Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound probe that includes an array of CMUT (capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer) cells. Each cell includes a substrate carrying a first electrode of an electrode arrangement. The substrate is spatially separated from a flexible membrane by a gap. The flexible membrane includes a second electrode of the electrode arrangement. The ultrasound probe also includes an acoustic window over the array of CMUT cells. The ultrasound probe further includes a data storage element accessible to an external control module of the ultrasound probe. The data storage element stores configuration information for configuring an operation of the array of CMUT cells in pre-collapse or collapse mode with the external control module to optimize the effective bandwidth of the array. Also disclosed is a calibration method of the ultrasound probe, an ultrasound system and a method of operating the ultrasound system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium provide for managing stranded assets of a customer service call center. The system includes an interface component that identifies an opportunity event of an established customer service session initiated by a user that is in a waiting queue for a customer service representative. The system includes an ingestion component that ingests one or more characteristics of the opportunity event that characterize at least one of: (i) the identity of the user; (ii) subject of the established customer service session; and (iii) situational context of the user. The system includes a correlation component that correlates the one or more ingested characteristics and an estimated duration of the waiting queue with at least one transaction-related content item. The system includes a publishing component that publishes a selected transaction-related content item via the established customer service session to the user while in the waiting queue.

Abstract: A light based skin treatment device comprises a laser light source for providing a pulsed incident light beam for treating skin by laser induced optical breakdown of hair or skin tissue. In one arrangement, a focusing system has a pre-focusing lens for increasing the convergence of the an incident light beam and a skin contact lens having convex light input and light exit surfaces. The focal spot position is controlled by adjusting a spacing between the pre-focusing lens and the skin contact lens. In another arrangement, there is an adjustable lens system before an adjustable focusing system for providing compensation for aberration in the adjustable focusing system.

Abstract: A method for provisioning a payment account to a mobile wallet includes receiving a request to provision a payment token configured to facilitate a mobile wallet transaction. The method includes receiving a payment account configured for provision to a mobile wallet, generating the payment token responsive to the request to provision the payment token, associating the payment token with the payment account, receiving account information for the payment account, receiving address information from a mobile device associated with the mobile wallet, the address information uniquely identifying the mobile wallet, and provisioning the payment token associated with the payment account to the mobile wallet responsive to receiving the address information and the account information.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) detector array includes an enclosing radiation detector array (10) comprising radiation detector elements (14, 16) effective for detecting 511 keV radiation emanating from inside the radiation detector array. The radiation detector pixels of the cylindrical radiation detector array include both higher speed radiation detector elements (14) and lower speed radiation detector elements (16). The lower speed radiation detector pixels have a temporal resolution that is coarser than a temporal resolution of the higher speed radiation detector pixels.

Abstract: Automated secondary linking can be employed in conjunction with fraud detection systems. According to one embodiment, a system includes a parsing logic configured to receive an incoming fraud report based on a first fraud detection strategy. The parse logic is also configured to parse the incoming fraud report into fraud data. The system further includes a search logic configured to search a set of fraud reports to identify instances of the fraud data. The system also includes an alert logic configured to generate an alert in response to an instance of the fraud data being identified in the set of fraud reports.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of agriculture, in particular in the field of crop protection, more particularly in the field of providing nematode resistance to plants. A method for producing a plant having improved nematode resistance, particularly to root-knot nematodes and/or cyst nematodes, is disclosed, as well as a plant produced by such method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a virtual banking assistant that provides an overall awareness for a particular customer. The virtual banking assistant system may observe the customer to identify customer intent and context. For example, the virtual banking assistant system may observe the customer's interactions and listen to conversations. The virtual banking assistant may further access customer historical data, e.g., profile data, current account status, spending habits, late/penalties, fraud data, etc. In addition, recent customer activity may be identified.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for determining at least one of a position and an orientation of a wearable device on a subject. At least one physiological characteristic signal is acquired from a subject (402). The acquired at least one physiological characteristic signal from the subject has one or more characteristics indicative of at least one of a position and an orientation of a wearable device on the subject. The at least one of the position and orientation of the wearable device on the subject is determined based on the one or more characteristics indicative of the at least one of the position and orientation of the wearable device on the subject (404).

Abstract: A customized mask is manufactured by the process of: generating surface geometry data of a face of a patient, the surface geometry data corresponding to and representing a surface geometry of the face of the patient; generating original cushion geometry data using the surface geometry data; generating modified cushion geometry data using the original cushion geometry data; producing a rigid support member using the modified cushion geometry data such that it is shaped according to the modified cushion geometry data, the support member being made of a unitary material; and coupling a sealing flap to the support member, the sealing flap being structured to engage the face of the patient.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses provide token management in a federated fund transfer environment. An example method includes receiving, by a token management system, a designation of a single token; receiving, by the token management system, a token management designation adapted to manage the single token; receiving, by the token management system, a rule designation for the token to enable association of the single token with two or more entities of the federated fund transfer system; and generating, by the token management system, a rule based on the rule designation to cause application of the rule with the single token in a subsequent fund transfer transaction utilizing the single token.

Abstract: A system for personalized inflation modeling and mitigation includes a network interface, a database, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is structured to receive user data comprising spending information, a current investment portfolio of a user, and information obtained from an activity sensor.

Abstract: A method of creating microservices based on the needs of computer system users throughout an organization and storing those microservices in a repository that allows for version control and execution monitoring is provided. The method includes the identification of a needed microservice, the assignment to a resource for the development of the microservice, testing of the microservice, and presenting the microservice to users for execution. The method further includes tracking the execution of the microservices and output produced during that execution.

Abstract: At least one power supply produces a voltage between a cathode and an anode. The cathode and anode are operable such that electrons emitted from the cathode interact with the anode with energies corresponding to the voltage. The electrons interact with the anode at a focal spot to generate X-rays. The power supply provides the cathode with a cathode current. An electron detector is positioned relative to the anode, and a backscatter electron signal is measured from the anode. The measured backscatter electron signal is provided to a processing unit, which determines a cathode current correction and/or a correction to the voltage between the cathode and the anode using the measured backscatter electron signal and a correlation between anode surface roughness and backscatter electron emission.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for using a boarding pass as a financial instrument to make payments and other financial transactions. A passenger name record, a standardized computer reservation system protocol, can be associated with one or more financial accounts. When a point of sale device scans the boarding pass, either on a mobile device, or a traditional paper boarding pass, the passenger name record can be used to find a travel itinerary associated with the customer. By matching the travel itinerary to location of the point of sale device, and the time, payments can be authorized, and then initiated using financial account information associated with the passenger name record.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided in using a supply clamp circuit using an ESD event actuated MOSFET device. Triggering of the MOSFET device is made at both the gate terminal and the substrate (back gate) terminal. Additionally, the MOSFET device can be formed of cascoded MOSFETs.

Abstract: Math based currency (“MBC”) credit is provided by a financial institution. A processor of the financial institution receives a credit request from a customer via a customer computing device. The request includes a requested amount of MBC and an identity of the customer. The processor compares the requested amount of MBC with an amount of credit available to the customer. The processor creates a customer private key and public key pair. The processor initiates a transfer of MBC totaling the requested amount of MBC to the customer private key and public key pair. The processor transmits the customer private key and public key pair associated with the requested amount of MBC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for determining positioning data for an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on a mobile patient support unit (3), the device comprising: a processing unit (10); and a status detector (11); wherein the status detector (11) is configured to acquire geometry data and type data of a mobile patient support unit (3) and of an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on the mobile patient support unit (3), and to transmit a status signal comprising the geometry data and the type data; wherein the processing unit (10) is configured to receive the status signal and data about region of interest position on the patient; and wherein, based on the status signal and the region of interest position, the processing unit (10) is configured to determine positioning and alignment data for an X-ray image acquisition device (2) on the mobile patient support unit (3), and to provide an image acquisition protocol for the X-ray image acquisition device (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control circuit (10) for controlling a resonant power converter. It is described to generate (210) a modulation signal. A carrier signal is generates (220), wherein the generation of the carrier signal comprises measuring at least one signal from the power converter. A switching signal is generated (230) that is useable to control a value of at least one magnitude of the resonant power converter based on the modulation signal and the carrier signal.

Abstract: The invention provides for an MRI system (100) with an RF system for acquiring magnetic resonance data (142). The RF system comprises a set of antenna elements (126). The MRI system (100) further comprises a processor for controlling the MRI system (100). Magnetic resonance data is acquired. Combined image data (144) is reconstructed. The reconstruction comprises transforming the acquired magnetic resonance data (142) from k-space to image space and combining the resulting image data. For each antenna element (126) magnetic resonance data (146) is simulated using the reconstructed combined image data (144). The simulation comprises transforming the reconstructed combined image data (144) from image space to k-space. A phase correction factor is determined, The determination comprises calculating phase differences between the acquired magnetic resonance data (142) and the simulated magnetic resonance data (146). The acquired magnetic resonance data (142) is corrected using the phase correction factor.