Abstract: An ultrasound simulation method for rendering an ultrasound image of an anatomy model, comprises acquiring, with at least one model sensor, a position and/or orientation of the model; acquiring, with at least one probe replicate sensor, a position and/or orientation of an ultrasound imaging probe replicate, the ultrasound imaging probe replicate interacting with low friction with at least one anatomy model surface, the model surface being deformed by the pressure of the ultrasound imaging probe replicate; aligning a VR/AR model to the tracked position and orientation of the anatomy model and the ultrasound imaging probe replicate; interpolating a 2D ultrasound slice by sampling through a standard reconstructed 3D ultrasound volume, as a function of the tracked position and orientation of the anatomy model and the ultrasound imaging probe replicate.

Abstract: Stochastic ray-tracing methods such as Monte-Carlo ray-tracing may be adapted to provide more efficient and more realistic ultrasound imaging systems and methods. Many random ray paths that are perturbed according to a probability distribution may be generated until they converge to the correct solution. New surface thickness and roughness models enable to reproduce complex ultrasound interactions such as multiple reflections and refractions. The contribution of each ray path may be further weighted to better simulate a beamformed ultrasound signal. Tracing many individual rays per transducer element is easily parallelizable on modern GPU computing architectures.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.

Abstract: A concentrated solar radiation assembly comprising a housing divided into segments by housing trusses; window blocks positioned within the segments supported by the housing trusses; and, internal trusses positioned on top of the window blocks and within the segments. The assembly may be hermetically sealed, large-scale and refrigerated by water flow within the trusses.

Abstract: This catalytically active or inactive diffuser is suitable for exhaust gas cleaning systems of internal combustion engines. It consists of a ceramic structure (8) which is obtained from a ceramized polyurethane foam. This ceramic structure (8) can be coated with surface area-increasing and/or oxygen-storing materials and/or noble metals in order to bring about a catalytic action with the gas molecules flowing through it. Because the diffuser is porous in every direction in its interior, a gas and its pressure can spread out equally on all sides through the entire diffuser volume. A virtually homogeneous velocity distribution arises over the entire flow cross section, and increased turbulence is obtained, which leads to more wall contacts of the harmful substance molecules. At the same time, the flow to and through downstream systems over their cross sections with homogeneously mixed exhaust gas including any reactants metered in is more uniform.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermochemical conversion of solid carbonaceous materials into fluid fuels using a fluid source of oxygen and an external source of concentrated radiation includes a reactor having a wall defining a cavity; a radiation inlet positioned in the wall for passing concentrated radiation into the cavity; and at least one inlet for introducing a fluid reactant flow of a source of oxygen and particles of carbonaceous material into direct exposure to the concentrated radiation in the cavity so as to heat and thermochemically convert the particles into fluid fuel. A process and system are also provided. The fluid source of oxygen is preferably steam and the carbonaceous material is preferably particles of petcoke.