Abstract: The present invention provides a method and compositions of regulating plant development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis by providing one or more plant cells; providing a small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs) to the one or more plant cells; targeting a transcription factor to affect the plant development and/or secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ?7?1 integrin modulatory agents and methods of using such to treat conditions associated with decreased ?7?1 integrin expression or activity, including muscular dystrophy. In one example, methods for treating a subject with muscular dystrophy are disclosed. The methods include administering an effective amount of an ?7?1 integrin modulatory agent to the subject with muscular dystrophy, wherein the ?7?1 integrin modulatory agent increases ?7?1 integrin expression or activity as compared to ?7?1 integrin expression or activity prior to treatment, thereby treating the subject with muscular dystrophy. Also disclosed are methods of enhancing muscle regeneration, repair, or maintenance in a subject and methods of enhancing ?7?1 integrin expression by use of the disclosed ?7?1 integrin modulatory agents. Methods of prospectively preventing or reducing muscle injury or damage in a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the design and development of a drug delivery nanoplatform that consists of nanoporous, multi-layer biodegradable polymeric (BP) thin films for controlled release of its payload. The method is used notably to synthesize nanoporous BP coatings as drug delivery vehicles exhibiting uniform nanopores with tailored characteristics for control of drug delivery and release. It enables the multiplex delivery of drugs that can be eluted at desirable time intervals in line with each medical need. Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry are applied for determining nanoporosity, thickness, drug loading, structural properties, and quality of the BP films ensuring the quality control of the final product. The complete degradation of the polymers minimizes the toxicity within the human body and such nanoplatform can be used in a wide range of drug eluting and other medical implants and biomedical devices.

Abstract: The application describes targets and methods that can inhibit bacterial growth in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A bacterial enzyme, 2-epimerase, is common to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and contains an allosteric site that can be targeted to disrupt the enzyme. The allosteric site is present on the bacterial 2-epimerase, but the analogous mammalian enzyme does not contain the allosteric site, providing a route for attacking bacterial infections without affecting the mammalian enzyme.

Abstract: An inflatable mold assembly for forming a hollow composite construction member that is suitable for use as a building material has a longitudinal axis. The mold assembly further has a flexible, substantially tubular bladder wall defining an elongated inflatable cavity. A reinforcing fabric is positioned concentrically around the flexible bladder wall. A flexible air-impervious outer layer is positioned concentrically around the fabric, with the bladder wall and the outer layer defining an elongated annular space, and with the fabric being positioned within the elongated annular space.

Abstract: The invention provides a CR2-FH molecule comprising a CR2 portion comprising CR2 protein or a fragment thereof and a FH portion comprising a factor H protein or a fragment thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a CR2-FH molecule. Also provided are methods of using the compositions for treatment diseases in which the alternative complement pathway is implicated, such as age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, and ischemia reperfusion.

Abstract: A ferrite magnet with salt includes 40 to 99.9 weight % of ferrite and 0.1 to 60 weight % of salt, wherein the salt has a melting point lower than a synthetic temperature of the ferrite, and the salt is melted to form a matrix between the ferrite particles, and a manufacturing thereof. The ferrite magnet with salt has advantages in terms of process conditions due to fast synthesis reaction at low temperatures compared to typical magnets, easily obtaining nano-sized particles having high crystallinity, preventing cohesion between particles and particle growth by molten salt, allowing sintering at temperatures lower than typical during the molding and sintering processes for producing a ferrite magnet with salt due to synthesized ferrite magnetic powder with salt thus preventing the deterioration of magnetic characteristics due to particle growth, and allowing alignment in the direction of magnetization easy axis to obtain higher magnetic characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed are a photocatalyst of CoP2 loaded red phosphorus, a preparation method thereof, and a method for photocatalytic hydrogen production from water under visible light irradiation over the photocatalyst of CoP2 loaded red phosphorus.

Abstract: Thermochemical ablation techniques may provide ablation of bodily tissue using chemical reaction energy.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure is a system for hemodynamic resuscitation. The system includes an intravenous access device having a pressure sensor element configured to detect a peripheral venous pressure value in response to an occlusion of a peripheral vein. The system also includes a controller device that is configured to receive a signal from the pressure sensor comprising the peripheral venous pressure value, to process the signal to determine a hemodynamic parameter based on the peripheral venous pressure value, and to generate a resuscitation score based on the hemodynamic parameter.

Abstract: A laparoscopy tool includes a sheath and a control wire slideably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The sheath has a diameter of less than 1.6 mm and is introduced through an abdominal incision. A handle axially displaces the control wire within the lumen and operates a conventional tip with wire-controlled opposing jaws that is introduced through the umbilicus and has a bore formed in its trailing end. A first set of blades in the bore engage grooves formed in the leading end of the control wire and a second set of blades engages the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. A cam displaces the second set of blades away from the sheath for sheath introduction and removal, and toward the sheath to prevent sheath retraction. The tip is removed through the umbilicus and the tool is removed through the abdominal incision when the surgery is completed.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method of transient and selective suppression of neural activities of a target of interest, such as one or more nerves, includes selectively applying at least one light to the target of interest at selected locations with predetermined radiant exposures to create a localized and selective inhibitory response therein. The localized and selective inhibitory response comprises a local temperature change.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds ?V?3 integrin, as well as methods of use in the treatment of diseases and disorders.

Abstract: A fluid micro-mixer apparatus includes a plurality of first microchannels for receiving a first fluid and a plurality of second microchannels for receiving a second fluid. A mixing chamber flow path is disposed to receive the first and second fluids after the first and second fluids exit their respective output ports. The mixing chamber flow path can include a first mixing chamber in the vicinity of the respective output ports, and the mixing chamber flow path can separate into at least two different flow paths downstream from the first mixing chamber.

Abstract: A method of forming composite materials includes dispersing a conjugated material, a solvent for the conjugated material, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene including structures having an outer surface to form a dispersion. The solvent is evaporated from the dispersion to yield a CNT or graphene composite including a plurality of crystalline supramolecular structures having the conjugated material non-covalently secured to the outer surface of the CNT or the graphene including structure. The supramolecular structures have an average length which extends outward in a length direction from the outer surface of the CNT or graphene including structure, where the average length is greater than an average width of the supramolecular structures.

Abstract: A Doppler compensation system includes a transmitter unit for transmitting a signal, wherein the transmitted signal being associated with an emission time-scale, a receiving unit for receiving a signal, wherein the received signal is associated with a receive time-scale that is not equivalent to the emission time-scale, and a Doppler compensating unit configured to estimate an inverse temporal distortion function, wherein the Doppler compensating unit implements the inverse temporal distortion function to estimate the transmitted signal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a platform of using zebrafish in screening candidates for treating and/or preventing myopia and keratoconus disease. The disclosure is mainly based on that Lumican, one of several SLRPs, plays an important role in the regulation of fibrillogenesis or the genes affecting the size of eyeballs in zebrafish, in addition to playing an important role in clinical myopia. Therefore, the disclosure uses the established zebrafish model to further identify the drugs affecting the expression of lumican and collagen fibrillogenesis, and/or the regulation of eyeball size. These drugs are potential candidates for treating myopia and/or keratoconus disease.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided for the manufacture of a nano-sensor array. A base having a sensing region is provided along with a plurality of nano-sensors. Each of the plurality of nano-sensors is formed by: forming a first nanoneedle along a surface of the base, forming a dielectric on the first nanoneedle, and forming a second nanoneedle on the dielectric layer. The first nanoneedle of each sensor has a first end adjacent to the sensing region of the base. The second nanoneedle is separated from the first nanoneedle by the dielectric and has a first end adjacent the first end of the first nanoneedle. The base is provided with a fluidic channel. The plurality of nano-sensors and the fluidic channel are configured and arranged with the first ends proximate the fluidic channel to facilitate sensing of targeted matter in the fluidic channel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in a human, comprising (a) obtaining a sample of airway basal cells from the human, and (b) analyzing the sample to determine expression of one or more hESC-signature genes, wherein the expression or lack of expression of the one or more hESC-signature genes is indicative of a presence or absence of cancer, a progression of cancer, or a predisposition to cancer in the human. The invention also provides an in vitro model for lung cancer, comprising airway basal cells that express one or more hESC-signature genes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the determination of a peptide receptor. Specifically to determine a receptor for any peptide provided that the receptor is a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR).