Abstract: There are herein described phase change materials containing sodium acetate trihydrate having improved homogeneity, a process for the preparation of said materials, and their utility in phase change systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of phase change compositions comprising sodium acetate trihydrate, at least one alkali soluble polymer for inhibition of sodium acetate anhydrous crystal formation in sodium acetate trihydrate containing phase change materials, and at least one sodium acetate trihydrate nucleation promoter, and, if a lower phase change temperature is required, at least one melting point depressing agent.

Abstract: A computer program and a computer-implemented system and method for generating a two-dimensional image of a volume data set representing an object volume from a selectable viewpoint. An object volume data set includes voxel values ordered by voxels along a row that extends in a first direction, rows across a plane that extends in the first direction and a second direction, and planes through an object volume that extend in the first and second directions and a third direction. In response to the definition of a view vector defining a view direction with respect to a viewpoint, shear and warp mappings are determined, as is which of the first, second and third directions is closest to the view vector. Pixels of a two-dimensional sheared image having a plurality of lines of pixels are then determined from voxel values of the object volume data set identified by the shear mapping.

Abstract: A computer automated method for setting visualization parameter boundaries in a preset for displaying an image from a 3D data set applicable to magnetic resonance (MR) data, computer tomography (CT) data and other 3D data sets obtained in medical imaging is described. In one example the visualization parameter boundaries are color boundaries. A histogram of data values of voxels within a user-selected volume of interest (VOI) is generated and an analysis of a convex hull spanning the histogram is made to provide one or more visualization thresholds which divide the histogram into sub-regions. The sub-regions relate to different tissue types within the VOI and color boundaries are set based on the visualization thresholds for displaying the different tissue types in different colors. The method allows color boundaries in a preset to be set objectively and automatically so that images can be displayed consistently and with less user manipulation.

Abstract: A computer automated method for setting visualization parameter boundaries in a preset for displaying an image from a 3D data set applicable to magnetic resonance (MR) data, computer tomography (CT) data and other 3D data sets obtained in medical imaging is described. In one example the visualization parameter boundaries are color boundaries. A histogram of data values of voxels within a user-selected volume of interest (VOI) is generated and an analysis of a convex hull spanning the histogram is made to provide one or more visualization thresholds which divide the histogram into sub-regions. The sub-regions relate to different tissue types within the VOI and color boundaries are set based on the visualization thresholds for displaying the different tissue types in different colors. The method allows color boundaries in a preset to be set objectively and automatically so that images can be displayed consistently and with less user manipulation.

Abstract: A computer program and a computer-implemented system and method for generating a two-dimensional image of a volume data set representing an object volume from a selectable viewpoint. An object volume data set includes voxel values ordered by voxels along a row that extends in a first direction, rows across a plane that extends in the first direction and a second direction, and planes through an object volume that extend in the first and second directions and a third direction. In response to the definition of a view vector defining a view direction with respect to a viewpoint, shear and warp mappings are determined, as is which of the first, second and third directions is closest to the view vector. Pixels of a two-dimensional sheared image having a plurality of lines of pixels are then determined from voxel values of the object volume data set identified by the shear mapping.