Abstract: The invention provides polymers and methods for their use. Certain embodiments of the invention provide slow degrading microspheres for undelayed and sustained drug delivery.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. In particular, the present invention provides diagnostics and prognostics for colon (including colon adenocarcinoma) cancer patients, wherein the methods related to measuring miR levels can predict poor survival. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: A method and a kit for the identification of chromosomal inversions is described. Chromosomal inversions are difficult to detect unless they are quite large. The improved ability to detect chromosomal inversions is important to a number of medical applications, such as cancer and birth defects, as examples. Reporter species are attached to oligonucleotide strands designed such that they may hybridize to portions of only one of a pair of single-stranded sister chromatids prepared by the CO-FISH procedure, as an example. If an inversion has occurred, these marker probes will be detected on the sister chromatid at the same location as the inversion on the first chromatid.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound of formula (I): or a salt or prodrug thereof, wherein Y, W, Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, and R1-R12 have any of the values described in the specification, as well as compositions comprising a compound of formula (I). The compounds are useful as antibacterial agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers. In particular, the present invention provides diagnostics and prognostics for colon (including colon adenocarcinoma) cancer patients, wherein the methods related to measuring miR levels can predict poor survival. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.

Abstract: The method of the present invention is directed towards detecting endometriosis in a mammalian subject. This method comprises the following steps; taking a sample from the mammal, measuring the level of sphingomyelin (SM) or phosphatidylcholine (PC), or combinations thereof, in the sample, comparing the measured levels of SM or PC, or combinations thereof, to predetermined levels, and diagnosing the mammal based on the comparison. This method may also comprise the following steps: taking a sample from the mammal, measuring the level of F11 Receptor (F11R) in the sample, comparing the measured level of F11R to a predetermined level, and diagnosing the mammal based on the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in livestock via an electroretinogram, the method comprises producing a biphasic electroretinogram waveform having an a-wave and b-wave from livestock retina in response to photic stimulus, measuring the amplitude of the b-wave, wherein the amplitude is measured from the trough of the a-wave to the peak of the b-wave, measuring the implicit time of the b-wave, wherein the implicit time is measured from onset of photic stimulus to b-wave peak; and comparing said produced waveform to a comparative waveform of livestock known not to have transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, wherein the produced waveform having a decrease b-wave amplitude and increased b-wave implicit time being indicative of livestock having transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

Abstract: The present invention provides dipyrrin substituted porphyrinic macrocycles, intermediates useful for making the same, and methods of making the same. Such compounds may be used for purposes including the making of molecular memory devices, solar cells and light harvesting arrays.

Abstract: Candidate structures for nanocrystal and other specimens are obtained based on a specimen complex spectrum that is determined as a Fourier transform of a phase-contrast electron micrograph. The specimen can also be assessed based on an amplitude portion of the complex spectrum using a lattice-fringe fingerprint. In some examples, the specimen complex spectrum is compensated based on an electron microscope transfer function, a specimen tilt, or based on other crystallographic compensation. Amplitude or phase portions of the compensated complex spectrum can be compared with reference structures stored in one or more reference structure databases.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermal interface material, comprising providing a sheet comprising nano-scale fibers, the sheet having at least one exposed surface; and stabilizing the fibers with a stabilizing material disposed in at least a portion of a void space between the fibers in the sheet. The fibers may be CNT's or metallic nano-wires. Stabilizing may include infiltrating the fibers with a polymerizable material. The polymerizable material may be mixed with nano- or micro-particles. The composite system may include two films, with the fibers in between, to create a sandwich. Each capping film may include two sub films: a palladium film closer to the stabilizing material to improve adhesion; and a nano-particle film for contact with a device to be cooled or a heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the use of paranemic crossover motifs for RNA self-assembly, and the use of those self-assembled complexes to carry out analytical methods, and as a basis for the creation of sensors. The invention includes RNA monomeric units comprising an RNA having a binding domain that is adapted to self-assemble paranemically so as to form an RNA complex with another RNA, the binding domain of the RNA monomeric unit comprising an aptameric portion bound to a fluorophore. The invention also includes RNA complexes comprising a target RNA molecule and at least one of these monomeric units which self-assemble paranemically so as to form the RNA complex comprising an aptameric portion. The invention also includes derivatives of these complexes including aptamers, and analytical methods and devices using same.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a method and apparatus for detecting interventricular dyssynchrony are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an image segment processor and an image classifier. The image segment processor may segment left and right ventricles in source images of a subject's heart to form left and right ventricle segments in segmented images. Each source image may include cross sections of the right and left ventricles in common spatial relation along the short axis plane and in common temporal relation in reference to a cardiac cycle. The source images and corresponding segmented images may be temporally-spaced in relation to the cardiac cycle. The image classifier may determine first and second cross-sectional areas associated with the left and right ventricle segments for each segmented image, compare the first and second cross-sectional areas, and classify the subject's heart in an interventricular dyssynchronous class or a non-dyssynchronous class.

Abstract: The present invention is related to hemodialysis, and more particularly, to a dialyser with improved efficiency of mass transfer across a dialysis membrane utilizing microchannel separation provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In accordance with an embodiment, a dialyzer is provided comprising a plurality of semipermeable membrane sheets and a plurality of flow separators. The membrane sheets and flow are arranged in alternating configuration and coupled into a laminae stack defining a plurality of parallel microchannel layers. Each microchannel layer comprises a plurality of first microchannels and a plurality of second microchannels. The first and second microchannels of each microchannel layer are in fluid communication with each other via one of the plurality of membrane sheets therebetween. The MECS dialyzer is characterized as having a high surface to volume ratio and a high mass transfer coefficient.

Abstract: The invention relates to the innate immune pathway and anti-inflammatory molecules with therapeutic properties. In some embodiments, the invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the compounds and compositions to treat inflammatory diseases including inflammation associated with auto-immune diseases.

Abstract: Curcumin analogues and methods of making and using the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation detection, localization, and identification system uses a searching algorithm to identify hypothetical solutions to Compton scatter data. Model based representations of the physical data collection yield the location of radiation sources when suppressed correlations of source location are identified in processed event data. The system's detector is an array of radiation detectors networked to act as a single detection system. This network has wide area of view and high sensitivity to radiation sources since no collimation is required.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a method for increasing temporal resolution in Phase Contrast (PC) MR imaging. The increased temporal resolution may be obtained by reusing information encoded into phase of an MRI signal where said reuse occurs prior to the difference reconstruction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable lifting apparatus that includes an actuator and a lifting mechanism, which includes a parallel bar, a first coupler, a second coupler, a first rocker, a second rocker, and a frame that are each rotatably connected, so that operation of the actuator moves the parallel bar in a J-shaped path while maintaining a constant orientation of the parallel bar.

Abstract: Highly ordered anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays fabricated by electrochemical anodization and sensitized with dye to yield dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells is described. With inorganic compound (such as TiCl4) treatment, in conjunction with oxygen plasma exposure under optimized conditions, dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells produced using TiO2 nanotube arrays exhibited a pronounced power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A new cranberry variety distinguished by very early season ripening, with exceptional early and high fruit anthocyanin (TAcy), as compared to the currently cultivated commercial varieties, with high fruit quality, and very suitable for the fresh fruit market.