Patents Assigned to University of Houston System
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Patent number: 11798721Abstract: A superconducting electromagnet and method for manufacturing, using, monitoring, and controlling same are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a superconducting electromagnet that includes a superconductor tape including: a first unslotted end; a second unslotted end; and a longitudinally slotted section provided between the first unslotted end and the second unslotted end. The longitudinally slotted section includes a first longitudinal part and a second longitudinal part. The first longitudinal part is provided in a wound manner thereby defining a first coil. The second longitudinal part is provided in a wound manner thereby defining a second coil. These and other embodiments achieve persistent current operation of the superconducting electromagnet without the need for solder joints within the magnet coil itself, which can result in improved stability and reduced power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventor: John H. Miller, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230330891Abstract: A 4-dimensional printing system and method for printing reinforced concrete may allow reinforced concrete elements to be printed freeform and/or fully automated without the need for formwork, molding, or labor. The printing system may include software and hardware systems. The software system may process 3D models of the reinforced concrete element desired into multiple layers. The software system may utilize the individual layer to control operation of the hardware system to print the desired reinforced concrete element layer-by-layer. The hardware system may provide a concrete nozzle, a reinforcement material nozzle, as well as dispensing mechanisms for printing the materials at the desired locations and/or at desired times for the individual layer being printed. The hardware system may also include motion control mechanism(s) that allow the position of the nozzles to be moved sideward, up and down, and towards or away relative to the element being printed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Yi-Lung Mo, Cunjiang Yu, Jamshaid Sawab
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Publication number: 20230331777Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of blocking virus entry into cells by associating the cells with an anti-viral peptoid to result in the blocking of virus entry into the cells. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject by administering an anti-viral peptoid composition to the subject to result in the blocking of virus entry into the cells of the subject. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to anti-viral peptoids and compositions that include the anti-viral peptoids of the present disclosure. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to the use of the anti-viral peptoids and compositions to block virus entry into cells for numerous purposes, such as treating or preventing viral infections.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2021Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Damith Gomika Udugamasooriya, Bin Guo, Satya Prakash Shukla, Kwang Bog Cho
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Patent number: 11788006Abstract: Provided herein are phosphors of the general molecular formula: A3-2xEuxMP3O9N, wherein the variables are as defined herein. Methods of producing the phosphors are also provided. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides light-emitting devices comprising these phosphors.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventors: Jakoah Brgoch, Shruti Hariyani
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Patent number: 11785850Abstract: A method of thermoelectric power generation by converting heat to electricity via the use of a ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material, wherein a thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the ZrCoBi-based thermoelectric material is greater than or equal to 7% at a temperature difference of up to 800 K.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Zhifeng Ren, Hangtian Zhu
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Patent number: 11774449Abstract: Presented herein are methods of evaluating cellular activity by: placing a cell population on an area; assaying for a dynamic behavior of the cell population as a function of time; identifying cell(s) of interest based on the dynamic behavior; characterizing a molecular profile of the cell(s); and correlating the obtained information. The assayed dynamic behavior can include cellular activation, cellular inhibition, cellular interaction, protein expression, protein secretion, cellular proliferation, changes in cellular morphology, motility, cell death, cell cytotoxicity, cell lysis, and combinations thereof. Sensors associated with the area may be utilized to facilitate assaying. Molecular profiles of the cell(s) can then be characterized by various methods, such as DNA analysis, RNA analysis, and protein analysis.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventors: Navin Varadarajan, Gabrielle Romain, Ivan Liadi, Victor Sendra, Badrinath Roysam
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Publication number: 20230293783Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to implantable medical devices that are operational for mitigating radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating. The implantable medical devices generally include a ferrite material that is associated with at least one component of the implantable medical device and operational to reduce the RF-induced heating of the implantable medical device. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of mitigating radiofrequency (RF)-induced heating of an implantable medical device by applying a ferrite material to at least one component of the implantable medical device. Thereafter, the ferrite material reduces the RF-induced heating of the medical device. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of implanting the implantable medical device into a subject, such as a human being.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Ji Chen, Jianfeng Zheng
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Patent number: 11749795Abstract: A method for activating two-dimensional host materials for a multivalent/polyatomic ion battery may include adding a pillaring salt in electrolyte. This process may be followed by in-situ electrochemically intercalating the pillaring ions, solvent molecules and multivalent ions into the van der Waals gap of host materials. After the activation process, the host material is transformed into an interlayer-expanded 2D material with significantly enhanced specific capacity and rate performance for multivalent ion intercalation.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventors: Yan Yao, Hyun Deog Yoo
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Publication number: 20230270845Abstract: Described herein are compositions and methods for the prevention of pathogens such as conditions in an animal (e.g., a subject). In some cases, a composition or method described herein can comprise a liposome, which may be used to encapsulate one or more STING agonists. In some cases, a liposome of a composition or method described herein may comprise one or more antigens attached to, integrated into, or associated with a liposomal membrane of the liposome.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Navin Varadarajan, Xinli Liu
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Publication number: 20230272542Abstract: An electrode and system for electrocatalytic water splitting. The electrode for overall water splitting comprises a conductive substrate, and a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising primarily metallic phosphides disposed on a surface of the substrate. The system comprises an anode and a cathode. Each of the anode and the cathode comprises a uniform distribution of a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising metallic phosphides on a conductive substrate. The metallic phosphides can comprise iron phosphide (FeP) and dinickel phosphide (Ni2P). The bifunctional electrocatalyst promotes hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: University of Houston SystemInventors: Zhifeng REN, Fang YU, Haiqing ZHOU, Shuo CHEN
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Patent number: 11742808Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) power supply system and method are disclosed. The architecture adopts a two-stage topology to reduce the required capacitance by over ten times, leading to a four-fold improvement in power density. The first stage is an isolated converter that only supplies average power, therefore input filter and transformer sizes can be reduced. The second stage is a fast response DC-DC converter followed by a RF transmitter to produce a pulsed RF signal, so that the mid-point voltage after the first stage can be allowed to droop considerably, leading to much smaller sized capacitors. These and other embodiments enforce the isolated converter to only transfer average power, which reduces the power rating and the volume of the system's transformer.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventors: Harish S. Krishnamoorthy, Yu Yao
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Publication number: 20230263771Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to anti-viral compounds suitable for use in blocking virus entry into cells. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of blocking virus entry into cells by associating the cells with at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vitro. In some embodiments, the associating occurs in vivo in a subject through administration of the at least one anti-viral compound to the subject. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject by administering to the subject at least one anti-viral compound of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the subject is a human being suffering from or vulnerable to the viral infection. In some embodiments, the virus includes a coronavirus, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Bradley K. McConnell, Arfaxad Reyes Alcaraz, John W. Craft, Robert J. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20230257907Abstract: Herein provided are cubic boron arsenide (c-BAs) single crystals having an unexpectedly high ambipolar mobility at room temperature, µa, at one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000, or 10000 cm2V-1s-1, wherein the ambipolar mobility is defined as: µa = 2µeµh/(µe + µh), wherein µe is electron mobility and µh is hole mobility, and having a room temperature thermal conductivity at the one or more locations thereof that is greater than or equal to 1000 Wm-1K-1. Methods of making and using the c-BAs single crystals are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: University of Houston SystemInventors: Zhifeng REN, Jiming BAO, Shuai YUE, Fei TIAN, Geethal Amila Udalamatta GAMAGE, Gang CHEN, Jungwoo SHIN
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Publication number: 20230257420Abstract: Compounds disclosed herein have been shown to bind to the transferrin receptor making them capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and useful for treating diseases or disorders of the brain, such as cancer, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, or Parkinson's disease.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2021Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: University of Houston SystemInventors: Bin Guo, Damith Gomika Udugamasooriya, Xinli Liu, Satya Prakash Shukla, Kwang Bog Cho, Xue Zhou
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Patent number: 11723556Abstract: A soleus contraction measurement system includes a sensor configured to measure rotational movement when positioned on a user's foot with an X-axis oriented laterally across the user's foot, a Y-axis oriented parallel to the user's foot, a Z-axis orthogonal to the X-axis and the Y-axis, and a positive X-axis rotational movement corresponding to an increasing ankle angle, and a memory storing computer-executable instructions for controlling a processor to: measure an X-axis rotational movement, identify a positive X-axis rotational movement as a plantarflexion and a negative X-axis rotational movement as an ankle dorsiflexion, deem the plantarflexion a performed soleus contraction when the plantarflexion is immediately followed by the ankle dorsiflexion for two consecutive cycles of plantarflexion and ankle dorsiflexion, and cause performance information regarding the performed soleus contractions to be communicated.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventor: Marc T. Hamilton
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Patent number: 11725185Abstract: The present invention relates to a culture media system that is useful for the isolation and epigenetically stable propagation of normal stem cells in culture which are derived from columnar epithelial tissues and cancer stem cells from epithelial cancers. In certain embodiments, the culture system is a feeder-free system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: University of Houston SystemInventors: Wa Xian, Frank McKeon, Matthew P. Vincent
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Patent number: 11725292Abstract: A method of electrocatalytic water splitting by providing an anode and a cathode; and utilizing the anode and the cathode for alkaline water electrolysis. Each of the anode and the cathode comprises a uniform distribution of a bifunctional electrocatalyst comprising metallic phosphides on a conductive substrate. The metallic phosphides comprise arion phosphide (FeP) and dinickel phosphide (Ni2P). The bifunctional electrocatalyst promotes hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the cathode, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Zhifeng Ren, Fang Yu, Haiqing Zhou, Shuo Chen
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Patent number: 11723529Abstract: A system and method for measuring biomechanical properties of tissues without external excitation are capable of measuring and quantifying these parameters of tissues in situ and in vivo. The system and method preferably utilize a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for measuring the displacement caused by the intrinsic heartbeat. The method allows noninvasive and nondestructive quantification of tissue mechanical properties. Preferably, the method is used to detect tissue stiffness and to evaluate its stiffness due to intrinsic pulsatile motion from the heartbeat. This noninvasive method can evaluate the biomechanical properties of the tissues in vivo for detecting the onset and progression of degenerative or other diseases and evaluating the efficacy of therapies.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Kirill V. Larin, Achuth Nair, Manmohan Singh, Salavat Aglyamov
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Publication number: 20230249169Abstract: Phosphine phosphonate and phenoxyphosphine ligands bearing polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains are used as described herein to produce heterobimetallic catalysts. The ligands can be metallated selectively with palladium or nickel and secondary metal ions to provide well-defined heterobimetallic compounds. These heterobimetallic complexes exhibit accelerated reaction rates and greater thermal stability in olefin polymerization compared to other catalysts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: University of Houston SystemInventors: Loi Hung Do, Zhongzheng Cai, Thi Tran, Dawei Xiao
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Publication number: 20230249790Abstract: A method for detecting and locating a carbon dioxide leak in a submarine environment includes operating autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the submarine environment, where the operating includes obtaining, with each AUV of the AUVs, measurements of an attribute indicative of carbon dioxide, communicating, while operating the AUVs, the measurements from the each AUV to other AUVs of the AUVs, mapping, while operating the autonomous AUVs, carbon dioxide concentration in the submarine environment, and guiding the AUVs toward a highest concentration of the carbon dioxide concentration based on the mapping.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMInventors: Zheng Chen, Miao Pan, Jiefu Chen