 |
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
|
July 16, 2001 -- Some of this
week's stories: 
New lens could help detect
tumors earlier Bader honored by American Vacuum
Society Argonne-East open house set
Chair expo is July 18th Income tax withholding changes on July 13
Recent retirees |
A new approach to cancer detection is being developed at Argonne. Using a copper crystal lens, researchers expect to find tumors no larger than a grain of rice.
The technology, developed by scientists at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source, uses gamma rays diffracted by a set of 828 copper crystal cubes arranged in 13 concentric rings in a disk slightly smaller than a dinner plate. The lens focuses the gamma radiation emitted from a small radioactive source in the body of a patient into a small, well-shielded detector. This application is simulated by placing a small radioactive source in a "phantom" _ an acrylic plastic device designed to simulate areas of the human body -- and scanning the phantom with the lens system. The technology can pick up mildly radioactive tracers as small as a dill seed.
"The key is sensitivity and special resolution," says developer Bob Smither (UPD). In addition to picking up a smaller tumor, the technology can also pinpoint its location within a millimeter or two.
Today, most cancers are found with gamma cameras, which provide images of potential tumors in the body by detecting the radiation emitted by a radiopharmaceutical given to a patient undergoing a full-body scan. A suspected tumor region collects a higher concentrations of the radiopharmaceutical, which produces a higher count rate and therefore a detectable contrast between the tumor region and its surroundings.
The Argonne-developed lens is designed to supplement full-body scans done with a gamma camera. The gamma lens could be used following the full-body scan to reveal additional detail about suspect areas found during the scan, which means no additional radio-pharmaceutical would be needed.
The device, set up as a six-lens array, will detect tumors as small as two millimeters in diameter, Smither said. "Moreover, it can provide sufficient information to determine the location of a tumor accurately in three dimensions and thereby eliminate the uncertainties in the full-body scan," he added.
He estimates the cost of the instrumentation to be less than $100,000, making it affordable to medical facilities of all sizes.
Smither also sees great potential for the gamma lens in a two-lens array as a possible replacement for mammography, because of its ability to locate small tumors without discomfort to the patient. A full-scale medical imaging lens was constructed and tested with a number of phantoms in Smither's research laboratory.
The researchers will next design and build a smaller lens to see if the resolution can be improved even more, continuing experiments with phantoms. They expect to test the array in clinical trials in two to three years.
Smither built the world's first gamma-ray lens -- a 20-inch lens for use in an astrophysics telescope -- 10 years ago at Argonne. He also has built other gamma-ray lenses of various sizes and materials for cameras and telescopes, and developed optics for Argonne's Advanced Photon Source, which produces the nation's most brilliant X-rays for research.
Samuel Bader (MSD) has been selected to receive the 2001 John A. Thornton Memorial Award of the American Vacuum Society (AVS).
Considered one of the premier honors bestowed by the AVS, the Thornton is presented every two years for outstanding research or technological innovation, especially in the field of thin films.
AVS is honoring Bader for his "seminal contributions to atomic-level understanding of surface and thin-film magnetism." Bader has been a Fellow of the AVS since 1999.
Bader's work could see applications in nanotechnology and computer data-storage and memory devices. Nanotechnologists build and manipulate objects made of only a few layers of atoms. Their work could lead to microscopic machines for medicine, transportation and other industries (see logos Vol. 18 no. 1).
Argonne is currently working to create a new Center for Nanoscale Materials where such research will be continued.
Bader came to Argonne after receiving his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1974. He has led the magnetic films group in MSD since 1987 and has co-authored 250 articles in scientific journals.
for Sept. 15
Normally, a particle accelerator's magnets power and guide subatomic particles along a track. But visitors to Argonne's Sept. 15 open house will be able to take the place of speeding electrons and protons in an exhibit that simulates an accelerator's operation.
"Visitors will trace paths of light that represent the tracks of particle beams as they travel towards a target, providing a sense of how a particle accelerator works along the way," said Tom Mullen (PHY).
"Argonne Adventure 2001: Science and Technology for Today and Tomorrow" will feature more than 100 different exhibits staffed by professional scientists and engineers. In past years, the 9:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. open house has drawn more than 15,000 visitors.
In another Physics Division exhibit, guests may be startled to see how many cosmic rays pass unscathed through the Earth's atmosphere to the planet's surface when they take a look inside an apparatus to see "tracks" made by real cosmic radiation.
IBM and the Electronics and Computing Technologies (ECT) Division will make a joint presentation on the latest methods computer hackers use to attack, corrupt or steal scientific information. Visitors will see hacking simulations and learn how to protect personal computers from hackers and cyber terrorists.
"We're seeking to educate the general public and laboratory on cyber crimes and the methods through which they are often committed," said Jill Morgenthaler (ECT).
Exhibits from the Energy Technology (ET) and Biosciences (BIO) divisions will engage open house visitors in contests. ET's "Who Wants to Be a Scientist?" will have contestants from the audience answer questions about a demonstration experiment. The experiment will then be performed to reveal the answers and the science behind them.
A BIO exhibit will display new robots from the Robotic Molecular Biology Facility that have greatly automated molecular biology experiments, such as the cloning of proteins for study at Argonne's Structural Biology Center. Visitors will have the opportunity to "Race the Robot" in a speed challenge to fill a microwell test-tube plate.
The Transportation Center's exhibit will present the entire scope of Argonne's transportation research on energy-efficient, low- emissions automobiles, heavy vehicles and trains.
"The exhibit will emphasize Argonne's involvement in all aspects of transportation research, including energy and technology assessments, use of advanced materials, computerized design and manufacturing techniques and recycling of used vehicles," said Renee Nault (IPD). "We will also showcase Argonne's involvement in student vehicle competitions."
The exhibits will feature several advanced technology vehicles provided by industrial partners, including Ford, General Motors (GM), DaimlerChrysler, Deere, Mack Truck, Caterpillar and GM's ElectroMotive Division.
In addition to exhibits demonstrating the exotic properties of chemicals such as superconductors and hydrated electrons, the Chemistry Division will present Mad ScienceÒ, an opportunity to have fun doing entertaining and educational activities that infuse a clear understanding of what science is and how it affects the world.
An Ergonomic Office Chair Exposition will be held on Wednesday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Argonne- East's Building 213 Cafeteria, Rooms A and B. Vendors of several brands will be there to help employees test several chair types.
Carol Giles (EQO-Industrial Hygiene) will also be there to answer questions and help compare the ergonomics of the chairs. For more information, contact Giles at ext. 2-3427.
Beginning with the bi-weekly payroll paid on July 13, and the staff payroll paid July 31, the Payroll Department will be using new wage-bracket and percentage method withholding tables to calculate federal withholding on wages. The new tables reflect the change resulting from the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (President Bush's Tax Cut Bill).
The new withholding tables may reduce the amount of tax withheld from your wages due to a reduction in the 28% and higher tax brackets. Employees are encouraged to evaluate their tax liability to determine how this reduction will impact their tax situation. The new withholding tables (Pub. 15-T) can be found on the IRS web site at www.irs.gov/forms_pubs/formpub2.html. You can file a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, with the Payroll Department to claim fewer exemptions or to request that additional amounts be withheld if you do not want your withholding reduced.
The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act also created a new 10% income tax bracket for the portion of taxable income that was previously taxed at 15%. The new 10% income bracket is effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2001, but is not reflected in the new withholding tables. Taxpayers will be issued advance tax credit checks within the next few months to accommodate this tax rate reduction. IRS explains how the tax credit will work on web site www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/hot/.
Supplemental withholding rates
Supplemental Wage payments made after Aug. 6, will also be paid at a reduced withholding rate based on the new law. The supplemental tax rate on bonuses, awards, severance pay and payments for unused annual leave will be reduced from 28% to 27.5% for the remainder of 2001.
Nancy E. Avena, (RPS), retired June 1 with 24 years of service.
Bruce Brown, (IPNS), retired June 1 with 29 years of service.
Akemi Hanus, (PFS-CU), retired June 18 with 10 years of service.
Deanna Hollo, (CHM), retired June 1 with 10 years of service.
Rodney Merrick, (PFS-CU), retired June 29 with 10 years of service.
Lee Northcutt, (EA), retired June 29 with 21 years of service.
Robert A. Schlenker, (ESH-HP), retired June 1 with 31 years of service.
Lexi A. Traughber, (FAC), retired June 4 with 23 years of service.
William R. Cole, a retired instrument maker with 22 years of service with the Central Shops Division died April 24.
Casimir Jabczynski, a retired instrument maker with 22 years of service with the Central Shops Division died April 1. He is survived by daughters, Diane Flood, Suzanne Wyrick, Sharla Arfa, and Wendy Toms, sons, Dennis and Casimir, Jr., and granddaughter, Vickie Brown.
Floyd W. Kolleck, a retired glass blower with 24 years of service in the Chemistry Division died April 4. His wife survives him.
Frances Leiker, a retired stationary engineer with 21 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division died May 12. His wife survives him.
Eric K. Parks, a chemist with 32 years of service in the Chemistry Division died May 29. His mother, Helen, survives him.
