Abstract: The subject invention is directed to tetradentate bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligand Pt(II) complexes, tetradentate bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligands, and its ligand precursors, for preparation of the Pt(II) complexes. The Pt(II) complexes show a deep blue emission with an improved quantum efficiency and can be used for fabrication of OLEDs with an electroluminescence layer that comprise the bis-(NHC carbenes) alkylene ligand Pt(II) complexes.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to utilize and manufacture a stacked chip assembly. Microelectronic or optoelectronic chips of any dimensions are directly stacked onto each other. The chips can be of substantially identical sizes. To enable forming the stacked chip assembly, trenches are laser micro-machined onto the bottom surface of a chip to accommodate the bond wedge/ball and wire path of the chip beneath it. Consequently, chips can be tightly integrated without a gap and without having to reserve space for the bond wedges/balls.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for detecting and/or characterizing a multiple-charged biomolecule comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex, wherein the metal complex electrostatically binds to the multiple-charged biomolecule to induce aggregation and self-assembly of the metal complex through metal-metal interactions, ? . . . ? interactions, or a combination of both interactions. The present invention further provides assay methods and kits for label-free optical detection and/or characterization of biomolecules carrying multiple charges, e.g., single-stranded nucleic acids, using a composition comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide an improved EM reverberation chamber which facilitates the dynamic three dimensional (3D) manipulation of EM field polarization within the chamber and produces a uniform field distribution inside the chamber. The chamber includes one or more walls with tunable lumped elements. A controller is provided to generate one or more control signals that are applied to the lumped elements and tunes their impedance in response to the one or more control signals. The result is to generate, within the chamber an electromagnetic field that appears to be random or pseudo-random in polarization, but which is sufficiently uniform in magnitude for EM testing.

Abstract: The present invention provides bioactive bone cements that not only have sufficient radiopacity, low physiological toxicity, and requisite mechanism strength, but also promote local bone in-growth. The bone cement utilizes strontium salts as radiopacifiers, and comprises a powder component and a liquid component. In an embodiment, the powder component comprises a strontium salt, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and a polymerization initiator; and the liquid component comprises methyl methacrylate (MMA) as reactive monomers and a polymerization accelerator.

Abstract: A method is provided to functionally select cells with enhanced characteristics relevant to cell engraftment, including both spontaneous migration and directional migration towards specific chemo-attractants. The cells are preferably undifferentiated cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells. The method involves entrapping or encapsulating the cells in a biomaterial barrier, optionally inducing cell migration, and selecting cells that migrated through the barrier. The cells selected by this method have better migratory activities and enhanced in vivo engraftment to injured tissues when they are supplemented systemically.

Abstract: A simple, highly flexible and scalable platform for making functional complex tissues with heterogeneity and irregularity is provided. The method includes combining undifferentiated cells, such as pluripotent or multipotent stem cells, with a biomaterial to make multiple undifferentiated or naïve subunits, exposing the undifferentiated or naïve subunits to different cell culture environments for induction of differentiation towards different lineages as required by that complex tissue, and combining the then functional subunits with or without the undifferentiated subunits. The differentiated subunits thus combined can be cultured under biological, chemical, and/or physical culture conditions suitable to fine-tune the structural and functional properties of the bioengineered complex tissue to form a bioengineered tissue graft that mimics the structural and functional characteristics of native complex tissue. The bioengineered tissue graft can then used to replace dysfunctional tissue.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs thereof, for enhancing humoral and cell-mediated immunity of a subject. Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs of the subject invention. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic composition is formulated as a vaccine composition. Advantageously, the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic compositions provide protective immunity against pathogenic infection including HIV infection. In additon, the subject invention can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of tumor or cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to uses of resorbable medical implants that are metallic or semi-metallic, to produce soft tissues, membranous tissues, organs or organ parts within the body by fibrosis. The present invention further relates to such uses when the implants are made of specified alloys or metals, e.g. magnesium and its alloys. The present invention further relates to such uses when the implant is surface modified. The present invention further relates to such uses when the implant is pre-implanted at another part of the body before implantation into the target site.

Abstract: The subject invention provides novel uses of cytoplasmic c-Myc for modulation of innate immune responses. The invention is based, at least in part, on the surprising discovery that cytoplasmic c-Myc, instead of nuclear c-Myc, modulates pro-inflammatory immune responses via its role as a positive feedback regulator. Specifically, the subject invention provides methods for treatment or amelioration of inflammatory diseases and/or immune disorders via inhibition c-Myc expression or its activity. Also provided are methods for the development of therapeutic agents for treating infection, inflammation, immune diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for detecting and/or characterizing a multiple-charged biomolecule comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex, wherein the metal complex electrostatically binds to the multiple-charged biomolecule to induce aggregation and self-assembly of the metal complex through metal . . . metal interactions, ? . . . ? interactions, or a combination of both interactions. The present invention further provides assay methods and kits for label-free optical detection and/or characterization of biomolecules carrying multiple charges, e.g., single-stranded nucleic acids, polyaspartate, polyglutamate, using a composition comprising a charged d8 or d10 metal complex.

Abstract: An instrumentation setup is provided to process electronic signals in a positron imager functioning in two different modes of operations for scanning both bulk and thin film materials. According to one part of an implementation, an instrumentation setup comprises an XY-rastering stepper motor apparatus coupled with LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers), and nuclear signal processing and high speed data acquisition sections. Imaging of bulk material samples may be enabled by scanning a positron point source across a surface of samples. In another part of the irnplenientation, the instrumentation setup may comprise an electromagnetic deflection control arrangement in conjunction with a guided monoenergetic positron beam together with nuclear signal processing and data acquisition arrangements. This part of the implementation may scan and produce images for thin film samples. The instrumentation setup is capable of producing high quality real-time S-parameter images.

Abstract: A natural spinal disk including adjacent vertebral structures is removed from a deceased donor, rinsed in normal saline, preserved in a cryopreservative solution, and then frozen by gradually decreasing the temperature using liquid nitrogen or similar method. The implant may be thawed in normal saline solution and then implanted in a patient in need of a vertebral disk replacement.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning self-routing addresses to nodes in a network with arbitrary, including irregular, topology is provided. The method and system are useful in packet-switched networks and in particular optical packet-switched networks for reducing processing associated with routing packets. Each self-routing address encodes a set of paths from all nodes in the network to the destination node. In an embodiment of the invention each output port of each node in a network sends a packet in response to the state of a bit in the self-routing address in a packet. Alternatively, each node address in the network is mapped to a bit in a self-routing address. Furthermore, a node can have multiple self-routing addresses encoding different sets of paths from all other nodes in the network to the node. In addition, hierarchical networks are included among the networks suitable for self-routing addresses.

Abstract: Neutrophil elastase (NE) is a protease secreted by neutrophils during inflammation. Aberrant expression of NE such as in chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases, results in tissue destruction and decline in lung function. Compositions including an NE-targeting agent that targets the pathologic elements of respiratory inflammation are provided. Non-anticoagulant heparin derivatives or fragments are exemplary NE-targeting agents. The compositions preferably include a carrier, such as chitosan, to facilitate delivery of the active agent. Methods of manufacturing non-anticoagulant heparin are also provided. Methods of administering the disclosed compositions to treat respiratory diseases are also disclosed. In preferred methods, an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition is administered to subject in need thereof to reduce, inhibit, or alleviate one or more symptoms of chronic respiratory inflammation.

Abstract: The disclosure may relate to example embodiments of an electronic tongue sensor that may include an array of piezoelectric quartz crystal sensors with at least one coating specific for sensing a specific taste-producing molecule. In an example embodiment, a coating may include molecularly imprinted polymers of a specific taste-producing molecule.

Abstract: Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and methods of forming the same are provided. An OPV cell can include an organic photoactive layer comprising bis-(8-quinolinolato-N,O)platinum (II) (PtQ2) having a general structure disclosed herein as Structure I. A method of forming an OPV cell can include forming an organic photoactive layer on a substrate, which can include a transparent electrode. The organic photoactive layer can comprises PtQ2 having the general structure of Structure I.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating cell differentiation, proliferation and morphology in vitro or in vivo are described. The methods include modifying the extracellular nanoenvironment of stem cells with a self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold. The extracellular nanoenvironment can be modified by changing the percentage of self-assembling peptides used to form the nanofiber scaffold, the concentration of cells in the nanofiber scaffold, the pH, or the amounts of serum. Modulating the extracellular nanoenvironment of cells in nanofiber scaffold allows for increased targeting of cell placement and therapeutic delivery, amplified by cell encapsulation and implantation.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits wherein nanomaterials are used for inhibiting cancer stem cell division, colony formation, spheroid formation and self-renewal. The present invention also provides methods, compositions, and kits wherein nanomaterials are used for treating cancer, coating tumors, and inhibiting metastasis. The present invention also provides methods, compositions, and kits wherein nanomaterials are used for inducing cells to go into stasis. The present invention further provides methods for isolating tumors, inhibiting bleeding, and marking margins of tumors and organs during surgery with a nanomaterial.

Abstract: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in systemic circulation triggers deleterious super-inflammatory response, which is key pathogenesis of many disorders like gram-negative sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. No effective therapeutic interventions are currently available for protection of patients against mortality. Disclosed are methods and therapeutic agents that ablate the biological toxicity of LPS in circulation (Integrin Peptide), and abrogate leukocyte infiltration into lung and liver and suppress adhesion molecule expression (Integrin Peptide and Anti-CD18 ?A scFv). These therapeutic agents can be used alone, or in combination for treatment of endotoxin-mediated pro-inflammatory responses, particularly in cases of acute sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis.