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: According to one implementation, a system includes a computing platform having a hardware processor and a system memory storing a software code including multiple artificial neural networks (ANNs). The hardware processor executes the software code to partition a multi-dimensional input vector into a first vector data and a second vector data, and to transform the second vector data using a first piecewise-polynomial transformation parameterized by one of the ANNs, based on the first vector data, to produce a transformed second vector data. The hardware processor further executes the software code to transform the first vector data using a second piecewise-polynomial transformation parameterized by another of the ANNs, based on the transformed second vector data, to produce a transformed first vector data, and to determine a multi-dimensional output vector based on an output from the plurality of ANNs.

Abstract: A laser ablation cell (1) comprises a flow channel (11) having an essentially constant cross-sectional area so as to ensure a strictly laminar flow in the flow channel. A sample chamber (21) is provided adjacent to a lateral opening (14) of the flow channel. A laser beam (41) enters the sample chamber (21) through a lateral window (16) and impinges on a surface (24) of a sample (23) to ablate material from the sample. The sample may be positioned in such a distance from the flow channel that the laser-generated aerosol mass distribution has its center within the flow channel. This leads to short aerosol washout times. The laser ablation cell is particularly well suited for aerosol generation in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), including imaging applications.

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: A waveguide heterostructure for a semiconductor laser with an active part, comprising an active region layer depending of the type of semiconductor used, which is sandwiched between an electrode layer and a substrate, usable for dispersion compensation in a semiconductor laser frequency comb setup, an optical frequency comb setup and a manufacturing method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating electromagnetic radiation by a laser-produced plasma, wherein a target comprising a target material is provided, at least one pulse sequence is directed to said target, wherein the pulse sequence comprises four to nine conditioning laser pulses, wherein time intervals between subsequent conditioning laser pulses are 200 ns or less, and a main laser pulse is directed to said target along a first axis, such that a radiation-emitting plasma is formed from at least a part of said target material. The invention further relates to a device for generating electromagnetic radiation by means of a laser-produced plasma comprising a dispensing device and at least one laser source, wherein the device is configured such that at least one pulse sequence comprising four to nine conditioning laser pulses and a main laser pulse can be generated by the at least one laser source.

Abstract: A method of identifying locations in a virtual environment where a motion sequence can be performed by an animated character may include accessing the motion sequence for the animated character, identifying a plurality of contact locations in the motion sequence where the animated character contacts surfaces in virtual environments, accessing the virtual environment comprising a plurality of surfaces, and identifying the locations in the virtual environment where the motion sequence can be performed by the animated character by identifying surfaces in the plurality of surfaces that match the plurality of contact locations.

Abstract: A method and system for propelling and controlling displacement of a microrobot in a space having a wall, includes the steps of: forming the microrobot with a body containing a magnetic field-of-force responsive material, wherein, in response to a magnetic field of force, a force is applied to the material in a direction of the magnetic field of force; positioning the microrobot in the space for displacement in that space; and generating the magnetic field of force with a predetermined gradient and applying the magnetic field of force to the microrobot propelling the microrobot through the space in a direction of a field of force. Then, a sequence of field generating steps are executed, wherein each step includes calculating the direction, amplitude and spatial variation of the net field of force to control displacement of the microrobot in the space and against the wall from one equilibrium point to another.

Abstract: The fat burning analyzer includes a sampling part, an analysis unit and a processing unit. The sampling part collects a breath sample from the user, information on the conditions of the breath sample collection, and provides a sampling signal correlated to the collection condition of the breath sample. The analysis unit provides a detection signal corresponding to an acetone concentration in the collected breath sample and, as such, provides information on the breath acetone of the user (during exercise or resting). The processing unit receives the sampling signal and/or detection signal, and evaluates the sampling signal and/or the detection signal. The evaluation provides information correlated to the fat burning intensity of the user. These information can be provided as an output signal by the processing unit. Accordingly, the processing unit is equipped to provide an output signal correlated to the fat burning intensity of the user.

Abstract: The present invention refers to lipophilic extracts of members of the Iridaceae family, such as Iris germanica and/or Iris pallida, that have been found to promote lymphatic function. These extracts are suitable for the treatment of skin inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, impaired wound healing, chronic inflammatory diseases, chronic airway inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, rosacea, primary and/or secondary lymphedemas. The most active components were found to be the iridals.

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: An electro-optic element includes a first waveguide, which is a plasmonic waveguide, including a first core having a ferroelectric material and a cladding having a first cladding portion. The first cladding portion includes, at a first interface with the ferroelectric material, a first cladding material. The electro-optic element includes a first and a second electrode for producing an electric field in the ferroelectric material when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, for modulating a real part of a refractive index of the ferroelectric material. The element includes, in addition, a crystalline substrate on which the ferroelectric material is epitaxially grown with zero or one or more intermediate layers present between the substrate and the ferroelectric material. The element may have a second waveguide, which is a photonic waveguide, including for enabling evanescent coupling between the first and second waveguides.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a polymer scaffold that comprises the steps of providing a piece of a fabric of filaments of a first biodegradable or biocompatible polymer, applying a coating of a second polymer to said arrangement of filaments, and stretching the piece along its axis of longitudinal extension, thereby obtaining an aligned microfibrillar scaffold. The invention further relates to a method for providing an artificial tissue, and to a microfibrillar scaffold of aligned filaments obtained by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device and a method for determining mass and/or mechanical properties of a biological system.

Abstract: A process for producing high-purity magnesium by means of distillation at reduced pressure, characterized in that, the high-purity magnesium condenses in the liquid state, whereby the starting material in the form of a magnesium-containing melt is present together with the upper region of a condensation vessel in the upper region of a retort, whereby the retort consist of a material that releases no volatile impurities into the magnesium steam, whereby the upper region of the retort is brought to a temperature above the boiling point of magnesium, within the limits of two level lines, and is then held constant, such that steam rises from the boiling magnesium-containing metal melt and fills the interior of the upper region of the retort, whereby the steam infiltrating the upper region of the condensation vessel condenses below the lower level line and collects as high-purity melt in the lower region of the condensation vessel, and whereby in order to prevent contaminated melt that drops from the region above

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: Virtual oscillator control systems, devices, and techniques are provided. One example device includes a processor configured to implement a virtual oscillator circuit and output an oscillating waveform based on the virtual oscillator circuit and power electronics operatively coupled to the processor and configured to convert, based on the oscillating waveform, direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity. The processor may be further configured to extract, from the virtual oscillator circuit, a virtual current based on an output current of the AC electricity, and output the oscillating waveform further based on an input voltage of the DC electricity.

Abstract: An apparatus for emitting pulsed electromagnetic laser radiation includes a laser gain element; an optical arrangement defining a laser resonator and arranged to re-direct radiation emitted by the gain element along a beam path back onto the gain element, the optical arrangement comprising an output coupler configured to couple a portion of the radiation in the laser resonator out of the laser resonator; and, a pump arrangement configured to pump the laser gain element. The optical arrangement includes a mode locker placed in the laser resonator in the beam path, and a birefringent element placed in the laser resonator in the beam path.

Abstract: A versatile, highly efficient process for the preparation of acylphosphines such as mono- and bisacylphosphines via reaction of phosphines (PH3 and higher homologues) or silylated phosphines with acylhalides in the presence of at least one lewis acid. Further a novel acyl phosphines obtainable by the process.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasive reconstruction of an entire object-specific or person-specific teeth row from just a set of photographs of the mouth region of an object (e.g., an animal) or a person (e.g., an actor or a patient) are provided. A teeth statistic model defining individual teeth in a teeth row can be developed. The teeth statistical model can jointly describe shape and pose variations per tooth, and as well as placement of the individual teeth in the teeth row. In some embodiments, the teeth statistic model can be trained using teeth information from 3D scan data of different sample subjects. The 3D scan data can be used to establish a database of teeth of various shapes and poses. Geometry information regarding the individual teeth can be extracted from the 3D scan data. The teeth statistic model can be trained using the geometry information regarding the individual teeth.