NIST Technicalendar February 2 to February 6, 2009 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)

Also available: Previous Issues of the Technicalendar Quick Technicalendar (current) Last week's Quick Technicalendar Last week's Technicalendar Detailed Search NIST Journal of Research (Current TOC) Change User Options

1:00 PM - Comsol Multiphysics Modeling Workshop

10:30 AM - Enhancing the Development of the Fire Dynamics Simulator and Smokeview Using Software Configuration Management and Social Media Tools
10:30 AM - Symmetries, defects, and fluctuations in multicomponent atomic gases

10:30 AM - Microscopic Behavior of Ions in Unsaturated Aqueous Solutions
11:00 AM - Blank Corrections Using a Linear Regression Approach

10:30 AM - NANOPARTICLE ASSEMBLY, MANIPULATION, AND METROLOGY
2:00 PM - New techniques for calculating long-range atomic interactions
4:00 PM - Two-dimensional fermionic superfluids, vortex lattices and vortex liquids

10:30 AM - Burj Dubai: the World's Tallest Building
2:00 PM - Thermal Shield Cooling System Upgrade; from Positive Pressure to Vacuum

2/2 -- MONDAY

1:00 PM - IONIZING RADIATION DIVISION SEMINAR: Comsol Multiphysics Modeling Workshop
Comsol Multiphysics is a complete, general-purpose finite-element modeling environment for conducting simulations of real-world physical problems. This seminar will provide an overview of the range of problems that can be solved with COMSOL and show how easy it is to get fast visual insights into your designs or research through worked examples. Applications include energy, biotechnology, MEMS, photonics, electromagnetic-structural interactions, fluid-structural interactions, RF electromagnetics, acoustics, environmental simulations, chemical reaction processes and more. This workshop session is designed to give you an overview of COMSOL's capabilities and to demonstrate the process of setting up and solving multiphysics simulations with COMSOL. These demonstration examples are followed by a short series of quick hands-on examples designed to provide practical experience and to show how easy it is to solve simulations with COMSOL. We will give you step-by-step tutorials on Heat Transfer, Chemical Engineering and MEMS. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptop computers for the hands-on exercises. The seminar is FREE, but seating is limited. Please register via the link below:
John Dunec, PhD , Branch Manager, Comsol Multiphysics.
215-AML Bldg, Rm. C103-C106. (NIST Contact: Ron Tosh, 301-975-5591, rtosh@nist.gov) http://www.comsol.com/events/cmmw/6276/


2/3 -- TUESDAY

10:30 AM - FIRE RESEARCH DIVISION SEMINAR: Enhancing the Development of the Fire Dynamics Simulator and Smokeview Using Software Configuration Management and Social Media Tools
The talk will describe the use of online software development and social media tools in the on-going development of the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). A tour of the tools and services, commonly referred to as "Web 2.0" or "Science 2.0", will be paired with information on how these methodologies have improved the overall accessibility, transparency and responsiveness of the project. FDS was publicly released in 2000, and its acceptance and wide use by the fire protection engineering community has led us to adopt standard software development practices, such as code revision management, standardized version numbering, bug reporting, and documentation of modifications. In addition, bringing a host of new services and support features online, we have also been able to tap into the global user community as a development resource, and provide immediate feedback for a wide variety of support requests. Best of all, the ease and flexibility of the services allow the software users themselves to help us answer simple questions and provide support for newcomers. This frees up more of our time to continue development.
Bryan Klein , BFRL - Fire Research Division.
Bldg 224, Rm B245. (NIST Contact: Rodney Bryant, 301-975-6487, rodney.bryant@nist.gov)

10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: Symmetries, defects, and fluctuations in multicomponent atomic gases
Ryan Barnett , Caltech, Pasadena, CA.
Physics Bldg, Rm. B145. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)


2/4 -- WEDNESDAY

10:30 AM - CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL REFERENCE DATA DIVISION SEMINAR: Microscopic Behavior of Ions in Unsaturated Aqueous Solutions
S Hassan , Dr./Center for Molecular Modeling, NIH.
Physics (221) Bldg, Rm. A366. (NIST Contact: Raymond Mountain, 301-975-2484, raymond.mountain@nist.gov)

11:00 AM - STATISTICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SEMINAR: Blank Corrections Using a Linear Regression Approach
Accurate measurements of analytes at low to very low concentrations require accurate corrections for chemical blanks or other sources of background. While there are several different statistical approaches for obtaining an unbiased blank-corrected concentration estimate, not all of these approaches are equally good for estimating the uncertainty. The difficulty in uncertainty estimation arises because the blank or background measurements typically do not depend on the mass or volume of a sample, as the concentration does, and because it is impractical to use samples of exactly identical mass or volume. This talk outlines a statistical approach to blank correction based on linear regression that easily handles the estimation of the analyte concentration and the assessment of the uncertainty in the measurement result arising from the determinations of the analyte in both samples and blanks.
William Guthrie , Mathematical Statistician, Statistical Engineering Division, Gaithersburg, MD, william.guthrie@nist.gov. Robert Vocke Jr , Research Chemist, Analytical Chemistry Division, Gaithersburg, MD. acqueline L. Mann, and W. Robert Kelly, Analytical Chemistry Division
Building 222, Rm. A326. (NIST Contact: John Lu, 301-975-3208, john.lu@nist.gov)


2/5 -- THURSDAY

10:30 AM - CNST NANOFABRICATION RESEARCH GROUP SEMINAR: NANOPARTICLE ASSEMBLY, MANIPULATION, AND METROLOGY
The novel properties of nanoparticles are driving the rapid growth of nanotechnology in the global market while simultaneously provoking concern about nanometer scale Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) issues. The abilities of the private sector to capitalize on these opportunities and the public sector to address these challenges remain limited by conventional methods of nanoparticle synthesis and characterization. The concurrent need for increased analytical ability in the life sciences and the drive to elucidate nanoscale and single molecule phenomena are spurring the development of fluidic devices with critical dimensions that enhance control over interactions with nanoscale analytes. Almost all nanofluidic devices remain limited in form and function by planar microfabrication and nanofabrication processes developed by the semiconductor electronics industry. In this presentation, I will describe our efforts to solve several related problems at the convergence of these trends via the development of enabling fluidic devices for the assembly, manipulation and metrology of nanoparticles. Soft matter nanobioparticles have significant potential for therapeutic applications including drug delivery and gene therapy. I will present the results of our investigation of the microfluidic environment that determines the characteristics of self-assembled nanoscale lipid vesicles and the use of these liposomes as nanoscale templates for the formation of derivative hydrogel nanoparticles. I will then describe our advances in fluorescence fluctuation analysis for the accurate characterization of the encapsulation and confinement of single biomolecules in nanoscale liposomes for biophysical investigations. I will also present our development of next generation nanofluidic structures with complex and curving surfaces for the enhanced manipulation and metrology of nanoscale analytes, with an emphasis on single molecule analysis and nanoparticle sorting applications.
Samuel Stavis , National Research Council Research Associate.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: James Alexander Liddle, 301-975-6050, james.liddle@nist.gov)

2:00 PM - ELECTRON AND OPTICAL PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: New techniques for calculating long-range atomic interactions
The long-range interactions of atoms are of increasing interest due to their relevance in various application areas of cold atom physics. I describe a large-scale project aimed developing mechanical procedures for the determinaton of inter-atomic long range dispersion forces. The presentation discusses why dispersion forces are important, how they are calculated, the scope of the project and the current state of progress. As the road to dispersion forces involves polarization interactions we discuss related work aimed at interpreting recent Resonant Excitation Stark Ionization Spectroscopy experiments that have recently reported high accuracy dipole polarizabilities for some positively charged ions.
James Mitroy , Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.
Radiation Physics Bldg, Rm. B105. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

4:00 PM - NANOKELVIN SCIENCE SEMINAR: Two-dimensional fermionic superfluids, vortex lattices and vortex liquids
Pedrag Nikolic , Rice University, Houston, TX.
Radiation Physics Bldg, Rm. B105. (NIST Contact: Charles Clark, 301-975-3709, charles.clark@nist.gov)


2/6 -- FRIDAY

10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES: Burj Dubai: the World's Tallest Building
The Burj Dubai represents the state-of-the-art in tall building design. Once completed, it will be not only the world's tallest building, but the tallest man-made structure ever created. From the project's initial concept design through construction, the combination of several important technological innovations results in a building of unprecedented height. This lecture will describe some of the structural design methods, materials, and construction techniques which enable the creation of a superstructure that is both efficient and robust.
William Baker , Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, Structural and Civil Engineering Branch.
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

2:00 PM - NIST CENTER FOR NEUTRON RESEARCH SEMINAR: Thermal Shield Cooling System Upgrade; from Positive Pressure to Vacuum
The National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NSBR) is equipped with a thermal shield. This shield is located immediately around the reactor vessel and consists of a thick-walled steel tube (up to 6" inch wall thickness), which is clad on the inside with a 2 inch thick lead layer. Soldered onto the inside diameter of the steel tube (thus surrounded by the lead) are 188 copper cooling lines, which allow the removal of heat deposited into the thermal shield by gamma rays that are generated in the reactor core. Shortly after the first criticality of the NBSR the thermal shield cooling system developed small leaks. The cause of these leaks has been theorized to be related to the thermal expansion and contraction of the thermal shield during normal reactor on and off cycling. These thermal cycles cause the horizontal sections of the copper cooling lines, which are trapped between the inside of the steel tube and the concrete of the biological shield, to be stretched and compressed until they finally crack due to excessive work hardening (as in a low cycle fatigue process). Whatever the cause of the leaks: over the years we dealt with them by treating the lines with a variety of chemicals and compounds. This approach has allowed us to manage the leaks, but not to actually repair them. The situation is slowly becoming less manageable and we find that we spend more and more time maintaining leaking tubes: time that could be spend in other ways..... Over the last two years Reactor Engineering has run a test program whereby it was investigated if – and under what circumstances – the thermal shield could be operated under a vacuum, i.e. "sucking" the water through the cooling pipes, rather than "pushing" it through. The advantage of such an approach would be that if the water flow were to encounter a leak, gas from the surroundings would flow in, rather than water from the inside flowing out. This idea has been proposed before, but so far the idea bumped into the limitation that one of the gasses "flowing in" would be carbon dioxide, which would render the cooling water acidic, thus jeopardizing the cooling system plumbing, which mainly consists of copper. It turns out the cooling water can be "neutralized" using magnesium carbonate, which forms a buffer pair with the carbonic acid that is formed by carbon dioxide dissolved in water. The results of the test program will be shared, in support of our conviction that a long lasting solution to the thermal shield problem has indeed been found. The underlying Chemistry, Metallurgy, Process Technology and Radiation Physics will be presented and explained as well as a way in which this idea can be scaled up towards implementation.
Paul Brand , NCNR Reactor Engineering.
235 Bldg, Rm. E100. (NIST Contact: Paul Brand, 301-975-5072, paul.brand@nist.gov)


ADVANCE NOTICE

2/17/09 10:30 AM - ATOMIC PHYSICS DIVISION SEMINAR: NOTE: DATE CHANGE ** Fundamental Constants and Tests of Theory in Rydberg States of Hydrogen-Like Ions ** NOTE: DATE CHANGE
Comparison of precision frequency measurements to quantum electrodynamics (QED) predictions for Rydberg states of hydrogen-like ions can yield information on values of fundamental constants and test theory. In this talk, simplifications in the theory for Rydberg states that allow a substantial improvement in the accuracy of the predicted levels, will be described. For these states, the fact that the wave function is small near the nucleus results in the finite nuclear size correction being completely negligible. Also, for Rydberg states, the higher-order terms in the QED corrections are relatively smaller than they are for S states, so theoretical expressions with a given number of terms are more accurate. With these improvements, the uncertainty in the predictions is dominated by the uncertainty in the Rydberg constant, the electron-nucleus mass ratio, and the fine-structure constant.
Peter Mohr , Atomic Physics Division, NIST.
Physics Building, Room B145. (NIST Contact: Gail Newrock, 301-975-3200, gail.newrock@nist.gov)

2/20/09 8:30 AM - POLYMERS DIVISION SEMINAR: Mid-Atlantic Soft Matter Workshop (MASM)
The Mid-Atlantic Soft Matter Workshop (MASM) is designed to bring together researchers focused on the science of soft matter, including complex fluids, polymers, and biomaterials. The Workshop is intended as an informal meeting, with time for discussions. The format will be similar to earlier MASM Workshops held at Georgetown, Penn, and Delaware, including several invited speakers, and "sound bite" sessions in which all participants can advertise their research in short talks (approximately three minutes each).
Eric Amis , MSEL, Acting Director. Eric Lin , Polymers Division, Chief. Prof. Denis Wirtz (Johns Hopkins U), Dr. Jeffrey Fagan (NIST), Dr. Jun Young Chung (NIST), Dr. Ferenc Horkay (NIH), Dr. Mihai Peterca (U. Pennsylvania), NCNR tour
Administration Bldg, Lecture Rm. D. (NIST Contact: Steve Hudson, 301-975-6579, steven.hudson@nist.gov) http://masm.physics.georgetown.edu/

3/2/09 10:30 AM - CNST ELECTRON PHYSICS GROUP SEMINAR: DYNAMICAL MEASUREMENTS WITH A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE FORCE MICROSCOPE
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (NMRFM) is a technique that combines the fine resolution of scanning probe microscopy with the spin sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to yield highly detailed spin information. NMRFM provides resolution that is several orders of magnitude finer than conventional NMR, thus enabling measurements of samples previously inaccessible by conventional NMR, such as thin films and nanostrucstures. In this talk I will discuss the principle behind NMRFM operation and the construction as well as experiments we have performed with our He-3 NMRFM. Room temperature measurements were taken on ammonium sulfate to yield micron scale 1-D images and a spin echo as well as the demonstration of spin nutation. I will also discuss future applications of this instrument toward relaxation measurements of single crystal magnesium diboride at low temperatures as well as other experiments that increase the sensitivity of this technique.
Hang-Jong Chia , Graduate Research Assistant, University of Texas at Austin.
Bldg. 217, Rm. H107. (NIST Contact: Robert McMichael, 301-975-5121, robert.mcmichael@nist.gov)

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MEETINGS ELSEWHERE


2/2 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/3 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/4 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/5 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/6 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

No Scheduled Events

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

SIMMON, E. : IMPLEMENTING ENVIROMENTAL STANDARDS FROM A SYSTEMS DESIGN PERSPECTIVE.
"It's Not Easy Being Green" an IPC Symposium, San Jose, CA, 2/4.

SIMMON, E. : SYSTEMS COMPLIANCE PANEL SESSION.
IPC, San Jose, CA, USA, 2/4.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

CELEBRATORY RECEPTION FOR MARY SAUNDERS
Please join us for a celebratory reception for Mary Saunders as she embarks on the next stage of her DOC career as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, ITA. The reception will take place at Il Porto Restaurant (245 Muddy Branch Road) on Thursday, February 5, 3 – 5 pm. The cost is $10 per person. Please see Nancy Evans (222/B127, x4000), Ellen Pickett (222/B260, x4510), or Sandy Auchmoody (222/B260, x4500) to sign up for the reception and/or contribute towards a gift by Monday, February 2, 2009. Please contact Clare Allocca if you would like to make a presentation during the reception.
NIST Contact: Nancy Evans, 301-975-4000, nancy.evans@nist.gov

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS NIST GALLERY OF DISTINGUISHED SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS
The NIST Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Scientists, Engineers and Administrators honors NBS/NIST alumni for outstanding career contributions to the work of NBS/NIST. Portraits and biographies of those selected are displayed in the corridor of the NIST cafeteria at Gaithersburg. Portraits of at most ten additional persons will be added to the Portrait Gallery in 2009. Any current or former NIST staff member may make a nomination. Nominations are welcome for alumni who were administrators of either programmatic or support units. SAA also encourages nominations of distinguished female and minority alumni, as well as of outstanding NBS staff members who retired before 1963. For the latter, it is understood that some requested data may no longer be available. For persons who were nominated last year, but not selected, a new nomination may be submitted. If a nominee is not selected after two successive years of nomination, the nominee will not be considered in the following year. Nomination instructions are available from the Standards Alumni Association (SAA), Room A-42 Admin, Mail Stop 0952, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0952; telephone 301-975-2486; by email: alumni@nist.gov; or from the SAA website: www.nist.gov/director/saa. Nominations shall be received by the Standards Alumni Association on or before February 13, 2009, by mail or by email to the above addresses. No exceptions will be made to this deadline.
NIST Contact: Hans Oser, 301-975-2486, hans.oser@nist.gov

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL SIGMA XI POSTDOCTORAL POSTER PRESENTATION
The NIST Chapter of Sigma Xi announces that the Sixteenth Annual Post-Doctoral Poster Presentation will be held February 11, 2009 in Lecture Rooms A and B and in the Hall of Flags in the Administration Building. All Postdoctoral Fellows and Guest Scientists who have received their advanced degree in the last five years have been invited to present a poster on their scientific research to their NIST coworkers and friends. This year there will be two sessions: one from 9 am to 12 and the second from 1 pm to 4 pm and both will be accompanied by refreshments. All the participating Post-docs and Guest Scientists will be invited to a special reception hosted by Sigma Xi when the most outstanding posters will be announced. All the abstracts of the 2009 PPP that have been submitted are now available at the NIST Sigma Xi web site: http://www.nist.gov/sigmaxi Please plan to attend and discover the interesting research being conducted by our Post-docs and Guest Scientists and welcome them to NIST.
NIST Contact: Barbara Levin, 301-975-6682, barbara.levin@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.
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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