Award Data

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project is focused on the development of a chemical treatment for bast natural fibers called "In-Situ Polymeric Coating (IPC)". An IPC coating will enable kenaf, flax, jute and/or other bast natural fibers to replace fiberglass in thermoset structural composites. This concept involves an approach to A) solve the well known moisture absorption ...

Maintaining the expected quality and safety of food products is often difficult due to potential chemical and biological contamination. Of particular concern is the threat of food poisoning. Over 40 different foodborne microbial pathogens cause an estimated 30 million cases of human illness each year costing >$12 billion annually. Over the last 20 years, food-borne diseases caused by microbes have ...

Devices resulting from this development will greatly enhance the development of food crops designed for effective water utilization and thus facilitate the genetic improvement in food yield per volume of water. Efficient use of water in agriculture can be facilitated through accurate root zone water content monitoring and control. Crop yields and crop quality can benefit through the prevention of ...

Since wild fish stocks began their drastic decline in the early 1990s, the aquaculture sector is the fastest growing food sector in the world. Production from U.S. marine aquaculture accounts for only 1.5 percent of the domestic seafood supply, leaving an enormous growth potential for the production of safe, high-quality seafood that is farmed under federal and state environmental standards. Howev ...

It is currently time consuming and expensive to install water quality monitoring stations to report data on water quality to researchers and monitoring agencies quickly and efficiently. In this project, we will develop the technology to improve the gathering and reporting of such data. The end product after commercialization of the results of this project will be a novel system that provides real- ...

The goal of this Phase I project is to develop coatings for M8 paper that improve its robustness and rate of detection of potential liquid/aerosol chemical warfare attack at fixed military sites and installations. A problem that is currently experienced with M8 paper is that it is easily contaminated by dust or destroyed by rain and thus requires frequent replacement in outdoor environments. Our ...

Present supplies of rainbow smelt, both for live bait and human consumption, are provided, almost exclusively, by commercial harvest of wild populations. This project will develop alternative sources of rainbow smelt for the market and eventually reduce the harvest of wild populations. This project will shift the focus from commercial fishing of wild public resources to commercial fish culture tec ...

Many rural older adults are often forced to leave the homes in which they have raised families and lived for decades because they can no longer physically, financially, or emotionally maintain their homes. Until now, little attention has been focused on technological tools, social structures, and practical ways to empower people to remain in their homes. This proposal fills that gap. The demograph ...

Manning Applied Technology proposes development of the MP-100 handheld FT-infrared photoacoustic chemical agent detector, following a highly successful Phase I effort. Chemical attacks and accidents can be mitigated partially by cost-effective sensors. High priority programs will benefit from a sensor compliant to Joint Warning & Reporting Network (JWARN) standards. The device is ideally suited to ...

Bedding affects the health, quality and performance of poultry. Pine shavings long considered the standard bedding material is becoming more unavailable and alternative beddings are required. This project examines the effectiveness of an alternative bedding compared to kiln dried pine shavings with respect to bird performance, bird health, and litter performance potentially yielding increased prof ...