Patrick J. Gardner

Short non-coding RNAs as bacteria species identifiers detected by surface plasmon resonance enhanced common path interferometry

Small non-coding RNA sequences have recently been discovered as unique identifiers of certain bacterial species, raising the possibility that they can be used as highly specific Biowarfare Agent detection markers in automated field deployable integrated detection systems. Because they are present in high abundance they could allow genomic based bacterial species identification without the need for pre-assay amplification. Further, a direct detection method would obviate the need for chemical labeling, enabling a rapid, efficient, high sensitivity mechanism for bacterial detection. Surface Plasmon Resonance enhanced Common Path Interferometry (SPR-CPI) is a potentially market disruptive, high sensitivity dual technology that allows real-time direct multiplex measurement of biomolecule interactions, including small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins, and microbes. SPR-CPI measures differences in phase shift of reflected S and P polarized light under Total Internal Reflection (TIR) conditions at a surface, caused by changes in refractive index induced by biomolecular interactions within the evanescent field at the TIR interface. The measurement is performed on a microarray of discrete 2-dimensional areas functionalized with biomolecule capture reagents, allowing simultaneous measurement of up to 100 separate analytes. The optical beam encompasses the entire microarray, allowing a solid state detector system with no scanning requirement. Output consists of simultaneous voltage measurements proportional to the phase differences resulting from the refractive index changes from each microarray feature, and is automatically processed and displayed graphically or delivered to a decision making algorithm, enabling a fully automatic detection system capable of rapid detection and quantification of small nucleic acids at extremely sensitive levels. Proof-of-concept experiments on model systems and cell culture samples have demonstrated utility of the system, and efforts are in progress for full development and deployment of the device. The technology has broad applicability as a universal detection platform for BWA detection, medical diagnostics, and drug discovery research, and represents a new class of instrumentation as a rapid, high sensitivity, label-free methodology.

Solar farm hourly dispatching using super-capacitor and battery system

Utilizing solar energy is essential to having a clean and healthy Earth for generations to come. However, because solar power is intermittent, caused by weather changes such as clouds or temperature fluctuations, power distributers cannot rely on solar farms as a consistent power source. The solution is the integration of an energy storage system capable of absorbing and producing the necessary power to maintain a constant power for a specific amount of time, known as dispatching. This paper demonstrates a successful dispatching scheme of solar energy using a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) consisting of a battery energy storage system (BESS) and a supercapacitor energy storage system (SESS). The HESS utilizes the high energy density property (the ability to charge and discharge large amounts of energy, preferably at low frequency) of lead acid batteries and the high power density property (the ability to rapidly charge or discharge energy, at high frequency) of supercapacitors together to invoke a synergy of low-frequency and high-frequency energy storage components. The HESS is designed to increase the longevity of the traditional BESS while enabling the capability to dispatch the solar energy.

Front Matter: Volume 7304

This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 7304, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and the Conference Committee listing.

Determination of 255 just noticeable color gray level differences for improved color palette

Following research reported by the authors to SPIE (2015) and SID (2017), this paper pursues further psychophysical research to the determination of 255 Just Noticeable Color Differences (JNCDs). Given transmissive (e.g., Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD)) displays shall continue to create color palette via additive color subpixel gray level; given the number of such gray levels shall continue to be 255 (plus black) for most avionic, vetronic and other commercial applications, the authors anticipate the requirement for a unique set of color gray levels, and to this end propose identifying a statistically reliable set of threshold luminance for transmissive display color channels. Additionally, the authors propose to demonstrate that once individual color primaries are established on a JND basis, any and all combination colors are also unique and distinguishable. Only in this way can 255 gray level transmissive displays be most efficient in delivering their advertised 16.5 million colors and most effective in creating useful results, e.g., color maps, etc. Method of research, to include procedure, equipment, stimuli and test subjects shall be cited. Results of test, to include test subject Fechtner fractions for red, green, and blue, and test subject Fechtner fractions for equivalent color brightness combinations of red, green, and blue, shall be reported.

Just noticeable color difference: implications for display systems

According to MIL-HDBK-87213, the goal in full color displays is to have the color primaries widely separated and/or provide filtering such that they will stay widely separated when exposed to, and mixed with, ambient light. Modern color displays boast a phenomenal number of colors, typically based on the number of luminance (gray) levels per color sub-pixel raised to a power determined by the number of distinct color sub-pixels. Because display color should (“must” per the given handbook) be evaluated to assure that it is fully usable and aesthetically acceptable, this paper reports preliminary findings in the determination of Just Noticeable Differences (JNDs) in luminance for the red, green, and blue color primaries over a given luminance range for a particular Display Under Test (DUT).

Ultra-high sensitivity photodetector arrays with integrated amplification and passivation nano-layers

Miniaturized field-deployable spectrometers used for the rapid analysis of chemical and biological substances require high-sensitivity photo detectors. For example, in a Raman spectroscopy system, the receiver must be capable of high-gain, low-noise detection performance due to the intrinsically weak signals produced by the Raman effects of most substances. We are developing a novel, high-gain hetero-junction phototransistor (HPT) detector which employs two nano-structures simultaneously to achieve 100 times higher sensitivity than InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, the most sensitive commercially available photo-detector in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, under their normal operation conditions. Integrated into a detector array, this technology has application for Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), pollution monitoring, pharmaceutical manufacturing by reaction monitoring, chemical & biological transportation safety, and bio-chemical analysis in planetary exploration.

Integrated amplification and passivation nanolayers for ultra-high-sensitivity photodetector arrays: application for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy

Miniaturized field-deployable spectrometers used for the rapid analysis of chemical and biological substances require high-sensitivity photo detectors. For example, in a Raman spectroscopy system, the receiver must be capable of high-gain, low-noise detection performance due to the intrinsically weak signals produced by the Raman effects of most substances. We are developing a novel, high-gain hetero-junction phototransistor (HPT) detector which employs two nano-structures simultaneously to achieve 100 times higher sensitivity than InGaAs avalanche photodiodes, the most sensitive commercially available photo-detector in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range, under their normal operation conditions. Integrated into a detector array, this technology has application for Laser- Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), pollution monitoring, pharmaceutical manufacturing by reaction monitoring, chemical & biological transportation safety, and bio-chemical analysis in planetary exploration.