Abstract: A method of making a eutectic alloy body by silicothermic reduction is provided. The method can include heating a mixture including silicon and a metal oxide comprising one or more metallic elements M and oxygen, forming a eutectic alloy melt from the mixture, and removing heat from the eutectic alloy melt, thereby forming the eutectic alloy body having a eutectic aggregation of a first phase comprising the silicon and a second phase being a silicide phase.

Abstract: Silicon eutectic alloy compositions and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one approach, a method may include using a glass carbon container to restrict contamination of the eutectic alloy melt. In an alternative approach, a method may include using a container having aluminum. The aluminum in the container may provide aluminum that is incorporated into the silicon eutectic alloy. Silicon eutectic bodies made by such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: To carry out a rotational casting method of preparing a silicon eutectic alloy composition, silicon and one or more metallic elements M are melted together to form a eutectic alloy melt comprising the silicon and the one or more metallic elements M. A mold containing the eutectic alloy melt is rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof at a speed sufficient to form a rotating volume of the eutectic alloy melt in contact with an inner surface of the mold. Heat is directionally removed from the rotating volume of the eutectic alloy melt to directionally solidify the eutectic alloy melt, and a eutectic alloy composition, which includes the silicon, the one or more metallic elements M, and a eutectic aggregation of a first phase comprising the silicon and a second phase of formula MSi2, where the second phase is a disilicide phase, is formed.

Abstract: The present invention describes apparatus for penetrating radiation measurements on a biological tissue sample, the apparatus comprising: a tissue sample locator; a source of penetrating radiation; a collimator to direct, in use, radiation from the source into a beam directed at the tissue sample locator; and at least two detectors for detecting radiation from the sample; the at least two detectors being configured to detect radiation from the sample at respective different angles. The present invention also describes analogous apparatus for penetrating radiation measurements on biological tissue samples.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for analysing a body tissue sample, the method comprising irradiating the tissue sample (4) with penetrating radiation and detecting transmitted, (14) and/or scattered radiation (16, 18) from the sample, wherein the duration of the analysis is determined from one or more desired confidence levels based on a model or algorithm defining a relationship between analysis duration and confidence level. The invention also describes apparatus for implementing the method and computer software for controlling the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of creating and/or updating a model that relates to at least one measurable tissue property to at least one tissue characteristic, the method comprising: defining two or more data categories; assigning each of a plurality of training data sets to one or more of the data categories; creating and/or updating the model using only data sets categorised in a selected one of the categories. The present invention also describes a method and system for creating such a model as well as a database structure for storing a plurality of measured tissue property data sets used by the model.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for analysing body tissue, the method consisting of obtaining data representing a first measured tissue property of a body tissue sample and obtaining data representing a second, different tissue property of the tissue sample, and using the data in combination to provide an analysis of the tissue sample. A method is also described for characterising body tissues as normal or abnormal. The present invention also describes a method for analysing and/or characterising body tissue by obtaining Compton scatter data measured from a body tissue sample on which a penetrating radiation beam is incident and using the data to provide an analysis and/or characterisation of the tissue sample.

Abstract: A method for irradiating a biological tissue sample is provided, the method comprising: irradiating a portion of a biological tissue sample with a penetrating radiation beam for a first exposure period; subsequently irradiating the same or an adjacent biological tissue portion with a penetrating radiation beam for a second exposure period; the radiation dose incident on the tissue sample during the second exposure period being higher than the dose during the first exposure period. Also provided is an apparatus operative in accordance with the method. The method and apparatus have particular application in the characterisation of body tissue by x-ray diffraction, both in vitro and in vivo.