Abstract: The present disclosure describes an oligobenzamide-based peptidomimetic agent with potent antiproliferative activity against triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), including TNBC cells representing all the known molecular subtypes. Lysosomal acid lipase A (LIPA) was identified as important for this agent's activity with the ER localization, not the lysosomal lipase function, of LIPA being critical. This agent can also block the growth in vitro and in vivo of multiple cancer types that have high basal level of ER stress and LIPA expression, including estrogen receptor-positive breast, pancreatic, glioblastoma and ovarian cancers. Thus, the inventors propose a new targeted strategy for TNBC and other rapidly proliferating cancers.

Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a battery pack. The battery pack, in accordance with this aspect, includes an enclosure. The battery pack, in accordance with this aspect, further includes an intake port attached to a first section of the enclosure, the intake port coupleable to a source of cooling fluid, a first exhaust port attached to a third section of the enclosure and a second exhaust port coupled to a fourth section of the enclosure. The battery pack of this aspect further includes a first set of battery cells located within the enclosure in the first and third sections, the first set of battery cells separated by one or more first fluid passageways and a second set of battery cells located within the enclosure in a second and the fourth sections, the second set of battery cells separated by one or more second fluid passageways.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents arrhythmia analysis systems and methods. One such method comprises processing an acquired ECG waveform signal to remove noise artifacts and form a denoised ECG waveform signal; processing the denoised ECG waveform signal to remove low quality segments and form a high quality ECG waveform signal; analyzing the high quality ECG waveform to detect a presence of a beat-independent ventricular arrhythmia; processing the denoised ECG signal to extract beat (R-peak) locations corresponding to QRS complexes from the denoised ECG signal; analyzing the denoised ECG signal to detect a presence of a beat-dependent ventricular arrhythmia based on the extracted beat (R-peak) locations; analyzing the denoised ECG signal to detect a presence of one or more supraventricular arrhythmias based on the extracted beat locations of the ECG signal; and outputting a report containing one or more arrhythmias detected by the analyzing steps. Other methods/systems are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure comprises a method of detecting circular tumor cells and methods of detecting, evaluating, or staging cancer in a patient, as well as a method of monitoring treatment of cancer in a patient using the claimed method. In other embodiments, the method provides for directed to a method of determining the level of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a sample having blood cells from a patient by contacting a sample having blood cells from a patient.

Abstract: Sensors employing elastomers enhanced with electrically conductive 2D nanoparticles are provided. The nanoparticles are formed by applying shear to layered materials present in elastomer precursors (e.g., elastomeric monomer(s) and/or curing agent(s)). Subsequent exfoliation of the layers occurs directly within the precursor and/or curing agent. The cured elastomer nanocomposites can be employed for electrochemical sensing, flexible touchpads, pressure sensors, and wireless sensors, amongst other applications.

Abstract: A method is provided for distinguishing between and/or diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) or multiple system atrophy (MSA) in a subject who is exhibiting symptoms associated with both PD and MSA. The method comprises: (A) contacting a biological sample obtained from the subject and comprising soluble, misfolded alpha-synuclein (?S) protein with a pre-incubation mixture comprising a monomeric ?S substrate and an indicator to form an incubation mixture; (B) conducting an incubation cycle two or more times on the incubation mixture to form misfolded ?S aggregates; (C) subjecting the incubation mixture to excitation and detecting via indicator fluorescence emission the misfolded ?S aggregates; and (D) diagnosing the subject has having PD or MSA depending on the fluorescence emission intensity. In some aspects, the incubation cycles are conducted in the presence of a bead.

Abstract: A method and device for isolating a migratory cell population from a mixed population of migratory cells and non-migratory cells is described herein. The method comprises placing the mixed population of migratory cells and non-migratory cells in contact with a device having one or more microchannels; and isolating the migratory cell population within the microchannels following an incubation period, wherein the one or more microchannels have an average size in a proliferation direction of the migratory cells that is less than a minimum proliferation space of the migratory cells along the proliferation direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds, their pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of their use for treating mesenchymally-derived or mesenchymally-transformed cancers, such as breast cancers and sarcomas, and for treating diseases or disorders that are characterized by the expression of vimentin.

Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, methods for identifying subjects suffering from depression that will respond to treatment with an antidepressant.

Abstract: Previous electrochemically-powered yarn muscles cannot be usefully operated between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, since strokes during electron injection and during hole injection partially cancel because they are in the same direction. Unipolar-stroke carbon nanotube yarn muscles are described in which muscle strokes are additive between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, and stroke increases with potential scan rate. These electrochemical artificial muscles include an electrically conducting twisted or coiled yarn and a material that dramatically shifts the potential of zero charge of the electrochemically actuated yarn.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating and delivering medicinal formulations using an inhaler. The composition includes a space filled flocculated suspension having one or more flocculated particles of one or more active agents and a hydrofluoroalkane propellant. A portion of the one or more flocculated particles is templated by the formation of hydrofluoroalkane droplets upon atomization and the templated floc compacts upon the evaporation of the hydrofluoroalkane propellant to form a porous particle for deep lung delivery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for generating MAGE-B2 specific T cells and compositions comprising engineered MAGE-B2-specific T cell receptors. Further provided are methods of treating cancer comprising administering the MAGE-B2-specific T cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel cycloalka[b]heteroaryl compounds having CX3CR1/fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) agonistic properties, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, chemical processes for preparing these compounds and their use in the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases associated with CX3CR1 receptor activity in animals, in particular humans.

Abstract: Methods of reconstituting lyophilized Annamycin and methods of treating patients are described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical device, comprising: forming a patterned inorganic liftoff layer to expose a target electrode site on a softening polymer layer, depositing an electrode layer on the inorganic liftoff layer and on the exposed target electrode site, and removing the inorganic liftoff layer by a horizontal liftoff etch to leave the electrode layer on the exposed target electrode site.

Abstract: The present techniques may provide improved processing and functionality of performance of the 128-bit AES Algorithm, which may provide improved power consumption. For example, in an embodiment, an encryption and decryption apparatus may comprise memory storing a current state matrix of an encryption or decryption process and a plurality of multiplexers configured to receive from the memory current elements of the state matrix stored in the memory, perform a cyclic shift on the received elements of the state matrix, and transmit the shifted elements to the memory for storage as a new state matrix.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a preliposomal Annamycin lyophilizate, the composition made by the method, and the use of the composition made thereby in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Provided are T cell receptors (TCR) and TCR variable regions that can selectively bind SLC45A2. The TCR may be utilized in various therapies, such as autologous cell transplantation, to treat a cancer, such as a cutaneous melanoma, uveal melanoma, a mucosal melanoma, or a metastatic melanoma. Methods for expanding a population of T cells that target SLC45A2 are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques are described herein for characterizing well treatment fluids and well treatment fluid performance. For example, well treatment fluids can be characterized using microfluidic chips to determine fluid properties, with very small amounts of fluid used for the characterization process. Optical analysis and electrical conductivity analysis of well treatment fluids as they pass through different microfluidic pathways with different cross-sectional dimensions can be used to gain information about the well treatment fluid's composition, structure, and performance. In some cases, microfluidic pathways can be functionalized as a model for a wellbore and a reservoir (e.g., rock in the reservoir) to evaluate the performance of well treatment fluids by imaging the well treatment fluid as it flows into or through the functionalized model. These systems, methods, and techniques can allow for optimization of well treatment fluids prior to or during drilling or completion operations.

Abstract: Provided herein are T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeted to B cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R). The CAR targeted to BAFF-R (BAFF-R CAR) described herein includes a domain that binds BAFF-R. Methods of making and using the BAFF-R CAR are also provided.