Abstract: A microfiltration apparatus and method for separating cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from a sample using a microfiltration device having a top porous membrane and a bottom porous membrane. The porous membranes are formed from parylene and assembled using microfabrication techniques. The porous membranes are arranged so that the pores in the top membrane are offset from the pores in the bottom membrane.

Abstract: 9-aminonoscapine, prodrugs thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions including 9-aminonoscapine, and methods of preparation and use thereof are disclosed. 9-aminonoscapine is a noscapine analog that can be used to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of cancers, including drug resistant cancers, by binding tubulin and inducing apoptosis selectively in tumor cells (ovarian and T-cell lymphoma) resistant to paclitaxel, vinblastine and teniposide. 9-aminonoscapine can perturb the progression of cell cycle by mitotic arrest, followed by apoptotic cell death associated with increased caspase-3 activation and appearance of TUNEL-positive cells. Thus, 9-aminonoscapine is a novel therapeutic agents for a variety of cancers, including ovarian and T-cell lymphoma cancers, even those that have become drug-resistant to currently available chemotherapeutic drugs.

Abstract: A method of increasing the insulin sensitivity of insulin resistant cells includes administering to the cells an amount of all-trans-retinoic acid effective to activate transcription factor perosixome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ?/? of the cells.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a silicon-based atomic clock for use in an electronic device includes a single-isotope silicon crystal and energy level transitions within the silicon are used as a frequency resonance of the clock.

Abstract: Anti-RSV peptide and a segment thereof derived from a peptide sequence identified in the human RSV fusion protein precursor F0. Another anti-RSV agent is carboxylated gold nanoparticles. A method is provided for attaching peptides to the carboxylated gold particles to produce additional anti-RSV agents to prevent or inhibit infection by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and related viruses, including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Abstract: The invention relates to diazo bicyclic Smac mimetics that are tethered through a covalent linker to give a bivalent species. Bivalent diazo bicyclic Smac mimetics function as inhibitors of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs). The invention also relates to the use of bivalent diazo bicyclic Smac mimetics for inducing or sensitizing cells to the induction of apoptotic cell death. Thus, compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment, amelioration, or prevention of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.

Abstract: Disclosed are molecules and their synthesis, for use in blocking gated ion channels such as voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and prostate voltage sodium channels (PVSCs). These inhibitors have superior blocking efficacy, for instance in displacing the radioligand [3H]-Batrachotoxin-B ([3H]-BTX-B) that binds to site 2 of a VGSC. The molecules of the invention comprise a moiety which increases the binding affinity of molecules for the protein binding site in prostate cancer cells (PCs), and which is also fluorescent. In one embodiment the invention molecules are an inhibition system that can be used to target over-abundant or hyperactive VGSCs selectively in pain, epilepsy or prostate cancer, inhibiting the proliferation of PCs. The fluorescent moiety also facilitates screening, tracking, and pharmacodynamic studies of the drug in a biological system both in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for imaging tissue and other samples or samples using infrared (IR) transmissions from coherent transmission sources, such as a wide range, tunable, quantum cascade laser (QCL) designed for the rapid collection of infrared microscopic data for medical diagnostics across a wide range of discrete spectral increments. The infrared transmissions are transmitted through, reflected from, and/or transreflected through a sample, and then magnified and/or focused prior to being detected by a detector. After detection, the sample related image data is used to assess the sample. Such methods, devices, and systems may be used to detect abnormalities in tissue, for example, before such abnormalities can be diagnosed using art cytopathological methods. The methods, devices and systems may also optionally include a visible light detection subsystem and/or a motion control subsystem to assist in control and processing of imaging.

Abstract: A mirror assembly adapted for use in a panoramic imaging system for capturing a panoramic image includes a mirror for optically coupling to a fisheye lens having a first field of view, the mirror configured for reflecting an image of a second field of view through the fisheye lens. A housing has a first end and a second end, the mirror being secured proximate to the first end, and the second end having an engagement portion for securing the mirror assembly to the panoramic imaging system. When the mirror assembly is secured to the panoramic imaging system, the mirror is optically coupled to the fisheye lens and a detector for capturing a first portion of the panoramic image and a second portion of the panoramic image, the first portion of the panoramic image having a portion overlapping the second portion of the panoramic image.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel chemical compounds characterized as Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic, research, and diagnostic use. In particular, the present invention provides 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione compounds and related compounds having ROCK inhibitory activity, and methods of using such compounds as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with ROCK activity.

Abstract: A system for use in forming polymer compositions, including as a replacement for phenolic based resin systems, for instance, in preparing foundry molds. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes the use of a) a polyermizable hydroxyl-containing component comprising a humic substance (as can be provided by lignite), b) an isocyanate component, and c) a catalyst, and preferably amine catalyst, component adapted to catalyze the polymerization of a) and b). The system is optionally used as binder system in the presence of a filler, such as, in combination with a foundry aggregate such as sand. A polymer system of this invention can be substantially free of formaldehyde or phenol, and preferably contains little or no aromatic solvents.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to photosensitive optoelectronic devices including a compound blocking layer located between an acceptor material and a cathode, the compound blocking layer including: at least one electron conducting material, and at least one wide-gap electron conducting exciton blocking layer. For example, 3,4,9,10 perylenetetracarboxylic bisbenzimidazole (PTCBI) and 1,4,5,8-napthalene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (NTCDA) function as electron conducting and exciton blocking layers when interposed between the acceptor layer and cathode. Both materials serve as efficient electron conductors, leading to a fill factor as high as 0.70. By using an NTCDA/PTCBI compound blocking layer structure increased power conversion efficiency is achieved, compared to an analogous device using a conventional blocking layers shown to conduct electrons via damage-induced midgap states.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining an anaerobic threshold and/or an oxygen consumption rate in a human or animal subject. The methods include exposing a tissue of the subject to illumination radiation, collecting emitted radiation from the tissue, the emitted radiation including a portion of the illumination radiation reflected or transmitted from the tissue, processing the emitted radiation to form a spectrum of the tissue, and determining, based on the spectrum of the tissue, the anaerobic threshold and/or the oxygen consumption rate of the subject.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a voltage source for calibrating a very fast transient voltage measurement system, comprising a DC high voltage power supply, a discharging gap, a high voltage travelling wave line concluding a high voltage conductor and an earthing conductor. The present disclosure also provides a method for calibrating a fast transient voltage measurement system: the high voltage conductor is insulated from the earthing conductor, and is open circuit at one end and at the other end is connected with the earthing conductor via the discharging gap, applying a high voltage between the high voltage conductor and earthing conductor and making breakdown of the discharging gap, a very fast transient high voltage is produced on the high voltage conductor and its waveform can be determined by theoretical calculation, the very fast transient high voltage with known waveform is used as the calibration voltage for calibrating the measurement system.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of preventing a fibrotic response and/or scarring in a wound, comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising an amount of an amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid effective to inhibit a proliferative and/or fibrotic response in the wound. In one instance, the wound is to a subject's cornea, such as a wound resulting from refractive surgery. In one embodiment, the amide or ester of an alpha-ketoalkanoic acid is ethyl pyruvate.

Abstract: New pharmaceutical compositions extracted from Ferula assa-foetida are confirmed to effectively treat influenza A (H1N1) virus. The extraction method of the new pharmaceutical compositions mainly includes steps of: (a) extracting F. assa-foetida with methanol to obtain a crude extract; (b) fractioning the crude extract with n-hexane-methanol to obtain a methanol extract; (c) fractioning the methanol extract with chloroform-water to obtain a chloroform extract; and (d) chromatographing the chloroform extract to obtain the pharmaceutical compositions, which can be further fractioned and chromatographed to obtain various sesquiterpene coumarins.

Abstract: An immunity evaluation method for evaluating immunity by using immune cell markers for immune cells contained in sampled blood comprises the step of determining an evaluation value for each of two or more selected kinds of immune cell markers based on the individual immune cell markers contained in the sampled blood, the step of adding the evaluation values so obtained for the at least two selected kinds of immune cell markers, and the step of evaluating the immunity from the results of the adding.

Abstract: A variant of the Foucault (knife-edge) aperture is disclosed that is designed to provide single-sideband (SSB) contrast at low spatial frequencies but retain conventional double-sideband (DSB) contrast at high spatial frequencies in transmission electron microscopy. The aperture includes a plate with an inner open area, a support extending from the plate at an edge of the open area, a half-circle feature mounted on the support and located at the center of the aperture open area. The radius of the half-circle portion of reciprocal space that is blocked by the aperture can be varied to suit the needs of electron microscopy investigation. The aperture is fabricated from conductive material which is preferably non-oxidizing, such as gold, for example.

Abstract: L2Relay is a novel packet relay protocol for Wi-Fi networks that can improve the performance and extend the range of the network. A device running L2Relay is referred to as a relayer, which overhears the packet transmissions and retransmits a packet on behalf of the Access Point (AP) or the node if no acknowledgement is overheard. L2Relay is ubiquitously compatible with all Wi-Fi devices. L2Relay is designed to be a layer 2 solution that has direct control over many layer 2 functionalities such as carrier sense. Unique problems are solved in the design of L2Relay including link measurement, rate adaptation, and relayer selection. L2Relay was implemented in the OpenFWWF platform and compared against the baseline without a relayer as well as a commercial Wi-Fi range extender. The results show that L2Relay outperforms both compared schemes.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for detecting, screening and sampling of cells are disclosed.