Abstract: A system for background image subtraction includes a computing device coupled with a 3D video camera, a processor o£ the device programmed to receive a video feed from the camera containing images of one or more subject that include depth information. The processor, for an image: segments pixels and corresponding depth information into three different regions including foreground (FG), background (BG), and unclear (UC); categorizes UC pixels as FG or BG using a function that considers the color and background history (BGH) information associated with the UC pixels and the color and BGH information associated with pixels near the UC pixels; examines the pixels marked as FG and applies temporal and spatial filters to smooth boundaries of the FG regions; constructs a new image by overlaying the FG regions on top of a new background; displays a video feed of the new image in a display device; and continually maintains the BGH.

Abstract: An aspect of providing job assignment optimization includes creating a feature vector from features extracted from a new job request. Each of the features is associated with a constraint on minimum requirements with respect to a level of experience of a potential candidate. An aspect further includes creating a feature vector for each employee that includes skills attributed to the employee and instances that each of the skills have been completed, searching feature vectors generated from the employee database for the minimum requirements indicated in the new job request feature vector, searching the feature vectors of the database for the minimum requirements indicated by constraints associated with the new job request, modeling aggregate utility of past experience of employees as a weighted sum of applied utility functions, and generating a score indicating a difference between a potential post assignment and a pre-assignment utility. An aspect also includes outputting qualified candidates.

Abstract: A composition includes an elastomer and a ketoximo silane or a ketoxime additive.

Abstract: Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for visually deemphasizing a displayed persona. At least one embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a user-interface (UI)-management device. The UI-management device identifies a persona region of a displayed persona and identifies a user-interface-focus location. The UI-management device then makes a persona-deemphasize determination based on the identified persona region and the identified user-interface-focus location. In response to making the persona-deemphasize determination, the UI-management device visually deemphasizes the displayed persona.

Abstract: An optical add/drop multiplexer incorporates an integrated receiver module and an integrated transmitter which are interfaced to an intervening electrical network to provide an add/drop/pass-through functionality. The receiver module incorporates a wavelength demultiplexer which is in turn combined with optical/electrical converters PIN photodiodes, and amplifiers on a per wavelength basis to output a plurality of parallel electrical signals in response to a common optical input. The transmitter module combines an integrated plurality of drive circuits and lasers for converting a plurality of parallel input electrical signals to a plurality of optical signals, on a per wavelength basis, which in turn are coupled via an optical wavelength multiplexer to a common output optical fiber. The interconnected electrical network, ring mesh or tree, can provide a reconfigurable electrical add/drop interface to other portions of the network.

Abstract: A system for background image subtraction includes a computing device coupled with a 3D video camera, a processor o£ the device programmed to receive a video feed from the camera containing images of one or more subject that include depth information. The processor, for an image: segments pixels and corresponding depth information into three different regions including foreground (FG), background (BG), and unclear (UC); categorizes UC pixels as FG or BG using a function that considers the color and background history (BGH) information associated with the UC pixels and the color and BGH information associated with pixels near the UC pixels; examines the pixels marked as FG and applies temporal and spatial filters to smooth boundaries of the FG regions; constructs a new image by overlaying the FG regions on top of a new background; displays a video feed of the new image in a display device; and continually maintains the BGH.

Abstract: A storage module may include a controller that has hardware path that includes a plurality of hardware modules configured to perform a plurality of processes associated with execution of a host request. The storage module may also include a firmware module having a processor that executes firmware to perform at least some of the plurality of processes performed by the hardware modules. The firmware module performs the processes when the hardware modules are not able to successfully perform them.

Abstract: Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.

Abstract: A natural gas engine system may have an engine having at least one cylinder. The engine may also have an intake manifold configured to deliver air for combustion to the cylinder and an exhaust manifold configured to discharge exhaust from the cylinder. The natural gas engine system may have a generator coupled to the engine. The generator may be configured to generate electrical power for an electrical load. The natural gas engine system may have a fuel source configured to supply natural gas for combustion in the engine, and an air tank in fluid communication with the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. Further, the natural gas engine system may have a controller. The controller may be configured to direct a first amount of air from the air tank to the exhaust manifold and a second amount of air from the air tank to the intake manifold.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for iterative adjustment of video-capture settings based on identified persona. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving video frames being captured by a video camera of an ongoing scene. The method also includes identifying a persona in one or more of the received frames at least in part by identifying, in each such frame, a set of pixels that is representative of the persona in the frame and that does not include any pixels representative of a background of the frame. The method also includes selecting, based collectively on the brightness values of the pixels in the identified set of pixels of one or more frames, an adjustment command for one or more adjustable video-capture settings of the camera, as well as outputting the selected commands to the camera for use in continuing to capture video data representative of the ongoing scene.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to techniques for providing a visualization of connectivity between components in a computer network. One embodiment provides a method which includes receiving a configuration of a network comprising a plurality of components within a physical layer and a virtual layer. The method also includes generating a resource diagram identifying connections that are accessible among the components of the physical layer and components of the virtual layer. The method further includes, upon receiving a selection of one of the components, determining a subset of the plurality of components that are connected to the selected component, and altering the resource diagram to provide a visualization, within the resource diagram, of the connections between the selected component and the determined subset of the plurality of components.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for reserving spare bandwidth for a link in a communication network including a plurality of links. The method provides for monitoring the volume of traffic routed through each link of the communication network. A single link failure for each link is then simulated and the volume of traffic which would be rerouted through each link for maintaining communication and the volume of traffic removed from each link are determined for each simulated single link failure. The difference between the volume of traffic which would need to be rerouted through each link and the corresponding volume of traffic removed from each link is then computed, and a maximum difference value is determined for each link for all simulated single link failures. An amount of spare bandwidth equivalent to the determined maximum difference is then reserved for each link.

Abstract: A system for background image subtraction includes a computing device coupled with a 3D video camera, a processor of the device programmed to receive a video feed from the camera containing images of one or more subject that include depth information. The processor, for an image: segments pixels and corresponding depth information into three different regions including foreground (FG), background (BG), and unclear (UC); categorizes UC pixels as FG or BG using a function that considers the color and background history (BGH) information associated with the UC pixels and the color and BGH information associated with pixels near the UC pixels; examines the pixels marked as FG and applies temporal and spatial filters to smooth boundaries of the FG regions; constructs a new image by overlaying the FG regions on top of a new background; displays a video feed of the new image in a display device; and continually maintains the BGH.

Abstract: A medical contrast agent made of microbubbles containing Au nanoclusters is provided. The shell of the microbubbles contains fluorescent Au nanocluster-albumin complex, and the core contains air or fluorocarbons. The method for preparing the microbubbles is also disclosed.

Abstract: Alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds are described. The alkoxy-modified silsesquioxane compounds contain an alkoxysilane group that participates in an alkoxysilane-silica reaction as a silica dispersing agent in rubber, with the release of zero to about 0.1% by weight of the rubber of volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially alcohol, during compounding and further processing. Further described are methods for making alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, methods for making vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, vulcanizable rubber compounds containing alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes, and pneumatic tires comprising a component that contains alkoxy-modified silsesquioxanes.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bridge unit and system are disclosed that may allow for processing fence commands send to multiple bridge units. Each bridge unit may process a respective portion of a plurality of transactions generated by a master unit. The master unit may be configured to send a fence command to each bridge unit, which may stall the processing of the command. Each bridge unit may be configured to determine if all transactions included in its respective portion of the plurality of transactions has completed. Once each bridge unit has determined that all other bridge units have received the fence command and that all other bridge units have completed their respective portions of the plurality of transactions that were received prior to receiving the fence command, all bridge units may execute the fence command.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for iterative adjustment of video-capture settings based on identified persona. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving video frames being captured by a video camera of an ongoing scene. The method also includes identifying a persona in one or more of the received frames at least in part by identifying, in each such frame, a set of pixels that is representative of the persona in the frame and that does not include any pixels representative of a background of the frame. The method also includes selecting, based collectively on the brightness values of the pixels in the identified set of pixels of one or more frames, an adjustment command for one or more adjustable video-capture settings of the camera, as well as outputting the selected commands to the camera for use in continuing to capture video data representative of the ongoing scene.

Abstract: Various embodiments present a combined visual entity that represents overlapping visual entities. The combined visual entity can include a primary visualization that represents one of the overlapping visual entities and annotations that represent others of the overlapping visual entities. For example, a map view can include multiple geographical entities that overlap. A primary visualization can be rendered that represents one of the multiple geographical entities. The primary visualization can be visually annotated (e.g., with symbols, letters, or other visual indicators) to indicate others of the multiple geographical entities. In some embodiments, a zoom operation can cause visual entities to be added and/or removed from the combined visual entity.