Award Data

The pressing need exists within industry to accurately measure high aspect ratio microscale structures. For example, diesel injector nozzles are manufactured with microscale holes ranging from 50-200 micrometers in diameter and 3-5 mm depths. One fundamental challenge is to nondestrucvely measure these features in order to validate models, enhance manufacturing processes, and reduce fuel emissions ...

Manning Applied Technology proposes to develop a handheld infrared spectrometer, ideally suited to detection of airborne chemical agents at and below permissible exposure limits. This approach offers unmatched sensitivity and specificity for detection of all types of chemical vapors. The instrument is modular, rugged, compact and highly sensitive. Volume pricing will be less than $1000 each. ...

Vesicants have been used as chemical warfare agents since World War I and are still considered a major class of chemical threat agents both for the military and for homeland security. There are four different vesicating agents: impure sulfur mustard, distilled sulfur mustard, phosgene oxime, and lewisite. Among them, mustard is the most important militarily. The organs most commonly affected by ...

Homeland Security/First Responder networks require increased bandwidth and reliable connectivity. Future networks such as Project SAFECOM may deploy software-defined radios (SDR) compatible with Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Software Communications Architecture (SCA). We leverage our SCA compatible, high assurance ¿Smart Radio¿ prototype being developed under an AFRL sponsored Phase II ...

MCNC PROPOSES A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND EVALUATION OF THREE PROMISING APPROACHES TO THE FABRICATION OF SURFACE TEST STRUCTURES ON SILICON. SURFACE FEATURES ON THE FIRST STRUCTURE WILL BE PRODUCED BY CONTROLLABLY ETCHING THERMALLYGROWN OXIDES. FEATURES ON THE SECOND WILL BE MADE BY ETCHING PIEZOELECTRIC THIN FILMS. USING THE PIEZOELECTRIC FILM AS PART OF A CAPACITOR, STEP-HEIGHT CAN BE VARIED AND PRO ...

TRICHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) IS A WIDESPREAD POLLUTANT AND IS REPORTED TO BE THE MOST FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED CONTAMINANT AT HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES. ALL PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT IN SITU BIOREMEDIATION HAVE USED A PROCESS WHERE METHANTROPHIC BACTERIA WERE STIMULATED BY THE SUBSURFACE DELIVERY OF AIR AND METHANE RESULTING IN A "FORTUITOUS" COMETABOLISM OF TCE. THIS PROCESS AT ONE TIME APPEARED PROMISING FOR TH ...

THE CLEAN AIR ACT REQUIRES THAT CERTAIN EXHAUST EMISSIONS STANDARDS BE MET BY HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND BUSSES (CLASS 8 VEHICLES) POWERED BY DIESEL ENGINES. THE LIMITS SET FOR 1998 CAN ONLY BE MET THRU THE USE OF EXHAUST TREATMENT DEVICES. A NOVEL WOVEN CERAMIC YARN FILTER CAPABLE OF HIGH TEMPERATURE OPERATION HAS BEEN DEVISED WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVED DURABILITY AND FILTRATION PERFORMANCE ...

INADEQUATE STARTER FEEDS SEVERELY HOLD BACK NEW AQUACULTURE ENTERPRISES SUCH AS PRESENT ATTEMPTS TO RAISE FISHES WHOSE LARVAE DEVELOP FROM SMALL EGGS AND HAVE VERY "DIFFICULT" FOOD REQUIREMENTS. INERT LARVAL FEEDS HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLYELIMINATED THE STRICT DEPENDENCY ON NATURAL FORAGE DURING THE CRITICAL POST-LARVAL STAGE AFTER YOLK ABSORPTION AND BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGESTIVE SYSTEM WITH ...

RECENT ASSESSMENTS ESTIMATE U.S. CROP LOSSES FROM ELEVATED OZONE LEVEL AND OTHER OXIDANTS (SULFUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN DIOXIDE) TO BE AS MUCH AS $5 BILLION ANNUALLY. ADDITIONALLY,SEVERE FOREST DAMAGE MAY RESULT FROMPOLLUTION-RELATED OXI- DANTS PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATICDECLINE IN FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. THIS RESEARCH IS DIRECTED AT THE MITIGATION OF SUCH ...