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.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for converting natural gas, and specifically methane, into higher-value oxycarbon products, such as methanol, methyl formate, and formic acid. The natural gas is introduced into an aqueous solution with hydroxyl radicals and reacted in ambient conditions to form the desired products in the presence of a metal catalyst. The methods described herein overcome the “over-activation” dilemma of prior art methods that lead to the formation of undesirable carbon oxide compounds. Methods and apparatus for forming hydrogen peroxide via electrolysis and for forming hydroxyl radicals from the hydrogen peroxide via reaction with ferrous ions are also provided.

Abstract: Helical carbon nanotubes and the chemical functionalization of helical carbon nanotubes for use in high-performance multifunctional nanocomposite materials are described. Various processes of preparing functionalized helical carbon nanotubes and materials incorporating these nanotubes are also described.

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 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: Method and apparatus for generating asymmetric high-voltage waveforms with near-rectangular profiles. The method comprises producing selected low-frequency components of the Fourier series for a rectangular waveform explicitly and adding them to the amplified residual of lower-amplitude near-rectangular waveform upon filtering out certain frequencies.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions against Bacillus anthracis comprising a stabilized protective antigen complex are disclosed. The stabilized complex comprises protective antigen protein and capillary morphogenesis protein-2, with the capillary morphogenesis protein-2 being bound to the protective antigen protein along a binding interface. The stabilized protective antigen complex has increased thermal and structural stability, along with resistance to premature proteolytic degradation. Methods of using the same to induce an immunogenic response in a subject against B. anthracis infection are also disclosed.

Abstract: A biosensor system including a biosensor patch and an interrogation device. The biosensor patch includes an open circuit self-resonating pattern for passively generating a response signal when excited by an interrogation signal. The response signal may have a frequency amplitude, phase, and bandwidth that may change according to an electro-magnetic response of a biological component of a user. The interrogation device transmits an interrogation signal to the biosensor patch and receives the response signal in return. The interrogation device may run an application for decoding and analyzing the response signal to generate data corresponding to the health of the biological component.

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 system includes a shear member and an energy absorber. The shear member is configured to couple a seat portion to a base structure of a vehicle. The shear member is configured to sustain a first load without fracture and configured to inelastically deform under a second load. The second load is greater than the first load. The energy absorber is coupled to the seat portion and coupled to the base structure. The energy absorber is configured to absorb the energy following deformation of the shear member.

Abstract: Fully connected uplink and downlink fully connected relay network systems using pseudo-noise spreading and despreading sequences subjected to maximizing the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio. The relay network systems comprise one or more transmitting units, relays, and receiving units connected via a communication network. The transmitting units, relays, and receiving units each may include a computer for performing the methods and steps described herein and transceivers for transmitting and/or receiving signals. The computer encodes and/or decodes communication signals via optimum adaptive PN sequences found by employing Cholesky decompositions and singular value decompositions (SVD). The PN sequences employ channel state information (CSI) to more effectively and more securely computing the optimal sequences.