Abstract: A method of characterizing an effect of a compound on cardiomyocyte beating, including providing a system configured to culture, electrically pace, and monitor heating of beating cells: culturing two populations of immature cardiomyocytes in the system; adding a compound suspected of having an effect on cardiomyocyte maturation to one of the populations of immature cardiomyocytes; electrically pacing the two populations of immature cardiomyocytes according to a pulse profile that functionally matures immature cardiomyocytes until at least one of the two populations of cardiomyocytes is functionally mature; and Characterizing the compound as further driving maturation if the population with compound addition functionally matures before the other cardiomyocyte population.

Abstract: A method and a computing device are provided for video coding. The method may include deriving parameter ? and parameter ? for a CCLM mode by using a predetermined number of neighboring reconstructed luma samples and chroma samples in a CU; and generating a final chroma predictor for the chroma samples of the CU by using the parameter ? and the parameter ?.

Abstract: Methods and devices for video decoding are provided. The method includes: receiving a control variable associated with the video block at a coding level, where the control variable enables adaptive switch between a plurality of motion vector refinement (MVR) offset sets, and the video block comprises first and second geometric partitions; receiving one or more syntax elements to determine a first MVR offset for the first geometric partition and a second MVR offset for the second geometric partition from a selected MVR offset set; obtaining a first motion vector (MV) and a second MV from a candidate list for the first and second geometric partitions; calculating a first refined MV and a second refined MV based on the first and second MVs and the first and second MVR offsets; and obtaining prediction samples for the video block based on the first and second refined MVs.

Abstract: A storage device comprises: a non-volatile memory including control circuitry and an array of memory cells formed using a set of word lines and a set of bit lines. A controller, coupled to the non-volatile memory, configured to: determine, based on a stage of a product lifetime of the non-volatile memory, a negative word line setting for implementing during performance of a first operation; perform the first operation, the first operation including adjusting, based on the negative word line setting, a negative word line relative parameter; determine, based on another stage of the product lifetime of the non-volatile memory, another negative word line setting for implementing during performance of a second operation; and perform the second operation, the second operation including adjusting, based on the other negative word line setting, another negative word line relative parameter.

Abstract: A method of decoding a video signal, apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are provided. The method includes obtaining a video block from the video signal, obtaining spatial neighboring blocks based on the video block, obtaining up to one left non-scaled motion vector predictor (MVP) based on the multiple left spatial neighboring blocks, obtaining up to one above non-scaled MVP based on the multiple above spatial neighboring blocks, deriving, at the decoder and by reducing possibility of selecting scaled MVPs derived from the spatial neighboring blocks, an MVP candidate list based on the video block, the multiple left spatial neighboring blocks, the multiple above spatial neighboring blocks, receiving a best MVP based on the MVP candidate list, and obtaining a prediction signal of the video block based on the best MVP.

Abstract: A high-strength thermal-stability polyester industrial yarn is prepared by spinning, winding and coordination treatment of a modified polyester after a solid-state polycondensation; wherein the method of coordination treatment comprises: soaking the wound fiber in an aqueous solution of a coordination agent, and the concentration of the aqueous solution of the coordination agent is 0.1-0.2 mol/L; wherein the condition of coordination treatment is 48-72 hours at 80-100° C., and the concentration of the aqueous solution of the coordination agent is 0.1-0.2 mol/L; wherein the polyester segments of the prepared high-strength thermal-stability polyester industrial yarn comprises a terephthalic acid segment, an ethylene glycol segment and a 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid segment, and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid segments of different polyester segments are coordinated by Fe3+, the molar ratio of the terephthalic acid segment to the 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid segment is 1:(0.03-0.05).

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, media, and computer readable instructions are described for local image tagging in a resource constrained environment. One embodiment involves processing image data using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) comprising at least a first subgraph and a second subgraph, the first subgraph comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, processing, the image data using at least the first layer of the first subgraph to generate first intermediate output data; processing, by the mobile device, the first intermediate output data using at least the second layer of the first subgraph to generate first subgraph output data, and in response to a determination that each layer reliant on the first intermediate data have completed processing, deleting the first intermediate data from the mobile device. Additional embodiments involve convolving entire pixel resolutions of the image data against kernels in different layers if the DCNN.

Abstract: A method for assisting the acquisition of a media content at a scene provided with at least one main acquisition unit connected to a server is disclosed. The method includes performing by a processing unit of the server: receiving, from an electronic device including a secondary acquisition unit, a request for acquiring a media content at the scene, the request including data representative of acquisition conditions at the secondary acquisition unit; and providing in response a first media content generated as a function of data representative of acquisition conditions at the secondary acquisition unit from generic media content outputted by the at least one main acquisition unit.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, media, and computer readable instructions are described for local image tagging in a resource constrained environment. One embodiment involves processing image data using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) comprising at least a first subgraph and a second subgraph, the first subgraph comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, processing, the image data using at least the first layer of the first subgraph to generate first intermediate output data; processing, by the mobile device, the first intermediate output data using at least the second layer of the first subgraph to generate first subgraph output data, and in response to a determination that each layer reliant on the first intermediate data have completed processing, deleting the first intermediate data from the mobile device. Additional embodiments involve convolving entire pixel resolutions of the image data against kernels in different layers if the DCNN.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems and methods are provided including an automatic testing (AT) framework including an automatic testing (AT) tool and an AT engine; a processing unit coupled to the automatic testing framework to: generate a JSON file, wherein the JSON file is a test case; upload the generated test case to a database of the AT framework; and execute the test case in response to uploading, wherein execution further comprises: reading the test case from the database; validating the JSON file matches a JSON schema; mocking the test case to generate an executable test, including one or more nullable values based on the generated JSON file; executing the executable test to generate an output; and verifying the generated output by comparing the generated output to an expected output in the test case. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first information indicative of data plane utilization, wherein the data plane is associated with a wireless communications network; obtaining second information indicative of control plane utilization, wherein the control plane is associated with the wireless communications network; applying the first information and the second information to one or more machine learning algorithms; and generating via the one or more machine learning algorithms one or more outputs, wherein the one or more outputs indicates whether one or more network resources should be added to improve the data plane utilization. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An oxygen bleaching method of pulp includes the steps of: adding a solution formulated by a magnesium salt and an activator to an unbleached chemical pulp, stirring to be mixed well, and bleaching by introducing oxygen. The activators are nano zero-valent metals that are conventional, low-cost, and recyclable. These activators can activate low-concentration oxygen at low-temperature in neutral aqueous solution to efficiently generate peroxide anion radicals, so as to promote the generation of hydroperoxide anions and peroxide ions, achieving high efficient delignification. The whole process does not generate waste water, the oxygen consumption is only 50-85% of the original process, the yield is increased by 1.5-2.8% compared with the original system, the pulp brightness is increased to 28-32° SR, and the magnesium salt can be recycled and reused.

Abstract: The present provides a concrete and mortar mix and composition thereof with poor quality sand such as desert sand, hydraulic binder (cement) and filamentous cellulose, where the desert sand/spherical sand replaces conventional concrete river sands. The present disclosure also relates a filamentous cellulose, such as, cellulose filaments (CF), cellulose nano filaments, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) as a concrete/mortar and sand adhesion additive with hydraulic binder (cement), and to a method of making the concrete. This method also relates to a method to prevent the sliding of individual sand grains against one another and therefor similarly contributes to the stabilization of the building materials.

Abstract: Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for graphical icon identification within an image or video stream. The systems and methods receive an image including a graphical icon. The systems and methods identify a set of proposed regions of the image, at least one proposed region of the set of proposed regions containing the graphical icon and extract a set of semantic features for each proposed region of the set of proposed regions. Based on the set of semantic features of the set of proposed regions, the systems and methods identify a set of proposed icons corresponding to the graphical icon included in the image and determine a match between the graphical icon and at least one proposed icon of the set of proposed icons.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of computer vision and digital image processing, and more particularly to a light field encoded imaging method and apparatus for a scattering scene. The method includes: obtaining scattering light field data, and extracting a refocusing focal stack corresponding to different offset pixels between views from the scattering light field data; transforming an image in the refocusing focal stack into a saturation domain to form a processed focal stack; comparing boundary sharpness degrees of each region in the processed focal stack when refocusing by different offset pixels, and extracting offset pixels corresponding to the sharpest boundary of each region by using a 1-norm operator; and converting the offset pixels into a depth map of a target based on data parameters of the light field.

Abstract: An isobaric stable isotope-containing phosphorylated protein labeling reagent, and a preparation method and application thereof are provided. The protein labeling reagent is a phosphorylated dipeptide organophosphorus reagent labeled by a stable isotope such as deuterium-2, carbon-13, oxygen-18, or nitrogen-15. The preparation method includes: (1) preparation of an isobaric stable isotope-containing amino acid with N-terminal protection, (2) preparation of an isobaric stable isotope-containing amino acid activated ester Fmoc/Boc-R1-NHS with N-terminal protection, (3) preparation of an isobaric stable isotope-containing dipeptide, (4) preparation of an isobaric stable isotope-containing phosphite, (5) preparation of an isobaric stable isotope-containing phosphite dipeptide, and (6) preparation of a stable isotope-labeled N-phosphorylated amino acid activated ester.

Abstract: A license plate number recognition method includes: extracting license plate number features of an image to be recognized including a license plate number, through a pre-trained convolutional neural network; extracting an intermediate convolution result during extracting the license plate number features, and extracting a first verification feature and/or a second verification feature according to the intermediate convolution result; verifying whether the license plate number features are correct according to the first and/or second verification features; if correct, outputting a predicted license plate number result according to the license plate number features.

Abstract: The application provides a porous carbon block material having high elasticity and high sealing, and provides a method for preparing the same. Particularly, the present application provides a porous carbon block material, wherein the porous carbon block material has a pore size in the range of from 3 nm to 100 nm, a porosity of from 50% to 87%, and the pores in the material are closed pores. In addition, the application provides a method for preparing the porous carbon block material according to the present application. The porous carbon block material according to the present application has small pore size, high porosity, and closed pores, and thus has high strength combined with high elasticity, high sealing property, and low density. Hence, the porous carbon block material according to the present application may be used as a sealing material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automobile tire burst simulation experiment device, which is fixed on a rim installed with an automobile tire. The automobile tire burst simulation experiment device comprises a pre-tightening triggering device, a retracting device, a storage battery and a controller, the tire burst simulation experiment device according to the present invention uses two drive motors to drive two sets of roller screw slide rails, so as to drive the breakdown device away from and close to the tire to achieve a simulated tire burst and rapid deflation. The experiment device has the characteristics of quick installation, low cost, strong versatility, and adjustable speed; the device can be applied to the tire burst experiment under different vehicle speeds and road conditions of various automobile models. The structure is simple and the simulation control accuracy is high. After the tire burst, the subsequent experiments of the vehicle are not affected.