Abstract: A nanosized complex includes a nucleic acid and a compound comprising formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkylamino group or a group containing at least one aromatic group; R2 and R3 are independently an aliphatic group or hydrophobic group; R4 and R5 are independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an acyl group, or an aromatic group, or a polymer, a targeting group, a detectable moiety, or a linker, or a combination thereof, and at least one of R4 and R5 includes a retinoid or retinoid derivative that targets and/or binds to an interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein; a, b, c, and d are independently an integer from 1 to 10; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A tissue-specific manganese based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent includes the formula: wherein T includes at least one cell specific or tissue specific targeting moiety; C includes at least one pyclen based chelating agent complexed with a Mn ion, and L includes at least one optional linker that covalently links the at least one targeting moiety to the at least one chelating agent.

Abstract: A plasticizer, which is biodegradable, has a molecule including a central structure, at least two connecting structures and at least one side-chain structure. The central structure includes at least one of a benzene derivative and at least one amino acid. The connecting structures are respectively connected to the central structure, wherein the connecting structures include a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure. The first connecting structure is an amine group, and the second connecting structure is a carboxyl group. The side-chain structure is a chain of multiple carbon atoms, and the side-chain structure is connected to at least one of the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure. An amide bond is formed as the side-chain structure connected to the amine group, and an ester bond is formed as the side-chain structure connected to the carboxyl group.

Abstract: A compound comprising formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkylamino group or a group containing at least one aromatic group; R2 and R3 are independently an aliphatic group or hydrophobic group; R4 and R5 are independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an acyl group, an aromatic group, polymer, a targeting group, or a detectable moiety; a, b, c, and d are independently an integer from 1 to 10; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of detecting drug-resistant cancer in a subject is described. The method includes contacting a tissue of the subject with an effective amount of a molecular probe, detecting the amount of the molecular probe present in the tissue, comparing the amount of molecular probe detected to a control value, and detecting drug-resistant cancer in the subject if the amount of the molecular probe present in the tissue is higher than the control value. The molecular probe includes the following formula: P-L-C wherein P is a EDB-FN targeting peptide, C is a contrast agent; and L is a non-peptide linker that covalently links the peptide to the contrast agent. Methods of monitoring the treatment of drug resistant cancer are also described.

Abstract: Molecular probe compounds according to the formula P-L-I are described. P is a targeting peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 117; I is an imaging agent; and L is an optional non-peptide linker that covalently links the peptide to the imaging agent, wherein the linker comprises a carboxylic acid that forms a carboxamide with an amine of the targeting peptide or a maleimide that forms a thioester bond with a cysteine residue of the targeting peptide. Methods of detecting cancer and monitoring the treatment of cancer using the molecular probes are also described.

Abstract: A nanosized complex includes a nucleic acid and a compound comprising formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkylamino group or a group containing at least one aromatic group; R2 and R3 are independently an aliphatic group or hydrophobic group; R4 and R5 are independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an acyl group, or an aromatic group, or a polymer, a targeting group, a detectable moiety, or a linker, or a combination thereof, and at least one of R4 and R5 includes a retinoid or retinoid derivative that targets and/or binds to an interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein; a, b, c, and d are independently an integer from 1 to 10; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: An anticancer peptide conjugate is described that comprises the following formula: P-L-A wherein: P is a peptide that includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, or variants thereof in which one or more L-amino acids have been replace with a corresponding D-amino acid; A is an antitumor agent; and L is an optional linker that covalently links the peptide to the antitumor agent, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Methods of using the anticancer peptide conjugates to treat cancer are also described.

Abstract: A plasticizer, a plastic composition and a plastic product are provided. The plasticizer is an amino acid derivative and has a biodegradability, wherein the plasticizer includes a central structure and at least one side chain structure. The central structure is an aspartic acid, the at least one side chain structure includes a first side chain structure and a second side chain structure. The plasticizer has a structure represented by Formula (I), in which each of the symbols thereof is as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for irrigating lands are disclosed. In one example, an irrigation system is disclosed. The irrigation system includes a gate and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The gate is configured for adjusting a water flow for irrigating a piece of land. The MCU is configured for controlling the gate to adjust the water flow based on environmental information related to the piece of land.

Abstract: A molecular probe includes the following formula: P-L-C wherein P is a EDB-FN targeting peptide, C is a contrast agent; and L is a non-peptide linker that covalently links the peptide to the contrast agent.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for irrigating lands are disclosed. In one example, an irrigation system is disclosed. The irrigation system includes a gate and a microcontroller unit (MCU). The gate is configured for adjusting a water flow for irrigating a piece of land. The MCU is configured for controlling the gate to adjust the water flow based on environmental information related to the piece of land.

Abstract: A plasticizer, a plastic composition and a plastic product are provided. The plasticizer composition and the plastic product include the plasticizer, and the plasticizer has a biodegradability. The plasticizer has a structure represented by Formula (I), in which each of the symbols thereof is as defined in the specification, and the plasticizer has a central structure.

Abstract: A method of vehicle navigation includes controlling a phased array radar to search for an object within a first field of view and receiving a first direction, having a first direction resolution, and a first range, having first range resolution, of the object from the phased array radar. The method includes controlling a camera to search for the object based on the first direction and the first range within a second field of view that is smaller than the first field of view, and receiving a second direction of the object from the camera, wherein the second direction has a second direction resolution that is finer than the first direction resolution. The method includes outputting at least one of the second direction or the first range, and navigating the vehicle based on the at least one of the second direction or the first range.

Abstract: The present application provides a composite brake disc, the preparation method thereof and a friction stir tool. The composite brake disc comprises: an aluminum alloy base layer, and an aluminum matrix composite layer, where the aluminum alloy base layer and the aluminum matrix composite layer are bonded with each other through metallurgical bonding. A transition layer is formed at the boundary surface where the aluminum alloy base layer and the aluminum matrix composite layer are bonded with each other. A reinforced structure connecting the aluminum alloy base layer and the aluminum matrix composite layer is formed in the transition layer.

Abstract: A plasmid vector comprising one or more heterologous nucleic acids or genes encoding a functional therapeutic protein configured to treat a retinal or ocular includes a human GRK1 promoter and human S/MAR enhancer to express the heterologous gene in both rod and cone photoreceptors.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition includes a retinylamine derivative having the following formula: where R1 is an amino acid residue, a dipeptide or a tripeptide that is linked to the retinylamine by an amide bond.

Abstract: A plastic composition includes at least one plastic and at least one plasticizer. The plastic include a polylactic acid. The plasticizer includes an amide ester compound, and the amide ester compound has the biodegradability. The weight percentage of the plastic in the plastic composition is 85% to 99.99%, and the weight percentage of the plasticizer in the plastic composition is 0.01% to 15%.

Abstract: A nanosized complex includes siRNA and a compound comprising formula (I):

Abstract: A molecular probe comprising a linear peptide that includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, and SEQ ID NO: 9; a contrast agent; and a non-peptide linker that covalently links the peptide to the contrast agent.