Abstract: A moisture sensing system is configured to determine the moisture level in granulate materials, such as, but not limited to, plastic resin pellets and agricultural grains. The system is configured to measure various parameters relating to the environment around the granulate material, and to determine additional characteristics of the granulate material based on these parameters. In some embodiments, the system is configured as a multi-sensor array with the computational and communicative capabilities to process the acquired measurements and provide outputs to a process device, such as a dryer, to help optimize the drying or other processes performed on the granulate material after the moisture measurements and other data are acquired.

Abstract: System and apparatus for monitoring a structural element includes a magnetometer capable of being mounted on the structural element, a magnet capable of being mounted on a surface adjacent the structural element so that the magnetometer is positioned within a magnetic field of the magnet; and a computing device capable of being communicatively coupled to the magnetometer, the magnetometer measuring characteristics of the magnetic field of the magnet, the computing device determining deflection of the structural element based on the measured characteristics of the magnetic field and a mathematical relationship between characteristics of the magnetic field and position of the magnetometer in relation to the magnet.

Abstract: Systems for drying granular materials, such as resin granulates, powdered materials, and agricultural grains, can include a storage vessel for holding the granular material; a drying hopper having a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the granular material; a diffuser configured to direct process air into the interior volume; a vacuum source for transferring the granular material from the storage vessel and to the drying hopper; and a moisture sensor for determining a moisture content of the granular material at a location upstream of the drying hopper. At least one of the residence time of the granular material within the drying hopper, and the temperature, humidity, and flow rate of the process air are regulated based on the moisture content of the granular material measured upstream of the drying hopper at, for example, the storage vessel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for biosensing using one-dimensional conducting polymer systems. The present disclosure also relates to one-dimensional sensors having substrates coated with conducting polymers such as polyaniline. The geometry of the substrates is configured to maximize the geometrical probability of detecting pathogens, aerosols, etc.

Abstract: Systems are provided for measuring the conductivity of a liquid medium or a gel-like solid or semi-solid medium in which airborne viruses have been forced to fall; and monitoring the resulting changes in the capacitive and resistive properties of the medium due to colloidal electrochemistry of the viral particles using a range of frequency detection techniques. Various control parameters can be implemented to facilitate the estimation of very low viral concentration levels in the medium. The control parameters can include, for example, the level of the medium, the temperature of the medium, statistical classification parameters, and the addition of a buffer to the medium to amplify the signal.

Abstract: Biosensors are provided for the detection of pathogens such as viruses. The sensors can includes a substrate, and a film disposed on the substrate. The film can include an electrically-conducting polymer, and an aromatic dialdehyde such as terephthaldehyde. The sensors experience a fast and repeatable decrease in electrical conductivity in the presence of certain pathogens, including the SARS-Cov-2 pseudo virus.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting potentially fatal, and non-fatal diseases in an non-invasive, low-cost, and reliable manner by detecting the trace presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the human breath. The systems and methods can be home-based, non-invasive systems and methods for diagnosing CLD (chronic liver disease), CKD (chronic kidney disease), and other diseases using lifestyle-based, repetitive detection of VOCs in the human breath and an adaptive machine learning algorithm.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reliably detecting aerosolized virus particles using electrochemical characteristics of the virus, and its interaction with ?-conjugated conducting solid-state substrates.

Abstract: Systems for detecting aerosolized viral loads in an airspace include a first and, optionally, a second volume of a liquid. The first volume includes particles sampled from the airspace, and the second volume is free of virus particles. A first conductivity probe is immersed in the first liquid, and a second conductivity probe is immersed in the second liquid. An alternating voltage is applied to each of the first and second conductivity probes. The difference between the resulting alternating currents through the first and second conductivity probes is determined, and is used to estimate the viral load in the first volume, and in the airspace.

Abstract: Air sensing and purification systems include interconnected components that can both sense and cleanse an airborne viral load quickly and efficiently, minimizing the probability of human infection in the presence of a virus such as COVID-19. The systems can include a biosensing or viral load sensing system configured to measure an airborne viral load and probability of infection from the viral load; and an air purification device configured to effectively neutralize the virus in the adjacent space. The system also can include an alarm hub. The alarm hub can be a local server/hub that is wirelessly connected to the viral load sensing system and the air purification device; and can house strong visual and/or audible alarms to make the user aware of any breach of the social distancing protocol, and/or a high airborne viral load.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular resin material in a hopper including a first sub-system, including a membrane and a heater receiving drying gas from the membrane to be heated, the first sub-system supplying dried heated gas to a first portion of the hopper; and a second sub-system, including a mixing device and a heater for receiving drying gas from the mixing device to be heated, the mixing device inducing withdrawal of gas from the hopper and mixing the withdrawn gas with gas supplied from the first subsystem, the mixed gases being heated and supplied to a second portion of the hopper, the improvement comprising a gas separation membrane for separating inert gases from air supplied to the apparatus and providing the separated inert gas in the first subsystem; a heater for heating air supplied to the apparatus; and a thermostat for controlling the heater and thereby maintaining the supplied air at a selected temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a carbogenic nanoparticle polymer inks including a conducting polymer, such as those made of CQD-PPy and/or R-GO-PPy, methods of making the inks, and moisture and VOC sensors made therefrom.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than ?40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the condition of structural systems such as bridges and roadbeds. The systems include a magnetometer mounted on a structural element of the structural system; and a magnet mounted on a surface adjacent the structural element so that the magnetometer is positioned within a magnetic field of the magnet. The magnetometer measures characteristics of the magnetic field of the magnet. Position of the structural element is determined from measured characteristics of the magnetic field and a predetermined relationship between the characteristics of the magnetic field and the position of the structural element within the magnetic field. The position information determines other parameters, such as the deflection of the structural element in three-dimensional space, and the response of the structural element to dynamic loading.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular resin material in a hopper including a first sub-system, including a membrane and a heater receiving drying gas from the membrane to be heated, the first sub-system supplying dried heated gas to a first portion of the hopper; and a second sub-system, including a mixing device and a heater for receiving drying gas from the mixing device to be heated, the mixing device inducing withdrawal of gas from the hopper and mixing the withdrawn gas with gas supplied from the first subsystem, the mixed gases being heated and supplied to a second portion of the hopper, the improvement comprising a gas separation membrane for separating inert gases from air supplied to the apparatus and providing the separated inert gas in the first subsystem; a heater for heating air supplied to the apparatus; and a thermostat for controlling the heater and thereby maintaining the supplied air at a selected temperature.

Abstract: System and apparatus for monitoring a structural element includes a magnetometer capable of being mounted on the structural element, a magnet capable of being mounted on a surface adjacent the structural element so that the magnetometer is positioned within a magnetic field of the magnet; and a computing device capable of being communicatively coupled to the magnetometer, the magnetometer measuring characteristics of the magnetic field of the magnet, the computing device determining deflection of the structural element based on the measured characteristics of the magnetic field and a mathematical relationship between characteristics of the magnetic field and position of the magnetometer in relation to the magnet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than ?40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying thermoplastic resin prior to molding into plastic parts comprises a continuous loop liquid circuit for furnishing liquid at a prescribed temperature to a mold in which the plastic parts are fabricated; a continuous loop air circuit for passing heated dry air through a hopper containing the thermoplastic resin thereby drying the thermoplastic resin to a prescribed level of dryness; and a coupling thermally connecting the two circuits for heat transfer from the liquid to the drying air; the liquid is selected from the group comprising water and ethylene glycol; microprocessor control facilitates generation and retention of custom water temperature and resin dryness/temperature optionally based on machine learning principles.

Abstract: Apparatus for pneumatically supplying granular material from a supply to at least one receiver for temporary storage of the granular material prior to transfer to a process machine including a timer for measuring time required for loading the receiver and a microprocessor for comparing times measured by the timer and triggering an alarm when consecutively compared times increase by a preselected amount and a method and apparatus for determining when a filter of a granular material receiver providing granular material to an associated process machine, is at reduced filtering efficiency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than -40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.