Abstract: A method for forming encapsulated gold nanoparticles mixes mangiferin into a liquid medium to form a reducing agent solution. Gold salts are mixed into the reducing agent solution. Reaction of the gold salts is permitted, in the absence of any other reducing agent, to form a nanoparticle solution of stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles coated with mangiferin. The gold salts can consist of AuCl4, or can consist of radioactive gold salts. A cancer therapy method injects a solution of mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles directly into a solid tumor. A solution consisting of an aqueous or alcoholic medium and mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles is provided. The mangiferin encapsulated gold nanoparticles can have core sizes of ˜5-20 nm and total sizes of ˜20-120 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are example embodiments of a transformative sensor apparatus that is capable of detecting and quantifying the presence of a substance of interest such as a specified bacteria within a sample via changes in impedance exhibited by a detection electrode array. In an example embodiment, sensitivity is improved by including a focusing electrode array in a rampdown channel to focus a concentration of the substance of interest into a detection region. The focusing electrodes include an opposing pair of electrodes in a rampdown orientation. The focusing electrode may also include tilted thin film finger electrodes extending from the rampdown electrodes. In another example embodiment, trapping electrodes are positioned to trap a concentration of the substance of interest onto the detection electrode array.

Abstract: Described herein is the discovery of novel PSMA-specific peptides, which were identified through a novel combinatorial biopanning method. One of the novel PSMA-specific peptides discovered, GTIQPYPFSWGY (or GTI) (SEQ ID NO: 2), exhibits high binding affinity and selectivity to PSMA and PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells. It was found that GTI can mediate internalization of the apoptotic KLA peptide to PSMA-positive LNCaP cells and induce cell death. Moreover, a FAM-labeled GTI peptide shows a high and specific tumor uptake in nude mice bearing human prostate cancer xenografts. It was demonstrated that the GTI peptide can be employed as a PSMA-specific ligand for prostate cancer diagnosis and/or for targeted drug delivery to prostate cancer cells.

Abstract: Herein a Bacillus exosporium antigen delivery (BEAD) system that provides a means to introduce recombinant proteins or small molecules into the exosporium of members of the B. cereus family of bacteria, i.e. B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis, is disclosed. The system results in the surface display of recombinant proteins or small molecules such that they can stimulate an immune response. In addition, methods of making and using the system are described.

Abstract: An electrochemical reaction cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The MEA is positioned between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The anode electrode, the cathode electrode, and the MEA each have a corrugated shape and are contained within a recess of a housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new series of compounds exhibiting high fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state. In one embodiment, the compounds include a series of 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylgermoles with the same or different 1,1-substituents. In another embodiment, substituted germafluorenes, germa-fluoresceins/rhodamines, and germapins are described. These germanium heterocycles possess ideal photophysical and thermostability properties, which makes them excellent candidates for chemical or biological sensors, host materials for electroluminescent devices and solar cells, and emissive and/or electron-transport layer components in organic light emitting diode devices.

Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to methods and compositions of treating or preventing diabetes mellitus by administering to a subject a composition comprising an amount of stem and/or progenitor cells and at least one antigen-specific therapy.

Abstract: A resource optimization system is offered for use in managing large scale projects. The resource optimization system has a resource optimization tool configured to receive a plurality of inputs. The plurality of inputs represent at least one task associated with the large scale project and are inputted into a resource optimization tool for a data processing procedure. An optimization module is contained within the resource optimization tool and configured to perform the data processing procedure on each of the plurality of inputs as well as exogenous disturbances inputted into the optimization module. The optimization module returns an optimization result based on the data processing procedure to reflect the management and progress of the project under evaluation.

Abstract: A system and method for performing Optical Coherence Tomography on a sample utilizes collimated, phase modulated beams of light in an interferometer. At least one of the beams of light utilized exists as an Airy beam for at least a portion of the procedure, obviating any deleterious impact caused by the Gaussian beam diffraction. The system may incorporate a light source, polarization beam splitter, delay line, non-polarization beam splitters, lenses, phase masks, waveplates, and mirrors, any or all of which may be controlled by a computing element.

Abstract: A multi-cell electrochemical reaction cell structure for a flow battery or fuel cell having a plurality of cells electrically connected in series or parallel. A first housing has a pair of mating end plates assembled together, each forming a plurality of recesses in which one of the cells is received. One of the end plates has a projection along its perimeter and the other one of the end plates has a groove along its perimeter. The projection is configured to fit within the groove in a mating relationship to seal the housing when the end plates are engaged with each other. A second housing is a tubular shell in which a plurality of tubular flow cell units electrically connected in parallel are housed. Catholyte flows in the tubular flow cell units and anolyte flows in the tubular shell.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture materials comprising one or more 3D-printed zeolite monoliths for the capture and or removal of CO2 from air or gases in enclosed compartments, including gases or mixtures of gases having less than about 5% CO2. Methods for preparing 3D-printed zeolite monoliths useful as CO2 capture materials and filters, as well as methods of removing CO2 from a gas or mixture of gases in an enclosed compartment using 3D-printed zeolite monoliths are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition that includes an amphiphile, its use in a method of preventing and/or treating cancer, and its use in a method of producing a pharmaceutical composition. In certain embodiments, the amphiphile includes a hydrophilic peptide that binds to a Plenty of SH3 domain (POSH) and inhibits or disrupts a POSH scaffold network, a hydrophobic moiety, and an aptamer. The present invention is also directed to other POSH inhibitor complex biomolecules that do not contain a hydrophobic moiety.

Abstract: High-resolution 3D optical polarization tractography (OPT) images of the internal fiber structure of a target tissue. Manipulation of dual-angle imaging data of the fiber orientation inside a target tissue leads to the determination of 3D imaging properties of the target tissue, allowing transmission of the 3D image properties of the target tissue to an OPT processor to produce high-resolution 3D images.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions useful for controlling fluid flow, for example in a target zone of a subterranean environment, and methods of forming and using the same. The composition generally comprises a quantity of fibers and a quantity of swellable particles, which may be dispersed in a carrier fluid. The composition may be synthesized in the form of a bulk gel or may be gelatinated during use. The fibers in the compositions provide improved performance as compared to prior PPG and RPPG particle-containing compositions. Specifically, the compositions reinforce the re-cross-linked/re-associated hydrogel plug in underground features and support proper rehydration of RPPG particles with water or brine to better to provide structural support for the particles within the gel and to more completely fill underground void space conduits.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for use in a treatment for prevention of arthrofibrosis that includes a first and a second substantially L-shaped frames, each L-shaped frame having a first member and a second member extending from the first member in a substantially perpendicular direction and terminating in a first end, a fixed plate extending between the first members of the L-shaped frames, the fixed plate being parallel with the first members of the L-shaped frames, a movable plate pivotally coupled to the first ends of the first members of the L-shaped frames with, a pneumatic piston coupled to the movable plate and the fixed plate, a hand operated valve operatively coupled to the pneumatic piston and a goniometer coupled to the movable plate and one of the L-shaped frames, the goniometer adapted and configured to indicate the angle between the movable plate and the fixed plate.

Abstract: Methods and system for testing a voice-enabled device. A signal generator generates a carrier signal having a variable resonant frequency, and a frequency mixer mixes an audible voice command signal with the carrier signal to generate an inaudible amplitude-modulated test signal. An antenna transmits the amplitude-modulated test signal at a variable attack angle to a voice-enabled device. The resonant frequency of the carrier signal and/or the attack angle of the transmitted amplitude-modulated signal are varied and at least one of a sensitive frequency and a sensitive attack angle of the voice-enabled device is identified.

Abstract: Compositions comprising bis(tryptophan) derivatives are provided that act as antimicrobials. Also provided are methods for reversing antibiotic resistance in a bacterium, or recovering or enhancing antimicrobial activity of an antibiotic against a variety of microbes, by co-administration with a bis(tryptophan) derivative.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the composition of particle gels for CO2-EOR and CO2 storage. More particularly, CO2 resistant particle gels are provided that can re-crosslink at subterranean conditions. These particle gels can be deployed to improve the conformance of CO2 flooding, CO2 huff-puff, or Water-Alternative-Gas (WAG). The applications may also involve CO2 storage, such as the blocking of CO2 leakage and similar CO2 processing.

Abstract: A high efficiency, low noise thermoelectric dehumidifier that includes a heat pipe array, a condensing heat sink, an air intake duct, and a thermoelectric cooler. A first air flow is directed over the condensing heat sink that is cooled by the thermoelectric cool such that the first air flow is dehumidified by the cooled condensing heat sink. Heat is removed from a hot side of the thermoelectric cooler via the heat pipe array. A second air flow is directed over the heat pipe array such that the heat extracted from the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler is extracted and circulated back into the ambient environment.

Abstract: Synthetic nucleic acids encoding mini and microdystrophin genes comprising the membrane binding motifs or domains of the R10-R11-R12 region are provided. Also provided are vectors, host cells, and related methods of using the same to treat a subject suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) or X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDC), or for ameliorating one or more adverse effects of DMD, BMD, or XLDC. Also provided are a fusion protein comprising a nNOS binding domain of dystrophin R16-R17 that is operably linked to a syntrophin PDZ domain and synthetic nucleic acids comprising the same that can be used to treat subjects with diseases characterized by loss of sarcolemmal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activity.