Abstract: A solid-state thermal neutron detector comprises: a layered structure that includes; an electrically insulating substrate; a first electrode affixed to the substrate; a neutron-reactive layer affixed to and in ohmic contact with the first electrode; and a second electrode affixed to and in ohmic contact with the neutron-reactive layer; a voltage source electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes; and an electrical current detector electrically coupled in series between the layered structure and the voltage source.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman scattering structure may be used for detecting analytes such as organic contaminants in air and aqueous environments, and metallic and anionic contaminants in water. The structure is fabricated by etching a surface of a glass substrate to form a roughened surface; creating an adhesion layer on the roughtened surface; forming metal islands, such as gold, silver, or copper, on the adhesion layer to create a composite structure; and placing the composite structure in a thiol solution to form a self-assembled monolayer over the metal islands. The thiol solution is selected to attract an analyte of interest. The roughened surface enhances the SERS response of the structure and preferably has an average surface roughness that does not exceed about 2500 Å and a periodicity that does not exceed about 12.5 microns.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises a cell body having a sample chamber, a working electrode fitted through the cell body and extending into the sample chamber; a counter electrode extending through the cell body into the sample chamber; a reference electrode extending through the cell body into the sample chamber; a window which fits over the cell body; and a cap threaded to the cell body for sealing the window against the cell body. An O-ring fitted between window and the cell body provide a leak proof seal. The cell body may be to made of chemically resistant material and be small enough to fit inside the sample chamber of a spectrometer. An O-ring interposed between the cell body and window provides a leak-tight seal, obviating the need for epoxy cement or other sealing compounds so that the cell may be easily disassembled. The cell may be used to monitor electrochemical reactions of moisture and oxygen sensitive materials, as well as electrochemical reactions of corrosive materials.

Abstract: A method of encoding a digital image using adaptive partitioning in an iterated transformation image compression system is provided. A set of ranges R is initialized to include at least two uncovered ranges. A set of domains D is initialized to include only one member which is the entire image area.For each uncovered range in the set R: A transformation is generated for each domain in the set of domains. Each domain is transformed into corresponding transformed images to map onto each uncovered range in the set R. Each domain's transformation is optimized and is indicative of a domain's corresponding optimized transformation image for an associated uncovered range. Each optimized transformation image is compared with the associated uncovered range to provide error data as a function of the difference therebetween. The associated uncovered range is redefined as a covered range when the error data for the associated uncovered range is within predefined limits.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding an image in an iterated transformation image compression system. The image, represented by an array of pixels, is partitioned into ranges and domains. A transformation is generated for each domain such that no transformation is constrained to be contractive. Each domain's transformation is optimized in terms of the intensity scaling and offset coefficients. A domain and corresponding optimized transformation is selected that minimizes transformation error data. These steps are repeated for a chosen plurality of the ranges that form a non-overlapping tiling of the image and such that the corresponding optimized transformations associated with the chosen plurality form an eventually contractive map. Information that identifies each of the chosen plurality of the ranges and the selected domains and corresponding optimized transformations is then stored in an addressable memory as an encoding of the image.