Abstract: The quantization factor for each block of pixels in an image or video encoding or transcoding method is determined. The blocks of pixels are classified according to predefined criteria and the blocks are processed according to the resulting classification. The predefined criteria include, for example, anticipated characteristics of the blocks after quantization, such as the transform coefficients after quantization and/or the total number of non-zero transform coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new metal-free cyclotrimerization reaction of alkynes to produce a 1,3,5-triacylarylene or 1,3,5-triacylbenzene. This reaction is catalyzed by secondary amines, is strictly regioselective, highly functionality-tolerant, and the resulting product can be obtained in high yields. This reaction can be further applied for the preparation of novel branched (co)polymers bearing the triacylarylenes as structural units. The preparation of the (co)polymers is carried out as a one-pot single-step reaction procedure, giving branched oligomers and polymers in high yields up to 90%. The produced (co)polymers are also processible, easily film-forming, and thermally stable.

Abstract: A low temperature polycrystalline silicon device and techniques to manufacture thereof with excellent performance. Employing doped poly-Si lines which we called a bridged-grain structure (BG), the intrinsic or lightly doped channel is separated into multiple regions. A single gate covering the entire active channel including the doped lines is still used to control the current flow. Using this BG poly-Si as an active layer and making sure the TFT is designed so that the current flows perpendicularly to the parallel lines of grains, grain boundary effects can be reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented relating to a three stage crossbar based switching system and a scheduling method for transmission of data packets and associated request and grant tokens. The first stage and third stage portions of the switching system contain TDM crossbars, which are interconnected by a middle stage set of crossbars. In an embodiment, the system switching module is a m×m crossbar switch comprising m inputs and m outputs. The switch has a size m2×m2 formed from m×m crossbar modules. Scheduling of data packet servicing is on a frame by frame basis relating to selection based on port addresses and port address groups. Further, time slot interchange is utilized to address time slot mismatch.

Abstract: A method of treating, preventing, or ameliorating a pathological condition associated with a melatonin receptor in a mammal by using a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound of formula (I) as a ligand interacting with the melatonin receptor, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R7 are independently H, halo, alkyloxyl, alkyl or hydroxyl, provided that one of R1, R2, R3 and R7 is X—(CH2)n—R8; R5 is alkyl or arylalkyl; R6 is H or alkyl; X is a bond, O, S, SO, SO2, CO or NH; n=0-10; R8 is alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, NR9R10, or OR9; R9 is H, substituted or unsubstituted arylmethyl, or alkenyl; and R10 is H or alkyl.

Abstract: Described herein is a context-free protocol (i.e., the COFFEE protocol) for stimulating cooperation among selfish nodes. Various embodiments have the ability to transmit a packet over the path successfully without the dependency on the information of other packets' transmissions. It is assumed that every node in the network is rational, and therefore during the packet forwarding stage, if the intermediate nodes can not clearly tell whether the packet is destined to them or not, they do not simply drop the packet. Thus, in the COFFEE protocol, by introducing several techniques, for a packet received by a node, the node thinks the packet could potentially be destined to itself and forwards the packet to find out the answer. Detailed analysis and performance evaluations have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the COFFEE protocol.

Abstract: A convenient process for the regioselective synthesis of 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles and 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles from organic azides and alkynes employs catalytic ruthenium.

Abstract: An optimal denoising method for video coding. This method makes use of very few pixels and linear operations, and can be embedded into the motion compensation process of video encoders. This method is simple and flexible, yet offers high performance and produces appealing pictures.

Abstract: We disclose a new method of preparing liquid crystal alignment layers that can produce controllable pretilt angles from near 0 to near 90°. It is based on the stacking of two alignment materials sequentially, with the first one being continuous and the second one being discontinuous leaving part of the first layer exposed.

Abstract: A method of creating intracellular artificial nanostructures in situ, which employees a chemical precursor. The precursor does not self-assemble due to the presence of a cleavable motif linked to it. When the precursor comes inside live cells by an uptaking mechanism on the cell membrane, the cleavable motif is then to be removed by an enzymatic action of a first enzyme. Without the cleavable motif, the precursor now engages in a self-assembling process to form nanostructures within the live cells, which may cause formation of a hydrogel. Furthermore, the self-assembling process can be made reversible by employing a second enzyme which puts the cleavable motif back to the precursor, whereby dissolving the nanostructures into solution.

Abstract: A tunable multiphase ring oscillator includes a plurality of stages connected in series in a ring structure, where each stage generating a stage output from a stage input. Each stage of the tunable multiphase ring oscillator includes a plurality of trans-conductance cells, each generating an output from at least one portion of the stage input. Each stage further includes at least one phase shifting module for imparting at least one phase shift to the at least one portion of the stage input, an oscillator unit for generating the stage output from a combination of the plurality of outputs, and means for varying at least one of the plurality outputs so as to adjust a phase of the stage output.

Abstract: Metal induced polycrystallized silicon is used as the anode in a light emitting device, such as an OLED or AMOLED. The polycrystallized silicon is sufficiently non-absorptive, transparent and made sufficiently conductive for this purpose. A thin film transistor can be formed onto the polycrystallized silicon anode, with the silicon anode acting as the drain of the thin film transistor, thereby simplifying production.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming thin film transistors including a polycrystalline semiconducting film. The method comprises depositing a first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film on to a substrate; depositing a second layer of thin film on to the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film; patterning the second layer of thin film so that the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film is exposed at selected locations; exposing the first and second layers of thin film to a nickel containing compound in either a solution or a vapor phase ; removing the second layer of thin film; and annealing the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film at an elevated temperature so the first layer of amorphous semiconducting thin film converts into a polycrystalline semiconducting thin film.

Abstract: Described herein is a novel 3-D optical imaging system based on active stereo vision and motion tracking for to tracking the motion of patient and for registering the time-sequenced images of suspicious lesions recorded during endoscopic or colposcopic examinations. The system quantifies the acetic acid induced optical signals associated with early cancer development. The system includes at least one illuminating light source for generating light illuminating a portion of an object, at least one structured light source for projecting a structured light pattern on the portion of the object, at least one camera for imaging the portion of the object and the structured light pattern, and means for generating a quantitative measurement of an acetic acid-induced change of the portion of the object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of embedding watermarking data in an audio signal which includes the steps of incorporating watermarking information into said audio signal, sectioning said signal into at least two sections, marking at least one said section whereby said sections may be identified, generating distortion in one said section of said signal in manner recoverable by a key obtainable from at least one other said section, and appending said distorted section to said at least one other section to form a composite signal comprising a distorted section to said at least one other section to form a composite signal comprising a distorted section and at least one undistorted section. The present invention is particularly useful for enabling advertisements and or trial listening sections to be added to an audio file in such a manner that they include the key for recovering a distorted section. If an attempt is made to remove the advertisement or trial section, then the key would be lost.

Abstract: A method of forming a polarizing material is provided including exposing a layer of dichroic material to activating light illumination to provide an ordered structure with a distinguished absorption axis and thus photo-induce polarization, and fixing the induced polarization by polymerization of the dichroic layer. Novel polarizing materials formed thereby are also provided. By selectively exposing regions of the dichroic material to differing activating radiation, different regions with different polarization axes can be created. The polarizing material can also be provided with a coating or coatings to alter the spectral responses, and a stack formed of a plurality if dichroic layers can be provided.

Abstract: A single-inductor-multiple-output (SIMO) DC-DC switching regulator with a current-mode hysteretic control technique having an ultra-fast transient response to suppress cross-regulation is provided. The DC-DC switching regulator includes: at least one power source for providing electrical energy; an inductive energy storage element for accumulating and transferring the electrical energy from the input power source to a plurality of outputs; a main switch for controlling energy accumulation at the inductive energy storage element; a plurality of output switches for controlling energy transfer to each of the plurality of outputs; a freewheel switch coupled in parallel with the inductive energy storage element; and a controller, configured to coordinate the plurality of output switches and the main switch.

Abstract: Natural occurring inhibitors of cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5), isolated from the root of Rhodiola rosea are structurally different from the known Cdk inhibitors. They show selectivity among different Cdks and efficacy to inhibit Cdk via a mixed-type of inhibition, which should lead to less toxicity and side-effects. They are useful in preventing and treating diseases and disorders associated with aberrant Cdk5 activities, such as acute and/or chronic pain, neuropathic pain, diabetes mellitus, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathological disorders.

Abstract: Monodispersed silver nanowires are formed by a process utilizing a polyol. A capping agent is mixed in the polyol to form a substantially homogeneous solution. The solution is heated to a level below a boiling point of the polyol. The solution is diluted with a diluant which may consist of water and/or alcohol, and the solution is centrifuged to produce the silver nanowires.

Abstract: A novel decentralized protocol for constructing a tree-based P2P live video streaming network with the Interior-Node-Disjoint (IND) multi-tree structure with the special Link-Level-Homogeneous property. The IND multi-tree structure recycles the wasted uploading capacities of leaf nodes in the tree-based P2P networks. The IND multi-tree structure also enhances the robustness of the tree-based P2P networks. Moreover, the special Link-Level-Homogeneous property eliminates the bottlenecks in the video delivery paths by ensuring that each downloading link in the network has identical bandwidth reserved. This special designed architecture greatly improves the downloading performance.