Abstract: Gene expression is measured in a sample of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from a subject and used to predict organ function recovery. A Function Recovery Potential (FRP) score is assigned to a sample that reflects the measured expression level of the genes identified herein in a direction associated with recovery from organ failure. Treatment of the subject with optimal medical management (OMM) and/or palliative care (PC) is advised when the FRP score is lower than the reference value, and referring the subject for treatment with therapies including—but not limited to—mechanical circulatory support (MCS) surgery, heart transplant (HTx) surgery, or other intervention for advanced heart failure is advised when the FRP score is greater than the reference value. A method for developing an FRP scoring algorithm that predicts a subject's ability to recover from medical intervention for organ failure is also described.

Abstract: Provided herein are compounds that activate CFTR and methods for treating constipation, dry eye disorders, and other diseases and disorders.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods to produce ketones suitable for use as fuels and lubricants by catalytic conversion of an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation product mixture that can be derived from biomass.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for increasing sialic acid uptake and/or incorporation into tissue following gastrointestinal ingestion of compositions that contain sialic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions comprising 2-deoxyglucose-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. The compositions are useful in various applications, which are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for stimulating the growth and repair of bone and cartilage using synthetic triterpenoids and tricyclic-bis-enones. Examples of suitable triterpenoids include CDDO, CDDO-Me, CDDO-Im, and CDDO-Ethylamide. Examples of tricyclic-bis-enones include TBE-31 and TBE-34.

Abstract: The invention provides a conjugate that includes a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to vasculature of premalignant pancreas. The peptide or peptidomimetic contains at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CRSRKG (SEQ ID NO:9) and CEYQLDVE (SEQ ID NO:34), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof. The invention additionally provides a conjugate containing a therapeutic moiety linked to a peptide or peptidomimetic that selectively homes to pancreatic tumor cells and pancreatic tumor vasculature, the peptide or peptidomimetic comprising at least 5 contiguous amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from CKAAKNK (SEQ ID NO:15), CKGAKAR (SEQ ID NO:19), and VGVGEWSV (SEQ ID NO:35), or a conservative variant or peptidomimetic thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated cells that comprise, integrated into the genome of the cell, a transcription-competent immunodeficiency virus or a transcription-competent immunodeficiency virus-based retroviral vector. Under basal in vitro culture conditions, the immunodeficiency virus is latent, and the expression of the latent immunodeficiency virus can be reactivated. The invention further provides methods of making a subject cell. The invention further provides screening methods for identifying agents that activate a latent immunodeficiency virus; and screening method for identifying agents that block reactivation of latent immunodeficiency virus expression in response to T cell activation signals. The invention further provides agents identified in the subject screening assays. The invention further provides methods of treating an immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract: The invention provides theta defensin analogs having antimicrobial activity. The invention also provides a method of reducing or inhibiting growth or survival of a microorganism in an environment capable of sustaining the growth or survival of the microorganism, comprising administering an effective amount of a theta defensin analog to the environment, thereby reducing or inhibiting the growth or survival of the microorganism.

Abstract: The sender of a multicast in a computer network attaches an official release time to the message being multicast, asking every receiver to process the message at or after the official release time. A receiver may receive a cancellation notice after receiving the multicast message but before its official release time. The official release time is chosen so that the multicast can succeed or be cancelled by the official release time with the probability at or above a user selected level under reasonably bounded numbers of occurrences of permanent and temporary faults and reasonably bounded durations of temporary faults. This multicast protocol is formulated to suit the environment where it is not worth it for a node to wait for a reply from another node beyond a certain time-period, called the timeout period.

Abstract: A handheld/portable detector for chemical vapor monitoring includes a housing and a discharge chamber that is established therein. The plasma discharge has a relatively small volume, e.g., in the micro-liter range. A first electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the discharge chamber and a discharge gap is established therebetween. A sample gas tube is in fluid communication with the discharge chamber and provides a sample gas to the discharge chamber. Also, a plasma gas tube is in fluid communication with the discharge chamber and provides a plasma gas thereto. Accordingly, the plasma gas can be used to maintain microplasma discharge between the electrodes and the sample gas can be introduced into the microplasma discharge. A spectrometer optically connected to the handheld/portable detector is used to measure the radiation emitted by the sample gas when subjected to the microplasma discharge.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions encoding novel ACAT proteins, as well as the novel ACAT-2 proteins, (ACAT-2) are provided. Also provided are methods of producing the subject nucleic acid and protein compositions. The subject polypeptide and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic agent screening applications, as well as in treatment therapies for disease conditions associated with ACAT-2 activity, e.g., in the treatment of gall stones.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for highly selective and sensitive chemical sensing. Two modes of laser light are transmitted through a waveguide, refracted by a thin film host reagent coating on the waveguide, and analyzed in a phase sensitive detector for changes in effective refractive index. Sensor specificity is based on the particular species selective thin films of host reagents which are attached to the surface of the planar optical waveguide. The thin film of host reagents refracts laser light at different refractive indices according to what species are forming inclusion complexes with the host reagents.

Abstract: Manipulation of DNA molecules in solution has become an essential aspect of genetic analyses used for biomedical assays, the identification of hazardous bacterial agents, and in decoding the human genome. Currently, most of the steps involved in preparing a DNA sample for analysis are performed manually and are time, labor, and equipment intensive. These steps include extraction of the DNA from spores or cells, separation of the DNA from other particles and molecules in the solution (e.g. dust, smoke, cell/spore debris, and proteins), and separation of the DNA itself into strands of specific lengths. Dielectrophoresis (DEP), a phenomenon whereby polarizable particles move in response to a gradient in electric field, can be used to manipulate and separate DNA in an automated fashion, considerably reducing the time and expense involved in DNA analyses, as well as allowing for the miniaturization of DNA analysis instruments.

Abstract: A guidewire with optical sensing capabilities is based on a multiplexed optical coherence domain reflectometer (OCDR), which allows it to sense location, thickness, and structure of the arterial walls or other intra-cavity regions as it travels through the body during minimally invasive medical procedures. This information will be used both to direct the guidewire through the body by detecting vascular junctions and to evaluate the nearby tissue. The guidewire contains multiple optical fibers which couple light from the proximal to distal end. Light from the fibers at the distal end of the guidewire is directed onto interior cavity walls via small diameter optics such as gradient index lenses and mirrored corner cubes. Both forward viewing and side viewing fibers can be included. The light reflected or scattered from the cavity walls is then collected by the fibers, which are multiplexed at the proximal end to the sample arm of an optical low coherence reflectometer.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing saturation mutagenesis on a target gene by exploiting the immunoglobulin hypermutation system. A target gene is cloned into an expression vector containing immunoglobulin enhancer fragments that effect hypermutation, and this construct is then transfected into an immunoglobulin mutator cell, typically of pre-B lymphocyte lineage. The target gene is permitted to hypermutate at a rate approaching that of 10.sup.-4 /bp/generation as the cells are cultured to a desired density. The variant polypeptides encoded by the hypermutated target gene can then be selected.