Abstract: An optical field enhancement device which includes a transparent substrate having a transparent fine uneven structure on a surface and a metal film formed on a surface of the fine uneven structure on the surface of the substrate and allows projection of excitation light and detection of detection light either from a front surface side of the metal film or from a back surface side of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for detecting blood in urine or feces includes a photodetector configured to detect a transient light emitted in a toilet bowl by luminol and an oxidizer catalyzed by iron in the blood. The apparatus may include dispensers for the luminol, the oxidizer and a base. The apparatus may include a microprocessor and a network connection and may perform statistical analyzes, store data and alert the patient or a healthcare provider if blood is detected. The photodetector may be configured to detect light emitted in the toilet bowl by a fluorophore present in the water and excited by the transient light from the luminol and oxidizer.

Abstract: A fluorescent material may include a medium, carbon nanotubes dispersed in the medium, and a fluorescent surfactant. The fluorescent surfactant may be adsorbed to a surface of some of the carbon nanotubes in a concentration sufficient to make the material fluoresce in the presence of radiation. The material may be applied to a material and tested for fluorescence, electrical conductivity, or carbon nanotube structure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting, characterizing, and compensating motion-related error of moving micro-entities are described. Motion-related error may occur in streams of moving micro-entities, and may represent a deviation in and expected arrival time or an uncertainty in position of a micro-entity within the stream. Motion-related error of micro-entities is observed in a flow cytometer, e.g., as pulse jitter, and is found to have a functional dependence on a parameter of the system. The pulse jitter can be compensated, according to one embodiment, by adjusting data acquisition observation windows. For the flow cytometer, a reduction of pulse jitter can improve measurement accuracy, resolution of doublets, system throughput, and enable an increase in an interrogation region for probing the micro-entities.

Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.

Abstract: A super-resolved optical imaging apparatus and a super-resolved optical imaging method using the apparatus are disclosed. The optical imaging apparatus can includes: a light source unit configured to supply an incident beam; a nano-pattern chip having a plurality of nanostructures; a light adjustment system configured to change an incidence property of the incident beam in at least one of a horizontal direction and a depth direction such that surface plasmon resonance occurs in a localized area of the plurality of nanostructures; and an image detection unit configured to extract fluorescence signals generated by the surface plasmon resonance from a specimen positioned in the localized area and convert the fluorescence signals into an image.

Abstract: A method for automated microscopic analysis wherein the test protocol is obtained from interrogatable data affixed to each microscope slide. The method further comprises the algorithms that implement the test protocol.

Abstract: An optically active composition is described. The composition may include a copolymer of two or more polyepoxides covalently linked by a fused arene.

Abstract: Nanocrystals having an indium-based core and methods for making them and using them to construct core-shell nanocrystals are described. These core-shell nanocrystals are highly stable and provide higher quantum yields than known nanocrystals of similar composition, and they provide special advantages for certain applications because of their small size.

Abstract: Systems and method for detecting optical signals, and for discriminating optical signals emitted by an emission moiety that is excited by an associated excitation signal from background signals and other optical noise, employing digital techniques for determining the portion of a detected optical signal having a modulation frequency corresponding to a modulation of the associated excitation signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of inspecting parts of a sample on a TEM grid with a fluorescence microscope, as arises when performing correlative microscopy, more specifically for samples on a holey carbon grid. A problem occurs when imaging vitrified ice with sample material when the ice is heated by the light used. The invention is based on the insight that the absorption in the carbon support film is responsible for the heating, as ice hardly absorbs light. By localizing the illumination of the fluorescent microscope to the parts of the sample that are above a hole in the carbon, heating of the ice is lowered. The localization can be achieved by, for example, passing the light through a LCD type Spatial Light Modulator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition having a first response to a first electromagnetic radiation and, after intermediate exposure to a second electromagnetic radiation, a second response to the first electromagnetic radiation, different from the first response. In one aspect, the composition exhibits a regenerated first response to the first electromagnetic radiation after exposure to a third electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: An optical source 10 comprising an optical output 12, a pump optical source 14, an optical splitter arranged to receive an optical signal from the pump optical source and to split the optical signal into a pump signal and a seed pump signal. A seed signal forming apparatus 18 is arranged to receive the seed pump signal at the pump wavelength and to transform the seed pump signal into a seed signal at a seed wavelength. A first microstructured optical fiber (MSF1) 20 is arranged to receive the pump signal and the seed signal. MSF1 is arranged to cause the pump signal to undergo four-wave mixing seeded by the seed signal on transmission through MSF1 such that a first optical signal at a signal wavelength and second optical signal at an idler wavelength are generated. One of the signal wavelength and the idler wavelength are the seed wavelength and one of the first and second optical signals are provided to the optical output.

Abstract: There is provided a scanning molecule counting method using an optical measurement with a confocal microscope or a multiphoton microscope, enabling characterization of a light-emitting particle or identification of a light-emitting particle with emitted light intensity of a single light-emitting particle measured individually. In the inventive optical analysis technique, with reference to the ratio of the intensities of simultaneously generated signals of the lights of at least two light-emitting sites having mutually different emission wavelengths, possessed by a light-emitting particle contained in a sample solution, the intensities being measured with moving the position of the light detection region of an optical system by changing the optical path of the optical system, a single light-emitting particle corresponding to the signals is identified, and the kind, the size, etc. of the light-emitting particle is identified.

Abstract: We describe a method for detection of the presence of an invertebrate or an invertebrate component in a sample of substantially non invertebrate material, comprising impinging said sample with a source of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of at least 600 nm and detecting Raman scattering/fluorescence of said invertebrate or a component of said invertebrate at a wavenumber where the non-invertebrate components of said sample either do not fluoresce or fluoresce with sufficiently low intensity wherein the non invertebrate material is edible and/or living.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a charged particle beam device for analyzing an object using a charged particle beam interacting with the object. The object comprises a sample embedded in a resin. Interaction radiation in the form of cathodoluminescence light is detected for identifying areas in which the resin is arranged and in which the sample is arranged. Interaction particles are detected to identify particles within the resin and the sample for further analysis by using EDX analysis.

Abstract: An apparatus for time-gated fluorescence or luminescence detection includes gating means (206) arranged to alternately permit light from an excitation source (242) to be directed to a sample (235) along a first communication path (231, 232), and then permit light emitted from the sample to be directed to a detector (246) along a second communication path (237, 238) while blocking the first communication path (231, 232): The gating means (206) may comprise a single chopper wheel or apertured disc, or a rotating or oscillating arm, and may further comprise one or more reflective facets (207). The gating means (206) may be driven via a magnetic rotor, with a ferrite bead placed to offset rotor magnets with respect to drive coils, when at rest, so as to assist with self starting.

Abstract: A method for detecting fluorochromes in a flow cytometer, including: receiving a sample including particles each tagged with at least one of a first fluorochrome and a second fluorochrome, in which the first and second fluorochromes having distinct spillover coefficients; detecting the particles, including detecting the first and second fluorochromes with a first detector and a second detector; forming a data set for detected particles based on the detection of the first and second fluorochromes; characterizing a detected spillover coefficient for each detected fluorochrome from the data set; and sorting the detected particles into predicted fluorochrome populations based on the detected spillover coefficients.

Abstract: Techniques for imaging a characteristic of a sample with a plurality of conjugates of diamond-metallic nanoparticles having a nitrogen vacancy center. The plurality of conjugates can be exposed to a sample and the nitrogen vacancy centers can be optically pumped. One or more microwave pulses can be applied to the nitrogen vacancy center, and a fluorescent response can be detected.

Abstract: A fluorescence spectrophotometer according to the present invention includes: a light source 1; a sample cell 3; an excitation-side light-dispersing system 2 for dispersing a light from the light source 1 and for casting a desired wavelength of light into the sample cell 3; an emission-side light-dispersing system 4 for dispersing a light emitted from the sample cell 3, the emission-side light-dispersing system 4 being located off an optical path of a transmitted light exiting from the sample cell 3 after being cast from the excitation-side light-dispersing system 2 into the sample cell 3; and a photodetector 5 capable of detecting, among the light from the emission-side light-dispersing system 4, an emission light having the same wavelength as the light cast from the excitation-side light-dispersing system 2 into the sample cell 3.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection device generates a modulation signal for modulating the intensity of the laser light and modulates the laser light using the modulation signal. The detection device obtains a fluorescent signal of the fluorescence emitted by the measurement object irradiated with the laser light, and calculates, from the fluorescent signal, a fluorescence intensity and the phase delay of the fluorescence with respect to the modulation signal. At the time, the detection device controls the operation amounts of the signal level of a DC component of the modulation signal and the gain of amplification just after the output of the fluorescent signal so that the value of a fluorescence intensity signal falls within a preset range. After the operation amounts are settled, the detection device calculates the fluorescence intensity and then calculates the fluorescence relaxation time of the fluorescence emitted by the measurement object using the phase delay.

Abstract: A particle analyzing apparatus, comprising: a flow cell which forms a specimen flow including particles; first and second light sources; an irradiation optical system which applies lights emitted from the first and second light sources so that the lights are applied to the specimen flow; a detector which detects forward scattered light, the forward scattered light being emitted from the first light and scattered by the particle in the specimen flow, and generates a signal according to the detected scattered light; a light blocking member disposed between the flow cell and the detector; a controller which obtains characteristic parameters of the particle based on the signal from the detector; and an imaging device which captures an image of the particle in the specimen flow using the light from the second light source is disclosed. Particle imaging method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Lipophilic fluorescent substances can be used to detect surface defects in materials having hydrophilic (e.g., inorganic) coatings. Use of the described methods makes surface defects appear fluorescent, while the remaining surfaces are not labeled. The disclosed methods are inexpensive, rapid, and easy alternatives to existing approaches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mineral wool product comprising mineral fibers that is marked with an UV or IR active substance and can therefore be identified under exposure to suitable radiation.

Abstract: A conductive composition having a transparent and colorless appearance under normal or ambient lighting and at least a dyed, translucent or fluorescent appearance under artificial lighting is provided. The composition includes a photo-reactive quantity of a dye-marker.

Abstract: A multi-photon microscope having an illumination source that transmits an illumination light into a housing having an objective lens arrangement for illuminating a sample disposed outside the housing and directing a first portion of emission light emitted from the sample to a detection system is disclosed. A light collection system is disposed proximate the objective lens arrangement for directing a second portion of emission light in a coaxial relationship with the first portion of emission light to the detection system such that substantially all of the emission light on, around and above the illumination region is detected.

Abstract: Articles, methods of validating the articles, and validating systems are provided herein. In an embodiment, an article includes a substrate and a security feature on the substrate. The security feature includes a first region that has a first ink composition and a second region that has a second ink composition. The first ink composition includes a first luminescent phosphor and the second ink composition includes a second luminescent phosphor that is different from the first luminescent phosphor. The first luminescent phosphor and the second luminescent phosphor have indistinguishable excitation energy wavelengths, indistinguishable emission wavelengths, and distinguishable temporal decay properties.

Abstract: A scanning photometer and attendant methods are provided. The scanning photometer is generally characterized by first and second fluorophore excitation sources, an objective lens, and a common emission detector for the detection of first and second fluorophore emission originating from the excitation of the fluorophores via passage of excitation energy, via an optical path of the objective lens, from the excitation sources. Excitation energy and emission energy conditioning elements are likewise provided, operatively interposed before or after the objective lens as the case may be.

Abstract: Naphthalene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds have been identified as serious health hazards. This is especially true for personnel working with JP8 jet fuel and other fuels containing naphthalene as well as other hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for near-real-time in-situ detection and accumulated dose measurement of exposure to naphthalene vapor and other hazardous gaseous VOCs. The methods and apparatus employ excitation of fluorophors native or endogenous to compounds of interest using light sources emitting in the ultraviolet below 300 nm and measurement of native fluorescence emissions in distinct wavebands above the excitation wavelength. The apparatus of some embodiments are cell-phone-sized sensor/dosimeter “badges” to be worn by personnel potentially exposed to naphthalene or other hazardous VOCs.

Abstract: Method for determining material parameters of a doped semiconductor substrate, including: applying electromagnetic excitation radiation in order to produce luminescent radiation in the semiconductor substrate, the temporal profile of the excitation radiation intensity is periodically modulated, so that the rate of generation of charge carrier pairs in the substrate has a maximum and minimum during an excitation period, and at least the relative temporal profile of the rate of generation G(t) is determined by time-dependent measurement of the excitation radiation intensity, time-resolved measuring luminescent radiation intensity emanating from a measuring region, at least the relative temporal profile of the intensity of the luminescent radiation ?(t) is measured during an excitation period, determining a material parameter of the semiconductor substrate based on G(t) and ?(t).

Abstract: Efficient fluorescence detection is achieved by optically guiding fluorescence light generated by color centers within a sample to photodetectors outside the sample. A fluorescence detection system may use a sample containing one or more fluorescence color centers that emit fluorescent light when irradiated with excitation light from an optical source. The sample has an index of refraction greater than its surrounding medium. The sample may include one or more output faces and further include at least two opposing faces configured to internally reflect the fluorescent light emitted by the fluorescent color centers, and to optically guide the emitted fluorescent light to the one or more output faces. The fluorescence detection system may include one or more optical detector configured to receive fluorescent light emitted through the one or more output faces, and a microwave source configured to manipulate the electronic spin of the fluorescent color centers.

Abstract: There is provided an optical analysis technique of detecting light of a light-emitting particle in a sample solution in the scanning molecule counting method using the light measurement with a confocal or multiphoton microscope, for suppressing the scattering in detected results of signals of light of light-emitting particles smaller and achieving the improvement of accuracy. The inventive technique comprises moving the position of a light detection region along a predetermined route for multiple circulation times by changing the optical path of the optical system; detecting light from the light detection region and generating time series light intensity data during the moving of the light detection region and detecting individually a signal indicating light from each light-emitting particle existing in the predetermined route using the time series light intensity data obtained in the circulating movements of the light detection region of multiple times.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating measurement parameters for a particle sample in a particle analyzer. The method includes, interrogating the particle sample with a triggering interrogator and one or more secondary interrogators respectively positioned along a length of an interrogation area, generating respective pulses based upon the interrogation of a first particle from the particle sample, determining a primary pulse detection window based upon a triggering pulse, determining a search interval to find a secondary pulse based upon factors including the primary pulse detection window and a laser delay, adjusting the search interval for laser delay variation dynamically based on the interrogation of the first particle, identifying the secondary pulse in the adjusted search interval, and processing the secondary pulse to determine a peak value of the secondary pulse. Corresponding apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A fluorescence microscope includes a nearly monochromatic light source, a Brewster angle wedge, and an optical system for irradiating a sample with a light beam from the light source and directing fluorescence light from said sample onto the Brewster angle wedge. Collection optics are provided for focusing a hyper-spectral, wide angle and dark field image of the sample from the Brewster angle wedge onto recording optics.

Abstract: There is provided a microparticle analysis apparatus including a light irradiation unit, which includes a plurality of light sources that emit laser light beams having different wavelengths, and which is configured to irradiate, with the laser light, microparticles flowing through a channel, and a light source drive control unit configured to control light emission by each light source in the light irradiation unit. The light source drive control unit is configured to supply a first current to each light source, and to supply in a time-division manner a second current to each light source while the first current is being supplied.

Abstract: A method of generating Raman laser for inducing fluorescence of fluoranthene and a system thereof is disclosed. The system comprising a pulsed laser, a frequency doubling crystal, a frequency quadrupling crystal, a light filter unit, a quarter-wave plate, a Raman cell filled with deuterium gas( ), a light dispersion device and an optical diaphragm. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of emitting a laser beam pulse through the crystals as mentioned above such that a mixture of lasers is generated. The light filter unit and the quarter-wave plate are used to obtain a circular or ellipsometric polarized pump laser from the mixture of lasers. Finally, the Raman laser is obtained by directing the pump laser into a Raman cell filled with deuterium gas, extracting different orders of stimulated Raman scattering lasers emitted from the Raman cell by the light dispersion device and selecting the desired order of stimulated Raman scattering laser by the optical diaphragm.

Abstract: A method for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; establishing an area within the image; counting a number of pixels within the area to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and if the ratio is above a predetermined threshold the security marker is authenticated.

Abstract: A method for identifying a presence of a nitro (NO)-bearing compound suspected of being included in a sample includes photodissociating a sample into one or more fragments that include a NO molecule, where the NO molecule has an electron in a first-vibrational excited state of an electronic ground state. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is applied including directing UV light from a UV laser source at the sample to induce fluorescent light. An emission wavelength of 270 nm to 274 nm from fluorescent light received is used to identify a presence of the NO-bearing compound in the sample.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to absorbent articles and signaling devices for use therewith. The signaling device includes one or more non-invasive sensors configured to detect the presence of a substance, such as a body fluid, in the absorbent article. The signaling device can provide an audible and/or visible alert to the user of the absorbent article when it detects the presence of a substance. The absorbent article includes one or more identifiable characteristics the presence of which permits operation of the signaling device. In this manner, the present disclosure provides for product and signaling device matching for use.

Abstract: A method of sensing scale build up on piping exposed to wellbore fluids, which includes the steps of sensing the build up of scale on the wall an injector pipe using fluorescence detection, generating a signal representative of the relative scale build up on injector pipe wall, and communicating that signal to a remote location.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting damage to a wind turbine blade uses one or more fluorescent optical fibres comprising a fluorescent material having an excitation wavelength that is selected such that the material fluoresces upon exposure to ambient radiation at the wind turbine blade, wherein the one or more optical fibres are operatively mounted within the wind turbine blade such that upon damage to the wind turbine blade at least a part of the optical fibre is exposed at the surface of the blade causing the optical fibre to fluoresce; a light detector for receiving a light signal from one or from both ends of the one or more optical fibres upon excitation of the fluorescent material and outputting a signal based on the light signal; and a controller coupled to the light detector to receive the signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to anti-inflammatory proteins, their uses, methods of preparation and methods of their detection. In particular, the invention relates to major royal jelly proteins modified by methyglyoxal and fragments thereof from manuka honey.

Abstract: Methods are presented for separating the effects of background doping density and effective minority carrier lifetime on photoluminescence (PL) generated from semiconductor materials. In one embodiment the background doping density is measured by another technique, enabling PL measurements to be analyzed in terms of effective minority carrier lifetime. In another embodiment the effective lifetime is measured by another technique, enabling PL measurements to be analyzed in terms of background doping density. In yet another embodiment, the effect of background doping density is removed by calculating intensity ratios of two PL measurements obtained in different spectral regions, or generated by different excitation wavelengths. The methods are particularly useful for bulk samples such as bricks or ingots of silicon, where information can be obtained over a much wider range of bulk lifetime values than is possible with thin, surface-limited samples such as silicon wafers.

Abstract: Measurement data of intensities of fluorescence obtained by directing excitation light onto a subject is acquired. An initial value of an absorption coefficient of the phosphor is set on the basis of a concentration distribution of the phosphor, an intensity distribution of the fluorescence on the basis of an absorption coefficient and a diffusion coefficient (reduced scattering coefficient) of the subject, which are set beforehand, are calculated, and the measurement data is compared with the calculation result. If these are found not to be matched, an absorption coefficient of the phosphor at which the error will be a minimum is estimated by performing an inverse problem calculation using a mathematical model. The calculation of the intensity distribution of the fluorescence and evaluation of the error from the obtained concentration distribution are repeated using the absorption coefficient, and a concentration distribution for which the error is the minimum is acquired.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and a device for the determination of thermo-optical properties, particularly the size or size distribution, of fluorescently labeled biomolecules or biomolecule complexes, particularly nucleic acids, in a reaction solution.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optical microscopy system (10) for stimulated emission depletion (STED) of an object (O). An optical element (6) is applied for focusing a first excitation (1) and a second depletion (2) beam on the object thereby defining a common optical path (OP) for both the first and the second beam. A phase modifying member (5) is inserted in the common optical path (OP), and the phase modifying member is optically arranged for leaving the wavefront of the first beam substantially unchanged, and for changing the wavefront of the second beam (2?) so as to create an undepleted region of interest (ROI) in the object. The first beam and the second beam have a common optical path because the phase modifying member adapts the wavefront or phase in such a way that it has no effect on the first beam, while on the second beam it gives rise to a wavefront, or phase change, resulting in a depleted region in the object (e.g. to the donut shaped spot) at the focal plane.

Abstract: A fluorescent material may include a medium, carbon nanotubes dispersed in the medium, and a fluorescent surfactant. The fluorescent surfactant may be adsorbed to a surface of some of the carbon nanotubes in a concentration sufficient to make the material fluoresce in the presence of radiation. The material may be applied to a material and tested for fluorescence, electrical conductivity, or carbon nanotube structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluorescent dye-incorporated silica material. A fluorescent dye is covalently bonded to a silica matrix. The invention also provides for a method for verifying the authenticity of a product, wherein the fluorescent silica material is present in or on a product, and the material is tested for fluorescence or structure.

Abstract: A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette.

Abstract: Microfluidics has made great progress in integrating many aspects of biological analysis and testing into the microscale. One aspect which has proven challenging to miniaturize has been fluorescence testing, as a complete fluorescence system requires an integrated light source, detector and filters to filter out the excitation light (from the light source) from the detector. Here we demonstrate that with polarization filtering of the excitation light and multiple dye sources modulated at different frequencies, a high-sensitivity, multi-dye system with one detector can be realized. Simultaneous detection and quantition of a mixture of two different dyes is demonstrated with no physical change in the measurement setup. The degree of interaction of the dyes is measured. This system is readily adaptable to integrated lab-on-a-chip microfluorescence.