Abstract: The present invention relates to detection systems and methods that detect fluorescence, luminescence, chemiluminescence or phosphorescence signatures in the form of an electrical signal conducted and emitted from metallic containing surfaces. Thus, the present invention provides for detecting fluorescence digitally and directly without the need for expensive detectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for electrically directly detecting biomolecular binding in a semiconductor. The semiconductor can be based on electrical percolation of nanomaterial formed in the gate region. In one embodiment of an apparatus, a semiconductor includes first and second electrodes with a gate region there between. The gate region includes a multilayered matrix of electrically conductive material with capture molecules for binding target molecules, such as antibody, receptors, DNA, RNA, peptides and aptamer. The molecular interactions between the capture molecules and the target molecules disrupts the matrix's continuity resulting in a change in electrical resistance, capacitance or impedance. The increase in resistance, capacitance or impedance can be directly measured electronically, without the need for optical sensors or labels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging system communicatively connected to a microwave energy producing source wherein the combination provides for increases in chemical reaction times and the ability to monitor the reactions in real time with sufficient resolution to view the location of intracellular components labeled with luminescent molecules as well as interaction with other biomolecules and responses to localized environmental variables in living cells and tissues during the application of a microwave field.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting structural damage is provided that utilizes a general order perturbation methodology involving multiple perturbation parameters. The perturbation methodology is used iteratively in conjunction with an optimization method to identify the stiffness parameters of structures using natural frequencies and/or mode shape information. The stiffness parameters are then used to determine the location and extent of damage in a structure. A novel stochastic model is developed to model the random impact series produced manually or to generate a random impact series in a random impact device. The random impact series method or the random impact device can be used to excite a structure and generate vibration information used to obtain the stiffness parameters of the structure. The method or the device can also just be used for modal testing purposes. The random impact device is a high energy, random, and high signal-to-noise ratio system.

Abstract: A wireless sensor system is provided that utilizes reliable, small, inexpensive and low power-consuming sensor nodes for monitoring environmental parameters that can communicate through wireless transmitters to a base station. The sensor nodes preferably incorporate anti-biofouling protection, so as to withstand continuous field deployment in streams and/or riparian areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tumor cell-based vaccines and methods of using same, wherein the vaccines are based on naturally immune privileged tumor cells that have been genetically modified to express MHC-II restricted peptides derived from endogenously encoded tumor antigens, activate CD4+ T-lymphocytes, provide an array of antigens to which the host is not tolerized and/or induce immunity against the originating tumor cells as well as against metastatic tumor cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are algorithms and processes to extract endmembers from hyperspectral image data in real time. A Simplex Growing Algorithm is effective to estimate a p number of endmembers to be generated, to select one or more initial endmembers as a simplex of k members and to add a k+1 endmember to the simplex that yields a maximum simplex volume until k=p, thereby extracting one or more endmembers from the data. Alternatively, N-FINDR algorithms form an initial simplex set of p endmembers obtained from the hyperspectral image data, find a maximum volume of one or more initial p endmembers therewithin, replace one or more of the p endmembers within the simplex with one or more of the found p endmembers of maximum volume, and refind a maximum volume of p endmember(s) and replace p endmember(s) until no increase in p endmember(s) volume is found.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging system communicatively connected to a microwave energy producing source wherein the combination provides for increases in chemical reaction times and the ability to monitor the reactions in real time with sufficient resolution to view the location of intracellular components labeled with luminescent molecules as well as interaction with other biomolecules and responses to localized environmental variables in living cells and tissues during the application of a microwave field.

Abstract: Quaternary nitrogen heterocyclic boronic acid-containing compounds are described, which are sensitive to glucose and fructose, as well as a variety of other physiologically important analytes, such as aqueous chloride and iodide, and a method of using the compounds. Also disclosed is a contact lens doped with the quaternary nitrogen heterocyclic boronic acid-containing compound, and a method of using the doped contact lens to measure the concentration of analyte in tears under physiological conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for testing methods to determine an effective testing agent that affects the activity of the HIV Gag protein at the plasma membrane of a cell, and specifically, effecting changes in the structural conformation of at least one fatty acid of PI(4,5)P2, a member of a family of differentially phosphorylated phosphatidylinositides, wherein inhibition of the extension of such fatty acid into the MA domain of the Gag protein reduces binding of Gag to the plasma membrane, thereby inhibiting virus particle assembly and subsequent replication of the HIV virus.

Abstract: Techniques for delivering medical care include receiving normal data that indicates normal conditions in a patient. Abnormality data is received and indicates an abnormal condition, if any, in a patient. An instance of a virtual patient is generated based on the normal data and the abnormality data. The instance includes a physiological component that describes a sufficiently comprehensive physical state of a patient having the abnormal condition to simulate clinical measurements of the patient's condition. The instance also includes a cognitive component that describes a patient's awareness of symptoms, history of behavior and ability to convey information in response to queries. Action data is received from a trainee. Response data is generated based on the action data and the instance. Display data is presented based on the response data, and indicates information about the instance available as a result of the requested action.

Abstract: The present invention provides for increasing fluorescence detection in surface assay systems while increasing kinetics of a bioreaction therein by providing low-power microwaves to irradiate metallic materials within the system in an amount sufficient to increase heat thereby affecting the kinetics of a bioreaction therein.

Abstract: Compounds linked to a solid support through a divalent linker moiety are disclosed. In particular, compounds such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid are directly linked to the support under mild conditions (i.e., in aqueous or organic solvents at neutral pH and at room temperature). The polymer bound 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid can be used for the derivatization of amines as well as for single step amino group modification of proteins, peptides, and amines via acylation or sulfonylation reactions. A flow through device and method for the single step amino group modifications of proteins, peptides, and amines is disclosed. Also disclosed is a flow through device for the detection of amines in a sample. Additionally, a device and method for the detection of amines in a sample using 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is used to detect the presence of amines in a spoiled meat product.

Abstract: A system and method for removal of phosphates from a closed loop estuarine or marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), involving denitrification in the presence of a media substrate for: 1) anaerobic nitrate, nitrite and ammonia removal and 2) sequestering of excess phosphate in the RAS. Phosphate is precipitated in or on the denitrifying biofilm formed on the media substrate as phosphate salts. The phosphate salt-containing media substrate can be removed from the RAS, the phosphates can be removed, and both the substrate and the phosphates can be reused or recycled.

Abstract: Provided herein methods and structures for construction of light weight sandwich panels or load-bearing panels having improved ballistic protection. The methods disclosed can facilitate construction of a hybrid core comprising ballistic fabrics and deformable pins that exhibit superior resistance to ballistic penetration. The methods and structures of the present disclosures can be advantageously used in many applications, such as armored vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for functionally modifying a polymeric surface for subsequent deposition of metallic particles and/or films, wherein the polymeric surface is modified by increasing hydroxyl and/or amine functional groups thereby providing an activated polymeric surface for deposition of metallic particles to form a fluorescence sensing device. The device can be used for metal-enhanced fluorescence of fluorophores positioned above the metallic particles that can be readily applied to diagnostic or sensing applications of metal-enhanced fluorescence.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically detecting meniscus include receiving pixels from a scanning device directed to a knee of a subject. Also received is a region of interest that includes pixels that correspond to at least a portion of a meniscus of the knee. Without human intervention, a meniscus extraction threshold is determined based on pixel intensities in the region of interest. A meniscus object portion of the scan data is further determined without human intervention based on the meniscus extraction threshold and a geometrical constraint. Other techniques for automatically detecting meniscal tears includes receiving a meniscus object portion of scan data from a scanning device and receiving threshold data that indicates a meniscus extraction threshold. Without human intervention, a propensity for meniscal tears is determined based on the threshold data and the meniscus object portion of the scan data.

Abstract: A dual adaptive importance-sampling system and method is provided that can estimate the probability of events by combining dual complementary importance-sampling simulations. The present invention exploits the ability to determine an optimal biased pdf using an iterative procedure that requires relatively little a priori knowledge of how to bias. Hence, the present invention is particularly suited for evaluating the BERs and/or WERs of coded communication and storage systems, and is generally applicable to arbitrarily chosen codes. When applied to coded communication and storage systems, the present invention provides a versatile technique for the fast and accurate estimation of BERs and WERs of FEC codes down to values of 10?20 or lower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assay including a surface having silver colloids or islands attached thereto. Attached to the surface and/or silver colloids/islands are polynucleotides which are complimentary to a target polynucleotide sequence. The assay is performed by adding the target polynucleotide sequence to the assay surface and allowed to hybridize with the capture polynucleotides. Fluorophore-labeled capture polynucleotides are added and hybridize to the target polynucleotide. Bound target polynucleotides are detected by metal enhanced fluorescence.

Abstract: A system and methods for removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from an environment, where the system includes an inert and organic biofilm substrata as biofilm media for dual use: 1) inoculation of microorganisms to degrade POPs and 2) accumulation of POPs on the substrata, effective in maintaining bioavailable concentrations for sustaining microbial activity. Microorganisms capable of degrading or transforming POPs are actively associated with the substrata as a biofilm. Application of this delivery vehicle will enhance the microbial degradation of POPs, while simultaneously adsorbing hydrophobic POPs from the environment making them bioavailable for the microorganisms located in the formed biofilms and additionally lowering the aqueous concentration of POPs that have detrimental effects towards fish and mammals as they bioaccumulate through the food chain.