Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating arthritis, which comprises synthetic polypeptides; injections for preventing or treating arthritis; and a pharmaceutical composition for inducing differentiation of cartilage cells are described herein. Synthetic polypeptides of the present invention consisting of a polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 and a polypeptide represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 have activity for recruiting stem cells to an arthritis region, inhibit apoptosis of cartilage cells, and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity and activity for promoting regeneration of cartilage cells. Thus, unlike a conventional arthritis treatment agent, the synthetic polypeptides can improve cartilage damage, can inhibit degenerative changes per se and can, at the same time, exhibit an effect as a stem cell treatment agent, and thereby can be usefully utilized as an arthritis prevention or treatment agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and materials related to the detection of colorectal neoplasm-specific markers in or associated with a subject's stool sample. In particular, the present invention provides methods and materials for identifying mammals having a colorectal neoplasm by detecting the presence of exfoliated epithelial markers (e.g., human DNA, tumor assoicated gene alterations, tumor associated proteins) and blood markers (e.g., homoglobin, serum proteins) in a stool sample obtained from the mammal.

Abstract: A formulation, including: (a) a first medicament, wherein the first medicament includes an isothiocyanate functional compound/surfactant; and (b) a second medicament, wherein the second medicament includes an antineoplastic agent, such as a cytotoxic antineoplastic agent and/or a targeted antineoplastic agent.

Abstract: Provided is a cladded single crystal sapphire optical fiber. In one embodiment, the innovation provides a method for forming a cladding in a single crystal sapphire optical fiber by reactor irradiation. The reactor irradiation creates ions external to the fiber that enter the fiber, displace atoms in the fiber, and are implanted in the fiber, thus modifying the index of refraction of the fiber near the surface of the fiber and creating a cladding in the sapphire fiber.

Abstract: Attenuated vaccines to protect vertebrate animals and people against tick-born rickettsial, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species infections is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods to modify the organism to achieve the desired immunity through the modification of a novel genetic region involved in pathogenesis. These compounds represent a needed vaccine against an organism causing life-threatening febrile illness in humans and animals, and also represent the potential to develop new classes of drugs targeting the gene products of genes Ech_0660, Ech_0379, and Ech_0230, and their homologs of other related rickettsial pathogens.

Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a method for computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy can include acquiring a plurality of pairs of projections of an interventional device using CT fluoroscopy. Each pair of the projections can be obtained at a predetermined first angular separation greater than a second angular separation used for a full dose CT scan of a target object, by rotating a gantry of a CT scanner. The method can include identifying a position of the interventional device in real time for each pair of the projections, using back-projection of images of the interventional device from the respective pair of projections. The method can include superimposing an image of the interventional device on a 3-D image of an anatomical region at an identified position of the interventional device.

Abstract: Provided is a cocurrent loop thermosyphon system and method for operation thereof. The system includes a first rising tube having first and second ends; a condenser having first and second ends, with the first end connected to the second end of the first rising tube; a return tube having a first end connected to the second end of the condenser; a second rising tube having a first end connected to a second end of the return tube; a pump that pumps liquid within the second rising tube; and an evaporator having a first end connected to the second end of the second rising tube. The second end of the evaporator outputs vapor created by a change in state of the liquid to the first end of the first rising tube.

Abstract: A microfluidic device can include a temperature regulator positioned to generate a temperature gradient across a thermally controlled portion of the microfluidic device from a high temperature region to a low temperature region. Additionally, the microfluidic device can include a bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway having a first terminus and a second terminus. The bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can be oriented along a longitudinal direction transverse to the temperature gradient. Further, the bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can include a plurality of oscillation segments fluidly coupling the first terminus to the second terminus and forming a flow path adapted to oscillate a fluid between the high temperature region and the low temperature region. The bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can have a uniform cross section to facilitate bi-directional flow.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating ovotoxicity of an individual, including administering an Ulmi cortex extract to an individual in need of treatment. The present disclosure may exhibit an effect of preventing, alleviating, or treating ovarian aging or premature ovarian failure by inhibiting oxidative stress or ovotoxicity of the ovaries.

Abstract: Method of making solid-state electrolyte with composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12. The method includes making a polymerized complex of the metal-ions of the composition formula, and making an agglomerate therefrom to be calcined and sintered to produce the solid-state electrolyte. A solid-state electrolyte with the composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12 with superior ionic conductivity by choice of the value of x and processing conditions. A battery employing a solid-state electrolyte of superior ionic conductivity with the composition formula Li7-xLa3Zr2-xBixO12.

Abstract: Methods of producing and isolating 68Ga, 89Zr, 64Cu, 63Zn, 86Y, 61Cu, 99mTc, 45Ti, 13N, 52Mn, or 44Sc and solution targets for use in the methods are disclosed. The methods of producing 68Ga, 89Zr, 64Cu, 63Zn, 86Y, 61Cu, 99mTc, 45Ti, 13N, 52Mn, or 44Sc include irradiating a closed target system with a proton beam. The closed target system can include a solution target. The methods of producing isolated 68Ga, 89Zr, 64Cu, 63Zn, 86Y, 61Cu, 99mTc, 45Ti, 52Mn, or 44Sc further include isolating 68Ga, 89Zr, 64Cu, 63Zn, 86Y, 61Cu, 99mTc, 45Ti, 52Mn, or 44Sc by ion exchange chromatography. An example solution target includes a target body including a target cavity for receiving the target material; a housing defining a passageway for directing a particle beam at the target cavity; a target window for covering an opening of the target cavity; and a coolant gas flow path disposed in the passageway upstream of the target window.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are contemplated for treatment of a wound, and especially a sterile or TLR/NOD ligand-poor wound in which contemporaneous administration of a Ca2+-flux agonist (CFA) and a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) ligand improves wound healing.

Abstract: A carbothermic reduction method is provided for reducing a La-, Ce-, MM-, and/or Y-containing oxide in the presence of carbon and a source of a reactant element comprising Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, and/or P to form an intermediate alloy material including a majority of La, Ce, MM, and/or Y and a minor amount of the reactant element. The intermediate material is useful as a master alloy for in making negative electrode materials for a metal hydride battery, as hydrogen storage alloys, as master alloy additive for addition to a melt of commercial Mg and Al alloys, steels, cast irons, and superalloys; or in reducing Sm2O3 to Sm metal for use in Sm—Co permanent magnets.

Abstract: A method for reducing macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF or MMIF) cytokine or its biological activity, including the step of administering an isothiocyanate functional surfactant to a patient having a disease or condition wherein MIF cytokine or its biological activity is implicated in the disease or condition.

Abstract: A reaction method comprising combining a carbonyl-substituted arylboronic acid or ester and an ?-effect amine in aqueous solution at a temperature between about ?5 C to 55 C, and a pH between 2 and 8 to produce an adduct. A process is also provided comprising: contacting a boron compound having a boron atom bonded to a sp2 hybridized carbon conjugated with a cis-carbonyl, the boron having at least one labile substituent, with an ?-effect amine, in a solvent for a time sufficient to form an adduct, which may proceed to further products.

Abstract: An in silico screening method generated compounds that are against laminin receptor 37LR and their anti-cancer functions in prostate cancer cell lines are disclosed herein. A group of derivatives based on the hit compound from the in silico screening are synthesized and tested with improved IC50 value that can have relevant clinical use for prostate cancer or osteoarthritis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to deodorizing compounds and compositions for use in methods of repelling insects and methods of reducing or preventing the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enhancing the construction and application of batteries by providing a battery system comprising at least one electrochemical panel with at least one electrochemical cell disposed therein, which is configured to enable multi-purpose functionality and applicability of the battery system. Embodiments provide for electrodes and/or current collectors of each electrochemical cell that are transversely orientated with respect to each face of an electrochemical panel. Some embodiments provide for a separator pouch disposed about at least one electrode and/or current collector to electrically insulate the electrode and/or current collector from a structure component of the device. Each electrochemical panel is configured to enable electrical communication with another electrochemical panel and/or an ancillary electric circuit. Each electrochemical panel is configured enable utilization thereof as a structural component of an ancillary structure.

Abstract: A microparticle for cell encapsulation is provided, having a core which comprises continuous fibers of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) and, optionally, an outer layer. Also provided are methods of encapsulating cells in the microparticle, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the microparticle, and methods of treating disease in animals employing the microparticles of the invention, for example, treating Diabetes.

Abstract: Methods for distributed storage in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable secret sharing. One embodiment includes encoding source data using an encoding system to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data, where: the source data can be recovered from at least a portion of less than all of the plurality of sets of encoded data; and the source data cannot be recovered using less than a threshold number of the plurality of sets of encoded data; storing each of the plurality of sets of encoded data on a storage device from a set of storage devices on which encoded data is stored; determining a set of storage devices that are available using a decoding system, where the set of storage devices that are available does not include all of the storage devices in the set of storage devices on which encoded data is stored.