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Argonne to help develop artificial retina
by Katie Williams
Currently there is no cure for the degenerative retinal diseases that have caused hundreds of thousands of Americans to lose their sight. However, Argonne researchers, in collaboration with four other national laboratories, two universities and a private company, are moving one step closer to developing an artificial retina that may restore sight to people who have been blinded by these hereditary diseases.
The goal of the consortium is for the company, universities and laboratories to work together to create an artificial retina that would effectively replace the destroyed rods and cones in the eye with a light receptor and optical signal converter.
A tiny camera and radio-frequency transmitter on the patient’s glasses capture images and transmit the information to a microchip implanted in the eye. The image is then transmitted as electrical pulses to the retina via an array of electrodes on the surface of the retina. From there, the information is processed and passed along to the brain.
“The artificial retina is very appealing to scientists because it contributes to improving the way of life for people,” said materials scientist Orlando Auciello (MSD) the principal investigator at Argonne. “Having the ability to see is something too many people take for granted.”
Argonne’s role in the project plays a critical part in the success of the electrode implants. Auciello and materials scientists Dieter M. Gruen and John A. Carlisle (both MSD) are developing a novel application for the patented ultrananocrystalline diamond technology developed at Argonne for the packaging of implantable electronics and as electrode material. This technology is intended to overcome severe size and environmental constraints.
The scientific and technological bases of ultrananocrystalline diamond films were developed by a large group of researchers in the Surface Science Group in Argonne’s Materials Science Division.
According to Auciello, ultrananocrystalline diamond is a material with a unique combination of properties. The hardest diamond film known, it has an extremely low friction coefficient and surface adhesion, very high electron emission, chemical inertness, extremely high conductivity when doped with nitrogen, compatibility with biological tissues and surface functionalization. All these properties are the result of the unique microstructure of ultrananocrystalline diamond, which has grains only two to five nanometers in size (a nanometer is about 10,000 times narrower than a human hair).
The artificial retina project is led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and funded by a new $9 million, four-year grant from the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The project was formally announced by U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham at the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Also involved in the research are a California-based, private company called Second Sight, LLC, North Carolina State University in Raleigh and the University of Southern California, and Sandia, Oak Ridge, Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories.
Oak Ridge manages the project and tests the various technologies developed at each institute. Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is studying the use of electrode arrays coated in rubber. Los Alamos National Laboratory is developing optical measuring techniques for neural activity modeling and simulating neural paths between the retina and the brain. Sandia is developing electrodes made of silicon, using a microfabrication technique which makes small parts of metal, plastic or ceramics, to produce microelectromechanical systems such as tiny actuators and sensors.
The University of Southern California implants the electrodes and tests their effectiveness. Second Sight will commercially produce the finished devices, and North Carolina State University in Raleigh is leading the development of the in situ medical electronics.
The University of Chicago is preparing a proposal for a new regional microbiology research facility that may be located at Argonne-East, provided the U.S. Department of Energy approves.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health, is calling for new research facilities in support of homeland security. The university’s proposal will be made on behalf of a multi-institution consortium and is part of collaboration between the university and the laboratory to enhance their microbiology research in areas that support America’s homeland security. “The NIAID Biodefense Research effort provides an excellent opportunity to do this,” said Harvey Drucker, Argonne’s national security coordinator.
The proposal concerns a new research building which is consistent with Argonne’s DOE mission and will support a number of coordinated research programs. If established at Argonne, this new program, to be called the Howard T. Ricketts Center for Biodefense Research, would benefit from proximity to the Advanced Photon Source and Argonne’s other unique scientific and technological facilities and capabilities, and from collaboration among experts in related disciplines.
Ricketts, a University of Chicago pathologist who died of typhus in 1910 while researching that disease, was the first to establish the identity of the organism, Rickettsia rickettsii, that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
“Global Energy Apartheid: The Disparity Between the Energy Haves and Have-Nots” will be the topic of a Director’s Special Seminar Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. in the Advanced Photon Source Auditorium at Argonne-East.
Speaker Eric Loewen is a consulting engineer in nuclear engineering design and research at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. He was a member of a three-person American Nuclear Society delegation to the United Nations 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. The conference focused on how developing nations — the energy “have nots” — can balance their necessary energy needs against environmental concerns.
Loewen will focus on the opinions and views of other world leaders on the issue of energy, what the U.S. Department of Energy is doing and what needs to be done in the future. He will cover what environmental organizations are saying about energy sources and which energy sources they deem feasible for developing countries.
by Jennifer Ann Hutt
As the American Scientific Glassblowers Society (ASG) marks its 50th anniversary, one of its most active members — Argonne’s master glassblower Joseph Gregar (CHM) — continues his contribution to science and the art of glassblowing by producing elaborate, custom-made distillation or vacuum systems and new, innovative glassware.
“He can do just about anything with glass,” said chemist Joe Michael (CHM).
From the glass tubing of Galileo’s first thermometer to the vacuum tubes of the earliest computers, glass has long played an important role in the advancement of science. Glassblowers nationwide are continuing that tradition — fashioning glass for industries and research in fiber optics, lasers, atomic and subatomic particles, communications and semiconductors.
For example, to address problems associated with extracting chemicals from a solid, Gregar helped invent an elegant piece of glassware called the Gregar extractor, which outperforms previous extractors.
Glass is ideal for many types of research because it is transparent, cleans well, can be shaped into almost any configuration and does not react with most chemicals.
“You can put really nasty things in glass, and it won’t decompose,” said Michael. “That’s why I use it.”
But glass has to be well-made if it is to be used safely in scientific research, said Gregar, who has been on Argonne’s safety committee for more than 20 years.
“Scientists will take the apparatus, and they will torture it,” he explained. “They will use it in extreme temperatures and extreme pressure. If you build something that is weak under these conditions, it’s dangerous.”
A fourth-generation glassblower, Gregar has held almost every leadership position in the scientific glassblowers’ professional organization, including president.
Gregar also dedicates part of his time to teaching others. He has spent 15 years with the ASG’s Junior Liaison Committee conducting workshops to train new craftsmen who will continue the partnership between glassblowing and scientific research.
For more information about glassblowing or placing an order, call Gregar at ext. 2-3550 or visit the Chemistry Division’s glassblowing Web page.
As employees sharpen their No. 2 pencils for the tax-preparation season, Argonne’s Payroll Department has released information on the federal withholding exemption, Social Security and Medicare and tax-deferred savings.
n The federal income annual withholding exemption for 2003 is $3,050 per exemption, up from $3,000 in 2002. Employees who are eligible for the Advanced Earned Income Credit must complete the W-5 tax form for the 2003 tax year. Employees who are eligible to claim “exempt” from federal income tax withholding must complete a new W-4 tax form for the 2003 tax year. The federal supplemental tax rate remains the same as 2002 at 27 percent.
n Social Security and Medicare Updates: The 2003 Social Security Wage limit has increased to $87,000 from $84,900 in 2002. The rate remains the same as 2002 at 6.2 percent. The maximum deduction is $5,394. All wages are subject to Medicare taxes (no limit) and the rate remains at 1.45 percent for 2003.
n 403B (tax-deferred savings): The 403B maximum contribution for employees under 50 years old is $12,000 for 2003. Employees over 50 can elect an additional $2,000 or a total of $14,000 in 2003. Employees with 15 or more years of service may be eligible for up to $3,000 additional deferral.
For more information, call the Payroll Department at ext. 2-6918. Tax and retirement election forms are available in the Payroll Department or on the Payroll Web site (See “On the Web,” below).
Argonne-East’s longest-serving employees will be honored at a lunch in February and a dinner in late March.
Employees who achieved 20 years of service during 2002 will be recognized at a luncheon at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Argonne Guest House. Invitations were sent the first week in January.
Employees who achieved 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 years of service in 2002 will be honored at a dinner Friday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m. in Argonne-East’s Building 213 Cafeteria. Invitations for the dinner will be sent in mid-February.
Nominations are being sought for the 2003 University of Chicago Awards for Distinguished Performance at Argonne.
The awards recognize outstanding technical or scientific achievement or a distinguished record of achievements by an Argonne employee.
Statements of 250 words or less citing the nominee’s achievement or record should be submitted to the Office of the Laboratory Director. Fifteen copies are required. Deadline for initial nominations is Monday, Feb. 3.
After internal review, the laboratory director will notify nominators of the acceptance of the nominations for submission to the University of Chicago and additional support materials will be requested.
by Mike Boxberger, Director,
Office of Safeguards and Security
With a little bit of planning, Argonne-East employees who sponsor or host foreign guests and visitors can help make the visit go smoothly, and reduce delays for themselves and others.
The laboratory requires certain information prior to a visit (30 days or less) or assignment (more than 30 days) of a foreign national; it’s a U.S. Department of Energy mandate. Argonne’s Office of Safeguards and Security requests that you submit this information at least seven days before all visits and non-sensitive assignments. A sensitive assignment generally requires a minimum of 30 days notice to allow all reviews and an indices check by Counterintelligence. Hosts of foreign visitors need to complete the ANL-593 form, available online (FAVOR system) or from the Foreign Visits and Assignments Web Page (See “On the Web,” page 2).
The Foreign Visits and Assignments Web site is a complete guide to hosting and sponsoring foreign visitors.
The Argonne Information Center also needs some information to prepare a gate pass for your visitor: the visitor’s full name, company affiliation, citizenship, time and date of arrival and departure, the buildings he or she will visit, and your name, division and phone extension. Fax this information to ext. 2-5753. For more information about visitor gate passes, call the Information Center at ext. 2-5755.
Employees who wait until their visitors arrive at the Information Center cause delays for both themselves and other employees hosting foreign visitors. Getting the paperwork and preparation out of the way early will allow your guest to access the site with a minimum of inconvenience. It also reflects well on the laboratory — and you — when the process goes smoothly.
For more information, or for training or access to the FAVOR system, call the Foreign Visits and Assignments Manager at ext. 2-2701 or the Foreign Visits and Assignments Office at ext. 2-1142 or ext. 2-1080.
Nominations are being sought for an award that recognizes excellence in research by outstanding young ethnic Korean physicists in North America.
Candidates for the Outstanding Young Researcher Award must have received their doctoral degree after Jan. 1, 1998. Candidates can be nominated by their department heads or by a former thesis advisor. The nomination letter should detail the importance and impact of the candidate’s work. Supporting documents should include the candidate’s curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation.
The nomination deadline is Friday, Jan. 31. The award — $1,000 — will be presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Korean Physicists in America (AKPA), to be held in Indianapolis March 3 -7.
Send nominations and supporting documents to AKPA President Kwang-Je Kim (ASD), mail stop ASD-401. For more information, call ext. 2-4647 or send e-mail to kwangje@aps.anl.gov Details about the award and AKPA are online; see “On the Web,” page 2.
The Argonne Running Club’s “Klondike Run” will begin at noon Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Argonne-East.
The event starts at the Advanced Photon Source Gallery, weather permitting. Runners will cover three miles, walkers two miles. Refreshments will be available following the event, which is open to all Argonne and DOE employees.
Staff and non-staff retirement plan interest rates for the first quarter of 2003 are:
Vendor Rate Contributions from: Earned through:
TIAA Traditional 5.25% 01/01/03 - 02/28/03 02/28/03
TIAA Supplemental 4.75% 01/01/03 - 02/28/03 02/28/03
Prudential Fixed Interest* 6.00% 07/01/02 - 06/30/03 06/30/03
Prudential Guaranteed 3.75% 01/01/03 - 03/31/03 12/31/04
Lincoln National (Old Account)** 3.50% N/A 03/31/03
Lincoln National (No Load)** 4.45% N/A 03/31/03
* Only available to non-staff participants.
** No longer excepting contributions.
Human Resources has scheduled the following classes in January at Argonne-East.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System Representative. For more information, call ext. 2-3410. Detailed descriptions are on the HR Web site (see “On the Web,” page 2).
n “Certified Professional Secretary Review: Management” (HR 261) — Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Thursday, Feb. 13, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Building 201, Conference Room 238.
n “Facilitating Effective Meetings” (HR 636) — Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1-5 p.m., Building 201, Conference Room 190.
n “Brown Bag Lunch: Managing Disagreement Constructively” (HR 277) — Wednesday, Jan. 15, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Building 201, Conference Room 238.
Argonne’s retirement vendors will visit Argonne-East during January to meet with employees and answer questions about their retirement plans and assets.
To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.
n Fidelity: Tuesday, Jan. 21. Call (800) 642-7131.
n TIAA-CREF: Thursday, Jan. 23, and Friday, Jan. 24. Call (800) 842-2005.
n Prudential: Wednesday, Jan. 22. (Half-day appointments). Call Cheryl at (847) 619-3519.
George Cutwright, a representative of the Social Security Administration’s Joliet office, will visit Argonne-East Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. Cutwright will be available to:
n Enroll employees in Social Security.
n Take applications for new social security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.
n Help with earnings posting problems.
n Answer general questions about the social security program.
To schedule a meeting, call Fran Perri (HR) at ext. 2-2989.
A representative from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Tuesday, Jan. 28, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the “METPAY” group automobile and homeowners insurance program. To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143.
