Scattered Light Intensity Research Articles

Performance of UF-5000 in rapidly screening out urinary tract infection, predicting Gram-negative bacteria infection

ABSTRACT Urine culture is the gold standard for identifying microorganisms in urine. However, the process is time-consuming and usually takes days to get the results, which impedes timely treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of UF-5000 in excluding bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) and detecting the presence of Gram-negative bacteria. A total of 1,522 urine specimens were subjected to routine urine analysis and culture. Bacteria, white blood cell counts, and UF-5000 bacteria information flags were compared with urine culture. Bacteria forward scatter (B_FSC), and bacteria fluorescent light intensity (B_FLH) parameters were assessed to determine the optimal angle for discriminating bacterial growth patterns, which was verified in the validation cohort. The optimal cut-off values were 42.2/µL and 100.2/µL to rule out UTI for bacteria at ≥10 4 CFU/mL and ≥10 5 CFU/mL, respectively. The agreement of UF-5000 bacterial classification and urine culture was fair (Kappa = 0.227). Regarding the discrimination of bacterial groups, “Gram Neg?” was associated with a specificity of 94.0% and a positive predictive value of 87.2% in the detection of Gram-negative bacteria. By estimating the B_FSC and B_FLH parameters, the best angle was 28° for distinguishing Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Among the 136 urine specimens with the low angle pattern (<28°) in the validation cohort, 127 specimens were confirmed to contain Gram-negative bacteria. The UF-5000 analyzer is a suitable and rapid tool to exclude negative urine specimens, and bacterial information flags for Gram-negative bacteria could be trusted by clinicians. IMPORTANCE The strength of our study relied on being the first study assessing the bacteria forward scatter (B_FSC) and bacteria fluorescent light intensity (B_FLH) research parameters with a UF-5000 urine analyzer and establishing the best angle for distinguishing Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. When the bacterial scatter plot angle is less than 28°, the possibility of Gram-negative bacterial infection is more than 80%. Meanwhile, we find that UF-5000 bacterial information flags have a significant advantage in detecting Gram-negative bacteria with a specificity of over 90% and a positive predictive value of over 80%.

Simultaneous influences of hematocrit in the erythrocyte medium on erythrocyte aggregation and sedimentation: a kinetic study by a laser scattering technique

The erythrocyte aggregation is an important physiological phenomenon in the circulation of blood. It is a basic characteristic of normal blood that plays a major role in the cardiovascular system, especially in the microcirculation. This study explained the kinetics of single cells rouleaux formation one- dimensional aggregate and three- dimensional aggregate, during simultaneous, and the effect of hematocrit on the process of aggregation and sedimentation. The present study was done on forty one healthy subjects. Laser light is passed through a well mixed sample of blood and the forward scattered light intensities recorded continuously. The samples were prepared with different hematocrit, (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%). Increasing the hematocrit, (10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) had significantly decreased the rate of rouleaux formation (P< 0.005) but increase in the rate of one and three dimensional aggregate formation. On the other hand the sedimentation rate is decreased significantly (P

Non-Destructive Quantification of In-Plane Depth Distribution of Sub-Surface Damage on 4H-SiC Wafers Using Laser Light Scattering

The development of non-destructive quantitative evaluation techniques for the in-plane depth distribution of sub-surface damage (SSD) layer induced by mechanical processing of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) finished SiC wafers is essential to reduce the occurrence of crystal defects during epitaxial growth. Until now, no wafer inspection method has been able to nondestructively and quantitatively assess the in-plane depth distribution of the SSD. This study investigates the correlation between the scattered light intensity measured nondestructively by the Laser light scattering (LLS) method and the SSD depth estimated by destructive inspection using the Dynamic AGE-ing® method, a sublimation-controlled etching and growth process, to develop a novel non-destructive SSD inspection method. As a result, it was found that there is an exponential relationship between the scattered light intensity by the LLS method on the bare wafer surface and the depth of the SSD layer that contributes to the formation of in-grown stacking faults (IGSF) during subsequent epitaxial growth. The results show that SiC wafer inspection using the novel LLS method, which introduces this relational equation, enables non-destructive and quantitative evaluation of SSD depth and in-plane distribution.

Design of subsurface defect detection system based on two channels

With the continuous improvement of quality requirements for optical components, the detection of subsurface defects in optical components has become a key technology. However, there is a problem with existing detection techniques, which is that they cannot simultaneously and independently detect subsurface defects at the micrometer and nanometer levels. This article analyzes the scattering field model of subsurface scratches and conducts simulation experiments on the relationship between scattering light intensity and system aperture. Based on the simulation results, a dual channel experimental system with adjustable spot size was designed to achieve automated measurement of subsurface defects. The narrow channel was used to detect micrometer-level subsurface defects and the wide channel was used to detect nanometer-level subsurface defects. The experimental results verified the correctness of the simulation experiment. In order to improve the sensitivity of the system, we designed an aperture based on the scattering field distribution of surface and subsurface defects, which is used to block the interference signal on the sample surface and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the subsurface defect signal. The experimental results show that this aperture plays an important role, and the detection sensitivity of the system reaches 100 nm. We used four algorithms for data processing and found that the IQR algorithm is most suitable for this system. Finally, the detection results were compared under different spot sizes, and it was found that small spot sizes have better detection effects on nanoscale subsurface defects. In practice, the spot size can be dynamically adjusted according to the detection needs to achieve the optimal configuration of detection speed and sensitivity.

Effect of surface-modified intraocular lenses on long-term postoperative inhibition of posterior capsule opacification

We compared the posterior capsule opacification incidences at 5 years postoperatively and the neodymium–yttrium–aluminum–garnet capsulotomy rates at 10 years postoperatively for two types of intraocular lenses with different optical properties and shapes. This randomized, controlled, prospective, single-blinded study with intra-individual comparisons was conducted between July 21, 2009, and August 31, 2011, at the Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, Tochigi, Japan. Thirty patients (60 eyes) underwent bilateral cataract surgery and received a XY1 intraocular lens in one eye and a FY-60AD intraocular lens in the other. Both intraocular lenses are acrylic and manufactured by HOYA. The XY1 lens is a single-piece, tinted intraocular lens featuring an ultraviolet/ozone treatment on the posterior surface of the lens optic, aimed at enhancing posterior capsule adhesion to prevent posterior capsule opacification. Conversely, the FY-60AD is a tinted intraocular lens with modified polymethylmethacrylate C-loops and no ultraviolet/ozone treatment of the optic. Scheimpflug images were taken using EAS-1000 (NIDEK Co., Ltd., Aichi, Japan), and the scattered light intensity (computer compatible tape) on the posterior surface of the intraocular lens was calculated and evaluated as the posterior capsule opacification. The scattered light values of the XY1 and FY-60AD groups were 6.50 ± 5.69 and 11.64 ± 5.30 computer compatible tape, respectively, at 5 years postoperatively. The cumulative survival incidence after neodymium–yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser capsulotomy was 74.8 % in the XY1 group and 13.8 % in the FY-60AD group at 10 years postoperatively. The surface-modified intraocular lens XY1 reduced the incidence of posterior capsule opacification even 10 years after surgery. Surface modification to increase the adhesion between the intraocular lens and the capsule effectively prevents posterior capsule opacification.

Optimizing microbioreactor cultivation strategies for Trichoderma reesei: from batch to fed-batch operations

BackgroundFilamentous fungi have long been recognized for their exceptional enzyme production capabilities. Among these, Trichoderma reesei has emerged as a key producer of various industrially relevant enzymes and is particularly known for the production of cellulases. Despite the availability of advanced gene editing techniques for T. reesei, the cultivation and characterization of resulting strain libraries remain challenging, necessitating well-defined and controlled conditions with higher throughput. Small-scale cultivation devices are popular for screening bacterial strain libraries. However, their current use for filamentous fungi is limited due to their complex morphology.ResultsThis study addresses this research gap through the development of a batch cultivation protocol using a microbioreactor for cellulase-producing T. reesei strains (wild type, RutC30 and RutC30 TR3158) with offline cellulase activity analysis. Additionally, the feasibility of a microscale fed-batch cultivation workflow is explored, crucial for mimicking industrial cellulase production conditions. A batch cultivation protocol was developed and validated using the BioLector microbioreactor, a Round Well Plate, adapted medium and a shaking frequency of 1000 rpm. A strong correlation between scattered light intensity and cell dry weight underscores the reliability of this method in reflecting fungal biomass formation, even in the context of complex fungal morphology. Building on the batch results, a fed-batch strategy was established for T. reesei RutC30. Starting with a glucose concentration of 2.5 g l-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document} in the batch phase, we introduced a dual-purpose lactose feed to induce cellulase production and prevent carbon catabolite repression. Investigating lactose feeding rates from 0.3 to 0.75 g (l h)-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document}, the lowest rate of 0.3 g (l h)-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document} revealed a threefold increase in cellobiohydrolase and a fivefold increase in β\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\upbeta$$\\end{document}-glucosidase activity compared to batch processes using the same type and amount of carbon sources.ConclusionWe successfully established a robust microbioreactor batch cultivation protocol for T. reesei wild type, RutC30 and RutC30 TR3158, overcoming challenges associated with complex fungal morphologies. The study highlights the effectiveness of microbioreactor workflows in optimizing cellulase production with T. reesei, providing a valuable tool for simultaneous assessment of critical bioprocess parameters and facilitating efficient strain screening. The findings underscore the potential of microscale fed-batch strategies for enhancing enzyme production capabilities, revealing insights for future industrial applications in biotechnology.

Performance of JT-60SA Thomson Scattering data analysis system

We have developed signal processing routines for the Thomson Scattering measurement, which is planned for use in the next campaign of the JT-60SA large-scale tokamak experiment.This paper provides the data analysis system and its performance evaluated in terms of computation time and error.The sequential routine of determining the scattered light intensity from a simulated signal, including noise data from a 1 Gs/s high-speed sampling digitizer, and determining the electron temperature and density was tested for the first time on an actual machine.The data analysis system ensures that electron temperature and density can be calculated with reasonable relative errors and within a realistic time frame for operations on JT-60SA.

Analysis of scattered light from multi-blade and V-grooved laser dumps in Thomson scattering diagnostic

Laser dump is an essential optical component in Thomson scattering diagnostic. Both multi-blade and V-grooved dumps can increase the ability of absorbing laser energy by using multiple surfaces to reduce the energy density on the wall surface. Still, the wall edges of the dump easily produce scattered light. The distribution and intensity of scattered light escaping from these two dumps, as well as the distribution and intensity of scattered light on the wall, are analyzed by the theory and simulation. In which an optical-mechanical simulation model of the laser dump was built. The results indicate that increasing the depth of the laser beam incident into the dump can decrease the distribution of escaping scattered light for these two dumps. When both the half-angle of V-groove and the incidence angle of beam on the entrance surface take a small amount, the V-grooved dump has an advantage of weaker escaping scattered light intensity, while there is a problem of heat accumulation at the bottom. For a fixed laser beam diameter, there is an optimal spacing for the dump to minimize the intensity of escaping scattered light. Additionally, the intensity of escaping scattered light is affected by the surface properties of dump, with low surface specular reflection resulting in low intensity.

Dynamic Light Scattering for the Measurement of Transport Properties of Fluids

The present article summarizes experimental and theoretical considerations required for a proper use of dynamic light scattering (DLS) for the measurement of transport properties of fluids. It addresses not only recent advancements of the method, but also aims to provide recommendations to researchers who intend to apply the technique in the future. As outlined in this study, DLS is based on the analysis of scattered light governed by microscopic statistical or periodic fluctuations that originate from the thermal movement of molecules and/or particles at macroscopic thermodynamic equilibrium. The dynamics of these hydrodynamic fluctuations in the bulk of fluids or at their phase boundaries are related to the underlying diffusive processes and, thus, to the associated transport properties, and are reflected by the time-dependent correlation function of the scattered light intensity. The fundamentals of this type of detection, known as photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), will be discussed in the present contribution in some more detail. It is emphasized that the experiments need to be designed carefully in accordance with theory in order to assign the measurement signals to the corresponding hydrodynamic fluctuations. If the necessary conditions are fulfilled, DLS allows the accurate determination of several transport properties including kinematic and dynamic viscosity, thermal diffusivity, mutual diffusivity, and sound attenuation, which may be accessed together with other thermophysical properties such as speed of sound and surface or interfacial tension. In some instances, also the simultaneous determination of several transport properties is possible. With the exception of the sound attenuation, expanded uncertainties for the mentioned transport properties down to 1 % can be achieved for various types of fluid systems over a wide range of thermodynamic states up to elevated temperatures and pressures as well as in the vicinity of critical points. This performance and versatility of the DLS technique is documented in the present study by highlighting measurement examples from recent thermophysical property research on different classes of working fluids relevant for process and energy technology.

Method for the generation of oscillating scattered light intensities for the determination of a particle property vector.

We present a method for particle characterization by analyzing the light scattering from a single particle using a shaped light beam, whereby the polarization of the light beam is modulated in time. As a result, light with oscillating polarization is scattered by the particle, which offers enhanced signal evaluation benefits. First, the frequency of the high-frequency component provides an improved differentiation of the signal within a continuous flow. Second, the low-frequency component of the oscillating signal can be exploited to determine the optical refractive index. Finally, the inherent complexity of these oscillating signals offers a unique opportunity for the precise categorization of particles using machine learning.

Highly sensitive hydrazine detection through a novel Raman scattering quenching mechanism enabled by a crystalline and noble metal-free polyoxometalate substrate

In the field of Raman spectroscopy detection, the quest for a non-noble metal, recyclable, and highly sensitive detection substrate is of utmost importance. In this work, a new crystalline and noble metal-free substrate of [Bi(DMF)8][PMo12O40] (Bi-PMo12) is designed, which is composed of [PMo12O40]3− and solvated [Bi(DMF)8]3+ cations. Mechanistic studies have revealed that Raman scattering quenching phenomenon arises from two main factors. Firstly, it arises from the absorption of the scattered light due to the transition of a single electron in the reduced state of MoV between 4d orbitals. Secondly, after the interaction between the substrate and hydrazine, the surface undergoes varying degrees of roughening, leading to an impact on the scattered light intensity. These two effects collectively contribute to the detection of low concentrations of N2H4. As a result, Bi-PMo12 opens up a novel Raman scattering quenching mechanism to realize the detection of reduced N2H4 small molecules. A remarkably low detection limit of 4.5 × 10−9 ppm for N2H4 is achieved on the Bi-PMo12 substrate. This detection has a lower concentration than the currently known SERS detection of N2H4. Moreover, Bi-PMo12 can be recovered and reused through recrystallization, achieving a recovery rate of up to ca. 51%. This study reveals the underlying potential of crystalline polyoxometalate materials in the field of Raman detection, thus opening up new avenues for highly sensitive analysis using Raman techniques.

Laser forward and backward scattering characteristics and experimental study of bubbles in ship wake.

The detection and tracking of ships can be realized by using the laser forward and backward scattering characteristics of ship wake bubbles. In this paper, the detection ability of two kinds of scattering to wake bubbles is studied. Based on the distribution characteristics of ship wake and bubble targets, typical bubble targets are selected to study from both micro and macro aspects. The light scattering model of water is established from the microscopic aspect, and the forward and backward scattering light intensity equations of water are derived. The circumferential scattering characteristics of a single bubble are analyzed based on the Mie scattering theory. According to the transmission characteristics of light in wake bubbles, the secondary scattering model of wake bubbles is established, and the forward and backward scattering light intensity equations are derived. In the macroscopic aspect, the laser scattering simulation model of wake bubbles is established by Monte Carlo, and the forward and backward scattering characteristics of wake bubble clusters with different radii, densities, and thicknesses are analyzed emphatically. A laser forward scattering and backscattering detection system under typical bubble characteristics was built, and the composite scattering characteristics of wake bubbles with different parameter characteristics were experimentally analyzed. The theoretical and experimental results show that with the increase of bubble radius, density, and thickness, the amplitude of laser forward scattering signal of bubble groups decreases gradually, the amplitude of backward scattering signal increases gradually, the change rate of forward and backward scattering amplitude increases, and the change rate of backscattering is obviously larger than that of forward scattering. The detection of wake bubbles by backscattering has more characteristic changes than that by forward scattering, and the detection success rate is higher. The research results can provide theoretical and experimental support for the design of a ship wake laser detection system.

Study of Bragg scattering in the presence of dipole-dipole interaction in plasmonic nanohybrids

We have developed a theory of the Bragg scattering for metallic nanohybrid made of an ensemble of metallic nanorods doped in a substrate. The substrate can gas, liquid or solid. An external laser field is applied to study the Bragg scattered light. The photons from the incident laser interact with the surface plasmons od nanorods and produce surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). The incident laser field also induced dipoles in the ensemble of nanorods and they interact with each other via the dipole-dipole interaction (DDI). We have developed a theory for Bragg scattering for metallic nanohybrids using the coupled-mode formulism based on Maxwell’s equation in the presence of SPP and DDI fields. It is found that the theory of Bragg scattered depends on the susceptibility induced by the SPP and DDI fields. We used the quantum mechanical density matrix method to calculate the susceptibility. An analytical expression of the Bragg scattered light intensity is obtained. These expressions can be useful for experimental scientists and engineers who can used them to compare their experiments and make new types of plasmonic devices. Next, we have compared our theory with the experiment data for a nanohybrid made of ensemble of Au-nanoris doped in water. We found a good agreement between theory and experiments. We have also performed the numerical simulations to study the effect of SPP and DDI fields on the Bragg intensity. We have predicted an enhancement the Brag intensity due to the SPP and DDI couplings. The enhancement is due to the two extra scattering mechanisms of the SPP and DDI polaritons with acoustic phonons. We have also found that the one peak in the Bragg intensity can be split int many peaks due the SPP coupling, DDI coupling and phase factor. The splitting is due the Bragg factor appearing in the theory, and it includes the coupling of the incident laser, SPP and DDI electric fields with of acoustic phonons. The enhancement effect can be used to fabricate new types of nanosensors. Similarity, splitting phenomenon can be used to fabricate new types nanoswitches where one peak can be considered as the OFF position and many peaks can be considered as the ON position.

Embedded Spatial–Temporal Convolutional Neural Network Based on Scattered Light Signals for Fire and Interferential Aerosol Classification

Photoelectric smoke detectors are the most cost-effective devices for very early warning fire alarms. However, due to the different light intensity response values of different kinds of fire smoke and interference from interferential aerosols, they have a high false-alarm rate, which limits their popularity in Chinese homes. To address these issues, an embedded spatial–temporal convolutional neural network (EST-CNN) model is proposed for real fire smoke identification and aerosol (fire smoke and interferential aerosols) classification. The EST-CNN consists of three modules, including information fusion, scattering feature extraction, and aerosol classification. Moreover, a two-dimensional spatial–temporal scattering (2D-TS) matrix is designed to fuse the scattered light intensities in different channels and adjacent time slices, which is the output of the information fusion module and the input for the scattering feature extraction module. The EST-CNN is trained and tested with experimental data measured on an established fire test platform using the developed dual-wavelength dual-angle photoelectric smoke detector. The optimal network parameters were selected through extensive experiments, resulting in an average classification accuracy of 98.96% for different aerosols, with only 67 kB network parameters. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of installing the designed EST-CNN model directly in existing commercial photoelectric smoke detectors to realize aerosol classification.

Reference intervals of cell population data parameters in Sysmex XN-Series and its patterns of changes from early adulthood to geriatric ages in South Korea.

Cell population data (CPD) parameters may be putative biomarkers for the screening of various diseases including some infections and myelodysplastic syndrome. This study aimed to establish the age- and sex-specific reference intervals (RIs) for the CPD parameters in the Korean population. The reference population for the RIs of CPD parameters comprised 124 856 subjects aged 20-99 years. CPD parameters were obtained from Sysmex XN-2000 (Kobe, Japan) datasets from 17 health promotion centers in 13 South Korean cities. We determined significant partitions for age and sex, and calculated RIs according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute C28-A3 guidelines. The side scattered light intensity in the neutrophil area and the lymphocyte area did not require sex-related partitioning except in those over the age of 50, among whom the lower limit (LL) and upper limit (UL) were lower in females. However, the side scattered light distribution width in the lymphocyte area required age- and sex-related partitioning, in which LL and UL were higher in females. The LL and UL of the fluorescent light distribution width were higher in males in the neutrophil area and higher in females in the lymphocyte area, but age-related partitioning was not required. The forward scattered light intensity in the neutrophil area, lymphocyte area, and monocyte area did not require age-related partitioning in males. This study has determined comprehensive age- and sex-specific RIs for CPD parameters, which could help to prove the clinical significance of these parameters in the Sysmex XN-2000.

Do Nanobubbles Exist in Pure Alcohol?

The existence of nanobubbles in pure water has been extensively debated in recent years, and it is speculated that nanobubbles may be ion-stabilized. However, nanobubbles in the alcohol-water mixture and pure alcohols are still controversial due to the lack of ions present in the alcohol system. This work tested the hypothesis that stable nanobubbles exist in pure alcohol. The ultrasound and oscillatory pressure fields are used to generate nanobubbles in pure alcohol. The size distribution, concentration, diameter, and scattering intensity of the nanobubbles were measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis. The light scattering method measures the zeta potential. The Mie scattering theory and electromagnetic wave simulation are utilized to estimate the refractive index (RI) of nanobubbles from the experimentally measured scattering light intensity. The average RI of the nanobubbles in pure alcohols produced by ultrasound and oscillating pressure fields was estimated to be 1.17 ± 0.03. Degassing the nanobubble sample reduces its concentration and increases its size. The average zeta potential of the nanobubbles in pure alcohol was measured to be -5 ± 0.9 mV. The mechanical stability model, which depends on force balance around a single nanobubble, also predicts the presence of nanobubbles in pure alcohol. The nanobubbles in higher-order alcohols were found to be marginally colloidally stable. In summary, both experimental and theoretical results suggest the existence of nanobubbles in pure alcohol.

Stability of Nano-Sized Aqueous Dispersion of n-Heptadecane to Thermal Cycling

A stable aqueous dispersion of n-heptadecane was prepared by ultrasonification without the addition of surfactants. Using the dynamic light scattering, the characteristic size (hydrodynamic radius) of the dispersion‘s particles (100 nm) was determined. On the basis of temperature dependence measurements of scattered light intensity, the temperatures of melting, crystallization and transition to rotator phase of n-heptadecane particles in the studied dispersion were determined. The results obtained are in good agreement with literature data. It has also been experimentally shown that this aqueous dispersion can withstand up to 400 thermal cycles of heating and cooling from 3 °C to 30 °C, retaining ist colloidal stability. The results obtained allow to consider this dispersion as a promising basis for the development of Phase Change Materials.

A Monoblock Light-Scattering Milk Fat Percentage and Somatic Cell Count Sensor for Use in Milking Systems.

A monoblock light-scattering sensor, which is capable of measuring the fat content of milk and indicating the excess by which the somatic cell count (SCC) is over the permissible level, has been developed for installation in dairy systems. In order for the sensor to perform measurements when the milking machine is working in the "milk plug" mode, a flow-through unit is designed in the form of a pipe with a lateral cylindrical branch, in which milk accumulates so as to eliminate large bubbles and achieve continuity of the milk flow. The operation of the sensor is based on the registration of the angular intensity distribution of light scattered in the transparent cylindrical segment of the tube branch. A semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 650 nm is used as a light source for determining scattering in milk. The angular distribution of the scattered light intensity (scattering indicatrix) is recorded using an axial photodiode array. The fat content is determined by the average slope of the measured scattering indicatrix in the range of scattering angles 72-162°. The SCC level is estimated from the relative deviation of the forward scatter intensity normalized to the backscatter intensity with respect to uninfected milk. The sensor has been tested on a Yolochka-type milking machine.

Tightly focused linearly and radially polarized beam effect on the LSPR peak with varying particle size

Interactions of gold and silver spherical nanoparticles (NPs) of a wide range of radius size with tightly focused beams are investigated for a wide range of wavelengths. The scattering of tightly focused beams with a single NP of varying size is examined using a generalized Mie theory and average intensity enhancement in the near-field due to localized surface plasmons is examined for different tightly focused beams. A multipole expansion approach is used to observe the contribution of modes in shaping the scattered light intensity. Influence of particle size and tightly focused beam on intensity enhancement factor is investigated and a shift in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peak towards higher wavelength is observed with increasing particle size. Maximum intensity enhancement factor due to scattering of different incident beams by a metallic NP is theoretically examined and reported. Gold and silver NP having radius size ranging from 30–60 nm and 1–15 nm respectively showed a maximum intensity enhancement factor in different media. A significant enhancement for the tightly focused radially polarized beam is observed for gold and silver NPs of radius size between 50 nm and 100 nm. Variation towards higher wavelength in LSPR peak due to involvement of higher order of multipoles, and the surrounding medium are also examined in detail.

On the thermal response of multiscale nanodomains formed in trans-anethol/ethanol/water surfactant-free microemulsion

HypothesisSurfactant-free microemulsion (SFME), an emerging phenomenology that occurs in the monophasic zone of a broad category of ternary mixtures ‘hydrophobe/hydrotrope/water’, has attracted extensive interests due to their unique physicochemical properties. The potential of this kind of ternary fluid for solubilization and drug delivery make them promising candidates in many industrial scenarios. ExperimentsHere the thermodynamic behavior of these multiscale nanodomains formed in the ternary trans-anethol/ethanol/water system over a wide range of temperatures is explored. The macroscopic physical properties of the ternary solutions are characterized, with revealing the temperature dependence of refractive index and dynamic viscosity. FindingsWith increasing temperature, the ternary system shows extended areas in the monophasic zone. We demonstrate that the phase behavior and the multiscale nanodomains formed in the monophasic zone can be precisely and reversibly tuned by altering the temperature. Increasing temperature can destroy the stability of the multiscale nanodomains in equilibrium, with an exponential decay in the scattering light intensity. Nevertheless, molecular-scale aggregates and mesoscopic droplets exhibit significantly different response behaviors to temperature stimuli. The temperature-sensitive nature of the ternary SFME system provides a crucial step forward exploring and industrializing its stability.