Abstract: The present invention is drawn to immunotherapeutic methods to treat tumors/cancers that produce progastrin ectopically or are dependent on progastrin for their growth. Disclosed herein are immunogenic compositions comprising agents that target progastrin, agents that target the progastrin receptor, annexin II, or both. Such a composition may be administered in combination with chemotherapy or to an individual who had been previously subjected to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The cancers that may be treated using such a composition may include but are not limited to colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer or pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: Perovskite hybrid solar cells utilize a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) active layer that is formed as a composite of an organometal halide perovskite and a water soluble fullerene, such as A10C60. In alternative embodiments, the BHJ active layer may be formed as a composite of an organometal halide perovskite material and a fullerene, such as PC61BM. Thus, the fullerene acts as an electron extraction acceptor within the BHJ, allowing such solar cells to more efficiently transport the electrons from the fullerene/perovskite interface to a fullerene-based electron transport layer (ETL). As a result, increased fill factor (FF), as well as improvements in the short-circuit current density (JSC) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) are achieved by the solar cells.

Abstract: Probes which target diffuse and fibrillar forms of amyloid beta (A?) are described. These probes demonstrate high initial brain penetration and facile clearance from non-targeted regions. The agents can be used to image amyloid quantitatively for monitoring efficacy of A?-modifying therapeutics and assist in premortem diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Disclosed probes can bind A? aggregates of preformed A?1-42 fibrils in vitro and can be used to image fibrillar and diffuse plaques ex vivo in brain sections. Disclosed probes can be used to determine A? burden in early stages of AD. These probes can be used for multimodality imaging of A?. F-AI-187 (1 ?M) can detect A? plaques in brain sections of APP/PS1 mice. F-AI-187 (10 ?M) can detect A? plaques in the frontal lobe in a brain section of a patient with confirmed AD. Some probes can be used for fluorescence imaging of plaque.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a class of compounds known as splice modulating oligonucleotides (SMOs) that modulate pre-mRNA splicing, thereby affecting expression and functionality of a specific protein in a cell. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for modulating pre-mRNA splicing using a SMO of the invention to abrogate disease-causing mutations in a protein. Accordingly, the present invention provides compositions and methods of treating a subject at risk of, susceptible to, or having a disease, disorder, or condition associated with aberrant or unwanted target pre-mRNA expression or activity.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a system on a chip (SoC). In some embodiments, the SoC includes a power supply circuit, a power management circuit operatively coupled to the power supply circuit, a first wireless communications circuit and a second wireless communications circuit. The first wireless communications circuit is configured to receive an RF signal and is operatively coupled to the power supply circuit and the power management circuit. The first wireless communications circuit has a net radio frequency (RF) power gain no more than unity before at least one of downconversion of the RF signal or detection of the RF signal. The second wireless communications circuit is operatively coupled to the power supply circuit and the power management circuit.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing soluble polyphosphides using shelf-stable reagents and common organic solvents is presented. A reaction between an alkali metal alkoxy compound or alkali metal alkyl thiolate compound, such as potassium ethoxide, and shelf stable red phosphorus generated soluble polyphosphides in a variety of organic solvents with the 31P NMR spectrum being used to detect the species of polyphosphides produced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for immune cell regulation and methods of immunotherapy. Systems of the present disclosure for immune cell regulation comprise a chimeric receptor polypeptide, a chimeric adaptor polypeptide, a gene modulating polypeptide (GMP), and a cleavage moiety.

Abstract: Methods for producing dissolving grade pulp and microcrystalline cellulose from tobacco are provided. The methods include chemical pulping a tobacco input to form a tobacco pulp. Chemical pulping the tobacco input includes combining the tobacco input with a strong base defining a weight from about 5% to about 50% of the tobacco input, and heating the tobacco input and the strong base with an H-factor from about 500 to about 3,300. Further, the methods include bleaching the tobacco pulp to produce a dissolving grade pulp. Bleaching the tobacco pulp may include chlorination of the tobacco pulp with a chlorine dioxide solution, and caustic extraction of the tobacco pulp with a second strong base. A related tobacco-derived microcrystalline cellulose product is also provided, which can be used as a binder, a filler, and/or a texturizer in a tobacco product, such as a smokeless tobacco product.

Abstract: Methods and devices to synthesize vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays directly on a catalytic conductive substrate without addition of an external metallic catalyst layer and without any pretreatment to the substrate surface using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method are provided. A method comprises providing a catalytic conductive substrate, that has not been pretreated through a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method or other methods, to a PECVD device, etching the catalytic conductive substrate to form catalytically active nano-features on the surface of the catalytic conductive substrate, and growing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on the surface of the catalytic conductive substrate, without an external metallic catalyst layer, by providing a carbon source gas to the catalytic conductive substrate.

Abstract: A first method comprises providing a plurality of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) on a first substrate. Each of the OLEDs includes a transmissive top electrode. The plurality of OLEDs includes a first portion of OLEDs and a second portion of OLEDs that is different from the first portion. The first method further includes depositing a first capping layer over at least the first portion of the plurality of OLEDs such that the first capping layer is optically coupled to at least the first portion of the plurality of OLEDs. A second capping layer is deposited over at least the second portion of the plurality of OLEDs such that the second capping layer is optically coupled to the second portion of the plurality of OLEDs but not the first portion of the plurality of OLEDs.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cell culturing article. The cell culturing article includes a substrate having a surface, a hydrophilic copolymer layer positioned on the surface of the substrate, and a plurality of peptide chains individually conjugated to a surface of the hydrophilic copolymer layer. The hydrophilic copolymer layer is copolymerized by a plurality of polyvinyl alcohol units, a plurality of polyvinyl alcohol derivative units, and a plurality of units containing at least one carboxyl group. A method for manufacturing the cell culturing article, a method for culturing undifferentiated stem cells and a method for regulating stem cell differentiation are also provided herein.

Abstract: This disclosure provides Chlamydomonas violaxanthin de-epoxidase (CVDE) gene, polypeptides, and variants thereof as well as host cells that are genetically modified to express a CVDE polypeptide or variant. The disclosure additionally provides methods of producing such a genetically modified host cell and methods of using the cells , e.g., to increase zeaxanthin production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods to eliminate or reduce the peeling-off of epitaxial lifted-off thin film epilayers on secondary host substrates that allow for the fabrication of high yield ELO processed thin film devices. The methods employ patterned strain-relief trenches.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for treatment of ischemic diseases and conditions, particularly myocardial, CNS/brain and limb ischemia. More particularly, the present invention provides methods of treating disorders by administering monocytes obtained from blood, including umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, or bone marrow to an individual in need of treatment, wherein the drug is administered to the individual at a time point specifically determined to provide therapeutic efficacy. In one embodiment, the cells are for injection into ischemic myocardium for the treatment of angina.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes biaryl triazole compounds, as well as their compositions and methods of use. The compounds inhibit the activity of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and are useful for the treatment of diseases, e.g., inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to multi-modality detection systems and methods. One illustrative multi-modality detection system may include a distributed radiation source configured to irradiate an object under detection, a primary collimator configured to separate rays of the distributed radiation source into two parts, wherein one part is for CT detection and the other part is for XRD detection, a CT detection device configured to perform a CT detection to acquire a CT image of the object under detection, and an XRD detection device configured to perform an XRD detection to acquire an XRD image of the object under detection, wherein the CT detection and the XRD detection are performed simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing a fluid sample that includes loading the sample in a sample space in a sensor with an input and an output, applying an electromagnetic input signal to the input, measuring at the output a response signal that includes an output signal produced by the sensor while the sensor is contacted by the sample and the electromagnetic input signal is applied to the input, comparing the response signal against the electromagnetic input signal to generate a comparison, and matching the comparison against a set of comparisons for known substances.

Abstract: A repeatable method for detecting circulating tumor cells in vitro is provided. The method involves combining a test sample from a patient suspected of having circulating tumor cells, and a non-lytic adenoviral system, and culture media for the cells. The adenoviral system utilizes (i) a first replication-defective adenoviral particle in which an expression cassette is packaged, said expression cassette comprising an adenoviral 5? and 3? ITRs and a tumor-specific promoter; and (ii) a coding sequence for a reporter protein which is expressed in the presence of circulating tumor cells, and an adenoviral 3? ITR. The test sample and the non-lytic adenoviral system are incubated for a sufficient time to permit expression of the reporter protein, and measuring reporter protein expression in the test samples, whereby presence of reporter expression indicates the presence of circulating tumor cells in the sample. Because the system is non-lytic, the testing can be repeated on the cells which remain viable in culture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for reducing large magnetic artifact susceptibility in magnetic resonance imaging. The present invention is used to maximize cancellation of the magnetic field distortion cremated when objects with high variations in magnetic susceptibility are placed in a uniform magnetic field. Particularly, the present invention reduces the magnetic resonance imaging artifact produced by pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators in order to maximize the diagnostic image quality in the region surrounding these devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a DNA-targeting RNA that comprises a targeting sequence and, together with a modifying polypeptide, provides for site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA. The present disclosure further provides site-specific modifying polypeptides. The present disclosure further provides methods of site-specific modification of a target DNA and/or a polypeptide associated with the target DNA The present disclosure provides methods of modulating transcription of a target nucleic acid in a target cell, generally involving contacting the target nucleic acid with an enzymatically inactive Cas9 polypeptide and a DNA-targeting RNA. Kits and compositions for carrying out the methods are also provided. The present disclosure provides genetically modified cells that produce Cas9; and Cas9 transgenic non-human multicellular organisms.