Applied Photonics

Abstract
Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating more refined strategies for risk assessment. Recently, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has gained attention for its distinctive role in atherosclerosis, yet its prevalence and impact for cardiovascular risk assessment are not well-documented in the Portuguese population. This study aimed to characterize Lp(a) levels in a real-world Portuguese cohort, investigating its prevalence and association with CVD risk. Methods Retrospective and cross-sectional study of adults who underwent serum Lp(a) analysis in a Portuguese hospital between August 2018 and June 2022. Demographic and anthropometric data, laboratory values, relevant comorbidities and lipid-lowering medication were collected. Results Of 1134 participants, 28.7% had elevated Lp(a) levels (> 125 nmol/L). A higher prevalence was observed in those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (45.9%) or a family history of premature CVD (41.9%). Additionally, a significant association was found between elevated Lp(a) levels and traditional CVD risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Among those classified as having low-to-moderate CVD risk by (Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2) SCORE2, 55.7% exhibited high Lp(a) levels (> 75 nmol/L), suggesting a potential higher risk of CVD disease. Conclusions The prevalence of elevated Lp(a) in Portugal, notably among those with ASCVD or premature CVD history, is concerning. This study underscores the potential of Lp(a) assessment for a more comprehensive approach to cardiovascular risk assessment. This could improve the stratification of CVD risk and identify individuals who could benefit from early intensive management of their risk factors, ultimately reducing the burden of CVD and cardiovascular-related mortality.

Abstract
Combining data from different sensing modalities has been a promising research topic for building better and more reliable data-driven models. In particular, it is known that multimodal spectral imaging can improve the analytical capabilities of standalone spectroscopy techniques through fusion, hyphenation, or knowledge distillation techniques. In this manuscript, we focus on the latter, exploring how one can increase the performance of a Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system for mineral classification problems using additional spectral imaging techniques. Specifically, focusing on a scenario where Raman spectroscopy delivers accurate mineral classification performance, we show how to deploy a knowledge distillation pipeline where Raman spectroscopy may act as an autonomous supervisor for LIBS. For a case study concerning a challenging Li-bearing mineral identification of spodumene and petalite, our results demonstrate the advantages of this method in improving the performance of a single-technique system. LIBS trained with labels obtained by Raman presents an enhanced classification performance. Furthermore, leveraging the interpretability of the model deployed, the workflow opens opportunities for the deployment of assisted feature discovery pipelines, which may impact future academic and industrial applications.

Abstract
Mineral identification is a challenging task in geological sciences, which often implies multiple analyses of the physical and chemical properties of the samples for an accurate result. This task is particularly critical for the mining industry, where proper and fast mineral identification may translate into major efficiency and performance gains, such as in the case of the lithium mining industry. In this study, a mineral identification algorithm optimized for analyzing lithium-bearing samples using Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) imaging, is put to the test with a set of representative samples. The algorithm incorporates advanced spectral processing techniques-baseline removal, Gaussian filtering, and data normalization-alongside unsupervised clustering to generate interpretable classification maps and auxiliary charts. These enhancements facilitate rapid and precise labelling of mineral compositions, significantly improving the interpretability and interactivity of the user interface. Extensive testing on diverse mineral samples with varying complexities confirmed the algorithm's robustness and broad applicability. Challenges related to sample granulometry and LIBS resolution were identified, suggesting future directions for optimizing system resolution to enhance classification accuracy in complex mineral matrices. The integration of this advanced algorithm with LIBS technology holds the potential to accelerate the mineral evaluation, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable mineral exploration.

Abstract
Spectral Imaging techniques such as Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS) enable the localized acquisition of spectral data, providing insights into the presence, quantity, and spatial distribution of chemical elements or molecules within a sample. This significantly expands the accessible information compared to conventional imaging approaches such as machine vision. However, despite its potential, spectral imaging also faces specific challenges depending on the limitations of the spectroscopy technique used, such as signal saturation, matrix interferences, fluorescence, or background emission. To address these challenges, this work explores the potential of using techniques from conventional RGB imaging to enhance the dynamic range of spectral imaging. Drawing inspiration from multi-exposure fusion techniques, we propose an algorithm that calculates a global weight map using exposure and contrast metrics. This map is then used to merge datasets acquired with the same technique under distinct acquisition conditions. With case studies focused on LIBS and Raman Imaging, we demonstrate the potential of our approach to enhance the quality of spectral data, mitigating the impact of the aforementioned limitations. Results show a consistent improvement in overall contrast and peak signal-to-noise ratios of the merged images compared to single-condition images. Additionally, from the application perspective, we also discuss the impact of our approach on sample classification problems. The results indicate that LIBS-based classification of Li-bearing minerals (with Raman serving as the ground truth), is significantly improved when using merged images, reinforcing the advantages of the proposed solution for practical applications.

Abstract
Management and reuse of wood waste can be a challenging process due to the frequent presence of hazardous contaminants. Conventional detection methods are often limited by the need for excessive sample preparation and lengthy and expensive analysis. Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid and micro- destructive technique that can be a promising alternative, providing in-situ and real-time analysis, with minimal to no sample preparation required. In this study, LIBS imaging was used to analyze wood waste samples to determine the presence of contaminants such as As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Ti. For this analysis, a methodology based on detecting three lines per element was developed, offering a screening method that can be easily adapted to perform qualitative analysis in industrial contexts with high throughput operations. For the LIBS experimental lines selection, control and reference samples, and a pilot set of 10 wood wastes were analysed. Results were validated by two different X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) systems, an imaging XRF and a handheld XRF, that provided spatial elemental information and spectral information, respectively. The results obtained highlighted LIBS ability to detect highly contaminated samples and the importance of using a 3-line criteria to mitigate spectral interferences and discard outliers. To increase the dataset, a LIBS large-scale study was performed using 100 samples. These results were only corroborated by the XRF-handheld system, as it provides a faster alternative. In particular cases, ICP-MS analysis was also performed. The success rates achieved, mostly above 88 %, confirm the capability of LIBS to perform this analysis, contributing to more sustainable waste management practices and facilitating the quick identifi- cation and remediation of contaminated materials.