Abstract: Disclosed are certain polymeric compounds and their use as organic semiconductors in organic and hybrid optical, optoelectronic, and/or electronic devices such as photovoltaic cells, light emitting diodes, light emitting transistors, and field effect transistors. The disclosed compounds can provide improved device performance, for example, as measured by power conversion efficiency, fill factor, open circuit voltage, field-effect mobility, on/off current ratios, and/or air stability when used in photovoltaic cells or transistors. The disclosed compounds can have good solubility in common solvents enabling device fabrication via solution processes.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of generating 4,4?-bipyridinium radical cations (BIPY•+), and methods for utilizing the radical-radical interactions between two or more BIPY•+ radical cations that ensue for the creation of novel materials for applications in nanotechnology. Synthetic methodologies, crystallographic engineering techniques, methods of physical characterization, and end uses are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the diagnosis of cancer associated with enzymatically active PSA in samples.

Abstract: The present invention relates to delivery systems. In particular, the present invention provides microporous scaffolds having thereon agents (e.g., extracellular matrix proteins, exendin-4) and biological material (e.g., pancreatic islet cells). In some embodiments, the scaffolds are used for transplanting biological material into a subject. In some embodiments, the scaffolds are used in the treatment of diseases (e.g., type 1 diabetes), and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening).

Abstract: The disclosed methods pertain to diagnosing whether a non-ablative, gene therapy is needed for reducing AF fibrosis in a subject, and if so, methods of reducing AF fibrosis in a subject using gene therapy with a dominant negative TGF-? R2 cDNA expression vector. Kits and computer program products are also described, wherein the kits provide materials for diagnosing and treating AF fibrosis, and the computer program products include a computer readable medium having computer readable program code for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic ablation of fibrosis in a subject using a gene therapy method.

Abstract: Dye-sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films for photoanodes, photoanodes incorporating the films and DSCs incorporating the photoanodes are provided. Also provided are methods for making the dye sensitized semiconducting metal oxide films. The methods of making the films are based on the deposition of an encapsulating layer of a semiconducting metal oxide around the molecular anchoring groups of photosensitizing dye molecules adsorbed to a porous film of the semiconducting metal oxide. The encapsulating layer of semiconducting metal oxide is formed in such a way that it is not coated over the chromophores of the adsorbed dye molecules and, therefore, allows the dye molecules to remain electrochemically addressable.

Abstract: Nanostructured carbon electrode usable for electrochemical devices and methods of fabricating the same. The method of fabricating a nanostructured carbon electrode includes providing a carbon material of large-effective-surface-area polyaromatic hydrocarbon (LPAH), mixing the carbon material of LPAH with a surfactant in a solution to form a suspension thereof; depositing the suspension onto a substrate to form a layered structure; and sintering the layered structure at a temperature for a period of time to form a nanostructured carbon electrode having a film of LPAH.

Abstract: A haptic device provides indirect haptic feedback and includes a substrate having a touch surface, a position sensor and a friction modulator associated with the substrate, wherein a coefficient of friction of the touch surface is modulated in response to a sensed position of relative to the touch surface and/or a derivative thereof.

Abstract: A medical device includes a surgical needle attached to a hollow tubular suture. The suture is constructed of macroporous hollow tubular wall that facilitates and allows tissue integration into the suture core subsequent to introduction to the body, thereby preventing suture pull-through and improving biocompatibility.

Abstract: Disclosed are Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genomic Island nucleic acid sequences referred to as PAGI-5, PAGI-6, PAGI-7, PAGI-8, PAGI-9, PAGI-10, and PAGI-11. These nucleic acid sequences may be useful in methods for identifying virulent strains of Pseudomonas bacteria.

Abstract: Disclosed are new methods of fabricating metal oxide thin films and nanomaterial-derived metal composite thin films via solution processes at low temperatures (<400° C.). The present thin films are useful as thin film semiconductors, thin film dielectrics, or thin film conductors, and can be implemented into semiconductor devices such as thin film transistors and thin film photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: Provided herein are silica shell particles modified on their surface with biomolecules, methods of making these particles, and methods of using these particles, e.g., in transfection methods, methods of inhibiting gene expression, and methods of delivering a therapeutic.

Abstract: A method of forming a graphene oxide based layer includes preparing a dispersion of graphene oxide and nanostructures, and spin coating the dispersion on a surface of a substrate to form a spin coated film thereon; and thermally annealing the spin coated film to form the graphene oxide based layer, where the mass ratio of the graphene oxide and the nanostructures in the graphene oxide based layer is in a range of about 1:0.01 w/w to 1:0.8 w/w. The nanostructures are functionalized with carboxylic acid. The nanostructures include carbon nanotubes, or nanofibers. The carbon nanotubes include single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).

Abstract: Disclosed are new methods of fabricating metal oxide thin films and nanomaterial-derived metal composite thin films via solution processes at low temperatures (<400° C.). The present thin films are useful as thin film semiconductors, thin film dielectrics, or thin film conductors, and can be implemented into semiconductor devices such as thin film transistors and thin film photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: Articles, compositions, kits, and methods relating to nanostructures, including those that can sequester molecules such as cholesterol, are provided. Certain embodiments described herein include structures having a core-shell type arrangement; for instance, a nanoparticle core may be surrounded by a shell including a material, such as a lipid bilayer, that can interact with cholesterol and/or other lipids. In some embodiments, the structures, when introduced into a subject, can sequester cholesterol and/or other lipids and remove them from circulation. Accordingly, the structures described herein may be used to diagnose, prevent, treat or manage certain diseases or bodily conditions, especially those associated with abnormal lipid levels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of making non-covalently bonded carbon-titania nanocomposite thin films includes: forming a carbon-based ink; forming a titania (TiO2) solution; blade-coating a mechanical mixture of the carbon-based ink and the titania solution onto a substrate; and annealing the blade-coated substrate at a first temperature for a first period of time to obtain the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films. In certain embodiments, the carbon-based titania nanocomposite thin films may include solvent-exfoliated graphene titania (SEG-TiO2) nanocomposite thin films, or single walled carbon nanotube titania (SWCNT-TiO2) nanocomposite thin films.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, kits, and compositions for detecting mutations in transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4 (TRPV4). In particular, mutations are detected in TRPV4 to detect diseases such as scapuloperoneal spinal muscular atrophy (SPSMA) and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type IIC (HMSN IIC) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2C (CMT2C).

Abstract: A transverse thermoelectric device includes a superlattice body, electrically conductive first and second contacts, and first and second thermal contacts. The superlattice body extends between opposite first and second ends along a first direction and between opposite first and second sides along a different, second direction. The superlattice body includes alternating first and second layers of crystalline materials oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first direction. The electrically conductive first contact is coupled with the first end of the superlattice and the electrically conductive second contact is coupled with the second end of the superlattice. The first thermal contact is thermally coupled to the first side of the superlattice and the second thermal contact is thermally coupled to the second side of the superlattice. A Seebeck tensor of the superlattice body is ambipolar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivering an oligonucleotide-functionalized nanoparticle.

Abstract: The invention herein comprises amyloid beta-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), compositions comprising ADDLs, ADDL-surrogates, ADDL-binding molecules, and methods of using any of the foregoing compounds and compositions. ADDLs comprise amyloid ? protein assembled into soluble, globular, non-fibrillar, oligomeric structures capable of activating specific cellular processes. The invention also comprises methods of generating ADDL-specific antibodies and methods of using ADDL-specific antibodies for assaying the formation, presence, receptor protein binding and cellular activity of ADDLs, as well as using such antibodies to detect compounds that block the formation or activity of ADDLs, and methods of identifying such compounds. The invention further provides methods of using ADDL-specific antibodies in modulating ADDL formation and/or activity, inter alia in the treatment of learning and/or memory disorders.