Abstract: An ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system. A flexible band is attachable to a patient. The flexible band also secures an electronics assembly that comprises the various electrical components that monitor and operate the ambulatory skin temperature monitoring system. At least one skin temperature sensor is positioned so that it is in contact with the patients skin when the system is attached to the patient. There is also an ambient temperature sensor positioned on the top surface of the electronics assembly housing for measuring and contrasting the ambient temperature to the skin temperature. The electronics assembly positioned within generally comprises a power source and a micro-controller. The micro-controller is coupled with the skin temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor. The micro-controller also includes a memory unit for storing temperature data obtained from the skin temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor.

Abstract: A field portable mass spectrometer system comprising a sample collector and a sample transporter. The sample transporter interfaces with the sample collector to receive sample deposits thereon. The system further comprises a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The time of flight mass spectrometer has a sealable opening that receives the sample transported via the sample transporter in an extraction region of the mass spectrometer. The system further comprises a control unit that processes a time series output by the mass spectrometer for a received sample and identifies one or more agents contained in the sample.

Abstract: Some techniques for monitoring health of a vessel include attaching a sensor suite of one or more sensors to an outer skin of the vessel and providing power for the sensor suite based on a temperature difference between a fluid temperature of a contained fluid inside the vessel and an ambient temperature outside the vessel. Some techniques include attaching a sensor suite by cinching a belt around the vessel and causing two ends of a strain gauge in the sensor suite to become rigidly attached to the outer skin of the vessel, for example, on opposite sides of a weld joining two sections of the vessel. These techniques allow a pipeline to be readily instrumented and monitored remotely which reduces manpower costs for performing manual inspections, reduces the risks of injury from performing manual inspections during hazardous weather conditions, and reduces the likelihood of undetected leaks.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sensing and detecting cortisol levels in a fluid sample in real-time using a cortisol-imprinted polymer are provided. Also provided are hydration devices that include a cortisol sensor of the present invention capable both of providing hydration to a user and allowing the user to measure cortisol levels in the user's bodily fluids in real-time.

Abstract: A controller that processes the mass spectrum of a sample provided by a detector of a mass spectrometer, for example, by a field portable mass spectrometer system. The controller provides a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) processing of the mass spectral data received. The CFAR processes the mass spectral data to determine noise included in the mass spectral data and outputs spectral peaks when the mass spectral data exceeds a threshold that reflects the noise included in the spectral data. The output peaks are compared with spectral peaks for known threats stored in a database and a notification that a known threat is present in the sample is provided if there is a correspondence between one or more output spectral peaks and one or more spectral peaks of a known threat as stored in the data base.

Abstract: Techniques for deriving bone properties from images generated by a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry apparatus include receiving first image data having pixels indicating bone mineral density projected at a first angle of a plurality of projection angles. Second image data and third image data are also received. The second image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a different second angle. The third image data indicates bone mineral density projected at a third angle. The third angle is different from the first angle and the second angle. Principal moments of inertia for a bone in the subject are computed based on the first image data, the second image data and the third image data. The techniques allow high-precision, high-resolution dual-energy x-ray attenuation images to be used for computing principal moments of inertia and strength moduli of individual bones, plus risk of injury and changes in risk of injury to a patient.

Abstract: A Lorentz Force magnetometer based on a mechanical resonator including a resonant, vibrating electrically conducting string or insulating fiber coated with an electrically conducting material and its response to a Lorentz Force wherein the string or fiber, fixed at two ends, is tensioned over two frets (supports) separated by a distance, L, hence, becoming mechanically resonant with high Q. The frets constrain the position of the string or fiber but not the angle it makes with the fret, thus, permitting measurement of multiple vector magnetic fields. The magnetometer can be easily manufactured in arrays with the tension and, hence, resonant frequency for each magnetometer being rapidly, sequentially, and dynamically varied through the use of, e.g., piezo/MEMS elements. If the fiber is light conducting, a compact and sensitive detector using light escaping from an aperature in the conducting material coating the fiber can be implemented.

Abstract: A field portable mass spectrometer system comprising a sample collector and a sample transporter. The sample transporter interfaces with the sample collector to receive sample deposits thereon. The system further comprises a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The time of flight mass spectrometer has a sealable opening that receives the sample transported via the sample transporter in an extraction region of the mass spectrometer. The system further comprises a control unit that processes a time series output by the mass spectrometer for a received sample and identifies one or more agents contained in the sample.

Abstract: A broadband, 4-bit MMIC phase shifter for use in a phased array antenna is provided. The four bit selectable phase shifter for use in a phased array antenna of the present invention, which selectably causes an input signal to be shifted in phase, includes a first bit for selectively providing a 180° phase shift, wherein the first bit is a line/reflected bit; a second bit for selectively providing a 90° phase shift, wherein the second bit is a reflected bit; a third bit for selectively providing a 45° phase shift, wherein the third bit is a reflected bit; and a fourth bit for selectively providing a 22.5° phase shift, wherein the fourth bit is a high pass/low pass bit. The phase shifter of the present invention is compact, broadband and has good insertion loss and balance, yet uses a standard 0.25 mm PHEMT process with standard bias voltages.

Abstract: Provided are methods of producing an electrode capable of binding an analyte thereto comprising: providing a substrate capable of binding a dithiol molecule thereto; electrochemically treating the substrate using cyclic voltammetry to provide a treated substrate having a fractal dimension of greater than about 2; and contacting the treated substrate with dithiol molecules to produce an electrode having dithiol groups attached thereto and capable of binding an analyte to be detected thereto. Also provided are methods of accumulating and detecting analytes using the electrodes produced via the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: An integrated fluidics system for simplified analysis of aerosolize biological particles has a unitary self-contained ticket provided with a sample fluid reservoir, an array of particle-detection strips, which is located adjacent to the sample reservoir, and, optionally, a cleaning fluid reservoir and an impinging nozzle. The fluidics system is, thus, configured to substantially minimize the fluid paths between the components of the system.

Abstract: A system/method of enhanced backplane messaging among a plurality of computer boards communicating over a common bus uses a set of pre-allocated buffers on each computer board to receive messages from other computer boards. Each sending computer board is represented on each remote computer board by a descriptor ring with pointers to pre-allocated buffers on that remote computer board. When a sending computer board has a message to deliver to a remote computer board, the sending computer board uses its DMA controller to transfer the message into the pre-allocated buffers on the remote computer board. The sending computer board also sends a mailbox interrupt to the remote computer board. The remote computer board interrupt handler searches its descriptor rings and manipulates a series of pointers to move messages from the descriptor rings to the intended receiving application(s). Pointer manipulation is also used to replenish the descriptor ring(s) with empty buffer(s).

Abstract: The position, orientation, velocity and acceleration of remote sensors is determined using magnetic fields. Multiple, arbitrarily oriented magnetic field transmitters are placed in one reference frame (source reference frame), and multiple, arbitrarily oriented magnetic field receivers are placed in a second reference frame (body reference frame). The spatially varying magnetic fields of the transmitters in the source reference frame are sensed by the magnetic field receivers in the body reference frame. The computer algorithm uses a physics-based extended Kalman filter to resolve the position; orientation, velocity and acceleration of the body relative to the source reference frame. The physics-based extended Kalman filter can accommodate the effects of metal in the source and body reference frames and thus allow the system to measure position, orientation, velocity and acceleration under conditions where eddy currents would normally hinder other magnetic position measuring systems.

Abstract: Molecularly imprinted polymer membranes for selectively collecting phosphate, nitrate and ferric ions are disclosed, prepared by copolymerizing a matrix monomer, cross-linking agent, ion imprinting complex, permeability agent and polymerization initiator, after which the ions of the ion imprinting complex are permeability agent are removed. The permeability agent creates channels in the membrane permitting the ion binding sites in the membrane to communicate with the exterior surface of the membrane.

Abstract: Devices for measuring and detecting a wide variety of analytes, including polyatomic anions, such as organophosphorus pesticides and nerve agents are provided. The devices function by selectively binding an analyte to a luminescent functionality-imprinted copolymer. The copolymers possess a securely bound luminescent lanthanide ion, such as Eu3+, in a coordination complex that has been imprinted to bind the chemical functionality. Also provided are methods for producing the lanthanide-containing molecularly imprinted polymers of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fetal heart and maternal heart and uterine monitoring is provided which acquire biopotential waveforms indicative of the mother's heart beat from sensors located at or near the mother's chest, and waveforms indicative of the combined maternal and fetal heart beats from abdominal sensors located on the mother's abdomen, lower back, or both. The signals from the abdominal sensors are divided into a plurality of channels. An adaptive signal processing filter (ASPF) algorithm or other suitable algorithm is then used to cancel the estimated maternal waveform from each channel derived from the abdominal sensors. The system then selects from the resulting waveforms at least one waveform to serve as the reference fetal waveform. The reference waveform is then processed against the other abdominal waveforms preferably using the ASPF algorithm again to form an enhanced fetal signal that is a representation of the fetus's biopotential electrocardiogram (EKGf).

Abstract: An analog-digital, radiation-hardened, low-power Smart Sensor Data Acquisition and Control chip, specifically designed and developed for Spacecraft/Instrument Housekeeping and Controls. Sensor data (Temperatures, Voltages, Currents, Pressure, Digitals) are continuously measured, digitized, stored, and transmitted, and Control Actions (DACS, Timers, Digitals) are activated, through a standard bi-directional, digital serial bus (I2C). The chip also offers a Custom or Standard (like PCI) parallel bus interface for parallel readout internally communicating to the serial bus. The chip essentially eliminates spacecraft harness, and greatly simplifies system design.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing logic operations using quantum polarization states of single photons, include a first polarizing beam splitter having first input spatial modes and first output spatial modes for a first set of orthogonal polarizations. A second polarizing beam splitter has a second input spatial mode and second output spatial modes for a second set of orthogonal polarizations. The second set of orthogonal polarizations is different from the first set. The second input spatial mode is aligned with a first detected output spatial mode. A single photon detector of multiple single photon detectors is disposed along each one of the second output spatial modes. A first device output carries an output photon based in part on a number of photons detected by the single photon detectors. Such logic operations may be used in quantum computers for quantum information processing.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for automated detection of small structures in images. One specific use is to detect malignant microcalcification clusters in mammograms. A digitized and filtered mammogram image is stored in a computer. Seed pixels, which are pixels that are brighter than their immediate neighbors, are identified to indicate candidate structures and used to construct two regions. Various features are then measured using the two regions around each seed point. The features characterize each candidate structure and are input to a classifier, such as a neural network. The classifier then distinguishes between structures of interest and background. The structures detected by the classifier are then presented to a clustering algorithm. A detected structure that is less than a threshold distance away from the nearest structure and a cluster is included in that cluster. Finally, the results are displayed, either on a monitor or on hard copy, with a frame around the detected cluster.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer system comprising a laser and a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer has a vacuum interface that provides entrance of a gaseous sample into an extraction region of the mass spectrometer. The laser is positioned to provide laser light incident on a sample non-gaseous substance positioned adjacent the vacuum interface. The laser light provides vaporization of the sample, which provides a high concentration of gaseous molecules from the sample substance at the vacuum interface.