Abstract: An objective of an endoscope can be evaluated by collecting a series of differently focused images and digitally stitching them together to obtain a final image for the endoscope that can be then evaluated. Movable optics and/or a camera can be used to collect the series of differently focused images. Image processing algorithms can be used to evaluate the collected images in terms of image sharpness and identify the areas at which each image is in relatively good focus. Once the areas of good focus are identified, the image processing algorithms can extract the areas of good focus. The digital stitching algorithms can be used to assemble the extracted areas of good focus to form a final image where most of the target scene should be in focus. The final image is then reviewed to determine the acceptability of the objective.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein may retrieve a data lineage associated with a first computing system comprising a plurality of services and data elements. The data lineage may indicate a plurality of interrelationships between the plurality of services and data elements. Based on the data lineage, a visualization of the first computing system may be generated. Based on the one or more interrelationships between a first data element and the plurality of services and data elements, one or more services and data elements affected by the change to the first data element may be identified. Based on the one or more services and data elements affected by the change to the first data element, the visualization of the first computing system may be updated to indicate the impact to the first computing system.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide fraud mitigation via dynamic transaction card wireless communication. A mobile device may cause a dynamic transaction card to periodically scan its environment to detect wireless enabled devices proximately located near the dynamic transaction card. Based on identifying the wireless enabled devices frequently located near the dynamic transaction card, a set of approved devices may be determined. During a transaction, a dynamic transaction card may scan its environment for other wireless enabled devices proximately located near the dynamic transaction card. If wireless enabled devices detected by the dynamic transaction card are all, or a subset, of the devices that are frequently located near the card, then the transaction may be authorized. However, if the wireless enabled devices detected by the dynamic transaction card are not all, or a subset, of the devices that are frequently located near the card, then the transaction may be unauthorized.

Abstract: A system and method that guides a user to record initial and final walkthrough videos, along with audio, of their rental property is disclosed. The embodiments also provide a system that can scan a lease for the rental property, as well as audio from a user's narration of the video, and extract and tag particular features of the video for efficient querying at a later time. The system can interpret portions of the lease that are relevant to particular items or components in the apartment (for example, major appliances) and guide the user to perform a comprehensive inspection of the items mentioned in the lease.

Abstract: Provided is a method for normalizing embeddings for cross-embedding alignment. The method may include applying mean centering to the at least one embedding set, applying spectral normalization to the at least one embedding set, and/or applying length normalization to the at least one embedding set. Spectral normalization may include decomposing the at least one embedding set, determining an average singular value of the at least one embedding set, determining a respective substitute singular value for each respective singular value of a diagonal matrix, and/or replacing the at least one embedding set with a product of the at least one embedding set, a right singular vector, and an inverse of the substitute diagonal matrix. The mean centering, spectral normalization, and/or length normalization may be iteratively repeated for a configurable number of iterations. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid end for a fracturing pump includes a plurality of segments coupled together along a discharge axis, each segment of the plurality of segments having a plurality of suction bores. The fluid end also includes respective interfaces between segment pairs formed by adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, the interfaces coupling the segment pairs together. The fluid end further includes respective access areas proximate the respective interfaces, the respective access areas configured to provide access for mechanical couplings to join the segment pairs together.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a layered metal with resistance to hydrogen induced cracking and method of production thereof, comprising a core metal alloy and a skin metal alloy. The core metal alloy comprises twinned boundaries. The core metal alloy has undergone plastic deformation and a heat treatment. The core metal alloy comprises nickel and cobalt. The skin metal alloy is disposed on the core metal alloy, wherein the skin metal alloy comprises an entropy greater than the core metal alloy. The core metal alloy comprises a greater density of twinned boundaries than the skin metal alloy. The skin metal alloy comprises a stacking fault energy of at least about 50 mJ/m2, and the skin metal alloy comprises iron, aluminum, and boron.

Abstract: Blockchain-based, smart contract platforms have great promise to remove trust and add transparency to distributed applications. However, this benefit often comes at the cost of greatly reduced privacy. Techniques for implementing a privacy-preserving smart contract is described. The system can keep accounts private while not losing functionality and with only a limited performance overhead. This is achieved by building a confidential and anonymous token on top of a cryptocurrency. Multiple complex applications can also be built using the smart contract system.

Abstract: Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may be used to survey a property in response to or in anticipation of a threat. For example, an unmanned vehicle may analyze information about the property and based on the information deter theft of items on the property.

Abstract: A vaporizing assembly for an aerosol generating system includes a sheet heating element and a delivery device configured to deliver a liquid aerosol-forming substrate from a liquid storing portion to the sheet heating element. The sheet heating element is spaced apart from the delivery device and is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol forming substrate.

Abstract: A system for conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services includes a web server for receiving bid data for one or more users for basic generation service products, an application server host application software, which processes the one or more bids according to at least one auction rule, tracks the auction, monitors the auction, and/or determines when to end the auction, and a database server, which stores auction data. A method of conducting a computer-based, simultaneous, multiple round, descending clock auction for basic generation services includes the repeating steps of receiving bids indicating desired tranche units of basic generation service products, calculating next round prices for each product, and sending round results to bidders. The system for and method of conducting a computer-based auction includes receiving and processing a withdrawal request or a switch request from at least one of the qualified bidders.

Abstract: A smart card includes a plurality of display devices on an outside surface of a housing. Circuitry within the housing includes a processor, and communication circuitry configured to communicate with at least one computing device located within a geographic region around the smart card. The processor is configured to continuously receive a plurality of communication signals from the computing device, to continuously assess a geographic distance from the smart card to the fixed position of the computing device within the geographic region using the plurality of communication signals, to continuously activate or deactivate the plurality of display devices based on the geographic distance from the smart card to the fixed position of the computing device in the geographic region for providing a user with a directional indication, distance indication, or both, to the computing device in the geographic region.

Abstract: A valve guide for a fracturing pump valve assembly, the valve guide include a ring member having one or more blades. The one or more blades project inward from an annular ring of the ring member, a first side of the one or more blades defining a central space of the ring member, the central space configured to contain a cross-sectional portion of a valve post of the valve assembly therein and the first side extending parallel to a long axis length of the valve post. Valve assemblies and hydraulic fracturing systems including the valve guide are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include: receiving, from at least one camera, image data associated with a first user at a public access user computing device; detecting, based on the received image data, by employing a machine learning model trained using a dataset of actions collected from a plurality of previous users, that the first user has moved away from the public access user computing device; automatically encrypting, based upon the detection, a user session associated with the first user, wherein the encrypted user session is configured to be subsequently activated by the first user; and initiating a new generic user session on the public access user computing device for a second user.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump includes a pump and an electric motor coupled to the pump. An electric submersible pump also includes a seal that is positioned between the pump and the electric motor. The seal has an outer housing and a seal bag internal to the outer housing. The seal bag has an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer is made from a first material to maintain the structure of the seal bag in a swellable state within the wellbore environment. The inner layer is made from a second material that can swell in response to contact with a polar substance and seal a tear in the outer layer of the seal bag.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include reservoir simulation systems and methods to dynamically improve performance of reservoir simulations. The method includes obtaining input variables for generating a reservoir simulation of a reservoir, and generating the reservoir simulation based on the input variables. The method also includes determining a variance of computation time for processing the reservoir simulation. In response to a determination that the variance of computation time is less than or equal to a threshold, the method includes performing a first sequence of Bayesian Optimizations of at least one of internal and external parameters that control the reservoir simulation to improve performance of the reservoir simulation. In response to a determination that the variance of computation time is greater than the threshold, the method includes performing a second sequence of Bayesian Optimizations of at least one of the internal and external parameters.

Abstract: The connector is configured to couple a first section and a second section of an e-vaping device, and the connector includes a flange with a first end and a second end, a shaft extending from the first end of the flange, an outer shelf being formed by a portion of the first end of the flange, a cylindrical base extending from the second end of the flange, and an inner shelf within the connector, the cylindrical base and the inner shelf at least partially defining a longitudinal opening, the flange defining at least one first notch, the at least one first notch at least partially along the second end of the flange.

Abstract: Techniques are described for determining and tracking fractional ownership interests in an asset, using a distributed ledger. Shares in an asset, such as a house, may be offered for sale through a marketplace. Sales of the shares, and information regarding the asset, may be tracked using a distributed ledger system, such as one or more blockchains that provide immutable and secure data storage distributed across a plurality of nodes. Embodiments provide individuals with liquidity options and/or pricing options for selling shares in their home, allowing individuals to securitize interest in their own equity in the home and pre-sell shares in some of that equity without selling the entire property and without taking out a loan.

Abstract: A method including entraining carbon dioxide (CO2) in a cement slurry composition and subjecting the cement slurry composition to conditions under which the CO2 achieves and maintains a supercritical state; and allowing the cement slurry composition to harden to form a hardened cement having CO2 sequestered therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for measuring private information protection across a number of external services. A centralized private information protection service is coupled to external services, accesses data of these external services, aggregates the data and determines a private information protection scoring based upon the aggregated data.