Patents Assigned to Texas Tech University System
  • Publication number: 20140051062
    Abstract: The present invention includes a microfluidic device comprising one or more parking loops 12, each parking loop 12 comprising a bypass channel 14 and a lower branch 16 capable of retaining one or more drops, wherein bypass channel 14 has a smaller hydrodynamic resistance than the lower branch 16.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Siva A. Vanapalli, Swastika S. Bithi, Meng Sun
  • Publication number: 20140028496
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for obtaining data to determine one or more characteristics of a wind flow field using one or more radars. Data is collected from the one or more radars, and analyzed to determine the one or more characteristics of the wind flow field. The one or more radars are positioned to have a portion of the wind flow field within a scanning sector of the one or more radars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: John Schroeder, Brian Hirth, Jerry Guynes
  • Publication number: 20140028495
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining data to determine one or more characteristics of a wind field using a first remote sensing device and a second remote sensing device. Coordinated data is collected from the first and second remote sensing devices and analyzed to determine the one or more characteristics of the wind field. The first remote sensing device is positioned to have a portion of the wind field within a first scanning sector of the first remote sensing device. The second remote sensing device is positioned to have the portion of the wind field disposed within a second scanning sector of the second remote sensing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: John Schroeder, Brian Hirth, Jerry Guynes
  • Publication number: 20130292687
    Abstract: The present invention relates to optoelectronic device layer structures, light emitting devices, and detectors based upon heterostructures formed between hexagonal boron nitride (hNB) and III nitrides, and more particularly, to heterojunction devices capable of emitting and detecting photons in the ultraviolet (UV) and extremely ultraviolet (RUV) spectral range. The present invention also relates to neutron detectors based on epitaxially grown hBN thin films (or epitaxial layers) and hBN stacked thin films (or epitaxial layers) to satisfy the thickness required for capturing all incoming neutrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Hongxing Jiang, Sashikanth Majety, Rajendra Dahal, Jing Li, Jingyu Lin
  • Publication number: 20130292685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to optoelectronic device layer structures, light emitting devices, and detectors based upon heterostructures formed between hexagonal boron nitride (hNB) and III-nitrides, and more particularly, to heterojunction devices capable of emitting and detecting photons in the ultraviolet (UV) and extremely ultraviolet (RUV) spectral range. The present invention also relates to neutron detectors based on epitaxially grown hBN thin films (or epitaxial layers) and hBN stacked thin films (or epitaxial layers) to satisfy the thickness required for capturing all incoming neutrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Hongxing Jiang, Sashikanth Majety, Rajendra Dahal, Jing Li, Jingyu Lin
  • Publication number: 20130259085
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method, systems and devices for the detection of carbon nanotubes in biological samples by providing a sample suspected of having one or more carbon nanotubes; irradiating the sample with a microwave radiation, wherein the carbon nanotubes absorb the microwave radiation; and detecting and measuring the one or more thermal emissions from the carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Micah J. Green, Fahmida Irin, Jaclyn Cañas, Mohammad Saed
  • Patent number: 8549496
    Abstract: A code generator and multi-core framework are executable in a computer system to implement methods as disclosed herein, including a method for the code generator to automatically generate multi-threaded source code from functional specifications, and for the multi-core framework, which is a run time component, to generate multi-threaded task object code from the multi-threaded source code and to execute the multi-threaded task object code on respective processor cores. The methods provide transparency to the programmer, and during execution, provide automatic identification of processing parallelisms. The methods implement Consume-Simplify-Produce and Normalize-Transpose-Distribute operations to reduce complex expression sets in a functional specification to simplified expression sets operable in parallel processing environments through the generated multi-threaded task object code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Daniel E. Cooke, J. Nelson Rushton, Brad Nemanich
  • Publication number: 20130217691
    Abstract: A method of treating a hyperproliferative disorder in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said subject, in combination, a treatment effective amount of: (a) a ceramide-increasing retinoid such as fenretinide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) at least one (and in certain embodiments at least two) compounds selected from the groups consisting of (i) a non-18 carbon chain length L-threo-sphinganine(s) or pharmaceuticeutically acceptable salt thereof, (ii) glucosylceramide or glucosyl(dihydro)ceramide synthesis inhibitor(s), and (iii) sphingomyelin or dihydrosphingomyelin synthase inhibitor(s). Preferred L-threo-sphinganines are of carbon chain length 17 carbons, 19 carbons and 20 carbons. A preferred glucosylceramide or glucosyl(dihydro)ceramide synthesis inhibitor is D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol. A preferred sphingomyelin or dihydrosphingomyelin synthesis inhibitor is D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: Texas Tech University System
  • Publication number: 20130165770
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus tracks targets (e.g., tumors) during treatment (e.g., radiation therapy) using a radar motion sensor by generating a microwave signal, radiating the microwave signal to a subject, and receiving a modulated microwave signal from the subject. The modulated microwave signal is processed to provide a subject motion information using a sensor having an arctangent-demodulation microwave interferometry mode. A location of a target on or within the subject is determined based on the subject motion information and a three-dimensional model for the subject and the target. One or more control signals are generated based on the location of the target, and the treatment device is controlled using the one or more control signals to treat the target on or within the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: Texas Tech University System
  • Patent number: 8420841
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a biodiesel fuel that comprises generating micro-droplets of a first reactant and mixing the micro-droplets of the first reactant with a second reactant that is substantially immiscible with the first reactant. The method also comprises transferring the mixture of the first reactant and second reactant into a transesterification reaction vessel. The first reactant is one of an alcohol or oil, and the second reactant is the other of the oil or the alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventor: Uzi Mann
  • Publication number: 20130087069
    Abstract: Antibacterial metallic nanofoams, substrates having the nanofoam coated thereon, methods for preventing, inhibiting, and/or killing bacterial growth using the metallic nanofoams, and compositions and methods for making the metallic nanofoams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicants: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: The Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech University System
  • Patent number: 8369566
    Abstract: A contactless system and method for estimating the mass or weight of a target object is provided. The target object is imaged and a spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the images. A virtual spatial model is provided of a characteristic object of a class of object to which the target object belongs. The virtual spatial model is reshape to optimally fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the mass or weight of the target object is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Eric D. Sinzinger, Bradley D. Null
  • Publication number: 20130011909
    Abstract: The present invention provides codon optimization to increase protein production by providing a target gene, wherein the expression of the target gene is to be optimized; determining one or more low-frequency codons in the target gene; providing a codon usage frequency table; replacing each of the one or more low-frequency codons in the target gene with a corresponding high-frequency codons that code for the same amino acid; and harmonizing the a distribution of codon frequencies to those of the set of highly expressed native gene over an open reading frame in the target gene to form an optimized gene, wherein the optimized gene encodes an amino acid sequence identical to the respective wild-type (native) amino acid sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventor: Ina L. Urbatsch
  • Patent number: 8323621
    Abstract: Cyclen-based chelates can be used as contrast agents for multi-modal imaging of tissue cells. The cyclen-based chelates are preferably polyazamacrocyclic molecules formed from 1,4,7,10 tetraazacyclododecane (“cyclen”) having varying chelating ions, phosphoester chains, and light harvesting moieties. By changing the chelating ion, phosphoester chain length and/or the light harvesting moiety different imaging techniques, such as MRI, CT, fluorescence and absorption, x-ray and NIR, may be employed to image the tissue cells. Additionally, the cyclen-based chelates may be conjugated to provide for site-specific delivery of the cyclen-based chelate to the desired tissue cells. The cyclen-based chelates may also be delivered to the tissue cells by attaching the cyclen-based to a polymeric delivery vehicle. Although these cyclen-based chelates have a wide variety of application, the preferred use is for imaging of cancer cells, such as brain cancer, for improving resection of a cancerous tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Vanderbilt University, Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Darryl J. Bornhop, H. Charles Manning, Timothy Goebel
  • Publication number: 20120263757
    Abstract: A method and composition for the diagnosis of and treatment of prostate cancer including a recombinant AKAP-4 tumor-associated antigen loaded antigen presenting cell that generates an AKAP-4 specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte specific for one or more prostate cancer cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventor: Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
  • Publication number: 20110311488
    Abstract: We describe modified bacterial cells that are defective in gene expression and their use in the treatment of bacterial infections of animals and plants and the inhibition of bacterial biofilm formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: The University of Nottingham, Texas Tech University System Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property, University Court of the University of Edingburgh
    Inventors: Stephen Diggle, Shanika Crusz, Stuart West, Ashleigh Griffin, Kendra Rumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20110091507
    Abstract: No effective vaccine exists for the devastating parasitic disease of Schistosomiasis. The present invention focuses on Sm-p80, a functionally important antigen of Schistosoma mansoni that plays a pivotal role in the schistosome immune evasion process. When used in a novel vaccine formulation, Sm-p80 demonstrates consistent immunogenicity, protective potential, and antifecundity effects. Two novel DNA constructs were made for immunization purposes. Sm-p80 coding sequence was cloned into VR 1020. Additionally, Sm-p80 coding sequence was cloned into pcDNA3.1 with flanking CpG motifs on each end of the Sm-p80 sequence. When used in different vaccine formulations, both of the constructs demonstrate the superior antifecundity and anti-worm effects of Sm-p80, which has great potential as an important vaccine candidate for the reduction of the morbidity associated with schistosome infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Afzal A. Siddiqui, Gul Ahmad, Weidong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110061289
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a biodiesel fuel that comprises generating micro-droplets of a first reactant and mixing the micro-droplets of the first reactant with a second reactant that is substantially immiscible with the first reactant. The method also comprises transferring the mixture of the first reactant and second reactant into a transesterification reaction vessel. The first reactant is one of an alcohol or oil, and the second reactant is the other of the oil or the alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventor: Uzi Mann
  • Publication number: 20100289879
    Abstract: A contactless system and method for estimating the mass or weight of a target object is provided. The target object is imaged and a spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the images. A virtual spatial model is provided of a characteristic object of a class of object to which the target object belongs. The virtual spatial model is reshape to optimally fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the mass or weight of the target object is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Eric D. Sinzinger, Bradley D. Null
  • Publication number: 20100144030
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus to separate X or Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells in a population by first placing the population of sperm cells at physiological pH environment, and simultaneously contacting the population of sperm cells with one or more additional sub-environments with different pH values. The exposure allows mobile sperm cells bearing X or Y-chromosome to migrate to the different pH sub-environments, wherein each cell only exposed or come in contact with one pH sub-environment. Finally, the collecting X or Y-chromosome enriched population of sperm cells is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, Lindsay L. Penrose