Patents Assigned to The University of Alberta
  • Publication number: 20250067076
    Abstract: A structural control system for civil infrastructures with recovery-based performance under extreme environmental loading is provided. The recovery-based structural control system may be utilized in both newly constructed and existing buildings as a retrofit to reduce the vulnerability to extreme environmental loading. The structural control system combines steel plate shear wall (SPSW) and the shape memory alloy (SMA) to provide extra recovery ability in a building's main element or supplemental structural control systems. The combination of SMA with SPSW, as a lateral resistive force system, develops a self-centering, energy absorber that provides a re-useable and affordable steel plate shear wall, called Smart Self-Centered Shear Wall (SSCSW) system. In the SSCSW system, pre-straining is applied to SMAs to eliminate the residual deformation that is known to appear in long-term use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Rafiq Ahmad, Shahin Zareie, Emanuel Martinez Villanueva
  • Patent number: 12220243
    Abstract: Devices and methods for providing interactivity during a swallowing exercise are disclosed. Sensory guidance is presented to guide a user through a set of swallows to be completed by the user during the swallowing exercise. Signals are received from a sensor device worn by the user, the signals representing surface electromyography data obtained when the user performs the swallowing exercise. Sensory feedback of the user's exertion level is presented, the feedback generated from the electromyography data and updated as further electromyography data is received from the sensor device, wherein the sensory feedback is presented in association with an exertion level calibrated to the user's ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignees: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, COVENANT HEALTH
    Inventors: Jana Maureen Rieger, Gabriela Constantinescu, Mark James Redmond, Dylan Kyle Scott, Benjamin Ronald King, Mark Vernon Fedorak, Herman Lundgren
  • Publication number: 20250043528
    Abstract: A smart friction pendulum system including an upper spherical plate and a lower spherical plate each having a sliding surface, a slider positioned between the upper spherical plate and the lower spherical plate, and a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires each having a first end attached to the upper spherical plate and a second end of attached to the lower spherical plate. The smart friction pendulum system is configured to be attached between the foundation and base mass of a building to preserve the superstructures under the lateral loads. While the lateral loads move the plates side to side, the system dissipates energy by providing friction between sliding material and sliding surface. The SMA wires also absorb the energy when in inelastic reversible phase. The embedded diagonal SMA wires make the whole system recover the initial position fully.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Rafiq Ahmad, Shahin Zareie
  • Patent number: 12213464
    Abstract: Methods of identifying cattle having increased feed efficiency using a small panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms is provided. The method provides for using a thousand or less of such SNPs and includes using a panel of 250 or fewer SNPs. The method if useful with various cattle breeds including crossbred cattle. Provided are SNPs that are useful as markers with various traits associated with feed efficiency in cattle. Kits and methods of use are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Graham Plastow, Mohammed Abo-Ismail
  • Patent number: 12202859
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides affinity tagged heterodimeric polypeptides comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide, where one or both of the E1 and E2 polypeptides comprises an affinity tag. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an affinity tagged E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides methods of producing untagged HCV E1/E2 heterodimers. The present disclosure provides HCV E1/E2 heterodimers, compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response to HCV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Michael Houghton, Darren Hockman, John L. Law, Chao Chen, Michael Logan
  • Patent number: 12186309
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compounds and methods for inhibiting a virus infection, such as a Baltimore Group IV RNA virus infection. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of treating a Baltimore Group IV RNA virus infection in a subject. The present disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions related to the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: James A. Nieman, M. Joanne Lemieux, D. Lorne Tyrrell, Mostofa Hena, Appan Srinivas Kandadai, Alexandr Belovodskiy, Michael A. Joyce, Elena Arutyunova
  • Publication number: 20240425400
    Abstract: A method of pretreating wastewater sludge including applying an amount of at least 0.01 g/g TSS Ca(ClO)2 to wastewater sludge to enhance digestibility of the sludge and reduce phosphorus concentration therein and then allowing sufficient time for the wastewater sludge to densify to a treated sludge having a specific resistance to filtration (SRF) of 3 to 4 (1010 m/Kg). The resulting treated sludge composition being sterilized, free of harmful bacteria, and useful as a fertilizer, particularly for growing mushrooms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Liu Yang, Najiaowa Yu, Lei Zhang, Anqi Mou, Huijuan Sun, Abdulnayeem Mohammed
  • Patent number: 12174218
    Abstract: A nano-positioning system for fine and coarse nano-positioning including at least one actuator, wherein the at least one actuator includes a high Curie temperature material and wherein the nano-positioning system is configured to apply a voltage to the at least one actuator to generate fine and/or coarse motion by the at least one actuator. The nano-positioning system being a stand-alone system, a scanning probe microscope, or an attachment to an existing microscope configured to perform a method of creepless nano-positioning that includes positioning a probe relative to a first area of a substrate using coarse stepping and interacting with the first area of the substrate using fine motion after less than 60 seconds of the positioning the probe. The movement of the scanning probe microscope is actuated by a high Curie temperature piezoelectric material that limits and/or eliminates creep, hysteresis and aging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolkow, Jason Pitters, Mark Salomons
  • Patent number: 12104150
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a near-infrared photothermally activated CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Hanyong Peng, Hongquan Zhang, Xing-Fang Li, Xiaochun Le
  • Patent number: 12098173
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to polypeptides, which may be used of the treatment of neurological diseases or disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Holger Wille, Jiarui Fang, José Miguel Flores-Fernández, Vineet Rathod, Xinli Tang
  • Publication number: 20240294405
    Abstract: A high efficiency plasma activation system for large scale treatment of liquid including a liquid tank; a pump having an inlet fluidly connected to an outlet of the liquid tank; a self-suction mechanism having a liquid inlet fluidly connected to an outlet of the pump, an air inlet, and an outlet fluidly connected to an inlet of the liquid tank; and a plasma generator having a plasma discharge nozzle positioned adjacent to the air inlet of the self-suction mechanism and configured to discharge gas phase plasma into the air inlet of the self-suction mechanism and introduce micro/nano bubbles (MNBs) into a flow of liquid to be treated to where the MNBs collapse to agitate and impregnate the liquid with a gas, for highly efficient plasma activation of liquid on a large scale as a green and sustainable technology for disinfection in the food industry and agriculture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Xuehua Zhang, Yawen Gao
  • Patent number: 12065392
    Abstract: A system for delivering fertilizer to the roots of a plant includes coated fertilizer particles. The coating can include a cellulose derivative, optionally a fatty acid, and a component, such as an aptamer, which binds specifically to a material, such as serine, which is released by the roots of the plant when the plant is actively taking up nutrients from the soil. The permeability of the coating increases when the coated particles are exposed to the material released by the roots of the plant. Thus, nutrient release from the coated fertilizer particles is synchronized with uptake of the nutrients by the plant during active growth. Advantages of the system may include one or more of improved nitrogen use efficiency by the plant, improved crop productivity, and/or reduced leaching of fertilizer from the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignees: Carleton University, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Juan Schneider, Carlos Monreal, Maria Derosa, Phillip Choi, Emily Mastronardi, Phepafatso Tsae, Francisco Matus
  • Publication number: 20240274037
    Abstract: A regional lung deposition system including a throat simulation device, an electrostatic neutralizer, and a first filter positioned within a first filter housing. The electrostatic neutralizer is positioned downstream of an in fluid communication with the throat simulation device. The filter housing is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the electrostatic neutralizer. The first filter that is positioned within the filter housing is downstream of the throat simulation device and the electrostatic neutralizer. The regional lung deposition system mimics tracheobronchial (TB) deposition of pharmaceutical aerosols emitted by commercially available dry powder inhalers (DPIs) to provide an in vitro method to rapidly evaluate regional lung doses delivered by pharmaceutical inhalers directly using variable inhalation profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Scott Evan Tavernini, Warren H. Finlay, Andrew R. Martin
  • Patent number: 12048742
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an immunogenic composition comprising: a) i) a hepatitis C virus (HCV) heterodimeric polypeptide that includes HCV E1 and E2 polypeptides; ii) an HCV E1 polypeptide; or iii) an HCV E2 polypeptide; b) a polypeptide (also referred to herein as a “T-cell epitope polypeptide” or an “HCV T-cell epitope polypeptide”) comprising T-cell epitopes (e.g., CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes that are conserved among some HCV genotypes and that are presented through one or multiple HLA alleles common within the human population) present in an HCV protein other than E1 and E2; and c) a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response, in an individual, to an HCV polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Michael Houghton, Abdolamir Landi, Michael Logan, John L. Law, Chao Chen, Darren Hockman
  • Patent number: 12042536
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides immunogenic compositions comprising: a) hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 heterodimers, HCV E2, or HCV E1; and b) an adjuvant, where the adjuvant is a cyclic dinucleotide or an archaeosome. The present disclosure provides methods of inducing an immune response in an individual to HCV, the methods comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an immunogenic composition of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignees: The Governors of the University of Alberta, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research
    Inventors: Michael Houghton, Abdolamir Landi, Carlos A. Guzman, Thomas Ebensen, Darren Hockman, John L. Law, Michael Logan
  • Patent number: 12005116
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides heterodimeric polypeptides comprising: 1) a variant hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 polypeptide and an HCV E1 polypeptide; 2) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and an HCV E2 polypeptide; or 3) a variant HCV E1 polypeptide and a variant HCV E2 polypeptide, where the variant HCV E2 polypeptide and/or the HCV E1 polypeptide comprises one or more T cell epitopes, present in an HCV polypeptide other than an HCV E1 polypeptide or an HCV E2 polypeptide. The present disclosure provides nucleic acids encoding a polyprotein that includes E1 and variant E2, E2 and variant E1, or variant E2 and variant E1. The present disclosure provides a method of producing an E1/E2 heterodimer of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a method of inducing an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides variant E2 polypeptides and variant E1 polypeptides; and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Michael Houghton, John L. Law, Michael Logan, Darren Hockman, Abdolamir Landi
  • Patent number: 11998608
    Abstract: There is provided a molecule comprising a chain of seven or more contiguous units of 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose each pair of units joined by a C1-C2 or a C1-C3 link, the chain having a terminal end and a reducing end, wherein the pyranose ring in the unit of the chain most distal from the reducing end is linked to a cap structure. The cap structure is not a 4,6-dideoxy-4-acylamido-?-pyranose. There are also provided vaccine compositions comprising the molecule and methods of vaccinating an animal against infection by a Brucella organism, including methods of distinguishing between a vaccinated and an infected animal. There are further provided novel methods of detecting the presence in a sample of an anti-Brucella antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignees: THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS, THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: John McGiven, Laurence Howells, Lucy Duncombe, David Bundle, Satadru Sekhar Mandal, Susmita Sarkar
  • Publication number: 20240169245
    Abstract: A quantum random number generator (QRNG) that includes at least one potential well and an electron detector outputting unique signals for quantized electron occupations as a source of random numbers. The at least one potential well including at least one exactingly placed dangling bond (DB) that is biased via a control wire. The DB extends from a silicon atom or from a germanium atom. Additionally, a method of operating the quantum random number generator includes measuring the unique signals as low/high current values or times between output transitions to assign maximal and minimal values leading to a constant stream of the source of random numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicants: Quantum Silicon Inc., The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolkow, Roshan Achal, Lucian Livadaru
  • Publication number: 20240145612
    Abstract: A waveguide assembly integrated with a semiconductor wafer is provided. The waveguide assembly includes a waveguide channel defined by internal walls of the wafer lined with a metallic layer, and having at least one port for transmission of the RF signal into or out of the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly also includes a semiconductor obstacle member disposed in the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly may be fabricated using etching and deposition processes for semiconductor devices. In use, selectively varying either one or both of frequency or power level of electromagnetic radiation applied to the obstacle member varies electrical conductance of the obstacle member, and thereby varies the electrical impedance of the obstacle member to transmission of the RF signal through the waveguide channel. The waveguide assembly may be used for switching, attenuating, routing, filtering, and transforming the RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicants: Purdue Research Foundation, The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Thomas R. Jones, Dimitrios Peroulis, Alden N. Fisher, Douglas W. Barlage
  • Patent number: 11955172
    Abstract: An atomic orbital based memory storage is provided that includes a plurality of surface atoms forming dangling bonds (DBs) and a subset of the plurality of surface atoms passivated with spatial control to form covalent bonds with hydrogen, deuterium, or a combination thereof. The atomic orbital based data storage that can be rewritten and corrected as needed. The resulting data storage is also archival and capable of high data densities than any known storage as the data is retained in a binary storage or a given orbital being passivated or a dangling bond (DB). A method of forming and reading the atomic orbital data storage is also provided. The method including selectively removing covalent bonds to form dangling bonds (DBs) extending from a surface atom by hydrogen lithography and imaging the covalent bonds spatially to read the atomic orbital data storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, Quantum Silicon Inc., The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Roshan Achal, Robert A. Wolkow, Jason Pitters, Martin Cloutier, Mohammad Rashidi, Marco Taucer, Taleana Huff