Submitted by RAFAEL GONÇALVES PELUCO null (rgpeluco@hotmail.com) on 2016-12-14T23:42:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE_RAFAEL_GONÇALVES_PELUCO.pdf: 2157765 bytes, checksum: 38f74aa61e4af5bcb9fff34384c87688 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-12-20T15:48:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 peluco_rg_dr_jabo.pdf: 2157765 bytes, checksum: 38f74aa61e4af5bcb9fff34384c87688 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-20T15:48:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 peluco_rg_dr_jabo.pdf: 2157765 bytes, checksum: 38f74aa61e4af5bcb9fff34384c87688 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-24 / O conhecimento da variabilidade dos atributos do solo é importante para recomendação racional de herbicidas, contribuindo para prática da agricultura de maneira mais sustentável. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a utilização da suscetibilidade magnética e da cor do solo, obtida por espectroscopia de reflectância difusa, para identificação de solos com diferentes potenciais de sorção de herbicida. Para medição da espectroscopia de reflectância difusa, foram coletadas 86 amostras de solo a cada 30 m, em uma transeção de 2600 m, seguindo o espigão da paisagem ao longo da área, e mais 155 pontos em uma malha de densidade amostral de 1 ponto a cada 2,5 ha, na profundidade de 0,00 - 0,25 m totalizando 241 amostras de solo em uma área experimental de 380 ha. A partir dos componentes de cor do solo (matiz, valor e croma) foi calculado um índice de avermelhamento. Foram selecionados 12 pontos da transeção para realização das análises mineralógicas do solo. Para medição da suscetibilidade magnética e determinação dos teores de ferro ditionito (Ferro livre, pedogenético) e oxalato (Ferro amorfo, de baixa cristalinidade), foram coletadas 374 amostras de solo na profundidade de 0,00 - 0,25 m, numa malha com densidade amostral de 1 ponto a cada 2,4 ha, em outra área experimental, desta vez com dimensão de 908 ha. Em todos os pontos amostrais, de ambas as áreas, foram determinados o pH, os teores de matéria orgânica e os teores de argila do solo. O coeficiente de Freundlich para sorção do herbicida imazaquim foi determinado indiretamente a partir do teor de argila, por meio da metodologia da meta-análise. Foram construídos modelos de regressão da suscetibilidade magnética e dos componentes de cor com os demais atributos estudados. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva, e também foram calculadas as médias de cada atributo conforme as classes de solo e compartimentos geológicos e foi aplicado o teste de Tukey a 5%. A análise da dependência espacial dos dados foi feita por meio da geoestatística, utilizando-se o variograma. Também foram construídos mapas de padrão espacial. Os resultados indicam que o uso da suscetibilidade magnética possibilita a quantificação indireta da sorção do herbicida imazaquim. Solos com maior expressão magnética apresentam características de maior sorção do herbicida imazaquim. A assinatura magnética dos solos pode auxiliar no mapeamento e na identificação de áreas com diferentes potenciais de aplicação de herbicidas. Dentre os componentes da cor, obtidos por espectroscopia de reflectância difusa, o mais eficiente na estimativa do coeficiente de sorção do herbicida imazaquim foi o croma (98% de precisão), seguido pelo matiz (85%) e valor (54%). A cor obtida pela espectroscopia de reflectância difusa foi eficaz na identificação de áreas com diferentes potenciais de sorção do herbicida imazaquim. Estes resultados podem balizar futuros estudos para planejamento estratégico de manejo de herbicidas pré-emergentes em grandes áreas. / The knowledge of the soil attributes variability is important for the herbicides rational recommendation, contributing to the practice of a more sustainable agriculture.The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of magnetic susceptibility and soil color, obtained by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, to identify areas with different herbicide sorption potential. For measuring the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, 86 soil samples were collected every 30m on a transect of 2600m, following the crest of landscape along the area, and more 155 points were collected into a grid of sample density of 1 point per 2.5ha, in the depth 0.00 to 0.25m, totaling 241 soil samples on an experimental area of 380ha. From the soil color components (hue, value and chroma) it was calculated a redness index. We selected 12 points from the transect for carrying out soil mineralogical analysis. For measuring the magnetic susceptibility and the determination of dithionite (Free iron, pedogenic) and oxalate (Amorphous iron, of low crystallinity) iron content, 374 soil samples were collected in the depth 0.00 to 0.25m, into a grid of sample density of 1 point per 2.4ha in another experimental area, which dimension is 908ha. The pH, soil organic matter and soil clay content were determined in all soil sampling points. The Freundlich coefficient for imazaquim herbicide sorption was determined indirectly from the clay content, using the methodology of meta-analysis. Regression models of the magnetic susceptibility and color components with the other soil studied attributes were built. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the attributes average values were also calculated for each soil class and geological compartments and the Tukey test at 5 % was applied. The spatial dependence analysis of data was performed using geostatistics by the variograms. Spatial pattern maps were also constructed. The results indicate that use of magnetic susceptibility enables the indirect quantification of imazaquim herbicide sorption. Soils with higher magnetic expression have characteristics of increased imazaquim herbicide sorption. The soil magnetic signature can assist in mapping and identifying areas with different potential of herbicides application. Among the components of the color obtained by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the more efficient estimate of the herbicide imazaquim sorption coefficient, was chroma (98% accuracy), followed by hue (85%) and by value (54%). The color obtained by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was effective in identifying areas with different imazaquim herbicide sorption potential. These results can beacon future studies for strategic planning management of pre-emergent herbicides over large areas.

Submitted by ROMÁRIO PIMENTA GOMES null (rpgagronomia@gmail.com) on 2017-09-26T18:24:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Romário_Pimenta_Gomes.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-28T13:04:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gomes_rp_me_jabo.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-28T13:04:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gomes_rp_me_jabo.pdf: 4952587 bytes, checksum: 38b374e1aebb3432a8e755c6e9f28a77 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nos solos tropicais, o fenômeno de adsorção de fósforo é regido pela mineralogia da fração argila, que, por sua vez, é afetada pelo material de origem e intensidade de dissecação da paisagem. Desse modo, objetivou-se relacionar o fósforo total e adsorvido com principais minerais da fração argila dos solos do Planalto Ocidental Paulista, São Paulo, associando com a geologia e o grau de dissecação da paisagem. Foram selecionadas cinquenta e cinco amostras de solo representativas da variabilidade fisiográfica do Planalto Ocidental Paulista, na profundidade de 0,0 – 0,2 m, para a caracterização das formas de fósforo, mineralogia da argila por difração de raios-x (DRX) e espectroscopia de reflectância difusa (ERD); utilizou-se também calibração quimiométrica através da regressão de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSR). Verificou-se que o P total e o P adsorvido são influenciados pela geologia e grau de dissecação da paisagem, e são covariativos dos óxidos de Fe e Al, sendo esses óxidos importantes indicadores de ambientes com maiores e menores potenciais de adsorção e com baixos e altos teores de P. A caracterização das curvas espectrais permite diferenciar o conteúdo de P total com base na mineralogia da fração argila. A análise por regressão de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLSR) dos dados espectrais evidencia a influência dos óxidos de ferro no conteúdo de P total e adsorvido, sendo a Hm ao P total e a Gt ao P adsorvido. / In tropical soils, the phenomenon of phosphorus adsorption is governed by the mineralogy of the clay fraction, which in turn is affected by the material of origin and intensity of dissection of the landscape. the objective was to relate the total phosphorus and adsorbed with the main minerals of the clay fraction of the soils of the Planalto Ocidental Paulista, associating with the geology and the degree of dissection of the landscape. Were selected fifty - five soil samples representative of the physiographic variability of the Planalto Ocidental Paulista, in the depth of 0.0 - 0.2 m, for the characterization of phosphorus forms, clay mineralogy by X - ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS); it was also used chemometric calibration Through the partial least squares regression (PLSR). It was verified that the total P and adsorbed P are influenced by the geology and degree of dissection of the landscape, and are covariate of the Fe and Al oxides, and these oxides are important indicators of environments with higher and lower adsorption potentials and with low and high levels of P. The characterization of the spectral curves allows to differentiate the total P content based on the mineralogy of the clay fraction. Partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR) of the spectral data shows the influence of iron oxides on the total and adsorbed P content, with Hm at the total P and Gt at the adsorbed P.

O principal parâmetro de avaliação da qualidade de carvões para uso na geração de energia termoelétrica é o percentual de cinzas. Em uma planta de beneficiamento, saber o percentual de cinzas da alimentação, concentrado e rejeito é de suma importância para os ajustes nos equipamentos de concentração. No caso do carvão da camada I1 do depósito mineral do Leão a janela de tempo entre o ponto mais adequado para amostragem e o fim da campanha de beneficiamento não propicia que se conheça o teor de cinzas da alimentação do processo de beneficiamento. Em virtude disso, este trabalho tem como objetivo de fornecer uma estimativa confiável do teor de cinzas da alimentação para propiciar a aplicação na planta de beneficiamento. Para esse intento utilizou-se a teoria de Kubelka-Munk que por meio de sua expressão matemática transforma a reflectância em uma grandeza aditiva que propicia a estimativa das porcentagens de matéria orgânica e mineral contida no carvão devido a diferença de reflectância entre esses materiais. Como resultado final foram gerados diversos modelos com intuito de verificar qual deles se adaptava melhor aos dados. Por fim, foi possível concluir que há possibilidade de estimar o teor de cinzas de carvão por meio da reflectância e com confiabilidade de 96,78% que toda a leitura agrega um erro máximo de ± 5% para o melhor modelo. / The main parameter in quality evaluation of coals employed in power generation is the ash content. In a beneficiation plant, knowing the ash content of the feed, concentrate an tailings is mandatory to set up the concentration equipment. In the case of the I1 coal seam of Leão’s deposit the time window between sampling routine and beneficiation routine does not allow to know the feed ash content before the beneficiation process. By this reason, this work aims to provide a reliable estimative of the feed ash content to propitiate its application in the beneficiation plant. For this purpose it was used Kubelka-Munk’s theory that, by using a mathematic expression, transforms reflectance into a additive quantity which allows to estimate mineral and organic matter present in coal by the difference of reflectance between these materials. As result, it was generated several models in order to analyze which one is better suited to the data. Finally, as a conclusion, it is possible to infer the ash content of coal by reflectance with confidence of 96,78% that all measure brings up a maximum error of ± 5% for the best model.

Dentre as diversas aplicações da luz em nosso dia-a-dia, as ligadas à área biomédica merecem destaque e são frequentemente objetos de pesquisa tanto para o desenvolvimento quanto para o aprimoramento de técnicas para o diagnóstico e terapias. Os tecidos biológicos são, em sua maioria, estruturas complexas, não-homogêneas e opticamente muito espalhadoras. Apesar das centenas de estudos existentes acerca da propagação da luz em tecidos biológicos, sua complexidade exige que novos estudos sejam conduzidos a fim de aprimorar o conhecimento já existente, que ainda apresenta muitas lacunas. A presença de heterogeneidades nos tecidos (vasos sanguíneos, hematomas, cistos, tumores e outras alterações macroscópicas) mudam a propagação da luz e dificultam a previsibilidade do seu comportamento por modelos matemáticos. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo estabelecer um método empírico que utiliza imagens de refletância difusa obtidas através de uma instrumentação simples, baseada em uma fonte de luz contínua no visível (laser de diodo em 660 nm) e uma câmera CMOS monocromática, para verificar a possibilidade de localização de inclusões absorvedoras embebidas em phantoms altamente espalhadores. Foi avaliada a capacidade de detectar inclusões de dois diferentes tipos de materiais em diversas geometrias e tamanhos, posicionadas em diferentes profundidades. O ângulo de incidência do feixe laser também foi variado, bem como a distância entre a fonte e o objeto, a fim de avaliar quais as melhores condições experimentais. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os objetos puderam ser detectados, e suas formas puderam ser satisfatoriamente recuperadas através de um algoritmo desenvolvido para o processamento das imagens. Em algumas situações, mesmo para a maior profundidade utilizada, que foi de 20 mm, a inclusão pôde ser detectada nas imagens de refletância difusa processadas. Apesar da capacidade de detecção das formas geométricas representar um avanço com relação às possibilidades de identificação de estruturas em meios túrbidos, a determinação da profundidade ainda é um desafio a ser superado. / Among the various applications of light in our daily life, those connected with biomedicine should be highlighted and are frequently subject of researches aiming for the development and for the enhancement of techniques for diagnosis and therapy. Biological tissues are mostly complex, non-homogeneous and optically highly scattering structures. Despite the hundreds of existent studies on the propagation of light in biological tissues, its complexity requires new studies to be conducted in order to improve the existing knowledge, which still has many gaps. The presence of heterogeneities in tissue (blood vessels, bruises, cysts, tumors and other macroscopic alteration) changes the light propagation and impedes the predictability of its behavior by mathematical models. This work aimed to establish an empirical method using diffuse reflectance images acquired with simple instrumentation, based on a source of continuous light in the visible (diode laser at 660 nm) and a monochromatic CMOS camera, to check the possibility of the location of absorbing inclusions embedded in highly scattering phantoms. The ability to detect inclusions of two different kinds of materials in different sizes and geometries, positioned at different depths were evaluated. The laser beam angle of incidence was also varied, as well as the distance between the source and the object, in order to evaluate the best experimental conditions. The results showed that the objects could be detected, and their shapes might be satisfactorily recovered by an algorithm developed for image processing. In some situations, even at the greatest depth used, which was 20 mm, the inclusion could be detected in diffuse reflectance processed images. Although the detection capability of geometric shapes represents an improvement over the structures of identification possibilities in turbid media, the determination of depth is still a challenge to be overcome.

Accurately assessing the extent of myocardial tissue injury induced by Myocardial infarction (MI) is critical to the planning and optimization of MI patient management. With this in mind, this study investigated the feasibility of using combined fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to characterize a myocardial infarct at the different stages of its development. An animal study was conducted using twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats with MI. In vivo fluorescence spectra at 337 nm excitation and diffuse reflectance between 400 nm and 900 nm were measured from the heart using a portable fiber-optic spectroscopic system. Spectral acquisition was performed on - (1) the normal heart region; (2) the region immediately surrounding the infarct; and (3) the infarcted region - one, two, three and four weeks into MI development. The spectral data were divided into six subgroups according to the histopathological features associated with various degrees / severities of myocardial tissue injury as well as various stages of myocardial tissue remodeling, post infarction. Various data processing and analysis techniques were employed to recognize the representative spectral features corresponding to various histopathological features associated with myocardial infarction. The identified spectral features were utilized in discriminant analysis to further evaluate their effectiveness in classifying tissue injuries induced by MI. In this study, it was observed that MI induced significant alterations (p < 0.05) in the diffuse reflectance spectra, especially between 450 nm and 600 nm, from myocardial tissue within the infarcted and surrounding regions. In addition, MI induced a significant elevation in fluorescence intensities at 400 and 460 nm from the myocardial tissue from the same regions. The extent of these spectral alterations was related to the duration of the infarction. Using the spectral features identified, an effective tissue injury classification algorithm was developed which produced a satisfactory overall classification result (87.8%). The findings of this research support the concept that optical spectroscopy represents a useful tool to non-invasively determine the in vivo pathophysiological features of a myocardial infarct and its surrounding tissue, thereby providing valuable real-time feedback to surgeons during various surgical interventions for MI.

The cerebral microcirculation consists of a complex network of small blood vessels that support nerve cells with oxygen and nutrition. The blood flow and oxygen delivery in the microcirculatory blood vessels are regulated through mechanisms which may be influenced or impaired by disease or brain damage resulting from conditions such as brain tumors, traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Monitoring of parameters relating to the microvascular circulation is therefore needed in the clinical setting. Optical techniques such as diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) are capable of estimating the oxygen saturation (SO2) and tracking the microvascular blood flow (perfusion) using a fiber optic probe. This thesis presents the work carried out to adapt DRS and LDF for monitoring cerebral microcirculation in the human brain. A method for real-time estimation of SO2 in brain tissue was developed based on the P3 approximation of diffuse light transport and quadratic polynomial fit to the measured DRS signal. A custom-made fiberoptic probe was constructed for measurements during tumor surgery and in neurointensive care. Software modules with specific user interface for LDF and DRS were programmed to process, record and present parameters such as perfusion, total backscattered light, heart rate, pulsatility index, blood fraction and SO2 from acquired signals. The systems were evaluated on skin, and experimentally by using optical phantoms with properties mimicking brain tissue. The oxygen pressure (pO2) in the phantoms was regulated to track spectroscopic changes coupled with the level of SO2. Clinical evaluation was performed during intraoperative measurements during tumor surgery (n = 10) and stereotactic deep brain stimulation implantations (n = 20). The LDF and DRS systems were also successfully assessed in the neurointensive care unit for a patient treated for SAH. The cerebral autoregulation was studied by relating the parameters from the optical systems to signals from the standard monitoring equipment in neurointensive care. In summary, the presented work takes DRS and LDF one step further toward clinical use for optical monitoring of cerebral microcirculation.

Orientadora: Maria del Pilar Taboada Sotomayor / Banca: Mirian Cristina dos Santos / Banca: Bruno Campos Janegitz / Resumo: A tartrazina é um corante amplamente usado na indústria alimentícia que pode ocasionar doenças na pele e doenças neurológicas. O presente trabalho explora diferentes sínteses de polímeros impressos para o corante alimentício Tartrazina, incluídos o método convencional por precipitação e no formato core@shell. Para isso, foram avaliadas sínteses com o monômero funcional, acrilamida, e monômero estrutural, N-N' metileno-bis-acrilamida, e os núcleos (core) de sílica (SiO2) e sílica funcionalizada com agente vinil-silanizante (SiO2-C=C), os quais foram empregados em diferentes proporções molares para a polimerização. Obtendo-se três materiais, MIP convencional por precipitação, SiO2-C=C@MIP e SiO2@MIP estes últimos foram obtidos pelo método core@shell usando diferentes suportes. Se avaliaram as propriedades de adsorção dos materiais. O primeiro material não foi eficiente, nem seletivo. O material híbrido SiO2-C=C@MIP apresentou uma boa porcentagem de adsorção, 91,5% e manifestou interferência do corante Amarelo Direto 50. Porém, manteve a cor amarela de fundo intensa, devido à alta adsorção do corante pela sílica funcionalizada. O seguinte material híbrido sintetizado foi o SiO2@MIP, o qual apresentou os melhores resultados e usando a refletância total atenuada diretamente nos sólidos adsorvidos. Para a síntese usou-se a proporção molar 1:2:100 (analito: monômero funcional: monômero estrutural) usando 300 mg de SiO2. Este material mostrou uma porcentagem de adsorção próxima a 93%... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Tartrazina is a dye widely used in food industry, which can cause skin neurological diseases. The present work explores different syntheses of imprinted polymers for food dye Tartrazine, including the conventional method by precipitation and the core@shell format. For this, diverse syntheses with functional monomer, acrylamide, and structural monomer, N-N'-methylenebisacrylamide, and cores of silica (SiO2) and vinyl-functionalized silica (SiO2-C=C), which were employed in different molar ratios for polymerization. Obtaining three materials, conventional MIP by precipitation, SiO2-C=C@MIP and SiO2@MIP by core@shell method using different cores. Evaluating adsorption properties of the materials, the first material was not efficient, nor selective. The hybrid material SiO2-C=C@MIP showed a good adsorption percentage, 91.5% and an interfering dye, Direct Yellow 50. However, the material presented an intense yellow coloration given by the high adsorption of dye on the used core. Synthesized SiO2@MIP hybrid material showed better results and attenuated total reflection was directly used on adsorbed solids. For the syntheses was used 1:2:100 molar proportion (analyte: functional monomer: structural monomer) using 300 mg of SiO2. This material showed an adsorption percentage near to 93%. In the adsorption studies of the analyte, the adsorption isotherms were plotted in the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 μmol L-1, adjusting to a Langmuir-Freundlich profile. In the study of selectiv... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Optical spectroscopy is a real-time technique that holds promise as a potential surgical guidance tool. Fiber-optic diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a technique capable of intraoperative tissue differentiation. The common DRS focuses on estimating chromophore concentrations in the visible (VIS) wavelength range (400-1000 nm), where spectroscopic features of the blood, pigments, and tissue densities are present between 400 and 700 nm. Recently, extended-wavelength DRS (EWDRS), which extends the spectral window from the VIS through the short wave-infrared region (SWIR) up to 1800 nm, has emerged as a promising approach for identifying nerves and nerve bundles due to the SWIR including robust tissue absorption features associated with nerve-tissue related chromophores, including lipids, water and collagen proteins. One potential application of EWDRS is guiding minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as laparoscopy, where inadvertent injury to pelvic autonomic nerves (PANs) is a primary complication that can result in over 70% of patients suffering long-term side effects, including urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. There is a need for objective laparoscopic surgical guidance to precisely identify PANs from other tissues, and an improved basis for EWDRS development could assist clinical translation. Prior development of Fiber-optic DRS for tissue classification in the VIS greatly benefited from the application of modeling techniques for simulation of optical measurements, analysis, and fiber-probe design. Model-based analysis can inform fundamental understanding of measured signals in different measurement scenarios, such as the varying tissue morphologies possible in laparoscopic procedures, and guide application-specific fiber-probe design through comparison of unique illumination/collection geometries; however, the demonstration of these approaches in EWDRS is not widely reported. This dissertation focuses on the advancement of platforms for model-driven analysis of EWDRS for nerve identification. In order to advance the current state of EWDRS, a model-based characterization platform for analysis of a custom-developed fiber-optic EWDRS system was developed in Aim 1, which demonstrated agreement between data collected from optical phantoms, ex vivo microsurgical model, and Monte Carlo (MC) computational simulations of EWDRS measurements. In Aim 2, the model-based platform was used to perform a detailed analysis of two similar EWDRS fiber-optic probes, which indicated subtle differences in the depth-dependent measurement performance. Finally, in Aim 3, the custom EWDRS was prepared for adapting laparoscopic use to demonstrate laparoscopic measurement feasibility, including evaluation of placement variance and customized EWDRS package for short-distance transportation. The successful completion of this dissertation will enable improved analyses of EWDRS devices for a variety of future intraoperative applications. / Bioengineering

Imaging instruments are required for accurate tumor resection during neurosurgery, especially in the case of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) - the most common and aggressive malignant glioma. However, current intraoperative imaging techniques for detection of glioma either suffer low sensitivity and low specificity or require a significant capital cost. Advances in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy have offered high sensitivity and high specificity in differentiating tumors from normal tissues with much lower capital cost. Whereas diffuse reflectance spectroscopy alone and fluorescence spectroscopy alone has been used in limited studies to differentiate normal brain tissues from brain tumors with moderate sensitivity and specificity, low specificity and sensitivity were usually observed when studying high grade glioma (HGG) such as GBM. Furthermore, optical properties and diffuse reflectance signal of HGG and low grade glioma (LGG) have not been observed separately, and thus a relation between optical properties and glioma progression has not been established. Intraoperative differentiation of GBM and LGG can be helpful in making treatment plan at the first surgery. This thesis focuses on characterizing a previous integrated system of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy to extract optical properties and fluorescence properties of LGG and GBM. First, tissue-simulating phantom models were developed to calibrate the integrated system. The direct method and Mie theory were used to calculate optical scattering of the phantoms while Beer-Lambert’s law was used to calculate optical absorption. Second, an experimental method was introduced to recover intrinsic fluorescence because the measured fluorescence signal is likely distorted by the presence of scatterers and absorbers in tissue (i.e. hemoglobin). Third, an experimental method was developed to recover optical properties of both GBM and LGG. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of the integrated system was optimized. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Condoms have been used in sexual assaults as a means of preventing the transmission of biological fluids. Current sexual assault evidence collection kit processing protocols do not regularly take advantage of the information that can be gathered by examining residues left by condoms during intercourse. A biphasic liquid-liquid extraction technique was developed to separate polar and non-polar condom residues, which had been collected on cotton tipped swabs. This research involved the examination of twenty condom brands by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. Five brands were selected to examine the consistency of this technique when the lubricants were exposed to body and storage temperature conditions for various times and in the presence of oral, vaginal, and blood samples. Additionally, starches collected from the condoms under each of the above conditions were examined. Although all lubricants were identifiable using this IR technique, the nonoxynol-9 (spermicide) containing samples produced spectra which were not identical to those produced by nonoxynol-9 standards. Although there was a decrease in the percent transmittance within IR spectra as the time between the collection and the extraction of the swabs increased, the condom residues of interest remained identifiable at all time points examined. The use of vaginal and oral swabs in the collection caused a negligible amount of background interference, which could be eliminated through spectral subtraction of the swab.