NIST Technicalendar June 16 to June 20, 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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10:00 AM - Relating Structure and Optical Properties in CdSe Quantum Dots for More Practical Usability
10:30 AM - Materials and Construction Research Division Seminar
11:00 AM - Achievements and Future Challenges for Monitoring Climate Change

No Scheduled Events

No Scheduled Events

11:00 AM - Solving the Biopharmaceutical Stability Problem
12:00 PM - Shedding Light on Dark Matter: How Faraday Rotation can Limit a "Dark" Magnetic Moment
3:30 PM - Plastic Electronics

2:00 PM - A New Technique for Electron Transport Calculations with Applications to Fabricated Graphene Nanoribbons with Defects
2:00 PM - A New Technique for Electron Transport Calculations with Applications to Fabricated Graphene Nanoribbons with Defects

6/16 -- MONDAY

10:00 AM - CERAMICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Relating Structure and Optical Properties in CdSe Quantum Dots for More Practical Usability
The evolving electrical and optical properties of materials as physical dimensions are reduced to the nanometer scale may be advantageous to applications such as memory storage, catalysis, photoelectric devices, biological sensing, and others. Nanocrystals of cadmium selenide, or quantum dots (QDs), in particular have been popular because of their ease of synthesis, customizable photoluminescence properties throughout the visible wavelengths, and high quantum yields. Many proposed applications for QDs, however, requires their being integrated into a host of different, often unfriendly environments, such as aqueous buffers of widely varying pH for biological sensing, or even the high-energy ionizing radiation found beyond our atmosphere for space applications. Ultimately, the unique properties of a QD must be stable to these changing conditions if they are to wear these many hats for emerging technologies. This seminar will discuss different synthetic routes toward QD synthesis and look at how structure may influence various optical properties of a QD. Finally, I will present a unique application of QDs embedded inside dielectric polystyrene microspheres for enhanced sensing of surface molecules.
Travis Jennings , Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto.
Materials Bldg, Rm. B307. (NIST Contact: Robert Cook, 301-975-3207, robert.cook@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: Materials and Construction Research Division Seminar
Surface modification is a versatile tool to impart innovative functionalities to glass. Properties such as optical (transmission/reflection), contact (wetting, adhesion) or mechanical (strength, friction, scratch resistance) responses may be tuned by such traditional methods as grafting of organics and deposition of thin films or multilayers. In this talk, we will first discuss two examples of enabling functionalization techniques: 1) self cleaning by TiO2 deposition. We have shown by surface spectroscopy in the ambient that surface chemistry and surface charge (OH groups, charge trapping) are unaffected by UV irradiation. On the other hand we have demonstrated by AFM force measurements that UV irradiation is connected with the build up of a short range repulsive interaction which suppresses particle adhesion. This hydration-like interaction is certainly directly connected to the self-cleaning properties of TiO2 surfaces and will be discussed in some details. 2) in-plane structuration, or patterning (2D, 3D): the mature technologies of microfabrication (microelectronics) are inadequate in a middle tech, large scale industries such as glass manufacturing. We will present some of our efforts to obtain low cost surface structuration on a rigid substrate by imprint lithography on silica. However in terms of technology, functionalization by surface modification is only as valuable as its mechanical reliability. In the second part of the talk, we will describe our efforts in the area of the reliability of modified glass surfaces by discussing: 1) recent measurements of the irreversible deformation field resulting from microindentation in silica by microRaman spectroscopy. This technique allowed us to identify the constitutive behavior of silica in the plastic regime -- on going efforts relevant for soda-lime-silica glass will also be mentioned 2) the identification of the failure mechanism of low adhesion optical multilayers under tangential loadings by in situ scratch testing.
Etienne Barthel , Surface du Verre et Interfaces, CNRS/Saint-Gobain, Aubervilliers, France.
224 Bldg, Rm. B245. (NIST Contact: Aaron Forster, 301-975-8701, aaron.forster@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

11:00 AM - CSTL AND PL SEMINAR: Achievements and Future Challenges for Monitoring Climate Change
The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change identifies the major sources of radiative forcing in the atmosphere and their principal sources of uncertainty. Several national measurement institutes (NMIs) from around the world are working with internationally-recognized atmospheric monitoring laboratories to provide measurement results that are stable, comparable and coherent. The need and critical role of internationally-recognized measurement standards will be discussed. The global debate also involves strategies for mitigation of climate change effects. Needs for measurements and standards for assessing and underpinning these include: • support for "carbon" trading schemes, • global monitoring of trace species (eg volatile organic compounds), • very high accuracy measurements of oxygen required to determine the role of biomass in the global carbon budget, and • quantifying the radiative properties of aerosols. The talk will emphasize how the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) provides an open, transparent, and comprehensive system for comparing the measurement capabilities that underpin services that NMIs provide to the climate change measurement community.
Martin Milton , National Physical Laboratory, U.K..
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Willie May, 301-975-8300, wem@nist.gov)


6/17 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/18 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/19 -- THURSDAY

11:00 AM - MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LABORATORY LECTURE SERIES: Solving the Biopharmaceutical Stability Problem
Biopharmaceuticals, (therapeutic proteins) represent a significant and growing component of the pharmaceuticals market. U.S. sales of biopharmaceuticals were in excess of $40 B in 2006, and are expected to exceed $90 B in 2009. These proteinaceous drugs have important benefits over their more traditional small molecule counterparts in that they can have significantly reduced propensity for undesirable side effects due to extremely high specificity (and thus low cross-reactivity), and very little chance for toxicity in metabolic breakdown products. Biopharmaceuticals are, however, difficult to manufacture, with a 36% failure rate of promising biopharmaceuticals in manufacturing. Proteins must be stabilized for shipment and storage as part of the manufacturing process, and this stabilization step is a significant source of difficulty. Although lyophilization (freeze-drying) is in widespread use for stabilizing these therapeutic proteins, there are no rational approaches to formulation or truly reliable methods for predicting stability of a protein in a particular freeze-dried (glassy) formulation. As a result, much time is lost in formulation, and many promising proteinaceous drug candidates go untested for want of sufficient stability even to perform initial trials. Several analytical methods have been developed for characterizing the freeze-dried, sugar-based glasses that are used to stabilize proteins, but these have met with mixed results, and is has been clear that something was missing. In this presentation I will describe methods development work that is aimed at filling out the set of characterization tools needed to predict function of these protein-preserving glasses. This work, based largely on results from neutron scattering and measurement of hydrogen bond network lifetimes, has already led to a much more complete picture of the important physical parameters that impact protein stability in the glass. Furthermore, the methods we are developing are straightforward and simple to implement, and thus show promise for significantly streamlining the lyophilization formulations process.
Marcus Cicerone , Research Chemist.
Administration Bldg, Employees Lounge. (NIST Contact: Bill Boettinger, 301-975-6160, william.boettinger@nist.gov)

12:00 PM - NEUTRON INTERACTIONS/ELECTRON AND OPTICAL PHYSICS PIZZA LUNCH: Shedding Light on Dark Matter: How Faraday Rotation can Limit a "Dark" Magnetic Moment
Disparate astronomical observations provide compelling evidence for additional, non-luminous matter, or dark matter, in gravitational interactions, but we know little of its nature. To remedy this, the hunt is on to detect dark matter via either direct or indirect means, to determine its mass(es?) as well as couplings to Standard Model particles. I will briefly review the astronomical evidence and summarize current direct and indirect detection efforts before describing a new possibility. That is, a Faraday rotation experiment can set limits on the magnetic moment of an electrically-neutral, dark-matter particle, and the limits increase in stringency as the candidate-particle's mass decreases. I shall describe how such could be realized and determine the limits on the magnetic moment as a function of mass which follow given demonstrated experimental capacities.
Susan Gardner , Professor of Physics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
Radiation Physics Bldg, Rm. C301. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

3:30 PM - SURF SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES: Plastic Electronics
Human-scale electronics like flat panel displays and sensor arrays are pervasive in today's society. Cost, size and performance requirements make single crystal silicon ill-suited for these applications, thus amorphous silicon thin films deposited on thin glass substrates have become the dominant technology for any human-scale electronic applications. Plastic electronics (electronics based on thin films of organic semiconductors) is an attractive alternative to thin film electronics based on inorganic materials like amorphous silicon. Organic semiconductors have several potential advantages notably their compatibility with low-cost high-volume solution processing, the ability to chemically-tune their electronic and optical properties, and their ability to be processed at relatively low temperatures. Taken together these properties will enable the fabrication of low-cost large-area electronics with increased electronic functionality on flexible substrates. In this presentation I will discuss the tremendous potential for plastic electronics to impact all aspects of life through revolutions in lighting, sensing, displays, and energy harvesting.
David Gundlach , Project Manager, Organic and Micro Electronics, Semiconductor Electronics Division,. ,.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Anita Sweigert, 301-975-4201, anita.sweigert@nist.gov)
Special Assistance; Contact A. Sweigert a week in advance.


6/20 -- FRIDAY

2:00 PM - ELECTRON AND OPTICAL PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: A New Technique for Electron Transport Calculations with Applications to Fabricated Graphene Nanoribbons with Defects
We present a new general technique for calculating the Green's functions of a tight-binding lattice. Benefits of the technique allow us to dramatically improve the efficiency of calculating coherent electron transport through lattices with defects. We take advantage of these benefits to describe conductivity through graphene nanoribbons with scatterers and unclean edges which are modelled on realistic fabrication methods. These calculations demonstrate a number of interesting statistical phenomena that will prove useful to experimentalists who hope to construct devices from these nanowires and theorists hoping to communicate with experimental reality.
Douglas Mason , Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Radiation Physics Bldg, Rm. B105. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov) AMO Physics Rapid Deployment Force Seminar
Special Assistance Available

2:00 PM - AMO PHYSICS RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE SEMINAR: A New Technique for Electron Transport Calculations with Applications to Fabricated Graphene Nanoribbons with Defects
We present a new general technique for calculating the Green's functions of a tight-binding lattice. Benefits of the technique allow us to dramatically improve the efficiency of calculating coherent electron transport through lattices with defects. We take advantage of these benefits to describe conductivity through graphene nanoribbons with scatterers and unclean edges which are modelled on realistic fabrication methods. These calculations demonstrate a number of interesting statistical phenomena that will prove useful to experimentalists who hope to construct devices from these nanowires and theorists hoping to communicate with experimental reality.
Douglas Mason , Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
Radiation Physics Bldg, Rm. B105. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available


ADVANCE NOTICE

6/24/08 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)

6/25/08 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

6/26/08 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)

6/27/08 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)

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)

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


6/16 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/17 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/18 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/19 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

6/20 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

7/14/08 1:30 PM - SEMI'S INTERNATIONAL MEMS WORKSHOP
This international workshop provides an update on recent developments in several areas of MEMS applications. The keynote presentation by Yole Developpment will discuss recent market dynamics and technology changes. Wafer bonding is the heart of many MEMS devices; recent developments will be reviewed by Shari Farrens/SUSS Microtec. Materials characterization is a critical area for all MEMS; Daan Hein Alsem/Berkeley NL will speak on this topic. MEMS packaging is a vital component from both technical and cost standpoints; hermeticity testing of small packages will be discussed by Tom Rossiter/Oneida. Bio-medical applications of microfluidic devices will be presented by Amer Haj/ Beeston Consulting.
Jean-Christophe Eloy , Yole Developpment,. ,. Shari Farrens (SUSS Microtec), Daan Hein Alsem (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Amer Haj (Beeston Consulting), Tom Rossiter (Oneida)
Bldg, Rm..
Marriott at Moscone, San Francisco, CA USA. (NIST Contact: Janet Marshall, 301-975-2049, janet.marshall@nist.gov)

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

JAHN, A. : NOVEL FORMATION OF NANO-LIPOSOMES ENCAPSULATING A HYDROPHILIC DRUG SIMULANT IN A CONTINUOUS FLOW MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM.
Nanoparticles 2008, Orlando, Florida USA, 5/12.

JAHN, A. : CONTROLLED ENCAPSULATION OF A HYDROPHILIC DRUG SIMULANT IN NANO-LIPOSOMES USING CONTINUOUS FLOW MICROFLUIDICS.
NSTI Nanotech 2008, Boston, Massachusetts USA, 6/4.

SHULL, R. : NANOMAGNETISM ACTIVITIES IN THE NIST MAGNETIC MATERIALS GROUP.
Seminar Speaker, National Institute of Metrology, Standardization, and Industrial Quality (Inmetro), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 6/6.

EUSTIS, S. : INVESTIGATING THE GROWTH OF ZINC OXIDE NANOWIRES.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA, 6/13.

HIGHT WALKER, A. : LOW-FREQUENCY RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY OF CARBON NANOTUBES.
63rd Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Ohio State University, Columbus OH USA, 6/16.

HIGHT WALKER, A. : LOW-FREQUENCY RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY OF CARBON NANOTUBES.
International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Ohio State, Columbus OH, 6/16.

HEILWEIL, E. : TERAHERTZ SPECTROSCOPY OF BIOMOLECULES IN WATER: L-PROLINE IN REVERSE MICELLES.
63rd Ohio State Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Ohio State University, Columbus OH, 6/17.

DOUGLAS, J. : PATH-INTEGRATION COMPUTATION OF SHAPE-DEPENDENT PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS, NANOPARTICLES AND COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE.
University of Rome, Rome, Italy, 6/17.

MARBUKH, V. : CAN TCP METASTABILITY EXPLAIN CASCADING FAILURES AND JUSTIFY FLOW ADMISSION CONTROL IN THE INTERNET.
15th International Conference on Telecommunications, St. Petersburg, Russia, 6/17.

RUST, B. : A TRUNCATED SINGULAR COMPONENT METHOD FOR ILL-POSED PROBLEMS.
15th International Linear Algebra Society Conference, Cancun, Mexico, 6/18.

DOUGLASS, K. : THE MICROWAVE SPECTRUM OF THE TWO-TOP PEPTIDE MIMETIC N-ACETYL-PHENYLALANINE METHYL ESTER.
63rd Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy, Ohio State University, Columbus OH, 6/19.

JACH, T. : THE EFFECT OF CHEMICAL BONDING ON HIGH-RESOLUTION X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY.
13th European Conference on X-ray Spectrometry, Cavtat, Croatia, 6/19.

JACH, T. : HIGH RESOLUTION X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY WITH THE TES MICROCALORIMETER X-RAY DETECTOR.
13th European Conference on X-ray Spectrometry, Cavtat, Croatia, 6/19.

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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: . ., ., .

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://www.nist.gov/nvl) 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

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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