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Presently disclosed is a method of modulating Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, by contacting the cell with at least one agent that modulates at least one factor from a specified group consisting of SNAI2, SOX7 and other factors, the screening of said agent and use thereof in a medicament for treating HBV infection or disease or condition associated with a HBV infection in a subject. In one preferred embodiment, the agent is one peptide derived from SOX7 or SNAI2 or stapled peptides thereof. As a separate invention, a method of identifying at least one factor that modulates replication of a virus is also disclosed.

This application describes liver stem cells (LSC), and differentiated hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and 3D cellular structures derived therefrom. Methods for producing LSC and mature, differentiated hepatocytes and cholangiocytes in culture are provided. Also provided are cell culture systems and cell culture media for producing a homogenous population of liver stem cells that remain in an undifferentiated state over multiple passages in culture. The LSC and methods are useful for producing homogenous populations of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes for downstream applications. The LSC can be transplanted into subjects to treat liver diseases.

A copolymer comprising an oxygenated polyaromatic alcohol and a poly (alkylene oxide) alkyl ether (meth)acrylate is disclosed, wherein the oxygenated polyaromatic alcohol is preferably lignin or lignin derivative. A hydrogel comprising the copolymer and a cyclic oligosaccharide such as ?-cyclodextrin is also disclosed, which can be used in biomedical or personal care industries, for example as a carrier for an active agent.

Systems and methods for monitoring plastic deformation of a structural material are provided. An acoustic wave actuator is configured to generate acoustic wave signals to be propagated within the structural material and is in-situ fabricated on the structural material at a first location. An alternating current (AC) electric signal source drives the acoustic wave actuator to generate the acoustic wave signals at a predetermined frequency. One or more acoustic wave sensors detect the acoustic wave signals generated by the acoustic wave actuator and propagated within the structural material. More particularly, the acoustic wave detectors are configured to detect both fundamental and second harmonic acoustic signals at the predetermined frequency. The acoustic wave sensors are in-situ fabricated on the structural material at one or more second locations.

A method for fabrication of high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) semiconductor devices is presented. The method includes providing a substrate, growing a HEMT layer structure on the substrate; and self-aligned common metal stack formation of source, drain and gate electrodes on the HEMT layer structure using a single lithographic mask.

Various embodiments may provide a device arrangement. The device arrangement may include a substrate including a conductive layer. The device arrangement may further include a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device monolithically integrated with the substrate, wherein the MEMS device may be electrically coupled to the conductive layer. A cavity may be defined through the conductive layer for acoustically isolating the MEMS device MEMS device from the substrate. At least one anchor structure may be defined by the conductive layer to support the MEMS device.

A method for preparing an amorphous metal oxide film is provided. The method comprises providing an aqueous composition comprising a metal fluorine compound; and contacting a substrate with the aqueous composition at a temperature of less than about 100� C. to obtain said amorphous metal oxide film on the substrate. An amorphous metal oxide film, and use of the amorphous metal oxide film in various applications are also provided.

Techniques regarding amine monomers that can form ionene compositions with antimicrobial functionality are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a monomer, which can comprise a molecular backbone. The molecular backbone can comprise a norspermidine structure. The norspermidine structure can comprise a tertiary amino group. Also, the tertiary amino group can comprise a functional group, and an amino group of the norspermidine structure can be capable of being ionized.

The present invention relates to an antigen-binding protein, preferably a monoclonal antibody, against annexin A2 (ANXA2), comprising (i) a heavy chain variable domain comprising a VHCDR1 of sequence GYSITSGYSWH, a VHCDR2 of sequence YIHYSGSTKYNPSLKS and a VHCDR3 of sequence GSNYGFDY; and (ii) a light chain variable domain comprising a VLCDR1 of sequence KSSQSLLYSNDQKNYLA, a VLCDR2 of sequence WASIRES, and a VLCDR3 of sequence QQYYIYPLT. Also provided is an ANXA2 binding protein comprising (i) a heavy chain variable domain comprising a VHCDR1 of sequence VYSITSGYSWH; a VHCDR2 of sequence YIHYSGSTKYNPSLKS, and a VHCDR3 of sequence GTDNAVDY; and (ii) a light chain variable domain comprising a VLCDR1 of sequence KSSQSLLYSSNQKNYLA, a VLCDR2 of sequence WASSRES, and a VLCDR3 of sequence QQYYIYPLT. The antibodies preferably bind to an N-linked glycan on ANXA2, and are internalised upon binding. They may be conjugated with cytotoxins and may be used in the treatment or detection of cancer.

Various embodiments may provide an optical system for determining a refractive index of a sample. The optical system may include a laser source configured to emit a laser beam, and a non-linear crystal configured to generate, based on the laser beam, an infrared light beam which passes through the sample, and a visible signal light beam. The optical system may further include a first mirror configured to reflect the visible signal light beam, a second mirror configured to reflect the infrared light beam so that the reflected infrared light beam interacts with the reflected visible signal light beam in the non-linear crystal, and a photodetector configured to determine a property of the reflected visible signal light beam which has interacted with the reflected infrared light beam for determining the refractive index of the sample.