1,504,423 research outputs found
Parallelization of chip-based fluorescence immuno-assays with quantum-dot labelled beads
This paper presents an optical concept for the read-out of a parallel, bead-based fluorescence immunoassay conducted on a lab-on-a-disk platform. The reusable part of the modular setup comprises a detection unit featuring a single LED as light source, two emission-filters, and a color CCD-camera as standard components together with a spinning drive as actuation unit. The miniaturized lab-on-a-disk is devised as a disposable. In the read-out process of the parallel assay, beads are first identified by the color of incorporated quantum dots (QDs). Next, the reaction-specific fluorescence signal is quantified with FluoSpheres-labeled detection anti-bodies. To enable a fast and automated read-out, suitable algorithms have been implemented in this work. Based on this concept, we successfully demonstrated a Hepatitis-A assay on our disk-based lab-on-a-chip
Getting virtual 3D landscapes out of the lab
Increasingly realistic virtual three dimensional (3D) models have been created that demonstrate a variety of landscape designs. They have supported a more collaborative and participative approach in planning and design. However, these 3D landscape models are often developed for use in bespoke virtual reality labs that tie the models to expensive graphics hardware, or complex arrays of screens, with the viewer spatially detached from the actual site.
Given the increase in prevalence of advanced âsmartphoneâ and tablet technology with GPS and compass functionality, this paper demonstrates two methods for on-demand dissemination of existing virtual 3D landscape models using: (1) a touch based interface with integrated mapping; (2) a standard web browser interface on mobile phones. The latter method demonstrates the potential to reduce the complexity of accessing an existing 3D landscape model on-site to simply pointing a smartphone in a particular direction, loading a web page and seeing the relevant view of the model as an image. A prototype system was developed to demonstrate both methods successfully, but it was also ascertained that the accuracy of GPS positional data can have a negative effect on the browser based method.
Finally, potential developments are presented exploring the future of the technology underpinning the method and possible extensions to the prototype as a technique for increasing public participation in planning and design
Lessons taught and learned from the operation of the solar energy e-learning laboratory
The solar energy e learning laboratory (solar e-lab) in Cyprus is a good example of a web-based, remote engineering laboratory. It comprises a pilot solar energy conversion plant which is equipped with all necessary instrumentation, data acquisition, and communication devices needed for remote access, control, data collection and processing.
The impact that the solar e-lab had during its nearly 5 years of operation is indeed high. Throughout this period, the solar e-lab has been accessed by users from over 500 locations from 79 countries spread all over the world. In the period of November 2004 to October 2008, more than a million visits were recorded, out of which 25000 have registered on the site and surfed through studying the supplied material. Around 1000 hits concerned registered users that passed the pre-lab test and performed the experimentation part.
The four years of operation of the solar e-lab demonstrated how the Internet can be used as a tool to make the laboratory facilities accessible to engineering students and technicians located outside the laboratory, including overseas. In this way, the solar energy e-learning lab, its equipment and experimental facilities were made available and shared by a number of interested people, thus widening educational experiences. Judging from the online evaluation reports that were received from the solar e-lab users during the last 2 years of operation, it can be concluded that there is nearly excellent satisfaction by the users
Interactive digital art
In this paper, we present DNArt in general, our work in DNArtâs lab including a detailed presentation of the first artwork that has come out of our lab in September 2011, entitled âENCOUNTERS #3â, and the use of DNArt for digital art conservation. Research into the use of DNArt for digital art conservation is currently conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Media art (Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst, NIMk). The paper describes this research and presents preliminary results. At the end, it will offer the reader the possibility to participate in DNArtâs development
Confirming what we know: Understanding questionable research practices in intro physics labs
Many institutions are changing the focus of their introductory physics labs
from verifying physics content towards teaching students about the skills and
nature of science. As instruction shifts, so too will the ways students
approach and behave in the labs. In this study, we evaluated students' lab
notes from an early activity in an experimentation-focused lab course. We found
that about 30% of student groups (out of 107 groups at three institutions)
recorded questionable research practices in their lab notes, such as subjective
interpretations of results or manipulating equipment and data. The large
majority of these practices were associated with confirmatory goals, which we
suspect stem from students' prior exposure to verification labs. We propose
ways for experimentation-focused labs to better engage students in the
responsible conduct of research and authentic scientific practice.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Taking a LEAF out of the green lab book
With climate and environmental change a global concern, people and governments have looked to scientists to find ways to reduce carbon emissions and to live a more sustainable existence. In this context, scientific research does not only need to be reproducible and reliable, it must also itself be done sustainably. Both industrial research and academic research have huge carbon footprints: they need large capital equipment with high energy inputs, and day-to-day work in laboratories generates vast amounts of waste. For those working at the lab bench, the task of reducing the environmental impact of their work can appear daunting. But by setting data-driven objectives to reduce energy use and waste, and providing practical and realistic goals, we can carry out lab-based research more sustainably. Recently, the Biochemical Society hosted a webinar, titled âEnvironmental Sustainability in Biomedical Laboratoriesâ (Figure 1), outlining some of these sustainable labs initiatives, with an introduction to LEAF from Martin Farley. In this article, we hear from those working to implement lab sustainability programmes at the University of Oxford
Exploring the benefits of integrating business model research within living lab projects
Business model and living lab research both have similar objectives â to maximize the probability of successful market introduction of innovative solutions â be it through different means. Yet, there are still only few studies or reports discussing both, with those studies that do touch the subject staying at a high level. iMinds Living Labs has gained a lot of experience in combined living lab and business model innovation projects and, rather than being competing approaches, our results have shown that these two research methodologies can be complementary, where the combined approach turns out to be more powerful than each individual approach used alone. The goal of this article is to promote the inclusion of business model research in a model of "a living lab as a service" (and vice versa) by explaining the benefits and by introducing a practical framework to implement such combined research tracks based on the experience at iMinds Living Labs over the past few years
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