University of the Free State Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150272535 | MAMMOGRAPHIC TOMOGRAPHY TEST PHANTOM - This invention relates to a mammographic tomography test object (hereinafter referred to as a phantom) and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a mammographic tomography test phantom for use in the verification of image reconstruction positions in digital breast tomosynthesis. The phantom includes a body made from an approximately tissue equivalent x-ray attenuating material; an upper spacer located on top of the body, and a lower spacer located below the body, the spacers being made from a substantially non-compressible material; and a plurality of x-ray opaque granules located at predetermined positions within the body. | 10-01-2015 |
20140051150 | ISOLATION OF A PROTEIN RESPONSIBLE FOR URANIUM (VI) REDUCTION - The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a protein responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV). The present invention extends to the use of the isolated protein in the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV) and further extends to a process for the bioremediation, or at least partial remediation, of a site contaminated with a source of U (VI). According to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide derived from | 02-20-2014 |
20130309758 | Apparatus and Method for Conducting Microbiological Processes - A method and apparatus are provided for conducting a microbiological process on a bulk material in which a quantity of the bulk material is loaded onto a waterproof lining forming part of a bio cell with a heat transfer arrangement below the quantity of bulk material or within its volume, or both. The moisture content of the bulk material is controlled by periodic or intermittent distribution of water into the bulk material in order to promote microbiological activity within the bulk material by means of microbes that may be either naturally occurring within the bulk material or may be selected and introduced into the bulk material according to a desired result. A leachate recovery installation collects leachate draining from the bulk material. The temperature within the bulk material is monitored and the temperature controlled in order to elevate or decrease the temperature thereof to approach a target temperature associated with enhanced microbial activity of microbes present within the bulk material. The apparatus includes a controller having an electronic micro-processor with the controller having inputs for association with a temperature detector and a moisture detector. The preferred apparatus includes solar powered thermal and electrical energy units. | 11-21-2013 |
20120289715 | Synthesis of C-3 Coupled Biflavonoids and C-3 Coupled Biflavonoid Analogues - The invention relates to methods for the preparation of an optically inactive and optically active compounds which are selected from the group consisting of C-3 coupled biflavonoids and C-3 coupled biflavonoid analogues from a starting material or intermediate which are respectively selected from the group consisting of optically inactive or optically active flavan-3-ols and optically active flavan-3-ones, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing an optically inactive or active compound having a flavan-3-ol structure or a compound which is a flavan-3-one, (b) if a compound having a flavan-3-ol structure with a hydroxy group on the C-3 carbon is selected as starting material, converting the hydroxy group on the C-3 carbon of the compound having the flavan-3-ol structure to an oxo group to form a flavan-3-one of that compound, (c) providing a compound having a nucleophilic aromatic moiety, which compound is selected from the group of compounds having a nucleophilic aromatic moiety and which have flavonoid base structures and compounds having a nucleophilic aromatic moiety and which do not have a flavonoid base structure, (d) contacting the flavan-3-one provided by step (a) or obtained by step (b) with the compound containing the nucleophilic aromatic moiety in the presence of a Lewis acid; (e) forming a first intermediate compound wherein the oxo group on the C-3 carbon is converted to a hydroxy group by virtue of nucleophilic addition when the compound containing the nucleophilic aromatic moiety is contacted to the C-3 carbon of the flavan-3-one, (f) subjecting the first intermediate compound to dehydration so as to introduce a double bond between the C-3 carbon and C-4 carbon of the intermediate compound with the concomitant removal of the hydroxy group from the C-3 carbon to form an optically active flavene compound which is substituted by the nucleophilic aromatic moiety on the C-3 carbon, (g) optionally subjecting the resultant flavene compound to hydroboration-oxidation hydration thereby removing said double bond between the C-3 carbon and the C-4 carbon with the concomitant introduction of a hydroxy group at the C-4 carbon to form a second intermediate compound, (h) further optionally oxidizing the second intermediate compound of step (g) thereby converting the hydroxy group at the said C-4 carbon to an oxo group, thereby forming a biflavonoid or biflavonoid analogue which is substituted by the selected nucleophilic aromatic moiety on the C-3 carbon, (i) further optionally, and alternatively to step (h), subjecting the resultant flavene compound of step (f) to OsO | 11-15-2012 |
20120276610 | Isolation of A Protein Responsible For Uranium (VI) Reduction - The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a protein responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV). The present invention extends to the use of the isolated protein in the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV) and further extends to a process for the bioremediation, or at least partial remediation, of a site contaminated with a source of U (VI). According to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide derived from | 11-01-2012 |
20110160467 | Method for the Preparation of C-4 Coupled Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins and Analogues Thereof - The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of C-4 coupled flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and analogues thereof. According to a specific application of the invention, there is provided a method for the preparation of proanthocyanidins and proanthocyanidin analogues. | 06-30-2011 |