Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds and their use in competitive protein binding assays, for example for use with glycosyl transferase and/or glycoprocessing proteins. The present application also provides kits and apparatuses for use in the assays. In particular, the present invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is selected from —OH, —OPO3H, —OR4, —NHR4, R6; R2 and R3 are each independently selected from —H, —OH, optionally substituted —O-alkyl and —O-alkanoyl; R4 is selected from an optionally substituted mono or polysaccharide, -alkyl, -alkenyl, -alkynyl, and L-Z, where L is a linking agent and Z is a binding agent; R6 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; A is either (i) a substituted heteroaryl group, the substituent on the heteroaryl group having a double bond conjugated to the heteroaryl group, or (ii) a substituted aryl group, the substituent on the aryl group having a double bond conjugated to the aryl group.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer.

Abstract: The conductive polymer films of this disclosure reversibly and selectively mediate ligand-receptor interactions. This electrochemical manipulation of biochemical interactions is accomplished by embedding or adsorbing receptors for ligands of interest in or onto a conductive polymer matrix. The matrix can also be doped, for example, with desired ions, polyions, or surfactants. Depending on the receptor properties and dopants utilized, ligand-receptor interactions at the polymer-electrolyte interface are manipulated by controlling the oxidation and reduction of the conductive polymer. The intrinsic charge transfer characteristics of conductive polymers are used to modulate ligand-receptor interactions.

Abstract: The invention provides for compositions and process for fabricating an optical reflector constructed from biocompatible and bioresorbable silk fibroin proteins. For example, the silk retroreflectors may be built based on millimeter size microprism arrays to rotate the image plane of imaged cortical layers, thus enhancing the amount of photons that are detectable in the reflected direction when inserted in a sample to be analyzed, and ultimately increasing in contrast ratio in multiphoton microscopy. Such device can be used as a label-free, biocompatible, bioresorbable, implantable device for various applications ranging from medical imaging/diagnostics, drug/therapeutic delivery, to food chain safety and environmental monitoring.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymer is provided, the method comprising: Providing a first monomer comprising one or more aromatic moieties, the first monomer comprising at least two amino groups, each of the amino groups being attached to an aromatic moiety; and contacting said first monomer with formaldehyde or a source of methylene. Polymers made by such a method and uses of such polymers are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analogs of cortistatin A, J, K, and L, having the general formula: I and salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, n, and m are as defined herein; processes for preparing such compounds and intermediates thereto; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods for treating a proliferative disease; methods for treating a disease associated with aberrant angiogenesis; methods for inhibiting angiogenesis; and processes for preparing cortistatin A, J, K, and L, and analogs thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to T cells and other cells that express chimeric NK-p30 receptors (“chimeric NKp30 T cells”), methods of making and using chimeric NKp30 T cells, and methods of using these chimeric NKp30 T cells, isolated populations thereof, and compositions comprising the same. In another aspect, said chimeric NKp30 T cells are further designed to express a functional non-TCR receptor. The disclosure also pertains to methods of making said chimeric NKp30 T cells, and methods of reducing or ameliorating, or preventing or treating, diseases and disorders using said chimeric NKp30 T cells, populations thereof, or compositions comprising the same.

Abstract: Super-transparent electrodes for photovoltaic applications are disclosed. In some embodiments, a photovoltaic cell (1) includes an absorber material (16) capable of absorbing solar energy and converting the absorbed energy into electrical current; a window electrode (10) disposed on a light-entry surface of the absorber material (16), the window electrode (10) comprising an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer (12) and a metallic layer (13), and a rear electrode (18) disposed on a surface of the absorber material (16) in opposing relation to the window electrode (10), wherein the rear electrode (18) in combination with the window electrode (10) are configured to collect electrical current generated in the absorber material (16).

Abstract: Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua L., family Hamamelidaceae) fruit extract was discovered to possess potent activities against multiple targets of the PI3K (phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase) pathway, especially the PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathways. At a very low concentration of 1.85 ?g/ml (IC50), sweet gun extract showed the ability of simultaneously blocking the pathways of PI3K/Akt (upstream), mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) (downstream), as well as its downstream protein products S6K and S6. It was also able to block 5-HETE, a lipoxygenase product that contributes to inflammation and activation of PI3K/Akt. The sweet gum fruit extract was prepared with 50% methanol (47:1; raw to extract) and concentrated to an organic fraction (210:1 raw to extract) referred as LIS-100 via reverse-phase column chromatography using a bioassay directed fractionation approach.

Abstract: The use of liquid formulations in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and treatment of oral, gastric and digestive infections and in particular for the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia as well as liquid enteral and parenteral tube feeding compositions. The feeding compositions are suitable for use in the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia.

Abstract: A spine prosthesis is provided and in particular, related to the facet joint of a spine. A spinal implant comprises a facet prosthesis including an insert to be positioned within a joint capsule between facets of a zygapophyseal joint. The insert may comprise a member having two opposing facet interfacing portions. A facet prosthesis exerts a distraction force between facets of a facet joint and may comprise a curable material to be injected into the facet joint. A facet prosthesis may also comprise a pair of magnets, each magnet coupled to a facet and oriented with like poles facing each other to provide a distracting force away from each other. A spine implant may also include an insert to be positioned within the joint capsule, a securing member comprising an elongate portion extending through part of a facet, and an anchor to anchor the securing member to the facet.

Abstract: Methods and therapeutic treatments of diseases such as viral infections are provided including applying peg-Arginase I. Methods are provided that treat inflammation mediated diseases with peg-Arginase I.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a cyst from a dental radiographic image is provided. The system and method comprises comparing the radiographic image to a plurality of template images, calculating a cross correlation coefficient between a plurality of regions in the radiographic image and a corresponding plurality of regions in the template image, determining a cyst region in the radiographic image based on a value of the cross correlation coefficient and computing a severity level of the cyst.

Abstract: The present invention comprises compositions, methods, and devices for delivering angiogenic factors and signaling molecules to a target tissue, and controlling the release of these factors and signaling molecules to spatially and temporally restrict their release and dissemination, for the purpose of promoting angiogenesis in target tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides high throughput assays for identifying compounds that modulate a contractile function, as well as devices suitable for use in these assays.

Abstract: Methods and products are provided for determining if a subject having a tumor is at risk of metastasis of the tumor. Specifically, the methods comprise detecting phosphorylated cofilin, and both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated cofilin; quantifying the phosphorylated cofilin, and the total of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated cofilin; and determining if a subject having the tumor is likely to experience metastasis of the tumor, based on the ratio of the amount of detected phosphorylated cofilin: total amount of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated cofilin detected. Further disclosed are the types of tumor metastases that can be determined using the methods provided.

Abstract: A low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure microplasma generator comprises at least one strip of metal on a dielectric substrate. A first end of the strip is connected to a ground plane and the second end of the strip is adjacent to a grounded electrode, with a gap being defined between the second end of the strip and the grounded electrode. High frequency power is supplied to the strip. The frequency is selected so that the length of the strip is an odd integer multiple of ¼ of the wavelength traveling on the strip. A microplasma forms in the gap between the second end of the strip and the grounded electrode due to electric fields in that region. A microplasma generator array comprises a plurality of strongly-coupled resonant strips in close proximity to one another. At least one of the strips has an input for high-frequency electrical power. The remaining strips resonate due to coupling from the at least one powered strip. The array can provide a continuous line or ring of plasma.

Abstract: The invention relates to bone compression devices and bone compression systems, and in particular, to bone compression devices and systems for use in connection with vertebrae. The bone compression devices and bone compression systems are disposed, or installed, along at least one bone to maintain the at least one bone in a desired spatial relationship. Broadly, the invention is directed to a bone compression device for placing in communication with at least one bone having a bone radius of curvature, the bone compression device comprising a plate having a pre-formed shape, a deformed shape, and at least one elastic shape therebetween, the pre-formed shape having a pre-formed radius of curvature less than the bone radius of curvature, the deformed shape having a deformed radius of curvature greater than the bone radius of curvature, and at least one of the at least one elastic shapes having an elastic radius of curvature that substantially corresponds to the bone radius of curvature.

Abstract: Described herein are nitrated lipids and methods of making and using the nitrated lipids.