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 ...

Currently, there are over 10,000 MRI scanners used in the US alone. US citizens today are mobile and many times medical treatments may require MRI scans from several different facilities. Images from MRI scanners can also drift over time. There is a tremendous need for all medical imaging scanners to be on the same level. Sigma-K will develop the commercialization of the ISMRM/NIST MRI Calibration ...

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): Staphylococcus aureus is the second leading cause of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections. In 2003, nearly 300,000 patients in US hospitals acquired an S. aureus infection, which accounted for nearly three million days of hospitalization, 9.5 billion in excess costs, and at least 12,000 inpatient deaths. Additionally, approximately 50% of the US population ...

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): Skeletal muscle wasting is a serious condition prevalent in the aging population (sarcopenia) and in a variety of specific diseases. This condition results in loss of muscle function through impaired muscle regeneration, resulting in an increase in falls and injuries, a loss of independence, and a reduced quality of life. These changes produce a large health ca ...

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 ...