'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-/-).

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.

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 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).

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.

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.

Provided are an X-ray contrast agent using gold nanoparticles and a process for preparing the X-ray contrast agent. The X-ray contrast agent is prepared by capping gold nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The X-ray contrast agent is nontoxic and remains in a blood vessel for a long time so that the X-ray contrast agent can be usefully used as a computed tomography (CT) contrast agent for imaging blood vessels. Therefore, the X-ray contrast agent is useful for inspecting blood vessel structures and new blood vessels in a tumor, and obtaining perfusion images. In addition, gold provides better visibility than iodine when used in an X-ray contrast agent. Therefore, better x-ray images can be obtained using the X-ray contrast agent containing gold nanoparticles.