Patents Assigned to University
  • Patent number: 8950344
    Abstract: A surgical support device can provide members for attaching various medical accessories in a safe, stable and secure manner. The surgical support device can also configured to isolate the sterile field from the non-sterile field to better enhance infectious control measures. The surgical support device may include at least two side supports configured to extend vertically from the side rail, each side support including a support member; a transverse member disposed between the two side supports; at least two support members; at least one platform configured to be pivotable between the transverse member and the support member; and at least one accessory arm extending from at least one of the at least two side supports and configured to pivot around the at least one of the at least two side supports; and a plurality of accessory attachment members configured to secure and/or support one or more accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Emory University
    Inventors: Gerald L. Lewis, Peggy G. Duke
  • Patent number: 8952192
    Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for modulating quorum sensing in microbes. The compounds are AI-2 analogs and as such have structures similar to 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione that can act as agonists/antagonists of quorum sensing. The compounds are useful for modulating quorum sensing in bacteria and can be used in methods for prophylaxis or therapy of bacterial infections and for reduction of biofilms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
    Inventors: Herman O. Sintim, William E. Bentley, Varnika Roy, Jacqueline Smith, Reza Ghodssi, Mariana Tsacoumis Meyer
  • Patent number: 8951974
    Abstract: Provide are a peptide gel with practically sufficient mechanical strength and a self-assembling peptide capable of forming the peptide gel. The self-assembling peptide is formed of the following amino acid sequence: a1b1c1b2a2b3 db4a3b5c2b6a4 where: a1 to a4 each represent a basic amino acid residue; b1 to b6 each represent an uncharged polar amino acid residue and/or a hydrophobic amino acid residue, provided that at least five thereof each represent a hydrophobic amino acid residue; c1 and c2 each represent an acidic amino acid residue; and d represents a hydrophobic amino acid residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Menicon Co., Ltd., National University Corporation Okayama University
    Inventors: Yusuke Nagai, Hidenori Yokoi, Koji Uesugi, Keiji Naruse
  • Patent number: 8950362
    Abstract: An otter habitation section, an overland section, an inclined-surface section, a first spawning section, a second spawning section and a roost are all provided. Accordingly, otters and birds can sufficiently obtain preys, and fishes secure a spawning ground suitable for spawning characteristics. Therefore, the otters, the fishes and the birds can inhabit together. Further, since frames are made of wood for providing buoyant force or the frames are made of stainless steel for reinforcing strength and wood for providing buoyant force, a small amount of polyethylene foam is required. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain floating wetland equipment with a simple structure. Furthermore, the wooden frames itself provide a spawning ground of fishes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Kangwon National University University-Industry Cooperation Foundation, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Halla Engineering & Construction Corp.
    Inventors: Woo Myung Heo, Gil Son Hwang, Dong Oug Kim, Ho Joon Kim, Dong Seop Kim, Sun Hee Lee, Haeng Seop Song
  • Patent number: 8950886
    Abstract: A solar-powered lighting module is provided, including a solar cell for generating electricity when exposed to light, a battery for storing charge from the generated electricity, and a light generating device powered by the stored charge. In an embodiment, the module further includes a controller that regulates the current transmitted between the components of the module. In a further embodiment, the module is incorporated into an interface to an environmentally controlled space and can be positioned to light an interior portion of the space. In another embodiment, the solar cell and light generating device are transparent to allow light to pass through the interface. In a further embodiment, tinted-color conjugated polymers incorporated into the module limit the spectrum of light that can pass through the interface. In yet another embodiment, a method of modifying an existing interface with such a module is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying S. Meng, Karl R. Zawoy, Jiangeng Xue, Franky So, John R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8951990
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for treating a dental disorder in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a modified hyaluronan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein said hyaluronan or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester comprises at least one sulfate group and the primary C-6 hydroxyl proton of at least one N-acetyl-glucosamine residue is substituted with a C1-C10 unsubstituted alkyl group or fluoroalkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Glenn Prestwich, Jianxing Zhang, Sr., Thomas P. Kennedy, Narayanam Rao
  • Patent number: 8951795
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of safely and simply inducing differentiation of mononuclear cells into cells that promote neovascular stabilization and maturation, and lead to recovering from ischemia or tissue repair. The cells according to the present invention are obtained by inducing differentiation of a mononuclear cell by culturing the mononuclear cell in a medium (particularly a serum-free medium) containing one or more selected from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), thrombopoietin (TPO), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), and collecting a cell population expressing CD11b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: National University Corporation Asahikawa Medical University
    Inventors: Yusuke Mizukami, Junpei Sasajima, Yoshiaki Sugiyama, Kazuya Sato, Yutaka Kohgo
  • Patent number: 8951740
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for detection of inflammatory disease in a subject that comprises assaying a test sample of peripheral blood from the subject for a marker of DNA damage. An elevated amount of marker present in the test sample compared to control sample is indicative of inflammatory disease activity, including sub-clinical inflammation. The method can be adapted for quantitatively monitoring the efficacy of treatment of inflammatory disease in a subject. Markers of DNA damage include single- and/or double-stranded breaks in leukocytes, oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes, or a marker of nitric oxide oxidative activity (protein nitrosylation in leukocytes). The inflammatory disease can be inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Aya M. Westbrook, Robert H. Schiestl, Bo Wei, Jonathan Braun
  • Patent number: 8953239
    Abstract: A method of designing a nanophotonic scattering structure can include establishing an initial design having an array of discrete pixels variable between at least two pixel height levels. A performance metric for the structure can be a function of the heights of the pixels. The height of a pixel can be varied, and then the performance metric can be calculated. The steps of varying the pixel height and calculating the performance metric can be repeated to increase the performance metric. The above steps can be repeated for each pixel within the array and then the method can be iterated until the performance metric reaches an optimized value. Nanophotonic scattering structures can be produced from designs obtained through this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rajesh Menon, Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 8951980
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to methods for treating or preventing the symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, methods for reducing excessive fat from the liver, methods of improving glycemic control, and methods for treating or preventing liver dysfunction, that comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of Adenovirus 36 E4orf1 protein or functional variant thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventor: Nikhil V. Dhurandhar
  • Patent number: 8951994
    Abstract: Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: The Hospital for Sick Children, McMaster University
    Inventors: Don J Mahuran, Michael B Tropak, Justin D Buttner, Jan E Blanchard, Eric D Brown
  • Patent number: 8952019
    Abstract: A method for treating cancer tumors, particularly ovarian cancer tumors, is described, where fused cyclic pyrimidine having a cancer treating ability is selectively delivered to an FR expressing cancerous tumor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Duquesne University of The Holy Ghost, Wayne State University
    Inventors: Aleem Gangjee, Larry H. Matherly
  • Patent number: 8952207
    Abstract: The present invention is a one-step method for efficiently converting carbon-hydrogen bonds into carbon-carbon bonds using a combination of aryl halides, a substrate, and a copper salt as catalyst. This method allows faster introduction of complex molecular entities, a process that would otherwise require many more steps. This invention is particularly relevant for the organic synthesis of complex molecules such as, but not limited to, pharmacophores and explosives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Houston System
    Inventors: Olafs Daugulis, Hien-Quang Do
  • Patent number: 8952617
    Abstract: The present invention provides a passive LC ballast and an associated method of manufacturing a passive LC ballast for use with any one of a plurality of high voltage discharge lamps. The passive LC ballast has an inductance and a capacitance selected in accordance with one of a set of one or more inductance-capacitance pairs. Each inductance-capacitance pair defines a respective inductance and a respective capacitance such that, when the inductance and the capacitance of the passive LC ballast is selected in accordance with any one of the inductance-capacitance pairs and the passive LC ballast is used with any one of the lamps, the lamp operates between respective minimum and maximum lamp powers of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Ron Shu Yuen Hui, Wai Man Ng, Deyan Lin
  • Patent number: 8951668
    Abstract: The present invention provides electrochemical energy storage systems comprising metallolyte composites, iron fluoride composites and iron oxyfluoride composites. The present invention further provides methods for fabricating metallolyte composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Nathalie Pereira, Glenn Amatucci
  • Patent number: 8952087
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing metal ions (for example, silver ions) and stably dispersing metal nanoparticles by nanosilicate platelets. An organic dispersant, nanosilicate platelets and a metal ionic solution are mixed to perform a reductive reaction, wherein the organic dispersant is tri-sodium citrate dihydrate (SCD), chitosan or polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), to produce a mixture of stably dispersed metal nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Jiang-Jen Lin, Yi-Lin Liao, Chien-Chia Chu, Chih-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 8950102
    Abstract: A scope correction apparatus comprises at least one lens and is positioned on a weapon in front of a reticled scope. Such scope correction apparatus receives light from a scene that is located a relatively short distance from the scope such that, without the presence of the scope correction apparatus, the focal point of the light within the scope would not be overlaid with the scope reticle. The scope correction apparatus optically alters the light such that its focal point is overlaid with the scope reticle thereby correcting for optical aberrations caused by the short distance between the scene and the scope. Accordingly, the user is able to view through the scope clear images of both the scene and the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
    Inventors: Patrick J. Reardon, Christopher N Underwood, Theodore E. Rogers, Robert D. Ferris
  • Patent number: 8952167
    Abstract: A pseudorotaxane, a rotaxane and a catenane are provided. The pseudorotaxane includes at least a macrocyclic host molecule, a guest molecule, and a metal ion. The host molecule contains at least a binding unit and an aromatic linking spacer. The guest molecule has at least a recognition unit. The metal ion is used to template the threading of the guest molecule through the macrocycle host molecule by coordinating to a binding pocket formed from the binding unit of the macrocycle and the recognition moiety of the guest molecule. Rotaxanes or catenanes can be synthesized from the pseudorotaxane complexes, with or without the metal template ion in their molecular structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsien Chiu, You-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 8952193
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to amine-functionalized task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs). In certain embodiments, the ionic liquids of the invention comprise beta-hydroxy amines, aryl amines or tertiary amines. The TSILs may be used for gas capture, capitalizing on their non-volatile nature. In certain embodiments, the captured gas is selected from the group consisting of CO2, SO2, CS2, and NO2. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a library of CO2-philic salts, which library facilitates reactive gas separation. In certain embodiments, the CO2-philic salts are CO2-reactive TSILs. In certain embodiments, the CO2-philic salts are resinous or plastic in nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of South Alabama
    Inventor: James H. Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8952319
    Abstract: Downhole deployable tools for measuring tracer concentrations are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a support cable configured to allow the apparatus to be lowered into and raised from a wellbore. A housing is attached to the support cable. The housing includes a detector window on the exterior of the housing. A detector system within the housing includes a detector that measures tracer concentrations. The detector is operably connected to the detector window to direct energy or particles from the detector window to the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventor: Peter E. Rose