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20140246 – An iPad application, Global Outbreak, has been developed that simulates how a health department might implement the federal government’s Incident Command System (ICS) during an outbreak response. The simulation aims to illustrate a Department Operations Center coming to life and increase the likelihood the user will be able to perform well in a real response. It presents the user with the... Read More
20140312 – Discernment counseling is a powerful process for couples with divorce ambivalence who aren't sure whether to pursue couples counseling or consider divorce. This short term protocol helps “mixed agenda couples” where one is leaning out of the marriage and the other wants to save it. The introductory video on discernment is now available only as part of comprehensive training in discernment... Read More
20140245 – Emergency event responders have some of the world’s most important jobs, but also some of the most personally taxing. Occupations, such as EMT, deal with injury, death, risk, trauma of fellow human beings which increases the risk of psychological and physical detriment to the occupation holder. To ensure that responders maintain personal care in areas of nutrition, hygiene, and psyche is... Read More
20120305 – Aurora A, B, and C are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play key roles in mitosis. In particular, inhibition of Aurora B causes cytokinesis failure, abnormal exit from mitosis, and ultimately apoptosis. Aurora kinases are believed to be key to the development and progression of cancer, evidenced by the efficacy of cancer treatments based on Aurora kinase inhibition. Several... Read More
20140240 – Biguanide compounds have been created to treat estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. In vitro studies and breast cancer xenograft models showed that these compounds strongly inhibit the activity of CYP3A4, an epoxygenase that promotes cancer cell growth and proliferation in ER+ breast cancer. ER+ breast cancer represents about 75-80% of breast cancer diagnoses and requires... Read More
20140103 – The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system has been used to repair the FANCC gene in human fibroblasts from a Fanconi Anemia patient. Fanconi Anemia is a hereditary disorder in which a DNA point mutation renders the FANCC gene nonfunctional. Loss of FANCC causes patient skeletal abnormalities and leads to bone marrow failure. Fanconi Anemia patients also have much higher rates of hematological... Read More
20140050 – Dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) systems have been recently developed that allow for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. Various safety techniques are being developed for DSRC-equipped vehicles, but despite an anticipated standardization of DSRC in U.S. automobiles, use is not widespread. DSRC as it stands today has... Read More
20130320 – Systemic administration of D-serine has been shown to alter blood sugar levels in mice. An acute, high-dose injection of D-serine or a genetic mutation leading to endogenously elevated levels of D-serine resulted in hypoglycemia compared to controls in mice. Human islets secreted more insulin in response to glucose when exposed to D-serine under target activating conditions. Prolonged... Read More
20140049 – A new system has been developed that replaces roadside V2I DSRC units with a Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) network to relay dangerous changes in the speed of traffic along with additional statistics. A vehicle approaching an area where traffic speed is volatile will issue a dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) Basic Safety Message to other DSRC-equipped vehicles. Of these trailing... Read More
20140013 – Unmanned Ground Vehicles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UGV/UAV) can be used in precision agriculture to optimize farming efficiency. They are capable of cooperatively predicting nitrogen deficiencies in crop soil. The agriculture drone units are guided by algorithms designed at the University of Minnesota not only to pinpoint field locations that need nitrogen measurements, but to get the... Read More
20130229 – Although there have been advances in cancer research in the past few decades, many cancers still lack adequate forms of treatment. In certain types of cancers, this is due to the ability of tumors to produce immunosuppressive factors that prevent T cells from recognizing a threat to the body and responding. The cancer is able to escape the immune system and spread unchecked, making the... Read More
z08092-z05221-z07046 – Current uncooled infrared sensors are broadband devices that are not sensitive enough to use narrow spectral lines to detect trace amounts of material. Their performance is fundamentally limited by excessive background noise levels that prevent the sensor from identifying “hot spots” and cause other inaccuracies. Uncooled infrared detectors have traditionally been limited to detecting... Read More
z08015-20110161 – As the magnetic field strength increases in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, the images become less sensitive to classic T1-weighting, which is based on T1 relaxation time. T1-weighted images are often used in biomedical imaging since it inherently provides tissue-specific differences that provide contrast in images (darker and lighter areas in the MRI image). **... Read More
20120263 – Recent canine cancer treatments have incorporated immunotherapy research to find a way to employ the animal’s own immune system to seek out and destroy tumors. While this method can be less harmful than current cancer treatments, a major hurdle to the approach is that cancer does not stimulate a strong immune response. Costimulatory proteins must activate receptors on T-cells in order to... Read More
20140098 – Flexible electronics fabrication technology creates circuits on substrates like plastic. However, most advances in flexible electronics manufacturing have focused on mechanical transfer of conventionally fabricated circuits using lithography from an initial substrate onto a flexible one. Such “pick and place” manufacturing systems may face limitations in scaling. In order to bring more... Read More
20130193-20140051 – A link has been found between a variety of heart and bone illnesses and the dysregulation of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA), the calcium pump in cardiac and skeletal muscles. To test pharmaceuticals aimed at treating and reversing the diseases caused by impaired SERCA regulations, specific assays must be designed. These tests are required to analyze the reactions... Read More
20140058 – A bovine and human screening method has been developed that is capable of specifically diagnosing subclinical tuberculosis infection. The test uses pathogen serum proteins as reliable biomarkers to detect subclinical evidence of M. bovis infection quicker than current methods. Unlike procedures that lack biological specificity, this method solely identifies bovine tuberculosis and does... Read More
20140290 – The Learning About Learning Disabilities video was developed to educate teachers, parents and others about sensory processing difficulties in children and adults with learning disabilities. It can often be very difficult for those dealing with individuals with learning disorders and this video helps to offer information regarding the different aspects of the disorders. Individuals with... Read More
20140291 – The From Roots to Wings video presents factual and practical information about sensory processing disorders. Topics include difficulties in motor coordination/planning, self- regulation and sensory defensiveness. Parents share their insight on the impact these difficulties have had on the lives of their children. The major focus of the video is on strategies for addressing these sensory... Read More
20130266 – Metal nanogaps with increased precision and reliability of sub-nanoscale structures can be achieved by using standard procedures for nanofabrication of metal films while adding a unique final step of atomic layer deposition and adhesive-tape based planarization. Using this fabrication technique allows for a final product that has vertically oriented metal-insulator-metal structures... Read More
20140012 – Recently, silica nanoparticles have been heavily researched for applications such as drug delivery, catalysis and biosensing. The pharmaceutical industry has been particularly interested in these biodegradable structures that are able to transport drugs to target locations in the body. Research is ongoing to maximize the number of pores and minimize particle diameter. Ultra-porous... Read More
20130297 – Drugs that are repelled by water (hydrophobic) are difficult to absorb in the body due to poor water solubility and complexity of administration. For these types of pharmaceuticals to be administered, a prodrug is often utilized for proper body absorption through aided drug solubility. Currently, the procedure for administering hydrophobic drugs requires prodrugs to be delivered to the... Read More
20100226 – The software to manage grant proposals is more flexible and less expensive than comparable software. It is designed for both grant managers and proposal submitters and manages the grant process with the aim of selecting the most qualified proposal for funding in a straight forward and user friendly manner. The web-based workflow system allows users to register and submit their... Read More
20130152 – The integration of web applications with Shibboleth is easier using the open-source tool Shibboleth’s Lil Helper (SLH). Shibboleth is the most widely used federated authentication system in higher education. SLH provides a more simplified, automated, and consistent approach to integrating web applications with Shibboleth. The technology saves developer time and improves maintainability... Read More
z09066 – An ammonia synthesis process has been developed that has conversion rates greater than 90%, as compared to conversion rates of 20% with the standard Haber-Bosch process. This method does not require the downstream separation and recycling that are currently limiting factors in creating plants with small capital investments. The improved process includes the addition of magnesium chloride... Read More
20130324 – A metal corrosion sensor has been developed that is installed as a deactivated water battery. Electrodes positioned on substrate paper activate in the presence of harmful liquid and transmit detailed information about the corrosion wirelessly. The signals are received by a nearby RFID-reader and the information is processed to accurately determine the time to failure. Overall features... Read More
20140040 – A new method and tool have been developed for the genetic therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and related genetic disorders. The dystrophin gene sequence has been genetically corrected by inserting a synthetic exon transcript into the gene code prior to the first exon in the natural coding sequence. The inserted construct ends in a stop signal that keeps transcription of mutated... Read More
20140072 – A process has been developed for synthesizing two new dimethacrylate monomers from glucose and mannose. The materials produced by the sugar-derived dilactones undergo degradation in basic conditions while remaining stable in neutral and acidic environments. The dimethacrylates are derived from sugars, making them renewable and comparable to petroleum-based sources. The monomers reported... Read More
20140131 – Planning and organizing intramural sports in a college setting can be a difficult task to undertake and but now there is an iPhone app that helps to streamline the process. Users of the Intramural Sports App are able to view the schedules for classes, events, games, and other activities that are going on through the university’s facilities and athletic programs. They can also add events... Read More
20130333 – A thermal wave measurement device has been designed and can be used for applications in cryotherapy and ablation treatments within the body. The thermal property monitoring device discerns phase shifts and temperature changes in real time. It measures thermal conductivity and diffusivity with sub-millimeter spatial accuracy using a gold thermocouple attached to a pliable substrate such as... Read More
20140020 – University of Minnesota researchers have developed an amplification method and library preparation process of pico-quantities of RNA. This system is the first of its kind to properly amplify small quantities of RNA as a template while still producing a highly efficient library. The amplification requires only 500pg to 5ng for a template and can capture RNA of 15 nucleotides and longer.... Read More
z04026 – Universities across the nation face many of the same issues with increased governmental oversight, greater public scrutiny, and higher expectations for demonstrating accountability. The University Compliance Workbook helps develop a program to ensure complete compliance with laws. With so many different aspects of laws, policies, and different rules, compliance at every level of the law... Read More
20130331 – A dental hygiene system for orthodontic patients to provide fluoride to areas of teeth normally blocked by braces has been developed. The system is made of a plastic clip that attaches to the brackets and provides localized fluoride treatment for the teeth in areas that are hard to reach with conventional cleaning techniques. The device is easy, convenient, and provides eight weeks of... Read More
20140031 – The Veterinary Medicine guide has information about and advice for getting into veterinary school, getting through it and getting a great and interesting job when you’re done with school. Dr. Margaret Root-Kustritz explains the process of obtaining the necessary prerequisites to apply and applying to vet school with hints on which schools to consider and what will help your chances of... Read More
20140244 – Psychological First Aid Mobile App The Psychological First Aid (PFA) Tutorial app provides information on site for persons who have been trained in PFA procedures. The PFA mobile app is available for Apple and Android devices making it very accessible and easy to use while in the field following a traumatic event, natural disaster, public health emergency, act of terrorism, or personal... Read More
20140243 – Epidemic! is an online game that educates users about the essential work performed by public health professionals through simulating tasks performed by a team of public health professionals during an epidemic. Each player chooses a role and then works with other players to stop the spread of the disease while facing real-world decisions and challenges. As the epidemic progresses, players... Read More
20140032 – Pet Guide for New and Experienced Owners Comprehensive information for maintaining your dog’s or cat’s health and wellbeing can be found in the “Guide to Dog and Cat Wellness” by Dr. Margaret Root-Kustritz. The book is available for Kindle or Nook readers. Topics include how to find your pet’s pulse, determining healthy gums, vaccinations, different temperament signs, along with... Read More
99186 – A biological imaging system has been designed that is comprised of a detector array to collect light emitted from the biological sample within the substrate that is being observed and a holding apparatus, upon which the substrate and biological sample are held. The holding device can maneuver the sample and position it so at least a portion of the light being emitted from the light source... Read More
lsbu-catalog – Click for a printable Life Sciences Research Tools Catalog. View the research tools online. The University of Minnesota provides tools to researchers in the life sciences. These tools include monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, transgenic mice, cell lines, laboratory reagents and techniques and biomarkers.
20110222 – A method has been developed to synthesize zeolites in a lamellar morphology with thinner layers than can be produced using alternative techniques. The zeolites are produced at lower cost than alternative methods and can be used as catalysts, as coatings for molecular sieve membranes and as low-dielectric constant materials in electronic applications. ** View the Term Sheet ** **... Read More
20130228 – The National historical geographic Information System (NHGIS) is a unique database that holds GIS-compatible files and statistical information that includes virtually all-aggregate census information for the United States geography of the period 1790–2011. This is the first and currently only database that has census data prior to 1960 in the digital form. With unique pre-1960... Read More
20110221 – A method of zeolite membrane fabrication that gives high aspect ratio nanosheets with high purity and precise pore structure has been developed. When combined with other technologies created by the research group, such as structure preservation, oriented growth and rapid thermal processing, zeolite membranes can be fabricated that have high flux and highly selectivity using a simple and... Read More
20130128 – To reduce the costs of making valuable C4-C5 renewable chemicals, a biosynthetic pathway has been developed to generate C4-C5 chemicals, such as succinate, amino acids and 1,4-butanediol. This new pathway from sugars involves only five fermentation steps, as compared to the current pathway, which requires 23 steps. The new process uses engineered microbes and a simple pathway that... Read More
99058 – The drug delivery infusion pump system offers localized medication administration to target tissues with great accuracy. A micropump for drug administration manages pain and treats neurodegenerative disorders. Examples of some neurodegenerative disorders include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. This drug delivery infusion pump system includes an internal device composed... Read More
z09164 – Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created an infection control system to destroy bacteria and microbes with ultraviolet (UV) light to sterilize catheter access points. This system functions as both a dilator at the access site to allow delivery of treatment, and as a sterilant, periodically transmitting UV light into the catheter body and adjacent tissues. UV light... Read More
98141 – Taking a tissue biopsy to perform diagnostic testing in the medical field is an efficient and effective way of quickly determining the best route of treatment for many illnesses. However, taking a biopsy from an intraventricular lesion deep within the brain is concerning to neurosurgeons since there is a small, but definite risk of intracranial hemorrhage. This biopsy system is comprised... Read More
z09118 – This device provides surgeons with haptic force feedback while performing minimally-invasive spine surgery. Tactile feedback guides the placement of pedicle screws during spinal fusions or reconstructive surgeries after spinal injury. In these types of surgeries, two screws must be carefully placed in the pedicle of the vertebra surrounding the spinal cord. Haptic feedback indicates the... Read More
z02003 – A microvalve has been designed that can deliver insulin into the bloodstream of diabetic patients when the microvalve senses a change in blood glucose level. Envisioned is an implantable device that controls insulin delivery with a glucose sensitive microvalve. The microvalve is made of a polymer microgel that binds to glucose. Depending on the concentration of glucose in the blood, the... Read More
z02218 – The scleral depressor system provides globe support to the eye with one or more independent thrusters, or actuators, radially positioned about the eye during surgical procedures. Thrusters may be mechanically operated through various means and an actuator is selectively deployable and selectively retractable by several remote control options. An additional or stand-alone feature includes... Read More
z03040 – Using a porous sleeve as a filter placed over the balloon catheter on a percutaneous transluminal device protects from embolisms and reduces the risks associated with angioplasty, atherectomy and other similar procedures. Percutaneous transluminal devices can dislodge particles, such as calcium and plaque, during the procedure. These particles can block vessels, often causing severe... Read More
