Abstract: A method of controlling intra prediction for decoding or encoding of a video sequence, is performed by at least one processor and includes obtaining intra prediction modes including directional modes respectively corresponding to angular prediction directions, a first amount of one or more of the directional modes being excluded from the intra prediction modes based on a second amount of the intra prediction modes and a third amount of most probable modes (MPMs). The method further includes selecting, as the MPMs, two or more of the intra prediction modes from which the one or more of the directional modes are excluded, and selecting, for decoding the video sequence, one of the intra prediction modes from which the one or more of the directional modes are excluded.

Abstract: A method of training a reinforcement machine learning computer system. The method comprises providing a machine-learning computer programming language including a pre-defined plurality of reinforcement machine learning criterion statements, and receiving a training specification authored in the machine-learning computer programming language. The training specification defines a plurality of training sub-goals with a corresponding plurality of the reinforcement machine learning criterion statements supported by the machine-learning computer programming language. The method further comprises computer translating the plurality of training sub-goals from the training specification into a shaped reward function configured to score a reinforcement machine learning model configuration with regard to the plurality of training sub-goals.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for determining site-related reimbursement amounts for vendors. The apparatus includes a processor in communication with an attraction verification terminal for an attraction site. The processor is configured to receive, from the attraction verification terminal, an access request for a customer having an access identifier. The processor is configured to determine and validate access privilege data for the customer and referral data for a plurality of vendors based on the access request and access identifier. The processor is configured to transmit, to the attraction verification terminal, a virtual access token permitting the customer to access the attraction site upon a determination that the access privilege data is valid. The processor is configured to determine a reimbursement amount for the plurality of vendors based on the referral data and the access identifier.

Abstract: A reflective layer for use in lighting devices and methods of forming the reflective layer are provided. The reflective layer may include a dielectric layer including one or more insulating materials. An intermediate layer may be formed on the dielectric layer. The intermediate layer may include one or more materials having a higher enthalpy of reaction than the one or more insulating materials. Because of the higher enthalpy of reaction, atoms of the one or more materials in the intermediate layer may form bonds with atoms of the one or more insulating materials. A metal layer may be formed on the intermediate layer to reflect light emitted from an active region of a light emitting diode (LED).

Abstract: The disclosure includes a window shade pocket system comprising a pocket; a roller shade mounted within the pocket; and an ultraviolet (UV) light source within the pocket. The system may also include a controller that controls a motor engaged to the roller shade, wherein the controller controls the speed of the motor to allow a portion of the roller shade to be under the UV light source for a predetermined amount of time to allow for sanitization of the portion of the roller shade. The method may comprise adjusting, by a processor, a roller shade within a pocket; and activating, by the processor, an ultraviolet (UV) light source within the pocket, wherein the UV light source sanitizes at least a portion of the roller shade.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a silent voice input solution without being noticed by surroundings. Compared with conventional voice input solutions which are based on normal speech or whispering, the proposed “silent” voice input method is performed by using ingressive voice during the user's breathing-in process. By placing the apparatus very close to the user's mouth with a ultra-small gap formed between the microphone and the apparatus, the proposed silent voice input solution can realize a very small voice leakage, and thereby allowing the user to use ultra-low voice speech input in public and mobile situations, without disturbing surrounding people.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for remotely managing isolated domains on mobile devices. A request is received from the mobile device to instantiate a managed domain. A managed domain configuration is determined and comprises a security policy controlling access to content of the managed domain of the subscribing mobile device, a content specification identifying the content to be downloaded by the subscribing mobile device into the managed domain, and a content configuration identifying a configuration of the content on the subscribing mobile device. The managed domain configuration is sent to the subscribing mobile device to instantiate a secure, managed domain whose policy, content and content configuration is remotely controlled. The technique is useful for advertising and brand promotion on mobile devices as it simultaneously enables detailed control over the presentation of content by a curator while ensuring privacy and security protection of the other apps, accounts and data on the mobile device.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.

Abstract: An extrusion system for separating particulates entrained in wash water, e.g. from harvesting tuberous produce, includes a settling tank configured to receive a flow of particulated water. A diffuser suspended within the tank converts the flow of particulated water into multiple transverse flows to avoid churning settled particulates. A particulate filter fixed within the tank includes a central channel surrounded by a cylindrical array of cantilevered parallel vertical blades. The channel directs the flows below the blades, causing dynamic movement of the blades as the particulated water rises therebetween to trap particulates along boundary layers, promote particulate settling by gravity, and allow clarified water to rise to the top of the tank. A sensor detects settled particulate reaching a predetermined setpoint, and in response the system actuates an auger and opens a pinch valve to force concentrated particulate from the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: An optical phase shifter may include a waveguide core that has a top surface, and a semiconductor contact that is laterally displaced relative to the waveguide core and is electrically connected to the waveguide core. A top surface of the semiconductor contact is above the top surface of the waveguide core. The waveguide core may include a p-type core region and an n-type core region. A p-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the n-type core region of the waveguide core, and an n-type semiconductor region may be in physical contact with the p-type core region of the waveguide core. A phase shifter region and a light-emitting region may be disposed at different depth levels, and the light-emitting region may emit light from a phase shifter region that is in a position adjacent to the light-emitting region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to managing communications between slices on a storage device engine. Shared slice memory of a storage device engine is provisioned for use by each slice of the storage device engine. The shared slice memory is a portion of total storage device engine memory. Each slice's access to the shared memory portion is controlled.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an application-specific embedding for an entire text-to-content suggestions service is disclosed. The method includes accessing a dataset containing unlabeled training data collected from an application, the unlabeled training data being collected under user privacy constraints, applying an unsupervised ML model to the dataset to generate a pretrained embedding; and utilizing the pretrained embedding to train the text-to-content suggestion ML model utilized by the application.

Abstract: A method of computing a join pattern agnostic aggregate function includes loading source code and parsing the source code to identify different database query operations. In response to the identification of an aggregate function in one of the different database query operations in which records in multiple tables are joined together in a table join, a multiplicity of primary keys are retrieved, each corresponding to a different one of the multiple tables and also an object of one of the tables referenced by the identified aggregate function. An existence of a fan out condition associated with the table join is then computed. On condition that an existence of the fan out condition is not computed a non-fan out sensitive implementation of the aggregate function is invoked with respect to the object. But, otherwise, a different, fan-out sensitive implementation of the aggregate function is invoked with respect to the object.

Abstract: A tufted geotextile cover system, comprising a backing sheet tufted with first tuft lines of tufts on a first spacing and second transverse tuft lines of tufts on a second spacing greater than the first spacing to dispose the second tufts intermediate opposing pairs of the first tuft lines that define interstices for receiving infill, the tufts in the second tuft lines increasing resistance of the infill to displacement and dry flow movement in response to loading on the geotextile overlying a surface for covering a ground site. A closure system is disclosed using the tufted geotextile as a component overlying an impermeable geomembrane for resisting inflow of water below the ground surface.

Abstract: The disclosed systems facilitate collection and management of personal data management documentation requirements and associated data. A master questionnaire is used to solicit information regarding documentation requirements for several contexts in a single interaction and responsive data can be mapped to questionnaires and/or datasets for particular contexts, such as jurisdictions and business sectors. The system can generate graphical user interfaces for presenting the documentation requirement data for a particular context by generating an interface with navigational elements for various contexts, detecting browser state data indicating user manipulation of one or more such elements, and generating a subsequent graphical user interface based on the browser context data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilizing acoustic resonance spectroscopy applicable to any mechanical device or structure having internal or external components that need to be positioned away from a set point and then returned to the original position, such as a valve which is opened to pass fluids and subsequently closed, for noninvasively providing a measure of the deviation from the original position, and for classifying or grouping together objects that appear to be identical from the outside, but which may have slight external or internal differences, such as sealed containers filled with different fluids or materials, are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for transition-coded media, measuring engagement of transition-coded media, and distribution of components of transition-coded media. For instance, the method may include: obtaining a media file; determining whether the media file includes transition-coded media; in response to determining the media file includes the transition-coded media, setting up a dynamic media environment; detecting whether a user is interacting with the transition-coded media; and in response to detecting the user is interacting with the transition-coded media, executing the transition-coded media with the dynamic media environment.

Abstract: Coating compositions for coating an oilfield operational component, and related methods, may include in some aspects a coating composition having a trifunctional silane, a silanol, and a filler. The coating composition may be applied to a surface of the oilfield operational component that is configured to be exposed to a fluid. The coating composition may be applied to at least partially cover or coat the surface. The coating composition may be configured to chemically bond with a cured primer composition that includes an epoxy.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for performing fading compensation in video processing applications are described. For example, during encoding, a video encoder performs fading compensation using fading parameters comprising a scaling parameter and a shifting parameter on one or more reference images. During decoding, a video decoder performs corresponding fading compensation on the one or more reference images.