Abstract: Disclosed are compounds having enhanced potency in the modulation of NMDA receptor activity. Such compounds are contemplated for use in the treatment of diseases and disorder such as learning, cognitive activities, and analgesia, particularly in alleviating and/or reducing neuropathic pain. Orally available formulations and other pharmaceutically acceptable delivery forms of the compounds, including intravenous formulations, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are modular volume holographic imaging system (VHIS) endoscopic systems, comprising: an endoscope attachment module having a microscope objective lens, a single or cascaded compensated relay system configured to preserve an optical wavefront for use with a single or multiplexed volume hologram to select wavefronts originating from different object depths, and a system aperture; and a handle module configured to be reversibly attachable for operative communication with the endoscope attachment module, and having a beam splitter; a relay having adjustable spacing for object space focus compensation, and a single or multiplexed volume hologram suitable in operation to select wavefronts originating from different object depths, and wherein the handle module is further configured for operative communication with an illumination source and imaging optics. Preferably, an illumination module and an imaging module are configured to be in operative, reversibly attachable communication with the handle module.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to in situ hybridization probes for the detection of target nucleic acid sequences within a sample and methods of making and using the same. The in situ hybridization probes of the current disclosure include a plurality of nucleic acid elements capable of selectively hybridizing to at least a portion of a nucleic acid of interest and/or other nucleic acid elements of the in situ hybridization probe, which enable the detection of a target nucleic acid. The current disclosure also relates to kits which incorporate the in situ hybridization probe compositions of the instant disclosure.

Abstract: A silver compound having a silver complex structure composed of silver ion, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato, and diethylenetriamine is disclosed. A silver ink is prepared by the silver compound applied for inkjet printing of a flexible substrate. A method for inkjet printing of the flexible substrate comprises the steps of pre-heating the flexible substrate to the temperature of 60° C., inkjet printing the flexible substrate with the silver ink thereon, and heating the flexible substrate under a low temperature to form a thin film of silver conductive pattern thereon. The silver conductive pattern has excellent electrical conductivity and a resistance value proximate to that of a general silver slug.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for producing NKX6-1+ pancreatic progenitor cells and/or insulin producing cells from an endodermal cell population, the method comprising contacting the endodermal cell population with an EGF component, a Nicotinamide component and/or a Noggin component, optionally a combination of at least one EGF component and at least one nicotinamide component to induce the differentiation of at least one endodermal cell into a NKX6-1+ pancreatic progenitor cell, the combination optionally further comprising at least one Noggin component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing, evaluating the prognosis of a cancer patient and evaluating the aggressiveness of a cancer. The methods comprise detecting the phosphorylation status of a Scribble protein, a fragment or variant thereof, wherein the phosphorylation status is indicative of cancer, prognosis and the aggressiveness of a cancer. In one embodiment the cancer is breast cancer.

Abstract: A plant-microorganism combined method for phhytoremediation of organic contaminated soil; i.e., an ornamental plant (Impatiens balsamina L.)—microorganisms (petroleum hydrocarbon degrading mixed microbes) combined method for enhanced phytoremediation of petroleum contaminated soil is disclosed. The inoculated petroleum degrading mixed microbes can not only degrade contaminants in soil directly but also secretes chemical substances which are helpful to relieve the toxic effects on the Impatiens balsamina L. In return, the Impatiens balsamina L. releases photosynthesis products into the soil, so as to enhance microbial activity and quantity, and assist the microorganisms in degrading target contaminates more effectively and efficiently. Repeating the processes mentioned above is able to continuously reduce petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil until the residual content of contaminants meets the environmental safety standard.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biomarker for Parkinson's disease. The biomarker and products associated with the biomarker may be used to assist diagnosis or to assess onset and/or development of Parkinson's disease. The invention also relates to use of the biomarker in clinical screening, assessment of prognosis, evaluation of drug treatments, drug screening or drug development in the field of Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's disease related disorders.

Abstract: Dimeric aluminum catalysts of formula I: and their use in catalyzing the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Methods for culturing pluripotent stem cells on fiber scaffolds are provided which result in the expansion of the number of stem cells without loss of pluripotency. Cells obtained by such methods, implants containing such cells and medical methods using such cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.

Abstract: A low-altitude altimeter (10) and a method of determining low altitudes for unmanned aerial vehicles (24). The altimeter includes at least two illuminators (12, 14), at least one sensor (16), and a computing device (18). The illuminators (12, 14) emit signals which are received by the sensor (16) in such a way that an angle at which they are received is determinable by the computing device (18). The computing device (18) processes each signal received by the sensor (16), determines the angle at which the sensor (16) received the signal, and, based thereon, determines the altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle (24). When a first pair of illuminators are arranged along a fuselage axis, and a second pair of illuminators are arranged orthogonally to that axis, the computing device can combine first and second altitude, pitch angle, and roll angle measurements to provide a more refined altitude determination.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising carbohydrate-based inhibitors that bind GNBP and/or inhibit ?(1,3)-glucanase activity. Also provided are methods of using such inhibitors to protect against or treat pest infestation, as are compositions and kits comprising subparts of the carbohydrate-based inhibitors.

Abstract: Provided is a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or stereoisomer thereof: wherein Ar represents R5, R7, R8, R2?, R4?, R5?, R6?, R7?, R8? independently represent H, OH, F, Cl, Br, methoxyl group, NH2 group or NMe2 group; X represents NH, O or S; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of: pyrrolidinyl group, piperidinyl group, morpholino group, methoxyl group, and dimethylamine group. The present invention also provides a composition comprising the compound of formula I. The compound and the composition in accordance with the present invention are effective on treating or alleviating a disease or disorder, such as malignant glioma.

Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides comprising a PCP2 mini-promoter are provided. The mini-promoter may be operably linked to an expressible sequence, e.g. reporter genes, genes encoding a polypeptide of interest, regulatory RNA sequences such as miRNA, siRNA, anti-sense RNA, etc., and the like. In some embodiments a cell comprising a stable integrant of an expression vector is provided, which may be integrated in the genome of the cell. The promoter may also be provided in a vector, for example in combination with an expressible sequence. The polynucleotides find use in a method of expressing a sequence of interest, e.g. for identifying or labeling cells, monitoring or tracking the expression of cells, gene therapy, etc.

Abstract: Provided is a two-photon fluorescent probe, and more particularly, a two-photon fluorescent probe which is one or more selected from compounds represented by Formulae 1 and 2, a method for manufacturing the same, and an imaging method of zinc ions within the mitochondrion using the same. Since two probes are introduced into one molecule, the two-photon fluorescent probe of the present invention can selectively dye the mitochondria, simultaneously with reacting with zinc ions, thereby generating intense fluorescence. Thus, the two-photon fluorescent probe of the present invention can be used for the imaging of zinc ion distribution and activation within the mitochondrion in living cells or intact biological tissues.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a porous composite particulate material includes a plurality of composite particles. Each composite particle includes an acid-base-resistant core particle at least partially surrounded by one or more layers of acid-base-resistant shell particles. The shell particles are adhered to the core particle by a polymeric layer. The shell particles and/or core particles may be made from an acid-base-resistant material that is stable in harsh chemical conditions. For example, the shell particles and/or core particles may be made from diamond, graphitic carbon, silicon carbide, boron nitride, tungsten carbide, combinations of the foregoing, or other acid-base-resistant materials. The porous composite particulate materials disclosed herein and related methods and devices may be used in separation technologies, including, but not limited to, chromatography, and solid phase extraction.

Abstract: Metal enhanced luminescence using alloy nanoparticles offers additional degrees of freedom for tuning their optical properties by altering atomic composition and atomic arrangement when compared to pure metal nanoparticles such as gold and silver. Surface plasmon resonance wavelengths of silver-copper nanoparticles were tuned in the visible and near infrared region by changing annealing temperature. Strong emission enhancement of luminophores at the vicinity of the Ag—Cu nanoparticles was shown when the SPR spectrum was tuned to produce maximum spectral overlap. As the SPR spectrum can be easily tailored, this platform can be effectively used to enhance luminescence of different luminophores.

Abstract: Featured are methods and systems for reslicing-based nonrigid registration of multiparametric and modality images or objects. In such registration methods, global motion is modeled by multiple affine transforms (rigid), while local motion and slices matching is estimated using non-uniform radial reslicing of RTV to search for best match between reference volume slices and resampled target volume (RTV), orthogonally re-sliced to higher spatial resolution compared to the spatial resolution of the reference volume. The reference and target volumes can be in any plane and the method presented in this invention transfers them to target plane which can be any of axial, coronal, or sagittal and there is no need for the original and target scanning planes to be the same.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for quantitative target detection in a sample through use of microbeads and related devices and systems.