Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system in an example includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source, a detector, a data acquisition system (DAS), and a computer. The high frequency electromagnetic energy source emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged. The detector receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source. The DAS is operably connected to the detector and programmed to employ a threshold to trigger a filter operation on a pixel, in a basis material decomposition (BMD) image of a plurality of BMD images, through comparison of an actual noise ratio between a pair of BMD images, of the plurality of BMD images, to a theoretical BMD noise ratio value. The computer is programmed to employ a correlation in noise distribution of the plurality of BMD images to reduce image noise in the plurality of BMD images.

Abstract: A technique for detecting anomalous values in a small set of financial metrics makes use of context data that is determined based upon the characteristics of the target company being evaluated. Context data is selected to represent the historical values of the financial metric for the target company or the simultaneous performance of peer companies. Using the context data, an anomaly score for the financial metric is calculated representing the degree to which the value of the financial metric is an outlier among the context data. This can be done using an exceptional statistical technique. The anomaly score can be used to evaluate the risks associated with business transactions related to the target company.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a slit collimator assembly including a first set of panels spaced at least partially around a longitudinal axis of the collimator assembly and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The slit collimator assembly further includes a second set of panels spaced at least partially around longitudinal axis of the collimator assembly and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first set of panels and the second set of panels are arranged to define one or more slit apertures. The slit collimator assembly is configured so that movement of at least one of the first set of panels or the second set of panels adjusts an aperture size of at least one of the one or more slit apertures. The slit collimator assembly is configured so that gamma rays can pass through the one or more slit apertures, but the remainder of the collimator assembly is substantially gamma ray absorbent. Embodiments also relate to imaging systems and methods of changing collimator performance.

Abstract: A system and method of a diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged, a detector that receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source and attenuated by the object, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the detector, and a computer operably connected to the DAS. The computer is programmed to obtain CT scan data with two or more incident energy spectra, decompose the obtained CT scan data into projection CT data of two or more basis materials, reconstruct linearly weighted projections of the two or more basis materials, determine an optimized energy for the two or more basis materials within a region-of-interest (ROI), and form a monochromatic image of the projection CT data at the optimized energy using the two or more basis material projections.

Abstract: A method to predict remaining life of a target is disclosed. The method includes receiving information regarding a behavior of the target, and identifying from a database at least one piece of equipment having similarities to the target. The method further includes retrieving from the database data prior to an end of the equipment useful life, the data having a relationship to the behavior, evaluating a similarity of the relationship, predicting the remaining life of the target based upon the similarity, and generating a signal corresponding to the predicted remaining equipment life.

Abstract: A low AC loss electrical conductor includes an electrically conductive core surrounded by a first layer of superconductor filaments. A resistive shell surrounds the first layer and an insulation coating radially encloses the resistive shell.

Abstract: A power supply having an input, wherein the power supply includes a multi-winding transformer having an input and a plurality of outputs, and a plurality of rectifiers to provide a plurality of DC output voltages, wherein each rectifier is coupled to an output of the multi-winding transformer. The power supply further includes a regulator circuit coupled between the transformer input and one of the transformer outputs, and configured to regulate an input voltage to the multi-winding transformer to minimize a variance of each rectifier DC output voltage.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes heating a powder to a temperature that is below the melting point of the scintillator composition but is sufficiently high to form a coherent mass. The powder includes a scintillator composition. The coherent mass is polycrystalline and has a pulse height resolution that is less than 20 percent at 662 kilo electron volts; a light yield of more than 5000 photons per milli electron volt; or both a pulse height resolution that is less than 20 percent at 662 kilo electron volts and a light yield of more than 5000 photons per milli electron. A sintered body is provided also.

Abstract: A modular insulator assembly for an x-ray tube includes an annular insulator having a cylindrical perimeter wall, the insulator constructed of an electrically insulative material. A wall member is fixedly attached to and extending beyond the cylindrical perimeter wall, and a first shield positioned adjacent to the wall member and having an end extending proximate a corner formed by the wall member and the insulator.

Abstract: A photon-counting detector includes a direct conversion material and a data acquisition system with a first comparator having a first signal level threshold indicative of a noise level of a spectrum of photons, the first comparator configured to output a count when the electrical signal level exceeds the first signal level threshold, and a second comparator having a second signal level threshold indicative of the maximum energy of the spectrum of photons, the second comparator configured to output a count when the electrical signal exceeds the second signal level threshold where a photon count is determined based on the counts from the first and second comparators.

Abstract: A system for controlling a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber includes a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and positioned within an ambient environment, a second chamber enclosing a gas and positioned within the ambient environment adjacent to the first chamber, and a rotatable shaft having a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the second chamber. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion and the ferrofluid seal fluidically separates the first chamber from the second chamber. A control unit is attached to the second chamber and configured to control the gas enclosed in the second chamber such that a gas load in the first chamber is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for electrophysiological monitoring system including a plurality of sensors configured to detect one or more health parameters of a patient and a monitoring device configured to receive a plurality of sensing signals from the sensors and output a monitoring signal representative of an alarm sequence, wherein the alarm sequence comprises a set of alarm events identified in the sensing signals. The system also includes an on-line monitoring module configured to generate a suffix tree data structure in response to the monitoring signal to identify alarm patterns from the set of alarm events and classify the alarm sequence in response to the occurrences of alarm patterns in the alarm sequence. The on-line monitoring module is further configured to alert monitoring personnel of an alarm condition after processing the alarm sequence in real-time.

Abstract: Methods for performing image reconstruction that include deriving background projection data for an area outside a targeted field of view of a tomographic image, and reconstructing the tomographic image of the targeted field of view, wherein the background projection data is used in the reconstruction. Methods for selecting a reconstruction methodology that include determining a number of pixels in a reconstructed image for a first reconstruction methodology, determining a number of pixels in a reconstructed image for a second reconstruction methodology, comparing the number of pixels for the first reconstruction methodology and the number of pixels for the second reconstruction methodology, and selecting the reconstruction methodology for image reconstruction based on the comparison of the number of pixels. Imaging systems implementing these methods are also provided.

Abstract: Electrical data processing techniques are described for performing business analysis based on datasets that are incomplete (e.g., contain censored data) and/or based on datasets that are derived from a stage-based business operation. A first technique offsets the effects of error caused by the incomplete dataset by performing a trending operation followed by a de-trending operation. A second technique provides a model containing multiple sub-models, where the output of one sub-model serves as the input to another sub-model in recursive fashion. A third technique determines when a specified event is likely to occur with respect to a given asset by first discriminating whether the event is very unlikely to occur; if the asset does not meet this initial test, it is further processed by a second sub-model, which determines the probability that the specified event will occur for each of a specified series of time intervals.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an imaging system that includes a collimator assembly having one or more pinhole apertures therein. The imaging system is configured so that one or more of the pinhole apertures has an adjustable focal length. The imaging system further includes a detector assembly configured to generate one or more signals in response to gamma rays that pass through the one or more pinhole apertures. Embodiments also relate to methods of changing collimator performance and methods of imaging a volume.

Abstract: A target assembly for generating x-rays includes a target substrate, and an emissive coating applied to a portion of the target substrate, the emissive coating comprising one or more of a carbide and a carbonitride.

Abstract: A technique is provided for imaging a field of view using an X-ray source comprising two or more emission points. Each emission point is configured to emit a fan of radiation encompassing less than the entire field of view. The emission points are activated individually and rotate about the field of view, allowing respective streams of radiation to be emitted at various view angles about the field of view. The emission points, which may correspond to different radial regions of the field of view, may be differentially activated to emphasize a region of interest within the field of view. The multiple emission points may be extrapolated along the longitudinal axis in duplicate or offset configurations.

Abstract: Direct shaft power measurements of rotating machinery, including a magnetic encoding system for the shaft, having at least one conducting member having a first end and a second end which is disposed proximate the shaft with a gap between the member and the shaft. There is a pair of electrodes proximate each end of said conducting member, wherein the electrodes are electrically coupled to the shaft. One of the electrodes is electrically coupled to the second end of the conductor member. An encoding source is electrically coupled to the first end of the conducting member and electrically coupled to the other electrode, wherein unipolar current pulses from said encoding source are applied to the electrodes and the conducting member, thereby creating sectional encoded polarized magnetic regions in the shaft.

Abstract: A CT detector capable of energy discrimination and direct conversion is disclosed. The detector includes multiple layers of semiconductor material with the layers having varying thicknesses. The detector is constructed to be segmented in the x-ray penetration direction so as to optimize count rate performance as well as avoid saturation. The detector also includes variable pixel pitch and a flexible binning of pixels to further enhance count rate performance.

Abstract: A composition includes a metal precursor. The metal precursor may include an inorganic ligand and a metal cation. The inorganic ligand may include a carbamate group. An associated method is provided.