Abstract: A compliant crank slider with adjustable constant-force output. Constant-force mechanisms (CFM) are used to maintain a constant output reaction force throughout a large range of compressive motion. The invention improves on existing CFM by introducing a second degree of freedom that adjusts the mechanism's output without changing its kinematic structure. This second degree of freedom is the rotation of a compliant beam about its longitudinal axis as it is constrained to the initial plane of bending. In an embodiment, the second degree of freedom is the rotation of both a first compliant beam and a second compliant beam. The resulting change in the constant force mechanism allows for adjustment to a specifiable range of constant-force outputs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 29, 2021
Assignee:
University of South Florida
Inventors:
Steven Lawrence Hasara, Craig Perry Lusk
Abstract: A system and method for frame structure compliant adaptive extensionless windowing that maximizes fair proportional network capacity in the download. Gains are provided by emulating the multipath multiple access channel to the base station to calculate almost-optimum transmitter windowing durations prior to transmission and using the variance of received symbols using different window durations to allow the user equipment nodes to estimate optimal receiver windowing durations without calculations requiring further knowledge about the network.
Abstract: A method of identifying a living creature includes training a convolutional neural network model using pretrained convolutional neural networks to generate proposals about the regions where there might be an anatomical object within a digital image. Introducing a residual connection to get the input from the previous layer to the next layer helps in solving gradient vanishing problem. The next step is to design an object detector network that does three tasks: classifying the boxes with respective anatomies, tightening the boxes, and generating a mask (i.e., pixel-wise segmentation) of each anatomical component. In constructing the architecture of the object detector network, the network uses per-pixel sigmoid, and binary cross-entropy loss function (to identify the k anatomical components) and rigorously train them.
Abstract: In one embodiment, an at-home monitoring system includes a sensor unit configured to be placed under a leg of a piece of furniture, the sensor unit comprising a load cell configured to measure a force imposed by the leg, a central controller configured to receive force data from the load cell, to determine the times when an individual gets on and off of the piece of furniture, and to determine a weight of the individual, and a wireless communications component configured to wirelessly transmit information determined by the central controller to a separate computing device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 29, 2021
Assignee:
University of South Florida
Inventors:
Reese Kyle Starowesky, Carlos Eduardo Pena Duran, Autar Kaw, Ali Yalcin, Carla Vandeweerd
Abstract: A system and method for reducing the OFDM out-of-band emissions (OOBE) and Inter-Numerology Interference (INI) in a mixed-numerology OFDM-based system by utilizing a transmitter windowing operation that smooths the inherent rectangular pulse shape of the OFDM signals. The technique retains the main design of the OFDM receivers and provides backward compatibility for the existing OFDM-based systems. The guard band and the multi-window parameters that control the guard duration are jointly optimized regarding the numerology, the use case and the power offset between the users. To fully exploit and further increase the potential of adaptive guards, an interference-based scheduling algorithm is proposed as well.
Abstract: In one embodiment, a peristaltic micropump comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, a microtube that extends across the first side of the substrate, and multiple pump actuators formed on the first side of the substrate and positioned adjacent to the microtube at discrete, spaced positions along the length of the microtube, wherein the micropump is configured to sequentially actuate the pump actuators so as to create peristaltic action that drives fluid contained in the microtube along the length of the tube.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 20, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 1, 2021
Assignees:
University of South Florida, Rochester Institute of Technology
Inventors:
David A. Borkholder, Farzad Forouzandeh, Robert Nash Carter, Denis Roger Cormier, Joseph P. Walton, Robert Dana Frisina
Abstract: A system for forming a piling structure includes a hollow casing, a control assembly positioned proximately to the hollow casing, and a pivoting support device connected to the control assembly. A pivoting electrode is connected to the pivoting support device and configured to extend into the hollow casing. A second electrode is connected to the control assembly and extends into the hollow casing within the range of motion of the pivoting electrode. An electric power source is connected to the pivoting electrode and the second electrode, wherein charge on the electrodes produces a current arc between the pivoting electrode and the second electrode. A lift mechanism is positioned proximately to the hollow casing to control the electrodes position within the hollow casing.
Abstract: A novel SH-SAW biosensor capable of non-invasive and touch-free detection of cancer cell viability and growth or proliferation in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures as well as stem cell regeneration as it pertains to cancer cell biology and anti-cancer drug development is presented. The biosensor includes two pairs of resonators including interdigital transducers reflecting fingers to quantify mass loading by the cells in suspension as well as within a tumoroid culture platform. The biosensor can be part of a perfused 3PNS-tumoroid system that is amenable to real-time non-invasive monitoring of the cell proliferation, viability, and multiplexed detection of key physiologic and clinical biomarkers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2019
Date of Patent:
May 25, 2021
Assignees:
University of South Florida, TransGenex Nanobiotech, Inc.
Inventors:
Shyam S. Mohapatra, Subhra Mohapatra, Rasim Oytun Guldiken, Rajesh R. Nair, Tao Wang
Abstract: Aspects of software vulnerability prediction are described. In some examples vulnerability data is obtained from a vulnerability database for the software. The total cumulative vulnerability of the software is estimated using the vulnerability data. The total cumulative vulnerability is based at least in part on a time based nonlinear differential equation model. The time based nonlinear differential equation model generates a complete vulnerability life cycle. A graph is generated to display a cyclic increasing behavior of the complete vulnerability life cycle of the software.
Abstract: Described herein are peptibodies that can contain a TertiapinQ peptide, formulations thereof, and uses thereof. In some embodiments, the peptibody can include a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein each monomer can include an Fc polypeptide, a first TertiapinQ peptide, wherein the N-terminus of the first TertiapinQ peptide can be linked to the C-terminus of the Fc polypeptide via a first linker, and wherein the first monomer and the second monomer can be attached via a disulfide bridge between the Fc polypeptide of the first monomer and the Fc polypeptide of the second monomer. The compositions and formulations thereof can be used to treat atrial fibrillation.
Abstract: Described herein are methods and uses of Nampt activators for treatment of cardiovascular diseases and disorders, and/or diabetes, symptoms thereof, and complications associated with diabetes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 17, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2021
Assignee:
University of South Florida
Inventors:
Srinivas M. Tipparaju, Sachin L. Badole, Kalyan C. Chapalamadugu, Jared Tur
Abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain. Increasing evidence shows autoimmune mechanisms likely promote disease progression. Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) derived plasma is rich in cytokines and growth factors that are required for growth and survival of cells during hematopoiesis. hUCB plasma attenuated the hyperactive response (Group III) and potentiated the normal response in Group I ALS patients, but did not alter that of the non-responders to PHA (Group II). The elevated activity of caspase 3/7 observed in the MNCs from ALS patients was significantly reduced by hUCB plasma treatment. The ability of hUCB plasma to modulate the mitogen cell response and reduce caspase activity suggest that the use of hUCB plasma alone, or with stem cells, may prove useful as a therapeutic in ALS patients.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 18, 2021
Assignees:
University of South Florida, Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc.
Inventors:
Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis, Jared Carl Ehrhart, Paul R. Sanberg
Abstract: In one embodiment, a personal flotation device that can be worn by a user includes an inflation system including an inflatable bladder, a gas-generating component configured to generate gas using a chemical reaction and inject the generated gas into the bladder to inflate it, and an actuator configured to activate the gas-generating component; a sensor configured to sense one or more physiological parameters of the user; and an inflation control system configured to receive physiological parameter data from the sensor, to determine whether or not the user is experiencing a medical event that places the user at risk of drowning, and, if the user is experiencing such a medical event, to signal the actuator to activate the gas-generating component so as to provide floatation to the user.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 2019
Date of Patent:
May 11, 2021
Assignee:
University of South Florida
Inventors:
Aydin Kemal Sunol, Evan James Ticknor, Selina Kyle Guardiano, Timothy Warren Jacobson, Everett David Rogers, Kyle Louis Cogswell, Robert Dana Frisina, Christopher Lawrence Passaglia
Abstract: Systems and methods for automated stereology are provided. A method can include providing an imager for capturing a Z-stack of images of a three-dimensional (3D) object; constructing extended depth of field (EDF) images from the Z-stack of images; performing a segmentation method on the EDF images including estimating a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), performing morphological operations, performing watershed segmentation, constructing Voronoi diagrams and performing boundary smoothing; and determining one or more stereology parameters such as number of cells in a region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 10, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 11, 2021
Assignees:
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, STEREOLOGY RESOURCE CENTER, INC.
Inventors:
Peter Randolph Mouton, Hady Ahmady Phoulady, Dmitry Goldgof, Lawrence O. Hall
Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for performing a join operation using a graphics processing unit (GPU). The GPU can receive input data including sequences or tuples. The GPU can initialize a histogram in a memory location shared by threads. The GPU can build the histogram of hash values for the sequences. The GPU can reorder the sequences based on the histogram. The GPU can probe partitions and store the results in a buffer pool. The GPU can output the results of the join.
Abstract: An apparatus measures the transverse profile of vectorial optical field beams, including at least the directional intensity complex amplitude and the polarization spatial profile. The apparatus contains a polarization separation module, a weak perturbation module, and a detection module. Characterizing the transverse profile of vector fields provides an optical metrology tool for both fundamental studies of vectorial optical fields and a wide spectrum of applications, including microscopy, surveillance, imaging, communication, material processing, and laser trapping.
Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide implants for augmentation, stabilization, or defect reconstruction of bone tissue, comprising a scaffold portion structured to provide shape to the implant, the scaffold portion comprising one or more of the following: one or more polylactic acid isomer; one or more polyglycolic acid isomer; and/or allogenic bone material, or similar compound.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 27, 2021
Assignee:
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Inventors:
Jessica A. Ching, Jonathan Michael Ford, Summer Joy Decker
Abstract: Methods of treating anxiety disorders or reducing anxiety-related behaviors. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of ketone supplementation, such as butanediol, ketone esters (e.g., 1,3-butanediol-acetoacetate diester) and/or ketone salts (e.g., beta-hydroxybutyrate-mineral salt), chronically, sub-chronically, or acutely, with or without admixture with a medium chain triglyceride or in combination. It was determined herein that ketone supplementation reduced anxiety in rats on elevated plus maze as measured by less entries to closed arms, more time spent in open arms, more distance travelled in open arms, and delayed latency to entrance to closed arms, when compared to control. Along with reducing anxiety-related behavior, the chronic, sub-chronic, and acute ketone supplements also caused significant elevation of blood ?HB levels and changed blood glucose levels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
April 20, 2021
Assignee:
University of South Florida
Inventors:
Csilla Ari D'Agostino, Dominic Paul D'Agostino