Abstract: An optical imaging system includes a birefringent element, a light modulating element, and a polarizer element. The birefringent element is configured for decomposing un-polarized light into first linear polarized light and second linear polarized light under different refractive indexes to respectively form a first focal length and a second focal length in the optical imaging system. The light modulating element is configured for modulating a state of polarization of the first and second linear polarized light in response to control signals. The polarizer element is configured for filtering out one of the modulated first and second linear polarized light for creating a single image.

Abstract: A multi-phase converter includes a plurality of phase paths. Each phase path includes at least one dc-link that is independent from every other phase path dc-link such that each output phase voltage is generated from a corresponding dc-link voltage source that can be different from every other phase voltage dc-link voltage source. A total dc-link voltage level is determined for each output phase voltage. A common-mode injection voltage is calculated based on all dc-link voltage levels and all phase reference voltages. Each phase path reference voltage is then adjusted based on the calculated common-mode injection voltage, such that each generated output phase voltage level is adjusted in response to its corresponding adjusted reference voltage.

Abstract: The present techniques provide for the evaluation of cellular motion and/or cellular properties based on an analysis of motion for cluster of cells. In an exemplary technique, images of cells are acquired and the image is segmented into clusters. Motion data for each respective cluster is derived from the segmented data. The properties of each cluster can be used to evaluate cellular properties and/or cellular motion properties.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a plurality of reagent sources for a feeding a plurality of reagents, each reagent source feeding a corresponding reagent among the plurality of reagents. A macro-chamber receives one or more reagents among the plurality of reagents from the plurality of reagent sources. A microfluidic reactor is coupled to the macro-chamber and the plurality of reagent sources and configured to receive one or more reagents among the plurality of reagents from at least one of the macro-chamber, the plurality of reagent sources, and react the one or more reagents to generate reaction content. The macro-chamber is further configured to receive the reaction content from the microfluidic reactor. A system configured to control at least one of flow of a dry gas in and out of the macro-chamber, surface area of at least one of the one or more reagents, and the reaction content in the macro-chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to X-ray imaging systems. In one embodiment, the X-ray imaging system features a target configured to receive a focused electron beam from an electron emitter and emit a line source X-ray beam as a result of receiving the focused electron beam; and a monochromator crystal configured to receive the line source X-ray beam from the target and diffract only a portion of the X-rays, wherein the portion of X-rays satisfies the Bragg diffraction condition for the monochromator crystal, and wherein the monochromator crystal is oriented relative to the target such that the portion of the X-rays from the target that satisfy the Bragg condition illuminate an entire length of a surface of the monochromator crystal.

Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.

Abstract: A control system includes first and second fundamental control units for generating first and second fundamental commands, and a compensation control unit. The compensation control unit includes first and second calculation elements and a comparator for comparing first and second modulation indexes. When the first modulation index is less than the second modulation index, the first calculation element generates a first source-side compensation command. When the first source-side compensation command is not sufficient to balance the neutral point voltage, the first calculation element further generates a first line-side compensating command. When the first modulation index is greater than the second modulation index, the second calculation element generates a second line-side compensation command. When the second line-side compensation command is not sufficient to balance the neutral point voltage, the second calculation element further generates a second source-side compensating command.

Abstract: A method for forming a fault tolerant detector assembly is presented. The method includes providing a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements, providing an electronics layer having a plurality of electronics cells, where the plurality of electronics cells corresponds to the plurality of sensor elements in the sensor array, introducing a status indicator element in each of the plurality of the electronics cells, where the status indicator element is configured to store a status of a corresponding sensor element, scanning the plurality of sensor elements in the sensor array to identify the status of the plurality of sensor elements in the sensor array, generating a functionality map based on the identified status of the plurality of sensor elements in the sensor array, and selectively programming the status indicator elements based on the functionality map to form a fault tolerant detector assembly.

Abstract: A turbine diaphragm airfoil, a turbine diaphragm assembly employing such an airfoil, and a method of repair are described. In one embodiment, a turbine diaphragm airfoil includes: a composite airfoil body which includes a pressure side and a suction side, the composite airfoil including: a leading edge section forming a portion of each of the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge section integral with the leading edge section, the trailing edge section including: a prefabricated member affixed to the leading edge section, the prefabricated member forming a remainder of the pressure side of the composite airfoil body; and a weld or braze section contacting the leading edge section and the prefabricated member, the weld or braze section forming a remainder of the suction side of the composite airfoil body.

Abstract: A monitoring system for use with a turbine engine is described herein. The turbine engine includes a compressor and at least one compressor bleed valve coupled to the compressor. The monitoring system includes at least one sensor that is for sensing an operational parameter of the compressor bleed valve, and a controller that is coupled to the sensor and the compressor bleed valve. The controller is configured to determine an operating mode of the turbine engine and receive a monitoring signal indicative of the sensed operational parameter. The controller is also configured to calculate at least one operational value of the compressor bleed valve based at least in part on the sensed operational parameter. The controller is further configured to determine a condition of the turbine engine based at least in part on the calculated compressor bleed valve operational value.

Abstract: A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center, support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes a stiffening device that is positioned within the center section to provide support for the infant patient during transport. A hold down device is included on one or both of the first and second side sections to securely hold tubes and wires connected to the infant patient during transport of the infant patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a monitoring system for operating equipment is provided. The monitoring system includes a first sensor having first operating parameters. A first printed circuit board includes an electrical circuit and signal processing hardware. A first sensor is in electrical communication with a second printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board includes signal processing hardware configured to process the signal. The second printed circuit board is in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board through a connector. The connector is configured to permit insertion and removal of a third printed circuit board to operate a second sensor having second operating parameters that differ from the first operating parameters of the first sensor. In another aspect, the first printed circuit board includes no processing circuit, the first printed circuit board includes an analog-to-digital hardware circuit, processor, controller or microprocessor and an output circuit.

Abstract: A technique is provided for extracting one or more features of interest from one or more projection images. The technique includes accessing projection images comprising at least one feature of interest enhanced by a contrast agent, generating a contrast agent null image based on the projection images, generating a bone mask based on the contrast agent null image, and generating a bone extracted image based on the bone mask.

Abstract: A process of welding an article and a welded turbine blade are disclosed. The process includes fusion welding over a primary symmetry line determined from a center of gravity on a first side of the article or blade and fusion welding over the primary symmetry line determined from the center of gravity on a second side of the article or blade. The fusion treating includes multiple fusion treatments.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to estimating an electrical property of tissue using MR images. Complex values having real components and imaginary components are generated and are associated with pixels in one or more MR images that corresponding to a region of tissue for which the electrical property is constant. An estimated value of the electrical property for the region of tissue is determined based on a least squared error estimation applied to the complex values.

Abstract: A method for enhancing contrast in fluorescence imaging is provided. The method comprises providing a patterned illumination source for illuminating one or more regions corresponding to a scan step, scanning at least a portion of a surface of a subject using a plurality of scan steps, acquiring image frames corresponding to two or more scan steps, deducting a background fluorescence from the image frames corresponding to the two or more scan steps to form one or more processed image frames, and reconstructing an image using one or more of the processed image frames.

Abstract: A sealing glass composition for providing a glass seal in an electrochemical cell is presented. The sealing glass composition includes boron oxide, aluminum oxide, barium oxide, and zirconium oxide, and the glass composition is substantially free of silicon oxide and titanium oxide. The electrochemical cell incorporating the glass seal is also provided.

Abstract: A grain starter for use in solidification of molten metallic material forming an article having a directional grain structure and a method for solidifying an article having a directional grain structure with a substantial absence of stray grains. The grain starter comprises a grain-starting material that initiates grain growth in the molten metallic material in a preselected crystallographic direction. The grain-starting material has a melting temperature higher than the metallic material forming the article lest the grain starter be modified by contact with the molten material. The grain starter further includes a feature that modifies heat transfer characteristics of the metallic material in contact with it in order to produce an article having grains oriented in the preselected crystallographic orientation and modifies the profile of the advancing solidification front. The article is substantially free of stray grains not oriented in the preselected crystallographic direction.

Abstract: The present application and the resulting patent provide a pre-nozzle mixing cap assembly positioned about a cap member of a combustor for mixing a flow of air and a flow of fuel. The pre-nozzle mixing cap assembly may include a fuel plenum in communication with the flow of fuel and a number of tubes in communication with the flow of air and extending through the fuel plenum. Each of the tubes may include a number of fuel holes therein such that the flow of fuel in the fuel plenum passes through the fuel holes and mixes with the flow of air.

Abstract: A system adjusts positions of gas turbine inlet guide vanes (IGVs) and variable stator vanes (VSVs). The system includes a hydraulic power unit providing a supply of hydraulic fluid, an IGV servo in fluid communication with the hydraulic power unit, and a VSV servo in fluid communication with the hydraulic power unit. An IGV cylinder set is provided in fluid communication with the hydraulic power unit via the IGV servo and is connected to the IGVs. The IGV cylinder set effects displacement of the IGVs between a closed position and a fully open position. A VSV cylinder set is provided in fluid communication with the hydraulic power unit via the VSV servo. The VSVs include multiple stages linked together with a torque shaft. The VSV cylinder set is connected to the torque shaft, and the VSV cylinder set effects simultaneous displacement of the stages of the VSVs between a closed position and a fully open position.