Abstract: The present invention provides a similarity search engine for a digital visual object (i.e., a digital image that represents a design, graphics, logo, symbols, words, or any combination thereof). The similarity search engine is based on a method that consists of conducting several independent search queries, thus each query examining a different aspect of similarity.

Abstract: Novel families of amine-borane compounds, including fluorinated aminoboranes, novel bis-aminoboranes and aminoboranes having saturated and unsaturated ling alkyl chains are provided. Processes of preparing, pharmaceutical compositions and methods utilizing these novel compounds are also provided. Radiolabeled aminoboranes and uses thereof in radioimaging (e.g., PET) and radiotherapy are further provided.

Abstract: A non-lethal anti-personnel land mine comprising a sealed container having a first chemical reactant contained therein, and a second container having a second chemical reactant contained therein, the container being positioned within the mine to assure that a stepping action on the mine will result in the opening of the container and the release of the contents thereof into contact with the second chemical reactant, whereby the contact results in a fast chemical reaction non-lethal to the person stepping on the mine.

Abstract: A method and processing device are presented for reconstructing an absorption and/or scattering image of a region of interest inside a scattering medium. A mathematical model is provided being representative of a relation between the distribution of the intensity and phase of electromagnetic radiation components scattered from a medium and a certain attenuation factor, which is function of spatial variations of scattering and absorption coefficients of the medium. The mathematical is used for processing a map of distribution of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation components scattered from known locations within the region of interest, thereby producing a halftone pattern of the region of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented for detecting an effect of interactions of electromagnetic radiation with ultrasound radiation at different locations within a region of interest in a scattering medium to thereby enable imaging of said medium. A plurality of sequences of pulses of ultrasound radiation is transmitted towards a plurality of locations, respectively, in said region of interest within an X-Y plane perpendicular to axes of propagation of the ultrasound pulses. Said region of interest is illuminated with incident electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength. The phases of the ultrasound radiation or the phases of the electromagnetic radiation components are appropriately controlled in order to be enable identification of the interactions between the electromagnetic and ultrasound radiation that occur at different locations along the Z-axis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the oxygenation level of hemoglobin in a probed region of the human body. A probed region of the body is irradiated with diffuse light, the frequency of which is shifted with ultrasound focused at the probed region. The relation between the two states of the oxygenation of the hemoglobin is determined by the light absorption at the focal region of the ultrasound. The blood volume may be monitored by irradiating the probed region with light at the isosbestic point.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an invertedly poled domain structure having alternating sections of opposite electric polarities, from a ferroelectric crystal wafer (1) having two opposite polar surfaces, comprises patterning at least one of the two polar surfaces of the wafer to comprise a plurality of alternating discrete regions, of which first regions are adapted for and second regions are protected from the direct application thereto of an electric contact; applying to both polar surfaces of the wafer electrically conducting electrodes (10 and 11) so that the first regions are in direct contact with the electrodes and the second regions are protected from such a contact; and applying to the electrodes an electrical field (20) of the intensity E. The electrical field is applied to the wafer at a working temperature by heater/cooler (15).

Abstract: A radiotheraputical source of Rhenium188 comprises metallic Tungsten188 or a metal oxide of Tungsten188. Therapeutic device using Rhenium188 comprise a radioactive source for the in situ generation of Rhenium188 from Tungsten188.

Abstract: An antenna protection device for insertion between sections of an antenna for cutting the passage of low-frequency alternating electric current. The device comprises a non-linear capacitor with capacitor plates connected to the antenna sections. The non-linear capacitor is characterized by a negative low-frequency voltage coefficient, whereby the passage of a high frequency alternating current remains essentially unaffected.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for detecting gamma or X-ray radiation with a room temperature solid state detector, which comprises the selection of the detector's electron trapping parameter (&mgr;&tgr;)e and/or the detector voltage V so as to tune the electron trapping to optimally compensate for the incomplete charge collection.

Abstract: A method for the fire control of flat trajectory weapons, which comprises the steps of measuring the target range and cross wind velocity along the intended projectile trajectory prior to firing the weapon and, using the know ballistic equations of the projectile, determining the expected vertical and horizontal deflection of the projectile and adjusting the weapon sight to compensate for said deflections.

Abstract: A method for the incineration of a fluid or fluidizable material by use of a pulsed plasma is disclosed. The plasma is produced by a confined discharge in a closed chamber having an exit port and containing an ablating material. The method comprises the following steps: a) introducing the material into the chamber; and b) generating a plasma by ignition within the chamber thereby producing a flow of the plasma which incinerates the fluid material. Further described are a process for the detoxification of waste materials and a method for cracking a first compound in order to form a second compound using the method of the invention. A plasma incinerator is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining the planar location with sub-pixel resolution and corrected energy of a gamma or X-ray photon interacting with a room temperature solid state detector of given thickness. The detector comprises two electrodes of negative and positive polarities. One of the electrodes is common, and the other is segmented being formed with segmented readout elements. Each of the readout elements defines a pixel size. Depending on that the negative or positive electrode is segmented, respectively, negative-induces charge signals are induced on the readout elements or both a positive-induced charge signal is induced on a central readout element and negative-induced charge signals are induced on adjacent readout elements.

Abstract: A light weight gamma-camera head and assemblies and kits which embody it. The gamma-camera head has a detector assembly which includes an array of room temperature, solid state spectroscopy grade detectors each associated with a collimator and preamplifier, which detectors and associated collimators and preamplifiers are arranged in parallel rows extending in a first direction and suitably spaced from each other in a second direction normal to the first direction, each of the parallel detector rows holding a plurality of detectors. The head may optionally have an electric motor for moving the detector in the second direction and optionally also in the first direction, either stepwise or continuously.

Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining spectroscopic data of a single photon of a given energy that undergoes an interaction, beginning at a given point in time, with a room-temperature solid state detector of a given thickness and fitted with two electrodes, which detection is held at a given bias by a voltage applied to the electrodes. In the course of the interaction, pairs of electrons and holes are created within the solid state detector which induce charge on the electrodes; the method and system enable for determination of a current induced by the electrons, being a measurable and quite accurate parameter for deducing spectroscopic data. The electron induced current is defined as the charge induced on the electrodes due to the electrons only, divided by the time it takes the electrons to induce this charge. The mentioned time is considered equal to that of a particular portion of a signal of the complete induced charge, and both the time and the charge are determined by the method and the system.

Abstract: A method and a safety device for the protection of a user's eye, or other radiation sensitive system, from a pulsed radiation emitted by a radiation source by means of an electro-optical shutter used in conjunction with the radiation source. The electro-optical sutter defines the field of view of the user or of the system and is capable of being switched by an electrical voltage signal from a transparent state to an opaque state within a response time .DELTA.t.sub.r. The method comprises applying to the electro-optical shutter the electrical voltage signal at an operational time interval .DELTA.t.sub.o, prior to the emission of each radiation pulse and keeping the electro-optical shutter in its opaque state until the radiation pulse is emitted. The operational time interval .DELTA.t.sub.o is at least slightly longer than the response time .DELTA.t.sub.r so that, by the time of emission of each radiation pulse, the electro-optical shutter is in its opaque state.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fiber optic probe for infrared (IR) spectroscopy of a kind which serves both for illuminating a fluid or solid sample and for collecting the light reflected therefrom for spectral analysis. The probe has a tubular sheath with an inner, infrared radiation reflecting surface, holding light input and output optical fibers. The sheath has a sampling tip and the optical fibers stop short of the edge, forming with the sampling tip a sampling cavity.

Abstract: A non-linear optics device (NLOD) of the kind in which an incoming pumping beam having an intensity below a certain threshold is transmitted through the device, whereas a beam having an intensity above the threshold induces a Stimulated Brillouin Scatter (SBS) process giving rise to the reflection back of the beam in an opposite direction. The device includes one or more optical fibers having each a cladding and a core consisting of a non-linear substance which, as a rule, is composed of two longitudinal sections integral with one another, one having a uniform diameter and the other being tapered. The core surface is diverged towards one end of the fiber. Each optical fiber is so oriented that the end of the tapering section faces the incoming pumping beam. Accordingly, when an oncoming pumping beam is incident on the surface of the tapering core portion at an angle below a certain critical angle, it is transmitted to the uniform core section.

Abstract: A method of deflecting and steering laser beams of the kind that comprises generating two converging pumping beams defining between them a convergence angle .psi.. The two converging pumping beams are targeted on a predetermined intersection region of a third-order, non-linear polarization medium so as to intersect therein whereby each of said pumping beams is split in the said intersection region to form a plurality of scattered portions each of which interferes with the pumping beam from which it was formed to generate a light interference pattern, the light interference patterns thus generated from the two pumping beams causing self-generation of a common grating such that there emerge from said polarization medium two output beams each forming with a neighboring pumping beam a steering angle .THETA. which is controllable by variation of the magnitude of the wavenumber of at least one of the two pumping beams so as to form a wavenumber difference dk between the two pumping beams.

Abstract: A light weight gamma camera head and assemblies and kits which embody it. The gamma camera head has a detector assembly which includes an array of room temperature, solid state spectroscopy grade detectors each associated with a collimator and preamplifier, which detectors and associated collimators and preamplifiers are arranged in parallel rows extending in a first direction and suitably spaced from each other in a second direction normal to said first direction, each of the parallel detector rows holding a plurality of detectors. The head further has electric motor means for moving the detector means in the second direction and optionally also in the first direction, either stepwise or continuously.