Abstract: An apparatus and method for autonomous and accurate identification of target animal species, such as in animal species control and management systems for use in public or private agricultural and related communities. An intelligent, autonomous, dual-sensory, animal species-specific recognition system useful for activating wildlife management and related devices when a particular animal species approaches the system is provided. The device and method use a combination of both acoustic and visual sensors, together with efficient and robust recognition algorithms and signal/image processing techniques, to maximize accurate target-specific identification and reject false alarms.

Abstract: Hardware and software resources are load balanced when processing multiple blockchains. As more and more entities (whether public or private) are expected to generate their own blockchains for verification, a server or other resource in a blockchain environment may be over utilized. For example, as banks, websites, and retailers issue their own private cryptocoinage, the number of financial transactions may clog or hog networking and/or hardware resources. A blockchain load balancing mechanism thus allocates resources among the multiple blockchains.

Abstract: Authentication of electronic document is based on multiple digital signatures incorporated into a blockchain. Structured data, metadata, and instructions may be hashed to generate the multiple digital signatures for distribution via the blockchain. Any peer receiving the blockchain may then verify an authenticity of an electronic document based on any one or more of the multiple digital signatures incorporated into the blockchain.

Abstract: Digital or “smart” contracts execute in a blockchain environment. Any entity (whether public or private) may specify a digital contract via a blockchain. Because there may be many digital contracts offered as virtual services, the contract identifier uniquely identifies a particular decision table and/or the digital contract offered by a virtual machine, vendor or supplier. The blockchain is thus not burdened with the programming code that is required to execute the decision table and/or the digital contract. The blockchain need only include or specify the contract identifier (and perhaps one or more contractual parameters), thus greatly simplifying the blockchain and reducing its size (in bytes) and processing requirements.

Abstract: Blockchain environments may mix-and-match different encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes when mining blockchain transactions. Each encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work scheme may be separate, stand-alone programs, files, or third-party services. Blockchain miners may be agnostic to a particular coin's or network's encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes, thus allowing any blockchain miner to process or mine data in multiple blockchains. GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized processing hardware components may be deterred by forcing cache misses, cache latencies, and processor stalls. Hashing, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes require less programming code, consume less storage space/usage in bytes, and execute faster. Blockchain mining schemes may further randomize byte or memory block access, further improve cryptographic security.

Abstract: Blockchain environments may mix-and-match different encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes when mining blockchain transactions. Each encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work scheme may be separate, stand-alone programs, files, or third-party services. Blockchain miners may be agnostic to a particular coin's or network's encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes, thus allowing any blockchain miner to process or mine data in multiple blockchains. GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized processing hardware components may be deterred by forcing cache misses, cache latencies, and processor stalls. Hashing, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes require less programming code, consume less storage space/usage in bytes, and execute faster. Blockchain mining schemes may further randomize byte or memory block access, further improve cryptographic security.

Abstract: Blockchain environments may mix-and-match different encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes when mining blockchain transactions. Each encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work scheme may be separate, stand-alone programs, files, or third-party services. Blockchain miners may be agnostic to a particular coin's or network's encryption, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes, thus allowing any blockchain miner to process or mine data in multiple blockchains. GPUs, ASICs, and other specialized processing hardware components may be deterred by forcing cache misses, cache latencies, and processor stalls. Hashing, difficulty, and/or proof-of-work schemes require less programming code, consume less storage space/usage in bytes, and execute faster. Blockchain mining schemes may further randomize byte or memory block access, further improve cryptographic security.

Abstract: An apparatus for baiting and/or feeding target animals comprises: a trough to contain bait and/or feed; and a closure which can be urged by at least one said target animal so as to move from a closed position, in which it precludes access to the bait and/or feed by the target animal(s), to an open position, which is such that said access is enabled, the apparatus being configured such that the closure offers a resistance to being moved which is sufficient that it cannot be urged by another animal to move from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: Digital or “smart” contracts execute in a blockchain environment. Any entity (whether public or private) may specify a digital contract via a blockchain. Because there may be many digital contracts offered as virtual services, the contract identifier uniquely identifies a particular decision table and/or the digital contract offered by a virtual machine, vendor or supplier. The blockchain is thus not burdened with the programming code that is required to execute the decision table and/or the digital contract. The blockchain need only include or specify the contract identifier (and perhaps one or more contractual parameters), thus greatly simplifying the blockchain and reducing its size (in bytes) and processing requirements.

Abstract: Authentication of electronic document is based on multiple digital signatures incorporated into a blockchain. Structured data, metadata, and instructions may be hashed to generate the multiple digital signatures for distribution via the blockchain. Any peer receiving the blockchain may then verify an authenticity of an electronic document based on any one or more of the multiple digital signatures incorporated into the blockchain.

Abstract: Data verification in federate learning is faster and simpler. As artificial intelligence grows in usage, data verification is needed to prove custody and/or control. Electronic data representing an original version of training data may be hashed to generate one or more digital signatures. The digital signatures may then be incorporated into one or more blockchains for historical documentation. Any auditor may then quickly verify and/or reproduce the training data using the digital signatures. For example, a current version of the training data may be hashed and compared to the digital signatures generated from the current version of the training data. If the digital signatures match, then the training data has not changed since its creation. However, if the digital signatures do not match, then the training data has changed since its creation. The auditor may thus flag the training data for additional investigation and scrutiny.

Abstract: Auditing of mortgage documents is faster and simpler. An electronic mortgage application often contains or references a collection of many separate electronic mortgage documents. Electronic data representing an original version of an electronic mortgage document and its current version may be hashed to generate digital signatures. Any auditor may then quickly compare the digital signatures. If the digital signatures match, then the audit reveals that the electronic mortgage document has not changed since its creation. However, if the digital signatures do not match, then the electronic mortgage document has changed since its creation. The auditor may thus flag the electronic mortgage document for additional auditing processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process to functionalize nanofiber membrane (NFM) on a total joint replacement (TJR) implant surface to support bone ingrowth and reduce macrophage-associated inflammation, the process comprising amending the implant surface by laser cutting microgrooves greater than 100 ?m in depth to protect functional PCL NFM from applied loading, induce a higher amount of osteoblast cell function, increase implant-bone contact area, and serve as a reservoir for the local delivery of biomolecules to increase osseointegration of the implant; depositing aligned fibers on the implant surface, the fibers aligned in the direction of the microgrooves and collected in layers until a thickness less than 30 ?m is reached and preferably in the range of 1 ?m to 10 ?m. Biofunctionalized NFM are used to indirectly attach biomolecules on said implant surface, or extracellular matrix proteins with biomolecules are immobilized and deposited on the PCL NFM coated implant.

Abstract: Auditing of mortgage documents is faster and simpler. An electronic mortgage application often contains or references a collection of many separate electronic mortgage documents. Electronic data representing an original version of an electronic mortgage document and its current version may be hashed to generate digital signatures. Any auditor may then quickly compare the digital signatures. If the digital signatures match, then the audit reveals that the electronic mortgage document has not changed since its creation. However, if the digital signatures do not match, then the electronic mortgage document has changed since its creation. The auditor may thus flag the electronic mortgage document for additional auditing processes.

Abstract: Digital or “smart” contracts execute in a blockchain environment. Any entity (whether public or private) may specify a digital contract via a contract identifier in a blockchain. Because there may be many digital contracts offered as services, the contract identifier uniquely identifies a particular digital contract offered by a vendor or supplier. The blockchain is thus not burdened with the programming code that is required to execute the digital contract. The blockchain need only include or specify the contract identifier (and perhaps one or more contractual parameters), thus greatly simplifying the blockchain and reducing its size (in bytes) and processing requirements.

Abstract: A personal blockchain is generated as a cloud-based software service in a blockchain environment. The personal blockchain immutably archives usage of any device, perhaps as requested by a user. However, some of the usage may be authorized for public disclosure, while other usage may be designated as private and restricted from public disclosure. The public disclosure may permit public ledgering by still other blockchains, thus providing two-way public/private ledgering for improved record keeping. Private usage, though, may only be documented by the personal blockchain.

Abstract: A personal blockchain is generated as a cloud-based software service in a blockchain environment. The personal blockchain immutably archives usage of any device, perhaps as requested by a user. However, some of the usage may be authorized for public disclosure, while other usage may be designated as private and restricted from public disclosure. The public disclosure may permit public ledgering by still other blockchains, thus providing two-way public/private ledgering for improved record keeping. Private usage, though, may only be documented by the personal blockchain.

Abstract: Importation and exportation allows software services in blockchain environments. Blockchains may import data and export data, thus allowing blockchains to offer software services to clients (such as other blockchains). Individual users, businesses, and governments may create their own blockchains and subcontract or outsource operations to other blockchains. Moreover, the software services provided by blockchains may be publically ledgered by still other blockchains, thus providing two-way blockchain interactions and two-way ledgering for improved record keeping.

Abstract: Auditing of mortgage documents is faster and simpler. An electronic mortgage application often contains or references a collection of many separate electronic mortgage documents. Electronic data representing an original version of an electronic mortgage document and its current version may be hashed to generate digital signatures. Any auditor may then quickly compare the digital signatures. If the digital signatures match, then the audit reveals that the electronic mortgage document has not changed since its creation. However, if the digital signatures do not match, then the electronic mortgage document has changed since its creation. The auditor may thus flag the electronic mortgage document for additional auditing processes.

Abstract: Importation and exportation allows software services in blockchain environments. Blockchains may import data and export data, thus allowing blockchains to offer software services to clients (such as other blockchains). Individual users, businesses, and governments may create their own blockchains and subcontract or outsource operations to other blockchains. Moreover, the software services provided by blockchains may be publically ledgered by still other blockchains, thus providing two-way blockchain interactions and two-way ledgering for improved record keeping.