedures.

Paper is a common material that is promising for constructing microfluidic chips (lab-on-a-paper) for diagnostics and drug delivery for biomedical applications. In the past decade, extensive research on paper-based microfluidics has accumulated a large number of scientific publications in the fields of biomedical diagnosis, food safety, environmental health, drug screening and delivery. This review focuses on the recent progress on paper-based microfluidic technology with an emphasis on the design, optimization and application of the technology platform, in particular for medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Novel advances have concentrated on engineering paper devices for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, which could be integrated with nucleic acid-based tests and isothermal amplification experiments, enabling rapid sample-to-answer assays for field testing. Among the isothermal amplification experiments, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), an extremely sensitive nucleic acid test, specifically identifies ultralow concentrations of DNA/RNA from practical samples for diagnosing diseases. We thus mainly focus on the paper device-based LAMP assay for the rapid infectious disease diagnosis, foodborne pathogen analysis, veterinary diagnosis, plant diagnosis, and environmental public health evaluation. We also outlined progress on paper microfluidic devices for drug delivery. The paper concludes with a discussion on the challenges of this technology and our insights into how to advance science and technology towards the development of fully functional paper devices in diagnostics and drug delivery.

Directed evolution has become an important method to unleash the latent potential of enzymes to make them uniquely suited for human purposes. However, the need for a large reagent volume and sophisticated instrumentation hampers its broad implementation. In an attempt to address this problem, here we report a paper-based high-throughput screening approach that should find broad application in generating desired enzymes. As an example case, the dehalogenation reaction of the halohydrin dehalogenase was adopted for assay development. In addition to visual detection, quantitative measurements were performed by measuring the color intensity of an image that was photographed by a smartphone and processed using ImageJ free software. The proposed method was first validated using a gold standard method and then applied to mutagenesis library screening with reduced consumption of reagents (i.e., ≤ 10 μl per assay) and a shorter assay time. We identified two active mutants (P135A and G137A) with improved activities toward four tested substrates. The assay not only consumes less reagents but also eliminates the need for expensive instrumentation. The proposed method demonstrates the potential of paper-based whole-cell screening coupled with digital image colorimetry as a promising approach for the discovery of industrially important enzymes.Key Points• A frugal method was developed for directed enzyme evolution.• Mutagenesis libraries were successfully screened on a paper platform.• Smartphone imaging was efficiently used to measure enzyme activities.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) allow user-friendly and portable chemical determinations, although they provide limited applicability due to insufficient sensitivity. Several approaches have been proposed to address poor sensitivity in μPADs, but they frequently require bulky equipment for power and/or read-outs. Universal serial buses (USB) are an attractive alternative to less portable power sources and are currently available in many common electronic devices. Here, USB-powered μPADs (USB μPADs) are proposed as a fusion of both technologies to improve performance without adding instrumental complexity. Two ITP USB μPADs were developed, both powered by a 5 V potential provided through standard USB ports. The first device was fabricated using the origami approach. Its operation was analyzed experimentally and numerically, yielding a two-order-of-magnitude sample focusing in 15 min. The second ITP USB μPAD is a novel design, which was numerically prototyped with the aim of handling larger sample volumes. The reservoirs were moved away from the ITP channel and capillary action was used to drive the sample and electrolytes to the separation zone, predicting 25-fold sample focusing in 10 min. USB μPADs are expected to be adopted by minimally-trained personnel in sensitive areas like resource-limited settings, the point-of-care and in emergencies. Fil: Schaumburg, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina Fil: Kler, Pablo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones en Métodos Computacionales. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Centro de Investigaciones en Métodos Computacionales; Argentina Fil: Carrell, Cody S.. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados Unidos Fil: Berli, Claudio Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentina Fil: Henry, Charles S.. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados Unidos

Evidence to support widespread adoption of digital health tools in hospitals is still lacking, and proof of their acceptance within the health system is largely missing. This study compared patient's pre-consultation waiting time (time spent at the pay-point, registration, and nursing-station prior to consultation) in two hospitals, one using paper based registration system and the other using an electronic (eHealth) registration system. Structured questionnaires were administered to both patients and health workers to determine and compare factors affecting care delivery wait times and how the use or non-use of eHealth in patient's registration process influence it. In addition, patient wait times were measured in both hospitals at these care points. Overall aggregate waiting time was observed to be longer in Maitama District Hospital (MDH) using the electronic hospital information system. This variance was found to be statistically significant as can be seen (t= 58.405, p=0.024). Inspite of this, wait times at registration and pay-point was significantly lower for MDH.

We developed a portable device for blood detection as well as blood typing assay, using a microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) which proves to be sensitive, cost-effective, user-frie...

This research originated from concerns about the opportunity to cheat if the test was conducted on computer media and smartphones (Android). This study aimed at determining the process of implementing computer-based and Android-based National Examination (USBN), constraints that may be faced, whether or not there are opportunities for examinees to cheat, effective or not, and whether or not USBN-based and computer-based USBN is efficient. In this study, researchers used descriptive research methods by collecting data on interviews, documents, and library sources as primary data sources and secondary data. The implementation of USBN CBT (National Standard School Exams Based Test) is an alternative in minimizing paper use. USBN CBT is more effective and efficient than USBN PBT (Paper Based Test). The results of the study found that: the process and technical implementation of computer-based and android-based USBN in 9 high schools throughout the Banyuasin District of South Sumatra Province differed from one another, 2) There were no severe constraints, 3) There was no opportunity for exam participants to cheat, 4) Very effective because it is easier to practice, 5) Very efficient because it can minimize the use of paper and electricity, especially in USBN based on Android. In the following years, it was strongly recommended to implement computer-based and android-based USBN both in the high school environment throughout the Banyuasin District, in South Sumatra and throughout Indonesia in general.

The present study delineates the fabrication of paper-based devices for culturing liver cells and developing related bioassays. The devices were prepared by conventional lab-based LaserJet printing technology and employed for 3D cell culture. Our results demonstrated that the devices efficiently supported the growth of multiple cell types incuding HepG2, HUVEC, fibroblasts, and MSCs. We further showed that the device specifications (grade of paper or design parameters) greatly impacted the functional phenotype of the HepG2 cells. We also explored the application of the developed devices for routine cell culture, drug screening, coculture, and transwell migration assays. The cellular responses observed on the paper under different culture configurations were similar to those obtained in the case of tissue culture plate (TCP). Moreover, we showed that the paper-based devices were compatible with the immunocytochemistry and ELISA procedures (no indication of nonspecific matrix-antibody interaction). Considering the simplicity, experimental flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and multiplexibility of the paper-based liver models, it is deemed to be ideal for developing cell-based bioassays, especially in resource-limited settings.

As the main production unit of plywood, the surface defects of veneer seriously affect the quality and grade of plywood. Therefore, a new method for identifying wood defects based on progressive growing generative adversarial network (PGGAN) and the MASK R-CNN model is presented. Poplar veneer was mainly studied in this paper, and its dead knots, live knots, and insect holes were identified and classified. The PGGAN model was used to expand the dataset of wood defect images. A key ideal employed the transfer learning in the base of MASK R-CNN with a classifier layer. Lastly, the trained model was used to identify and classify the veneer defects compared with the back- propagation (BP) neural network, self-organizing map (SOM) neural network, and convolutional neural network (CNN). Experimental results showed that under the same conditions, the algorithm proposed in this paper based on PGGAN and MASK R-CNN and the model obtained through the transfer learning strategy accurately identified the defects of live knots, dead knots, and insect holes. The accuracy of identification was 99.05%, 97.05%, and 99.10%, respectively.

Recently, solution of discretisation operator technique with circular (DOTWC) approach, and runge-kutta implicit are presented for the Eigen efficient analysis, in this paper based on the various s...

Despite the advancement of technologies and tools used to design and display building elements in construction, design communication on construction sites still heavily relies on 2-dimensional draw...

Paper has been used for more than a century in analytical and bioanalytical devices, owing to its low cost. Based on its biodegradability, biocompatibility, worldwide abundance, chemical, stability and three-dimensional fibrous structure, paper is one of the most widely used substrates for the construction of low-cost disposable devices and sensing platforms. Electrochemical paper-based devices (ePADs) have attracted widespread attention in biosensing due to their benefits in biomedical analysis. For analytical measurements ranging from clinical diagnostics to environmental biosensing, ePADs are simple, portable, inexpensive, rapid, flexible, and easy-to-use analytical tools for point-of-care diagnosis. This review surveys the recent advances in ePAD development in biosensing. Also, fabrication techniques and examples of applications in immunosensing, aptasensing and genosensing were discussed. In addition, the advantages and limitations of ePADs in biosensing are investigated. Finally, the challenges of these biosensors are discussed.

The last decade saw the development of electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs). While sharing the characteristics of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) that use colourimetric detection, ePADs show enhanced limits of detection and selectivity, avoid the bias of human eye observation without any considerable increase in the device cost, and maintain the capacity for miniaturisation and in-field application. Over this period, different ingenious approaches were used to fabricate ePADs for many analytical problems such as in clinical and forensic applications. Hence, we review the fabrication procedures of these ePADs, from the initial report to the steps used to pattern the physical/chemical boundaries (non-conductive patterns) and conductive tracks (electrodes) on a paper substrate. Selected literature is discussed according to the fabrication procedures, electrochemical detection techniques, and applications. We also discuss other interesting approaches using conductive tracks on PADs for non-electrochemical transduction, i.e., as an electrical tool to assist in sample preparation or preconcentration steps, as well as some applications in the energy-related field. At the end, an overview and trends in the fabrication, application, and commercialisation status of ePADs are provided.