Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of their use are provided for reducing inflammation in a subject, blocking leukocyte recruitment, inhibiting tumor metastasis, treating sepsis and preventing/reducing acute kidney injury.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus comprises a selector configured to select, from a set of candidate prediction operations each defining at least a prediction direction, a prediction operation for prediction of samples of a current region of a current image, the current region comprising an array of two or more rows and two or more columns of samples; an intra-image predictor configured to derive predicted samples of the current region with respect to one or more of a group of reference samples of the same image in dependence upon a prediction direction, defined by the selected prediction operation, between a current sample to be predicted and a reference position amongst the reference samples; in which, for at least some of the candidate prediction operations, the group of reference samples comprises two or more parallel linear arrays of reference samples disposed at different respective separations from the current region; a detector configured to detect whether samples corresponding to any of the two or more par

Abstract: A coordinate positioning machine includes a drive frame and a metrology frame. The drive frame includes a drive arrangement for moving a structure around a working volume of the machine. The metrology frame includes a metrology arrangement for measuring the position of the structure within the working volume. The metrology arrangement is a hexapod metrology arrangement and the drive arrangement is a non-hexapod drive arrangement. The metrology frame has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is lower than that of the drive frame. The drive frame is coupled to the metrology frame via a coupling arrangement which prevents at least some distortion associated with any extra thermal expansion and contraction of the drive frame from being transferred to the metrology frame. The drive arrangement moves the structure around the working volume, and the metrology arrangement measures the position of the structure within the working volume.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer fabrication method for forming 3-dimensional shapes from a sheet polymer blank (10) by machining at least one re-entrant, elongate groove forming a reduced thickness portion (25) permitting the blank to be folded and having opposed edges (12) at the surface, folding the blank about the groove to form at least a portion of the 3-dimensional shape, the re-entrant of the groove forming an elongate chamber (21) adjacent the reduced thickness portion and opening through an elongate gap (20) between the opposed edges, hot air welding the opposed edges across the gap with filler rod (22), and heating the reduced thickness portion to a selected thermo-reforming temperature via the chamber.

Abstract: A video data encoding method for encoding an array of video data values comprises the steps of: frequency-transforming the video data values according to a frequency transform, to generate an array of frequency-transformed values by a matrix-multiplication process using a transform matrix having a data precision of fourteen bits, the frequency transform being a discrete cosine transform; defining a 64×64 transform matrix M64 for a 64×64 DCT transform, the matrix M64 being defined by the accompanying FIGS. 10a-10e and 11; for an N×N transform where N is 2, 4, 8 or 16, subsampling the 64×64 transform matrix M64 to select a subset of N×N values, the subset MN[x][y] of values being defined by: MN[x][y]=M64[x][(2(6-log2(N)))y] for x,y=0 . . . (N?1).

Abstract: An apparatus including a video data decoder configured to decode an input video data stream, the video data decoder being responsive to a parameter value associated with the input video data stream, the parameter value indicating an encoding level selected from a plurality of encoding levels, each encoding level defining at least a maximum luminance picture size and a maximum luminance sample rate, the encoding level defining a first numerical component and a second numerical component, the second numerical component being a numerical value greater than or equal to zero, in which for encoding levels having a second numerical component of zero, the first numerical component increases monotonically with increasing maximum luminance picture size, and the second component varies with the maximum luminance sample rate; the parameter value being a numeric encoding of the encoding level.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus comprises a selector configured to select, from a set of candidate prediction operations each defining at least a prediction direction selected from a set of available prediction directions, a prediction operation for prediction of samples of a current region of a current image, the current region comprising an array of two or more rows and two or more columns of samples; and an intra-image predictor configured to derive predicted samples of the current region with respect to one or more of a group of reference samples of the same image in dependence upon a prediction direction, defined by the selected prediction operation, between a current sample to be predicted and the reference samples; in which for at least some of the candidate prediction operations: the group of reference samples comprises two or more parallel linear arrays of reference samples disposed at different respective separations from the current region, the intra-image predictor being configured to derive the predi

Abstract: A polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating is formed as a multilayered structure having at least one A layer and at least one B layer. The polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating is able to include at least 30% recycled content resin while also exhibiting improved stiffness and strength relative to films with purely virgin polymers. One embodiment of the present invention further presents improved oxygen barrier properties relative to existing films, sheets, or extrusion coatings. Due to the strong structural properties, the polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating allows for the inclusion of recycled content into applications where recycled content has previously not been able to be included, such as flexible food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics packaging.

Abstract: A polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating is formed as a multilayered structure having at least one A layer and at least one B layer. The polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating is able to include at least 30% recycled content resin while also exhibiting improved stiffness and strength relative to films with purely virgin polymers. One embodiment of the present invention further presents improved oxygen barrier properties relative to existing films, sheets, or extrusion coatings. Due to the strong structural properties, the polymeric film, sheet, or extrusion coating allows for the inclusion of recycled content into applications where recycled content has previously not been able to be included, such as flexible food, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics packaging.

Abstract: A method of encoding video data values, the method including selectively encoding, via circuitry, a high bit depth control flag and, when the high bit depth control flag is set to indicate high bit depth operation, selectively encoding an extended precision flag to indicate at least extended precision operation of a spatial frequency transform stage and encoding the video data values according to a mode of operation defined by the encoded high bit depth control flag and, when encoded, the extended precision flag.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus comprises a selector configured to select a prediction operation, for prediction of samples of a current region of a current image with respect to one or more of a group of reference samples, from a set of candidate prediction operations, at least some of which define, as an intra-image prediction operation, a prediction direction between a current sample to be predicted and a group of reference samples in the same image; and an intra-image predictor configured to derive predicted samples of a current image region from reference samples of the same image in response to selection, by the selector, of an intra-image prediction operation for the current image region; in which: the current region comprises at least a subset of a current coding tree unit (CTU) in an array of CTUs; the group of references samples is disposed, with respect to the current image region at one or more predetermined sides of the current image region; and the selector is configured to inhibit the selection of

Abstract: A coordinate positioning arm includes: a base end and a head end; a drive frame for moving the head end relative to the base end; and a metrology frame for measuring a position and orientation of the head end relative to the base end. The drive frame includes a plurality of drive axes arranged in series between the base end and the head end. The metrology frame includes a plurality of metrology axes arranged in series between the base end and the head end. The metrology frame is adapted and arranged to be substantially separate and/or independent from the drive frame, for example by supporting the metrology frame substantially only at the base end and head end and by providing the metrology frame with sufficient degrees of freedom (via the metrology axes) to avoid creating an additional constraint between the metrology frame and the drive frame.

Abstract: Image data encoding apparatus, comprises an entropy encoder configured to selectively encode data items representing image data so as to generate encoded binarized symbols of successive output data units; the entropy encoder being configured to generate an output data stream subject to a constraint defining an upper limit to the number of binarized symbols that may be expressed by any individual output data unit relative to the size in bytes of that output data unit, in which the entropy encoder is configured to provide padding data, for each output data unit which does not meet the constraint, so as to increase the size in bytes of that output data unit in order to meet the constraint; the apparatus comprising: an attribute detector configured to detect an encoding attribute applicable to a given output data unit; and a selector configured to select, in response to the detected encoding attribute, a constraint, for use with the given output data unit, from two or more candidate constraints.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for utilizing different modulation coding schemes (MCSs) for different components of a video stream are disclosed. A system includes a transmitter sending a video stream over a wireless link to a receiver. The transmitter splits the video stream into low, medium, and high quality components, and then the transmitter modulates the different components using different MCS's. For example, the transmitter modulates the low quality component using a lower, robust MCS level to increase the likelihood that this component is received. Also, the medium quality component is modulated using a medium MCS level and the high frequency component is modulated using a higher MCS level. If only the low quality component is received by the receiver, then the receiver reconstructs and displays a low quality video frame from this component, which avoids a glitch in the display of the video stream.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus comprises a selector configured to select, from a set of candidate prediction operations each defining at least a prediction direction selected from a set of available prediction directions, a prediction operation for prediction of samples of a current region of a current image, the current region comprising an array of two or more rows and two or more columns of samples; and an intra-image predictor configured to derive predicted samples of the current region with respect to one or more of a group of reference samples of the same image in dependence upon a prediction direction, defined by the selected prediction operation, between a current sample to be predicted and the reference samples; in which for at least some of the candidate prediction operations: the group of reference samples comprises two or more parallel linear arrays of reference samples disposed at different respective separations from the current region, the intra-image predictor being configured to derive the predi

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biological (eg cell) processing assembly comprising an aseptic chamber with apertures adapted for gloves to fit and an incubation chamber connectable to aseptic chamber with transfer hatches, doors secured by multi-walls and inflatable seals, stepped collars for tight closure of doors and closed interaction between the chambers. From the aseptic chamber it can be reached through into incubation chamber. There is a docking spigot on outlet wall to interact with stepped collar to define transfer port between the chambers and a disinfectant delivery device to disinfect transfer port.

Abstract: Image data encoding apparatus comprises an entropy encoder for selectively encoding data items representing image data to be encoded by a first, context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC), encoding system or by a second, bypass, encoding system, so as to generate encoded binarized symbols; the image data representing one or more pictures of a picture sequence, each picture comprising two or more output data units representing respective sub-sections of the picture, each sub-section being decodable and reconstructable independently of other sub-sections in that picture and picture sequence; in which each sub-section is subject to a respective minimum compression ratio.

Abstract: In some examples, a conferencing system includes a modular electronic device having a device housing configured to removably couple to each of a plurality of speaker modules; amplifier circuitry disposed within the device housing, wherein the amplifier circuitry is configured to amplify audio signals for output to a speaker module of the plurality of speaker modules while the electronic device is coupled to the speaker module; and processing circuitry disposed within the device housing, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to: determine one or more parameters associated with the speaker module after the device housing is coupled to the speaker module; and determine, based on the one or more parameters associated with the speaker module, a set of corresponding audio-configuration settings for processing audio during operation of the conferencing system.

Abstract: Image data encoding apparatus comprises an entropy encoder for selectively encoding data items representing image data to be encoded by a first, context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC), encoding system or by a second, bypass, encoding system, so as to generate encoded binarized symbols; the image data representing one or more pictures of a picture sequence, each picture comprising two or more output data units representing respective sub-sections of the picture, each sub-section being decodable and reconstructable independently of other sub-sections in that picture and picture sequence; the entropy encoder being configured to generate an output data stream subject to a constraint defining an upper limit to the number of binarized symbols that may be expressed by any individual output data unit relative to the size in bytes of that output data unit, in which the entropy encoder is configured to apply the constraint to each output data unit, and to provide padding data, for each output data unit which