Semi-automated systems

Most manufacturers of dissolution testing devices offer semi-automated systems that can perform sampling, filtration, and UV reading or data collection. These systems automate only a single test at a time. Fully automated systems typically automate entire processes including media preparation, media dispensing, tablet or capsule drop, sample removal, filtration, sample collection or analysis (via direct connection to spectrophotometers or HPLCs), and wash cycles. A fully automated system allows automatic performance of a series of tests to fully utilize unused night and weekend instrument availability. 

Goulden et al. [123] have described a semi-automated system for the determination of arsenic and selenium by hydride generation-industrively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry. Sediments are brought into a solution by fusion with sodium hydroxide. 

S. Guillouet, C. Lemaire, G. Bonmarchand, L. Zimmer, D. Le Bars, Large scale production of 6-[ F]fluoro-L-DOPA in semi-automated system, J. Label. Compds Radiopharm. 44 (2001) S868-S870. 

Semi-automated systems manual addition of reagents, automated addition of solvents, i. e. automated washing steps ... 

A number of semi-automated systems for cleaning containers have been developed, and these are commonly operated in conjunction with induction hoppers - see below. 

Ponnudurai, T., Lensen, A. H., Leeuwenberg, A. D., and Meuwissen, J. H. (1982a). Cultivation of fertile Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in semi-automated systems. 1. Static cultures. Trans. R. Soc. Trap. Med. Hyg. 76,812-818. 

Figure 3 Semi-automated system for the preparation and screening of MiniMIPs.

Figure 5 Percentage of ametryn detected in (i) the supernatants of five parallel MiniMIPs after 24 hr incubation with 1 mL dichloromethane (black bars) (ii) the second and third wash fractions (1 mL Me0H/H20/CH3C00H 60/10/30, incubated for 2 hr). The MiniMIPs were prepared and tested using the semi-automated system shown in Fig. 3.

Yasumoto, K., Tadera, K., Tsuji, H., and Mitsuda, H., Semi-automated system for analysis of vitamin Be complex by ion-exchange column chromatography, J. Nutr. Sci. VitaminoL, 21, 117-127, 1975. 

An An system can take two forms fuUy automated aud sani-automated (Chesmore, 2000). Fully automated ATI does not require auy user interaction and is suitable for long-term unattended operation - for example, in forest biodiversity studies. Semi-automated ATI is simpler to achieve and produces a partial identification or an identification that is verified by the user. The latter is likely to be more acceptable in the short term as it keeps the user in the loop . Semi-automated systems also allow for a degree of user interaction - for example, to select objects within an image field of view for identification. In terms of schematic design, an ATI system is basically a standard pattern recognition system, as shown in Figure 6.1, and is divided into four distinct functional blocks sensor, preprocessor, feature extractor aud classifier. Each stage is described next in more detail. 

Alexander, D. E., K. L. Ratzlaff, R. J. Roggero, and J. S. Hsieh. 1999. Inexpensive, semi-automated system for measuring mechanical properties of soft tissues. fExp Zoo 284 374-78. 

These semi-automated systems of analyzing and characterizing small samples are vital to the natural product organic chemist and biochemist for detection of highly active substances in extremely low concentration in living organisms. A typical example is in the field of pheromones which includes insect sex attractants which differ quite... 

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