Abstract: A system for providing an optimal motivational response is provided. The system includes an input device configured to receive at least one client input from the client. The system further includes a processor configured to analyze the at least one client input received from the client and generate a current state of the client based on the at least one client input. The processor is further configured to analyze the current state of the client and determine an optimal motivational technique for the client based on the current state of the client and the at least one client input. The processor is also configured to generate an optimal motivational response based on the optimal motivational technique. The system further includes an output device configured to display the optimal motivational response to the client.

Abstract: A lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade or aircraft wing includes a glass-reinforced fiber or carbon-reinforced wind turbine blade or aircraft wing having a tip region, a suction side, a pressure side, a leading edge and a trailing edge. A substantially planar sheet of conductive or semi-conductive material is disposed internal to the blade tip region or wing tip region and between the suction side and pressure side. The sheet operates during a lightning discharge to form an electric field control mechanism causing the lightning discharge to attach to the tip region. The sheet is in electrical communication or galvanic connection with a conductive or semi-conductive path such that the electric field control mechanism and the path together operate to protect the wind turbine blade or aircraft wing from damage caused by the lightning strike in the tip region of the wind turbine blade or aircraft wing by controlling an electric field in the tip region caused by the lightning strike.

Abstract: A method for operating an electron beam system is presented. Further, an electron beam system, an X-ray tube and a CT system that implement the presented method are also described. The method includes generating an electron beam in an X-ray tube in an imaging system. Additionally, a current configuration corresponding to a particular view of the imaging system is identified. If the identified current configuration is within a determined range, a duty cycle of the electron beam for the particular view of the imaging system is modulated using pulse width modulation. Further, the modulated electron beam is focused towards a target.

Abstract: A radiation detector includes a neutron sensing element comprising a neutron scintillating composite material that emits a first photon having a first wavelength and an optical waveguide material having a wavelength-shifting dopant dispersed therein that absorbs the first photon emitted by the neutron scintillating composite material and emits a second photon having a second, different wavelength, and a functionalized reflective layer at an interface between the neutron scintillating composite material and the optical waveguide material. The functionalized reflective layer allows the first photon emitted by the neutron scintillating composite material to pass through and into the optical waveguide material, but prevents the second photon emitted by the optical waveguide material from passing through and into the neutron scintillating composite material.

Abstract: A method for imaging is presented. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images corresponding to at least one field of view using an imaging device having an objective and a stage for holding a sample to be imaged. Furthermore, the method includes determining a figure of merit corresponding to each pixel in each of the plurality of acquired images, wherein the figure of merit comprises a discrete approximation to a gradient vector. The method also includes synthesizing a composite image based upon the determined figures of merit.

Abstract: A method of performing a computed tomographic image reconstruction is provided. The method provides for performing a short scan of an imaging object to acquire a short scan data, performing a plurality of image reconstructions based on the short scan data wherein the plurality of image reconstructions result in a corresponding plurality of image volumes wherein the image reconstructions use different view weighting functions, filtering the plurality of image volumes such that when the volumes are added together, the frequency domain data is substantially uniformly weighted. Further, the method provides for combining the plurality of image volumes together to produce a final image volume.

Abstract: A magnetizer for magnetizing permanent magnets positioned in-situ a mechanical member is disclosed. The magnetizer comprises at least one primary superconducting coil configured to project a magnetic field flux configuration of a first type to at least a portion of a distal volume of a first type, and at least two auxiliary coils symmetrically disposed about the at least one primary superconducting coil and configured to project magnetic field flux configurations of a second type to at least a portion of a distal volume of a second type. A method of magnetizing a permanent magnet in-situ within a mechanical member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fluorescence imaging is provided. The method provides for simultaneously acquiring image data at a plurality of phases and a plurality of frequencies from a region of interest, identifying at least one desired signal and at least one background signal in the acquired image data associated with the region of interest, constructing a digital filter based upon the at least one desired signal and the at least one background signal, wherein the digital filter is configured to enhance image contrast and applying the digital filter to the acquired image data associated with the region of interest to enhance image contrast in the acquired image data. Systems and computer programs that afford functionality of the type defined by this method are also provided.

Abstract: A lightning detection and damage estimation system for a structure is disclosed herein. The system includes a lightning receptor coupled to a lightning conductor configured to receive multiple lightning strikes and induce lightning current in a pick-up coil coupled to the lightning conductor. An integrated circuit coupled to the lightning conductor via the pick-up coil includes a non-volatile memory for successively storing one or more samples of the lightning induced current for the multiple lightning strikes. A damage estimation unit is configured to estimate a condition of the structure based on analyzing a history of stored samples of the lightning induced current of the multiple lightning strikes from the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a method for detecting a color of a signal light from a moving vehicle such as railroad train. The method includes capturing an image from a camera mounted on the moving vehicle and extracting candidate regions in the image that contain light region. The method further includes classifying the candidate regions as a signal light region or a non-signal light region and identifying the color of the signal light region.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet electric machine is disclosed. The interior permanent magnet electric machine comprises a rotor comprising a plurality of radially placed magnets each having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each magnet comprises a plurality of magnetic segments and at least one magnetic segment towards the distal end comprises a high resistivity magnetic material.

Abstract: A current transformer is provided. The current transformer includes a magnetic core having a central opening, at least one pair of conductors extending through the central opening and positioned symmetrically with respect to a center point of the magnetic core, one or more coils disposed on the magnetic core along a magnetic neutral axis of the magnetic core and one or more coils disposed on the magnetic core along a reference axis, wherein the reference axis is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic neutral axis.

Abstract: A tomographic imaging apparatus is provided for generating images. The tomographic apparatus includes a computer programmed to access a data sinogram representative of the image, reconstruct the image, divide the image into a plurality of sub-regions, define a region of interest including at least one sub-region, reprojecting a region of interest or a complement of the region of interest to generate a region of interest sinogram or a sinogram representative of the complement of the region of interest and reconstructing a resultant sinogram using iterative methods to generate an image.

Abstract: A method of autofocusing includes capturing first, second and third images of a sample, at respective first, second and third sample distances and respective first, second and third lateral positions determined with respect to an objective; determining a quantitative characteristic for the first, second and third images; determining a primary sample distance based upon at least the quantitative characteristics for the first, second, and third images; and capturing a primary image of the sample at the primary sample distance and at a primary lateral position that is offset from the first, second and third lateral positions.

Abstract: A technique for acquiring desired image data in an imaging system comprising at least one radiation source and a detector is described. Initially, preliminary image data corresponding to an object may be acquired. Further, at least one parameter associated with the radiation source and corresponding to a particular view angle of the radiation source may be determined based on the preliminary image data and a priori information. Similarly, at least one parameter associated with the detector and corresponding to the particular view angle may be determined based on a priori information and the preliminary image data. Efficient operating modes of the radiation source and the detector corresponding to the particular view angle may be selected based on the determined parameters to achieve a desired system performance. Subsequently, the final image data may be acquired using the selected operating modes of the radiation source and the detector.

Abstract: A signal processing method include steps initializing a residual data signal representative of an acquired data signal, determining a significant coefficient corresponding to the residual data signal, updating the residual data signal using the significant coefficient to generate updated residual data signal, iteratively determining significant coefficients to generate a plurality of significant coefficients using the updated residual data signal, updating the plurality of significant coefficients by using a successive approximation technique, to improve the numerical accuracy of the significant coefficients and reconstructing a data signal using the updated plurality of significant coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a computed tomography imager comprising: an x-ray source disposed in a gantry; a detector assembly for receiving an x-ray emission from an x-ray source, the x-ray source and the detector assembly rotatable about an imaging target; an imager control system for selectively modulating a kVp operating value in the x-ray source during a scan slice in accordance with an x-ray modulation software program; and a computer for receiving data from the detector assembly, and for providing control signals to the imager control system by executing the x-ray modulation software program for at least a portion of the total possible rotational scanning range of the x-ray source.

Abstract: A method for calculation of recording depth in a holographic disk is disclosed. The method includes applying a first external voltage to one or more actuators coupled to an objective lens to focus a tracking beam of radiation having a first wavelength on a reference layer of the disk, wherein the reference layer comprises at least one of a partially dichroic coating or a partially metallized coating. The method also includes applying a second external voltage to the one or more actuators coupled to the objective lens to focus a recording beam of radiation on the reference layer of the disk, wherein the recording beam comprises a second wavelength different from the first wavelength of the tracking beam. The method further includes computing a difference between the first external voltage and the second external voltage.

Abstract: A solid-state photomultiplier is provided for use in imaging detectors. The solid-state photomultiplier includes a plurality of microcells configured to detect impinging photons. Each of the plurality of microcells further includes a photodiode coupled to a common electrode through a quenching resistor and configured to convert the impinging photons into electrical signals, and an impedance device coupled in parallel with the quenching resistor so as to reduce overall quenching impedance at high frequency. Further, techniques are provided for implementing low impedance device with controllable value to the SSPM for optimized timing resolution.

Abstract: A technique is provided for imaging based on localization of fluorescence in a medium. The technique includes illuminating the medium with an excitation light to excite fluorescence, scanning the medium at a plurality of locations via an ultrasonic beam, modulating a portion of the emitted light from the fluorescence via the ultrasonic beam at each of the plurality of locations, differentially detecting the modulated light at a boundary of the medium, and reconstructing an image from the detected signal.