Abstract: Nanoparticles for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents are described. The nanoparticles are made up of a polymeric support and a manganese-oxo or manganses-iron-oxo cluster having magnetic properties suitable of a contrast agent. The manganese-oxo clusters may be Mn-12 clusters, which have known characteristics of a single molecule magnet. The polymer support may form a core particle which is coated by the clusters, or the clusters may be dispersed within the polymeric agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 21, 2009
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
Georgetown University
Inventors:
Sarah Stoll, Julie Mertzman, Edward Van Keuren, Christopher Albanese, Stanley Fricke
Abstract: A method of evaluating tissue stiffness of a target area includes positioning an ultrasound elasticity imaging apparatus adjacent a surface of an area of tissue where the target area is located and applying a dynamic range of force to the tissue. A plurality of ultrasound beams can be directed at the tissue and a plurality of ultrasound echoes can be acquired from the strained tissue in the target area to calculate an amount of developed strain within the target area.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 23, 2012
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignees:
University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Inventors:
Kang Kim, Jingping Xu, Jonathan M. Rubin
Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for imaging a tissue specimen excised during surgery with a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and micro computed tomography (micro CT) scanner. The specimen is scanned with a CT imaging system of the combined PET and micro CT scanner. The specimen is also scanned with a PET imaging system of the combined PET and micro CT scanner. A PET image is constructed based on data acquired by the PET imaging system. A micro CT image is constructed based on data acquired by the micro CT imaging system. The micro CT image includes at least one visualization of a lesion marker.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 11, 2012
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods that involve the 36 kDa annexin II monomer, which has been identified as having immunostimulatory properties. Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides compositions that include at least one 36 kDa annexin II monomer or an immunomodulatory fragment thereof. In another aspect, the invention provides methods that include administering to a subject a composition that includes at least one 36 kDa annexin II monomer or an immunomodulatory fragment thereof. In another aspect, the invention provides methods that induce an in situ increase in the 36 kDa annexin II monomer by administering to a subject an amount of composition effective to induce localized hypoxia sufficient to cause a localized increase in annexin II.
Abstract: The invention relates to nanoemulsions useful for analytical techniques and delivery of cargoes such as pharmaceutically active agents. In particular, the invention relates to nanoemulsions comprising an oil phase dispersed in an aqueous phase and at least two peptide surfactants adsorbed at the liquid-liquid interface, one peptide surfactant comprising a short peptide sequence having ?-helical propensity and at least one second polypeptide surfactant comprising at least two peptide sequences having ?-helical propensity linked by a linking sequence of 3 to 11 amino acid residues. Optionally the at least one second polypeptide surfactant comprises at least one pharmacokinetic modifying agent and/or a targeting agent. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion may further comprise a cargo such as a pharmaceutically active agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 13, 2013
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The University of Queensland
Inventors:
Anton Peter Jacob Middelberg, Bijun Zeng
Abstract: Apparatuses and methods directed to multi-stage permanent magnet and implementations of a permanent magnet on-chip power inductor. Various circuit models, design considerations and simulation results are described. The multi-stage permanent magnet includes layers with uniform or non-uniform magnets used to control the flux distribution. The permanent magnet on-chip power converter for DC-DC switching power converters that may include a top ferrite layer, a spiral winding layer, a permanent magnet layer, a bottom ferrite layer, and a substrate layer. The permanent magnet layer may comprise a multi-stage structure wherein each stage has a decreasing area as compared to an immediate lower stage. A method of manufacturing a Permanent On-Chip Power Inductor (PMOI) is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 28, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama
Abstract: The invention relates to Anti-TEM 1 anti-bodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, yeast libraries comprising the same, and prophylactic, diagnostic, and therapeutic methods using the same.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 12, 2010
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Inventors:
Nathalie Scholler, Aizhi Zhao, Donald Siegel, George Coukos
Abstract: The present invention relates to rice plants, seeds, and cells that include a promoter responsive to a basic helix-turn-helix red anthocyanin transcription factor operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid molecule.
Abstract: A bidirectional AC-DC converter is presented with reduced passive component size and common mode electro-magnetic interference. The converter includes an improved input stage formed by two coupled differential inductors, two coupled common and differential inductors, one differential capacitor and two common mode capacitors. With this input structure, the volume, weight and cost of the input stage can be reduced greatly. Additionally, the input current ripple and common mode electro-magnetic interference can be greatly attenuated, so lower switching frequency can be adopted to achieve higher efficiency.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of Michigan
Abstract: A method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to objectively assess the quality of software products. The method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium relate to determining a product maturity level of one or more software products. The disclosure describes a method for acquiring product quality attributes of a software product. Each product quality attribute is assessed by one or more metric parameters which test the software product by mathematical or logical test methodologies. Once evaluated, the one or more metric parameters and the one or more product quality attributes may each be mapped to a capability level based on a capability scale. A maturity level may be mapped from the capability level of the capability level of the one or more product quality attributes to the software product to provide a quality assessment of the software product.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 2, 2016
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Inventors:
Mohammad Rabah Alshayeb, Ahmad Abdullatif, Sami Zahran, Mahmood Niazi
Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for producing hydrogen, which catalyst has higher performance than conventional catalysts since, for example, it exhibits a certain high level of activity in an aqueous formic acid solution at high concentration even without addition of a solvent, amine and/or the like. The metal phosphine complex is a metal phosphine complex represented by General Formula (1): MHm(CO)Ln, wherein M represents an iridium, iron, rhodium or ruthenium atom; in cases where M is an iridium or rhodium atom, m=3 and n=2, and in cases where M is an iron or ruthenium atom, m=2 and n=3; and the number n of Ls each independently represent a tri-substituted phosphine represented by General Formula (2): PR1R2R3. The catalyst for producing hydrogen comprises the metal phosphine complex as a constituent component.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 24, 2011
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
National University Corporation Okayama University
Abstract: Provided is a vertical type light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. A transparent electrode having high transmittance with respect to light in the entire range and constructed by using a resistance change material of which resistance state is to be changed from a high resistance state to a low resistance state if a voltage exceeding a threshold voltage inherent in a material is applied so that conducting filaments are formed is formed between an electrode pad and a semiconductor layer of a light emitting device. The transparent electrode has high transmittance with respect to the light in a UV wavelength range as well as in a visible wavelength range generated in the light emitting device. Since the conductivity of the transparent electrode is heightened due to the formation of the conducting filaments, the transparent electrode has good ohmic contact characteristic with respect to a semiconductor layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 30, 2013
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
Abstract: An electrically conductive polymer linked to conductive nanoparticle is provided. The conductive polymer can include conductive monomers and one or more monomers in the conductive polymer can be linked to a conductive nanoparticle and can include a polymerizable moiety so that it can be incorporated into a polymer chain. The electrically conductive monomer can include a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene as a conductive monomer. The electrically conductive polymer having the conductive nanoparticle can be prepared into an electrically conductive layer or film for use in electronic devices.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 3, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
Abstract: Provided is a method for identifying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a sample. The invention involves use of a plurality of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes and flow cytometry to detect the presence or absence of HIV in macrophages that are obtained from a mucosal surface. The invention is particularly useful for detecting HIV infection prior to seroconversion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2012
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignees:
Cornell University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Inventors:
David G. Russell, Henry Mwandumba, Kondwani Jambo
Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a hypothermic agent for an animal, a therapeutic agent for hyperthermia in an animal, etc. The present invention provides a hypothermic agent for an animal, a therapeutic agent for hyperthermia in an animal, etc., the agents etc. comprising desacyl ghrelin or its derivative, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 2, 2011
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignees:
UNIVERSITY OF MIYAZAKI, NATIONAL CEREBRAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR CENTER, DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED
Abstract: Embodiments concern methods and compositions for treating or preventing a bacterial infection, particularly infection by a Staphylococcus bacterium. Aspects include methods and compositions for providing a passive immune response against the bacteria. In certain embodiments, the methods and compositions involve an antibody that binds Staphylococcal protein A (SpA).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2012
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The University of Chicago
Inventors:
Olaf Schneewind, Dominique M. Missiakas, Hwan Keun Kim, Carla Emolo, Andrea DeDent
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for performing X-ray Computed Tomography scanning, the method including acquiring a plurality of images of an object, obtaining an initial image from the plurality of images, calculating NonLocal weight of the initial image, utilizing a current image estimation and registered prior image, performing a successive over-relaxation optimization to yield a new image estimation with an intensity of the new image estimation equal or greater than zero, performing a cycle update, generating an image of the object utilizing the new image estimation obtained from the optimization, and outputting a resultant image.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 16, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
Inventors:
Jerome Z. Liang, Jianhua Ma, Hao Zhang, William Moore, Hao Han
Abstract: Methods and systems for using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging include obtaining a T1-weighted MR image and a proton-density (PD) weighted MR image from a dual-image acquisition following an inversion-recovery (IR) pulse. The T1-weighted and PD-weighted images are used to obtain a polarity function describing a positive or negative polarity at individual voxels, which is used to reconstruct a polarity-enhanced PD-weighted image from the PD-weighted image. The polarity-enhanced PD-weighted image can be used for assessing at least plaque burden and juxtaluminal calcification (JCA).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 1, 2015
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignees:
University of Washington, Koninklijke Philips N.V.
Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of transmitting feedback information by a base station supporting multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) to a network entity includes obtaining a projection matrix based on channel information estimated for multiple channels between antennas of the base station and each of user equipments, projecting at least one of the channel information and uplink data received from the user equipments to a second space from a first space using the projection matrix and transmitting feedback information including at least one of the projected channel information and the projected uplink data to the network entity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 23, 2015
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignees:
LG ELECTRONICS INC., Industry-Academic Cooperation FoundaTION, Yonsei University
Inventors:
Ilmu Byun, Kwangsoon Kim, Kyungjun Choi, Hyunsoo Ko
Abstract: The disclosure relates to a superhydrophobic surface. Methods of fabrication are disclosed including laminating an optically transparent polymer sheet with hydrophobic nanoparticles such that the nanoparticles are partially embedded and partially exposed. The resulting assembly remains optically transparent. Additional methods include the lamination of nanoparticles to flexible fabrics and the production of molded articles using nanoparticle-treated molds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 20, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2017
Assignee:
Research Foundation of the City University of New York