Award Data

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objectives of the proposed research are to develop further an alphavirus replicon particle vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV causes a chronic, persistent infection and is an important cause of morbi

Weeds reduce the productivity of vegetable crops. Noxious weeds like nutsedge can contaminate a field in one and a half years. To remediate the weed cost, $7,000 to $11,000 for plastic, fumigant and hand weeding is necessary in strawberries. In southern California, 10 to 20 percent of the farmland has a high-density infestation of nutsedge. Methyl bromide applied at high levels is partially effect ...

New computer-based modeling and data mining tools are continuously being developed to help assess and exploit targets uncovered in genomic research. Traditional computer-aided drug design software has several serious shortcomings. Cross-vendor incompatibilities induce users to use single software exclusively. The user's ability of `Mix & Match' software, unattainable with any current offering, h ...

Sequencing the human genome has uncovered numerous putative novel targets for which 3D structures are not available and which have no known inhibitors. We proposed a system to use computational methodologies to generate 3D molecular models of target proteins, and to use these models to design novel chemical inhibitors. Currently, the system is capable of accurately folding a target's amino acid se ...

The objective of this proposal is to design an instructional system that uses serious game technology to train supervisors on detecting and thwarting insider threats to critical DOD computing systems. We will also investigate the use of currently existing bio-feedback sensors in line with Augmented Cognition R&D to gauge the effectiveness of training and assess the speed of knowledge capture and r ...

The objective of the proposed project is the development of technology for more efficient and effective human-computer supervision of complex systems. Systems that combine humans and automation in a synergistic or cooperative manner may be termed hybrid systems. Hybrid systems offer advantages over both purely automated systems and purely manual systems in many circumstances. However, future hybri ...

In recent years, significant strides have vastly improved the potential for spray on insulation systems that will help to abate airborne noise on Surface Ships. The optimal insulation will provide high acoustic absorption, airborne transmission loss and structural damping along with the requisite thermal/fire/condensation protection. Our objective is to exhibit improved acoustic characteristics th ...

MILLIONS OF ACRES OF UNMANAGED PRIVATE NON-INDUSTRIAL FORESTLAND ACROSS THE RURAL SOUTH PRESENT AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPOR- TUNITY TO CREATE NEW BUSINESSES AND JOBS. MOST PRESENT FORESTRY CONTRACTORS WHO PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS TIMBER HARVESTING AND SITE PREPARATION OPERATE WITH EQUIPMENT TOO LARGE AND INEFFICIENT FOR LANDOWNERS. TO ASSIST LANDOWNERS IN BEGINNING INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT, ADDITIONAL NEW ...

We propose a new active broadband electromagnetic (EM) sensor to detect and classify naval mines buried in the littoral. The sensor will work like an underwater metal detector, but it will operate at multiple programmable frequencies suitable to a given littoral environment. Once it detects a potential target, the sensor will interrogate the target and measure its spectral responses (inphase and q ...

We address a key challenge in many military and commercial systems: the tracking of materials and/or documents, and the certification of their origin(watermarking). We use libraries of taggants composed of synthetic DNA, where: (i) the number of distinct taggants are scalable to the millions and more, (ii) the taggants are not easily detectable without certain secret information, but (iii) with t ...