Abstract: Approaches to selection of motion vector (“MV”) precision during video encoding are presented. These approaches can facilitate compression that is effective in terms of rate-distortion performance and/or computational efficiency. For example, a video encoder determines an MV precision for a unit of video from among multiple MV precisions, which include one or more fractional-sample MV precisions and integer-sample MV precision. The video encoder can identify a set of MV values having a fractional-sample MV precision, then select the MV precision for the unit based at least in part on prevalence of MV values (within the set) having a fractional part of zero. Or, the video encoder can perform rate-distortion analysis, where the rate-distortion analysis is biased towards the integer-sample MV precision. Or, the video encoder can collect information about the video and select the MV precision for the unit based at least in part on the collected information.

Abstract: A method for forming a circuit board having a dielectric core, a foil top surface, and a thin foil bottom surface with a removable foil backing of sufficient thickness to absorb heat from a laser drilling operation to prevent the penetration of the thin foil bottom surface during laser drilling utilizes a sequence of steps including a laser drilling step, removing the foil backing step, electroless plating step, patterned resist step, electroplating step, resist strip step, tin plate step, and copper etch step, which provide dot vias of fine linewidth and resolution.

Abstract: Examples described herein relate to apparatuses and methods for managing communications within a supercluster or across superclusters, including a first supercluster having a plurality of first machines and a publish-subscribe (Pub-Sub) channel to which each of the plurality of first machines is subscribed. A second supercluster has a plurality of second machines and a bridge between the first supercluster and the second supercluster. A first machine is configured to receive, via the bridge, an availability status and resource allocation information of each second machine and publish, on the Pub-Sub channel of the first supercluster, the availability status and the resource allocation information.

Abstract: An optical network including a plurality of gateway nodes interconnected with a plurality of intermediate nodes with segments of fiber. The network includes a plurality of devices, such as reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers, optimally placed at various nodes throughout the network. The device placement is optimized with an integer linear programming analysis considering span definition such that any given span involves some number of segments not exceeding a number of segments that would require wavelength regeneration, cost of placement of a device at a given node, cost of wavelength regeneration, and various parameters and constraints.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed that produce a pneumatic actuator end cap having an integral volume booster. An example pneumatic actuator end cap includes a first cavity to provide a first fluid passageway to receive a pressurized fluid from a source external to the pneumatic actuator end cap, a second cavity to provide a second fluid passageway to route the pressurized fluid to an internal chamber of a pneumatic actuator in which a piston is disposed, and a third cavity containing a fluid valve to control a flow of the pressurized fluid between the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway.

Abstract: Telematics systems and methods are described for generating interactive animated guided user interfaces (GUIs). A telematics cloud platform is configured to receive vehicular telematics data from a telematics device onboard a vehicle. A GUI value compression component determines, based on the vehicular telematics data, a plurality of GUI position values and a plurality of corresponding GUI time values. A geospatial animation app receives the plurality of GUI position values and the plurality of corresponding GUI time values. The geospatial animation app implements an interactive animated GUI that renders a plurality of geospatial graphics or graphical routes on a geographic area map via a display device. The geospatial graphics or graphical routes are rendered to have different visual forms based on differences between respective GUI position values and corresponding GUI time values.

Abstract: A method of controlling a temperature altering element within a seating assembly of a vehicle comprising: presenting a vehicle including a seating assembly including a temperature altering element, a controller in communication with the temperature altering element, the controller including a Pre-established Predictive Activation Model setting forth rules governing the activation of the temperature altering element as a function of data relating to Certain Identifiable Conditions, and a user interface configured to allow the temperature altering element to be manually activated or deactivated; occupying the seating assembly with a first occupant; collecting data relating to the Certain Identifiable Conditions while the first occupant is occupying the seating assembly; determining, by comparing the collected data to the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model, whether the collected data satisfies the rules of the Pre-established Predictive Activation Model so as to activate the temperature alt

Abstract: The application is directed to an eartip. The eartip can include an outer portion, an inner portion, and an encapsulated volume formed by the inner and outer portion, wherein the outer portion is designed to contact the ear canal, and wherein the inner portion is designed to fit upon a stent.

Abstract: A method for fabricating heat exchangers using additive manufacturing technologies. Additive manufacturing enables the manufacture of heat exchangers with complex geometries and/or with internal and external integral surface features. Additive manufacture also facilitates the manufacture of heat exchangers with regional variations, such as changes in size, shape and surface features. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a heat exchanger with a helicoidal shape that provides axial elastic compliance. In one embodiment, the internal channel of the heat exchanger varies along its length. The internal channel may have a cross-sectional area that increases progressively from one end to the other. In one embodiment, the external shape of the tubular structure may be non-circular to optimize heat transfer with an external heat transfer fluid. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a heat pipe with an internal wicking structure formed as an integral part of the additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A solution for evaluating a medium using electrical signals is described. A plurality of electrical signals having different frequencies are transmitted through the medium and signal data corresponding to the electrical signals after having traveled through the medium is acquired. A complex impedance and a complex permittivity and/or complex conductivity can be calculated for the medium. A set of characteristics of the medium can be computed using mixing models and/or known information of the medium. A level of one or more attributes of the medium can be determined from the characteristics using nonparametric Bayesian inference. One particular application is directed to determining a nitrate level of soil.

Abstract: A device for extracting lipstick from a lipstick holder and forming a new holder for application of the extracted lipstick. The device includes a housing formed around a sliding barrel movably disposed within a tube. The sliding barrel includes a tab that extends through an aperture of the housing, wherein the tab allows a user to move the sliding barrel between an extended position and a retracted position. The tube has a circumference smaller than a circumference of the lipstick holder, such that an upper end of tube can be circumscribed by the lipstick holder. A remaining portion of lipstick within the lipstick holder is removed by the sliding barrel and received within the housing when the sliding barrel is retracted. A lipstick securing member extends from an upper end of the sliding barrel to assist in the extraction of the lipstick from the lipstick holder.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for an electric aircraft, the system including an electric aircraft including a fuselage. The fuselage including an energy source containing electric power. The electric aircraft further including at least a laterally extending element attached to the fuselage and extending laterally from the fuselage. The electric aircraft further including at least a propulsor electrically connected to the energy source. The system also including at least a power unit pod attached to the at least a laterally extending element and including an auxiliary power unit configured to generate electric power. The power unit pod also including a fuel tank in fluid communication with the auxiliary power unit and a power output line electrically connected to the energy source of the electric aircraft.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating tasks among processing devices in a data center. The method may include receiving a request to allocate a task to one or more processing devices, the request indicating a required bandwidth for performing the task, a list of predefined processing device groups connected to a host server and indicating availability of the processing device groups included therein for allocation of tasks and available bandwidth for each available processing device group, assigning the task to a processing device group having an available bandwidth greater than or equal to the required bandwidth for performing the task, and updating the list to indicate that each of the processing device group to which the task is assigned and other processing device group sharing at least one processing device is unavailable. The task may be assigned to an available processing device group having a lowest amount of power needed.