Abstract: An automated employee selection system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in selection of employees. For example, pre-hire and post-hire information can be collected electronically and used to build an artificial-intelligence based model. The model can then be used to predict a desired job performance criterion (e.g., tenure, number of accidents, sales level, or the like) for new applicants. A wide variety of features can be supported, such as electronic reporting. Pre-hire information identified as ineffective can be removed from a collected pre-hire information. For example, ineffective questions can be identified and removed from a job application. New items can be added and their effectiveness tested. As a result, a system can exhibit adaptive learning and maintain or increase effectiveness even under changing conditions.

Abstract: An automated employee selection system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in selection of employees. For example, pre-hire and post-hire information can be collected electronically and used to build an artificial-intelligence based model. The model can then be used to predict a desired job performance criterion (e.g., tenure, number of accidents, sales level, or the like) for new applicants. A wide variety of features can be supported, such as electronic reporting. Pre-hire information identified as ineffective can be removed from a collected pre-hire information. For example, ineffective questions can be identified and removed from a job application. New items can be added and their effectiveness tested. As a result, a system can exhibit adaptive learning and maintain or increase effectiveness even under changing conditions.

Abstract: Wastewater treatment systems, methods and apparatus for polishing a wastewater stream comprising a plurality of contaminants are provided. One system includes a vessel containing a plurality of natural media filtration agents selected to remove selected ones of the plurality of contaminants from the wastewater stream. In one embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of bauxite residue and at least one other natural media filtration agent. In another embodiment, the vessel includes a bed of compost and at least one other natural media filtration agent. The vessel includes a wastewater inlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents. The vessel includes a wastewater outlet that is in fluid communication with one or more of the natural media filtration agents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that receives an input narrative in a particular media format, and produces therefrom a multimedia enriched version of the input narrative. In one embodiment, a method is provided for enriching an input narrative with multimedia content, wherein the method includes the step of selectively segmenting the input narrative to form queries pertaining to different portions or elements of the input narrative. The method further comprises retrieving multimedia artifacts from one or more multimedia repositories, wherein each retrieved multimedia artifact is associated with one of the queries, and selecting a subset of the retrieved multimedia artifacts, wherein the subset includes artifacts comprising different types of multimedia content. The input narrative is then combined with respective multimedia artifacts of the subset, in order to provide an enriched and enhanced narrative.

Abstract: A manual annotation system of multi-modal characteristics in multimedia files. There is provided an arrangement for selection an observation modality of video with audio, video without audio, audio with video, or audio without video, to be used to annotate multimedia content. While annotating video or audio features is isolation results in less confidence in the identification of features, observing both audio and video simultaneously and annotating that observation results in a higher confidence level.

Abstract: An autonomous classification device which enables the creation of autonomous classifiers that are easy to deploy, adapt and optimize in the environment in which they are used. The classifier is autonomous in that it can perform three functions that define autonomic systems: automatically configure itself in an environment, optimize its performance using the environment and mechanisms for performance, and continually adapting to improve performance and heal itself in a changing environment.

Abstract: Horizontal gas-liquid scrubbing systems and associated gas scrubbing methodologies are provided. In one embodiment, a horizontal duct scrubbing system includes a horizontally disposed housing having a waste gas inlet and a treated gas outlet, a liquid inlet manifold disposed within the horizontally disposed housing, the liquid inlet manifold comprising a plurality of nozzles oriented to spray a scrubbing liquor co-current to the flow of a gas stream flowing through the horizontally disposed housing, and a demister located proximal the treated gas outlet, where the horizontally disposed housing is substantially free of flow deflection members between the liquid inlet manifold and the demister. The gas stream may include sulfur dioxide, and the system may be capable of removing at least 71 vol. % sulfur dioxide from the gas stream.

Abstract: Improved document annotation techniques are provided. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for determining an annotation for a document includes the following steps/operations. A user-proposed annotation to be associated with the document is obtained. Then, the technique automatically determines, in accordance with a knowledge base, whether the user-proposed annotation matches at least one allowed annotation.

Abstract: A feeder apparatus supplies a powder feedstock to a high or low pressure processing operation. The apparatus includes a metering plate defining an annular channel having a channel width. A measuring mechanism dispenses a measured volume of the feedstock into the annular channel. The measuring mechanism includes a pay-out device defining an outlet significantly smaller than the channel width. The measuring mechanism further includes a maximum fill level defining a maximum pressure head in the feedstock less than a retaining pressure defined by the internal friction of the feedstock. The restraining pressure prevents the feedstock from spreading outwardly in the annular channel and contacting sidewalls of the annular channel under the pressure head of the feedstock. The apparatus further includes a pick-up device for removing the feedstock from the annular channel. The pick-up device includes an inlet having a rectangular shape extending across the annular channel.

Abstract: Horizontal gas-liquid scrubbing systems and associated gas scrubbing methodologies are provided. In one embodiment, a horizontal duct scrubbing system includes a horizontally disposed housing having a waste gas inlet and a treated gas outlet, a liquid inlet manifold disposed within the horizontally disposed housing, the liquid inlet manifold comprising a plurality of nozzles oriented to spray a scrubbing liquor co-current to the flow of a gas stream flowing through the horizontally disposed housing, and a demister located proximal the treated gas outlet, where the horizontally disposed housing is substantially free of flow deflection members between the liquid inlet manifold and the demister. The gas stream may include sulfur dioxide, and the system may be capable of removing at least 71 vol. % sulfur dioxide from the gas stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen, and more particularly to a conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight and an inorganic catalyst. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and processes for generating hydrogen molecules from sunlight and water, such as a process comprising the steps of: i) contacting the water with nanoparticles of an inorganic photocatalyst compound in a reaction zone of a reaction chamber; ii) concentrating sunlight with an optical intensifier such that the intensity is increased by a factor greater than 2; iii) heating the reaction zone to one or more reaction temperatures greater than 140° C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ontology-based classification of media content are provided. With the method and apparatus, initial confidence values of classifiers in a hierarchical classification structure are modified based on relationships between classifiers. A confidence value for a classifier is boosted by a boosting factor based on a correspondence between the confidence value and confidence values of ancestor classifiers in the hierarchical classification structure. A confidence value for a classifier is modified by a confusion factor based on a correspondence between the confidence value of the classifier and the confidence values of mutually exclusive classifiers in the hierarchical classification structure. In this way, a more accurate representation of the actual confidence that media content falls within the classification associated with the classifier is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of search fusion methods for querying multimedia databases and more specifically to a method and system for constructing a multi-modal query of a multimedia repository by forming multiple uni-modal searches and explicitly selecting fusion methods for combining their results. The present invention also relates to the integration of search methods for content-based retrieval, model-based retrieval, text-based retrieval, and metadata search, and the use of graphical user interfaces allowing the user to form queries fusing these search methods.

Abstract: A system is provided which solves content acquisition issues by providing an automated method to acquire content in mass and maintain an association between available meta-data and the actual content, e.g., video file. The system includes a first component configured to log network traffic. The system also includes a second component configured to correlate downloaded content of the logged network traffic with an XML stream of URLs and respective content descriptions.

Abstract: An automated employee selection system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in selection of employees. For example, pre-hire and post-hire information can be collected electronically and used to build an artificial-intelligence based model. The model can then be used to predict a desired job performance criterion (e.g., tenure, number of accidents, sales level, or the like) for new applicants. A wide variety of features can be supported, such as electronic reporting. Pre-hire information identified as ineffective can be removed from a collected pre-hire information. For example, ineffective questions can be identified and removed from a job application. New items can be added and their effectiveness tested. As a result, a system can exhibit adaptive learning and maintain or increase effectiveness even under changing conditions.

Abstract: An automated employee selection system can use a variety of techniques to provide information for assisting in selection of employees. For example, pre-hire and post-hire information can be collected electronically and used to build an artificial-intelligence based model. The model can then be used to predict a desired job performance criterion (e.g., tenure, number of accidents, sales level, or the like) for new applicants. A wide variety of features can be supported, such as electronic reporting. Pre-hire information identified as ineffective can be removed from a collected pre-hire information. For example, ineffective questions can be identified and removed from a job application. New items can be added and their effectiveness tested. As a result, a system can exhibit adaptive learning and maintain or increase effectiveness even under changing conditions.

Abstract: Generators 12a are for a distributed generation system. A control system 32a receives information about network faults 14a. In normal conditions, the control system 32a controls the field current in the field coils of the generator 12a, to maintain generator output voltage at the rated value. At the onset of fault conditions, the control system 32a changes the manner in which field current is controlled, in order to reduce the fault current put onto the network.

Abstract: A computer program product includes machine readable instructions for managing data items, the instructions stored on machine readable media, the product including instructions for: initializing a plurality of base models; minimizing a joint loss function to select models from the plurality for a plurality of labels associated with the data items; and at least one of sharing and combining the selected base models to formulate a composite classifier for each label. A computer system and additional computer program product are provided.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product code for temporal, event-based video fingerprinting. In one embodiment, events in video content are detected. The video content comprises a plurality of video frames. An event represents discrete points of interest in the video content. A set of temporal, event-based segments are generated using the events. Each temporal, event-based segment is a segment of the video content covering a set of events. A time series signal is derived from each temporal, event-based segment using temporal tracking of content-based features of a set of frames associated with the each temporal, event-based segment. A temporal segment based fingerprint is extracted based on the time series signal for the each temporal, event-based segment to form a set of temporal segment based fingerprints associated with the video content.

Abstract: Horizontal gas-liquid scrubbing systems and associated gas scrubbing methodologies are provided. In one embodiment, a horizontal duct scrubbing system includes a horizontally disposed housing having a waste gas inlet and a treated gas outlet, a liquid inlet manifold disposed within the horizontally disposed housing, the liquid inlet manifold comprising a plurality of nozzles oriented to spray a scrubbing liquor co-current to the flow of a gas stream flowing through the horizontally disposed housing, and a demister located proximal the treated gas outlet, where the horizontally disposed housing is substantially free of flow deflection members between the liquid inlet manifold and the demister. The gas stream may include sulfur dioxide, and the system may be capable of removing at least 71 vol. % sulfur dioxide from the gas stream.