Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for and methods of optically imaging tissues or cells using imaging agents having desirable in vivo properties that result in improved signal-to-background ratio.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in which—if required—the erythrocytes in a sample are hemolyzed, the haemoglobin that is then released—if required—is contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated hemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, the provision of the requisite proteolytic agent in the form of an inactivated protease is proposed, which is then only reactivated in situ.

Abstract: Methods or preparing para-xylene from biomass by carrying out a Diels-Alder cycloaddition at controlled temperatures and activity ratios. Methods of preparing bio-terephthalic acid and bio-poly(ethylene terephthalate (bio-PET) are also disclosed, as well as products formed from bio-PET.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for monitoring, detecting, and/or characterizing a biological particle that may be present in a sample. The method may be accomplished in a sealed container by utilizing a first step time-dependent spectroscopic technique to obtain at least two measurements of a growth composition comprising a sample and correlating said measurements for the detection and/or characterization of a biological particle that may be present in the sample. The method further provides for a subsequent step for the separation, characterizion and/or identification of the microorganisms in the sealed container.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for enhancing engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using farnesyl compounds identified using a zebrafish model of hematopoietic cell engraftment. The compounds can be used to treat hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo prior to transplantation of the cells. Alternatively, the compounds can be administered to an individual undergoing cell transplantation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alternative fuel, in particular hydrogen photocatalytically generated by a system comprising photoactive nanoparticles and a nitrogenase cofactor are provided. In one aspect, the system includes a water soluble cadmium selenide nanoparticle (CdSe) surface capped with mercaptosuccinate (CdSe-MSA); and a NafY•FeMo-co complex comprising a NafY protein and an iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co); wherein the CdSe-MSA and the NafY•FeMo-co complex are present in about 1:1 molar ratio in a CdSe-MSA•NafY•FeMo-co system. In various embodiments, when illuminated, the CdSe-MSA•NafY•FeMo-co system is capable of photocatalytically producing hydrogen gas for an extended period of, e.g., at least 5 hours, at least 10 hours, or at least 90 hours. Methods for making and using the same are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium for storing, preserving, culturing, and/or differentiating stem cells. The medium employs a synthetic thermo-responsive copolymer, dispersed in an aqueous vehicle, which allows the medium to be readily “switched” between a non-gelatinous (fluid) form and a gelatinous form by simply adjusting temperature across the gelling temperature of the medium. As such, stem cells can be easily captured within a 3D gel matrix by simply mixing the stem cells with the non-gelatinous/fluid form of the medium and then gelling the medium by adjusting the temperature across the gelling temperature of the medium. The stem cells encapsulated within the gelatinous form of the medium may then be preserved for a significant time period before either using the stem cells directly within the medium (e.g. in therapy, or in culturing, differentiation, and such like), or after their extraction from the medium.

Abstract: Methods include contacting a fermented gas including isoprenoid compound with a porous adsorbent and desorbing isoprenoid compound adsorbed on the porous adsorbent. The fermented gas may be obtained by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce isoprenoid compound.

Abstract: Methods include contacting a fermented gas including isoprene with a porous adsorbent and desorbing isoprene adsorbed on the porous adsorbent. The fermented gas may be obtained by culturing a microorganism having an ability to produce isoprene.

Abstract: Provided are a synthetic peptide that induces the reprogramming of a differentiated cell, a reprogramming-inducing pharmaceutical composition that contains this synthetic peptide, and a method for producing an undifferentiated cell from a differentiated cell using this synthetic peptide. The peptide provided by the present invention is a synthetic peptide having a reprogramming-inducing peptide sequence formed of the amino acid sequence given by SEQ ID NO: 1 or a modified amino acid sequence thereof. The method for producing an undifferentiated cell provided by the present invention includes inducing the reprogramming of a target cell by culturing a cell culture which contains the target cell and to which the synthetic peptide has been supplied.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of Sofosbuvir is provided comprising the steps of selectively mono-deacetylating a compound of formula (V) enzymatically using a resin supported lipase B derived from Candida Antarctica to obtain a compound formula (IV), then converting the compound of formula (IV) to a compound of formula (II) by reacting the compound of formula (IV) with a compound of formula (III), and then converting the compound of formula (II) to Sofosbuvir of formula (I) by deacetylation reaction.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) and (II): wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, R6, X and n are as defined herein, and wherein R3 is hydrogen or a sulfur protecting group. Compounds of Formula (I) and (II), wherein R3 is hydrogen, may be useful in methods for detecting a reactive metabolite in a sample, e.g., wherein the metabolite is generated from the metabolism of a test compound, and wherein the metabolite and the compound of Formula (I) or (II) react to form a detectable adduct, e.g., detectable by mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Provided herein compositions and methods for producing isoprenoids, including squalene. In certain aspects and embodiments provided are genetically altered yeast and uses therefore. In some aspects and embodiments, the genetically altered yeast produce isoprenoids, preferably squalene. The genetically altered yeast may have alterations in the expression or activity of enzymes involved in squalene production, for example, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (or “ACCase”), HMG-CoA reductase, squalene epoxidase, and squalene synthase. One or more genes of a genetically altered yeast may be modified by gene repair oligonucleobases. Also are provided methods of producing squalene using a genetically altered yeast. The invention also provides squalene produced by genetically altered yeast.

Abstract: A composition includes a plurality of coacervate micro and/or nanodroplets of oxidized alginate and a methacrylated gelatin.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for enhancing engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using compounds identified using a zebrafish model of hematopoietic cell engraftment. The compounds can be used to treat hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo prior to transplantation of the cells. Alternatively, the compounds can be administered to an individual undergoing cell transplantation.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), in which—if required—the erythrocytes in a sample are haemolysed, the haemoglobin that is then released—if required—is contacted with a proteolytic agent and the glycated haemoglobin degradation products obtained in this way or otherwise are quantified is disclosed. In order to provide such a process and reagents employable therein that has/have the property of sufficient stability of the chemical compounds that are essential to the reaction, for the stabilization of the haemoglobin which is unfolded at a very low pH in the range from 1 to 3, at least one suitable stabilizer is present in the haemolysis solution.

Abstract: A surfactant-improved ethanol fermentation method comprises adding a nonionic surfactant as a protection agent of yeast cell into a fermentation culture medium, therefore greatly improving survival rate of yeast cells in very high gravity ethanol fermentation liquid and endpoint ethanol concentration. The present invention not only improves the cyclic utilization efficiency of the yeast cells, but also achieves the synchronous recycling of the surfactant and a pH adjusting agent. The process of adding the surfactant during VHG fermentation is simple, which can reduce the consumption of water and energy, effectively reduce the fuel ethanol production cost, and improve the fermentation efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified protein drugs, and a PEGylated tissue kallikrein, a preparation method and use thereof are disclosed. The tissue kallikrein has a sequence as shown in SEQ ID No. 1 or SEQ ID No. 2, and the tissue kallikrein may be natural or recombinant. The PEG has a molecular weight of 20 to 40 kDa, and is conjugated to the N-terminal primary amino of the tissue kallikrein. In addition to the advantages of significantly extended half-life, significantly reduced immunogenicity and stable and uniform structure, the biological activity of the PEGylated KLK1 provided in the present invention is improved to a higher extent, which is more significant in the treatment of cerebral apoplexy and diabetic nephropathy in particular.

Abstract: The invention relates to macrocyclic compounds capable of modulating biological processes through binding to a presenter protein and a target protein. These compounds bind endogenous intracellular presenter proteins, such as the FKBPs or cyclophilins, and the resulting binary complexes selectively bind and modulate the activity of intracellular target proteins. Formation of a tripartite complex among the presenter protein, the compound, and the target protein is driven by both protein-compound and protein-protein interactions, and both are required for modulation of the targeted protein's activity. In some embodiment, the compounds of the invention “re-program” the binding of the presenter proteins to protein targets that either do not normally bind to the presenter protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cell culture media comprising inorganic ester derivatives of tyrosine and/or cysteine. The poor solubility of tyrosine and the often non-sufficient stability of cysteine in cell culture media is overcome by substituting them with an inorganic ester derivative, e.g. with a phosphorylated derivative.