Award Data

Sample preparation has been recognized as the single most important challenge to be faced in the development of detect-to-warn (DTW) systems (NRC, 2005). Available commercial sample preparation technologies are expensive, slow (30 min to 2 hours) and require trained laboratory technicians for operation. Addressing this need, we propose to design, fabricate, demonstrate, and validate a novel integr ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project aims to establish "proof-of-concept" of a novel Software Platform directed at needs of FDA's Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) initiative, a framework for innovative pharmaceutical development, manufacturing and quality assurance. PAT is implemented at three levels: Process Understanding; Quality by Design; and Monitor, Predict a ...

There is an acute need for a networked chemical sensor that is inexpensive enough to allow it to be treated as a disposable item - deployed and left in-place until the end of its useful life, or until operations move out of communications range. Electrochemical microarray sensors can be fabricated at low enough unit cost to make the development of a disposable sensor node feasible. These sensors ...

The DoD Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Program Performance Plan discusses the status of sensing technologies and long-term goals, and shows point biological detection systems are expected to provide 20% of the objective capabilities in FY15. This indicates that there is the need for a man-portable, disposable, rapidly responding biological agent point detector that is cap ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a new process of low-temperature synthesis of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanofibers (CNFs). CNTs/CNFs are widely studied for manufacturing of novel nanomaterials and nanodevices. The prospects of this manufacturing are currently limited by the high (above 500 deg C) surface temperature during CNT/CNF synthesis, ...

Current bioaerosol monitoring and evaluation systems are largely based on collection of airborne pathogens in a liquid medium, followed by the detection of the targets of interest. While available aerosol collection technologies employ large collection volumes, biosensors are capable of processing only a small fraction of the collection volume. Our overall objective is to design and demonstrate a ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop, validate, and demonstrate a new technology for a low-temperature synthesis of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) and nanofibers (VACNFs). The low-temperature manufacturing process is critical to decrease the cost and improve the quality of VACNTs/VACNFs-based materials and devices. This project will further advance an ...

Our solution to the automated feature extraction problem will leverage the material properties that can be inferred from combining multispectral imagery with high resolution elevation data or LIDAR data using a trainable knowledge base. Multiple imaging bands provide a more complete picture of the material involved than ordinary RGB. This can help distinguish between a green grass lawn and a gre ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will introduce a simple online system to continuously remove dissolved water and oxygen from transformer oil. The insulating materials used in large transformers consist of paper and dielectric oils, which provide a means of cooling. Over time, the insulating materials degrade as a result of chemical attack associated with the paper an ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is to develop a reactor for the processing of vegetable oils or their resulting fatty acids to sugar esters. The membrane reactor system is envisioned to be permeable to small molecules, hydrogen and water. The esterification of fatty acids and sugars will occur in a non-aqueous environment and the water level in the reactor will be co ...