Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for manipulating non-linearly connected transmedia content, in particular for creating, processing and/or managing non-linearly connected transmedia content and for tracking content creation and attributing transmedia content to one or more creators. Specifically, the invention involves creating a transmedia content data item by a first user and storing the transmedia content data item in a data store, along with a record indicating an association between the first user and the transmedia content data item; creating an ordered group of transmedia content data items by a second user, the ordered group comprising a pointer to the transmedia content data item of the first user; and storing the ordered group and a record associating both the first user and the second user with the ordered group in the data store.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for navigating, outputting and displaying non-linearly connected groups of transmedia content. Specifically, the invention involves retrieving, from a database, an ordered group of transmedia content data objects comprising a plurality of transmedia content data objects and linking data, whereby each element of the linking data defines a directional link from one of the transmedia content data objects to another of the transmedia content data objects; generating a two-dimensional graph structure representing the ordered group of transmedia content data objects whereby each graph node corresponds to a transmedia content data object and each graph edge corresponds to an element of the linking data; and outputting the graph structure on a display screen.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, system and method for processing transmedia content data. More specifically, the disclosure provides for identifying and inserting one item of media content within another item of media content, e.g. inserting a video within a video, such that the first item of media content appears as part of the second item. The invention involves analysing a first visual media item to identify one or more spatial locations to insert the second visual media item within the image data of the first visual media item, detecting characteristics of the one or more identified spatial locations, transforming the second visual media item according to the detected characteristics and combining the first visual media item and second visual media item by inserting the transformed second visual media item into the first visual media item at the one or more identified spatial locations.

Abstract: A mobile manufacturing device and a method for producing three-dimensional lattice or mesh structures, wherein the mobile manufacturing device is a mobile device adapted to move along a three-dimensional structure to be produced, in particular while performing both translation and rotation movements in three-dimensional space, and wherein the mobile manufacturing device includes a means for detection of its position relative to the dimensional structure to be produced, so that the mobile manufacturing device is able to produce the three-dimensional structure as an autonomous robot.

Abstract: A method of rendering content items on a display via an electronic device involves mapping linked content items to a three-dimensional object defined by layout data. The layout data is then transmitted to an electronic device for display.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for generating a parametric eye model of one or more eyes are provided. The systems and techniques may include obtaining eye data from an eye model database. The eye data includes eyeball data and iris data corresponding to a plurality of eyes. The systems and techniques may further include generating an eyeball model using the eyeball data. Generating the eyeball model includes establishing correspondences among the plurality of eyes. The systems and techniques may further include generating an iris model using the iris data. Generating the iris model includes sampling one or more patches of one or more of the plurality of eyes using an iris control map and merging the one or more patches into a synthesized texture. The systems and techniques may further include generating the parametric eye model that includes the eyeball model and the iris model.

Abstract: The present technology provides nanocomposite compositions that include about 0.1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of nanoparticles having a net cationic charge by weight of the composition; about 0.1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of one or more gelling agents by weight of the composition; and a solvent that includes a protic solvent. Methods of preparing a three-dimensional structure via the nanocomposite composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A phononic transistor can be realized by arranging a row of cantilevered structures with attached magnets, elastically extending upward upon application of a magnetic repulsive force to the magnets. In the extended configuration, the phonons are transmitted from source to drain, while in the flattened configuration the phonons are blocked from transmission. A gate element controls the ON and OFF states of the phononic transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for reconstructing an object in three dimensions that is captured in a set of two-dimensional images. The object is reconstructed in three dimensions by computing depth values for edges of the object in the set of two-dimensional images. The set of two-dimensional images may be samples of a light field surrounding the object. The depth values may be computed by exploiting local gradient information in the set of two-dimensional images. After computing the depth values for the edges, depth values between the edges may be determined by identifying types of the edges (e.g., a texture edge, a silhouette edge, or other type of edge). Then, the depth values from the set of two-dimensional images may be aggregated in a three-dimensional space using a voting scheme, allowing the reconstruction of the object in three dimensions.

Abstract: Enhanced removing of noise and outliers from one or more point sets generated by image-based 3D reconstruction techniques is provided. In accordance with the disclosure, input images and corresponding depth maps can be used to remove pixels that are geometrically and/or photometrically inconsistent with the colored surface implied by the input images. This allows standard surface reconstruction methods (such as Poisson surface reconstruction) to perform less smoothing and thus achieve higher quality surfaces with more features. In some implementations, the enhanced point-cloud noise removal in accordance with the disclosure can include computing per-view depth maps, and detecting and removing noisy points and outliers from each per-view point cloud by checking if points are consistent with the surface implied by the other input views.

Abstract: Supervised machine learning using convolutional neural network (CNN) is applied to denoising images rendered by MC path tracing. The input image data may include pixel color and its variance, as well as a set of auxiliary buffers that encode scene information (e.g., surface normal, albedo, depth, and their corresponding variances). In some embodiments, a CNN directly predicts the final denoised pixel value as a highly non-linear combination of the input features. In some other embodiments, a kernel-prediction neural network uses a CNN to estimate the local weighting kernels, which are used to compute each denoised pixel from its neighbors. In some embodiments, the input image can be decomposed into diffuse and specular components. The diffuse and specular components are then independently preprocessed, filtered, and postprocessed, before recombining them to obtain a final denoised image.

Abstract: Enhanced removing of noise and outliers from one or more point sets generated by image-based 3D reconstruction techniques is provided. In accordance with the disclosure, input images and corresponding depth maps can be used to remove pixels that are geometrically and/or photometrically inconsistent with the colored surface implied by the input images. This allows standard surface reconstruction methods (such as Poisson surface reconstruction) to perform less smoothing and thus achieve higher quality surfaces with more features. In some implementations, the enhanced point-cloud noise removal in accordance with the disclosure can include computing per-view depth maps, and detecting and removing noisy points and outliers from each per-view point cloud by checking if points are consistent with the surface implied by the other input views.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1), a method, and a kit for analysing liquid samples. The device (1) comprises a sample layer (111) having a plurality of liquid permeable test sites (112) separated by a liquid impermeable barrier region (113), and an inlet part (2) comprising a plurality of inlet channels (211), which lead to respective test sites (112) of the sample layer (111), such that a flow connection between said inlet channels (211) and said respective test sites (112) is established or can be established, wherein said inlet channels (211) comprise first openings (218) and second openings (219), wherein a second surface area defined by the positions of said second openings (219) is smaller than a first surface area defined by the positions of said first openings (218) The invention further relates to a method for functionalizing a sample layer (111).

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a strategy for controlling information flow both from known opacity regions to unknown regions, as well as within the unknown region itself. This strategy is formulated through the use and refinement of various affinity definitions. As a result of this strategy, a final linear system can be obtained, which can be solved in closed form. One embodiment pertains to identifying opacity information flows. The opacity information flow may include one or more of flows from pixels in the image that have similar colors to a target pixel, flows from pixels in the foreground and background to the target pixel, flows from pixels in the unknown opacity region in the image to the target pixel, flows from pixels immediately surrounding the target pixels in the image to the target pixel, and any other flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100) for generating UV or X-ray radiation (R) by means of a plasma (10), comprising a first compartment (110), a dispensing device (5), which is adapted to provide a target material (80) in the first compartment (10), an excitation light source (13) for providing an excitation light beam (90), and a buffer gas inlet (130) and/or a buffer gas outlet (140) for providing a buffer gas flow (B) along the direction (D) of the excitation light beam (90) in the first compartment (110), wherein the first compartment (110) is adapted to be at least partially heated by a heating device (150). The invention further relates to a method for generating UV or X-ray radiation (R) by means of the device (100).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a polymer nanoparticle by a photoinduced emulsion polymerization includes preparing an emulsion comprising at least one surfactant, a dispersed phase and a continuous phase. The dispersed phase comprises at least one polymerizable monomer and the continuous phase comprises water and at least one photoinitiator. The at least one polymerizable monomer is polymerized by exposing the emulsion to an electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength so as to induce a generation of radicals from the at least one photoinitiator.

Abstract: An omnidirectional camera apparatus configured to facilitate omnidirectional stereo imaging is described. The apparatus may include a first convex mirror, a first camera disposed at the first convex mirror, a second convex mirror, and a second camera disposed at the second convex mirror. The first convex mirror and the second convex mirror may be arranged such that a first mirrored surface of the first convex mirror and a second mirrored surface of the second convex mirror may face each other. The first camera may capture imagery reflected off the second convex mirror. The second camera may capture imagery reflected off the first convex mirror. A method of calibrating an omnidirectional camera apparatus is also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for reconstructing an object in three dimensions that is captured in a set of two-dimensional images. The object is reconstructed in three dimensions by computing depth values for edges of the object in the set of two-dimensional images. The set of two-dimensional images may be samples of a light field surrounding the object. The depth values may be computed by exploiting local gradient information in the set of two-dimensional images. After computing the depth values for the edges, depth values between the edges may be determined by identifying types of the edges (e.g., a texture edge, a silhouette edge, or other type of edge). Then, the depth values from the set of two-dimensional images may be aggregated in a three-dimensional space using a voting scheme, allowing the reconstruction of the object in three dimensions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques for reconstructing an object in three dimensions that is captured in a set of two-dimensional images. The object is reconstructed in three dimensions by computing depth values for edges of the object in the set of two-dimensional images. The set of two-dimensional images may be samples of a light field surrounding the object. The depth values may be computed by exploiting local gradient information in the set of two-dimensional images. After computing the depth values for the edges, depth values between the edges may be determined by identifying types of the edges (e.g., a texture edge, a silhouette edge, or other type of edge). Then, the depth values from the set of two-dimensional images may be aggregated in a three-dimensional space using a voting scheme, allowing the reconstruction of the object in three dimensions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system to achieve spatially (e.g. three-dimensionally) confined photomodulation at the focal volume (50) in a ample (55) mounted in a microscope system, comprising two or more laser light sources (41, 42) emitting light (32, 34) of different wavelengths adapted to excite a material in an identical number of independent excitation steps to a higher vibrational state from which the material relaxes, either emitting a conversion light to be detected (“photoexcitation”) or modulating the spectral properties of the material (“photomodulation”).