Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous suspension may include providing a fibrous substrate comprising cellulose having a Canadian Standard freeness equal to or less than 450 cm3, and microfibrillating the fibrous substrate in an aqueous environment by grinding in the presence of a grinding medium consisting essentially of mullite. The grinding may be carried out in the absence of grindable inorganic particulate material. The grinding medium may be present in an amount of at least about 10% by volume of the aqueous environment. The microfibrillated cellulose may have a fibre steepness of from about 20 to about 50.

Abstract: Instruments, methods, and kits are disclosed for performing fast thermocycling.

Abstract: A method for managing gameplay of a video game is provided, including: executing a session of a video game by a cloud gaming resource; streaming video generated by the session over a network to a client device associated to a player of the video game, to enable gameplay of the session by the player; detecting a loss of network connectivity between the client device and the session; responsive to detecting the loss of network connectivity, then initiating transmission of updates regarding the session, via an alternative communication channel, to a secondary device associated to the player.

Abstract: Devices and methods for acquiring and fastening tissues folds within an internal organ, such as the stomach, and for applying the methods and devices to producing reductions in organ volume or repair of bariatric procedures, are disclosed. An exemplary method for forming a continuous laterally extending tissue fold involves forming a succession of laterally extending folds having adjacent overlapping fold portions. One exemplary tissue-acquisition device has an open-end roller-and-arm structure that allows individual tissue folds to be formed and fastened, then advanced to an adjacent region within the stomach, for capture of a new fold that will form an extension of the existing fold(s).

Abstract: A composite oxidation catalyst for use in an exhaust system for treating an exhaust gas produced by a vehicular compression ignition internal combustion engine is disclosed. The composite oxidation catalyst comprises a honeycomb flow-through substrate monolith and two catalyst washcoat zones arranged axially in series on and along the substrate surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting user feedback information from viewers of content are described. Feedback information is received from viewers of content. The feedback indicates, based on head tracking information in some embodiments, where users are looking in a simulated environment during different times of a content presentation, e.g., different frame times. The feedback information is used to prioritize different portions of an environment represented by the captured image content. Resolution allocation is performed based on the feedback information and the content re-encoded based on the resolution allocation. The resolution allocation may and normally does change as the priority of different portions of the environment change.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting the capture of images of surfaces of an environment visible from a default viewing position and capturing images of surfaces not visible from the default viewing position, e.g., occluded surfaces, are described. Occluded and non-occluded image portions are packed into one or more frames and communicated to a playback device for use as textures which can be applied to a model of the environment where the images were captured. An environmental model includes a model of surfaces which are occluded from view from a default viewing position but which maybe viewed is the user shifts the user's viewing location. Occluded image content can be incorporated directly into a frame that also includes non-occluded image data or sent in frames of a separate, e.g., auxiliary content stream that is multiplexed with the main content stream which communicates image data corresponding to non-occluded environmental portions.

Abstract: Content delivery and playback methods and apparatus are described. The methods and apparatus are well suited for delivery and playback of content corresponding to a 360 degree environment and can be used to support streaming and/or real time delivery of 3D content corresponding to an event, e.g., while the event is ongoing or after the event is over. Portions of the environment are captured by cameras located at different positions. The content captured from different locations is encoded and made available for delivery. A playback device selects the content to be received based in a user's head position.

Abstract: A microphone acquires audio data of a user's speech. The audio data is processed to determine sentiment data indicative of perceived emotional content of the speech. For example, the sentiment data may include values for one or more of valence that is based on a particular change in pitch over time or activation that is based on speech pace. A simplified user interface provides the user with a graphical representation based on the sentiment data and associated descriptors. For example, a visual indicator such as a dot may be shown at particular coordinates onscreen that correspond to the sentiment data. Text descriptors may also be presented near the dot. As the user continues speaking, and new audio data is processed, the interface is dynamically updated. The user may use this information to assess their state of mind, facilitate interactions with others, and so forth.

Abstract: A fastener (1) has an elongate fastening band (2) and a buckle (10) for engagement with the band (2) to form a closed loop fastener. The buckle (10) is overmoulded on a first end region (8) of the fastening band (2). Such a design provides a fastener that has higher strength and is more compact than previously-considered designs.

Abstract: A background image is also generated, e.g., by filling portions of a captured image where a foreground object was extracted and communicated to the playback device, Foreground objects are identified and point cloud representations of the foreground objects are generated and communicated to a playback device so that they can be used in generating images including the background which is communicated separately. In the case of a point cloud representation a number of points in an environment, e.g., 3D space, are communicated to the playback device along with color information. Thus in some embodiments a foreground object is represented as a set of points with corresponding color information on a per point basis. Foreground object information is communicated and processed in some embodiments at a different rate, e.g., faster rate, then the background textures. The playback device renders images which are sent to the display by first rendering a background layer using the communicated background information, e.g.

Abstract: An unobstructed image portion of a captured image from a first camera of a camera pair, e.g., a stereoscopic camera pair including fisheye lenses, is combined with a scaled extracted image portion generated from a captured image from a second camera in the camera pair. An unobstructed image portion of a captured image from the second camera of the camera pair is combined with a scaled extracted image portion generated from a captured image from the first camera in the camera pair. As part of the combining obstructed image portions which were obstructed by part of the adjacent camera are replaced in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the obstructions are due to adjacent fisheye lens. In various embodiments fish eye lenses which have been cut to be flat on one side are used for the left and right cameras with the spacing between the optical axis approximating the spacing between the optical axis of a human person's eyes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processor-readable storage media for AI-assisted electrical power grid fault analysis predict the cause of a fault and cause the fault to be remedied by receiving an indication that a first fault has occurred, identifying a plurality of additional fault records associated with the first fault, obtaining a first prediction of the cause of the fault based on the first fault record and the plurality of fault records by applying the fault records to a machine learning model, obtaining a second prediction of the cause of the fault by applying the fault records to a rules-based model, and obtaining a final prediction of the cause of the first fault based on the first prediction and the second prediction. The final prediction of the cause of the first fault is used to cause the predicted cause of the first fault to be remedied.

Abstract: A background image is also generated, e.g., by filling portions of a captured image where a foreground object was extracted and communicated to the playback device, Foreground objects are identified and point cloud representations of the foreground objects are generated and communicated to a playback device so that they can be used in generating images including the background which is communicated separately. In the case of a point cloud representation a number of points in an environment, e.g., 3D space, are communicated to the playback device along with color information. Thus in some embodiments a foreground object is represented as a set of points with corresponding color information on a per point basis. Foreground object information is communicated and processed in some embodiments at a different rate, e.g., faster rate, then the background textures. The playback device renders images which are sent to the display by first rendering a background layer using the communicated background information, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capturing, communicating and using image data to support virtual reality experiences are described. Images, e.g., frames, are captured at a high resolution but lower frame rate than is used for playback. Interpolation is applied to captured frames to generate interpolated frames. Captured frames, along with interpolated frame information, are communicated to the playback device. The combination of captured and interpolated frames correspond to a second frame playback rate which is higher than the image capture rate. Cameras operate at a high image resolution but slower frame rate than images could be captured with the same cameras at a lower resolution. Interpolation is performed prior to delivery to the user device with segments to be interpolated being selected based on motion and/or lens FOV information. A relatively small amount of interpolated frame data is communicated compared to captured frame data for efficient bandwidth use.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nutritional composition and method of using and making the nutritional composition. The nutritional composition is an intact pea protein based nutrient composition for use in both enteral and oral feeding, and provides a nonallergenic diet for providing optimal nutrition to users. The nutritional composition is made from organic and plant-based ingredients. The nutritional composition has pea protein, phytochemical extracts, fatty acids, organic ingredients free of the top eight allergens and corn, and prebiotic fiber. The nutritional composition is provided in liquid form for enteral and/or oral feeding.

Abstract: A logger or annotator views video in a window or user interface (UI) of a computing device and enters time-stamped metadata or commentary; that metadata or commentary is then automatically displayed on a timeline or other time-based index in a different window or user interface of a second computing device used by a viewer or editor of that video. The metadata or commentary is represented by a marker or icon appearing on a timeline displayed in the window or user interface of a second computing device, and the metadata or commentary is shown when the viewer or editor selects that marker or icon.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capturing, communicating and using image data to support virtual reality experiences are described. Images, e.g., frames, are captured at a high resolution but lower frame rate than is used for playback. Interpolation is applied to captured frames to generate interpolated frames. Captured frames, along with interpolated frame information, are communicated to the playback device. The combination of captured and interpolated frames correspond to a second frame playback rate which is higher than the image capture rate. Cameras operate at a high image resolution but slower frame rate than images could be captured with the same cameras at a lower resolution. Interpolation is performed prior to delivery to the user device with segments to be interpolated being selected based on motion and/or lens FOV information. A relatively small amount of interpolated frame data is communicated compared to captured frame data for efficient bandwidth use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to encoding and decoding stereoscopic (3D) image data, e.g., left and right eye images, are described. Various pre-encoding and post-decoding operations are described in conjunction with difference based encoding and decoding techniques. In some embodiments left and right eye image data is subject to scaling, transform operation(s) and cropping prior to encoding. In addition, in some embodiments decoded left and right eye image data is subject to scaling, transform operations(s) and filling operations prior to being output to a display device. Transform information and/or scaling information may be included in a bitstream communicating encoded left and right eye images. The amount of scaling can be the same for an entire scene and/or program.