Abstract: A process is provided for carrying out an oxidation on a sprayable feed including a furanic substrate to be oxidized and a catalytically effective combination of cobalt, manganese, and bromide components for catalyzing the oxidation of the furanic substrate, which process comprises spraying the feed into a reactor vessel as a mist, supplying an oxidant, reacting the furanic substrate and the oxidant, and managing the exothermic temperature rise due to the reaction through a selection and control of the operating pressure within the reactor vessel. A crude dehydration product from the dehydration of fructose, glucose or both, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, can be directly oxidized by the process to produce 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid in surprisingly increased yields.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of treatment of tauopathies are provided. In some embodiments, an antagonist of endothclin receptor A (ETA) and endothelin receptor B (ETB) may be administered to a subject to reduce tau production or accumulation, e.g., in astrocytes. The antagonist may be a dual ETA and ETB receptor antagonist. In some aspects, methods are provided for the treatment of chemo-brain, hypoxia, brain ischemia, surgical dementia, glioblastoma, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Abstract: Various embodiments of scaffolds are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the scaffold includes a tubular polymeric structure, and a controlled gradient of solid-walled microtubules oriented radially or axially in the tubular polymeric structure. In another embodiment, the scaffold includes a nano-fibrous tubular polymeric structure, and an oriented and interconnected microtubular porous network formed in the nano-fibrous tubular polymeric structure. In still another embodiment, a composite scaffold is formed including a polymeric structure having an inner wall and an outer wall, and at least one electrospun layer positioned along at least one of the inner wall, or the outer wall, or in a middle of the porous polymeric structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding a mutant human carboxylesterase enzyme and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides which are capable of metabolizing a prodrug and inactive metabolites thereof to active drug are provided. Compositions and methods for sensitizing cells to a prodrug agent, inhibiting cell growth, treating drug addiction, and facilitating the metabolism of an organophosphate with this enzyme are also provided. In addition, a screening assay for identification of drugs activated by this enzyme is described.

Abstract: Disclosed are isolated Chlamydia trachomatis proteins, methods of fusion protein and associated antibody production, and methods of using isolated proteins and antibodies in diagnosis and detection. Also disclosed are compositions comprising isolated proteins, wherein the compositions can further comprising pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, an adjuvant and/or an immunostimulant, and methods using the pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing an infection by Chlamydia in a subject. The compositions may also comprise a protein or immunogenic fragment of a pathogenic organism other than Chlamydia trachomatis.

Abstract: The application describes methods for screening subjects with breast cancer to determine if the breast cancer will be responsive to a breast cancer therapy including an anthracycline. The application also describes methods for treating subjects with breast cancer by screening them for the likelihood of the effectiveness of treating the cancer with a therapy including anthracycline and administering the therapy in subjects when it is found that anthracycline is likely to be effective.

Abstract: The present invention provides ?V?3 integrin cysteine loop domain agonists and antagonists (including peptide agonists and antagonists and analogs thereof), along with methods of using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating cell senescence and cell proliferation using isoforms of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. The methods and compositions of the invention find use in inhibiting cancer cell growth or in generating populations of cells for tissue regeneration through the modulation of cell senescence and proliferation.

Abstract: An inductive power transfer apparatus is disclosed. A transmitter generates a first time varying magnetic field. A receiver is separated from the transmitter by a gap, but is located with the first time varying magnetic field. The receiver comprises: a conductor; and a receiver magnet located in the first time varying magnetic field and supported for movement in response to the first time varying magnetic field. The conductor and receiver are positioned relative to one another such that movement of the receiver magnet creates a second time-varying magnetic field in a vicinity of the conductor to thereby induce current in the conductor.

Abstract: An ambulatory device for use in a therapeutic and/or cosmetic treatment, the device comprises an organic light-emitting semiconductor which, in use, covers an area to be treated and emits electromagnetic radiation to cause said therapeutic and/or cosmetic treatment of the area. The light source may be extensive to provide uniform irradiation of the area to be treated and may be pulsed. The device may also include a photopharmaceutical.

Abstract: A process for stimulating microbial methane production in a petroleum-bearing subterranean formation, comprising: (a) analyzing one or more components of the formation to determine characteristics of the formation environment; (b) detecting the presence of a microbial consortium, comprising at least one methanogenic microorganism, within the formation; (c) assessing whether the formation microorganisms are currently active; (d) determining whether the microbial consortium comprises one or more methanotrophic microorganism; (e) characterization of one or more microorganisms of the consortium, at least one of the members of the consortium being a methanogenic microorganism, and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one or more known physiological and ecological characteristics; (f) characterization of one or more methanotrophic microorganisms of the consortium (if present), and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for authenticating a biometric scanner, such as swipe type finger print scanners, involves estimating unique intrinsic characteristics of the scanner (scanner pattern), that are permanent over time, and can identify a scanner even among scanners of the same manufacturer and model. Image processing and analysis are used to extract a scanner pattern from images acquired with the scanner. The scanner pattern is used to verify whether the scanner that acquired a particular image is the same as the scanner that acquired one or several images during enrollment of the biometric information. Authenticating the scanner can prevent subsequent security attacks using counterfeit biometric information on the scanner, or on the user authentication system.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the discovery of improved food-grade protein matrices with reduced allergeiiicity and uses thereof including immunotherapy.

Abstract: A magnetic particle-polymer hybrid material can include: a substance having a structure of Formula 1 or derivative or salt thereof: Z(L-FP)m (Formula 1), wherein: Z is a magnetic particle smaller than 1 mm; m is a positive integer and defines the number of (L-FP) coupled to the Z; L is a linker linked to the magnetic particle; FP is a functionalized polymer having: a first structure derived from a first norbornene compound linked to the magnetic particle through the L; and one or more monomeric units each including a second structure derived from a second norbornene compound, where one of the monomeric units is linked to the first structure through a saturated or unsaturated alkyl, each monomeric unit includes a functional group capable of binding with another substance.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for a circuit for generation of a random output. A bistable circuit has two stable states as an output and a clock signal as an input. The bistable circuit includes a first logic circuit and a second logic circuit cross-coupled connected together, which transition into a metastable state before resolving to the two stable states. The second logic circuit resolves to a stable state at a resolution time. A digitization circuit is configured to generate random bits corresponding to a variance of the resolution time of the second logic circuit resolving from the metastable state to the stable state for cycles of the clock signal. The resolution time randomly varies according to noise. An actual value of the stable state is eliminated as factor in generating the random bits.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for separating double-stranded nucleic acids out of a mixture comprising single-stranded nucleic acids and/or dNTPs and/or enzymes. The method uses spatially inhomogenously functionalized nanoporous materials. For example, the compositions and methods of the present invention can be used to purify DNA amplification reaction products.

Abstract: A method of medical treatment or prevention of a vasculopathy, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a granzyme B inhibitor to a subject in need thereof is provided. In other aspects uses of Granzyme B inhibitors for treatment or for preparation of medicaments for treatment of a vasculopathy are provided.

Abstract: The present invention involves compositions and methods for treating cancer using a mutant adenovirus comprising a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic polypeptide that is targeted to cells with a mutant retinoblastoma pathway. The mutant adenovirus is able to kill the tumor cells without harming cells with a wild type retinoblastoma pathway.

Abstract: The ErbB-2 receptor, a member of the tyrosine kinase type 1 family of receptors, has been implicated in many human malignancies. Bacteriophage display technology was employed to identify peptides that bound to the extracellular domain of human ErbB-2. The peptide KCCYSL, most frequently occurring in the affinity selected population, was chemically synthesized and characterized for its binding activities to the recombinant extracellular domain of ErbB-2. The synthetic peptide exhibits high specificity to ErbB-2 as well as to ErbB-1, another member of ErbB family. Thus, this peptide can be employed in cancer imaging or therapeutic agent targeting to malignant cells ErbB-2 receptor.