Abstract: Compounds and treatment methods with compounds exhibiting antiviral activity and/or inhibition of viral replication against viruses, particularly those belonging to the picornavirus-like supercluster, including coronavirus having a formula: or a prodrug or pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, where: each X comprises at least one cyclic moiety directly attached to the oxygen or connected via an alkyl linkage, where at least one of the linkage and/or the X moiety comprises a deuterium substitution; and Z is selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and bisulfite salts, or the ester or carbamate prodrugs thereof.

Abstract: Described herein is a method. The method may include receiving, by a first device, data of a first layer of the first device, the data for transmission over a network to a second device. The method may include encrypting, by the first device, the data at the first layer, to generate first encrypted data. The method may include encrypting, by the first device, the first encrypted data at a second layer, to generate second encrypted data. The method may include transmitting, by the first device, the second encrypted data via the network to the second device.

Abstract: A marker transfer tape includes a transfer material layer that extends along a length and width of the marker transfer tape and an adhesive layer along a bottom side of the transfer material layer. The marker transfer tape includes a marker separation cut that defines a first removable portion, a second removable portion, and a plurality of markers between the first and second removable portions such that the markers are centrally located along the width of the marker transfer tape and spaced apart along the length of the marker transfer tape. The markers are applied to the surface by: adhering the marker transfer tape to the surface; peeling off the first removable portion; and peeling off the second removable portion.

Abstract: Methods of using fiber-reinforced composite articles useful in supporting or immobilizing an injured body part is disclosed. The composite is a multi-layer, flexible precursor including fiber reinforcement plies, which can be rapidly cured into a rigid body using a thermosetting resin. Methods of making and using the same are also disclosed, along with kits containing such composite articles.

Abstract: A vehicle wind buffeting shield, a vehicle incorporating a wind buffeting shield, and a method of diverting upward air flow during operation of a vehicle using a wind buffeting shield are provided. The wind buffeting shield includes a flow restricting portion and at least one mounting member. The at least one mounting member couples the flow restricting portion proximate a bottom portion of a gas tank of a vehicle such that the flow restricting portion projects generally horizontal and outwards from the vehicle and restricts upward air flow during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite article useful in supporting or immobilizing an injured body part is disclosed. The composite is a multi-layer, flexible precursor including fiber reinforcement plies, which can be rapidly cured into a rigid body using a thermosetting resin. Methods of making and using the same are also disclosed, along with kits containing such composite articles.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for non-invasively monitoring a physiological parameter and providing biofeedback. The method, system, and computer program provide for the non-invasive detection of a physiological parameter by detecting changes in color channel values of a user in a live video feed and presenting biofeedback to the user indicating the relative position of the physiological parameter to an optimal range.

Abstract: A winglet is provided for retrofitting to a wind turbine. Aerodynamic and centrifugal forces for winglets having a range of configurations including winglet height, taper ratio, twist, and cant angle are modeled, wherein the winglet height, taper ratio, twist, and cant angle are used to define a grid in a Vector Lattice. An increase in a coefficient of power Cp of each winglet design when applied to a predetermined main blade of the wind turbine can be determined. A winglet configuration can then be selected wherein the coefficient of power Cp of the main blade and winglet is at least 2% greater than the coefficient of power Cp of the main blade alone, and wherein a ratio of normal aerodynamic force generated by the winglet to centrifugal force generated by the winglet during rotation at a nominal rated speed is in a range between 0.75 and 2.

Abstract: A multilayer protective covering can protect a surface from lightning strikes. The covering includes a bottom conductive layer affixed to the surface and having a first opening that is aligned with a grounding connection so that the grounding connection is exposed through first opening and not in contact with the bottom conductive layer. The covering also includes a dielectric layer affixed to the bottom conductive layer and having second opening aligned with the grounding connection so that the grounding connection is exposed through second opening and not in contact with the dielectric layer. The covering additionally includes a top conductive layer affixed to the dielectric layer and covering the grounding connection. The top conductive layer directs electrical current from a lightning strike on the surface to the grounding connection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are protease transition state inhibitor/analogue prodrug compounds selected from the group consisting of esters, carbamates, ester phosphates, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Compositions containing such prodrugs are also disclosed, along with methods of using such compounds therapeutically or prophylactically against calicivirus, picornavirus, and/or coronavirus infection, as well as other conditions, such as malaria, cancer, stroke, heart attack, neural degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma through inhibition of the variety of proteases associated with progression of such conditions.

Abstract: Antiviral protease inhibitors are disclosed, along with related antiviral dipeptidyl compounds, macrocyclic derivatives thereof and methods of using the same to treat or prevent viral infection and disease from coronaviruses, caliciviruses, and picornaviruses.

Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) based driving simulation system and method provides hazard perception training and testing. Some embodiments use a personal computing device (e.g., smartphone), a head-mounted VR headset, and a Bluetooth-connected push button keypad or other user input device. An immersive, 3D simulator enables users to experience and learn from hazardous scenarios without risking injury. Performance by a user in perceiving a hazard is compiled as a metric in a user profile stored on a server, and continued training and testing can be conducted with updated scenarios supplied by the server in accordance with the metric associated with a user.

Abstract: A remote control door closure operating system is based on a central server with a backend database identifying a collection of controllable doors and a plurality of authorized users and corresponding credentials. A door interface unit is adapted to communicate with an authorized user to supply a live video stream of a respective door and to execute door opening and closing commands from the authorized user. A mobile device has a user application program configured to interact with the central server and door interface unit in order to 1) obtain configuration data, 2) authenticate the authorized user, 3) receive the live video stream, and 4) initiate the door opening and closing commands. Safe operation of the door opening/closing operation is encouraged by maximizing use of video surveillance before and during door operations and by conducting separate security authentications for video streaming and for door operation requests.

Abstract: Antibacterial small molecule compounds, termed liptins, bind to phosphatidylglycerol in bacterial plasma membranes. The small molecule compounds comprise a three-dimensional complementary binding pocket for phosphatidylglycerol, disrupting membrane function in a bacteriostatic or bactericidal manner. Methods of inhibiting bacterial growth and/or treating Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacterial infection using such compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adapter for the finger appendage of a brass instrument has an adapter body. An outboard side and an inboard side of the adapter body are spaced apart along a width. The adapter includes a fitting portion defining the outboard side of the adapter body and a spacer portion defining the inboard side of the adapter body. The fitting portion defines a mounting opening configured to receive the first portion of the adapter body to mount the adapter body on the finger appendage such that the spacer portion is received in the finger gap and the inboard side of the adapter body opposes the second portion of the finger appendage to define a reduced gap having a width that is less than the width of the finger gap.

Abstract: An automated process designs an indoor wayfinding system using wireless beacons interacting with a mobile smartphone to guide a user to a destination. Image processing and computational geometric techniques extracting necessary information about an indoor space to determine beacon placement and support path computations for navigation. An architectural floor plan of the indoor space of interest is scanned to extract all the points of interest (doors, stairs, elevators, etc.), to identify walking paths within this space, and to create a connectivity graph representation of the space upon which path computations for navigation can be performed. Optimized locations where beacons should be placed on the indoor floor plan are identified very quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining information associated with a forming operation involving a manufacturing machine having a tool that contacts material and simulating deformation of the material based on the information. Simulating the deformation of the material includes evaluating combinations of shear planes within an initial structure of the material. Simulating the deformation of the material also includes predicting a mode of deformation comprising one or more of the shear planes along which the initial structure of the material will likely deform. Simulating the deformation of the material further includes calculating a deformed shape of the material after an increment of deformation along the predicted mode of deformation.

Abstract: A basketball shooting aid includes a sidewall having an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The upper surface of the sidewall defines an upper orifice and the lower surface of the sidewall defines a lower orifice, wherein the upper orifice has an upper orifice diameter and the lower orifice has a lower orifice diameter. The upper orifice diameter is greater than the lower orifice diameter such that the inner surface defines an intermediate orifice having a continuously tapering diameter, and the lower orifice diameter is substantially similar to the rim diameter of the existing basketball rim. The basketball shooting aid also comprises a shock-absorbing gasket and a damping layer. The shock-absorbing gasket is sandwiched between the sidewall and the existing basketball rim when the basketball shooting aid is retrofitted onto said existing basketball rim.

Abstract: This document generally describes a safe-passage guidance strategy developed in a relative velocity framework to enable a generic aerial robot execute a precision three-dimensional maneuver through a narrow orifice in a wall. The relative sizes of the robot and the orifice can be such that the orifice is only slightly larger than the robot. The orifice can be approximated as an elliptical shape, and analytical nonlinear guidance laws incorporating state-based switching can be derived. Guidance laws can be used to maneuver the robot through both fixed and moving orifices as well as in scenarios when the orifice is closing with time.

Abstract: Structures and methods are provided for adjusting a size of a slide ring aperture for a musical instrument. Embodiments include a trumpet slide ring spacer adapted to be mounted on an instrument and retained within a valve slide ring.