News
The last of the great standards Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are exploring ways to replace Le Gran K, the platinum-iridium cylinder that has served for 106 years as the standard for the kilogram. Using an artifact as a standard has caused several problems: Its mass changes over time, it is one of a kind, and in this case, the standard is available only at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sèvres, France. According to NIST researchers, a better way of defining standards is to base the definition on a natural constant. They are considering two ways to redefine the kilogram, both based on Avogadro's number, which is defined as the number of atoms in 12 g (1 mole) ofpure12C. One method uses X-ray techniques to measure the lattice spacing of silicon crystals. The lattice spacing, density, and the mean molar mass of silicon (obtained from the mass ratios of the various silicon isotopes to 12C and their relative abundances in a particular sample) are then used to determine Avogadro's number. The other method of determining Avogadro's number is based on the measurements
vision of Tektronix in 1986 and became part of Sony in 1993. CAChe will bring to Oxford Molecular a popular intuitive user interface, desktop accessibility through Macintosh and Windows platforms, and a transparent client-server architecture. Oxford Molecular will bring to CAChe new algorithms to address a wider range of industrial problems and applications of interest to the analytical chemist.
EPA to establish lab accreditation program The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) in an effort to provide a level playing field for environmental laboratories and facilitate reciprocity among the states. Under this program, the states K-20, maintained by NIST, is one of the will serve as the primary accrediting auprototype standards calibrated against thority, although they have the option of Le Gran K. It is resting on the mass engaging a third party to fulfill some or all comparator's balance pan on the right. of the accrediting functions. EPA will oversee and evaluate the accrediting authorities and administer those aspects of NELAP requiring standardization among in a watt-balance experiment where, in the various authorities. essence, a coil in a magneticfieldis NELAP will rely on the NELA Confermoved at a certain velocity and the ence (NELAC), a volunteer advisory group power generated electrically is comof environmental accrediting authorities pared with the power generated meand other interested parties, to establish chanically. The researchers expect that the standards on which accreditation will the new definition will be in place in be based. These standards will include 15-25 years. quality control, performance evaluation, and audit programs. Membership in NELAC is open to state and federal officials involved in the accredmolecular modeling software... [and] is Oxford to buy CAChe in line with our strategy to offer software iting programs as well as to laboratory Oxford Molecular Group PLC (Oxford, personnel, industry and environmental U.K.), developer of computer-aided molec- supporting the entire drug design process." CAChe president Ajit Rode says that group representatives, and the general ular design software and database syspublic. Broad participation in the confertems, has announced that it will purchase "Oxford Molecular has computer-aided ence is expected to result in standards for molecular design as its core business and CAChe Scientific (Beaverton, OR), dereliable and uniform data that are acceptwill contribute state-of-the-art science to veloper of computer-aided molecular deable to state and federal environmental our product range. This makes it an ideal sign software, from Sony/Tektronix (Tokyo, Japan) for approximately $9 million in partner to build CAChe's business yet fur- programs. ther, as well as offering us better distribustock. According to A F. Marchington, CEO tion in Europe." Rheometrics acquires rights of Oxford Molecular, the purchase of Oxford Molecular was formed in 1989 to Mettler instruments CAChe "increases our presence and visito commercially develop algorithms origi- Rheometric Scientific has acquired the bility in the U.S. market, and gives us addi- nally conceived at the University of Oxrights to the RM180 and RM260 Theologitional penetration in Japan, where the ford and other academic institutions. cal test instruments manufactured by group will be the largest single supplier of CAChe was formed within the research di- Mettler-Toledo AG and used for QA/QC 232 A
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in the coatings, paint, biological fluids, and cosmetics industries. Acquiring these instruments gives Rheometric a broader line of rheometers. According to Thomas A Luckenbach, marketing communications manager for Rheometric Scientific, "The acquisition of these lower priced viscometers will speed our penetration into price-sensitive levels of the fluid materials markets. Before this acquisition, we served mostly the R&D laboratories in these markets with our well-known line of high-quality, research-grade rheometers." To ensure continued quality of the RM 180 and RM260 rheological test instruments, Mettler will continue to manufacture the instruments and maintain a parts inventory until Rheometrics can integrate them into its own production scheme. Princeton adds EG&G OMA to repertoire Princeton Instruments has acquired EG&G Instruments' optical multichannel analyzer (OMA) product line. Princeton has built its business on OMAs and charge-coupled device-based cameras. The addition of EG&G's OMA products will allow Princeton to further expand detector research and development and will double their established customer base. According to YairTalmi, president of Princeton, "The addition of EG&G's OMA line will give us a considerably broader user base. In addition, we plan to develop new applications and Microsoft Windows software to update OMA technology and make it more attractive to the customer." EG&G is selling some of its smaller businesses to concentrate on X-ray imaging and bioanalytical instruments. One of EG&G's primary considerations in choosing to sell to Princeton is the maintenance of EG&G's reputation. Talmi explains, "One of the reasons EG&G chose Princeton to acquire their OMA line is that we agreed to service systems that are already in place for the next five years. This helps preserve EG&G's reputation, because it means their customers aren't left out in the cold without future support or upgrade possibilities."
Data Instruments merges with NeXt Sensors Data Instruments (Acton, MA), manufacturer of electronic transducers that sense pressure in liquids or gases, has acquired NeXt Sensors (Sunnyvale, CA), manufacturer of micromachined silicon pressure transducers. Data Instruments' stainlesssteel products are intended for rugged applications, such as in blood and seawater environments. NeXt's micromachined silicon products are much smaller and less expensive than the Data Instruments product line and are used in applications in-
volving dry air and noncorrosive gases. According to Peter Russo, president of Data Instruments, "Their product line complements the Data Instruments line well and provides us with a significant capability in the micromachined silicon sensor area." Dennis Dauenhauer, founder and president of NeXt Sensors, says that the merger with Data Instruments "will provide us with a marketing and sales organization second to none in the sensor industry and a corporate infrastructure to support significant growth of the business."
NOMINATIONS • 1996 Division of Analytical Chemistry awards Nominations are sought for the 1996 Division of Analytical Chemistry awards. Eligibility for the awards is not restricted to members of the Division; nominations may also come from individuals who are not members. The Award in Chemical Instrumentation, sponsored by the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, is given to an individual who has advanced chemical instrumentation and has achieved one or more of the following: developed unique instrumentation, demonstrated innovative use of instrumentation in chemical measurement, stimulated use of instrumentation by other researchers, or published research papers or books that have influenced chemical measurement The Award for Excellence in Teaching, cosponsored by the Division and DuPont, recognizes a scientist who has enhanced the professional development of analytical chemistry students in the following ways: published an influential textbook, designed and implemented a new approach to teaching, encouraged a significant number of students to become analytical chemists, developed and published innovative experiments, designed improved equipment for teaching labs, or published widely quoted articles on teaching analytical chemistry. This award is open to all teachers who have been full-time faculty members at U.S. or Canadian colleges or universities for at least five years at the time the award is presented. The Awards in Spectrochemical Analysis (sponsored by Perkin-Elmer Corp.) and Electrochemistry (sponsored by EG&G Princeton Applied Research) are presented to individuals who have advanced thefieldsof spectrochemical analysis and electrochemical analysis, respectively. Candidates must have achieved one or more of the following: conceptualized and developed unique instrumentation, developed novel and important instrumentation or methods, elucidated fundamental events or processes important to the field, or published research papers or books that have influenced the development of the field. Each award consists of a $4000 honorarium, a plaque, and a $1000 travel allowance to the 1995 fall ACS national meeting. Nominating documents should include a letter of recommendation, one or more seconding letters, and a brief biographical sketch emphasizing the candidate's accomplishments. Nomination materials, which should not exceed 12 pages of text, should be sent in one package by Sept 1 to Henry Blount, Chemistry Division, Rm. 1055, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.
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