Tag Archives: NIST

Scientists design Facebook-like networks that could speed the development of new drugs

Social media has expanded to reach an unlikely new target: molecules. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created networks of molecular data similar to Facebook’s recently debuted graph search feature. While graph search would allow Facebook users to find all their New York-living, beer-drinking buddies in one quick search, the NIST-designed networks could help scientists rapidly sift through enormous chemical and biological data sets to find substances with specific properties, for example all 5-ring chemicals with an affinity for enzyme A. The search approach could help speed up the development of new drugs and designer materials. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

NIST offers guidance on building 21st-century forensic labs

A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) handbook provides law enforcement agencies with a detailed how-to guide on the planning, design, construction and relocation of forensic science laboratories. The document not only outlines the process of creating a new crime lab from start to finish, it also provides guidance on integrating the latest scientific developments, efficiency improvements and sustainability practices. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

Who are you? NIST biometric publication provides two new ways to tell quickly

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a new publication that broadens agency security options for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards. Biometric Data Specifications for Personal Identity Verification (Special Publication 800-76-2) adds iris images as biometric identifiers and on-card fingerprint comparison as options for the cards. …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

NIST tests in New York City suggest how to improve emergency radio communications

Radio communications can be unreliable in underground tunnels and other large, complicated structures, posing a safety hazard for emergency responders. New tests of wireless emergency safety equipment by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have defined the challenges more precisely and suggest how emergency communications might be improved.

From: http://phys.org/news285497248.html

Researchers open door to advanced molecular electronic metrology

(Phys.org) —Continued advancements using a NIST-developed molecular-level fabrication technique are leading to new discoveries in the metrology for molecular electronics by advancing large-area (μm to mm range) connections to molecules (nm range). Researchers in the PML’s Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division have been able to build a simple bilayer molecular circuit, combining separately formed monolayers of organic materials on silicon and gold surfaces respectively to create a fully characterized molecular level device. Further, they were able to place copper atoms at specific locations within the bilayer device to test their influence on its electronic properties.

From: http://phys.org/news284974003.html

NIST tests underscore potential hazards of green laser pointers

Using a low-cost apparatus designed to quickly and accurately measure the properties of handheld laser devices, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers tested 122 laser pointers and found that nearly 90 percent of green pointers and about 44 percent of red pointers tested were out of compliance with federal safety regulations. The NIST test apparatus was designed so that it can be replicated easily by other institutions. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

DHS Selects Xacta IA Manager Suite of Products for Enterprise-wide Risk Management

By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

Filed under:

DHS Selects Xacta IA Manager Suite of Products for Enterprise-wide Risk Management


Telos Corporation and International Computing Systems, Inc. to Provide Compliance, Vulnerability Management and Continuous Monitoring

ASHBURN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has selected Xacta® IA Manager from Telos® Corporation for enterprise-wide risk management and compliance. Along with the Xacta IA Manager suite, Telos and partner International Computing Systems, Inc. will provide information assurance training and continuous monitoring under the multi-year, firm fixed price contract.

DHS is subject to a number of laws and regulations for monitoring and assuring the security of its classified and unclassified networks,” said Sam Chung, President of ICS. “Telos’ Xacta IA Manager solution provides the risk management framework required by DHS to enforce policy, track the effectiveness of security programs, and monitor compliance across the enterprise.”

Because of its unique role in the U.S. government, DHS information systems must comply with a broad range of security mandates from NIST, DoD, the intelligence community, and its own security controls policy. The department required a monitoring, compliance and reporting tool that could easily be configured to meet the diverse requirements of FISMA, NIST 800-53, CNSS 1253, FedRAMP, and DHS directives. Xacta IA Manager offers customized templates and controls inheritance to ease transition, and its dashboard view, reporting features, and CyberScope integration simplify reporting and compliance monitoring.

ICS has been a trusted partner of Telos for many years,” said Rinaldi Pisani, Telos vice president and general manager for Cyber Application Solutions. “Our information assurance and IT consultants and trainers will team to provide the very best enterprise-wide risk management services to DHS.”

Telos and ICS will provide DHS with training for approximately 1,600 system users, on-site help desk and maintenance, and transition support.

Xacta IA Manager is an enterprise risk management framework that facilitates compliance assessment, continuous risk and sustained compliance management, and security process automation. It combines industry-leading security compliance and risk assessment functionality with powerful business process automation.

About International Computing Systems, Inc.

International Computing Systems (ICS) is a rapidly growing small business committed to adding value, lowering risk, and accelerating the return on investment of our clients’ IT business systems. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

NIST panel expands recommendations for use of electronic health records in pediatrics

To speed development and adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) for pediatrics, a group of experts from industry, academia and government convened by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has focused its attention on three key audiences—records-system vendors and developers, small-group pediatric medical practices and children’s hospitals. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

NIST, Stanford collaborate to catalog early microcomputing software data

When you hear the term “cultural heritage,” what springs to mind? The dramas of Tennessee Williams, the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe? Software from the early 1980s? The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Stanford University Libraries (SUL) hope their new project to catalog the data contained in about 15,000 software releases from the early days of microcomputing, many of which are game titles, will help give software its place in culture. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org

Gauging the needs of the petroleum industry

When he looked at the dramatic increase in his laboratory’s thread gauge calibration income – a 50 % increase over last year and a 1000 % increase from 14 years ago – Dennis Everett saw the writing on the wall: The petroleum industry was back in a big, big way. This multi-billion-dollar industry has grown to support 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.3 percent of the U.S. economy. NIST has to find a way to keep up with the resulting new demands and challenges. NIST‘s impact on this industry is critical—NIST stands at the gateway to help prevent leaks in oil drilling operations. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org