Objective determination of peripheral edema in heart failure patients using short-wave infrared molecular chemical imaging.

Significance: Peripheral pitting edema is a clinician-administered measure for grading edema. Peripheral edema is graded 0, 1  +  , 2  +  , 3  +  , or 4  +  , but subjectivity is a major limitation of this technique. A pilot clinical study for short-wave infrared (SWIR) molecular chemical imaging (MCI) effectiveness as an objective, non-contact quantitative peripheral edema measure is underway.

Demonstration of a method for the direct determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in submerged sediments.

We describe the development of a novel method for real-time in situ characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in submerged freshwater sediments. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy, a mature technique for PAH characterization in terrestrial sediments, was adapted for shipboard use. A cone penetrometer-type apparatus was designed for probe penetration at a constant rate (1 cm/s) to a depth of 3 m.