Abstract: In certain embodiments, higher-level octree telepresence data for a point cloud of a 3D object is transmitted using a reliable transport mechanism that ensures successful transmission, e.g., via re-transmission of dropped packets, and lower-level octree data for the point cloud is transmitted using a non-reliable transport mechanism that does not guarantee successful transmission. When the lower-level data is contained in one or more of the bottom-most layers in the octree representation, at least some of the point cloud might be able to be reconstructed using successfully received data even when some lower-level data is lost and not re-transmitted. Using non-reliable transmission can reduce latency by avoiding time-consuming re-transmissions. The resulting reconstructed point cloud will be incomplete, but it might be sufficiently complete to provide satisfactory user experience with lower latency that using reliable transport for the entire octree.

Abstract: A handheld lightweight portable windshield defroster device that uses lukewarm or even room temperature water to quickly and efficiently melt ice that has accumulated on the windshield of an automobile. The windshield defroster device of the invention is comprised of a main substantially globular body that holds the water with an opening at the top end of the body and a lid that screws on tight over the opening to prevent the water inside the main body from spilling out. A sturdy handle attached to the top of the lid assists in moving the main body containing the water over the windshield and the heat of the water inside the main body melts the ice on the windshield within a matter of minutes.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, higher-level octree telepresence data for a point cloud of a 3D object is transmitted using a reliable transport mechanism that ensures successful transmission, e.g., via re-transmission of dropped packets, and lower-level octree data for the point cloud is transmitted using a non-reliable transport mechanism that does not guarantee successful transmission. When the lower-level data is contained in one or more of the bottom-most layers in the octree representation, at least some of the point cloud might be able to be reconstructed using successfully received data even when some lower-level data is lost and not re-transmitted. Using non-reliable transmission can reduce latency by avoiding time-consuming re-transmissions. The resulting reconstructed point cloud will be incomplete, but it might be sufficiently complete to provide satisfactory user experience with lower latency that using reliable transport for the entire octree.

Abstract: A NLRP3-inhibitory compound 7 (NIC7) and a potent derivative NIC7w are disclosed. NLRP3-inhibitory compound 7 (NIC7) and a potent derivative NIC7w are a novel small-molecule inhibitor for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes are identified. These compounds inhibit main elements of the NLRP3 signaling pathway, primarily IL-1? and caspase 1, and improve cognitive behaviors of mice in Alzheimer disease mouse models. Compositions of NIC7 and NIC7w are suitable as a therapeutic agent in treating, preventing, or improving the conditions of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: Provided are parallel computational methods and their implementation on memory-distributed architectures for a peptide identification tool, called HiCOPS, that enables more than 100-fold improvement in speed over existing HPC proteome database search tools. HiCOPS empowers the supercomputing database search for comprehensive identification of peptides and all their modified forms within a reasonable timeframe. Searching Gigabytes of experimental mass spectrometry data against Terabytes of databases demonstrates peptide identification in minutes compared to days or weeks, providing multiple orders of magnitude improvements in processing times. Also provided is a theoretical framework for a novel overhead-avoiding strategy, resulting in superior performance evaluation results for key metrics including execution time, CPU utilization, and I/O efficiency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for compressing data, such as ion-mass information data in mass spectrometry spectra, to reduce index size are provided. Data in an index, such as fragment-ion data in a fragment-ion index, can be transformed for reduction of entropy and then encoded using a running counter technique to compress repetitive and redundant information in the index.