Abstract: Disclosed is the surprising discovery that aminophospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are specific, accessible and stable markers of the luminal surface of tumor blood vessels. The present invention thus provides aminophospholipid-targeted diagnostic and therapeutic constructs for use in tumor intervention. Antibody-therapeutic agent conjugates and constructs that bind to aminophospholipids are particularly provided, as are methods of specifically delivering therapeutic agents, including toxins and coagulants, to the stably-expressed aminophospholipids of tumor blood vessels, thereby inducing thrombosis, necrosis and tumor regression.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for representing polarized light in computer models. A rendering pipeline receives three dimensional modeling data (e.g., geometric primitives) for rendering a two dimensional image are received. The modeling data includes data representing a light source The light energy from the simulated transmission of particles at each pixel of the two dimensional image is calculated for any particles transmitted in an adjoint direction from a specified view point back to the light source. The light energies from each pixel are summed to calculate the total light energy present at the specified view point. The total light energy can be forwarded to other modules in rendering pipeline to more accurately render the two dimensional image, such as, for example, representing polarized light in the two dimensional image.

Abstract: A means for the extraction and crystallization of quassinoids such as quassin and neoquassin from natural sources containing these compounds, using compounds that are Generally Recognized As Safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is provided. In particular, a means for extraction that does not require use of lead acetate, chloroform, methanol, or diethyl ether is provided. The process includes a means of removing non-polar and very polar substances from an extracted residue to enhance crystallization of quassinoids from the residue.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for in vivo and in vitro targeting. A large number of targeting peptides directed towards human organs, tissues or cell types are disclosed. The peptides are of use for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, including but not limited to gene therapy vectors. A novel class of gene therapy vectors is disclosed. Certain of the disclosed peptides have therapeutic use for inhibiting angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting pregnancy or inducing weight loss. Methods of identifying novel targeting peptides in humans, as well as identifying endogenous receptor-ligand pairs are disclosed. Methods of identifying novel infectious agents that are causal for human disease states are also disclosed. A novel mechanism for inducing apoptosis is further disclosed.

Abstract: Tin powder is heated in a flowing stream of an inert gas, such as argon, containing a small concentration of carbon-containing gas, at a temperature to produce metal vapor. The tin deposits as liquid on a substrate, and reacts with the carbon-containing gas to form carbon nanotubes in the liquid tin. Upon cooling and solidification, a composite of tin nanowires bearing coatings of carbon nanotubes is formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes for electrochemical analysis comprising: —an insulating surface; —carbon nanotubes situated on the insulating surface at a density of at least 0.1 ?mCNT Um?2; and —an electrically conducting material in electrical contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the carbon nanotubes cover an area of no more than about 5.0% of the insulating surface. Methods of making such electrodes and assay devices or kits with such electrodes, are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to histology analyses, and in particular, to the assessment of pathological tissues to aid in the diagnosis of disease characterized by specific pathologies, for example cancer. The invention provides methods and apparatuses for analyzing tissue samples, as well as computer-readable media programmed with software for carrying out these diagnostic methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition suitable for administration to a subject, the composition comprising pharmacologically acceptable particulate material dispersed throughout a pharmacologically acceptable liquid carrier, the particulate material being maintained in the dispersed state by a steric stabilizer, wherein the steric stabilizer is a polymeric material comprising a steric stabilizing polymeric segment and an anchoring polymeric segment, one or both of which are derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers that have been polymerized by a living polymerization technique, wherein the steric stabilizing polymeric segment is different from the anchoring polymeric segment, and wherein the anchoring polymeric segment has an affinity toward the surface of the particulate material and secures the stabilizer to the particulate material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of determining the prognosis of a breast cancer patient by evaluating the activity of the glucocorticoid receptor in tumor cells. Other embodiment include methods of treating breast cancer cells, particularly, chemo-resistant cells, with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist and an anticancer agent or compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating cancer by administering to a patient a small molecule inhibitor of Survivin. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting Survivin dimerization in a patient by administering a compound of formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV). Methods of inducing cell cycle arrest in cancer cells, comprising G2/M stage arrest, in a patient by administering a compound of formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV) are also disclosed. Further disclosed herein are methods of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a patient by administering a compound of formula (I), (II), (III), or (IV).

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of pain and cystic fibrosis. The methods include administering to an animal a composition or a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (“PAP”) polypeptide, or an active variant, fragment or derivative thereof, or a therapeutically effective amount of an activity enhancing PAP modulator. PAP is provided as a treatment for chronic pain including neuropathic and inflammatory pain in animals and humans. The PAP, or the active variant, fragment or derivative thereof, or the activity enhancing modulator of the PAP is administered via one or more of injection, intrathecal injection, oral administration, a surgically implanted pump, stem cells, viral gene therapy, or naked DNA gene therapy. Intrathecal injection of PAP functions as an analgesic and reduces thermal sensitivity in mice. PAP can reduce chronic mechanical and thermal inflammatory pain in mice.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of pain and cystic fibrosis. The methods include administering to an animal a composition or a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (“PAP”) polypeptide, or an active variant, fragment or derivative thereof, or a therapeutically effective amount of an activity enhancing PAP modulator. PAP is provided as a treatment for chronic pain including neuropathic and inflammatory pain in animals and humans. The PAP, or the active variant, fragment or derivative thereof, or the activity enhancing modulator of the PAP is administered via one or more of injection, intrathecal injection, oral administration, a surgically implanted pump, stem cells, viral gene therapy, or naked DNA gene therapy. Intrathecal injection of PAP functions as an analgesic and reduces thermal sensitivity in mice. PAP can reduce chronic mechanical and thermal inflammatory pain in mice.

Abstract: A disclosed method includes: defining two first points in a model cross section of a model of an object and two corresponding second points in an image that is a cross section of the object for a reference time; performing first transforming including expansion or reduction for the model cross section so that a position of a second point is identical to a position of a corresponding first point; superimposing the image and the model cross section after the performing; second transforming a second model cross section for a second time after the reference time, so that positions of two second points in a second image for the second time are almost identical to positions of corresponding two first points in the second model cross section; and superimposing the second image and the second model cross section after the second transforming.

Abstract: Nanoelectromechanical logic devices can include a plurality of flexible bridges having control and logic electrodes. Voltages applied to control electrodes can be used to control flexing of the bridges. The logic electrodes can provide logical functions of the applied voltages.

Abstract: A system for deforming and analyzing particles includes a substrate defining an inlet, and an outlet; a fluidic pathway fluidly coupled to the inlet and the outlet and defining a delivery region upstream of a deformation region configured to deform particles, wherein the fluidic pathway comprises a first branch configured to generate a first flow, and a second branch configured to generate a second flow that opposes the first flow, wherein an intersection of the first flow and the second flow defines the deformation region; a detection module including a sensor configured to generate a morphology dataset characterizing deformation of the particles, and a photodetector configured to generate a fluorescence dataset characterizing fluorescence of the particles; and a processor configured to output an analysis of the plurality of particles based at least in part on the deformation dataset and the fluorescent dataset for the plurality of particles.

Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing obesity or obesity related disorders in a subject are provided, comprising administering to the subject a treatment effective in reducing one or more activities of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the subject. Methods of screening for compositions that can modulate one or more EGFR activities are also provided.

Abstract: A device for determining material properties includes a bottom panel extending from a first end to a second end of the device, for supporting a material to be tested. A closed loop flexible wall extends upwardly from the panel and is in operational engagement with a flexible wall idle means towards the first end of the device and a flexible wall driving means in spaced relation with the flexible wall idle means. The flexible wall driving means causes movement of the closed loop flexible wall along a predetermined closed loop path. The flexible wall driving means and the means of driving it are arranged at a position outside of a material containment area of the device.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to implantable devices for producing insulin in diabetic animals and to methods of making same. Some embodiments include amphiphilic biomembranes for use in biological applications (e.g., as an alternative and/or supplemental insulin source). Some embodiments also include live insulin-producing cells contained within one or more amphiphilic membranes so as to prevent or diminish an immuno-response and/or rejection by the host.

Abstract: Provided are probes featuring multiple electrodes, which probes have diameters in the nanometer range and may be inserted into cells or other subjects so as to monitor an electrical characteristic of the subject. The probes may also include a conductive coating on at least one probe element to improve the probes' performance. The probes may also be used to inject a fluid or other agent into the subject and simultaneously monitor changes in the subject's electrical characteristics in response to the injection. Related methods of fabricating and of using the inventive probes are also provided.

Abstract: A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×107 Pa and an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10?5 Scm?1. The electrolyte is made under dry conditions to achieve the noted characteristics. In another aspect, the electrolyte exhibits a conductivity drop when the temperature of electrolyte increases over a threshold temperature, thereby providing a shutoff mechanism for preventing thermal runaway in lithium battery cells.