Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting subjective quality of a video contained in a bit stream on a packet layer. Header information of the bit-stream is parsed and frame layer information, such as frame type, is estimated. Visible artifact levels are then estimated based on frame layer information. An overall artifact level and quality metric are estimated based on artifact levels for individual frames with other parameters. Specifically, different weighting factors are used for different frame types when estimating the levels of initial visible artifacts and propagated visible artifacts. The number of slices per frame is used as a parameter when estimating the overall artifact level for the video. Moreover, the quality assessment model considers quality loss caused by both coding and channel artifacts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wireless speaker having a structure with the outer cover. The outer cover can be easily detached from the speaker body, facilitating user's mounting external electronic products as desired, for example, various types of bulbs, such as an LED or energy-saving lamp, and a wireless router or a camera. Also disclosed is a wireless speaker system, where the wireless set and the wireless speaker use wireless transmitting and receiving modules, or may use WiFi, Bluetooth or other wireless transmission modes. The wireless set supports a plurality of wireless speakers, and the wireless receiving speaker may be mounted on the ceiling, wall, or hidden place in a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom or even bar, and restaurant; or even mounted on a table or floor lamp, or transportation means such as trains and planes, serving as a video and audio center for households and entertainment places by free combinations.

Abstract: A formulation of a spray applied fire-resistive engineered cementitious composite (SFR-ECC) which is made by addition of polymeric fibers, vermiculite, bonding agent and lightweight aggregates to cement and water. The SFR-ECC formulation is made in wet cement and can be spray-applied. The durable SFR-ECC exhibits thermal conductivities sufficient for fire resistance with increased tensile ductility and impact resistance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate, wherein a repair structure is arranged on the substrate and used for repairing surface fibres of rubbing cloth. According to the substrate provided by the present invention, by virtue of the repair structure on the substrate, the curvatures of the surface fibres of the rubbing cloth can be the same when the rubbing cloth passes through the repair structure, thus improving the arrangement orderliness of the surface fibres of the rubbing cloth, and then effectively alleviating the phenomenon of poor rubbing.

Abstract: A content application determines images of an article for extraction. The content application identifies an initial image associated with a content of the article. A caption and a credit line associated with the initial image is detected and the initial image is extracted along with the caption and the credit line. A second image of the article associated with a video is also detected and extracted along with the video. In addition, the content application extracts a slideshow detected within the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid replication of deduplicated file system data is described. The method may include initiating replication of a file from a source deduplication system to a destination deduplication system, and transferring deduplication metadata for each block of the file from the source deduplication system to the destination deduplication system. The method may also include transferring an identifier file from the source deduplication system to the destination deduplication system that includes a block number corresponding to a block of the file and a unique identifier value generated from the block of the file. The method may also include receiving a data request file from the destination deduplication system, and transferring the blocks of data identified in the data request file to complete replication of the file on the destination deduplication system.

Abstract: A monotonic optimization method is for achieving the maximum weighted sum-rate in multicell downlink MISO systems. It belongs to the wireless communications field. The weighted sum-rate maximization is viewed as a monotonic optimization problem over the achievable rate region. A sensible search scheme, a sequential partition method as well as a vertex relocation method are designed to reduce the complexity and accelerate the convergence.

Abstract: Materials having improved thermoelectric properties are disclosed. In some embodiments, lead telluride/selenide based materials with improved figure of merit and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some embodiments, the lead telluride/selenide based materials of the present disclosure are p-type thermoelectric materials formed by adding sodium (Na), silicon (Si) or both to thallium doped lead telluride materials. In some embodiments, the lead telluride/selenide based materials are formed by doping lead telluride/selenides with potassium.

Abstract: A system synchronizes one or more media streams, such as video stream or audio streams, by embedding frame identifiers in each compressed media stream, and then by using synchronizing signals to render each frame simultaneously by referencing the embedded frame identifier. Since the frame identifier is embedded in between encoded frames of the compressed media stream without altering any of the compressed, encoded data, the frame identifier information could be rapidly embedded without creating lag associated with manipulating existing data. This technique could be used, for example, to synchronize a single HD video on a plurality of display devices (e.g. a football game on a wall of video monitors), or to synchronize a plurality of HD video streams on a single display device (e.g. a plurality of live video feeds on a single computer monitor).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst that is excellent in stability even at a high catalyst-regeneration temperature. It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for producing an aromatic hydrocarbon from a lower hydrocarbon by using the above catalyst. The catalyst composition comprises molybdenum, a second metal that is not molybdenum, and a crystalline metallosilicate, wherein the content of molybdenum is 1 to 20% by weight in terms of a molybdenum atom, and the content of the second metal is 2 to 20% by weight in terms of a metal atom.

Abstract: A method of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) uses an MPPT algorithm to determine a switching frequency for a resonant power converter, including initializing by setting an initial boundary frequency range that is divided into initial frequency sub-ranges bounded by initial frequencies including an initial center frequency and first and second initial bounding frequencies. A first iteration includes measuring initial powers at the initial frequencies to determine a maximum power initial frequency that is used to set a first reduced frequency search range centered or bounded by the maximum power initial frequency including at least a first additional bounding frequency. A second iteration includes calculating first and second center frequencies by averaging adjacent frequent values in the first reduced frequency search range and measuring second power values at the first and second center frequencies. The switching frequency is determined from measured power values including the second power values.

Abstract: Modified viruses and methods for preparing the modified viruses are provided. Vaccines that contain the viruses are provided. The viruses can be used in methods of treatment of diseases, such as proliferative and inflammatory disorders, including cancer, and as anti-tumor and/or antiangiogenic agents. The viruses also can be used in diagnostic methods.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly includes a needle and a protection cover. The needle is composed of a needle seat and a needle body. The protection cover has a needle accommodation room therein. The needle accommodation room has a barb therein. One side of a lower end of the protection cover is rotatable and connected to the needle seat. The barb is disposed in the needle accommodation room and integrally formed with the protection cover. A buckle mechanism is provided between the side wall of the needle accommodation room and the needle seat. The protection cover is directly connected to the needle seat, without a protection cover seat. The barb is integrally formed with the protection cover. The structure simpler and it is easy to be produced. The protection cover and the needle can be buckled reliably and safely.

Abstract: A method and system for signing a digital certificate in real time for accessing a service application hosted within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open application programming interface (API) platform is provided. The API platform is in communication with a memory device. The method includes receiving registration data from a developer computer device wherein the developer computer device is associated with a developer and configured to store a developer application, receiving a certificate signing request (CSR) from the developer computer device wherein the CSR includes a public key associated with the developer, verifying the registration data as being associated with the developer, signing the CSR to produce a signed certificate after verifying the registration data wherein the verifying and signing steps are performed by the SP computer system in real time, and transmitting the signed certificate and a client ID to the developer computer device.

Abstract: Modified viruses and methods for preparing the modified viruses are provided. Vaccines that contain the viruses are provided. The viruses can be used in methods of treatment of diseases, such as proliferative and inflammatory disorders, including cancer, and as anti-tumor and/or antiangiogenic agents. The viruses also can be used in diagnostic methods.

Abstract: The efficiencies of illustrative embodiments of vertical center flue type fuel-fired base water heaters are improved by installing in the water heaters variously configured tubular condensing type secondary heat exchangers of smaller diameters than the associated center flues. The efficiency increases are achieved with components and manufacturing processes similar to those utilized in the base water heaters and secondary heat exchanger materials similar to those in the tank portions of the base water heaters.

Abstract: A content application employs page links to merge pages of articles. The content application retrieves an initial page of an article. An article such as a web article spread into multiple pages is retrieved for analysis. A page link of a following page of the article is detected within the initial page. The page link is a top choice among candidates sorted based on a weight score. The following page is retrieved using the page link and appended into the initial page to form an aggregate article. The aggregate article is presented for consumption.

Abstract: A fixed Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP) apparatus and method are provided to map client data to an optical transport frame. Client data to be mapped into a payload field of an optical transport frame is received and store in a memory. Timing information is generated based on bit and fractional bit granularity of client data mapped into the payload field of successive optical transport frames for use in recovering the client data from received optical transport frames.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides mixtures of prenylated flavonoids, stilbenes, or both with flavans or curcuminoids or both capable of modulating joint inflammation, joint pain, joint stiffness, cartilage degradation, or improving mobility, range of motion, flexibility, joint physical function, or any combination thereof. Such a mixture of prenylated flavonoids, stilbenes, or both with flavans or curcuminoids or both can optionally be used in combination with other joint management agents, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents/analgesics, COX/LOX inhibiting agents, glucosamine compounds, neuropathic pain relief agents, or the like.

Abstract: Technologies are generally provided for extracting a body and a title of an article displayed on a web page. A web page may display content such as advertisements, images and links in addition to the web page article. A user may select to view the article in a reader application without the additional content, and the reader application may extract the body and the title from the web page. Title candidates may be selected by identifying meta tags associated with the title and removing website names from the meta tags. Body candidates may be selected by identifying clusters of text nodes based on a font size and depth in a document object model tree for the web page. A best cluster that is most likely the body may be selected and a corresponding title candidate maybe selected as the best title.