Award Data

At present, trains use various dissipative braking systems to slow and stop, and this significant braking energy is ultimately converted to heat and wasted. APEI, Inc. has proposed a hybrid tender which can capture and reuse a significant fraction of this braking energy (at least 50%). The hybrid tender draws power from the rails using a regenerative braking technique rather than by being electr ...

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Automated Track Inspection Program uses optical systems such as cameras or laser-based systems to monitor rail performance throughout the country. These systems are hindered by adverse weather conditions that allow water, dirt and mud to coat their optical components resulting in unwanted maintenance costs. Thus FRA is seeking a low-cost, practical s ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to develop an open and flexible imaging platform capable of rapid, 0.5- 5 m pixel resolution image capture of large-area histology sections (up to 125 mm by 175 mm), in brightfield and by epi-fluorescence optical sectioning. The project involves state-of-the- art instrumentation development coupled with application programming inter ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is an urgent need for speech generating devices (SGDs) designed for young children with complex communication needs. Available SGDs are difficult for children to use and time consuming for adults to program. Without appropriate SGDs, children miss valuable opportunities to communicate and develop language skills during their early years, when they are pr ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A binary probe-based DNAzyme cascade for rapid detection of MRSA/MSSA Project Summary This STTR Phase I project will develop a proof-of-concept molecular test for rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and differentiation between methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible SA (MSSA) in the absence of PCR amplification. Binary DNAzyme pro ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Chest pain in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) present a clinical dilemma: transfer for emergent coronary revascularization, admit overnight for cardiac telemetry and stress testing, or discharge home with medical follow-up. In this proposal, we hypothesize that a novel thrombus-specific Spectral Computed Tomography (Multicolored CT) nanopar ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Among the currently available techniques for high throughput proteomics, protein microarrays have the greatest prospects to revolutionize molecular diagnostics for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and monitoring clinical response. However, protein microarrays have yet to reach their full potential as a research or clinical molecular diagnostics ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Wheelchairs in the modern form have been around since at least 1760, when John Joseph Merlin invented pushrim propulsion. Manual wheelchairs are preferred by diagnosing physicians as the act of propulsion provides important cardiovascular exercise for the user. However, propelling up ramps and inclines is problematic, exacerbating repetitive motion injuries, a ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Craving, when viewed as a compelling desire to consume a potentially harmful substance or to engage in a potentially harmful act, has been increasingly targeted for basic research, clinical assessment, and treatment. The management of cravings is a critical component of treatment for self- regulatory problems such as substance and alcohol abuse, overeating, gam ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Speech generating devices (SGDs) offer people with difficult to understand speech (dysarthria) a synthesized speech replacement for their natural speech. However, people who require SGDs often prefer using their natural speech because it is perceived as normal and is cognitively less demanding for the speaker than other communication methods. Additionally, nat ...