Abstract: The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for washing a plurality of fluid samples are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a system for washing a plurality of fluid samples respectively located within a plurality of cuvettes includes a rotor configured to rotate the plurality of cuvettes about an axis, a traveler mechanism located beneath the rotor, the traveler mechanism configured to move a plurality of magnets parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor to position the plurality of magnets so that each cuvette of the plurality of cuvettes is located adjacent to at least one magnet of the plurality of magnets, and a wash system located above the rotor, the wash system configured to at least one of inject fluid into or aspirate fluid from the plurality of the cuvettes, while the plurality of magnets suspend magnetic particles located within each of the plurality of cuvettes.

Abstract: A data processing device for motion segmentation in images obtained by cameras that move in a background environment includes an input for receiving a temporal sequence of images from the cameras and a processor. The processor is adapted for, for at least two images, of the temporal sequence of images, that are obtained by at least two cameras at different points in time, determining epipoles, defining corresponding image regions of limited image disparity due to parallax around the epipoles in the at least two images, and applying a motion segmentation algorithm to the corresponding image regions. Warping is applied to the corresponding image regions to compensate for camera rotation and misalignment beyond a threshold value.

Abstract: A network communications environment has advanced interaction management functionality that enables the opportunities for users to interact with one another to be expanded beyond the opportunities that exist with closed interaction management approaches while still providing reasonable privacy and security protections that are not available with open interaction management approaches. The advanced interaction management functionality also encourages the proliferation of trust-based interactions.

Abstract: A pervasive realtime framework supports the execution of realtime software applications with high-level functions that significantly reduce the effort and time needed to develop realtime software applications in a new operating environment paradigm in which realtime connections between network nodes are pervasive. The pervasive realtime framework handles the complex tasks of connecting to communicants, virtual areas, and other network resources, as well as switching those connections in response to user inputs and thereby enables software application developers to focus on developing high-level realtime software application functionality.

Abstract: Switching real-time data stream connections between network nodes sharing a virtual area is described. In one aspect, the switching involves storing a virtual area specification. The virtual area specification includes a description of one or more switching rules each defining a respective connection between sources of a respective real-time data stream type and sinks of the real-time data stream type in terms of positions in the virtual area. Real-time data stream connections are established between network nodes associated with respective objects each of which is associated with at least one of a source and a sink of one or more of the real-time data stream types. The real-time data stream connections are established based on the one or more switching rules, the respective sources and sinks associated with the objects, and respective positions of the objects in the virtual area.

Abstract: A system and method for providing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation risk notifications in real time or near-real time is described. Rescue and controller medication events are detected by sensors associated with the patient's medicament device/s, and provide a basis to determine to rescue and controller medication use trends for the patient. This data is analyzed to determine the patient's risk for COPD exacerbation after each event, and is used to send notifications to one or both of the patient and their health care provider.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle having a traction battery chargeable from a supply network, that includes loading a position dataset indicative of a present position of the motor vehicle, loading a charging dataset indicative of a quantity of electricity charged into the traction battery of the motor vehicle, determining a position of the motor vehicle by evaluating the position dataset, and assigning the determined position to a charging point.

Abstract: Examples of systems and methods for bridging virtual and physical spaces are described. In some of these examples, a particular communicant's real world state drives changes in one or more of the communications connections, virtual state, and communications interface of the particular communicant or another communicant.

Abstract: A virtual area has a spatial visualization and includes zones that are associated with respective geometric boundaries located in relation to the spatial visualization. Realtime data stream connections between sources and sinks of network nodes in the zones of the virtual area are administered to provide a wide variety of virtual area applications, including virtual area applications that implement spatial rules for one or more synchronous conferencing services (e.g., instant messaging, such as text chat, audio conferencing, video conferencing, application sharing, and file sharing).

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use of porous, chemically interconnected, isotropic carbon-nanofibre-comprising carbon networks for electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI). The invention also relates to a A composite assembly comprising a thermoplastic, elastomeric and/or thermoset polymer matrix and at least 15 wt%, preferably at least 20 wt%, more preferably 20 - 80 wt% of porous, chemically interconnected, crystalline carbon-nanofibres comprising carbon networks based on the total assembly weight.

Abstract: A network communications environment has advanced interaction management functionality that enables the opportunities for users to interact with one another to be expanded beyond the opportunities that exist with closed interaction management approaches while still providing reasonable privacy and security protections that are not available with open interaction management approaches. The advanced interaction management functionality also encourages the proliferation of trust-based interactions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to promoter sequences and promoter control elements, polynucleotide constructs comprising the promoters and control elements, and methods of identifying the promoters, control elements, or fragments thereof. The invention further relates to the use of the present promoters or promoter control elements to modulate transcript levels.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for improving live video quality. The method comprises: (a) acquiring, using a medical imaging apparatus, a stream of consecutive image frames of a subject; (b) feeding the stream of consecutive image frames to a first set of denoising components, wherein each of the first set of denoising components is configured to denoise an image frame from the stream of consecutive image frames in a spatial domain to output an intermediate image frame; (c) feeding a plurality of the intermediate image frames to a second denoising component, wherein the second denoising component is configured to (i) denoise the plurality of the intermediate image frames in a temporal domain and (ii) generate a weight map; and outputting a final image frame with improved quality in both temporal domain and spatial domain based at least in part on the weight map.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a machine learning-based dialogue authoring environment. In examples, a developer or creator of a virtual environment may use a generative multimodal machine learning (ML) model to create or otherwise update aspects of a dialogue tree for one or more computer-controlled agents and/or players of the virtual environment. For example, the developer may provide an indication of context associated with the dialogue for use by the ML model, such that the ML model may generate a set of candidate interactions accordingly. The developer may select a subset of the candidate interactions for inclusion in the dialogue tree, which may then be used to generate associated nodes within the tree accordingly. Thus, nodes in the dialogue tree may be iteratively defined based on model output of the ML model, thereby assisting the developer with dialogue authoring for the virtual environment.

Abstract: In examples, a developer may define a set of computer-controlled agent attributes, which may be processed by a generative multimodal machine learning model in conjunction with background information associated with a virtual environment (e.g., “lore”) and other agent information to generate multimodal model output with which to control the behavior of the computer-controlled agent. Thus, a player may interact with the computer-controlled agent, such that user input from the player is processed using the ML model to generate model output to affect the behavior of the computer-controlled agent, thereby enabling the user and the computer-controlled agent to interact. As compared to manual dialogue authoring, use of agent information to define the behavior of a computer-controlled agent may result in reduced effort on the part of a creator while also offering increased depth and variety for computer-controlled agents of a virtual environment.

Abstract: A measurement chamber that is essentially dome shaped and has a base area with a membrane and has at least two connection points fora fluid flow. The measurement chamber has two outer webs opposite each other, one of the webs engaging a clamping edge of a coupling element.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: Methods and materials for modulating low-nitrogen tolerance levels in plants are disclosed. For example, nucleic acids encoding low nitrogen tolerance-modulating polypeptides are disclosed as well as methods for using such nucleic acids to transform plant cells. Also disclosed are plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels and plant products produced from plants having increased low-nitrogen tolerance levels.

Abstract: A livestock water fountain comprises a first water chamber, a water inlet near the bottom of the first water chamber, and a thermostat in the first water chamber position above the inlet adjacent a preset low-water level in the chamber so as to measure the temperature of the water near the surface of the water. The fountain maybe divided into dual chambers with a wall having a lower passageway for fluid communication which can be plugged to limit water to one of the chambers when water consumption decreases in cold weather.