Abstract: The invention provides an authentication system and method. In particular, the invention provides a method for performing a financial authentication utilizing a token associated with a user, the method comprising the token generating a set of display characters that are viewable by the user, the token generating the display characters using logic; the user transforming a portion of the set of display characters using a transformation process, based on knowledge of the user, so as to form a display character sequence; the user outputting the display character sequence to an authentication entity; and the authentication entity authenticating the display character sequence using the logic and knowledge of the transformation.

Abstract: Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums which utilize volume to improve the ordering of search results for various information retrieval systems. This improves relevance as volume is a proxy for interest. As volume changes over time, the relevance of a particular result to a particular search query will increase or decrease over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an autonomously operable vacuum cleaner that has a modular design. The vacuum cleaner in this respect comprises a cleaning head module as well as a separate canister module. The cleaning head module and the canister module are in this respect connected to one another via a hose so that dust sucked in via the cleaning head module can be conveyed into the canister module.

Abstract: A card may store data on integrated circuits housed within the card. The card includes two short-range antennas and one long-range antenna that are configured to transmit the data. Antennas of the card may be configured to transmit the data in different directions as a result of a signal-blocking layer embedded within the card that isolates respective antennas from electromagnetic signals originating from a direction on the opposing side of the blocking layer. The long-range antenna may be configured to transmit identification data of the user, while the short-range antennas may be configured to transmit financial data related to the user. A system may be configured to instantiate events for the user of the card with the long-range antenna. Events that are instantiated by the long-range antenna may then be executed using the short-range antennas.

Abstract: The invention discloses an optical microscopy system (10) for stimulated emission depletion (STED) of an object (O). An optical element (6) is applied for focusing a first excitation (1) and a second depletion (2) beam on the object thereby defining a common optical path (OP) for both the first and the second beam. A phase modifying member (5) is inserted in the common optical path (OP), and the phase modifying member is optically arranged for leaving the wavefront of the first beam substantially unchanged, and for changing the wavefront of the second beam (2?) so as to create an undepleted region of interest (ROI) in the object. The first beam and the second beam have a common optical path because the phase modifying member adapts the wavefront or phase in such a way that it has no effect on the first beam, while on the second beam it gives rise to a wavefront, or phase change, resulting in a depleted region in the object (e.g. to the donut shaped spot) at the focal plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for in vitro spermatogenesis from male germinal tissue comprising conducting maturation of testicular tissue comprising germ cells in a bioreactor which is made of a biomaterial and comprises at least one cavity wherein the germinal tissue is placed, and recovering elongated spermatids and/or spermatozoa.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for conditioning a sleep signal from a sleep sensor for a sleep monitor. A sleep sensor is configured to sense a physiological signal, such as a cardiac or respiratory signal from a sleeping mammal, such as a human, e.g. an infant or a baby. If the mammal exhibits also (gross) body movement during his sleep, the sensor signal may be clipped. The method and device provide a conditioning of the sleep signal by providing an estimation of the sleep signal instead of the conditioned sleep signal itself when the sensor signal is clipping.

Abstract: A method implemented on an augmented reality (AR) electronic device includes obtaining a location of the AR electronic device. Information is received regarding an availability of offers or rewards at one or more retail stores nearby the location of the AR electronic device. The offers or rewards are overlaid on an augmented reality view of the location on the AR electronic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoplethysmography device (20) of the reflectance type, comprising a light source (4), a light sensor (5), and an interface layer (21). The interface layer (21) has a recess between the source (4) and the sensor (5) in order to prevent reflection losses between the device (20) and the skin and to prevent that light from the source (4) can reach the sensor (5) directly via the interface layer (21).

Abstract: A system on a chip (SoC) includes a plurality of processing cores and a stream switch coupled to two or more of the plurality of processing cores. The stream switch includes a plurality of N multibit input ports, wherein N is a first integer. a plurality of M multibit output ports, wherein M is a second integer, and a plurality of M multibit stream links dedicated to respective output ports of the plurality of M multibit output ports. The M multibit stream links are reconfigurably coupleable at run time to a selectable number of the N multibit input ports, wherein the selectable number is an integer between zero and N.

Abstract: A method is presented that enables the spatial mapping of nucleic acids of tissue samples with high resolution and without sacrificing the degree of multiplexing that is available from next-generation sequencing. The method is based on the application of patterns of barcoded oligonucleotides probes onto predefined locations in a region of interest in a tissue sample. Every nucleic acid analyzed can be allocated to a certain position inside the sample based on the barcode. Various printing technologies can be used and different ways of patterning can be employed, like a regular array with a certain pitch or alternatively an object-based patterning with defined regions of interest without shape constraints.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for session authentication using quantum line switching. An example system includes encoding circuitry configured to generate, based on a first set of quantum bases, a set of qbits, and transmit the first subset of qbits over a first quantum line. The encoding circuitry is configured not to transmit the first set of quantum bases. The system further includes switching circuitry configured to receive the first subset of qbits over the first quantum line, and transmit it over a second quantum line. The system further includes first decoding circuitry configured to receive the first subset of qbits, and decode, based on a second set of quantum bases, the first subset of qbits to generate a first decoded set of bits. The system further includes first session authentication circuitry configured to generate a session key based on the first decoded set of bits.

Abstract: A method of preparing organic or inorganic nanoparticles is useful in the manufacture of of fertilizers, pharmaceutical or phytopharmaceutical active ingredients, or insensitive energy materials. The method includes preparing a solution of a compound in a solvent, heating the solution under a pressure ranging from 3 to 300 bars at a temperature higher than the boiling point of the solvent, atomizing the solution in an spray drying chamber using at least one dispersion device and at an angle ranging from 30 to 150° under pressure ranging from 0.0001 to 2 bars, separating the solvent in gaseous form, and recovering the nanoparticles.

Abstract: A video encoder and decoder system includes a video decoder (220) converting in input HDR images in a luma and chrominance representation to SDR images in a luma and subsampled chrominance representation by directly applying dynamic range conversion gains in the luma and subsampled chrominance domain. An video encoder may perform the opposite operation and convert from SDR to HDR by directly applying dynamic range conversion gains in the luma and subsampled chrominance domain.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an inspection optical system configured to a direct an inspection beam onto a surface of a substrate, the inspection optical system having an objective, a focus measurement optical system configured to receive a focus measurement beam, redirected by the substrate, from the objective, the focus measurement optical system having a movable reflective element configured to receive the focus measurement beam, and a control system configured to cause movement of the reflective element with a direction component along a beam path of the focus measurement beam and configured to determine whether the substrate surface is in the focus of the objective based on the focus measurement beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature information assembly for a cooking hob (18). The temperature information assembly comprises at least one SAW (surface acoustic wave) temperature sensor (10) permanently or removably attached or attachable at or in a cooking pot (24), at least one sensor antenna (12) permanently or removably attached or attachable at the cooking pot (24) and electrically connected to the SAW temperature sensor (10), at least one reader (14) permanently or removably attached or attachable in or on the cooking hob (18), and at least one reader antenna (16) permanently or removably attached or attachable in or on the cooking hob (18) and electrically connected to the reader (14). The SAW temperature sensor (10) is wireless connected or connectable to the reader (14) via the sensor antenna (12) and the reader antenna (16). The reader (14) is electrically connected or connectable to a control unit (22) of the cooking hob (18) in order to control the cooking process.

Abstract: Photon-counting x-ray detectors (3) suffer from a degradation of their performance due to polarization. In order to correct the effects of polarization to the generated x-ray images, the invention suggests (i) exposing the radiation detector (3) to a first radiation pulse emitted by a further radiation source (11) and obtaining a first electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, (ii) later exposing the 5 radiation detector (3) to a second radiation pulse emitted by the further radiation source (11) during the acquisition of the image and obtaining a second electric pulse signal generated by the radiation detector (3) in response thereto, and (iii) comparing amplitudes of the first and second electric pulse signals and generating the x-ray image based on a result of the comparison. The invention provides a corresponding x-ray device and a corresponding method.