Abstract: The disclosure provides for compounds having immunoproteasome inhibitory activity, and pharmaceutical compositions made thereof. The disclosure further provides for the use of the compounds and compositions in treating various diseases and disorders in a subject that are associated with immunoproteasome activity, including inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disorders, hematological disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Abstract: Described herein are plants that are resistant to herbicides, such as herbicide compositions comprising coronatine, where the herbicide-resistant plants express a modified CORONATINE INSENSITIVE 1 (COI1) protein.

Abstract: A method for identifying brain-state dependent functional areas of unitary pooled activity (FAUPAs) using a statistical model that does not require a priori knowledge of the activity-induced ideal response signal time course is provided. A system for identifying a functional network in a brain of a living object includes a FAUPA identifier configured to identify FAUPAs by analyzing a plurality of images of the brain over a predetermined period. The plurality of images include a plurality of voxels, and the FAUPA identifier analyzes each voxel of the plurality of voxels in relation to one or more surrounding voxels of each voxel until each voxel of the plurality of voxels is evaluated. A brain network identification module configured to construct the functional network based on the identified FAUPAs that are functionally connected. A display module configured to display images of the brain depicting the FAUPAs included in the functional network.

Abstract: A method and system may track liquid consumption by a user from a liquid container using a flexible, network-connected, smart band. The smart band may detect orientations of the liquid container and identify sips taken by a user based on a pattern in the detected orientations. The smart band may also estimate a liquid consumption metric based on characteristics of the identified sips such as the duration of the sip. The identified sip as well as sip characteristics and the liquid consumption metric may be displayed on the smart band, and also may be transmitted to a server for storage and for display on another network-enabled device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for estimating the remaining life of a structure being monitored by a sensor. The method includes: receiving data from a sensor, where the data is indicative of strain experienced by a structure and is reported as a plurality of cumulative distribution functions; extracting a probability density function from the data received from the sensor; computing a damage index for the structure from parameters of the probability density function, where the damage index is indicative of damage to the structure accumulated over time; and estimating a remaining life of the structure using the damage index.

Abstract: The application describes stabilized WRINKLED1 transcription factors, as well as nucleic acids, and expression cassettes that encode and express such stabilized WRINKLED1 transcription factors and that are useful for increasing production of oils in plants and seeds.

Abstract: Methods and compositions of improving plant yield by introducing into a plant the K-domain of a MADS box gene are disclosed. The expression of the K-domain provides plants with altered flower development, plant size and leaf development.

Abstract: A subsurface retention barrier system installed in situ to retain water in a projected root zone of one or more plants is disclosed. An apparatus and system for installing the subsurface retention barriers and methods related thereto are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of casting an aluminum alloy is provided. The method includes casting a master aluminum alloy having a trisilanol phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (TSP) modifier into an ingot and adding the master aluminum alloy ingot into a molten base aluminum alloy to form a modified aluminum alloy. The modified aluminum alloy is heated for a period of time and then cast into a cast component. A variation of the method includes mixing a powdered aluminum alloy with a powdered TSP and pressing the mixture of powdered TSP and powdered aluminum alloy into a compacted preform prior to casting the master aluminum alloy. The compacted preform is melted during the step of casting the master aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A method and system may track liquid consumption by a user from a liquid container using a flexible, network-connected, smart band. The smart band may detect orientations of the liquid container and identify sips taken by a user based on a pattern in the detected orientations. The smart band may also estimate a liquid consumption metric based on characteristics of the identified sips such as the duration of the sip. The identified sip as well as sip characteristics and the liquid consumption metric may be displayed on the smart band, and also may be transmitted to a server for storage and for display on another network-enabled device.

Abstract: A material processing apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, an electrically grounded shield and/or workpiece, multiple radio frequency-powered electrodes within the vacuum chamber, magnets, and a gas inlet operable to flow a precursor gas to a plasma area located between the electrodes. In another aspect, magnets and spaced apart radio frequency-powered electrodes are operable to create a magnetic field and a radio frequency field within a plasma, which causes a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of coating material onto a workpiece or substrate within a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A microscale gas breakdown device includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface and the second surface define a gap distance. The device includes a perturbation on the first surface or the second surface. The perturbation is defined by a height value and a radius value. The device includes a current source or a voltage source configured to apply a current or a voltage across the first surface and the second surface. In response to the current or the voltage being applied, a resulting discharge travels along a first discharge path in response to being exposed to a high pressure and a second discharge path in response to being exposed to a low pressure.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strains capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to microwave cavity plasma reactor (MCPR) apparatus and associated optical measurement system that enable microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) of a component such as diamond while measuring the local surface properties of the component while being grown. Related methods include deposition of the component, measurement of the local surface properties, and/or alteration of operating conditions during deposition in response to the local surface properties. As described in more detail below, the MCPR apparatus includes one or more electrically conductive, optically transparent regions forming part of the external boundary of its microwave chamber, thus permitting external optical interrogation of internal reactor conditions during deposition while providing a desired electrical microwave chamber to maintain selected microwave excitation modes therein.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system is provided. In another aspect, a wireless intraocular pressure sensor includes a deformable or stretchable inductor. A further aspect of an intraocular pressure sensing system includes a deformable inductor sized to contact an eye. Another aspect provides an organ pressure sending system including a passive inductor with a wavy, serpentine or undulating shape.

Abstract: A method for establishing semantic equivalence between a plurality of concepts including: providing an Orthogonal Semantic Equivalence Map in which first, second, and third extensional concept models are related; selecting or de-selecting a concept in the first concept model; selecting or deselecting a (relation, concept) pair representing an intensional relation from a concept in the first concept model to a concept in the second concept model over a concept in the third concept model; determining a subset of intensional relations from the selected concepts in the first concept model to concepts in the second concept model; determining a set of concepts from the first concept model that are related to concepts in the second concept model over the selected (relation, concept) pairs; and determining the narrowest common extension of the set of concepts from the first, second, or third concept models that are related over the selected intensional relations.

Abstract: Shear waves are generated and measured in viscoelastic phantoms by a single push beam. Using numerical simulations or an analytical function to describe the diffraction of the shear wave, the resulting shear wave motion induced by the applied push beam is calculated with different shear elasticity values and then convolved with a separate expression that describes the effects of viscosity value for the medium. The optimization algorithm chooses the tissue parameters which provide the smallest difference between the measured shear waveform and the simulated shear waveform. A shear viscosity image is generated by applying such optimization procedure at all of the observation points.

Abstract: Compounds and compositions are described herein that inhibit the biosynthesis of mycotoxins and fungal sporulation. Such compounds and compositions are useful for inhibiting mold. Methods of using such compounds and compositions are also described herein that involve applying the compositions to plants, plant parts, structures, containers, and other surfaces.

Abstract: A transparent luminescent solar concentrator is provided. The transparent luminescent solar concentrator has luminophores embedded within a waveguide matrix that both selectively absorb and emit near-infrared light to an edge mounted or embedded solar photovoltaic array.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making compounds useful for production of paclitaxel and analogs or derivatives thereof.