Abstract: A processor controls an MRI system with pulse sequence commands to acquire magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting protocol during multiple pulse repetitions. The pulse sequence commands control the magnetic resonance imaging system to cause gradient induced spin rephasing at least twice during each of the multiple pulse repetitions, and to acquire at least two magnetic resonance signals during each of the multiple pulse repetitions. Each of the at least two magnetic resonance signals is measured during a separate one of the gradient induced spin rephasing. The magnetic resonance data includes the at least two magnetic resonance signals acquired during each of the multiple pulse repetitions. The processor further at least partially calculates a B0-off-resonance map using the magnetic resonance data, and generates at least one magnetic resonance parametric map by comparing the magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary.

Abstract: The validity of a mail item containing a monetary solicitation is determined. An image is received of the mail item and the image is analyzed to identify a plurality of data fields within the mail item. The validity or invalidity of the data within each of the plurality of identified data fields is then established, and a user-interactive image overlay is generated for the image of the mail item that includes a validity indicator for each of the plurality of identified data fields. The validity indicator is representative of the validity or invalidity of the data within each of the identified plurality of data fields. The user-interactive image overlay is sent to a user device to display the image of the mail item.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices for facilitating secure and private communications, via a website or application of a third-party computing system (TPCS), between a user device and a service provider computing system (SPCS). The communications may be conducted via a frame in a website served by the TPCS. The TPCS may serve a website that incorporates a customizable SDK component provided by the SPCS. The communications allow the user to, for example, open a new account. The SDK component may be initialized via a script from the SPCS, and authenticated via a session token obtained from the SPCS via the TPCS. The SDK component may provide user information, input into the frame, to the SPCS via API calls to the SPCS. The user does not navigate away from the website while securely engaging the SPCS. The third-party/partner need not develop its own user interface, security protocols, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a retractable tonneau cover for a vehicle that has been modified in order to generally minimize the size of a housing of the tonneau cover, providing more vehicle cargo space for a user. The modified retractable tonneau cover can be automatically closed through an electronic system.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for training machine learning models to simplify (e.g., paraphrase) complex textual content by ensuring that the machine learning models jointly learn both semantic alignment and notions of simplicity. In various embodiments, an input textual segment having multiple tokens and being associated with a first measure of simplicity may be applied as input across a trained machine learning model to generate an output textual segment. The output textual segment may be is semantically aligned with the input textual segment and associated with a second measure of simplicity that is greater than the first measure of simplicity (e.g., a paraphrase thereof). The trained machine learning model may include an encoder portion and a decoder portion, as well as control layer(s) trained to maximize the second measure of simplicity by replacing token(s) of the input textual segment with replacement token(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for phase stepping in phase contrast image acquisition, the device (1) comprising: a mobile grating (10); a guiding element (11); a restoring element (12); and a locking element (13); wherein the guiding element (11) is configured to guide the mobile grating (10) between a first position (2) and a second position (3); wherein the restoring element (12) is configured to apply a force to the mobile grating (10); wherein the force is directed from the first position (2) to the second position (3); and wherein the locking element (13) is configured to releasably lock the mobile grating (10) in the first position (2). In an example, during the motion of the mobile grating (10) back to equilibrium, a decoder (11a) for the position of the mobile grating (10) along the guiding element (11) may trigger at least four measurement frames over a period of at least 2*Pi.

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulator includes an N-bit quantization circuit that generates a stream of N-bit code words and a feedback signal path with an N-bit DAC circuit, having a non-ideal operation due to mismatch error, that converts the stream of N-bit code words to generate a feedback signal. A digital DAC copy circuit provides a digital replication of the N-bit DAC circuit. The digital replication accounts for the non-ideal operation of the N-bit DAC circuit 126 due to mismatch error, and converts the stream of N-bit code words to generate a stream of P-bit code words, where P>N, that are functionally equivalent to the feedback signal output from the N-bit DAC circuit.

Abstract: A method of Dixon-type MR imaging includes subjecting the object (10) to a first imaging sequence (31) including a series of refocusing RF pulses. A single echo signal is generated in the time interval between two consecutive refocusing RF pulses. The first echo signals from the object (10) are acquired at a first receive bandwidth using unipolar readout magnetic field gradients. The object (10) is further subject to a second imaging sequence (32), which includes a series of refocusing RF pulses. A pair of second echo signals is generated in each time interval between two consecutive refocusing RF pulses. The pairs of second echo signals from the object (10) are acquired at a second receive bandwidth using bipolar readout magnetic field gradients. The second receive bandwidth is higher than the first receive bandwidth. Signal contributions from water protons and fat protons are separated and an MR image is reconstructed.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing measurements of acceleration to identify steps by a user, the method comprising obtaining measurements of acceleration from a device worn or carried by a user; analysing the measurements of acceleration to determine a value for a threshold that is to be used to identify steps by the user in measurements of acceleration; and using the determined value for the threshold to identify steps by the user in measurements of acceleration.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for calibrating measurements made using a medical monitoring device. A conversion factor may be obtained including a first cross correlation that describes the correlation between measurements made using a first medical monitoring device and measurements made using a second medical monitoring device. The first conversion factor may then be used to convert measurements from the first medical monitoring device onto the same scale as measurements from the second medical monitoring device.

Abstract: Provide an electrode catalyst with excellent catalytic activity that can contribute to cost reduction of PEFC. The electrode catalyst includes a hollow carbon carrier with mesopores with a pore size of 2 to 50 nm and a catalyst particle supported on the carrier. The catalyst particle is supported on both inside and outside the mesopores of the carrier, and have a core portion formed on the carrier and a shell portion covering at least a part of the surface of the core portion. Pd is included in the core portion, and Pt is included in the shell portion, and when the analysis of the particle size distribution of the catalyst particles using the three dimensional reconstructed image obtained by electron beam tomography (electron tomography) measurement using an STEM is performed, the ratio of the catalyst particles supported inside the mesopore is 50% or more.

Abstract: A quad signal generator circuit generates four 2N?1 bit control signals in response to a sampling clock and a 2N?1 bit thermometer coded signal. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit has 2N?1 unit resistor elements, with each unit resistor element including four switching circuits controlled by corresponding bits of the four 2N?1 bit control signals. Outputs of the 2N?1 unit resistor elements are summed to generate an analog output signal. The quad signal generator circuit controls generation of the four 2N?1 bit control signals such that all logic states of bits of the four 2N?1 bit control signals remain constant for at least a duration of one cycle of the sampling clock. The analog output signal may be a feedback signal in a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit that includes a multi-bit quantization circuit operating to quantize a filtered loop signal to generate the 2N?1 bit thermometer coded signal.

Abstract: A method of identifying a point of compromise includes accessing data stored in a data storage system, the data being associated with a plurality of identified at-risk accounts, identifying a plurality of common points of transaction, each of the plurality of common points of transaction being associated with a minimum number of the plurality of identified at-risk accounts, and identifying a point of compromise from the plurality of common points of transaction based on (i) the number of the identified at-risk accounts involved in transactions executed via each common point of transaction during a time period, and (ii) a total number of accounts involved in transactions executed via the common point of transaction during the time period.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) device for receiving or exciting a magnetic resonance (MR) signal includes an MR coil (22, 32) tuned to an MR frequency band, a digital signal processing chain (40, 44, 58, 70) at least partly tuned to operate at baseband, an analog signal processing chain (48, 50, 54, 60) operatively connected with the MR coil and at least partly tuned to operate at the MR frequency band, and an analog to digital (A/D) or digital-to-analog (D/A) converter (46, 56) connecting the digital signal processing chain and the analog signal processing chain. The analog signal processing chain includes an analog dispersive delay line (50, 60) tuned to impose a frequency-dependent signal delay (52, 62) that is monotonically increasing or monotonically decreasing over the MR frequency band. In more specific embodiments, the RF device may comprise an MR transmit chain (20), or an MR receive chain (30).

Abstract: A dairy animal treatment system for fully automatically performing a teat-related operation on a dairy animal, including a treatment location for receiving the dairy animal, a treatment device which is configured for performing the teat-related operation on the dairy animal, a teat-detecting device for determining a teat position of the teat of the dairy animal, a dairy animal position-determining device for repeatedly determining an animal position of said dairy animal with respect to the milking stall and/or the dairy animal position-determining device, a robot arm for moving the treatment device towards the teat, and a control device which is configured to control the robot arm on the basis of the determined animal position and the determined teat position. The dairy animal position-determining device comprises a mm-wavelength radar device which transmits a radar signal having a wavelength in the mm range.

Abstract: An optical assembly and a method of making an optical assembly in which additive manufacturing techniques are used to form a support structure either directly on an optical element or on a carrier that is subsequently bonded to an optical element.

Abstract: An affinity carrier may have improved alkali resistance. An immunoglobulin-binding protein containing a mutant polypeptide chain, as well as an affinity carrier containing a solid-phase carrier to which the immunoglobulin-binding protein is bound, may be a mutant polypeptide chain having an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity to an amino acid sequence indicated by any of SEQ ID NO: 1-6 and 57-62, having a predetermined mutation, and having immunoglobulin-binding activity.

Abstract: The current disclosure provides microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactococcus lactis) containing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an IL-10 polypeptide and an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a T1D-specific antigen (e.g., a proinsulin) polypeptide, wherein both exogenous nucleic acids are integrated into the bacterial chromosome. Such microbial strains are suitable for human therapy. The disclosure further provides compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) methods of using the microorganisms and compositions, e.g., for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D), including those with residual beta-cell function, e.g., recent-onset T1D. The microorganism may be administered orally, delivers the microorganism into the gastrointestinal tract, where it is released and expresses the bioactive polypeptides, The methods of the present disclosure are particularly well suited for subjects possessing residual beta-cell function, e.g., for subjects with recent-onset T1D.

Abstract: An air filter and methods are provided for optimizing filtration of an airstream passing through a volume within an air cleaner cover of an internal combustion engine. The air filter comprises a base plate that includes an inlet receiver for passing the airstream into an air inlet of the engine. A top plate comprises a receiver for fastening the air cleaner cover onto the air filter. Countersinks in the top plate and sleeves extending through the air filter facilitate fastening the air filter onto the air inlet of the engine. The air filter has a tapering height along a length of the air filter to maximize the total surface area of a filter medium within the volume between the air cleaner cover and the engine, and to take advantage of a relatively greater airflow due to a ram air opening in the air cleaner cover.

Abstract: The invention relates to digital cloud forensics. An embodiment of the present invention applies collection processes and tools to cloud infrastructure as a service to provide a more efficient and faithful representation of evidence. An embodiment of the present invention applies innovative concepts to retrospectively investigate ephemeral instances which may have long since terminated. This innovative process provides organizations a strategy to provide forensic investigations within either a public or private cloud environment.