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Method for preparing a superhydrophilic coating consisting essentially of silicon oxide is provided. The method includes providing an aqueous mixture comprising a fluorine-containing silicon complex and a fluorine scavenger; and contacting a substrate with the aqueous mixture at a temperature of less than about 100� C. to obtain said superhydrophilic coating on the substrate. Superhydrophilic coating consisting essentially of silicon dioxide islands with each island having a size in the range of about 10 nm to about 50 nm, and use of the superhydrophilic coating in various applications, such as lens, goggles, anti-fouling coatings, self-cleaning surfaces, mirrors, windshields, windows, primer layer for surfaces, and covers for cookware, are also provided.

A method of reducing the aggregate content in a protein preparation having a target protein includes contacting the protein preparation with a thio-heterocyclic cation to form a mixture, contacting the mixture with at least one functionalized solid to remove excess thio-heterocyclic cations; and optionally contacting the mixture, simultaneously or sequentially, with at least one further functionalized solid to further reduce aggregate content of the protein preparation.

A method for the purification of a desired protein from a protein preparation includes conditioning the protein preparation by treatment with soluble organic multivalent ions, immobilized organic multivalent ions, or both, optionally in the presence of supersaturated allantoin, thereby removing at least 90% of chromatin, then (1) precipitating the desired protein with a nonionic organic polymer in the presence of non-protein-precipitating salts at greater than physiological concentration to provide a precipitate of the desired protein; or (2) precipitating the desired protein with a nonionic organic polymer in the absence of non-precipitating salts at greater than physiological concentration to provide a precipitate and subsequently washing the precipitate with a nonionic organic polymer in the presence of non-protein-precipitating salts at greater than physiological concentration.

Gel-forming block copolymers were prepared comprising i) a central hydrophilic block consisting essentially of a divalent poly(ethylene oxide) chain and ii) two peripheral monocarbonate or polycarbonate hydrophobic blocks linked to the central block by linking groups bearing one or more hydrogen bond forming *�N(H)�* groups. The hydrophobic blocks comprise one or more vitamin-bearing subunits. The gel-forming block copolymers can be used to prepare various biodegradable and/or biocompatible hydrogel and organogel drug compositions, in particular antimicrobial and/or anti-tumor drug compositions. The hydrogel compositions have utility in depot injections for drug delivery. The hydrogen bonding *�N(H)�* group(s) provide longer in vivo lifetime of the hydrogel before degradation and a more prolonged and controlled release rate of a hydrophobic drug compared to similar hydrogels prepared from poly(ethylene glycol).

A method for predicting prognosis (clinical outcome) of hepatocellular carcinoma patients based on the detection of a Hepatitis B virus, determination of the HBV genotype, identification of the strain of the HBV genotype and its integration into the genome, in biological samples of such patients is provided.

The present invention relates to organogels and emulsions based on ultrasmall self-assembling peptides. It further relates to methods for producing such organogels and emulsions as well as to the use of the organogels and emulsions in biological and non-biological applications.

According to various embodiments, an image processing device may be provided. The image processing device may include: an input circuit configured to receive input image data including pixels related to varying exposure times; a selecting circuit configured to select a reference image from the input images; a weighting determination circuit configured to determine at least one weighting for each pixel of the input image data based on the selected reference image; an output image determination circuit configured to determine an output image based the determined weightings; and an output circuit configured to output the output image.

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), combinations and uses thereof for disease therapy, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or polymorph thereof, including all tautomers and stereoisomers thereof wherein R1 represents optionally substituted alkyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkoxy); optionally substituted carbocyclyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, C1-6haloalkyl, C1-6haloalkoxy and halo); or -alkylaryl; R2 represents H; or alkyl; R3 represents H; or alkyl; U, V and W represent �(CH2)�; or U and V together represent �CH?CH� and W represents C?O; Y represents aryl; heteroaryl; optionally substituted carbocyclyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, C1-6haloalkyl, C1-6haloalkoxy and halo); or optionally substituted heterocyclyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, �C(O)OC1-6alkyl, �C(O)C1-6alkyl and �C(O)NHC1-6alkyl); and Z represents aryl; heteroaryl; optionally substituted carbocyclyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, C1-6haloalkyl, C1-6haloalkoxy and halo); or optionally substituted heterocyclyl (wherein optional substituents include one or more substituents each independently selected from C1-6alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, �C(O)OC1-6alkyl, �C(O)C1-6alkyl and �C(O)NHC1-6alkyl).

This invention provides an apparatus and method for culturing cells to probe the influence that the properties of a surface onto which the cells are bonded has on the properties of the cell.

The invention relates to methods for purifying gas, and in particular, to such methods using liquid marbles. The liquid in the liquid marbles is comprised of a material or mixture of materials that selectively removes unwanted gaseous component in the gas to be purified.