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07-041: A Trustworthy Controller for Attack Resistant, Continuous Network Services

2008-05-29T11:59:00.006-05:00

The Trustworthy Controller for Attack Resistant, Continuous Network Services is a technology that takes automatic corrective actions to keep online virtual servers healthy.

Large, complex software systems are used to provide everyday network services such as web access, email, file transfer, and collaboration services. However, the complexity of these software systems makes perfect construction unrealizable. As a result, these systems are vulnerable to attack which could potentially cause a major interruption in service. While intrusion detection and prevention technologies have become mainstream products, a stubborn problem still persists: the inevitability of errors.

This technology aims to help solve the problem by creating a scalable system for providing attack resistant, uninterruptible network services. The system is premised on the notion that software is and will continue to be flawed and vulnerable to attack. With this in mind, the inventors were able to develop an architecture that utilizes virtualization for increased support and manageability. A key element to this architecture is a Trustworthy Controller (TC). The Trustworthy Controller takes automatic corrective actions to keep online servers healthy. One of the corrective actions includes periodically restoring the pristine state of the server using a virtualization feature called a snapshot. This is extremely important because it means that the server is able to correct itself by simply reverting to an earlier, uncorrupted version of itself. Furthermore, because of the virtual nature of this system, other servers can simultaneously run with little or no disruption. This is extremely vital, especially in a place of business where server downtime can very well mean lost dollars.

07-004: Image Based Turing Test

2007-09-16T09:29:00.000-05:00

This technology is an image based CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) that can authenticate that the user of a web service is a human being.

The use of CAPTCHAs in web interfaces, it is hoped will keep such Bots from misusing the web service. Human users will be easily able to authenticate themselves as being human by passing the tests while machines will typically fail. Some practical examples of web services where CAPTCHAs are required are: online polls, preventing spammers from getting free e-mail ids, preventing chat bots from irritating people in chat rooms, preventing automated online dictionary attacks in password systems, preventing unruly search engine bots from indexing private web pages, preventing web bots from adding advertisements to comment fields in Blogs etc. As the web replaces human to human physical interaction such examples are bound to increase.

A common type of CAPTCHA requires that the user type the letters of a distorted image, sometimes with the addition of an obscured sequence of letters or digits that appears on the screen. A person’s ability to pass this CAPTCHA may be related to the person’s familiarity with the language that the letters or digits originate.

To get past the cultural bias of present CAPTCHA’s, this technology requires that the user to match groups of related images. To make the test more difficult for a computer o pass, many of the images are distorted. Additionally, the images may be pictures of faces taken from different angles and under different lighting conditions.

07-024: Arsenic Filtration

2007-05-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

Mason researcher Abul Hussam has developed an inexpensive, environmentally sound way to remove arsenic from ground water, which will make drinking water safer for millions of people in developing countries.

More than 10,000 such filters are in use in Bangladesh and continue to provide more than a billion liters of clean drinking water, stopping the spread of arsenic poisoning and improving the lives of countless people.

06-020: Instructional Handheld Data System

2007-05-05T21:02:00.001-05:00

The Instructional Handheld Data (KIHd) System is a patent pending Internet based interactive training, evaluation, and data collection system for use in special education.

This uncomplicated system is designed to operate efficiently through portable handheld wireless devices (including PDA’s and smart phones) and synchronize with personal computers for data collection, storage, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and reporting of progress. The KIHd system was developed to be used by teachers, parents and other caregivers to collect and analyze data in real-time for children with special needs to facilitate data-driven, educational decisions to ultimately improve student outcomes. The advantage of this technology is that all caregivers of the individual have around the clock information that can be applied to adjusting proper interventions, educational opportunities, etc. The system is easy to use and understand. The interfaces and reports were professionally developed by experts in improving the lives and productivity of persons with disabilities.

The market for the product encompasses parents, teachers, therapists, school administrators, and medical practitioners. This technology is prototyped and currently implemented in research environments with autistic children. It has been field tested in a school system and is ready for commercialization.

The KIHd System was developed at the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities (KIHd). KIHD is a part of the College of Education & Human Development at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

05-001, 06-040: Syntactic Landmine Detection

2006-04-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

The syntactic Landmine Detection technology uses syntactic pattern recognition mechanisms to detect landmines using high speed imaging platforms in real-time.

This technology aims to help solve one of the world's largest humanitarian and military problems, unexploded landmines and ordinances. Landmines left over from world conflicts prevent millions of acres of otherwise usable land from being used productively and are a significant cause of unnecessary deaths and injuries. The technology processes signals from existing ground penetrating radars. But unlike existing systems, the signal processing in this system images the internal structure of non-metallic landmines in spite of a myriad of soil types, miscellaneous objects and weather conditions. The imaging can also recognize the detailed external structure of metallic landmines as well as distinguish target landmines from among other landmines. Amazingly, this invention has the potential to operate at real-time speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour.

06-039: Egocentric Display

2006-03-09T17:33:00.000-05:00

This graphical display can present 3D data in 2D, allowing a user to "see" objects that are outside the normal field of view. Possible uses include video games, sensor management systems in military aircraft panel, remote vehicles, collision avoidance displays, drilling, and medical imaging.

The egocentric display presents information about areas located around an ego center on a simple and intuitive display by condensing volumetric information into a sphere which is then mapped into a 2D display. The display could be used by pilot flying an aircraft to quickly identify important information about objects flying in the airspace surrounding the aircraft. The information presented could include: location, velocity, and direction data for each object. In another example, the display could be used to present medical imaging information around a point of interest such as a cancerous tumor. The display could even be used to present properties related to virtual spaces such as within a fantasy world, a database, or a network.

06-016: Public policy development tool

2006-01-06T04:37:00.000-05:00

A software tool that models the outcome of interventions directed to alcohol users in a local community.

The model uses time-varying conditional probabilities and actual community data. For example, the model may be used to predict if an increase in police presence in public bars will increase domestic violence. It is envisioned that this tool can be used to study the social ramifications of policy decisions to enforce differing interventions on other issues within a community such as drug enforcement, gun enforcement or immigration enforcement.

06-015: Active covert signal generation and detection

2006-01-05T17:31:00.000-05:00

This technology attaches a covert signal to a packetized data stream without modifying any of the data or headers in the packets.

An exemplary prototype was built that watermarked encrypted VoIP data streams that were effectively identified after being anonymized by a low latency anonymizing networks on the Internet.

05-033: SiRNAs with an Enhanced Specificity to the Target

2005-03-03T05:50:00.000-05:00

George Mason University researchers have developed an algorithm that enables the rapid design of siRNAs with minimized off-target hybridization.

Description:
Small interference (si) RNAs can silence gene expression by interfering with the stability and translation of messenger RNA. Its effectiveness, however, can be compromised because the 21 - 23 nucleotide length of the siRNAs now available may degrade unrelated RNA.
The siRNAs designed by using the GMU algorithm are comprised of shorter, truly unique overlapping sequences of 12-15 nucleotides, resulting in greater targeting specificity.

The GMU oligonucleotides can be used both for therapeutic and experimental siRNA silencing and as gene-specific sets of probes for long oligonucleotide based expression microarrays or for Real-Time PCR. This invention provides methods and systems for identifying unique polynucleotide sequences within a larger polynucleotide sequence.

The methods and systems are useful for designing unique polynucleotides for a variety of purposes such as probes, primers, transcription or translation modulators, siRNA, capture labels, etc. Polynucleotides can be used in silencing or interference RNA technologies, PCR (including quantitative PCR), microarrays, etc.

Market Significance:
iRNA technology will have a significant impact on the development of treatments for a variety of diseases including cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders.

The GMU designed siRNA will provide:
- More specific gene targeting, reducing one of the most prevalent problems associated with the use of RNA interference technology.
-Reduction in the number of degraded genes, thus reducing unwanted or unforeseen molecular side effects.
-Increased specificity of probe annealing in micro array and Real-Time PCR type of experiments.
-Easy application to existing technology to provide easier and cleaner readings for diagnostic purposes.
- A cost effective alternative to existing methods of oligonucleotide design.

05-029: Rapid Indicator of Anthrax Infections

2005-02-09T05:49:00.000-05:00

George Mason University researchers have discovered a low cost, rapid, early indicator of the presence of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax infections.

Need:

Early symptoms of an anthrax infection are often indistinguishable from a common flu, and if undetected and untreated anthrax infection can have mortality rates nearing 100%.

Even where the presence of anthrax is suspected, the current diagnostic of growing, isolating, and identifYing a culture of the bacteria can take several days, and the timing of proper treatment for an anthrax infection is important to patient survival. More rapid tests are becoming available, but may only detect the bacteria days after infection, and may require expensive equipment and particular expertise that many hospital labs, and certainly labs serving first responders, may not possess. There is a clear need for this test, which allows the rapid and easy detection of a Bacillus anthracis indicator which presents less than a day after initial infection.

Invention:

George Mason University researchers discovered high levels of a soluble protein in the blood of anthrax infected animals. The protein, syndecan, is shed from the surface of host cells during infection. Syndecan levels begin spiking hours after initial infection, remain higher than normal for days afterward before slowly leveling off (see reverse), and might be used to track progression of the infection. Soluble syndecan can be detected and quantified using common immunoassay methods.

Market Significance:

The development of diagnostics, prophylactics, and treatments for anthrax infection is one of the top priorities of U.S. biodefense initiatives. Although the need for frequent anthrax testing in the civilian population is thankfully low, hospitals would certainly want to keep such a test on hand and the military may wish to test personell in high risk areas more regularly. The test can indicate other types of bacterial infection and lends itself to incorporation into a kit or suite of common immunological blood tests. Lastly, a large and steady market may be found in veterinary applications.

Advantages:

- Faster detection of an indicator of infection than currently available tests
- More rapidly alerts authorities to an anthrax outbreak
- May be applied to other infections caused by gram-positive bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes
- Quantifies the level of a potential therapeutic target

05-027: Electrocapturing Pathogens from Flow

2005-02-07T05:48:00.000-05:00

Researchers at George Mason University have developed a novel and inexpensive device for capturing charged organisms, such as viruses for the purpose of imaging and detecting the organisms.

Description:
The device is an easy to assemble (and disassemble) cell that uses an electric field to concentrate electrically charged organisms or biological macromolecules. Specifically, an electric field is used to attract ana1ytes to a semi-permeable membrane and adhere them on its surface. Once captured, the organisms can be imaged or detected through various assay methods. In addition, the researcher can watch this process through a window in the electrode chamber.

The described method is more effective than common direct active capturing methods. With direct capturing methods, pathogens often land between spots or on spots coated with non-specific antibodies and therefore do not bind to the array. These pathogens are then are lost upon subsequent washing. Combination of flow and electric field makes every pathogen to slide or roll over the array surface until it finds its specific spot. Each pathogen tracking the entire array surface is ultimately bound because the solution is recycled.

Possible Products:

1. A device for pre-concentration of viruses, phages, E. coli and other microorganisms in waste water.
2. Microarray-based device for rapid detection of pathogens.
3. A device for preparation of specimens for electron and atomic force microscopy.
4. A device for separation of cells according to the antigenic determinants on their surface.

Market Significance:

The above described technology would benefit numerous types of organizations involved in manufacturing of devices for bio-medica1 research, has well as laboratories involved in the development of tools for clinical diagnostics. Target industries for this invention also include government agencies, defense subcontractors, and private industry involved in the areas of biodefense and public health.

Advantages:
- More efficient capturing of ana1ytes than in other methods.
- The unit is simply designed and inexpensive.
- Enables the direct monitoring of the capture progress.
- When used in combination with antibody microarrays, provides a rapid analysis for trace amounts of pathogens.
- When used in combination with an aerosol collector, can provide rapid detection of the presence of pathogens in the environment.

05-026: Instant Microfluidic Cell

2005-02-06T05:51:00.000-05:00

Researchers at George Mason University's National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases have designed a new, simple, and inexpensive micro fluidic cell unit.

Description:
The micro fluidic cell consists of two parts: the first part provides an inlet, outlet, and channel(s); the second part is a flexible plate with a replaceable spacer that can be adjusted to the thickness of the micro array or other substrate placed on its surface. Unlike classic micro fluidic devices that consist of channels connected using glue or screws, the two parts of the cell are held together by external air pressures, making it easy to assemble and disassemble the unit.

Numerous devices could effectively employ this type of cell design. For example, the cell can be used for optical microscopic observations of cell adhesion to antibody array, and for bead-detection techniques (which involve the use of magnetic beads to locate and detect pathogens captured on antibody array).

Possible products:

1. Flow cell for evaluation of cells adhesion to surfaces.
2. Flow cell for scanning arrays with magnetic beads.
3. Flow cell for processing microarrays (hybridization, washing, etc.).
4. Microfluidic unit with disposable micro array for a multiplexed assay.
5. Micro-channel chambers for multiplexed electrophoresis.
6. Micro-channel system for capillary chromatography.
7. Special chambers for optical trapping.
8. A device for manufacturing arrays with the micro-stamp technique.

Market Significance:

The above described technology and products would benefit numerous types of organizations involved in manufacturing of devices for bio-medical research as well as laboratories involved in the development of tools for clinical diagnostics.

Advantages:

- Flow cell is simply designed and therefore is significantly less expensive than current models and is easy to manufacture and use.
- The flow cell is compatible with all known modes of optical microscopy providing access from both sides of the cell.
- When used in combination with antibody microarrays, provides ultra-rapid analysis for trace amounts of pathogens and toxins.
- When used in combination with a aerosol collector, can provide rapid detection of the presence of pathogens in the environment and may aid in signaling a biological weapons attack prior to victims presenting symptoms.

05-025: Identification of Analytes on Array of Reporter Droplets

2005-02-05T05:47:00.000-05:00

Researchers at George Mason University's National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases have advanced a new principle of analyte identification that will aid in the detection and recognition of toxic impurities in environmental samples.

Description:
Most bioanalytical procedures are based on the recognition of analytes through the use of natural specific probe molecules such as enzymes, antibodies, or complementary DNA. These molecules have a limited shelf life and require special storage conditions. Another principle of analyte recognition utilizes spectral characteristics (NMR, IR, MS-MS and other) to distinguish between molecules. These physical methods require the use of expensive equipment and trained personnel.

The researchers at GMU have developed a method in which proteins and other biological molecules are recognized through studying differences in the morphology, size, and distribution of crystalline and amorphous dry residues (referred to as the drying crystallization pattern, or DCP) in an array of micro-droplets. The micro-droplets contain predetermined amounts of crystal-forming organic compounds (referred to as reporters) that are added to the sample to be analyzed. Based on the level of changes resulting from the addition of the sample (amino acids that demonstrate no or only small changes are assigned a value of"O", while those that demonstrate drastic, unambiguous changes are assigned a value of" 1") a binary code for each protein is established that will serve as that protein's "signature". After the signature has been established it can be used to identify proteins, protein toxins, and pathogens in a variety of environmental and biological samples.

This new method of analyte identification is unusual in that it not only improves an already existing method and technology, but also establishes a new principle. As such, it can be used in a wide variety of applications including the creation of:

- New methods of detecting pathogens in the environment.
- New means for characterizing proteins and other biological and organic molecules by their codes.
- New methods of monitoring changes in the complex environmental samples and in biological fluids.

Market Significance:

As this technology has multiple applications, numerous industries and organizations would benefit from its use, specifically those involved in the development and use ofbio-analytical procedures, medical and engineering biodefense and infectious diseases defense.

Advantages:

- Provides a new approach to characterize toxins and other biological molecules without the use of fragile biological probe molecules or expensive physical devices.
- The technology can be easily multiplexed.
- The technology can be easily miniaturized.

05-023: Allocation of Web Applications using Quality of Services Metrics

2005-02-02T17:30:00.000-05:00

An internet communications architecture that allows communicating parties to use quality of service meircs (QoS) when deciding which protocol(s) to use for their exchange.

This invention provide autonomous implementation imparting a flexibility of choice in areas such as multimedia, security, web services, and overlay network. Dynamic discovery capability. Code generation in XML. On "the fly" code generation in XML using XSLT stylesheets allowing for web based communications between two devices when rules or environments governing communication exchanges differ.

04-041: Computational Modeling and Simulation of Host:Pathogen Interactions

2004-04-01T05:46:00.000-05:00

This technology is a novel method for modeling and simulating disease states caused by pathogenic organisms or toxic materials. Provides an alternative method for undertaking studies that cannot be performed on humans and that may lack relevance if performed on animal species that are surrogates for humans.

Description:

The first product, an in silico (computer-based) anthrax model enables researchers to explore 'what if' scenarios and develop predictive data that can be used in experimental design and the testing of new hypothesis of the anthrax disease state.
This new approach helps combine the knowledge of disease states that may be obtained from various sources, such as 'in vitro' and 'in vivo' studies, without requiring users to perform all necessary experiments. The model allows a user to identify numerous biological events associated with a pathogen's invasion of a host.
For each biological event, at least one agent must be identified. The identity of an agent, assignment of attributes, state and actions vary. For example, agents could be described as a biological entity, a system, an organ, or a lipid. State could be defined as size or volume whereas an action lends itself to behaviors. The invention is not limited by the biological entities. The agent is embodied in the computer model and performs actions and interactions over an extended period of time, typically without continuous direct supervision or control. Assignments of hosts are equally variable.

Market Significance:

The ability to predict what happens in an host when infected by a pathogen or toxic material within a 'time-window' has not been modeled until now. Current computational models only explore and reveal the social effect of pathogens on a human population. Although developed for biological simulation and prediction this model can be applied in numerous industries and provides a new approach to clinical intervention and treatment of disease.

- Provides researchers a better understanding of the effects a pathogen has on humans and animals.
- Assigns a time window which may assist emergency responders and medical practitioner in saving lives.
- Provides "virtual victims" to assess the impact of lethal pathogens in a population with varying susceptibilities.

04-038: Virus Based Detection in Microarray Sensors

2004-03-08T05:45:00.000-05:00

George Mason University technology 04-038 can provide a standardized high quality low cost method for the rapid detection and identification of microbial pathogens using trace amounts of DNA.

Description:

Detection and identification of microbial pathogens are critical challenges in clinical medicine and public health surveillance. Currently, the techniques used to identify such pathogens rely upon conventional clinical microbiology approaches, but such techniques are laborious, expensive and require unstable natural products. They are not suitable for managing large number of environmental or clinical samples. What is needed is a standardized method of detection that can rapidly detect trace amounts of DNA while consistently delivering high quality low cost results.

Scientists at George Mason University and the Naval Research Laboratory have developed a novel approach to increase the amount of signal per binding event by using a harmless stable plant virus to carry multiple dye molecules, thus increasing the signal per binding event. This invention is the first use of a viral particle to enhance detection. Standard array sensor detection techniques use a small tracer molecule which contains a binding piece that can bind to targets trapped on probes in the array as well as a dye used to generate signal used to read the array. In virus-based detection, the virus is used as a scaffold to hold both the binding piece as well as 60 or more dye molecules, greatly increasing the available signal when the array is read. This has resulted in improved detection sensitivity and increased detection speed due to eliminating the need for multiple tests to validate.

Market Significance:

Improved detection and identification of microbial pathogens is critically important to maintaining and improving global public health and clinical research. The ability to detect trace amounts of harmful foodbome pathogens and increasing the speed and accuracy in which public health organizations identify the existence of harmful bacteria or virus' that threaten the public welfare are just two significant uses for this technology.
Any company who performs or creates equipments that uses fluorescent based detection methods would benefit. A prototype for cholera has been developed and tested on the AFFYMETRIX genechip array. Current studies to detect cholera and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics are underway at the CDC.

04-035: Method and System for Implementing Security Policies in Software Development Tools

2004-03-05T05:44:00.000-05:00

This technology is a method and framework that extends the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to help software developers easily adopt access and flow control policies in a unified way into their software development tools.

The method is a set of related elements that enforces the representation and modeling of dynamic access and flow control policies with the UML, negative authorizations and inherited authorizations. The framework is used to verify the compliance of the access and flow control requirements against the access and flow control policies.

Features:
- An easy to adapt language to specify and model access and flow control requirements
- Verifies the proper enforcement of information flow control policies
- Ensures analyzed access control requirements are consistent, complete and control-free
- Detects improper information flow as early as possible
- Cuts project costs and time
- Helps provide more secure systems
- Permits non-security experts to represent access control models, such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and workflow policies in an uncomplicated manner
- Flexible

Market Significance:
The software industry has a long felt need to integrate security with other functional requirements as early as possible during the requirements specification and analysis phases of the software development life cycle. Achieving this goal not only improves the security of the software and reduces maintenance costs, but also results in high quality, consistent software.

04-007: Voice Privacy and Secure Telecommunications Over Public Switched Telephone Networks

2004-01-07T05:42:00.000-05:00

This Mason technology can provide voice privacy and secure communications on public switched telephone networks.

This infrastructure houses two types of networks: a transport network and a signaling network.
Entry points can be a service switching point, a mobile switching center or a base station.
The telephone may encrypt and decrypt speech using at least one encryption key.

Features:
- Implemented at the ASE Layer of the SS7 Protocol Model
- Privacy to both Wireless and Wireline networks
- Certificate Authorities and Authentication Centers
- Cryptographic telephone sets
- Maintains Certificate Revocation Lists

Market Significance:
More and more American citizens are relying on electronic communications for a range of purposes, from communicating with their workplace to researching competitive analysis reports. In the process they are exposing more details of their lives (and businesses) to potential law enforcement surveillance, and are leaving increasingly revealing and easily captured "electronic footprints" or "packets" wherever they go.
An eavesdropper can easily monitor conversations.

Currently, existing security architectures in wireline and wireless telephone infrastructures fall short of providing end-to-end voice privacy, as well as authentication and/or access control for subscribers. This invention solves this problem by providing end-to-end voice privacy and eliminating the ability to "listen in" to private conversations.
Implementation occurs on top of existing architectures without major modifications.

04-016: CyberGIS: Performance Improvement Techniques for WebGIS

2004-01-06T05:43:00.000-05:00

CyberGIS introduces a unique set of techniques that when implemented in a clientserver web environment will improve system-wide performance for web-based GIS applications.

This patent pending technique is prototyped using a COM-based software developed in Java that is easily manipulated through a graphical user interface (GUI).
CyberGIS has the flexibility to handle the processing and transmission of large volumes of variable size images, concurrently, in highly distributed architectural environments.
The ability to support concurrent user requests without proccss impairment and subsequent performance degradation can eliminate system bottlenecks and provide critical information to multiple users in a fraction of traditional response times.
CyberGIS can be applied to both raster and vector based data schema and in performance comparison tests handled up to 1.2 Gbyte airborne photos when standard methods failed. This is a scalable solution that can accommodate future growth in demand.

- Disseminate and share voluminous and heterogeneous data
- Improves system performance and response times
- Scalable
- Supports raster and vector data formats
- Lowers network load

Market Significance:

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combine hardware, software, and procedures to capture, manage, manipulate, analyze, and display spatially referenced data.
Government agencies and private organizations alike often use GIS programs for everything from mapping to demographic information tracking. Use of GIS in the private sector is increasing, opening new markets for GIS vendors. A number of sectors can reap the rewards of GIS including financial institutions, law enforcement, healthcare, emergency services, research, consumer use, sales, and marketing. A flourishing GIS market has resulted in lower costs and ongoing enhancements in the hardware and software components of this technology. Additionally, services has grown to the second largest revenue generating market segment and accounted for 24% overall business revenues in 2002. As a result, such developments will lead to wider use of the technology throughout government, business, and industry. As a growing number of organizations outside the traditional boundaries of GIS are realizing that the high proportion of the data they have collected over the years has some kind of spatial dimensions, dissemination of large volumes of data coupled with mass user interations will require service providers to maintain a high level of service quality in order to compete.

04-005: Double-Gated SOl Ratioed Logic with "Intrinsically On" Symmetric DG-MOSFET Load

2004-01-05T05:41:00.000-05:00

As scaling of circuits continues deep into sub 90 nm it has become harder to fabricate without compromising performance and increasing cost. This DG fully depleted SOl MOSFET is an ideal technological choice for cutting edge nano-scale circuits.

- Predictable and controllable manufacturing costs.
Existing simple dual poly (n+/p+) process is required to fabricate these gates.
- Increased functionality and improved performance.
Near-ideal intrinsic features, small size, and small parasitic capacitance.
- Pseudo-nMOS/ratioed logic on SOl may be used in SOl custom-integrated circuits.
- Faster response characteristics at higher frequencies than equivalent CMOS devices.
- Devices may be constructed to dissipate less power than equivalent CMOS devices.
- Complex multi-input gates may be constructed with fewer devices and without performance penalties.
- Takes advantage of the "normally on" state of an SDG gate.

Description:

Double-Gated Silicon-On-Insulator (SOl) Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFET) are thought to be the most viable candidate in overcoming the scaling limits of bulk CMOS technology down to channe1lenghts of 50nm or less. This invention is a SOl MOSFET logic family, composed of ratioed logic with intrinsically "on" symmetric fully depleted double-gate (DG) SOl MOSFET load(s) and asymmetric fully depleted double gate MOSFET driver(s). These logic gates use a basic Pseudo-nMOS logic design, in which both PMOS and NMOS transistors are combined to produce logic elements. Certain parameters, such as noise margin, threshold voltage, and load current characteristics vs. output voltage make these gates more robust and a better design than conventional CMOS gates. So far, the logic family includes an inverter, a NAND gate, a NOR gate, two NAND gates, and an XOR gate.

03-033: Mobility Tracking for Cellular and Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

2003-03-03T05:34:00.000-05:00

Scientists at George Mason University have developed a new algorithm for robust mobility tracking in wireless ad hoc networks.

This novel approach tracks the mobility of nodes in a network based on pilot signal strength or RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) measurements The model is able to track and predict the location, velocity, and acceleration of mobile nodes and requires knowledge of only one network node as opposed to the knowledge of three points to track the position of a given mobile node.
Estimation of the state is performed by means of an extended Kalman filter coupled with a pre-filter.

Features:
- Tracks mobile nodes accurately in real-time
- Predict future mobility behavior in various kinds of propagation environments
- Ability to follow mobile trajectories accurately over a wide range of parameter values.
- Can be used in adaptive clustering and dynamic routing

Market Significance:
The effectiveness of any routing algorithm depends heavily on the accuracy and timeliness of the available network topology information. Existing geo-Iocation techniques based on GPS alone require clear line-of-sight and cannot be used in indoor and RFshadowed environments, and are not able to predict future mobility behavior.
Our mobility tracking model not only can predict future mobility behavior but does not require any prior knowledge of the coordinate of the reference nodes and is easily adaptable to indoor as well as outdoor propagation environments.

The absence of a fixed infrastructure in wireless ad hoc networks make has made them suitable for use in emergency situations as well as for low cost commercial systems. The mobility information provided by the tracking algorithm can be used to improve the performance of ad hoc routing algorithms, achieve higher network resource utilization, and improve quality of service for mobile users.

03-032: Gated Brain Imaging

2003-03-02T05:34:00.000-05:00

The brain has rhythmic cycles that detennine it's ability to respond to sensory stimulation but have never been able to time our presentation of such stimuli in real-time as a function of those cycles until now. This invention provides methods and devices for detennining brain phase, and for perfonning phase and state dependent imaging using modalities such as magnetic encephalography (MEG), functional resonance imaging (tMRI), and electroencephalograms (EEG).

Similar to the use of the cardiac EKG to time acquisition of CT and MRI images of the heart and lungs, brain phase gating is used to produce an image of the brain at a desired phase of the EEG cycle. Gated brain imaging can also detennine the neurological effects of agents on the brain, including psychotropic and other phannacologically-active agents. Sensory stimulation presented as a function of brain rhythms in real time include visual, auditory, and somatosensory.

Market Significance:
Gated brain imaging is a clear improvement in the study and diagnosis of neurological and sleeping disorders. Potential areas of diagnostic improvement include seizure disorders, tumors, head injuries, and degenerative neurological diseases. From determining how anesthetize a patient is to correlating brain-derived signals and how they pertain to behavioral or psychiatric conditions, this invention has demonstrated dramatic differences over traditional methods without regard to rhythms. The present invention is readily applied to EEG, MEG and tMRI tests and can be used in combination with diagnostic, feedback, behavior modification, and therapeutic methods that utilize EEG or other modalities.

- Captures accurate signals from the brain in a shortened time span
- Pennits collection of images at the same position in the EEG
- Behavioral or psychiatric conditions can be correlated with brain derived signals
- Images can be produced using any modality

03-025: Micro-droplet Cell Culture Technique

2003-02-05T05:33:00.000-05:00

Scientists at George Mason University have developed a hybrid process for cultivating cells. This method provides for growth of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms and is particularly suited to the cultivations of microbial, fungal, and bacterial cells in an aseptic environment.

Cells are cultivated in a plurality of individual isolated microdroplets in a liquid media that in essence provides a large number of small cell culture reactors. The formation of the micro-droplets occur by combining a liquid media inoculated with cell cultures and a hydrophobic solid such as silicon dioxide whereby a coating process transpires creating a slurry-like liquid. Space between the coated microdroplets provides adequate aeration although the introduction of other gases to optimize aeration can be integrated. Timing and the means of introducing inoculated media and hydrophobic particles can be varied to conform too existing large-scale processes in place and to regulate the size of the micro-droplets. The micro-droplets are cultured either by a batch or continuous flow and there is no need to concentrate cultures or remove hydrophobic particles in some applications. Consideration can also be given to maintaining cultivated cells within the hydrophobic micro-droplets for storage.

Market Significance:
The biotechnology industry is under constant pressure to increase efficiency, reduce production costs, and speed time to market. Faster, cleaner, and more efficient processes improve supply, lower costs, and increase profits. The micro-droplet cell culture technique addresses each of these industry challenges. The process exploits the most productive features of both surface and submerged cell culture methods to produce microorganism or tissue culture cells on a large scale while eliminating negative features inherent in both processes. Benefits include lower costs of production due to minimized space and effort, portability, reduced risk of contamination, and increased production yields since the process delivers extremely concentrated cultures. This process is well suited to large-scale production and storage and can be implemented throughout the "bio-processing" industry including vaccine and drug production, bioremediation, bio-mining, bio-extraction, bio-recovery, and bio-prospecting.

07-005, 03-023: Self Cleansing Systems

2003-02-03T05:35:00.000-05:00

Scientists at George Mason University have developed a series of "self-healing" computer systems that complement and strengthen existing intrusion prevention and detection technologies.

As computer systems become more complex they are increasingly vulnerable to cyber warfare. Current intrusion management systems rely heavily on the ability to detect intrusion events. However, "undetected" and "unknown" intrusions will occur and must be guarded against as well. The "self-healing" system was developed under the assumption that all systems communicating with the outside world are compromised. The Self-Cleansing Intrusion Tolerance, (SCIT), system does not eliminate the use of current intrusion management systems, but extends the idea of system "defense-in-depth: through periodic system cleansing. This system restricts attackers to a very short time window to breach a system and cause harm. Stateless firewalls and servers are relatively easy to "SCIT-ize". The latest SCIT embodiments utilize virtual single use servers. The present invention is compatible with many types of computing systems including web servers, file servers, DNS servers, and certification services.

Market Significance:
Despite our best efforts any network system that is connected to the Internet can or will be compromised. According to the 2003 CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey, the risk of cyber attacks continues to be high. The report found 75 percent of the 530 firms surveyed acknowledged financial losses, but only 47 percent could quantify the losses, which totaled more than $201 million dollars in 2003. Attacks against internet-connected systems have become so commonplace that CERT will no longer publish the number of incidents reported.

The survivability of your system is dependent on its ability to perform in a hostile environment and survive an attack that results in a successful intrusion. Numerous products exist to target "known" attack techniques. Industry analyst firm IDC estimates that companies will spend more than $12 billion dollars worldwide this year to protect themselves from these security threats. But what about the "unknown" and "undetected" cyber attacks? SCIT addresses these "unknown" and "undetected" cyber attacks. The ability to avoid or contain undetected attacks is an important step in protecting critical infrastructures such as: telecommunications, banking and finance, electrical power, oil and gas distribution and storage, water supply, transportation, emergency services, and government services from harm.

03-021: Fabricating Polymers for Optical Devices

2003-02-01T05:29:00.000-05:00

This Mason technology is a novel mild pre-processing method that imparts a uniform distribution of dye into a thermoplastic organic polymer such as plexiglas, mylar, and lexan.

Mixing occurs at the molecular level and the resulting blend is a uniformly colored polymer with minimal degradation to its optical properties. Both the dye and polymer are dissolved into a common solvent followed by precipitation into a polymer non-solvent. After evaporation of residual solvents, the polymer-dye mixture is ready for final processing.
Shorter melt mixing times is achieved with this process which constitutes a significant improvement in the pre-processing of materials requiring the use of dyes with nonlinear optical properties.

- Ensures file microphase dispersion
- Minimal loss of dye in the preparation
- Does not require preliminary synthetic manipulation of polymer or dyes
- Can be applied to any compatible polymer/dye system

Market Significance:
Standard industrial preparatory procedures are unable to provide a truly homogeneous mixture. While inhomogeneous mixtures may be acceptable where simple coloration is desired, it is not acceptable for new applications that require high dye concentrations and control of color dispersion. Melt processing, the most common method of preparation, can involve loss of up to 75% of the dye during the process which is significant if the dye is a high-cost specialty dye. Also, prolonged high temperatures in melt processing are known to cause degradation of the dye. Incorporating pigment using synthetic procedures is problematic in that the result of the process is slowed and can become very expensive Optical products, whether in the form of chemical sensors, chips, protective lenses, photonic storage and transport systems, or recordable media, require a strict dye control process.