Abstract: Markers and methods useful for assessing coronary artery disease in a subject are provided, along with kits for measuring their expression. Also provided are predictive models, based on the markers, as well as computer systems, and software embodiments of the models for scoring and optionally classifying samples.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes: i) applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer, and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the non-polar solution further comprises at least 50 vol % of a C5 to C20 aliphatic hydrocarbon and from 2 to 25 vol % of benzene or benzene substituted with one or more C1 to C6 alkyl groups; and ii) applying an aqueous solution of nitrous acid to the thin film polyamide layer.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes the steps of applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of a porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer. The method is characterized by including a substituted benzamide monomer within the non-polar solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a modified T cell receptor (TCR) comprising an amino acid sequence of a wild-type (WT) TCR with no more than three amino acid substitutions, wherein the modified TCR, as compared to the WT TCR, (i) has an enhanced ability to recognize target cells when expressed by CD4+ T cells and (ii) does not exhibit a decrease in antigen specificity when expressed by CD8+ T cells. Polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, and pharmaceutical compositions related to the modified TCR also are part of the invention. Further, the invention is directed to methods of detecting a diseased cell in a host, methods of treating or preventing a disease in a host, and methods of identifying a candidate adoptive immunotherapy TCR.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated or purified T-cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for MHC Class II-restricted MAGE-A3. The invention further provides related polypeptides and proteins, as well as related nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, host cells, and populations of cells. Further provided by the invention are antibodies, or an antigen binding portion thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions relating to the TCRs of the invention. Methods of detecting the presence of cancer in a host and methods of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal are further provided by the invention.

Abstract: Markers and methods useful for assessing coronary artery disease in a subject are provided, along with kits for measuring their expression. Also provided are predictive models, based on the markers, as well as computer systems, and software embodiments of the models for scoring and optionally classifying samples.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including the steps of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is includes at least one of the following steps: i) conducting the interfacial polymerization in the presence of a subject monomer comprising at least one carboxylic acid group linked to an aromatic moiety and wherein the aromatic moiety is further substituted with at least one of an acyl halide or anhydride functional group and ii) applying the subject monomer to the thin film polyamide layer. The invention includes many additional embodiments.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of promoting regression of a cancer in a mammal comprising (i) culturing autologous T cells; (ii) expanding the cultured T cells; (iii) administering to the mammal nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy; and (iv) after administering nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy, administering to the mammal the expanded T cells, wherein the T cells administered to the mammal are about 19 to about 35 days old and have not been screened for specific tumor reactivity, whereupon the regression of the cancer in the mammal is promoted.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a multi-pass hyperfiltration system (38) including at least two passes (42,44) of spiral wound modules positioned in series along a fluid pathway; including: a first pass is located upstream along the fluid pathway with respect to a second pass such that permeate from the first pass is directed along the fluid pathway (40) to the second pass, and each pass comprises a pressure vessel enclosing at least one spiral wound module, each module including at least one hyper-filtration membrane envelop and feed spacer sheet wound about a permeate collection tube, wherein the system is characterized by the first pass comprising a spiral wound module including a feed spacer sheet having a thickness greater 0.65 mm and the second pass comprising a spiral wound module including a feed spacer sheet having a thickness less than 0.65 mm.

Abstract: Peripheral blood markers are provided whose expression levels correlate with smoking status. Predictive models developed using highly informative markers are disclosed, along with systems, kits, and methods for using the markers to provide a biochemical surrogate for a subject's smoking status. In some embodiments, the smoking-related disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, and/or asthma.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer including the steps of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and a combination amine-reactive compounds to a surface of the porous support and reacting the constituents to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the amine-reactive compounds include: i) a polyfunctional amine-reactive monomer including two to three amine-reactive moieties selected from acyl halide, sulfonyl halide and anhydride, ii) a polyfunctional amine-reactive monomer including at least four amine-reactive moieties selected from acyl halide, sulfonyl halide and anhydride, and iii) an acid compound including at least on carboxylic acid moiety or salt thereof and at least one amine-reactive moiety selected from acyl halide and sulfonyl halide.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane having a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer comprising a reaction product of m-phenylene diamine (mPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC), characterized by the thin film polyamide layer having a critical strain value of less than 10%. In another embodiment, the thin film polyamide layer has a modulus of greater than 0.75 (GPa). In yet another embodiment, the thin film polyamide layer has an equilibrium swelling value of at least 45%. In another embodiment, the thin film polyamide layer has a thickness of at least 230 nm.

Abstract: A thin film composite polyamide membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer which is a reaction product of m-phenylene diamine (mPD) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC), wherein the membrane is characterized by the thin film polyamide layer having a dissociated carboxylic acid content of at least 0.18 moles/kg at pH 9.5, and wherein pyrolysis of the thin film polyamide layer at 650 C results in a ratio of responses from a flame ionization detector for fragments produced at 212 m/z and 237 m/z of less than 2.8.

Abstract: An in-situ method for preparing a hydrolyzed, acyl halide-containing compound by combining a reactant including a plurality of acyl halide functional groups containing reactant, a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound and water within a hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon solvent.

Abstract: A method for increasing the solubility of a hydrocarbon compound comprising an aliphatic or arene moiety substituted with at least one acyl halide and at least one carboxylic acid functional group within a hydrocarbon solvent, wherein the method includes the step of preparing a solution comprising: at least 80 v/v % of the hydrocarbon solvent, the hydrocarbon compound, and a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound, wherein the concentration of the hydrocarbon compound is greater than its solubility limit within the solvent but less than its solubility limit in the solution and the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method includes the step of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the step of applying the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to the porous support includes the step of combining the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer with a non-polar solvent at a concentration of at least 0.18 weight percent to form a coating solution which is applied to the surface of the porous support, and wherein the interfacial polymerization is conducted in the presence of a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound which is provided in a molar ratio of at least 0.5:1 with the polyfunctional acyl halide monomer. Many additional embodiments are described including membranes made from the subject method and applications for such membranes.

Abstract: The invention provides an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for NY-ESO-1. Also provided are related polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, isolated host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions. The invention further provides a method of detecting the presence of cancer in a mammal and a method of treating or preventing cancer in a mammal using the inventive TCRs or related materials.

Abstract: A thin film composite membrane including a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by having a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.45 moles/kg at pH 9.5 and a method for making a composite polyamide applying a polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine monomer and a non-polar solution comprising a polyfunctional amine-reactive monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is characterized by the non-polar solution comprising at least 0.025 wt % of an acid compound including at least one carboxylic acid moiety and at least one amine-reactive moiety selected from acyl halide and anhydride.

Abstract: A method for preparing a high purity (e.g. greater than 70 wt. %) mono-hydrolyzed acyl halide compound as a precipitate from solution comprising the steps of preparing a solution comprising: i) at least 80 v/v % of a hydrocarbon solvent, ii) water at a molar concentration greater than its solubility limit within the solvent but less that its solubility limit in solution, iii) a tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound, and iv) a polyfunctional acyl halide compound at molar ratio to both water and the tri-hydrocarbyl phosphate compound of at least 1:1.

Abstract: A method for making a composite polyamide membrane comprising the steps of applying a polyfunctional amine monomer and polyfunctional acyl halide monomer to a surface of the porous support and interfacially polymerizing the monomers to form a thin film polyamide layer, wherein the method is includes at least one of the following steps: i) conducting the interfacial polymerization in the presence of a C2-C20 aliphatic monomer comprising at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof, and a single amine-reactive functional group; and ii) applying a C2-C20 aliphatic monomer comprising at least one carboxylic acid functional group or salt thereof, and a single amine-reactive functional group to the thin film polyamide layer. Many additional embodiments are described including applications for such membranes.