|
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
|
|
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
A team of researchers in Argonne's Energy Technology (ET) Division and the University of Chicago's Emergency Resuscitation Center received a five-year, $4 million grant to expand its work on the medical application of ice slurry.
The grant, a Bioengineering Research Partnership from the National Institutes of Health, will allow researchers to develop ways to use the high-fluidity ice particle mixture for rapid cooling of the blood to sustain the heart and brain cells after cardiac arrests.
"In the United States alone," said Roger Poeppel, ET division director, "sudden cardiac arrests strike about 1,000 people a day, and the survival rate is at best 2 percent to 4 percent. If we can improve survival rate by just 1 percent, we will save the lives of 10 people every day."
People who suffer cardiac arrests outside of the hospital have a lower chance of recovering. Ten to 12 minutes after an arrest, brain cells start dying rapidly because of lack of blood flow to the brain.
In 1999, Ken Kasza, a senior mechanical engineer who leads the research at Argonne, and Poeppel worked with collaborators Lance Becker and Terry Vanden Hoek from the University of Chicago Hospitals to develop the Emergency Resuscitation Center -- a center dedicated to studying health problems like cardiac arrests. Becker and Vanden Hoek lead the center.
When the team began their research they knew that when cells are cooled, their metabolism and their chemical processes slow dramatically. For example, a skater who falls into an icy pond can be resuscitated even after being submerged for a significant amount of time. Because external cooling works too slowly, the team proposed that the ice slurry be injected into the body to induce faster, internal cooling. Because of its high cooling capacity, ice slurry would effectively cool critical organs of the body very rapidly with just a small amount of coolant.
In the procedure, slurry would be inserted into the lungs, cooling the surrounding blood. Medics must perform chest compressions to circulate the cooled blood, allowing it to reach the brain and preserve brain cells.
Data collected by the Argonne-university team has shown that the ice slurry cools the brain by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius very quickly. The process appears to keep the brain cool for an hour, which in a real scenario would give the medics and the doctors more time to revive normal blood flow and brain activity. This would reduce the brain damage to little or none.
Kasza and Becker said the ice slurry procedure will still be secondary to defibrillation. In a real scenario, medics at a scene would immediately start with the defibrillator, but if the heart has no reaction, the medics would begin immediate cool down.
The ice slurry slowly melts in the body and is removed with a suction device on the end of the endotracheal tube.
Other goals remain for slurry, such as using it for stroke treatment, and there are also a lot of questions researchers need to answer before continuing with tests: What is the optimal cooling level of ice slurry? What are the correct timing and protocols? What are the appropriate toxicity levels, and how much of the brain survives after ice slurry is used?
"With the grant," said Kasza, "we can further develop our tools, make even better slurry, and hopefully move closer to the point where it's possible to do human trials."
--Katie Williams
Argonne marked the one-year anniversary of the massacres on Sept. 11, 2001 with solemn remembrances and ceremonies.
At 9 a.m., members of the Argonne Fire Department read aloud the names of all 343 New York firefighters and paramedics killed in the attack. The bell on Engine 111 sounded three sets of five rings at the time each World Trade Center tower fell. The 5-5-5 chimes signify the last alarm for a fallen firefighter.
At 11 a.m., employees observed a moment of silence and heard remarks by Argonne Director Herman Grunder and DOE Chicago Operations Office Manager Marvin Gunn via the lab-wide public address system.
At noon, a large group of employees gathered near Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria to observe a moment of silence and recite the pledge of allegiance, led by Marge Brockman (OCF). Charmette Gant (DOE) sang "America the Beautiful."
Argonne's Environmental Assessment Division (EAD) recently compiled a report on sustainable development that was presented to delegates at the World Summit held last month in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 1992, international leaders met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to develop an action plan for sustainable development. Tens of thousands of participants, including heads of state and government, national delegates, non-governmental leaders, businesses and other major groups attended the meeting in Johannesburg to assess progress made since 1992.
A key message of the U.S. delegation to the summit was that good governance principles and practices lead to increased private-sector investment. Also, to achieve concrete results in sustainable development, governments must work with all members of society, particularly the private sector.
To demonstrate that successful private-sector participation in sustainable development is occurring, the U.S. Departments of Energy and State and the U.S. Agency for International Development asked EAD to compile a series of energy and water "success stories" to distribute in a compendium to summit delegates.
To be included in the compendium, each success story had to meet the following criteria:
Promote the three pillars of
sustainable development (economic growth, social development, and environmental protection);
Deliver a vital, "on-the-ground"
energy or water service;
Have some private-sector funding
contribution; and
Link to in-place, host-country,
"good-governance" principles that attract private-sector investment. (Examples of these principles
include broad stakeholder participation; effective institutional, policy, and legal frameworks; and
informed, science-based decision making.)
By identifying and speaking with representatives from more than 100 different private- and public-sector organizations involved with international energy and water projects, EAD obtained information for more than 80 candidate case studies. EAD asked project contacts to supply critical information about their projects. For each project that met the criteria, EAD then prepared a two-page summary for the compendium.
The compendium contains nearly 50 energy and water success stories, with photos, that document successful private-sector participation in sustainable development projects in more than 30 countries.
Total project investment in these projects ranges from $10,000 to more than $200,000,000, and private-sector contributions, which can include in-kind contributions, range from relatively small portions to 100 percent of total investment.
Examples of the smaller projects include distributing more efficient cookstoves in Kenya (total investment of $10,000) and developing a load-shedding system at a power plant in the southern Philippines to increase availability of uninterrupted power (total investment of $50,000). Larger projects include building a hydroelectric plant in Bolivia that reduces CO2 emissions and supplies clean energy to rural households (total investment of nearly $100,000,000) and installing high-efficiency, low-emissions cogeneration units using biomass fuels at sugar plants in India (total investment of nearly $130,000,000).
The report acknowledges the importance of research and development projects that create technology transfer opportunities to promote sustainable development and "capacity-building" programs that create enabling policy environments. The compendium includes examples of both.
The report is available online.
A display of antique and classic cars owned by Argonne-East employees will be held in the Building 360 parking lot Wednesday, Sept. 25, at lunchtime.
Owners of cars 25 years old or older, of special interest, modified or of limited production, are invited to show off their vehicles. All employees are invited to stop by, view the cars, take pictures and ask questions.
In case of rain, the car show will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2.
For more information, contact Clarence Clark (AOD) at (630) 553-9567 or Walter Czyz (IPNS) at (630) 553-6987.
Agencies supported by the Argonne Combined Appeal (ACA) campaign will send representatives to Argonne-East to provide information and answer questions.
Visits are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 17- 26, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Building 213 Cafeteria Lobby. Free popcorn will be available.
Participating agencies include the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the College Fund/UNCF, Misericordia, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, LOVE Christian Clearing House and FISH, Inc.
The Argonne Combined Appeal gives employees an opportunity to support nonprofit health and welfare agencies..
"Health Fair 2002" will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair gives employees a chance to talk with representatives from health care vendors and companies who provide health care services.
Cardiovascular, eye exams, blood pressure readings, health risk assessments, body fat measurements, information on exercise programs, consults with physicians from the medical department and a psychologist will be available free of charge. Diabetes screenings will be offered for nominal fees.
The Health Fair is sponsored by Human Resources and Argonne's Medical Department.
A demonstration -- and tasting -- of Caribbean cooking will be held at the Argonne Guest House Monday, Sept. 23, Wednesday, Sept. 25, and Thursday, Sept. 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Argonne Guest House Executive Chef Chris Kaminsky's menu will include shrimp with a mango lime sauce, jerk pork, spiced roasted pork loin and chocolate banana sin cake. Those who attend can taste the results.
Class size is limited. Cost is $25 per person, cash, check or charge, due at registration. Register in person at the Guest House, or mail checks to Kathy, Building 460.
Registration for the Sept. 23 class is due by Monday, Sept. 16. Registration for the Sept. 25 class is due by Wednesday, Sept. 18. Registration for the Sept. 26 class is due by Thursday, Sept. 19.
For more information, call ext. 5-2006.
Employees at Argonne-East may see some unusual activity at multiple areas on site during a lab-wide emergency exercise on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Emergency responders from Argonne and surrounding communities will take part in the exercise.
The exercise is being held jointly by Argonne and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne Area Office and Chicago Operations Office.
The Argonne Running Club is seeking volunteers to work the finish line at the 2002 Chicago Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 13, at Grant Park.
Volunteers will receive a running jacket and hat. For information, contact Corrie Patterson Kamiya (TD) at ext. 2-9246 or cgpatterson@anl.gov by Friday, Sept. 27.
The Guest House restaurant will not serve lunch Tuesday, Sept. 17, and Wednesday, Sept. 18, due to special events.
A representative from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) will visit Argonne-East Tuesday, Sept. 24, to meet with individual employees for insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.
To schedule an appointment with Craig Riddick, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143.
Registration is now open for three key supervisory courses to be presented at Argonne-East during September and October. To preregister, contact a Training Management System representative.
For more information, call Betty Iwan at ext. 2-3410. For a complete description of courses, visit the Human Resources Web site.
"Performance Management" (HR 561)
provides Argonne supervisors with essential communication tools to more effectively manage,
document and influence the performance of employees. Three sessions will be held: Friday, Sept. 27,
Tuesday, Oct. 1, or Monday, Oct. 7, from 1-5 p.m. in Building 201, Room 190.
"Fitness for Duty" (HR226) covers
supervisors' responsibilities and the support they can receive from other Argonne groups when
dealing with fitness for duty situations. The course will be held Monday, Oct. 21, from 1-5 p.m. in
Building 362, Room F108. Participants must register by Friday, Sept. 20. Cost: $50.
"The Supervisory Role in Managing
Employee Issues" (HR643) provides supervisors with a clear understanding of the laws governing the
workplace and the necessary skills to handle difficult employee issues. Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 9
a.m. to 3:30 p.m in Building 401, Room E1100. Cost is $25.
Service Awards for September include:
40 Years
Richard N. Hwang (RAE), Richard S. Konecny (HEP).
35 Years
Frank Y. Fradin (PBC), Richard J. Kmiec (ECT), Antanas V. Rauchas (AOD), Willis D. Ray (PFS).
30 Years
Catherine E. Eyberger (ASD), Jeffrey Rest (ET), William W. Schertz (ES).
25 Years
Virginia G. Brown (PFS), Michael D. Bubulka (OSS), Richard L. Coulter (ER), Ralph R. Fabian (ET), Patrick L. Garner (RAE), Rose L. Lorenz (OCF), Albert D. Miller (FAC), Gail W. Pieper (MCS).
20 Years
Michael D. Anderson (FAC), Julie L. Chappell (RPS), John P. Greene (PHY), R. Brent Rowe (FAC), William S. Vinikour (EA).
15 Years
Linda Berry (RPS), John H. Christiansen (DIS), Stephen E. Dorris (ET), Richard C. Eagan (DIS), Deana L. Kinzler (TD), Louis E. Martino (EA), Jordi Roglans-Ribas (RAE), Carol L. Rosignolo (ER), Kathy L. Simunich (DIS).
10 Years
Michael Arellano (PFS), Nicholas DiMonte (ASD), Keith Dunn (PFS), Marilyn J. Elison (CMT), James Golema (PFS), Gregory A. Heckler (PFS), Donald E. Preuss (RAE), Katherine Ruffatto (DIS), Mary Straka (IPD), Keith Trychta (PFS).
5 Years
Julie M. Alderman (AOD), Margaret M. Collins (HR), Boris N. Deriy (XFD), Jacqueline A. Johnson (MSD), Thomas A. Johnson (FAC), James A. Vie (PFS).
Classes offered by Electronics and Computing Technologies are held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167. Unless otherwise specified, class sizes are limited to eight participants and cost $215.
October classes include:
"Introduction to Word 2000" (ECT369)
-- Tuesday, Oct. 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction to Excel 2000" (ECT370)
-- Wednesday, Oct. 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction to Access 2000" (ECT371)
-- Thursday, Oct. 3, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction to PowerPoint 2000"
(ECT372) -- Friday, Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $140.
"Intermediate PowerPoint 2000"
(ECT373) -- Friday, Oct. 4, 1 - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $140.
Complete computer class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online. For information about enrollment, contact Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.