Abstract: An optical observation instrument according to the invention, in particular a surgical microscope or exoscope, comprises an optics unit with an objective arrangement and at least one electronic image recorder, wherein the optics unit has a first stereo channel with a first beam path and a second stereo channel with a second beam path for recording a stereo image of an object field with the at least one electronic image recorder and wherein the first and the second beam path extend through the objective arrangement. Further, the observation instrument comprises a retaining apparatus which comprises a retaining bracket, which engages over the optics unit, wherein the retaining bracket comprises an operating device with a number of operating elements for controlling a retaining arm, to which the retaining apparatus is connectable.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting morphed or averaged images, wherein the morphed or averaged images are synthetically generated images including information from two or more different source images corresponding to two or more subjects. The apparatus may include a feature extraction module for receiving an input image and outputting a set of descriptor feature(s) characteristic of the image and a classifier module configured to allocate the input image either to a first class indicating that the image has been morphed or averaged or a second class indicating that it has not been morphed or averaged, based on the descriptor feature(s). The feature extraction module may include a plurality of neural networks providing complementary descriptor feature(s) to the classifier module. The apparatus further may include a fusion module for combining descriptor feature data from each neural network and transmitting the fused feature data to the classifier module.

Abstract: A method and a device for classifying facial images includes retrieving a first plurality of facial landmarks of a provided facial image associated with a subject, determining a corresponding second plurality of facial landmarks of a captured facial image of the subject, and extracting at least one feature vector based on differences between at least some of the first plurality of facial landmarks and corresponding facial landmarks of the second plurality of facial landmarks, wherein at least some values of the at least one feature vector represent angular values of facial landmarks, and supplying the at least one feature vector to a classifier to classify the provided facial image as a real facial image of the subject or as an artificial facial image.

Abstract: An optical observation instrument according to the invention, in particular a surgical microscope or exoscope, comprises an optics unit with an objective arrangement and at least one electronic image recorder, wherein the optics unit has a first stereo channel with a first beam path and a second stereo channel with a second beam path for recording a stereo image of an object field with the at least one electronic image recorder and wherein the first and the second beam path extend through the objective arrangement. Further, the observation instrument comprises a retaining apparatus which comprises a retaining bracket, which engages over the optics unit, wherein the retaining bracket comprises an operating device with a number of operating elements for controlling a retaining arm, to which the retaining apparatus is connectable.

Abstract: Identifying and addressing an individual's socio-economic factors related to negative health outcomes for reducing the likelihood of negative health outcomes for the individual in the form of readmission rates, emergency department utilization, missed appointments/no-shows, etc., may be realized by employing aspects of the present disclosure. A social determinants of health (SDoH) system accesses and analyzes consumer marketing data associated with the individual, business data, and public transportation data held by various databases for identifying indicators of SDoH factors, determines an individual's propensity for SDoH factors, and determines an engagement strategy to address SDoH that impact the individual. The results may be included in a report or included in a user interface that is transmitted to the requestor. The results may be displayed in a way that enables the requestor to easily identify and act on the individual's SDoH using recommended engagement strategies.

Abstract: A system leveraging the authentication control plane of a communications network to influence the associated Network Service header (NSH) values on a per subscriber packet basis; thus presenting a subscriber aware service chain header on which influences the processing of virtualized network function (VNF). This system implements vendor specific attributes (VSA) within the authentication provider platform to create an association of subscriber identity which may include MAC address, MAC and IP address as a tuple, circuit identifier string, realm based authentication data, IMSI, in part or in addition to leveraging DHCP Relay information sub options that may be present, which when processed inherit one or multiple vendor specific attributes from the authentication platform.

Abstract: A method and a device for classifying facial images includes retrieving a first plurality of facial landmarks of a provided facial image associated with a subject, determining a corresponding second plurality of facial landmarks of a captured facial image of the subject, and extracting at least one feature vector based on differences between at least some of the first plurality of facial landmarks and corresponding facial landmarks of the second plurality of facial landmarks, wherein at least some values of the at least one feature vector represent angular values of facial landmarks, and supplying the at least one feature vector to a classifier to classify the provided facial image as a real facial image of the subject or as an artificial facial image.

Abstract: A method for providing functionality to customer premises equipment including detecting one or more customer premises connected to a wide area network (WAN), wherein each customer premises includes a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) devices, a local area network (LAN) connecting each of the CPE devices, and an external network communications device for connecting the LAN to the WAN; virtualizing each CPE device from each customer premises to define a plurality of vCPE devices; and providing functionality to the CPE devices via respective vCPE devices. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting morphed or averaged images, wherein the morphed or averaged images are synthetically generated images including information from two or more different source images corresponding to two or more subjects. The apparatus may include a feature extraction module for receiving an input image and outputting a set of descriptor feature(s) characteristic of the image and a classifier module configured to allocate the input image either to a first class indicating that the image has been morphed or averaged or a second class indicating that it has not been morphed or averaged, based on the descriptor feature(s). The feature extraction module may include a plurality of neural networks providing complementary descriptor feature(s) to the classifier module. The apparatus further may include a fusion module for combining descriptor feature data from each neural network and transmitting the fused feature data to the classifier module.

Abstract: Generating a distinguishing feature vector by means of a distinguishing feature extractor module from a raw biometric feature of the individual, the distinguishing feature vector being configured for differentiating individuals is carried out in a method. Further steps include generating a robust feature vector by means of a robust feature extractor module from the raw biometric feature of the individual; generating a cryptographic key from first auxiliary data based on the secret of the individual and optionally other data; using the robust feature vector together with second auxiliary data in a standard cryptographic module configured to perform a standard cryptographic function keyed by the cryptographic key; and binding the results produced by the standard cryptographic module and the distinguishing feature vector together as fused data by means of a modulo-N addition operation module, wherein N=2, 3, . . . , i.e. N is an integer greater than 1.

Abstract: Aspects include a system and method of automatic data segmentation to optimize a client's collection efforts against individuals serviced by the client. At least accounts receivables data, historical payment data, and credit related data associated with an individual may be provided to a model as input data to predict a recovery value for the individual. The recovery value may be a weighted average of a unit yield and recovery rate. Based on the predicted recovery value and client-provided segmentation boundaries that define segments as a range of recovery values, the individual may be assigned to a segment. The segment may inform the client of a particular collection strategy for the individual to optimize collection efforts. Additionally, recovery values for the individuals serviced by the client may be provided to a comparison system and utilized to directly compare collection efforts across a plurality of clients nationally and/or demographically.

Abstract: A system leveraging the authentication control plane of a communications network to influence the associated Network Service header (NSH) values on a per subscriber packet basis; thus presenting a subscriber aware service chain header on which influences the processing of virtualized network function (VNF). This system implements vendor specific attributes (VSA) within the authentication provider platform to create an association of subscriber identity which may include MAC address, MAC and IP address as a tuple, circuit identifier string, realm based authentication data, IMSI, in part or in addition to leveraging DHCP Relay information sub options that may be present, which when processed inherit one or multiple vendor specific attributes from the authentication platform.

Abstract: The invention presents a process for determining a video as being a spoof or a genuine recording of a live biometric characteristic, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: preprocessing (200) the video, determining a liveness score (300) of the video, said determination comprising, for each frame of a plurality of frames (j) of the video: computing a difference between a motion intensity of a current frame and that of each frame of a set of preceding frames to infer a differential motion intensity of the current frame, inferring (330), from the differential motion intensities of the plurality of frames, a motion intensity of the video, comparing (340) said motion intensity to a predetermined threshold, and assigning a liveness score to the video, and determining (400) whether the video is a genuine recording of a biometric characteristic or a spoof.

Abstract: A quick disconnect device for detachably holding a long gun or other elongated emergency tool (EET). The quick disconnect device receives and captures the ball of a ball-and-stem structure that is attached to the EET. The quick disconnect device may allow the EET to rotate about the central axis of the stem, but otherwise prevents relative translational and rotational motion between the EET and the quick disconnect device. The quick disconnect device is especially suitable for mounting to clothing, such as a utility belt or a ballistic vest. the quick disconnect device allows the EET to be inserted without requiring the user to directly manipulate the quick connection device, but requires the user to manipulate some sort of mechanism on the quick connect device in order to release the EET.

Abstract: The invention presents a process for determining a video as being a spoof or a genuine recording of a live biometric characteristic, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: preprocessing (200) the video, determining a liveness score (300) of the video, said determination comprising, for each frame of a plurality of frames (j) of the video: computing a difference between a motion intensity of a current frame and that of each frame of a set of preceding frames to infer a differential motion intensity of the current frame, inferring (330), from the differential motion intensities of the plurality of frames, a motion intensity of the video, comparing (340) said motion intensity to a predetermined threshold, and assigning a liveness score to the video, and determining (400) whether the video is a genuine recording of a biometric characteristic or a spoof.

Abstract: A quick disconnect device for detachably holding a long gun or other elongated emergency tool (EET). The quick disconnect device receives and captures the ball of a ball-and-stem structure that is attached to the EET. The quick disconnect device may allow the EET to rotate about the central axis of the stem, but otherwise prevents relative translational and rotational motion between the EET and the quick disconnect device. The quick disconnect device is especially suitable for mounting to clothing, such as a utility belt or a ballistic vest. the quick disconnect device allows the EET to be inserted without requiring the user to directly manipulate the quick connection device, but requires the user to manipulate some sort of mechanism on the quick connect device in order to release the EET.

Abstract: A method for providing functionality to customer premises equipment including detecting one or more customer premises connected to a wide area network (WAN), wherein each customer premises includes a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) devices, a local area network (LAN) connecting each of the CPE devices, and an external network communications device for connecting the LAN to the WAN; virtualizing each CPE device from each customer premises to define a plurality of vCPE devices; and providing functionality to the CPE devices via respective vCPE devices. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Generating a distinguishing feature vector by means of a distinguishing feature extractor module from a raw biometric feature of the individual, the distinguishing feature vector being configured for differentiating individuals is carried out in a method. Further steps include generating a robust feature vector by means of a robust feature extractor module from the raw biometric feature of the individual; generating a cryptographic key from first auxiliary data based on the secret of the individual and optionally other data; using the robust feature vector together with second auxiliary data in a standard cryptographic module configured to perform a standard cryptographic function keyed by the cryptographic key; and binding the results produced by the standard cryptographic module and the distinguishing feature vector together as fused data by means of a modulo-N addition operation module, wherein N=2, 3, . . . , i.e. N is an integer greater than 1.

Abstract: A shaft of a turbine engine made from fiber-composite material, having a sinusoidal inner profile which extends over the entire length of the shaft on its inner wall, where a first inner layer forms the sinusoidal inner profile and has fibers arranged at ±45° relative to the axial direction, where the concave outer areas of the first layer are filled with fibers parallel to the center axis by a second layer to form a cylindrical outer contour. The second layer extends in the circumferential direction only in the concave area. A third layer with fibers arranged at ±30° relative to the axial direction is provided on the second layer A fourth layer with fibers arranged at ±88° relative to the axial direction is provided on the third layer. An intermediate layer is formed between the second and third layers from fibers parallel to the axial direction.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data confirmed by at least one person (KND), wherein data (TOR) to be transmitted are received and/or generated by an input device (BSW), wherein the input device (BSW) can be operated by the person (KND). A configuration for performing the method and a computer program for implementing the steps are also provided.