Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for using multicomputer data transferring to active contactless communication. In one example, such a system may include at least one memory storing instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform one or more operations, the operations including: receiving a transaction associated with a merchant on a list of merchants stored in the at least one memory; determining, based on the merchant, a remote server associated with the merchant; assembling a data packet including an identifier of the contactless card and an identifier of the transaction; transmitting the data packet to the determined server across one or more computer networks; receiving confirmation from the determined sever in response to the data packet; and transmitting the confirmation to a user device associated with the transaction.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and a device are provided. The device determines that a target event occurred at a first server in a group of servers that are jointly managed. The device obtains, for the first server, a public-private key pair including a first key and a second key. The device provides the first key to the first server such that the first server is accessible by authentication with the first key. The device provides the second key to a client device such that the first server is accessible by the client device by providing the second key to the server. Subsequently, the device revokes the first key from the first server.

Abstract: A system of detecting vehicle components in operation in a vehicle includes at least one light source configured to emit a predetermined wavelength of light onto structures within the vehicle, wherein at least one of the structures may include a passenger seat belt assembly having a pattern of reflection and retroreflective surfaces tuned to a predetermined wavelength at a preferred luminance. At least one 3-D time of flight camera is positioned in the vehicle to receive reflected light from the structures in the vehicle and provide images of the structures that distinguish the preferred luminance of the pattern from other structures in the vehicle. A computer processor connected to computer memory and the camera includes computer readable instructions causing the processor to reconstruct 3-D information in regard to respective images of the structures and calculate a depth measurement of the distance of the reflective pattern on the passenger seat belt assembly from the camera.

Abstract: An elongated lighting module having an asymmetric illumination source formed from at least two rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that extend along the long axis of the module and are independently controllable. The illumination source is rectangular and oriented so that the rows of LEDs extend along the long axis of the module. The module has couplings at each end that allow additional modules to be interconnected to each other and to a central mount, thereby avoiding the need for a support pole having cross-arms. The lighting modules are powered via a wiring harness that extends down a support pole to a power converter stack having LED drivers to control the modules.

Abstract: Subwavelength conducting particles can be arranged on conducting surfaces to provide arbitrary thermal emissivity spectra. For example, a thermal emissivity spectrum can be tailored to suppress a thermal signature of an object without sacrificing radiative cooling efficiency.

Abstract: Bipolar electrodes comprising a carbon felt loaded with a polymer material and a nanocarbon material are described herein. The bipolar electrodes are useful in electrochemical cells. In particular, the loaded carbon felt can be used in bipolar electrodes of zinc-halide electrolyte batteries. Processes for manufacturing the loaded carbon felt are also described, involving contacting (e.g., dipping) a carbon felt in a mixture of solvent, polymer material and nanocarbon material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition including a polymeric casing body; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber; a propellant disposed and confined within the propellant chamber; a primer insert positioned at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber; a primer and diffuser disposed in the primer insert in combustible communication with the propellant; and a projectile frictionally fitted in the mouth in combustible communication with the propellant.

Abstract: Described is an improved brain-machine interface including a neural interface and a controllable device in communication with the neural interface. The neural interface includes a neural device with one or more sensors for collecting signals of interest and one or more processors for conditioning the signals of interest, extracting salient neural features from and decoding the conditioned signals of interest, and generating a control command for the controllable device. The controllable device performs one or more operations according to the control command, and the neural device administers neuromodulation stimulation to reinforce operation of the controllable device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an herbal extract and a flavor system comprising an herbal extract produced by the process. The invention also provides a flavor system comprising an herbal extract comprising thymol, eugenol, carvacrol and eucalyptol. The invention further provides a flavor system comprising a thyme extract having a minimum inhibitory concentration of less than about 3%. Additionally, the invention provides an oral product comprising a flavor system.

Abstract: A dehydrochlorination process is disclosed. The process involves contacting RfCHClCH2Cl with a chromium oxyfluoride catalyst in a reaction zone to produce a product mixture comprising RfCCl?CH2, wherein Rf is a perfluorinated alkyl group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analyte detection devices and methods of using such devices to detect minute quantities of a target analyte in a sample. In particular, the invention provides an analyte detection device comprising a plurality of composite metallic nanostructures conjugated to analyte binding partners and a surface containing a metallic nanolayer on which a plurality of capture molecules is immobilized. Methods of preparing composite nanostructures are also described.

Abstract: An image block is coded using entropy-inspired directional filtering. During encoding, intensity differences are determined for at least some pixels of an image block based on neighboring pixels of respective ones of the at least some pixels. Angles are estimated for each of those pixels based on the intensity differences. A main filtering direction of the image block is then determined based on the estimated angles. The image block is filtered according to the main filtering direction to remove artifacts along oblique edges associated with the image block. The filtered image block is then encoded to an encoded image. During decoding, an angular map indicating angles estimated for pixels of an encoded image block is received and used to determine the main filtering direction of the image block. The image block can then be filtered according to the main filtering direction and then output for display or storage.

Abstract: A server includes a memory configured to store a vehicle feature usage pattern and data associated with a trip; and processor, programmed to responsive to receiving a vehicle selection request for a user, predict a driving condition of the vehicle used by the user during the trip; calculate a usage score for each of a plurality of predefined vehicle safety features based on the vehicle feature usage pattern of the user and the driving condition as predicted; and select, from a plurality of vehicles, one or more vehicles as candidate vehicles based on the usage score as calculated.

Abstract: A preservative composition is described that may be used in personal care products and other products for protecting the products against bacteria and fungus during production and during use. The composition can about 3 to about 15% by weight of an organic acid; about 3 to about 15% by weight of a C8-C18 fatty alcohol; about 30 to about 60% by weight of an aromatic alcohol; and about 30 to about 60% by weight of an organic solvent.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition that includes a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin A and/or a mutant Clostridium difficile toxin B. Each mutant toxin includes a glucosyltransferase domain having at least one mutation and a cysteine protease domain having at least one mutation, relative to the corresponding wild-type C. difficile toxin. The mutant toxins may further include at least one amino acid that is chemically crosslinked. In another aspect, the invention relates to antibodies or binding fragments thereof that binds to said immunogenic compositions. In further aspects, the invention relates to isolated nucleotide sequences that encode any of the foregoing, and methods of use of any of the foregoing compositions.