Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating and/or managing pain. The invention further provides methods for reducing or inhibiting opioid tolerance, reducing risk of opioid addiction or dependence, restoring opioid efficacy, and enhancing the therapeutic effect of an opioid. The invention further provides compositions for use in the methods of the invention.
Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining an application status of an applicant for an educational program may include receiving cohort performance data comprising first data entries for participants that have respectively achieved outcomes for the educational program and applicant performance data comprising second data entries for the applicant, calculating adjusted cohort performance data based on the cohort performance data and first data characteristics, providing a predictor model based on the adjusted cohort performance data and the outcomes, sequentially changing predictive parameters of the first data characteristics to create second data characteristics and creating an adjusted predictor model based on the second data characteristics and the outcomes, calculating adjusted applicant performance data based on the applicant performance data and the second data characteristics, and calculating a probability of success for the applicant in the educational program based on the adjust
Abstract: Systems for obtaining an image of a target are provided including at least one multi-wavelength illumination module configured to illuminate a target using two or more different wavelengths, each penetrating the target at different depths; a multi-wavelength camera configured to detect the two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target on corresponding different channels and acquire corresponding images of the target based on the detected two or more different wavelengths illuminating the target; a control module configured synchronize illumination of the target by the at least one multi-wavelength illumination module and detection of the two or more different wavelengths by the camera; an analysis module configured to receive the acquired images of the target and analyze the acquired images to provide analysis results; and an image visualization module modify the acquired images based on the analysis results to provide a final improved image in real-time.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 25, 2020
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2023
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Cheng Chen, Jiahong Jin, Thomas Bruce Ferguson, Kenneth Michael Jacobs, Taylor Forbes, Bryent Tucker, Xin Hua Hu
Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for generating a normalized assessment of instructors include calculating a first relative value unit (RVU) score for didactic instruction provided by the instructor, calculating a second RVU score for at least one of online instruction, seminar instruction, laboratory instruction, and/or simulation instruction provided by the instructor, calculating a third RVU score for practical experience instruction provided by the instructor, generating a normalized score for the instructor based on the first RVU score, the second RVU score, and the third RVU score, and displaying the normalized score for the instructor, where the first, second, and third RVU scores are each time-normalized scores.
Abstract: Provided is a method of activating immune cells and/or an immune system response in a subject. The method may comprise administering to a subject an effective amount of a compound of Formula (I): or a prodrug, derivative, and/or salt thereof. In some embodiments, the method comprises contacting an immune cell with a compound of Formula (I) or a prodrug, derivative, and/or salt thereof. Also provided are compounds, compositions, and kits for activating immune cells and/or an immune system response in a subject.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 30, 2018
Date of Patent:
February 7, 2023
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Rukiyah T. Van Dross-Anderson, Rene Escobedo
Abstract: Methods for calculating a MetaKG signal are provided. The method including illuminating a region of interest in a sample with a near-infrared (NIR) light source and/or a visible light source. The region of interest includes a sample portion and background portion, each having a different set of optical characteristics. Images of the region of interest are acquired and processed to obtain metadata associated with the acquired images. MetaKG signals are calculated for the region of interest and for the background. The MetaKG signal for the background is used to adjust the MetaKG signal for the region of interest to provide a final adjusted MetaKG signal for the region of interest.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 5, 2020
Date of Patent:
January 17, 2023
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Thomas Bruce Ferguson, Jr., Sunghan Kim, William Hempstead, Cheng Chen
Abstract: The systems, methods and associated devices electronically collect, report and generate normalized educational outcome summaries of multiple different educational inputs, including didactic, experiential and problem solving events and/or assessments.
Abstract: FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) can represent powerful adoptive immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, and other chronic inflammatory diseases. The present invention is related to the ability to maintain and expand stable Treg lines and can provide insight into FOXP3+ Treg physiology and can enable feasible strategies of Treg-based immunotherapy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 7, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2022
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Daniel Stephen Wilkinson, Mark D. Mannie
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of preparing a cell, tissue, organ or plant for cryopreservation, wherein the method includes contacting the cell, tissue, organ or plant with a composition including sucrose and/or sucralose.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 24, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 29, 2022
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Anthony Kennedy, Jean-Luc Scemama, Jitka Virag, Edward R. Pennington
Abstract: Some embodiments of the present inventive concept provide a multispectral imaging system including a first light source, the first light source having a first wavelength configured to produce a non-coherent illumination to image a sample; a second coherent light source, different from the first light source, having a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, configured to image the sample simultaneously with the first light source; a camera configured to simultaneously receive information related to the first and second light sources from the sample, wherein light at the first wavelength is configured to image a surface of the sample into the camera and light at the second wavelength is configured to penetrate the sample and provide information related to the penetrated sample to the camera; and a processor configured to combine the received information related to the first and second light sources and generate a synthesized image of the anatomical structure and the physiology of blood flow and
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2022
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Bryent Tucker, T. Bruce Ferguson, Jr., Cheng Chen
Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating and/or managing pain. The invention further provides methods for reducing or inhibiting opioid tolerance, reducing risk of opioid addiction or dependence, restoring opioid efficacy, and enhancing the therapeutic effect of an opioid. The invention further provides compositions for use in the methods of the invention.
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of preparing a cell, tissue, organ or plant for cryopreservation, wherein the method includes contacting the cell, tissue, organ or plant with a composition including sucrose and/or sucralose.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2019
Date of Patent:
November 30, 2021
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
Anthony Kennedy, Jean-Luc Scemama, Jitka Virag, Edward R. Pennington
Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for assessing a student in in an online discussion event using at least one processor of a computer includes obtaining discussion data comprising a plurality of discussion posts in a data file, each comprising a post author and post content, grouping the plurality of discussion posts of the data file into a plurality of discussion threads, classifying individual discussion posts of the plurality of discussion posts based on a post type, and assigning relative value units (RVUs) to at least one of the plurality of discussion posts, where the RVUs are time-normalized scores based on a complexity of the discussion post.
Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining an application status of an applicant for an educational program may include receiving cohort performance data comprising first data entries for participants that have respectively achieved outcomes for the educational program and applicant performance data comprising second data entries for the applicant, calculating adjusted cohort performance data based on the cohort performance data and first data characteristics, providing a predictor model based on the adjusted cohort performance data and the outcomes, sequentially changing predictive parameters of the first data characteristics to create second data characteristics and creating an adjusted predictor model based on the second data characteristics and the outcomes, calculating adjusted applicant performance data based on the applicant performance data and the second data characteristics, and calculating a probability of success for the applicant in the educational program based on the adjust
Abstract: Provided is a method of preventing and/or treating a skin disorder and/or an oral disorder including administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a prodrug or derivative thereof, and salts thereof.
Abstract: Multispectral imaging systems are provided including an illumination control module configured to image a sample and provide an imaging output sequence including images and data; a multi-spectral physiologic visualization (MSPV) module, a peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) module and a physiologic status parameters (PSP) module configured to receive the imaging output sequence of the illumination control module simultaneously. The MSPV module is configured to provide real-time blood flow distribution visualization of a field of view (FOV) responsive to the received imaging output sequence. The SpO2 module is configured to provide real-time SpO2 information at a tissue surface level for the FOV responsive to the received imaging and output sequence. The PSP module is configured to derive status parameters in real-time from metadata associated with the received imaging and output sequence of the FOV.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 4, 2019
Date of Patent:
March 16, 2021
Assignee:
East Carolina University
Inventors:
T. Bruce Ferguson, Jr., Bryent Tucker, Sunghan Kim, Cheng Chen, William Hempstead
Abstract: The present invention provides methods of modulating an immunological disorder or an immune response. The methods include administering to a subject or a cell an effective amount of an autoimmune antigen and an anti-inflammatory cytokine included in an aluminum-based carrier. Compositions including an autoimmune antigen and an anti-inflammatory cytokine included in an aluminum-based carrier are also provided.
Abstract: Provided herein are compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceuticals acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates, polymorphs, co-crystals, tautomers, stereoisomers, and prodrugs thereof. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods involving the inventive compounds for the treatment and/or of an infectious disease (e.g., bacterial infection (e.g., P. aeruginosa infection).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 3, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2020
Assignees:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The General Hospital Corporation, East Carolina University
Inventors:
Derek Shieh Tan, Cheng Ji, Indrajeet Sharma, Debarshi Pratihar, James P. Coleman, Everett C. Pesci, Laurence G. Rahme
Abstract: The systems, methods and associated devices electronically collect, report and generate normalized educational outcome summaries of multiple different educational inputs, including didactic, experiential and problem solving events and/or assessments.