Patents Assigned to University of Alberta
  • Publication number: 20120156678
    Abstract: This application relates to a binding-induced hairpin detection system comprising: a. a first probe comprising a targeting molecule and an oligonucleotide that has a free end and an end attached to the targeting molecule; and b. a second probe comprising a targeting molecule and an oligonucleotide that has an end attached to the targeting molecule and a free end comprising a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to a nucleotide sequence at or near the free end of the oligonucleotide of the first probe; wherein upon binding of the targeting molecule to a target molecule, the free end of the oligonucleotide of the second probe hybridizes at or near the free end of the oligonucleotide of the first probe forming a hairpin stem, the non-hybridized portions of the first and second probes together with the target molecule bound thereto forming a hairpin loop, thereby providing a binding-induced hairpin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Xiaochun Le, Hongquan Zhang, Xing-Fang Li
  • Patent number: 8202901
    Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds of the Formula (I) that stimulate rates of glucose oxidation in myocardial cells: wherein W, Cyc, p, Y, X, Z, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, I, m and n are as defined for Formula (I) herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds capable of stimulation of glucose oxidation, methods for increasing glucose oxidation rates in myocardial cells, and methods of treatment of myocardial ischemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Gary D. Lopaschuk, John C. Vederas, Jason R. Dyck
  • Patent number: 8202494
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for generating droplets has a capillary tube mounted in a moveable member. The capillary tube is accelerated towards a plate, and then subject to rapid deceleration, e.g. by way of an impact, to promote separation of a droplet which is then deposited on the plate. The droplet can be entirely separated from the capillary tip before being deposited, or, for smaller droplets, the droplet merely extends from the capillary tip and is then drawn onto the plate by a wicking action. The plurality of capillary tubes can be mounted on the common support member to effect multiplexing of drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Liang Li, J. Bryce Young
  • Publication number: 20120144999
    Abstract: A metal nanodot material is formed by ion-exchange with an ETS zeolite, followed by activation to form metallic nanodots. The nanodot may be formed from silver, nickel, copper, gold or a platinum group metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventor: Steven KUZNICKI
  • Publication number: 20120142721
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to use of compounds and compositions as a chemosensitizers and/or radiosensitizers and/or inhibitors of PNKP phosphatase activity. The present invention provides pharmaceutical combinations and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, kits containing such compounds and/composition and methods of using such compounds and/or compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES, THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Michael Weinfeld, Dennis G. Hall, Feridoun Karimi-Busheri, Gary Kenneth Freschauf, Todd Randall Mereniuk
  • Publication number: 20120135392
    Abstract: Ultrasound stimulation devices and related techniques are disclosed. An ultrasound transducer for generating ultrasound energy is carried by a transducer housing that seals the transducer and may also include a positioning element for positioning the transducer proximate an application area to which generated ultrasound energy is to be applied. The transducer housing may also carry such components as a battery, a wireless receiver, and a controller. The same housing or a separate sensor housing may include an ultrasound sensor that provides feedback to the ultrasound transducer or its controller, illustratively through a wireless transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Tarek Hessin Ahmed EL-BIALY, Jie CHEN, Ying Yin TSUI
  • Publication number: 20120136185
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing fuels and solvents from fatty acid resources. Also disclosed herein are fuels and solvents produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventor: David BRESSLER
  • Publication number: 20120128816
    Abstract: A method of producing a ruminant feed includes cereal grain treated with a weak organic acid such as lactic acid, and optionally heated. The ruminant feed is suitable feed for dairy cows which may benefit from increased ruminal pH and increased milk fat production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventor: Burim Ametaj
  • Publication number: 20120115208
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods, kits and compositions using specially designed nucleic acid components for efficient assembly of a DNA construct. The method involves a) incubating a support with a first form of nucleic acid components under conditions to form support-bound nucleic acid component complexes; b) removing unbound first form nucleic acid components; c) incubating the support-bound first form nucleic acid component complexes with a second form of nucleic acid components under conditions to anneal and link the second form to the first form; d) removing unbound second form nucleic acid components; e) repeating steps c) and d) until the DNA construct is generated; and f) eluting the DNA construct from the support. The first and second forms of the nucleic acid component comprise sticky ends such that each form cannot link to itself but can link to each other to form an alternating head to tail sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Michael ELLISON, Douglas RIDGWAY, Karina ARNESEN
  • Publication number: 20120096924
    Abstract: A new installment classifies particles by their aerodynamic size This installment produces a truly monodisperse aerosol, and can produce very narrow distributions over a wide range of sizes Particles suspended in a fluid are classified by supplying particles into suspension in a carrier flow of a fluid and providing an acceleration to the flow at an angle to the velocity of the flow to cause the particles to follow trajectories determined by the acceleration and drag on the particles caused by the fluid The particles are then classified according to their trajectories The installment has a flow channel and a source of particles to supply particles into suspension in a carrier fluid in the flow channel A drive is connected to the flow channel at an angle to the flow of fluid through the carrier flow channel, and a classification system classifies the suspended particles according to their trajectories
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventor: Jason Olfert
  • Publication number: 20120083459
    Abstract: Uses of exogenous ganglioside to inhibit the propagation of prostate cancer cells are provided. Gangliosides regulate many cellular processes including cell death. The present disclosure assesses the role of ganglioside in prostate cell growth. Malignant prostate (PC-3) and control (RWPE-1) cells can be cultured with or without ganglioside treatment. Cells can be assayed for differences in cell growth. Supplementation with ganglioside (GD3) can decrease growth of PC-3 cells by 30% compared to controls (p<0.01). Ganglioside can have therapeutic benefit in prostate cancer as demonstrated by decreased growth of malignant PC-3 cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Michael Thomas CLANDININ, John MIKLAVCIC, Vera MAZURAK
  • Patent number: 8145328
    Abstract: An effective non-intrusive data-based monitoring method may reduce the cost of control loop performance maintenance by screening and short-listing those control loops or valves that need maintenance. The invention comprises a data-based, model-free, non-invasive method that can automatically detect and quantify stiction present in control valves. The method does not require the implementation of any additional valve travel test or, as commonly known, bump test of the control loop. The method may detect and quantify stiction using controlled variable (pv), controller output (op) and set point (sp) data. It does not require valve positioner (mv) data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: University of Alberta, Matrikon Inc.
    Inventors: Md Ali A. Shoukat Choudhury, Sirish L. Shah, Nina F. Thornhill
  • Publication number: 20120064056
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for using cardioprotective or hemodynamic drugs in combination with dichloroacetate enabling usage of cardioprotective or hemodynamic drugs at concentrations higher than used in normal clinical practice without increasing deleterious side effects normally associated with the cardioprotective or hemodynamic drug, thereby conferring added clinical benefit. The present invention teaches administration of DCA with cardioprotective or hemodynamic drugs as an adjunct therapy thereby conferring added clinical benefit to clinically recommended protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA TEC Edmonton
    Inventors: GARY D. LOPASCHUK, RUTH COLLINS-NAKAI
  • Publication number: 20120060236
    Abstract: The invention is directed to isolated polynucleotide and polypeptides of the PsAFB2 and PsAFB6 genes from Pisum sativum; nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells incorporating the polynucleotide sequences; and methods of producing and using same. Also provided are transformed cells, and transgenic seeds and plants with enhanced abiotic stress tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Jocelyn OZGA, Dennis REINECKE, Courtney NADEAU
  • Publication number: 20120059287
    Abstract: Ultrasound stimulation devices and related techniques are disclosed. An ultrasound transducer for generating ultrasound energy is carried by a transducer housing that seals the transducer and may also include a positioning element for positioning the transducer proximate an application area to which generated ultrasound energy is to be applied. The transducer housing may also carry such components as a battery, a wireless receiver, and a controller. The same housing or a separate sensor housing may include an ultrasound sensor that provides feedback to the ultrasound transducer or its controller, illustratively through a wireless transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Tarek Hessin Ahmed El-Bialy, Jie Chen, Ying Yin Tsui
  • Patent number: 8130817
    Abstract: Novel non-data-aided maximum likelihood estimators for the delays and the attenuations in an ultra-wide bandwidth channel are proposed. Numerical results show that these new estimators outperform the previous non-data-aided maximum likelihood channel estimators derived in the literature. Moreover, in some cases, the performances of the new non-data-aided estimators approach those of the data-aided estimators, enabling us to reduce the overhead expense of pilot symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Norman C. Beaulieu, Yunfei Chen
  • Patent number: 8115062
    Abstract: Transgenic plants containing recombinant barley alanine aminotransferase are described. Also provided are methods for generating transgenic plants containing recombinant barley alanine aminotransferase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Allen G. Good, Virginia L. Stroeher, Douglas G. Muench
  • Publication number: 20120016102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition, device and method for preventing or inhibiting biofilm formation on biotic or abiotic surfaces. The composition comprises a peptide based on the C-terminal receptor binding domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilin, which binds to an abiotic surface (e.g., steel, plastic) with high affinity and prevents binding of a variety of P. aeruginosa strains to the surface. The inventive composition represents a non-toxic inhibitor for biofilm formation, particularly on an abiotic surface, which is responsible for a large number of problematic diseases and massive economic losses. The inventive method is useful as a safe and environmentally friendly means of modifying a surface of a variety of biomedical, nanotechnological, and biotechnological devices or articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Robert S. Hodges, Randall T. Irvin, Carmen Giltner, Erin Van Schaik
  • Patent number: 8097406
    Abstract: The physiological regulation of intake, growth and energy partitioning in animals is under the control of multiple genes, which may be important candidates for unraveling the genetic variation in economically relevant traits in beef production. The present invention relates to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their haplotypes, across the bovine genome in genes encoding polypeptides associated with feed efficiency, and their associations with residual feed intake in beef production. The invention further encompasses methods and systems, including network-based processes, to manage the SNP data, haplotype data and other data relating to specific animals and herds of animals, veterinarian care, diagnostic and quality control data and management of livestock which, based on genotyping, have predictable meat quality traits, husbandry conditions, animal welfare, food safety information, audit of existing processes and data from field locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Stephen Stewart Moore, Esther Laura Sherman, Joshua Donald Nkrumah
  • Patent number: RE43122
    Abstract: The present invention provides an on-chip packed reactor bed design that allows for an effective exchange of packing materials such as beads at a miniaturized level. The present invention extends the function of microfluidic analysis systems to new applications including on-chip solid phase extraction (SPE) and on-chip capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The design can be further extended to include integrated packed bed immuno- or enzyme reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: D. Jed Harrison, Richard Oleschuk, Loranelle L. Lockyear, Cameron Skinner, Paul Li