Slim System Research Articles

Single-shot spatial light interference microscopy for dynamic monitoring of membrane fluctuations.

Single-shot spatial light interference microscopy (SS-SLIM) with a pair of non-polarizing beam splitters is proposed for substantially enhancing the speed and efficiency of conventional SLIM systems. Traditional methods are limited by the need for multiple-frame serial modulation and acquisition by spatial light modulators and detectors. Our approach integrates non-polarizing beam splitters to simultaneously capture four phase-shifted intensity images, increasing the imaging speed by at least fourfold while maintaining high quality. This capability is crucial for effectively monitoring the dynamic fluctuations of red blood cell membranes. Furthermore, the potential applications of the SS-SLIM system in biomedical research are demonstrated, particularly in scenarios requiring high temporal resolution and label-free imaging.

Accelerating prototyping experiments for traveling wave structures for lossless ion manipulations

Traveling wave structures for lossless ion manipulation (TW-SLIM) has proven a valuable tool for the separation and study of gas-phase ions. Unfortunately, many of the traditional components of TW-SLIM experiments manifest practical and financial barriers to the technique's broad implementation. To this end, a series of technological innovations and methodologies are presented which enable for simplified SLIM experimentation and more rapid TW-SLIM prototyping. In addition to the use of multiple independent board sets that comprise the present SLIM system, we introduce a low-cost, multifunctional traveling wave generator to produce TW within the TW-SLIM. This square-wave producing unit proved effective in realizing TW-SLIM separations compared to traditional approaches. Maintaining a focus on lowering barriers to implementation, the present set of experiments explores the use of on-board injection (OBI) methods, which offer potential alternatives to ion funnel traps. These OBI techniques proved feasible and the ability of this simplified TW-SLIM platform to enhance ion accumulation was established. Further experimentation regarding ion accumulation revealed a complexity to ion accumulation within TW-SLIM that has yet to be expounded upon. Lastly, the ability of the presented TW-SLIM platform to store ions for extended periods (1 s) without significant loss (<10%) was demonstrated. The aforementioned experiments clearly establish the efficacy of a simplified TW-SLIM platform which promises to expand adoption and experimentation of the technique.

Transformation of library and information services in terms of remote service

The article addresses the problems faced by the modern library in remote reader service. By accumulating your own electronic information resources, forming electronic information products (ECs, DBs, electronic exhibitions, etc.) based on them, does the book collection ensure the completeness and quality of library information services? Topical domestic and foreign librarians, who are included in the source of their research, are taking care of this issue. The article focuses on the work of the VNLU scientists, who trace the evolution of the scientific library as a component of the world information infrastructure and join the formation of a global information space by radically changing approaches to organizing library activity. In analyzing library studies, the authors note the lack of a common point of view, divergence and lack of sound policy on the problems of online transformation of the library environment, and substantiate the need to identify and systematize all existing forms and methods of remote service and substantiate the need for their integration on a single methodological and methodological platform. In terms of library practice, the authors highlight a number of existing contradictions between traditional and innovative forms and methods of library and information services. The levers of overcoming these contradictions, in their opinion, are the development of uniform methodological principles of library and information support in terms of remote service; conducting market research to gain an objective assessment of remote service performance from the perspective of key stakeholders — remote users; the construction of an algorithm, adaptive model and, finally, a slim system of library and information support for remote readers under remote service conditions.

Diseño integral de una planta chocolatera

Hablar de un diseño de planta chocolatera, involucra servicios de alta calidad lo cual es todo un desafío. Sin embargo, proyectos de este tipo pueden ayudar a impulsar la actividad económica, fortalecer el empleo y finalmente derivar en una mejor calidad de vida de la población. Para lograr llegar al diseño de una planta chocolatera, se partió del análisis FODA parar determinar la situación de factibilidad que permita implementar la planta. Se llevó a cabo el diagnóstico de los factores tanto internos como externos para la empresa; se indagó acerca de las oportunidades y fortalezas, para potenciar la factibilidad del diseño de la planta chocolatera. En el desarrollo del sistema de gestión de calidad para que la industria comience con calidad rigiéndose con los sistemas esbeltos que ayudaran a que esta empresa tenga un funcionamiento óptimo y que cumpla con las norma y estándares de calidad. La distribución en planta se determinó mediante la identificación de las actividades y las maquinarias que se necesitan en el proceso de chocolate para poder tener un proceso óptimo incluyendo el tiempo productivo para la planta. Se realizara estudio financiero de la factibilidad de la empresa para establecer su fondos realizables de la económica, donde se refleja el TIR, VAN y el beneficio costos de la organización. Este proyecto tendría una información contundente sobre su factibilidad y rentabilidad.

Simple and label-free pathogen enrichment via homobifunctional imidoesters using a microfluidic (SLIM) system for ultrasensitive pathogen detection in various clinical specimens

Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria and viruses can cause serious medical issues including death and result in huge economic losses. Despite the myriad of recent advances in the rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, large volume clinical samples with a low concentration of pathogens continue to present challenges for diagnosis and surveillance. We here report a simple and label-free approach via homobifunctional imidoesters (HIs) with a microfluidic platform (SLIM) to efficiently enrich and extract pathogens at low concentrations from clinical samples. The SLIM system consists of an assembled double microfluidic chip for streamlining large volume processing and HIs for capturing pathogens and isolating nucleic acids by both electrostatic and covalent interaction without a chaotropic detergent or bulky instruments. The SLIM system significantly increases the enrichment and extraction rate of pathogens (up to 80% at 10 CFU (colony forming unit) in a 1 mL volume within 50 min). We demonstrated its clinical utility in large sample volumes from 46 clinical specimens including environmental swabs, saliva, and blood plasma. The SLIM system showed higher sensitivity with these samples and could detect pathogens that were below the threshold of detection with other methods. Finally, by combining our SLIM approach with an isothermal optical sensor, pathogens could be detected at a very high sensitivity in blood plasma samples within 80 min via enrichment, extraction and detection steps. Our SLIM system thus provides a simple, reliable, cost-effective and ultrasensitive pathogen diagnosis platform for use with large volume clinical samples and would thus have significant utility for various infectious diseases.

Biomechanical evaluation of spring system for implant-supported prosthesis: analysis by photoelasticity and extensometry

New systems are released in the odontological market with the objective of bringing improvements and advancements in the clinical success of implants and implant-supported prostheses. The distribution of tension for the bone/implant system of these new systems is important. The purpose of this work was to evaluate, by photoelastic analysis and strain gauges, the distribution of tension for the bone/implant system, using the Slim system. A photoelastic cast with an external hexagon implant was manufactured and a metal prosthesis was screwed below it, with or without the tested system. For the photoelasticity methodology, a photoelastic cast, with or without the tested system, was positioned in a circular polariscope, and axial loads of 100 N were applied to the centre of the crown. The pattern of tension generated was photographed and analysed qualitatively in an imaging programme. For the extensometry methodology, two extensometers were placed in the mesial and distal region of the implant in the photoelastic cast. The axial loads were applied to the group again, with or without the system (n = 10). The t test of independent samples with a significance level of 5% was used for this analysis. This study demonstrated greater tension values for both the photoelastic and extensometry methods when the tested system was used. Clinical studies must be performed to evaluate the tested system because the results might not be clinically significant to a bone reabsorption.

Zoom Lens Design for a 10x Slim Camera using Successive Procedures

This study presents a new design method for a zoom lens, in which real lens groups are designed successively to combine to form a lens modules zoom system. The lens modules and aberrations are applied to the initial design for a four-group inner-focus zoom system. An initial design with a focal length range of 4.2 to 39.9 mm is derived by assigning the first-order quantities and third-order aberrations to each module along with the constraints required for optimum solutions. After obtaining the lens module zoom system, the real lens groups are successively, not separately, designed to get a zoom lens system. Compared to the separately designed real lens groups, this approach can give a better starting zoom lens and save time. The successively designed groups result in a zoom system that satisfies the basic properties of the zoom system consisting of the original lens modules. In order to have a slim system, we directly inserted the right-angle prism in front of the first group. This configuration resulted in a compact zoom system with a depth of 12 mm. The finally designed zoom lens has an f-number of 3.5 to 4.5 and is expected to fulfill the requirements for a mobile zoom camera having high zoom ratio of 10x.

Effect of corrosive environments and thermocycling on the attractive force of four types of dental magnetic attachments

Background/purposeOne of the problems that has limited magnets’ wide acceptance by clinicians is their low corrosion resistance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of corrosive environments and thermocycling on the attractive force of different types of new generation magnetic attachments. Materials and methodsWe measured the attractive forces of 60 magnetic attachment systems (Hyper slim, Hicorex slim, Dyna, and Steco) with a universal test machine. We then immersed 40 of the magnetic attachment systems in two media, namely, 1% lactic acid solution (pH 2.3), and 0.9% NaCl solution (pH 7.3). The remaining magnetic attachments were put through 10,000 thermal cycles (5 °C/55 °C). We measured the attractive forces of the magnetic attachment systems again after immersion and thermocycling to compare data. The data were statistically evaluated with one-way analysis of variance, paired samples t-test, and post hoc Tukey–Kramer multiple comparison tests (α = 0.05). ResultsWe found significant differences between the mean values before and after immersion in corrosive environments (P < 0.05). In contrast to the Dyna and Steco systems (P < 0.001), the differences between the attractive forces before and after thermocycling were not statistically significant for the Hicorex slim and Hyper slim systems (P > 0.05). ConclusionMagnetic attachments showed lower attractive force after immersion in corrosive environments compared to their initial retentive force. In addition, closed-field systems were not affected by the thermocycling procedures and were more resistant than open-field systems to thermal variations characteristic of the oral cavity.

Compact Zoom Lens Design for a 5x Mobile Camera Using Prism

This study presents the compact zoom lens with a zoom ratio of 5x for a mobile camera by using a prism. The lens modules and aberrations are applied to the initial design for a four-group inner-focus zoom system. An initial design with a focal length range of 4.4 to 22.0 mm is derived by assigning the first-order quantities and third-order aberrations to each module along with the constraints required for optimum solutions. We separately designed a real lens for each group and then combined them to establish an actual zoom system. The combination of the separately designed groups results in a system that satisfies the basic properties of the zoom system consisting of the original lens modules. In order to have a slim system, we directly inserted the right-angle prism in front of the first group. This configuration resulted in a more compact zoom system with a depth of 8 mm. The finally designed zoom lens has an f-number of 3.5 to 4.5 and is expected to fulfill the requirements for a slim mobile zoom camera having high zoom ratio of 5x.