Disclosed are x-ray contrast compositions for oral or retrograde examination of the gastrointestinal tract comprising an x-ray contrast producing agent in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable clay in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and methods for their use in diagnostic radiology of the gastrointestinal tract.

X-ray reflective multilayer films with greatly reduced surface roughness and film stress, and smoothing layers for reducing surface roughness of X-ray reflective film substrates, are produced by reactive sputter deposition using a sputter gas having nitrogen in combination with at least one inert gas. The nitrogen is incorporated into the film in a non-stoichiometric manner. Preferably, a gas fraction of the nitrogen is between approximately 5% and approximately 25%. The inert gas is preferably argon. In one embodiment, the materials to be reactively sputtered may include tungsten and boron carbide in alternating layers of the multilayer film. Alternatively, nickel and boron carbide or cobalt and carbon may be used in alternating layers of the multilayer film. Boron carbide may serve as the material for the smoothing layer.

X-ray reflective multilayer films with greatly reduced surface roughness and film stress, and smoothing layers for reducing surface roughness of X-ray reflective film substrates, are produced by reactive sputter deposition using a sputter gas having nitrogen in combination with at least one inert gas. The nitrogen is incorporated into the film in a non-stoichiometric manner. Preferably, a gas fraction of the nitrogen is between approximately 5% and approximately 25%. The inert gas is preferably argon. In one embodiment, the materials to be reactively sputtered may include tungsten and boron carbide in alternating layers of the multilayer film. Alternatively, nickel and boron carbide or cobalt and carbon may be used in alternating layers of the multilayer film. Boron carbide may serve as the material for the smoothing layer.

The invention relates to an X-ray source (100) with an electron-beam-generator (120) for generating electron beams (B, B′) that converge towards a target (110). Thus the spatial distribution of X-ray focal spots (T, T′) on the target (110) can be made denser than the distribution of electron sources (121), wherein the latter is usually dictated by hardware limitations. The electron-beam-generator (120) may particularly comprise a curved emitter device (140) with a matrix of CNT based electron emitters (141) and an associated electrode device (130).

The present invention relates to an X-ray dense conjugate, the use of the conjugate for producing a diagnostic and therapeutic composition, a pharmaceutical and/or diagnostic composition, which comprises said conjugate, a method for the diagnostic and/or analytical treatment of biological material or a living being, and a method for the therapeutic treatment of a living being.

The present invention relates generally to fabricating two-terminal electric microswitches comprising thin semiconductor films and using these microswitches to construct column-row (x-y) addressable microswitch matrices. These microswitches are two terminal devices through which electric current and electric potential (or their derivates or integrals) can be switched on and off by the magnitude or the polarity of the external bias. The microswitches are made from semiconducting thin films in an electrode/semiconductor/electrode, thin film configuration. Column-row addressable electric microswitch matrices can be made in large areas, with high pixel density. Such matrices can be integrated with a sensor layer with electronic properties which vary in response to external physical conditions (such as photon radiation, temperature, pressure, magnetic field and so on), thereby forming a variety of detector matrices.

'xeno-autoantibodies' recognize a dietary immunogenic non-self sugar that is metabolized by cells as self and presented on the cell surface. N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and its hydroxylated form, N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are the two major Sia forms in most mammals. Humans are deficient in the enzyme CMP-Neu5Ac hydroxylase (CMAH) that can synthesize Neu5Gc, however dietary Neu5Gc accumulates in epithelial tumors and become immunogenic. Our previous research recognized dual and opposing roles of IgG isotype xeno-autoantibodies in cancer progression, diagnosis and immunotherapy: they facilitate tumor progression via chronic inflammation at low doses, but mediate tumor inhibition at higher doses in a 'human-like' Cmah-/- Neu5Gc-deficient mouse model. Furthermore, we developed a novel sialoglycan microarray that lead to the discovery of a specific xeno-auto-IgG that is novel human serum carcinoma biomarker and potential immunotherapeutic. However, our early studies also revealed that some human sera show high levels of anti-Neu5Gc IgAs that could even be affinity-purified from human serum (7). IgA is the most abundantly produced antibody isotype in the body and the main isotype in mucosal surfaces; It is also present in serum, where IgG is the predominant isotype. I propose a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the biology of IgA xeno-autoantibodies against these unique glycans and their potential involvement in cancer. I will combine glycobiology, immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology, nanotechnology and advanced array techniques to address these lines of investigation both in vitro and in vivo in a relevant mouse model (Cmah-/-).

Building upon the Gas Dynamic Virtual (GDVN) technology developed by the researcher at his home institution and upon the very successful use of these injectors for biomolecular structure measurement with seminal X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFEL's), this project will enhance and expand GDVN capabilities for both the current and the next generation of XFEL's. Specific goals of this project are (1) reduction of sample consumption from the 1-10 microliters/minute of the current GDVN injectors down to under 100 nanoliters/min, (2) development and testing of specific experimental methods (capillary coatings, new GDVN methodology, improved flow systems) to expand the variety of biological samples that can be delivered using GVDN injectors, and (3) porting of this technology and knowledge to the European XFEL communities.

This proposal for a Marie Curie Fellowship focuses on the preparation of well-defined nanofibers from conjugated polymers and their use in photovoltaic devices. This project will be highly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, involving polymer synthesis, polymer self-assembly in the solution state, polymer crystallography, polymer physics, the physics of semiconducting materials, the fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices, and nanoscience. Therefore, this research is expected to have a substantial multidisciplinary impact ranging from polymer chemistry to polymer physics, to materials science, and to expand our knowledge of photovoltaic devices. To achieve the project goals it will be vital to combine the expertise of the applicant, Xiaoyu Li, on nanofibers and polymer-based device fabrication, with that of the host, Prof. Ian Manners, on polymer synthesis and crystallization-driven self-assembly of block copolymers in solution. Mr. Li is completing his Ph.D. in Canada and after working with Prof. Manners in the UK he aims to find a faculty position in China, his country of origin.