A Mood-Machine-Interface as an Intervention for Emotional Self-Regulation in Real-Time

This technology relates to a closed-loop controller that is being developed as a phone app for emotional self-regulation in real-time. There is a significant association between emotion dysregulation and symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating pathology, and substance abuse, affecting millions worldwide. Consisting of a closed-loop controller that adjusts reward values in real-time according to individual mood response, the Mood Machine Interface technology compensates for adaptation to stimuli over time allowing it to generate substantial mood changes in the user.

Radioligand for imaging brain PDE4 subtype D receptors with positron emission tomography

The technology relates to the first radioligands that can be used to image and quantify the enzyme phosphodiesterase subtype D (PDE4D). The PDE4D proteins have a role in carrying out signal transduction pathways in several cell types and is thought to be the key target of various antidepressants. Current work with imaging the radioligands in monkey brains using positron emission tomography (PET) has been successful, and further work with humans is needed.

HeLa Cells Stably Expressing YFP-Parkin and mt-mKeima to Study Parkinson Disease

This technology includes a cell line that stably expresses YFP-Parkin and mt-mKeima that can be used to study mitochondrial degradation, mitophagy, using flow cytometry (FACS). Compromised mitophagy is implicated in Parkinson disease. The effects of any compounds or genetic alteration on Parkin-mediated mitophagy can be monitored.

Improved cortical lesion detection by MRI using high resolution CSF-suppressed T2*-weighted imaging

This technology is an improvement on the ability to visualize cortical lesions in neurological diseases that cause focal tissue damage to the cortex, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Two approaches are used. The first approach includes optimization of routinely available diffusion-weighted sequences to maximize resolution and contrast, both of which are required to differentiate small cortical lesions from normal-appearing cortex.

Design of Switch-Mode Amplifier to Transform Single Transmit Hardware for Multi-Nuclear MRI

This technology includes the design and implementation for 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that allows single transmit hardware to be "transformed" for another nucleus excitation to perform multi-nuclear MR. A radiofrequency (RF) optically controlled switch-mode amplifier prototype is tuned for excitation of two nuclei. The amplifier received the nuclei carrier signals optically through a single fiber.

Cyclopentane-modified FIT-PNAs as Highly Emissive and Selective RNA/DNA Sensors for Use in Clinical Diagnostics

This technology includes Cyclopentane-modified Peptide Nucleic Acids (cp-PNAs) which can be combined with (forced-intercalation) FIT-PNAs to create highly sensitive probes that detect the presence of complementary RNA sequences. We have studied the beneficial effects of incorporating cyclopentane groups into the backbone of PNAs, which leads to proper preorganization of the PNA backbone into the conformations needed to bind complementary RNA sequences. The cp-PNAs typically have improved thermodynamic stability for binding to complementary nucleic acids compared to unmodified PNAs.

Compatible 3-D Intracardiac Echography Catheter and System for Interventional Cardiac Procedures

This technology includes a versatile intravascular 3D intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter that can operate under conventional X-ray and MRI for use during interventional cardiac procedures. The 3D MRICE and custom, GPU-based, real-time imaging system are also included. Structural heart disease affects more than 2.9% of the US population, and common interventional procedures can be difficult because of limitations in catheter devices and inadequate image guidance.

Vitamin C renal leak as a clinical diagnostic tool in the detection, monitoring, and management of acute and chronic diseases

This technology includes a clinical diagnostic tool for measuring vitamin C elimination by human kidneys that can be used for detecting, monitoring, and managing acute and chronic diseases. Findings revealed significant associations between vitamin C renal leak status and clinical variables affecting renal function and blood glucose. The technology uses vitamin C depletion-repletion kinetics and pharmacokinetic models to establish a physiological vitamin C renal threshold.

Locally Delivered Alkaline Phosphatase for Treatment of Periodontal Disease

This technology includes a product for local delivery of alkaline phosphatase for the treatment of periodontal disease. Our laboratory has discovered that factors regulating phosphate metabolism and specifically the appropriate balance between phosphate (Pi) and pyrophosphate (PPi) at local sites are needed for formation (development), maintenance and regeneration of the tooth root surface (cementum), periodontal ligament (PDL) and surrounding alveolar bone, i.e., the periodontal apparatus.