In this Issue . . .

Co-op Corner:
Infant Breathing
High-Speed Machining
Virtual Worlds

A new DNA sequencing technology has been developed by GeneTrace Systems Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif., that provides results hundreds of times faster than current methods at a fraction of the cost.

Co-funded by NIST's Advanced Technology Program, the company's fully automated process combines DNA probing, sequencing, and sizing reactions with laser-based "time of flight" mass spectrometry. The system identifies the sequence of base chemicals in a given DNA strand in five seconds rather than the three hours required for conventional, gel-based DNA separation methods. The company expects its technology to lead to genetic screening tests for as little as a few dollars, compared with the $300 to $5, 000 required today.

GeneTrace reduced labor costs by using a robotics system for initial sample handling, and special methods and reagents were formulated so chemical reactions and protocols could be automated and optimized. In addition, the company developed software to make accurate distinctions among the various subunits of DNA. In all, eight patents are pending related to the rapid sequencing technology.

GeneTrace has licensed some of its technology to Incyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. for use in drug research, and several other companies are using it for pilot projects focusing on gene discovery and expression, genotyping, and other topics. This research is expected to lead to inexpensive, yet highly effective new drugs and widely available tests for disease diagnosis and identification, such as forensic and paternity testing.

Contact: Christopher Becker, (415) 859-3718.

There's a new type of kinder, gentler microscopy. Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is an emerging technique that combines the non-destructive advantages of optical microscopy with nanometer-scale resolution near that of atomic force or electron microscopes.

The new technique should be useful for measuring nanometer-scale optical properties of waveguides and other fiber optic communications components, as well as for viewing of delicate biological samples and for characterizing nanometer-scale structures and defects during semiconductor manufacturing.

The graphic shows a colorized NSOM image of a "photonic crystal," a test material made by embedding an array of tiny glass cylinders in a matrix glass. To the eye these two clear glasses are indistinguishable. However, the glasses have slightly different indices of refraction (they bend light at slightly different angles). Consequently, the NSOM image shows that, rather than travel straight through the sample, light is "guided" through the crystal by the cylinders. The light is brightest in the gold areas (centered on the cylinders) and less intense in the purple areas.

The image was made by NIST researchers working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Virginia and the Naval Research Laboratory. Laser light is channeled through a fiber optic probe, scanned about 10 nm above the sample surface, and then collected on the other side of the sample. An opening at the tip of the probe is only about 50 nm wide, smaller than a wavelength of visible light (which is several hundred nanometers) but large enough for a small portion of the light energy or photons to escape.

Other NIST research groups are working on additional applications for NSOM, including nanometer-scale chemical composition analysis.

Contact: Lori Goldner, (301) 975-3792.

The vision and goals driving research and development efforts at NIST's new National Advanced Manufacturing Testbed are portrayed in a video now available. "Showcasing America's Manufacturing Future ... the National Advanced Manufacturing Testbed" describes how ever improving information technology is poised to transform the way companies organize and operate.

Built on a state-of-the-art computing and communications infrastructure, the NAMT is a showcase for demonstrating how machines, software, and people can be networked together, efficiently and effectively, to improve productivity and foster innovation at all levels of a manufacturing enterprise. The facility enables remotely located partners from industry, government, and academic organizations to work collaboratively on issues that now impede firms and industries from fully exploiting the capabilities of information technology. Results of NAMT research will contribute to an open set of standards, interfaces, architecture specifications, and other infrastructual elements that enable varied sets and subsets of manufacturing systems to work together.

The video is available in VHS and CD-ROM formats. The CD-ROM also includes a copy of a publication that provides additional information on the organization and structure of the NAMT as well as details on several ongoing projects. To obtain a copy, contact Melissa Zeltman, (301) 975-3986. The NAMT site on the World Wide Web is http://www.mel.nist.gov/namt.

Developed with co-funding from NIST's Advanced Technology Program, the technique is intended as an alternative to current, much more time-consuming inspection methods for precision cylinders such as diesel fuel injectors or roller bearings. Current methods rely on use of coordinate measuring machines, usually within a special temperature-controlled room. A contact probe touches the part in a number of places to take precise measurements of its dimensions. The process can take an hour or longer for a single part.

TROPEL's new technique relies on the fact that light will reflect off a surface in a very predictable way depending on its shape. Reflecting light off a supposedly flat surface is a relatively simple process and has been used in industry for many years.

TROPEL's achievement was to create special optical components that bend laser light into cylindrical or conical shapes. A pair of these components is used to bend a sheet of laser light into the intended shape of a machined part. The light is then reflected off the part. A perfectly made part will reflect light in a specific pattern that can be calculated. TROPEL's system compares this calculated pattern to the actual pattern of light reflected by the part. The difference between the two patterns can be plotted as a three-dimensional map showing how much the part varies from its intended shape.

In the graphic (right), colors represent variations in the diameter of the part. Dark blue, blue, and dark green represent areas of the cylinder that are 0.5 to 2 micrometers larger than the intended dimensions. Yellow, orange, and red areas are 0.5 to 2 micrometers smaller than they should be.

Measuring finished parts to submicrometer dimensions on the shop floor should allow manufacturers to better identify parts that don't meet precise tolerances and to make necessary adjustments to manufacturing processes quickly. Precise fit for fuel-injection systems is essential for good fuel economy and low emissions, while precisely made roller bearings are quieter than less well shaped ones.

Contact Louis Denes, (716) 388-3469.

The changes include an increase of the emphasis on support for joint research projects involving a mix of companies, universities, and other organizations; a stronger emphasis on the program's support for small and mid-sized firms; and an increase in the cost-share requirements for large company single applicants participating in the program. The changes also would bring closer ties with state-run technology programs and strengthen linkages with the venture capital community to ensure that ATP will not fund projects that could be funded privately.

The changes are the result of a study of the ATP initiated by Secretary Daley in March. Conducted by the department's Technology Administration, the study solicited comments on the program from the public (through a notice in the Federal Register) and by a mailing to approximately 3,500 interested parties. In most cases, the changes can be implemented by NIST. A few may require Congressional action to change the law that governs the ATP.

The complete report, Strengthening the Commerce Department's Advanced Technology Program: An Action Plan, may be downloaded from the NIST web site, (click on the "News" button). Printed copies are available by calling 1-(800)-ATP-FUND.

NIST researchers are developing a reference material that they hope will help industry further increase the storage capacity of magnetic media. Despite the fact that magnetic data storage has been used for many years, there are no reference materials available to help manufacturers ensure that the magnetic force microscopes used to examine tape and disk drive materials are functioning properly.

The new NIST reference material consists of a series of magnetic data "tracks" encoded with a repeating pattern (see graphic at right). The material is divided into numbered quadrants so that a specific spot on the sample can be relocated. Disk manufacturers can use the sample to check the resolution of their microscopes. A company compares the image of the reference material produced with its own microscope with a digital image provided by NIST. If the light and dark patterns that indicate changes in magnetic directions are less clear than the NIST digital image, the company's microscope may have a worn out magnetic sensing tip or may need some other adjustment.

The long-term goal of the NIST research is to develop a reference material with quantitative information on magnetic fields at specific locations above the sample. To accomplish this, the NIST researchers are carefully characterizing the reference materials with several different complementary imaging techniques.

Contact: Paul Rice, (303) 497-3841.

Copies of the brochure may be obtained by sending a self-addressed mailing label to the National Center for Standards and Certification Information, Bldg. 820, Rm. 164, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001. Copies also may be requested by phone: (301) 975-4040, fax: (301) 926-1559, or e-mail: ncsci@nist.gov.

Infant Breathing--In a cooperative effort with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIST chemists are helping pediatric researchers advance a new treatment for infants who suffer from Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, where insufficient oxygen is exchanged in their lungs to support vital organs. The new treatment, inhaled nitric oxide therapy, has shown promise in clinical trials by relaxing the lung membranes, which allows an increase in the amount of oxygen in these babies' blood. A potential problem, however, is the formation of nitrogen dioxide, which naturally occurs after the mixing of the nitric oxide with ventilator oxygen and can cause lung congestion and other respiratory problems. NIST researchers measured the rate of formation of nitrogen dioxide under therapeutic conditions and found that no significant level of nitrogen dioxide should reach an infant during treatment. The researchers also have set up a prototype facility to evaluate the performance of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide sensors being designed so hospital staffs can monitor administration of the new therapy.

Contact: William Thorn, (301) 975-3905.

High-Speed Machining--A new NIST testbed is intended to help put high-speed machining on a more solid technical foundation. Studies of cutting dynamics, spindle performance, cutting tool designs, and other topics will be conducted on a high-speed milling machine capable of more than 20,000 revolutions per minute. Initial collaborators include researchers from Pennsylvania State University, the University of Maryland, and McDonnell Douglas. Among projects already under way at the new testbed is a study of the vibrational characteristics of long cutting tools. This study and others will help extend a NIST computer model of milling processes to encompass high-speed machining.

Contact: Matt Davies, (301) 975-3521.

Virtual Worlds--The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is increasingly being incorporated into interactive World Wide Web sites and other virtual worlds. To help check compliance with this emerging standard, NIST is working with the VRML Consortium, which consists of VRML experts, developers, and virtual world builders, to develop specific testing strategies and associated test suites. An initial test suite can be used by both developers and users of VRML browsers to determine whether a particular product conforms with the VRML standard.

Contact: Mary Brady, (301) 975-4094.

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