Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising collagen covalently bound to particles, wherein covalent bonds are formed between reactive groups of the collagen and reactive groups of the particles, and wherein the particles have an average particle diameter ranging from 20 to 1000 nanometers. Also disclosed are various methods that utilize the compositions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for modulating the activity of KCNQ channels as a means for reducing the effects of aberrant KCNQ channel function associated with epilepsy, deafness and arrhythmias including but not limited to, Long-QT syndrome (“LQTS”), and atrial fibrillation. The present disclosure also relates to the discovery of certain regions of KCNQ channels that interact with various channel stimulating molecules such as, ATP, and PIP2, as well as KCNQ channel domains that effect voltage dependant channel activation. The disclosure is also directed to the use of small molecules to modulate KCNQ channel activity in a cell. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to the therapeutic effects of treating a subject with modulators of KCNQ channel activity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mini-scale microfluidic valve including a valve housing disposed at a fluid dispensing orifice of a mini-scale microfluidic system dispensing nozzle. The valve housing comprises a base member having a base member orifice that aligns with the fluid dispensing orifice to provide a fluid dispensing pathway through which a system-fluid is dispensed from the system dispensing nozzle to an external ambient environment. The housing additionally comprises an open valve channel exposed to the external ambient environment and intersecting the fluid dispensing pathway. The valve further includes a liquid-film movably disposed within the open valve channel such that the liquid-film is exposed to the external ambient environment. The liquid-film comprises a substantially non-volatile, immiscible liquid, and a valve control subsystem structured and operable to control movement of the liquid-film within the open valve channel to selectively cover and uncover the base member orifice.

Abstract: The present invention provides a practical, non-invasive, and efficient method for cryopreservation of an in-vitro-produced porcine embryo. The inventive method treats the NP (such as IVF- or NT-derived) embryo at the one-cell or cleavage stage prior to compaction with high osmolality followed by high speed centrifugation. The high osmolality treatment enlarges the periviteline space, and with centrifugation, enables the separation of the lipids from the cytoplasm. The lipid-separated embryos after high osmolality treatment have been successfully cryopreserved and later recovered and transferred to produce live offspring.

Abstract: A method of making engineered tissue from a plurality of cell aggregates is disclosed. A cell suspension is centrifuged. The resulting pellet is extruded through an orifice, and the extruded pellet is cut into pieces to produce cell aggregates. A plurality of the cell aggregates are printed in a pattern, and allowed to fuse to form a desired three-dimensional engineered tissue structure. Modeling methods predict the structural evolution of fusing cell aggregates for combinations of cell type to enable selection of organ printing process parameters for use in producing an engineered tissue having a desired three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting plant parasitic nematodes, methods of obtaining transgenic plants useful for inhibiting such nematodes, and transgenic plants that are resistant to plant parasitic nematodes through inhibition of plant nematode CLE peptide receptor genes are provided. Methods for expressing genes at plant parasitic nematode feeding sites with plant nematode CLE peptide receptor gene promoters are also provided, along with nematode CLE peptide receptor gene promoters that are useful for expressing genes in nematode feeding sites as well as transgenic plants and nematode resistant transgenic plants comprising the promoters.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a new and improved therapy for the treatment of diseases including cancer, which comprises the step of altering cell membrane lipid composition by treating a cancer cell with an enzyme inhibitor which inhibits enzymes regulating the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. The method may also be employed in combination with existing chemotherapeutic agents to combat the drug resistance and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of conventional therapy.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and compositions for controlling nematode parasitism in host plant. The present invention comprises novel polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides comprising one or more nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein having a nucleotide sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-142, a fragment or variant thereof, or a complement thereof, or a polypeptide sequence comprising any one of SEQ ID NOs: 143-159, a fragment or variant thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a high-throughput method for quantitating plant seed proteins, e.g. seed allergens. Such method involves obtaining a protein sample from the seed; analyzing the sample using mass spectrometry with a set of pre-designed internal standard peptides that are specific to the plant allergens; and monitoring frequencies and intensities of resulting spectra to obtain relative and absolute allergen contents in the seed. The invention also provides a system for high-throughput profiling of plant seed allergens. Such system comprises a set of pre-designed internal standard peptides that are specific to the plant seed allergens and one or more mass spectrometers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of identifying gene targets, including methods of using ribonucleoprotein (RNP) immunoprecipitation-microarrays to identify cancer gene targets, such as subsets of RNP-associated mRNAs in breast cancer cell lines. Also presented, are ribonucleotide binding protein-associated biomarkers, panels or sets of ribonucleotide binding protein-associated biomarkers, methods and compositions comprising ribonucleotide-binding protein, associated nucleotides, nucleotide arrays, and kits, plus methods of using HuR-associated biomarkers to facilitate the diagnosis of, monitoring the disease status of, and the progression of treatment of breast cancers to facilitate the diagnosis of and monitoring the disease status or progression of treatment of breast cancers, including drug-resistant breast cancers.

Abstract: A Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer having reduced baseline noise. The system and method include internal or external optical adapters having a moveable beamsplitter for splitting the source light beam into a reference beam and a sample beam, and may include a variable bandpass filter, variable preamplifier and reversed biased photodiodes.

Abstract: A method for debridement of wound on the skin by placing against the wound a glass-based borate-based composition to release dissolution products which support neutrophilic activity into the wound by dissolution.

Abstract: A flow through filter assembly includes a trivalent and tetravalent metal ion capturing agent and a flow controller providing a predetermined flow rate which allows capture of the trivalent and tetravalent metal ions by the capturing agent.

Abstract: Structures and methods for tissue engineering include a multicellular body including a plurality of living cells. A plurality of multicellular bodies can be arranged in a pattern and allowed to fuse to form an engineered tissue. The arrangement can include filler bodies including a biocompatible material that resists migration and ingrowth of cells from the multicellular bodies and that is resistant to adherence of cells to it. Three-dimensional constructs can be assembled by printing or otherwise stacking the multicellular bodies and filler bodies such that there is direct contact between adjoining multicellular bodies, suitably along a contact area that has a substantial length. The direct contact between the multicellular bodies promotes efficient and reliable fusion. The increased contact area between adjoining multicellular bodies also promotes efficient and reliable fusion.

Abstract: Several QTLs that are genetically linked to resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) are disclosed. These QTLs have been mapped to genomic regions on Chrs. 4, 8, 10, 11, 18, and 20 of soybean, G. max. Candidate genes underlying these QTLs as defined by the flanking markers, as well as genetic markers associated with these QTLs are also disclosed. These markers can be utilized for introgressing SCN resistance into non-resistant soybean germplasm. The unique resistance genes can be introduced into a non-resistant plant by marker-assisted selection (MAS) or by transgenic methods.

Abstract: A pump is disclosed. The pump may have a housing, a body rotatably disposed within the housing and at least partially defining a plurality of barrels, a plurality of plungers associated with the plurality of barrels, and a swashplate tiltable by a swivel torque to vary a displacement of the plurality of plungers relative to the plurality of barrels. The pump may also have a port plate with an inlet port, a discharge port, and a protrusion. The port plate may be configured to engage an end of the rotatable body. The pump may further have at least one piston disposed within the housing and configured to selectively engage the protrusion of the port plate to rotate the port plate and adjust the swivel torque.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an automatic system based on the dynamic adaptability strategy for controlling oxygen concentration in blood of patients with fluctuating oxygen needs. The system monitors patient's clinical measurement data and updates the system continuously, which provides changes in FiO2 and gas flow that are more patient specific and reduce the patient's unnecessary oxygen exposure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved sperm stimulating additive comprising a certain amount of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). Addition of PPi in the media for human/animal in vitro fertilization (IVF) improves fertilization rate; addition of PPi in the semen extender for farm animal artificial insemination (AI) may improve pregnancy rates; furthermore, mammalian oocytes matured in vitro in a medium including PPi attain improved fertilization and developmental potential, while embryos cultured in medium supplemented with PPi have improved development to blastocyst.

Abstract: A Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer having reduced baseline noise. The system and method include internal or external optical adapters having a moveable beamsplitter for splitting the source light beam into a reference beam and a sample beam, and may include a variable bandpass filter, variable preamplifier and reversed biased photodiodes.

Abstract: A hybrid thermoelectric-ejector active cooling system having an increased Coefficient of Performance (COP) when compared to typical thermoelectric cooling modules. A thermoelectric cooling module is integrated with an ejector cooling device so that heat from the thermoelectric cooling module is rejected to a high temperature evaporator of the ejector cooling device. This provides for a total COP greater than the sum of the COPs of the thermoelectric cooling module and ejector cooling device individually. For example, given 1 unit input power into the thermoelectric cooling module, the heat received by the cold side of the thermoelectric cooling module would be COPTEC×1; and the energy rejected by the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling module and to drive the ejector cooling device would be COPTEC+1. Thus, the cooling received by the low temperature evaporator of the ejector cooling device is COPEJ×(COPTEC+1); and therefore total COPTE-Ej-AC is COPEj+COPTEC+COPEj×COPTEC.