Abstract: A coated article includes a substrate and a DLC layer formed on the substrate. More than 80% of carbon-carbon bonds in the DLC layer are sp3 carbon-carbon bonds. The DLC layer is dense and has a good cosmetic effect, excellent abrasion resistance and an excellent corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A humidifier pad assembly for a humidifier that is configured for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system of a building or other structure. The humidifier pad assembly may include a frame for holding a replaceable humidifier pad within the housing of the humidifier. The frame may be structured to hold the replaceable humidifier pad within the housing such that a back major surface of the replaceable humidifier pad generally faces the back side of the housing, and a front opposing major surface of the humidifier pad generally faces the front side of the housing. The frame may further be structured to permit removal and replacement of the replaceable humidifier pad through the front side of the frame. In some cases, the housing may be configured such that the frame (and the replaceable humidifier pad) may be slid out of apertures in the right side and/or left side of the housing.

Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. The housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may direct air through the humidifier pad from a first major surface to a second major surface of the pad. In the operating position, the first and second major surfaces of the humidifier pad may be substantially non-parallel with the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. In some cases, this may provide a more compact design. In some cases, a centrifugal fan, rather than an axial fan, may be used to draw air into the humidifier from the HVAC duct. The use of a centrifugal fan may reduce the noise associated with the operation of the humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. A back side of the housing may be positioned adjacent to an opening in the surface of the HVAC duct, and the housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may define a first air flow path from a first side of the humidifier pad to the opening in the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. The housing may further define a second air flow path from a second side of the humidifier pad to a bypass aperture. At least part of the second air flow path may be defined by a bypass duct member. The bypass duct member may be field-reconfigurable between at least a first position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a first location, and a second position resulting in the bypass aperture being located at a second location.

Abstract: A clairvoyance method for 3D scene is disclosed, including the steps of acquiring parameters associated with a clairvoyance camera and parameters associated with a clairvoyance viewport; determining a 3D scene to be rendered according to the parameters associated with the clairvoyance camera; rendering the determined 3D scene to obtain a 2D image presented in the clairvoyance viewport; and composing the 2D image presented in the clairvoyance viewport and a 2D image presented in a general scene viewport. With the method of the present invention, the covered 3D scene can be made clairvoyant to be viewed in a user-controllable way, and further an object can be selected in the clairvoyant 3D scene for manipulation, without manipulating the covering object. Thus, one or more embodiments of the present invention have advantages of simple and easy operation and high efficiency.

Abstract: A text content summary is created from speech content. A focus more signal is issued by a user while receiving the speech content. The focus more signal is associated with a time window, and the time window is associated with a part of the speech content. It is determined whether to use the part of the speech content associated with the time window to generate a text content summary based on a number of the focus more signals that are associated with the time window. The user may express relative significance to different portions of speech content, so as to generate a personal text content summary.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for activating virtual machines in a virtual solution, including: for each virtual machine, activating activation items in a first activation item set independently of other virtual machines; and for at least one virtual machine, activating activation items in a second activation item set in coordination with activation of activation items of at least another virtual machine. There is further provided an apparatus for activating virtual machines in a virtual solution, including: a first activator for activating, for each virtual machine, activation items in a first activation item set independently of other virtual machines; and a second activator for activating, for at least one virtual machine, activation items in a second activation item set in coordination with activation of activation items of at least another virtual machine.

Abstract: A command controlling method and a command controller for controlling execution of a plurality of commands on a remote machine are provided. The command controlling method includes determining a priority of each of the plurality of commands according to predetermined properties of the command, determining command package maximum total execution time according to a current workload of the remote machine, packaging the plurality of commands into one or more command packages in a descending order of priority according to the maximum total execution time, and sending the one or more command packages to the remote machine. By means of the command controlling method and the command controller, execution of commands in a cloud environment may be optimized to improve performance of the cloud environment.

Abstract: A humidifier for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system includes a housing configured to be mounted to a surface of an HVAC duct. The housing may be configured to hold a humidifier pad in an operating position. The housing may direct air through the humidifier pad from a first major surface to a second major surface of the pad. In the operating position, the first and second major surfaces of the humidifier pad may be substantially non-parallel with the surface of the HVAC duct when the housing is mounted to the surface of the HVAC duct. In some cases, this may provide a more compact design. In some cases, a centrifugal fan, rather than an axial fan, may be used to draw air into the humidifier from the HVAC duct. The use of a centrifugal fan may reduce the noise associated with the operation of the humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier pad assembly for a humidifier that is configured for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system of a building or other structure. The humidifier pad assembly may include a frame for holding a replaceable humidifier pad within the housing of the humidifier. The frame may be structured to hold the replaceable humidifier pad within the housing such that a back major surface of the replaceable humidifier pad generally faces the back side of the housing, and a front opposing major surface of the humidifier pad generally faces the front side of the housing. The frame may further be structured to permit removal and replacement of the replaceable humidifier pad through the front side of the frame. In some cases, the housing may be configured such that the frame (and the replaceable humidifier pad) may be slid out of apertures in the right side and/or left side of the housing.

Abstract: A humidifier for an HVAC system includes a replaceable humidifier pad, and a housing for holding the replaceable humidifier pad in an operating position during operation of the humidifier. The back side of the housing may define an air flow aperture that is in fluid communication with the replaceable humidifier pad when the replaceable humidifier pad is in its operating position. In some instances, the right side of the housing may define a first aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad. Likewise, the left side of the housing may define a second aperture that is sufficient in size to remove the replaceable humidifier pad from the housing, and to install a new replaceable humidifier pad.

Abstract: A method for determining a difference between a reference image and a further image of a pattern, the method including determining a reference imaging function; determining parameters of a difference function representative of a difference between the reference imaging function and a further imaging function; calculating a difference between the reference image and the further image of the pattern based on the difference function and the determined parameters.

Abstract: A method for transferring context information on a web server that contains a context pool. The method includes: in response to the web server receiving a message, obtaining context information from the message, generating a unique identifier according to a thread for processing the message, associating the context information with the generated unique identifier, and storing the context information and the associated unique identifier in context pool of web server correlatively. In response to a web server obtaining the context information, generating an identifier according to a thread that is executed currently in the web server, and extracting context information for which an associated unique identifier is matched with the generated identifier from the context pool.

Abstract: A step motor driving apparatus includes a micro control unit (MCU), a pulse generator, a first step motor driver, a second step motor driver, and a communication port. The first step motor driver is configured for driving a first step motor and connected to the MCU. The second step motor driver is configured for driving a second step motor and connected to the MCU. The MCU is connected to the second step motor driver via the pulse generator. The pulse generator is configured to supply pulse signals to the second step motor driver. The communication port is connected to the MCU. The MCU receives a corresponding command from an external control apparatus via the communication port. The MCU selectively controls the first step motor driver to drive the first step motor or controls the second step motor driver to drive the second step motor according to the command.

Abstract: A system, a computer device implemented method, and a computer readable article of manufacture for executing a computer implemented method for a unified access control for a plurality of composed services in a distributed computing environment without requiring repeated input of security certification. The method includes the steps of: acquiring a first role of a user in a first composed service; sending an invoking request by a processing unit of the first composed service to a second composed service; receiving the first role of the user in the first composed service and predefined role-role mapping relationships, and determining a second role of the user in the second composed service by a role determining component; and then sending the determined role in the second composed service by a role sending component to the second composed service, thereby providing unified access without requiring repeated input of security certification.

Abstract: A step motor driving apparatus includes a micro control unit (MCU), a pulse generator, a first step motor driver, a second step motor driver, and a communication port. The first step motor driver is configured for driving a first step motor and connected to the MCU. The second step motor driver is configured for driving a second step motor and connected to the MCU. The MCU is connected to the second step motor driver via the pulse generator. The pulse generator is configured to supply pulse signals to the second step motor driver. The communication port is connected to the MCU. The MCU receives a corresponding command from an external control apparatus via the communication port. The MCU selectively controls the first step motor driver to drive the first step motor or controls the second step motor driver to drive the second step motor according to the command.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of preparation and use of coumarin and chromene compounds for treating or preventing viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing 2,2-dimethyl-5-acyloxy -10-propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (5) and 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-10 -propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (6) and their use as intermediates for the synthesis of antiviral calanolide compounds. For example, Fries rearrangement on compound 5 or Friedel-Crafts reaction on 6, yields intermediate 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy -6-propionyl-10-propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (4), which, in turn, can be converted to (+)-calanolide A and (−)-calanolide B. The coupling of compound 6 with the appropriate chiral molecule under Mitsunobu or nucleophilic displacement leads to the asymmetric synthesis of antiviral calanolide compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for preparing 2,2-dimethyl-5-acyloxy-10-propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (5) and 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-10-propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (6) and their use as intermediates for the synthesis of antiviral calanolide compounds. For example, Fries rearrangement on compound 5 or Friedel-Crafts reaction on 6, yields intermediate 2,2-dimethyl-5-hydroxy-6-propionyl-10-propyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b′]dipyran-8-one (4), which, in turn, can be converted to (+)-calanolide A and (−)-calanolide B. The coupling of compound 6 with the appropriate chiral molecule under Mitsunobu or nucleophilic displacement leads to the asymmetric synthesis of antiviral calanolide compounds.