Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increasing a quality of computed tomography (CT) images generated by a CT system by altering a shape of a focal spot of an X-ray emitter of the CT system. In one embodiment, a method comprises controlling the CT system to focus a beam of electrons generated by a cathode of the CT system at a plurality of focal spots on a surface of an target of the CT system; generating a composite focal spot from the plurality of focal spots; and obtaining projection data of the CT system with the composite focal spot. For example, two focal spots may be combined to generate the composite focal spot. By combining focal spots to generate composite focal spots, a quality of a resulting view produced by the CT system may be increased.

Abstract: Pest-resistant polyurethane spray foam formulations and products, including building insulation, are described. The “B” side of the formulation comprises water; a polyol composition comprising one or more polyols selected from glycerin-sucrose polyols, Mannich polyols, and aromatic polyester polyols, catalyst(s); surfactant(s); a blowing agent; and 0.5 to 5 wt. %, based on the amount of spray foam formulation, of a composition comprising a capsaicin compound. Capsaicin compounds can be successfully incorporated into spray foam formulations that process well to give high-quality foams. The foams inhibit termite infestation and can help to minimize or avoid structural damage that might otherwise go undetected.

Abstract: A firearm holster has an outer wall, extending between a muzzle end and a breech end, defining a cavity configured to receive a firearm. A magnet and/or magnet assembly may be included, wherein the magnet is at least partly in the cavity at the muzzle end. The magnet assembly is coupled to the muzzle end and includes a magnet housing coupled to the outer wall and connected to the magnet. The holster may include a protruding wedge on a side panel of the outer wall, wherein the protruding wedge comprises a surface formed at an angle from the longitudinal holster axis. The wedge presses against a user's body to help alleviate the holster sagging. The holster may also have a spacer assembly, a portion of which can be configured to press against a user's body to achieve a desired resting angle of the holster.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel shut-off nozzle for use with an injection molding system for creating and injecting foaming polymers to form products and other components. The shut-off nozzle is designed to increase cell nucleation during the foaming process, increase the pressure drop rate as the polymer is injected into a mold, and stop drooling of the foamed polymer at the end of an injection cycle. The shut-off nozzle includes an angled shut-off needle, which significantly reduces the amount of waste in each injection cycle and a water-cooling circuit to rapidly cool and solidify the molten polymer remaining in the shut-off nozzle at the end of each injection cycle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating a cinematic storytelling experience. A user selection of a story is received from a client device. User input to initiate verbal recitation of the selected story is received. Correspondence between the verbal recitation and at least one keyword is detected, and the at least one corresponding action is performed.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device employs light field directional backlighting to provide three-dimensional (3D) pupil steering without mechanical adjustment while maintaining a compact form factor and performance. An example light field directional backlighting unit includes two substantially flat components: an array of light sources and an array of modulators (e.g., a micro lens array (MLA), a stack of transmissive display elements, a pinhole array, and similar ones). By digitally modifying the illumination pattern on the array of light source and pairing to the light field directional backlighting unit to an extra transmissive display element as the main display panel and one or more viewing optical elements, a light field created by the light field directional backlighting unit is moved in three-dimensional (3D) space to correspond to pupil shift without interfering with the display content.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to identification of proxy calibration targets for a fleet of sensors. An example method includes collecting, using a sensor coupled to a vehicle, data about one or more objects within an environment of the vehicle. The sensor has been calibrated using a ground-truth calibration target. The method also includes identifying, based on the collected data, at least one candidate object, from among the one or more objects, to be used as a proxy calibration target for other sensors coupled to vehicles within a fleet of vehicles. Further, the method includes providing, by the vehicle, data about the candidate object for use by one or more vehicles within the fleet of vehicles.

Abstract: A method of provisioning virtual machines (VMs) includes: providing a VM pool that includes a graphics processing unit (GPU)-optimized VM and a non-GPU-optimized VM operating in different clouds. A control plane can receive an indication that a user has submitted a workload request, determine whether a GPU-optimized VM is available and instruct the non-GPU-optimized VM to send the workload to the GPU-optimized VM in a peer-to-peer manner. The GPU-optimized VM computes the workload and returns a result to the requesting VM. The control plane can instantiate a new GPU-optimized VM (or terminate it when the workload is complete) to dynamically maintain a desired number of available GPU-optimized VMs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for processing user queries through an artificial intelligence (“AI”) pipeline, utilizing data chunking, question generation, and AI models to deliver contextually relevant responses. The system includes a server that ingests and chunks datasets, generates vector embeddings, and stores the data in one or more vector databases. A pipeline engine sends the chunked data to an AI model that generates potential questions tailored to different user personas. These questions, along with their corresponding data chunks, are stored in the database for future retrieval. When a user submits a query, the system semantically compares the query to the pre-generated question vectors and retrieves the most relevant question and associated data chunk. The query is then sent to an external AI model for final response generation. The system provides seamless interaction, delivering optimized, context-aware responses to user queries in real-time.

Abstract: Disclosed examples determine a unique audience exposed to media while reducing memory resources of a computing device. Example instructions program programmable circuitry to log a plurality of impressions corresponding to media accessed at client devices; generate a first value based on a count of the impressions and a count of users of a database proprietor that accessed the media; generate a second value based on the first value and a count of demographic impressions logged by the database proprietor; and determine a unique audience size based on the second value.

Abstract: A holder for retaining a helmet and a head and neck support device connected to the helmet. The holder has a base and a tongue. The base has a top surface and a u-shaped cavity extending into the base from the top surface. The u-shaped cavity generally has two arms and a bottom wall. The head and neck support device is retained in the u-shaped cavity, and the tongue assists in retaining the helmet.

Abstract: Polylactide resin compositions that exhibit rapid hydrolysis rates and leave small amounts of residuals include a poly(meso-lactide) and a second polylactide. The polylactide resin compositions are useful in applications in which rapid hydrolysis is wanted under mildly to moderately elevated temperatures, such as in certain oil & gas well treatment applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cannula assembly having a tube with an internal lumen, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured for insertion into a patient. The cannula assembly further includes a housing rotatably coupled to the tube between a closed position and one or more open positions. The housing contains an electronic component comprising an image transmission device, such as a camera, for collecting and receiving images of the surgical site. The housing is adapted to provide the image transmission device with a longitudinal or forward view when the housing is in the closed position and a transverse view (i.e., offset from the longitudinal axis) when the housing is in one of the open positions. The housing is disposed distal to the proximal end portion and proximal to the distal end portion of the tube to protect the image transmission device as the distal end portion creates an incision and/or passes through an existing incision in the patient.