Abstract: In various embodiments, a quality inference application estimates the perceived quality of reconstructed videos. The quality inference application computes a first feature value for a first feature included in a feature vector based on a color component associated with a reconstructed video. The quality inference application also computes a second feature value for a second feature included in the feature vector based on a brightness component associated with the reconstructed video. Subsequently, the quality inference application computes a perceptual quality score based on the first feature value and the second feature value. The perceptual quality score indicates a level of visual quality associated with at least one frame included in the reconstructed video.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a training application generates a perceptual video model. The training application computes a first feature value for a first feature included in a feature vector based on a first color component associated with a first reconstructed training video. The training application also computes a second feature value for a second feature included in the feature vector based on a first brightness component associated with the first reconstructed training video. Subsequently, the training application performs one or more machine learning operations based on the first feature value, the second feature value, and a first subjective quality score for the first reconstructed training video to generate a trained perceptual quality model. The trained perceptual quality model maps a feature value vector for the feature vector to a perceptual quality score.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, removing a second portion of the semiconductor substrate on a side of the gate stack to form a recess, growing a semiconductor region starting from the recess, implanting the semiconductor region with an impurity, and performing a melt anneal on the semiconductor region. At least a portion of the semiconductor region is molten during the melt anneal.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus includes a data buffer and a video encoding circuit. Encoding of a first frame includes: deriving reference pixels of a reference frame from reconstructed pixels of the first frame, respectively, and storing reference pixel data into the data buffer for inter prediction, wherein the reference pixel data include information of pixel values of the reference pixels. Encoding of a second frame includes performing prediction upon a coding unit in the second frame to determine a target predictor for the coding unit. The prediction performed upon the coding unit includes: determining the target predictor for the coding unit according to whether a search range on the reference frame for finding a predictor of the coding unit under an inter prediction mode includes at least one reference pixel of the reference frame that is not accessible to the video encoding circuit.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus includes a data buffer and a video encoding circuit. Encoding of a first frame includes: deriving reference pixels of a reference frame from reconstructed pixels of the first frame, respectively, and storing reference pixel data into the data buffer for inter prediction, wherein the reference pixel data include information of pixel values of the reference pixels. Encoding of a second frame includes performing prediction upon a coding unit in the second frame to determine a target predictor for the coding unit. The prediction performed upon the coding unit includes: determining the target predictor for the coding unit according to whether a search range on the reference frame for finding a predictor of the coding unit under an inter prediction mode includes at least one reference pixel of the reference frame that is not accessible to the video encoding circuit.

Abstract: A measurement device and method for measuring psychology stress index and blood pressure is disclosed. When the measurement device is in the psychology stress measurement mode and a pressurizing motor unit is pressurizing an airbag unit with a variable speed, the micro-processor unit may control the pressurizing motor unit to stop pressurizing the airbag unit after the pressure signal is determined as a pulse signal, and the micro-processor unit may measure the pulse signal to determine the psychology stress index. The psychology stress index is a ratio of SDNN and RMSSD according to interval data of the pulse signal within a period of time.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus includes a data buffer and a video encoding circuit. Encoding of a first frame includes: deriving reference pixels of a reference frame from reconstructed pixels of the first frame, respectively, and storing reference pixel data into the data buffer for inter prediction, wherein the reference pixel data include information of pixel values of the reference pixels. Encoding of a second frame includes performing prediction upon a coding unit in the second frame to determine a target predictor for the coding unit. The prediction performed upon the coding unit includes: checking if a search range on the reference frame for finding a predictor of the coding unit under an inter prediction mode includes at least one reference pixel of the reference frame that is not accessible to the video encoding circuit, and determining the target predictor for the coding unit according to a checking result.

Abstract: A compound capable of being used as a tumor inhibitor, a preparation method therefor, and application thereof. The compound has a structure represented by general formula I; a stereoisomer, an enantiomer, a raceme, a cis/trans isomer, a tautomer, and an isotopic variant of the compound are comprised; the compound can be used separately or in combination with other drugs for treating tumors or inflammatory diseases, or for treating other disorders or diseases mediated by the activity of MDM2 and/or MDM4, and shows prominent curative activity.

Abstract: A video compression system includes a video encoder and a bitstream processing circuit. The video encoder is hardware that performs hardware video encoding upon frames to generate a first bitstream. The first bitstream is output from an entropy encoding circuit of the video encoder. The bitstream processing circuit performs a bitstream post-processing operation upon the first bitstream to produce a second bitstream that is different from the first bitstream, and outputs the second bitstream as a compression output of the frames.

Abstract: A perception-based image processing apparatus includes an image analyzing circuit and an application circuit. The image analyzing circuit obtains training data, sets a perception model according to the training data, performs an object detection of at least one frame, and generates an object detection information signal based at least partly on a result of the object detection of said at least one frame. The application circuit operates in response to the object detection information signal.

Abstract: A video encoder includes a video encoding circuit and a slice decision circuit. The video encoding circuit encodes a first slice in a frame according to a first coding unit boundary between an end of the first slice and a start of a second slice in the frame, and outputs a first bitstream of the first slice. The slice decision circuit predicts the first coding unit boundary before a bitstream of a last coding unit of the first slice is generated by the video encoding circuit, and informs the video encoding circuit of the first coding unit boundary. The video encoding circuit refers to the first coding unit boundary predicted by the slice decision circuit to ensure that a bitstream size of the first bitstream is constrained by a predetermined bitstream size threshold.

Abstract: An entropy encoder includes an entropy encoding circuit and a size determining circuit. The entropy encoding circuit receives symbols of a pixel group, and entropy encodes data derived from the symbols of the pixel group to generate a bitstream segment which is composed of a first bitstream portion and a second bitstream portion. The first bitstream portion contains encoded magnitude data of the symbols of the pixel group, and the second bitstream portion contains encoded sign data of at least a portion of the symbols of the pixel group. The size determining circuit determines a size of a bitstream portion, wherein the bitstream portion comprises at least one of the first bitstream portion and the second bitstream portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of image coding performed at an encoder or decoder using block prediction are disclosed. The block vector bit-count information associated with one or more block vectors (BVs) for the current block is determined, where the BVs are used to locate one or more block predictors for the current block. Prediction residuals corresponding to differences between the current block and the block predictors are determined. A first cost comprising the BV and residual bit-count information associated with encoding the prediction residuals using the first coding tool is determined. The second cost comprising the BV bit-count information and without the residual bit-count information is also determined. The derivation of the BV bit-count information and the prediction residuals for the current block are performed only once, and the BV bit-count information and the prediction residuals are used by the first coding tool and the second coding tool.

Abstract: A method includes forming a gate stack on a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, removing a second portion of the semiconductor substrate on a side of the gate stack to form a recess, growing a semiconductor region starting from the recess, implanting the semiconductor region with an impurity, and performing a melt anneal on the semiconductor region. At least a portion of the semiconductor region is molten during the melt anneal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of image coding including a no-residue prediction mode are disclosed. At the encoder side, current predictors for a current coding unit are determined according to a target prediction process associated with a target prediction mode. The current predictors are determined based on pixel data including reconstructed pixels in the current slice or the current image. The target prediction process is applied to the current coding unit using the current predictors to generate prediction residues. A distortion condition or a cost measure for the prediction residues is determined. If the distortion condition is satisfied or the cost measure favors coding without the prediction residues, the current coding unit is encoded into current compressed bits of the current coding unit without compressed data associated with the prediction residues. A corresponding decoding method and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of image coding using block prediction (BP) allowing multiple block sizes are disclosed. According to one method, first distortion for the current block coded using BP with a first block size is derived using at least partial second distortion for the current block coded using BP with a first block size. According to another method, a flag indicating whether the BP using variable block sizes is enabled. According to yet another method, when a current block is coded using BP by partitioning the current block into multiple partitions, predictors for two partitions in different reconstructed pixel line groups are derived from different reconstructed pixel line groups. According to still yet another method, for coding image data in a non-444 color sampling format using BP, the predictors for chrominance pixels in the current block are derived from the predictors for the luminance pixels of the current block.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus includes a data buffer and a video encoding circuit. Encoding of a first frame includes: deriving reference pixels of a reference frame from reconstructed pixels of the first frame, respectively, and storing reference pixel data into the data buffer for inter prediction, wherein the reference pixel data include information of pixel values of the reference pixels. Encoding of a second frame includes performing prediction upon a coding unit in the second frame to determine a target predictor for the coding unit. The prediction performed upon the coding unit includes: checking if a search range on the reference frame for finding a predictor of the coding unit under an inter prediction mode includes at least one reference pixel of the reference frame that is not accessible to the video encoding circuit, and determining the target predictor for the coding unit according to a checking result.

Abstract: A video encoder has a processing circuit and a universal binary entropy (UBE) syntax encoder. The processing circuit processes pixel data of a video frame to generate encoding-related data, wherein the encoding-related data comprise at least quantized transform coefficients. The UBE syntax encoder processes a plurality of syntax elements to generate UBE syntax data. The encoding-related data are represented by the syntax elements. The processing circuit operates according to a video coding standard. The video coding standard supports arithmetic encoding. The UBE syntax data contain no arithmetic-encoded syntax data.

Abstract: A video compression system includes a video encoder and a bitstream processing circuit. The video encoder is hardware that performs hardware video encoding upon frames to generate a first bitstream. The first bitstream is output from an entropy encoding circuit of the video encoder. The bitstream processing circuit performs a bitstream post-processing operation upon the first bitstream to produce a second bitstream that is different from the first bitstream, and outputs the second bitstream as a compression output of the frames.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of coding using multiple coding modes with multiple color spaces are provided. For the encoder side, a coding mode is selected from a coding mode group. A corresponding color domain is associated with the coding mode and the corresponding color domain is selected from a color-domain group including at least two different color domains. The current coding unit is then encoded in the corresponding color domain using the coding mode. Furthermore, the syntax of the corresponding color domain is signaled in current coding unit syntaxes. The different color domains may include RGB color domain and YCoCg color domain. According to another method, if the midpoint prediction (MPP) mode is selected, a current block is color transformed into another color domain and the MPP coding process is performed in said another color domain.