Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid aerosol formulation, at least one filamentary wick operable to transfer the liquid aerosol formulation, at least one heater operable to at least partially volatilize the liquid aerosol formulation and form an aerosol, a power supply operable to apply voltage across the at least one heater, and a support plate operable to support the at least one heater and the filamentary wick and to form an electrical connection between the at least one heater and the power supply.

Abstract: Examples of apparatuses and methods for reducing rate and distortion costs during encoding by modulating a Lagrangian parameter are described herein. An example apparatus may include an encoder configured to provide an encoded bitstream based on a video signal. The encoder is configured to determine first rate and distortion values associated with a first quantization strength and a first Lagrangian parameter value for encoding a coding unit of the video signal. The encoder is further configured to select a second quantization strength and a second Lagrangian parameter value for encoding the coding unit that results in second rate and distortion values that are lower than the first rate and distortion values.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains a file header for a file corresponding to a plurality of clusters, where the file header includes a cluster index. The device receives a request to seek to a respective position within the file and, in response to receiving the request: identifies a cluster of the plurality of clusters that includes content that corresponds to the respective position based on the cluster index; obtains a cluster header associated with the cluster based on information retrieved from the cluster index, where the cluster header includes a content index; and after obtaining the cluster header, identifies respective content within the cluster corresponding to the respective position based on the content index. The device provides at least a portion of content corresponding to the file to a presentation device for presentation to a user, starting with the respective content.

Abstract: Apparatus for drilling a via-hole in a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a carbon monoxide laser deliver laser radiation pulses. The pulses have a relatively broad wavelength-range, and slow rising and falling edges. The rising and falling edges of the pulses are clipped using and acousto-optic modulator. A dispersion-compensator compensates for dispersion in the clipped pulses introduced by the AOM. Achromatic focusing optics focus the dispersion-compensated, clipped pulses on the PCB for the via-hole drilling.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for focusing a digital camera to capture a scene. It is first detected that a change in a scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused. The camera focus is automatically scanned from a closest settable distance to farther distances until a first closest object in the scene is detected. Once the first closest object in the scene is detected, the camera focus is set at the distance of the first closest object and a finer scan is executed. In an embodiment, a dynamic movement threshold is calculated and used to determine that the change in scene requires the digital camera to be focused or refocused.

Abstract: Quick tasks for on-screen keyboards are described in which an on-screen keyboard supports a plurality of quick tasks configured to edit selected text in defined ways. Quick task functions may be assigned to keys of the on-screen keyboard in addition to the default actions or “normal” character entry functions of the keys. During text input, the keys operate normally to perform a function related to character entry, such as to cause input of corresponding text character. When text is selected or in other designated interaction scenarios, operation of a key associated with a quick task may automatically trigger the quick task to modify selected text in a corresponding way. Thus, the same key of an on-screen keyboard may be employed to initiate a function related to character entry or apply of a quick task to text depending upon the interaction scenario.

Abstract: Requests are pre-generated to include a cryptographic key to be used in fulfilling the requests. The requests may be encoded in uniform resource locators and may include authentication information to enable a service provider to whom the requests are submitted to determine whether the requests are authorized. The requests may be passed to various entities who can then submit the requests to the service provider. The service provider, upon receipt of a request, can verify the authentication information and fulfill the request using a cryptographic key encoded in the request.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods to prepare a DNA molecule or a plurality of DNA molecules by random fragmentation. In some embodiments, the present invention regards preparing a template for DNA sequencing by random fragmentation. In specific embodiments, the random fragmentation comprises chemical fragmentation, mechanical fragmentation, or enzymatic fragmentation. In further specific embodiments, a universal sequence is attached to the 3? end of the DNA fragments, such as by ligation of an adaptor sequence or by homopolymeric tailing with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase. In other embodiments, a library is prepared with methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Computer and graphics processing elements, connected generally in series, form a pipeline. Circuit elements known as di/dt throttles are inserted within the pipeline at strategic locations where the potential exists for data flow to transition from an idle state to a maximum data processing rate. The di/dt throttles gently ramp the rate of data flow from idle to a typical level. Disproportionate current draw and the consequent voltage droop are thus avoided, allowing an increased frequency of operation to be realized.

Abstract: In an example, a method for filtering pixel data in video coding comprises determining a pixel filtering task from a plurality of pixel filtering tasks for filtering the pixel data, wherein each filtering task of the plurality of pixel filtering tasks is based on an instruction set for a programmable instruction set based controller, and executing the determined filtering task on the pixel data.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine designed to mitigate pitch bearing loads. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade, a pitch bearing, and at least one shim plate. The rotor blade includes a body extending between a blade root and a blade tip. The pitch bearing includes an outer race, an inner race, and a plurality of roller elements between the outer race and the inner race. As such, the inner race is rotatable relative to the outer race. The at least one shim plate may be configured between the inner race and the blade root or between the outer race and a hub of the wind turbine so as to mitigate loads experienced by the pitch bearing.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for remotely controlling a plurality of functions of an emergency vehicle, wherein at least one of the functions is activating the emergency lights. The method comprises connecting a mobile computing device to a central control unit through a wireless network, inputting a command on the mobile computing device, transmitting the command to the central control unit through the network, and performing the one or more functions of the emergency vehicle. Also provided is a computer program and a system for enabling a plurality of mobile computing devices to connect to at least one emergency vehicle, wherein an administrator may, among other things, control user access levels and vehicle functionality.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions comprising oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds are useful as miRNA mimics. The oligomeric compounds may mimic the activity of miR-34. Also provided herein are methods for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: A retaining clip for use in limiting radial movement between a first section and a second section of a split fairing is provided. The first section includes a first clip tab and the second section includes a second clip tab extending therefrom, wherein the first and second clip tabs form a slot when the first section and the second section are substantially aligned. The retaining clip includes a first portion sized for insertion into the slot, a third portion coupled to the first and second clip tabs such that the first and second clip tabs are positioned between the first portion and the third portion, and a second portion extending between the first portion and the third portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the involvement of miR function in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is shown that miR-23, miR-24 and/or miR-27 are involved in pathologic neovascularization in AMD, and that agonism (miR-24) and inhibition (miR23/27) of the function of these molecules blocks events contributing to development and progression of disease.

Abstract: Approaches are disclosed for performing memory access operations in a texture processing pipeline having a first portion configured to process texture memory access operations and a second portion configured to process non-texture memory access operations. A texture unit receives a memory access request. The texture unit determines whether the memory access request includes a texture memory access operation. If the memory access request includes a texture memory access operation, then the texture unit processes the memory access request via at least the first portion of the texture processing pipeline, otherwise, the texture unit processes the memory access request via at least the second portion of the texture processing pipeline. One advantage of the disclosed approach is that the same processing and cache memory may be used for both texture operations and load/store operations to various other address spaces, leading to reduced surface area and power consumption.

Abstract: New water soluble cationic copolymers derived from N-vinyl amide monomers and ethylenically unsaturated compounds bearing cationic groups.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mobile payments. A financial institution may offer an electronic prepaid card of a merchant for sale to holders of Demand Deposit Accounts (DDA) and/or Line of Credit Account and/or Loan Account. If the DDA account holder and/or Line of Credit Account holder and/or Loan Account holder purchases the prepaid card through the financial institution, the account holder may be able to redeem the prepaid card at the merchant. The prepaid card may be provided in electronic form that may be scanned off the account holder's mobile device or by the account holder's mobile device. When the account holder purchases the prepaid card, the financial institution may perform a real-time check whether the account holder has sufficient funds for the purchase. If funds are sufficient, a transfer may be performed from the account holder's DDA account and/or Line of Credit Account and/or Loan Account to a holding account of another party at the same financial institution via ON-US transfer.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display obtains a file header for a file that corresponds to a plurality of separately indexed clusters. The file is divided into segments one or more of which include multiple sequential clusters. The file header includes a segment index that enables identification of a segment that includes requested content. The device receives a request to seek to a respective position within the file. In response, the device identifies a first segment that includes content that corresponds to the respective position based on the segment index, obtains the first segment, and obtains a content index for a respective cluster within the first segment. After obtaining the first segment and the content index, the device identifies respective content within the respective cluster that corresponds to the respective position based on a content index and provides the respective content to a user.

Abstract: The dairy industry today faces a problem of providing an alternative to adding sweeteners to fermented milk products in order to achieve the desired sweet taste without the added calories. Furthermore, it would be highly advantageous to establish a method for reducing lactose in fermented milk products to a level which is acceptable for lactose-intolerant consumers. The above problems have been solved by providing mutant Streptococcus thermophilus strains and mutant Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains that excrete glucose to the milk when the milk is inoculated and fermented with such Streptococcus thermophilus strains and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp, bulgaricus strains.