A test capsule for measuring at least one property of a material exposed to nuclear radiation comprises a lattice structure configured to exhibit a change in at least one property responsive to exposure to nuclear radiation. The lattice structure comprises a first strut and a second strut connected to the first strut at a node. Related test capsules and methods are also described.

A test capsule for measuring at least one property of a material exposed to nuclear radiation comprises a lattice structure configured to exhibit a change in at least one property responsive to exposure to nuclear radiation. The lattice structure comprises a first strut and a second strut connected to the first strut at a node. Related test capsules and methods are also described.

A food processing system and a method for processing and batching food items conveyed by a conveyor means where the batches fulfil at least one target criteria including at least one weight target, including a first weight determining means for determining the weight of incoming food items, a batching system, a food item separation device positioned downstream in relation to the first weight determining means and upstream in relation to the batching system, and a control system for controlling the batching system and the food item separation device. The controlling including, repeatedly: monitoring the weight of the incoming food items, determining, based on the weight of the incoming food items, a prospect indicator indicating the prospect to meet the target criteria for the batches such that each batch fulfils the at least one target criteria, and comparing if the prospect indicator fulfils a pre-defined criteria.

A food processing system and a method for processing and batching food items conveyed by a conveyor means where the batches fulfil at least one target criteria including at least one weight target, including a first weight determining means for determining the weight of incoming food items, a batching system, a food item separation device positioned downstream in relation to the first weight determining means and upstream in relation to the batching system, and a control system for controlling the batching system and the food item separation device. The controlling including, repeatedly: monitoring the weight of the incoming food items, determining, based on the weight of the incoming food items, a prospect indicator indicating the prospect to meet the target criteria for the batches such that each batch fulfils the at least one target criteria, and comparing if the prospect indicator fulfils a pre-defined criteria.

A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly to count neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a Poisson neutron generator for in-beam interrogation of a possible fissile neutron source and a DC power supply that exhibits electrical ripple on the order of less than one part per million. Certain voltage multiplier circuits, such as Cockroft-Walton voltage multipliers, are used to enhance the effective of series resistor-inductor circuits components to reduce the ripple associated with traditional AC rectified, high voltage DC power supplies.

A method of controlling a needle actuator to interact with a cell is provided, the method comprising: providing an actuator comprising a tower, a stage and a needle, wherein the needle is mounted on the stage; applying an electrostatic potential between the tower and the stage to retract the needle; moving the actuator towards the cell; reducing the potential so as to allow the stage and needle to move towards the cell; applying calibration data to detect when the needle has pierced the cell; and reducing the potential further once it has been detected that the needle has pierced the cell. The cell can be a biological cell. The needle can be a micro-needle and the stage can be a micro-stage.

An x-ray-based borehole fluid evaluation tool for evaluating the characteristics of a fluid located external to said tool in a borehole using x-ray backscatter imaging is disclosed, the tool including at least an x-ray source; a radiation shield to define the output faun of the produced x-rays into the borehole fluid outside of the tool housing; at least one collimated imaging detector to record x-ray backscatter images; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and power supply units. A method of using an x-ray-based borehole fluid evaluation tool to evaluate the characteristics of a fluid through x-ray backscatter imaging is also disclosed, the method including at least producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from the fluid to each pixel of one or more array imaging detectors; and converting intensity data from said pixels into characteristics of the wellbore fluids.

An x-ray-based borehole fluid evaluation tool for evaluating the characteristics of a fluid located external to said tool in a borehole using x-ray backscatter imaging is disclosed, the tool including at least an x-ray source; a radiation shield to define the output faun of the produced x-rays into the borehole fluid outside of the tool housing; at least one collimated imaging detector to record x-ray backscatter images; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and power supply units. A method of using an x-ray-based borehole fluid evaluation tool to evaluate the characteristics of a fluid through x-ray backscatter imaging is also disclosed, the method including at least producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from the fluid to each pixel of one or more array imaging detectors; and converting intensity data from said pixels into characteristics of the wellbore fluids.

An X-ray fluorescence measurement apparatus has a sample tank, and a measurement unit that has an X-ray generator and an X-ray fluorescence detector. A film mechanism takes out a used film from a partitioning position between the sample tank and the measurement unit in a slide direction which intersects a direction of arrangement of the sample tank and the measurement unit, and feeds an unused film portion to the partitioning position in the slide direction. The film portions may alternatively be exchanged using cassettes.

A system and method for tagging, tracking, locating and identifying people and vehicles transporting people using Perfluorocarbon tracers. An on-going problem faced by military as well as law enforcement personnel is that of friendly fire incidents. To prevent possible friendly-fire incidents, troops would separate the two layers of the uniform patch, thereby releasing a controlled release of the Perfluorocarbon vapors. Other “friendly” troops, equipped with sensors tuned to the specific perfluorocarbon characteristics would thus be able to literally view a plume around the tagged person or object. The system may conversely be used to tag enemies. Formulations of mixed perfluorocarbons may be used to provide coding of emissions.