Abstract: There is provided a method and system for optical imaging of a light scattering object. The method comprises the detection of one or more time-gates of a temporal point spread function (TPSF) to be used to construct an image of optical properties of the object. The method also comprises the simultaneous detection of two or more selected time-gates using a time-gated camera. The method enables more efficient spatial-temporal acquisition of optical signals for imaging purposes.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a system for determining the concentration of chromophores and reconstructing images in turbid media, such as animal tissues, using a continuous wave optical approach. In particular the approach is based on measurements of attenuation signals and the calculation of concentrations of chromophores using a predetermined scatter law. The system comprises a continuous wave photon migration model calculator coupled to an optical source and detector for estimating concentrations of chromophores and scatter parameters used in image reconstruction.

Abstract: Liquid suspensions of particles in non-aqueous solvents are extremely stable over long periods of time with minimum separation of the solvent and no hard packing of the dispersed particles. The suspensions enable a user to rapidly add the suspension to water and to mix at low speeds without generating fugitive dust in the process. In addition, a liquid dispersion can provide an easy to use liquid containing higher concentrations of the active dispersed phase than can be accomplished by simply preparing an aqueous solution of the dispersed phase. Alternatively, highly water-soluble particles may also be suspended which have poor storage, freeze/thaw, or heat/cool stability. In some cases, liquid dispersions can yield controlled release of the dispersed phase because the dispersed phase is not in aqueous solution. The suspensions are environmentally safe and biodegradable and may be used in environmentally sensitive applications, such as for oil well treating fluids for offshore areas.

Abstract: A high temperture aqueous based zirconium (IV) crosslinked guar fracturing fluid having a pH from about 9 to about 12 includes a polymer solution and a zirconium (IV) crosslinking agent in an amount from about 0.1 PPTG to about 5 PPTG of the polymer solution. The polymer solution includes an aqueous fluid, natural guar gum in an amount from about 10 PPTG to about 100 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a stabilizer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 50 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a non-delayed alkaline buffer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 40 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, and a gelation delaying agent in an amount from about 0.25 PPTG to about 3.75 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, where those agents are combined to produce a fracturing fluid suitable to the purposes of hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations with static bottom-hole temperatures greater than 250° F.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating water with ozone includes a first conduit and a passageway for admitting ozone into the first conduit. There is a second conduit having a top, an inlet connected to the first conduit and an outlet. There is a third conduit having a top and a vertical portion extending downwardly adjacent to the outlet of the second conduit. The third conduit has a bottom with an outlet below the outlet of the second conduit. The outlet of the second conduit is no more than one-third the distance from the top of the third conduit to the outlet of the third conduit. There is a passageway connecting the third conduit to the first conduit above the outlet of the second conduit. The passageway is sized to permit a reduced flow of water through the third conduit compared to the flow through the second conduit and provides means for gas discharged from the outlet of the second conduit to rise through the vertical portion of the third conduit to increase dissolving of the gas in the water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for wavelength selection in a multi-wavelength TPSF-based optical imaging system. This consists of identifying several chromophores in a highly turbid medium and selecting optimized wavelengths whereby using these wavelengths optimizes the deduction of the chromophore concentrations. Such chromophore concentrations may be combined to deduce other properties of the turbid medium.

Abstract: An intra scleral implant and method of implantation for use in the treatment of intraocular pressure and presbyopia. The implant features a body portion and protrusions from the body portion to anchor the device in a cavity formed in the scleral wall of the eye. Optionally a drug delivery function is provided to allow long term communication of drugs to tissue surrounding the implant.

Abstract: An optical imaging system for detecting light from an excitation light source through a scattering medium. The system includes a photo detector for receiving light from the scattering medium, an amplification circuit coupled from the photo-detector, an electro-optical source coupled from the amplification circuit for providing a secondary light signal, and a streak camera receiving the secondary light signal and providing an image of the scattering medium.

Abstract: Phenolic compounds with a phenolic molecule to which are covalently linked an oxygen-containing group, a nitrogen- or another oxygen containing group, and a C1-C4 alkoxy group, obtainable from monocotyledonous plants, animals that eat such plants, or chemical synthesis, have been found to act as an antidepressant or otherwise a treatment for bettering mood, a therapy for improving sexual desire or performance, an adjunctive therapy for achieving weight loss, and an adjunctive therapy for substance abuse and addiction. These compounds, at concentrations suitable for human therapeutic use, may be obtained from plants such as corn in their early growth stages and from parts of animals such as the velvet antler tips of deer and elk.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making low metallic impurity SiO-based dielectric thin films on semiconductor substrates using a room temperature wet chemical growth (RTWCG) process for electronic and photonic (optoelectronic) device applications. The process comprises soaking the semiconductor substrate into the growth solution. The process utilizes a mixture of aqueous inorganic or organic based silicon source solution, an inorganic reduction oxidation (redox) aqueous solution, non-invasive inorganic or organic based liquid additives for adjusting the growth rate and reducing the metallic impurity concentration within the SiO-based film, with or without an electron exchange pyridine based component, and an inorganic homogeneous catalyst for enhancing the growth of the SiO-based film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a room temperature wet chemical growth (RTWCG) process of SiO-based insulator coatings on silicon substrates for electronic and photonic (optoelectronic) device applications. The process utilizes a mixture of a silicon source, a pyridinium compound, an aqueous redox solution, and a homogeneous aqueous solution.

Abstract: A composition of an aqueous, an aqueous acid, and an aqueous alkaline foaming additive (“foamer”) functions in a wide pH range and under conditions of salt, alcohol, and hydrocarbon contamination. The foaming additive (“foamer”) composition includes a mixture of a salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a polymer or combination of polymers, and either a water miscible solvent for the liquid foamer additive or a silicon compound for a substantially anhydrous foamer additive.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating water with ozone includes a first conduit and a passageway for admitting ozone into the first conduit. There is a second conduit having a top, an inlet connected to the first conduit and an outlet. There is a third conduit having a top and a vertical portion extending downwardly adjacent to the outlet of the second conduit. The third conduit has a bottom with an outlet below the outlet of the second conduit. The outlet of the second conduit is no more than one-third the distance from the top of the third conduit to the outlet of the third conduit. There is a passageway connecting the third conduit to the first conduit above the outlet of the second conduit. The passageway is sized to permit a reduced flow of water through the third conduit compared to the flow through the second conduit and provides means for gas discharged from the outlet of the second conduit to rise through the vertical portion of the third conduit to increase dissolving of the gas in the water.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for detecting a defect in a populated sample having a thickness dimension substantially smaller than the length and width dimensions thereof, the populated sample having a first side and an opposite second side, at least said first side of said populated sample having one or more Surface Mounted Components.

Abstract: The method for scanning a turbid medium involves displacing an optical signal source over a first face of the medium and a corresponding optical detector over an opposite face from one respective spatial location to another. Each spatial location is associated with a corresponding input region on the first face and a corresponding output region on the opposite second face. The optical detector in response to optical signals detected from each of the output regions generates a primary set of image data, secondary and/or tertiary image data by scanning the turbid medium using input regions and output regions of different sizes. The various sets of image data obtained may be manipulated in any manner, namely subjected to a data processing technique, so as to, for example, highlight the differences or similarities between the images.

Abstract: This invention refers to a removal and recovery method of pollutant materials. A waste stream source of polluted water and/or waste gases containing waste acids, bases and salts, and/or waste air pollutant suspension particles are fed into a separation reactor. The combined physicochemical effects of removal/recovery of pollutants inside the reactor take place by solubilization, ionization, reaction, deposition and settling, which concurrently remove and separate the pollutants as solid materials, deposited on selective electrodes sets, as gases and as sludge and/or precipitates. The reactor is kept at the working temperature using a waste industrial heat, and the separation processes take place by applying a voltage source between a spaced apart system of selective electrodes, and by using a ionizing source of waste spent fuel nuclear bars or electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A scanning module for imaging through scattering media is provided. The scanning module image through scattering media while alleviating adverse effects of the weak transmission through highly scattering media. The injection of photons is optimized so that the overall transmission is increased compared to the conventional art. Cross-talk effects in a multi-port geometry are eliminated thereby increasing parallelism.

Abstract: A composition for delaying the cross-linking of water soluble polymer solutions includes a boron source suspended by an organophilic clay in a solution of a non-aqueous solvent. One process of manufacturing the composition includes the steps of first suspending the organophilic clay in the non-aqueous solvent and then suspending the boron source in the organophilic clay-non-aqueous solvent suspension. Another process of manufacturing composition includes the steps of first mixing the boron source and the organophilic clay to form a dry mixture and then suspending the dry mixture of the boron source and the organophilic clay in a non-aqueous solvent. In a method of hydraulically fracturing a formation, a water soluble polymer solution with a pH between about 8.5 and 12.5 and the boron source suspended by the organophilic clay in the solution of the non-aqueous solvent are pumped into the formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.

Abstract: A cement composition includes cement, water in an amount from about 30% to 200% by weight of cement, and an interpolymer latex in an amount from about 10% to 50% by weight of cement. The interpolymer latex includes at least one conjugated diene monomer having 4 to 8 carbon atoms in an amount from about 5% to 95% by weight of the interpolymer latex, at least one vinyl aromatic monomer having 8 to 12 carbon atoms in an amount from about 5% to 95% by weight of the interpolymer latex, and a copolymerizable functional monomer in an amount from about 0.5% to 50% by weight of the interpolymer latex. A method of making a cement composition involves placing the above ingredients in a suitable mixer well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and mixing the ingredients until they form the cement composition.

Abstract: Increased production of skin lipids, increased barrier function, hydrogen peroxide neutralization, prevention of loss of the natural moisturizing factor from the stratum corneum and moisturization of the skin is provided by a topically applicable composition which includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of branched chain amino acids, derivatives of branched chain amino acids and mixtures thereof, which one or more components are capable of being catabolized in epidermal cells to form lipid precursors for epidermal lipid synthesis. The composition can also include one or more enzyme activators which increase the rate of catabolism of the one or more components.