Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) receive coil (18) includes at least one MR coil element (22) configured to receive MR signals excited in a subject disposed in an MR imaging device (10); an antenna (22, 28) comprising the at least one MR coil element (22) or another antenna (28) that is different from the at least one MR coil element; and electronics (24) configured to detect reception of an electromagnetic pulse of interest by the antenna and to perform a coil function based on the detection. The electromagnetic pulse of interest is a radio frequency (RF) pulse generated by the MR imaging device or a magnetic field gradient pulse generated by the MR imaging device.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system includes an MR receive channel (20) including: an MR coil element (22) configured to receive MR signals in an MR frequency band; an electronic signal processing chain (24) configured to process the MR signals received by the MR coil element to produce processed MR signals, wherein the electronic signal processing chain includes an equalization filter (26); and a signal injector (8, 16, 28, 38, 38D) configured to input a reference radio frequency (RF) signal in the MR frequency band to the signal processing chain, wherein the signal processing chain processes the reference RF signal to generate a processed reference RF signal. Equalizer electronics (30) are configured to adjust the equalization filter based at least on the processed reference RF signal such that the MR receive channel has a flat frequency response over the MR frequency band.

Abstract: Multipurpose travel bags, travel bags systems, and related methods are provided herein. A multipurpose travel bag can include a top receptacle portion having a top wall, sidewalls, and an openable floor and a base having an open base cavity therein that faces upward. The multipurpose travel bag can include a collapsible chassis attached to the top receptacle portion and the base. The collapsible chassis has sidewalls that are extendable and retractable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the collapsible chassis fits into the cavity of the base when the collapsible chassis is collapsed into the retracted position. The top receptacle portion can be attached to the base. When collapsed, the collapsible chassis can fit in the base cavity to form a smaller travel bag when the collapsible chassis is in the retracted position. The top receptacle portion can detach from the base so that the collapsible chassis can be extended to the extended position to form a larger travel bag.

Abstract: Collapsible golf bags, golf bag kits, and related methods are provided herein. A collapsible golf bag can include a collapsible chassis having a top portion and a base with sidewalls therebetween. Additionally, the collapsible golf bag can include a foldable stiffening rod configured to engage a portion of the top portion of the chassis and the base of the chassis to separate the top portion and the base and extend the side walls to hold at least a portion of the sidewall taut. The golf bag kits can include a carrying container having an accessible interior, the collapsible chassis, and the foldable stiffening rod.

Abstract: Convertible golf bag and related methods are provided herein. A convertible golf bag can include a chassis configured to receive and hold golf clubs therein and a saddle bag configured to receive and store items therein. The golf bag can also include one or more first chassis fasteners disposed on the chassis and one or more saddle bag fasteners disposed on the saddle bag. The one or more first saddle bag fasteners are arranged for selective engagement with the one or more first chassis fasteners, thereby enabling coupling and decoupling of the saddle bag and the chassis.

Abstract: A method is described. The method includes receiving logs from multiple connector nodes, each of the logs having entries that describe changes made to a file system at its respective one of the connector nodes. The method includes constructing a directed acyclic graph (DAG) from the logs' respective entries, the DAG comprising nodes connected by flows, the nodes describing actions made to directories and files of the file system, wherein, a flow of the flows connects a subset of the nodes that describe actions made to a particular directory or file of the file system. The method includes removing one or more irrelevant nodes from the DAG. The method includes applying actions described by remaining nodes of the DAG to an object storage system having respective objects for directories and files of the file system.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an enclosure and a plurality of power converter modules positioned in the enclosure, each power conversion module including a power converter circuit, a module controller circuit configured to control the power converter circuit and at least one module fan controlled by the module controller circuit. The system further includes a system controller positioned in the enclosure and configured to communicate with the module controller circuits over a communications bus and at least one exhaust fan configured to exhaust air from the enclosure and controlled by the system controller. The system controller is configured to control the at least one exhaust fan responsive to information, such as temperature and/or load information, received from the module controller circuits.

Abstract: An electrospray device for generating electrospray from a ferrofluid. The electrospray device includes an emitter, an extraction electrode, and a magnet. The emitter is configured to receive a ferrofluidic liquid. The extraction electrode includes an aperture and is positioned a first distance from the emitter. The magnet generates a magnetic field in a first direction toward the emitter. The magnetic field causes Rosensweig instability in the ferrofluidic liquid, and generates a ferrofluidic peak in the ferrofluidic liquid. The magnet is positioned a second distance from the emitter, and the emitter is positioned between the extraction electrode and the magnet. The ferrofluidic liquid is biased at a first electrical potential and the extraction electrode is biased at a second electrical potential. A difference between the first electrical potential and the second electrical potential is sufficient to generate an electric field at the ferrofluidic peak that generates electrospray from the ferrofluidic peak.

Abstract: Power control systems are provided including a digital controller configured to control gating mechanism for power switches responsive to an input from a power conversion circuit. The digital controller includes a conversion circuit, a modulation circuit and a gating control circuit. The system further includes an analog circuit comprising a filter, a current limiter and a compare circuit. The current limiter is configured to control a magnitude of a current pulled through a power convertor during a device switching operation.

Abstract: Power control systems are provided including a digital controller configured to control gating mechanism for power switches responsive to an input from a power conversion circuit. The digital controller includes a conversion circuit, a modulation circuit and a gating control circuit. The system further includes an analog circuit comprising a filter, a current limiter and a compare circuit. The current limiter is configured to control a magnitude of a current pulled through a power convertor during a device switching operation.

Abstract: An electrospray device for generating electrospray from a ferrofluid. The electrospray device includes an emitter, an extraction electrode, and a magnet. The emitter is configured to receive a ferrofluidic liquid. The extraction electrode includes an aperture and is positioned a first distance from the emitter. The magnet generates a magnetic field in a first direction toward the emitter. The magnetic field causes Rosensweig instability in the ferrofluidic liquid, and generates a ferrofluidic peak in the ferrofluidic liquid. The magnet is positioned a second distance from the emitter, and the emitter is positioned between the extraction electrode and the magnet. The ferrofluidic liquid is biased at a first electrical potential and the extraction electrode is biased at a second electrical potential. A difference between the first electrical potential and the second electrical potential is sufficient to generate an electric field at the ferrofluidic peak that generates electrospray from the ferrofluidic peak.

Abstract: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an enclosure and a plurality of power converter modules positioned in the enclosure, each power conversion module including a power converter circuit, a module controller circuit configured to control the power converter circuit and at least one module fan controlled by the module controller circuit. The system further includes a system controller positioned in the enclosure and configured to communicate with the module controller circuits over a communications bus and at least one exhaust fan configured to exhaust air from the enclosure and controlled by the system controller. The system controller is configured to control the at least one exhaust fan responsive to information, such as temperature and/or load information, received from the module controller circuits.

Abstract: Spindt-type field-emission cathodes for use in electric propulsion (EP) systems having self-assembling nanostructures that can repeatedly regenerate damaged cathode emitter nanotips. A nanotip is created by applying a negative potential near the surface of a liquefied base metal to create a Taylor cone converging to a nanotip, and solidifying the Taylor cone for use as a field-emission cathode. When the nanotip of the Taylor cone becomes sufficiently blunted or damaged to affect its utility, the base metal is re-liquefied by application of a heat source, a negative potential is reapplied to the surface of the base metal to recreate the Taylor cone, and a new nanotip is generated by solidifying the base metal.

Abstract: A method of designing a plasma thruster with improved thrust efficiency. The method includes providing a thruster body having a discharge chamber with a first opening having an axis centrally located relative thereto; a cathode having a second opening at a first end thereof, the cathode being disposed at a radial position, relative to the axis, outside of the first opening; and an outer pole piece including a magnetic plate, the outer pole piece being adjacent to the first plane and extending radially outward, relative to the axis. At least one electromagnet is disposed adjacent to, and in magnetic communication with, the outer pole piece, a magnetic field being formed adjacent to the thruster body and the outer pole piece and having a separatrix surface therein. The magnetic field is altered such that the separatrix surface is moved radially outward relative to the axis toward the second opening.

Abstract: Spindt-type field-emission cathodes for use in electric propulsion (EP) systems having self-assembling nanostructures that can repeatedly regenerate damaged cathode emitter nanotips. A nanotip is created by applying a negative potential near the surface of a liquefied base metal to create a Taylor cone converging to a nanotip, and solidifying the Taylor cone for use as a field-emission cathode. When the nanotip of the Taylor cone becomes sufficiently blunted or damaged to affect its utility, the base metal is re-liquefied by application of a heat source, a negative potential is reapplied to the surface of the base metal to recreate the Taylor cone, and a new nanotip is generated by solidifying the base metal.

Abstract: Network protocol for efficient distributed control. A packet used to implement an embodiment of the invention includes a routing control list, routing control data, and a data field. The routing control list identifies a node responsible for passing the packet. The routing control data identifies a first communication media to be used to pass the packet to the identified node and a second communication media to be used to pass the packet from the identified node. The data field contains electronic data being transmitted by the packet.

Abstract: A variable flow sprinkler head having an inlet, an outlet and a nozzle, the nozzle having an orifice therein, the cross sectional area of the orifice being changeable by alternately inserting or removing a needle into the sprinkler head nozzle orifice. The needle diameter is sized to provide a predetermined flow rate reduction when the needle is inserted into the nozzle orifice. When the needle is removed full flow occurs. When the needle is inserted into the center of the nozzle orifice, the cross sectional area is effectively reduced by an amount equal to the cross sectional area of the needle. A linear actuator for the needle is centered above the outlet. The linear actuator may be either an electric solenoid or a hydraulic actuator. Alternatively, the linear actuator may provide a mechanism to allow the sprinkler to be operated between either of two preselected flow rates or in the alternative to be shut off completely.

Abstract: An aerodynamic enclosure is placed in the flow, the enclosure including an opening enabling the enclosure to be filled with the flowing fluid, and having a thermal pulse generator mounted flush with its wall, which generator is suitable for emitting modulated thermal pulses simultaneously to the outside and to the inside of the enclosure. A first thermal sensor is located in the flow and a second thermal sensor is located in the enclosure. The sensors measure propagation times or phase shifts of the thermal waves respectively in the flow and in the non-flowing fluid, thereby making it possible to deduce the value of the fluid flow rate while compensating for any variations in the temperature, pressure, and composition of the fluid. The invention is applicable to gas metering.