Andrzej Joachimiak, the director of Argonne's Structural Biology Center , is shown with some of the 1,000 structures determined at the center in the past six years. Photo by George Joch.

Feb. 28, 2006 -- Some of this week's stories:

Structural Biology Center first to contribute 1,000
structures to Protein Data Bank

By Evelyn Brown

Researchers at Argonne 's Structural Biology Center (SBC) have contributed their 1,000th structure to the Protein Data Bank. The data bank houses the molecular structures of all proteins characterized so far and makes them available to researchers worldwide to study.

This structure — and its 999 predecessors determined with data obtained at Argonne's SBC — provides important pieces to the puzzle of understanding human and environmental health by imaging the molecules that control and regulate it.

The 1,000th deposit is a three-dimensional structure of thrombospondin-1 that provides insight into how cells sense and communicate information about their health and how that information triggers cell responses ranging from raising defenses, to fighting disease and other perceived threats, to cell death.

The research was published in Structure (2006 Jan. 14 (1): 33-42), and is a collaboration between the Dana Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School and Argonne 's SBC.

“SBC has been a pioneer of protein structure determination at the Advanced Photon Source and worldwide,” said Argonne 's Associate Laboratory Director for Scientific User Facilities Murray Gibson. “This is a marvelous achievement.”

Some of the structures have revealed how proteins are synthesized inside the cell, how we see light, how cells communicate and how cells differentiate. Other findings have shed insight into origins of diseases including cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis, and infections by staph, anthrax and other human pathogens.

“This is the first time any center has produced so many structures,” said Andrzej Joachimiak, SBC director. “When you consider it took six years (starting in 1972) to deposit the first 37 structures into the Protein Data Bank, you see how technology has advanced for SBC users to have deposited 1,000 structures in six years.”

DOE's Office of Biological and Environmental Research provided the SBC's construction funding and provides annual support for operation and equipment.

The SBC, which has been providing data since 1998, is based at Argonne 's Advanced Photon Source, this hemisphere's most brilliant source of X-rays for research.

Metrics determine Argonne 's safety performance

The Department of Energy uses a set of standard metrics to measure safety performance across the Office of Science Labs. Safety performance is a key contributor to the overall grade that the laboratory receives.

Argonne 's current safety rating is “good,” on a scale of (best to worst) outstanding, excellent, good and needs improvement. The safety rating is an important one, and how it is determined is even more important. To arrive at the rating, DOE uses two measures: TRC and DART.

TRC, for Total Recordable Cases, is the number of recordable accidents per 200,000 hours worked — the approximate time in hours that 100 employees work in one year. A recordable case is one that requires more than first-aid treatment.

DART, for Days Away, Restricted or Transferred, refers to the number of incidents, per 200,000 hours worked, that result in lost work days, restricted work days (where the worker cannot perform his or her normal duties), or days in which the worker is transferred to alternative duties to accommodate the injury.

These statistics provide an objective way to compare safety performance from year to year. In fiscal year 2005, the laboratory's final TRC was 1.4 and DART stood at 0.7. In fiscal year 2004, the TRC was 1.6 and DART was 0.7, which indicated improvement in Argonne 's safety performance since 2003.

In addition to their importance for Argonne staff and management, TRC and DART are measures used by the Energy Department in the laboratory's performance-based contract.

To ensure the safety of workers, the laboratory has developed a comprehensive safety strategy which includes:

Open communication between workers and management, particularly in addressing safety concerns

Zero tolerance for willful noncompliance with safety guidance

Management commitment to safety, requiring more visible involvement in safety

Identification and analysis of operating experience and lessons learned to prevent future incidents

Identification, implementation and tracking of all corrective actions

Tracking the success of the safety strategy

Answering the question: ‘What is Argonne ?'

Argonne 's colorful new logo will soon appear all over the site, in all publications and reports, on stationery and on new business cards. While highly visible, the logo is just one aspect of an intensive effort to project the laboratory's reputation and image to the public.

“Our public reputation goes to the very heart of what Argonne is, and we have the opportunity and obligation to clearly communicate our deep understanding of what Argonne is about to a very interested world,” said Argonne Deputy Director Don Joyce. “A critical aspect, having a common and easily recognized identity and position, isn't subtle. I've tried it on both collaborators and competitors and find myself astonished by the effect it has on people.”

This effort was spearheaded by the Communications and Public Affairs Division, which contracted with Millward Brown Optimor, one of the world's leading marketing research and branding consultant companies. To assess Argonne's current image and reputation among its many stakeholder groups, Millward Brown conducted dozens of interviews with Argonne senior managers and representatives from universities, media, industry, government and other laboratories.

Millward Brown's researchers used this data to determine the positioning statement for Argonne — a unifying overarching idea in the minds of key audiences — and also developed a unified and consistent visual identity for Argonne . The positioning statement is: “ Argonne is a place where scientists come together to open up new possibilities for the future.” While not a “vision statement” or a slogan, everyone presented with this statement agrees that it captures the essence of what Argonne is.

“It's important to remember that the logo is the persistent symbol of the message that Argonne conveys to the outside world,” said Suraiya Farukhi, Director of Communications and Public Affairs. “Consistency in conveying our message through that symbol is critical.” The new logo, a delta, symbolizes change, while retaining the shape of the traditional Argonne “A.” The colors, like Argonne 's many research disciplines, combine to form a bright light at the center.

Additional information on the new image and reputation effort will appear in upcoming issues of Argonne News and on Argonne 's intranet site, Inside Argonne. This will include details of font styles and templates for memos, presentations and other communications. In addition, C&PA will share the presentation with division personnel, and C&PA staff will provide guidelines in implementing the new logo.

Newspaper's new look part of branding effort

The redesign of Argonne News reflects the laboratory's new emphasis on image and reputation.

Its bright, open design and the judicious use of color (for the first time since the publication's debut in 1951) signal the laboratory's increased emphasis on communication to its employees.

Comments on the publication design are welcome. Send comments to Editor Dave Jacqué at info@anl.gov.

Science Careers in Search of Women honored
by the U.S. Department of Energy

Argonne has been selected to receive a 2005 Department of Energy Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Best Practices Award for its annual Science Careers in Search of Women program.

“These awards are designed to highlight the best of the Department of Energy's federal and contractor equal employment opportunity and diversity initiatives,” said Poli Marmolejos, director of the Department of Energy Office of Civil Rights and Diversity. “The winning programs represent innovative and outstanding initiatives which should serve as models for other offices nationwide.”

As part of Argonne's annual Science Careers in Search of Women conference, more than 300 sophomore, junior and senior women and 60 teachers and counselors from nearly 60 Chicago area schools come to Argonne to experience science careers first-hand. This program puts students face-to-face with scientists in a variety of fields and provides an opportunity for them to spend a day interacting with positive female role models in science. A major theme is discussing what life is like when pursuing careers in science and technology.

“Many laboratory women have stories of someone suggesting they consider a science career,” said Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz (NE), chair of the 2005 conference, and head of Argonne 's Women in Science and Technology program. “They mention a mentor, teacher or a friend of the family who has taken the time to appreciate their interest in science and raise the possibility of a scientific career. We hope to be that person for the girls.”

The program has served nearly 6,000 young women since it began in 1987 with an idea from Argonne researcher Marion Thurnauer (CHM) that the laboratory needed to reach out specifically to young women to encourage them to consider careers in science and engineering and help address the lack of women in those jobs.

“There is still a real need — and demand — for these conferences,” said Thurnauer. “ Argonne 's long-term and continuing support of the conferences is unique. This has allowed the conferences to evolve. They remain up-to-date on the rapidly changing demands of the world of technology and the rapidly changing sophistication of the girls attending.”

This year's conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 23.

Volunteers needed for luncheon with Science Careers students

The Science Careers in Search of Women conference committee is looking for volunteers to have lunch with high school students Thursday, March 23.

Argonne volunteers share their lunch time talking with these students, providing an opportunity to inspire young women and offer words of wisdom and encouragement.

The luncheon will take place in the Building 213 Cafeteria at 1:10 p.m. Lunch will be provided to all volunteers.

Contact Jean Sloboda at ext. 2-3953 or jsloboda@anl.gov to register or for more information. Registration deadline is Friday, March 17.

Icy winter conditions require extra caution

By Robert McCook, ESH/QA Director

As Laboratory Director Robert Rosner noted in his recent Argonne News article, workplace injuries and illnesses affect not just the individual employee, but his or her family as well.

Just a few days ago, a fellow Argonne employee slipped on ice in a parking lot, was injured and transported to the Medical Department for treatment. We do not want anyone else to get hurt!

Icy conditions are common this time of year. Though we take efforts to clear sidewalks and parking lots, and apply ice-melt to keep these areas free of hazards, icy conditions still develop. The following tips can help you stay safe while walking outside today and for the remainder of the winter:

Wear footwear with good traction. Be aware that when leaving your car or building, your shoes are warm and more likely to slip on icy surfaces.

Look at the parking lot surface for ice before stepping out of your car and park where the lot is clear, even if that means walking a little farther to your building.

Keep your hands out of your pockets, which will help you keep your balance.

Lastly, if you encounter an ice patch, avoid it if possible. If you must walk over it, take small, controlled steps. Report the condition to the adjacent building manager.

We all need to do our part to meet our goal of zero injuries so all of us remain healthy. Be careful, act safely and report hazards immediately.

Injury stats appear on gate signs, Web site

The inbound lighted signs at all three of Argonne 's entrances now display a safety reminder, which will be updated each weekday.

The signs display the number of days since the last time an employee suffered an injury or illness serious enough to require reporting under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines. OSHA requires recording of all injuries and illnesses in the workplace that result in an employee receiving medical treatment beyond first aid, a work restriction, being transferred to a different job or missing at least one workday.

The signs show the number of days since the last injury or illness was determined to be recordable.

“We hope that these daily reminders will help each employee start the day focused on safety as they enter the laboratory,” said Robert McCook, director of Environment, Safety and Health/Quality Assurance. “It takes the effort of every employee to keep that number rising and to assure each person at the lab gets through each work day without incident or accident.”

Detailed guidance and information on safety issues is online at the Environment, Safety and Health Information Web site.

Pollution prevention work recognized

Two teams of Argonne employees — one that used a unique approach to recycle gas cylinders and another that has developed a technology to successfully recover plastics from automotive shredder residue — have been nominated for U.S. Department of Energy “Best in Class” pollution prevention awards. The nominations recognize work that protects the environment while saving money and resources.

In the first project, a unique approach was used to move steel argon gas cylinder assemblies. The technique significantly reduced labor costs, eliminated the safety hazard associated with size-reducing the cylinders, saved time (the project is currently two months ahead of schedule) and returned money to the project from the 61,000 pounds of recycled metal.

The argon gas cylinder assembly was a part of the argon purge system for the Zero Power Reactor, which is being decontaminated and decommissioned. Ed Collins (NE), the project manager, along with Willis Ray (PFS-WMO) and Anthony Sendra (PFS-CU), developed an approach to move the large gas cylinder assemblies onto trucks for transportation to a smelting facility for recycling.

The project was successful due to the cooperation between Nuclear Engineering and Plant Facilities and Services-Waste Management Operations.

The other nomination recognizes Argonne scientists who have developed a technology to successfully recover plastics from automotive shredder residue. About 95 percent of old vehicles end their days at dismantling facilities where usable parts are recovered. The remainder is then shredded. Shredder residue contains polyurethane foam, polymers, metal oxides, glass and dirt.

Currently, 75 percent of the weight of an obsolete car is already profitably recycled. The addition of the plastics to the list of valuable materials recycled from old cars and trucks will increase the recyclability of the vehicles. The success of this development will help keep millions of tons of automobile shredder residue out of landfills, and the recovered plastics can be used to manufacture new products, including automobile parts.

FaST broadens participation in science and engineering

Applications for students and the Faculty and Student Team (FaST) program are available for viewing online. Contact a Division of Educational Programs division representative for access.

The FaST program supports teams of one faculty member and two or three undergraduate students for hands-on research opportunities during the summer. Faculty from colleges and universities with limited research facilities, and institutions serving those underrepresented in the fields of science, engineering and technology are encouraged to apply for the FaST program.

DEP is seeking mentors for all applicants, including high-achieving students who are historically underrepresented in science and engineering.

As an ongoing commitment to broaden participation, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health are providing 100 percent stipends for eligible faculty and students to work on U.S. Department of Energy mission-related research at Argonne .

Employees who can host a FaST team or a community college student in their laboratories this summer — and assist in an ongoing commitment to enhance diversity at the laboratory — can contact Linda Phaire Washington (DEP) at lwashington@dep.anl.gov or ext. 2-1751 for more information.

Seed fund proposals accepted through March 24

Proposals will be accepted through Friday, March 24, for the University of Chicago 's Research Advisory Committee Seed Fund Program, which supports interactions between researchers at the university and Argonne .

This year, funding will be provided by the university's Biological and Physical Sciences divisions and Argonne , and will support teams of researchers from those organizations. Highest priority will be given to proposals that represent new, interdisciplinary, cross-campus collaborations involving investigators from two or three of these organizations.

It is expected that the projects funded through the Seed Fund Program will form the basis of subsequent proposals submitted to external agencies. A maximum of $50,000 may be requested; two to four awards may be provided in 2006.

Details, including eligibility and proposal requirements, are online.

HEP director profiled in Nature

Harry Weerts, director of Argonne 's High Energy Physics Division, is profiled in Nature magazine's career section. The article details Weerts' career path and how he came to Argonne .

Trauma researcher to speak at colloquium

A renowned expert on cell injury and repair, University of Chicago researcher Raphael Lee, will speak at a Director's Special Colloquium Tuesday, March 7. The colloquium will begin at 2 p.m. in the Building 402 Auditorium.

Lee will speak on “Synthetic Surfactant Chaperones: A Promising New Therapeutic Intervention for Tissue Injury.”

Lee holds appointments in plastic surgery, dermatology, molecular medicine, and organismal biology and anatomy at the university. He directs the Program for Research in Cell Injury and Repair and Electrical Trauma Research Programs. He is a founder and chairman of the board of directors of Avocet Polymer Technologies, Inc. and of Maroon Biotech, Inc., both of Chicago .

Lee's research has focused on the process of traumatic injuries at the molecular level, and the development of molecular chaperones that restore structural integrity to damaged cell membranes and refold damaged proteins. His research has led to promising new therapies to prevent loss of tissue or function after many common forms of trauma, including spinal cord injury. In addition, Lee's research team is developing new drug therapies to control scarring and treat established scars.

Lee has received more than 25 professional awards, including being named a MacArthur Prize Fellow in 1981 and a Searle Scholar in 1985. In 1988, he received the James Barrett Brown Award from the American Association of Plastic Surgeons for advancing knowledge in the field of plastic surgery. In 1995 and 1996, he received the American Burn Association Lindberg Award.

Lee has written or co-written more than 180 publications, including four books. He holds 14 patents.

Board of Governors meet at Argonne

The University of Chicago Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory met Feb. 15-16. Laboratory Director Robert Rosner presented his report to the board.

The deputy chairman of the board, Tom Rosenbaum, updated the group on the Draft Request for Proposal, proposal activities and on the Science Policy Council Meetings.

Alan Foley, associate laboratory director for Applied Science and Technology and National Security, presented the National Security Portfolio Review. Deputy Associate Laboratory Director Phillip Finck presented the Energy Portfolio Review. Millward Brown presented its research and recommendations for the Argonne brand, which the board endorsed.

The University of Chicago Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory oversees and guides Argonne management. Members of the board are chosen from faculty, administrators and trustees of the University of Chicago , from other universities and organizations and from industry.

HR Classes

To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative and complete the online enrollment form. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information.

“Grant Writing Skills” (HR413)

Friday, March 10, 10 a.m. - noon, Building 401, Conference Room E1100. Employees will learn the skills needed to prepare a grant application and learn about consequences and obligations of a successful grantee.

“Decision Making” (HR415)

Wednesday, March 15, 1 - 5 p.m., Building 212, Conference Room A157.The workshop will present a number of decision-making models and identify decision-making rules and criteria.

“Situation Leadership II” (HR416)

Tuesday, March 21, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Building 212, Conference Room A157. Employees will work through the nuances of individual and team development levels and match the appropriate leadership style.

“Stepping Up to Supervision” (HR384)

Friday, March 17; Friday, March 24; and Friday, March 31, 9 a.m. – noon, Building 201, Conference Room 190.

“Survival Skills Series: Building Better Work Relationships” (HR410)

Tuesday, March 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Building 401, Conference Room E1100. Employees will learn to balance the tasks and pressures of the workplace while continually building better relationships critical to career success.

Fidelity offers ‘Turbo Tax' discount

Fidelity Investments is again making Turbo Tax available for completing 2005 federal and state tax returns through its Web site. Users can prepare and file their federal income taxes online and save 50 percent on TurboTax. It is not necessary to be a Fidelity participant to take advantage of this offer.

Fidelity's Web site also includes tax forms and resources to help with tax preparation.

To learn more, visit Fidelity's Web site, or contact Fidelity Investments at 1-800-343-0860.