Abstract: Methods and apparatus for Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) processing of reconstructed video are disclosed. According to one method, clipping values for the ALF processing are determined depending on a bit depth of a center reconstructed pixel. A current ALF output for the current block is derived, where the current ALF output comprises a weighted sum of clipped differences of original differences and each of the original differences is calculated between a first reconstructed pixel at a non-center filter location and the center reconstructed pixel, and each of the original differences is clipped according to a corresponding clipping value to form one clipped difference. In another method, a target clipping value is always signaled at an encoder side or parsed at a decoder side even if the target clipping value is zero. In another method, the clipping values are encoded or decoded using a fixed-length code.

Abstract: An ultrasound system produces maps of acoustic attenuation coefficients from pulse echo signals. Maps are produced using different attenuation coefficient or slope estimation methods, and a plurality of maps from different estimation methods are compounded to produce a final attenuation coefficient map. Confidence maps may also be produced for one or more attenuation coefficient maps, and the confidence map displayed or its measures used to determine weighting for the compounding process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding utilizing a current block, a maximum side of the transform block of the current block corresponds to 64. A scaling matrix is derived from elements of an 8×8 base scaling matrix, where the elements in a bottom-right 4×4 region of the 8×8 base scaling matrix are skipped, either not signaled or set to zero. According to another method, a current block belongs to a current picture in a first color format that has only a first color component. A first scaling matrix is signaled at the video encoder side or parsed at the video decoder side for the first color component of the current block. Signaling any second scaling matrix is disabled at the video encoder side or parsing any second scaling matrix is disabled at the video decoder side for a second or third color component of the current block.

Abstract: Video processing methods and apparatuses in a video encoding or decoding system for processing out-of-bounds nodes in a current picture. An out-of-bounds node is a coding tree node with a block region across a current picture boundary. The video processing method or apparatus determines an inferred splitting type, applies the inferred splitting type to split the out-of-bounds node into child blocks, adaptively splits each child block into one or multiple leaf blocks, and encodes or decodes the leaf blocks in the out-of-bounds node inside the current picture. The inferred splitting type for partitioning out-of-bounds nodes in an inter slice, picture, or tile is the same as the inferred splitting type for partitioning out-of-bounds nodes in an intra slice, picture, or tile.

Abstract: A method for signaling subpicture structures for coded video is provided. A video decoder receives data from a bitstream to be decoded as a sequence of video pictures. The video decoder receives from the bitstream subpicture specification for one or more subpictures in the sequence of video pictures. The subpicture specification identifies a position and a size for each subpicture by providing an index that identifies a coding tree unit (CTU) for the subpicture. The video decoder reconstructs each subpicture for the sequence of video pictures according to the subpicture specification.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition and a metal-ion battery employing the same are provided. The electrolyte composition includes a metal salt of Formula (I), an ionic liquid, and an additive MiXj??Formula (I), wherein M can be lithium ion, sodium ion, potassium ion, beryllium ion, magnesium ion, calcium ion, scandium ion, yttrium ion, titanium ion, zirconium ion, hafnium ion, vanadium ion, niobium ion, tantalum ion, chromium ion, molybdenum ion, tungsten ion, manganese ion, technetium ion, rhenium ion, iron ion, ruthenium, osmium ion, cobalt ion, rhodium ion, iridium ion, nickel ion, palladium ion, platinum ion, copper ion, silver ion, gold ion, zinc ion, cadmium ion, mercuric ion, indium ion, thallium ion, tin ion, lead ions, arsenic ions, antimony ions, bismuth ion, gallium ion, or aluminum ion; X? can be F?, Cl?, Br?, I?, BF4, PF6?, [(CF3SO2)2N]?, CF3SO3?, NO3?, CH3CO2?, SO42?, C2O42?, or [B(C2O4)2]?; and i is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and j is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Abstract: A biocompatible magnetic material containing an iron oxide nanoparticle and one or more biocompatible polymers, each having formula (I) below, covalently bonded to the iron oxide nanoparticle: in which each of variables R, L, x, and y is defined herein, the biocompatible magnetic material contains 4-15% Fe(II) ions relative to the total iron ions. Also disclosed in a method of preparing the biocompatible magnetic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of Inter prediction for video coding using Multi-hypothesis (MH) are disclosed. If an MH mode is used for the current block: at least one MH candidate is derived using reduced reference data by adjusting at least one coding-control setting; an Inter candidate list is generated, where the Inter candidate list comprises said at least one MH candidate; and current motion information associated with the current block is encoded using the Inter candidate list at the video encoder side or the current motion information associated with the current block is decoded at the video decoder side using the Merge candidate list. The coding control setting may correspond to prediction direction setting, filter tap setting, block size of reference block to be fetched, reference picture setting or motion limitation setting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding incorporating Deep Neural Network are disclosed. A target signal is processed using DNN (Deep Neural Network), where the target signal provided to DNN input corresponds to the reconstructed residual, output from the prediction process, the reconstruction process, one or more filtering processes, or a combination of them. The output data from DNN output is provided for the encoding process or the decoding process. The DNN can be used to restore pixel values of the target signal or to predict a sign of one or more residual pixels between the target signal and an original signal. An absolute value of one or more residual pixels can be signalled in the video bitstream and used with the sign to reduce residual error of the target signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for video coding using block partition are disclosed. According to the present invention, a partition structure corresponding to recursively partitioning a current block into smaller TU (transform unit) blocks until the partition structure reaches a maximum allowed split depth or until a block size of at least one of smaller TU blocks is a supported core transform size, where the current block is partitioned into final smaller TU blocks according to the partition structure. A transform coding process is applied to the current block according to the partition structure, where the transform coding process is skipped for at least one of the final smaller TU blocks. A flag can be signalled for the current block to indicate whether the current block is allowed to skip the transform coding process for said at least one of the final smaller TU blocks.

Abstract: An acoustic probe connectable to an imaging system. The acoustic probe has a substrate with first and second principal surfaces, at least one device insertion port comprising an opening passing through the substrate from the first principal surface to the second principal surface, and an array of acoustic transducer elements supported by the substrate and disposed around the at least one device insertion port. The acoustic probe comprising an instrument guide disposed within the device insertion port, the instrument guide being configured to selectively allow the interventional device to move freely within the device insertion port and to selectively lock the interventional device within the device insertion port in response to a user input via a user interface connected to the acoustic probe.

Abstract: A method of palette management for palette coding in a video coding system receives input data associated with a current block in a high-level picture structure and initializes a palette predictor in the high-level picture structure before a corresponding palette of a first palette-coded block in the high-level picture structure is coded. If a palette mode is selected for the current block, the method applies the palette coding to the current block using a current palette and updates the palette predictor based on the current palette to generate an updated palette predictor for a next block coded in the palette mode.

Abstract: A torque socket tool is provided, including: a main body, a driving member, an engaging member, a torque adjustment assembly and a rotating member. The main body defines an axial direction and has a first restricting portion. The driving member is rotatably disposed on the main body about the axial direction. The engaging member is slidably disposed on the main body. The torque adjustment assembly includes a mandrel. The mandrel is disposed within the main body and rotatable about the axial direction. The rotating member is non-rotatably sleeved with the mandrel and has a second restricting portion.

Abstract: A three-in-one RGB mini-LED device includes a substrate, a second electrical semiconductor layer, a plurality of multiple-quantum well layers, a plurality of first electrical semiconductor layers, and a plurality of mirrors. The second electrical semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The plurality of multiple-quantum well layers are disposed on the second electrical semiconductor layer. An area of each of the plurality of multiple-quantum well layers is smaller than an area of the second electrical semiconductor layer, and a region on the second semiconductor layer is not covered by the plurality of multiple-quantum well layers.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition and a metal-ion battery employing the same are provided. The electrolyte composition includes a metal chloride, an imidazolium salt of Formula (I), an alkali halide, and an oxalate-containing borate wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently C1-8 alkyl, C2-8 alkenyl, C2-8 alkynyl, C1-8 alkoxy, C2-8 alkoxyalkyl, or C1-8 fluoroalkyl; and X? is F?, Cl?, Br?, or I?. The metal chloride is aluminum chloride, iron chloride, zinc chloride, copper chloride, manganese chloride, chromium chloride, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A resource integration method includes the following steps: a receiving module receives access information from a guest operating system on the host device; the access information is used to determine whether the frame rate is lower than a frame rate threshold; when the receiving module determines that the frame rate is lower than the frame rate threshold, the receiving module transmits an external resource request signal to the receiving module; after the receiving module receives the external resource request signal, a resource management module (which is located in the bridge module) selects an optimal external device from a specific category (among a plurality of categories in a candidate list), and a calculation operation or a storage operation corresponding to the specific category is transmitted to the optimal external device for calculation or storage by the bridge module.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various cyanobacterial extracts exhibiting antiviral activity to a wide spectrum of viruses, such as enterovirus (EV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Human Herpesvirus (HHV), Ebola virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The cyanobacterial extract is prepared from biomass of A. maxima (or Spirulina maxima). Also disclosed herein are process for preparing the cyanobacterial extract and uses of the cyanobacterial extract.

Abstract: An augmented reality screen system includes an augmented reality device and a host. The augmented reality device is configured to take a physical mark through a camera. The host is configured to receive the physical mark, determine position information and rotation information of the physical mark, and fetch a virtual image from a storage device through a processor of the host. The processor transmits an adjusted virtual image to the augmented reality device according to the position information and the rotation information, and the augmentation device projects the adjusted virtual image to a display of the augmented reality device. The adjusted virtual image becomes a virtual extended screen, and the virtual extended screen and the physical mark are simultaneously displayed on the display of the augmented reality device.

Abstract: A video coder that uses a shared candidate list to encode or decode multiple blocks of pixels within a shared boundary is provided. The video coder identifies a shared boundary encompassing a plurality of blocks of pixels of a current picture in a video sequence. The video coder identifies one or more prediction candidates as a shared candidate list based on neighbors of a region defined by the shared boundary. The video coder codes one or more blocks of pixels encompassed by the shared boundary by using one or more prediction candidates selected from the shared candidate list.

Abstract: According to a method for Adaptive Loop Filter (ALF) processing of reconstructed video, multiple indicators are signaled in slice at an encoder side or parsed at a decoder side, where the multiple indicators are Adaptive Parameter Set (APS) indices associated with temporal ALF filter sets for the ALF processing. A current indicator is determined from the multiple indicators, where the current indicator is used to select a current ALF filter set. Filtered-reconstructed pixels are derived for the current block by applying the current ALF filter to the current block. In another method, if the ALF processing applied at a target sample requires an outside sample on other side of a target virtual boundary from the target sample, the outside sample is replaced by a padded sample.