Patents Assigned to University of Alberta
  • Publication number: 20080261962
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for alleviating respiratory depression in a subject as a result of disease of pharmacological agents such as opiates, opioids or barbiturates. The invention also discloses pharmaceutical compositions for use with the method, the composition containing in combination, an analgesic, anaesthetic, or a sedative and a positive allosteric AMPA receptor modulator in an amount sufficient to reduce or inhibit respiratory depression caused by the analgesic, anaesthetic, or sedative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventor: John Greer
  • Publication number: 20080259976
    Abstract: A thin film includes a substrate and a transparent, porous film of organic material, such as 8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum. The organic material is vapor deposited on the substrate such that the film has distinct helical columns extending away from the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Peter C.P. Hrudey, Kenneth L. Westra, Michael Julian Brett
  • Patent number: 7432247
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for maintaining cardiac function by administering dichloroacetate (DCA) in combination with an inotrope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Gary D. Lopaschuk, Ruth Collins-Nakai
  • Patent number: 7431856
    Abstract: A method of fabricating nano-tips involves placing a precursor nanotip with an apex and shank in a vacuum chamber; optionally applying an electric field to the precursor nanotip to remove oxide and other contaminant species; subsequently admitting an etchant gas to the vacuum chamber to perform field assisted etching by preferential adsorption of the etchant gas on the shank; and gradually reducing the applied electric field to confine the adsorption of the etchant gas to the shank as etching progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignees: National Research Council of Canada, The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Mohamed Rezeq, Jason Pitters, Robert Wolkow
  • Publication number: 20080242616
    Abstract: Human myelin basic protein (h-MBP) has a molecular weight of 18.5 KD and contains 170 amino acid residues. Synthetic peptides ranging in length from about 8 to 25 residues and covering the entire length of the protein have been produced. Antibodies to h-MBP (anti-MBP) were found to be neutralized by the synthetic peptides, in vitro, which span the h-MBP from about amino acid residue 61 to about amino acid residue 106. The peptides, which cover both the amino (about residues 1 to 63) and carboxy (about residues 117 to 162) terminals of h-MBP did not neutralize purified anti-MBP. Intrathecal administration of peptide MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) produced complete binding-neutralization of free (F) anti-MBP with no change in bound (B) levels. A control peptide MBP35-58 had no effect on F or B anti-MBP levels. Intravenous administration of MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) resulted in significant decline of F and B CSF anti-MBP levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Warren, Ingrid Catz
  • Publication number: 20080237146
    Abstract: An on-chip packed reactor bed design is disclosed that allows for an effective exchange of packing materials such as beads at a miniaturized level. Also disclosed is a method of treating a sample within a microfluidic analysis system, comprising: providing a main channel having a trapping zone; providing a slurry of a reagent treated packing material; inducing a flow of said packing material into said trapping zone through a flow channel connected to said trapping zone to load said trapping zone and form a packed bed of said packing material; and flowing a sample containing analytes through said packed bed, said reagent treating the sample. 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: D. Jed Harrison, Richard Oleschuk, Loranelle Shultz-Lockyear, Cameron Skinner, Paul Li
  • Patent number: 7418468
    Abstract: Low-voltage CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) circuits, suitable for analog decoders, for example, are provided. The circuits include multiplier modules that receive first input signals and respective ones of a plurality of second input signals. Each multiplier module generates as output signals products of the first input signals and its respective second input signals. Dummy multiplier modules that respectively correspond to the multiplier modules receive the second input signals, and each dummy multiplier module forms products of the second input signal of its corresponding multiplier module and the other second input signals. The dummy multiplier modules reduce the overall voltage requirements of the circuit, thereby providing for low-voltage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: University of Alberta
    Inventors: Chris J. Winstead, Christian Schlegel
  • Publication number: 20080195913
    Abstract: Decoder for low-density parity check convolutional codes. In at least some embodiments, a decoder (200) for arbitrary length blocks of low-density, parity-check codes includes a plurality of interconnected processors (202), which further include a plurality of interconnected nodes. A memory can be interconnected with the nodes to store intermediate log likelihood ratio (LLR) values based on channel LLR values. Thus, LLR values having successively improved accuracy relative to the channel LLR values can be output from each processor, and eventually used to decision information bits. In some embodiments, the memory is a random access memory (RAM) device that is adapted to store the intermediate LLR values in a circular buffer. Additionally, a storage device such as a read-only memory (ROM) device can be used to generate a predetermined plurality of addresses for reading and writing LLR values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Stephen Bates, Christian Schlagel, Bruce Cockburn, Vincent Gaudet
  • Publication number: 20080171219
    Abstract: A thin-film composition of nanocrystal molybdenum in an amorphous metallic matrix may be formed by co-sputtering Mo with aluminum or nickel. NEMS cantilevers may be formed from the film. The films exhibit high nanoindentation hardness and a reduction in roughness and intrinsic stress, while maintaining resistivity in the metallic range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicants: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: David MITLIN, Colin OPHUS, Stephane EVOY, Velimir RADMILOVIC, Reza MOHAMMADI, Ken WESTRA, Nathaniel NELSON-FITZPATRICK, Zonghoon LEE
  • Patent number: 7390937
    Abstract: The present invention relates to non-naturally occurring plants that display enhanced agronomic characteristics due to elevated levels of nitrogen utilization proteins in the root of the plants. In particular, the present invention relates to non-naturally occurring plants with elevated levels of nitrogen utilization proteins specifically localized to the root epidermis of the plant. In addition, the present invention includes a preferred method of generating such non-naturally occurring plants by introducing into the plant a transgene encoding a nitrogen utilization protein operably linked to a root-epidermis-specific promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Allen G. Good, Virginia L. Stroeher, Douglas G. Muench
  • Patent number: 7368429
    Abstract: Human myelin basic protein (h-MBP) has a molecular weight of 18.5 KD and contains 170 amino acid residues. Synthetic peptides ranging in length from about 8 to 25 residues and covering the entire length of the protein have been produced. Antibodies to h-MBP (anti-MBP) were found to be neutralized by the synthetic peptides, in vitro, which span the h-MBP from about amino acid residue 61 to about amino acid residue 106. The peptides, which cover both the amino (about residues 1 to 63) and carboxy (about residues 117 to 162) terminals of h-MBP did not neutralize purified anti-MBP. Intrathecal administratin of peptide MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) produced complete binding-neutralization of free (F) anti-MBP with no change in bound (B) levels. A control peptide MBP35-58 had no effect on F or B anti-MBP levels. Intravenous administration of MBP(75-95), MBP(86-95), or MBP(82-98) resulted in significant decline of F and B CSF anti-MBP levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Warren, Ingrid Catz
  • Publication number: 20080104734
    Abstract: The invention is directed to recombinant antibodies which bind to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum antigens and comprise a single chain variable fragment (scFv). The antigen may be selected from SSPG1d or a portion thereof, aspartyl protease or a portion thereof, or whole Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelium. The invention also provides an antibody linked to an anti-fungal polypeptide. The invention extends to nucleic acid sequences encoding the antibodies, and expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid sequences. The invention is also directed to transgenic plants, seeds, tissues or cells transformed with the expression vectors. Methods for producing a transgenic plant that is resistant to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and for detecting Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in a biological sample utilizing an antibody which binds to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum antigen, and immunoassay kit for same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Nataraj KAV, William YAJIMA, Bo YANG
  • Publication number: 20080095267
    Abstract: A discrete cosine transform (DCT)-based orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system is provided with a zero-padding guard interval and MMSE reception. The performance of the DCT-OFDM system with the zero-padding guard interval scheme and the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) receiver over time-varying multipath Rayleigh fading channels is investigated. The results show that employing the proposed DCT-OFDM system rather than the conventional DFT-OFDM system can provide better bit error rate performance in practical systems, by as much as 6 dB in signal-to-noise ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, THE
    Inventors: Norman Beaulieu, Peng Tan
  • Patent number: 7344869
    Abstract: Novel bacterial genes, microorganisms and processes for improving the manufacture of 5R clavams, eg. clavulanic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: SmithKline Beecham p.l.c., The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Cecilia Anders, Barry Barton, John Patrick Griffin, Susan Jensen, Roy Henry Mosher, Ashish Sudhakar Paradkar
  • Patent number: 7338587
    Abstract: An electrochemical process for the oxidation of an alkane to at least one corresponding alkene uses an electrochemical cell having an anode chamber on one side of a proton conducting medium, and a cathode chamber on the other side of the said medium. The alkane is oxidized in the anode chamber to produce at least one corresponding alkene and protons are transferred through a proton conducting membrane to the cathode chamber where protons combine with a proton acceptor, while generating electricity and water. An apparatus for use in the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Karl T. Chuang, Alan R. Sanger, Jingli Luo, Stefan V. Slavov
  • Publication number: 20080038353
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of polymer-based nano-carriers for the solubilization and delivery of hydrophobic drugs, and relates to methods of making said carriers, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said carriers. Novel PEO-b-PCL micelles and micelles containing cyclosporine A or analogs thereof are provided as well as a novel method for making said micelles that reduces aggregation and enhances delivery, the toxicity profile and biodistribution of hydrophobic drugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicants: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Afsaneh Lavasanifar, Glen Kwon
  • Patent number: 7326770
    Abstract: This invention provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of fucosyltransferases from Helicobactor pylori. The invention also provides methods to use the fucosyltransferases to synthesize oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, and glycolipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignees: Neose Technologies, Inc., Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Joanne Simala-Grant, Diane Taylor, Karl F. Johnson, Daniel James Bezila
  • Publication number: 20080005810
    Abstract: Transgenic plants are more tolerant to environmental stresses than untransformed plants. The pea ABR17 (Abscisic acid responsive 17) is used to enhance germination of plants such as Arabidopsis sp. and Brassica sp. while under multiple abiotic stresses, and to enhance the tolerance of these plants to these stresses. Three independently derived Arabidopsis transgenic lines, containing ABR17, germinated better in the presence of salt, cold temperature or both. The transgenic plants also exhibited enhanced tolerance to freezing temperature or extreme heat. Furthermore, the transgenic plants demonstrated early flowering even under normal, non-stressed conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
    Inventors: Nataraj KAV, Sanjeeva SRIVASTAVA, Salehuzzaman SHAH
  • Patent number: 7312611
    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. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of concentrating an analyte within a microfluidic analysis system, comprising the steps of: a) providing a main channel having a trapping zone suitable for trapping packing material; b) providing a slurry of a reagent treated packing material prepared in a solution having a predetermined composition of a solvent; c) inducing a flow of said packing material into said trapping zone through a flow channel connected to said trapping zone so as to load said trapping zone and form a packed bed of said packing material; d) and flowing a sample containing analytes through said packed bed, said reagent acting to concentrate at least some of said analytes within said trapping zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: D. Jed Harrison, Richard Oleschuk, Loranelle Shultz-Lockyear, Cameron Skinner, Paul Li
  • Patent number: 7304403
    Abstract: A signaling system for detecting power line discontinuity in a power distribution system having a local power generator in a feeder line employs a signal generator that provides a local generator control signal with a preset protocol continuously and is located in the power distribution system upstream of said local power generator. A power detector terminates the local generator control signal and a signal detector in said feeder line detects the presence of the signal and triggers the shutdown of the local generator when the signal is not detected by the signal detector for a predefined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventor: Wilsun Xu