Abstract: A device, structure, and method are provided whereby an insert layer is utilized to provide additional support for weaker and softer dielectric layer. The insert layer may be applied between two weaker dielectric layers or the insert layer may be used with a single layer of dielectric material. Once formed, trenches and vias are formed within the composite layers, and the insert layer will help to provide support that will limit or eliminate undesired bending or other structural motions that could hamper subsequent process steps, such as filling the trenches and vias with conductive material.

Abstract: A method includes forming a fin structure over a substrate, forming a first source/drain feature and a second source/drain feature over the fin structure, forming a dielectric material over the first source/drain feature and the second source/drain feature, patterning the dielectric layer into insulating features, and forming a first contact plug on the first source/drain feature and a second contact plug on the second source/drain feature. The insulating features include a first insulating feature and a second insulating feature on opposite sides of the first source/drain feature, and a third insulating feature and a fourth insulating feature on opposite sides of the second source/drain feature. The first insulating feature is longer than the third insulating feature. The distance between the first and second insulating features is greater than the distance between the third and fourth insulating features.

Abstract: The high-speed transmission system includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and the signal redriver. The signal redriver includes a terminal resistor. A high-speed receiving end and a high-speed transmitting end of the signal redriver are respectively coupled to a high-speed transmitting end of the transmitting device and a high-speed receiving end of the receiving device. The signal redriver is coupled to a control signal transceiving end of the transmitting device and a control signal transceiving end of the receiving device. The signal redriver monitors a control signal transmitted between the transmitting device and the receiving device and determines whether to enter a SLEEP mode based on the control signal. The terminal resistor of the signal redriver in the SLEEP mode is continuously coupled to the high-speed receiving end of the signal redriver.

Abstract: A method of encoding or decoding video data includes constructing a list of chroma intra-prediction modes for a chroma block of a current block of the video data, wherein constructing includes adding intra-prediction modes of a first group to the list of chroma intra-prediction modes, the first group comprising two or more intra-prediction modes derived from intra-prediction modes of two or more co-located luma blocks of the current block that are co-located with the chroma block; determining an intra-prediction mode for the chroma block from the list of chroma intra-prediction modes; and encoding or decoding the chroma block based on the intra-prediction mode.

Abstract: A device for decoding video data includes a memory configured to store video data; and one or more processors implemented in circuitry and configured to: determine that a boundary block of a picture of the video data is bi-directional inter-predicted using a first motion vector and a second motion vector, the boundary block having an edge that touches an edge of the picture; decode the picture, including decoding the boundary block; form a first intermediate padding block using the first motion vector; form a second intermediate padding block using the second motion vector; form a padding block using the first intermediate padding block and the second intermediate padding block; and assign padding values of the padding block to a padding region of the picture neighboring the boundary block on an opposite side of the edge of the picture.

Abstract: An encoding, a decoding method, a system for encoding and decoding, an encoder, and a decoder are provided. The encoding method includes the following. In a palette mode, if colors of pixels of a coding unit block are all represented by one or more major colors of the coding unit block, a flag is set as a first state value, and if the color of at least one pixel of the coding unit block is not represented by the one or more major colors of the coding unit block, the flag is set as a second state value. The encoding method further includes establishing a palette table corresponding to the coding unit block according to a state value of the flag and the one or more major colors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are recombinant polynucleotide sequences, vectors, host cells and methods for producing astaxanthin. The recombinant polynucleotide sequence is designed to provide a higher level of astaxanthin precursors via a shorter metabolic pathway, and thereby attains higher level of end products (e.g., astaxanthin) with desired stereoisomeric form and/or esterified form.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing temperature sensing in presence of temperature-sensing component temperature variation includes steps of: obtaining response value caused by black body at first temperature of a thermal imager core chip; obtaining high-temperature first-order linear function of high-temperature black body response value versus thermal imager core chip temperature; obtaining low-temperature first-order linear function of low-temperature black body response value versus thermal imager core chip temperature; obtaining response value of high-temperature first-order linear function at first temperature, response value of high-temperature first-order linear function at second temperature of the thermal imager core chip, response value of low-temperature first-order linear function at first temperature, response value of low-temperature first-order linear function at second temperature, and response value of black body and substituting the five values into an equation for correcting the response values; and o

Abstract: A device, structure, and method are provided whereby an insert layer is utilized to provide additional support for weaker and softer dielectric layer. The insert layer may be applied between two weaker dielectric layers or the insert layer may be used with a single layer of dielectric material. Once formed, trenches and vias are formed within the composite layers, and the insert layer will help to provide support that will limit or eliminate undesired bending or other structural motions that could hamper subsequent process steps, such as filling the trenches and vias with conductive material.

Abstract: A threat actor identification system that obtains domain data for a set of domains, generates domain clusters, determines whether the domain clusters are associated with threat actors, and presents domain data for the clusters that are associated with threat actors to brand owners that are associated with the threat actors. The clusters may be generated based on similarities in web page content, domain registration information, and/or domain infrastructure information. For each cluster, a clustering engine determines whether the cluster is associated with a threat actor, and for clusters that are associated with threat actors, corresponding domain information is stored for presentation to brand owners to whom the threat actor poses a threat.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a continuous analyte monitoring system for measuring a concentration of a first analyte and concentration of a second analyte in a host. One such system utilizes a working electrode and a reference electrode to measure glucose concentration and oxygen concentration in bodily fluid of a host. The system includes a sensor control circuit that applies a first bias condition to the sensor to measure a first signal generated by the sensor indicative of a concentration of the first analyte. The sensor control circuit also applies a second bias condition to the sensor to measure a second signal generated by the sensor indicative of a concentration of a second analyte at the host.

Abstract: A method of encoding video data by an electronic device is provided. A block unit is determined from an image frame according to the video data. A line index is encoded in a bitstream based on a selected reference line of the block unit and is compared with a first predefined value to determine whether to encode a mode flag in the bitstream. A mode index is directly encoded in the bitstream for indicating a prediction mode of the block unit from a most probable mode (MPM) list of the block unit when the mode flag is not encoded. The mode flag is compared to a second predefined value for encoding the mode index when the mode flag is encoded in the bitstream to indicate whether the prediction mode is selected from the MPM list. The block unit is predicted based on the selected reference line and the prediction mode.

Abstract: A computing device prompts a user to place the user’s hand including a wrist next to a facial region of the user. The computing device obtains an image depicting the facial region and a wrist of the user. The computing device measures a diameter of an iris in the facial region depicted in the image and measures a width of a wrist of the hand depicted in the image. The computing device estimates an actual wrist width of the user’s hand based on an actual iris diameter, the measured diameter of the iris in the facial region depicted in the image, and the measured width of the wrist of the hand depicted in the image.

Abstract: Provided is a method for treating disorders or conditions related to erectile dysfunction. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of mesenchymal stem cells or secretome thereof, wherein the mesenchymal stem cells or secretome are derived from human amniotic fluid.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a serum or plasma portion of a specimen in a specimen container includes capturing a plurality of images of the specimen container from multiple viewpoints, stacking the multiple viewpoint images along a channel dimension into a single stacked input, and processing the stacked input with a single deep convolutional neural network (SDNN). The SDNN includes a segmentation convolutional neural network that receives the stacked input and outputs multiple label maps simultaneously. The SDNN also includes a classification convolutional neural network that processes the multiple label maps and outputs an HILN determination (Hemolysis, Icterus, and/or Lipemia, or Normal) of the serum or plasma portion of the specimen. Quality check modules and testing apparatus configured to carry out the method are also described, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A video coder is configured to determine a reference block of a reference picture for prediction of a current block of a current picture using motion information and to generate a set of reference samples for the current block of the current picture. To generate the set of reference samples, the video coder is configured to perform reference sample clipping on the reference block of the reference picture based on a size of the reference picture. The video coder is further configured to generate a prediction block for the current block of the current picture based on the set of reference samples.

Abstract: A device for decoding video data can be configured to determine that a block is coded in an overlapped block motion compensation (OBMC) mode; determine a first prediction block for the block using a first motion vector for the block; determine a second prediction block for the block using a second motion vector, wherein the second motion is a motion vector of a neighboring block of the block; select an OBMC blending process from a plurality of available OBMC blending processes; blend the first prediction block and the second prediction block using the selected OBMC blending process to determine a blended block; and reconstruct the block using the blended block.

Abstract: Machine learning is used to train a network to estimate a three-dimensional (3D) body surface and body regions of a patient from surface images of the patient. The estimated 3D body surface of the patient is used to determine an isocenter of the patient. The estimated body regions are used to generate heatmaps representing visible body region boundaries and unseen body region boundaries of the patient. The estimation of 3D body surfaces, the determined patient isocenter, and the estimated body region boundaries may assist in planning a medical scan, including automatic patient positioning.

Abstract: An oral imaging device includes a base, a camera module, and a plurality of light source modules. The base includes a camera component, an opening surface, and a plurality of light source components connected to two sides of the camera component. A slant angle exists between each light source component and the camera component. The slant angle is a non-right angle. The opening surface is substantially parallel to the camera component. The camera module is located on the camera component and faces the opening surface. The plurality of light source modules each are located on each light source component and configured to project a light beam onto the opening surface. A center ray of the light beam passes through a center point of the opening surface.

Abstract: Patient biographic data may be estimated by receiving patient image data, applying the patient image data to a machine learned model, the machine learned model trained on second patient data and trained to map the second patient data to associated biographic data using machine learned features, generating the patient biographic data based on the applying and the machine learned features, and outputting the patient biographic data. The patient biographic data may include a patient weight, a patient height, a patient gender, and a patient age.