For correcting aberration-induced imaging errors of an optical system which includes an objective (14) and an adaptive optic (18), light (5) and a sample (20) are selected such that the light (5), in acting upon the sample (20), reduces a measurement signal (28) from the sample (20), wherein a relative variation of the measurement signal (28) depends on the intensity of the light (5). The measurement signal (28) from a focal area of the optical system in the sample (20) is registered over a first and a later second period of time (38, 37) to determine a first measurement value and a second measurement value. Over a third period of time (39) which overlaps with the first and/or the second period of time, the light (5) is focused into the focal area by means of the optical system. A measure value for the relative variation of the measurement signal (28) is determined from the first and the second measurement values and used in controlling the adaptive optic (18) as a metric to be optimized.

It is an object of the invention to improve processes, apparatuses and systems for measuring a measured variable. To this end, a measured variable is measured in a measuring process on the basis of an NV center as a quantum sensor. The NV center has a plurality of quantum states and is optically excitable on the basis of an occupancy of one of the quantum states into at least one excited state of the quantum states by means of an excitation light. The at least one excited state can decay at least with emission of emission light of the NV center. In the measuring process, the NV center is irradiated by the excitation light, the excitation light having a time periodic modulation, and a respective occupancy probability and/or a respective lifetime of the quantum states depending on the measured variable and the excitation light. A phase shift is determined between the emission light of the NV center and the modulation of the excitation light and a measurement value for the measured variable is determined on the basis thereof.

Methods and systems for analyzing oscillatory fluorescence representing an oscillatory ion flux associated with one or more biological cells. An illustrative method of analysis may comprise detecting fluorescence from one or more biological cells to produce a series of data points describing an oscillation pattern. A series of slopes may be calculated for the oscillation pattern. For example, a sliding window may be used to define subsets of the series of data points from which the series of slopes are calculated. Peaks of the oscillation pattern may be identified using the series of slopes. Primary peaks and secondary peaks, if any, in the oscillation pattern may be identified and characterized by multiple measurements. An aspect of the secondary peaks may be determined. Appearance of secondary peaks may indicate a potential risk of cardiotoxicity or neurotoxicity.

A leak detection system includes a light source configured to output emitted light into a region of water, and a light detector configured to receive returned light from the region of the water and to output a detector signal indicative of the returned light. The leak detection system also includes at least one controller configured to detect hydrocarbons within the region of the water in response to detecting a hydrocarbon wavelength within the returned light, to determine at least one position of the hydrocarbons within the region of the water based on a time difference between a first time at which the emitted light is output from the light source and a second time at which the returned light at the hydrocarbon wavelength is received at the light detector, and to generate a three-dimensional model of a subsea structure based on the detector signal.

Cell counting device A cell counting device and a method of using a cell counting device are disclosed. The cell counting device comprises a chamber for receiving a sample, at least one light source to emit light towards a section of the chamber. The section of the chamber comprises a sub-sample of the sample. The cell counting device also comprises a light detector to receive a light emitted from the section of the chamber and to generate an electronic signal associated with the received light, and a controller. The controller is configured to estimate the number of photoactive cells in the sample by calculating the distribution of variable fluorescence [F.sub.v] values of a predetermined number of sub-samples about the mean F.sub.v value.

A method may include measuring a formation sample using a Raman spectrometer to determine a formation sample characteristic, wherein the formation sample characteristic is mineral ID and distribution, carbon ID and distribution, thermal maturity, rock texture, fossil characterization, or combinations thereof.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for determining thermal properties of materials by using frequency modulated pump light intensity to cyclically heat a sample, and using probe light to induce fluorescent signals from fluorescent indicators on the surface of the material during the cyclic 5 heating. The methods and systems utilize the phase delay between the frequency modulated pump light and the corresponding fluorescent signals to determine the thermal properties of the material at one or more locations on the material sample.

A device includes a plurality of imaging pixels in a spatial pattern with a formation of features disposed over the pixels. A first and a second feature of the formation of features are disposed over a first pixel. A first luminophore is disposed within or over the first feature. A second luminophore is disposed within or over the second feature. A structured illumination source is to direct at least a portion of first photons in an illumination pattern to the first feature at a first time, and to direct at least a portion of second photons in the illumination pattern to the second feature at a second time. The structured illumination source includes an illumination pattern generator having an illumination pattern generator actuator connected to the illumination pattern generator to cause the illumination pattern to translate or rotate relative to the formation of features.

A system and associated method measures anomalous diffusion of biomolecules in cell membranes of intact cells and includes a laser that illuminates a cell membrane within an intact cell to express fluorescently tagged biomolecules. The laser photobleaches a region of interest and illuminates the region of interest over time. A detector detects the fluorescence recovery over time within the region of interest to yield fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) data. A controller computes the mean square displacement (MSD) of diffusing biomolecules and a time-dependent diffusion coefficient D(t) from a plurality of time points of the FRAP data and determines the anomalous diffusion in the cell membrane.

A photometric dispensing nozzle unit, a photometric dispensing apparatus, and a photometric dispensing method are for preventing an increase in apparatus scale and have a simple structure to be easily handled. A nozzle performs suction/discharge of gas through a distal end opening and can have a dispensing tip attached thereto. A light guide end portion is provided in the nozzle and can receive or irradiate light at a distal end of the nozzle. A dispensing cylinder has a cylinder having a cavity therein, a plunger that is slidable in the cavity, and a suction/discharge port that performs suction/discharge of gas. A suction/discharge flow path passes through the nozzle and communicates with the suction/discharge port and the distal end opening of the nozzle. A light guide path is optically connected to the light guide end portion through the nozzle but not through the dispensing cylinder.