Abstract: A device for measuring a tension of a bio-object construct as it is being stretched that includes a microscope, a holding member for accommodating the bio-object, and a probe. The microscope includes a condenser, an objective and a stage positioned therebetween. The stage is movable along a horizontal plane. The holding member is fixable on the stage. The probe has a first end attached to the condenser, and a second end placed in the holding member. The stage operably moves such that the bio-object construct moves toward the second end of the probe and contacts with the second end of the probe, thereby causing a displacement of the second end of the probe and a displacement of the bio-object construct, which are used to measure the tension of the bio-object construct.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes nanoparticles that comprise a plurality of assembled polymers. In some embodiments the polymers comprise a first block that includes hydrophilic monomers, the first block substantially forming an outer shell of the nanoparticle, and a second block that includes cationic monomers and hydrophobic monomers, the second block substantially forming a core of the nanoparticle. In some embodiments a polynucleotide is provided that is bound to the cationic monomers of the nanoparticle. The presently-disclosed subject matter also comprises methods for using the present nanoparticles to include RNAi in a cell as well as methods for making the present nanoparticles.

Abstract: A device for measuring a tension of a bio-object construct as it is being stretched that includes a microscope, a holding member for accommodating the bio-object, and a probe. The microscope includes a condenser, an objective and a stage positioned therebetween. The stage is movable along a horizontal plane. The holding member is fixable on the stage. The probe has a first end attached to the condenser, and a second end placed in the holding member. The stage operably moves such that the bio-object construct moves toward the second end of the probe and contacts with the second end of the probe, thereby causing a displacement of the second end of the probe and a displacement of the bio-object construct, which are used to measure the tension of the bio-object construct.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes nanoparticles that comprise a plurality of assembled polymers. In some embodiments the polymers comprise a first block that includes hydrophilic monomers, the first block substantially forming an outer shell of the nanoparticle, and a second block that includes cationic monomers and hydrophobic monomers, the second block substantially forming a core of the nanoparticle. In some embodiments a polynucleotide is provided that is bound to the cationic monomers of the nanoparticle. The presently-disclosed subject matter also comprises methods for using the present nanoparticles to include RNAi in a cell as well as methods for making the present nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for prophylactic measures aimed at improving wound repair. In some embodiments, laser-mediated preconditioning would enhance surgical wound healing that was correlated with hsp70 expression. Using a pulsed laser (?=1850 nm, Tp=2 ms, 50 Hz, H=7.64 mJ/cm2) the skin of transgenic mice that contain an hsp70 promoter-driven luciferase were preconditioned 12 hours before surgical incisions were made. Laser protocols were optimized using temperature, blood flow, and hsp70-mediated bioluminescence measurements as benchmarks. Bioluminescent imaging studies in vivo indicated that an optimized laser protocol increased hsp70 expression by 15-fold. Under these conditions, healed areas from incisions that were laser-preconditioned were two times stronger than those from control wounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions comprising a water-based core solution and a water-based corona solution surrounding the core solution. The compositions comprise polyanionic polymers and salts and polycationic polymers and cations and is useful for adenoviral delivery of a gene or delivery of another drug. The compositions may be nanoparticulate, microcapsular or form a polymeric sheet. Also provided are methods of use for the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient polymeric film or microparticulate vehicle to deliver protein factors into appropriate body sites to induce appropriate therapeutic effects. It also improves the existing methodologies for immunoisolation of non-human pancreatic islets (via microencapsulation) to protects them from the immunologically-different host. This invention demonstrates how vascularization and angiogenesis can be induced by means of addition of proper angiogenic factors. The angiogenesis is sustained over a long period of time, depending on the release characteristics of the polymeric matrix. Three-dimensional polymeric structures (mesh or perforated tubing and film) are used as resident materials for microcapsules bearing islets. Blood capillaries are generated outside the capsules and penetrate through the implant openings to ingrow into the vicinity of capsules/islets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a pleurodesis in a mammal, comprising introducing a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition comprising TGF.beta. into the pleural cavity.

Abstract: A novel, nickel-base, high temperature alloy body preferably containing about 20% chromium, 6 to 7% aluminum to provide phase, 1.5 to 2.5% molybdenum, 3 to 4.5% tungsten, additional strengthening elements and oxidic yttrium in finely dispersed form. The alloy body has an elongated crystal structure and is characterized by high strength along with excellent hot corrosion and oxidation resistance.

Abstract: Nickel-base alloys containing special and correlated percentages of chromium, iron, molybdenum, titanium, columbium, aluminum etc. (i) provide an attractive combination of strength, ductility, resistance to environmental media and other desirable characteristics, (ii) can be processed by cold working and age hardening to achieve yield strengths of 150,000 psi (1034 MPa) to 200,000 psi (1379 MPa) together with tensile elongations of 10% to 20%, (iii) are resistant to such corrosive media as hydrogen sulphide and acid chloride solutions, and to hydrogen embittlement, and (iv) are useful for, inter alia, petroleum production tubing and sulfur dioxide gas scrubber applications.

Abstract: A novel nickel-base high temperature alloy body preferably containing about 22% chromium, sufficient aluminum and titanium to provide a .gamma.' precipitate structure, additional strengthing elements and oxidic yttrium in finely dispersed form. The alloy body has an elongated crystal structure and is characterized by high strength along with excellent hot corrosion and oxidation resistance.