Demand-Driven Multi-Target Sample Preparation on Resource-Constrained Digital Microfluidic Biochips

Microfluidic lab-on-chips offer promising technology for the automation of various biochemical laboratory protocols on a minuscule chip. Sample preparation (SP) is an essential part of any biochemical experiments, which aims to produce dilution of a sample or a mixture of multiple reagents in a certain ratio. One major objective in this area is to prepare dilutions of a given fluid with different concentration factors, each with certain volume, which is referred to as the demand-driven multiple-target (DDMT) generation problem. SP with microfluidic biochips requires proper sequencing of mix-split steps on fluid volumes and needs storage units to save intermediate fluids while producing the desired target ratio. The performance of SP depends on the underlying mixing algorithm and the availability of on-chip storage, and the latter is often limited by the constraints imposed during physical design. Since DDMT involves several target ratios, solving it under storage constraints becomes even harder. Furthermore, reduction of mix-split steps is desirable from the viewpoint of accuracy of SP, as every such step is a potential source of volumetric split error. In this article, we propose a storage-aware DDMT algorithm that reduces the number of mix-split operations on a digital microfluidic lab-on-chip. We also present the layout of the biochip with -storage cells and their allocation technique for . Simulation results reveal the superiority of the proposed method compared to the state-of-the-art multi-target SP algorithms.

Recovery of Salts from Synthetic Erythritol Culture Broth via Electrodialysis: An Alternative Strategy from the Bin to the Loop

Sustainability and circularity are currently two relevant drivers in the development and optimisation of industrial processes. This study assessed the use of electrodialysis (ED) to purify synthetic erythritol culture broth and for the recovery of the salts in solution, for minimising the generation of waste by representing an efficient alternative to remove ions, ensuring their recovery process contributing to reaching cleaner standards in erythritol production. Removal and recovery of ions was evaluated for synthetic erythritol culture broth at three different levels of complexity using a stepwise voltage in the experimental settings. ED was demonstrated to be a potential technology removing between 91.7–99.0% of ions from the synthetic culture broth, with 49–54% current efficiency. Besides this, further recovery of ions into the concentrated fraction was accomplished. The anions and cations were recovered in a second fraction reaching concentration factors between 1.5 to 2.5 times while observing low level of erythritol losses (<2%), with an energy consumption of 4.10 kWh/m3.

Thermoelasticity and ArUco marker-based model validation of polymer structure: application to the San Giorgio’s bridge inspection robot

<p>Experimental procedures are often involved in the numerical models validation. To define the behaviour of a structure, its underlying dynamics and stress distributions are generally investigated. In this research, a multi-instrumental and multi-spectral method is proposed in order to validate the numerical model of the Inspection Robot mounted on the new San Giorgio's Bridge on the Polcevera river. An infrared thermoelasticity-based approach is used to measure stress-concentration factors and, additionally, an innovative methodology is implemented to define the natural frequencies of the Robot Inspection structure, based on the detection of ArUco fiducial markers. Established impact hammer procedure is also performed for the validation of the results.</p>

Assessment of Stress Concentration Factors of Dented Rigid Risers under Fatigue Loadings

In the development of oil and gas fields, subsea pipes are used in various applications, like pipelines and risers. During operation, risers can be subjected to accidents, such as collisions with other risers, anchors, rocks, or any heavy equipment or objects, which may lead to mechanical damages. These mechanical damages are commonly characterized as dents. The objective of this work is to study the effect of the introduction of plain dents on the fatigue life of rigid risers under fully reversed bending with the conduction of resonant bending tests. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to estimate the stress concentration on dented risers under bending. Numerical simulations and experimental tests were carried out to evaluate the resulting stress concentration factors (SCFs). These SCFs can be used in the prediction of the remaining fatigue life of dented rigid risers.

An algorithm for statistical evaluation of weld toe geometries using laser triangulation

Commonly, to evaluate the influence of the local weld geometry in fatigue test, small-scale specimens are used, assuming those represent a longer weld adequately. In this study, a comparison between short specimens and a long weld is performed. A method is developed for the statistical evaluation of weld toe radii and angles, stress concentration factors and weld quality classes. The results show a strong sampling rate dependence and lower ISO 5817:2014 weld quality results for higher sampling rates. Comparable results between short specimens and a long weld can be achieved using modal values of the parameters assuming a lognormal distribution.

Anthropogenic plutonium radioisotopes in the ecosystem components of Sevastopol Bay (the Black Sea)

Modern levels (2010-2020) of 239+240Pu activity concentration in Sevastopol Bay (Black Sea) surface waters, 0-5 cm layer of bottom sediments and hydrobionts were determined by multistage radiochemical technique. The 239+240Pu activity concentrations in Sevastopol Bay surface water were on relatively low level: 1.08±0.09 - 1.54±0.17 mBqnr3. The maximum value of 239+240Pu activity concentration in the bottom sediments surface layer was observed in Sevastopol Bay mouth (993±90 mBqkg1) and it decreased with distance from the bay entrance to its tail end down to the minimum value - 276±53 mBqkg1. Based on these results as well as on published data the 239+240Pu deposition density distribution in the bay boxes and their inventory in 0-5 cm layer of bottom sediments were estimated in every boxes. Total 239+240Pu inventory in the bottom sediments surface layer was estimated at 121 MBq, with the highest deposition density value determined in the mouth part of the bay. Among studied hydrobiont species the highest 239+240Pu content was determined for mollusks (for their shells) Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) while the lowest - for fish Scorpaena poreus (Linnaeus, 1758). Accumulation ability of studied ecosystem components of Sevastopol Bay against 239+240Pu was characterized by evaluating concentration factors (Cf). It was shown that the bottom sediments of the bay were the main depot for plutonium anthropogenic radionucludes (Cf (239+240Pu) = n-105). The Cf (239+240Pu) were from two to three orders of magnitude lower for the hydrobionts of the bay: n-103 for brown algae and mollusks and n-102 for green algae and fish.

On the Generation of Tuned Test Problems for Stress Concentrations

When stress concentration factors are not available in handbooks, finite element analysis has become the predominant method for determining their values. For such determinations, there is a need to know if they have sufficient accuracy. Tuned Test Problems can provide a way of assessing the accuracy of stress concentration factors found with finite elements. Here we offer a means of constructing such test problems for stress concentrations within boundaries that have local constant radii of curvature. These problems are tuned to their originating applications by sharing the same global geometries and having slightly higher peak stresses. They also have exact solutions, thereby enabling a precise determination of the errors incurred in their finite element analysis.

Experimental, numerical and parametric studies on stress concentration factors of T-joints under tension

This paper investigates the behaviour of square hollow section (SHS) T-joints under static axial tension for the determination of stress concentration factors (SCFs) at the hot spot locations. Five empty and corresponding concrete-filled SHS-SHS T-joint connections were tested experimentally and numerically. The experimental investigation was carried out by attaching strain gauges onto the SHS-SHS T-joint specimens. The numerical study was then conducted by developing three-dimensional finite element (FE) T-joint models using ABAQUS finite element analysis software for capturing the distribution of the SCFs at the hot spot locations. The results showed that there is a good agreement between the experimental and numerical SCFs. A series of formulae for the prediction of SCF in concrete-filled SHS T-joints under tension were proposed, and good agreement was achieved between the maximum SCFs in SHS T-joints calculated from FE T-joint models and those from the predicted formulae.