Award Data

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a widely used and extremely sensitive analytical technique for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Superconducting Transition Edge Sensor (TES) microcalorimeter detectors have now been developed that achieve an energy resolution of 2 eV for 1.5 keV X-rays, which is sufficient to enable the measurement of the small shift of the X-ray line position that ...

Since 1990, Prime Synthesis, Inc. (PSI) has been a leading manufacturer of controlled pore glass (CPG). It has developed significant expertise in the optimization of physical characteristics and chemical modifications of CPG for a variety of applications. CPG has a unique combination of attributes including a very uniform, three-dimensional, nanopore structure that is dimensionally stable in organ ...

The goal of the Developed Outdoor Recreation Assessment Process (DORAP) will be to create a reliable and repeatable method for evaluating 18 different types of constructed features in outdoor recreation areas for compliance with applicable federal guidelines. On-line and in-person training and certification will be made available through a partnership with American Trails, a not-for-profit trails ...

The US aquaculture industry, which is around a $2B per year business consisting of 6,343 businesses that employ 15,198 people is greatly in need of a non-toxic and long-lasting antifouling coating. Biofouling is the undesirable accumulation of microorganisms, plants, and animals on man-made surfaces. This biofouling is extremely detrimental to the outdoor marine aquaculture industry. For the netti ...

As aquaculture, particularly marine aquaculture continues to expand worldwide environmental regulations pertaining to waste discharge from fish farms are also becoming more stringent having an environmentally sound waste management, recovery and disposal plan are thus becoming increasingly more important, particularly in marine aquaculture. Two of the primary concerns for extending water reuse and ...

According to the USDA (2012) approximately 80% of the Nation & #39;s consumptive water use, and over 90% in many western states, is used in agriculture. Groundwater provides over 50 billion gallons per day for agricultural needs. Long term water level declines caused by sustained groundwater pumping for agriculture are impacting the environment at large and the agricultural community specifically. ...

This project develops the "Active Needle Technology System (ANTS) for Cattle to Reduce Insertion Force, Reduce Pain, Facilitate Vascular Access, and Reduce Meat Loss from Injection Scarring". This project meets Strategic Goal 3: Help America Promote Agricultural Production And Biotechnology Exports As America Works To Increase Food Security. The improvement in animal care and reduction in beef sca ...

The utilization of dedicated bioenergy crops from renewable biomass resources is a goal with great relevance to current environmental and security issues on a global scale. There are significant ecological, economic and political pressures to develop liquid biofuels production (such as biodiesel, green gasoline, biobutanol, and biodiesel aviation) and utilization, to offset petroleum-based gasolin ...

E. coli are common bacteria and part of the normal flora of the GI tract. Some strains, including the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are able to produce a toxin (Shiga toxin), which can lead to serious human illnesses from mild diarrhea to life threatening conditions, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A report from the CDC shows that non-O157 STEC infections are more common than illne ...

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic chemical which does not occur naturally in the environment,it has been used in many commercial applications. A number of scientific findings since the late 1990's have elevated PFOAs to the category of great environmental concern beacuse of its persistence, and the potential for bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Effective environmental and health pr ...