Abstract: The present disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising rationally designed peptide analogs of the p65-TAD binding region of GILZ to selectively sequester activated p65. Structural and functional analyses suggest that select GILZ analog (GA) bind p65-TAD with optimum affinity, exhibit an estimated half minimal lethal dose comparable to known peptide drugs and suppress A?1-42 induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides uses and methods of using the pharmaceutical compositions, and uses and methods of using pharmaceutical formulations comprising the pharmaceutical compositions, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Abstract: Systems and methods for computer-aided vaccine design may comprise performing one or more molecular dynamics simulations of a protein assembly having at least one epitope, determining a fluctuation measurement for the at least one epitope using the one or more molecular dynamics simulations, and predicting the immunogenicity of the protein assembly in response to the fluctuation measurement are disclosed.

Abstract: An instrument for energizing molecules contained in a sample solution may include a droplet generator configured to generate droplets of the sample solution. The droplet generator illustratively has an elongated nozzle defining an orifice at one end thereof from which the droplets exit the droplet generator, and the orifice illustratively defines a first longitudinal axis centrally therethrough. A molecule energizing source is configured to produce a molecule energizing field, and is positioned relative to the nozzle orifice such that the molecule energizing field extends into at least some of the generated droplets along a direction non-parallel with the first longitudinal axis. The molecule energizing field illustratively carries energy which heats at least one of the generated droplets sufficiently to induce structural changes in at least one molecule contained in the at least one of the generated droplets.

Abstract: Example embodiments are described that relate to the analysis of tissue damage in an injured patient. Example embodiments are methods and systems for collecting medical imaging data, identifying tissue damage in the medical imaging data, analyzing the tissue damage shown in the medical imaging data, and/or quantifying the tissue damage shown in the medical imaging data. The disclosed methods allow for determining a risk for multiple organ failure and systemic inflammation in a multiply injured patient.

Abstract: Various liquid and semisolid lubricant compositions are provided, in particular lubricant compositions containing oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids such as palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, or a combination thereof. In various aspects, lubricant compositions are provided that include a petroleum or a synthetic base oil and about 40% or less by weight of a liquid lubricant composition containing oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids. In various aspects, semisolid lubricant composition are provided containing an emulsion of (i) a thickener and (ii) an oil from the seeds of the Brassicaceae Orychophragmus violaceus, preferably those that have been esterified with one or more fatty acids.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to the methods of enhancing hematopoietic stem cells (HSPC) and progenitor cell (HSPC) engraftment procedure. Treatment in vivo of a HSPC donor with compounds that reduce PGE2 biosynthesis or PGE2 receptor antagonists alone, or in combination with other hematopoietic mobilization agents such as AMD3100 and G-CSF, increases the circulation of available HSPCs. Compounds that reduce the cellular synthesis of PGE2 include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds such as indomethacin. Treatment ex vivo of HSPC with an effective amount of PGE2 or at least one of its derivatives such as 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2), promotes HSPC engraftment. Similar methods may also be used to increase viral-mediated gene transduction efficacy into HSPC.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for performing privacy-preserving, high-performance, and scalable DNA read mapping on hybrid clouds including a public cloud and a private cloud. The systems and methods offer strong privacy protection and have the capacity to process millions of reads and allocate most of the workload to the public cloud at a small overall cost. The systems and methods perform seeding on the public cloud using keyed hash values of individual sequencing reads' seeds and then extend matched seeds on the private cloud. The systems and methods are designed to move the workload of read mapping from the extension stage to the seeding stage, thereby ensuring that the dominant portion of the overhead is shouldered by the public cloud.

Abstract: Nucleic acids encoding modified myosin heavy-chain-associated RNA transcripts are provided. The modified myosin heavy-chain-associated RNA transcripts belongs to a cluster of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) and bind to chromatin remodeler Brg1 to inhibit Brg1's genomic targeting and gene regulation function. The modified myosin heavy-chain-associated RNA transcripts expressed in an individual inhibit Brg1's gene regulation function and protect the heart of the individual from myopathy and failure. One of the modified heavy-chain-associated RNAs is a 400 base pair fragment segmented from a natural 779 base pair sequence of Mhrt (Mhrt779) and has the same cardioprotective effects as the Mhrt779.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of methods and apparatus for identifying one or more intact glycopeptides in a sample are disclosed. According to one illustrative embodiment, a method may comprise receiving data representing a plurality of mass spectra obtained from mass spectrometry of the sample, scoring data representing each of the plurality of mass spectra against data associated with target glycopeptides, and identifying one or more intact glycopeptides in the sample based at least in part on the scoring of the data representing each of the plurality of mass spectra.

Abstract: Novel assembly effector compounds having a therapeutic effect against hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection are disclosed. Assembly effector molecules described herein can lead to defective viral assembly and also may affect other viral activities associated with chronic HBV infection. Also disclosed is a process to synthesize disclosed compounds, method of treatment of HBV by administration of disclosed compounds, and use of these compounds in the manufacture of medicaments against HBV.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter assembly including a catheter body, a first and a second set of a plurality of fenestrations, a first and a second inflatable device, a first and a second pleat, at least one obstructing stop near each end portion of the catheter body, and a first and a second flexible tube connected to the first and the second inflatable device. The catheter assembly further includes a pumping device in communication with the first and the second inflatable device via the first and the second flexible tube. The catheter assembly is used to restore blood flow to a traumatized blood vessel.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to the methods of enhancing hematopoietic stem cells (HSPC) and progenitor cell (HSPC) engraftment procedure. Treatment in vivo of a HSPC donor with compounds that reduce PGE2 biosynthesis or PGE2 receptor antagonists alone, or in combination with other hematopoietic mobilization agents such as AMD3100 and G-CSF, increases the circulation of available HSPCs. Compounds that reduce the cellular synthesis of PGE2 include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds such as indomethacin. Treatment ex vivo of HSPC with an effective amount of PGE2 or at least one of its derivatives such as 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2), promotes HSPC engraftment. Similar methods may also be used to increase viral-mediated gene transduction efficacy into HSPC.

Abstract: Inauhzin (INZ) was identified as a novel p53 activator, which selectively and efficiently suppressing tumor growth without displaying genotoxicity and with little toxicity to normal cells. A panel of INZ analogs were synthesized and evaluated their ability to induce cellular p53 and to inhibit cell growth in cell-based assays. As described, this leads to the discovery of INZ analog 37, a molecule that exhibits much better potency than INZ in both of p53 activation and cell growth inhibition in several human cancer cell lines including H460 and HCT116+/+ cells. This INZ analog exhibited a much lower effect on p53-null H1299 cells and importantly no toxicity towards normal human p53-containing WI-38 cells. Those results also reveal key chemical features for INZ activity, and identify the newly synthesized INZ analog 37 as a better small molecule for further development of anti-cancer therapies.

Abstract: A method of imaging biological tissue enables imaging structure in the biological tissue with an antenna tuned to emit radio energy through at least a covering layer of the biological tissue without significant attenuation of the radio energy. The method includes contacting skin covering tissue with a radio frequency emitting antenna, and adjusting at least one of a radiator and a feed in the antenna with reference to at least one measured electrical or physical property of the skin. The adjustment of the radiator and feed enable a combination of the antenna and skin to emit radio energy at a predetermined magnitude and frequency into a portion of the tissue covered by the skin.

Abstract: N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV2.2) are critical mediators of neurotransmitter release and are thought to be involved with transmission of nociception. The use of conventional CaV2.2 blockers in pain therapeutics is limited by side effects. Reported herein is a means to suppress both inflammatory and neuropathic pain without directly blocking CaV2.2, but rather by inhibiting the binding of the axonal collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2), a protein known to enhance CaV2.2 function. A 15 amino acid peptide of CRMP-2 fused to the protein transduction domain of the HIV tat protein (TAT CBD3) reduced meningeal blood flow induced by activation of the trigeminovascular system, prevented inflammation-induced tactile hypernociception induced by intraplantar formalin and nocifensive behavior following corneal capsaicin application, and reversed neuropathic hypernociception produced by the antiretroviral drug 2?,3?-dideoxycytidine. Preventing CRMP-2—mediated enhancement of CaV2.

Abstract: Cloning and characterization of a TgIF2? kinase from Toxoplasma gondii designated TgIF2K-D illustrates that this protein is related to GCN2, an eIF2? kinase known to respond to nutrient starvation in other organisms. TgIF2K-D is present in the cytosol of both intra- and extracellular Toxoplasma and facilitates translational control through TgIF2? phosphorylation in extracellular parasites. Both a TgIF2K-D knockout parasite and a parasite harboring the TgIF2? mutant (S71A substitution) exhibited loss of eIF2? kinase activity which manifested itself as significant fitness defect. Accordingly, eIF2? phosphorylation and translational control are an important mechanism by which vulnerable extracellular parasites protect themselves which searching for a new host cell. TgIF2K-D is an excellent target for development of compounds and therapies that can be used to treat infections caused by Toxoplasma and other eukaryotic parasites, especially parasites that have high homology or identity to TgIF2K-D.

Abstract: Various aspects related to the preparation of congeners of the aminoglycosides gentamicin such as the congener C2 and using this compound or derivatives thereof and pharmaceutically active salts to treat diseases that involve genetic mutations which introduce a missense or premature stop codon into a gene. Still other aspects include treating human or animal patients with the gentamicin congener C2 and derivatives and pharmaceutical salt thereof to overcome, or to at least mitigate, the symptoms of disease and disorders such as some forms of Becker's or Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Hurler's Syndrome and Cystic Fibrosis that have as their etiology the presence of a premature stop codon in a gene whose proper expression is necessary for good health.

Abstract: Germline mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene cause Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common genetic disorder of the nervous system characterized by plexiform neurofibroma development. Using adoptive transfer of hematopoietic cells, we establish that NF1 heterozygosity of bone marrow derived cells in the tumor microenvironment is sufficient to allow neurofibroma progression in the context of Schwann cell nullizygosity. Further, genetic or pharmacologic attenuation of the c-kit signaling pathway in hematopoietic cells greatly diminishes neurofibroma initiation and progression. These studies identify haploinsufficient hematopoietic cells and the c-kit receptor as therapeutic targets for preventing plexiform neurofibromas and implicate mast cells as critical mediators of tumor initiation.

Abstract: A method of operating a camera with a microfluidic lens to identify a depth of an object in image data generated by the camera has been developed. The camera generates an image with the object in focus, and a second image with the object out of focus. An image processor generates a plurality of blurred images from image data of the focused image, and identifies blur parameters that correspond to the object in the second image. The depth of the object from the camera is identified with reference to the blur parameters.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for combustion of fuel includes, in some embodiments, a fuel nozzle which injects fuel into a combustion channel of a wave rotor combustor or a pulse detonation combustor. In some embodiments the combustion process includes a backward-propagating detonation wave within a substantially closed channel which compresses discrete quantities of combustible and noncombustible mixture. Yet other embodiments include a precombustion chamber integrated into the wave rotor, the outlet stator or both.