Abstract: We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighbouring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process.

Abstract: Structures, devices and methods are provided for creating enhanced back barriers that improve the off-state breakdown and blocking characteristics in aluminum gallium nitride AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In one aspect, selective fluorine ion implantation is employed when developing HEMTs to create the enhanced back barrier structures. By creating higher energy barriers at the back of the two-dimensional electron gas channel in the unintentionally doped GaN buffer, higher off-state breakdown voltage is advantageously provided and blocking capability is enhanced, while allowing for convenient and cost-effective post-epitaxial growth fabrication. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed structures.

Abstract: Methods of producing carbon nanostructures utilizing a polymer and a nanostructure template to form carbon nanostructures are disclosed. The method does not require a metal catalyst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the comfortable footbed shape for a person. The apparatus comprises a rear platform for supporting the rear of a foot, a front platform for supporting a forefoot, the height of at least one of said front and rear platforms being adjustable relative to the height of the other one of said platforms and fixable at a selected height relative to the other platform; and a supporting surface for accommodating the plantar surface of a foot, the supporting surface comprising a length of flexible material fixable mounted to and extending between said front and rear platforms. The apparatus can adjust the aforementioned components to various settings with a view to determining the plantar foot shape and the perceived comfort in any chosen posture.

Abstract: A solar cell photovoltaic device using ultrathin films of polycrystalline silicon and deep uneven surface structures is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the uneven structures include one or more pits having a depth of at least 10 microns. According to another embodiment, the uneven structures include one or more cones or columns having a height or at least 10 microns. Because the unevenness of the structures, the photovoltaic device is able to use a very thin layer of polycrystalline silicon to effectively trap and absorb light.

Abstract: Webpages configured for display on a full-sized screen such as a computer monitor (111) are reconfigured for use with a mobile device in accordance with a user's preferences. A custom rendering tool engages the user in customizing the webpage in order to render the webpage information suitable for display on a mobile device. A browser toolbar is used, by which the user may highlight a section of interest section (121) from a webpage and save the customization information. A proxy server receives the customization information and uses the information to accurately retrieve the sections of interest later, even after the webpage or the section has been updated.

Abstract: Described herein is a novel transcoding technique called lossless inter frame transcoding (LIFT) for improving the error resilience of video streaming. According to various embodiments, conventional coded blocks are selectively transcoded into new transcoded block. At the decoder, the transcoded block can be transcoded back to the conventional coded block when the prediction is available and can also be robustly decoded independently when the prediction is unavailable. According to another embodiment, an offline transcoding and online composing technique is provided for generating a composite frame using the transcoded and conventional coded blocks and adjusting the ratio of the transcoded blocks, thereby achieving error robustness scalability.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of a coding technique that utilize a stream cipher for switching between first and second coding conventions for encoding a symbol sequence. The first coding convention specifies a first mapping between a symbol and a first codeword and the second coding convention specified a second mapping between the symbol and a second codeword. According to the invention, a key generated by the stream cipher is used to selected one of the first and second coding convention and the mapping of the selected coding convention is then utilized for encoding the symbol.

Abstract: A method for the synthesis of nano-products, such as atomic titanium oxide wires. The method allows wires of anatase titanium oxide wires to be formed in a range of tunable diameters and aspect ratios in the nanometer and subnanometer size scales. The method also allows the titanium wires to be capped by oleic acid to enhance dispersing and solubility. The method allows the titanium wires to be surface doped with nitrogen species to enhance stability and functionality such as enhanced absorption in the visible wavelength region, which is useful for photodegradation of organic wastes in water by sunlight.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for defining a target bit rate and collections of coefficients of source data, as well as a global coding order of the collections of coefficients. A plurality of coding units and corresponding allowable truncation points for each of said collections of coefficients and a local coding order of said coding units can be defined. A rate value and a distortion value for each of said coding units can be defined along with an adaptive threshold value for each of said coding units. The encoding of the collections of coefficients is performed in turn according to the global coding order. During the encoding, if a predetermined termination criterion is not met for a particular coding unit, the particular coding unit will be included in an output code-stream, and if the termination criterion is met, an encoding of the one of the collection of coefficients will be terminated.

Abstract: System and methodologies are provided herein for de-interlacing a video sequence. Various aspects described herein can utilize a motion adaptive video de-interlacing algorithm based on block-based texture classification and a multi-level decision hierarchy to interpolate missing fields of an interlaced video signal in the spatial and temporal domains. In accordance with various aspects described herein, respective blocks of an interlaced video sequence can be classified by a texture classifier as “textured” or “non-textured.” Based on this classification, one or more motion detection schemes can be utilized to determine whether the respective blocks are static or moving. Missing pixels from one or more blocks can then be estimated using the texture and motion classifications based on values of neighboring lines and/or pixels in the field from which the block was obtained as well as values of corresponding pixel locations in temporally adjacent fields.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a time- and energy-saving paste-state mechanochemical process to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles. Our nanoparticles are small, have abundant surface hydroxyl groups and exhibit excellent UV blocking characteristics. One embodiment involves a process for preparing zinc oxide nanoparticles comprising grinding, milling, or a combination thereof a mixture comprising (a) at least one zinc salt, (b) at least one additional inorganic salt, and (c) at least one alkali hydroxide compound.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides low power layered LDPC decoders and related systems and methods. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can achieve significant reduction in memory access of the associated memories by bypassing the associated memories depending on the decoding algorithm (e.g., code rate) and the characteristic of the LDPC parity check matrix, thereby providing significant reductions power consumption of LDPC decoders. According to various embodiment, an optimal decoding order can be determined and scheduled to maximize the power reduction available by bypassing the associated memories. In addition, various algorithms are disclosed that determine optimal search orders under various constraints. According to the disclosed subject matter, particular embodiments can further reduce power consumption by employing the disclosed thresholding to further reduce memory access.

Abstract: A method for limiting the transmission of light through a material is disclosed. In the method, a layer composed of a hyperbranched polymer formed via a copolycyclotrimerization reaction is interposed between a light source and the material. Also provided is a method for emitting light comprising exciting the hyperbranched polymer. In addition, methods for limiting the transmission of light and for emitting light using hyperbranched polymers formed by homopolycyclotrimerization reactions are disclosed. A new class of hyperbranched polymers produced by copolycyclotrimerization is also disclosed.

Abstract: Images encoded at low-bit rate may suffer from blocking artifacts, which can dramatically degrade the visual quality of the images. In accordance with the claimed subject matter, a convex optimization approach is provided in order to mitigate such blocking artifacts. Based on the analysis of image coding process as well as natural image properties (e.g., image complexity), a set of constraint functions can be constructed. In addition, an objective function can be constructed based upon, e.g. analysis of a quantization noise model. All functions included in the set as well as the objective function can be convex function. Accordingly, image deblocking can be formulated as a convex optimization problem which can be easily solved using numerical methods. Moreover, the feasibility of the convex optimization problem can be utilized to detect the true object edges and avoid blurring.

Abstract: Polyphase sequence generation is provided for sequences having good aperiodic correlation properties. The sequences can allow lengths not attainable by other types of sequences (such as Frank sequences) and can yield increase merit factors and more desirable peak-to-side-peak ratios (and therefore decreased sidelobe energy) than other sequences (such as Chu sequences). Perfect root-of-unity sequences of lengths up to 32, achieving the minimum phase alphabets and the maximum merit factors and/or peak-to-side-peak ratios, are searched, and the results are tabulated. Comparing the merit factors and peak-to-side-peak ratios of the best search results to other sequences, a common construction pattern of the improved sequences of length 2m2 are obtained. The improved sequences can be utilized in a variety of configurations, including spread spectrum communication, radar, channel estimation, system identification, and/or the like.

Abstract: Integrated high efficiency lateral field effect rectifier and HEMT devices of GaN or analogous semiconductor material, methods for manufacturing thereof, and systems which include such integrated devices. The lateral field effect rectifier has an anode containing a shorted ohmic contact and a Schottky contact, and a cathode containing an ohmic contact, while the HEMT preferably has a gate containing a Schottky contact. Two fluorine ion containing regions are formed directly underneath both Schottky contacts in the rectifier and in the HEMT, pinching off the (electron gas) channels in both structures at the hetero-interface between the epitaxial layers.

Abstract: Multiple reference frame motion estimation for video frame blocks is provided. A plurality of copies of a block list of a reference frame can be loaded into texture memory. Encoding of video blocks of the video frame can be ordered to allow concurrent encoding of the video blocks. Furthermore, motion vector prediction can be performed concurrently for independent video blocks, the motion vectors can be related to each one of the plurality of copies of the block list of the reference frame and determined for the at least a portion of the plurality of blocks ordered for concurrent encoding. Additionally, a fast motion estimation algorithm can be concurrently performed on a number of video blocks to search surrounding blocks and compute motion vectors. Further, concurrent processing of multiple slices can be performed. Such concurrent processes can leverage the parallel architecture of at least one graphical processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diarylaminofluorene chromophore compound having the following structure: wherein: M is a metal atom of Ir, Pt; R is H, CH3, OCH3, or F; A is none or six-member carbocyclic aromatic ring system; 0?m?3 0?n?1. The invention also provides high-efficiency organic light-emitting devices fabricated using these compounds.

Abstract: A novel form of an integrated variable inductor uses an on-chip transformer together with a variable capacitor. The variable capacitor can either be a varactor or a switched capacitor array and is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer. By changing the capacitance at the secondary coil of a transformer, the equivalent inductance looking into the primary coil of the transformer can be adjusted. With another capacitor in parallel to the primary coil, two different modes of resonance inherently exist, and a very wide frequency tuning range can be achieved by combining the two modes.