Abstract: A method for removing a heavy metal from water includes subjecting a microbial solution containing a liquid culture of a urease-producing bacterial strain and a reaction solution containing a manganese compound and urea to a microbial-induced precipitation reaction, so as to obtain biomineralized manganese carbonate (MnCO3) particles, admixing the biomineralized MnCO3 particles with water containing a heavy metal, so that the biomineralized MnCO3 particles adsorb the heavy metal in the water to form a precipitate, and removing the precipitate from the water.

Abstract: In example implementations, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a system management bus, a controller communicatively coupled to the system management bus, a noise generating component communicatively coupled to the controller, a noise cancellation codec communicatively coupled to the system management bus, and a speaker communicatively coupled to the noise cancellation codec. The operating parameters of the noise generating component are provided to the controller. The noise cancellation codec is to receive the operating parameters of the noise generating component from the controller via the system management bus and to generate a noise cancellation signal based on the operating parameters. The speaker outputs the noise cancellation signal to cancel noise generated by the noise generating component.

Abstract: In some examples, an electronic device includes an audio output device, an airflow generator to generate an airflow, and a system controller to control an operational speed of the airflow generator. The electronic device further includes an audio controller to generate a noise cancellation audio output based on an indicator of the operational speed of the airflow generator provided from the system controller to the audio controller, and send the noise cancellation audio output to the audio output device to mitigate noise produced by the airflow generator.

Abstract: In example implementations, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes an expansion interface, a memory, a controller, and a configuration change module. The expansion interface includes a plurality of slots to connect to a respective add-in card and a re-timer to control an operation of the plurality of slots. The memory is to store a firmware that sets a configuration of the plurality of slots, wherein the re-timer is to control the operation of the plurality of slots in accordance with the configuration set by the firmware. The controller is to control operation of the expansion interface. The configuration change module is to change the configuration of the plurality of slots when a change in a number of connected add-in cards is detected.

Abstract: An example redundant power supply system comprises a power supply input to receive power from a power supply; a buck-boost converter coupled to the power supply input; and a controller coupled to the buck-boost converter. The controller is to receive a power supply identification signal from the power supply. The controller is also to enable or disable the buck-boost converter based on the power supply identification signal.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for image processing that support enhanced white balancing operations. In a first aspect, a method of image processing includes receiving first image data from an image sensor; determining to adjust a white balancing operation from a first white balance point to a second white balance point; determining a first intermediate white balance point based on the first white balance point, the second white balance point, and a white balance reference line; receiving second image data from the image sensor; and applying white balancing to the second image data based on the first intermediate white balance point. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.

Abstract: An example redundant power supply system comprises a power supply input to receive power from a power supply; a buck-boost converter coupled to the power supply input; and a controller coupled to the buck-boost converter. The controller is to receive a power supply identification signal from the power supply. The controller is also to enable or disable the buck-boost converter based on the power supply identification signal.

Abstract: Examples described herein relate to a non-transitory machine-readable medium consistent with the disclosure. For instance, the non-transitory machine-readable medium may store instruction executable by a processing resource to transfer additional power through a power delivery cable, input the additional power to a component of a computing device, and sequence the additional power with a main power supply of the computing device.

Abstract: The patent disclose a multi-user local access and delivery control system which comprises at least one storage device including a plurality of controlled storage cavities and a plurality of mobile units, each comprising a plurality of lockable storage drawers and an ID information pickup device. Particular storage cavities and storage drawers are unlocked to allow a deliverer to remove items from the storage cavities and place them in the storage drawers. After being relocked, the storage drawers are unlocked only when designated receivers are identified.

Abstract: This invention provides an upgrading device using bootloader in wireless sensor networks which is installed at a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor is connected to a host terminal, which is characterized by comprising: a hardware initialization device for initializing the condition of the hardware while the sensor is on or reset; a wireless device driving device for providing wireless communication ability to the bootloader; and a difference algorithm decoding device, comprising at least one difference algorithm, for decoding and rebuilding the script file which is received.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely debugging an application program over the Internet is described. A software vendor provides an interface program along with an application program to a customer. The interface program detects a debug request initiated by a customer operator on a customer computer, and establishes a connection with a debug program on a vendor computer over the Internet. The interface program takes over control of the application program from the customer operator, and takes various actions including running a diagnostic sequence received from the debug program on the application program to debug the application program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting image updates employing high compression encoding are described. New and old image pixel values are compared at corresponding coordinate positions. For coordinate positions where the values are significantly different, the new image pixel values are assigned to those coordinates unless the new image pixel value is equal to a predefined transparent pixel value. In that case, a pixel value resulting in a color imperceptibly different than the new image pixel value is assigned. On the other hand, for coordinate positions where the values are not significantly different, then the predefined transparent pixel is assigned to those coordinates. Because of the high occurrence of the transparent pixel value in many applications, the pixel values assigned in such a manner are suitable for high compression encoding and consequently, high speed transmission.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described for distributed management of a collaboration session including local and remote servers. A collaboration session request including a list of invitees is received from a user associated with a local-server. If the received list includes users associated with remote servers that are recognized as being capable of distributed management by the local server, then information is sent to those remote servers for distributed management of the collaboration session. Communication between users associated with the local server and each of the remote servers is done through a single persistent connection shared by all session participating users associated with that remote server.

Abstract: A method of conducting an interactive design conference over the Internet, comprises: selectively admitting clients communicating through web browsers over the Internet to an interactive design conference; receiving a graphics file indicative of a design from one of the clients; and transmitting the graphics file to the other clients so as to be viewable as a graphics image through graphics file readers in the client web browsers. The graphics file is generated by a snapshot program previously transmitted to a client initiating the design conference and controlling the design database. Java applets are transmitted to each of the design conference participants to facilitate communicating annotations of the graphics image and messages between clients through their web browsers.

Abstract: An automatic Engineering Change Order (ECO) methodology to effectively and efficiently carry out an ECO process is provided. In the present invention, an ECO framework, which includes a database and Computer Aided Design (CAD) software tools, is implemented as part of the ECO process. The ECO framework database is used in monitoring the gate array cells reserved for ECO modifications. In addition, the database also stores information related to the gate array cells such as their timing characterization, fanout characteristics, physical locations, and others. The database also includes library for storing selected connectivity patterns for logic cells. On the other hand, the ECO framework CAD software tools are used to place the reserved gate array cells in a physical layout and to monitor their status. The CAD software tools is also used to select gate array cells from the database for ECO changes according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A method and system to use a standard cell function library to automatically configure gate array cells in an integrated circuit layout is provided. A standard cell netlist at the transistor level is compiled to list the transistors required in implementing the desired functions. Based on the netlist, gate array cells are restructured so that they can be inserted in locations designed for standard cells. The restructured gate array cells, which are made up of single poly and double poly structures, are strategically placed in a layout. Using the function net connectivity patterns from the standard cell function library, the gate array cells are connected to implement desired logic functions.

Abstract: A method and system to efficiently incorporate engineering change order (ECO) modifications into an integrated circuit layout having configurable gate array cells is provided. In generating the original integrated circuit layout, extra gate array cells are inserted into the layout. These gate array cells can be reconfigured to modify their functionality according to changes specified by the ECO. A new netlist with a description of the required modifications is generated and provided to a place-and-route CAD tool to create a new layout of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A steplessly adjustable pre-stretched film wrapping apparatus includes a downstream film roller driven by a motor through a first shaft and an upstream film roller connected to the downstream roller with a steplessly adjustable mechanical coupling system for unwinding and stretching a film web from a film roll and extending therebetween. The coupling system includes an input disk mounted to an input shaft that is driven by the motor and in turn drives the downstream roller and having a thickness gradually reduced from a center portion to the peripheral edge, and an output disk mounted to an output shaft that drives the upstream roller and having a thickness gradually reduced from a center portion to the peripheral edge thereof. A pair of cramp disks are mounted on a floating shaft which is manually movable between the input disk and the output disk to change the center distance between the floating shaft and both of the input and output shafts.

Abstract: A steplessly adjustable pre-stretched film wrapping apparatus comprises a downstream film roller and an upstream film roller connected therebetween with an adjustable power transmission system to unwind and stretch a film web from a film roll. The power transmission system comprises a motor generating a rotational motion to drive a main shaft. A pair of mating bevel gears are used to transmit the rotation to the downstream film roller and a disk member which is secured on the upstream film roller and is driven by the main shaft via an active roller coaxially rotatable with the main shaft and an idle roller interposed between the active roller and the disk member to rotate the upstream film roller. The idle roller is contactingly rolling on a side of the disk member to be rotatably in an orthogonal way and thus defining a distance from the center of the disk member which determines the speed ratio therebetween.