Abstract: A fast automatic linear off-resonance correction method for MRI data uses a set of widely spaced demodulation frequencies to estimate a low-resolution field map from the image itself. A linear map is determined by fitting to this low-resolution map using a maximum-likelihood estimator with weights proportional to the pixel intensity.

Abstract: A bill-paying system includes a customer deposit account which receives periodic payroll deposits of an individual or a couple. A bill-paying service enrolls the individual or couple for a fee, and is authorized to transfer money from the deposit account to the accounts of various creditors. An originating depository financial institution, such as a bank, handles the transfers of money, and such transfers are preferably done electronically. The automated clearing house (ACH) network supports such electronic money transfers. The various bills and debts of the individual or couple come due at times that are asynchronous to their income structure. The bill-paying service is authorized to debit the deposit account for more than the basic minimums due the creditors each month. Such excess is used to accelerate the repayment of various loans and debts according to what particular application at that time will have the greatest long-term beneficial effect.

Abstract: A slew bearing system includes a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring concentrically positioned relative to each other forming at least upper and lower raceways there between, a plurality of bearing rollers positioned in each raceway between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring, a plurality of delivery nozzles capable of delivering an air and oil mixture into the raceways adjacent the upper raceway, passages capable of fluidly communicating the air and oil mixture through the raceways and collecting some oil from the mixture adjacent the lower raceway, seals capable of regulating air flow through the passages and inhibiting outflow of oil from the raceways, and at least one exit port capable of outward flow of air and oil from the raceways adjacent the lower raceway.

Abstract: A dual-mode sprinkler includes a nozzle arranged to supply a stream to a rotatable water-distribution plate. The sprinkler can be adjusted between free-spinning and retarded or braked rotation, enabling multi-use applications for the sprinkler.

Abstract: One embodiment of a multi-use, adjustable fit cement washout waste containment apparatus having the capability to be easily and quickly affixed to different types of common cement transport equipment and tools specific to the cement trade. The amply wide adjustable circular opening (10), fitted with a locking drawstring assembly, or toggle, can be sized to readily be affixed to the discharging ends of common cement transport equipment, namely; cement transport truck chutes, cement pump assembly chutes, power buggies, wheelbarrows, etc. Once properly affixed, the containment apparatus acts to contain solid components of the water/uncured cement slurry which results from the washout processes of such equipment and allows partially filtered water to pass through the body (14) of the apparatus. Subsequently, the apparatus, containing the filtered cement waste, can be easily removed from the cleaned equipment and transported to a municipal disposal or reclamation site. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: A UI (user interface) for gestural control enhances the navigation experience for the user by preventing multiple gestures from being inadvertently invoked at the same time. This problem is overcome by establishing two or more categories of gestures. For instance, the first category of gestures may include gestures that are likely to be invoked before gestures that are included in the second category of gestures. That is, gestures in the second category will typically be invoked after a gesture in the first category has already been invoked. One example of a gesture that falls into the first category may be a gesture that initiates operation of a device, whereas a gesture that falls into the second category may be change in volume. Gestures that fall into the second category require more criteria to be satisfied in order to be invoked than gestures that fall into the first category.

Abstract: An electric power supply apparatus and a portable electronic device equipped with the electric power supply apparatus are disclosed. The electric power supply apparatus can include: a replaceable cartridge that supplies hydrogen or electrical power; a housing that forms a cavity, in which the cartridge may be inserted; a stack connected with the cartridge and configured, if the cartridge is supplying hydrogen, to receive the hydrogen from the cartridge and generate electrical power; and a circuit unit electrically connected with the cartridge and the stack that determines the type of the cartridge and supplies electrical power to the electronic device. With certain embodiments of the invention, a device can be recharged using replaceable cartridges. Also, various types of cartridges can be used in a single system, allowing a higher level of compatibility.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system comprising integrated sensors (169, 170) for measurement of permeate flow and permeate conductivity of individual membrane elements (163) while they are in operation in an RO unit. The flow and conductivity measuring integrated sensors (169, 170) are of a small size that enables them to be inserted into the permeate tube (172) of connected membrane elements (163) during RO unit operation. Measured flow and conductivity information is transferred to the recording device (174) through electric wires or through wireless transmission.

Abstract: A user interface tag for use in processing a service on a scannable document is provided. A printable surface is on one side of the scannable document and an adhesive surface is on another side of the scannable document. The printable surface further includes a printed data field specified substantially within the printable surface, including machine-readable marks of digital data encoding a service code and a user identification number; and a printed rectilinear border surrounding the printed data field to define a rectilinear iconic representation. A scanned representation of the machine-readable marks is located by identifying the printed rectilinear border using corner candidates oriented in diametric opposition from among connected components identified on the document and the scanned representation of the machine-readable marks are decoded from the rectilinear iconic representation to specify the user identification number and the service code.

Abstract: The memory module includes front and back faces. Multiple devices are disposed on each of the faces. A first control line serially connects a first group of devices on both the front and back faces so that the first group of devices commonly contribute multiple bits to a data bus. A second control line serially connects a second group of devices on both the front and back faces so that the second group of devices commonly contribute multiple bits to a data bus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a “light weight” protocol used to coordinate shared copies of a data element. A central repository holds a master copy of the data element. Applications “subscribe” to the data element (or to an aspect of it) by sending a message to the central repository. Whenever the data element (or aspect) is changed, applications that have subscribed to the data element (or aspect) are notified of the change. When an application wishes to change the value of a subscribed aspect, it sends an update request to the central repository. The central repository changes the master copy of the data aspect to the requested value and then informs all subscribed applications of the new data value. If two applications both wish to change the value of the same data aspect, they send their update requests, and the central repository processes them in the order in which they are received.

Abstract: Allocation of memory registers for shaders by a processor is described herein. For each shader, registers are allocated based on the shader's level of complexity. Simpler shader instances are restricted to a smaller number of memory registers. More complex shader instances are allotted more registers. To do so, developers' high level shading level (HLSL) language includes template classes of shaders that can later be replaced by complex or simple versions of the shader. The HLSL is converted to bytecode that can be used to rasterize pixels on a computing device.

Abstract: A technique includes obtaining first seismic data acquired by seismic sensors during a survey of a medium. The first seismic data are indicative of energy attributable to a plurality of interfering seismic sources. The technique includes generating datasets, with each dataset primarily indicating energy attributable to a different one of the seismic sources. For each seismic source, the datasets are generated as follows. The first seismic data are processed to add information to the first seismic data indicative of a geometry of the seismic source to produce second seismic data. The second seismic data is processed to perform migration based on an estimate of a geophysical model of the medium to produce migrated data. The migrated data are processed to perform reverse migration based on the estimate of the geophysical model to produce the dataset.

Abstract: A tubular member handling apparatus including a tubular member running tool, an elevator, first actuators each extending between the running tool and the elevator, and second actuators each extending between the running tool and a corresponding first actuator. The running tool includes a slotted member having a plurality of elongated slots, a recessed member slidably coupled to the slotted member and having a plurality of recesses, and a plurality of rolling members each retained between one of the recesses and one of the slots. Each rolling member partially extends through an adjacent slot when located in a shallow end of a corresponding recess, and retracts to within an outer perimeter of the slotted member when located in a deep end of the corresponding recess.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating lysine, glucose, fructose, galactose and leucine content in plants are disclosed.

Abstract: A system includes an interface and a processor. The interface receives seismic datasets, which are associated with multiple firings of a set of at least one seismic source. Each dataset is acquired by seismic sensors during a different time period of a sequence of time periods that are limited by times at which the set of seismic source(s) are fired. The processor, for each of the firings of the set of seismic source(s), generates an associated shot record based on information contained at least two of the datasets.

Abstract: An isolated recombinant polypeptide having myostatin antagonist activity, comprising a C-terminally truncated mature myostatin peptide, wherein the C-terminal truncation is at a position at or between amino acids 281 and 329, or a fragment, variant or derivative thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for balancing current through a first conductor and a second conductor. A method comprises determining if a first current through the first conductor is greater than a second current through the second conductor by more than a threshold value. The first current and the second current are received from a ground fault current interrupt device. The method further comprises increasing the second current in response to determining that the first current is greater than the second current by more than the threshold value.

Abstract: A method of providing demographic visitor information to a participating web site including registering a user with an information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system solicits personal information from the user and wherein the information gathering system maintains a profile for the registered user; detecting a visit of the registered user to a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system; and providing a demographic information report to the participating web site, wherein the demographic information report is related to at least one registered user who has visited the participating web site.

Abstract: A respirator including a collapse-resistant means for resisting collapse of the respirator main body due to respiration of a user during use of such a respirator is disclosed. Specifically, in various embodiments, the collapse-resisting means may be a deflection member, a stiffening material, fastening components configured to apply an outward-facing deflection force when the respirator is worn, or any combination thereof. Additionally, a dual exhalation vent assembly adapted for use in a collapse resisting respirator is also disclosed.