Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods to create stable emulsions with low rates of exchange of molecules between microdroplets.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to systems and methods to create stable emulsions with low rates of exchange of molecules between microdroplets.

Abstract: A compressed air conduit can have a cross-sectional area, and a valve, the valve having at least one arm being deployable laterally into the cross-sectional area of the conduit to restrict flow within the conduit.

Abstract: According to one example, a method includes processing a communication session with a first virtual machine of a plurality of virtual machines associated with a network node and monitoring packet loss on a leg of the communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The method further includes, in response to determining that the packet loss exceeds a first threshold, toggling on an enhanced mode for a codec associated with the communication session, the enhanced mode providing increased error resilience. The method further includes, in response to determining that the toggling on the enhanced mode causes the first virtual machine to exceed a processing capacity threshold, moving the communication session to a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

Abstract: A system for conditioning air of a building that comprises a conduit buried in a soil proximate the building at a given depth such that a temperature of the soil at the given depth is different from an air temperature of an environment of the building. The conduit has a breathable wall in fluid communication with the soil. The system further comprises a forced air system in fluid communication with the conduit. The forced air system is operable to draw air from the soil across the breathable wall and along the conduit. The system defines a fluid flow path extending from the breathable wall toward the forced air system. A method of operating the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present system and method determine a position on an external surface of an object. The system comprises a magnetic field measurement module and an ultrasound measurement module. A control unit stores a magnetic field map of the object comprising a first plurality of reference areas of the external surface of the object and associated reference magnetic field value. The control unit also stores an ultrasound map of the object comprising a second plurality of reference areas of the external surface of the object and associated reference ultrasound characteristic. The processing unit determines: a subset of the reference areas for which the associated reference magnetic field value is substantially equal to a measured magnetic field value, a subset of the reference areas for which the associated reference ultrasound characteristic is substantially equal to a measured ultrasound characteristic, and determines the position on the external surface of the object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding video data are provided. Evolving standards for video encoding such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard require a significant increase in computational complexity for both inter and intra encoding. The method includes calculating an approximate cost of each of a first set of prediction modes. Then selecting a second set of prediction modes from the first set of prediction modes based on probability distributions associated with each of the modes in the first set of prediction modes, the second set having substantially fewer prediction modes than the first. A number of candidate prediction modes prior to rate distortion optimization (RDO) is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides substantial time reduction and negligible quality loss as compared to the HEVC reference.

Abstract: A method includes, with a computing system, receiving a plurality of packets for transcoding, the plurality of packets comprising a first set of packets having data in a first format and a second set of packets having data in a second format, with the computing system, placing the first set of packets in a first queue, the first queue comprising packets from more than one communication session, with the computing system, placing the second set of packets in a second queue, the second queue having packets from more than one communication session, with the computing system, processing packets of the first queue with a graphics processing unit, and with the computing system, after processing the packets of the first queue with the graphics processing unit, processing packets of the second queue with the graphics processing unit.

Abstract: A method for simulating an insertion of an elongated instrument into a subject, the method comprising: receiving one of an actual angular position and a rotation angle for a proximal section of the elongated instrument, at least a distal end of the elongated instrument being inserted into a medical apparatus; determining a distal angular position for the distal end of the elongated instrument inserted into the medical apparatus using an adjustment factor and the one of the actual angular position and the rotation angle for the proximal section of the elongated instrument; generating a medical image of at least a portion of the subject, the medical image comprising at least a representation of a distal section of the elongated instrument, the representation of the distal section being generated according to the distal angular position; and outputting the generated medical image.

Abstract: According to one example, a method includes processing a communication session with a first virtual machine of a plurality of virtual machines associated with a network node and monitoring packet loss on a leg of the communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The method further includes, in response to determining that the packet loss exceeds a first threshold, toggling on an enhanced mode for a codec associated with the communication session, the enhanced mode providing increased error resilience. The method further includes, in response to determining that the toggling on the enhanced mode causes the first virtual machine to exceed a processing capacity threshold, moving the communication session to a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines.

Abstract: A method includes, with a first execution unit of a processor, executing instructions for a processing task on behalf of a first virtual container. The first virtual container is configured to utilize computing resources of the first execution unit without demanding more computing resources than the first execution unit provides. The first execution unit may have exclusive access to a first arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The method further includes, with a second execution unit of the processor, processing instructions for the processing task on behalf of a second virtual container. The second virtual container is configured to utilize computing resources of the first execution unit without demanding more computing resources than the first execution unit provides. The second execution unit may have exclusive access to a second Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The first execution unit and the second execution unit operate in parallel.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products for selecting codec parameters to satisfy one or more operating constraints. An example method performed by a network component that facilitates a communication session set-up process among endpoints in a communication network, the method includes: during the communication session set-up process, determining a utilization factor of the network component; selecting a value for sampling frequency associated with a first codec in response to determining the utilization factor; negotiating use of the first codec and the value for sampling frequency with a first endpoint and negotiating use of a second codec with a second endpoint; and transcoding a media stream of a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint according to the first codec and the value for sampling frequency and the second codec.

Abstract: A method includes, with a computing system, receiving a plurality of packets for transcoding, the plurality of packets comprising a first set of packets having data in a first format and a second set of packets having data in a second format, with the computing system, placing the first set of packets in a first queue, the first queue comprising packets from more than one communication session, with the computing system, placing the second set of packets in a second queue, the second queue having packets from more than one communication session, with the computing system, processing packets of the first queue with a graphics processing unit, and with the computing system, after processing the packets of the first queue with the graphics processing unit, processing packets of the second queue with the graphics processing unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding video data are provided. Evolving standards for video encoding such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard require a significant increase in computational complexity for both inter and intra encoding. The method includes calculating an approximate cost of each of a first set of prediction modes. Then selecting a second set of prediction modes from the first set of prediction modes based on probability distributions associated with each of the modes in the first set of prediction modes, the second set having substantially fewer prediction modes than the first. A number of candidate prediction modes prior to rate distortion optimization (RDO) is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides substantial time reduction up and negligible quality loss as compared to the HEVC reference.

Abstract: A method includes, with a first execution unit of a processor, executing instructions for a processing task on behalf of a first virtual container. The first virtual container is configured to utilize computing resources of the first execution unit without demanding more computing resources than the first execution unit provides. The first execution unit may have exclusive access to a first arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The method further includes, with a second execution unit of the processor, processing instructions for the processing task on behalf of a second virtual container. The second virtual container is configured to utilize computing resources of the first execution unit without demanding more computing resources than the first execution unit provides. The second execution unit may have exclusive access to a second Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU). The first execution unit and the second execution unit operate in parallel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding video data are provided. Evolving standards for video encoding such as High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard require a significant increase in computational complexity for both inter and intra encoding. The method includes calculating an approximate cost of each of a first set of prediction modes. Then selecting a second set of prediction modes from the first set of prediction modes based on probability distributions associated with each of the modes in the first set of prediction modes, the second set having substantially fewer prediction modes than the first. A number of candidate prediction modes prior to rate distortion optimization (RDO) is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method provides substantial time reduction and negligible quality loss as compared to the HEVC reference.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for simulating insertion of an elongated instrument attached to a tether into a structure. The apparatus comprises a casing having an aperture for receiving a distal end of the tether therethrough. The apparatus has a pulley having an outer tether receiving groove on a peripheral portion and an anchoring element therein for anchoring the distal end of the tether, the pulley rotating according to a longitudinal translation of the tether relatively to the casing. The apparatus has a sensing arrangement for sensing an angular position of the pulley representative of a relative longitudinal position of the elongated instrument. The apparatus has a feedback force actuator for applying an adjustable resistive force to a rotation of the pulley according to the sensed angular position and resistance characteristics of the structure. The present disclosure also relates to a medical insertion simulator comprising such an apparatus.

Abstract: There is described a system for controlling an artificial body comprising at least one of at least one articulated body part and a sound reproduction device, the system comprising: a display unit for displaying an image of an eye thereon, the screen comprising a plurality of light cells each adapted to emit light, at least a given one of the light cells being adapted to selectively emit light and detect light; and a controller for controlling the display unit, the controller for: operating at least one first light cell each as a light detector in order to detect light incident thereon, the least one first light cell being selected among the at least a given one of the light cells; determining a reaction as a function of the detected light; and outputting a command indicative of the determined reaction.

Abstract: There is described an artificial eye system comprising: a see-through display for displaying an image of an eye thereon; a light detector for detecting light propagating through the see-through display and coming from an external environment; and a controller for: generating the image of the eye using information about the light detected by the light detector; and displaying the generated image of the eye on the see-through display.

Abstract: The present system and method determine a position on an external surface of an object. The system comprises a magnetic field measurement module and an ultrasound measurement module. A control unit stores a magnetic field map of the object comprising a first plurality of reference areas of the external surface of the object and associated reference magnetic field value. The control unit also stores an ultrasound map of the object comprising a second plurality of reference areas of the external surface of the object and associated reference ultrasound characteristic. The processing unit determines: a subset of the reference areas for which the associated reference magnetic field value is substantially equal to a measured magnetic field value, a subset of the reference areas for which the associated reference ultrasound characteristic is substantially equal to a measured ultrasound characteristic, and determines the position on the external surface of the object.