Abstract: A process for recovery of CO2 from a post-combustion gas includes pre-concentrating a CO2 component of the post-combustion flue gas by passing the post-combustion gas through a CO2-selective membrane module to provide a CO2-enriched permeate stream and a CO2-lean reject stream. Next, in a CO2 absorber, both the CO2-enriched permeate stream and CO2 lean reject stream, fed to separate feed locations on the CO2 absorber, are contacted with a scrubbing solvent to absorb CO2 and provide a carbon-rich scrubbing solvent. Finally, absorbed CO2 is stripped from the carbon-rich scrubbing solvent by a two-stage CO2 stripping system. The CO2-selective membrane may be a high flux, low pressure drop, low CO2 selectivity membrane. The two stage stripping system includes a primary CO2 stripping column for stripping CO2 from the carbon-rich scrubbing solvent exiting the CO2 absorber, and a secondary CO2 stripping column for stripping CO2 from a carbon-lean scrubbing solvent exiting the primary CO2 stripping column.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 7, 2015
Date of Patent:
August 9, 2016
Assignee:
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Inventors:
Kunlei Liu, Reynolds A. Frimpong, Kun Liu
Abstract: An electrode is provided which includes a carbon-based material coated with a film which modifies the material's potential of zero charge. A method for producing the electrode includes steps of infiltrating a woven carbon cloth with a solution containing resorcinol and formaldehyde, polymerizing the solution infiltrated woven carbon cloth, subjecting the infiltrated and polymerized woven carbon cloth to a solvent-exchange process, carbonizing the woven carbon cloth and coating the carbonized woven carbon cloth with a film.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 10, 2014
Publication date:
August 4, 2016
Applicant:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Xin Gao, Ayokunle Omosebi, James Richardson Landon, Kunlei Liu
Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of novel proteins, referred to herein as amidated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) peptides (or “Amidated Dopamine Neuron Stimulating peptides (ADNS peptides)”), for treating brain diseases and injuries that result in dopaminergic deficiencies and mitochodrial dysfunction, e.g., reduced complex I enzyme activity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 2, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Luke H. Bradley, Don Marshall Gash, Greg A. Gerhardt
Abstract: A thermal and electrical conducting apparatus includes a few-layer graphene film having a thickness D where D?1.5 nm and a plurality of carbon nanotubes crystallographically aligned with the few-layer graphene film.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2012
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2016
Assignee:
The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Douglas Robert Strachan, David Patrick Hunley
Abstract: A thermal and electrical conducting apparatus includes a few-layer graphene film having a thickness D where D?1.5 nm and a plurality of carbon nanotubes crystallographically aligned with the few-layer graphene film.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 1, 2012
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2016
Assignee:
The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Douglas Robert Strachan, David Patrick Hunley
Abstract: A composition and method to alleviate oral mucosal discomfort and irritation in an orthodontic patient. A wax matrix containing less that 15% analgesic/anesthetic agent such as benzocaine and excipients enhanced and extended release of the analgesic/anesthetic agent compared to known art formulations. The composition exhibited desirable aesthetic properties, was easy to apply, and the relatively lower concentration of active agent provided enhanced safety.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2013
Date of Patent:
July 12, 2016
Assignee:
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Abstract: A nanocomposite membrane includes a macroporous polymer membrane having a plurality of pores. A plurality of metal nanoparticles are synthesized and immobilized within those plurality of pores. The nanoparticles are reduced and capped with a green reducing and capping agent such as green tea extract.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 2012
Date of Patent:
June 28, 2016
Assignee:
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Inventors:
Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Vasile Smuleac, Rajender S. Varma, Subhas K. Sikdar
Abstract: A method for on-farm processing a biomass feedstock into a useful industrial chemicals includes the steps of (a) delignifying the biomass feedstock to produce a delignified biomass, (b) subjecting the delignified biomass to cellulase production, (c) subjecting the delignified biomass with attached cellulase to simultaneous cellulolytic and solventogenic reactions to produce useful industrial chemicals (d) collecting and separating the useful industrial chemical from the fermentation broth and (e) collecting the fermentation residues.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 25, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 28, 2016
Assignee:
The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Sue E. Nokes, Bert C. Lynn, Stephen Rankin, Barbara Knutson, Michael D. Montross, Michael Flythe
Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter provides methods for preventing ischemia in a cell, treating ischemia in a subject, and preventing an infarction in a subject that utilize ?5?1 integrin inhibitor. In some instances, ?5?1 integrin inhibitor is administered to a subject prior to, during, or after the onset of ischemia to treat the ischemia and/or prevent infarction. In some instances the present methods prevent the occurrence of an infarction. In some instances the present methods restores perfusion to organs and tissues.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 11, 2015
Date of Patent:
June 21, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: The invention is a capacitive, aka electrostatic, deionization apparatus and method that solves the problem of short lifetime of conventional capacitive deionization (CDI) and of membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) devices and methods by shifting the Potential of Zero Charge of electrode surfaces through surface modifications. Such electrode surface modifications provide very long lifetime capacitive deionization devices and methods.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 3, 2015
Publication date:
June 16, 2016
Applicant:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Xin Gao, Ayokunle Omosebi, James Richardson Landon, Kunlei Liu
Abstract: Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) polypeptide variants of the presently-disclosed subject matter have enhanced catalytic efficiency for (?)-cocaine, as compared to wild-type BChE. Pharmaceutical compositions of the presently-disclosed subject matter include a BChE polypeptide variant having an enhanced catalytic efficiency for (?)-cocaine. A method of the presently-disclosed subject matter for treating a cocaine-induced condition includes administering to an individual an effective amount of a BChE polypeptide variant, as disclosed herein, to lower blood cocaine concentration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally relate to anti-cocaine therapeutics. Specifically, some embodiments of the invention relate to highly efficient, thermostable, and long-lasting cocaine esterase (CocE) mutants that can protect against the toxic and reinforcing effects of cocaine in subjects. Provided herein are mutant CocE polypeptides displaying thermostable esterase activity. Also provided are methods of treating cocaine-induced conditions in a subject in need via administration of mutant CocE as well as methods for high-throughput screening of candidate esterase polypeptides.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 30, 2015
Publication date:
June 9, 2016
Applicants:
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, The Regents of the University of Michigan, The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Donald Landry, Chang-Guo Zhan, James H. Woods, Roger Sunahara, Diwahar L. Narasimhan, Joanne MacDonald, Victor Yang, Mei-Chuan Holden Ko, Shi-Xian Deng, John J. Tesmer, Tien-Yi Lee, Young Min Kwon, Daquan Gao
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for treating retinal damage and/or retinal degradation. More specifically, this disclosure relates to methods for treating degradation of the retinal pigment epithelium by administering compositions comprising a nucleoside and/or a nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 2014
Date of Patent:
May 3, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: Non-naturally occurring DNA promoters, include MSGT-PFlt, PFlt-UAS-2X and FSgt-PFlt. The MSGT-PFlt was developed and has expression shown to be equivalent to that of CaMV35S promoter. DNA promoters PFlt-UAS-2X and FSgt-PFlt were developed and tested in transient and transgenic system and found to be stronger than the CaMV35S promoter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 24, 2015
Publication date:
April 14, 2016
Applicants:
North Carolina State University, University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Inventors:
Ralph E. Dewey, Balazs Siminszky, Steven W. Bowen, Lily Gavilano
Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes light-activated ruthenium compounds. In some embodiments the compounds release one or more ligands when exposed to light, and in specific embodiments the light includes a wavelength of about 500 nm to about 1000 nm. The present compounds can also comprise an overall charge, wherein the overall charge can be a positive overall charge or a negative overall charge. Further still, embodiments include methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering a compound and then exposing a site of the subject to light.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 17, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: Microneedles and their use as a physical skin permeation enhancement technique facilitate drug delivery across the skin in therapeutically relevant concentrations. Micropores created in the skin by MNs reseal because of normal healing processes of the skin, thus limiting the duration of the drug delivery window. Pore lifetime enhancement strategies can increase effectiveness of MNs as a drug delivery mechanism by prolonging the delivery window. Fluvastatin (FLU) was used to enhance pore lifetime by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol, a major component of the stratum corneum lipids. The skin recovered within a 30-45-min time period following the removal of occlusion, and there was no significant irritation observed due to the treatment compared to the control sites. Thus, it can be concluded that localized skin treatment with FLU can be used to extend micropore lifetime and deliver drugs for up to 7 days across MN-treated skin.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 23, 2014
Publication date:
March 17, 2016
Applicants:
University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: A power plant includes a boiler, a steam turbine, a generator driven by that steam turbine, a condenser, a post combustion processing system and an energy storage system including at least one electrochemical cell to store excess electrical energy generated by the generator during period valley demand and release thermal energy for power plant operations at other times.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 28, 2014
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Inventors:
Kunlei Liu, James Kyle Neathery, Joseph Eugene Remias, Cameron Anthony Lippert, Nick Edward Holubowitch
Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and related compositions for increasing the population size of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in patients that may benefit from reconstitution of stem cells and/or differentiated cells of the blood lineage. The present methods enable the production of HSCs ex vivo and in vivo by reducing latexin expression and/or latexin activity within HSC exposed to various antagonists. Inhibition of latexin expression and/or latexin activity by various antagonists can promote HSC proliferation and/or inhibit HSC apoptosis. Antagonists that can reduce latexin expression and/or latexin activity can be utilized to regenerate endogenous HSCs within patients affected with disorders, diseases, cancers, or therapies for such conditions, that result in the depletion or reduction in HSCs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 3, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N?-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 8, 2015
Publication date:
March 3, 2016
Applicants:
University of Kentucky Research Foundation, North Carolina State University
Inventors:
Ralph E. Dewey, Balazs Siminszky, Steven W. Bowen, Lily Gavilano