Abstract: A nucleic acid amplification method is provided, along with kits useful in performing the amplification method.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to single molecule switching devices are disclosed. One example method can include the step of applying a tunneling current across a tunneling junction. The tunneling junction can include an endohedral fullerene that includes a fullerene cage and a trapped cluster or a trapped atom. Such a method can also include exciting one or more internal motions of the trapped cluster or the trapped atom based at least in part on the tunneling current, and changing the conductance of the endohedral fullerene based at least in part on the one or more excited internal motions. One or more electronic processes can be controlled based at least in part on the changed conductance of the endohedral fullerene.

Abstract: An optical sensor device includes an optical waveguide portion having a core, the core having a first refractive index, and a functional material layer coupled to the optical fiber portion, the functional material layer being made of a metal oxide material, the functional material layer being structured to have a second refractive index, the second refractive index being less than the first refractive index. The functional material layer may be a nanostructure material comprising the metal oxide material with a plurality of holes or voids formed therein such that the functional material layer is caused to have the second refractive index.

Abstract: The present invention is based, at least in part, on novel, unimolecular STAT3 oligonucleotide decoys exhibiting increased in vivo stability as compared to previously known decoys which are effective in inhibiting STAT3 when administered systemically. The invention is also based on pharmaceutical compositions comprising these unimolecular decoys, and methods for using these decoys in the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: Immunogenic peptides from tumor associated stromal cell antigens, including combinations of such peptides, are disclosed herein. In some examples the peptides are useful for methods of eliciting an immune response. In additional examples the peptides are useful for methods of treating cancer. Methods for decreasing vascularization of a tumor using a Protein Delta Homolog 1 (DLK1) protein or a nucleic acid encoding the protein are also disclosed.

Abstract: Nitro oleic acid and related metabolites are agonists of PPAR-?. Surprisingly, nitro oleic acid is a more potent agonist of PPAR-?, relative to nitro linoleic acid. Thus, nitro oleic acid and its metabolites, as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrug forms, are candidate therapeutics for the treatment of type-2 diabetes, which results from insulin resistance accompanying the improper functioning of PPAR-?.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are biodegradable scaffolds for in situ tissue engineering. In some examples, biodegradable vascular grafts and methods of fabricating and uses of such are disclosed. In some examples, a vascular graft includes a biodegradable scaffold including a biodegradable polyester tubular core, a biodegradable polyester electrospun outer sheath surrounding the biodegradable polyester tubular core and/or a thromboresistant agent, such as heparin, coating the biodegradable scaffold. The disclosed vascular grafts can be used for forming a blood vessel of less than 6 mm, including, but not limited to a coronary or peripheral arterial.

Abstract: The invention provides a multiparametric method of assessing the reaction of a patient's immune system to a test subject. The invention compares a patient sample reacted with a test sample and a third party sample and combines the assessments of the multiple parameters to correlate the test reaction with a clinical event.

Abstract: Systems and methods employing spin editing techniques to improve magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) are discussed. Using these spin editing techniques, magnetic resonance signals of one or more non-target chemicals (chemicals whose signals are to be filtered out or suppressed) chemicals can be suppressed, so that the signal(s) of a set of target chemicals can be obtained without signals from the one or more non-target chemicals. Information about and differences between the molecular topologies of the first set of chemicals and the one or more unwanted chemicals can be used to design a sequence that suppresses the one or more unwanted chemicals while allowing acquisition of signal(s) from the first set of chemicals. These techniques can be employed to recover sharp peaks despite magnetic field inhomogeneities and susceptibility effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitating high definition fiber tracking are disclosed. These systems and methods can utilize a directional Axonal Volume (dAV) value that can quantify the direction and volume of anisotropic water diffusion in axons to assess brain connection integrity. dAV provides a robust and anatomically interpretable measurement of connectivity strength of axon tracts. One method include receiving diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data, quantifying a vector axonal directional diffusion axon volume while removing extracellular isotropic water, segmenting fiber tracks from the data, voxelizing the fiber tracks into voxels, determining voxel dAV values for each voxel and directions, and determining fiber dAV values for each fiber track based on voxel dAV values. This non-invasive method can measure strength and integrity of brain tracts.

Abstract: Chemoattractant polypeptide compounds for progenitor cells and compositions and drug products comprising the compounds are provided herein. Methods for attracting progenitor cells to a location in or on a patient also are provided along with methods of growing and repairing bone.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates induction of immunological tolerance thereby providing permanent allograft acceptance. This method obviates the need for a lifelong regimen of immunosuppressive agents which can increase the risk of infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Immunological tolerance is thought to be mediated by regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg cells) with immunosuppressive capabilities. A therapeutically relevant platform comprising artificial constructs are contemplated comprising numerous soluble and surface bound Treg cell stimulating factors that may induce tolerance following allograft transplantation. Such artificial constructs, being the size of a cell, have surface bound monoclonal antibodies specific to regulatory T-cell surface moieties and encapsulated soluble regulatory T-cell modulating factors.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a colloidal suspension comprising a fluoropolymer and fluorophilic particles in a liquid solvent, wherein the solvent comprises a fluorocarbon, a semifluorous material, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed is a substrate comprising a coated surface, wherein the coated surface comprises a fluorophilic silica particle doped—fluoropolymer film. Further disclosed is a method comprising fluorinating silica particles and preparing a colloidal suspension comprising a fluoropolymer and the fluorinated silica particles in a liquid solvent, wherein the solvent comprises a fluorocarbon, a semifluorous material, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of treating spinal cord injury pain or peripheral neuropathic pain in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal a vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) protein in an amount effective to treat spinal cord injury pain or peripheral neuropathic pain.

Abstract: The invention relates to carbon nanotube-containing composites as biosensors to detect the presence of target clinical markers, methods of their preparation and uses in the medical field. The invention is particularly suitable for the detection in patient biological specimens of bone markers and tissue markers. The biosensors of the invention include carbon nanotubes deposited on a substrate, gold nanoparticles deposited on the carbon nanotubes and, binder material and biomolecule deposited on the gold-coated carbon nanotubes. The biomolecule is selected to interact with the target clinical markers. The biosensor can be used as an in-situ or an ex-situ device to detect and measure the presence of the target clinical markers.

Abstract: Technologies are provided to estimate in vivo aqueous humor outflow for a subject. The method can include: preparing a virtual casting of the outflow network of the subject by use of background subtraction and contrast enhancement; tracing network terminal branches in said reduced virtual casting; obtaining Doppler data for at least some of the terminal branches, to calculate a fluid velocity within each of such terminal branch; then pairing each fluid velocity for each such terminal branch with a measurement of cross-sectional area for that terminal branch, thereby to provide a plurality of volumetric flow values; and integrating over the plurality to obtain a volumetric estimate of aqueous humor outflow for the subject.

Abstract: A compound having the formula: wherein X is S, SO or SO2; one of R1, R2, and R3 is O and the others of R1, R2 and R3 are independently, the same or different, CH2, or CR13 wherein, R13 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a trialkylsilyl group, or —(CH2)mOR15, wherein R15 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and m is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, and one of R5, R6, and R7 is O and the others of R5, R6 and R7 are independently, the same or different, CH2, or CR14 wherein, R14 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a trialkylsilyl group, or —(CH2)nOR16, wherein R16 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; R4 and R8 are independently, the same or different, H, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a C1-C3 alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, or —(CH2)qOR17, wherein R17 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and q is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, provided that R4 is not a C1-C3 alkoxy g

Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate analysis of superficial tissue based at least in part on a depth-selective fiber optic probe are discussed herein. The depth-selective fiber optic probe can include an illumination fiber for providing light to the superficial tissue, a collection fiber for collected reflected light, a ball lens that couples the fibers, and a protective overtube that houses the ball lens and fibers. The distances between the ball lens and fibers and between the fibers can be optimized based on several factors, such as by minimizing the illumination spot size, maximizing the overlap between the illumination and collection spots, and based on the angle between the illumination and collection beams.

Abstract: A method of forming an implantable article includes providing a biodegradable polymer including anti-thrombogenic groups along the length of the biodegradable polymer, biodegradable groups in the backbone of the biodegradable polymer and a plurality of functional groups adapted to react with reactive functional groups on a surface of the implantable article, and reacting at least a portion of the plurality of functional groups with the reactive functional groups on the surface of the implantable article.

Abstract: The presently disclosed invention is directed to the discovery that hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4?; also known as NR2A1), a transcription factor, reverses hepatocyte dysfunction in an animal model of cirrhosis, resulting in improvement in hepatic function, treatment of cirrhosis, and prolonged survival.