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Michigan Tech Patents
Explore a collection of patented innovations created by Michigan Tech inventors below.
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Cell culture method and apparatus for mechanically stimulating cells
Seth W. Donahue
A cell culture assembly and a method for culturing cells that provide mechanical stimulation to cells. The cell culture assembly can include a flow chamber positioned in a fluid path and a support comprising cells positioned within the flow chamber to expose the cells to the fluid path. The cell culture assembly can further include a means for producing a steady flow of fluid in the fluid path, and a means for producing an oscillatory flow of fluid in the fluid path simultaneously with producing the steady flow of fluid in the fluid path to mechanically stimulate the cells. The method can include transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially steady flow rate, and transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially oscillatory flow rate simultaneously with transporting fluid in the fluid path at a substantially steady flow rate.
Isolated cellulose synthase promoter regions
Chandrashekhar P. Joshi
The invention relates to methods of inducing expression of coding sequences including cellulose synthase coding sequences in transgenic plants using promoters of cellulose synthase genes from Populus plant species and transgenic plants produced by the methods.
Production of iron using environmentally-benign renewable or recycled reducing agents
Timothy C. Eisele and Surendra Komar Kawatra
To produce metallic iron from iron ore, a composition comprising a mass of material formed from a mixture of iron ore particles and particles of a reductant that is either a biomass material in particulate form or a plastic resinous material in particulate form is used. The reductant can also be a mixture of biomass material and resin in any proportions. The mass of material comprises at least one body having a shape adapted for smelting such as pellets, briquettes, pieces or lumps. The pellets have sufficient cohesion to maintain the shape into which they have been formed. The invention also provides a new method for smelting iron from its ore which comprises subdividing the ore into particles of a selected size, mixing the subdivided ore particles with particles of a biomass material or particles of a plastic resinous material or with mixtures thereof, forming a mass of the mixture into at least one body with a shape that is suited for smelting in a furnace and placing the body in a furnace and exposing it to sufficient heat to bring the iron therein to smelting temperature within the furnace to thereby produce metallic iron directly from the ore.
Intrusion detection methods and apparatus that use a building's infrastructure as part of a sensor
Nikola Subotic, Christopher Roussi, Peter Jensen, and William Buller
Intrusion detection methods and apparatus exploit the infrastructure of the building itself. The preferred embodiments use the existing power line infrastructure to provide power, data, and sensor observables to a monitoring system which is simply connected at one point, namely, the connection of the building to the city power grid. Computer network interfaces may also be used. In terms of sensors, impedance, capacitive, inductive, electric field and Radar modalities may be used.
Methods for simultaneous control of lignin content and composition, and cellulose content in plants
Vincent Lee C. Chiang and Laigeng Li
The present invention relates to a method of concurrently introducing multiple genes into plants and trees is provided. The method includes simultaneous transformation of plants with multiple genes from the phenylpropanoid pathways including 4CL, CAld5H, AldOMT, SAD and CAD genes and combinations thereof to produce various lines of transgenic plants displaying altered agronomic traits. The agronomic traits of the plants are regulated by the orientation of the specific genes and the selected gene combinations, which are incorporated into the plant genome.
Wireless local positioning system
Seyed A. Zekavat
A method of locating mobiles via a dynamic base station. The method includes transmitting a first wireless signal from the dynamic base station at a first time, and receiving the first wireless signal at the mobile. The method also includes transmitting a second wireless signal from the mobile in response to receiving the first wireless signal, and receiving the second wireless signal at the dynamic base station at a second time. The method also includes determining a time difference between the first time and the second time, determining an angle of arrival of the second wireless signal, and locating the mobile based on the angle of arrival and the time difference.
Wood particle filled polyvinyl chloride composites and their foams
Laurent M. Matuana, Patricia A. Heiden, and Bhavesh L. Shah
Extruded composite compositions of PVC and wood particles containing chitosan or chitin as a coupling agent are described. The composite compositions have improved physical and mechanical properties.
Combustion knock detection and control through statistical characterization of knock levels
Jeffrey D. Naber and Satheesh Rajh Rajagopalan
A method of statistically characterizing combustion knock events includes receiving signals from a sensing device such as an accelerometer, estimating at least one parameter of a probability distribution function based on the received signals, and calculating a value indicative of an r/h percentile based on the parameter to predict upcoming combustion knock events.
Apparatus and method for three-dimensional contouring
Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, and James D. Waineo
A device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at two locations by height adjustment mechanisms that raise and lower the two locations of the contouring assembly independently of each other. The contouring assembly creates a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of at least one location of the contouring assembly is based on a comparison of the measured position of one portion of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. Control of the height of the other location is preferably based on the height above a physical reference measured with a proximity sensor. A pivot or tilting controller may control the tilting of the contouring assembly to follow the slope of the profile stored in computer memory.
Catalytic wet oxidation of lactose
Joseph Holles
A process for converting lactose into carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide using catalytic wet oxidation. Oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of lactose are fed to a reactor comprising a Pt/Al203 catalyst, a Mn/Ce catalyst or a Pt/Mn—Ce catalyst, and the lactose is oxidized in the reactor at elevated temperature and pressure to produce at least one of small organic acids, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water and combinations thereof. The small organic acids may be further degraded by feeding the small organic acids and oxygen gas into a reactor containing a Mn/Ce catalyst and oxidizing the small organic acids to water and at least one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and combinations thereof.
Genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants
The present invention relates to a novel DNA sequence, which encodes a previously unidentified lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase (SAD) that regulates the biosynthesis of syringyl lignin in plants. Also provided are methods for incorporating this novel SAD gene sequence or substantially similar sequences into a plant genome for genetic engineering of syringyl-enriched lignin in plants.
Method of introducing a plurality of genes into plants
A method of concurrently introducing multiple genes to plants and trees is provided. The method includes an Agrobacterium-mediated gene delivery system by which multiple genes together with a single selectable marker gene are simultaneously transferred and inserted into the genome of plants, including trees.
Anti-icing coatings and methods
Russell G. Alger
A method of inhibiting or preventing bonding between snow or ice and a substrate. The method includes applying an adhesive to the substrate, broadcasting an aggregate onto the adhesive, the aggregate having the capacity to receive an anti-icing chemical into the aggregate, and applying the anti-icing chemical onto the aggregate so that at least a portion of the anti-icing chemical is received into at least a portion of the aggregate.
Control system for suppression of boom or arm oscillation
Kee Moon
A control for a working apparatus having a boom arm. The apparatus includes a controller operable to receive signals from at least one pressure sensor. The at least one pressure sensor detects pressure of hydraulic fluid in at least one chamber of a control valve. The controller compares the signals from the at least one pressure sensor to parameters generated by testing the working apparatus. The controller predicts boom arm oscillations based on the comparison of the signals with the parameters, and generates a control signal in response to predicting the boom arm oscillations.
Method and apparatus for blood flow measurement using millimeter wave band
David Nelson
A system and method that determines a blood flow rate in an area of a subject. The system includes a transmitter operable to transmit an electrical signal in the range of about 20 GHz to about 300 GHz to the area, a temperature sensor positioned adjacent the area, and a processor operable to determine the blood flow rate in the area based on the rate of change of temperature in the area as a result of the application of the electrical signal on the area and a power density value.
Cellulose synthase promoter and method for modifiying cellulose and lignin biosynthesis in plants
Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chandrashekhar P. Joshi, Luguang Wu, and Daniel T. Carraway
This invention relates to an isolated cellulose synthase promoter, methods for genetically altering cellulose and lignin biosynthesis, and to methods for improving strength properties of juvenile wood and fiber in trees. The invention further relates to methods for identifying regulatory elements in a cellulose synthase promoter and to methods for augmenting expression of polynucleotides operably linked to a cellulose synthase promoter.
Magnetic annealing of ferromagnetic thin films using induction heating
Paul L. Bergstrom and Melissa L. Trombley
A method of performing magnetic annealing of a ferromagnetic thin film applied to a substrate includes applying an oscillating magnetic field to the ferromagnetic thin film to induce a current therein and heat the ferromagnetic thin film. A directional magnetic field is applied to the ferromagnetic thin film at the same time as the ferromagnetic thin film is heated, and the ferromagnetic thin film is allowed to acquire a desired magnetic characteristic, and then the oscillating magnetic field is removed and the ferromagnetic thin film is allowed to cool.
Modified luciferase
Eileen H. Kim Choi, David R. Shonnard, and Irina V. Rybina
The invention comprises modified luciferase proteins which are more resistant to inhibition by test chemicals than wild type luciferase. The modified luciferases also contain greater thermostability than wild type luciferase.
Thruster apparatus and method
Lyon Brad King
A thruster for use with an external power supply. The thruster includes a propellant that exists in a non-gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure and has a melting point Tm, a boiling point Tb, and an evaporation rate. The thruster further includes a reservoir adapted to house the propellant and selectively heated to a temperature greater than Tm and less than Tb, and a power control mechanism positioned to control the amount of power from the external power supply being deposited into the reservoir to control the evaporation rate of the propellant.
Application of aspen MADS-box genes to alter reproduction and development in trees
Gopi Krishna Podila, Leland James Cseke, Banalata Sen, and David F. Karnosky
The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing a transgenic plant that exhibits altered characteristics resulting from over expression or under expression of a novel polypeptide PtM3 or its homolog PtM4. The altered characteristics resulting from over-expression include at least one of the ability to convert axillary mer- istem to floral meristem; to accelerate flowering i.e., early flowering; to increase fruit production; to increase nut production; to increase seed output; to increase branching; to increase flower production; to increase fruit yield; to increase flower yield and a combination thereof. The altered characteristics resulting from suppressed expression include at least one of complete sterility; partial sterility (sterility of only one sex of a bisexual plant); reduced pollen production; decreased flowering; increased biomass and combinations thereof. Furthermore, once the transgenic plant is sterile, additional exogenous sequences may be incorporated into the sterile plant genome, resulting in other desired plant characteristics. Related promoter, gene constructs, methods, antibodies and kits are also provided.
Cellulose synthase encoding polynucleotides and uses thereof
Vincent L. Chiang, Chandrashekhar P. Joshi, Luguang Wu, and Daniel T. Carraway
The invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding functional cellulose synthases and UDP-glucose binding domain thereof, transgenic plants and plant cells transformed with the polynucleotides. The invention further relates to methods of transforming plants and plant cells with cellulose synthase or UDP-encoding polynucleotides.
System for and method of performing evaluation techniques on a log or round timber
Xiping Wang, Robert J. Ross, James A. Mattson, John Erickson, John W. Forsman, Earl A. Geske, and Michael A. Wehr
A system for and method of evaluating a log. The system includes an analysis module having at least one input terminal connectable to the at least one input device. The at least one input terminal is operable to receive at least one signal representing at least one measured property of the log and at least one determined parameter of the log determined in response to an energy being applied to the log. The analysis module further includes a processor coupled to the at least one input terminal. The processor determines a predictive modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the log based at least in part on the at least one measured property and the at least one sensed parameter. The analysis module also includes an output terminal coupled to the processor and connectable to an output device. The output terminal transmits a third signal representing the predictive MOE.
Transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus
Richard Lynn Campbell, Douglas Bruce Brumm, Glen Barna, and Carl Anderson
A transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus for moving machinery includes a microwave transmitter disposed outside the moving machinery to fill a chamber of the moving machinery with microwave energy. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus also includes a transponder disposed inside the moving machinery for measuring a sensed condition of a part of the moving machinery and providing a modulated microwave signal that contains information on the sensed condition. The transponder-based microwave telemetry apparatus further includes a receiver disposed outside the moving machinery to separate modulated and continuous-wave signal components of the signal and extracts information from the modulated component.
Genetic engineering of plants through manipulation of lignin biosynthesis
Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung-Jui Tsai, and Wen-Jing Hu
The invention pertains to the genetically down regulating a lignin pathway p-coumarate Co-enzyme A ligase (CCL) in trees.
Magneto-photonic crystal isolators
Miguel Levy
A magneto-optical isolator (20) for an optical circuit. The isolator includes a substrate, and an optical channel (350) disposed next to the substrate. The optical channel and substrate are configured to transmit optical radiation within the optical channel. The isolator further includes a photonic- crystal rotator (24) formed with the substrate and the optical channel. The rotator has at least one defect (52) and magnetic (M) and non-magnetic (N) materials.
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