Award Data

We propose a high performance library of signal processing tools that incorporate a newly developed technique known as fluctuation enhanced sensing (FES) to enhance the novel microsensor developed at NIST. Our goal is to improve the performance of the NIST sensor from two angles. One is to apply our existing proven algorithms to the NIST data. The other one is to incorporate advanced FES concept t ...

G2 proposes to develop an intuitive, interactive SCAP content creation and editing utility that will provide a user-friendly operating environment. The promise of security automation offers the opportunity for great advances in software assurance, security governance/reporting, and ongoing monitoring activities. Hindering that promise is the fact that current data exchange protocols are cumbersome ...

One of the most promising biomass sources for fuels and other feedstocks is photosynthetic algae. Algae can produce lipids, proteins, and other compounds, and can be grown in salt water. Current production practices rely on expensive means of harvesting, concentrating, and extracting the algae. This makes the “bio-crude” produced by algae more expensive than petroleum. Recovering the cellular ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The fragility of osteoporotic bones is largely due to alterations in the underlying structural geometry. Research has demonstrated that it is possible to measure the mechanical geometry of human bones in vivo using dualenergy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. However DXA scanners are designed to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and not structural geometry. Th ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is among the most common autoimmune diseases. The current treatment for RA is mainly by targeting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF). Despite the remarkable efficacy, significant portion of RA patients are not responsive to this class of drugs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutic that can complement existing therapeutic ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 40,000 women die annually in the US as a result of breast cancer (BC). Although BC can be controlled if detected early, a significant number is not detected until later and these patients are treated using therapies tocontrol both primary tumor and micro-metastatic disease. Therapy response is monitored using imaging and clinical assessment. Failure to detect e ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our objective is to develop a protease chain reaction technology (ProCR) which will enable ultra- sensitive molecular detection. A protease chain reaction has four basic components: 1) a protease conjugated to a bindingmolecule, 2) an unconjugated protease, 3) an inhibitor protein which contains a proteolytic cleavage site and 4) a protease substrate which gene ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long term goal is to widespread the use of PPF technology for promoting effective production of drug-encapsulating microparticles with uniform size and physical characteristics that can be leveraged to release a specific drug at controlled rates over multi-day periods in vivo after a single administration. For this proposal, we are specifically targeting a ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): SimQuest LLC proposes to develop a physics-based head and neck simulator to enhance training of dental, endodontic, oral, maxillofacial, plastic, trauma, ENT, and other trainees and surgical educators. This Phase I workwill advance the state of the science in surgical education by establishing the foundation for a simulator that will greatly enhance surgical tr ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Intraoral three-dimensional (3D) imaging capability promises to revolutionize traditional dental practice workflow by allowing chairside real-time 3D digital model acquisition without taking traditional impressions, thus facilitating speedy and accurate computer-aided-design (CAD) and computer-aided- manufacturing (CAM) of dental restorations at dentist's ...