Abstract: Microstructures, microdevices and related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells, comprising administering to the subject a polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water soluble. This invention further provides a method of treating diabetes, by inhibiting the rejection of transplanted islet cells through the administration of the polypeptide to the subject.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for decomposing a set of even and odd pictures into low-band and high-band pictures respectively in a image decomposing unit, in which the even picture is used by at least two prediction motion compensators on which the output signal of each prediction motion compensator is scaled according to the number of prediction motion compensators. The method includes calculating the high-band picture by subtracting from the odd picture the scaled motion-compensated signals and using the high-band picture in the at least two update motion compensators, the output signal of each update motion compensator being scaled according to the number of update motion compensators. Finally, the low-band picture is calculated by adding the scaled update motion-compensated signals to the even picture.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing, or differentially diagnosing, an increased risk of pre-term birth (PTB) involves detecting or measuring increased expression of a biomarker Soluble E-cadherin (SE-CAD) in a biological sample from a mammalian subject, particularly in the urine, cervicovaginal fluid or blood. An increased level of expression of SE-CAD above the level of expression in the same sample of a healthy mammalian subject is an indication of a diagnosis of increased risk of PTB. Such diagnosis may further involve identify other clinical symptoms of PTB or PTL. Additionally the method may use additional biomarkers, such as fetal fibronectin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-drug vaccines based on conjugates between the drug and a non-immunogenic carrier protein. In preferred embodiments, it provides for anti-cocaine vaccines and their use to diminish the effects and/or use of cocaine in a subject.

Abstract: Provided are compounds that are capable of modulating the activity of the influenza A virus via interaction with the M2 transmembrane protein. Also provided are methods for treating an influenza A-affected disease state or infection comprising administering a composition comprising one or more compounds that have been identified as being capable of interaction with the M2 protein.

Abstract: Generally, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to conjugate systems, self-illuminating quantum dot conjugates, methods of detecting a target in a host, methods of treating a disease in a host, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to nanocomposite thermoelectric materials that exhibit enhanced thermoelectric properties. The nanocomposite materials include two or more components, with at least one of the components forming nano-sized structures within the composite material. The components are chosen such that thermal conductivity of the composite is decreased without substantially diminishing the composite's electrical conductivity. Suitable component materials exhibit similar electronic band structures. For example, a band-edge gap between at least one of a conduction band or a valence band of one component material and a corresponding band of the other component material at interfaces between the components can be less than about 5kBT, wherein kB is the Boltzman constant and T is an average temperature of said nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic radiation force source that is structured to generate an acoustic radiation force at one or more frequencies. A shear wave transmission device is embedded in a mass including a biologic material. The shear wave transmission device is responsive to the acoustic radiation force source to transmit shear waves through the biologic material. A Doppler ultrasonic device detects the shear waves and generates data representative of the shear waves. A processing device determines one or more mechanical properties of the biologic material from the data.

Abstract: 7-substituted tetracycline compounds, methods of treating tetracycline responsive states, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the 7-substituted tetracycline compounds are described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to achieve digital quantification of DNA (i.e., counting differences between identical sequences) using direct shotgun sequencing followed by mapping to the chromosome of origin and enumeration of fragments per chromosome. The preferred method uses massively parallel sequencing, which can produce tens of millions of short sequence tags in a single run and enabling a sampling that can be statistically evaluated. By counting the number of sequence tags mapped to a predefined window in each chromosome, the over- or under-representation of any chromosome in maternal plasma DNA contributed by an aneuploid fetus can be detected. This method does not require the differentiation of fetal versus maternal DNA. The median count of autosomal values is used as a normalization constant to account for differences in total number of sequence tags is used for comparison between samples and between chromosomes.

Abstract: The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.

Abstract: A method of producing an alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid is provided, the method comprising: adding an alkanol and a mineral acid to a carboxylic acid salt to provide a carboxylic acid/alkanol solution and a precipitated mineral acid salt; separating the mineral acid salt from the carboxylic acid/alkanol solution; esterifying the carboxylic acid; and isolating an alkyl ester of the carboxylic acid.

Abstract: An alternative blade assembly for an excavating apparatus comprising a front face, side walls, a centre forward edge portion, side forward edge portions on either side of the centre forward edge and end forward edges at each distal side of the side forward edges, wherein the end forward edges have bottom edges which are lower than the bottom edge of the centre forward edge.

Abstract: A localized nanostructure growth apparatus that has a partitioned chamber is provided, where a first partition includes a scanning probe microscope (SPM) and a second partition includes an atomic layer deposition (ALD) chamber, where the first partition is hermetically isolated from the second partition, and at least one SPM probe tip of the SPM is disposed proximal to a sample in the ALD chamber. According to the invention, the hermetic isolation between the chambers prevents precursor vapor from damaging critical microscope components and ensuring that contaminants in the ALD chamber can be minimized.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compositions having synergistic combinations of octoxyglycerin and at least one other antimicrobial agent in formulations which are more effective than prior art compositions without causing increased irritation to the skin of the average user. In certain embodiments, skin irritation may be minimized by low concentrations of antimicrobials and/or the presence of soothing compounds such as zinc. Preferred embodiments include combinations of octoxyglycerin, a quaternary compound, and at least one other antimicrobial agent. Without being bound to any particular theory, it is hypothesized that the unexpected antimicrobial effectiveness of combinations of octoxyglycerin may result from an enhancement of the permeability of microbes to antimicrobials caused by octoxyglycerin. Hydroalcoholic gel composition containing alcohol, water, hydrogel, and emollient or emulsifier, wherein the composition has a viscosity of below 2000 centipoises at between 20 and 40° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotationally asymmetric chaotic optical multi-pass cavity useful in optical gas sensing spectroscopy, optical delay lines, and laser amplification systems, for example. The cavity may include a single closed mirror having a light reflective surface that is deformed in two orthogonal directions and more particularly, but not exclusively, in the shape of a quadrupole in both horizontal and vertical planes. The cavity includes a light entry port and a light exit port which may be the same or separate ports, as well as a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The optical path length, the beam divergence rate, and the spot pattern are controlled by selecting the cavity deformation coefficients and the input beam direction to achieve the desired beam path and beam quality.

Abstract: Uracil auxotroph mutants of apicomplexans are provided which lack a functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme. Also provided are T. gondii autoxtroph mutants which express exogenous antigens, and methods of protecting an animal against a T. gondii and non-T. gondii disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods of linking silk fibroin to active agents through the specific interaction between avidin and biotin, providing for functionalization of silk-based protein biomaterials. An avidin- or biotin-modified silk is a biomaterial platform for functionalization with a variety of correspondingly linked active agents, such as antibodies and growth factors. A variety of functionalized silk materials, such as silk hydrogel, silk micro/nanoparticles and silk films, can be prepared by the methods of the present invention. The functionalization strategies of the present invention are relatively easy, fast and feasible, and are thus useful in many biomedical applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to computer-assisted diagnostics and classification of prostate cancer. Specifically, the invention relates to segmentation of the prostate boundary on MRI images, cancer detection using multimodal multi-protocol MR data; and their integration for a computer-aided diagnosis and classification system for prostate cancer.