Integrated stretchable pneumatic strain gauges for electronics-free soft robots

In soft robotics, actuators, logic and power systems can be entirely fluidic and electronics-free. However, sensors still typically rely on electric or optical principles. This adds complexity to fluidic soft robots because transducers are needed, and electrical materials have to be incorporated. Herein, we show a highly-stretchable pneumatic strain gauge based on a meandering microchannel in a soft elastomer material thus eliminating the need for an electrical signal in soft robots. Using such pneumatic sensors, we demonstrate an all-pneumatic gripper with integrated pneumatic strain gauges that is capable of autonomous closure and object recognition. The gauges can measure at least up to 300% engineering strains. The sensor exhibits a very stable signal over a 12-hour measurement period with no hysteresis. Using pneumatic sensors, all four major components of robots—actuators, logic, power, and sensors—can be pneumatic, enabling all-fluidic soft robots with proprioception and exteroception.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Koronavilkku-projektin loppuraportti

Koronavilkku oli koronaviruksen tartuntaketjujen katkaisun tehostamiseen tarkoitettu tietojärjestelmä. Se auttoi informoimaan käyttäjiä mahdollisesta altistumisesta koronavirukselle ja antoi heille toimintaohjeita. Mahdollisesti altistunut henkilö ohjattiin Koronavilkusta terveydenhuollon palveluihin. Tartunnan saanut puolestaan sai positiivisen laboratoriotestin jälkeen terveydenhuollosta Koronavilkun avauskoodin. Syöttämällä sen sovellukseen hän lähetti ilmoituksen tartunnastaan Koronavilkun taustajärjestelmään, josta lähti tieto mahdollisesti altistuneille. Koronavilkku toteutettiin korkeiden tietosuoja ja -turva vaatimuksien mukaisesti. Sovellus oli käytössä 31.8.2020 1.6.2022. Koronavilkku oli sovelluskäyttäjille vapaaehtoinen ja maksuton. Tässä loppuraportissa kerrotaan Koronavilkku-projektin vaiheista ja opeista. Lisäksi annetaan ideoita mahdolliseen vastaavaan tilanteeseen tulevaisuudessa

Distinct contributions of metabolic dysfunction and genetic risk factors in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Background & Aims: There is substantial inter-individual variability in the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Part of which is explained by insulin resistance (IR) ('MetComp') and part by common modifiers of genetic risk ('GenComp'). We examined how IR on the one hand and genetic risk on the other contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Methods: We studied 846 individuals: 492 were obese patients with liver histology and 354 were individuals who underwent intrahepatic triglyceride measurement by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A genetic risk score was calculated using the number of risk alleles in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, HSD17B13 and MARC1. Substrate concentrations were assessed by serum NMR metabolomics. In subsets of participants, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and their flux were assessed by D-5-glycerol and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (n = 41), and hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) was measured by D2O (n = 61). Results: We found that substrate surplus (increased concentrations of 28 serum metabolites including glucose, glycolytic intermediates, and amino acids; increased NEFAs and their flux; increased DNL) characterized the 'MetComp'. In contrast, the 'GenComp' was not accompanied by any substrate excess but was characterized by an increased hepaticmitochondrial redox state, as determined by serum beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio, and inhibition of hepatic pathways dependent on tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, such as DNL. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio correlated strongly with all histological features of NAFLD. IR and hepatic mitochondrial redox state conferred additive increases in histological features of NAFLD. Conclusions: These data show that the mechanisms underlying 'Metabolic' and 'Genetic' components of NAFLD are fundamentally different. These findings may have implications with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD. Lay summary: The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can be explained in part by a metabolic component, including obesity, and in part by a genetic component. Herein, we demonstrate that the mechanisms underlying these components are fundamentally different: the metabolic component is characterized by hepatic oversupply of substrates, such as sugars, lipids and amino acids. In contrast, the genetic component is characterized by impaired hepatic mitochondrial function, making the liver less able to metabolize these substrates. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Association for the Study of the Liver.Peer reviewe

Effect of Precipitation Temperature on the Properties of Cellulose Ultrafiltration Membranes Prepared via Immersion Precipitation with Ionic Liquid as Solvent

Supported cellulose ultrafiltration membranes are cast from a cellulose-ionic liquid solution by the immersion precipitation technique. The effects of coagulation bath temperature and polymer concentration in the casting solution on the membrane morphology, wettability, pure water flux, molecular weight cut-off, and fouling resistance are studied. Scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, and filtration experiments are carried out in order to characterise the obtained ultrafiltration cellulose membranes. The results show the effect of coagulation bath temperature and polymer concentration on the surface morphology and properties of cellulose ultrafiltration membranes. Optimisation of the two parameters leads to the creation of dense membranes with good pure water fluxes and proven fouling resistance towards humic acid water solutions

Effect of modified anode on bioenergy harvesting and nutrients removal in a microbial nutrient recovery cell

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Stainless steel and carbon brushes as high-performance anodes for energy production and nutrient recovery using the microbial nutrient recovery system

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Enhanced bioenergy and nutrients recovery from wastewater using hybrid anodes in microbial nutrient recovery system

Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the funding from Maa-ja vesitekniikan tuki ry (MVTT foundation). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Background: The combined microbial fuel cell–microbial nutrient recovery system has lately been thoroughly explored from an engineering standpoint. The relevance of microbial communities in this process, on the other hand, has been widely underestimated. Results: A lab-scale microbial nutrients recovery system was created in this work, and the microbial community structure was further defined, to give a thorough insight into the important microbial groups in the present system. We reported for the first-time different hybrid anodes of activated carbon and chitosan that were used in the microbial nutrient recovery system for bioenergy production, and, for the removal of COD and recovery of nutrients present in the wastewater. The hybrid anodic materials were studied to adapt electrochemically active bacteria for the recovery of nutrients and energy generation from wastewater without the need for an external source of electricity. The potential of the created hybrid anodes in terms of nutrients recovery, chemical oxygen demand elimination, and energy generation from municipal wastewater was thoroughly examined and compared with each other under similar operating conditions. When the COD loading was 718 mg/L, a total COD removal of ~ 79.2% was achieved with a hybrid activated carbon and chitosan anode having an equal ratio after 10 days of the operation cycle. The maximum power density estimated for hybrid anode (~ 870 mWm−2) was found. Conclusion: Overall, this work reveals a schematic self-driven way for the collection and enrichment of nutrients (~ 72.9% phosphorus recovery and ~ 73% ammonium recovery) from municipal wastewater, as well as consistent voltage production throughout the operation.Peer reviewe