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The present invention relates to improving x-ray phase contrast imaging. The invention discloses a novel grating interferometer for phase contrast imaging with hard x-rays that overcomes limitations in the level of sensitivity by utilizing the advantages of far-field interferometers. The novel design and fabrication process can easily acquire absolute and differential phase images of lightly absorbing samples.

In various x-ray imaging methods, including scattering correction and phase contrast imaging, intensity modulation in space is introduced into the projection images by the use of masks, gratings, or apertures. The present invention relates to a process to demodulate the modulation. The current demodulation processes are either to remove the modulation pattern through digital processing or to move the modulation pattern on the detector in a series of images that requires mechanical movements of a component and tends to lose some information of the imaged object.

The invention is directed to prophylactic administration of emtricitabine (FTC) in combination with tenofovir or its prodrug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), to protect against transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Also disclosed are other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) that, when administered in combination, protect against HIV infection.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are used for a variety of imaging application. The present invention discloses an improving MRI device and method by amplifying signals received by resonant NMR coils of MRI systems. It utilizes positive feedback from low-noise Field-Effect Transistor to amplify the signal current that can be coupled out to receiving loops positioned externally without loss in sensitivity. Therefore, the NMR coil can be flexibly positioned near internal tissues and used to develop high-resolution images in highly invasive situations.

A microtome device is used in a variety of microcopy techniques to remove very thin (e.g., in the tens of nanometers range) portions from the top of a sample between successive images. This technology discloses a design for a microtome device that offers several unique features and advantages over commercially available microtomes. A prototype of the microtome has been built and demonstrated to work with a serial block-face scanning electron microscopy in order to serially collect ultrathin sections from plastic embedded biological tissues, specifically from brain tissues.

The vast majority of people infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) will have chronic infection. Over decades, this can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. In fact, HCV infection is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Several new drugs have recently come into the market that have changed the HCV treatment paradigm. However, the effectiveness of these new drugs can vary depending on the HCV genotype. Furthermore, all oral, interferon free therapeutic regimens for HCV infection will need combinations of drugs that target different aspects of the HCV life cycle.

The invention pertains to a technique for enhancing the resolution of images in light sheet microscopy by adding additional enhanced depth-of-focus optical arrangements and high numerical aperture objective lenses. The technique employs an arrangement of three objective lenses and a processor for combining captured images. The image composition utilizes the greater resolving power of the third high numerical aperture objective lens by imaging the light sheet and enhanced depth-of-focus arrangement resulting in improved overall resolution of the light sheet system.

Mosquito-transmitted dengue virus is one of the leading causes of illness in the tropics and subtropics. There is currently no vaccine available and a number of DENV diagnostic and research applications depend on the production of large amounts of these viruses. However, due to the slow growing nature of DENVs these protocols are very time-consuming.

The present invention is related to a recombinant viral vector for vaccines.

Currently available poxvirus vectors for humans and other animals exhibit suboptimal expression of recombinant gene(s) and high expression of vector proteins which causes weak immunogenicity and high anti-vector immune response.

The octopod-shaped iron oxide nanoparticles of this technology significantly enhance contrast in MRI imaging compared to spherical superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle T₂ contrast agents. These octopod iron oxide nanoparticles show a transverse relaxivity that is over five times greater than comparable spherical agents. Because the unique octopod shape creates a greater effective radius than spherical agents, but maintains similar magnetization properties, the relaxation rate is improved. The improved relaxation rate greatly enhances the contrast of images.