Abstract: The present disclosure provides small complementary RNAs (scRNAs), compositions containing the same, and methods for using such small complementary RNAs as antivirals. The present disclosure provides, in more specific embodiments, scRNAs that are single-stranded and which are about 20-30 nucleotides (nt) long, and which are complementary to the intron of an essential viral gene, such as the major immediate early (MIE) gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions additionally containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier system, wherein the carrier system includes a cationic polymer which releases the scRNA in response to endosomal pH.

Abstract: Disclosed are bruceolides for the treatment of cancer, and oilier diseases, selectively targeting unwanted cells. The disclosed bruceolides may include a site specific cleavable moiety inhibiting the chemotoxic activity until cleaved, i.e., removed, within and/or near a cancer to be treated. As to facilitate selective delivery to cancer tumors, the disclosed bruceolides may be loaded into, attached to or otherwise carried by nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods related to treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in a mammal by administering salvianolic acid B (or a salt or solvate thereof) to promote ceramide-mediated apoptosis. In one form, the ceramide-mediated apoptosis of TNBC cells occurs by decreasing the level of one or more of glucosylceramide synthase and GM3 synthase in the subject through the use of an effective amount of salvianolic acid B. In another aspect, salvianolic acid B or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate is used as a medicament or in the manufacture of a medicament for treating TNBC.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a drug loaded nanoparticle comprising: dissolving a macromonomer, a stabilizer and a crosslinker in a solvent to create a mixture; adding an initiator system to the mixture; dissolving a drug or combination of drugs in an organic phase containing the mixture; and recovering the drug loaded nanoparticle, a composition comprising the drug loaded nanoparticle prepared by the above method, and a method for treating cancer comprising administering the above composition to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: A method for treating or inhibiting cytomegalovirus infection, including administrating an effective amount of a class of small molecules targeting protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) to a subject in need thereof. A method for inhibiting replication of cytomegalovirus, including contacting cytomegalovirus or cells containing the cytomegalovirus with a class of small molecules targeting protein phosphatase 1 (PP1).

Abstract: Disclosed are bruceolides for the treatment of cancer, and other diseases, selectively targeting unwanted cells. The disclosed bruceolides may include a site specific cleavable moiety inhibiting the chemotoxic activity until cleaved, i.e., removed, within and/or near a cancer to be treated. As to facilitate selective delivery to cancer tumors, the disclosed bruceolides may be loaded into, attached to or otherwise carried by nanoparticles.

Abstract: Compounds are provided herein which are emetine derivatives that can be used as prodrugs which selectively undergo activation to release emetine in specific cellular conditions. In one aspect, a blocking group is incorporated onto the emetine molecule by the derivization of the N2?-position with moieties that can be selectively removed by hydrolysis in the cancer/tumor microenvironment. Such compounds are less cytotoxic than emetine and are substantially inactive in non-cancerous cells. In one aspect, the compounds described herein can be used for the treatment of metastatic and non-metastatic cancers, including, for example, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and computer system is provided for fault detection in an electrical network. An inductance between a reference point and a fault is determined at a first time based on measuring a fault current. A resistance between the reference point and the fault may be determined at a second time based on measuring a differential of the fault current as zero. A location of the fault may be identified based on the inductance and the resistance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel computational methods for identifying potential therapeutic peptides as antivirals, and methods of using viral receptor-derived peptides as antivirals. Further, the present disclosure provides methods of using angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-derived peptides as therapeutic treatments for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-caused coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Abstract: Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

Abstract: Compounds and methods are described herein that are effective to modulate plant response (e.g., plant susceptibility) to environmentally-induced stress. The compounds and methods described herein advantageously may be used to modulate environmental stress resistance in a wide variety of plants. Environmental stresses include, for example, high light intensity (UV exposure), temperature (e.g., high heat), high soil salinity, and low soil moisture (e.g., drought). As used herein, environmental stresses include any conditions that result in increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and accumulation of ROS in the plant cells. The compounds described herein that are effective to modulate resistance to the stress prevent, directly or indirectly, or increase phosphorylation of Tyr248 of the RACK1A protein.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and computer system is provided for encrypting data or information represented by bits, numbers, used to encode images, text, or audio. For the case of an RGB image encryption applications, the data may be separated into its constituent channels before encryption. In addition to the standard encryption keys, another encryption isokey is generated based on an isounit using an algebraic isofield having a multiplicative identity value different than the number one. On the sender side, each of the channels is encrypted using the standard keys and the generated isokey. On the receiver side, each encrypted channel is decrypted before combining them to obtain the recovered RGB image. In addition to images, the cryptographic algorithm can also be used the encrypt data related to text, audio, and other file types.

Abstract: Covalently linked linear polyethylenimine (PEI) clusters are provided that change conformation depending upon changes in counterion concentrations. The structures may be used for the storage, delivery, and/or transport of substances.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating and detecting coronavirus infection, and in particular embodiments, provides compositions and methods for treating and detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection. The present disclosure also relates to the production of compositions for treating and detecting coronavirus infection, and in particular embodiments, to the production of compositions for treating and detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for preventing and/or treating infection by disrupting interactions at or near the surface of mannosylated pathogens or other pathogens exhibiting carbohydrate-carbohydrate self-interaction, thus enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy such pathogens. In some forms, carrier molecules are provided to delivering polymers or other molecules capable of disrupting intra-cellular interaction and/or self-interaction of surface markers on cells.

Abstract: A method for treating against, or at least inhibiting or suppressing, the proliferation of an internal ribosome entry site-utilizing virus (IRES-utilizing virus) involves administering a compound, a tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an amount effective for inhibiting replication of the IRES-utilizing virus in cells, wherein the compound is represented by the formula: wherein each R1 is independent of the other and represents a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of bromo, chloro, fluoro and iodo.

Abstract: A method effective in treating a viral infection involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound capable of inhibiting expression of at least a portion of a virus genome containing an internal ribosomal entry site, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compound has an azole moiety comprising a five member heterocyclic ring containing at least one nitrogen atom, a hydrophobic moiety bonded to the heterocyclic ring of the azole, and a donor/acceptor moiety bonded to the heterocyclic ring having at least one of hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor.

Abstract: A method for treating or mitigating Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms or progression, including administering an effective amount of nicotine to a subject in need thereof, via inhalation using a nicotine inhaler or via nasal spray using a nicotine nasal spray. Significant dose-dependent improvement of all symptoms by nicotine inhaler or nicotine nasal spray is expected. A novel treatment in PD is thus provided.

Abstract: A novel and innovative method of fabricating nanoparticles with reproducible characteristics from batch-to-batch and during scale-up. The method is a dipolymerization-precipitation reaction facilitated by the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for morphological analysis of neural cells may include receiving an immunohistochemistry (IHC) image of one or more neural cells; detecting the one or more neural cells in the IHC image using a first neural network, wherein the detecting includes identifying boundaries of the one or more neural cells; generating a segmentation cell mask using a second neural network based on the identified boundaries of the one or more neural cells; and classifying the one or more neural cells based on the generated segmentation cell mask using a trained classification model.