Abstract: Disclosed herein are ?7?1 integrin modulatory agents and methods of using such to treat conditions associated with decreased ?7?1 integrin expression or activity, including muscular dystrophy. In one example, methods for treating a subject with muscular dystrophy are disclosed. The methods include administering an effective amount of an ?7?1 integrin modulatory agent to the subject with muscular dystrophy, wherein the ?7?1 integrin modulatory agent increases ?7?1 integrin expression or activity as compared to ?7?1 integrin expression or activity prior to treatment, thereby treating the subject with muscular dystrophy. Also disclosed are methods of enhancing muscle regeneration, repair, or maintenance in a subject and methods of enhancing ?7?1 integrin expression by use of the disclosed ?7?1 integrin modulatory agents. Methods of prospectively preventing or reducing muscle injury or damage in a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for determining snowpack characteristics includes a weight plate, at least one pressure sensor, and an inert plate surrounding the weight plate. The weight plate and the inert plate can be spaced apart from one another, and, in some cases, the weight plate has a perimeter and the inert plate surrounds the entirety of the perimeter of the weight plate with a gap formed therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for diagnosing, prognosing and treating muscular dystrophy. The disclosed methods can be used to diagnosis, prognosis or treat a subject with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy Type 1A (MDC1A), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD), facioscapulohumeral (FHMD), Beckers muscular dystrophy (BMD) or Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Also disclosed are methods of determining the effectiveness of an agent for the treatment of muscular dystrophy. In an example, a method of diagnosing or prognosing a subject with muscular dystrophy includes detecting expression of Galectin-1 or Galectin-3 in a sample obtained from the subject at risk of having or having one or more signs or symptoms associated with muscular dystrophy, thereby diagnosing or prognosing the subject with muscular dystrophy. Also provided are methods of enhancing muscle regeneration, repair, or maintenance in a subject by administering galectin, such as Galectin-1 and/or Galectin-3 to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid cell for an atomic force microscope. The liquid cell includes a liquid cell housing with an internal cavity to contain a fluid, a plurality of conductive feedthroughs traversing the liquid cell housing between the internal cavity and a dry side of the liquid cell, a cantilevered probe coupled to the liquid cell housing, and a piezoelectric drive element disposed on the cantilevered probe. The cantilevered probe is actuated when a drive voltage is applied to the piezoelectric drive element through at least one of the conductive feedthroughs. A method of imaging an object in a liquid medium and a method of sensing a target species with the liquid cell are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a drilling method and drill. According to a disclosed method, multiple reciprocating rock-breaking elements, including a hammer drill bit, are used. The elements are moved in alternation to each other such that the net volume displacement by the moving parts is reduced for reducing compression work and thus for losing useful energy from the available amount from the drill bit engine for rock breaking. If desired, a small component of the net volume displacement is kept for enhancing PVW for enhancing rock chipping by tensile strength. The method also includes synchronizing the peak of the pressure depression wave with that of the impact moment of the drill bit's reciprocating motion to enhance, rather than hamper, rock breaking by the creation of PVW.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of diagnosing, monitoring and treating an Aspergillus species-associated condition, such as Aspergillus fumigatus (Af)-associated condition, including aspergillosis, such as invasive aspergillosis (IA). Methods for diagnosing and/or monitoring an Aspergillus species-associated condition, such as IA are provided. Also disclosed are point-of-care immunoassays that can be used to diagnose or monitor the efficacy of an Aspergillus-associated condition treatment. These immunoassays can also be used for rapid diagnosis of infection produced by an Aspergillus species, such as Af.

Abstract: A method for preparing an ?-halo enal or enone from an unprotected propargyl alcohol and an electrophilic halogen source catalyzed by the combination of a gold catalyst complex and a metal co-catalyst complex is disclosed. The method can be further enhanced by addition of an additive that facilitates suppression of a des-halo derivative.