NIST Technicalendar February 9 to February 13, 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)

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No Scheduled Events

10:30 AM - Sigma Xi Colloquium: Chemometrics

11:00 AM - Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis of Predictions from Computer Experiments

No Scheduled Events

No Scheduled Events

2/9 -- MONDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/10 -- TUESDAY

10:30 AM - ,SIGMA XI SEMINAR: Sigma Xi Colloquium: Chemometrics
Chemometrics, defined as the science of relating measurements made on a chemical system to the state of the system via mathematical or statistical methods, has continued to grow for almost 40 years. Traditionally, it was used for very specific purposes, but today it is use as a tool for planning experiments, performing calibrations, and exploring the behavior of multiple compounds in complex environments. In this talk, I will present some background on chemometrics and discuss why chemometrics could be considered a necessary tool in most chemical measurement systems. I will present a number of examples on the use of chemometrics, including fluorescence and high field NMR spectroscopy
Rasmus Bro , University of Copenhagen.
Administration Bldg, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Dave Holbrook, 301-975-2502, dave.holbrook@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available


2/11 -- WEDNESDAY

11:00 AM - STATISTICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION SEMINAR: Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis of Predictions from Computer Experiments
Computer experiments are simulations of physical experiments performed by exercising a mathematical model for a physical or chemical process, to produce model outputs corresponding to sets of values of inputs to the model. They are especially useful when the corresponding physical experiments are difficult or expensive. In these cases one will perform a relatively small number of physical experiments that are used to calibrate the simulation model. This is then employed to explore the space of values of the inputs extensively, in a way that "interpolates" the results of the physical experiments. Quantification of uncertainty for the outputs of such computer experiments is of great interest. The sources of uncertainty are in part due to the experimental measurement uncertainty in the inputs, and in part due to inadequacies of the underlying mathematical model. This talk will present calibration and assessment of both types of uncertainty, based on modeling by Gaussian random functions, also called Gaussian stochastic processes. The estimation and prediction is accomplished by Markov Chain Monte Carlo using Bayesian methods and is demonstrated on output from two simple fire models. These are the MQH and Beyler methods for the prediction of Hot Gas Layer Temperature in a room fire. They are calibrated using experimental data from the report "Verification and validation of selected fire models for nuclear power plant applications", NUREG-1824, Vols. 1 – 7.
Dr. Blaza Toman , Statistical Engineering Division/NIST.
Building 222, Rm. A326. (NIST Contact: Charles Hagwood, 301-975-2846, hagwood@nist.gov)


2/12 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/13 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

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/

2/20/09 10:30 AM - NIST COLLOQUIUM SERIES: Making Life and Death Decisions in Conditions of Uncertainty: Options in the 2008 Russian-Georgian War
The Russian-Georgian war in August-October 2008 caused about 6000 casualties and displaced more than 130,000 people. All Georgian villages in the territory of South Ossetia were leveled. Overall damage to property is estimated at about $1B. Russian troops temporarily occupied up to a quarter of the Georgian territory, and Russia has unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and deployed thousands of new troops on a permanent basis in those territories. Based on even this brief account, there is a widespread notion that on August 7 Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made a fatal mistake by ordering Georgian troops to launch an attack on Tskhinvali, on South Ossetian formations, and on Russian 'peace-keeping' troops. Could he have behaved differently, and if so, how differently? What would happen if he had not mobilized his troops? Had he not ordered Georgian troops to fight, would it have been possible to stop the offensive from the North and avoid the war? What would happen if Mr. Saakashvili had decided to wait? * From 2000-2005 Dr. Illarionov was the chief economic adviser of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also served as Mr. Putin's personal representative on the G-8. He is said to be one of Russia's most forceful and articulate advocates of an open society and democratic capitalism.
Andrei Illarionov , Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, President, Institute of Economic Analysis (Moscow).
Administration Building, Green Auditorium. (NIST Contact: Kum Ham, 301-975-4203, kham@nist.gov)
Special Assistance Available

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


2/9 -- MONDAY

11:00 AM - CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON/GEOPHYSICAL LAB. SEMINAR: ALUMINOSILICATE POLYMERIZATION IN GEOFLUIDS AT HIGH P AND T: CAUSES AND GEOLOGIC CONSEQUENCES
C. Manning , UCLA.
Bldg, Rm..
Greenewalt Bldg., GL-DTM Grounds, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. (NIST Contact: Bjorn Mysen, 202-478-8900, seminar@lists.ciw.edu)



2/10 -- TUESDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/11 -- WEDNESDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/12 -- THURSDAY

No Scheduled Events

2/13 -- FRIDAY

No Scheduled Events

ADVANCE NOTICE

2/25/09 2:00 PM - THE FIRST SHA-3 CANDIDATE CONFERENCE
The First SHA-3 Candidate Conference will allow submitters of the First Round Candidates to present their algorithms, and also for NIST to discuss the way forward with the competition. NIST plans to discuss the process and criteria for narrowing down the first round candidates to a more manageable number for further studies by summer of 2009 and starts the Second Round of the Competition. NIST received 64 entries for the SHA-3 competition; after an internal review of the submissions, 51 were selected for meeting the minimum submission requirements, and accepted as the First Round Candidates.
K.U.Leuven Universiteitshal Leuven , Belgium.
Bldg, Rm..
K.U.Leuven Universiteitshal Leuven, Belgium. (NIST Contact: Sara Caswell, 301-975-4634, sara@nist.gov) http://www.nist.gov/hash-competition

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TALKS BY NIST PERSONNEL

KOPANSKI, J. (Co-Authors: C.Ferraris , MD L.Fronczek ) Newell, D.; and White, C. : SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS (SURF) AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY: A NSF/NIST PARTNERSHIP.
National Science Foundation Engineering Education Programs Awardees Conference, Hyatt Regency Reston 1800 Presidents Street, Reston, Virginia, USA 20190, 2/3.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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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