Abstract: A method and apparatus for chroma intra prediction is based on reconstructed luma pixels and chroma pixels, where the chroma intra prediction is based on a linear model of derived co-located current luma pixels of the current luma block scaled by a scaling factor. The scaling factor comprises a product term of a division factor and a scaled covariance-like value associated with neighboring reconstructed luma and chroma pixels of a current block. The division factor is related to a first data range divided with rounding by a scaled variance-like value associated with the neighboring reconstructed luma pixels of the current block. The scaled covariance-like value, the first data range, or both of the scaled covariance-like value and the first data range are dependent on the internal bit depth, with which the chroma signal is processed during video coding process, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods for modulating plants using optimized ZmME293 down-regulation constructs are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequences, constructs, vectors, and modified plant cells, as well as transgenic plants displaying increased seed and/or biomass yield, improved tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought or high plant density, improved nitrogen utilization efficiency, increased ear number and/or reduction in time to scenescence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of predictive Intra coding of a block are disclosed. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a set of Intra prediction modes is determined, and predictive Intra coding is applied to a prediction unit (PU) of an image based on one or more neighboring PUs according to a current Intra prediction mode. The current Intra prediction mode is selected from the set of Intra prediction modes and the current Intra prediction mode is predicted using most probable modes (MPMs) and remaining modes. A number of the remaining modes is kept as a power of 2. For example, the 32 remaining modes can be represented using 5-bit fixed length codes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved intra prediction mode coding are disclosed. Intra prediction exploits the spatial correlation within a picture or within a picture region. In High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), a coding scheme for the intra luma prediction mode is considered, where the intra prediction mode of a current block is compared with the minimum of two intra luma prediction modes corresponding to two neighboring blocks. If the intra prediction mode of the current block is the same as the minimum of the two neighboring intra luma prediction modes, a single bit is transmitted to indicate the case. Otherwise, information for the current intra prediction mode is transmitted in fixed-length codeword. The present invention provides multiple intra prediction mode candidates based on neighboring intra prediction modes so that there is a better chance for predictor hit. Accordingly, improved coding efficiency is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmARGOS gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chroma intra prediction for a current chroma block with reduced line memory requirement are disclosed. The chroma intra predictor is derived from reconstructed luma pixels of a current luma block using a model with parameters. In various embodiments according to the present invention, the derivation of the parameters relies on a reconstructed luma pixel set corresponding to neighboring reconstructed luma pixels from causal luma neighboring areas of the current luma block, wherein said causal luma neighboring areas include a first area corresponding to reconstructed luma pixels above a horizontal luma block boundary on a top side of the current luma block, and wherein the reconstructed luma pixels from the first area that are included in the reconstructed luma pixel set are from a luma pixel line immediately above the horizontal luma block boundary.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmARGOS gene family. The invention provides genomic sequence for the ZmARGOS genes. ZmARGOS is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

Abstract: A method of video coding using intra prediction in which the intra prediction modes are ranked according to a priority order associated with the block size. One or more tables are used, where the tables ranks the intra prediction modes according to a first priority order for the block having a first block size and ranks the intra prediction modes according to a second priority order for the block having a second block size. Two or more neighboring intra prediction modes corresponding to two or more neighboring blocks are received, where each neighboring block has a neighboring block size corresponding to the first block size or the second block size. A highest-priority mode among said two or more neighboring intra prediction modes is selected as the most probable mode. The current mode is then encoded or decoded using the most probable mode as a predictor.

Abstract: Methods for modulating plants using optimized nitrate transporter constructs are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequences, constructs, vectors, and modified plant cells, as well as transgenic plants displaying increased seed and/or biomass yield, improved tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought or high plant density, improved nitrogen utilization efficiency, increased ear tissue growth or kernel number.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to increase crop yield utilizing transgenic genes controlling plant growth and yield. The specific genes can be used to increase tissue growth and abiotic stress tolerance. Plants, plant progeny, seeds and tissues created by these methods are also described. Polynucleotides encoding the sequences are provided for expression in a plant of interest. Expression cassettes, plants, plant cells, plant parts and seeds comprising the sequences of the disclosure are further provided. In specific embodiments, the polynucleotide is operably linked to a constitutive promoter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of Intra mode coding for a scalable video coding system are disclosed. For a current Intra-coded block in the enhancement layer (EL), predictive coding is applied to the current Intra mode based on the base layer (BL) coding mode associated with the co-located block in the BL and neighboring coding modes associated with neighboring blocks of the current block in the EL. The neighboring blocks of the current block in the EL comprise a left block adjacent to a left side of the current block and a top block adjacent to a top side of the current block. One or more most probable modes (MPMs) can be derived from the neighboring coding modes and the BL coding mode, and the MPMs is then used for predictive coding of the current Intra mode.

Abstract: Genetic male sterile plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of said plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of predictive Intra coding of a block are disclosed. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a same set of Intra prediction modes is used for PUs corresponding to different block sizes including a 4×4 block size and at least one other block size. In another embodiment of the present invention, the number of Intra prediction modes in the set is reduced by removing at least one Intra prediction mode from the set. For example, when the set of 35 Intra prediction modes is used, intraPredMode corresponding to 18, 34, or 26 can be removed. The current Intra prediction mode can be coded predictively based on said one or more neighboring PUs, wherein the current Intra prediction mode is predicted using 2 most probable modes (MPMs) and 32 remaining modes. The 32 remaining modes can be represented using 5-bit fixed length codes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides which are used to modify ethylene sensitivity in plants. Ethylene insensitive transgenic maize plants produce higher grain yields in water deficient and low nitrogen environments than non-transgenic plants. Through controlled expression of the transgene in desired tissues and organs, or specific plant developmental stages, the ethylene perception and signal transduction is altered to create transgenic plants which yield better under abiotic stress.

Abstract: A method of video coding using intra prediction for a block of video data is disclosed. The intra prediction modes are ranked according to a priority order associated with the block size. One or more tables are used, where the tables ranks the intra prediction modes according to a first priority order for the block having a first block size and ranks the intra prediction modes according to a second priority order for the block having a second block size. Two or more neighboring intra prediction modes corresponding to two or more neighboring blocks are received, where each neighboring block has a neighboring block size corresponding to the first block size or the second block size. A highest-priority mode among said two or more neighboring intra prediction modes is selected as the most probable mode. The current mode is then encoded or decoded using the most probable mode as a predictor.

Abstract: The present invention provides polynucleotides and related polypeptides of the ZmERECTA gene family. The invention provides nucleic acid sequences for the Zm ERECTA genes. ZmERECTA is responsible for controlling plant growth, organ size and yield in crop plants.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inter-layer prediction for scalable video coding are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention apply inter-layer adaptive filtering to the video data derived from the reconstructed BL video data to generate inter-layer adaptive filtered data. The inter-layer adaptive filtered data is then included as prediction data to encode or decode the EL video data. The video data derived from the reconstructed BL video data is up-sampled before applying inter-layer adaptive filtering. The up-sampling may also be included in the inter-layer adaptive filtering. In another embodiment, the inter-layer adaptive filtering comprises adaptive up-sampling. For up-sampled BL video data at locations not collocated with the EL video data, the up-sampled BL video data is divided into location types according to locations of the up-sampled BL video data. Each location type may have an individual filter for up-sampling video data in the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chroma intra prediction based on reconstructed luma pixels and chroma pixels are disclosed. The chroma intra prediction is based on a linear model of derived co-located current luma pixels of the current luma block scaled by a scaling factor. The scaling factor comprises a product term of a division factor and a scaled covariance-like value associated with neighboring reconstructed luma and chroma pixels of a current block. The division factor is related to a first data range divided with rounding by a scaled variance-like value associated with the neighboring reconstructed luma pixels of the current block. The scaled covariance-like value, the first data range, or both of the scaled covariance-like value and the first data range are dependent on the internal bit depth, with which the chroma signal is processed during video coding process, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for context-adaptive Start arithmetic coding (CABAC) of a syntax element are disclosed. The bin string corresponding to a syntax element is processed by context-adaptive arithmetic coding with a reduced number of contexts using the bin-level bypass mode, bin-level context sharing, or both. The syntax element belongs to a group comprising merge_idx, ref_idx_lc/ref_idx_10/ref_idx_11, pred_type, and cu_qp_delta. In one embodiment, the syntax element corresponds to merge_idx and three bins of the bin string with bin indices corresponding to 1, 2 and 3 are coded in the bin by-pass mode. In another embodiment, the syntax element corresponds to ref_idx_lc/ref_idx_10/ref_idx_11 and one or more bins of the bin string with bin indices larger than 1 for larger than 2 are coded in the bin bypass mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved intra chroma prediction mode coding are disclosed. Intra prediction exploits the spatial correlation within a picture or within a picture region. In practice, a picture is divided into blocks and the intra mode prediction is performed on a block basis. In newer coding systems, multiple intra coding modes such as Vertical mode, Horizontal mode, DC mode and Diagonal mode, have been used to improve the coding efficiency of intra coding. Furthermore, a Luma_mode has also been used in intra prediction of chroma component to further improve the performance in the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard being developed. However, the mode selection information for intra prediction has to be conveyed to the decoder for proper operation. Spatial features in a picture often exist in both luma and chroma components. The intra luma prediction mode and intra chroma prediction mode will have high probability to be the same.