Spinning Disk System Research Articles

Unlocking the Potential of the CICERO Spinning Disk System: Exploring Diverse Applications

Abstract CrestOptics aims to make their products accessible to researchers, enabling a variety of applications, and to create products that are both efficient and user-friendly. The CICERO confocal spinning disk system embodies these principles, designed for easy integration into any imaging setup. Its compactness and flexibility make advanced fluorescence microscopy accessible to laboratories worldwide. This article will focus on the great versatility and strengths of the CICERO system, which is a complete widefield (WF) and spinning disk confocal (CF) solution. It will demonstrate its key features, namely its use on both inverted and upright microscopy configurations, its wide spectral range, the high resolution and sectioning power, and its large field of view (FOV). Microscopy Today has awarded CICERO a 2024 Innovation Award for these features.

Artificial neural networks strategy to analyze the magnetohydrodynamics Casson-Maxwell nanofluid flow through the cone and disc system space

The Casson-Maxwell model is particularly useful for studying viscoplastic fluids or fluids with yield stress, making it applicable to various engineering applications, including extrusion processes, coating applications, and biomedical fluid dynamics. Casson-Maxwell fluid flow enhances mass transfer rates due to the combined effects of non-Newtonian viscosity and viscoelastic behavior. This is particularly useful in processes where mass transfer limitations play a significant role, such as in multiphase reactions or reactive distillation systems. In the context of the above applications the present model, is the combination of Casson- Maxwell fluids that flow through the varying gap of the spinning cone and disk system (CDS) for the heat transfer enhancement. The magnetic field is also imposed in the upright direction to the flow field. The solution of the transform equations has been obtained through artificial neural networks (ANN). The skin friction, heat transfer rate, and comparative analysis have been done. The Casson-Maxwell parameters that depend on the viscoelastic behavior and high viscosity term, causes the fluid to slow down and tends to store the temperature, for a long time as compared to traditional fluids. The radial component of velocity decreases due to the increase in magnetic field. The relative error of the reference and targeted dates is calculated to demonstrate the best precision efficiency of ANN, with a range of 10−3 to 10−4.

Advancing 3D Single Molecule Tracking by Time-Gating and Fast Simultaneous Spinning Disk Imaging for Contextual Information

Three dimensional single molecule tracking is an essential technique for investigating biomolecular trafficking and signaling. Here we report the latest improvements to our confocal based tracking system. First, we added a Nipkow spinning disk imaging system. This system takes images of the plane of the tracked molecule, thus yielding contextual information about the molecule's environment. Laser illumination is used for the spinning disk system which together with an acousto-optic modulator allows for exposure times of 10 to 50 ms, thus greatly minimizing motion blur effects due to the feedback motion during tracking. Second, we introduced real-time photon time-gating to our tracking setup which allows tracking using only those photons detected within a defined time-window relative to the excitation laser pulse. Gating out detected photons within the first few nanoseconds after the excitation laser pulse greatly reduces Raman scattering and short lived fluorescence, and significantly increases the signal-to-noise ratio for tracked molecules with a long fluorescence lifetime. We also present a model for choosing the optimal time-gate based upon the fluorescence count rates and life times of the background and the tracked molecule.

Design and Construction of a Cost-Effective Spinning Disk System for Live Imaging of Inner Ear Tissue.

Confocal imaging of fluorescent probes offers a powerful, non-invasive tool which enables data collection from vast population of cells at high spatial and temporal resolution. Spinning disk confocal microscopy parallelizes the imaging process permitting the study of dynamic events in populations of living cells on the millisecond time scale. Several spinning disk microscopy solutions are commercially available, however these are often poorly configurable and relatively expensive. This chapter describes a procedure to assemble a cost-effective homemade spinning disk system for fluorescence microscopy, which is highly flexible and easily configurable. We finally illustrate a reliable protocol to obtain high-quality Ca(2+) and voltage imaging data from cochlear preparations.

Comparative study of the electrostatic charging tendency between synthetic ester and mineral oil

The growing demands for improved fire safety, source material sustainability, environment friendliness, and asset life extension have driven the research and development efforts of synthetic esters, less-flammable fluids. However the relatively limited number of work on these esters and their cost still limit their uses to specific applications. This contribution reports some investigations onto the Electrostatic Charging Tendency (ECT) of a commercially available ester fluid. Comparison is made with mineral oil, as this is a fluid we are familiar with. Fresh (unaged) and aged fluid samples were investigated in a spinning disk system under laboratory controlled conditions. Changes in static electrification were compared to some aging indexes (interfacial tension, turbidity, relative dissolved decay products). This contribution is not only intended to provide a fresh review in this domain of research, but also contains a substantial amount of new material with a view of closing some gaps in the present state of knowledge of oil streaming electrification. The obtained results show that static electrification currents are affected by fluid motion velocity, type of paper, moisture content and the aging byproducts. It was also found that the removal of dissolved oxygen by nitrogen blanketing contributed to the reduction in static electrification.

Relationship between static electrification of transformer oils with turbidity and spectrophotometry measurements

The paper presents the research results on electrostatic charging tendency (ECT) of transformer oil in a spinning disk system. The measurements were performed at different aging severity. Changes in static electrification were related to some classical aging indexes (conductivity, dissipation factor, water content, resistivity, etc.). Fast, inexpensive and reliable laboratory testing procedures developed by ASTM (D 6802 and D 6181) were also used to monitor the decay products as trace impurities. The obtained results show that static electrification currents increase with temperature, oil flow velocity, coating disk material properties and oil’s aging byproducts. The polarity, the amplitude and the time constant of the streaming electrification currents are also affected. This contribution is not only intended to provide a fresh review in this domain of research, but also contains a substantial amount of new material with a view of closing some gaps in the present state of knowledge of transformer oil streaming electrification phenomenon.

High frame-rate fluorescence confocal angle-resolved linear dichroism microscopy

Angle-resolved linear dichroism is a recent technique that exploits images recorded using an illumination field whose polarization angle is sequentially rotated during acquisition. It allows to retrieve orientation information of the fluorescent molecules, namely the average orientation angle and the amplitude of the fluctuations around this average. In order to boost up the acquisition speed without sacrificing the axial sectioning, we propose to combine a spinning disk confocal excitation scheme together with an electrooptical polarization switching and a camera acquisition. The polarization distortions induced when passing through the spinning disk system have been quantified and effectively compensated. The signal to noise features of the camera have been analyzed in detail so that the precision of the method can be quantified. The technique has been successfully tested on giant unilamellar vesicles and on living cells labeled with different fluorescent lipid probes, DiIC18 and di-8-ANEPPQ. It was able to acquire precise orientation images at full frame rates in the range of a second, ultimately limited by the fluorophore brightness and the camera sensitivity.

Model for the Oligomer Formation of Serotonin Receptors Based on Quantitative lux-FRET Measurements

Forster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) is often used in experimental methods which aim at investigating the interaction of molecules at distances beyond diffraction limited resolution. Here we apply ‘linear unmixing FRET’ (lux-FRET) [1]. By using the lux-FRET we can obtain three important quantities, the FRET-efficiency multiplied by the fraction of donors and acceptors in FRET state as well as measures for the total donor and acceptor concentrations. In the present study we applied lux-FRET to analyse the oligomerisation behaviour of two serotonin receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT7, which tend to form a dynamic system of homo- and hetero-dimers. From the modelling of measured lux-FRET data we conclude that the receptors have significantly different affinities to form oligomers with the dissociation constant order: K5-HT1A-5-HT1A>K5-HT7-5-HT1A>K5-HT7-5-HT7. Quantitative FRET measurements on a custom tailored spinning disk system at single-cell level confirmed these results and also allowed to visualize distribution of mono- and dimers within the cell (Figure 1). Together with observation that the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated signalling is significantly impaired in hetero-oligomers, our data suggest that receptor functions can be modulated by the dynamic interaction within oligomeric complexes.REFERENCE:[1] Wlodarczyk et al. Biophysical J, 94:986-1000. (2008)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide

Electrostatic properties of aged fullerene-doped mineral oil

In this paper the analysis of the influence of C60 fullerenes on flow electrification of mineral insulating oil during aging is presented. Three sets of samples, one fresh and two aged for 24 h and 96 h were tested for their electrification properties using an improved version of a spinning disk system. The relations between C60 concentration and electrification current were determined for different rotational velocities. It is shown, that C60 may significantly reduce or increase the electrification current in mineral oil, depending on fullerenes concentration. The possible causes of observed behavior are analyzed.

C60 as flow electrification inhibitor in mineral insulating oil

Abstract The paper presents the concept of using C 60 fullerenes as streaming electrification process inhibitor in mineral insulating oil. For the research, 20 samples of oil were prepared; one pure and 19 containing from 1 mg/l to 512 mg/l of C 60 . The electrification current was measured using a wireless electrometer spinning disk system for rotational speeds from 0 rpm to 400 rpm. The research revealed the C 60 ability to significantly reduce the constant component of streaming electrification current in mineral transformer oil. The C 60 additive causes also the significant change in flow electrification mechanism as indicated by current versus flow velocity relations.

Influence of Composition of Dielectric Liquid Mixtures on Electrostatic Charge Tendency and Physicochemical Parameters

The paper presents research results on ECT (electrostatic charge tendency) of hexane and toluene mixtures, that is dielectric liquids of a simple chemical structure and high purity (Pro analysis). The research tests are carried out in a spinning disk system, where the factors affecting the value of the electrification current registered are a varying composition of the mixture, rotational speed and a disk diameter. In the next stage physicochemical parameters are measured in order to determine the relationship between the properties of the mixtures under study and the electrification current generated. The research results show that the ECT of the mixture depends, to a large extent, on the proper selection of particular components.

The analysis and selection of the spinning disk system parameters for the measurement of static electrification of insulation oils

The paper presents results the aim of which was determining the most favorable conditions of ECT (electrostatic charge tendency) measurement taking of insulation oils in the spinning disk system. The work proved that a proper selection of the size and roughness of the disk surface makes the measured volume density of charge qw independent of the hydrodynamic conditions in the measuring system on the solid and liquid phase border. Charge qw density meets then the criterion of a material coefficient and can be used for comparing the results obtained from the systems varying in dimensions and hydrodynamic conditions. The changes suggested also ensure a high repeatability and reproducibility of the results obtained

Research on the electrostatic properties of liquid dielectric mixtures

This paper presents research results, which confirm the possibility of influencing the electrostatic charge tendency (ECT) of selected mixtures of purely insulating liquids. Tests were performed in a spinning disk system, where the factors influencing the value of the electrification current consisted of variable composition of the toluene–cyclohexane mixture, rotational speed, and a disk diameter. Liquid hydrocarbon mixtures displayed changes in ECT as well as classic insulation parameters such as resistivity and relative permittivity for concentration changes of the admixtures. These results can be used to assist the search for inhibitors of ECT and of aging processes in insulating oils.

ECT of ethanol and hexane mixtures in the spinning disk system

The paper presents the research results of electrostatic charging tendency (ECT) of ethanol and hexane mixtures, a liquid of a simple chemical structure and high purity (pro analysis). The research work was carried out in a spinning disk system, where the factors influencing the value of the electrification current registered were the composition of the mixture and the rotational speed of the disk. The research results showed that the biggest ECT changes occur in the range of up to 10% of ethanol content in hexane and the electrification current characteristic has a visible maximum for the mixture, the contents of which constitute 95% of hexane volume and 5% of ethanol by volume. In the next stage of the research work physicochemical and electric parameters were measured in order to determine the connection between the properties of the mixtures under study and the amount of the electrification current generated.

A noise analyzer for monitoring static electrification current

This paper presents a static electrification current signal analyzer used for measuring and processing of the variable component of the changes in electrostatic charge that occur on a solid-body/liquid boundary interface. Due to high sensitivity and low uncertainty, the analyzer allows a precise evaluation of the phenomenon generated. The device operates in a spinning-disk system. The tests carried out indicate that it is possible to measure random components which depend, to a large extent, on hydrodynamic conditions and on the properties of the liquid phase. The device can be applied to the testing of transformer oils. It can be also used for measurements of other liquids having low conductivity and a high tendency toward electrical charging (ECT). The results of oil testing indicate a significant influence of the processes of aging on random components of the electrification current.

Electrification current in the spinning disk system

Generation of electrostatic charges has been found to be one cause of failures of high power transformers. In this paper we present experimental investigations of transformer oil electrification obtained during research on a spinning disk system. The experiments have been carried out for oil within the temperature range of 20 to 80/spl deg/C and Reynolds number of 3000 to 9000. The equilibrium duct-flow theory of Abedian and Sonin (1981) has been modified to deduce the wall charge density coefficient for transformer oil. From the analysis it appears that the model proposed to describe electrification in the spinning disk system agrees with the experimental data. >

Investigation of transformer oil electrification in a spinning disk system

The author presents a novel measurement system for testing electrification of transformer oil when moving a solid phase in a liquid-phase environment. The system is based on hydrodynamic phenomena occurring for a rotating disc in liquid. It is concluded that the spinning disc system is useful for examining the electrification of transformer oil. The results obtained, particularly those concerning the effect of oil aging electrification, agree with the results obtained by means of A. Klinkenberg's (1958) system.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>