Abstract: An optical noise monitoring method and monitor, the monitor comprising an optical transmitter for receiving at least a portion of an optical signal, a device arranged to extract a reflected optical signal comprising a portion of the optical signal back-reflected by stimulated Brillouin scattering in the optical transmitter, and a photodetector for receiving the reflected optical signal. The optical transmitter can scatter the optical signal by stimulated Brillouin scattering.

Abstract: The present invention includes compound compositions and methods of making compounds that include an oligo-benzamide compound having at least two optionally substituted benzamides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the regulation of apoptosis and expression of the BH3-only family of genes by miR-29. The invention further relates to the use of miR-29 to protect cells from apoptosis and to treat disorders associated with apoptosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the treatment or prevention of Chlamydia infections and cancer. The methods and compositions inhibit the entry of Chlamydia into a host cell expressing EMP2 by interfering with the interaction between the Chlamydia and EMP2. The methods and compositions target cancers which express or overexpress EMP2 nucleic acids and polypeptides by targeting EMP2.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for detecting mutations that can be linked to dementia. For example, methods and materials for detecting one or more mutations within PGRN nucleic acid are provided. This document also provides methods and materials for detecting the level of progranulin expression. In addition, this document relates to methods and materials for treating mammals having a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., dementia). For example, methods and materials for increasing PGRN polypeptide levels in mammals are provided, as are methods and materials for identifying agents that can be used to increase PGRN polypeptide levels in mammals.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and/or uses of oligonucleotide conjugates for assays and detections and related systems and/or kits for suppressing background due to cross-hybridization. Certain methods are directed to a method for detecting one or more biological targets of a sample in a detection assay, comprising: providing a molecular probe, comprising a binding moiety and an oligonucleotide sequence, to a sample comprising one or more biological targets; binding the one or more biological targets with the binding moiety; providing a detectable component to the sample, wherein the detectable component comprises a signal generating moiety conjugated to an oligonucleotide sequence complementary to the oligonucleotide sequence of the molecular probe; hydridizing the oligonucleotide sequence of the target-bound molecular probe to the detectable component; and detecting a signal generated from the hydridized detectable component. Various other embodiments, applications etc. are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Provided according to some embodiments of the invention are methods of forming co-condensed silica particles. In some embodiments, the methods include reacting a thiol-containing silane and a backbone alkoxysilane in a reaction solution that comprises water to form thiol-functionalized co-condensed silica particles, wherein the thiol-functionalized co-condensed silica particles include a polysiloxane matrix and at least some of thiol groups are present within the polysiloxane matrix; and reacting the thiol-functionalized co-condensed silica particles with a nitrosating agent to provide the S-nitrosothiol-functionalized co-condensed silica particles. In some embodiments, provided are S-nitrosothiol-functionalized co-condensed silica particles.

Abstract: The present invention describes a novel clastomeric biodegradable photoluminescent polymer (BPLP). The BPLPs of the present invention possess great processability and tunable fluorescence emission characteristics and are cell-compatible and biodegradable. The BPLPs of the present invention can serve as both implant materials and bioimaging probes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a branched vinyl polymer carrying dendrons made from monofunctional vinyl monomers and branched by virtue of difunctional vinyl monomers so that there is on average one branch or fewer per polymer chain to avoid gelation. The polymer may be made by chain-growth polymerization of predominantly monofunctional vinyl monomers in the presence of difunctional vinyl monomers and dendron units.

Abstract: Techniques for background subtraction in computed tomography include determining voxels in a slice of interest in a three dimensional computed tomography scan of the interior of a body based on a first set of measurements of radiation transmitted through the body. Based on the first set of measurements, a first background image for radiation transmitted through the body in a first direction is determined without the effects of the voxels in the slice of interest. A current image is determined based on a different current measurement of radiation transmitted through the body in the first direction. A first difference is determined between the current image and the first background image. The result is a high contrast image in the slice of interest even from a single current projection image.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the design of an environmentally friendly and efficient fluorous phase based on dendritic architectures containing short semifluorinated groups on their periphery.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting cellular activation by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in a subject in need thereof (e.g., a subject afflicted with cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetic retinopathy or other disease) comprises administering an antagonist that inhibits the binding of IAP to SHPS-1 to the subject in an amount effective to inhibit cellular activation by IGF-1. Compounds and compositions for carrying out such methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds. More specifically the present invention pertains to certain amido-thiophene compounds that, inter alia, inhibit 11?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11?-HSD1). The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, to inhibit 11?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; to treat disorders that are ameliorated by the inhibition of 11?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; to treat the metabolic syndrome, which includes disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, and associated disorders including insulin resistance, hypertension, lipid disorders and cardiovascular disorders such as ischaemic (coronary) heart disease; to treat CNS disorders such as mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, including Alzheimer's disease; etc.

Abstract: This invention describes the use of a laser scanning device, for example a laser scanning CYTOMETRY (LSC), with a double-fluorescent labeling technique as a quantitative method that can be used to objectively and accurately measure endothelial cell death, endothelial tumor cell death and blood vessel density of tumor tissue. These parameters can be used as markers of efficacy in tumors treated with anti-angiogenic or traditional therapies and can distinguish patients who respond to these drugs from those who do not.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods for separating biological tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, a method for separating tissue comprises providing a first composition comprising a polymerizable material, providing a second composition comprising a polymerization initiator, disposing the first composition at a first site beneath a first tissue layer, disposing the second composition at the first site, polymerizing the polymerizable material at the first site, and separating the first tissue layer from a second tissue layer.

Abstract: A complete capillary electrophoresis (CE) system that is capable of providing a continuous flow of effluent at the exit of the flow-through outlet vial is provided. A self-contained capillary electrophoresis system with a flow-through outlet vial for interfacing with mass spectrometry includes a capillary having an upstream inlet end and a downstream terminus end; an electrically conductive hollow needle having an inner wall defining an internal tapered chamber, the internal tapered chamber dimensioned and configured to slidably accept the terminus end of the capillary, the capillary longitudinally inserted into and mounted within the internal tapered chamber to a distance whereby the terminus end of the capillary abuts the inner wall of the needle at the taper; and wherein a micro-reservoir is formed between the terminus end of the capillary and the downstream exit orifice.

Abstract: A self-assembled carbon structure such as a carbon opal is disclosed herein. The structure is composed of hydrophilic carbon spheres oriented in a periodic colloidal crystal structure, wherein the carbon spheres have a porous surface, wherein the carbons spheres have an average particle diameter less than 3000 nm. Also disclosed is an inverse opal structure that includes a plurality of voids in the structural material. The voids are regularly arranged in an ordered periodic structure, the voids having a spherical shape. The inverse opal structure has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/g and method for making the same together with materials that employ the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for the production of vitamin K dependent proteins.

Abstract: Hydrogel compositions comprise an aqueous dispersion phase and a plurality of peptides, or derivatives, or analogues thereof. Each peptide comprises at least two amino acid residues and an aromatic stacking ligand and the hydrogel is formed by self-assembly of said peptides in said aqueous dispersion medium. The aqueous dispersion phase is physiologically acceptable and may have a pH of 6 to 8, as may the hydrogel itself. The hydrogel may be used for cell culture or for treatment of medical conditions characterised by tissue loss/damage.

Abstract: A plurality of artificial red blood cell particles includes each particle of the plurality being substantially monodisperse and each particle having a largest common linear dimension of about 5 ?m to about 10 ?m. The particles can also have a modulus configured such that a particle of the plurality of particles can pass through a tube having an inner diameter of less than about 3 ?m.