Abstract: The present invention relates to gene therapy systems designed for the delivery of a therapeutic product to a subject using replication-defective virus composition(s) engineered with a built-in safety mechanism for ablating the therapeutic gene product, either permanently or temporarily, in response to a pharmacological agent—preferably an oral formulation, e.g., a pill. The invention is based, in part, on the applicants' development of an integrated approach, referred to herein as “PITA” (Pharmacologically Induced Transgene Ablation), for ablating a transgene or negatively regulating transgene expression. In this approach, replication-deficient viruses are used to deliver a transgene encoding a therapeutic product (an RNA or a protein) so that it is expressed in the subject, but can be reversibly or irreversibly turned off by administering the pharmacological agent; e.g., by administration of a small molecule that induces expression of an ablator specific for the transgene or its RNA transcript.

Abstract: Provided is dental stem cell comprising an Oct3/4 transgene. Also provided is a method of making a pluripotent stem cell. Additionally, a method of preparing an insulin-secreting cell is provided. Further provided is an insulin-secreting cell prepared by that method. A method of preparing a chondrocyte-like cell is also provided, as is a chondrocyte-like cell prepared by that method. Additionally provided is a method of preparing a myocyte-like cell. Also, a myocyte-like cell prepared by that method is provided. A method of preparing a hair follicle-like cell is additionally provided, as is a hair follicle-like cell prepared by that method. A method of preparing a neuron-like cell is additionally provided, as is a neuron-like cell prepared by that method.

Abstract: The present invention is a gene expression panel of chemotherapeutic drug-resistant cancer stem cells comprising RIN1, SOX15 and TLR4. In one embodiment the cancer stem cells are testicular cancer germ cells. The present invention provides for a kit and method for determining response to treatment with decitabine at low doses.

Abstract: A photoactive device is provided. The device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The photoactive region further includes an organic donor layer and an organic acceptor layer that form a donor-acceptor heterojunction. The mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region are different by a factor of at least 100, and more preferably a factor of at least 1000. At least one of the mobility of holes in the organic donor region and the mobility of electrons in the organic acceptor region is greater than 0.001 cm2/V-sec, and more preferably greater than 1 cm2/V-sec. The heterojunction may be of various types, including a planar heterojunction, a bulk heterojunction, a mixed heterojunction, and a hybrid planar-mixed heterojunction.

Abstract: Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to hydrolysis of mannan-containing poly- or oligo-saccharides by use of a polypeptide having endo-?-mannanase activity. In particular the present disclosure relates to compositions comprising a bacterial endo-?-mannanase, polynucleotides encoding the endo-?-mannanase, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A method for evaluating hepatocellular carcinoma in a subject is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: a) obtaining a hepatocellular carcinoma protein marker profile for a sample obtained from the subject; and b) comparing the protein marker profile to a control profile.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting growth of prolactin-responsive cancer cells and treating prolactin-responsive malignancies via administration an agent such as cyclosporine A which directly inhibits an enzymatic activity of a cyclophilin.

Abstract: Biological macromolecules are synthesized in vitro under conditions and in a reaction composition wherein oxidative phosphorylation is activated and protein folding is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the activity cyclin D1 activity in tumor cells. The invention is based on the finding that cyclin D1 shRNA molecules are capable of attenuating tumor growth and interfering with tumor angiogenesis.

Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.

Abstract: A method of generating assertions for verification of a hardware design expressed at a register transfer level (RTL) includes running simulation traces through the design to generate simulation data; extract domain-specific information about the design for variables of interest; execute a data mining algorithm with the simulation data and the domain-specific information, to generate a set of candidate assertions for variable(s) of interest through machine learning with respect to the domain-specific information, the candidate assertions being likely invariants; conduct formal verification on the design with respect to each candidate assertion by outputting as invariants the candidate assertions that pass verification; iteratively feed back into the algorithm a counterexample trace generated by each failed candidate assertion, each counterexample trace including at least one additional variable in the design not previously input into the data mining algorithm, to thus increase coverage of a state space of the

Abstract: It was discovered that insulin binding to insulin receptors signals the upregulation of expression of the liver enzyme deiodinase 1 (Dio1), which in turn activates the ApoA-1 promoter, thereby thereby increasing ApoA-1 expression (primarily in the liver), that in turn raises the levels of plasma ApoA-1, the major and necessary protein in HDLC. Certain embodiments of the invention are directed to methods for increasing circulating HDLC levels in an animal by administering therapeutically effective amounts of Dio1, or by increasing the level of Dio1 through gene therapy.

Abstract: Probiotic compositions comprising a bacterium that is capable of producing nitric oxide and a substrate of nitric oxide synthase are provided. Also provided are methods of improving the gastrointestinal health of a subject by orally administering a bacterium capable of producing nitric oxide and orally administering a substrate of nitric oxide synthase. Methods of reducing the inflammatory immune response after treatment with a probiotic and methods of reducing horizontal transmission of pathogenic bacteria within groups of animals are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for decreasing the size and density of amyloid plaques, decreasing cognitive decline associated with amyloid pathology, and treating Alzheimer's disease by selectively inhibiting the activity of Acyl-CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferase 1, but not Acyl-CoA:Cholesterol Acyltransferase 2.

Abstract: Provided are methods of assessing the absence or presence of a neurodegenerative disease in a subject comprising characterizing TDP-43 in a tissue sample of the subject. Also disclosed are methods for diagnosing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject, and methods for determining the efficacy of a drug against a neurodegenerative disease. Novel antibodies that bind to TDP-43 are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds that function as modulators of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity; and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds. The present invention provides therapeutic methods involving administering a subject compound, or a subject pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Techniques include automatically detecting a lymph node in a scanned image of a body without human intervention, using one or more of three approaches. First, a subset of scanned images is determined, which belongs to one anatomical domain. A search region for lymph tissue is in a particular spatial relationship outside an anatomical object in the domain. Second, scanned images are segmented without human intervention to determine a boundary of a particular lymph node. The scanned images and outline data are received. Some of these embodiments automatically segment by determining an external marker, based on the outline data, and an internal marker, based on a geometric center of the outline data or thresholds determined automatically inside detected edges, or both, for a marker-controlled watershed algorithm. Third, based on lymph node data at a particular time, a second scanned image at a different time is segmented automatically, without human intervention.

Abstract: Provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including a first domain from a first isoprenoid synthase joined to a second domain from a second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced in the absence of the second domain of the second, heterologous, isoprenoid synthase. Also provided is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including an asymmetrically positioned heterologous domain, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced when the domain is positioned at its naturally-occurring site in the isoprenoid synthase polypeptide.

Abstract: Electrical control of the emitter of a coupled quantum emitter-resonant cavity structure is provided. Electrodes are disposed near a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a semiconductor optical cavity such that varying an applied bias at the electrodes alters an electric field at the quantum dot. Optical input and output ports are coupled to the cavity, and an optical response of the device relates light emitted from the output port to light provided to the input port. Altering the applied bias at the electrodes is capable of altering the optical response. Preferably, the closest electrode to the cavity is disposed between or away from angular lobes of the cavity mode, to reduce loss caused by the proximity of electrode to cavity. The present approach is applicable to both waveguide-coupled devices and non-waveguide devices.