[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43394-43398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17865]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket Number: 150702573-5573-01]


Announcement of Requirements and Registration for National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Prize Competition--Reference Data 
Challenge

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a 
non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce, is 
conducting this prize competition to spur the development of innovative 
mobile applications that utilize NIST datasets to help better share the 
data and provide a useful service to those who can best use it. NIST 
Standard Reference Data (SRD) are well-documented numeric data used in 
technical problem-solving, research, and development; over 100 types 
are available for use in scientific and engineering applications, with 
over 19 million downloads recorded annually (excluding web-based time 
services). Most of these data sets are currently freely accessible 
through web-based interfaces or are made available on CD upon request. 
Mobile applications that can readily access and utilize this data will 
help drive further innovation and support research through easy and 
low-barrier access to the results of U.S. tax-payer funded research.
    Participants in this prize competition are invited to submit Apps 
(as defined in this Notice) that use eligible NIST Standard Reference 
Data (SRD) datasets listed on the Event Web site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com. These eligible datasets pertain to physics 
and chemistry and are frequently used by high school, college, and 
graduate students in advanced chemistry and physics coursework.

DATES: Submission Period: July 27, 2015-September 28, 2015.
    Announcement of Winners: November 16, 2015.
    The Submission Period begins July 27, 2015, at 9 a.m. EDT and ends 
September 28, 2015, at 5 p.m. EDT. Prize competition dates are subject 
to change at the discretion of NIST. Entries submitted before or after 
the Submission Period will not be reviewed or considered for award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the prize competition 
can be directed to NIST via the Event Web site, or by email to Heather 
Evans at [email protected], phone 301-975-4525.
    Changes or updates to the prize competition rules will be posted 
and can be viewed at the Event Web site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com.
    Results of the prize competition will be announced on the Event Web 
site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com and on the NIST Web site, 
www.nist.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Competition Sponsor

    This prize competition (``Competition'') is sponsored by the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST; www.nist.gov), a 
non-regulatory Federal agency within the United States Department of 
Commerce. Founded in 1901, NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation 
and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, 
standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and 
improve our quality of life. NIST carries out its mission through its 
programs, which include: The NIST Laboratories, conducting world-class 
research, often in close collaboration with industry, that advances the 
Nation's technology infrastructure and helps U.S. companies continually 
improve products and services; the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership (MEP), a nation-wide network of local centers offering 
technical and business assistance to smaller manufacturers to help them 
create and retain jobs, increase profits, and save time and money; and 
the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which promotes performance 
excellence among U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational 
institutions, health care providers, and nonprofit organizations, 
conducts outreach programs, and manages the annual Malcolm Baldrige 
National Quality Award, which recognizes performance excellence and 
quality achievement. The agency operates in two locations: 
Gaithersburg, Maryland (headquarters--234-hectare/578-acre campus); and 
Boulder, Colorado (84-hectare/208-acre campus). NIST employs about 
3,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support and 
administrative personnel. NIST also hosts about 2,700 associates from 
academia, industry, and other government agencies, who collaborate with 
NIST staff and access user facilities. In addition, NIST partners with 
more than 1,300 manufacturing specialists and staff at more than 400 
local MEP centers around the country. NIST provides measurement and 
calibration services via its Standard Reference Materials[supreg], 
calibration services, and Standard Reference Data.

Eligibility Rules for Participating in the Competition

    This Competition is open to all individuals over the age of 18 that 
are residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, and to for-profit or non-profit 
corporations, institutions, or other validly formed legal entities 
organized or incorporated in, and which maintain a primary place of 
business in, any of the preceding jurisdictions. An individual, whether 
participating singly or with a group, must be a citizen or permanent 
resident of the United States.
    To be eligible to win a Competition prize, a Participant (whether 
an individual or legal entity) must have registered to participate, 
must have complied with all the requirements under section 3719 of 
title 15, United States Code (``Prize competitions'').
    A Participant shall not be deemed ineligible because the 
Participant used Federal facilities or consulted with

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Federal employees in preparing its submission to the Competition if the 
facilities and employees are made available to all Participants on an 
equitable basis.
    Multiple entries are permitted. Each entry will be reviewed 
independently. Multiple individuals and/or legal entities may 
collaborate as a group to submit a single entry, in which case all 
members of the group must satisfy the eligibility requirements, and a 
single individual from the group must be designated as an official 
representative for each entry. That designated individual will be 
responsible for meeting all entry and evaluation requirements. 
Participation is subject to all U.S. federal, state and local laws and 
regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Participants 
are responsible for checking applicable laws and regulations in their 
jurisdiction(s) before participating in this Competition, to ensure 
that their participation is legal. Individuals entering on behalf of or 
representing a company, institution or other legal entity are 
responsible for confirming that their entry does not violate any 
policies of that company, institution or legal entity.
    NIST employees, NIST associates, and any other individuals or legal 
entities involved with the design, production, execution, distribution 
or evaluation of the Competition, are not eligible to enter. NIST 
employees and NIST Guest Researchers are not eligible to enter. Federal 
entities and non-NIST Federal employees acting in their official 
capacities are not eligible to enter. Non-NIST Federal employees acting 
in their personal capacities should consult with their respective 
agency ethics officials to determine whether their participation in 
this Competition is permissible.

Entry Process for Participants

    To enter, create a user account at ChallengePost by visiting 
challengepost.com and register your interest in participating in the 
Competition at the Event Web site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com. 
Create an App (as defined herein) that uses at least one of the 
eligible NIST datasets identified on the Event Web site.
    NIST provides free online access to high quality scientific data in 
a wide range of disciplines. The eligible NIST datasets for this 
Competition pertain to physics and chemistry and are frequently used by 
high school, college, and graduate students in advanced chemistry and 
physics coursework. For example, below are links to four NIST Standard 
Reference Data that represent some of the eligible NIST datasets for 
this Competition:
    (1) Ground Levels and Ionization Energies for the Neutral Atoms 
(SRD 111, http://www.nist.gov/pml/data/ion_energy.cfm),
    (2) Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (SRD 144, http://www.nist.gov/pml/data/comp.cfm),
    (3) CODATA Fundamental Physical Constants (SRD 121, http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/), and
    (4) the NIST Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark 
Database (SRD 101, http://cccbdb.nist.gov).
    These four datasets are a subset of the eligible NIST SRD datasets 
that are listed on the Event Web site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com. The four datasets listed above represent 
some of the most fundamental data in the NIST SRD collection--from the 
speed of light to the atomic weight of carbon. Participants in this 
Competition are invited to integrate other freely available datasets 
into their applications to increase the usefulness of the data to a 
wider audience. For example, additional free online NIST Standard 
Reference Data can be found by searching the NIST Data Gateway at 
http://srdata.nist.gov/gateway.
    While not required, other freely available scientific data (from 
NIST or a third-party) may enhance the usefulness of the App for other 
users. A submission requires (1) your App software provided to the 
Competition Sponsor at no cost; (2) a brief (less than 250 words) text 
description of your App; (3) at least one screenshot image of your App 
in use on a mobile phone or tablet device; (4) a brief (less than five 
minutes) video demonstrating the functionality of your App; and (5) 
confirmation that you have read and agree to the Competition Rules 
contained in this Notice. Participants may begin submitting Competition 
Entries at 9:00 a.m. EDT on July 27, 2015, to the Event Web site. 
Competition Entries must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on 
September 28, 2015, to the Event Web site.
    Entries submitted before the start date and time, or after the end 
date and time, will not be evaluated or considered for award. Entries 
sent to NIST in any manner other than through the Event Web site will 
not be evaluated or considered for award. Entries that do not comply 
with the formatting requirements set forth in this Notice and the Event 
Web site will not be evaluated or considered for award. Changes or 
updates to the prize competition rules will be posted and can be viewed 
at the Event Web site, http://nistdata.challengepost.com.
    Entries must be complete, non-confidential and in English.
    In general, each Entry:
    (a) Must affirmatively represent that the Participant (and each 
Participant if more than one) has read and consents to be governed by 
the Competition rules and meets the eligibility requirements;
    (b) Must include an App (i.e., a working software application that 
operates on a mobile device using one of three operating systems, i.e., 
iOS, Android, or Windows, together with relevant documentation and code 
to install and run the application) that uses at least one of the 
eligible NIST datasets as described above in the Entry Process for 
Participants. The App should meet the minimum criteria described below 
in the Evaluation, Judging, and Selection of Winner(s). The Participant 
must provide a way for the Competition Sponsor to test the App at no 
cost, such as a weblink, installation file, or shared test build. 
Details are provided at the Event Web site. Namely, for Android or 
Windows applications, the Participant can upload an .apk file in the 
submission form or provide a link for the Competition Sponsor to 
download the Participant's App. For iOS applications, the Participant 
should provide a link if it is in the Apple Store (promo code must be 
provided if the Participant charges money for the app). If a 
Participant's iOS App is not yet publicly available, the Participant 
must send a test build following the instructions on the Event Web 
site.
    (c) Must include a brief (less than 250 words) text description of 
the Participant's App; and
    (d) Must include at least one photograph of the App running on a 
mobile phone or tablet device, and
    (e) Must include a weblink (YouTube or Vimeo) to a short (less than 
five minutes) video that demonstrates the functionality of the 
application. Participant must have permission to use all content in the 
video, including footage, music and images.

Competition Award(s)

    The Prize Purse is a total of $45,000. The Prize Purse may 
increase, but will not decrease. Any increases in the Prize Purse will 
be posted on the Event Web site and published in the Federal Register. 
The Prize Purse will be used to fund one or more awards.
    NIST will announce via the Event Web site any Entry(ies) as to 
which the Judges have made a cash award (each, an ``Award''). The 
anticipated number and amount of the Awards that will be awarded for 
this Competition is set forth

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in this Notice; however, the Judges are not obligated to make all or 
any Awards, and reserve the right to award fewer than the anticipated 
number of Awards in the event an insufficient number of eligible 
Entries meet any one or more of the Judging Criteria for this 
Competition, based on the Judges' evaluation of the quality of Entries 
and in their sole discretion. Awards will be made based on the Judges' 
evaluation of an Entry's compliance with the Judging Criteria for this 
Competition. All potential winners will be notified by the email 
address provided in the submission document and may be required to 
complete further documentation confirming their eligibility. Return of 
any notification as ``undeliverable'' will result in disqualification. 
After verification of eligibility, Awards will be distributed in the 
form of a check or electronic funds transfer addressed to the official 
representative specified in the winning entry. That official 
representative will have sole responsibility for further distribution 
of any Award among Participants in a group Entry or within a company or 
institution that has submitted an Entry through that representative. 
Each list of Entries receiving Awards for the Competition will be made 
public according to the timeline outlined on the Event Web site.
    All Awards are a one-time offer and there is no offer of licensure, 
royalty, or other financial compensation implied beyond the Awards. 
Winners are responsible for all taxes and reporting related to any 
Award received as part of the Competition.
    All costs incurred in the preparation of Competition Entries are to 
be borne by Participants.

Evaluation, Judging, and Selection of Winner(s)

Submission Evaluation Criteria

    This section discusses how Participant submissions will be 
evaluated.

Entry Submission and Review

    The requirements for submission of a complete entry are detailed in 
the above section ``Entry Process for Participants'' and at the Event 
Web site. Submissions will be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts 
(described below), who will determine whether the submission meets the 
following minimum criteria for consideration for a Prize:
    1. General: App submission should include detailed instructions on 
how to install and operate the App, and system requirements to run the 
App.
    2. NIST Acknowledgment: The following notice should be displayed 
prominently within the application: ``This product uses data provided 
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) but is not 
endorsed or certified by NIST.'' The NIST SRD number must also be 
displayed prominently in the application. Use of the NIST or Department 
of Commerce logos is prohibited.
    3. Functionality/Accuracy: A Submission may be disqualified if the 
software application fails to function as expressed in the description 
submitted by the Participant.
    4. Privacy: Participants should keep in mind that NIST considers 
protection of personal information an essential element of App 
security. Apps must seek user permission to access and use personal 
information.
    5. Security Vulnerabilities: Participants must agree that NIST may 
conduct testing on the App to determine whether malware or other 
security threats may be present. NIST may disqualify the App if, in 
NIST's sole judgment, the App may damage government or others' 
equipment or operating environment. For guidance about minimizing 
security vulnerabilities in mobile applications, Participants can 
consult NIST Special Publication 800-163, ``Vetting the Security of 
Mobile Applications'' (http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-163).
    6. Completeness: Other required components of the submission (as 
listed in the Entry Process for Participants section above) are 
complete.
    Submissions that meet the minimum criteria specified above will be 
presented to the Judges for evaluation. Judges are not required to test 
the App and may choose to judge based solely on the text description, 
images, and video provided in the Submission. Judges will evaluate 
submissions using the following Judging Criteria (the weighting 
percentage for each criterion is given in parentheses):
    1. Potential impact: How strong is the potential of the submission 
to help students and other technical experts use NIST Standard 
Reference Data? (25%)
    2. Creativity and Innovation: To what degree is this submission 
innovative? Does it bring new thinking and creativity to improving 
access to NIST Standard Reference Data? (25%)
    3. Implementation: Does the App work well? Does it provide an 
engaging user experience and have interactive capabilities? (25%)
    4. Uses scientific reference data: Does the App use at least one of 
the eligible datasets? Preference will be given to applications that 
integrate more than one dataset. (25%)
    Awards:
    First, Second, and Third Place Prizes will be selected by the 
Judges.

 First Place Prize is $30,000
 Second Place Prize is $10,000
 Third Place Prize is $5,000

Subject Matter Experts and Judges

    Subject Matter Experts, to be selected by NIST, will, as a body, 
represent a high degree of technical background in App development, 
software security, and scientific research data. Subject Matter Experts 
will consist of NIST employees or NIST associates and will provide 
initial assessments of App submissions using the criteria described 
herein to determine whether the submission meets the minimum criteria. 
Subject Matter Experts will not select winners of any Awards.
    A panel of highly qualified Judges appointed by the NIST Director 
will select winners of Awards to be awarded to First, Second, and Third 
Place Submissions using the Judging Criteria described herein. The 
panel of Judges has a collective expertise that creates an overall 
balanced panel with broad representation of relevant areas to the 
challenge such as App design, NIST datasets, measurement science, 
standards, data security, user interfaces, Web sites, and/or mobile 
devices. Judges include individuals from both inside and outside NIST 
who are experts in areas relevant to the challenge. The Judges may not 
have personal or financial interests in, or be an employee, officer, 
director, or agent of any entity that is a registered Participant in 
this Competition, and may not have a familial or financial relationship 
with an individual who is a registered Participant. In the event of 
such a conflict, a Judge must recuse himself or herself. A 
Participant(s) should review the list of the Judges available at the 
Event Web site, and must identify, as part of their Entry submission, 
any Judge who has personal or financial interests in, or is an 
employee, officer, director, or agent of any entity that is a 
Participant in this Competition, or who has a familial or financial 
relationship with an individual who is a Participant. Thereafter, a 
Participant(s) must immediately inform the Competition Sponsor through 
the Event Web site of a change in status resulting in a conflict for 
any Judge as described above. Failure to do so may disqualify a 
Participant(s) from receiving an Award.

Intellectual Property Rights

    Other than as set forth herein, NIST does not make any claim to 
ownership of your Entry or any of your intellectual

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property or third party intellectual property that it may contain 
therein. By participating in the Competition, you are not granting any 
rights in any patents or pending patent applications related to your 
Entry; provided that by submitting an Entry, you are granting NIST 
certain limited rights as set forth herein.
    By submitting an Entry, you grant to NIST the right to review your 
Entry as described above in the section ``Entry Submission and 
Review,'' to describe your Entry in connection with any materials 
created in connection with the Competition and to have the Subject 
Matter Experts, Judges, Competition administrators, and the designees 
of any of them, review your Entry.
    By submitting an Entry, you grant a non-exclusive right and license 
to NIST to use your name, likeness, biographical information, image, 
any other personal data submitted with your Entry and the contents in 
your Entry (including any created works, such as YouTube[supreg] 
videos, but not including any App software submitted with or as part of 
your Entry), in connection with the Competition. You also agree that 
this license is perpetual and irrevocable.
    You agree that nothing in this Notice grants you a right or license 
to use any names or logos of NIST or the Department of Commerce, or any 
other intellectual property or proprietary rights of NIST or the 
Department of Commerce. You grant to NIST the right to include your 
company or institution name and logo (if your Entry is from a company 
or institution) as a Participant on the Event Web site and in materials 
from NIST announcing winners of or Participants in the Competition. 
Other than these uses or as otherwise set forth herein, you are not 
granting NIST any rights to your trademarks.
    Entries containing any matter which, in the sole discretion of 
NIST, is indecent, defamatory, in obvious bad taste, which demonstrates 
a lack of respect for public morals or conduct, which promotes 
discrimination in any form, which shows unlawful acts being performed, 
which is slanderous or libelous, or which adversely affects the 
reputation of NIST, will not be accepted. If NIST, in its sole 
discretion, finds any Entry to be unacceptable, then such Entry shall 
be deemed disqualified and will not be evaluated or considered for 
award. NIST shall have the right to remove any content from the Event 
Web site in its sole discretion at any time and for any reason, 
including, but not limited to, any online comment or posting related to 
the Competition.

Confidential Information

    By making a submission to the Competition, you agree that no part 
of your submission includes any confidential or proprietary 
information, ideas or products, including but not limited to 
information, ideas or products within the scope of the Trade Secrets 
Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905. Since NIST does not wish to receive or hold any 
submitted materials ``in confidence,'' it is agreed that, with respect 
to your Entry, no confidential or fiduciary relationship or obligation 
of secrecy is established between NIST and you, your Entry team, the 
company or institution you represent when submitting an Entry, or any 
other person or entity associated with any part of your Entry.

Warranties

    By submitting an Entry, you represent and warrant that all 
information you submit is true and complete to the best of your 
knowledge, that you have the right and authority to submit the Entry on 
your own behalf or on behalf of the persons and entities that you 
specify within the Entry, and that your Entry (both the information and 
software submitted in the Entry and the underlying technologies or 
concepts described in the Entry):
    (a) Is your own original work, or is submitted by permission with 
full and proper credit given within your Entry;
    (b) does not contain confidential information or trade secrets 
(yours or anyone else's);
    (c) does not knowingly, after due inquiry (including, by way of 
example only and without limitation, reviewing the records of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office and inquiring of any 
employees and other professionals retained with respect to such 
matters), violate or infringe upon the patent rights, industrial design 
rights, copyrights, trademarks, rights in technical data, rights of 
privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of 
any person or entity;
    (d) does not contain malicious code, such as viruses, malware, 
timebombs, cancelbots, worms, Trojan horses or other potentially 
harmful programs or other material or information;
    (e) does not and will not violate any applicable law, statute, 
ordinance, rule or regulation, including, without limitation, United 
States export laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the 
International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Department of 
Commerce Export Regulations; and
    (f) does not trigger any reporting or royalty or other obligation 
to any third party.

Limitation of Liability

    By participating in the Competition, you agree to assume any and 
all risks and to release, indemnify and hold harmless NIST, each of the 
Judges, and Subject Matter Experts, from and against any injuries, 
losses, damages, claims, actions and any liability of any kind 
(including attorneys' fees) resulting from or arising out of your 
participation in, association with or submission to the Competition 
(including any claims alleging that your Entry infringes, 
misappropriates or violates any third party's intellectual property 
rights). In addition, you agree to waive claims against the Federal 
Government and its related entities, except in the case of willful 
misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, 
revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, 
arising from your participation in this Competition, whether the 
injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.
    NIST is not responsible for any miscommunications such as technical 
failures related to computer, telephone, cable, and unavailable network 
or server connections, related technical failures, or other failures 
related to hardware, software or virus, or incomplete or late Entries. 
Any compromise to the fair and proper conduct of the Competition may 
result in the disqualification of an Entry or Participant, termination 
of the Competition, or other remedial action, at the sole discretion of 
NIST. NIST reserves the right in its sole discretion to extend or 
modify the dates of the Competition, and to change the terms set forth 
herein governing any phases taking place after the effective date of 
any such change. By entering, you agree to the terms set forth herein 
and to all decisions of NIST, the Judges, the Subject Matter Experts, 
and/or all of their respective agents, which are final and binding in 
all respects.
    NIST is not responsible for: (1) Any incorrect or inaccurate 
information, whether caused by a Participant, printing errors, or by 
any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in the 
Competition; (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the 
Entry process for the Competition; (3) technical or human error that 
may occur in the administration of the Competition or the processing of 
Entries; or (4) any injury or damage to persons or property that may be 
caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from a 
Participant's participation in the Competition or receipt or use or 
misuse of an Award. If for any reason an Entry is confirmed

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to have been deleted erroneously, lost, or otherwise destroyed or 
corrupted, the Participant's sole remedy is to submit another Entry in 
the Competition.

Termination and Disqualification

    NIST reserves the authority to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the 
Competition, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures, or 
any other factor beyond NIST's reasonable control impairs the integrity 
or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by NIST in its 
sole discretion.
    NIST reserves the right to disqualify any Participant or 
Participant team it believes to be tampering with the Entry process or 
the operation of the Competition or to be acting in violation of any 
applicable rule or condition. Any attempt by any person to undermine 
the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of 
criminal or civil law.

Verification of Potential Winner(s)

    All potential winners are subject to verification by NIST, whose 
decisions are final and binding in all matters related to the 
Competition.
    Potential winner(s) must continue to comply with all terms and 
conditions of the Competition Rules described in this notice and posted 
on the Event Web site as Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon 
fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner, or 
an announced winner, is found to be ineligible or is disqualified for 
any reason, NIST may make award, instead, to another Participant, as 
may be determined by the Judges.

Privacy and Disclosure Under FOIA

    Personal and contact information is not collected by NIST for 
commercial or marketing purposes. Except as provided herein, 
information submitted throughout the Competition will be used only to 
communicate with Participants regarding Entries and/or the Competition. 
Participant Entries and submissions to the Competition may be subject 
to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (``FOIA'').

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3719.

Kevin Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2015-17865 Filed 7-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P