Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions for the prevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related disorders. The methods and compositions are based, inter alia, on the observations that OPN3 is the most highly expressed opsin in the hypothalamus, a key site for the regulation of energy homeostasis. Indeed, OPN3 expression was highest in regions associated with energy homeostasis, namely the paraventricular nucleus and arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. OPN3 was shown to interact and form a complex with MC3R and MC4R, and to modulate MC3R- and MC4R-mediated signaling in the hypothalamus. Accordingly, the methods involve the regulation of melanocortin receptors by downregulating opsin 3 (OPN3) protein expression, OPN3 gene expression, and/or OPN3 activation in the hypothalamus.

Abstract: Provided herein are devices that facilitate the magnetic separation of an analyte from a sample, and methods of use thereof. In particular embodiments, devices and methods are provided for the trans-interfacial magnetic separation (TIMS) of analytes from a sample.

Abstract: Methods and systems for diagnosing a condition of a central nervous system are provided. A method includes providing a DBSI-MRI data set obtained from the central nervous system of the subject, and transforming the DBSI-MRI data set to obtain at least one DBSI biomarker value. The method further includes comparing each DBSI biomarker value to at least one corresponding threshold value from a diagnostic database to obtain a relation between each DBSI biomarker value and the at least one corresponding threshold value, and diagnosing the condition according to at least one diagnostic rule, wherein each diagnostic rule defines a candidate condition in terms of the relations between the at least one DBSI biomarker value and the at least one corresponding threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an immersed active infrared self-cleaning secondary sedimentation tank sludge blanket induction device and an application method thereof, the induction device comprises an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve that are connected up and down and form a communicated inner cavity, a set of infrared emitters and infrared receivers that are located on an inner wall of the upper sleeve and are oppositely arranged, a transparent hard ring that is annularly adhered to front sides of the infrared emitters and the infrared receivers, and a push rod assembly that can move up and down in the inner cavity and is used for cleaning the transparent hard ring; wherein a sludge outlet hole and a water outlet hole located below the sludge outlet hole are arranged on the upper sleeve, a bearing plate is arranged in the inner cavity of the lower sleeve.

Abstract: A method to detect and assess microorganism influenced corrosion includes measuring current flow between a test electrode and a control electrode in a split chamber zero resistance ammeter apparatus and calculating a predictive difference in mass loss between the test electrode and the control electrode based on that current over time; and measuring the resistance, Rpit, of a surface of the subject metal to assess pitting corrosion using an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy apparatus.

Abstract: A vibration detection apparatus is disclosed. The vibration detection apparatus comprises a body configured to have internal space, and a vibration sensor formed on the body and configured to sense vibration from a measuring object. Here, a space exists between the vibration sensor and a surface opposed to the vibration sensor of the body.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides solid compositions comprising a sorbent and an active composition, as well as delivery devices comprising the solid compositions. The disclosure also provides methods of making the solid compositions, as well as methods of utilizing the solid compositions as a pest repellant and as attractant for targets.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, the use of a nanoliposome in the manufacture of a medicament for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of anterior segment ocular diseases is provided. The nanoliposome comprises a plurality of unsaturated and/or saturated lipids forming at least one lipid bilayer encapsulating a hydrophobic drug comprising tacrolimus, wherein the hydrophobic drug and the plurality of unsaturated and/or saturated lipids have a weight ratio of up to 0.2. The present disclosure also provides for such a nanoliposome and a method of preventing and/or treating anterior segment ocular diseases based on the nanoliposomes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a biofilm-related infection and methods of preventing and treating biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices, implants, and non-medical surfaces comprising administering at least one soluble microbial protein that is encoded by an exopolysaccharide biosynthetic operon or functional gene cluster, wherein the protein comprises a glycosyl hydrolase domain. The present disclosure further provides particular soluble glycosyl hydrolases and compositions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and method for installing and adjusting a sliding block of a multipoint crank press. The device comprises a crank, a connecting rod with an end provided with a U-shaped notch, a sliding block and an eccentric pin shaft micro-adjustment mechanism. The eccentric pin shaft micro-adjustment mechanism is installed at the joint between the connecting rod and the sliding block. The crank, the connecting rod and the sliding block of the multipoint press are normally machined and installed through a classical process, so that the sliding block of the multipoint press runs to a bottom dead center. A gap among mechanisms is eliminated through the loading by a hydraulic loader. The position of one set of crank, connecting rod and sliding block mechanism is taken as a reference, and then the eccentric positions and directions of the eccentric pin shafts at other adjustment positions are finely adjusted, thus realizing high-precision assembly and operation of the multipoint press.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for performing cell-free RNA transcription and/or cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS). The disclosed compositions, methods, and kits include or utilize components prepared from Vibrio species such as cellular extracts from Vibrio natriegens.

Abstract: A fusion chimeric protein is described herein that can assemble a functional carboxysome core, which is able to fix carbon by taking atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into useful carbon-containing compounds such as 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a polymerizable surfactant with reducibility and a preparation method thereof. The acid anhydride is reacted with a long-chain fatty alcohol to obtain an intermediate of an anhydride monoester, and then the obtained intermediate is reacted with the hydrochloride of dimethylaminohalogenated alkane, and a polymerizable surfactant with reducibility is obtained by post-processing. The polymerizable surfactant can not only play a role as a reactive emulsifier and copolymerize with monomers to obtain a soap-free emulsion, but also form a redox initiation system with peroxide, and conduct redox emulsion polymerization at room temperature.

Abstract: A bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly having a bifunctional expandable stent, a breakable cover, and a balloon. The bifunctional expandable stent has a balloon-expandable body portion and a self-expandable trumpet portion. The breakable cover fits over only the self-expandable trumpet portion and prevents self-expansion. The balloon is used to expand the balloon-expandable portion, which breaks the breakable cover and allows the self-expandable trumpet portion to self-expand. A method of stenting a patient using the bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube composite assembled wire is a carbon nanotube composite assembled wire including a plurality of carbon nanotube composites, each of the plurality of carbon nanotube composites including one carbon nanotube and an amorphous carbon-containing layer that coats the carbon nanotube, the carbon nanotube having a D/G ratio of 0.1 or less, the D/G ratio being a ratio of a peak intensity of a D band to a peak intensity of a G band in Raman spectroscopic analysis with a wavelength of 532 nm, each of the plurality of carbon nanotube composites being fibrous and having a diameter of 0.1 ?m or more and 50 ?m or less, the plurality of carbon nanotube composites being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the carbon nanotube composite assembled wire.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a new vaccine composition and methods for its use. The composition contains an effective amount of each of: an aluminum hydroxide, a mono-phosphoryl lipid (MPL), and a whole glucan particles (WGP) but no an antigen that raises an immune response against a bacterial or fungal infection.

Abstract: Disclosed are capped nanoparticles that are effectively trapped within an aqueous gelling solution to produce stable gels and function as a contrast agent for vascular imaging. The contrast agent has good radioopacity, is inexpensive to produce, and is safe to handle. This provides a new method to image the fine vasculature of biological systems.

Abstract: Provided are specific binding molecules, or fragments thereof, that bind to an epitope of IL13R?2, a receptor polypeptide preferentially found on the surface of cancer cells rather than healthy cells. Exemplary specific binding molecules are bispecific binding molecules that comprise a fragment of an IL13R?2 binding molecule and a peptide providing a second function providing a signaling function of the signaling domain of a T cell signaling protein, a peptide modulator of T cell activation, or an enzymatic component of a labeling system. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding such a specific binding molecule (e.g., bispecific binding molecule), vectors, host cells, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of preventing, treating or ameliorating a symptom associated with a cancer disease such as a solid tumor disease (e.g., glioblastoma multiforme).

Abstract: A method for preparing optical fibers formed with high-particle-coated porous polymeric outer coating layer is provided. The method includes preparing a coating suspension solution by dispersing a plurality of particles into an organic solvent system, immersing one or more optical fibers into the coating suspension solution, removing the one or more optical fibers from the coating suspension solution to form high-particle-coated porous polymeric outer coating layer after drying. Concentrations and compositions of the particles in the coating suspension solution, concentrations and compositions of the organic solvent system, the period of time of immersing, or the external environment are adjusted such that the optical fibers is formed with high-particle-coated polymeric outer coating layers having desirable coating masses, coating thicknesses, or coating morphologies.

Abstract: A marker for identifying a portion of a surgical margin includes a first element to attach the marker to the surgical margin of a surgical cavity located in a body of a patient, and a second element attached to the first element. The second element includes an indicator to uniquely identify the portion of the surgical margin through a radiological scan.