Abstract: According to some aspects, an apparatus is provided comprising a deployable guard device, configured to be coupled to a portable medical imaging device, the deployable guard device further configured to, when deployed, inhibit encroachment within a physical boundary with respect to the portable medical imaging device. According to some aspects, an apparatus is provided comprising a deployable guard device, configured to be coupled to a portable magnetic resonance imaging system, the deployable guard device further configured to, when deployed, demarcate a boundary within which a magnetic field strength of a magnetic field generated by the portable magnetic resonance imaging system equals or exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B0 magnetic field from a desired B0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B0 magnetic field produced by a B0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B0 magnetic field.

Abstract: A user of a personal computing device may identify multiple travel items of interest displayed for purchase by a network-based travel service. However, the user may not desire to purchase the travel items in a single purchase. Upon making a travel purchase that includes a first travel item that does not include a second travel item corresponding to the first travel item, the user may employ the network travel package service to search for second travel items corresponding to the first travel item, select from discounted travel packages including the first travel item and second travel items returned from the search, and purchase a discounted travel package. Beneficially, multiple travel items may be purchased separately while obtaining a package discount as compared to the stand-alone price of the travel items.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the connection, operation, automation, and autonomation of disparate computing systems, networks, and databases. The present disclosure further relates to a method for operating a plurality of legacy systems, comprising: receiving a user input string from a user; parsing the user input string into a plurality of terms; generating, for each of the plurality of legacy systems, based on the user input string, one or more legacy input strings, each of the one or more legacy input strings being executable by each of the plurality of legacy systems and comprising a syntactical arrangement of one or more of the plurality of terms; and instructing the plurality of legacy systems to execute the one or more legacy input strings.

Abstract: Virtual and augmented reality sports training environments are disclosed. A user interacts with virtual players in a simulated environment of a virtual reality sporting event. In some embodiments, the user's actions and decisions are monitored by the simulated environment. The environment evaluates the user's performance, and provides performance feedback based on the user's decisions and timing. In one application, real life pitchers and their pitching data are tracked and replicated in a simulated pitching environment. A team of users may practice against a simulation of a pitcher they are about to compete against, swinging at pitches that they would see in a real game. Such environments may maximize effective practice time for users, and help develop better players with improved decision-making skills. Some embodiments include various pitch recognition training, which may be against replicated real-life pitchers.

Abstract: A new computational machine is invented, called a clock machine, that is a novel alternative to computing machines (digital computers) based on logic gates. In an embodiment, computation is performed with one or more clock machines that use time, and can perform any Boolean function. In an embodiment, a cryptographic cipher is implemented with random clock machines, constructed from a non-deterministic process, wherein the compiled set of instructions (i.e., the implementation of the cryptographic procedure) is distinct on each device or chip that executes the cryptographic cipher. In an embodiment, by using a different set of clock machines to execute two different instances of the same cryptographic procedure, each execution of a procedure looks different to malware that may try to infect and subvert the cryptographic procedure. This cryptographic process helps hinder timing attacks. In an embodiment, a detailed implementation of the Midori cipher with random clock machines is described.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one first B0 magnet configured to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the at least one first B0 magnet comprising a first plurality of permanent magnet rings including at least two rings with respective different heights.

Abstract: An assembly for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the assembly comprising: a plurality of ferromagnetic segments positioned to form: a bore extending along a common longitudinal direction, and a first gap, on a first side of the bore, to accommodate at least one first gradient coil, wherein at least some of the plurality of ferromagnetic segments are positioned on one side of the first gap and at least some others of the plurality of ferromagnetic segments are positioned on another side of the first gap.

Abstract: Our machine architecture and machine procedures use robustness, unpredictability and variability to hinder malware infection. In some embodiments, our machine instruction opcodes are randomized. The computing behavior of our machine is structurally stable (invariant) to small changes made to its machine instructions. Our invention expands the engineering method of stability to a cryptographically stable machine that is resistant to malware sabotage by an adversary. Our procedures use quantum randomness to build unpredictable stable instructions. Our machine procedures can execute just before running a program so that the computing task can be performed with a different representation of its instructions during each run. A process of hiding a key or data inside of random noise is described that protects the privacy of the machine instruction opcodes and operands. In some embodiments, quantum randomness generates random noise, using photonic emission with a light emitting diode.

Abstract: A controller for an air supplier of an assembly line grow pod is provided. The controller identifies a plant on one or more carts; determines an airflow rate based on an airflow recipe for the identified plant; controls an air supplier to output air through one or more outlet vents at the airflow rate; obtains an image of the plant; identifies a type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant based on the obtained image; and adjusts a power of the air output from the air supplier to remove the contaminants from the plant by the air based on the identified type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a laminate panel is provided. The laminate panel comprises at least one laminate layer including at least one non-conductive layer and at least one conductive layer patterned to form at least a portion of a B0 coil configured to contribute to a B0 field suitable for use in low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Abstract: Mitigation of return stack buffer side channel attacks in a processor. Detecting a side channel attack or a fault in a return from a function call in the processor includes receiving a return exception level indication (or e.g., a return security level indication) indicating the exception level associated with the return and comparing the exception level associated with the return to the exception level (or security level) associated with the return address. The return exception level indicator may be received in conjunction with a return indication. The processing circuit accesses the first entry of the return stack buffer, which indicates the return address of the function call, and also accesses an exception level associated with the return address. The processing circuit compares the exception level associated with the return address to the exception level associated with the return to determine whether to use the return address in a prediction of instruction flow.

Abstract: Process for treatment of wastewater is provided. The wastewater includes suspended or dissolved wastewater components and an aqueous component. During the treatment process, at least a portion of a solids bed through which the wastewater is passed is dissolved using an electric current. Dissolution of the solids bed produces constituents which react with the wastewater and enable separation of the suspended or dissolved wastewater components from the aqueous component. Also provided is a system for carrying out the process.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a cylindrical configuration with a radial direction, a circumferential direction and defining a bearing assembly longitudinal axis, a first axial end, and a second axial end, an inner radial race, an outer radial race, a bearing member configured to be disposed radially between the inner radial race and the outer radial race, and a retaining ring configured to engage the inner radial race and the outer radial race, the retaining ring being configured to limit longitudinal movement of the inner radial race relative to the outer radial race once assembled.

Abstract: The Cascaded Wind Turbine is a new concept of wind turbine design featuring multiple hubs in succession, each hub segment adds another tier that create a cascading blade configuration. Each blade set is connected to a separate rotor via a telescopic shaft.

Abstract: According to some aspects, an apparatus is provided comprising a deployable guard device, configured to be coupled to a portable medical imaging device, the deployable guard device further configured to, when deployed, inhibit encroachment within a physical boundary with respect to the portable medical imaging device. According to some aspects, an apparatus is provided comprising a deployable guard device, configured to be coupled to a portable magnetic resonance imaging system, the deployable guard device further configured to, when deployed, demarcate a boundary within which a magnetic field strength of a magnetic field generated by the portable magnetic resonance imaging system equals or exceeds a given threshold.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.

Abstract: Based upon the principles of randomness and self-modification a novel computing machine is constructed. This computing machine executes computations, so that it is difficult to apprehend by an adversary and hijack with malware. These methods can also be used to help thwart reverse engineering of proprietary algorithms, hardware design and other areas of intellectual property. Using quantum randomness in the random instructions and self-modification in the meta instructions, creates computations that are incomputable by a digital computer. In an embodiment, a more powerful computational procedure is created than a computational procedure equivalent to a digital computer procedure. Current digital computer algorithms and procedures can be constructed or designed with ex-machine programs, that are specified by standard instructions, random instructions and meta instructions. A novel computer is invented so that a program's execution is difficult to apprehend.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fine silver particle dispersion including: (1) 65 to 95.4% by weight of fine silver particles which have an average primary particle diameter of 10 to 190 nm and which comprise 25% by number or less of silver particles having a primary particle diameter of 100 nm or larger, (2) 4.5 to 34.5% by weight of a solvent, and (3) 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of ethyl cellulose having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 120,000.