Abstract: A solvent refining method for isocyanate prepared by the phosgene method and multistage absorbing towers used in same. Solvent to be refined which contains water, iron, and/or phosgene, hydrogen chloride and other materials with color is dealt by the present method and multistage absorbing towers, which can effectively prevent a drying agent from absorbing water and hardening, partial overheating in the tower and generating channeling. Meanwhile, the pressure drop is effectively lowered. In addition, the content of water is ?50 ppm, the content of iron is ?5 ppm, the content of phosgene and hydrogen chloride is ?20 ppm, Pt—Co chroma is ?20 in the refined solvent. Therefore, the refined solvent can be used as the solvent for preparing isocyanate in the phosgene method and remarkably improve an L color of isocyanate.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a liquid phase; and a solid cellulosic polymer, where the solid is dispersed within the liquid phase.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a non-amine neutralized linear alkylbenzene sulphonate; a non-ionic surfactant; a fatty acid; an alcohol; less than 5% by weight of the composition of a hydroxyl-containing amine; water; and a siloxane-based polymer suds suppressor.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes a liquid phase, a lamellar liquid crystal phase, and a particulate phase, where the lamellar liquid phase and particulate phase are dispersed within the liquid phase.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a liquid phase; and a solid enzyme particle, where the solid particle is dispersed within the liquid phase.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a non-amine neutralized linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, a non-amine neutralized alkyl sulphate or a mixture thereof; a non-ionic surfactant; an alcohol; a hydroxyl-containing amine compound; an adjunct ingredient; water.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a liquid phase; and a water-soluble solid phase, where the solid phase includes a cleaning active.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition that includes: a liquid phase; a solid cleaning active, where the active is selected from the group of soil-release polymer, brightener, polycarboxylate polymer or mixtures thereof, and where the solid is dispersed within the liquid phase.

Abstract: A liquid laundry detergent composition including: an aldehyde-containing fragrance material, a ketone-containing fragrance material or a mixture thereof; an alcohol a non-amine neutralised linear alkylbenzene sulphonate; a hydroxyl-containing amine; and water.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing a population of hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) from a population of adipocyte-derived stem cells (ASCs). Aspects of the methods include placing a population of ASCs into a three dimensional culture (e.g., hanging drop suspension culture, high density culture, spinner flask culture, microcarrier culture, etc.), and contacting the cells with a first and second culture medium. Also provided are methods of treating an individual, which include producing a population of iHeps from a population of ASCs, and administering an effective number of iHeps into the individual. Kits for practicing the methods are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing and outputting toll tickets (35) at toll stations, wherein at an output point (1) a single printed toll ticket (35) is presented to the driver of a motor vehicle for removal at at least two output slots (7-10) arranged at a height offset from each other, wherein the toll-relevant data are printed on the toll ticket (35), wherein in a first step a weight class and a size class of the vehicle (6) approaching the output point are first detected by one or more roadway sensors (12, 13), in a second step a controller is activated after the detection and classification of the vehicle (6), which controller decides the vehicle type, and in a third step a printing command for a printer (2-5) for a first lower or upper output slot is produced in dependence on the detection of the vehicle type, and wherein—an additional subsequent vehicle of the same type (for example, a passenger car) is detected—the printing command is simultaneously also produced for a second lower or up

Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) imaging system is provided including processing circuitry configured to obtain a plurality of basis images that are combined to generate a target image; de-noise the basis images using a noise-reduction method to generate de-noised basis images; calculate noise maps of the basis images by subtracting the de-noised basis images from the basis images; calculate a weight for each of the noise maps using the target image and the calculated noise maps; and generate a reduced-noise target image using the target image, the calculated noise maps, and the calculated weights.

Abstract: A water heating and distribution includes a water heating device for heating water, a water output device connected to the water heating device and configured to output the heated water from the water heating device, and a system control device connected to the water heating device and the water output device. The system control device is configured to allow the water heating device to receive water from a water supply when the system control device works in a first mode. The system control device is configured to disconnect the water heating device from the water supply and allow water to circulate between the water heating device and the water output device when the system control device works in a second mode.

Abstract: A method implemented using at least one processor includes receiving a target image and a reference image. The target image is a distorted magnetic resonance image and the reference image is an undistorted magnetic resonance image. The method further includes selecting an image registration method for registering the target image to the reference image, wherein the image registration method uses an image transformation. The method further includes performing image registration of the target image with the reference image, wherein the image registration provides a plurality of optimized parameters of the image transformation. The method also includes generating a corrected image based on the target image and the plurality of optimized parameters of the image transformation.

Abstract: A CT system includes a gantry, an x-ray source, a detector, and a grating collimator that includes alternating first and second materials. The system includes a controller configured to emit a first beam of x-rays from a first focal spot and to a first detector pixel, wherein the first beam of x-rays passes along a ray and through one of the first materials of the grating collimator, and subsequently emit a second beam of x-rays from a second focal spot and to the first detector pixel, wherein the second beam of x-rays passes substantially along the ray and through one of the second materials of the grating collimator. The system includes a computer programmed to generate first and second kVp image datasets using data acquired from the first beam and second beams of x-rays, and reconstruct a basis material image of the object.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to acquire calibration data from a calibration scan, the calibration data configured to characterize high order eddy current (HOEC) generated magnetic field error of an imaging system. The computer is also programmed to process the calibration data to generate a plurality of basis coefficients and a plurality of time constants and to calculate a plurality of basis correction coefficients based on the plurality of basis coefficients, the plurality of time constants, and gradient waveforms in a given pulse sequence. The computer is further programmed to execute a diffusion-weighted imaging scan that comprises application of a DW-EPI pulse sequence to acquire MR data from an imaging subject and reconstruction of an image based on the acquired MR data. The computer is also programmed to apply HOEC-generated magnetic field error correction during application of the DW-EPI pulse sequence configured to reduce HOEC-induced distortion in the reconstructed image.

Abstract: An energy-sensitive system includes one or more processors configured to determine spectral attenuation curves for a first basis material and a second basis material, respectively. The one or more processors are configured to substitute a k-edge feature in the determined spectral attenuation curves with an approximation of the determined spectral attenuation curves lacking the k-edge feature. The one or more processors are also configured to construct a material decomposition model based on one of the determined or approximated first and second spectral attenuation curves. The one or more processors are additionally configured to decompose X-ray projection data into basis material projection data comprising first and second line integrals based, at least in part, on the model.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes acquiring projection data of an object from a plurality of pixels, reconstructing the acquired projection data from the plurality of pixels into a reconstructed image, performing material characterization and decomposition of an image volume of the reconstructed image to reduce a number of materials analyzed in the image volume to two basis materials. The method also includes generating a re-mapped image volume for at least one basis material of the two basis materials, and performing forward projection on at least the re-mapped image volume for the at least one basis material to produce a material-based projection. The method further includes generating multi-material corrected projections based on the material-based projection and a total projection attenuated by the object, which represents both of the two basis materials, wherein the multi-material corrected projections include linearized projections.