We focus on determining the underlying physical cause of a Seyfert galaxy's appearance as type a 1.8 or 1.9. Are these "intermediate" Seyfert types typical Seyfert 1 nuclei reddened by central dusty tori or by nuclear dust lanes/spirals in the narrow-line region? Or, are they similar to NGC 2992, objects that have intrinsically weak continua and weak broad emission lines? Our study compares measurements of the reddenings of the narrow and broad-line regions with each other and with the X-ray column derived from XMM Newton 0.5-10 keV spectra to determine the presence and location of dust in the line of sight for a sample of 35 Seyfert 1.8s and 1.9s. From this, we find that Seyfert 1.9s are an almost equal mix of low-flux objects with unreddened broad line regions, and objects with broad line regions reddened by an internal dust source, either the torus or dust structures on the same size scale as the narrow line region. The 1.9s that recieved this designation due to a low continuum flux state showed variable type classifications. All three of the Seyfert 1.8s in our study are probably in low continuum states. Many objects have been misclassified as Seyfert 1.8/1.9s in the past, probably due to improper [N II]/H-alpha deconvolution leading to a false detection of weak broad H-alpha.

<p>Among women worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer with an incidence rate of 15.3 per 100,000 and a mortality rate of 7.8 per 100,000 women. This is largely attributed to the lack of infrastructure and resources in the developing countries to support the organized screening and diagnostic programs that are available to women in developed nations. Hence, there is a critical global need for a screening and diagnostic paradigm that is effective in low-resource settings. Various strategies are described to design an optical spectroscopic sensor capable of collecting reliable diffuse reflectance data to extract quantitative optical contrasts for cervical cancer screening and diagnosis. </p><p> A scalable Monte Carlo based optical toolbox can be used to extract absorption and scattering contrasts from diffuse reflectance acquired in the cervix in vivo. [Total Hb] was shown to increase significantly in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+), clinically the most important tissue grade to identify, compared to normal and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1). Scattering was not significantly decreased in CIN 2+ versus normal and CIN 1, but was significantly decreased in CIN relative to normal cervical tissues. </p><p> Immunohistochemistry via anti-CD34, which stains the endothelial cells that line blood vessels, was used to validate the observed absorption contrast. The concomitant increase in microvessel density and [total Hb] suggests that both are reactive to angiogenic forces from up-regulated expression of VEGF in CIN 2+. Masson's trichrome stain was used to assess collagen density changes associated with dysplastic transformation of the cervix, hypothesized as the dominant source of decreased scattering observed. Due to mismatch in optical and histological sampling, as well as the small sample size, collagen density and scattering did not change in a similar fashion with tissue grade. Dysplasia may also induce changes in cross-linking of collagen without altering the amount of collagen present. Further work would be required to elucidate the exact sources of scattering contrast observed. </p><p> Common confounding variables that limit the accuracy and clinical acceptability of optical spectroscopic systems are calibration requirements and variable probe-tissue contact pressures. Our results suggest that using a real-time self-calibration channel, as opposed to conventional post-experiment diffuse reflectance standard calibration measurements, significantly improved data integrity for the extraction of scattering contrast. Extracted [total Hb] and scattering were also significantly associated with applied contact probe pressure in colposcopically normal sites. Hence, future contact probe spectroscopy or imaging systems should incorporate a self-calibration channel and ensure spectral acquisition at a consistent contact pressure to collect reliable data with enhanced absorption and scattering contrasts. </p><p> Another method to enhance optical contrast is to selectively interrogate different depths in the dysplastic cervix. For instance, scattering has been shown to increase in the epithelium (increase in nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio) while decrease in the stroma (re-organization of the extra-cellular matrix and changes in of collagen fiber cross-links). A fiber-optic probe with 45° illumination and collection fibers with a separation distance of 330 &#956;m was designed and constructed to selectively interrogate the cervical epithelium. Mean extraction errors from liquid phantoms with optical properties mimicking the cervical epithelium for &#956;a and &#956;s' were 11.3 % and 12.7 %, respectively. Diffuse reflectance spectra from 9 sites in four loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) patients were analyzed. Preliminary data demonstrate the utility of the oblique fiber geometry in extracting scattering contrast in the cervical epithelium. Further work is needed to study the systematic error in optical property extraction and to incorporate simultaneous extraction of epithelial and stromal contrasts using both flat and oblique illumination and collection fibers. </p><p> Various strategies, namely self-calibration, consistent contact pressure, and the incorporation of depth-selective sensing, have been proposed to improve the data integrity of an optical spectroscopic system for maximal contrast. In addition to addressing field operation requirements (such as power and operator training requirement), these improvements should enable the collection of reliable spectral data to aid in the adoption of optical smart sensors in the screening and diagnosis of cervical precancer, especially in a global health setting.</p> / Dissertation

Die optische in situ-Charakterisierung des Aufwachsens organischer Molekülschichten auf isolierenden und metallischen Substraten (Kaliumchlorid, -bromid und Glimmer, beziehungsweise Gold) ist Gegenstand dieser Arbeit. Am Beispiel der Substanzen Perylen-3,4,9,10- tetrakarbonsäuredianhydrid (PTCDA) und Titanylphthalozyanin (TiOPc), die mittels Molekularstrahlepitaxie abgeschieden werden, wird der Einfluss der Anordnung der Moleküle und der gegebenenfalls hinzugefügten Dotierung auf die messbaren Eigenschaften untersucht. Wie wichtig dabei die Feinabstimmung zwischen den Gitterkonstanten des Substrats und der Ausdehnung der Moleküle ist, äußert sich in schmalen Absorptions- und Emissionsbanden im Falle kommensurablenWachstums von PTCDA auf Kaliumchlorid. Diese Anordnung und ihre Metastabilität werden mit begleitenden Rasterkraftmikroskopie-Untersuchungen und Kraftfeldrechnungen nachgewiesen. Ausgehend von Monolagen neutraler Moleküle kann durch die schrittweise Dotierung mit Kalium die spektrale Entwicklung der Absorption von PTCDA-Anionen verfolgt und einzelnen Ladungsstufen – von Mono- bis Tetraanionen – zugeordnet werden. Durch vorherige Bestrahlung mit Elektronen konnte Glimmer so modifiziert werden, dass auch die spektrale Signatur von PTCDA-Monokationen aufgeklärt werden konnte. In Bestätigung früherer Rastertunnelmikoskopie-Ergebnisse zur Ausbildung von TiOPc- Kristallphasen erfolgt das Wachstum von Phase II auf einer Benetzungsschicht, die Phase I-Anordnung aufweist. Die Schichtdickenabhängigkeit der optischen Eigenschaften wird mit einer Genauigkeit im (Sub-)Monolagenbereich bestimmt und der Verlauf von Oszillatorstärke und Emissionslöschung durch die Orientierung der TiOPc-Moleküle zueinander beziehungsweise ihren Abstand zum Substrat erklärt. / The aim of this work is the in situ monitoring of the growth of molecular thin films on either insulating (potassium chloride, -bromide and mica) or gold substrates by optical spectroscopy. The influence of the molecular arrangement and an optionally added doping on the properties is studied on perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (PTCDA) and titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc), deposited by molecular beam epitaxy. The impact of perfect matching between the substrate’s lattice constants and the dimensions of the molecules, appears in narrow absorption and emission bands in case of commensurate growth of PTCDA on potassium chloride. This arrangement and its metastability are proven by accompanying atomic force microscopy and advanced potential energy calculations. Once potassium can be added stepwise to monolayers of neutral PTCDA molecules, the spectral development towards PTCDA anions can be followed and assigned to the reached levels of charging. The crystal growth of TiOPc molecules in phase II takes place on a wetting layer with phase I arrangement, proving earlier results by scanning tunneling microscopy. Measuring the thickness-dependent optical properties with (sub-)monolayer resolution allows a deeper understanding of the dependences of both, the oscillator strength and the efficiency of luminescence quenching, on the molecules’ orientations with respect to each other and on their distance to the substrate.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Toledo, 2009. / Typescript. "Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Physics ." Bibliography: leaves 71-74.

Imaging of biomolecules on the nano-scale is a crucial developing technology with major implications for our understanding of biological systems and for detection and therapy of disease. Plasmonic nanoparticles are a key optical contrast agent whose signal is generated by the collective oscillation of electrons in the metal particle. The resonance behavior of the electrons depends strongly on the arrangement of neighboring nanoparticles in a structure. This property may be exploited in imaging applications to report information on nanoscale morphology of targeted biomolecules. While the effect of plasmon resonance coupling has been studied in dimers and linear arrays of nanoparticles, this phenomenon remains largely unexplored in the case of 2D and 3D assemblies which are important in molecular cell imaging. This dissertation demonstrates how the optical signal from assemblies of gold nanoparticles can be related to nanoscale morphology in cellular imaging systems. First, the scattering spectra from live cells labeled with gold nanoparticles were collected and compared to the nanoscale arrangement of the particles in the same cells as determined by electron micrograph. Then, trends in scattering spectra with respect to nanoparticle arrangement were analyzed using a model system that allowed precise control over arrangement of nanoparticles. Several approaches to creating these model systems are discussed including biochemical linking, capillary assembly of colloidal particles, and direct deposition of gold onto substrates patterned by electron beam lithography. Spectral properties of the assemblies including peak position, width, and intensity are gathered and related to model variables including interparticle gap and overall particle number. It is shown that the redshift in the scattering spectra from nanoparticle assemblies is derived from both the particle number and the gap and is due to near-field coupling of particles as well as phase retardation of the scattered wave. The redshift behavior saturates as the number of particles in the aggregate increases but the saturation point depends strongly on interparticle gap. The drastic dependence of the red-shift saturation on the gap between nanoparticles has not been previously described; this phenomenon can have significant impact on the development of nanoparticle contrast agents and plasmonic sensor arrays. / text

This dissertation focuses on the development of algorithms for analyzing and modeling of the signals from optical spectroscopy. This dissertation is motivated by the detection of oral cancer, but some of the methods developed can be generalized to epithelial cancers of other sites. Two main topics are covered in this dissertation: Analysis and Modeling. For analysis, the focus is on developing algorithms to make diagnostic predictions. The analysis methods are empirically tested using an oral cancer dataset. Statistical analyses show that polarized reflectance spectroscopy has the potential to aid screening and diagnosis of oral cancer. Also, a novel adaptive windowing technique is developed to extract spectral features with fewer windows that retain the diagnostic information. For modeling, a Monte Carlo model simulating light-tissue interactions is presented to aid in the design of diagnostic instrumentation. / text

This study consists of a quantitative optical emission-line analysis of spectra from five blue compact galaxies (Zw 0855, Mrk 1267, II Zw 33, Tol 2 & Tol 3), as well as a qualitative analysis of spectra from two galactic H II regions (NGC 3603 & NGC 3576). It serves a two-fold purpose: first, to understand the CCD reduction, spectra extraction and different nebular analysis methods, together with their applications and limitations, preparatory to studies using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and second, to extend current star formation related research to include extragalactic starburst galaxies. The observations were carried out using the 1.9m telescope (equipped with a grating spectroscope and CCD detector) of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), during the period 1 to 7 March 2005. The necessary CCD data reduction, spectra extraction, wavelength and flux calibration, Doppler shift as well as reddening correction procedures were performed before the emission lines were identified and measured. A full nebular analysis, including temperature, density, metallicity (oxygen abundance) and other chemical abundance determinations, was performed on the blue compact galaxies (BCGs). Two different nebular analysis packages viz. IRAF's nebular and SNAPwere used, with all the results well within the range of values expected for metal poor BCGs. Recommendations on the different methods and their applications are made. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Moving groups are associations of stars which originated from the same star forming region. These groups are typically young (< 200 Myr) since they have not dissipated into the galactic field population. Over the last 15 years, roughly 10 such moving groups have been found with distances < 150 pc (7 with distances < 100 pc), each with a unique velocity and position. This work first investigates the likelihood to resolve star from two moving groups (AB Doradus and Beta Pictoris) using high spacial resolution optical interferrometry and found 5 AB Doradus stars and 1 Beta Pictoris star with declinations > -30 could be spacially resolved. To more deeply characterize individual groups, we used the 2.7m telescope at the McDonald Observatory to observe 10 proposed AB Doradus stars and 5 proposed Octans-Near stars (3 probable members, 2 possible) with high resolution (R ~60,000) optical spectroscopy. Each group is characterized in three ways: (1) Chemical analysis to determine the homogeneity among members, (2) Kinematic traceback to determine the origin, and (3) Isochrone fitting to determine the age. We find the 8 stars in our AB Doradus sample are chemically homogeneous with [M/H] = -0.03 ± 0.06 dex, traceback to an age of 125 Myr, and the stars in this mass range are on the main sequence. The two deviants are a metal rich, potentially younger member and a metal poor, young star likely not associated with AB Doradus. In our Octans-Near sample, we find the 3 probable members have [M/H] = -0.06 ± 0.11, the stars do not trace back to a common origin, and the probable members are on the main sequence. In addition to these tests, we found that the probable members are slightly more lithium depleted than the Pleiades, implying an age between 125 and 200 Myr. Finally, we investigate systematic trends in fundamental stellar parameters from the use of different techniques. Preliminary results find differences in temperatures between interferrometric and spectroscopic techniques to be a function of temperature with a interferrometric temperatures being cooler by an average of 36 ± 115 K. We also calculated the chemical abundances as a function of condensation temperature for our moving group sample and predict 2 stars in AB Doradus could represent the initial star forming environment and discuss the implications for planet hosting stars in nearby moving groups. This updated characterization technique allows for a deeper understanding of the moving group environment. As future, high precision instruments emerge in astronomy (Jame Webb Space Telescope, GAIA, 30m class telescopes), moving groups are ideal targets since these associations will help us understand star forming regions, stellar evolution at young ages, constrain stellar evolutionary models, and identify planetary formation and evolution mechanisms.

This study consists of a quantitative optical emission-line analysis of spectra from five blue compact galaxies (Zw 0855, Mrk 1267, II Zw 33, Tol 2 & Tol 3), as well as a qualitative analysis of spectra from two galactic H II regions (NGC 3603 & NGC 3576). It serves a two-fold purpose: first, to understand the CCD reduction, spectra extraction and different nebular analysis methods, together with their applications and limitations, preparatory to studies using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and second, to extend current star formation related research to include extragalactic starburst galaxies. The observations were carried out using the 1.9m telescope (equipped with a grating spectroscope and CCD detector) of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), during the period 1 to 7 March 2005. The necessary CCD data reduction, spectra extraction, wavelength and flux calibration, Doppler shift as well as reddening correction procedures were performed before the emission lines were identified and measured. A full nebular analysis, including temperature, density, metallicity (oxygen abundance) and other chemical abundance determinations, was performed on the blue compact galaxies (BCGs). Two different nebular analysis packages viz. IRAF's nebular and SNAPwere used, with all the results well within the range of values expected for metal poor BCGs. Recommendations on the different methods and their applications are made. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Relative changes are detectable in the blood of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients during hemodialysis (HD) treatment using optical spectroscopy. However, the potential impacts of several confounding factors that could affect the detection of these changes have not been evaluated. The objectives of this thesis were to: 1) investigate how the variations and/or changes in acid-base and oxygen parameters during HD treatment can affect the optical signature of whole blood of ESRD patients, 2) to investigate the effect of heparin on the optical properties of whole blood and its impact on our method. Blood samples were drawn from 23 ESRD patients at 5 time points during a 4 hour HD treatment and sent for blood gas and blood spectroscopy analyses. No significant correlations were found between the changes in the blood transmittance spectra and acid-base and oxygen parameters. This indicates that the perturbations in these parameters due to HD procedures do not confound the detection of changes in the blood transmittance spectra of ESRD patients during HD treatment. Additionally, the effect of heparin in modifying the optical properties of whole blood does not confound the detection of changes in the blood of ESRD patients due to HD treatment using whole blood-based optical spectroscopy. ANOVA revealed significant (P<0.05) measurable changes in the blood transmittance spectra of ESRD patients during HD treatment. Significant spectral differences (P<0.05) were found between ESRD patients. The lack of uniform spectral characteristics across patients is