Abstract: A system and method for identifying whether certain web-based media or web-based videos are likely to become popular is provided. Videos that are identified as having a strong likelihood of becoming popular with a particular demographic group are paired to advertisements or other media appropriate for the particular demographic group. Videos that are likely to be popular are identified by measuring early input rates such as request rates, replay rates, comment rates, forwarding rates and reply rates. Input rate patterns including pattern segments correlated to inputs from a particular demographic group are identified.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the dynamic provisioning of computing and data assets in a commodity computing environment. The invention provides a system and method for dynamically provisioning and de-provisioning computing resources based on multi-dimensional decision criteria. By employing specialized computing components configured to assess an asset and requestor of an asset, a provisioning engine is able to transform the input from the computing components into a specific configuration of computing resource provisioning and security controls. According to the rules and policies applying to a security domain, the provisioning engine may dynamically allocate computing resources in a manner that is both safe and efficient for the asset.

Abstract: At a mobile device, a password is used to create a proof of knowledge (POK). The POK is stored in a controller accessible via a communication network. The POK ensures that the controller can detect an incorrect password from the mobile device, and that the mobile device cannot be subject to a brute force attack to determine the DC stored in the mobile device. After a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to enter the password, the controller blocks further attempts, thereby restoring protection against a brute force attack that was lost going from a standalone smart card to mobile-device-based derived credentials. A portion of Derived Credentials, needed to authenticate the user of a mobile device, is stored in the controller, further increasing the difficulty of unauthorized use.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for refilling a reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with liquid from a dispenser.

Abstract: An image coding and decoding system is provided that includes an image coding apparatus and an image decoding apparatus. The image coding apparatus includes a coder that codes an input image, a first decoder that decodes the coded image to obtain a first reconstructed image, a first pixel difference value obtainer, a first average deriver, a first threshold value setter, a first comparator, and a first remover that removes a coding distortion. The image decoding apparatus includes an obtainer that obtains the first quantization parameter of the first block and the second quantization parameter of the second block, a second decoder that decodes the coded image, a second pixel difference value obtainer, a second average deriver, a second comparator, and a second remover that removes a coding distortion in an area disposed on both sides of a block boundary between the first block and the second block.

Abstract: According to a picture coding method, a coded picture is stored, as a reference picture, into a storage unit; commands indicating correspondence between reference pictures and reference indices for designating reference pictures and coefficients used for generation of predictive images are generated; a reference picture being used when motion compensation is performed on a current block in a current picture to be coded is designated by a reference index; a predictive image is generated by performing linear prediction on a block being obtained by motion estimation within the designated reference picture, by use of a coefficient corresponding to the reference index; a coded image signal including a coded signal obtained by coding a prediction error being a difference between the current block in the current picture to be coded and the predictive image, the commands, the reference index and the coefficient is outputted.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus includes a motion compensation coding unit for deciding a coding mode for coding a current block to be coded and for generating predictive image data based on the coding mode, and includes a direct mode enable/disable judgment unit for judging whether or not scaling processing can be performed when the coding mode decided by the motion compensation coding unit is a temporal direct mode. When it is judged that the scaling processing cannot be performed, the motion compensation coding unit performs motion compensation either by using another coding mode or without the scaling processing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel therapeutic combination comprising one or more anti-androgen agents and one or more antibiotic/anti-inflammatory agents or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof, useful for the treatment of a dermatological disorder.

Abstract: A moving picture coding apparatus includes an inter-pixel filter having filters for filtering decoded image data so as to remove block distortion which is high frequency noise around block boundaries. The inter-pixel filter includes filters having different filtering strengths. The coding apparatus also includes a filter processing control unit for determining a filtering strength of the inter-pixel filter.

Abstract: A compact Butler matrix consists a planar multilayer structure comprising N parallel metal plate waveguides PPW, stacked one on top of the other, two adjacent waveguides PPW comprising a common wall consisting of one of the metal plates. The couplers, the phase-shifters and the crossover devices of the Butler matrix consist of metasurfaces incorporated in the metal plates. The planar two-dimensional beam-former can comprise a Butler matrix with waveguides PPW associated with optical lenses incorporated in each waveguide PPW. Alternatively, the planar two-dimensional beam-former can comprise an upper stage consisting of a Butler matrix with waveguides PPW, and a lower stage comprising waveguides PPW equipped with incorporated reflectors, the two stages being connected in series.

Abstract: A wound assessment device is provided which can include any number of features. In one embodiment, the wound assessment device comprises a hands-free device that includes a camera, additional sensors, electronics including a processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, an energy source, and a display. The wound assessment device can be configured to document the healing process of a wound, and overlay a digital ruler and information pertaining to the wound and the patient onto images taken of the wound. Methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A pipe repair apparatus and method of repairing a main pipe and a lateral pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a packer assembly having a main bladder body with a cylindrical shape extending radially from and along the first axis for inflating in the main pipe. The packer assembly also has a lateral bladder body with a cylindrical shape extending radially from and along a second axis transverse to the first axis for inflating in the lateral pipe. A main liner is disposed about the main bladder body for adhering to the inner surface of the main pipe to repair the main pipe in response to the main bladder body being inflated. Similarly, a lateral liner is disposed about the lateral bladder body for adhering to the inside surface of the lateral pipe to repair the lateral pipe in response to the lateral bladder body being inflated.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a user electronic device at a computer system, one or more extracted feature vectors that are compact representations of one or more video frames of a video displayed at the user device; identifying, at the computer system, one or more products related to the one or more video frames based at least in part on an approximate nearest neighbor search of an electronic database of reference feature vectors corresponding to one or more reference works that identifies any match within a threshold of at least one of the reference feature vectors to the one or more extracted feature vectors but does not guarantee to identify the closest match to the one or more extracted feature vectors; providing, by the computer system to the user electronic device, the identified one or more products along with action information associated with the identified one or more products, wherein the action information is related to an action to be performed at the user electronic device;

Abstract: Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions having the sequence Arg-Ser-Cys-Ile-Asp-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Ser-Arg-Cys-Thr-Ala-Phe-Gln-Cys-Lys-His-Ser-Xaa-Lys-Tyr-Arg-Leu-Ser-Phe-Cys-Arg-Lys-Thr-Cys-Gly-Thr-Cys (SEQ ID NO:1). The disclosed compositions can include an acid or amide at the C-terminus of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the polypeptide can be attached to an organic or inorganic chemical entity that has an anionic charge. The polypeptide can be detectably labeled for diagnostic purposes. Methods of manufacturing and using the pharmaceutical compounds are also disclosed.