Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for rendering an image. Embodiments include selecting a plurality of positions within the image and constructing a respective linear prediction model for each selected position. A respective prediction window is determined for each constructed linear prediction model. Additionally, embodiments render the image using the linear prediction models using the constructed linear prediction models, where at least one of the constructed linear prediction models is used to predict values for two or more of a plurality of pixels of the image, and where a value for at least one of the plurality of pixels is determined based on two or more of the constructed linear prediction models.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for rendering an image. Embodiments include selecting a plurality of positions within the image and constructing a respective linear prediction model for each selected position. A respective prediction window is determined for each constructed linear prediction model. Additionally, embodiments render the image using the linear prediction models using the constructed linear prediction models, where at least one of the constructed linear prediction models is used to predict values for two or more of a plurality of pixels of the image, and where a value for at least one of the plurality of pixels is determined based on two or more of the constructed linear prediction models.

Abstract: A molded automotive textile nonwoven and its associated method of manufacturing includes flat staple fibers exhibiting a width to thickness ratio of 2 to 10 and a denier in the range of 2 to 30. The molded automotive textile non-woven is a three-dimensional (3D) structure that includes one or a plurality of protrusions or recesses which fits to the metallic vehicle floor pan of the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for generating virtual terrains. A terrain editing application is configured to receive assets of various types, including a blank canvas, two-dimensional (2D) sketches, real-world elevation maps, authored heightfields, etc. The assets specify characteristics of a terrain, and provide starting points for creating the virtual terrain. The editing application further provides a set of tools allowing a user to modify the virtual terrain. In one embodiment, the set of tools may include a copy-and-paste tool, a peak creation tool, a ridge creation tool, a ridge tracing tool, and a resynthesis tool. The editing application generates a new layer for each edit, as well as 2D and three-dimensional (3D) previews of the edited terrain. The editing application also provides a user-adjustable frequency decomposition of each layer. The editing application combines layers using Laplacian blending to produce the final virtual terrain.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for sampling visual characteristics of a three-dimensional scene. Embodiments include collecting a plurality of samples within the three-dimensional scene. Upon determining that a combined stratified importance sampling algorithm will result in reduced error for a rendered image of the three-dimensional scene, embodiments collect the plurality of samples using the combined stratified importance sampling algorithm, and otherwise the plurality of samples are collected using a stratified sampling algorithm. The combined stratified importance sampling algorithm integrates an antithetic sampling algorithm. One or more lighting effects for the three-dimensional scene are simulated based on the plurality of samples and data describing one or more light sources for the three-dimensional scene. Embodiments further include rendering the image based on the simulated one or more lighting effects and data describing characteristics of the three-dimensional scene.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the production of a fatty alcohol composition from recombinant microbial cells. The fatty alcohols are produced by expressing a gene encoding a heterologous fatty alcohol forming acyl-CoA reductase (“FAR”); a gene encoding a heterologous thioesterase (“TE”) gene and a gene encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase (“ACS”).

Abstract: Techniques for displaying an augmented reality environment. Embodiments capture a visual scene for display. An embedded symbol associated with a garment worn by the first user within the visual scene is identified. Embodiments generate a virtual augmentation corresponding to the first user that is animated based on the captured visual scene. The virtual augmentation alters an appearance of the first user, such that the first user is depicted as wearing a virtual costume, the virtual costume determined to have a predefined relationship with the identified embedded symbol. A sequence of frames is rendered that depicts the first user augmented with the virtual augmentation in the augmented reality environment and depict at least a portion of the first user as wearing the virtual costume.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arranging scenes of animated content are presented herein. Scenes may be arranged to simulate three-dimensionality in the scenes by shifting objects in the scenes relative to each other and/or changing other properties of one or more of the objects. A shift and/or other property change may be based on a position and/or orientation of a display of a computing platform presenting the scenes relative to a user's perspective of the display.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying a multiuser augmented reality world on a first augmented reality device. Embodiments capture a visual scene for display. The visual scene includes a first user and wherein the visual scene is captured using one or more camera devices. Visual scene data for a second user is received from a second augmented reality device. Embodiments rendering a sequence of frames for display which depict the first user and the second user in an augmented reality world, where the depiction of the first user is based on the captured visual scene, and where the depiction of the second user is based on the received visual scene data.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for sampling visual characteristics of a three-dimensional scene. Embodiments include collecting a plurality of samples within the three-dimensional scene. Upon determining that a combined stratified importance sampling algorithm will result in reduced error for a rendered image of the three-dimensional scene, embodiments collect the plurality of samples using the combined stratified importance sampling algorithm, and otherwise the plurality of samples are collected using a stratified sampling algorithm. The combined stratified importance sampling algorithm integrates an antithetic sampling algorithm. One or more lighting effects for the three-dimensional scene are simulated based on the plurality of samples and data describing one or more light sources for the three-dimensional scene. Embodiments further include rendering the image based on the simulated one or more lighting effects and data describing characteristics of the three-dimensional scene.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the production of a fatty alcohol composition from recombinant microbial cells. The fatty alcohols are produced by expressing a gene encoding a heterologous fatty alcohol forming acyl-CoA reductase (“FAR”); a gene encoding a heterologous thioesterase (“TE”) gene and a gene encoding an acyl-CoA synthetase (“ACS”).

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating information between user devices and physical objects which are separate from the user devices. The physical objects may store information related to one or more online games associated with the physical objects. The user devices may obtain the information stored by the physical objects via light communication. The user devices may use the obtained information in order to effectuate presentation of a virtual character and/or virtual object in an online game corresponding to the information.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for virtual scene generation. An image depicting a scene and annotated by a sparse set of labels is received. A dense set of labels annotating the image and a density map associated with the image are generated based on the sparse set of labels. A virtual scene is generated based on the dense set of labels and the density map, and the virtual scene is output.

Abstract: A textile structure is provided which comprises a backing of at least a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein the first plurality of fibers have a first fiber denier and the second plurality of fibers have a second fiber denier different than the first fiber denier. A method of providing a slip resistant covering to overlie a floor pan carpet of a motor vehicle is provided comprising overlying the carpet with an accessory mat having an underlying backing comprising at least a first plurality of fibers and a second plurality of fibers, wherein the first plurality of fibers have a first fiber denier and the second plurality of fibers have a second fiber denier different than the first fiber denier, and wherein the underlying backing of the accessory mat is configured to be in direct contact with the floor pan carpet.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for generating virtual terrains. A terrain editing application is configured to receive assets of various types, including a blank canvas, two-dimensional (2D) sketches, real-world elevation maps, authored heightfields, etc. The assets specify characteristics of a terrain, and provide starting points for creating the virtual terrain. The editing application further provides a set of tools allowing a user to modify the virtual terrain. In one embodiment, the set of tools may include a copy-and-paste tool, a peak creation tool, a ridge creation tool, a ridge tracing tool, and a resynthesis tool. The editing application generates a new layer for each edit, as well as 2D and three-dimensional (3D) previews of the edited terrain. The editing application also provides a user-adjustable frequency decomposition of each layer. The editing application combines layers using Laplacian blending to produce the final virtual terrain.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating information between user devices and physical objects which are separate from the user devices. The physical objects may store information related to one or more online games associated with the physical objects. The user devices may obtain the information stored by the physical objects via light communication. The user devices may use the obtained information in order to effectuate presentation of a virtual character and/or virtual object in an online game corresponding to the information.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for virtual scene generation. An image depicting a scene and annotated by a sparse set of labels is received. A dense set of labels annotating the image and a density map associated with the image are generated based on the sparse set of labels. A virtual scene is generated based on the dense set of labels and the density map, and the virtual scene is output.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying a multiuser augmented reality world on a first augmented reality device. Embodiments capture a visual scene for display. The visual scene includes a first user and wherein the visual scene is captured using one or more camera devices. Visual scene data for a second user is received from a second augmented reality device. Embodiments rendering a sequence of frames for display which depict the first user and the second user in an augmented reality world, where the depiction of the first user is based on the captured visual scene, and where the depiction of the second user is based on the received visual scene data.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring fluids from a non-sterile field to a sterile field within a surgical environment includes utilizing a device that includes a main body having a first inlet port that is in communication with a first outlet port. Fluid is taken from the patient, typically with a sterile syringe and transferred to the non-sterile field where the fluid is processed. The processed fluid is then drawn into another syringe in the non-sterile field and a distal end of the first syringe is place within the inlet port of the sterile main body. A distal end of a second sterile syringe is inserted into the outlet port, where the distal ends of the sterile syringe and the non-sterile syringe do not make contact. As a plunger is forced into a chamber of the first non-sterile syringe to force the fluid out of the first syringe, the plunger of the second sterile syringe is retracted such that a chamber in the second syringe has a sufficient volume to store the processed liquid.

Abstract: The teachings provided herein are generally directed to a method of converting lignin-derived compounds to valuable aromatic chemicals using an enzymatic, bioconversion process. The teachings provide a selection of (i) host cells that are tolerant to the toxic compounds present in lignin fractions; (ii) polypeptides that can be used as enzymes in the bioconversion of the lignin fractions to the aromatic chemical products; (iii) polynucleotides that can be used to transform the host cells to express the selection of polypeptides as enzymes in the bioconversion of the lignin fractions; and (iv) the transformants that express the enzymes.