Abstract: An apparatus is presented for improving the noticeability of a hat. The apparatus includes a light source configured to produce light upon receiving electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a mount coupled to the light source and configured to selectively attach to and detach from the hat. The mount, when attached to the hat, orients the light source to project light away from an exterior surface of the hat into an ambient environment of the hat. The exterior surface includes at least one of a left-side exterior surface and a right-side exterior surface. The apparatus additionally includes a battery receptacle electrically-coupled to the light source and having electrical contacts for coupling to one or more batteries. Hats having improved noticeability and methods for improving the noticeability of a hat are also presented.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for improving the noticeability of a hat. The apparatus includes a light source configured to produce light upon receiving electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a mount coupled to the light source and configured to selectively attach to and detach from the hat. The mount, when attached to the hat, orients the light source to project light onto an exterior surface of the hat. The apparatus additionally includes a battery receptacle electrically-coupled to the light source and having electrical contacts for coupling to one or more batteries. Hats having improved noticeability and methods for improving the noticeability of a hat are also presented.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for improving the noticeability of a hat. The apparatus includes a light source configured to produce light upon receiving electrical energy. The apparatus also includes a mount coupled to the light source and configured to selectively attach to and detach from the hat. The mount, when attached to the hat, orients the light source to project light away from an exterior surface of the hat into an ambient environment of the hat. The exterior surface includes at least one of a left-side exterior surface and a right-side exterior surface. The apparatus additionally includes a battery receptacle electrically-coupled to the light source and having electrical contacts for coupling to one or more batteries. Hats having improved noticeability and methods for improving the noticeability of a hat are also presented.

Abstract: A gas turbine wash control system may perform a wash and a rinse of a gas turbine that is offline. An peracetic acid inter-rinse solution may be injected into the gas turbine. The gas turbine may be agitated and the peracetic acid inter-rinse solution drained. A second rinse of the gas turbine may be performed followed by the injection of an anticorrosive solution into the gas turbine.

Abstract: Disclosed are a variety of ceramics having the formula Ln.sub.1?xM.sub.xMnO.sub.3, where 0.Itoreq.x.Itoreq.1 and where Ln is La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu or Y; M is Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, or Pb; manganite precursors for preparing the ceramics; a method for preparing the precursors; and a method for transforming the precursors into uniform, defect-free ceramics having magnetoresistance properties. The manganite precursors contain a sol and are derived from the metal alkoxides: Ln(OR).sub.3, M(OR).sub.2 and Mn(OR).sub.2, where R is C.sub.2 to C.sub.6 alkyl or C.sub.3 to C.sub.9 alkoxyalkyl, or C.sub.6 to C.sub.9 aryl. The preferred ceramics are films prepared by a spin coating method and are particularly suited for incorporation into a device such as an integrated circuit device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of protecting refinery equipment, the method comprising: (a) applying an uncured organic coating comprising a curable epoxy phenol novolac resin and a curing agent comprising a vicinal primary diamine moiety to a surface of refinery equipment susceptible to corrosion and/or wear; and (b) curing the uncured coating to form a cured coating having a viscosity of at least 2,000,000 centipoise; wherein the uncured organic coating has a viscosity of less than 500,000 centipoise, and wherein the uncured coating is substantially free of components comprising secondary and tertiary amine groups, and wherein the uncured coating is characterized by a latent viscosity of at least 2,000,000 when cured for 1 hour at 50° C.

Abstract: A neutron detection system comprising a radiation portal monitor is disclosed. The radiation portal monitor includes a neutron moderator sheet and a neutron-sensing panel and is configured to receive incoming neutrons through a neutron collection portal area. The neutron-sensing panel comprises a neutron-sensing material optically coupled to a plurality of optical fibers such that the neutron moderator sheet and the neutron-sensing panel are disposed substantially parallel to the neutron collection portal area.

Abstract: A method for the detection of tin is presented. A specimen is first contacted with a ruthenium-containing species to create a contacted region of the specimen. At least a portion of the contacted region is then irradiated by an excitation radiation and monitored for a relaxation radiation emitted in response to the excitation radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic package system utilizing a module having a liquid contact material to prevent mechanically and thermally induced strains in an electrical joint. The conductivity of the liquid contact material provides electrical communication between the required electronic components of the package system. The ability of the liquid contact material to flow prevents the creation of stresses and affords an electronic package design tolerant of small displacements or torsions. Thus, the liquid contact material enables a floating contact with high electrical reliability.

Abstract: A radiation detector includes a neutron sensing element comprising a neutron scintillating composite material that emits a first photon having a first wavelength and an optical waveguide material having a wavelength-shifting dopant dispersed therein that absorbs the first photon emitted by the neutron scintillating composite material and emits a second photon having a second, different wavelength, and a functionalized reflective layer at an interface between the neutron scintillating composite material and the optical waveguide material. The functionalized reflective layer allows the first photon emitted by the neutron scintillating composite material to pass through and into the optical waveguide material, but prevents the second photon emitted by the optical waveguide material from passing through and into the neutron scintillating composite material.

Abstract: A radioisotope power sources that includes radioisotope nanoparticles and scintillator materials. An embodiment of the radioisotope power source includes radioisotope nanoparticles suspended within a polycrystalline scintillator; additional polycrystalline scintillator at least partially surrounding the polycrystalline scintillator with the radioisotope nanoparticles; and a photovoltaic device in light communication with the surrounding polycrystalline scintillator. A system that employs the radioisotope power source and a method of generating an electrical current are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A method for the detection of tin is presented. A specimen is first contacted with a ruthenium-containing species to create a contacted region of the specimen. At least a portion of the contacted region is then irradiated by an excitation radiation and monitored for a relaxation radiation emitted in response to the excitation radiation.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of protecting a metal vessel susceptible to corrosion by hydrogen sulfide, the method comprising: (a) applying a coating composition comprising a metal oxide precursor material, a solid metal oxide, and a solvent to a surface of the metal vessel to be protected; (b) converting at least a portion of the metal oxide precursor material to a metal oxide, and removing at least a portion of the solvent to provide a metal oxide layer disposed on the surface of the metal vessel; and (c) converting at least a portion of the metal oxide layer to a corresponding metal sulfide layer or a metal oxysulfide layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor material for radiation absorption and detection comprising a composition of stoichiometry Li(M12+, M22+, M32+, . . . )(G1V, G2V, G3V, . . . ) and exhibiting an antifluorite-type order, where Li=1, (M12++M22++M32++ . . . )=1, and (G1V+G2V+G3V+ . . . )=1. The material provides two useful characteristics: [1] a high Li-site density, which when enriched in 6Li, produces exceptional neutron-absorbing capabilities and [2] a semiconducting band-gap for the efficient conversion of absorbed photon and neutron energies into electrical currents. These characteristics can be exploited in applications for power generation or the spectroscopic detection of gamma and neutron radiation. The material can be tailored so as to detect only gamma photons, detect only neutron particles, or simultaneously detect gamma photons and neutron particles.

Abstract: A neutron scintillator composite (NSC) material is made of a neutron scintillator material and a binder material. The binder material has an index of refraction substantially identical to the neutron scintillator material. The neutron scintillator material and binder material are mixed into a solid or semi-solid neutron scintillator composite material with sufficient flowability for molding into a shaped article, such as a neutron sensing element of a radiation detector. The neutron scitillator composite material collects and channels photons through the material itself and into a photosensing element optically coupled to the material. Because the indices of refraction for both the neutron scintillator material and the binder material are substantially identical, scattering at the scintillator-binder interface(s) is minimized, thereby producing transmission efficiencies that approach single crystals.

Abstract: A neutron sensing material detector includes an anode; a cathode; and a semiconductor material disposed between the anode and the cathode. An electric field is applied between the anode and cathode. The semiconductor material is composed of a ternary composition of stoichiometry LiM2+GV and exhibits an antifluorite-type ordering, where the stoichiometric fractions are Li=1, M2+=1, and GV=1. Electron-hole pairs are created by absorption of radiation, and the electron-hole pairs are detected by the current they generate between the anode and the cathode. The anode may include an array of pixels to provide improved spatial and energy resolution over the face of the anode. The signal value for each pixel can be mapped to a color or grey scale normalized to all the other pixel signal values for a particular moment in time. A guard ring or guard grid may be provided to reduce leakage current.

Abstract: A radioisotope power sources that includes radioisotope nanoparticles and scintillator materials. An embodiment of the radioisotope power source includes radioisotope nanoparticles suspended within a polycrystalline scintillator; additional polycrystalline scintillator at least partially surrounding the polycrystalline scintillator with the radioisotope nanoparticles; and a photovoltaic device in light communication with the surrounding polycrystalline scintillator. A system that employs the radioisotope power source and a method of generating an electrical current are also disclosed. The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiment(s), and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: A neutron detection system comprising a radiation portal monitor is disclosed. The radiation portal monitor includes a neutron moderator sheet and a neutron-sensing panel and is configured to receive incoming neutrons through a neutron collection portal area. The neutron-sensing panel comprises a neutron-sensing material optically coupled to a plurality of optical fibers such that the neutron moderator sheet and the neutron-sensing panel are disposed substantially parallel to the neutron collection portal area.

Abstract: A radiation detector includes a neutron sensing element having a neutron scintillating material at least partially surrounded by an optical waveguide material; and a photosensing element optically coupled to the neutron sensing element. The photons emitted from the neutron sensing element are collected and channeled through the optical waveguide material and into the photosensing element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic package system utilizing a module having a liquid contact material to prevent mechanically and thermally induced strains in an electrical joint. The conductivity of the liquid contact material provides electrical communication between the required electronic components of the package system. The ability of the liquid contact material to flow prevents the creation of stresses and affords an electronic package design tolerant of small displacements or torsions. Thus, the liquid contact material enables a floating contact with high electrical reliability.