Abstract: The present invention provides polymeric nanoparticles comprising triblock and optionally diblock copolymer chains. The architecture of the polymeric nanoparticles may be controlled, resulting in nanoparticles having non-spherical shapes. The present invention also provides a method of preparing the polymeric nanoparticles and a rubber article such as a tire manufactured from a formulation comprising the polymer nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with an azine compound.

Abstract: A video processing system dynamically adjusts video processing prediction error reduction computations in accordance with the amount of motion represented in a set of image data and/or available memory resources to store compressed video data. In at least one embodiment, video processing system adjusts utilization of prediction error computational resources based on the size of a prediction error between a first set of image data, such as current set of image data being processed, and a reference set of image data relative to an amount of motion in a current set of image data. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the video processing adjusts utilization of prediction error computation resources based upon a fullness level of a data buffer relative to the amount of motion in the current set of image data.

Abstract: An error detection and correction circuit for a video decoder that reconstructs a lost macroblock including a clustering circuit, a classification circuit and an error concealment circuit. The clustering circuit clusters macroblocks adjacent to the lost macroblock into one or more defined clusters. The classification circuit assigns the lost macroblock or each sub-block of the lost macroblock to a defined cluster. The error concealment circuit reconstructs attributes of the lost macroblock or its sub-block based on selected attributes of a defined cluster to which the lost block is assigned. Clustering is based on entire adjacent macroblocks or sub-blocks thereof. The clustering circuit may perform clustering using any one or more of the attributes of the macroblocks including coding parameters, texture statistics, color components, frequency analysis, and image processing operators. The lost macroblock may be assigned as a whole or subdivided into lost sub-blocks that are individually assigned to clusters.

Abstract: A method of making a coding mode decision for a current macroblock of a current video frame including determining an INTERSAD value, selecting at least one video characteristic associated with the current video frame, comparing the INTERSAD value with a corresponding range of each selected video characteristic, selecting interframe coding if the INTERSAD value is within the corresponding range of each selected video characteristic, performing intraframe prediction to provide an intraframe prediction macroblock and determining an INTRASAD value if the INTERSAD value is an outlier of any selected video characteristic, selecting intraframe coding if the INTERSAD value is greater than the INTRASAD value and otherwise selecting interframe coding. The video characteristics may be based on any combination of an average of interframe differential sums, a sum of absolute differences between each pixel value of the current macroblock and a mean pixel value of the current macroblock, and a quantization parameter.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: A macromolecule includes a functional group including imine functionality bonded to a polymer chain. Where desired, the functional group also can contain additional (e.g., amine and/or silane) functionality. The material can be provided by reacting a polymer including carbonyl functionality with a compound including a primary amino group. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black and silica.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer includes a polymer chain and, bonded thereto, a functional group having the general formula —NQOR1 where R1 is a hydrogen atom or —CH2Z where Z is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkenaryl, aralkenyl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group and where Q is a moiety connected to the nitrogen atom of the functional group through a C, N, O, or S atom. The material can be the reaction product of a living polymer and a compound that includes nitroso functionality. The functional group can interact with particulate filler such as, e.g., carbon black.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: An initiator solution comprising a chain extended thioacetal defined by the formula where ? includes a polymeric or oligomeric segment, each R1 independently includes hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R0 includes a monovalent organic group, z is an integer from 1 to about 8, and ? includes sulfur, oxygen, or tertiary amino group, and a solvent comprising an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic solvent.

Abstract: An initiator compound comprising an aryl or heteroaryl thioacetal including a substituent defined by the formula where x is an integer from 1 to about 5, y is an integer from 1 to about 5, the sum of x and y is from about 3 to about 6, ? is carbon, sulfur, oxygen, silicon, or an amino group, and each R1 is individually hydrogen or a monovalent organic group or where two or more R1 groups may join to form one or more rings.

Abstract: This invention relates to siloxy-functionalized polymers having the silicon of the siloxy group directly bonded to the end of a polymer chain through one or more carbon atoms, processes of producing the polymers, and initiators used to prepare the polymers. The polymers may be rubbery polymers, such as butadiene-styrene polymers, which are commonly used in tires.

Abstract: A curable sealant composition is provided. The composition includes a polymer including at least conjugated dime contributed monomer units in a backbone of the polymer and terminal groups including silicon. The composition also includes additional sealant ingredients selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, filler, reinforcing agents, modifiers, curing catalysts/hardeners, stabilizers, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An initiator is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers, to provide a functional head group on the polymer. A polymer having a functional head group derived from a sulfur containing anionic initiator, and optionally as additional functional group resulting from the use of a functional terminating reagent, coupling agent or linking agent is also provided. A method is presented for anionically polymerizing monomers comprising the step of polymerizing the monomers with a sulfur containing anionic initiator to provide a functional head group on the polymer. An elastomeric compound, comprising a functional polymer and filler is also described. Also provided is a tire having decreased rolling resistance resulting from a tire component containing a vulcanizable elastomeric compound.

Abstract: A system for managing resources across a distributed computer network has first and second management services. The first management service has resources associated therewith and hosts a resource consumer having a resource capacity demand, and the first management service implements objects for monitoring the status of resources of the first management service so as to obtain a value of capacity for each resource. The obtained value of capacity is compared to the capacity demand of the resource consumer. A resource request is generated according to the difference between the value of capacity value and the capacity demand. The second management service implements objects for receiving the generated resource request. Free resources from a global resource pool are allocated according to the resource request, and the allocated resource is provided to the first management service. An advantage of the invention is that it provides an architecture for automatic resource management.

Abstract: A server-proxy-client network delivers web content objects from servers to clients from cache content at a proxy server in between. Multiple, moving-window buffers are used to service content requests of the server by various independent clients. A first request for content is delivered by the server through the proxy to the requesting client. The content is simultaneously duplicated to a first circulating buffer. Once the buffer fills, the earlier parts are automatically deleted. The buffer therefore holds a most-recently delivered window of content. If a second request for the same content comes in, a check is made to see if the start of the content is still in the first buffer. If it is, the content is delivered from the first buffer. Otherwise, a second buffer is opened and both buffers are used to deliver what they can simultaneously. Such process can open up third and fourth buffers depending on the size of the content, the size of the buffers, and the respective timing of requests.

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating coding artifacts in video pictures processed using intra block prediction methods, for example, according to the H.264 standard. The causes of the coding artifacts are identified to be the intra prediction modes with prediction directions that are not in the direction of the raster scan. Filtering the affected blocks with a simple one-dimensional spatial filter will reduce or even eliminate these coding artifacts.

Abstract: A perform (28) is slip-cast or pressed from a metal compound or a mixture of metal compounds, sintered in air, vacum, or inert gas, and is electrolytically reduced in a bath (20) of molten salt to form a porous metal or alloy product. The alloy is in the form of a solid, porous sponge. In the bath (20) the salt is in contact with a reservoir (26) of molten infiltration material (24). After completion of the electrolytic reduction the porous product is moved into the infiltration material which fills the pores therein, displacing the salt. The infiltrated product is then solidified for further materials processing.

Abstract: A sound imaging system and method for generating multi-channel audio data from an audio/video signal having an audio component and a video component. The system comprises: a system for associating sound sources within the audio component to video objects within the video component of the audio/video signal; a system for determining position information of each sound source based on a position of the associated video object in the video component; and a system for assigning sound sources to audio channels based on the position information of each sound source.

Abstract: A method and image processing system are disclosed that extract feature information from an image using a model. An object in the image is first identified. The model is used at the front-end to quickly determine/define the approximate location/position of specific features of the object. Based in this modeling information, the location/position of the specific features are then determined. A feedback process may also be used to update/customize the model and improve performance.