A system and a method for determining one or more distillation temperatures for one or more given distillation weight percentages of a crude oil sample are provided, which can be used to produce a simulated distillation curve. Simulated distillation temperatures of crude oil samples are assigned as a function of density and data derived from UV/Visible spectroscopy measurement of the crude oil samples.

An evaluation method of a spheroid comprises specifying a spheroid region taken up by the spheroid out of the image including the spheroid and a surrounding region thereof, obtaining an average value of an optical density of the spheroid and a magnitude of a variation of the optical density in the spheroid from an image density of the spheroid region, obtaining a circularity of the spheroid from a contour of the spheroid region, obtaining a sharpness of the spheroid from the image densities of the spheroid and the surrounding region thereof, and obtaining the collapse degree of the spheroid by substituting the average value of the optical density, the magnitude of the variation of the optical density, the circularity and the sharpness into a predetermined operational expression.

A method, computer program product, and apparatus are provided for controlling components of a detection device. The device may detect turbidity of liquid with sensors such as a density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor. A light modulation pattern may reduce or eliminate interference in sensor readings. Readings may be performed during off cycles of an illumination light to reduce interference but to provide improved visibility of a tube. Dark and light sensor readings may be performed with an emitter respectively off or on to account for ambient light in subsequent readings. Readings from the density sensor and/or nephelometric sensor may be used to calculate McFarland values. The device may be zeroed based on an emitter level that results in a sensor reading satisfying a predetermined criterion.

A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere. Optionally, the system also includes a photocatalyzing material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the flow cell.

This disclosure relates to verifying the operation of cell analyzers, including microscope-based cell imaging and counting analyzers. In one general aspect, a mixture of micro-beads having known characteristics is introduced into the analyzer. One or more images of the mixture are acquired with the analyzer's microscope, the images are analyzed, and a determination is made about whether results meet one or more predetermined quality control thresholds. Also disclosed is a hematology control material that can be used to perform the verification and includes a solvent, a dye dissolved in the solvent, and micro-beads suspended in the solvent. In another general aspect, a quality control method for the analyzers includes capturing images of samples that include patient cells using at least a microscope, extracting sample-specific information about properties of the patient samples from the images, and testing information from the samples against predetermined standards to verify the operation of the analyzer.

A method of determining an absorption or turbidity coefficient of a liquid involves storing a set of data describing a plurality of droplets or other discrete bodies of liquid of different shapes, sizes and absorption or turbidity coefficients. Each body is captured as a combination of a measurable transmission parameter obtained by modelling the interaction of light with a drop, and of one or more dimensional measurements selected from lengths, areas and volumes. The absorption or turbidity coefficient is indicated also. By measuring the transmission of light through a real body of liquid, and making measurements allowing the droplet to be specified, the absorption or turbidity coefficient associated with a droplet giving rise to the same behaviour in transmitting light can be identified from the data set.

An identification apparatus includes a plurality of irradiation units disposed at different positions in a conveyance width direction to irradiate a specimen with a converging ray in different irradiation conditions, the specimen being conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction by a conveyance unit, a plurality of light-capturing units configured to capture scattered light from the specimen, each of the plurality of light-capturing units corresponding to a different one of the plurality of irradiation units, an acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information for identifying a property of the specimen, based on the light captured by the light-capturing units; and a placement unit configured to place the specimen on a position corresponding to any one of the plurality of irradiation units in accordance with a characteristic value of the specimen at an upstream side of the plurality of irradiation units in the conveyance direction.

A method and apparatus for identifying one or more target constituents (e.g., white blood cells) within a biological sample is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) adding at least one colorant to the sample; b) disposing the sample into a chamber defined by at least one transparent panel; c) creating at least one image of the sample quiescently residing within the chamber; d) identifying target constituents within the sample image; e) quantitatively analyzing at least some of the identified target constituents within the image relative to one or more predetermined quantitatively determinable features; and f) identifying at least one type of target constituent within the identified target constituents using the quantitatively determinable features.

An optical density measuring apparatus and an optical waveguide capable of increasing the degree of design freedom are provided. The optical density measuring apparatus is for measuring density of a gas or a liquid to be measured and includes a light source capable of irradiating light into a core layer, a detector capable of receiving light propagated through the core layer, and an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a substrate and the core layer, which includes a diffraction grating unit and a light propagation unit capable of propagating light in an extending direction of the light propagation unit. The diffraction grating unit and a portion of the core layer are separated in the thickness direction of the optical waveguide.

An optical density testing system includes a light source, a first light splitting device used to divide the light into at least two light paths, at least two second light splitting devices used for receiving the at least two paths of light from the first light splitting device, first light-passing holes provided corresponding to each of the at least two second light splitting devices, a first filter device detachably arranged at each of the first light-passing holes, a first diaphragm detachably installed on each of the first filter devices, and a light receiving device. The second light splitting device is used to transmit the light onto a product to be tested through the first filter device and the first diaphragm. The light receiving device is used to receive transmitted light formed after the light passes through the product to be tested.