Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device having a power source may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition may be associated with charging of the rechargeable battery. In addition, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device selects a charging mode of the rechargeable battery based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

Abstract: A computer system may perform substitutions for fields in a set of records, where performing a given substitution involves replacing a field in the set of records with a replacement field, and the substitutions remove the context information in the set of records while maintaining relevance of the set of records. Then, the computer system may generate an artificial set of records based, at least in part, on the set of records, where a given artificial record includes one or more modified portions of the set of records. Next, the computer system may combine the set of records and the artificial set of records into a second set of records, where at least some phrases or values in the second set of records are uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A computer system may perform substitutions for fields in a set of records, where performing a given substitution involves replacing a field in the set of records with a replacement field, and the substitutions remove the context information in the set of records while maintaining relevance of the set of records. Then, the computer system may generate an artificial set of records based, at least in part, on the set of records, where a given artificial record includes one or more modified portions of the set of records. Next, the computer system may combine the set of records and the artificial set of records into a second set of records, where at least some phrases or values in the second set of records are uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A computer system may iteratively modify a local medical rule that is based on an initial sub-population. In particular, after information specifying the local medical rule and sharing instructions are received from a user of the computer system, the computer system may iteratively apply the local medical rule to one or more additional sub-populations that are associated with other users of the computer system based on the sharing instructions without sharing PHI associated with the initial sub-population. Then, the computer system may aggregate results for the one or more additional sub-populations, and may generate the population-based medical rule by modifying the local medical rule based on the aggregated results and one or more quality metrics. Moreover, the computer system may selectively provide the population-based medical rule to the user without sharing PHI associated with the one or more additional sub-populations.

Abstract: A computer system may perform substitutions for fields in a set of records, where performing a given substitution involves replacing a field in the set of records with a replacement field, and the substitutions remove the context information in the set of records while maintaining relevance of the set of records. Then, the computer system may generate an artificial set of records based, at least in part, on the set of records, where a given artificial record includes one or more modified portions of the set of records. Next, the computer system may combine the set of records and the artificial set of records into a second set of records, where at least some phrases or values in the second set of records are uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A system that determines an invariant magnetic-resonance (MR) signature of a biological sample is disclosed. During operation, the system determines a magnetic-resonance (MR) model of voxels in a biological sample based on differences between MR signals associated with the voxels in multiple scans and simulated MR signals. The MR signals are measured or captured by an MR scanner in the system during multiple MR scans, and based on scanning instructions, and the simulated MR signals for the biological sample are generated using the MR model and the scanning instructions. Moreover, the system iteratively modifies the scanning instructions (including a magnetic-field strength and/or a pulse sequence) in the MR scans based on the differences until a convergence criterion is achieved. Then, the system stores, in memory, an identifier of the biological sample and a magnetic-field-strength-invariant MR signature of the biological sample that is associated with the MR model.

Abstract: During operation, a system iteratively captures MR signals of one or more types of nuclei in one or more portions of a biological lifeform based on scanning instructions that correspond to a dynamic scan plan. The MR signals in a given iteration may be associated with voxels having associated sizes at three-dimensional (3D) positions in at least a corresponding portion of the biological lifeform. If the system detects a potential anomaly when analyzing the MR signals from the given iteration, the system dynamically modifies the scan plan based on the detected potential anomaly, a medical history and/or an MR-scan history. Subsequent measurements of MR signals may be associated with the same or different: types of nuclei, portions of the biological lifeform, voxels sizes and/or 3D positions.

Abstract: A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert.

Abstract: A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device having a power source may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device having a rechargeable battery. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device by a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition may be associated with charging of the rechargeable battery. In addition, a control mechanism in the environmental monitoring device selects a charging mode of the rechargeable battery based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, heat generated by a processor in the environmental monitoring device may result in a convective fluid flow over the sensor mechanism that facilitates measurements of sensor data associated with an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Alternatively, a fluid driver (such as a fan) associated with the processor may produce the fluid flow over the sensor mechanism. Note that the fluid flow may include an airflow and/or a liquid flow. Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may include baffles that direct the fluid flow over a selected sensor in a set of sensors in the sensor mechanism.

Abstract: A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, heat generated by a processor in the environmental monitoring device may result in a convective fluid flow over the sensor mechanism that facilitates measurements of sensor data associated with an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Alternatively, a fluid driver (such as a fan) associated with the processor may produce the fluid flow over the sensor mechanism. Note that the fluid flow may include an airflow and/or a liquid flow. Moreover, the environmental monitoring device may include baffles that direct the fluid flow over a selected sensor in a set of sensors in the sensor mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the electronic device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the electronic device. Based on the sensor data, a control mechanism selects an illumination pattern from a set of illumination patterns, which are associated with illumination of the external environment. For example, at least two of the illumination patterns have: different spatial patterns in the external environment, different wavelengths of light and/or different light intensities. Moreover, an illumination mechanism illuminates at least a portion of the external environment based on the selected illumination pattern.

Abstract: An environmental monitoring device that includes a sensor mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the sensor mechanism provides sensor data based on measurements of environmental conditions in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a control mechanism assesses if the environmental conditions indicate at least one of a set of threats. If yes, the control mechanism provides a corresponding alert. Furthermore, the environmental monitoring device includes a power source with a primary power source and a secondary power source. The secondary power source has at least a 10-year life and may power at least a subset of the functionality of the environmental monitoring device in the event the primary power source fails. For example, the sensor mechanism may include a smoke detector that is powered by the secondary power source in the event the primary power source fails.

Abstract: A mounting system for an electronic device is described. This mounting system includes a base that can be rigidly mounted on or underneath a wall. Moreover, the base can be remateably coupled to the electronic device. The remateable coupling may involve pins that are inserted into corresponding holes and rotated into a lock position. Alternatively, the remateable coupling may involve magnets that mechanically couple to each other so long as the electronic device and the base are within a predefined distance. The electronic device may receive power via the remateable coupling or via inductive charging. In addition, the electronic device may monitor a spatial parameter, such as: a location of the electronic device, a velocity of the electronic device and/or an acceleration of the electronic device. If this spatial parameter changes without the electronic device first receiving a security code, the electronic device provides an alert.