Abstract: According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a mammography imaging system or device includes a brassiere including one or more inflation chambers to assist in automatically positioning the breast. The brassiere includes cup in which the breast is positioned that includes a radiolucent cushion material along with the chambers and one or more inflatable chambers to compress/push the breast forward to position the breast within the cup as desired. In addition, the brassiere includes a vacuum system secured to the front part of the cup to pull the tip or nipple portion of the breast forward with vacuum-based suction technique. With the initial compression of the breast within the cup, the compression paddle of the imaging system can then be employed to apply any necessary additional force across the breast to achieve the required breast position and thickness for the selected image view, with the cushion material limiting any discomfort from the compression.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an electronic device includes an integrated circuit component having a plurality of solder balls on one side. The substrate includes a first side adjacent the one side of the integrated circuit component. The substrate includes a plurality of openings. At least some of those openings are aligned with the solder balls. A cooling plate is situated toward a second side of the substrate. A thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings is thermally coupled with the cooling plate. At least some of the thermally conductive material is thermally coupled with the solder balls. The cooling plate comprises the thermally conductive material and the thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings forms extensions from the cooling plate.

Abstract: Combustion turbine control systems are configured to operate combustion turbine systems in partial or no load while meeting emission targets. The combustion turbine system includes a combustion turbine, an electrical generator, a combustion turbine controller, a catalyst assembly, and/or other relevant equipment. Based on given operating constraints, such as load conditions and emission regulations, the combustion turbine controller may execute corresponding actions to control certain gas concentrations and/or gas mass flows in the exhaust gases in compliance with emission regulations. The corresponding actions may include, but are not limited to: controlling fuel and/or diluent injection(s) to combustor(s) to control combustion (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

Abstract: Described herein is an enclosure comprising at least one planar portion with an array of extruded holes disposed thereon. The holes are extruded along an axis normal to a plane of the planar portion and configured as apertures for heat transfer through the enclosure. The holes have an inner diameter and have a height along the axis relative to the plane, which provide greater stiffness to the planar portion compared to non-extruded holes. Techniques for producing enclosures with extruded holes such as this are also described. A schematic of an array of extruded holes can be generated by determining, based on a predetermined pilot hole diameter, a thickness of an associated portion of sheet metal, and a hole diameter, an extruded height usable for the extruded holes in the schematic. This may allow for simple conversion from an array of non-extruded thru holes to an array of extruded holes.

Abstract: Thermal management and shielding techniques for a radar device of a vehicle, the radar device having a radar transceiver circuit and a radar-transmissive radome, include a housing formed of a thermally-conductive plastic material and configured to receive and provide shield grounding to the radar transceiver circuit, and a metal layer applied to an inner surface of the housing to provide for thermal spreading of heat energy generated by the radar transceiver circuit.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an electronic device includes an integrated circuit component having a plurality of solder balls on one side. The substrate includes a first side adjacent the one side of the integrated circuit component. The substrate includes a plurality of openings. At least some of those openings are aligned with the solder balls. A cooling plate is situated toward a second side of the substrate. A thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings is thermally coupled with the cooling plate. At least some of the thermally conductive material is thermally coupled with the solder balls.

Abstract: The invention relates to SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) claddings with metallic, ceramic and/or multilayer coatings applied on the outer surface for improved corrosion resistance and hermeticity protection. The coating includes one or more materials selected from FeCrAl, Y, Zr and Al—Cr alloys, Cr2O3, ZrO2 and other oxides, chromium carbides, CrN, Zr- and Y-silicates and silicides. The coatings are applied employing a variety of known surface treatment technologies including cold spray, thermal spray process, physical vapor deposition process (PVD), and slurry coating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing free-standing cladding tubes with multi-layer structures. According to the method, a cylindrical mandrel substrate defining a hollow cylindrical inner space is provided. A first cold spray powder metal is selected. The cylindrical mandrel substrate is rotated and the first cold spray powder metal is applied to an outer surface of the cylindrical mandrel substrate to form a first layer. The cylindrical mandrel substrate is removed.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an electronic device includes an integrated circuit component having a plurality of solder balls on one side. The substrate includes a first side adjacent the one side of the integrated circuit component. The substrate includes a plurality of openings. At least some of those openings are aligned with the solder balls. A cooling plate is situated toward a second side of the substrate. A thermally conductive material within the plurality of openings is thermally coupled with the cooling plate. At least some of the thermally conductive material is thermally coupled with the solder balls.

Abstract: A zirconium alloy cladding tube for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor under normal operating conditions and under high temperature oxidation conditions is described. The cladding tube has a coating uniformly deposited thereon. The coating, which may be up to 300 microns thick, is selected from the group consisting of chromium, a chromium-based alloy, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Combustion turbine control systems are configured to operate combustion turbine systems in partial or no load while meeting emission targets. The combustion turbine system includes a combustion turbine, an electrical generator, a combustion turbine controller, a catalyst assembly, and/or other relevant equipment. Based on given operating constraints, such as load conditions and emission regulations, the combustion turbine controller may execute corresponding actions to control certain gas concentrations and/or gas mass flows in the exhaust gases in compliance with emission regulations. The corresponding actions may include, but are not limited to: controlling fuel and/or diluent injection(s) to combustor(s) to control combustion (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing free-standing cladding tubes with multi-layer structures. According to the method, a cylindrical mandrel substrate defining a hollow cylindrical inner space is provided. A first cold spray powder metal is selected. The cylindrical mandrel substrate is rotated and the first cold spray powder metal is applied to an outer surface of the cylindrical mandrel substrate to form a first layer. The cylindrical mandrel substrate is removed.

Abstract: A method is described for forming duplex layers including an interlayer and a corrosion resistant boundary layer on a nuclear fuel rod cladding tube for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor. The method includes forming, by thermal deposition or physical vapor deposition, on the exterior of a substrate, an inner interlayer with Mo, Ta, W or Nb or other particles, and forming, by thermal deposition or physical vapor deposition, on the interlayer, an outer corrosion resistant layer with particles selected from the group consisting of Cr, a Cr alloy, and combinations thereof. The interlayer prevents eutectic formation between the corrosion resistant layer and the substrate.

Abstract: One or more light sources emit light within first, second, and third wavelength ranges through exhaust gas. The first and second wavelength ranges are characterized by first and second different absorption wavelength ranges of a background gas. The third wavelength range is characterized by an absorption wavelength range of a gas-of-interest. At least some of the light within the first, second, and third wavelength ranges is absorbed by the exhaust gas thereby providing modified light characterized by the first, second, and third absorption wavelength ranges. One or more detectors receive the modified light. A processing subsystem determines a temperature of the exhaust gas based on the modified light characterized by the first and second absorption wavelength ranges and a concentration of the gas-of-interest based on the modified light characterized by the third absorption wavelength range and the temperature of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to SiC ceramic matrix composite (CMC) claddings with metallic, ceramic and/or multilayer coatings applied on the outer surface for improved corrosion resistance and hermeticity protection. The coating includes one or more materials selected from FeCrAl, Y, Zr and Al—Cr alloys, Cr2O3, ZrO2 and other oxides, chromium carbides, CrN, Zr- and Y-silicates and silicides. The coatings are applied employing a variety of known surface treatment technologies including cold spray, thermal spray process, physical vapor deposition process (PVD), and slurry coating.

Abstract: A method is provided for coating the substrate of a component, such as a zirconium alloy cladding tube, for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor under normal operating conditions and under high temperature oxidation conditions. The method includes heating a pressurized carrier gas to a temperature between 200° C. and 1200° C., adding chromium or chromium-based alloy particles having an average diameter of 20 microns or less to the heated carrier gas, and spraying the carrier gas and particles onto the substrate at a velocity, preferably from 800 to 4000 ft./sec. (about 243.84 to 1219.20 meters/sec.), to form a chromium and/or chromium-based alloy coating on the substrate to a desired thickness.

Abstract: A zirconium alloy cladding tube for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor under normal operating conditions and under high temperature oxidation conditions is described. The cladding tube has a coating uniformly deposited thereon. The coating, which may be up to 300 microns thick, is selected from the group consisting of chromium, a chromium-based alloy, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: In the present invention, a control device for use in connection with a medical device or system in order to operate various functions of the medical device or system is provided that does not require a wired connection or internal power source for the operation of the control device. The control device in certain embodiments can take the form of a footpedal that is formed without electronics, without a printed circuit board (PCB), without a wireless module and without a battery. In this configuration the control device is formed to be entirely passive in operation, thus eliminating the issues with regard to control devices connected to medical devices and systems using wired connections and wireless transmission modules.