Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating Canavan disease in a subject through restoring ASPA enzymatic activities in the subject by expressing an exogenous functional ASPA gene in the brain of the subject. Also disclosed are a process of producing neural precursor cells, including NPCs, glial progenitor cells and OPCs, which express an exogenous functional ASPA gene and the neural precursor cells produced by this process.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of detecting abnormal expression of one or more genes associated with a neurological disease such as the Alexander disease, the Alzheimer's disease, the Parkinson disease, the Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The methods include performing a transcriptome analysis of the astrocytes derived from a patient and the astrocytes derived from a healthy control subject, thereby to determine one or more genes that are substantially differentially expressed. Also disclosed are methods of treating a neurological disease by correcting the abnormally expressed genes associated with the neurological disease.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a rail vehicle are provided. The method includes: a local device acquires current operating data and historical operating data of a rail vehicle from a controller of the rail vehicle, herein the local device, which is connected with the controller, is a portable testing device; the local device obtains fault information according to the current operating data and the historical operating data, herein the fault information includes at least one of a fault code and a fault description; the local device obtains a maintenance plan corresponding to the fault information, herein the maintenance plan is obtained through a remote device or a server side; and the local device maintains the rail vehicle according to the maintenance plan. The disclosure solves a technical problem in the traditional art that a troubleshooting process of a rail vehicle is difficult, and when the rail vehicle has a fault, the fault cannot be solved timely.

Abstract: Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulation may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g., glioblastoma.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of reprograming autologous tissues or cells into astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells using one or more small molecule compounds only without any transgenes. Also disclosed are methods of preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases or neurological disorders associated with dysfunction of astrocytes, such as Alzheimer's Disease, by transplanting the astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells produced by the methods disclosed herein into the brain of a subject suffering from the neurodegenerative disease or neurological disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of reprograming autologous tissues or cells into astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells using one or more small molecule compounds only without any transgenes. Also disclosed are methods of preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases or neurological disorders associated with dysfunction of astrocytes, such as Alzheimer's Disease, by transplanting the astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells produced by the methods disclosed herein into the brain of a subject suffering from the neurodegenerative disease or neurological disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing human iPSC-derived brain organoids and uses thereof to detect and develop treatment for HCMV-induced brain deformation in developing fetus.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a rail vehicle are provided. The method includes: a local device acquires current operating data and historical operating data of a rail vehicle from a controller of the rail vehicle, herein the local device, which is connected with the controller, is a portable testing device; the local device obtains fault information according to the current operating data and the historical operating data, herein the fault information includes at least one of a fault code and a fault description; the local device obtains a maintenance plan corresponding to the fault information, herein the maintenance plan is obtained through a remote device or a server side; and the local device maintains the rail vehicle according to the maintenance plan. The disclosure solves a technical problem in the traditional art that a troubleshooting process of a rail vehicle is difficult, and when the rail vehicle has a fault, the fault cannot be solved timely.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder or depression. The methods entail inhibiting expression of miR-219 or overexpressing TLX thereby promoting proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subjects.

Abstract: Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulation may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g., glioblastoma.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating cancer by increasing mRNA m6A methylation level and/or decreasing mRNA m6A demethylation in cancer stem cells. The methods entail administering an effective amount of one or more therapeutic agents to the subject. The therapeutic agents include an agent that induces overexpression of METTL3, an agent that induces overexpression of METTL14, an agent that inhibits FTO, an agent that inhibits ALKBH5, and an agent that inhibits TLX. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for treating cancer, which compositions include one or more such therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of detecting abnormal expression of one or more genes associated with a neurological disease such as the Alexander disease, the Alzheimer's disease, the Parkinson disease, the Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The methods include performing a transcriptome analysis of the astrocytes derived from a patient and the astrocytes derived from a healthy control subject, thereby to determine one or more genes that are substantially differentially expressed. Also disclosed are methods of treating a neurological disease by correcting the abnormally expressed genes associated with the neurological disease.

Abstract: Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulations may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g. glioblastoma.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating Canavan disease in a subject through restoring ASPA enzymatic activities in the subject by expressing exogenous wild type ASPA gene in the brain of the subject. Also disclosed are a process of producing neural precursor cells, including NPCs, glial progenitor cells and oligodendroglial progenitor cells, which express an exogenous wild type ASPA gene and the neural precursor cells produced by this process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of reprograming autologous tissues or cells into astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells using one or more small molecule compounds only without any transgenes. Also disclosed are methods of preventing or treating neurodegenerative diseases or neurological disorders associated with dysfunction of astrocytes, such as Alzheimer's Disease, by transplanting the astrocytes or astroglial progenitor cells produced by the methods disclosed herein into the brain of a subject suffering from the neurodegenerative disease or neurological disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder or depression. The methods entail inhibiting expression of miR-219 or overexpressing TLX thereby promoting proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subjects.

Abstract: Methods and compositions capable of modulating activity of TLX (NR2E1), a nuclear receptor essential for neural stem cell self-renewal are provided. The modulations may comprise downregulating TLX expression and/or modulating TET3. In addition, methods of delivering shRNAs using dendrimer nanoparticles into glioblastoma stem cells are provided. The methods and compositions are useful for treating and preventing the progression of brain cancer, e.g. glioblastoma.

Abstract: Described herein, inter alia, are methods and compositions useful for induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming.

Abstract: A significant challenge in cancer research field is to define molecular features that distinguish cancer stem cells from normal stem cells. In this study, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in human glioblastoma stem cells were compared to that of normal neural stem cells using combined microarray and deep sequencing analyses. These studies led to the identification of several miRNAs that are differentially expressed in glioblastoma stem cells and normal neural stem cells. Characterizing the role of these miRNAs in glioblastoma stem cells is important for the development of miRNA-based therapies that specifically target tumor stem cells, but spare normal stem cells.

Abstract: A significant challenge in cancer research field is to define molecular features that distinguish cancer stem cells from normal stem cells. In this study, microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in human glioblastoma stem cells were compared to that of normal neural stem cells using combined microarray and deep sequencing analyzes. These studies led to the identification of several miRNAs that are differentially expressed in glioblastoma stem cells and normal neural stem cells. Characterizing the role of these miRNAs in glioblastoma stem cells is important for the development of miRNA-based therapies that specifically target tumor stem cells, but spare normal stem cells.