Abstract: A method for the selective extraction, by a terminal, of at least one image to be extracted, from an encrypted video stream where multiple encrypted versions are stored on a server incapable of decrypting the encrypted version. The multiple encrypted versions comprising at least a low resolution version and a high resolution version, and each encrypted version is divided into encrypted blocks, containing multiple encrypted images. The method includes selecting an encrypted block from the low resolution encrypted version of the encrypted video stream, selecting a subset of the encrypted block containing an image to be extracted; transmitting to the terminal the subset; decrypting of the subset by the terminal; and extracting the image, from the decrypted subset.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for evaluating the appeal of a litter or the litter box environment to a cat and also provides a behavioral diagnostic method for assessing risk of urinary health issues. The methods involve the use of the duration of the elimination sequence to diagnose if the cat has a healthy (enriched environment) or unhealthy (standard environment) elimination behavior. The duration can be measured by an apparatus that determines the time of residence of an animal in a litter pan (i.e., the difference between time of entrance and time of exit from the pan). The apparatus can determine the time of residence of the animal in the litter pan using one or more of a motion detection device attached to the litter pan, an accelerometer attached to the litter pan, or a weight scale balance under the litter pan.

Abstract: A container end piece has: an inlet; an outlet; a closure device that is movable between a closed position and an open position; and a connection device for connecting the container end piece on to the tank end piece. The connecting device has: a clamping device that is movable between a spaced-apart position, in which the container end piece can be inserted around the tank end piece, and a clamped position, in which the clamping device co-operates with the tank end piece; and a control device that is actuable between a retracted position and an active position, in which the control device exerts a clamping force on the clamping device in its clamped position.

Abstract: An adaptive bitrate streaming method streams audio video (AV) to a client using a multi content delivery network (CDN) approach. Each CDN stores versions of content that can be requested in a succession of consecutive files using HTTP requests. The method is based on use of an intermediate module between an AV player of the client and each CDN. For each file of a version requested by the AV player, the intermediate module requests a manifest file to each CDN and estimates a bitrate of each CDN using reception performances of the manifest files. Each file is requested by the intermediate module in a succession of segment groups according to a pattern including a predetermined number of segments. Each group includes one set of segments for each CDN, each set including segments to be requested to the CDN to which they correspond proportional to the bitrate of this CDN.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for determining the structure of a sorted collection list of layouts by optimizing the organization of a collection of objects on a layout based on series of narrative and aesthetic criteria that vary for each set of objects and/or layout.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for decorating and embellishing interstitial space in a digital object layout using one or more design elements. Embodiments herein place one or more embellishments on any layout of 1-dimensional objects in a sequential manner by automatically detecting one or more “potential” regions/locations of placement (computed rectangular whitespace on edge, computed rectangular whitespace inside, geometric corners/vertices). One or more embellishments are placed in the one or more determined regions/locations using aesthetic measurements (measurement of nearest and furthest neighbor, chamfer radius around corners, number of objects overlaid on one side against the number of objects overlaid on the other side) and a rule based system. Embodiments herein disclose one or more specific design rules that enable a layout with embellishments to look aesthetically pleasing.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose automated methods and systems to fill background and interstitial space in the visual object layout with one or more colors that bleed/blend into each other. Embodiments herein automate the creation of multi-colored backgrounds for filling the interstitial space.

Abstract: Embodiments herein disclose methods and systems for applying content aware stickers onto a layout (wherein the layout can be a digital layout or a physical layout) and the stickers can add a decorative or narrative element about the images and/or the layout.

Abstract: A method of preparing a crystalline thin film having a formula MY2 includes (1) preparing an MYx amorphous film by atomic layer deposition on a surface of a substrate, and (2) annealing the amorphous MYx film at 350° C. or more to provide the crystalline MY2 film. The amorphous MYx film is formed from at least one metal M precursor and at least one element Y precursor, wherein x is 1.5 to 3.1, M is tungsten or molybdenum, and Y is sulfur or selenium. Step (1) includes a) introducing a first metal M precursor or element Y precursor into a deposition chamber, b) purging with inert gas, c) introducing a second metal M precursor when the first precursor is element Y, or element Y precursor when the first precursor is metal M, d) purging with inert gas, e) repeating steps a) to d), and f) obtaining the amorphous MYx film.

Abstract: A process for preparing phyllomineral synthetic particles formed from constituent chemical elements in stoichiometric proportions including at least one chemical element selected from the group formed from silicon and germanium, and at least one chemical element selected from the group formed from divalent metals and trivalent metals, by a continuous solvothermal treatment at a pressure above 1 MPa and at a temperature between 100° C. and 600° C., by making the reaction medium circulate continuously in a solvothermal treatment zone of a continuous reactor (15) with a residence time of the reaction medium in the solvothermal treatment zone that is suitable for continuously obtaining, at the outlet of the solvothermal treatment zone, a suspension including the phyllomineral synthetic particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mineral compound, referred to as synthetic mica, with formula At(SixGe1-x)4MzO10(OH)2, wherein: A designates at least one monovalent interfoliar cation of a metal element, A having the formula Liw(1)Naw(2)Kw(3)Rbw(4)Csw(5), each instance of w(i) representing a real number in the interval [0; 1], such that the sum of the instances of w(i) is equal to 1; t is a real number in the interval [0.3; 1]; x is a real number in the interval [0; 1]; M designates at least one divalent metal having the formula Mgy(1)Coy(2)Zny(3)Cuy(4)Mny(5)Fey(6)Niy(7)Cr, each instance of y(i) representing a real number in the interval [0; 1], such as the formula (A); and z is a real number in the interval [2.50; 2.85]. The invention also relates to a composition comprising such a compound and a method for preparing such a compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing synthetic mineral particles with formula (AlyM1-y)2(SixGe1-x)2O5(OH)4, wherein M designates at least one trivalent metal selected from the group made up of gallium and the rare earths, which comprises the following steps: preparing a gel which is a precursor of said synthetic mineral particles by a co-precipitation reaction of at least one salt of metal selected among aluminium and M with at least one silicon source selected from the group made up of potassium metasilicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metagermanate and sodium metagermanate, the molar ratio of (AlyM1-y) to (SixGe1-x) during the preparation of said precursor gel being equal to 1, at least one base being added during said co-precipitation reaction; and performing a solvothermal treatment of said precursor gel at a temperature of 250° C. to 600° C.

Abstract: A method for preparing a composition includes silico/germano-metal particles functionalized by at least one organic group, which involves:—carrying out a hydrothermal treatment of a hydrogel precursor of the silico/germano-metal mineral particles, and—preparing a hydrogel including silico/germano-metal particles having at least one organic group by co-precipitation in an aqueous medium. A composition including functionalized silico/germano-metal mineral particles of which 1% to 75% of the silicon atoms and/or of the germanium atoms are covalently bonded to at least one organic group is also described.

Abstract: A method for preparing a novel hydrogel including silico-metallic mineral particles of the formula (Six(Si-A)1?x)4M3O11.n?H2O, in which: x is a real number in the range [0.75; 1], A denotes a group selected from methyl and hydrocarbon groups including at least one heteroatom, and M is a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, cobalt, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, nickel and chromium, wherein a coprecipitation reaction is carried out in an aqueous medium between: at least one metal salt of the metal M, sodium metasilicate, Na2OSiO2, and at least one water-soluble oxysilane of formula (I): in which R1, R2 and R3 are selected from hydrogen and linear alkyl groups including 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A composition comprising synthetic mineral particles, such as silicate or phyllosilicate mineral particles, is presented. The composition can be prepared by a process in which a hydrogel precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is produced by a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound comprising silicon, such as sodium metasilicate, and at least one compound comprising at least one metal element, such as a dicarboxylate salt of the formula M(R1—COO)2, wherein R1 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The coprecipitation reaction also takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R2—COOM? wherein M? is Na or K, and R2 is H or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing a composition including synthetic mineral particles, in which a hydrogel which is a precursor of the synthetic mineral particles is prepared via a coprecipitation reaction between at least one compound including silicon, and at least one compound including at least one metal element, characterized in that the coprecipitation reaction takes place in the presence of at least one carboxylate salt of formula R2—COOM? in which: —M? denotes a metal chosen from the group made up of Na and K, and —R2 is chosen from H and alkyl groups including fewer than 5 carbon atoms. A composition including synthetic mineral particles which is obtained by such a process is also described.

Abstract: A pill, or like object, splitting apparatus includes a base having a bottom and continuous side walls defining an interior area. The side wall defines primary apertures. A cutting platform is situated in the interior area in a first horizontal plane defined by apertures, the cutting platform defining a bore extending horizontally between the primary apertures. Primary clamp members extends through respective primary apertures into the bore of the cutting platform. The clamp members engage with the pill to position and hold the pill/tablet stable during the cutting process. A plunger assembly having a compression plate and a blade is operatively coupled to the compression plate, the plunger selectively positioned in communication with the interior area via the open top of the base such that the blade severs the pill upon a downward pressure on the compression plate. The cutting portion is interchangeable with different configurations of blade/blades.

Abstract: Method for the selective extraction, by a terminal, of at least one image to be extracted contained in an encrypted video stream, multiple encrypted versions of said encrypted video stream being stored on a server incapable of decrypting said encrypted versions of the video stream, said multiple encrypted versions comprising at least a low resolution version and a high resolution version, each encrypted version of said encrypted video stream being divided into encrypted blocks, each encrypted block containing multiple encrypted images, said method comprising: selection of an encrypted block from the low resolution encrypted version of the encrypted video stream, said encrypted block containing an image to be extracted; selection of a subset of said encrypted bock containing said image to be extracted; transmission, by the server to the terminal, of said subset; decryption of said subset by the terminal; extraction by the terminal, of said image to be extracted, from said decrypted subset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a compressed video is disclosed. The method comprises scrambling the compressed video, to produce a scrambled compressed video; delivering the scrambled compressed video to a decoder, for decoding the scrambled compressed video to produce a scrambled decompressed video; receiving from the decoder the scrambled decompressed video; and descrambling the scrambled decompressed video, to produce a descrambled decompressed video.

Abstract: A process for preparing phyllomineral synthetic particles formed from constituent chemical elements in stoichiometric proportions including at least one chemical element selected from the group formed from silicon and germanium, and at least one chemical element selected from the group formed from divalent metals and trivalent metals, by a continuous solvothermal treatment at a pressure above 1 MPa and at a temperature between 100° C. and 600° C., by making the reaction medium circulate continuously in a solvothermal treatment zone of a continuous reactor (15) with a residence time of the reaction medium in the solvothermal treatment zone that is suitable for continuously obtaining, at the outlet of the solvothermal treatment zone, a suspension including the phyllomineral synthetic particles.