Determination of optical coefficients and fractal dimensional parameters of cancerous and normal prostate tissues

Optical extinction and diffuse reflection spectra of cancerous and normal prostate tissues in the 750 to 860 nm spectral range were measured. Optical extinction measurements using thin ex vivo prostate tissue samples were used to determine the scattering coefficient (μ(s)), while diffuse reflection measurements using thick prostate tissue samples were used to extract the absorption coefficient (μ(a)) and the reduced scattering coefficient (μ'(s)). The anisotropy factor (g) was obtained using the extracted values of μ(s) and μ'(s). The values of fractal dimension (D(f)) of cancerous and normal prostate tissues were obtained by fitting to the wavelength dependence of μ'(s). The number of scattering particles contributing to μ(s) as a function of particle size and the cutoff diameter d(max) as a function of g were investigated using the fractal soft tissue model and Mie theory. Results show that d(max) of the normal tissue is larger than that of the cancerous tissue. The cutoff diameter d(max) is observed to agree with the nuclear size for the normal tissues and the nucleolar size for the cancerous tissues. Transmission spectral polarization imaging measurements were performed that could distinguish the cancerous prostate tissue samples from the normal tissue samples based on the differences between their absorption and scattering parameters.     

Isoconversion effective activation energy profiles by variable temperature diffuse reflection infrared spectroscopy

Thermal process characterization based on calculating effective activation energies from variable temperature diffuse reflection infrared spectroscopy (VT-DRIFTS) measurements is demonstrated. Experimental factors that affect the accuracies of activation energy values are outlined. Infrared radiation scattering efficiency, thermal conductivity, and inertness towards chemical reactions are factors that should be considered when selecting an appropriate diluent for preparing samples. The Kubelka-Munk representation is superior to apparent absorbance when baseline variations in spectra measured at different temperatures can be minimized. Variable-temperature infrared spectral features, such as integrated absorption band area, can be used to compute isoconversion effective activation energies, provided that measured quantities are proportional to species concentrations.     

Preparation of multi-functional fabric via silver/reduced graphene oxide coating with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) modification

In order to obtain multi-functional textile, polyester (PET) fabric was modified with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) followed by silver/reduced graphene oxide (Ag/RGO) coating through chemical reduction method. The Ag/RGO coated PET fabrics were systematically characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The deposit weight, electrical resistance, static voltage half-life period, heat generation and water contact angle tests of the fabrics with and without PDDA modification were evaluated. It is concluded that there are uniform and dense silver particles and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets deposit on the surface of the PET fabric modified with PDDA. Compared with the coated fabric without PDDA modification, the Ag/RGO coated PET fabric modified with PDDA shows lower electrical resistance of 0.173 Ω/sq, excellent antistatic property with half-life period of 0.5 s, heat generation with temperature keeping to 69.6 °C at voltage of 4 V and hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 140.1°. Furthermore, the PDDA modification improves adhesion between Ag/RGO coating and PET substrate. In addition, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE), absorption and reflection characteristics were determined by a vector network analyzer in 1 GHz–18 GHz X-band range. The results exhibit that Ag/RGO coated PET fabric possesses an excellent EMI SE ranging from 52 to 57 dB and could be used as lightweight and flexible electromagnetic absorption materials.     

Radiative properties of snow for clear sky solar radiation

Spectral and integrated radiative properties (reflection, transmission, and the rate of heating) of finegrained wind-packed snow typical of subpolar regions are studied through a model taking into account surface reflection and volumetric multiple scattering. The surface reflection is modeled by a bidirectional reflectance distribution function applicable to powdered dielectric material. For the volumetric multiple scattering, the radiative transfer equation designed for strongly asymmetric scattering is solved. All multiple scattering parameters (single scattering albedo, various moments of the scattering phase function, and optical depth) are related to measurable physical characteristics (density, grain size, and the absorption coefficient of pure ice).Parameterized atmospheric spectral transmission coefficients for scattering and absorption by aerosols and gases are used to obtain the direct and diffuse components of solar flux, incident on the snow-cover. Calculated values of spectral and integrated visible and near infrared reflection and flux attenuation coefficients of snow are compared with observations. The rate of radiative heating at different depths within the snowcover is calculated from the net flux divergence. It is shown that the conventional method of calculating this rate using measured bulk extinction coefficients grossly underestimates the amount of heating within the top few millimeters. This study provides a better overall understanding of the radiative properties of snow under clear sky conditions in terms of the physical characteristics of the snowcover.     

Optical properties of dispersed aerosols in the near ultraviolet (355 nm): measurement approach and initial data

An aerosol albedometer combining cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) with integrating sphere nephelometry was developed for use at λ = 355 nm. The instrument measures extinction and scattering coefficients of dispersed particulate matter in the near ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. Several samples have been analyzed, including: ammonium sulfate, secondary organic aerosols (SOA) resulting from the ozonolysis of α-pinene and photooxidation of toluene, redispersed soil dust samples, biomass burning aerosols, and ambient aerosols. When particle size and number density were experimentally controlled, extinction coefficients and scattering coefficients were found to have a linear relationship with particle number concentration, in good agreement with light scattering theory. For ammonium sulfate and pinene samples, extinction cross sections for size-selected (D(p) = 300 nm) samples were within the range of 1.65-2.60 × 10(-9) cm(2) with the largest value corresponding to ammonium sulfate and the lowest value for pinene SOA. The scattering cross sections of pinene and ammonium sulfate aerosols were indistinguishable from the extinction cross sections, indicating that these particle types had minimal light absorption at 355 nm. However, soil dusts and biomass burning aerosols showed significant absorption with single scatter albedo (SSA) between 0.74 and 0.84. Ambient aerosols also had transient absorption at 355 nm that correlated well with a particle-soot absorption photometer (PSAP) measuring visible light absorption.     

Portable, Fiber-Based, Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy (DRS) Systems for Estimating Tissue Optical Properties

Steady-state diffuse reflection spectroscopy is a well-studied optical technique that can provide a noninvasive and quantitative method for characterizing the absorption and scattering properties of biological tissues. Here, we compare three fiber-based diffuse reflection spectroscopy systems that were assembled to create a light-weight, portable, and robust optical spectrometer that could be easily translated for repeated and reliable use in mobile settings. The three systems were built using a broadband light source and a compact, commercially available spectrograph. We tested two different light sources and two spectrographs (manufactured by two different vendors). The assembled systems were characterized by their signal-to-noise ratios, the source-intensity drifts, and detector linearity. We quantified the performance of these instruments in extracting optical properties from diffuse reflectance spectra in tissue-mimicking liquid phantoms with well-controlled optical absorption and scattering coefficients. We show that all assembled systems were able to extract the optical absorption and scattering properties with errors less than 10%, while providing greater than ten-fold decrease in footprint and cost (relative to a previously well-characterized and widely used commercial system). Finally, we demonstrate the use of these small systems to measure optical biomarkers in vivo in a small-animal model cancer therapy study. We show that optical measurements from the simple portable system provide estimates of tumor oxygen saturation similar to those detected using the commercial system in murine tumor models of head and neck cancer.     

Reflectance and transmittance model for recto-verso halftone prints

We propose a spectral prediction model for predicting the reflectance and transmittance of recto-verso halftone prints. A recto-verso halftone print is modeled as a diffusing substrate surrounded by two inked interfaces in contact with air (or with another medium). The interaction of light with the print comprises three components: (a) the attenuation of the incident light penetrating the print across the inked interface, (b) the internal reflectance and internal transmittance that accounts for the substrate's intrinsic reflectance and transmittance and for the multiple Fresnel internal reflections at the inked interfaces, and (c) the attenuation of light exiting the print across the inked interfaces. Both the classical Williams-Clapper and Clapper-Yule spectral prediction models are special cases of the proposed recto-verso reflectance and transmittance model. We also extend the Kubelka-Munk model to predict the reflectance and transmittance of recto-verso halftone prints. The extended Kubelka-Munk model is compatible with the proposed recto-verso reflectance and transmittance model. In the case of a homogeneous substrate, the recto-verso model's internal reflectance and transmittance can be expressed as a function Kubelka-Munk's scattering and absorption parameters, or the Kubelka-Munk's scattering and absorption parameters can be inferred from the recto-verso model's internal reflectance and transmittance, deduced from spectral measurements. The proposed model offers new perspectives both for spectral transmission and reflection predictions and for characterizing the properties of printed diffuse substrates.     

Microwave-absorbing properties of silver nanoparticle/carbon nanotube hybrid nanocomposites

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles fabricated by chemical reduction process were grafted onto the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to prepare hybrid nanocomposites. The Ag/CNT hybrid nanomaterials were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The Ag/CNT hybrid nanomaterials were then loaded in paraffin wax, and pressed into toroidal shape with thickness of 1 mm to evaluate their complex permittivity and complex permeability by scattering parameters measurement method in reflection mode using vector network analyzer. The reflection loss of the samples was calculated according to the transmission line theory using their measured complex permittivity and permeability. The minimum reflection loss of the Ag/CNT hybrid nanocomposite sample with a thickness of 1 mm reached 21.9 dB (over 99 % absorption) at 12.9 GHz, and also exhibited a wide response bandwidth where the frequency bandwidth of the reflection loss of less than ?10 dB (over 90 % absorption) was from 11.7 to 14.0 GHz. The Ag/CNT hybrid nanocomposite with thickness of 6 mm showed a minimum reflection loss of ~?32.1 dB (over 99.9 % absorption) at 3.0 GHz and was the best absorber when compared with the other samples of different thickness. The reflection loss shifted to lower frequency as the thickness of the samples increased. The capability to modulate the absorption band of these samples to suit various applications in different frequency bands simply by manipulating their thickness indicates that these hybrid nanocomposites could be a promising microwave absorber.     

Measurement of optical transport properties of normal and malignant human breast tissue

We report measurement of optical transport parameters of normal and malignant (ductal carcinoma) human breast tissue. A spatially resolved steady-state diffuse reflectance technique was used for measurement of the reduced scattering coefficient (mu(s)?) and the absorption coefficient (mu(a)) of the tissue. The anisotropy parameter of scattering (g) was estimated by goniophotometric measurements of the scattering phase function. The values of mu(s)? and mu(a) for malignant breast tissue were observed to be larger than those for normal breast tissue over the wavelength region investigated (450-650 nm). Further, by using both the diffuse reflectance and the goniophotometric measurements, we estimated the Mie equivalent average radius of tissue scatterers to be larger in malignant tissue than in normal tissue.     

Time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy: a differential absorption approach

A method is presented for the estimate of spectral changes in the absorption properties of turbid media from time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy. The method relies on the hypothesis of constant scattering over the wavelength range of interest, but no limitations come from the sample size and shape as the method is derived directly from the Beer-Lambert law. The effects of a moderate spectral dependence of the scattering properties and of the non-ideal instrument response function were investigated theoretically, and the results were confirmed experimentally, showing that the method can be profitably applied in cases of practical interest.     

Changes in spectral shape of tissue optical properties in conjunction with laser-induced thermotherapy

We measured the optical properties on samples of rat liver tissue before and after laser-induced thermotherapy performed in vivo with Nd:YAG laser irradiation. This made it possible to monitor not only the influence of coagulation on the scattering properties but also the influence of damages to vessels and heat-induced damage to blood on the absorption properties. An experimental integrating-sphere arrangement was modified to allow the determination of the g factor and the absorption and scattering coefficients versus the wavelength in the 600-1050-nm spectral region, with the use of a spectrometer and a CCD camera. The results show a relative decrease in the g factor of on average 21 ? 7% over the entire spectral range following thermotherapy, and a corresponding relative increase in the scattering and absorption coefficients of 23 ? 8% and 200 ? 100%, respectively. An increase of on average 200 ? 80% was consequently found for the reduced scattering coefficient. The cause of these changes in terms of the Mie-equivalent average radius of tissue scatterers as well as of the distribution and biochemistry of tissue absorbers was analyzed, utilizing the information yielded by the g factor and the spectral shapes of the reduced scattering and absorption coefficients. These results were correlated with the alterations in the ultrastructure found in the histological evaluation. The average radius of tissue scattering centers, determined by using either the g factors calculated on the basis of Mie theory or the spectral shape of reduced scattering coefficients calculated on the Mie theory, was estimated to be 21-32% lower in treated than in untreated liver samples. The Mie-equivalent average radii of scattering centers in untreated liver tissue deduced by the two methods corresponded well and were found to be 0.31 and 0.29 mum, respectively, yielding particle sizes in the same range as the size of a mitochondrion.     

Modeling the diffuse reflectance due to a narrow beam incident on a turbid medium

We present a model for the diffuse reflectance when a continuous beam is incident normally on a half space composed of a uniform scattering and absorbing medium. This model is the result of an asymptotic analysis of the radiative transport equation for strong scattering, weak absorption, and a narrow beam width. Through comparison with the diffuse reflectance computed using the numerical solution of the radiative transport equation, we show that this diffuse reflectance model gives results that are accurate for small source--detector separation distances.     

磁控溅射工艺参数对涤纶织物表面沉积铜膜性能的影响

在室温条件下采用射频磁控溅射法在涤纶平纹机织物表面沉积纳米Cu薄膜,借助原子力显微镜(AFM)观察镀膜前后样品表面变化。通过分别改变镀膜时间、溅射功率和气体压强,研究其对样品透光性和导电性的影响。实验结果表明,经Cu镀层处理的涤纶平纹织物对紫外光和可见光的吸收能力明显优于原样。溅射压强增加,透光性能增强,铜膜方块电阻增加,导电性能减弱;镀膜时间延长和溅射功率增加,样品透射率降低,屏蔽紫外线和可见光效果明显,在溅射时间接近15min和溅射功率增加到120W后,样品屏蔽效果不明显,铜膜方块电阻随溅射功率增加而减小,导电性能增强。     

Determination of chromium(VI) by surface plasmon field-enhanced resonance light scattering

A surface plasmon-enhanced resonance light scattering method has been developed. The method features strong light scattering but very weak background, and after incorporating with selective sample extraction and ion-association complexation using rhodamine B and KI as reactants, it could selectively determine Cr(VI) in both of standard and real samples, reaching a limit of detection down to 20 nM which is about 40-fold as sensitive as flame atomic absorption spectrometry and 140-fold as sensitive as fluorescent spectroscopy. Its linear working range was found in between 40 and 320 nM, with a relative standard deviation of peak height at <3% (n = 5) and recovery between 94.8-104.9%. In theory, the method is applicable to the analysis of all substances able to produce or destroy I2.     

Influence of plasma treatment on CNT absorption of cotton fabric and its electrical conductivity and antibacterial activity

In this study, effect of plasma pretreatment on the absorption of carboxilated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of cotton fabrics was investigated. Treated samples were characterised using a Raman spectrophotometer. Also, the morphological properties of samples were studied using a scanning electron microscope. Electrical resistance and interactions between CNTs and plasma-treated cotton functional groups at the surface were also evaluated. Antibacterial activity of cotton fabric when modified by low temperature plasma and stabilised with CNTs was also investigated. Results showed a uniform coating of CNTs on the plasma-treated cotton fabric and it was found that the plasma treatment is effective on improving CNTs absorption by cotton fabric. Generally, cotton fabric characterisation, such as antibacterial activity and electrical conductivity, after plasma treatment and loading CNT are improved.     

低温固化有机硅耐高温涂层织物的制备

为降低有机硅树脂固化的温度和时间,利用环氧树脂对自制有机硅低聚物进行改性,并进一步在改性硅树脂中添加铝粉、高岭土及白炭黑等功能填料制备复合有硅树脂溶液,将其涂覆在玻璃纤维织物表面,最终制备出具有低温固化功能的隔热涂层玻璃纤维织物.结果表明:环氧树脂分子侧链上的仲羟基与有机硅低聚物发生了接枝反应,环氧基团的保留也为涂层过程中实现低温固化提供了条件;改性硅树脂在700℃时的残留质量为66.2%,具有良好的热稳定性;复合有机硅树脂涂层后的织物可在60℃下烘10 min,完成固化过程,烧蚀试验表明涂层后织物的隔热性能显著提高.     

Time-resolved optical spectroscopy of wood

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated that picosecond time-resolved optical spectroscopy in the visible/near-infrared (NIR) region (700-1040 nm) is a useful technique for noninvasive characterization of wood. This technique has been demonstrated on both softwood and hardwood samples treated in different ways simulating the aging process suffered by waterlogged woods. In all the cases, alterations of absorption and scattering spectra were observed, revealing changes of chemical and structural composition.     

Characterization of magnetic paper using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Magnetic papers were prepared by using the co-precipitation method. The spectral data of the magnetic fibres were obtained by using the photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) and attenuated total reflection (ATR). It was found that the elevated loading degree increased the IR absorption and reduced the tensile strength of the paper. The partial-least-squares analyses showed that the FTIR-ATR data were strongly correlated with the degree of loading and the correlation obtained was better than that of the FTIR-PAS spectral data.     

Effective Sample Size in Diffuse Reflectance Near-IR Spectrometry

Two independent methods for determination of the effectively sampled mass per unit area are presented and compared. The first method combines directional-hemispherical transmittance and reflectance measurements. A three-flux approximation of the equation of radiative transfer is used, to separately determine the specific absorption and scattering coefficients of the powder material, which subsequently are used to determine the effective sample size. The second method uses a number of diffuse reflectance measurements on layers of controlled powder thickness in an empirical approach. The two methods are shown to agree well and thus confirm each other. From the determination of the effective sample size at each measured wavelength in the visible-NIR region for two different model powder materials, large differences was found, both between the two analyzed powders and between different wavelengths. As an example, the effective sample size ranges between 15 and 70 mg/cm(2) for microcrystalline cellulose and between 70 and 300 mg/cm(2) for film-coated pellets. However, the contribution to the spectral information obtained from a certain layer decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the powder surface. With both methods, the extent of contribution from various depths of a powder sample to the visible-NIR diffuse reflection signal is characterized. This information is valuable for validation of analytical applications of diffuse reflectance visible-NIR spectrometry.     

Dynamic time-resolved diffuse spectroscopy based on supercontinuum light pulses

We present a detailed characterization of a system for fast time-resolved spectroscopy of turbid media based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber. The light source provides subpicosecond pulses in the 550-1000-nm spectral range, at 85 MHz, at an average power of up to 50 mW. Wavelength-resolved detection is accomplished by means of a spectrometer coupled to a 16-channel, multianode photomultiplier tube, giving a resolution of 4.5-35 nm/channel, depending on the grating. Time-dispersion curves are acquired with time-correlated single-photon counting, and absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are determined by fitting the data to the diffusion equation. We characterized the system by measuring the time-resolved diffuse reflectance of epoxy phantoms and by assessing the performance in terms of accuracy, linearity, noise sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility. The results were similar to those from previous systems, whereas the full-spectrum (610-810 nm) acquisition time was as short as 1 s owing to the parallel acquisition. We also present the first in vivo real-time dynamic spectral measurements showing tissue oxygenation changes in the arm of a human subject.