Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine is provided that comprises an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine, and a constraint member associated with the extendable leg assembly for providing a predetermined part of the extendable leg assembly with substantially a same orientation relative to gravity for a same position of the component within the working volume. In a preferred embodiment, the orientation relative to gravity is maintained substantially constant, so that a plane defined by the predetermined part is substantially aligned with gravity, as the component is moved around the working volume.

Abstract: A non-Cartesian coordinate positioning machine that includes an extendable leg assembly for positioning a component such as a measurement probe within a working volume of the machine. The extendable leg assembly includes a first member and a second member which move relative to one another when the extendable leg assembly changes length. The first member including an axial arrangement of magnets forming part of a linear motor for extending and retracting the extendable leg assembly, and at least one resilient member for absorbing at least some of any axial thermal expansion or contraction of the magnets in use.

Abstract: The disclosed camera system may include a primary camera and a plurality of secondary cameras that each have a maximum horizontal FOV that is less than a maximum horizontal FOV of the primary camera. Two of the plurality of secondary cameras may be positioned such that their maximum horizontal FOVs overlap in an overlapped horizontal FOV and the overlapped horizontal FOV may be at least as large as a minimum horizontal FOV of the primary camera. The camera system may also include an image controller that simultaneously activates two or more of the primary camera and the plurality of secondary cameras when capturing images from a portion of an environment included within the overlapped horizontal FOV. Various other systems, devices, assemblies, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises an image data encoder to encode a current image region of an image, the image data encoder being operable in at least two modes of operation; a controller to control a mode of operation of the image data encoder in dependence upon the encoded data for the current image region meeting a predetermined criterion; and prediction circuitry configured to predict, from one or more properties of one or more image regions other than the current image region, whether the encoded data for the current image region will meet the predetermined criterion.

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: Image data encoding and/or decoding apparatus comprises an inter-image predictor configured to predict samples of a current image region, of a plurality of regions of an image in a sequence of images, with respect to a reference image region of another, reference, image of the sequence of images, according to a direction vector indicating a spatial displacement of the reference image region from the current image region;an interpolation filter configured to generate the predicted samples of the current image region by spatial interpolation of samples of the reference image region, at least in instances where the direction vector indicates a spatial displacement of a non-integer number of samples, in which the interpolation filter is configured to operate according to a set of filter parameters each defining the spatial frequency response of a set of filters providing interpolation at a spatial displacement resolution of 1/m sample, where m is an integer greater than one; and a filter response selector configu

Abstract: A firebox assembly for generating smoke and conveying controlled amounts of smoke and air for a kamado oven. A firebox assembly has a door leading to a fire chamber, in turn, having an exit opening for smoke to flow into a smoke chamber. A chimney connected to the smoke chamber has slide gates to control the flow of smoke from the smoke chamber into the kamado oven. Further, the gates allow the smoke to be exhausted to the atmosphere and further allow atmospheric air to enter into the chimney eventually flowing to the kamado oven.

Abstract: The present invention provides a booster apparatus (10) for entraining gas in a flowing second fluid. The booster apparatus comprises a booster housing (116) for receiving a fluid. The booster apparatus has at least one inlet (123) through which a first fluid passes to be entrained in the second fluid when the second fluid is flowing through the booster housing. The present invention also provides a booster assembly (12) comprising a booster apparatus (10) and a fluid motive mechanism such as a turbine unit (11).

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 drive circuit (100) for driving actuators of a printhead (97) from a common drive waveform has a switching circuit (32) for coupling the common drive waveform to an actuator (1,2), and a timing circuit (10) to control the switching circuit to form a drive pulse from the common drive waveform. The drive pulse is trimmed by controlling a duration (TTRIM) of a step at an intermediate level (VHOLD) in the drive pulse. This can improve the trade-off between available range of trimming and thermal efficiency because the voltage drop across the switching circuit can be reduced, compared to trimming only the height. Decoupling during a flat portion of the common drive waveform can enable the timing of the decoupling to be more relaxed compared to decoupling during a slope. Such relaxing can enable costs, complexity and thermal loading to be reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises video data decoder circuitry configured to decode an input video data stream, the video data decoder being responsive to parameter data associated with the input video data stream, the parameter data indicating a profile selected from a plurality of profiles, each profile defining a decoding attribute comprising one or more of a bit depth and a chrominance subsampling format; detector circuitry configured to detect constraint data associated with the input video data stream, the constraint data defining a difference between a decoding attribute applicable to the input video data stream and the decoding attribute defined by the profile indicated by the parameter data, in which the constraint data is configured to indicate a zero difference of the decoding attribute by a zero value of the constraint data; and control circuitry configured to control the video data decoder to decode the input video data stream to generate a decoded video data stream having a decoding attribute defined by the e

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of coating fertilizer particles with a coating, the method comprising providing fertilizer particles in a coating unit, one or more steps of applying a coating layer by applying one or more coating components to the fertilizer particles in the coating unit, and at least, partially curing or hardening the coating layer, wherein said curing or hardening involves a chemical reaction of said one or more coating components, discharging the coated fertilizer particles from the coating unit, optionally after a final cure or hardening step, wherein the coating unit comprises a stationary frame and at least two movable elements.

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: 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: The disclosed systems and methods may include an example assembly for isolating an inertial measurement unit, for example, in the case of a virtual reality system. Additionally, an example system may include shock-absorbing devices, for example for head-mounted displays. In some examples, the disclosed systems and methods may include a form-in-place gasket for water ingress protection around a flexible printed circuit board. The disclosed systems may also include a system for enhancing remote or virtual social experiences using biosignals. The disclosed systems may additionally include a split device with identity fixed to physical location. Various other related methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises 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; second component varies with the maximum luminance sample rate; the parameter value being a numeric encoding of the encoding level a first predetermined constant multiplied by the first numerical component plus a second predetermined constant multiplied by the second nume

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: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing efficient video transmission are disclosed. In a video processing system, a transmitter sends encoded pixel data to a receiver. The receiver stores the encoded pixel data in a buffer at an input data rate. A decoder of the receiver reads the pixel data from the buffer at an output data rate. Each of a transmitter and the receiver maintains a respective synchronization counter. When detecting a start of a frame, each of the transmitter and the receiver stores a respective frame start count as a copy of a current value of the respective synchronization counter. The transmitter sends its frame start count to the receiver. The receiver determines a difference between the respective frame start counts, and adjusts the decoding rate based on the difference.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel peptides comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 and modifications thereof, which are effective in blocking leukocyte recruitment. The disclosed peptides are useful for treating diseases associated with leukocyte recruitment for example inhibiting metastasis of a solid tumor to the liver and lungs and for treating sepsis. Also disclosed are methods of screening for compounds having the ability to block leukocyte recruitment.