Abstract: A spectral computed tomography imaging system (102) includes a radiation source (112) configured to emit x-ray radiation and a detector array (114) configured to detect x-ray radiation and generate spectral data. The spectral imaging system further includes a memory (134) configured to store a virtual non-contrast image enhancing module (136) that includes computer executable instructions including a neural network trained to produce image quality enhanced virtual non-contrast images. The neural network is trained with training spectral data and training non-contrast-enhanced images generated from a non-contrast-enhanced scan. The spectral imaging system further includes a processor (132) configured to process the spectral data with the trained neural network to produce the image quality enhanced virtual non-contrast images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing samples, such as tissue samples, and measuring the emissions when these samples are exposed to light are disclosed. Embodiments include illuminating multiple target locations on a sample with laser light, which may first be manipulated by a scanner, and receiving decaying emissions from the target location. At least some embodiments include the emissions traveling backwards along a substantial portion of the laser light pathway and being received by a detector. Additional embodiments include converting the received emissions into streak lines of position versus time, converting the streak lines to plots of signal strength versus time, and curve fitting the plots to determine representative decay times. In some embodiments, the decay times are presented as plots of position on the surface of the sample versus emission strength, which may be color coded. Some embodiment dwell on each target location for multiple scans of the laser.

Abstract: A system configured to inspect a processing apparatus includes a temperature adjusting device configured to adjust a temperature of a component within a processing chamber of the processing apparatus; a light source configured to emit measurement light; multiple optical elements configured to output the measurement light emitted from the light source to the component within the processing chamber of the processing apparatus as output light and configured to receive reflected light from the component during a temperature adjustment of the component by the temperature adjusting device; and a controller configured to measure temperatures of the component at measurement points respectively corresponding to the multiple optical elements based on the reflected light, and make a determination upon abnormality of the processing apparatus based on comparisons of the temperatures of the component at the respective measurement points.

Abstract: A flexible and/or deformable mechanical element may comprise one or more radiographic markers. The one or more radiographic markers may have a radiopacity greater than a radiopacity of a parent material forming a body of the mechanical element. A radiographic image of a portion of an assembly into which the mechanical element has been installed may include a representation of the one or more radiographic markers that indicates a condition of the mechanical element.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a radiation sensor element comprising a semiconductor substrate, having a bulk refractive index; a front surface; a back surface, extending substantially along a base plane; and a plurality of pixel portions. Each pixel portion comprises a collection region on the back surface and a textured region on the front surface. The textured regions comprise high aspect ratio nanostructures, extending substantially along a thickness direction perpendicular to the base plane and forming an optical conversion layer, having an effective refractive index gradually changing towards the bulk refractive index to reduce reflection of light incident on said pixel portion from the front side of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A device for the detection of analytes comprises a substrate (10) with nano-antennas (11,12). The nano-antennas (11,12) comprise an antenna material (11m, 12m) for forming resonant antenna structures which receive and resonantly interact with source light (L0) to form respective resonance peaks (R1,R2) over a resonant wavelength range (A1,A2) overlapping respective signature wavelength (?1,?2) of a target analyte (A). The resonant interaction causes a locally concentrated field (Ec) of the source light (L0) in the resonant wavelength range (?1,?2). The concentrated intensity (Ic) is localized around a respective target location (T1,T2) which is provided with a sorption material (11s, 12s) that sorbs the target analyte (A). This provides a locally increased analyte concentration (Ac) of the target analyte (A) coinciding with the locally concentrated field (Ec) of the source light (L0). Accordingly, the interaction of the source light (L0) with the target analyte (A) is enhanced.

Abstract: A sensor for discriminating between wavelength regions in an electromagnetic spectrum is disclosed. The sensor comprising a substrate, a sensing element supported on a surface of the substrate, and at least one pair of terminal electrodes disposed on the substrate surface in mutually spaced apart and opposing relation, and in electrical contact with the sensing element, wherein the sensing element is responsive to electromagnetic radiation to yield a change in photocurrent measured between the terminal electrodes as a function of an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation impinging thereon, wherein a positive dependency on the intensity corresponds to a first wavelength region and a negative dependency on the intensity corresponds to a second wavelength region.

Abstract: An X-ray analyzer has a configuration including an X-ray source, an X-ray detector configured to detect an X-ray irradiated from the X-ray source, a rotary stage (stage) disposed between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector, and configured to hold an imaging target, and a light irradiation mechanism configured to irradiate light coaxially with an X-ray optical axis of the X-ray irradiated from the X-ray source to project a shadow of the imaging target onto a position of the X-ray detector.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a first mask unit having a hollow cavity surrounding a rotational axis. The first mask unit is characterized by a first pattern encoded on its surface. The first pattern defines a height along an axial direction and includes a respective plurality of elements with at least one open element and at least one blocking element in each of the axial direction and the circumferential direction. A detector is configured to receive radiation data from at least one source such that one of the detector and the source is located inside the hollow cavity and another is located outside the hollow cavity. The first mask unit is configured to move relative to the rotational axis in at least one of the axial and circumferential direction until the first pattern is recorded in 360 degrees. A second mask unit may be positioned around the first mask unit.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for surview scans are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: collecting an image for a subject on a scan bed of a computed tomography system when the scan bed is stationary; determining a scan beginning position for a surview scan in the image, where graduation patterns are marked on the scan bed, and a relative position between the graduation patterns and the scan bed remains unchanged; obtaining a first distance between the scan beginning position and a surview collection plane perpendicular to the scanning bed according to the graduation patterns in the image; controlling the scan bed to move toward the surview collection plane; and in response to determining that a scan bed moving distance reaches the first distance, starting the surview scan to obtain a surview image.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to characterization of semiconductor structures, and more particularly to optical characterization of high-k dielectric materials. A method includes providing a semiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor and a high-k dielectric layer formed over the semiconductor, wherein the dielectric layer has electron traps formed therein. The method additionally includes at least partially transmitting an incident light having an incident energy through the high-k dielectric layer and at least partially absorbing the incident light in the semiconductor. The method additionally includes measuring a nonlinear optical spectrum resulting from the light having the energy different from the incident energy, the nonlinear optical spectrum having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region changes at a different rate in intensity compared to the second region.

Abstract: Provided is an X-ray analysis apparatus including: a goniometer; a sample stage provided at a rotation center of the goniometer; an X-ray source configured to irradiate a sample with an X-ray, the sample being fixed on the sample stage; an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray diffracted by the sample; and an opening/closing mechanism configured to vary a width of a slit, which is formed between a pair of shielding members, by opening/closing the pair of shielding members, the opening/closing mechanism including an asymmetric control unit configured to control aperture widths of the pair of shielding members asymmetrically for one of the pair of shielding members on one side and another one of the pair of shielding members on another side depending on a rotation angle of the goniometer.

Abstract: A multi-photon imaging system includes a laser module having a first channel for outputting a two-photon excitation laser pulse and a second channel for outputting a three-photon excitation laser pulse. The system further includes a first optical path for guiding the two-photon laser pulse from the first channel of the laser module and a second optical path for guiding the three-photon laser pulse from the second channel of the laser module. A microscope is also provided for simultaneously receiving the two-photon laser pulse from the first optical path and the three-photon laser pulse from the second optical path, and simultaneously, or with well controllable delays, delivering the two-photon laser pulse and the three-photon pulse to a target volume. The system further includes a photodetector configured to collect photons generated within the target volume in response to simultaneous excitation of the target volume by both the two-photon laser pulse and the three-photon laser pulse.

Abstract: Systems for protein quantitation using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. In one arrangement, a quantitation device includes an infrared source, a sample holder, and a Fabry-Perot interferometer positioned to receive infrared radiation from the source passing through a sample on the sample holder. A band pass optical filter sets the working range of the interferometer, and radiation exiting the interferometer falls on a detector that produces a signal indicating the intensity of the received radiation. A controller causes the interferometer to be tuned to a number of different resonance wavelengths and receives the intensity signals, for determination of an absorbance spectrum.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide a system that images a tissue sample. During operation, the system receives the tissue sample, which has been stained using absorbing and fluorescently emitting stains. Next, the system illuminates the tissue sample with excitation light having a wavelength or wavelengths in a range that covers a portion of an absorption spectrum for both fluorescently emitting and absorbing stains, whereby the excitation light interacts with stained tissue located inside the tissue sample to both limit penetration depth and generate emitted dye fluorescence and tissue autofluorescence that provides a backlight, which is absorbed by features in stained tissue located on or near the surface of the tissue sample. Next, the system uses an imaging device to capture an image of emitted fluorescence that emanates from the surface of the tissue sample.

Abstract: A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ?E color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

Abstract: Interstitial brachytherapy is a cancer treatment in which radioactive material is placed closely to the target tissue of the affected site using an afterloader (HDR-brachytherapy) or manually (LDR- and PDR-brachytherapy). For HDR-brachytherapy, the accuracy of this placement is calibrated using an external reference system that locates the radioactive material according to the radiation levels measured at locations around the source. At each of these locations, a scintillator produces light when irradiated by the radioactive material. This light is proportional to the level of radiation at each location. The light produced by each scintillator is converted to an electrical signal that is proportional to the light and the radiation level at each location. The radioactive material is located according to the plurality of electrical signals.

Abstract: A single-crystal X-ray structure analysis apparatus capable of surely and easily performing a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis using a crystalline sponge, and an analysis method and a sample holder unit thereof are provided. There are provided a sample holder that holds a sample; a goniometer that rotationally moves, the sample holder 250 being attached to the goniometer; an X-ray irradiation section that irradiates the X-rays from the X-ray source to the sample held by the sample holder 250 attached to the goniometer, wherein the sample holder 250 comprises a porous complex crystal capable of soaking the sample in a plurality of fine pores formed therein, and the applicator comprises a space for soaking the sample in the porous complex crystal of the sample holder 250.

Abstract: An exemplary focused tomography system comprises an x-ray transmitter that is configured to emit a radiation beam and an x-ray detector that is configured to detect incident radiation from the radiation beam. The system further includes an adaptive collimator device arranged between the x-ray transmitter and the x-ray detector and a controller device connected to the x-ray transmitter that is configured to cause the x-ray transmitter to emit the radiation beam at a first radiation dosage level when a path of the radiation beam intersects a region of interest of the subject and cause the x-ray transmitter to emit the radiation beam at a second radiation dosage level when the path of the radiation beam does not intersect the region of interest of the subject, such that the second radiation dosage level is less than the first radiation dosage level. Data within the region of interest can be reconstructed with image quality equivalent to traditional computed tomography scans.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a test sample receiving block and a microbial detection apparatus using the same. The test sample receiving block may include a sample receiving block having a sample groove portion formed therein, the sample groove portion containing the sample so that a light emission module emits light to the sample and a sensor module can detect a speckle generated when the emitted light is scattered by motion of bacteria or microbes contained in the sample, wherein the sample receiving block is surface-treated to increase an optical path of light reaching the sensor module when the emitted light is reflected or scattered by the sample accommodated in the sample groove portion, so that a pattern is formed on a surface of the sample groove portion.