YIELD OF DREAMS — Argonne has won the Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for an improved industrial process used to increase agricultural yields. Image courtesy CNH Corp.

Argonne wins Federal Lab Consortium award

By Catherine Foster

Argonne has won the Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer for an improved industrial process used in producing an agricultural product.

The technology, which significantly improves the efficiency of electrodialysis cells and stacks, was successfully integrated into a new process developed by an industrial partner for the production of a specialty agricultural chemical.

The Federal Laboratory Consortium award honors "outstanding work in the process of transferring federally developed technology to the marketplace." A panel of experts from industry, state and local government, academia and the federal laboratory system judge the nominations.

Argonne researchers Ed Daniels, John Hryn and Greg Krumdick (all ES) developed the process, and worked with the industrial partner to adapt the improvement to their existing process. Controlling the pH levels in the production of the chemical enhancer is key to increasing the useable yield, and a synthetic chemical offered the potential if it could be produced in large quantities at a reasonable cost.

The process uses a buffer agent that is continuously regenerated, producing large amounts of the chemical effectively and efficiently. During the first phase of commercial demonstration, more than 360,000 gallons of the chemical were produced over six months in a series of sustained round-the-clock production runs.

Argonne's contributions involved creating the improved process, scaling up the industrial partner's bench-scale work and adapting it to Argonne's pilot plant, defining and proving operating conditions, producing commercial quantities of the material, and training the partner's personnel to operate the plant. "The fact that this comprehensive effort was successfully completed in 18 months shows that a government lab can deliver results at a pace consistent with industry's needs and timetable," noted Steve Ban, director of Argonne's Office of Technology Transfer.

Lab's Anti-Jet-Lag Diet licensed
to online company

Argonne's Anti-Jet-Lag Diet is now officially online. Argonne-developed software that computes individualized diet plans to help travelers avoid jet lag has been licensed exclusively to AntiJetLagDiet.com LLC.

The software, which is available for public use online, is based on the famous Anti-Jet-Lag Diet, developed at Argonne and used to avoid jet lag by hundreds of thousands of travelers over the last 20 years.

Research shows that travelers who use the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet are seven times less likely to experience jet lag when traveling east and 16 times less likely when traveling west.

The free online information expands on older, publicly available versions of the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet by providing a full, frequently-asked-questions page that includes detailed information about food choices, caffeine use and the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet's origin and history.

For a small fee, the online software will calculate a detailed, easy-to-follow Anti-Jet-Lag-Diet plan tailored to an individual traveler's itinerary. The tailored Anti-Jet-Lag-Diet plan calculates time differences between departure and destination cities and specifies key meal times to help travelers experience more enjoyable vacations and productive business trips, free from the debilitating fatigue and sleepiness associated with jet lag.

A study published in the medical journal Military Medicine proved the effectiveness of the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet. In a test involving 186 National Guard troops flying across nine time zones, soldiers who used the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet flying east were 7.5 times less likely to experience jet lag. On the return trip west, soldiers who used the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet were 16.2 times less likely to have jet lag. The study can be read online.

Anyone traveling across three or more time zones can use the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet plan to eliminate or reduce jet lag -- feelings of irritability, insomnia, indigestion and general disorientation that occur when the body's inner clock is out of synchronization with time cues it receives from the environment. Time cues include meal times, sunrise and sunset, and daily cycles of rest and activity. The Anti-Jet-Lag Diet uses nature's time cues to help the body adjust quickly to a new time zone.

Hundreds of thousands of travelers have requested copies of the Anti-Jet-Lag Diet from Argonne over the years. Examples include President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Army and Navy, the U.S. Secret Service, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve System, the Canadian National Swim Team, and dozens of corporations, scout groups, church groups and other travelers.

AntiJetLagDiet.com LLC is a limited liability company based in Downers Grove, Ill.

Celebration to mark new safety record

From Oct. 24, 2003, through Jan. 21, 2004, Argonne-East employees worked more than 1.4 million hours without a "lost-time" injury, setting a record for safety at the Illinois site.

"A very safe place to work is getting even safer," said Adam Cohen, director of Environment, Safety and Health/Quality Assurance. "It's taken a very strong effort by everyone at Argonne-East to set this mark."

To celebrate this milestone, a celebration will be held Monday, March 15, at noon in the Building 213 Cafeteria. Cake will be served by Argonne Director Hermann Grunder, Deputy Laboratory Director Don Joyce, Chief Operations Officer Mike Derbidge and EQO Director Adam Cohen.

Argonne's new safety slogan will be unveiled at the safety celebration. The slogan was chosen by a committee of representatives from programmatic and operations divisions from among the nearly 1,200 submissions by Argonne employees. The employee who submitted the winning slogan will win $250. A prize of $150 will be awarded to the employee with the second-place slogan, and the third-place entry will get $100.

Albert Wagner to lead CHM

Albert Wagner, a well-known theoretical chemist, has been named director of Argonne's Chemistry Division.

Wagner has been serving as acting director of the division.

Hermann A. Grunder, Argonne director, commented on Wagner's appointment, "It is extremely rewarding that, after an extensive national search with a number of excellent outside candidates, we found the best candidate right here."

As division director, Wagner leads a staff of 90 employees who work in chemistry research areas ranging from photosynthesis to superconductivity.

Wagner conducts research into chemical dynamics in the gas phase. He has published 116 professional papers and has contributed to several major research projects, including groundbreaking work in the reaction between oxygen and hydrogen. Recently, Wagner was a key player in a multi-laboratory effort that combined state-of-the-art techniques to provide a definitive determination of the heat of formation of the hydroxyl (OH) radical and a new and precise measurement of the gas-phase bond dissociation energy of water.

Over the last decade, Wagner has played an important part in Argonne's participation in multi-laboratory Grand Challenge projects for the development of large-scale parallel programming packages for quantum chemistry and for the direct calculation of the electronic structure and spectra of the lanthanides and actinides. He has also played a key part in several projects related to Department of Energy's Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing program.

Wagner is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society and the Combustion Institute.

African American/Black Club
seeks new members

A new African American/Black (AABL) Club has been established at Argonne-East to promote cross-cultural awareness and communication. The club will promote fellowship, encourage networking and resource sharing among members and promote the richness and diversity of African American/Black studies and cultures.

Club members will network as professionals and co-workers and share ideas and resources that benefit the African American/Black community and all employees at Argonne.

Membership in the African American/Black Club is open to all employees and retirees of Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Chicago and the Argonne Credit Union. A membership meeting will be held Friday, March 5, at 11:30 a.m. in Building 212, Conference Room A157.

For more information, contact Carmen Berry (PFS) at ext. 2-7417 or Harold Gibson (APS-USR) at ext. 2-0284.

Do you know…

During the past month, "Do You Know?" focused on contributions of African-American scientists and engineers. As Black History Month draws to a close, this week's column will feature African-American students at Chicago's Providence St. Mel High School with the potential to become the great scientists and engineers of the future.

Gregory G. Butler, II maintains a 3.5 grade point average and is in the top five percent of his class. The junior is an active participant in his school's extracurricular activities, but his passions are math and science. After graduating from high school, he plans to study business and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin at Madison or Howard University. "Engineers have contributed many new devices that help to make people's lives more comfortable. Hopefully, I will someday be able to do the same," said Butler.

Junior Kenisha C. Haywood is in the top 10 percent of her class and participates in a wide array of extracurricular activities. She plans to study at Purdue University or the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana after completing high school.

"One of the scientists who really inspires me is Vivien Thomas, who helped to develop an operation to treat `Blue Baby' syndrome in infants -- a condition marked by insufficient blood oxygen levels and a bluish discoloration of the skin," said Haywood. "When I go to college, I plan to study medicine, industrial technology or engineering so I, too, can make a difference in the world."

Milagra Ward, a sophomore, maintains a 4.0 GPA and is the number-one student in her sophomore class. She hopes to attend Stanford University or Brown University after high school and aspires to become a pediatrician.

"Seeing a sick child inspires me to make them feel better emotionally and physically," explained Ward. "I just want to help relieve them from the pain."

Freshman Sean Collins holds the highest grade point average in his class and in the entire high school student body. In addition to pursuing a wide array of activities and hobbies, Collins has a special interest in science and plans to study chemical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"I hope that as a chemical engineer, I can one day walk in the footsteps of George Washington Carver, an agricultural chemist who found amazing scientific uses for the peanut. I aspire to create new products to help solve world problems of famine, sickness and poverty," said Collins.

Self-service `Budget bar' now open

A new "budget bar" at Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria will feature self-service entrees for $3.99. New selections will be available each day, and will be updated regularly.

1^st Friday Forum to meet March 5

The First Friday Forum will meet Friday, March 5, at 12:15 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 203, Room A114. The speaker will be Stephen Gray (CHM), who will present "Nanoscale Confined Light: From Metal Particles to Nanohole."

The First Friday Forum is an informal gathering of Argonne women usually held on the first Friday of each month. The group explores career and gender issues related to women. Meetings are open to all Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees.

Tickets for `Winterreise' go on sale

Tickets for the March 7 Arts at Argonne concert go on sale this week in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria. Tickets are $25 and will be sold in the cafeteria lobby from noon to 1 p.m.

Tenor Peter Schreier and pianist Stéphane Lemelin will perform the complete song cycle of "Winterreise," with text by Wilhelm Mueller and music by Franz Schubert, at Argonne-East's Building 402 Conference Center Sunday, March 7, at 3 p.m.

The concert is open to the public. Visitors who are U.S. citizens need photo identification to enter the site and should call to register before the concert. Non-U.S. citizens must register before the event by calling (630) 252-3751 during business hours.

Sponsored by Arts at Argonne, the program is partially supported by the University of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

In memoriam

Steven J. Riley, a senior scientist in the Chemistry Division, died Feb. 2. Despite ill health, he continued to work on group experiments and reviews up to the day he died.

Riley came to Argonne from the Chemistry Department of Yale University in 1980. Within three years, he became group leader of the Metal Cluster Group, a position he enjoyed until declining health caused him to step down in 2000. Under his leadership, the Metal Cluster group rose in prominence for its ability to measure chemical reactivity on clusters and deduce and calculate cluster structures. For this work, Riley and Eric Parks shared a Distinguished Performance Award in 1985. Riley was the author of 88 publications.

He is survived by a brother, two nieces and a nephew.

Glenn C. Andrus, a retired waste treatment operator with 19 years of service in the Plant Operations Division, died Jan. 24. His daughter, Catherine Glass, survives him.

Joseph Baudek, a retired firefighter with 31 years of service in the Fire Department, died Jan. 2. His wife, Lorraine, survives him.

Sidney G. Holder Sr., a retired lead control analyst with 40 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division, died Jan. 15. His children, Sandra, Kristin Fuson, and Sidney Holder Jr., survive him.

Sandra Rodeghero, an administrative assistant with 29 years of service in the Nuclear Engineering Division, died Dec. 23. Her children, Cary, Andrew, Todd, and Jodi, survive her.

Chester Rogers, a retired stress analysis engineer with 23 years of service in the Engineering Division, died Jan. 7. His wife, Ellen, survives him.

Florence Westholm, a retired biological sciencist with 32 years of service in the Biology Division, died Jan. 1. Her husband, Ronald, survives her.

HR Classes

To enroll, contact a Training Management System Representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410. Complete course descriptions are online.

March Classes:

"Business Writing Skills" (HR292) -- Tuesday, March 9, 1 - 4 p.m., Building 201, Conference Room 190.

"The Supervisory Role in Managing Employee Issues" (HR643) -- Thursday, March 11, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Building 401, Conference Room E1100.

"Conducting an Effective Interim Conversation" (HR347) -- Friday, March 19, 9 - 11 a.m., Building 201, Conference Room 190. n "Successful Proposal Writing" (HR343) -- Thursday, March 25, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Building 401 Gallery.

"Presentation Skills" (HR284) -- Monday, March 29, and Tuesday, March 30, 1 - 5 p.m., Building 212, Conference Room B102.

CIS Classes

Classes offered by Computing and Instrumentation Solutions are held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167. Unless otherwise specified, class sizes are limited to eight participants and cost $215. Complete computer class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online.

For information about enrollment, contact Diane Cavazos (CIS) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.

March classes:

"Advanced Access 2000" (CIS110) -- Wednesday, March 3, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Introduction to PowerPoint" 2000 (CIS106) -- Thursday, March 4, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

"Advanced PowerPoint 2000 "(CIS107) -- Friday, March 5, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.

Joliet Junior College to offer on-site registration

Registration for Joliet Junior College summer classes will be offered Friday, March 5, at Argonne-East.

College representatives will be available in the Performance Development offices in Building 201, Room 1B-04 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to register students for summer 2004 classes. Employees must bring completed and approved educational assistance forms (ANL-89) to the registration.

Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during March to answer employees' questions about retirement plans and assets. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.

Fidelity -- Tuesday, March 9, and Tuesday, March 23. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF -- Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005.

Prudential -- Wednesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 17. Call Cheryl at (847) 619-3519.

Questions about Social Security to be answered

A representative of the Social Security Administration's Joliet office will visit Argonne-East's Human Resources office Wednesday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The representative can:

Take applications for new Social Security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.

Help with earnings posting problems.

Answer general questions about the Social Security program.

To schedule a meeting, call ext. 2-2989.

Service Awards

Service Awards for March include:

35 Years

Bennie L. Redmond (PFS).

30 Years

Nancy R. Akiyoshi (EA), Earl E. Armand, II (PFS), Benjamin Clement, Jr. (OSS), Bruce W. Meppen (NPS), Irving K. Vaughn, Sr. (PFS), David P. Weber (ERD), Robert A. Wynveen (EQO).

25 Years

Mark E. Kennedy (ENT), Noal C. Messick (FAC), Karen K. Souders (HR), Elizabeth M. Stefanski (OTD), Edward A. Tanzman (DIS).

20 Years

Cynthia J. Boggs (EA), Jimmy Lee Frye (FAC), Michele A. Lewis (ERD), Leonard J. Novotny (OTD).

15 Years

Valerie F. Burns (FAC), Ronald E. Fisher (DIS), Scott S. Gildo (PFS), William R. Swanson (PFS), Tom P. Zahn (FAC).

10 Years

John Attig (XFD), Donald Croupat (ASD), Bruce A. Jensen (NT), Richard B. Lee (NPS), Susan McKinney (PFS), Michael Molitsky (CIS), Michael O'Connor (AOD), Stanley Pasky (AOD), Scott C. Pinkerton (CIS), Timothy Roberts (AOD), David L. Rossi (FAC), Mark Surchik (ENT), Robert Vargas (ASD), Isaac Vasserman (XFD), Arun S. Wagh (ET), Cheryl L. Wixom (FAC), James J. Zmuda (IPNS).

5 Years

Dana D. Abbas-Zahrae (OCF), David S. Alexander (PFS), Daniel J. Andrekus (CMT), Geoffrey M. Cook (PFS), Barbara A. Dalton (AOD), Amy M. Harris (ES), Daniel Preuss (CMT), George Yantosik (DIS).