Abstract: An optical device may include at least one optical fiber, and a phase change material (PCM) layer on the at least one optical fiber. The PCM layer may include GexSey, where x is in a range of 20-40, and y is in a range of 60-80.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing color flow Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound images acquired based on clinically-specific profiles of imaging parameters is provided. The method includes presenting selectable clinical objects at a display. Each of the selectable clinical objects may be associated with color flow Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler profiles. Each of the profiles may comprise imaging parameters for the associated clinical object. The method includes receiving a selection of one of the selectable clinical objects and retrieving the color flow Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler profiles associated with the selected clinical object. The method includes acquiring and presenting color flow Doppler ultrasound data based on the imaging parameters of the retrieved color flow Doppler profile. The method includes initiating a pulsed wave Doppler imaging mode, and acquiring and presenting pulsed wave Doppler ultrasound data based on the imaging parameters of the retrieved pulsed wave Doppler profile.

Abstract: A base plate for supporting a plurality of interlocking building bricks includes a planar sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, with a plurality of nodes projecting from the top surface. The plurality of nodes includes a node having a vertical cylindrical wall and a horizontal top wall, the vertical cylindrical wall tapering along its vertical height; the node also having a bevel extending around a circumference of the node at an edge where the vertical cylindrical wall transitions to the horizontal top wall. A method of assembling a composite base plate includes securing two component base plates to one another via a common backing material. A method of printing on a base plate includes applying ultraviolet ink to at least the top surface of the base plate from an ultraviolet light printer, the base plate having a plurality of studs or nodes projecting from the top surface.

Abstract: A system having a platform upon which several phased antenna arrays are mounted and which can communicate with satellites. The system includes a switch that can connect any of the phased array antennas to any of available modems. The system further includes a router that can connect any of the modems to any available computing devices. Based on parameters such as data rates, signal strength, and account information, one or more communication paths are selected for a computing device requesting to communicate with a satellite. Each communication path is established by operating the switch to connect a selected antenna to a selected modem, and operating the router to transfer data between the computing device and the selected modem.

Abstract: Semi-automated quantitative phenotype analysis of organisms, such as plant organisms, bacterial organisms, and the like. An imaging system, image capture specifications, a semi-automated quantitative image analysis process, and automated batch processing of acquired images that enables completely quantitative experimental readouts that produces data rapidly and objectively.

Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has one or more imagers having a field of view for imaging an area of roadway mark surface encompassing the roadway mark and a computer having a machine learning network to process the roadway mark image and position the marker over the pre-existing roadway mark.

Abstract: A method for performing write operations on a set of one or more physical disks of a set of one or more host machines is provided. The method receives a data block to write on at least one physical disk in the set of physical disks and generates a first set of one or more compressed sectors based on the received data block. The method writes (i) a first entry having a first header and the first set of compressed sectors to a data log that is maintained in a cache, and (ii) the first set of compressed sectors to a bank in memory. The method further determines if a size of data including compressed sectors in the bank satisfies a threshold, and when the size of data in the bank satisfies the threshold, writes the data to the at least one physical disk in the set of physical disks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a location tracking system and associated methods for precisely locating a target device with a recipient device via different forms of location tracking and augmented reality. The recipient device receives a first position of the target device over a data network. The recipient device is moved according to the first position until the target device is in Ultra-WideBand (“UWB”) signaling range of the recipient device. The recipient device then measures a distance and direction of the target device relative to the recipient device based on Time-of-Flight (“ToF”) measurements generated from the UWB signaling. The recipient device determines a second position of the target device based on the distance and direction of the target device, and generates an augmented reality view with a visual reference at a particular position in images of a captured scene that corresponds to the second position of the target device.

Abstract: Rheological measurement systems for use with systems including pressurized polymer melts and/or other viscous materials are described. In one embodiment, a rheometer is connected to an associated system with a bent, curved, or bendable tube to permit the rheometer to measure rheological properties in locations where the rheometer could not otherwise be located due to the presence of obstructions. Embodiments including rigid straight tubes for connecting a rheometer to an associated system are also described. In another embodiment, a flow-through rheometer is connected to an industry standard ½-20 thermowell aperture that is typically used for attaching temperature and pressure probes to a vessel containing a viscous material such as an extruder or injection molding system. The rheological measurement systems described can have improved tube resistance and thermal strength.

Abstract: In a general aspect, signals are converted between regimes in a quantum computing system. In some cases, a quantum computing system includes: a quantum processing unit, a control system, a transmission medium, and circuitry. The quantum processing unit includes a superconducting circuit, which includes a plurality of qubit devices. The control system includes a signal generator configured to generate a first control signal and encode qubit control information in the first control signal. The transmission medium is configured to couple the signal generator with a signal conversion system. The signal conversion system is configured to: receive the first control signal generated by the signal generator; and generate a second control signal based on the qubit control information encoded in the first control signal. The circuitry is configured to deliver the second control signal to the plurality of qubit devices.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of cleaning surfaces of an enclosable environment of a contamination comprising a microbial and viral load. The method includes the steps of sealing the enclosable environment and placing water, and a solid or gel pack, into a container and generating a vortex the container by rotating an impeller. The agitation causes the solid or gel pack to release a gaseous cleaning agent. An air-borne spray exiting from the container spreads throughout the enclosable environment to contact the surfaces to be cleaned within the enclosable environment. The enclosable environment is maintained closed for an effective time period while the air-borne spray dwells on the surfaces to eliminate or substantially reduce the load of the contamination.

Abstract: Described in detail herein is a nested blockchain system. The nested blockchain system can include distributed nodes in a network. A node is configured to generate a master cryptographically verifiable distributed ledger represented by a sequence of blocks. The node spawns a first sub cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a first genesis block containing a hash value referencing the first block generated in the master cryptographically verifiable ledger, in response to a first event. The node purges the first sub cryptographically verifiable ledger, in response to a second event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus related to a fogging nozzle assembly including a housing, a metered core, and an air vortex core. The housing includes an air inlet opening at a first end to receive air from a blower distinct from the apparatus, and a fogging outlet opening to output a fog at a second end. The housing couples to a liquid container that stores a fogging liquid and to the blower. The metered core, disposed within the housing, includes a first plurality of radial angled fins to create a low-pressure zone within the housing which draws the fogging liquid from the liquid container into the housing. The air vortex core, disposed between the metered core and the fogging outlet opening, includes a second plurality of radial angled fins to mix the fogging liquid with the air and guide the fog exiting the housing at the fogging outlet opening.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.

Abstract: A nozzle in a vehicle includes a nozzle insert to provide pulsed flow of a cleaning agent from an outlet to clean a sensor of the vehicle. The nozzle also includes a cleaning agent supply line to provide the cleaning agent to an inlet of the nozzle insert.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a panel that defines an aperture. The vehicle also includes a cover operably coupled to the panel. The cover is operable between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the cover conceals the aperture. In the second condition, access to the aperture is provided. The vehicle further includes an electrical connector coupled to the cover, such that the electrical connector moves with the cover as the cover moves between the first and second conditions. Movement of the cover from the first condition to the second condition reveals the electrical connector.