Mcmaster University patents

   Semicontinuous divided wall distillation

A distillation column for separating components of a feed stream is described herein. The distillation column has a top end; a bottom end spaced from the top end; a set of trays dispersed along a length of the distillation column between the top end and the bottom end; and a... Mcmaster University

Switched reluctance machine with toroidal winding

A switched reluctance machine has a stator core salient with stator poles disposed concentrically with a rotor that is salient with rotor poles. A plurality of coil windings are wound about the stator core so that a pair of windings are adjacent each of the stator poles. The pair of... Mcmaster University

Allosteric activators for treatment of phenylketonuria

A method of restoring activity in phenylalanine hydroxylase is provided. The method comprises exposing the phenylalanine hydroxylase to shikimic acid, a functionally equivalent analogue thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of shikimic acid or analogue thereof, or combinations thereof. A method of screening for allosteric activators for a target enzyme is... Mcmaster University

Method for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory disease progression

Methods for diagnosing or monitoring endometriosis in a mammal are provided. The methods include the steps of determining the expression levels of BDNF, glycodelin and optionally ZAG, in a biological sample from the mammal, and determining that the mammal has endometriosis when the biomarker expression levels in the sample are... Mcmaster University

Carbon nanotube-based magnetic bio-ink and biosensors and methods of making and using

A new magnetic carbon nanotube (mCNT) biosensor ink (mbio-ink) that utilizes immobilized capture agents to detect specific target analytes via a simple current response method is presented here, expanding the applications of magnetic carbon nanotubes as biomolecule-sensing nanomaterials. The employment of a magnetic field to print the mbio-ink into electrically... Mcmaster University

Uses of and methods of treatment with cystathionine

The present invention relates to uses of and methods of treatment with cystathionine. In one embodiment, cystathionine reduces the development of toxin-induced liver and/or kidney disease induced by homocystinuria and/or acute nephropathy. In one embodiment, a cystathionine synthesis inhibitor is administered to increase tumor cell apoptosis and/or increase the efficacy... Mcmaster University

Brush amphiphilic block copolymers, and self-assembled nanoparticles therefrom

The present application relates to brush amphiphilic block copolymers comprising at least one block which is hydrophilic and at least another block which is hydrophobic. The block copolymers can be used to prepare nanoparticles for biomedical applications including delivery of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive agents... Mcmaster University

Affinity based drug release formulations

The present application describes a two-step drug delivery formulation comprising a high affinity interaction between a drug conjugate and a compound, followed by introduction of a second compound with higher affinity to the drug conjugate to facilitate drug release. Delivery methods and specific interactions are also described.... Mcmaster University

Enhanced conducting pca analysis on data signals

Systems and methods relating to fault detection and diagnosis. Signals received from sensors are first filtered to remove noise and are then analyzed using wavelet packet transform (WPT) based PCA. The results of the PCA analysis are then automatically classified to thereby quickly and easily determine what issues there may... Mcmaster University

Chromatography device and filtering a solute from a fluid

A chromatography device for removing a solute from a fluid is provided. The device has a first plate having an inlet and a first channel. The first channel directs the fluid from the inlet towards chromatographic media housed in a chamber coupled to the first plate. The chamber has a... Mcmaster University

Laterally-fed membrane chromatography device

A laterally-fed membrane chromatography device for removing a solute from a fluid is provided. The device has a top plate, a middle plate and a bottom plate. The top plate has an inlet and a top channel for directing the fluid from the inlet towards a membrane stack. The middle... Mcmaster University

Self-reinforced masonry blocks, walls made from self-reinforced masonry blocks, and making self-reinforced masonry blocks

A self-reinforced masonry block comprises a main body having opposed substantially parallel stacking surfaces and at least one tubular cell defined therethrough from one stacking surface to the other. At least one confining reinforcement is embedded in the main body to surrounding a corresponding cell. Each confining reinforcement extends substantially... Mcmaster University

Catalytic nucleic acid probes as microbial indicators

The disclosure relates to a method of generating catalytic nucleic acid probes useful for detecting microorganisms such as bacterial pathogens. In one embodiment, the catalytic nucleic acid probes are fluorogenic DNAzymes. The disclosure also relates to catalytic nucleic acid probes and methods of using the probes for detecting microorganisms.... Mcmaster University

Method and panel for determining acute kidney injury

A method for determining the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a mammal following cardiac surgery is provided. The method comprises determining the sample value of IL-6 or hFABP concentration, or the ratio of IL-6 to IL-10, in a biological sample from the mammal, either prior to cardiac surgery... Mcmaster University

Energy storage balancing system

The integration of the auxiliary power module (APM) functionality into non-dissipative balancing hardware of a high voltage battery or supercapacitor pack enables a more cost-effective non-dissipative balancing system while maintaining a similar complexity in topologies. The system uses state-space equations and three control problems to balance high-voltage energy storage elements... Mcmaster University

Metabolite panel for improved screening and diagnostic testing of cystic fibrosis

A novel method of diagnosing cystic fibrosis in a human subject is provided. The method includes the steps of: i) determining in a biological sample from the subject the level of one or more metabolic biomarkers; ii) comparing the level of the biomarker to a control level and determining the... Mcmaster University

Methods for iodide determination

The present application is directed to the use of electrophoresis with UV detection in the determination of iodine nutritional status in human biological specimens, specifically for monitoring iodine deficiency/inadequacy in large-scale epidemiological studies. In particular, the present application is directed to a method for determining iodide and iodide uptake inhibitors... Mcmaster University

Optimal camera selection in array of monitoring cameras

Technologies are generally described for automatically optimizing an efficiency of camera placement, numbers, and resolution in multi-camera monitoring and surveillance applications. In some examples, a fraction of a total area may be monitored at a higher resolution than the rest. Employing techniques such as combinatorial state Viterbi technique or combinatorial... Mcmaster University

New markers for the assessment of the risk for development of a cardiovascular disorder

The present invention relates to the assessment of the risk for development of a cardiovascular disorder. It discloses the use of biochemical markers in the assessment of the risk for development of a cardiovascular disorder. It also relates to the use of the biochemical markers or marker panels for the... Mcmaster University

Double-rotor switched reluctance machine with segmented rotors

Various embodiments are described herein for a double-rotor switched reluctance machine with segmented rotors. In one example embodiment, the double-rotor switched reluctance machine comprises an interior rotor, an exterior rotor spaced from the interior rotor and concentrically disposed outside the interior rotor, and at least one stator disposed concentrically with... Mcmaster University

Method of forming deep-drawn paint film laminated sheet metal and articles made therefrom

A method for painting a complex or compound curved three-dimensional surface of a portion of an article. The method comprises providing a paint film; providing sheet metal having opposite major surfaces; laminating the paint film onto a major surface of the sheet metal to form a painted sheet metal laminate... Mcmaster University

Multi-segment injection-capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (msi-ce-ms): a multiplexed screening platform and data workflow for chemical analysis

Various embodiments illustrating a multiplexed method for high throughput screening of ions in biological samples within a single capillary when using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) are illustrated. The method includes sequential injection of multiple sample segments in series within a single capillary, the sample segments being separated by a... Mcmaster University

Combination therapy for the treatment of cancer

Described are methods and compositions for treating cancer that include a dopamine receptor (DR) antagonist such as thioridazine and a chemotherapeutic agent. Optionally, the chemotherapeutic agent is a DNA synthesis inhibitor such as cytarabine or a microtubule inhibitor such as paclitaxel or docetaxel. The methods and compositions are useful for... Mcmaster University

Electric generator for diesel electric locomotive

Electric generators are described herein. The electric generators include an interior machine formed of an interior rotor and an interior portion of a stator, and an exterior machine substantially concentric to the interior machine. The exterior machine includes: an exterior rotor substantially concentric to the interior rotor, and an exterior... Mcmaster University