Abstract: An improved method is provided for maximizing accuracy of ability estimates while permitting a test taker to review and/or change responses in computer adaptive testing. One or more ability-dependent items are selected from a pool of adaptive items, the selected ability-dependent item matching interim ability estimates for an examinee. One or more ability-independent items are selected from a pool of non-adaptive items. The interim ability estimate can be generated after each iteration of responses to ability-dependent and/or ability-independent items. The ability-independent items can be randomly dispersed throughout the computer adaptive test. A prescribed ratio can be maintained between the ability-dependent items and ability-independent items for minimizing overestimation of the examinee's ability scores after reviewing and changing one or more test items in the computer adaptive test.

Abstract: A communication system, apparatus and method are provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The communication system includes: a base band unit (BBU), at least two antennas and at least two radio-frequency (RF) units, where the at least two RF units are connected with the BBU respectively; and each of the antennas is connected with at least two RF units respectively, so that a signal received from a same sector by an antenna is sent to the BBU via different RF units. With the embodiments of the present invention, the reliability of RF units may be improved without increasing the hardware cost of the base station.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a radio base station and a method for clock synchronization of the radio base station. The radio base station may include a base station outdoor apparatus including an adapter, a ground service antenna, and a satellite antenna. A base station indoor apparatus includes a satellite signal processing module configured to perform decoding processing on a satellite radio frequency signal received by the satellite antenna to obtain a satellite service signal. The satellite antenna and the ground service antenna are connected to the adapter. The adapter is configured to couple the signals received by the satellite antenna and ground service antenna, and transmit a coupled signal to the base station indoor apparatus through a first data cable.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an adaptive voltage scaling circuit and a chip. The adaptive voltage scaling circuit includes a performance classification monitor and an adaptive controller, where the performance classification monitor is disposed inside the chip, and is configured to detect working performance of the chip at a current working voltage, and output a detection result signal to the adaptive controller; and the adaptive controller is connected to the performance classification monitor, and is configured to output a control signal to a power management module of the chip according to the detection result signal output by the performance classification monitor, where the control signal is used to control the power management module to adjust a working voltage of the chip. In embodiments of the present invention, test workload can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising (i) a polysiloxane comprising a plurality of pendant amines and (ii) an acid. Also provided is a composition comprising (i) a polysiloxane comprising a plurality of pendant acids and (ii) an amine. The compositions are useful inter alia for chemical or oil spill cleanup, drug delivery systems, transparent films, adhesives, binding agents, conductors, membranes, cross-linking agents, or opticoelectronic applications. Also provided are methods for making the compositions of the invention, as well as a battery and a composition for controlled release of a compound, each comprising a composition of the invention.

Abstract: Systems, methods and instrumentalities are provided to implement motion information signaling for scalable video coding. A video coding device may generate a video bitstream comprising a plurality of base layer pictures and a plurality of corresponding enhancement layer pictures. The video coding device may identify a prediction unit (PU) of one of the enhancement layer pictures. The video coding device may determine whether the PU uses an inter-layer reference picture of the enhancement layer picture as a reference picture. The video coding device may set motion vector information associated with the inter-layer reference picture of enhancement layer to a value indicative of zero motion, e.g., if the PU uses the inter-layer reference layer picture as the reference picture.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for reference picture set mapping for scalable video coding. A device may receive an encoded scalable video stream comprising a base layer video stream and an enhancement layer video stream. The base layer video stream and the enhancement layer video streams may be encoded according to different video codecs. For example, the base layer video stream may be encoded according to H.264/AVC and the enhancement layer may be encoded according to HEVC. The enhancement layer video stream may include inter-layer prediction information. The inter-layer prediction information may include information relating to the base layer coding structure. The inter-layer prediction information may identify one or more reference pictures available in a base layer decoded picture buffer (DPB). A decoder may use the inter-layer prediction information to decode the enhancement layer video stream.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for reshaping virtual baseband signals for transmission on non-contiguous and variable portions of a physical baseband, such as a white space frequency band. In the transmission path, a spectrum virtualization layer maps a plurality of frequency components derived from a transmission symbol produced by a physical layer protocol to sub-carriers of the allocated physical frequency band. The spectrum virtualization layer then outputs a time-domain signal derived from the mapped frequency components. In the receive path, a time-domain signal received on the physical baseband is reshaped by the virtual spectrum layer in order to recompose a time-domain symbol in the virtual baseband.

Abstract: Aryl substituted diazabicyclooctanes (DBO) compounds that inhibit ?-lactamases of class A, class C or class D and potentiate ?-lactam antibiotics are disclosed. In particular, this disclosure provides DBO compounds that, when used in the disclosed Synergy MIC Assay with a ?-lactam antibiotic at a fixed concentration have an MIC of 8 ?g/mL or less against one or more isogenic ?-lactamase expressing bacterial strains.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for reshaping virtual baseband signals for transmission on non-contiguous and variable portions of a physical baseband, such as a white space frequency band. In the transmission path, a spectrum virtualization layer maps a plurality of frequency components derived from a transmission symbol produced by a physical layer protocol to sub-carriers of the allocated physical frequency band. The spectrum virtualization layer then outputs a time-domain signal derived from the mapped frequency components. In the receive path, a time-domain signal received on the physical baseband is reshaped by the virtual spectrum layer in order to recompose a time-domain symbol in the virtual baseband.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for simplifying the sub-bitstream extraction and the rewriting process. In an exemplary method, a video is encoded as a multi-layer scalable bitstream including at least a base layer and a first non-base layer. The bitstream is subject to the constraint that the image slice segments in the first non-base layer each refer to a picture parameter set in the base layer. Additional constraints and extra high level syntax elements are also described. Embodiments are directed to (i) constraints on the output layer set for sub-bitstream extraction process; (ii) VPS generation for the sub-bitstream extraction process; and (iii) SPS/PPS generation for the sub-bitstream extraction process.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for video coding/decoding are disclosed. One representative method includes a decoder receiving video content including at least a base layer (BL), an enhancement layer (EL) and phase information. The phase information includes an indicator indicating one or more sets of phase parameters from among plural sets of phase parameters. The method further includes assembling the BL into an inter-layer reference (ILR) picture based on the video content and the received phase information, selecting one or both of the ILR picture or an EL reference picture, and predicting a current EL picture using the phase information and one or more of the selected ILR picture or the selected EL reference picture.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for calculating shader program intermediate values. The method includes the steps of receiving a graphics primitive for processing according to a shader program including a first set of instructions and a second set of instructions, executing the first set of instructions by a processing pipeline to calculate multi-pixel intermediate values, executing the second set of instructions by the processing pipeline to calculate per-pixel values based on at least the multi-pixel intermediate values, and repeating the receiving and executing of the first and second sets of instructions for one or more additional graphics primitives.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a parallel processing unit (PPU) that performs pixel shading at variable granularities. For effects that vary at a low frequency across a pixel block, a coarse shading unit performs the associated shading operations on a subset of the pixels in the pixel block. By contrast, for effects that vary at a high frequency across the pixel block, fine shading units perform the associated shading operations on each pixel in the pixel block. Because the PPU implements coarse shading units and fine shading units, the PPU may tune the shading rate per-effect based on the frequency of variation across each pixel group. By contrast, conventional PPUs typically compute all effects per-pixel, performing redundant shading operations for low frequency effects. Consequently, to produce similar image quality, the PPU consumes less power and increases the rendering frame rate compared to a conventional PPU.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a parallel processing unit (PPU) that performs pixel shading at variable granularities. For effects that vary at a low frequency across a pixel block, a coarse shading unit performs the associated shading operations on a subset of the pixels in the pixel block. By contrast, for effects that vary at a high frequency across the pixel block, fine shading units perform the associated shading operations on each pixel in the pixel block. Because the PPU implements coarse shading units and fine shading units, the PPU may tune the shading rate per-effect based on the frequency of variation across each pixel group. By contrast, conventional PPUs typically compute all effects per-pixel, performing redundant shading operations for low frequency effects. Consequently, to produce similar image quality, the PPU consumes less power and increases the rendering frame rate compared to a conventional PPU.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a shut off system for a hydrocarbon recovery mandrel comprising an inline valve assembly comprising a nipple comprising a chemical flow line; the chemical flow line being operative to transfer fluids from outside the wellbore to a mandrel channel; where the mandrel channel is disposed in the mandrel; a valve assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston shaft; where the cylinder contacts the chemical flow line; where the piston shaft reciprocates in the cylinder in response to opposing applied pressures; where the piston shaft contacts a sealing object that is operative to facilitate or to prevent fluid flow from the chemical flow line to the mandrel channel; where the cylinder comprises a port that provides fluid communication from the cylinder to the mandrel channel; and an actuating assembly; where the actuating assembly is operative to displace the piston shaft in the cylinder to prevent fluid communication between the chemical flow line and the mandrel channel.

Abstract: A downhole system having a chemical injection valve assembly configured to inject at least one chemical from a chemical injection line into a downhole tubing. The chemical injection valve assembly includes a passive access control mechanism configured to reveal a first port to the tubing in a first condition and block the first port in a second condition. The passive access control mechanism including a movable piston, wherein in the first condition the piston is exposed to a first pressure source on a first side of the piston. To a second pressure source on a second side of the piston and the first pressure source from within the tubing and the second pressure source from outside of the chemical injection line and the tubing. Also included is a method of chemical injection in a downhole system.

Abstract: Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices that allow a white space base station to request available frequency ranges for white space transmission in a local area. A white space finder service models a primary user device's transmission signal propagation area using terrain data associated with the local area of the primary user device. The white space finder service also determines, based on the location of the white space base station and the modeled propagation area, one or more locally available, non-interfering frequency ranges and provides them to the white space base station. The white space base station compares the provided frequency ranges to policies and selects one or more of the available frequencies that accommodate the policies. The white space base station also maps the transmission frequency ranges to virtual frequency ranges for transmission by a software-defined radio employing spectrum virtualization.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for parallel decoding of a layered video stream. A base layer video stream and an enhancement layer video stream may be received. A picture of the base layer video stream may be decoded via a first processing thread. An inter-layer reference picture associated with the base layer video stream may be generated via the first processing thread. The inter-layer reference picture may include one or more motion fields. A picture of the enhancement layer video stream may be decoded via a second thread using the inter-layer reference picture. The first processing thread and the second processing thread may be synchronized such that the decoding of the picture of the enhancement layer video stream is performed after the generation of the inter-layer reference picture.