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JULY 26 TO JULY 30, 1999
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://nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/calendars/.

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AT A GLANCE - MEETINGS AT NIST

MONDAY - 7/26
10:30 AM - Nuclear Chemistry Challenge: The Long-Sought Plutonium Isotope - Pu-231
TUESDAY - 7/27
10:00 AM - Combinatorial Materials Chemistry and High-Throughput Experimentation: Measurement, Characterization, Informatics, and Standard Issues
10:30 AM - Char Formation During Combustion of Polymers
WEDNESDAY - 7/28
1:00 PM - The Kinetics and Thermochemistry of Reactions of Selected Oxygen-Containing Free Radicals
THURSDAY - 7/29
1:30 PM - Special Functions and Exponentially Improved Asymptotics
FRIDAY - 7/30
10:00 AM - Analysis of Layered Materials by X-Ray Fluorescence
11:00 AM - Nanostructured Single Macromolecules
1:30 PM - Vortex Generation in a Degenerate Bose Gas

MEETINGS AT NIST

7/26 -- MONDAY

10:30 AM - IONIZING RADIATION DIVISION SEMINAR: Nuclear Chemistry Challenge: The Long-Sought Plutonium Isotope - Pu-231
Carola Laue , Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Bldg 245, Rm. C301. (NIST Contact: Kenneth G.W. Inn, 301-975-5541, kenneth.inn@nist.gov)



7/27 -- TUESDAY

10:00 AM - SURFACE AND MICROANALYSIS SCIENCE DIVISION SEMINAR: Combinatorial Materials Chemistry and High-Throughput Experimentation: Measurement, Characterization, Informatics, and Standard Issues
What are the issues that hamper application of the principles of combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening, now validated for drug discover, to the discovery and optimization of new materials such as heterogeneous catalysts? Materials chemistry does pose differing questions. The overall high-throughput experimentation (HTE) process here comprises four aspects: synthesis, processing, characterization and testing, and requires an interdisciplinary mix of Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Computation disciples. Combinatorial chemistry contributes to synthesis and processing, but the synthesis machineery developed for pharmaceuticals applies directly to only a subset of cases. Characterization must now extend beyond identity, purity and yield to encompass various measures of structure. Additionally, the development of a suitable testing format, which will be the rate-limiting step for many chemicals and materials problems, will often require a fresh approach to measurement that can be applied to small amounts of material and, often, with less precision than traditional measurements. These are, in general, solvable problems. Work by several groups suggests that experimental throughput can indeed be increased by 2-3 orders of magnitude, although the requirement of a certain base-level of infrastructure, that combines chemistry, computation, informatics, and the various engineering components necessary for HTE, can be a significant impediment to progress. A personal perspective on the status of the high throughput experimentation field, and on development opportunities will be presented, touching on issues associated with miniaturization and automation, computation and informatics, characterization, and business models, including the academic-government-industry inferface.
John Newsam , Molecular Simulations, Inc., San Diego, CA.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. D. (NIST Contact: Richard Cavanagh, 301-975-2368, richard.cavanagh@nist.gov)


10:30 AM - FIRE SCIENCE DIVISION SEMINAR: Char Formation During Combustion of Polymers
Joseph Green , Fire Retardant Materials Consultant, FMC Corporation Research Fellow (retired), Jamesburg, NJ.
Polymer Bldg, Rm. B245. (NIST Contact: Rik Johnsson, 301-975-3083, rikj@nist.gov) http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/info/seminars/july27-99.green.htm



7/28 -- WEDNESDAY

1:00 PM - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES DIVISION SEMINAR: The Kinetics and Thermochemistry of Reactions of Selected Oxygen-Containing Free Radicals
This presentation will deal with three topics selected from our recent gas kinetics results. These are: 1. Structure-reactivity relationship in the reaction series of hydroxyl radical and bromine atom reactions with aliphatic aldehydes. 2. Reactions and thermochemistry of carbonyl radicals. 3. The branching ratio of radical-radical reactions involving oxygen-containing free radicals.
Tibor Berces , Dept. of Reaction Kinetics, Central Research Inst. for Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
PHYS Bldg, Rm. A366. (NIST Contact: Jeffrey Hudgens, 301-975-2512, jeffrey.hudgens@nist.gov)



7/29 -- THURSDAY

1:30 PM - MATHEMATICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES DIVISION SEMINAR: Special Functions and Exponentially Improved Asymptotics
Exponential asymptotics has been an extremely busy field of research in the last 10 years. Compared with the normal asymptotic expansions, the new hyperasymptotic expansions give more accurate approximations, are valid in larger sectors, and incorporate the Stokes phenomenon and the terms beyond all orders. The main difference with the original Poincare asymptotic expansions is that more complicated functions are used. I will give the definitions of the functions that are being used in exponential asymptotics and show how they can be computed.
Adri Daalhuis , University of Edinburgh.
NIST North, Room 618. (NIST Contact: Daniel Lozier, 301-975-2706, lozier@cam.nist.gov)



7/30 -- FRIDAY

10:00 AM - ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY DIVISION SEMINAR: Analysis of Layered Materials by X-Ray Fluorescence
The analysis of layered materials, coatings and thin layers, in the steel industry and other industries is becoming more important, both for research investigations and process control. The problem for such analyses is the absence of suitable certified reference materials. However, if the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) techniques is combined with fundamental parameter software, the common bulk type of certified reference materials can often be used to calibrate the spectrometer. In the analysis, the description of the sample to be analyzed. briefly called sample model leads to the selection of characteristic lines used in the analysis, and the selection of reference materials. This will be discussed with pros and cons of the fundamental parameter calculations used and will be illustrated with some examples.
Dr. Mark Dirken , Philips Analytical X-Ray, Almelo.
ACSL Bldg 227, Rm. A202. (NIST Contact: John Sieber, 301-975-3920, john.sieber@nist.gov)


11:00 AM - POLYMERS DIVISION SEMINAR: Nanostructured Single Macromolecules
Manfred Schmidt , Institute for Physical Chemistry, Johannes-Gutenberg Univ., Mainz, GE.
Bldg 224, Rm. B245. (NIST Contact: Charles Han, 301-975-6772, charles.han@nist.gov)


1:30 PM - HIGH PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS AND SERVICES DIVISION SEMINAR: Vortex Generation in a Degenerate Bose Gas
Bose-Einstein condensation in a dilute atomic gas, first produced at JILA in 1995, has proved to be a remarkably robust system for the generation of coherent matter waves, and it may be a key enabling technology for the emerging field of "atom optics." We are developing first-principles techniques for modeling the dynamics of condensates of several million atoms, for applications to atom laser design and nanokelvin thermometry. One of the outstanding issues in this field is the preservation of the coherence of the condensate wavefunction under conditions of excitation. I will describe recent results obtained in collaboration with David Feder (PL) and Barry Schneider (NSF). Peter Ketcham, Bill George, and Steve Satterfield of the Scientific Applications Support Project (ITL) have provided invaluable assistance in generating the stereoscopic color animations that I will present.
Charles Clark , Chief, Electron and Optical Physics Division, NIST.
Bldg 225, Rm. B131. (NIST Contact: Judith Devaney, 301-975-2882, judith.devaney@nist.gov)



ADVANCE NOTICE

8/3/99 11:00 AM - BIOTECHNOLOGY DIVISION SEMINAR: INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY ON LIVING CELLS AND TISSUES AS A TOOL FOR GENERATING BIOCHEMICAL IMAGES: FROM BACTERIA TO PLANT CELLS AND MAMMALIAN TISSUES
Infrared radiation has been employed for over a century to characterize and identify inorganic and organic matter. Most often small molecules were at the center of the attention, but more recently, bio-organic materials such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and cell wall polymers, have surfaced as typical samples for vibrational spectroscopic analysis. Due to the inherent advantages of modern Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and the application of computerized methods, it is possible today to apply this technique to complex samples such as biofluids, cells and tissues. Since the biochemical composition in cells and tissues can vary quite extensively, mathematical pattern recognition procedures such as cluster analysis and multivariate statistics can be applied to these spectra, allowing for example, the distinction of normal from abnormal cell changes. This concept has successfully been applied to the classification and identification of bacteria and yeast and is also used to determine antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In more biomedical applications, spectroscopists and clinicians are promoting this new technique to analyze blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, urine and other body fluids as well as cells and entire tissues. There are methods being developed to identify different types of arthritis and to enable improved staging in cancer classification. This technique could also be successfully applied to plant material such as cell extracts, cell cultures and tissue sections.
Christian Schultz , Applications Scientist, Bruker Optics Inc, Billerica, MA, Christian.Schultz@bruker.com.
Advanced Chemical Science Lab , Room A202. (NIST Contact: Connie Allen, 301-975-4386, connie.allen@nist.gov)


8/24/99 8:30 AM - ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SEMINAR: FY99 Intramural Project Review
A review of over 50 intramural projects funded by ATP's Electronics and Photonics Technology Office (EPTO) will be held on August 24 - August 26, 1999, at NIST Gaithersburg. The purpose of the review is to: present the status of intramural projects; report on the industry projects funded by EPTO and the technical problems identified by industry; stimulate new project ideas; foster collaboration between OUs and strengthen synergy among NIST programs; and enable researchers to network with EPTO Project Managers to hear plans for FY00. The review is open to all of NIST and will be video linked to NIST Boulder. An agenda is available at: http://atp-i.nist.gov/www/ept_intra/ept_off.htm
NIST Researchers , From Multiple NIST Divisions.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Elissa Sobolewski, 301-975-3620, elissa.sobolewski@nist.gov)


9/1/99 9:00 AM - OFFICE OF STANDARDS SERVICES SEMINAR: The NIST Office Standards Services (OSS): What Does It Do? What Can It Do For You?
The Office of Standard Services, Technology Services, conducts a broad range of activities related to standards, conformity assessment, trade, and to NIST research programs. Come learn about and discuss: · The importance of product standards and conformity assessment for trade; · NIST's technical impact on standards and conformity assessment infrastructures around the world; · the role of NIST staff under the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act; · the contribution of accredited testing and calibration labs to the U.S. system of measurement; · the NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and its international recognition activities - Guide 58 & Quality; · the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA); · the NIST role in the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML); · the DOC Voluntary Product Standards Program; and · the NIST "standards library" and Standards Information Program.
Dr. Belinda Collins , Director, Office of Standards Services.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. D. (NIST Contact: Krista Johnsen Leuteritz, 301-975-5104, KJL@nist.gov) http://ts.nist.gov/oss



MEETINGS ELSEWHERE



7/26 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/27 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/28 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/29 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

7/30 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL


CHEN-MAYER, H. : APPLICATIONS OF POLYCAPILLARY NEUTRON LENSES.
44th Annual SPIE Meeting, Denver, CO, 7/23.

HSU, N. (Co-Authors: D.Xiang , dan.xiang@nist.gov G. V.Blessing , gblessing@nist.gov) : CASE HARDENING MEASUREMENT WITH QUANTITATIVE SURFACE ACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY.
26th Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Testing Conference, Renaissance Hotel du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 7/26.

HUFFMAN, P. : MAGNETIC TRAPPING OF ULTRACOLD NEUTRONS: PROGRESS TOWARDS A NEUTRON LIFETIME MEASUREMENT.
University of Washington, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, Seattle, WA, 7/27.

COURSEY, B. : CIRMS MEASUREMENTS FOR RADIATION THERAPY APPLICATIONS.
41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Nashville, TN, 7/27.

COURSEY, B. : RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN CLINICAL DOSIMETRY OF LOW-ENERGY INTERSTITIAL BRACHYTHERAPY SOURCES.
41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Nashville, TN, 7/27.

SOARES, C. : DOSIMETRY OF BETA-RAY OPHTHALMIC APPLICATORS: COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT METHODS.
41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Nashville, TN, 7/27.

SOARES, C. : CALIBRATION STANDARDS FOR INTRAVASCULAR APPLICATIONS.
41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Nashville, TN, 7/27.

HOLMES, G. : HOW NONLINEAR VISCOELASTIC MATRIX BEHAVIOR INFLUENCES INTERFACIAL SHEAR STRENGTH MEASUREMENTS.
CLEM 99, Troy, NY, 7/28.

SOARES, C. : TWO DIMENSIONAL RADIATION FIELD MAPPING USING RADIOCHROMIC FILM.
41st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, Nashville, TN, 7/28.

JACH, T. : X-RAY STANDING WAVES IN QUASICRYSTALS: USING A PERIODIC TECHNIQUE TO STUDY APERIODIC SYSTEMS.
Gordon Research Conference on X-Ray Physics, Plymouth College, Plymouth, NH, 7/29.

HSU, N. (Co-Authors: D.Xiang , dan.xiang@nist.gov G. V.Blessing , gblessing@nist.gov) : ANISOTROPIC SURFACE WAVE MEASUREMENTS USING A LINE-FOCUS PVDF TRANSDUCER.
26th Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Testing Conference, Renaissance Hotel du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 7/29.

SCHULTHEISZ, C. : SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF TORQUE, AXIAL FORCE AND VOLUME CHANGE IN THE TORSIONAL DILATOMETER AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSTITUTIVE MODELING.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 7/29.



ANNOUNCEMENTS


OPEN HOUSE - FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
The Fabrication Technology Division would like to invite you to stop by and learn more about our division, what expertise we have to offer you, and to just say hello. We are having our Open House on Tuesday, July 27, 1999 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Building 304, Room 135. All are welcome!
NIST Contact: Richard Rhorer, 301-975-6504, richard.rhorer@nist.gov


1999 U.S. WORLD STANDARDS DAY PAPER COMPETITION
This year, the U.S. standards community will celebrate World Standards Day on September 22. To highlight the importance of standards to industry and government, the sponsors of World Standards Day, including NIST, are again holding a paper competition. The theme for the 1999 World Standards Day paper contest will be "Standards Development: Balancing Need and Speed". PRIZES: The author(s) of the winning submission will receive $2,500 and a commemorative plaque. Prizes of $1000 for 2nd place and $500 for third place may also be awarded. Winning papers will be published by ANSI, the Standards Engineering Society, and others. ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to individuals in private sector or government facilities. The paper may be co-authored. RULES: The paper must be original and not previously published. NIST papers should be processed through WERB or BERB in the usual way. Entries must received by August 1, 1999. Contest rules and application forms may be obtained through the Standards Engineering Society home page at http://www.ses-standards.org or call Jean-Paul Emard at Electronic Industries Alliance, 703-907-7518. For further information contact Pat Cooke, 301-975-4033, patrick.cooke@nist.gov.
NIST Contact: Patrick Cooke, 301-975-4033, patrick.cooke@nist.gov




NIST WEB SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS


NEW WEB PAGES AND TUTORIAL DEDICATED TO COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY
A Table of all the Computational Chemistry Software and Utilities available to NIST staff, guest researchers and students is located at the following URL: http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/sasg/tutorial/current_qchem.html A primer on using Gaussian 94 and 98 at NIST is located at: http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/sasg/tutorial/GSNintro.html A tutorial on getting started with Gaussian can be found from the above link and is located at: http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/sasg/tutorial/ex.html For further information, contact Robert Bohn x-4731 robert.bohn@nist.gov
NIST Contact: Robert Bohn, 301-975-4731, robert.bohn@nist.gov



Requests for copies of this calendar should be sent to Ms. Sharon Mingo, Editor, Building 820, Room 125, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001, (Telephone: 301-975-3570; FAX: 301-926-4431; or E-mail: sharon.mingo@nist.gov).
All lectures and meetings are open unless otherwise stated.