Abstract: The present invention relates to an image encoding/decoding method and apparatus. The image decoding method according to the present invention may comprise acquiring transform coefficients distribution information of a neighboring block from a bitstream; direction-adaptively determining an intra prediction mode of a current block to be decoded, according to the transform coefficients distribution information of the neighboring block; and reconstructing the current block, based on the determined intra prediction mode, wherein the direction-adaptively determining includes determining similarity flag information corresponding to the neighboring block, based on the transform coefficients distribution information of the neighboring block.

Abstract: Described herein are non-human organisms for producing triacylglycerol wherein the non-human organism is genetically modified to express a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase specific for C16:0-Coenzyme A (C16:0 LPAT) and wherein, once expressed, the C16:0 LPAT is localised in the endoplasmic reticulum. Also described are non-human organisms for producing triacylglycerol in which (a) a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase specific for C16:0-Coenzyme A (C16:0 LPAT) is localised in the endoplasmic reticulum; and (b) activity of native endoplasmic reticulum lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (ER LPAT) is suppressed or prevented. Further described are non-human organisms in which a chloroplast lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAT) is expressed, wherein said chloroplast LPAT lacks a functional chloroplast targeting signal. The disclosure also relates to methods for extracting triacylglycerol from the organisms and the use thereof in infant formula.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a hybrid download method and apparatus for multiview streaming. The hybrid download method includes requesting a group download for an n?1-th segment from a server, playing an n?3-th segment at a viewpoint VP1 of a viewer, when a group download request for the n?1-th segment is completed, making a group download request for an n-th segment, when a change in a viewpoint of the viewer occurs at a time at which an n?2-th segment is played, playing a low-quality n?2-th segment at a viewpoint VP3, when the group download for the n-th segment is completed, requesting a single download for a high-quality n?1-th segment corresponding to the viewpoint VP3 from the server, and when the single download for the high-quality n?1-th segment corresponding to the viewpoint VP3 is completed, playing the high-quality n?1-th segment at the viewpoint VP3.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for optimizing the energy consumption of a vehicle over the vehicle lifetime. The vehicle control system includes: a rechargeable electric battery; a mechanical component; and a processing circuitry configured to cause the vehicle control system to: determine a battery wear value of the rechargeable electric battery; determine a mechanical component wear value of the mechanical component; and determine a target temperature value of the rechargeable electric battery based on the battery wear value and the mechanical component wear value.

Abstract: The application provides new compositions and methods for stimulating the production of natural killer (NK) cells in a subject. NK cells can be selectively expanded with a combination of stimulating ligands. Methods and compositions for the administration of stimulatory ligands modified to self-insert into tumor cells, thereby stimulating an increase in the number of NK cells in proximity to a tumor, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention includes scalable and cost-effective auxetic foam sensors (AFS) created through conformably coating a thin conductive nanomaterial-sensing layer on a porous substrate having a negative Poisson's ratio. In general, the auxetic foam sensors possess multimodal sensing capability, such as large deformation sensing, small pressure sensing, shear/torsion sensing and vibration sensing and excellent robustness in humidity environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases, disorders or conditions associated with the expression of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked GDNF family protein ?-receptor 4 (GFR?4).

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a system (100, 200, 300) for delaying ripening process of agricultural produces (102, 202). The system (100, 200, 300) includes a first air-tight chamber (104, 204, 302) to hold a plant material (124, 228) in contact with a nitrite source (126, 230) and to receive a hypoxia-inducing source to create a hypoxic condition in first air-tight chamber (104, 204, 302) to enable production of nitric oxide by plant material (124, 228). A second air-tight chamber (106, 206) holds agricultural produce (102, 202). The second air-tight chamber (106, 206) comprises a first inlet (132, 236) connected to first outlet (130, 234) of first air-tight chamber (104, 204, 302) to expose agricultural produce (102, 202) to nitric oxide received from first air-tight chamber (104, 204, 302) for delaying ripening of agricultural produce (102, 202).

Abstract: A method of recovering gaseous hydrocarbons from tank headspace as fuel on-site includes flowing a hydrocarbon gas composition from headspace of a tank fed by a secondary separator into a compressor to form a compressed mixture. The method includes flowing the compressed mixture into a cooling unit to cool the compressed mixture, to form a cooled composition including liquid hydrocarbons. The method includes flowing the cooled composition to a buffer tank to form a buffered fuel composition. The method includes removing a fuel gas composition from headspace of the buffer tank. The method also includes combusting the fuel gas composition as an on-site fuel.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for detecting and/or treating a subject having an aneurysm or at risk for developing an aneurysm. It has been discovered that a key metabolite of the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway, a major route for the metabolism of essential amino acid tryptophan (Trp) into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), plays a critical role in the formation of aneurysms, for example abdominal aortic aneurysms. In particular, it has been discovered that 3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), a product of kynureninase (KYNU), plays a causative role in the formation of aneurysms by, for example exerting pro-inflammatory effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. It has further been discovered that elevated levels of 3-HAA are indicative of the presence and/or progression of an aneurysm, and 3-HAA levels correlate with the size (aortic diameter) of the aneurysm.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cancer vaccine composition comprising inactivated cancer cells and an adjuvant, wherein the inactivated cancer cells are incapable of replication. Also provided is a method for producing a cancer vaccine composition, the method comprising contacting cancer cells with light (e.g., UV light) in the presence of a photosensitizer (e.g., riboflavin).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for processing an application service. The method includes: registering a user using a visual network service and at least one physical entity supporting the visual network service; mapping at least one virtual entity corresponding to the at least one physical entity; in response to the user's entering a visual network service space, displaying the at least one virtual entity on a terminal device of the user; and confirming a user input for the at least one virtual entity and controlling an operation of the at least one physical entity corresponding to the at least one virtual entity.

Abstract: A concrete structure effective prestress estimation and evaluation characteristic value calculation method which includes calculating effective prestress probability distribution of a concrete structure prestress rebar, establishing a Gaussian mixture model of effective prestress of the concrete structure, carrying out normalization processing and normal significance judgment on the Gaussian mixture model, sampling and estimating the effective prestress probability distribution of the structure with normal distribution in theoretical distribution, calculating effective prestress evaluation characteristic values of the components under the normal distribution condition, grouping processing and normal significance judging of the Gaussian mixture model, sampling and estimating the structural effective prestress probability distribution of the N-sub-distribution Gaussian mixture model by theoretical distribution, calculating effective prestress evaluation characteristic values of the components under the conditio

Abstract: The present disclosure provides to a novel continuous processing method to prepare sheets comprising cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Single screw extrusion was utilized to continuously process mechanically fibrillated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) into sheets. Water-retention ability and stability of CNF suspensions containing different processing aids was assessed through centrifugation and zeta potential analysis. Subsequently, highly loaded pastes (up to ˜25 wt. % total solids content) containing the best performing processing aids (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xanthan gum (XG), and anionic polyacrylamide (aPAM)) and CNF were prepared using a Brabender with Banbury mixer-head at a dry weight ratio of either 0.1 to 1 or 0.15 to 1, respectively. Validation of the mixing procedure proved that highly loaded CNF pastes can be processed in under 40 minutes, saving up to 40 days in preparation and drying time.

Abstract: A method of providing a user-interactive customized interaction for a transformation of an extended reality (XR) real object includes segmenting a target object from an input image received through a camera, extracting a similar target object having a highest similarity to the target object from three-dimensional (3D) model data that has been previously learnt, extracting texture of the target object through the camera and mapping the texture to the similar target object, transforming a shape of the similar target object by incorporating intention information of a user based on a user interaction, and rendering and outputting the transformed similar target object.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic turbine system for harvesting energy from riverine and tidal sources, including a first floating dock, a marine hydrokinetic turbine mounted on the first floating dock, and a second floating dock. The system further includes a winch assembly mounted on the second floating dock and operationally connected to the first floating dock and a linkage assembly operationally connected to the first floating dock and to the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to pull the first floating dock into contact with the second floating dock. The linkage assembly may be actuated to distance the first floating dock from the second floating dock, and the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is above the first floating dock and wherein the winch assembly may be energized to orient the first floating dock into a position wherein the marine hydrokinetic turbine is below the first floating dock.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an evidence collection guidance method and apparatus for file selection. The evidence collection guidance method includes generating pieces of preliminary analysis information that are pieces of collection target information, setting levels of the pieces of preliminary analysis information based on predefined rules, and generating and outputting notification information including summary description information and follow-up measure items related to the pieces of preliminary analysis information corresponding to the levels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic assembly that includes a body and a lid coupled to the body where the body and the lid each define a respective fiber routing plane. The fiber optic assembly also includes a plurality of ports on the body and a plurality of ports on the lid such that when the lid and the body are in a closed configuration, the ports of the body and the ports of the lid define a singular connection plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a plasma may include one or more coupling ports to accept a radiofrequency (RF) current. The apparatus may additionally include one or more coupling structures which may include one or more conductive loops to permit the RF current to conduct from at least a first portion of the one or more coupling ports to at least a second port of the one or more coupling ports. The one or more conductive loops may each be configured to exhibit a first value of inductance in the absence of the plasma and to exhibit a second value of inductance in the presence of the plasma. The one or more coupling structures may each include a reactive element, in which each reactive element is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more conductive loops so as to form a corresponding number of coupling structures. Each RF coupling structure may have a resonant frequency that increases in response to the presence of the plasma.