UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY

A biosustainable wood-based microfluidic cassette having an impedimetric nitrate sensor for nitrate monitoring of water samples, wherein the nitrate sensor employs a nanocomposite having nitrate-binding metal ion complexes incorporated in and/or on polyaniline/carbon nanostructure. The nitrate sensor demonstrates good specificity to nitrate, reproducibility, a wide temperature range operability, and measurement equivalency to commercial nitrate sensors.

Systems and computer-implemented methods for representing data, information, and knowledge graphically for the purpose of systems thinking through integrated visual and computational modeling using a display are disclosed. According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a dataset comprising data items from which users create data visualization assets and associate them with a system via visual analysis. The method includes providing visual encodings for a three-dimensional representation of the system. The visual encodings include nodes and node edges. The method includes mapping the data items and/or attributes to the nodes and the node edges. The method includes rendering the three-dimensional representation that includes graphical representations of nodes connected by the one or more node edges that are mapped by the data items and/or the attributes of the system. The method includes updating the mappings and/or the graphical representations to generate an updated three-dimensional representation of the system.

The present invention relates to collapsible and/or foldable fermentation and/or culture vessels fabricated of an adjustable frame including sections of gas permeable material or in the alternative a non-rigid gas permeable polymeric container or bag fabricated of either a gas permeable or non-gas permeable material with the further benefit of more efficient inventory space and disposal space, wherein the gas permeable material or non-gas permeable material comprises an analyte or pH sensing material integrated or impregnated into at least one section of the material.

Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods, and systems for screening and detecting syphilis. In particular, embodiments relate to sensing probes designed to bind in complementary fashion to one or more target gene sequences associated with syphilis. Embodiments further relate to electrochemical sensors configured to detect the presence of one or more target gene sequences associated with syphilis. The target gene sequences may include Tp47, polA, and TprE. These targets have conserved and distinctive sequences, enabling reliable detection even in samples with low bacterial loads or genetic mutations that may affect other diagnostic approaches.

Disclosed is a self-expanding cannula, systems using such cannulae, and methods of their use. The cannulae may comprise single lumen cannula (“SLC”) configurations and double lumen cannula (“DLC”) configurations, and include at least a first cannula and a self-expanding wire frame attached to the first cannula. Self-expanding wire frame is automatically expandable from a compressed state (providing a reduced cannula diameter as it is moved through a patient's body to the site at which it is to be deployed) to an expanded state (which increases the diameter of the cannula to the diameter intended for its normal use). The expanded wire frame provides radial support to prevent a drainage canal (whether a patient's blood vessel or a portion of the system inserted into the patient's blood vessel) from collapsing as fluid is drained from the patient.

Systems and methods for organizing data of different local data schemas based on similarity rankings, scoring, and signatures are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system for identifying linkages among entities. The system also includes an entity linkage manager configured to analyze a concept for data schemas to determine similarity scores for entities of local data schemas with respect to entities of a global data schema. The entity linkage manager is also configured to map the entities of the local data schemas to the entities of the global data schema based on the determined similarity scores. Further, the entity linkage manager is configured to associate data within the at least one database based on the mapping for use in accessing related data.

Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods, and systems for screening and detecting mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs). Embodiments include an electrochemical sensor configured to receive and analyze a sample to determine if the sample includes at least one target gene sequence correlating to mTBI. The electrochemical sensor includes one more sensing probes functionalized on a polymer-based or COF-based conductive electrode.

The invention provides methods and apparatus comprising a laser source that uses a single unfocused pulse of a low intensity but high power laser over a large sample area to collect Raman scattered collimated light, which is then Rayleigh filtered and focused using a singlet lens into a stacked fiber bundle connected to a customized spectrograph, which separates the individual spectra from the scattered wavelengths using a hybrid diffraction grating for collection onto spectra-specific sections of an array photodetector to measure spectral intensity and thereby identify one or more compounds in the sample.

A pendulum based frequency up converter that effectively captures a low-speed mechanical rotation into high-frequency vibration of a piezoelectric cantilever beam is disclosed. The pendulum based frequency-up converter for cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvesters can be used to efficiently utilize low rotational motion of wind turbine blades, and other slow rotating structures, to implement a self-powering sensor network to monitor the health of wind turbine blades.

A floating hybrid tidal/wave/wind energy harvesting system is described, wherein the system is based on vertical axis turbines for synergized tidal, wave and wind energy production. The system is self-starting and can continuously, and simultaneously, harvest wind and tidal energy in a wide range of wind and tidal current speeds.