A TRIAC dimmer controller for an LED lamp dynamically adjusts the amount of additional current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer based on the TRIAC dimmer operating mode. A list of objects which may be visible in the image is determined and for each pixel in the image a determination is made as to whether or not an object for the list may be visible at that pixel. Also, the pump jack can be operated in such a manner that the stroke speed of the pump jack in the up stroke operation can be switched from a sinusoidal wave form over to a rectangular wave form, or, in the operation of the pump jack by an inverter, the pump jack can be operated such that it can carry out its up stroke operation with a limit imposed on torque. It is therefore possible to make secondary electron observation and elemental analysis with increased accuracy and sensitivity. The present invention further provides methods for aiding diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and evaluation of a disease or other medical condition in a subject by detecting a biomarker associated with a disease or medical condition thereof.