Abstract: Two rhodamine reversible fluorescent sensor derivatives, L1 and L2, bearing 2-methoxy-1-naphthaldehyde and 5-bromo-3-methoxy salicylaldehyde units were synthesized using microwave-assisted organic synthesis and used for selective and sensitive reversible sequential fluorescence detection of aluminum ion (Al3+) and azide (N3?) in aqueous acetonitrile solution via the fluorescence spectral changes. Stoichiometry and binding mechanisms for both sensors are well characterized and established by the respective spectroscopic techniques. L1 and L2 sensors are useful for the analysis of Al3+ and N3? in environmental samples and biological studies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting both the occurrence and type of driver distraction experienced by a driver, determined through evaluation of sensed vehicle conditions or activities, such as steering, braking, lane changing, etc. as detected by one or more sensors on or associated with the vehicle. That detection of the occurrence and type of driver distraction may then be used to initiate another action, including initiating an audible or visual alert to the driver, taking measures to interfere with or stop operation of the device that is causing the distraction, log the occurrence and type of distraction that occurred, and report the occurrence and type of distraction to an outside monitoring computer (such as one associated with a guardian of the driver, an insurer of the vehicle, a law enforcement authority, or the like).

Abstract: A student traveler security and experience enhancement system having GPS tracking devices, student traveler mobile devices with student traveler security and experience enhancement mobile applications loaded thereon, security video cameras mounted in locations frequented by student travelers, a student traveler security and travel experience enhancement dashboard configured to allow student and parent users to monitor and review student locations and travel history, communicate securely between users, review and store travel photographs and video, and load, review and store journal entries.

Abstract: Compositions including metal nano- and/or micro-particles in solution with photosynthetic bioproduct producing microorganisms. These light harvesting complexes increase growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency of the constituent microorganisms, reducing the light required for a specific production level, or increases production for a specific light level. Compositions including zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVIs) in solution with photosynthetic bioproduct producing microorganisms. The nZVIs cause increased growth, lipid production and fatty acid production.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element for generating electricity upon flexing of the element including the steps spin-coating a first substrate layer onto a support substrate; depositing a first electrode film onto the first substrate layer; spin coating polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) containing solution on the first electrode film to result in a PVDF film; annealing the PVDF film; depositing a second electrode film onto the PVDF film; spin-coating a second substrate layer on top of the second electrode film; forming a hole through the first and second substrate layers; filling the hole with silver paste to contact to the first and second electrode layers; peeling a resulting substrate/electrode/PVDF/electrode/substrate device from the support substrate; and placing a drop of silver paste in the hole formed in the first substrate layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the combustion of biomass material employing a swirling fluidized bed combustion (SFBC) chamber, and preferably a second stage combustion carried out in a cyclone separator. In the combustion chamber, primary air is introduced from a bottom air box that fluidizes the bed material and fuel, and staged secondary air is introduced in the tangential direction and at varied vertical positions in the combustion chamber so as to cause the materials in the combustion chamber (i.e., the mixture of air and particles) to swirl. The secondary air injection can have a significant effect on the air-fuel particle flow in the combustion chamber, and more particularly strengthens the swirling flow, promotes axial recirculation, increases particle mass fluxes in the combustion chamber, and retains more fuel particles in the combustion chamber. This process increases the residence time of the particle flow.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the rapid sensing of biological and environmental analytes employing a portable digital image capture device, such as a smartphone camera, to capture an image of colorimetric microwave-accelerated bioassays (“MAB”), and a digital image analyzer that processes the colorimetric signals captured by the digital camera to determine the concentration of analyte in a test sample based on a calculated pixel intensity in the captured digital image. Such systems and methods may be used to detect either a disease condition or the presence of a toxin in a particular test specimen and may generate an electronic alert that may serve to alert a medical practitioner of such disease condition or presence of a toxin so that medical intervention may be undertaken. Such electronic alert may optionally be transmitted to the user of a smartphone that captured the image, thus allowing for rapid, in-situ point-of-care analysis and detection of such conditions and immediate medical intervention.

Abstract: A system and method for automated routing of people and materials from one location to another based on automated vehicle technology are applied to bus transit, ridesharing and car sharing, and on multiple modes of delivery, including rail, water, road and air. An optimal transit algorithm uses Degree of Circuity (DOC) and Maximum Degree of Circuity (Max DOC) to refine transit network design and scheduling. Max DOC and computed shortest travel times are used to define the maximum acceptable travel time for each passenger or package. Using those maximum acceptable travel times for passengers and/or packages as constraints, optimal routings are developed for each primary transport hub, using a Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm. The SA algorithm may be used as a basis for optimal flexible feeder bus routing, which considers relocation of buses for multiple primary transport hubs and multiple primary transport vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular, portable and rapidly deployable system for health assessment comprising a portable, rapidly deployable structure configured to provide immediate and real-time clinical prevention assessment services, which system allows for rapid assembly and disassembly, immediate deployment to even highly remote locations, and provides basic clinical prevention data and screening for a patient user, along with health education and awareness. In certain configurations, the system comprises modular walls that connect to one another to form the shell of a structure, and a plurality of medical instruments, all of which are configured for self-administration by a medically-untrained user. The user may engage one or more user interface devices that guide the user through the use of each medical instrument and collect the user's clinical data for analysis.

Abstract: A hybrid shellfish cooling system employs DC and AC cooling units using both solar power and AC electrical supply as energy sources. As temperature control and uniform temperature distribution in the cooling system are critical factors in reducing vibrio growth on raw oysters and reducing energy consumption, the system is equipped with a divider that optimizes airflow through the cooling system interior cabinet to achieve uniform temperature distribution in six individual internal compartments. Tests indicated that an average of 130 min. cooling was required to reach the suggested oyster temperatures of 7.2° C. and meet the cooling time requirement (i.e., 10 h or less). Airflow is further optimized via fan location and airflow direction, whereby configuration of a circulation fan on a lower part of the 12-volt DC section with an air supply from the 12-volt DC section to the 110-volt AC section achieves relatively uniform temperature distribution.

Abstract: A novel implementation of particle swarm optimization termed Recursive Hierarchical Particle Swarm Optimization (RHPSO) is presented. An improved method for optimizing a complex solution space for any given mathematical function, where the mathematical function may be 1) finding optimal parameters such as topology, security, and routing in distributed/networked systems; 2) finding optimal frequency and channel assignments for telecommunication networks; and 3) code-breaking, searching a large solution space of ciphers for the one correct decryption.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing peak-to-average power ratio (“PAPR”) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (“OFDM”) signal having reference tones by introducing modified pilot tones to cancel peaks in OFDM symbols in the OFDM signal array. The modified pilot tones are added to the original OFDM signal, which in turn conditions the OFDM symbols of the signal to effectively reduce the PAPR. Such systems and methods provide PAPR reduction for OFDM signals generated by an OFDM Signal Processor through the addition of tone reservation PAPR reduction methods, which use reserved tones such as pilot tones to improve PAPR. Such methods offer an advantage of improving the PAPR without introducing distortion to the signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for public housing evaluation including a computer-implemented public housing evaluation unit that receives survey data from a remotely connected survey device. The survey data comprises information about the physical environment of one or more public housing residents that is used to create a digital public housing environment profile for each survey participant. A plurality of digital public housing environment profiles may be statistically analyzed to create a public housing index identifying interrelationships among physical environment and demographic data in the digital public housing environment profiles. Public housing authority computers may access and view the public housing index to determine whether actions may be taken that may improve a public housing resident's physical environment and/or likelihood that they may successfully transition out of public housing.

Abstract: An electrochemical biosensor includes a working electrode modified with a redox polymer and amine-terminated capture aptamer specific for a particular detection target. The binding sequence of the capture aptamer is also complementary to part of a second ssDNA which is labeled with HRP (horseradish peroxidase). The capture aptamer will form dsDNA with the HRP-labeled ssDNA and bring HRP into electrical contact with the redox polymer and the electrode. Prior to capturing the detection target, addition of H2O2 will lead to the highest reduction current due to the redox polymer-mediated, enzyme-amplified electroreduction of H2O2.

Abstract: A curtain enclosure formed from a flexible, non-permeable membrane is positioned adjacent to a section of riprap or similarly configured structure that has been installed along a shoreline. The curtain is stretched around rigid elongate posts and extends outward into the water from the edge of the riprap to create an enclosed containment area formed between the interior of the curtain and the edge of the riprap. The bottom of the curtain is weighted to sit along the bed of the water body and resist movement in that position. Once the curtain enclosure has been formed, larval bivalve organisms, such as oyster larvae, are poured into the curtain enclosure, and thereafter the curtain enclosure is maintained in that position for a period sufficient to promote attachment and growth of the larvae on the riprap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for stormwater utility management that aids stormwater utilities in establishing fees, abatements, and tradeable stormwater credits using publicly available parcel database information. A stormwater support services computer in communication with publicly available data stores of parcel information rapidly assesses and generates a per-parcel stormwater utility fee based on estimated size of impervious surfaces on a parcel. Through use of publicly available parcel information to generate an estimated size of impervious surfaces on a parcel, a stormwater utility fee based on level of service is implemented.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for transmitting OFDM signals through a communication channel exhibiting frequency selective fading, such as an aeronautical 2-ray channel, using a signal modulation scheme at the transmitter that is selected based on a measurement of signal to distortion ratio (SDR) at the receiver. The SDR measurement at the receiver is used to generate an estimated best modulation scheme based on the real-time detection and measurement of SDR at the receiver, and provide feedback to the transmitter through a feedback channel of the newly selected modulation scheme. In certain configurations, the selected modulation scheme is one of multiple possible quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes, which enables adaptation of the transmitted OFDM signal to optimize throughput based on distortion of individual tones of the OFDM signal received at the receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are computer-implement systems and methods for determining whether an electronic document transiting a computer network is safe for viewing and does not contain malicious code, and automatically routing or deleting such electronic document based on such determination, thus providing quick risk decisions relating to the electronic document using an objective, quantitative method. A search algorithm is employed to detect the presence of words or phrases in the subject electronic document that are possible threats to the computer network. Threat updates may be provided through publicly available threat database. A weight is added to the generated score that accounts for the time that the particular vulnerability has been in the subject threat database. Finally, a PNN is used to quickly and objectively classify the subject electronic document for acceptance, quarantine, or denial.

Abstract: A method for cultivating micro-algae cultures using bivalve waste comprising usable nitrogen and phosphorus as a nutrient source. The micro-algae cultures may be used in turn as a nutrient source for oysters.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems that apply a multi-layer Hidden Markov Model (HMM) for intrusion detection. The methods and systems employ a dimension reduction technique to extract only important features from network packet data and apply a decomposition algorithm to lower levels of data to construct lower level HMMs (representing partial solutions), which lower level HMMs are then combined to form a final, global solution. The multi-layer approach can be expanded beyond the exemplary case of 2 layers in order to capture multi-phase attacks over longer spans of time. A pyramid of HMMs can resolve disparate digital events and signatures across protocols and platforms to actionable information where lower layers identify discrete events (such as network scan) and higher layers identify new states which are the result of multi-phase events of the lower layers.