NIST Technicalendar October 15 to October 19, 2007 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/.
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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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10:30 AM - MgO-Based Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for Low Magnetic Field Sensing
10:30 AM - Smart Templates with Active Confinement for New Materials and Devices

9:30 AM - Gene Expression Regulatory Patterns Described by Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping
10:30 AM - Ignition of Cellulosic Fuels by Heated Surfaces and Radiation
10:30 AM - Surface Constructions of Nano TiO2 as the Environmental and Energy Materials

10:45 AM - Computational Modeling of Suspensions: Recent Advances and Future Research Directions

10:30 AM - Sigma Xi Colloquium Series
10:30 AM - Computer-Aided Garment Design for Mass Customization & Personalization
11:00 AM - Structural Basis for Antigen Recognition by the Immune System

10:30 AM - NIST Portrait Gallery Ceremony
10:30 AM - Biophysical Measurements for Biopharmaceutical Formulation Development and Comparability

10/15 -- MONDAY

10:30 AM - MAGENTIC SENSOR SEMINAR SERIES: MgO-Based Magnetic Tunnel Junctions for Low Magnetic Field Sensing
Xiaoyong Liu , Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, San Jose, CA.
Physics Bldg, Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: William Egelhoff, 301-975-2542, william.egelhoff@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - CENTER FOR NANOSCALE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR: Smart Templates with Active Confinement for New Materials and Devices
I will present the design of nanostructured polymer materials employing self-organization phenomena and active templates. We fabricate and investigate smart surfaces and devices for wide range applications spanning from molecular electronics and optical devices to bio-inspired materials and cell adhesion control. Several recent examples of "smart" materials and surfaces will be discussed: - grafted polymers as smart templates with active confinement - reactive multi-dimensional nanoscopic templates from block copolymers - templated synthesis of hybrid polymer-inorganic nanometer scale devices - synthetic polymers - protein hybrid polymer brushes for biological applications.
Alexander Sidorenko , Professor, a.sidorenko@usip.edu.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Nikolai Zhitenev, 301-975-6039, nikolai.zhitenev@nist.gov)


10/16 -- TUESDAY

9:30 AM - STATISTICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SEMINAR: Gene Expression Regulatory Patterns Described by Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping
In this seminar, we will discuss gene expression regulatory regions of eucalyptus and yeast inbred populations, quantifying the extent of the gene expression variation due to genetic variation. We will examine statistical models used to find these regulatory regions, the permutation tests used to set thresholds to detect such regions, and how to deal with missing marker genotypes. Gene expression levels are highly correlated. This correlation arises from environmental correlation, genetic correlation, or both. We characterize the extent of the genetic correlation among gene expression levels. In addition, we find expression regulatory regions for all genes in the yeast genome, studying in detail regulatory patterns of genes in individual yeast amino acid biosynthetic pathways.
Jessica Maia , Genomic Sciences Graduate Program, North Carolina State University.
Building 222, Rm. A264. (NIST Contact: Antonio Possolo, 301-975-2853, antonio.possolo@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - FIRE RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: Ignition of Cellulosic Fuels by Heated Surfaces and Radiation
Experiments designed to characterize the ignition behaviors of typical outdoor fuels by heated mufflers and catalytic converters found on outdoor power equipment will be described. Ignition by direct contact with a heated surface and by radiation from a heated surface was studied. The effects of a wind on heated plate ignition were characterized by passing air flows of 1.1 m/s and 2.5 m/s over the fuel beds. Fuels tested included shredded newsprint, four types of grass, pine needles, a grass/pine needle mixture and polyurethane. Both glowing combustion and flaming were observed, with transition to flaming requiring glowing combustion to be present. A cone calorimeter operated in non piloted ignition mode was used to impose known radiative heat fluxes on the fuel surface, and ignition times were measured as a function of applied heat flux. Comparison of the heated plate and radiative heating experiments suggests that they can be related using the black body temperature corresponding to the applied radiative heat flux.
William Pitts , Fire Research Division, BFRL, NIST.
Bldg 224, Rm B245. (NIST Contact: Rodney Bryant, 301-975-6487, rbryant@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: Surface Constructions of Nano TiO2 as the Environmental and Energy Materials
TiO2 has increasingly attracted attention because of its wide range of potential applications in environments and energies. This talk will summarize some progress in surface constructions of nano TiO2 and its characterizations of physicochemistry and properties. Superhydrophobic nanotube, nanopore and sponge-like structure TiO2 films are fabricated by electrochemical method and self-assembled techniques. It is found that the adhesion of water droplet on these superhydrophobic nanostructure films varies greatly from 5.0 uN to 75.6 uN. The results offered knowledge and opportunity to further understand the effect of nanostructure on the wettability and adhesion. Because of its distinctive adhesion and wetting characteristics, the TiO2 nanostructure is expected to be useful in many important industrial applications, such as self-cleaning, micropattern, liquid transportation and biocompatible implant materials. Highly-ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays with a thick layer on titanium substrate have been electrochemically fabricated. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotube arrays was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange and phenol aqueous solution, respectively. The effects of several factors on its photocatalytic activity have been investigated. The results show that the nanotube arrays have the higher photocatalytic activity as compared to nanoparticle films prepared by sol-gel method. The TiO2-SnO2 composite films, sandwiched TiO2/TiO2-V2O5/TiO2 and doped TiO2 nanotube composite films were constructed on the metallic surfaces. The anticorrosion property and the performance of photo-generated cathodic protection of the composite coatings have been studied. These efforts aims to solve three important technical problems: (i) to increase the quantum efficiency of photoelectrochemical transfer; (2) to narrow the band gap of TiO2 for enhancing the photoabsorption to illumination of visible light; (3) to increase the life time of h+-e- pair in the system in order to enable photogenerated cathodic protection for metallic substrates even in dark conditions.
Chang-jian Lin , Professor, Xiamen University, China.
226 (BR) Bldg, Rm. B221. (NIST Contact: Tinh Nguyen, 301-975-6718, tinh.nguyen@nist.gov)


10/17 -- WEDNESDAY

10:45 AM - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: Computational Modeling of Suspensions: Recent Advances and Future Research Directions
Nicos Martys , Inogranic Materials Group.
Polymer Building, Room B245. (NIST Contact: Aaron Forster, 301-975-8701, aaron.forster@nist.gov)


10/18 -- THURSDAY

10:30 AM - NIST CENTER FOR NEUTRON RESEARCH SEMINAR: Sigma Xi Colloquium Series
The Retired Scientists, Engineers and Technicians (ReSET) program was established in 1988 with the object of using the underused resource of retired scientists and engineers, to fulfill a need in elementary schools. That need was assessed to be a more lively and interesting introduction of science to young children. The program was designed for senior scientists who had not taught school before or even been in an elementary school for over 50 years.. Volunteers work as a team with the classroom teachers to do hands-on or demonstration experiments with the children. Volunteers use their professional backgrounds to spark enthusiasm for science. Thus the program contributes to the future of science literacy in the United States.
Harold Sharlin , ReSET Program.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. A. (NIST Contact: Bryant Nelson, 301-975-2517, bryant.nelson@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - INFORMATION ACCESS DIVISION SEMINAR: Computer-Aided Garment Design for Mass Customization & Personalization
In this presentation, the speaker will talk about her research related to anthropometry and an application of computer-aided-design for customized garment generation. A structured mannequin is first constructed, based on a body scan of a subject. Various styles with modifiable surface are virtually created and dressed on the mannequin. Based on geometry modeling and computational geometry, an automatic landmark recognition technique is developed from a marker-less scanned body. Based on the body structure, we provide a non-uniform, rational B-spline (NURBS) based, computer-aided garment design (CAGD) tool for intuitive draping design. By integrating a pattern maker's knowledge, basic and dart patterns are developed automatically from the designated garment. These digital patterns in Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES format can be exported into common CAD software for full scale printing. Finally, an evaluation for fit can be achieved by either having the same scanned person try it on or quantitative evaluation by computer. The research also has been expanded and applied to the field of digital face/head structure modeling, craniometry, and cephalometry, and will inspire some useful and practical tools in the craniofacial region for medical purposes. Bio: Jing-Jing Fang received her BS and MSc in applied mathematics in Taiwan, 1984. She then became a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Statistics at Tainan Women College, and soon moved to the Department Mechanical Engineering at the National Cheng Kung University. In 1993, she was sponsored by the government to pursue her PhD in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering in Heriot-Watt University, Britain which she achieved in 1996. Currently, as Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, she leads her research team working in the areas of digital human modeling, anthropometry, 3D garment design, pattern generating, image-based surgical planning, surgical navigation, and recently, occupational therapy and rehabilitation. Her work in clinical areas has benefited over 80 patients in oral/maxillofacial and spinal surgeries. Her research interests are geometric modeling, computational geometry, object-oriented design, e-Learning, and virtual reality applications. During the last eleven years, she has published nearly one hundred papers and filed for ten innovation patents. She has regularly obtained research funding from both government and from industry.
Jing-Jing Fang, Guest Researcher, NIST , Associate Professor VR Laboratory, ME, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan,.
Administration Building, Lecture Room D. (NIST Contact: Afzal Godil, 301-975-4262, godil@nist.gov)

11:00 AM - BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCE DIVISION SEMINAR: Structural Basis for Antigen Recognition by the Immune System
Roy Mariuzza , Professor.
227 Bldg, Rm. A202. (NIST Contact: Robert Goldberg, 301-975-2584, robert.goldberg@nist.gov)


10/19 -- FRIDAY

10:30 AM - ,NIST PORTRAIT GALLERY CEREMONY SEMINAR: NIST Portrait Gallery Ceremony
All NIST staff is invited to the 2007 Portrait Gallery Ceremony honoring inductees to the NIST Gallery of Distinguished Scientists, Engineers and Administrators. The Ceremony takes place on October 19, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in the Red Auditorium. .*** The ceremony will be transmitted live to Boulder.*** Friends and former colleagues are invited to join the honorees in a breakfast reception in the Employee Lounge starting at 9:30 a.m. This year's inductees are: Howard Baum, Howard S. Bean, John W. Cahn, B. Stephen Carpenter, André Deprit, David A. Didion, Ronald F. Dziuba, Frederick R. Fickett, James E. Leiss and Neil Olien Contacts: Anneke Sengers, ext 2463 or Hans Oser, ext. 2486
. . , ..
Administration Building, Red Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Hans Oser, 301-975-2486, alumni@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - PROCESS MEASUREMENTS DIVISION SEMINAR: Biophysical Measurements for Biopharmaceutical Formulation Development and Comparability
Biophysical methods are frequently used in early-stage biopharmaceutical formulation development as screening tools, and in mid- to late-stage characterization to support process and formulation changes and product comparability. Case studies where detailed analysis of biophysical data was used to support formulation optimization and product characterization will be discussed, including excipient selection, process changes and higher-order structure evaluation.
John S. Vrettos, Ph.D. , Senior Scientist I, Drug Product Development, Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
Building 221, Room A366. (NIST Contact: Mike Tarlov, 301-975-2058, michael.tarlov@nist.gov)


ADVANCE NOTICE

10/23/07 10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Vortices and persistent currents: Rotating a condensate using photons with orbital angular momentum
I will describe experiments on generating atomic vortex states in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of sodium atoms by transferring the orbital angular momentum of a photon to an atom in quantized units of h, using a 2-photon stimulated Raman process with Laguerre-Gaussian beams. The process is coherent and can create superpositions of different vortex states, where the relative phase between the states is determined by the relative phases of the optical fields. We use this technique to generate circular flow of a BEC confined in a toroidal shaped trap. We measure that the flow of atoms persists for up to 10 seconds, which we interpret as the first direct evidence of persistent currents in a superfluid Bose gas. Stable flow was only possible in the multiply-connected geometry of the toroidal trap, and was observed for a BEC fraction as small as 15%. We also observed flow with higher angular momentum, and its splitting into singly-charged vortices when the trap topology was changed from multiply- to simply-connected.
Kristian Helmerson , Atomic Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Physics Building (221), Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: Ako Chijioke, 301-975-5977, achijiok@nist.gov)

10/26/07 10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES: From the Mona Lisa to the Space Shuttle -- New Heights in 3D Imaging
In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems have come out of research laboratories to find niche markets in fields as diverse as manufacturing, anthropometry, geomatics, space exploration, and cultural heritage. Applications include recent 3D scans of the Mona Lisa, the documentation of an 8000 year old Palaeolithic site, industrial inspection, anthropometry, and the in-orbit inspection of NASA's space shuttle tiles. 3D introduces important new challenges for research: diffraction limited optical systems, the interaction of light with materials, acquisition in harsh environments, and the management of huge amount of information. The key roles played by NRC and NIST in data management and the development of industrial standards will also be discussed.
Francois Blais , Leader, Visual Information Technology Group, National Research Council, Canada.
Administration Building, Red Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

10/26/07 1:30 PM - CENTER FOR NANOSCALE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR: Biological macromolecules as scaffolding for precisely engineered nanostructures
We are currently developing a system for using biological macromolecules as scaffolding for the construction of nanostructures comprising multiple inorganic nanoparticles. The system utilizes the geometry of the macromolecules to define the three-dimensional arrangement of inorganic particles in the structure. A massively parallel assembly process will be used to provide for the mass production of identical nanostructures. We envision applications to include, for example, (i) construction of small assemblies of metallic nanoparticles to form nanolenses capable of focusing surface plasmons and (ii) the construction of magnetic cellular automata.
Lee Makowski , Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, lmakowski@anl.gov.
Building 215, Room C103-C106. (NIST Contact: James Alexander Liddle, 301-975-6050, liddle@nist.gov)

10/30/07 6:30 PM - AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY SSIG AND SOCIETY FOR SOFTWARE QUALITY: My Life with Bugs, or, Why I Believe in Combinatorial Testing
This presentation describes the benefits of combinatorial testing. Trying all combinations of inputs or program settings is impossible for most programs. However research shows that trying all pairs, all triples, all 4-way, up to 6-way combinations of parameters catches most bugs. Theoretically a relatively small number of tests can exercise all k-way combinations since a single execution exercises on the order of p^k k-way combinations, where p is the number of parameters. Recent algorithms have been able to quickly find a packing of all k-way combinations into a relatively small number of tests.
Dr. Paul Black , Information Technology Laborartory, NIST.
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. F. (NIST Contact: Wendy Havens, 301-975-3283, wendy.havens@nist.gov) http://www.asq509.org/ht/d/sp/i/2499/pid/2499

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


10/15 -- MONDAY

11:00 AM - CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON/GEOPHYSICAL LAB. SEMINAR: VOLATILE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE IN THE EARTH'S MANTLE
W. Panero , Ohio State Univ..
Bldg, Rm..
Greenewalt Bldg., GL-DTM Grounds, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. (NIST Contact: . ., 202-478-8900, seminar@lists.ciw.edu)



10/16 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/17 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/18 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

10/19 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

CHOW, J. : DEVELOPMENT OF A STATIC EXPANSION VACUUM STANDARD AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY.
American Vacuum Society Conference, Seattle, Washington, USA, 10/14.

SOBOLEWSKI, M. : NONINVASIVE MONITORING OF ION CURRENT AND ION ENERGY DURING PLASMA PROCESSING.
American Vacuum Society, Seattle, Washington, USA, 10/14.

BERG, R. : CAPILLARY FLOW METER FOR CALIBRATING SPINNING ROTOR GAUGES.
American Vacuum Society, Seattle, Washington, USA, 10/14.

HENDRICKS, J. : TEMPERATURE PROGRAMMED DESORPTION MEASUREMENTS OF THE BINDING ENERGY OF WATER TO STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES.
American Vacuum Society, Seattle, Washington, USA, 10/14.

GERGEL-HACKETT, N. (Co-Authors: C.Zangmeister , NIST, MD C.Hacker , NIST;, Gaithersburg, MD) L.J. Richter, NIST; C.A. Richter, NIST; : ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH SILICON-BASED MOLECULAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
AVS 54th International Symposium & Exhibition, Seattle, Washington, 10/14.

VERKOUTEREN, M. : NIST METROLOGY: ENHANCING DETECTION OF TRACE EXPLOSIVES.
Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACCS) 34th Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN, 10/15.

RICHTER, L. : CONTROL OF THE MOLECULAR ORIENTATION OF THIN FILMS OF A SOLUTION PROCESSABLE ORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR.
American Vacuum Society 54th International Symposium and Exhibition, Seattle, WA, 10/15.

KUSHMERICK, J. : ELECTRONIC AND VIBRONIC SPECTROSCOPY OF MOLECULAR JUNCTIONS.
American Vacuum Society 54th International Symposium and Exhibition, Seattle, WA, 10/16.

SEMANCIK, S. : THE ROLE OF VACUUM-BASED PROCESSES IN DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMANCE CHEMICAL MICROSENSORS.
American Vacuum Society, Seattle, Washington, USA, 10/16.

CLARKE, M. : THERMAL PROPERTIES AND SINGLE PARTICLE TRACKING OF GOLD NANOSHELLS IN LIPID VESICLES AND CELL MEMBRANES.
Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies, FACSS, Memphis, TN, 10/16.

GERGEL-HACKETT, N. (Co-Authors: C.Zangmeister , NIST, MD C.Hacker , NIST;, Gaithersburg, MD) L.J. Richter, NIST; C.A. Richter, NIST; G.S. Rose, Polytechnic Univ.; P. Paliwoda, Polytechnic Univ. : ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH SILICON-BASED MOLECULAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
AVS 54th International Symposium & Exhibition, Seattle, Washington, 10/16.

GERGEL-HACKETT, N. (Co-Authors: C.Zangmeister , NIST, MD C.Hacker , NIST;, Gaithersburg, MD) L.J. Richter, NIST; C.A. Richter, NIST. : ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH SILICON-BASED MOLECULAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
AVS 54th International Symposium & Exhibition, Seattle, Washington, 10/16.

GERMER, T. : SURFACE SCATTERING RESEARCH AT NIST.
Air Force Research Laboratory Scatterometry Workshop, Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM, 10/17.

HENDRICKS, J. : TEMPERATURE PROGRAMMED DESORPTION MEASUREMENTS OF THE BINDING ENERGY OF WATER TO STAINLESS STEEL SURFACES.
AVS 54th International Symposium, Seattle, Washington, 10/18.

HWANG, D. : BIO-CONJUGATED NANOCRYSTALS FOR THE BIOPHYSICS OF LIFE PROCESSES.
Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Ave., New York, NY, USA, 10/19.

DOUGHERTY, D. : STM/STS STUDIES OF C60:PENTACENE INTERFACE FORMATION.
American Vacuum Society 54th International Symposium and Exhibition, Seattle, WA, 10/19.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.
NIST Contact: . ., ., .

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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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