An optical scanning system includes a radiating source capable of outputting a light beam, a time varying beam reflector that is configured to reflect the light beam through a scan lens towards a transparent sample at an incident angle that is not more than one degree greater or less than Brewster's angle of the transparent sample, and a focusing lens configured to be irradiated by light scattered from the transparent sample at an angle that is normal to the plane of incidence of the moving irradiated spot on the transparent sample. A first portion of the light beam is scattered from a first surface of the transparent sample and a second portion of the light beam is scattered from a second surface of the transparent sample. A spatial filter is configured to block the second portion of the light beam scattered from the second surface of the transparent sample.

A process for measuring a size distribution of a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, the process comprising: labeling the nucleic acid molecules with a fluorescent dye comprising a plurality of fluorescent dye molecules to form labeled nucleic acid molecules, such that a number of fluorescent dyes molecules attached to each nucleic acid molecule is reliably proportional to the number of base pairs in the nucleic acid molecule, the fluorescent dye molecules having a first florescence spectrum; producing, by the labeled nucleic acid molecules, the first florescence spectrum in response to irradiating the labeled nucleic acid molecules at the first wavelength; and detecting the first florescence spectrum to measure the size distribution of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules.

Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector coupled to mixing passages for entraining combustion chamber gases with a fuel injection to decrease formation of soot throughout a range of engine operating parameters. In one example, a method includes decreasing a combustion chamber temperature in response to an amount of sensed light.

Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector coupled to mixing passages for entraining combustion chamber gases with a fuel injection to decrease formation of soot throughout a range of engine operating parameters. In one example, a method includes decreasing a combustion chamber temperature in response to an amount of sensed light.

The automatic analysis device is provided with (1) a measurement mechanism having a light measuring unit having a reaction container in which the sample is dispensed, a light source which emits light to the reaction container, and a detection unit that detects scattered light from the sample in the reaction container, (2) an amplifier circuit unit having an adder-subtractor that adds or subtracts a correction signal to or from a first measurement signal from the detection unit, and an amplifier circuit which amplifies the output signal by the adder-subtractor at a fixed amplification rate to output a second measurement signal, and (3) an arithmetic operation unit which calculates the correction signal on the basis of a difference between the signal level of the second measurement signal and a target value, and which executes an analysis action based on the second measurement signal after correction by means of the correction signal.

This invention relates to optical particle counters and methods capable of effectively distinguishing signals generated from particle light scattering from sources of noise. Embodiments of the invention, for example, use multisensory detector configurations for identifying and distinguishing signals corresponding to fluctuations in laser intensity from signals corresponding to particle light scattering for the detection and characterization of submicron particles. In an embodiment, for example, methods and systems of the invention compare signals from different detector elements of a detector array to identify and characterize noise events, such as noise generated from laser intensity instability, thereby allow for the detection and characterization of smaller particles. The system and methods of the present invention, thus, provide an effective means of reducing false positives caused by noise or interference while allowing for very sensitive particle detection.

In some examples, a method includes transmitting first light pulses according to a pre-determined pulse pattern in a first measurement period. The method also includes transmitting second light pulses according to the pre-determined pulse pattern in a second measurement period consecutive to the first measurement period, in which at least some of the first and second light pulses being unequally spaced in time across the first and second measurement periods. The method also includes receiving first detection signals representing detection of the first light pulses. The method also includes receiving second detection signals representing detection of the second light pulses. The method also includes providing a first light scattering measurement signal representing the first measurement period responsive to the first detection signals. The method also includes providing a second light scattering measurement signal representing the second measurement period responsive to the second detection signals.

Provided is an advantageous technique for determining a positive threshold value for use in analyzing a stained specimen fluorescence spectrum.

An information processing apparatus includes a threshold value determination unit configured to determine a positive threshold value that is to be compared with image data of a plurality of image sections included in a stained fluorescence component image, in which the positive threshold value is a criterion for determining whether or not each of the plurality of image sections corresponds to a positive cell image. The threshold value determination unit determines the positive threshold value on the basis of an unstained fluorescence component image.

The invention provides methods, compositions, kits, and systems for the sensitive detection of cardiac troponin, Such methods, compositions, kits, and systems are useful in diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of methods of treatment in conditions that involve release of cardiac troponin.

An optical gas sensor device includes: a light source that emits an infrared ray to a detection target gas; an optical filter that transmits an infrared ray having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the detection target gas; a light receiver that detects the infrared ray entering through the optical filter and generates a detection signal; and a signal processor. The signal processor calculates a gas concentration of the detection target gas or a value corresponding to the gas concentration, based on the detection signal, compares the calculated gas concentration or the calculated value corresponding to the gas concentration with a predetermined threshold, and determines a state of the optical gas sensor device, based on a result of the comparison.