Abstract: A method for preparing a cyclobutene compound or a cyclopentenone is provided. The method comprises contacting an ?,?-diketone with a metal acetylide at a temperature below 0° C. to thereby form a reaction mixture comprising a bis-alkyne precursor. The bis-alkyne precursor rearranges into a bis-allenic intermediate, which undergoes further rearrangement into the cyclobutene compound or the cyclopentenone compound as the temperature of the reaction mixture increases from below 0° C. to above 0° C.

Abstract: A composition in the target language is parsed into plural different linguistic components, including sound level, grammar level and at least one functional grammar level component. The linguistic components are then expressed on different facets of an n-sided block device representation system according to predefined sets of rules. The facets of the block device may then be selectively examined by the learner to visualize how the target language functions to express the composition with respect to the way sounds, grammar and functional grammar are used. The block device representation system may be computer-implemented, rendering the facets on display panels associated with physical blocks, or as computer-generated images upon a display device.

Abstract: Nucleotide sequences are disclosed that may be used to impart herbicide resistance to green plants. The sources of novel herbicide resistance were originally isolated in mutant rice plants. The sequences impart pre-emergence resistance, post-emergence resistance, or both pre-emergence resistance and post-emergence resistance to multiple herbicides. To date, resistance has been demonstrated against at least the following herbicides: imazethapyr, imazapic, imazapyr, imazamox, sulfometuron methyl, imazaquin, chlorimuron ethyl, metsulfuron methyl, rimsulfuron, thifensulfuron methyl, pyrithiobac sodium, tribenuron methyl, and nicosulfuron. Green plants transformed with these sequences are resistant to these herbicides and to derivatives of these herbicides, and to at least some of the other herbicides that normally inhibit acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), particularly imidazolinone and sulfonylurea herbicides.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a microbial fuel cell capable of generating energy from an organic-based fuel. The microbial fuel cell comprises an anode component, a cathode component, and a separator component selected to reduce spacing between the anode and the cathode thereby improving performance of the microbial fuel cell. Also disclosed herein is a cathode component comprising particular components that improve the lifetime, performance, and production of the cathode component at reduced cost. Further disclosed are embodiments of a method of using the disclosed microbial fuel cell.

Abstract: Innovations in the construction and use of variable-input-length tweakable ciphers (“VILTCs”). In some cases, a VILTC uses an initialization vector that is protected from exposure outside an encryption/decryption system in order to provide enhanced security with efficient performance. For example, a system for encryption and/or decryption includes two fixed-input-length tweakable block ciphers (“FIL TBCs”) and a VILTC. The first FIL TBC is adapted to produce a fixed-length initialization vector. The VILTC is adapted to produce a variable-length output string using the fixed-length initialization vector as a tweak. The second FIL TBC is adapted to produce a fixed-length output string. In this way, the first FIL TBC and the second FIL TBC protect the fixed-length initialization vector from exposure outside the system. In other cases, a VILTC is used for a reliable and efficient implementation of authenticated encryption/decryption with associated data.

Abstract: Implantable passive engineered mechanisms and a method for implanting such devices in a subject are described. The implantable passive engineered mechanism may be made of or comprise a biocompatible material and is appropriately sized for implantation in a subject. Exemplary implantable passive engineered mechanisms may be selected from a strut, a pulley, a lever, a compliant mechanism, a scissor lift, a tendon network, springs, planetary gears, rigid or soft hydraulics, a linkage system, a cam/clutch system, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the system comprises plural inserts, such as pulleys, levers, and/or tendon networks. Plural inserts may be arranged hierarchically to distribute force differentially from an input to one or more outputs.

Abstract: A system and method for performing physician attribution is presented. In one aspect, the system can comprise instructions comprising querying a first database; extracting a plurality of data from the first database, said extracted data comprising at least a physician, a note type, a note text and a patient; storing the extracted data in a second database; computing attribution scores using predetermined weights for the note types and the plurality of notes in the extracted data; storing the attribution scores in the second database; and attributing the physician with a highest score to the patient.

Abstract: Modified expression vectors, including Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) expression vectors, methods for modifying such vectors, and uses of the same are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of radiation hardened by design digital input/output circuits are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods for assessing a pathological condition in a subject include measuring one or more markers where a difference is indicative of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or a predisposition to ALL, uses and compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: An RNA extraction buffer, an RNA extraction method, and an RNA extraction kit are described which enable functional, rapid, efficient, and high-quality RNA isolation from samples containing high concentrations of aqueous metal cations, clays, silica, or silicate minerals.

Abstract: A method includes combining an aqueous solution of sodium fumarate with an aqueous solution of iron chloride to form a mixture, and obtaining an iron coordination polymer as an amorphous compound formed as a precipitate from the mixture. The iron coordination polymer may be used to bind contaminants, such as arsenate and phosphate from water.

Abstract: One aspect of the system provides the use of a laser with a mass spectrometer. Another aspect of the present application employs a laser emitting a pulse of less than one picosecond duration into an ion-trap mass spectrometer. In yet another aspect of the present application, a femtosecond laser beam pulse is emitted upon an ionized specimen to remove at least one electron therefrom.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for analyte sensors including methods for producing and using the analyte sensors, methods of detecting and/or measuring analyte activity, methods for characterizing analyte cellular activity, methods of detecting pH change in a system, method of controlling the concentration of an analyte in a system, fusion proteins, polynucleotides, and vectors corresponding to the analyte sensors, kits, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for mass spectrometry using laserspray ionization (LSI). LSI can create multiply-charged ions at atmospheric pressure for analysis and allows for analysis of high molecular weight molecules including molecules over 4000 Daltons. The analysis can be solvent-based or solvent-free. Solvent-free analysis following LSI allows for improved spatial resolution beneficial in surface and/or tissue imaging.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and kits for determining progesterone levels in mares are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable for providing smart underwater free space optical communications are provided. According to one aspect, a system for smart underwater free space optical communications is provided. The system includes a receiver. The receiver includes an optical detector array for detecting incident light under water. The receiver further includes a compound lens array located optically in front of the optical detector. The compound lens array includes lenses that steer incident light arriving at different angles to different portions of the optical detector array. A controller processes signals generated by the optical detector based on the incident light and controls an aspect of the underwater communications based on the steered incident light detected by the detector array.

Abstract: A platinum (II) complex of the general formula (I) or (II), in which Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each independently aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclic. Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 together form a tridentate ligand coordinated to the platinum through atoms X, Y, and Z, respectively, and X, Y, and Z are independently carbon or nitrogen. V is a bridging group or a covalent bond, and W is an anion. In general formula (I) in some cases, Ar1 is an anion and Ar2 and Ar3 are neutral; in other cases, Ar1 and Ar3 are neutral and Ar2 is an anion. In general formula (II), in some cases, Ar3 is an anion and Ar1 and Ar2 are neutral; in other cases, Ar1 and Ar3 are neutral and Ar2 is an anion. The complexes are asymmetric. The complexes emit in the UV to near IR range and are useful as emitters for organic light emitting devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide methods for differential regulation of fatty acid unsaturation in seed oil and membrane lipids of plants based on modulation of a previously unknown biosynthetic pathway involving a novel phosphatidylcholine: diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PDCT) that regulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in developing oil seed plants. Specific aspects relate to inventive PDCT polypeptides including, for example, variants, deletions, muteins, fusion proteins, and orthologs thereof (collectively PDCT proteins), to nucleic acids encoding same, to plants comprising such PDCT sequences or proteins or devoid or depleted of such PDCT proteins or sequences, and to methods for generating plants having altered or no PDCT expression and/or activity, including but not limited to methods comprising mutagenesis, recombinant DNA, transgenics, etc.

Abstract: Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are disclosed for the rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive detection of homocysteine, or of homocysteine and cysteine, or of cysteine. The methods may be employed with materials that are readily available commercially. The novel methods are selective for homocysteine, for cysteine, or for total homocysteine and cysteine, and do not cross-react substantially with chemically-related species such as glutathione. The homocysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species cysteine. The cysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species homocysteine. The methods may be used, for example, in a direct assay of human blood plasma for homocysteine levels.