A method of determining electromagnetic scattering properties of a finite periodic structure has the steps: 1002: Calculating a single-cell contrast current density, within a unit-cell supporting domain of a single one of a finite collection of unit cells. 1004: Calculating a scattered electric field outside the finite collection of unit cells, by integrating, over the single unit cell's supporting domain, a Green's function with the determined single-cell contrast current density. 1006: The Green's function is obtained for observation points outside the finite collection of unit cells by summation across the finite collection of unit cells. The Green's function integrated with the determined single-cell contrast current density is obtained for observation points above the supporting domain with respect to a substrate underlying the finite periodic structure. 1008: Determining an electromagnetic scattering property, for example a diffraction pattern, of the finite periodic structure using the calculated scattered electric field.

A measuring apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a support plate and an optical sensor. The support plate has an upper surface on a central portion of which an object is to be mounted, and is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending vertically from the central portion. The optical sensor is disposed above the support plate, and has a light-emitting element configured to irradiate the object with light and a light-receiving element configured to receive reflection light reflected from the object.

Devices and methods for controlling the properties of chemical species during time-dependent processes. A device includes a reactor for containing one or more chemical species of a time-dependent process, an extraction pump for automatically and continuously extracting an amount of the one or more chemical species from the reactor, one or more detectors for measuring property changes of the one or more extracted chemical species and generating a continuous stream of data related to the one or more property changes to the one or more chemical species during a time interval, and a process controller configured to fit the continuous stream of data to a mathematical function to predict one or more properties of the one or more chemical species at a future time point and make one or more process decisions based on the prediction of one or more properties at the future time point.

Disclosed are methods of treating cancer of the intraperitoneal cavity using compositions comprising nanoparticles without targeting agents. In addition, nanoparticles are described that comprise a highly toxic anticancer agent (e.g., an anticancer agent having an IC.sub.50 less than 1 nM) covalently bound via a linker to a triblock copolymer. Other nanoparticles that comprise Pt(IV) and an anticancer agent are also described. Also disclosed are nanoparticles comprising imaging agents non-covalently associated with a polymer, and methods of imaging cancer of the intraperitoneal cavity using compositions comprising nanoparticles without targeting agents.

Disclosed is an illumination source for generating measurement radiation for an inspection apparatus. The source generates at least first measurement radiation and second measurement radiation such that the first measurement radiation and the second measurement radiation interfere to form combined measurement radiation modulated with a beat component. The illumination source may be a HHG source. Also disclosed is an inspection apparatus comprising such a source and an associated inspection method.

A sample analyzer with an optical detection device and a sample analysis method of the sample analyzer are disclosed. The optical detection device includes a fluid chamber, a light source and a light detector. The fluid chamber includes an illumination zone. An analyte flows through the illumination zone so as to form a sample stream. The light source illuminates the illumination zone to excite cell articles, reacted with a reagent, of the sample stream to emit a light signal. The light detector detects the fluorescent lights and transforms it into an electric signal. The light detector can include a silicon photomultiplier.

A method and an LWIR imaging system for detecting an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of a substrate or within a substrate are described. The method comprises the steps of i) providing an LWIR imaging system, the LWIR imaging system comprising a) an infrared light emitting source (A) that emits over the whole range of 8 to 14 micrometers, b) an LWIR detecting device (B) and c) a ToF distance sensor (C), ii) providing a substrate comprising an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of the substrate or within the substrate, ii) irradiating the provided substrate with the infrared light emitting source and iii) detecting, with the LWIR detecting device and using and/or based on the TOF distance sensor, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation scattered, emitted and/or reflected by the substrate and the amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts.

A method and an LWIR imaging system for detecting an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of a substrate or within a substrate are described. The method comprises the steps of i) providing an LWIR imaging system, the LWIR imaging system comprising a) an infrared light emitting source (A) that emits over the whole range of 8 to 14 micrometers, b) an LWIR detecting device (B) and c) a ToF distance sensor (C), ii) providing a substrate comprising an amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts on the surface of the substrate or within the substrate, ii) irradiating the provided substrate with the infrared light emitting source and iii) detecting, with the LWIR detecting device and using and/or based on the TOF distance sensor, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation scattered, emitted and/or reflected by the substrate and the amorphous and/or crystalline structure of phosphate and/or sulphate salts.

A method for detecting at least one property of a plant product, the method including: directing source light including ultraviolet (UV) light at UV wavelengths and polarized visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) light at VIS/NIR wavelengths onto a region of the plant product; blocking the polarized VIS/NIR light of the source light, and blocking polarized specular reflection from the region of the plant product, from being transmitted to a visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer; and transmitting a portion of emitted light caused by fluorescence and/or diffuse reflection from the region of the plant product to the visible and/or near-infrared (VIS/NIR) spectrometer.

A system for the identification of micro-organisms includes an irradiation unit adapted to sequentially provide coherent electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths along a common optical path. A holder is adapted to retain a substrate having a surface adapted for growth of a micro-organism colony. A beamsplitter is adapted to direct the coherent electromagnetic radiation from the common optical path towards the retained substrate. An imager is arranged opposite the beamsplitter from the retained substrate and is adapted to obtain images of backward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the respective wavelengths of the directed coherent electromagnetic radiation. Some examples provide radiation of multiple wavelengths and include an imager arranged optically downstream of the retained substrate to obtain images of forward-scattered light patterns from the micro-organism colony irradiated by the wavelengths of radiation. Organism identification methods are also described.