Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus, the scanner is operated with a multi-echo sequence in order to acquire k-space data of a multi-echo magnetic resonance signal, and the k-space data are used to reconstruct a magnetic resonance image. The multi-echo magnetic resonance signal is an asymmetric multi-echo magnetic resonance signal, and the asymmetric multi-echo magnetic resonance signal includes N asymmetric echo magnetic resonance signals, wherein N is greater than or equal to 2. Asymmetric echo magnetic resonance signals can be acquired in a dual-echo steady-state sequence, so that scanning time is reduced and the degree of comfort of a subject is improved because the magnetization process reaches a steady state quickly so the magnetic resonance signal is less affected by inhomogeneities that may exist in the basic magnetic field or a gradient magnetic field, and the intensity of the magnetic resonance signal is increased.

Abstract: An MRI method and apparatus perform a 3D dual echo magnetic resonance scan to acquire two sets of k-space data corresponding to the two echoes, respectively. A 2D CAIPIRINHA undersampling method as applied to the two sets of k-space data to extract two sets of sampling data, which are used to reconstruct two initial magnetic resonance images from which a final magnetic resonance image is synthesized. Because staggering is carried out in the PE or SL direction when the 2D CAIPIRINHA undersampling method is applied to the 3D scan sequence, aliasing in parallel imaging is controlled, so a greater area in the center of the field of view is undisturbed by aliasing. Coil sensitivity also is increased, enabling further acceleration. 2D CAIPIRINHA undersampling method generally uses a small acceleration factor, thereby ensuring a high signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems of a physical optical network that may implement and/or manage a virtual optical network (VON) that interconnects multiple data centers. Virtual nodes based the multiple data centers to be interconnected may be determined, and each of the virtual nodes may be mapped to at least two physical nodes of the physical optical network. Virtual links for pairs of the virtual nodes may be determined, and each virtual link may be mapped to at least one optical network connection of the physical optical network. At least one of a physical node impairment and an optical network connection impairment that is associated with a first physical node implementing a first virtual node may be detected, and the first virtual node may be implemented via a second physical node.

Abstract: A method for generating one or more push notifications to a user device is described. The method comprises: obtaining history data representing a history of online activities of a user and candidate data representing a set of candidate information; generating, based on the history data and the candidate data, user profile vectors representing a user profile associated with the user and content vectors representing a set of content profiles associated with the set of candidate information; generating, based on a machine learning model trained with a history of online activities, embedding user feature vectors and embedding content feature vectors based on the history data and the candidate data; and providing for transmission information for one or more push notifications including first candidate information of to a user device associated with the user, the first candidate information being determined from the set of candidate information based on the aforementioned vectors.

Abstract: A resource orchestration framework may include vertices representing physical network nodes and a resource orchestrator. The resource orchestrator may receive a service function chain request specifying service functions to perform on respective physical nodes and a first starting time for launching a first one of the service functions. The resource orchestrator may determine an ending time for performing the first service function that, with the first starting time, defines a time duration for the first service function, identify vertices at which the first service function is available during the time duration, map a first vertex to the first service function in a candidate service function chain, determine a second starting time for launching a second one of the service functions dependent on the first starting time, and provide the candidate service function chain, the first starting time, and the second starting time to a neighbor vertex of the first vertex.

Abstract: A resource orchestration framework may include vertices representing physical network nodes and a resource orchestrator. The resource orchestrator may obtain a service function chain specifying, for multiple service functions, mappings of the service functions to respective physical nodes along a specified forwarding path, and a first starting time at which to instantiate resources for a first service function in the chain on the first mapped physical node. The resource orchestrator may instantiate the resources for the first service function on the first mapped physical node at the first starting time, prior to arrival of a first packet in a packet flow for the service function chain at the first mapped physical node and, subsequently, instantiate resources for a second service function in the chain on the second mapped physical node at a second starting time, prior to arrival of the first packet at the second mapped physical node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a mapping solution for a virtual network request are disclosed. A resource orchestrator may receive a virtual network request specifying resources required on physical nodes in a network and generate a mapping solution for the request. Generating the mapping solution may include identifying vertices at which a first resource is available, mapping each identified vertex to the first resource in a respective candidate chaining solution, determining, for each identified vertex, a number of messages including the candidate chaining solution to be forwarded to respective neighbor vertices, and forwarding the determined number of messages to the respective neighbor vertices. Determining the number of messages to be forwarded may include applying a message forwarding policy to reduce the total number of messages forwarded between vertices when generating the mapping solution. The policy may be dependent on the topology of the virtual network request.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing distributed virtual network embedding are disclosed. A resource orchestrator may receive a virtual network request specifying a set of virtual nodes, a set of virtual links, each connecting two virtual nodes in a mesh topology, and resource requirements for some virtual nodes. The orchestrator may partition the virtual network request into multiple sub-requests, each specifying a linear topology for a subset of the virtual nodes and links within the mesh topology. The sub-requests may collectively include all virtual links within the mesh topology with no overlapping links. Resource orchestrators may collaborate to compute, independently for each sub-request, a respective chaining solution in which each virtual node is mapped to a physical node having resources sufficient to implementing the virtual node. A resource orchestrator may combine the respective chaining solutions for each of the sub-requests to generate a mapping solution for the virtual network request.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may receive a service function chain description that includes service functions associated with multiple domains, and rather than any of the domains ignoring or rejecting outside nodes, nodes may be configured to communicate with the outside nodes in implementing a service function chain associated with the service function chain description. For example, an arbiter (e.g., a central arbiter) may provide control information and/or configuration information, based on the service function chain description, to one or more systems of each domain. In one instance, the arbiter may provide the control information and/or the configuration information to a border node of each domain. In another instance, the arbiter may provide the control information and/or the configuration information to a domain controller of each domain.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining optical network utilization efficiency include generating a random demand set and calculating a demand fill ratio (DFR) based on the random demand set. The random demand set includes network demands for a given optical network topology that provide 100% of the wavelength slots in the optical network topology. The DFR may be calculated using different wavelength assignment algorithms, such as a first fit wavelength assignment algorithm, from the randomly generated demands in the random demand set. The DFR may be calculated without and with wavelength conversion nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downhole component monitoring including a monitored component doped with a pre-selected neutron absorbent, the monitored component being part of a downhole tool and a neutron monitoring system positioned relative to the monitored component. The neutron monitoring system includes a neutron source positioned at a first location relative to the monitored component and a neutron detector positioned at a second location relative to the monitored component, the neutron detector configured to detect neutrons from the neutron source and count said detected neutrons. A control unit is in communication with the neutron detector and configured to determine a status of the monitored component from the neutron count received from the neutron detector.

Abstract: In an MRI method and apparatus a 3D magnetic resonance scan sequence is performed to acquire MR raw data, which are entered into k-space with 2D CAIPIRINHA undersampling. The sampled data are reorganized into data blocks that each contain one sampled k-space location. The data blocks are extracted from k-space in a predetermined sequence, and image data are reconstructed from the k-space data respectively in the extracted data blocks. The application of the 2D CAIPIRINHA undersampling method with corresponding reorganized data blocks into a 3D scan sequence, in particular a SPACE scan sequence, significantly improves the comfort of an examination subject as well as the overall image quality thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing vertex-centric service function chaining in multi-domain networks are disclosed. A resource orchestration framework of a multi-domain network may include vertices representing physical nodes and edges representing physical links in the network. A sole resource orchestrator (in a centralized system) or multiple resource orchestrators (each associated with a respective domain in a distributed system) may coordinate execution of a common compute function on multiple vertices to identify candidate service function chain solutions to a service function chain request. The request may specify a fixed-ordered chain or a flexible-ordered chain. The compute function may, during each of multiple supersteps, determine whether a partially mapped chain can be extended on a given vertex, send a controller message to a neighbor vertex with which it has a qualified link, or return a completed chain, which may be selected for execution, dependent on applicable policies.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a shortest minimum regeneration path in an optical network. The method includes creating a virtual node at a source node, the source node communicatively coupled to a destination node through a plurality of nodes and links. The method includes traversing the virtual nodes, wherein traversing the virtual nodes comprises selecting an unvisited virtual node at a node; identifying a candidate virtual node from the unvisited virtual node; determining whether the candidate virtual node exceeds a maximum permitted weight; determining whether the candidate virtual node violates a shortest minimum regeneration path condition; and creating the new virtual node from the candidate virtual node if the candidate virtual node does not exceed the maximum permitted weight and if the candidate virtual node does not violate the shortest minimum regeneration path condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a DC/DC power supply apparatus, which includes a plurality of power boards, a control board and a main board. The plurality of power boards are coupled in parallel with one another, and each power board includes a carrier circuit board and a power device disposed on the carrier circuit board. The control board includes a feedback control circuit and a PWM generator circuit; the feedback control circuit is configured to receive one or more feedback signals from the power boards; the PWM generator circuit outputs a PWM control signal to the power boards based on the feedback signal. The main board is electrically coupled to the power boards and the control board.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) or a salt thereof; and therapeutic uses of these compounds. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and compositions comprising these compounds with a therapeutic co-agent.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more systems, methods, and/or processes may determine one or more auxiliary edges that bypass at least one vertex of vertices that represent physical nodes of a network domain; evaluate at least one edge, that includes the one or more auxiliary edges and that interconnect the vertices, to evaluate a portion of the vertices that excludes the at least one vertex that was bypassed to identify at least one vertex that is associated with at least one service function of a service function chain request specifying service functions to be performed via at least a portion of physical nodes of network domains; and configure a first physical node of the physical nodes of the network domain and associated with the at least one vertex that is associated with the at least one service function to process data via the at least one service function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite substrate for light emitting device and a LED module equipped with the composite substrate for light emitting device. The composite substrate for light emitting device includes a metal substrate, an insulating carrier and an electrode, the metal substrate and the insulating carrier respectively have a front side and a back side that are opposite, the insulating carrier is disposed on the periphery of the metal substrate and connected to the metal substrate, the electrode is disposed on the insulating carrier, the electrode penetrates the insulating carrier, the electrode has a front side and a back side that are opposite, the heights of the back sides of the insulating carrier and the electrode are less than that of the back side of the metal substrate. The present invention also provides a LED module. The composite substrate for light emitting device can reduce costs.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for evaluating an earth formation intersected by a borehole. Method embodiments may include using a downhole tool in the borehole to generate a plurality of signal pulses responsive to detected radiation; using at least one signal quality characteristic of each pulse of the plurality of pulses to classify each pulse as belonging to at least one subset of a plurality of pulse subsets; and using one of more of the plurality of pulse subsets to estimate a value of a parameter of interest. The signal quality characteristic may be indicative of a pulse pile-up condition being associated with the respective pulse. The signal quality characteristic may include at least one of: i) rising time (slope) of the respective pulse; ii) time between a peak of the respective pulse and a peak of a closest following pulse; iii) pulse width; and iv) skewness of the pulse.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of nucleic acid detection. In particular, the invention provides a lab-on-chip system for analyzing a nucleic acid, which system comprises, inter alia, controllably closed space, and a target nucleic acid can be prepared and/or amplified, and hybridized to a nucleic acid probe, and the hybridization signal can be acquired if desirable, in the controllably closed space without any material exchange between the controllably closed space and the outside environment. Methods for analyzing a nucleic acid using the lab-on-chip system is also provided.