A group from Scripps Research Institute used the GM/CA CAT’s narrow beam to get more precise data from a crystal of the HK97 virus as it undergoes a stages assembly process.

Oct. 10, 2005 -- Some of this week's stories:

Split beamlines can double APS capacity

By Evelyn Brown

A new beamline dedicated this summer at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) exploits the latest technology to double the number of beamlines and create finer X-ray beams to capture data from hard-to-study biomolecules.

This development comes at a time of growing need for beamlines. Structural biologists use X-ray beamlines in a technique called protein crystallography to study the three-dimensional structures of molecules critical to life. Understanding the structure and functions of materials that control muscle motion or cause influenza, for example, allows researchers to create new drugs to treat, cure or prevent diseases.

The new GM/CA CAT facility is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health's National Institute for General Medical Sciences (GM) and National Cancer Institute (CA). Three new beamlines will be available at the APS — the world's most brilliant X-ray beams — by January 2007.

"The need for structural biology beam time continues to grow," said Janet Smith, GM/CA CAT director, "and this facility will help provide researchers from the NIH and other organizations the tools to discover how proteins and biomolecules work." Smith, a structural biologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, directs a team of 13 Argonne Biosciences Division employees.

Before a protein or biomolecule makes it to a synchrotron beamline, it must be produced from DNA in a cell, purified, crystallized and frozen. When X-rays pass through the crystal, they are diffracted into thousands of scattered X-ray beams. These are recorded in hundreds of two-dimensional images. Crystallographers analyze the diffraction images to produce a three-dimensional image of the molecule in the crystal.

The results are published and contributed to the Protein Data Bank, the international data base for protein structures. Biologists search this database for structural patterns, for example, to deduce how proteins fold in a particular shape or to discover clues to how a drug might bind to a protein and affect its function. In 2004, researchers using the APS led the world in Protein Data Bank deposits.

The GM/CA CAT team took advantage of the best available technologies to build a state-of-the-art facility. The beamline optics were designed together with ACCEL Instruments, GmbH, the contractor that fabricated and installed the components.

The APS circulates electrons in an enclosed racetrack. The electrons are manipulated by undulators, magnetic devices that produce intense X-ray beams. The X-ray beams exit the racetrack through ports into each of the beamlines.

For the GM/CA beamlines, the APS installed two undulators instead of one — to produce two X-ray beams of equal intensity in slightly different directions — just a few hair-widths apart at the source. The X-ray beams separate as they travel about 60 meters to the first experimental station, where they are about two feet apart. One beam passes through to the second experimental station, about 75 meters from the source. Experiments can be run in the two stations simultaneously.

"The ability to do two experiments simultaneously from the same light source is a big bonus," said Smith. "It doubles the value of the real estate at the synchrotron."

The GM/CA beamlines also boast the world's best large X-ray mirrors. "The mirrors have to be properly shaped in order to focus the X-rays," explained GM/CA CAT Project Manager Bob Fischetti. "The result is more precise data."

The beamline has already produced valuable data for publication by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute. Lu Gan and colleagues studied a crystal of the complex virus HK97 as it underwent a staged assembly process where protein subunits combine

Performance appraisal online application available

October marks the beginning of the annual performance appraisal process at Argonne. Appraisals cover the period from Oct. 1, 2004, through Sept. 30, 2005, and must be completed for all regular full- and part-time employees who were active as of July 1. This year's performance appraisals are due electronically in Human Resources on Monday, Dec. 19.

Performance appraisals will again be completed through a Web application, which can be accessed through Inside Argonne's "Applications" tab after logging in with your Argonne user name and password.

All regular full- and part-time Argonne employees have been given data-entry access to their own performance appraisals through Monday, Oct. 17. During this time, employees may enter draft assessments and suggested goals directly into their own performance appraisals. Employees might also be asked to complete a statement of accomplishments as a separate document.

Supervisors have ultimate responsibility to complete the appraisals. Supervisors and second-level supervisors will continue to have access to the performance appraisals throughout the process.

Instructions and resources to support you in the performance appraisal process can be found online.

Training

HR-Performance Development will offer training and discussion opportunities on performance management. "Performance Management Workshop" (HR 561) supports supervisors in completing the performance appraisal. There will be two sessions: Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 1-5 p.m. in Building 201, Room 190, and Thursday, Oct. 27, 1-5 p.m., in Building 362, Room F108.

Register for these classes through a Training Management System representative. A course enrollment form is available online. Special sessions of this training can also be presented to individual divisions by calling HR-Performance Development at ext. 2-3410.

Weerts to direct HEP

Hendrik (Harry) J. M. Weerts has been named director of Argonne's High Energy Physics Division.

Weerts has been a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Michigan State University since 1983 and spent last year at Fermilab doing research on the proposed International Linear Collider. He received his B.Sc., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from RWTH Aachen in Germany.

He has most recently worked on the Dzero experiment, a worldwide collaboration of scientists conducting research on the fundamental nature of matter. Located at Fermilab, the research is focused on precise studies of interactions of protons and antiprotons at the highest available energies, searching for subatomic clues that reveal the character of the building blocks of the universe. Weerts served as a spokesperson for the project and its research results.

He has been a member of numerous committees, including serving on the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel to both the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, and is a fellow of the American Physical Society. In 2003 he became editor of Physics Letters B , a peer-reviewed journal of physics research.

"Argonne is pleased to welcome such a distinguished scholar and researcher to lead the laboratory's programs in high-energy physics," said Argonne Director Robert Rosner. "Harry's 20 years of experience of teaching and leading students in research, as well as his service to the academic and research communities make him an outstanding addition to the Argonne leadership team."

12-year-old essay contest winner tours laboratory

By Kevin Trim

Alex Schwartz, winner of an environmental essay contest sponsored by the nearby community of Burr Ridge, recently toured Argonne as part of his prize. The tour took place shortly after 12-year old Alex completed the fifth grade at Monroe Elementary School, in Hinsdale. Accompanying him were his parents, Lew and Karla, his sister Anna, 11, and his nine-year old brother, Henry.

"I entered the contest because I was interested in a question that addressed endangered animals," said Alex, who along with his family has since moved to Lake Forest. "I wrote how I believe we can protect them. I was pretty confident that I had a good chance to win."

The guided tour included a visit to Argonne's main administration building, where they met Argonne Chief Operations Officer Adam Cohen and were treated to an overview of the laboratory. A visit to the Transportation Technology R&D Center provided Alex and his family an opportunity to learn how Argonne is developing technologies to help make advanced vehicles a reality. The trip wouldn't have been complete for Alex without a chance to see Argonne's Advanced Photon Source (APS), home of the world's most brilliant X-ray beams for materials science research.

Although he had heard of Argonne prior to entering the contest, Alex admits he wasn't aware of the specific types of research performed at the laboratory. "My parents have friends who work there, and my dad told me that they had a photon accelerator," he said. "That was pretty much all I knew."

After his tour, he was "buzzing" about some of the things he learned. "My favorite part was finding out about their hybrid and hydrogen vehicle programs. I also learned more about protons, neutrons and electrons. And, I was told about the rare white deer that walk around the campus, but I didn't see any."

His mother, Karla, noted, "This contest was very good for Alex. He gained a lot from it in many ways. For a student who is more interested in math and science, rather than language arts, I think he realized that he has the talent to be a writer too. And the tour of Argonne was a bonus for him."

The laboratory's facilities people impressed the Schwartz family, Karla said. "It made me realize how scientists have to be incredibly motivated and driven, yet patient, in order to find answers for current problems, as well as to come up with new knowledge for the future."

When asked if he had any thoughts about what he'd like to do professionally when he gets older, Alex said, "I'd enjoy performing research on genes because my dad does that. I'd also like investment banking because they make a lot of money and they deal with math, or I'd also like to be an architect, because they create new things from math concepts."

New committee to focus on work/life balance

When the results of the 2005 Employee Opinion Survey were made available to the laboratory by International Survey Research in late July, Laboratory Director Bob Rosner called it "very interesting and useful information." Rosner asked the associate laboratory directors, the chief operations officer and his deputy director to review the extensive data with their division directors and develop action plans.

Rosner also created the Work/Life Balance committee and charged it with recommending programs that promote a balance between personal life and work life. "Turning the raw data and nearly 2,000 employee comments from the survey into practical recommendations and initiatives requires team effort and good analytical skills," Rosner said. "Fortunately, Argonne has many talented individuals equal to the task."

Composed of employees representing all associate laboratory directorates and pperations divisions, the Work/Life Balance Committee will analyze employee comments from the survey, identify industry and other national laboratory best practices, evaluate current laboratory programs associated with work/life balance, and make formal work/life balance recommendations to laboratory management

The Work/Life Balance committee created subgroups to focus on four primary areas of interest identified in the initial analysis of the employee survey comments:

Communication: Allan Bernstein (chair), Sharon Gunter, Cindy Kuzma, Susan McKinney, Tom Wiencek and Pam Sydelko.

Lab Infrastructure: Dave Lichty (chair), Christa Benson, Allan Bernstein, Debbie Myers, Madonna Pence and Tracey Stancik.

Individual Dignity: Sharon Gunter (chair), Lee Ann Ciarlette, Madonna Pence, Ken Coston and Tom Wiencek.

Employee Benefits Issues: Pam Sydelko (chair), Lee Ann Ciarlette, Scott Ehling, Paul Hovland, Cindy Kuzma, Susan McKinney, Tracey Stancik and Nancy VanWermeskerken.

Employees who have a work/life balance suggestion that would benefit the laboratory and not already submitted through the Employee Opinion Survey should forward their suggestions to the Work/Life Balance committee via email (work/life@anl.gov) or voicemail (ext. 2-4700). Suggestions must be received by Thursday, Oct. 20.

DOE helps sponsor 'NOVA' epsiode

The Department of Energy's Office of Science is co-sponsoring "Einstein's Big Idea," an upcoming episode of the program "NOVA" on PBS, and its associated materials for middle schools, high schools and libraries nationwide.

The program will air Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m. on WTTW, Channel 11.

The sponsorship is part of the Office of Science celebration of the World Year of Physics. The "NOVA" episode dramatizes the story behind the one-hundred-year history of the world's most famous formula. The program helps viewers gain a better understanding of the equation by tracking its history and the many ways it has changed the world.

More information on the program is online.

AMOS adds new supplier

The Argonne Materials Ordering System (AMOS) has recently added Wildflower International to its supplier list.

Wildflower International has more than 12,000 products to choose from, including Hewlett Packard printers and Varian Vacuum Technologies products.

More information about AMOS and AMOS suppliers is online.

In Memoriam

Leonard I. Katzin , a retired senior chemist with 35 years of service in CHM, died July 24. His children, Ruth Johnston, Martha Simon, Libby Unger, and Judith Katzin, survive him.

Elmer Kondla , a retired instrument machinist with 21 years of service in CS, died July 30. His son, Thomas, survives him.

Bobbie A. McCulley , a retired engineering tech senior with 18 years of service in EBR-II, died July 26. His wife, Maya, survives, him.

George W. Plos , a retired instrument machinist with 40 years of service in CS, died August 27. His daughter, Susan Pancko, survives him.

Rollin G. Taecker , a retired chemical engineer with 27 years of service in FEP, died August 19. His wife, Patricia, survives him.

Interest rates

Staff and non-staff retirement plan interest rates shown below are effective Oct. 1.

Vendor	Rate	Contributions From	Through
TIAA Traditional	4.75%	10/01/05 - 10/31/05	02/28/06
TIAA Supplemental	4.00%	10/01/05 - 10/31/05	02/28/06
Prudential Guaranteed (Plans 5017 & 4245)	4.42%	07/01/05 - 06/30/06	06/30/06
Prudential Guaranteed (Plan 7680)	3.50%	10/01/05 - 12/31/05	12/31/06
Prudential Guaranteed (Plan 4643)	3.50%	10/01/05 - 12/31/05	12/31/06
Lincoln National (Old Account)*	3.50%	N/A	12/31/05
Lincoln National (No Load)*	4.00%	N/A	12/31/05
(* No longer accepting contributions)

Inventors, Director's Award winners honored

Argonne recently honored employees who received patents during the fiscal year 2004 as well as R&D 100 winners and Director's Award winners.

There were 42 patents issued among 58 inventors. Of those 58 inventors, 12 received multiple patents: Shabbir Ahmed, CMT (2), Khalil Amine, CMT (2), Balu Balachandran, ET (2), John David Carter, CMT (2), David Chaiko, CMT (2), Mark Donnelly, BIO (2), Rex Gerald, CMT (5), Christopher Johnson, CMT (3), Robert Klingler, CMT (2), Michael Krumpelt, CMT (2), Jerome Rathke, CMT (5) and Michael Thackeray, CMT (3).

As a result of an increased emphasis on invention reporting by the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and Legal, the number of patent applications filed in fiscal year 2004 was up more than 20 percent from the previous fiscal year, increasing the value captured from Argonne's R&D programs.

"Patents are important to obtain benefits of Argonne research through commercialization," said OTT Director Steve Ban. "Obtaining patents is a vital element of the lab's mission to effectively transfer technology."

Fourteen inventors were recognized for developing technologies that received four R&D 100 awards this past year: Khalil Amine (CMT), Ilias Belharouak (CMT), Raymond Conley (XFD), William Gropp (MCS), Chian Liu (XFD), Rusty Lusk (MCS), Al Macrander (XFD), Jules Routbort (ET), Robert Ross (MCS), Dileep Singh(ET), Rajheev Thakur (MCS), Brian Toonen (MCS), Don Vissers (CMT) and Qingzheng Wang (CMT).

Four groups were recognized with Director's Awards for outstanding accomplishments:

David Shimcoski (ES) for extraordinary effort in fixing the Advanced Powertrain Research Facility critical emissions bench problems after-hours and under his own initiative;

Patrick DeLurgio (HEP) and Martha Miller (IPNS) for the extraordinary effort in the design, construction and management of the Single Crystal Diffractometer upgrade project;

Gary Wiederrecht and Stephen Gray, both of CHM, were honored for groundbreaking experimental and theoretical studies to explore the confinement and manipulation of light with metal nanoparticles; and

Louis Emery, Hairong Shang, and Robert Soliday (all AOD), and Frank Lenkszus (ASD), who successfully implemented an upgraded DC orbit correction system for the Advanced Photon Source.

"The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and Legal congratulates everyone for their outstanding achievements," Ban said.

The laboratory encourages researchers to continue to formally disclose their inventions. An invention disclosure form is available on the Argonne Web site.

New guide helps locate HR resources

The Human Resources division has developed a new tool, The HR Actions Quick Reference Guide, now available on Inside Argonne.

This interactive tool has been developed to help managers, Human Resources representatives/users and other employees find information quickly. The Quick Reference Guide lists a variety of actions, describes processing requirements, identifies the responsible HR Section and provides direct interactive links to related policies, procedures, documents and forms required to complete the action.

For example:

Revise/update a position description

Employment verification

Job postings

HR systems access

Temporary Service Program

Employees with suggestions or questions can contact Marge Collins (HR) at ext. 2-3013.

Travel forms available for download

Forms ANL-5, "Travel Authorization" and ANL-55, "Travel Expense Report" are now available in electronic form.

Both forms are Microsoft Word templates and can be completed on any compatible computer. The online forms will reduce errors and paper use.

The forms should be completed, saved for future reference, printed and signed using original signatures by a division director or authorized alternate.

Check with a travel coordinator or arranger for copies of these useful files. Updated versions will be available on the forms locator in the near future.

Many other improvements are scheduled for fiscal year 2006, including direct deposit of employee reimbursements and paperless travel packets.

Questions and comments should be directed to Travel Manager Rich Crowley at rcrowley@anl.gov or ext. 2-7111.

Researchers to discuss results of LDRD work

A mini-symposium on the results of Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects will be held at 2 _ 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Building 201 in Conference Room 190A and B. The topics covered will be:

"Development of Ultrafast Laser Techniques for Advanced Accelerator Research" by Robert Crowell (CHM)

"Novel Superhard Coatings for Wear Reduction and Energy Saving Applications in Diesel Engines" by Ali Erdemir (ET)

"A New Approach to Recycling Spent Nuclear Fuel using Room Temperature Ionic Liquids" by Monica Regalbuto (CMT)

"Challenge and Opportunity in Megaproteins" by Fred Stevens (BIO)

"Development of Advanced Computational Procedure for VHTR Physics Analyses" by Won Sik Yang (NE)

"Laser Surface Texturing for Friction Reduction" by George Fenske (ET)

Move orders stop delays

To eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure accountability of equipment, a Move Order must be completed under certain circumstances when equipment is moved on or off site.

Property being relocated on-site must be accompanied by an ANL-8 form. Property being moved off laboratory property for 30 days or less must be accompanied by an ANL-4. If the property is to be moved off laboratory property for more then 30 days, an ANL-126C must be completed and accompany the equipment. All property must be verified annually.

Move Orders can be obtained from a divisional property representative.

More information is available online at Inside Argonne . Click on Policies and Procedures, Property Management Manual, Chapter 16 and Chapter 17, "Movement of Government Property On Site/Off Site."

Move Orders for personal property are not required, although some method of identifying the property as personal is recommended.

Service Awards

Service Awards for August include:

35 Years

Armando Esquivel (PFS), Joann R. Ward (OTD).

30 Years

Valerie J. Gaines (TSD), Mary J. Koelbl (TSD), Tsung-Shung H. Lee (PHY), C. David Livengood (ES), Jorge J. Moré (MCS), Thomas Y. Wei (NE).

25 Years

Deon G. Ettinger (DEP), Gina M. Locasto (BIO), Charles W. Vulyak, Jr. (ET).

20 Years

William L. Ebert (CMT), Diana L. Grygiel (EQO), Jong-Hee Park (ET).

15 Years

John W. Ahrens (NE), David J. Bromberek (ASD), Tadas Budraitis, Jr. (AOD), Linda J. Carlson (AOD), Louis Emery (AOD), Lester L. Erwin (AOD), Stephen K. Gray (CHM), Edwina Langenberg (EQO), Jon Lilge (AOD), Nelson C. Lundy (PFS).

10 Years

Susan Baumann (ET), Lydia J. Koehl (CHM), Glenn B. Rieves (PFS), Christian Roehrig (XFD), Sheila Y. Rossi (BIO), Gregory B. Stephenson (MSD).

5 Years

Michael A. Arvans (PFS), John M. Bresnahan (MCS), Michael J. Bucciarelli (IPNS), John A. Carlisle (MSD), Kelly C. Clancy (AIP), Matthew A. Kwiatkowski (IPNS), Philip D. Laible (BIO), Maritess P. Leyson (ET), Lee Makowski (BIO), Eugene F. Moore (SCD), Young Soo Park (NE), Steven E. Plotkin (ES), Brian M. Rusthoven (NE), Cecelia H. Shepherd (PFS), Bradley H. Veerman (SCD).

Retirees

Daniel A. Hill (HEP) retired July 1 with 37 years of service.

Sami A. Kamal (NE) retired Aug. 4 with 21 years of service.

Szczesny (Felix) Krasnicki (XFD) retired July 12 with 12 years of service.

Lloyd L. Lacher III (DIS) retired Aug. 26 with 13 years of service.

Karen K. Larsen (DIS) retired Aug. 21 with 31 years of service.

Joann R. Ward (OTD) retired Aug. 10 with 35 years of service.