Contents of this Issue:
1. Science Highlight —
Elastic Gateway in Ion Channel Discovered
(contact:
Senyon Choe, choe@salk.edu)
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To learn more about this research see:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/kir.html
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/kir.pdf
2. Science Highlight —
Old Wines in a New Barrel
(contacts:
Stéphane Richard, richard@salk.edu; Joseph Noel, noel@salk.edu)
 |
To learn more about this research see:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/orf2.html
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/research/highlights_archive/orf2.pdf
3.
First Operation of a SPEAR3 Beam Line at 500 mA and Summer Shutdown
Update
(contact: Piero
Pianetta, pianetta@slac.stanford.edu)
During the July 18-19, 2005
Accelerator Physics period, a significant milestone towards operating beam
lines at 500 mA was achieved. On Monday evening, SPEAR3 was successfully
operated
at 500 mA with all insertion device gaps closed for the first time. The
following day, Beam Line 6-2, which was rebuilt for operation at high current
last year, was opened and successfully operated at a current of 500 mA.
Rocking curve measurements and radiation surveys were conducted on BL6-2 at 25,
100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mA. These measurements were made using both the
Si(111) and Si(333) reflections to observe any changes in the rocking curve
widths due to power loading on the monochromator crystals. At 500 mA, the power
on the first LN-cooled monochromator crystal was calculated to be 1580 Watts
with a peak power density of 14.4 Watt/mm2. No major problems with
the beam
line optics were encountered and no concerns resulted from the radiation
surveys. Overall, the monochromator performance was significantly better than
anticipated from our modeling studies. We will continue to work on both the
safety and operational aspects to enable 500 mA operations sometime during the
2006 run. Towards this effort our experimental run has been extended by one
day to allow further machine studies for 500 mA operations.
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/spear3/500ma/
Screen Shot showing BL 6-2
open at 500 mA - click for large version
Immediately following this final day of machine physics on August 1, summer shutdown activities will begin in earnest. During this shutdown, scheduled from August 2-November 28, 2005, significant beam line development and construction activities will be undertaken, including construction for the new BL12 alcove and associated chicane lattice installation and upgrades to BL10, BL9 and BL7. These beam lines will be available for users after upgrades and commissioning are completed. For BL10-1, BL10-2 and BL9-3, this is expected by mid-December 2005; BL9-1 and BL9-2 by January 2006. BL7-3 is expected to be available for users by February 2006, with BL7-1 and 7-2 a bit later in early 2006. A preliminary copy of 2006 user operations schedule can be found at: http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/schedules/06_run_preliminary.pdf
Deadlines related to beam time requests and new proposals are also posted on the website: http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/users/user_admin/deadlines.html
4.
NIGMS Announces Funding for Second Phase of Protein Structure Initiative
(contact: Ashley
Deacon, adeacon@slac.stanford.edu)
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences recently announced the funding for the second phase of the Protein Structure Initiative. Building on the successful pilot phase which was initiated in 2000, the new program will target larger numbers of proteins for structure determination and will also start to address more challenging classes of proteins. The program consists of four large-scale production-oriented structural genomics centers and six specialized centers which focus on technology development. SSRL and its scientific staff are involved in one Center of each type. http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2005/nigms-01.htm
The Joint Center for Structural Genomics (directed by Ian Wilson, D.Phil., D.Sc., of The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA) has been funded as one of the large-scale centers. The Structure Determination Core of the JCSG, based at SSRL, will receive ~$15M over 5 years and is one of the principal activities of the JCSG. SSRL is also involved in the Center for High-Throughput Structural Biology (led by George DeTitta, Ph.D., Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, Buffalo, NY) whose funding was also announced as one of the specialized technology development centers. This center involves the collaborative efforts of the Hauptman-Woodward Institute, the University of Rochester, Cornell University, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Washington, University of Pittsburgh, and Ontario Cancer Institute.
5.
SSRL Users' Organization Executive Committee Update
(contacts:
Glenn Waychunas, SSRLUOEC Chair, gawaychunas@lbl.gov;
Joy Andrews, SSRLUOEC Vice Chair,
joy.andrews@csueastbay.edu)
The SSRL Users' Organization Executive Committee (SSRLUOEC) met on July 11. The
agenda included an update from SSRL Director Keith Hodgson, a presentation on
future scientific opportunities with SPEAR3 including pulsed beam for time
structure experiments by Jo Stöhr, a preliminary discussion of top-up injection
led by Bob Hettel, an update from Glenn Waychunas on user activism, plans for
the next annual SSRL Users' Meeting by Joy Andrews, and an update on user
outreach, communications, user administration by Cathy Knotts. Users are
encouraged to nominate colleagues to serve on the SSRLUOEC (nominations due by
September 30; ballots will then be issued and new representatives elected on
October 17). Users are also encouraged to attend the annual Users' Meeting on
October 17-18 and to participate in SSRLUOEC meetings; the next SSRLUOEC
meeting will immediately follow the Users' Meeting on October 18. Minutes of
SSRLUOEC meetings are posted on the user SSRLUO website:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/users/ssrluo/ssrluoec-mtgs.html
6.
Report from BES Program Review of SSRL
(contact: Keith
Hodgson, hodgson@ssrl.slac.stanford.edu)
SSRL recently received a very positive report of the Department of Energy's Basic Energy Sciences (BES) review of SSRL that took place in February. Reviewers commented enthusiastically on the quality of the science and efficiency of the facility. In his cover letter, BES Scientific User Facilities Division Director Dr. Pedro Montano congratulated the SSRL staff "for the outstanding operation of SSRL," stating that "the SPEAR3 transition was a success," "the success of SPEAR3 upgrade is a major accomplishment," and that "SSRL is a well-run facility that adds real value to the research community." The review panel also noted several areas of concern including career development path for scientific staff. We would like to thank our users for their continued support of SSRL and the outstanding science that they produce, both factors in contributing to the excellence of this peer review.
7.
Nominations for the Spicer Young Investigator Award and Lytle Award
Due August 15
(contact: Cathy
Knotts, knotts@slac.stanford.edu)
We encourage you to nominate individuals for the Spicer Young Investigator
Award. The award was established in 2004 to honor Bill Spicer (1929-2004), one
of the original founders of the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. This
award recognizes important technical or scientific accomplishments that
benefited from, or are beneficial to, the SSRL. The award is open to senior
graduate students and those within seven years of entry into their professional
scientific field. The award will consist of a certificate and $1,000 as well as
waived registration and travel support to participate in the 2005 Annual SSRL
Users' Meeting on October 17-18, when the award will be announced. Nominations
in the form of a letter or email message summarizing the technical or
scientific contributions of the candidate must be submitted before the August
15, 2005 deadline to Cathy Knotts. Nominations should include the candidate's
curriculum vitae and publications; supporting letters are also encouraged.
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl32/spicer32.php
Users are equally encouraged to nominate candidates for the 2005 Farrel W. Lytle Award which consists of a certificate and $1,000 (awardee names are added to a plaque displayed in the SSRL User Research Administration Office). All SSRL users and staff are eligible for this award. Nominations will be reviewed and the recipient selected by members of the SSRL Users' Organization Executive Committee. The Award will be presented at the Users' Meeting dinner on Monday, October 17, 2005. Nominations summarizing the individual's contributions and why they should be recognized through this award must be submitted before the August 15, 2005 deadline to Cathy Knotts. http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl32/lytle32.php
8.
Upcoming SR-Related Meetings, Conferences and Workshops at SLAC
FEL2005: Over
200 scientists, engineers and managers of the FEL project teams
as well as prospective x-ray laser experimenters will participate in
FEL2005, which will be held at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center at
Stanford University on August 20-26, 2005. Program, registration and other
details are available at the conference website:
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/lcls/fel2005/
SSRL SMB Summer School: Apply by August 1 to participate in the SSRL
Structural Molecular Biology Summer School on September 12-15, 2005. This
school will highlight the use and applications of X-ray Absorption
Spectroscopy (XAS) and Macromolecular Crystallography (MC) in the study of
biological systems.
http://smb.slac.stanford.edu/public/news/summer_school/SMB2005/
32nd Annual SSRL Users' Meeting: As mentioned above, SSRL's Users'
Meeting will be held at SLAC on October 17-18, 2005. The meeting will feature
sessions on
x-ray absorption spectroscopy, structural genomics, ultrafast science and a
sampling of materials research from other DOE labs. There will also be a young
investigators session and a poster session, with awards for outstanding
graduate student posters (the cost of the awards dinner will also be waived for
graduate students participating in the poster competition). Several workshops
will be offered in conjunction with the Users' Meeting including biological and
materials small angle x-ray scattering, and soft x-ray science at LCLS. Details
about the full list of workshops will be posted to the Users' Meeting site in
the coming weeks.
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/conferences/ssrl32/
9.
LCLS Science Team Leaders Meet at SSRL
(contacts: John Arthur,
jarthur@slac.stanford.edu; Jerry Hastings, jbh@slac.stanford.edu)
At the recommendation of the LCLS Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the community of scientists that last year submitted Letters of Intent to develop programs at LCLS has been organized into groups reflecting the five Science Thrust Areas which encompass the range of proposed LCLS science. Each of these five groups has selected a Team Leader and one or more Co-Team Leaders, who will work closely with LCLS and LUSI staff to make sure that LCLS will be able to best address the Science Thrust Areas.
The Science Team Leaders have agreed to meet quarterly at SSRL to discuss LCLS and LUSI issues. The most recent meeting took place on June 29-30. At this meeting the Team leaders received an update on LCLS progress and plans for LUSI. They discussed the intricate relationships between LCLS, LUSI, SSRL, and the Science Teams, and the roles that each will play in developing the unique science capability of LCLS. All agreed that open and timely communication between all parties will be the key to building a successful facility, and that the primary responsibility for enabling this communication lies within the LUSI project.
The next meeting of the Science Team Leaders will take place October 18-19, immediately after the SSRL Users' Meeting. http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/lcls/
10.
25 Years of Pioneering Insertion Devices
(contact:
Herman Winick, winick@slac.stanford.edu)
To mark the 25th anniversary of the first permanent magnet undulator to be used
for synchrotron radiation research (implemented at SSRL in collaboration with
LBNL), some of those who contributed to the design, construction and
characterization
gathered recently around the magnet itself, which is on
display on the SSRL experimental floor. The concept for this magnet was the
brainchild of Klaus Halbach (1925-2000) of LBNL. The mechanical design was done
by LBNL engineers Egon Hoyer and John Chin, now retired. The electronic
controls for varying the gap and compensating the end fields were done by John
Yang, who recently retired from SSRL. The spectrum from this device was
characterized by George Brown (former SSRL Faculty), Teresa Troxel, and Herman
Winick of SSRL along with Zahid Hussain and Eberhard Umbach at LBNL. Due to the
success of these devices, many third generation synchrotron radiation sources
were built starting in the late 1980's (the latest of these is the SPEAR3
storage ring at SSRL/SLAC).
http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/tip/2005/june17/ssrl.htm
11.
Promoting Synchrotron-Related Science
Ongoing communication about the benefits that research involving synchrotron
radiation may ultimately provide is vitally important to SSRL and the other
synchrotron light sources. With your help we can be far more effective in
communicating the importance of SR-related science in general and your research
in particular. We are always interested in receiving input on published papers
and theses that are based at least in part on work done at SSRL. Please see
http://www-ssrl.slac.stanford.edu/pubs/ for publications lists and
appropriate acknowledgement statements for SSRL and our funding facilities. We
especially encourage you to let us know in advance of publishing breakthrough
research results (contact Cathy Knotts, knotts@slac.stanford.edu,
650-926-3191). Moreover, whenever your institution puts out a press release on
your synchrotron-related research, it will be tremendously helpful if some
mention of the light source(s) that you collected data at is included. This
will give SR-based research more visibility and the press release will likely
be posted to lightsources.org, but again - please let us know in advance of the
release date. We look forward to working with users and their home
institutions to promote user research to a broader audience.
You can keep up to date with news related to light-source research and developments from around the globe by signing up for the News Flash feature at lightsources.org. See http://lightsources.org/cms/?pid=1000069 to subscribe.
__________________________________________________________________________
SSRL Headlines is published electronically monthly to inform SSRL users, sponsors and other interested people about happenings at SSRL. SSRL is a national synchrotron user facility operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Additional support for the structural biology program is provided by the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research, the NIH National Center for Research Resources and the NIH Institute for General Medical Sciences. Additional information about SSRL and its operation and schedules is available from the SSRL WWW site.
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