Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of a gene, now designated negevin (ngvn), that is involved in the genetic disease Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS), which is characterized by such diverse symptoms as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental retardation, renal cancer and other abnormalities, retinopathy and hypogonadism. The human NGVN protein disclosed herein is 731 amino acids in length and is coded for by a gene spanning 17 exons. Homologs have been identified in mouse, rat, zebrafish. Methods of use for the gene, for example in diagnosis and therapy of BBS and in drug screening, also are described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 20, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
The University of Iowa Research Foundation
Inventors:
Val Sheffield, Darryl Nishimura, Edwin Stone
Abstract: The present invention relates to fluorescent, radio-opaque and magnetic quantum nanoparticles, useful as multifunctional contrast agents or probes for in vivo bioimaging, and methods of their use. The invention provides for multifaceted bioimaging (e.g., intra-arterial pre-operative brain mapping and broad based in vivo diagnostic imaging), including imaging of various cell types, such as stem cells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
Swadeshmukul Santra, Paul H. Holloway, Robert A. Mericle, Heesun Yang, Glenn A. Walter
Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding three-dimensional mesh information are provided. The method and apparatus separately encode/decode order information of elements, such as vertices and faces, of a three-dimensional mesh model (original model) in consideration of a change in an element order during encoding three-dimensional mesh information for the original model. The method for encoding three-dimensional mesh information includes the steps of: encoding the three-dimensional mesh information and outputting an encoded bit-stream; calculating order information of at least one element in an original model contained in the three-dimensional mesh information; encoding the element order information; and generating packets of the encoded bit-stream, wherein the encoded element order information is inserted into the packet.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignees:
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, Hanyang University
Inventors:
Eun Young Chang, Nam Ho Hur, Soo In Lee, Euee Seon Jang, Dai Yong Kim, Byeong Wook Min, Sun Young Lee
Abstract: An apparatus for the introduction of a drainage tube into a patient's chest cavity, comprising a housing having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a scalpel operable in a protruding position between a closed position in which the cutting portions are adjacent one another and adapted to make an incision in the dermis of the patient, and an open position in which the cutting portions are spaced from one another forming a scalpel passage along the longitudinal axis between the cutting portions. The apparatus further comprising a trocar comprising first and second trocar portions, each extending along the length of the trocar; the trocar being operable between an closed position wherein the first and second trocar portions are substantially adjacent one another, and a closed position in which the first and second trocar portions are spaced from one another and adapted for the introduction of the drainage tube therethrough.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd.
Abstract: A method of measuring methanol vapor concentration on a real-time basis and a methanol vapor concentration measuring apparatus used in fuel cells. The method of measuring methanol vapor concentration involves using an absorption spectrometry technique, that is, after measuring intensities I0 and I1 of light of a laser before and after passing through a space filled with methanol vapor and into which light is irradiated, the methanol vapor concentration is calculated by substituting the intensities I0 and I1 into an equation defined as I1/I0=exp (K·L·C), where K represents the absorption coefficient, L represents the length of the space through which the laser passes, and C represents the methanol vapor concentration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 19, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignees:
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Younsei University
Abstract: The invention provides novel B7-H3 and B7-H4 polypeptides useful for co-stimulating T cells, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding them, vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules, and cells containing the vectors. Also included are methods of making and using these co-stimulatory polypeptides.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmission of laser pulses with high output beam quality using large core step-index silica optical fibers having thick cladding, are described. The thick cladding suppresses diffusion of modal power to higher order modes at the core-cladding interface, thereby enabling higher beam quality, M2, than are observed for large core, thin cladding optical fibers. For a given NA and core size, the thicker the cladding, the better the output beam quality. Mode coupling coefficients, D, has been found to scale approximately as the inverse square of the cladding dimension and the inverse square root of the wavelength. Output from a 2 m long silica optical fiber having a 100 ?m core and a 660 ?m cladding was found to be close to single mode, with an M2=1.6.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 25, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
Colorado State University Research Foundation
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the production level of isoprenoids in an algal cell. The method includes increasing expression of a polynucleotide sequence that encodes 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (IDS) in the algal cell. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for increasing the production level of carotenoids in an algal cell. The method includes increasing expression of polynucleotide sequence that encodes phytoene desaturases (PDS) in the algal cell. In a further aspect, the invention relates to an algal cell having a polynucleotide sequence that is genetically engineered to express a higher level of IDS or PDS than a corresponding wild type algal cell, wherein the cell produces an increased level of isoprenoids or carotenoids, respectively, than a corresponding wild type algal cell.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 24, 2009
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
The City University of New York represented by the Research Foundation of the City University of NY
Abstract: Cyclic alkynes (e.g., cyclooctynes such as dibenzocyclooctynes) can be photochemically generated from cyclopropenones as disclosed herein. The cyclic alkynes can be reacted (e.g., in situ) with materials having alkyne-reactive groups (e.g., azide groups in a “click” reaction). In preferred embodiments, the generation and reaction of the cyclic alkyne can proceed in the absence of a catalyst (e.g., Cu(I)). These reactions can be useful, for example, for the selective labeling of living cells that are metabolically modified with azido-containing surface monosaccharides, or for light-directed surface patterning.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 14, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
Vladimir V. Popik, Andrei A. Poloukhtine, Jason Locklin
Abstract: A nutritional supplement composition having therapeutically effective amounts of milk minerals including calcium, a protein source including kappa-casein fragment 106-169, and enzyme-inhibiting peptides is provided for the treatment of body weight conditions. The nutritional supplement composition is administered in amounts effective for limiting weight gain and/or enhancing weight loss, as well as promoting overall good health, in the treatment of body weight conditions, including overweight and obesity.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 7, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
University of Tennessee Research Foundation
Inventors:
Michael B. Zemel, Loren S. Ward, Eric D. Bastian, Starla J. Paulsen
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable lifting apparatus that includes an actuator and a lifting mechanism, which includes a parallel bar, a first coupler, a second coupler, a first rocker, a second rocker, and a frame that are each rotatably connected, so that operation of the actuator moves the parallel bar in a J-shaped path while maintaining a constant orientation of the parallel bar.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 25, 2010
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
The Research Foundation of State University of New York
Inventors:
Anurag Purwar, Thomas Galeotafiore, Justin Miles, Jeffrey Renert
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for deactivating reactive jamming attacks and other sophisticated attacks in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In one system, trigger nodes (nodes whose transmissions invoke jammer nodes) are identified and communications between the sensor nodes of the WSN are routed to avoid sending (e.g., transmitting) information from identified trigger nodes. For example, identified trigger nodes are routed as receivers only. One method of identification uses an advanced randomized error-tolerant non-adaptive group testing technique and a clique-independent set problem solution. Another method of identification uses a hexagon tiling coloring and sequential group testing scheme.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 12, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
Abstract: Provided are a composition for an oxide semiconductor, a method of preparing the composition, methods of forming an oxide semiconductor thin film and an electronic device using the composition. The composition for an oxide semiconductor includes a tin compound, a zinc compound, and a low electronegativity metal compound containing a metal with an electronegativity lower than zinc.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 24, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
Inventors:
Hyun Jae KIM, You Seung RIM, Dong Lim KIM
Abstract: In some illustrative embodiments, an incoming signal from a transducer in an ultrasound imaging beam-former apparatus is applied to an in-phase sample-and-hold and a quadrature sample-and-hold. The quadrature sample-and-hold may be clocked a quarter period behind the in-phase sample-and-hold. The output of the sample-and-holds are applied to in-phase and quadrature analog-to-digital converters. A magnitude calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a magnitude. A phase calculator receives the in-phase and quadrature digital values, and outputs a phase. An apodizer applies a difference between an amplitude of the outgoing signal and the magnitude and applies a first illumination to a image point in substantial proportion to the difference, and a phase rotator applies a second illumination to the image point in substantial proportion to the phase.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 16, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
The University of Virginia Patent Foundation
Inventors:
Travis N. Blalock, William F. Walker, John A. Hossack
Abstract: A master-slave system using a 4-degree of freedom (DOF) parallel mechanism includes: a master device having a 4-DOF parallel mechanism which generates 1-DOF translation and 3-DOF rotation by the manipulation of a user; a slave device having a 4-DOF parallel mechanism which generates 1-DOF translation and 3-DOF rotation according to the movement of the master device; and a controller for receiving a behavior signal generated by the master device and outputting a driving signal to the slave device so that the slave device moves according to the movement of the master device. The master-slave system may be utilized as a remote needling robot with excellent manipulation and precision.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 30, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)
Inventors:
Byung-Ju YI, Jaeheon CHUNG, Hyo-Jeong CHA
Abstract: System and method directed towards providing full and even illumination of a patient's retina through lighting integrated into a handheld fundus lens. By integrating the lighting, the method and system reduces and even eliminate many lens artifacts and reflections. By increasing the accuracy, quality, and field of view afforded during clinical examination of the retina, the method and system will allow practitioners to make more accurate diagnoses and will increase safety during retinal surgical procedures.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 6, 2010
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
University of Virginia Patent Foundation
Abstract: A system controller for position controlling a photovoltaic (PV) panel in a PV system including a power sensor sensing output power (P), and a motor for positioning the PV panel. The system controller includes a computing device having memory that provides motor control signals and implements an iterative adaptive control (IAC) algorithm stored in the memory for adjusting an angle of the PV panel. The IAC algorithm includes an iterative relation that relates P at current time k (P(k)), its elevation angle at k (?s (k)), P after a next step (P(k+1)) and its elevation angle at k+1 (?s (k+1)). The IAC algorithm generates a perturbed power value P(k+1) to provide a power perturbation to P(k), and calculates a position angle ?S (k+1) of the PV panel using the perturbed power value. The motor control signals from the computing device cause the motor to position the PV panel to achieve ?S (k+1).
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 24, 2011
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
WASFY MIKHAEL, RAGHURAM RANGANATHAN, NASSER KUTKUT, ISSA BATARSEH
Abstract: The present invention relates to a glycol chitosane derivative, a preparation method thereof and a drug delivery system comprising the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a glycol chitosan derivative, which can form nano-sized self-assembled structures and has both temperature sensitivity and biodegradability so as to be suitable for use as a drug delivery system, as well as a preparation method thereof and a drug delivery system comprising the same.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 21, 2010
Publication date:
March 1, 2012
Applicant:
Chungnam National University Industry Collaboration Foundation
Abstract: The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of a ?5-desaturase enzyme and a ?8-desaturase enzyme are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences can be used to design recombinant DNA constructs and vectors. These vectors can then be used to transform various organisms, including for example, plants and yeast. The transformed organisms will then produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. The amino acid sequences are useful for generating enzyme-specific antibodies that are useful for identifying the desaturases.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 18, 2008
Date of Patent:
February 28, 2012
Assignee:
Washington State University Research Foundation
Inventors:
John A. Browse, James G. Wallis, Jennifer L. Watts
Abstract: A method for preparing amino linker oligonucleotides is provided. More specifically, a method of preparing 5?-amino-linker oligonucleotides comprising the steps of: introducing an amino linker having a protecting group into the 5? terminus of an oligonucleotide; and removing the protecting group from the amino linker oligonucleotide by contacting with acetic acid and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol is provided. The amino protecting group is efficiently removed from the amino linker oligonucleotides, and thereby achieving a high yield of the amino linker oligonucleotides.