Abstract: Antibodies to heavy chain of human FcRn are provided which function as non-competitive inhibitors of IgG binding to FcRn. The antibodies may be polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric or humanized, or antigen binding fragments thereof. These antibodies are useful for reducing the concentration of pathogenic IgGs in individuals and therefore used as a therapeutic tool in autoimmune and alloimmune conditions.

Abstract: A new class of micro- and nano-particulate paramagnetic spin probes especially useful for magnetic resonance imaging techniques, including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The probes are lithium phthalocyanine derivative compounds. Also provided are suspensions and emulsions comprising lithium phthalocyanine derivative probes. Also provided are noninvasive methods for measuring noninvasive methods of measuring oxygen concentration, oxygen partial pressure, oxygen metabolism, and nitric oxide concentration in a specific tissue, organ, or cell in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: The physiological regulation of intake, growth and energy partitioning in animals is under the control of multiple genes, which may be important candidates for unraveling the genetic variation in economically relevant traits in beef production. The present invention relates to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the bovine gene encoding mitochondrial transcription factor A (“TFAM”) and their associations with economically relevant traits in beef production. The invention further encompasses methods and systems, including network-based processes, to manage the SNP data and other data relating to specific animals and herds of animals, veterinarian care, diagnostic and quality control data and management of livestock which, based on genotyping, have predictable meat quality traits, husbandry conditions, animal welfare, food safety information, audit of existing processes and data from field locations.

Abstract: A transgenic animal such as a transgenic snake or other reptile that expresses a heterologous expression product is described, along with methods of making the same. In general, the animal comprises cells containing a sequence encoding the heterologous expression product. The sequence encoding the heterologous expression product is integrated into the genome of the animal (e.g., in some or all cells thereof, and in some embodiments into germ cells thereof). The sequence encoding the heterologous expression product is, in general, operatively associated with an expression sequence or promoter. The animals are useful for, among other things, testing of repellents, testing of toxicological compounds, as teaching aids, for venom production, etc.

Abstract: An outer layer having an entanglement comprising an intermingling of cloaked hydrophilic guest and a hydrophobic polymer host, wherein molecules of the guest have been crosslinked with each other. Under certain circumstances, using complexes of the guest may be desirable or even necessary. The intermingling of the guest and host includes a physical tangling, whether it also comprises crosslinking by primary bonding (e.g., chemical/covalent bonding) there-between. Also a method of producing an outer layer having such an entanglement, including the steps of: temporarily cloaking at least a portion of the hydrophilic groups of the guest; intermingling at least a portion of the cloaked groups with a porous polymeric structure by diffusing the guest with cloaked groups into at least a portion of the structure's pores; within the pores, crosslinking at least a portion of the molecules of the guest with the guest; and removing the cloaking. Cloaking may be performed by silylation or acylation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 1,4-disubstituted naphthalene scaffold compounds and other closely related scaffold compounds. The present invention also relates to combinatorial libraries of such compounds. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of identifying a protein-protein interaction antagonist. The method first involves providing a compound as described herein. Next, the compound is contacted with interacting proteins of a protein-protein interaction target complex, whereby the compound is allowed to compete with the interacting proteins. Then, the activity of the compound for inhibiting formation of the protein-protein interaction target complex is measured. Finally, the compound that inhibits formation of the protein-protein interaction target complex is identified as a protein-protein interaction antagonist. Also disclosed is a method for modulating a protein-protein interaction.

Abstract: A method for electroblowing fibers is provided which involves the steps of: forcing a polymer fluid through a spinneret in a first direction towards a collector located a first distance from the spinneret, while simultaneously blowing a gas through an orifice that is substantially concentrically arranged around the spinneret, wherein the gas is blown substantially in the first direction; wherein an electrostatic differential is generated between the spinneret and the collector; and collecting the fibers, and its use in preparing submicron scale fibers of various types, particularly hyaluronan fibers, and the hyaluronan nanofibers thus formed.

Abstract: A permanent magnet array iron filter has a generally circular collar made of a high magnetic permeability material with a plurality of magnetic assemblies interiorly disposed longitudinally around an interior circumference therein. Each magnetic assembly has two magnets with opposite poles facing the center of the filter and a gap between the adjacent assemblies. This arrangement intensifies the resultant magnetic field and projects the field deeply within the interior region of the filter. Rare earth permanent magnets are used to maximize the magnetic field. The collar may be coated with a plastic coating to protect the filter. The collar has a gap to provide flexibility when sliding the filter over an oil filter. The thickness of the collar may be adjusted to meet the requirements of a particular application.

Abstract: A bioadhesive composition from distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is produced by reaction with an aqueous solution of a base, particularly, sodium hydroxide. Optionally, urea is included with the base. The bioadhesive composition is filtered as a solution from the residue of the reaction with the base. The bioadhesive composition is particularly useful as a boxboard glue.

Abstract: New and improved microwave plasma assisted reactors, for example chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) reactors, are disclosed. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors operate at pressures ranging from about 10 Torr to about 760 Torr. The disclosed microwave plasma assisted reactors include a movable lower sliding short and/or a reduced diameter conductive stage in a coaxial cavity of a plasma chamber. For a particular application, the lower sliding short position and/or the conductive stage diameter can be variably selected such that, relative to conventional reactors, the reactors can be tuned to operate over larger substrate areas, operate at higher pressures, and discharge absorbed power densities with increased diamond synthesis rates (carats per hour) and increased deposition uniformity.

Abstract: The invention includes RNA complexes comprising at least three monomeric units of an RNA molecule, each monomeric unit comprising an RNA polymer having first and second helical domains that have respective first and second binding sites, wherein the first binding sites are adapted to binding to one another and are not adapted to bind to the second binding sites, and the second binding sites are adapted to binding to one another and are not adapted to bind to the first binding sites; such that the at least three monomeric units are adapted to self-assemble by forming pairs of cognate interactions and so as to form the RNA complex in a circular closed complex. The invention also includes derivatives of these complexes including aptamers, and analytical methods and devices using same.

Abstract: Mutants of human FGF-1 are disclosed having increased stability and mitogenic potency. In the FGF-1 polypeptide, primarily residues 12 and 134 are substituted with cysteine, valine or threonine to render the polypeptide more stable and/or to increase its mitogenicity.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydroxyl substituted anthraquinones is described. The process couples a phthalic anhydride (substituted or unsubstituted) to benzene ring moiety substituted with at least two hydroxyl groups. Remaining hydroxy groups were converted to methoxy groups in some anthraquinones. The compounds are particularly useful for the treatment of parasitic diseases. Also, a method of treating or preventing malaria, filariasis schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases using anthraquinones.

Abstract: Optical spot displacement apparatus comprises a face that is divided into a plurality of columns; each column of the plurality including a predetermined number of prisms, the predetermined number of prisms of a same column configured within the corresponding column to displace at least one incident light beam a common predetermined distance from incidence, and the predetermined number of prisms of different columns configured within each corresponding column to displace the at least one incident light beam a different predetermined distance from incidence.

Abstract: Polymeric materials having a plurality of cells formed therein are described. The polymeric materials include a foamed layer comprising a plurality of uniform microcells, nanocells or combinations thereof in a closed cell network, a transition layer positioned adjacent to the foamed layer, and at least one unfoamed outer layer positioned adjacent to the transition layer. The foamed layer may be present in a volume ranging from about 80 to about 99 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material, the transition layer may present in a volume ranging from about 0 to about 10 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material, and the at least one outer layer may be present in a volume ranging from about 0.01 to about 10 percent based on the volume of the polymeric material. Methods of making such polymeric materials are also described, as are apparatus for providing foamed polymeric materials.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a polyanhydride by irradiating one or more diacids with microwave radiation in the presence of a carboxylic anhydride so as to acylate the one or more diacids to yield at least one prepolymer, and irradiating the prepolymer with microwave radiation so as to polymerize said prepolymer to yield the polyanhydride, as a homopolymer or a copolymer. High purity polyanhydrides can be prepared by this method. Reaction times compared to conventional melt polycondensations can be significantly reduced. Copolymer polyanhydrides can also be prepared by the microware radiation techniques described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying bacterial induced rhinosinusitis. The method comprises obtaining a nasal or paranasal mucus sample and detecting the presence of neutrophil degranulation in the mucus sample. Degranulation of neutrophils can be determined by morphological analysis of the cells in the mucus or by detection of released (i.e., “free”) granule content markers such as neutrophil elastase or myeloperoxidase. Based on an accurate determination of the cause of sinusitis as described herein, an appropriate treatment can be instituted.

Abstract: Stress-related nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, stress-related fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-stress-related antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides and methods of use for the polypeptides of the invention are further disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots (QDs) on its surface. This method involves providing a plurality of semiconductor quantum dots and providing a thiol-functionalized carbon nanotube having a plurality of terminal thiol groups on its surface. The plurality of semiconductor quantum dots are attached to the surface of the carbon nanotube under conditions effective to yield a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots on its surface. The present invention also relates to a carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugate having a high density of quantum dots on its surface. The present invention further relates to a photodetector device. This device includes a substrate and a nanocomposite layer. The nanocomposite layer includes a plurality of the carbon nanotube-quantum dot conjugates previously described.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate having a horizontal surface, and an electrode layer on the substrate. The electrode has a plurality of vertical surfaces substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface, and light-harvesting rods are coupled to the vertical surface of the electrode.