Abstract: The present invention discloses a poly((meth)acrylic acid-b-styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block copolymer latex and a method for preparing the same. The poly((meth)acrylic acid-b-styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block copolymer latex is directly and stably obtained by emulsion polymerization in the presence of an amphiphilic macromolecule reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer agent as both chain transfer agent and reactive emulsifier. The present invention has simple operation, and the process is environmentally friendly and energy-saving, the product poly ((meth) acrylic acid-b-styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block copolymer latex has a good prospect in many fields, such as bitumen modification, adhesives, polymer toughening and the like.

Abstract: Solid-state shear pulverization, as can be used to disperse a pro-oxidant component in a polymer component and affect subsequent polymer biodegradation.

Abstract: A method of patterning a surface of a substrate comprising: (a) applying a coating to the surface to form a coated surface, and (b) treating the coated surface with a patterned microplasma comprising a plurality of localised microplasma discharges such that localised regions of the coated surface are selectively exposed to the localised microplasma discharges to form exposed localised regions and unexposed regions that have not been substantially exposed to a microplasma discharge; wherein the coating at the exposed localised regions is modified by the patterned microplasma and the coating at the unexposed regions is substantially unmodified to form a patterned surface on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of reducing, delaying, preventing and/or inhibiting the progression of a Cryptococcus infection into the central nervous system (CNS) of a subject by inhibiting the activity of a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1) secreted by the Cryptococcus. The invention further provides methods of increasing, promoting and/or enhancing delivery of a therapeutic agent across the blood-brain-barrier, comprising systemically administering the therapeutic agent in conjunction with a M36 fungalysin metalloprotease (e.g., MPR1), or an enzymatically active fragment thereof.

Abstract: A probe is configured for measuring an electrical impedance of a workpiece using external testing equipment. The probe includes a non-conducting base and an array of at least four spaced-apart line conductors. The at least four spaced-apart line conductors are disposed generally in parallel to each other along their lengths on a surface of the non-conducting base and are electrically connected to a corresponding array of at least four terminals on the non-conducting base. The non-conducting base is configured to be placed over a surface of the workpiece so that the at least four spaced-apart line conductors contact the surface of the workpiece and the at least four terminals are configured to be connected the external testing equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exemplary in vitro diagnostic (IVD) device used to detect the presence of and/or severity of neural injuries or neuronal disorders in a subject. The IVD device relies on an immunoassay which identifies biomarkers that are diagnostic of neural injury and/or neuronal disorders in a biological sample, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The inventive IVD device may measure one or more of several neural specific markers in a biological sample and output the results to a machine readable format wither to a display device or to a storage device internal or external to the IVD.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a quantum dot, a core may be formed using (utilizing) at least one cation precursor and at least one anion precursor. The core may be reacted with a shell forming precursor and a ligand forming precursor for more than one hour to form a shell enclosing the core and a ligand. A nanoparticle including the core, the shell and the ligand may be washed.

Abstract: A method for treating side effects of anticancer agent includes administering to a subject in need thereof a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent containing a therapeutically effective amount of a compound shown by the following Formula (1): R1—NHCH2COCH2CH2COOR2 ??(I) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an acyl group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group, or a salt thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recycling asphalt roofing shingles and incorporating them into hot mix asphalt for use in applications such as asphalt pavement construction. Unlike previous methods, the asphalt from ground shingles is mixed with and becomes an integral component of the asphalt binder, instead of acting primarily as part of the aggregate. The asphalt content of the shingles mixes with heated asphalt binder to produce a single asphalt phase, and the asphalt from the shingles acts as asphalt in the final composite.

Abstract: A composition comprising thermoset polymer, shape memory polymer to facilitate macro scale damage closure, and a means for molecular scale healing is disclosed; the composition has the ability to resolve structural defects by a bio-mimetic close-then heal process. In use, the shape memory polymer serves to bring surfaces of a structural defect into approximation, whereafter use of the means for molecular scale healing allowed for movement of the healing means into the defect and thus obtain molecular scale healing. The means for molecular scale healing can be a thermoplastic such as fibers, particles or spheres which are used by heating to a level at or above the thermoplastic's melting point, then cooling of the composition below the melting temperature of the thermoplastic. Compositions of the invention have the ability to not only close macroscopic defects, but also to do so repeatedly even if another wound/damage occurs in a previously healed/repaired area.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions relating to viral capsomeres which comprise foreign immunogenic sequences for use in pharmaceutical compositions and methods of producing such compositions, and related isolated or purified protein and nucleic acid molecules, vectors, host cells, compositions, and methods of use to augment an immune response, immunise an animal and prophylactically or therapeutically treat a disease, disorder or condition. The viral capsomere may be derived from a polyomavirus and comprise an immunogen of interest at the N-terminus and further at the C-terminus and/or at one or more exposed loops of the capsomere.

Abstract: Benzothiazinethione derivatives of formula (I), their preparative methods and uses are provided. Benzothiazinethione derivatives of the invention have significant effect of inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Abstract: Nanoparticles include a core and one or more targeting moieties, as well as one or more contrast agents or one or more therapeutic agents. The contrast agents or therapeutic agents may be contained or embedded within the core. If the nanoparticle includes therapeutic agents, the agents are preferably released from the core at a desired rate. The core may be biodegradable and may release the agents as the core is degraded or eroded. The targeting moieties preferably extend outwardly from the core so that they are available for interaction with cellular components, which interactions will target the nanoparticles to the appropriate cells, such as apoptotic cells; organelles, such as mitochondria; or the like. The targeting moieties may be tethered to the core or components that interact with the core.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods for implementing a flash translation layer in a computer subsystem comprising a flash memory and a random access memory (RAM). According to one disclosed method, the flash memory comprises data blocks for storing real data and translation blocks for storing address-mapping information. The RAM includes a cache space allocation table and a translation page mapping table. The cache space allocation table may be partitioned into a first cache space and a second cache space. Upon receiving an address-translating request, the cache space allocation table is searched to identify if an address-mapping data structure that matches the request is present. If not, the translation blocks are searched for the matched address-mapping data structure, where the physical page addresses for accessing the translation blocks are provided by the translation page mapping table. The matched address-translating data structure is also used to update the cache space allocation table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to preventing and treating leukemia and other cancers of the blood and bone, as well as disorders of the blood, by inhibiting gut-derived serotonin. The inhibition of the gut-derived serotonin is accomplished by inhibiting Tph1, an enzyme responsible for the production of gut-derived serotonin. The present invention also relates to preventing and treating leukemia and other cancers of the blood and bone, as well as disorders of the blood, by increasing the number, growth and proliferation of osteoblasts.

Abstract: A process for extracting a target metal ion from an aqueous feedstock containing, inter alia, the target metal ion. The process comprises providing said feedstock and contacting the feedstock with a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) that is substantially free of an extraneous organic extractant under liquid-liquid extraction conditions for a time sufficient to allow transfer of at least some of the target metal ions from the feedstock to the RTIL. The RTIL is then separated from the feedstock and the target metal ions are recovered from the RTIL.

Abstract: The present invention compositions and methods of using at least a portions of an isolated and purified ?-crystallin polypeptide that includes one or more ?-pleated sheets and that prevents neurotoxicity and amyloidogenesis.

Abstract: Anti-angiogenesis methods and compositions are described. The anti-angiogenic effect is provided by application of sparstolonin B or a derivative thereof to endothelial cells. The sparstolonin B or derivative thereof can inhibit angiogenesis by targeting endothelial cell cycle progression, cell migration, and chemotaxis.

Abstract: Prediction of a preferred position and orientation of a ligand bound to a macromolecule is described. The ligand and the macromolecule can form a stable complex based on matching of physico-chemical properties and probabilistic relaxation labeling. The macromolecule can be a protein and a physico-chemical property can be hydrogen bonding. A potential docking location for the ligand on the surface of the protein is determined. Then, on the potential docking location and the ligand, the donor and acceptor atoms are identified. Probabilistic relaxation labeling is utilized to facilitate identification of the potential matching pairs of donors and acceptors, according to local shape complementarity and a geometric constraint for the conformation of hydrogen bond. A scoring function can rank the potential matching pairs to obtain the preferred ligand position.

Abstract: Methods of forming and resulting devices are described that include graphene devices on boron nitride. Selected methods of forming and resulting devices include graphene field effect transistors (GFETs) including boron nitride.