Abstract: A paper folding apparatus which is used as a finisher equipment of an image forming apparatus. The paper folding apparatus can securely fold a sheet of paper, optionally change the starting position for folding a leading edge of the paper, and can produce a thin sheaf of papers even after the papers are folded, without causing the shape of the folded end section fluctuate even in the case of strong paper such as heavy paper.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of reducing degradation in a magnetic resonance spectrum derived from a change in a static magnetic field. A sequence controller performs non-water-suppressed spectrum measurement (pre-scan) cyclically during water-suppressed spectrum measurement (main scan) accompanied by repetitive measurement intended for averaging of signals, and cyclically detects a water resonant frequency (water-signal peak position) and a phase value at a water-signal peak from an obtained non-water-suppressed spectrum (the cyclic pre-scan makes it possible to sense a time-varying rate of static magnetic field strength (resonant frequency)). For the water-suppressed spectrum measurement (main scan) succeeding the pre-scan, a reception-initiating phase value that is used to detect a magnetic resonance signal is set to a value calculated using the phase value at the water-signal peak position detected during the pre-scan.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system capable of conducting spectroscopic imaging with an improved SNR without degrading the spatial resolution includes edge-preserving filter processing means for spectroscopic imaging. The edge-preserving filter processing means executes processing including the steps of calculating spectral similarity in spatial neighborhoods (spatially neighboring voxels) at each voxel in spectroscopic imaging data, calculating a spectral weight according to the spectral similarity, and conducting weighted smoothing for compounding spectra of spatial neighborhoods (spatially neighboring voxels) according to the spectral weight.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of reducing degradation in a magnetic resonance spectrum derived from a change in a static magnetic field. A sequence controller performs non-water-suppressed spectrum measurement (pre-scan) cyclically during water-suppressed spectrum measurement (main scan) accompanied by repetitive measurement intended for averaging of signals, and cyclically detects a water resonant frequency (water-signal peak position) and a phase value at a water-signal peak from an obtained non-water-suppressed spectrum (the cyclic pre-scan makes it possible to sense a time-varying rate of static magnetic field strength (resonant frequency)). For the water-suppressed spectrum measurement (main scan) succeeding the pre-scan, a reception-initiating phase value that is used to detect a magnetic resonance signal is set to a value calculated using the phase value at the water-signal peak position detected during the pre-scan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of performing spectrum measurement even when a magnetic resonant frequency changes during MRS measurement. A time-varying rate of a water magnetic resonant frequency is measured in advance before the MRS measurement. The amount of change in water magnetic resonant frequency during the MRS measurement is predicted from the measured time-varying rate. With the predicted value as the reference, a transmission frequency of an RF magnetic field irradiated in a signal suppression pulse sequence, a transmission frequency of an RF magnetic field for excitation and inversion and a received frequency at the detection of a magnetic resonance signal in a sequence of the MRS measurement are respectively set. A high-precision spectrum measurement is hence enabled.

Abstract: A paper folding apparatus which is used as a finisher equipment of an image forming apparatus. The paper folding apparatus can securely fold a sheet of paper, optionally change the starting position for folding a leading edge of the paper, and can produce a thin sheaf of papers even after the papers are folded, without causing the shape of the folded end section fluctuate even in the case of strong paper such as heavy paper.

Abstract: When determining the nucleic-acid base sequence of A, C, G, and T (or U) by interpreting fluorescent-light intensity waveform data acquired by measuring nucleic-acid fragments, it is desirable to determine, with a high-accuracy, the base sequence at a location at which the data interpretation is difficult. In order to accomplish this object, the data interpretation is performed by making reference to information acquired by performing the statistical processing to plural pieces of fluorescent-light intensity waveform data corresponding to already-known base sequences. This method allows the determination of the nucleic-acid base sequence at the above-described location.

Abstract: First, prior to the measurement of the magnetic resonance spectroscopic image, the gradient polarity of a gradient magnetic field to be applied to an object is inverted periodically. This makes it possible to measure a multi-gradient echo type magnetic resonance signal that has been subjected to the influence of an eddy current. Then, from the magnetic resonance spectrum obtained therefrom, a peak of the frequency component is extracted that corresponds to a hydrogen nucleus in the water molecule. Finally, using a static magnetic field homogeneity degree-adjusting unit, a shimming current to be flowed through a shimming coil and/or an offset current to be flowed through a gradient magnetic field generating coil are adjusted so that the width of the peak becomes narrow, thereby enhancing the degree of the static magnetic field homogeneity.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a pulse sequence control unit for controlling a pulse sequence to acquire echoes while both a radio frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field are applied to an object under examination present in a static magnetic field; and an image reconstructing unit for reconstructing an image based upon the acquired echoes, the pulse sequence control unit is comprised of a spatial resolution control unit for setting spatial resolution A along a readout gradient magnetic field direction of the reconstructed image; and a gradient magnetic field strength control unit for applying such a readout gradient magnetic field that spatial resolution B determined by a strength of the readout gradient magnetic field and a sampling period becomes coarser than the spatial resolution A. The image reconstructing unit reconstructs an image while a minimum unit of the spatial resolution A is set as a width of one pixel of a reconstructed image along a readout direction.

Abstract: In an inspection method which generates a static magnetic field, a gradient magnetic field and a radio frequency magnetic field, detects nuclear magnetic resonance signals from an inspection object, computes and processes the nuclear magnetic resonance signals so detected and outputs the result of computation processing, a gradient magnetic field for generating signal attenuation by diffusion and an oscillating gradient magnetic field for generating chemical shift information and spatial information of the materials contained in the inspection object are applied, separation and acquisition of spatial information of each material contained in the inspection object are simultaneously conducted, and a measurement time is shortened.

Abstract: A high-speed magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging method for obtaining information relating to an object placed in a space by irradiating the object placed in the space applied with a static magnetic field and field gradients in three different directions so as to excite a nuclear spin in the object. At least one of the field gradients is applied while inverting a sign thereof periodically and a magnetic resonance signal generated by excitation of the nuclear spin is measured. A Fourier transform is applied to the measured magnetic resonance signal thereby to obtain a chemical shift image and a measurement spectral bandwidth is set to a value not larger than a frequency difference between two different chemical shifts having frequencies remotest from each other among a plurality of chemical shifts intended to be measured, the measurement spectral bandwidth being determined by a reciprocal of an inversion period of the field gradient which is applied while inverting a sign thereof periodically.