Abstract: A parallel multi-step bio-reaction system(10) comprising: (a) a substrate arrangement(12) comprising a plurality of bio-reaction substrate holders(18) configured to hold a plurality of bio-reaction substrates(20); (b) a well arrangement(14) comprising a plurality of fluidic wells(22), the fluidic wells(22) corresponding to a plurality of steps of a multi-step bio-reaction; (c) an actuator(16) configured to: (i) move either the substrate arrangement(12) or the well arrangement(14) relative to the other of the substrate arrangement(12) or the well arrangement(14) to change the alignment of the bio-reaction substrates(20) as a group relative to the fluidic wells(22) as a group; and (ii) bring the bio-reaction substrates(20) into and out of contact with fluids in the fluidic wells(22).

Abstract: Provided is a functional edible oil (FEO), a preparation method therefor and use thereof. The FEO is prepared by ternary transesterification of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), oils rich in linoleic acid, and oils rich in linolenic acid. The fatty acid composition and distribution of the FEO were determined and optimized via comparative analysis of indexes such as melting point, and effect of improving glucose and lipid metabolism as determined by animal tests. The FEO has a mass ratio of 2.3 to 4.0 for medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in MCTs to long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in the oils rich in linoleic acid, and oils rich in linolenic acid and a mass ratio of 0.5 to 1.0 for linoleic acid to linolenic acid in the LCFAs, by mass of fatty acids. The FEO is added to food products at ?18.00%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a base oil for functional food oils and fats, a preparation method therefor and the use thereof. The base oil for functional food oils and fats is formed through ternary transesterification on medium-chain triglycerides, high-melting-point fat and oils rich in linolenic acid. The base oil for functional food oils and fats has a wide melting range, can significantly improve the glucose and lipid metabolism disorder, balance the essential and functional fatty acids in the body, and quickly replenish energy. Animal experiments were conducted and the fatty acid composition and distribution of the base oil were optimized and determined through comparative analysis based on evaluation indicators such as the improved effect in glucose and lipid metabolism and melting point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage alloy, an electrode for a Ni-MH battery, a secondary battery, and a method for preparing the hydrogen storage alloy. The chemical composition of the hydrogen storage alloy is expressed by the general formula La(3.0˜3.2)xCexZrySm(1-(4.11˜4.2)x-y)NizCouMnvAlw, where x, y, z, u, v, w are molar ratios, and 0.14?x?0.17, 0.02?y?0.03, 4.60?z+u+v+w?5.33, 0.10?u?0.20, 0.25?v?0.30, and 0.30?w?0.40. The atomic ratio of the metal lanthanum (La) to the metal cerium (Ce) is fixed at 3.0 to 3.2, which satisfies the requirements of the overcharge performance of the electrode material. A side elements are largely substituted by samarium (Sm) element, that is, the atomic ratio of Sm on the A side is 25.6% to 42%, so as to solve the problem of shortened cycle life caused by the small amount of cobalt (Co) atoms.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry performs a first acquisition and a second acquisition, the first acquisition including executing a preparation module corresponding to a first Echo Time (TE) value and subsequently performing an acquisition sequence, the second acquisition including executing the preparation module corresponding to a second TE value different from the first TE value and subsequently performing the acquisition sequence, the acquisition sequence being a pulse sequence including applying an RF excitation pulse in presence of a gradient magnetic field, and subsequently applying an RF re-focusing pulse in presence of another gradient magnetic field having an opposite polarity to that of the gradient magnetic field. The processing circuitry extracts at least one of a signal related to a first fat and a signal related to a second fat.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry performs a first acquisition and a second acquisition, the first acquisition including executing a preparation module corresponding to a first Echo Time (TE) value and subsequently performing an acquisition sequence, the second acquisition including executing the preparation module corresponding to a second TE value different from the first TE value and subsequently performing the acquisition sequence, the acquisition sequence being a pulse sequence including applying an RF excitation pulse in presence of a gradient magnetic field, and subsequently applying an RF re-focusing pulse in presence of another gradient magnetic field having an opposite polarity to that of the gradient magnetic field. The processing circuitry extracts at least one of a signal related to a first fat and a signal related to a second fat.

Abstract: Devices and systems for assisting with playing a plucked string instrument are provided. In some exemplary implementations, a device for providing assistance to operating a plucked string instrument may include a key positioned above a string of the plucked string instrument and attachable to a fretboard of the plucked string instrument. The key may be configured to apply a force to the string when the key is depressed. The device may also include a magnet located under the key and configured to generate a magnetic field that reduces an amount of force required to depress the key without the magnet. The device may be implemented in a fretboard cover or may be integrated into the plucked string instrument.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence that acquires data by radial sampling. The sequence control circuitry executes a second pulse sequence a plurality of times by changing a frequency of magnetization transfer (MT) pulses, the second pulse sequence acquiring data by Cartesian sampling after applying an MT pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sequence controller. The sequence controller is configured to apply MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulses having a frequency different from a resonance frequency of free water protons and then acquires magnetic resonance signals of an object to be imaged. The sequence controller acquires the magnetic resonance signals for each of multiple frequencies while changing the frequency of MT pulses within a frequency band based on a T2 relaxation time of restricted protons contained in the object to be imaged.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry executes a first pulse sequence that acquires data by radial sampling. The sequence control circuitry executes a second pulse sequence a plurality of times by changing a frequency of magnetization transfer (MT) pulses, the second pulse sequence acquiring data by Cartesian sampling after applying an MT pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images with reduced motion artifacts includes acquiring a plurality of k-space data sets by traversing a plurality of radial trajectories in three-dimensional (3D) k-space, generating a plurality of 3D MR images derived from k-space populated by the k-space data sets, aligning the 3D MR images with respect to each other, determining one or more motion parameters for the object based upon the aligning, modifying values of k-space data sets using the determined one or more motion parameters, generating a motion-corrected 3D MR image from a combination of acquired k-space data sets including the modified values.

Abstract: Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects are enhanced by forming, for each of a plurality of magnetization transfer (MT) offset frequencies within a specified first range, a respective image representing CEST effects. A subset of the formed CEST images is displayed and a preferred or optimum one is selected from a display screen. The thus identified target frequency is then used to generate a composite enhanced CEST image based upon a combination of formed CEST images having MT frequencies within a specified second, smaller range, around the identified target frequency.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) using a tagging image and a control image. The tagging image is based upon applying a tagging pulse train including a plurality of saturation pulses to a tagging area followed by applying a first imaging pulse train to an imaging area; and the control image is based upon applying a control pulse train to a control area followed by applying a second imaging pulse train to the imaging area. The tagging area, the control area, and the imaging area are located at respectively different positions in relation to the object being imaged.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable storage medium is configured to effect enhanced magnetic transfer (MT) effects and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects. The configured techniques include irradiating an object in an MRI gantry by applying a sequence of magnetic transfer (MT) pulses over a range of different frequencies, and then applying an MR imaging sequence to the irradiated object.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei over a predetermined range of different offset frequencies in which target macromolecule responses are expected and to process such acquired data into spectral data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired spectral data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said spectral data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei thus causing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects and to process such acquired data into Z-spectra data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired Z-spectra data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to T2/T2* tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said Z-spectra data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of T2/T2* tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.

Abstract: Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects are enhanced by forming, for each of a plurality of magnetization transfer (MT) offset frequencies within a specified first range, a respective image representing CEST effects. A subset of the formed CEST images is displayed and a preferred or optimum one is selected from a display screen. The thus identified target frequency is then used to generate a composite enhanced CEST image based upon a combination of formed CEST images having MT frequencies within a specified second, smaller range, around the identified target frequency.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) by forming a plurality of ASL perfusion images of an object where each perfusion image corresponds to a respective phase offset, and by generating a corrected perfusion image by fitting corresponding points from each of the plurality of perfusion images to a polynomial function for respective points of the corrected perfusion image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) using a tagging image and a control image. The tagging image is based upon applying a tagging pulse train including a plurality of saturation pulses to a tagging area followed by applying a first imaging pulse train to an imaging area; and the control image is based upon applying a control pulse train to a control area followed by applying a second imaging pulse train to the imaging area. The tagging area, the control area, and the imaging area are located at respectively different positions in relation to the object being imaged.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images with reduced motion artifacts includes acquiring a plurality of k-space data sets by traversing a plurality of radial trajectories in three-dimensional (3D) k-space, generating a plurality of 3D MR images derived from k-space populated by the k-space data sets, aligning the 3D MR images with respect to each other, determining one or more motion parameters for the object based upon the aligning, modifying values of k-space data sets using the determined one or more motion parameters, generating a motion-corrected 3D MR image from a combination of acquired k-space data sets including the modified values.