Abstract: An illustrative interactive content provider system transmits a live video stream to an interactive content player device, and, during the transmitting of the live video stream, provides an executable data object to the interactive content player device. The executable data object includes an interactive content instance configured to be presented within a 3D virtual playing area that bounds at least one virtual object of the interactive content instance. The interactive content provider system directs the interactive content player device to execute the executable data object by overlaying the 3D virtual playing area of the interactive content instance onto a presentation of the live video stream. Corresponding methods and systems are disclosed for both the interactive content provider system and the interactive content player device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium that generate, from a database, an identifier record grouping including the identifier record and at least one other identifier record, generate one or more strength indicators of the generated identifier record grouping, normalize a value of each of the one or more strength indicators based on an average value associated with the respective strength indicator, generate a value of a strength metric of the generated identifier record grouping based on a sum of the normalized values of the one or more strength indicators, rank the value of the strength metric amongst values of strength metrics associated with a plurality of identifier record groupings within the database, and determine a strength score of the generated identifier record grouping as the strength score of the identifier record based on the ranking.

Abstract: An illustrative application executing on a first device establishes a first network connection between the first device and a collaboration platform server managing a set of components for a collaboration platform providing voice communication services with respect to a virtual space. Using the first network connection, the application: 1) sets a first location within the virtual space at which a first voice component is positioned, and 2) determines a second location within the virtual space at which a second voice component is positioned. The application receives, by way of a second network connection between the first and second devices, audio data representing voice communication originating at the second device. Based on the first and second locations, the application generates a spatialized rendering of the audio data for presentation to a user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative server system receives a request from a client device to join a virtual world managed by the server system. In response to receiving the request, the server system identifies an avatar location for an avatar that is to represent a user of the client device within the virtual world when the client device joins the virtual world. Based on the avatar location, the server system determines a first priority value for a first asset of the virtual world and a second priority value for a second asset of the virtual world. Based on the first and second priority values, the server system provides to the client device a prioritized replication of the virtual world in which the first asset is replicated in a prioritized manner that allows the user to experience the first asset before the second asset is replicated. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative application executing on a first device establishes a first network connection between the first device and a collaboration platform server managing a set of components for a collaboration platform providing voice communication services with respect to a virtual space. Using the first network connection, the application: 1) sets a first location within the virtual space at which a first voice component is positioned, and 2) determines a second location within the virtual space at which a second voice component is positioned. The application receives, by way of a second network connection between the first and second devices, audio data representing voice communication originating at the second device. Based on the first and second locations, the application generates a spatialized rendering of the audio data for presentation to a user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative server system receives a request from a client device to join a virtual world managed by the server system. In response to receiving the request, the server system identifies an avatar location for an avatar that is to represent a user of the client device within the virtual world when the client device joins the virtual world. Based on the avatar location, the server system determines a first priority value for a first asset of the virtual world and a second priority value for a second asset of the virtual world. Based on the first and second priority values, the server system provides to the client device a prioritized replication of the virtual world in which the first asset is replicated in a prioritized manner that allows the user to experience the first asset before the second asset is replicated. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Illustrative methods and systems described herein use lightmaps to present 3D graphics. For example, a method includes identifying a viewpoint within a 3D scene and receiving a dynamic lightmap for an object represented by a 3D model in the 3D scene. The identified viewpoint is selected by a user of a media player device presenting the 3D scene to the user and the dynamic lightmap is generated or updated at a first level of detail determined based on the identified viewpoint. The method further includes rendering an image for presentation to the user from the identified viewpoint. This rendering of the image includes rendering the 3D model at a second level of detail that is lower than the first level of detail, and applying the dynamic lightmap at the first level of detail to the 3D model rendered at the second level of detail. Corresponding systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative interactive content provider system transmits a live video stream to an interactive content player device, and, during the transmitting of the live video stream, provides an executable data object to the interactive content player device. The executable data object includes an interactive content instance configured to be presented within a 3D virtual playing area that bounds at least one virtual object of the interactive content instance. The interactive content provider system directs the interactive content player device to execute the executable data object by overlaying the 3D virtual playing area of the interactive content instance onto a presentation of the live video stream. Corresponding methods and systems are disclosed for both the interactive content provider system and the interactive content player device.

Abstract: An illustrative interactive content delivery system includes an interactive content player device (player device) and an interactive content provider system (provider system). As the provider system transmits a live video stream to the player device, the player device detects a first event marker in the live video stream, accesses an executable data object including data representative of an interactive content instance, and executes, based on the executable data object, the interactive content instance in accordance with interactive input provided by a user of the player device. During the executing of the interactive content instance, the player device detects a second event marker in the live video stream and subsequently discontinues the executing of the interactive content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are disclosed for both the provider system and the player device of the interactive content delivery system.

Abstract: Illustrative methods and systems described herein use lightmaps to present 3D graphics. For example, a method includes identifying a viewpoint within a 3D scene and receiving a dynamic lightmap for an object represented by a 3D model in the 3D scene. The identified viewpoint is selected by a user of a media player device presenting the 3D scene to the user and the dynamic lightmap is generated or updated at a first level of detail determined based on the identified viewpoint. The method further includes rendering an image for presentation to the user from the identified viewpoint. This rendering of the image includes rendering the 3D model at a second level of detail that is lower than the first level of detail, and applying the dynamic lightmap at the first level of detail to the 3D model rendered at the second level of detail. Corresponding systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary lightmap management system is implemented by a multi-access edge compute (“MEC”) server. The system accesses graphics data representative of a 3D model of an object included at a first location within a 3D scene, and identifies a second location from which a light source illuminates the object. The system generates or updates a dynamic lightmap for the object represented by the 3D model based on raytracing of virtual light rays from the second location to the first location. The system provides the dynamic lightmap to a media player device communicatively coupled to the MEC server and configured to apply the dynamic lightmap to the 3D model. For example, the applying of the dynamic lightmap may be performed as part of a rendering of an image that depicts the 3D scene from a viewpoint selected by a user to whom the media player device is presenting the 3D scene.

Abstract: An exemplary lightmap management system is implemented by a multi-access edge compute (“MEC”) server. The system accesses graphics data representative of a 3D model of an object included at a first location within a 3D scene, and identifies a second location from which a light source illuminates the object. The system generates or updates a dynamic lightmap for the object represented by the 3D model based on raytracing of virtual light rays from the second location to the first location. The system provides the dynamic lightmap to a media player device communicatively coupled to the MEC server and configured to apply the dynamic lightmap to the 3D model. For example, the applying of the dynamic lightmap may be performed as part of a rendering of an image that depicts the 3D scene from a viewpoint selected by a user to whom the media player device is presenting the 3D scene.

Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus comprises smoothing circuitry that receives a volumetric medical image data set corresponding to a 3D region of a subject and smooths the volumetric medical image data set to generate a smoothed medical image data set, wherein at least one part of the surface of a structure is represented in the volumetric medical image data set, rendering circuitry that produces a 2D rendered data set from the smoothed medical image data set, curvature calculation circuitry that calculates a respective curvature at each of a plurality of positions on the at least one part of the surface of the structure and smooths the calculated curvatures to obtain smoothed calculated curvatures, and shading addition circuitry that adds shading to the 2D rendered data set in dependence on the smoothed calculated curvatures.

Abstract: Use of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one cyclic derivatives of formula (I) for the treatment of infection with viruses entering cells by endocytosis, especially filovirus such as Ebolavirus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a data receiving unit configured to receive medical imaging data and a registration unit configured to obtain a registration of the medical imaging data with model-based virtual anatomy data by determining a transformation between a coordinate space of the medical imaging data and a coordinate space of the virtual anatomy data based on the locations of anatomical landmarks in the medical imaging data and the locations of corresponding anatomical landmarks in the virtual anatomy data.

Abstract: Use of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one cyclic derivatives of formula (I) for the treatment of infection with viruses entering cells by endocytosis, especially filovirus such as Ebolavirus.

Abstract: A drive gear assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a drive shaft (11) and a drive gear (9) mounted on or integral with a drive shaft and rotatable therewith and being adapted to mesh with a driven gear (7). The assembly also includes a self-aligning assembly that supports the drive shaft for rotation about an axis of the drive shaft and so that the drive gear can self-align with respect to the driven gear.

Abstract: A method of navigating along a biological object with a lumen represented by a three-dimensional volume data set comprises generating a plurality of navigation segments connectable in a sequence, each segment having a start point within the lumen, a direction and a length. The navigation may be used for a camera in a virtual endoscopic examination, for example. The direction of each segment is determined by casting groups of rays outwards from the start point of the segment to the object wall, and calculating an average ray length for each group. The group having the largest average ray length is selected, and the axial direction of this group is used as the direction for the segment. The average ray lengths of the groups may be weighted using the direction of the previous segments to bias the navigation generally forward, or may be weighted using a view direction of the camera to allow a user to turn the camera into a chosen branch in the object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rapid virus entry/binding detection assay. An enzyme such as luciferase was incorporated at the C-terminal end of viral envelope proteins of the HIV Nef protein that would specifically associate with cell membranes to deliver the enzyme into viral particles upon viral assembly. Virus entry/binding can then be assayed by determining the enzymatic activities in infected cells. The assay allows high-throughput non-radioactive detection of virus entry within 30 minutes after virus-cell contact. This assay provides high signal to noise ratio and is useful for screening compounds that affect virus-cell binding and entry. The design also permits packaging of potential therapeutic proteins into functional virus particles and delivering them to specific cellular targets.