Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with substituted N-(5-chloro-4-((4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl)-2-methylphenyl)benzamide compounds, and methods of treating and/or preventing neurodegenerative or neurocognitive disorders including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with sub-cortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease), Multiple Sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, familial spastic paraparesis, Machado Joseph disease, Friedreich's ataxia, Lewy body disease, and dementia (e.g., vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia, dementia induced by Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease). This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with N-(5-chloro-4-((4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl)-2-methylphenyl)benzamide compounds that are capable of inhibiting SPAK kinase function, methods of treating hypoxic brain injuries due to, for example, ischemic stroke. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Recent studies in computer vision have shown that, while practically invisible to a human observer, skin color changes due to blood flow can be captured on face videos and, surprisingly, be used to estimate the heart rate (HR). While considerable progress has been made in the last few years, still many issues remain open. In particular, state-of-the-art approaches are not robust enough to operate in natural conditions (e.g. in case of spontaneous movements, facial expressions, or illumination changes). Opposite to previous approaches that estimate the HR by processing all the skin pixels inside a fixed region of interest, we introduce a strategy to dynamically select face regions useful for robust HR estimation. The present approach, inspired by recent advances on matrix completion theory, allows us to predict the HR while simultaneously discover the best regions of the face to be used for estimation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods related to the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its associated premalignant lesions. In particular, the invention features methods which may specifically target HNSCC-associated genes and alter gene expression to treat or alleviate a symptom of HNSCC, or its related premalignant lesions. These methods may involve decreasing the function of an HNSCC-associated gene with aberrant gain-of-function; or increasing the function of an HNSCC-associated gene with aberrant loss-of-function.

Abstract: The invention relates to peptides including DEDE(SSD)nDEG indicated by SEQ NO. 1, RRRDEDE(SSD)nDEG indicated by SEQ NO. 2, RRRGDEDE(SSD)nDEG indicated by SEQ NO. 3, and LKKLKKLDEDE(SSD)nDEG indicated by SEQ NO. 4, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 20. The invention also relates to phosphorylating these peptides at multiple amino acid sites by employing casein kinases. These phosphorylated peptides may be used in various applications such as forming mineralized collagen fibrils and biomimetic composites for use in tissue repair and regeneration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a TLR9 agonist and/or a TLR4 antagonist and/or a NOD2 agonist for treatment or prevention of disorders involving TLR4 activation, such as systemic sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing a target disease in a mammal by induction of memory T cells. The methods comprise (1) administering a sensitizing composition comprising a non-target antigen to a patient; and (2) administering a therapeutic composition comprising a non-target antigen and a target antigen to the patient, wherein the target antigen is associated with the disease, and wherein the therapeutic composition is administered after the sensitizing compositions, at an interval sufficient for induction of memory T cells. The methods can alternatively comprise administering a target antigen along with an inhibitory agent such as an inhibitor of DC apoptosis, an inhibitor of Granzyme B, a Granzyme-B-inducible mediator of apoptosis, an inhibitor of perforin, or a perforin-inducible mediator of apoptosis.

Abstract: A composition includes water having a salinity of at least 1 ppt, at least one hydrophilic polymer containing primary (—NH2) and/or secondary (—NHR) amine groups and at least one saccharide containing a reducible function. A method of changing the permeability of a subterranean formation includes the step of injecting into a subterranean formation a composition comprising water, at least one hydrophilic polymer containing at least two groups which are independently the same or different a primary amine group or a secondary amine group and at least one saccharide containing a reducible function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to piperazine derivatives of formulae Ia, Ib, Ic and Id and their use to treat multiple myeloma. where R1a, R1b, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R9, R10 and Y are as defined herein.

Abstract: A method for trans-splicing peptides is provided. In the method, at least two extein peptides are provided, or are synthesized by recombinant methods, the extein peptides having co-reacting portions of a split intein attached thereto, so that the peptides will splice automatically under suitable conditions. A vector is also provided which includes at least one extein gene for expressing at least one of the extein peptides. Further provided is a method for circumventing packaging limitations in a gene delivery vehicle, by splitting a coding region for a protein to be delivered into two or more extein genes, which are packaged in separate virus particles and are co-delivered to a target cell for expression and for subsequent trans-splicing to form the complete protein. A pharmaceutical composition and a therapeutic method are also provided in which the recombinant viral particles are delivered to a cell and are expressed to produce a trans-spliced protein.

Abstract: Devices that comprise novel, mesoscopically periodic materials that combine crystalline colloidal array (CCA) self-assembly with the temperature induced volume phase transitions of various materials, preferably poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a PNIPAM CCA is formed in an aqueous media and contained within cell means. In another embodiment, a CCA of charged particles is formed and polymerized in a PNIPAM hydrogel. Methods for making these devices are also disclosed. The devices of the present invention are useful in many applications including, for example, optical switches, optical limiters, optical filters, display devices and processing elements. The devices are further useful as membrane filters. All of these devices have the feature of being tunable in response to temperature. Devices that change diffracted wavelength in response to pressure are also disclosed.