Membrane characterization using microscopic image analysis

Five organic ultrafiltration membranes, made of different materials (PES, PVDF and PAN), have been visualized by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Obtained images have been treated by the processing and analysis program NIH image and parameters such as, porosity (A_k), pore density (N), mean pore radius (r_p) and pore size distribution have been quantified for each membrane. The mean pore size obtained from image analysis agrees well with rejection data of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextrans, using the Ferry’s law approximation. The membrane thickness Δx has been also measured on images. Results allowed the comparison between the A_k/Δx values obtained from image analysis and the A_k/Δx values obtained by diffusion experiments. Results, combined with porosity and water permeability values, gave information on the material hydrophilicity.     

A density-based segmentation for 3D images,an application for X-ray micro-tomography

Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) is an unsupervised classification algorithm which has been widely used in many areas with its simplicity and its ability to deal with hidden clusters of different sizes and shapes and with noise. However, the computational issue of the distance table and the non-stability in detecting the boundaries of adjacent clusters limit the application of the original algorithm to large datasets such as images. In this paper, the DBSCAN algorithm was revised and improved for image clustering and segmentation. The proposed clustering algorithm presents two major advantages over the original one. Firstly, the revised DBSCAN algorithm made it applicable for large 3D image dataset (often with millions of pixels) by using the coordinate system of the image data. Secondly, the revised algorithm solved the non-stability issue of boundary detection in the original DBSCAN. For broader applications, the image dataset can be ordinary 3D images or in general, it can also be a classification result of other type of image data e.g. a multivariate image.     

Automated mass spectrometry imaging with a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight instrument

The automated use of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometer (MS) is described for image analysis of samples through implementation of new software for instrument control, data acquisition, and data analysis. The software permits automated acquisition of MS MALDI spectra to form an ordered data array and contains display features to provide images at one or more mass-to-charge ratio values. The technique can be used to scan tissue samples, blotted samples, gels, or other sample surfaces where the image analysis of that sample is required. The program achieves a time of typically 1 s per image point, permitting an analysis made up of large numbers of points with high spatial resolution up to 850 dpi. The features of the software are demonstrated in this paper with samples of printed images, where visible images can be compared to those obtained by mass spectrometry. Quantitative aspects are introduced by analyzing a series of sample spots containing different amounts of several proteins.     

VideoAFM--a new tool for high speed surface analysis

The VideoAFM provides a 1000 fold increase in image rate compared to conventional atomic force microscopes, giving nanometre resolution images of surfaces at a rate of 15 frames s(-1), which is approximately 1 million pixels s(-1). Images of high stiffness surfaces such as calibration grids are provided for the first time, and allow for a more rigorous examination of the meaning of the data obtained with the VideoAFM. Instrumental changes that could provide true topographic images are discussed. The advantages of a high speed scanning technique that is integrated within a conventional AFM are outlined. Particular emphasis is given to the capability to 'tile' images, and hence rapidly map large areas with nanometre resolution. It is found that the inherent increase in stability that comes from a high frame rate leads to the possibility of manually manipulating the sample while maintaining a sharp image, allowing real-time user interaction with the AFM. The possible application of the VideoAFM approach for the very rapid analysis of surface properties and, ultimately, surface chemistry is discussed and some possible routes are given.     

Automated analysis of SEM X-ray spectral images: a powerful new microanalysis tool.

Spectral imaging in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyzer has the potential to be a powerful tool for chemical phase identification, but the large data sets have, in the past, proved too large to efficiently analyze. In the present work, we describe the application of a new automated, unbiased, multivariate statistical analysis technique to very large X-ray spectral image data sets. The method, based in part on principal components analysis, returns physically accurate (all positive) component spectra and images in a few minutes on a standard personal computer. The efficacy of the technique for microanalysis is illustrated by the analysis of complex multi-phase materials, particulates, a diffusion couple, and a single-pixel-detection problem.     

Use of imaging multivariate analysis to improve biochemical and anatomical discrimination in desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry imaging

Desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI) mass spectrometry images usually contain a large amount of information that can be difficult to interpret in an objective manner. We explore the use of imaging multivariate analysis (MVA) on DESI images of protein spots and rat brain sections to automatically assign peaks and improve discrimination of spatially important features. DESI parameters were optimised on an ion trap mass spectrometer for (a) consistent imaging of dried single and mixture spots of insulin, myoglobin and BSA from a Permanox slide, and (b) to produce a MS image of rat brain coronal section at 100 μm resolution. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR), an imaging MVA technique was applied to these images after appropriate data binning. MCR analysis on DESI images of protein mixture spots allowed the multiply charged peaks of a number of proteins to be distinctly separated. Application of MCR to a DESI image of a rat brain coronal section deconvoluted the image into components that showed biologically important features. Further application of MCR to a subsection of the image produced a component that clearly separated out the substantia nigra region, which allowed us to produce a biochemical anatomy for this area of the brain. We have demonstrated the ability of imaging MVA to automatically and objectively analyse DESI images of standardised and complex biological samples, and have shown its capacity for detailed spatial profiling of biomolecules in specific morphological regions. We propose the routine use of this technique for future DESI imaging experiments.     

Image background removal in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

This paper describes a new technique for removing the background level from digital images produced in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC). Background removal is an important first step in the larger problem of quantitative analysis. The approach estimates the background level across the chromatographic image based on structural and statistical properties of GCxGC data. Then, the background level is subtracted from the image, producing a chromatogram in which the peaks rise above a near-zero mean background. After the background level is removed, further analysis is required to determine the quantitative relationship between the peaks and chemicals in the sample. The algorithm is demonstrated experimentally to be effective at determining and removing the background level from GCxGC images. The algorithm has several parametric controls and is incorporated into an interactive program with graphical interface for rapid and accurate detection of GCxGC peaks.     

Design and performance of air flow-assisted ionization imaging mass spectrometry system

The imaging mass spectrometry（IMS） technology has experienced a rapid development in recent years.A new IMS technology which is based on air flow assisted ionization（AFAI） was reported.It allows for the convenient pretreatment of the samples and can image a large area of sample in a single measurement with high sensitivity.The AFAI in DESI mode was used as the ion source in this paper.The new IMS method is named AFADESI-IMS.The adoption of assisted air flow makes the sample pretreatment easy and convenient.An optimization of the distance between the ion transport tube and MS orifice increases the sensitivity of the system.For data processing,a program based on MATLAB with the function of numerical analysis was developed.A theoretical imaging resolution of a few hundred microns can be achieved.The composite AFAI-IMS images of different target analytes were imaged with high sensitivity.A typical AFAI-IMS image of the whole-body section of a rat was obtained in a single analytical measurement.The ability to image a large area for relevant samples in a single measurement with high sensitivity and repeatability is a significant advantage.The method has enormous potentials in the MS imaging of large and complicated samples.     

Measuring surface topography with scanning electron microscopy. I. EZEImage: a program to obtain 3D surface data.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is widely used in the science of materials and different parameters were developed to characterize the surface roughness. In a previous work, we studied the surface topography with fractal dimension at low scale and two parameters at high scale by using the variogram, that is, variance vs. step log-log graph, of a SEM image. Those studies were carried out with the FERImage program, previously developed by us. To verify the previously accepted hypothesis by working with only an image, it is indispensable to have reliable three-dimensional (3D) surface data. In this work, a new program (EZEImage) to characterize 3D surface topography in SEM has been developed. It uses fast cross correlation and dynamic programming to obtain reliable dense height maps in a few seconds which can be displayed as an image where each gray level represents a height value. This image can be used for the FERImage program or any other software to obtain surface topography characteristics. EZEImage also generates anaglyph images as well as characterizes 3D surface topography by means of a parameter set to describe amplitude properties and three functional indices for characterizing bearing and fluid properties.     

A computerized system for the digital image processing of ion microscope images

A general program for the digital image processing of ion microscope images is described. The program IONPIX and the accompanying aggregate of related subprograms comprise a basis for the process of extracting the large amount of compositional morphological information contained in ion images. Previous practical applications of the IONPIX software system are also described.     

Mirion—A Software Package for Automatic Processing of Mass Spectrometric Images

Mass spectrometric imaging (MSI) techniques are of growing interest for the Life Sciences. In recent years, the development of new instruments employing ion sources that are tailored for spatial scanning allowed the acquisition of large data sets. A subsequent data processing, however, is still a bottleneck in the analytical process, as a manual data interpretation is impossible within a reasonable time frame. The transformation of mass spectrometric data into spatial distribution images of detected compounds turned out to be the most appropriate method to visualize the results of such scans, as humans are able to interpret images faster and easier than plain numbers. Image generation, thus, is a time-consuming and complex yet very efficient task. The free software package “Mirion,” presented in this paper, allows the handling and analysis of data sets acquired by mass spectrometry imaging. Mirion can be used for image processing of MSI data obtained from many different sources, as it uses the HUPO-PSI-based standard data format imzML, which is implemented in the proprietary software of most of the mass spectrometer companies. Different graphical representations of the recorded data are available. Furthermore, automatic calculation and overlay of mass spectrometric images promotes direct comparison of different analytes for data evaluation. The program also includes tools for image processing and image analysis.

Nanostructured Ag surface fabricated by femtosecond laser for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Femtosecond laser was employed to fabricate nanostructured Ag surface for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) application. The prepared nanostructured Ag surface was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The FESEM images demonstrate the formation of nanostructure-covered femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structure, also termed as ripples, on the Ag surface. The AFM images indicate that the surface roughness of the produced nanostructured Ag substrate is larger than the untreated Ag substrate. The XRD and XPS of the nanostructured Ag surface fabricated by femtosecond laser show a face centered cubic phase of metallic Ag and no impurities of Ag oxide species. The application of the produced nanostructured Ag surface in SERS was investigated by using rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a reference chemical. The SERS intensity of R6G in aqueous solution at the prepared nanostructured Ag surface is 15 times greater than that of an untreated Ag substrate. The Raman intensities vary linearly with the concentrations of R6G in the range of 10(-8)-10(-4)M. The present methodology demonstrates that the nanostructured Ag surface fabricated by femtosecond laser is potential for qualification and quantification of low concentration molecules.     

Detection of pathological aortic tissues by infrared multispectral imaging and chemometrics

Processing of multispectral images is becoming an important issue, especially in terms of data mining for disease diagnosis. We report here an original image analysis procedure developed in order to compare 42 infrared multispectral images acquired on human ascending aortic healthy and pathological tissues. Each image contained about 2500 infrared absorption spectra, each composed of 1641 variables (wavenumbers). To process this large data set, we have restricted the spectral window used to the 1800-950 cm(-1) spectral range and selected 100 spectra from the aortic media, which is the most altered part of the aortic tissue in aneurysms. Prior to this selection, a spectral quality test was performed to eliminate 'bad' spectra. Our data set was first subjected to a discriminant analysis, which allowed separation of aortic tissues in two groups corresponding respectively to normal and aneurysmal states. Then a K-means analysis, based on 20 groups, allowed reconstruction of infrared images using false-colours and discriminated between pathological and healthy tissues. These results demonstrate the usefulness of such data processing methods for the analysis and comparison of a set of spectral images.     

Evaluation of the performance of sensors based on optical imaging of a chemically sensitive layer

Interest in the use of the optical properties of chemical indicators is growing steadily. Among the optical methods that can be used to capture changes in sensing layers, those producing images of large-area devices are particularly interesting for chemical sensor array development. Until now, few studies addressed the characterization of image sensors from the point of view of their chemical sensor application. In this paper, a method to evaluate such performance is proposed. It is based on the simultaneous measurement of absorption events in a metalloporphyrin layer with an image sensor and a quartz microbalance (QMB). Exploiting the well-known behaviour of QMB, comparison of signals enables estimation of the minimum amount of absorbed molecules that the image sensor can detect. Results indicate that at the single pixel level a standard image sensor (for example a webcam) can easily detect femtomoles of absorbed molecules. It should therefore be possible to design sensor arrays in which the pixels of images of large-area sensing layers are regarded as individual chemical sensors providing a ready and simple method for large sensor array development.     

Thermo-responsive stick-slip behavior of advancing water contact angle on the surfaces of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted polypropylene membranes

Wettability of a solid surface is highly important to its practical application,especially for the surface that shows thermoresponsive properties.In this paper,we describe a thermo-responsive stick-slip behavior of water droplets on the surfaces of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)-grafted polypropylene membranes.Field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM) images elucidate that the morphology of PNIPAM-grafted membrane surface is thermo-responsive,i.e.,the surface becomes rougher above the lower cr...     

An electronic spectroscope for classroom displays of visible spectra

This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), a section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hardcopy text is accompanied by an electronic archive, stored on the SAE homepage at http://www.elsevier.nl/locate/sabe. The archive contains program, data and text files. The hardcopy text describes a program that has been developed to accept data from a compact electronic spectrograph and translate the data into a display on a computer screen. The computer display mimics the view seen through a direct vision spectroscope. Atomic spectra appear as vertical lines of the appropriate color dispersed on a black field. A conventional plot of intensity versus wavelength is simultaneously displayed. The update of the display is sufficiently rapid that the image on the screen is essentially a real-time representation of the light entering the spectrograph. The system was designed for use in conjunction with video projection equipment in demonstrations to large groups of students.     

一步法溶剂热催化合成纳米碳纤维

利用四氢呋喃为溶剂和碳源,通过溶剂热催化方法在500 ℃一步合成了纳米碳纤维,X-射线衍射（XRD）分析显示此法合成的碳纤维晶型为碳的六方石墨相,场发射电镜(FESEM)和透射电镜(TEM)照片进一步表明碳纤维平均直径为100 nm,长度达几百纳米至几微米,高分辨电镜照片揭示产品中碳的晶间距为0.34 nm;产品纯度通过热重法（TGA）分析;同时,拉曼光谱图显示在1 347和1 584 cm^-1处有2个强峰,这与石墨相碳的典型拉曼光谱图是一致的。     

Janus Emulsions of Bixa Orellana Oil

Janus emulsions of the oil from the Bixa orellana (BO) nut, silicone oil (SO), and an aqueous solution of Tween 80 were prepared by intense mixing and optical microscopy images were obtained of the drops. The results showed the expected disordered emulsion of large SO drops with a number of attached smaller drops of the vegetable oil, whose images were transformed to regular Janus drops by the shear, when the cover glass was applied. The drops with a large BO/SO volume ratio did not immediately form well-defined and topologically equal Janus drops due to kinetic factors. The microscopy image was used to evaluate the correct angles and radii by a mathematical rotation to form an image with a straight-line contact line.     

以卵磷脂为手性添加剂制备手性介孔二氧化硅

以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的自组装体为模板,卵磷脂(PC)为手性添加剂,在n_PC:n_CTAB=1:21时,通过溶胶-凝胶法制备了螺旋介孔二氧化硅纳米棒。利用扫描电镜(FESEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、X-射线衍射以及氮气吸附-脱附等测试手段,对该纳米棒的形貌以及孔结构进行了表征。TEM显示该纳米棒的长度约为50~200nm,直径约为30~50nm。X-射线衍射表明孔道呈二维六方排列,虽然FESEM显示纳米棒左右手比例约为1:1,但通过圆二色谱表征证明该纳米棒在埃尺度下倾向于形成单一手性。结果表明,卵磷脂的手性可以传递到螺旋介孔二氧化硅纳米棒中。     

以卵磷脂为手性添加剂制备手性介孔二氧化硅

以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)的自组装体为模板,卵磷脂(PC)为手性添加剂,在n PC∶nCTAB=1∶21时,通过溶胶-凝胶法制备了螺旋介孔二氧化硅纳米棒。利用扫描电镜(FESEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、X-射线衍射以及氮气吸附-脱附等测试手段,对该纳米棒的形貌以及孔结构进行了表征。TEM显示该纳米棒的长度约为50～200 nm,直径约为30～50 nm。X-射线衍射表明孔道呈二维六方排列,虽然FESEM显示纳米棒左右手比例约为1∶1,但通过圆二色谱表征证明该纳米棒在埃尺度下倾向于形成单一手性。结果表明,卵磷脂的手性可以传递到螺旋介孔二氧化硅纳米棒中。