NIST Technicalendar June 23 to June 27, 2008 The NIST Technicalendar is issued each Friday. All items MUST be submitted electronically from this web page by 12:00 NOON each Wednesday unless otherwise stated in the NIST Technicalendar. The address for online weekly editions of the NIST Technicalendar and NIST Administrative Calendar is: http://www.nist.gov/tcal/.

In this Issue: Meetings at NIST Meetings Elsewhere Announcements Talks by NIST Personnel NIST Web Site Announcements NIST Administrative Calendar (current)   NIST Vacancy Announcements (current)

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1:00 PM - Low-frequency dielectric properties of individual carbon nanotubes

10:00 AM - CGS Interferometry for Characterization of Wafer Deformation and Thin Film Stress
10:30 AM - Hyperspectral Imaging Utilizing LCTF and DLP Technology for Surgical and Clinical Applications
10:30 AM - Magnetic and dielectric properties of complex oxide thin films and multilayers
10:30 AM - Research in ultra-cold atoms and superconducting Josephson junctions

10:00 AM - Nanoparticle Surface Chemistry-Physical Property Relationships: From Impedance-Based Virus Sensing to Conductive Lubricants
10:30 AM - Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy of Paintings
10:30 AM - Measuring Up the U.S. Measurement System (USMS)

10:00 AM - Light Induced Charge Transfer in Nanoparticles: Ag and TiO2
12:00 PM - NCW brown bag - Improve your skills to negotiate and communicate
2:00 PM - Biomedical Imaging with X-ray & Bioluminescence
3:30 PM - Disease Signatures

10:00 AM - Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: A Quantitative Technique to Investigate Biomacromolecular Interactions and Dynamics in Complex Media
1:30 PM - In Situ Exploring the Properties of Nanomaterials and Nanostructures inside a TEM

6/23 -- MONDAY

1:00 PM - POLYMERS DIVISION SEMINAR: Low-frequency dielectric properties of individual carbon nanotubes
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have extremely rich dielectric properties due to intrinsic dielectric anisotropy and sample heterogeneity, namely, being metallic or semiconducting depending on the (n,m) structural indices. We recently reported the first quantitative measurement of low-frequency transverse dielectric constant of individual carbon nanotubes by using electric force microscopy (EFM) techniques.
Liwei Chen , Professor - Ohio University, Athens, OH, chenl1@ohio.edu.
224 Bldg, Rm. A312. (NIST Contact: Erik Hobbie, 301-975-6774, eric.hobbie@nist.gov)


6/24 -- TUESDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: CGS Interferometry for Characterization of Wafer Deformation and Thin Film Stress
The understanding and control of mechanical stresses accumulated during semiconductor device fabrication is becoming more critical at advanced technology nodes. For example, the incorporation of materials that impose stress on the channel can improve device performance (e.g. embedded SiGe for PMOS applications). However, stresses can also lead to defects (e.g. slip and micro-cracks) or even wafer breakage. Whether the goal is to improve performance or avoid defects, there is a need to measure accurately the stress and deformation induced by typical semiconductor processes. This talk will describe the use of a measurement technology, the Coherent Gradient Sensing (CGS) interferometer, for the characterization of deformation induced during semiconductor processing. The CGS system has two key features that enable the application to wafer deformation: 1) whole-wafer stress measurement with greater than 600,000 points on a 300mm wafer, 2) patterned wafer stress measurement that is highly insensitive to variations in device structures or materials. Details of the underlying technology and the capabilities of the instrument (CGS-300) will be discussed, as well as how the CGS measurement, based on curvature change, relates to micro-scale techniques such as XRD or micro-Raman spectroscopy. The high point density of the CGS measurement enables not only the characterization of the magnitude of wafer bow and warp, but the local stress uniformity. Data from the CGS tool has been used to characterize a variety of semiconductor processes and examples related to thin film deposition, millisecond anneal and lithography mis-alignment will be discussed.
David Owen , Ultratech.
Materials Bldg, Rm. B307. (NIST Contact: Robert Cook, 301-975-3207, robert.cook@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION SEMINAR: Hyperspectral Imaging Utilizing LCTF and DLP Technology for Surgical and Clinical Applications
K. Zuzak , Univ. of Texas, Arlington, TX.
Bldg. 220, Rm. B348. (NIST Contact: M. Litorja, 301-975-8095, maritoni.litorja@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: Magnetic and dielectric properties of complex oxide thin films and multilayers
Oxides are of interest for fundamental studies and technological applications due to their wide range of electronics properties (metallic, insulating, superconducting) and polarizable behaviors (ferroelectric, ferromagnetic). In addition, the properties of oxides at surfaces and interfaces often differ from the bulk materials. For example, many of the oxides predicted to be half metals (i.e., 100% spin-polarization) show lower than expected magnetoresistances in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Also, ferroelectric oxides often have much higher dielectric losses in thin films versus bulk single crystals. Magnetism and transport in MTJs will be discussed as a way to probe the interface behavior in magnetic thin films. In particular, MTJs with electrodes of magnetite Fe3O4 and the colossal magnetoresistance material La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO), which are magnetic materials predicted to be half metals, were studied with both magnetic and nonmagnetic insulating barrier layers in order to understand the effect of magnetic moments in the barrier. The junction behavior was examined as a function of barrier thickness, bias, and temperature in order to determine the conduction mechanisms at work in the junctions. In addition, the effects of strain on the microwave electronic properties of ferroelectric thin films were studied because these materials hold promise for microwave applications due to their high tunability of the dielectric constant and low loss at microwave frequencies. The dielectric properties of barium strontium titanate films were examined as a function of lattice structure distortion. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements were used to probe the local atomic structure of the films. These results helped in analyzing the microwave measurements and supported theoretical modeling of the film strain effects, which heavily depended on the direction of strain, the presence of strain-induced permanent polarization, and (if present) the direction of the permanent polarization with respect to the direction of the electric field.
Lisa Alldredge , NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate/Naval Research Lab.
217 Bldg, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Robert McMichael, 301-975-5121, robert.mcmichael@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Research in ultra-cold atoms and superconducting Josephson junctions
I will present recent research on two disparate systems: ultra-cold atoms and a superconducting dc SQUID. In both cases the focus has been on their use in quantum information. For the ultra-cold atoms we studied the dynamics of two atoms in a double-well potential created by counter propagating laser beams. The asymmetry of the double well could be changed in time, which allows the two atoms to get entangled. For the dc SQUID, which contains two Josephson junctions, we investigated their quantum behavior when subjected to microwave radiation. I will introduce both physical systems and will highlight their relationship.
Eite Tiesinga , Joint Quantum Institute and NIST.
221 Bldg, Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: Ako Chijioke, 301-975-5977, achijiok@nist.gov)


6/25 -- WEDNESDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Nanoparticle Surface Chemistry-Physical Property Relationships: From Impedance-Based Virus Sensing to Conductive Lubricants
Nanoparticles have attracted broad-based appeal in fundamental and applied research in diverse fields ranging from electronics to biosensors. To better understand how engineered nanoparticles can be tailored to specific applications, a greater understanding of nanoparticle surface chemistry-physical property relationships is highly desirable. This talk will focus on two approaches taken to probe these relationships. The first approach focuses on using impedance AFM to probe the species-specific surface chemistry of viruses to develop pathogen identification at highly sensitive levels, which is crucial to meet urgent needs in fighting the spread of disease or detecting bioterrorism events. The design, development, and implementation of the impedance AFM for an Asylum Research platform will be described, as well as its application towards studying the impedance of individual nanoparticles as a model system for understanding how the life cycle chemistry of a virus might affect its electrical properties. The second approach focuses on liquid-like gold nanoparticle assemblies. Nanoparticles assemblies exhibiting flowability in the absence of a solvent have applications from conductive lubricants to processing methods using greener chemistry (requiring zero VOC). In general, the unique rheological character is achieved with single component organic shells or coronas comprised of covalently attached anions stoichiometricly balanced by bulky organic cations. A systematic series of gold nanoparticle liquids with two-component coronas were synthesized using components hypothesized to increase conductivity while maintaining flowability. Detailed chemical characterization confirms control over sample purity and exchange rate of the components, while resistance measurements revealed for example increased molar volume decreases the electrical performance. These nanoparticle liquids have been shown to increase the durability of electrical relays such as RF MEMS by over three orders of magnitude relative to bare gold contacts. Based on this example of using nanoparticle liquids as conductive lubricants, further electronic materials applications could be enabled by this class of material based on understanding the structure-property relationships of the nanoparticles' surface chemistry.
Robert MacCuspie , National Research Council/Air Force Research Lab.
Materials Bldg, Rm. B307. (NIST Contact: Robert Cook, 301-975-3207, robert.cook@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION SEMINAR: Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectroscopy of Paintings
J. Delaney , Scientific Research Dept., National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.
Bldg. 220, Rm. B348. (NIST Contact: M. Litorja, 301-975-8095, maritoni.litorja@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, NIST SEMINAR: Measuring Up the U.S. Measurement System (USMS)
The United States Measurement System (USMS) encompasses all private and public organizations that develop, supply, use, or ensure the validity of measurement solutions. Together, these entities provide and apply the tools required by science and industry to accelerate innovation. However, as cycles to commercialize products based on technological innovation continue to accelerate, so, too, does the need for measurement solutions to enable these products. In order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the entire USMS, and therefore the nation's innovation infrastructure, the USMS Office at NIST is developing and implementing a Measurement Knowledge Hub that will serve as a "meeting place" for measurement solution providers and users. The Hub will contain a set of unique tools/characteristics to provide access to measurement knowledge and also will include continually evolving Measurement Needs and Solutions Databases that will serve as a foundation for tailorable analyses and assessments. Examples of the use of this infrastructure will be presented, including a look at early results in the area of nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety.
Clare Allocca , Technology Services.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: John Messina, 301-975-4284, john.messina@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available


6/26 -- THURSDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Light Induced Charge Transfer in Nanoparticles: Ag and TiO2
This talk will consider photo-induced charge transfer in two nanoscale systems: Ag plasmonic nanoparticles and TiO2 – dopamine – DNA triads. In the first system, plasmon excitation induces surface reactivity on the silver particles. Irreversible donation of electrons into the particle causes a measurable cathodic shift in the particle potential. The reactivity is understood in terms of enhanced reactivity of particle "hot" holes. In the second system dopamine binding onto under coordinated titanium surface atoms creates a charge transfer complex. Upon excitation holes reside on the dopamine and electrons accumulate in the conduction band of TiO¬2. When ds-DNA is bound to TiO2 through a dopamine linker, holes are transferred onto guanine sites. Progress towards a plasmonic biological nanoscale composite will be discussed.
Peter Redmond , University of Chicago.
Materials Bldg, Rm. B307. (NIST Contact: Robert Cook, 301-975-3207, robert.cook@nist.gov)

12:00 PM - OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, NIST SEMINAR: NCW brown bag - Improve your skills to negotiate and communicate
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Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. D. (NIST Contact: kathleen McTigue, 301-975-8530, katleen.mctigue@nist.gov)

2:00 PM - PHYSICS LABORATORY IONIZING RADIATION DIVISION SEMINAR: Biomedical Imaging with X-ray & Bioluminescence
Clinical CT scanners are under rapid development towards cone-beam geometry, while pre-clinical micro-CT scanners are already in cone-beam geometry. Despite the importance of cone-beam CT, image reconstruction algorithms are not fully developed. To address this, an interior tomography approach that has numerous implications in biomedical and other applications will be discussed. In addition, molecular imaging plays an instrumental role in the advancement of medicine. The optical molecular imaging allows unique understanding of biologic interactions at molecular and cellular levels in mouse models of almost all the human diseases. Bioluminescence tomography is an emerging technology in this area of research. Related photon transport modeling, source inversion and system prototyping for bioluminescence tomography will be presented.
Ge Wang , Pritchard Professor & Director of Biomedical Imaging Division, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA.
Bldg. 245, Rm. C301. (NIST Contact: Muhammad Arif, 301-975-6303, muhammad.arif@nist.gov)

3:30 PM - SURF SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES: Disease Signatures
The future of biology and medicine depends on the development of technologies and research approaches that embrace the high degree of complexity in biological systems. Therapeutic or preventative interventions will be based on "disease signatures" --unique descriptors that can be definitive markers of health status -- which will be derived from the integration of quantitative and qualitative measurements (biochemical, biophysical and bioelectronic) of hundreds or thousands of biomolecules and/or intermolecular and cellular interactions. Likewise the next generation of health assessment diagnostic tests will be based on multiplex determinations constituting a unique complex signature rather than single markers of biological activities. The shift to signature analysis in diagnostics will help to enable routine health status monitoring that uses each person's own signatures of wellness and disease as the controls against which to detect pathologic changes. This new focus will enable a new comprehensive and integrated approach to wellness that includes prevention of disease, early detection of disease risk and individualized treatment plans for individual patients. The new approach to wellness, in turn, may help control the rising cost of health care, for which spending now consumes nearly one fifth of the U.S. gross national product. This lecture will highlight current needs and future opportunities of this important sector of biosciences.
Michael Amos , Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Anita Sweigert, 301-975-4201, anita.sweigert@nist.gov)
Special Assistance; Contact A. Sweigert a week in advance.


6/27 -- FRIDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: A Quantitative Technique to Investigate Biomacromolecular Interactions and Dynamics in Complex Media
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has emerged as a powerful quantitative technique to probe and assess biomolecular interactions, especially in solutions. However, many systems – biological and non-biological- are crowded and spatially-heterogeneous, and biological reactions occur typically in the presence of many competing events. Ongoing efforts are being made to exploit the advantages of FCS as well as fluorescence correlation microscopy in studies of biomolecular interactions and transport in these complex systems. Here, one faces various challenges in these studies, especially in the interpretation of the measurements. In this talk, I will introduce briefly the technique and then describe the results of several studies where we have investigated systematically and quantitatively the assembly, the diffusion, and the binding of various biomacromolecules in their respective host medium. Examples are the formation and stability of closed structures of proteins such as tubulin rings and clathrin baskets; the diffusion of different nanoparticles (~1-100 nm) in poly(vinyl-alcohol) solutions and gels; and the motility of pathogens (i.e HIV viruses) in human mucus. During the talk I will point out at the advantages as well as possible limitations of FCS when the technique is used in these complex media.
Hacene Boukari , National Institutes of Health.
Materials Bldg, Rm. B307. (NIST Contact: Robert Cook, 301-975-3207, robert.cook@nist.gov)

1:30 PM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: In Situ Exploring the Properties of Nanomaterials and Nanostructures inside a TEM
Studying the dynamic behavior of materials/device in response to external stimuli such as stress, temperature and electrical fields can provide important and novel understanding towards better applications. In situ TEM is a powerful tool for this purpose due to its high spatial & time resolution. Using in situ TEM tensile technique with dark field observation, for the first time, we provided compelling experimental evidence of grain boundary mediated plasticity in nanocrystalline Ni, which has been sought for many years (Shan et al, Science, 2004 and 2005; Shan et al, PRL, 2007 and 2008). More recently, we have developed a quantitative in situ TEM mechanical testing device with which, we can perform miniaturized compression tests inside a TEM and build one-to-one relationship between the mechanical data (force, displacement vs. time) and the microstructure when materials are subjected programmed deformation. In this talk, we will demonstrate that submicrometre nickel crystals with high density initial defects can be made dislocation free by applying purely mechanical stress. This phenomenon, termed 'mechanical annealing', leads to clear evidence of source-limited deformation where atypical hardening occurs through the progressive activation and exhaustion of dislocations sources (Shan et al, Nature Materials, 2008). Lastly, a discussion on in situ TEM techniques that hold great promise to improve our understanding of the origins of mechanical, thermal, electrical properties and of how these properties coupled will be presented.
Zhiwei Shan , Senior Scientist.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: James Liddle, 301-975-6050, james.liddle@nist.gov)


ADVANCE NOTICE

6/30/08 10:00 AM - SIMA SEMINAR SERIES: The Institute for Systems Research - A Model for Interdisciplinary and Systems Research
The Institute for Systems Research (ISR) is a permanent, interdisciplinary research unit in the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. It is home to cross disciplinary research and education programs in systems engineering and sciences, and is committed to developing basic solution methodologies and tools for systems problems in a variety of application domains. ISR-based projects are conducted through partnerships with industry and government, bringing together faculty and students from multiple academic departments and colleges across the university. ISR began as one of the National Science Foundation's first Engineering Research Centers in 1985. It attained permanent institute status at the University of Maryland in 1992 and graduated from the NSF program in 1996. In this talk, we will describe the ISR model as a benchmark for interdisciplinary and, of course, systems research. We will provide a perspective on how it all works, and how it enables ISR to tackle multidisciplinary problems that couldn't really be addressed well within the confines of a single university department. Specific examples will be used to illustrate the ISR model, from the areas of neuroscience, manufacturing systems, systems engineering, cell-based sensors, manufacturing equipment and processes, and communications and control.
Prof. Eyad Abed , Director, Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Mr. Jeffrey Coriale, Director of External Relations, Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. A. (NIST Contact: Steve Ray, 301-975-3524, ray@nist.gov)

7/1/08 10:30 AM - ITL SEMINAR SERIES: Social Network Concept Analysis
Abstract: We provide Social Network Concept Analysis (SNCA) as a new foundation for the analysis of scientific collaboration networks. In traditional Social Network Analysis (SNA), analytical measurements on individual actors include betweeness, centrality, prestige; global network properties include connectedness, density, symmetry and centralization. Such measurements have been performed on scientific collaboration networks of all types and shapes. For such studies, measurement outcome is clearly dependent on how networks are delineated and yet what constitutes a scientific collaboration network is a topic never studied with sufficient scientific rigor before. A principled methodology for the delineation of scientific co-authorship network is precisely what SNCA offers. This talk will cover (1) a mathematical definition of social network based on Formal Concept Analysis; (2) an algorithm for identifying scientific communities; (3) experimental results; (4) the utility of SNCA for vertical digital libraries, the topic of an earlier seminar presented at NIST by the same speaker. Bio: Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Cambridge University, 1990. He joined the University of Georgia in 1989 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1996 after returning from a two year leave from the AI Lab at the University of Michigan. He is currently Full Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Director of Informatics of the Center for Clinical Investigation, Case Western Reserver University. Professor Zhang's research interests broadly lie in theoretical and applied computer science. They include programming language semantics, formal concept analysis, ontological engineering, information retrieval and biomedical imaging informatics. Professor Zhang is internationally known for his work in domain theory. He is a founding member of the conference series International Symposium on Domain Theory and the International Conference on the Foundations of Informatics, Computing and Software. He is the book series Editor of Chapmann and Hall/CRC Press' Studies in Informatics. Professor Zhang has authored over 70 publications in computer science theory and applications, and lead the development of software systems including MIMI, for multi-modality, multi-resource information integration.
Dr. Guoqiang Zhang , Case Western Reserve University.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. A. (NIST Contact: Larry Reeker, 301-975-5147, larry.reeker@nist.gov)

7/2/08 1:30 PM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: Control, Characterization and Sensing at the Nanoscale Using Piezoelectric Devices
Piezoelectric-driven systems such as nanopositioning platforms, scanning probe microscopes, and nanomechanical cantilever probes are advantageous devices enabling molecular-level imaging, manipulation, characterization, and sensing in disciplines ranging from materials science to physics and biology. Such emerging applications require precise modeling, control and manipulation of objects, components and subsystems ranging in sizes from few nanometers to micrometers. The first part of the presentation briefly reviews some of the recent studies on the modeling and control of piezoactive micro and nano-positioning systems. More specifically, it is shown that the precision control of nano-positioning platforms is limited by the multiple-loop hysteresis phenomenon, nonlinear cross-coupling effect, and parametric uncertainties. Along this line, the development of a precise memory-based hysteresis model for feedforward tracking as well as a Lyapunov-based robust-adaptive controller for feedback tracking control of nano-positioning stages are presented. Although it is seen that hysteresis is the most degrading factor in feedforward control, it can be effectively compensated through a robust feedback control design. Moreover, an adaptive controller can enhance the performance of closed-loop system that suffers from parametric uncertainties at high-frequency operations. The second part of the presentation discusses new developments in modeling and system identification of PZT-driven Active Probes as advantageous nanomechanical cantilevers in various applications including tapping mode AFM and biomass sensors. Due to the discontinuous cross-section of Active Probes, a general framework is developed and presented for multiple-mode vibration analysis of system. Application in the precise picogram scale mass detection is then presented using frequency-shift method. This approach can benefit the characterization of DNA solutions or other biological species for medical applications.
Saeid Bashash , PhD Candidate, Clemson University. ,.
Bldg 217, Rm H107. (NIST Contact: James Liddle, 301-975-6050, james.liddle@nist.gov)

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


6/23 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/24 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/25 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/26 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/27 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

KESSEL, R. : EVALUATION OF UNCERTAINTY IN CHEMICAL KINETICS.
AMCTM 2008 : Advanced Mathematical and Computational Tools in Metrology and Testing, Paris, France, 6/24.

DUONG, T. : ELECTRO-THERMAL SIMULATION OF A 100 A, 10 KV HALF-BRIDGE SIC MOSFET/JBS POWER MODULE.
PESC 2008, Rhodes, Greece, 6/17.

PLUSQUELLIC, D. : EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL STUDIES OF WATER-VAPOR CONTINUUM ABSORPTION IN THE THZ REGION FROM 0.3 TO 2.7 THZ.
HITRAN (High-Resolution Transmission) Meeting, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, MA, USA, 6/23.

DOUGLAS, J. : THE LOCALIZATION MODEL OF RUBBER ELASTICITY.
Polymers Networks Group Conference, Larnoca, Cyrpus, 6/23.

VERKOUTEREN, M. : LIMIT OF DETECTION IN TRACE CONTRABAND DETECTORS.
ASTM Committee Conference, Denver, CO, 6/24.

JACH, T. : MICROCALORIMETER X-RAY DETECTOR: A TRUE PARADIGM SHIFT IN X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY.
21st International Conference on X-ray and Inner-shell Processes, Paris, France, 6/24.

WU, W. : MOLECULAR MECHANISM AND CHAIN DYNAMICS IN DOUBLE NETWORK HYDROGELS.
Polymer Networks Group Conference, Larnaca, Cyprus, 6/24.

FONG, J. (Co-Author: R.deWit ) : DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS APPROACH TO VERIFICATION AND UNCERTAINTY ESTIMATION OF SIMULATIONS BASED ON FINITE ELEMENT METHOD.
2008 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Pittsburgh, PA, 6/25.

DUNKERS, J. : QUANTITATION OF LAMININ ADSORBED ONTO PDMS SURFACES.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2008 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marriott Resort, Marco Island, Florida, USA, 6/25.

HAMADANI, B. : CAPACITANCE-VOLTAGE CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER-BASED ORGANIC THIN-FILM TRANSISTORS.
Electronic Materials Conference (EMC 2008), Santa Barbara, CA USA, 6/25.

RICHTER, C. (Co-Authors: N.Gergel-Hackett B.Hamadani ) Suehle, JS, Hacker, CA, Richter LJ, Gundlach, D : A FLEXIBLE TITANIUM DIOXIDE BASED MEMORY.
The 50th Electronic Materials Conference, Santa Barbara, CA, 6/26.

CHIANG, M. : CONTRIBUTED: FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AND EMPIRICAL SOLUTION FOR FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES UNDERGOING LARGE EQUIBIAXIAL STRAINS.
ASME (American Society Of Mechanical Engineers), Marriott Resort, Marco Island, Florida USA, 6/26.

SAUNDERS, B. : TENSOR PRODUCT B-SPLINE MESH GENERATION FOR ACCURATE SURFACE VISUALIZATIONS IN THE NIST DIGITAL LIBRARY OF MATHEMATICAL FUNCTIONS.
Seventh International Conference on Mathematical Methods for Curves and Surfaces, Tonsberg, Norway, 6/26.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

NCNR SUMMER SCHOOL 2008 POSTER SESSION
The NCNR Summer School will be holding a poster session on Monday, June 23, 2008, at 1:15 p.m. where participants will be presenting their research; from polymers and biophysics to magnetism and chemistry. This is a great opportunity for you to talk to young students about their interests and to learn about new and exciting science. Posters will be located in Bldg. 235. Open to all.
NIST Contact: Yamali Hernandez, 301-975-5295, yamali@nist.gov

TECHNIPUBS
Due to technical issues, the NIST TechniPubs is being taken off line. To locate NIST publications, search the NIST Research Library's Online Catalog on the NVL (http://nvl.nist.gov) To get help searching the Online Catalog, please contact the Information Desk at library@nist.gov.
NIST Contact: Information Desk, 301-975-3052, library@nist.gov

VISITOR REGISTRATION FOR NIST EVENTS
Because of heightened security at the NIST Gaithersburg site, members of the public who wish to attend meetings, seminars, lectures, etc. must first register in advance. For more information please call or e-mail the "NIST Contact" for the particular event you would like to attend.
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INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB)
Research Involving Human Subjects Individuals at NIST who wish to do, or wish to sponsor any research involving human subjects, including human cells or tissue, are required by Federal regulations to obtain approval before embarking on the research. This includes: -Research conducted here at NIST by NIST employees or guest workers -Collaborative research with others outside of NIST, including CRADAs and other agreements -Research funded by NIST through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements The current procedures for approving projects involving human subjects can be found in the NIST Administrative Manual Subchapter 14.01, Protection of Human Subjects (www-i.nist.gov/admin/mo/adman/1401.htm). These procedures ensure that the proposed research is in compliance with the applicable DOC Regulations, 15 CFR 27 (www.doc.gov/oebam/gforms.htm, click on 15CFR27 to download). NIST's Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews and approves those research proposals that require review except in cases where an outside IRB has jurisdiction. The NIST IRB is described in Administrative Manual Subchapter 3.01, Appendix A (www-i.nist.gov/admin/mo/adman/301irb.htm). These regulations are broader than many people realize, and involve more than, for example, just invasive medical procedures. They can also cover volunteers participating in questionnaires and surveys and people testing computer software. All research involving human subjects and being conducted at an institution outside of NIST that has not been determined to be exempt from the Federal policy by the appropriate NIST OU Director needs to have an approval from that institution's Institutional Review Board (IRB) or from an IRB that is currently registered with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), DHHS. In addition, the institution conducting the research involving human subjects must have a current Federal-wide Assurance (FWA) on file with OHRP. The outside IRB's approval will be subject to concurrence by NIST. The NIST IRB Chair reviews the documentation provided by the outside researchers and IRB and recommends approval or disapproval to the NIST Deputy Director, with the concurrence of the Chief Counsel for NIST. Research being conducted at NIST by NIST employees that has not been determined to be exempt by the appropriate NIST OU Director must be reviewed by the NIST IRB (formerly called The NIST Human Research Ethics Committee). The use of human subjects in the project may not begin until the Chief Counsel for NIST has concurred with the IRB's recommendation to approve the project and the Deputy Director of NIST has approved it. Signatures required before the proposal is sent to the NIST IRB include that of the Group Leader and Division Chief (who approve the scientific merit of the research), and the Laboratory Director (who determines whether it is exempt). An OU Director's exemption determination must receive concurrence from the Chief Counsel for NIST and then be forwarded to the NIST IRB Acting Chair, Dr. Lisa R. Karam for noting and filing. For more information, contact the NIST IRB Secretary, Janet Brumby, (301) 975-3189 or email: brumby@nist.gov or visit our website at: http://www-i.nist.gov/director/IRB/ (For best viewing of all pages associated with this website, your monitor should have a display setting of 800 by 600 and in Microsoft Internet Explorer). All correspondence should be mailed to Mail Stop 1710.
NIST Contact: Janet Brumby, 301-975-3189, janet.brumby@nist.gov

2008 WORLD STANDARDS DAY PAPER COMPETITION
The U.S. standards community will celebrate World Standards Day on Thursday, October 23, 2008, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The theme for this year's celebration, "Intelligent and Sustainable Buildings," recognizes the critical role of standards and conformity assessment programs in ensuring safety requirements; facilitating coordination among contractors, builders, engineers, and architects; and incorporating new technologies in design and construction. In conjunction with this year's event, the 2008 World Standards Day sponsors, including NIST will hold the annual paper competition. The 2008 World Standards Day Paper Competition invites papers that use specific examples to show ways that standards and conformity assessment programs are used for intelligent and sustainable buildings. Paper competition winners will be announced and given their awards at the US celebration of World Standards Day. The first place winner will receive a plaque and $2,500. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively, along with a certificate. In addition, the winning papers will be published in SES's journal, "Standards Engineering." ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to U.S.-based individuals in the private sector, government, or academia. Papers may be co-authored. RULES: Entries must be original and not previously published. NIST papers must be processed through WERB or BERB. All paper contest submissions must be received with an official entry form by midnight on August 29, 2008, by the SES Executive Director, 13340 SW 96th Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33176. Complete details and official entry forms are available on the SES website www.ses-standards.org (follow the link for "2008 WSD Paper Competition.") For additional information about the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day, or to register for the event, please visit www.wsd-us.org.
NIST Contact: Mary Donaldson, 301-975-6197, mary.donaldson@nist.gov

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NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS

No Web Site announcements this week.

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For more information, contact Ms. Sharon Hallman, Editor, Stop 2500, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD 20899-2500; Telephone: 301-975-TCAL (3570); Fax: 301-926-4431; or Email: tcal@nist.gov.

All lectures and meetings are open unless otherwise stated.

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