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Nine Argonne employees will receive the highest honor the University of Chicago bestows on those who work at the laboratory during a ceremony Thursday, June 13.
The awards program will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Argonne-East Building 213 Cafeteria. A reception will follow. All Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.
University of Chicago Distinguished Service Award recipients are Lin Xiang-Qun Chen (CHM), Louis Emery (AOD), Sushil Sharma (ASD), Eddie Gay (CMT) and Chun-Keung Loong (IPNS). Their awards recognize outstanding technical or scientific achievements or a distinguished record of achievements.
University of Chicago Outstanding Service Award recipients are David Haugen (EST-PA), William McDowell (ASD), Paul Vanderwall (PFS-BM) and Francis Strehl (HR-MED). The awards recognize those who have furthered the goals and missions of the laboratory through exceptional contributions.
At the same program, University of Chicago-Argonne scholarships will be awarded to Faiyaaz Kalimullah and Katarina Ruscic.
Results from laboratory-directed research and development (LDRD) projects will be discussed at the latest in a series of "mini-symposia" Monday, June 3, from 2:15-4:15 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 212, Conference Room A157.
The meeting is open to all interested Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees whose schedules permit. Scheduled speakers and their projects are:
Ron Kulak (RAE), "High Fidelity
Modeling of the Human Spine on Parallel Computing Platforms."
Chris Marshall (CMT), "The Conversion
of CH4 to H2 and C by Direct Contact Pyrolysis."
Liaohai Chen (BIO), "Conjugated
Polymer Based Nanoparticles, Organic Quantum Dots and Their Application in Cancer Cell Diagnosis."
Liz Hocking (EA), "Decisional Process
for Site Stewardship."
Shih-Yew Chen (EA), "OpenLink:
Development and Application of a Long-Term Risk Management System."
Sami Gopalsami (ET), "Radio-Frequency
Sensing and Imaging of Subsurface Contaminants."
University of Chicago scientists have described the first chip-based chemical strategy for rapidly screening carbohydrates for biologically useful activity. The technique enables researchers to scan a single chip for literally thousands of different biologically active compounds that could someday play a key role in the treatment of disease or as a diagnostic for biological warfare agents.
Milan Mrksich, associate professor in chemistry, and Benjamin Houseman, a student in the university's Pritzker School of Medicine, reported their method in the April issue of the journal Chemistry and Biology.
During the past decade scientists have developed biochips that allow them to rapidly assess vast arrays of genes for their drug-development potential, and they are on the way to doing likewise for proteins. But until now, they had no efficient way to test large arrays of carbohydrates, another major class of biological molecules.
It has proven more difficult to study the role of carbohydrates in biology than it has been for either genes or proteins, Mrksich said.
"Carbohydrates have more complex structures, so we still don't know how to synthesize them in an efficient way. Because of that, studies of carbohydrate biology have lagged far behind studies of proteins and DNA in biology," he said.
In their carbochip production process, Mrksich and Houseman chemically tie down the carbohydrates to the surface of the chip and apply a solution of proteins. A half-hour later they rinse the chip, then observe it in fluorescent light. The spot on the chip where there is no fluorescent glow is the spot where the proteins failed to bind with the carbohydrates.
The lack of fluorescent glow identifies a compound that blocked the protein-carbohydrate binding interaction. That compound becomes a candidate for pharmaceutical research, because it has selective activity against protein-binding.
Although many functions of carbohydrates remain unknown and await further study, they do play a role in cancer and other diseases.
Mrksich's work is supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the University of Chicago's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. The DARPA funding stems from the agency's interest in the detection of biowarfare agents. Mrksich will soon begin collaborating with U.S. Department of Defense laboratories to investigate the possibility of using carbohydrate chips for identifying biowarfare agents in blood samples of potential victims.
Mrksich estimates that reliable, commercially produced carbohydrate chips will become widely available in less than five years, slightly ahead of protein chips.
"There are a larger number of problems that can be addressed with protein chips," Mrksich said. "But carbohydrate chips will be very important for a large set of problems."
-- Steve Koppes
The race-time temperature was just 47 degrees F., but the hand-crafted model cars in the 12th annual Junior Solar Sprint are designed to run on sunlight, not heat -- and there was plenty of cold sunshine on race day.
The Junior Solar Sprint is a national program developed to generate enthusiasm for renewable energy, to improve students' knowledge of these concepts and energy issues, and to encourage young people to consider technical careers.
Young engineers from Chicago-area schools spent weeks building their solar-powered model cars, using a standard kit consisting of a solar cell and motor. The teams then brought their creations to the CNH Global Technical Center in Burr Ridge May 18 to pit them against cars from other teams. Engineers from CNH and Lucent Technology judged the cars on their technology, craftsmanship, appearance, and a working knowledge of the car's design.
At about 11 a.m., students took their cars to a 65-foot asphalt track painted on a parking lot. Guided by 20-lb. fishing line strung along the lanes, the cars streaked -- or in some cases, ambled -- to the finish line in a double-elimination race.
Madison Jr. High, Naperville, won the racing competition, and Burbank School, Burbank, won the design competition.
"The contest requires students to use aerodynamics, applied science and engineering skills to meet technical challenges comparable to those that scientists and engineers face," said Christine McGhee (ES), who organizes the annual competition. "Developing a successful design requires experimentation, teamwork and organization."
The Junior Solar Sprint is sponsored by Argonne, the U.S. Department of Energy, CNH Global, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, and the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Chemistry Division Director Marion Thurnauer will present her acknowledgment speech to the American Chemical Society for the 2002 Frances P. Gavin - John M. Ollin Medal at the June 7 First Friday Forum meeting.
Her speech, "My Mother, Her Sister and Me: 75 years of Science and Social Changes," will begin at noon in Building 200, Room J183.
The First Friday Forum is an informal gathering of Argonne women usually held on the first Friday of the month. The group explores career and gender issues related to women. Meetings are open to all Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees.
Q: Just a few weeks ago little blue, yellow and orange flags bloomed all over the lawns at the 200 end of the lab. Now they're mostly gone. We're just wondering what they were for, and whether their mission was accomplished … or did the deer eat them?
A: The large variety of multicolored flags that were seen surrounding and leading away from Building 221 were all part of the planning and design project for the proposed Illinois Science Center, which would be constructed in conjunction with the proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator project. The multicolored flags showed the location of underground utilities in these areas and were removed when the planning and design people had completed their tasks.
"Ask the Directorate" is a new way for employees to ask senior Argonne management direct questions about the laboratory's operations, policy, strategy, mission, budget and goals. Employees should continue to refer job- or workplace-specific questions to their immediate supervisors.
Employees may submit questions to askthedirectorate @anl.gov or fax them to 2-5274.
Only questions that include the name of the questioner and contact information, such as e-mail address, office extension or fax number, will be answered.
An appropriate member of the Argonne Directorate will answer each question, and the answer will be sent directly to the employee. In addition, Argonne News will periodically print selected responses, and all answers will be posted on the Web.
Questioners will remain anonymous in the Argonne News and on the Web.
The Argonne Pioneers will hold their 17th reunion dinner Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Orland Chateau Restaurant, 14500 LaGrange Road, Orland Park, Ill.
Pioneers are all current and former Argonne, Met Lab, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC/DOE) and Argonne Credit Union employees who worked in these organizations between 1942 and 1972. Pioneers include all present employees with 30 years of service or more.
The family-style dinner costs $22 per person, including tax and tip. Registration and friendship time will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., immediately followed by dinner. A cash bar and music will be provided. Spouses and guests of those attending are welcome.
Reservations must be made by Monday, Oct. 15. Checks should be sent and made payable to Argonne Pioneers Reunion, P.O. Box 8326, Argonne, Ill. 60439.
Addresses sought
The Pioneers are seeking current addresses of all present and former employees who qualify as described above. Information should be mailed to the Pioneers reunion post office box.
For more information, call Evie Fagan at (630) 960-5563.
Employees who missed author Joy Loverde's workshops at Argonne-East on dealing with the emotional and financial stresses of elder care can attend a free workshop Thursday, June 6, in Schaumburg.
Loverde's workshop, "Caring for an Elderly Loved One: Are You Ready?" will focus on reducing the financial and emotional stresses of caring for elderly loved ones. More information is online.
The workshop will be held at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, 50 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg.