Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013 2013 ESPP Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 2013 ESPP Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Grant and Contract Revenue From USA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Grant and Contract Revenue From USA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Grant and Contract Revenue From USA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Grant and Contract Revenue From USA [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Grant And Contract Revenue From Outside United States [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Grant And Contract Revenue From Outside United States [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Grant And Contract Revenue From Outside United States [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Grant And Contract Revenue From Outside United States [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Accounts Receivable [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Majority Owned Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 General Use [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Certificates of Deposit [Member] Beyond [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Certificates of Deposit [Member] Less Than [Member]
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value (in Dollars)	$ 14,312,921	$ 25,652,083	$ 12,188,573	$ 22,872,589
Other Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value (in Dollars)	1,500,000	13,000,000
Cash and Highly Liquid Investments Maturity	90 days
Subsidiary Cash Total (in Dollars)																3,500,000
General Use Cash Total (in Dollars)																	$ 10,800,000
Short-Term Investments Maturity																		3 months	1 year
Concentration Risk, Percentage							48.10%	23.20%	39.50%	88.00%	51.90%	76.80%	60.50%	12.00%
Credit Term															30 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)	10,000,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in Shares)	2,100,000					2,100,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Number of Shares Per Employee (in Shares)	400,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Percentage Of The Total Number Of Shares Of Common Stock Outstanding Of The Preceding Year					10.00%
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Limited Per Year (in Shares)					200,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Employee Subscription Rate					15.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Offering Date					85.00%