Abstract: A method for simultaneously tracking an invasive device disposed within a patient and acquiring an imaging signal of the patient with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during a single echo acquisition time period (46) of the MRI system. The method includes applying a radio frequency excitation pulse (26) to a patient to start an echo acquisition time period of an MRI system. The method then includes acquiring a tracking signal (54) from the invasive device during the echo acquisition time period and also acquiring an imaging signal (36) of the patient proximate an end of the same echo acquisition time period.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing an image includes substantially minimizing a cost function of the form x ^ = arg ? ? min x ? { ? m = 0 M ? ? D m ? ( y m , F m ? ( x ) ) + S ? ( x ) } , where {circumflex over (x)} is the value of x which achieves the minimum summation, ym is an integral projection, Fm(x) is an forward projection function, and S(x) is a stabilizing function, to obtain {circumflex over (x)}, and using the obtained {circumflex over (x)} to perform a multislice Computed Tomography (CT) reconstruction to generate an image.

Abstract: A bowtie filter is constructed to have a fluidic envelope filled with attenuating fluid and a displacement insert that can present various x-ray attenuation profiles during a scan. The insert is designed to displace the attenuating fluid to achieve a denied attenuating or filtering profile. The insert can be rotated, twisted, moved, and otherwise contorted within the fluidic envelope as needed during the course of a scan. As the angle, position and shape of the zombie is changed, the x-ray profile of the filter changes. The insert may have a default shape when at rest, but can have its shape changed when external forces are placed thereon. As x-ray filtering needs change during the course of the scan, the insert can be compressed, stretched, and/or contorted to achieve additional filtering profiles.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes a row of laterally sinuous chevrons extending from an aft end of an exhaust duct. The chevrons have radially outer and inner surfaces bound by a laterally sinuous trailing edge extending between a base of the chevrons adjoining the duct and an axially opposite apex of the chevrons. Each chevron has a compound arcuate contour both axially and laterally, and the sinuous trailing edge of the chevrons further compounds the arcuate configuration of each chevron.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate that defines a plane. The apparatus also includes a first conducting plate that is substantially normal to the substrate and a second conducting plate that is (i) substantially normal to the substrate and (ii) deformable in response to a pressure.

Abstract: A thermal transfer device having a first substrate layer, a second substrate layer and first and second electrodes disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer. The thermal transfer device also includes a release layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and an actuator disposed adjacent the first and second electrodes. The actuator is adapted to separate the first and second electrodes from the release layer to open a thermotunneling gap between the first and second electrodes, and wherein the actuator is adapted to actively control the thermotunneling gap.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning a raw mix proportioning controller used in a cement plant. A fuzzy logic supervisory controller tracks the performance of a cement plant simulator to target set points for attaining a correct mix and composition of raw materials. A genetic algorithm adjusts the fuzzy logic supervisory controller's performance by adjusting its parameters in a sequential order of significance.

Abstract: A system and/or method for relaying messages in a network (e.g., a mobile network) are provided. Certain example embodiments allow communications between nodes to be network coded, multicast, and compressed (e.g. compressed within layers and/or among layers). Preferably, rateless forward error correction (FEC) packets, or simulations and/or approximations thereof, are included by network coding. Furthermore, data preferably is transmitted along the max-flow min-cut of the network.

Abstract: A robust grinding assembly is provided for grinding cooling holes in a dovetail groove by offsetting the drive shaft of the cutting assembly with respect to the center axis of the bar in which it is housed, whereby a larger sized collet can be accommodated.

Abstract: An electrodeionization (EDI) apparatus and method comprising an ion-depleting chamber for removing ions from liquids passed therethrough, wherein a resistive component is coupled proximate the outlet region of the chamber so as to increase the electrical resistance of the outlet region of the chamber with respect to the inlet region of the chamber. The resistive component may be coupled to the ion-selective membranes bordering the diluting chamber and/or the concentrate chambers. In an alternative embodiment, the resistive component may be coupled between the ion-exchanging media particles themselves within the ion-depleting chambers. In each embodiment, the electrical resistance of the outlet region is increased with respect to the inlet region of the chamber, with results being that electrical current is shifted from the outlet region toward the inlet region, thus enhancing overall deionization performance of the EDI device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system to simulate a process of discrete tasks having a plurality of available resources associated therewith. The system may comprise a model database to store a plurality of models, each model including a plurality of task and resource parameters; a model portion in communication with the model database and configured to receive commands from a user, to retrieve one of the plurality of models and corresponding task and resource parameters in response to a user command, to receive input data corresponding to attributes of one or more task and resource parameters from a business database system, and to generate a simulation model based on the selected business database system and the input data; and a model server to perform a simulation of the process by processing the simulation model and to generate an output data file containing output data representative of the simulation.

Abstract: A method of measuring hydrogen leakage from a generator core into generator coolant water flowing through the generator stator windings comprising the steps of: providing a core hydrogen gas environment within the generator; flowing coolant water in a flowpath through the generator stator windings and a conduit to a coolant water reservoir; flowing air at a rate of less than 0.15 into the conduit and the coolant water after the coolant water exits the stator windings; measuring the quantity of air flowing into the conduit and into the coolant water; venting gas through a vent line from a contained vapor space over the coolant water within the coolant water reservoir; and measuring the hydrogen content of the gas vented from the reservoir; whereby hydrogen leakage from the generator core environment through the stator windings into the generator coolant water can be determined in amounts down to about 0.2 CFD.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to thermoelectric devices comprising thermoelectric elements comprising nanotubes of thermoelectric material. The present invention is also directed to methods of making such thermoelectric elements and devices, particularly wherein the nanotubes are formed electrochemically in templates. The present invention is also directed to systems and applications incorporating and using such devices, respectfully.

Abstract: An air gap inspection device. The air gap inspection device may include a mast and an inspection head attached to the mast. The mast may be in the form of a collapsible tube.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of ester-substituted diaryl carbonates prepared by reacting phosgene with recycle streams of ester-substituted phenols from reaction processes using a tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide catalyst, a tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide catalyst, or both, where at least one alkyl group of the tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide or the tetraalkyl phosphonium hydroxide is a methyl group. The improvement includes the step of treating the recycle stream to reduce the concentration of a trialkyl amine, trialkyl phosphine, or both, if present, from the recycle stream prior to reacting it with phosgene to form the ester-substituted diaryl carbonate.

Abstract: A composition comprises a poly(arylene ether); a block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block wherein the first block comprises repeating aryl alkylene units and the second block comprises repeating alkylene units; and an ethylene-vinyl aliphatic acid copolymer wherein the poly(arylene ether) and the block copolymer form a dual phase co-continuous morphology.

Abstract: A secondary combustion system for a stage one turbine nozzle. The secondary combustion system may include a supply tube extending into the stage one nozzle, a number of injectors extending from the supply tube to an outer surface of the stage one nozzle, and an air gap surrounding each of the number of injectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for electric braking and system protection for an electric generator includes a dynamic brake and a crowbar circuit designed for cooperation with power converters to dump power upon command. The dynamic brake includes at least one resistor and the crowbar circuit includes another at least one resistor for dissipating power from the electric generator. Methods for use of the electric braking and system protection calls for shunting the power to at least one of the dynamic brake, the crowbar circuit and the generator side power converter.

Abstract: A turbine blade with a tip squealer and method of rebuilding a turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. The blade is of the type including an airfoil having first and second spaced-apart sidewalls defining an interior void and joined at a leading edge and a trailing edge. The first and second sidewalls extending from a root disposed adjacent the dovetail to a tip cap for channeling combustion gases, and a squealer tip including at least one tip rib extending outwardly from the tip cap. The method includes the steps of removing the squealer tip, including the at least one rib tip, from the tip cap and adding new material to the tip cap to serve as a new squealer tip. A plurality of spaced-apart notches is formed in the new material between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the airfoil. At least one hole is formed in each notch communicating with the interior void of the airfoil for channeling cooling air from the interior void of the airfoil to thereby form a squealer tip.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering heat from dirty gaseous fuel (syngas), wherein the pressure of clean fuel gas is elevated to a pressure higher than that of the dirty syngas and then the pressurized clean fuel gas is fed to a heat recovery unit for heat exchange with the dirty syngas. Consequently, in the event of a leak in the heat recovery unit, the flow is from the clean fuel side to the dirty syngas side, thereby avoiding the possibility of contamination of the clean fuel gas.