Vol 86 No 18 - May 4, 2009

US Infantry Adaptions in Iraq between 2003 and 2008

Presented by: Chad A. Pittman

Mr. Pittman is an officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. He is an IU graduate and an IU lawyer.

"You had to be there." Mr. Pittman told us several times more than the Reporter could capture, and apologies are offered.

Mr. Pittman has served two tours in Iraq, in 2003 as an infantry platoon commander, and in 2008 as a company commander. His talk was primarily about the improvements in infantry equipment and tactics between the two deployments.

Despite the great progress in equipment and electronic devices, ground still cannot be held without infantry standing on it, and infantry is still essential to warfare.

In 2003, his unit started in Kuwait as the end of the tail of the initial invasion. Its mission, once in country, was to escort groups of vehicles and protect them from roadside bombs and other attacks.

They were based in Baghdad and traveled as far as Tikrit in northern Iraq. They ran all missions the same way, whether of high or low value. Everyone was in full armor and on peak vigilance all the time.

With the improvements in armor for both people and vehicles, wounds from shrapnel are less a problem than is the blast effects of explosives.

In '03, infantry wore the heavy Kevlar helmet, and the sergeants were constantly after the soldiers to wear the thing. In '08, a much lighter, more comfortable and more protective helmet was used, and everyone wore it all the time.

In '03, everyone wore civilian sunglasses and goggles, but in '08, the Army issued a variety of sunglasses and goggles which really stopped the constant dust and sand.

Body armor, always worn "outside the wire", is worn over a flak jacket. It has hard plates, back, front and sides, supported from the shoulders. In '03, the uniform blouse's pockets were covered by the body armor, making it impossible to reach them! The present blouse has pockets all over it so that the soldier can get to all the necessary equipment (even an iPod). A spare uniform is taken on each mission, in case of damage or blood spillage.

The rifle now used by the infantry is the M4 carbine, a shorter variant of the M16 assault rifle. A variety of optical sights as well as thermal sights are used on it.

In '03 a rifle company had no vehicles, but got them from other units at need. Soldiers rode in plain trucks, no armor at all. In '08, a company had its own lightly-armored vehicles-and had to have its own mechanics, too. A gun truck is used, which carries mounted .50-caliber machine guns. It is armored, low and stable, but has poor visibility. A company may also use armored Humvees and a tall vehicle called the MRAP, which is well-armored but is prone to roll over. Vehicles were 75-90% in service, in his opinion.

Communication systems are excellent. A unit can talk directly to its base, even several hundred miles away, or the unit beside it; it can call in helicopters for close air support. Mr. Pennington said that communications always worked.

In '03 the Scud missiles were the scariest weapons of Iraq, but in '08 the concealed bomb-the IED-was the most danger to our troops. Some shaped charges, EFP's, provided by Iran were used in concealed bombs and could penetrate all types of armor.

Many truck drivers in our logistical convoys speak neither English nor Arabian, complicating the task of our soldiers who escort them. In a convoy, everyone is on high alert for signs of concealed IEDs (which may have an ambush near them). The only obvious indication may be just a sand-covered wire, so not all of them are seen.

In Capt. Pittman's opinion, Iraq now has everything it needs to be a successful self-governing nation.

Notes from Joe Jones

Vol 86 No 19 - May 11, 2009

History of the Coroner in England and the United States

Presented by: Dr. John Pless

Dr. Pless is a 1963 graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine. He took his Pathology Residency in South Bend and completed his Forensic Pathology Fellowship at the University of Oklahoma in 1971. He was a coroner in Bloomington, IN prior to serving as the Clyde C. Culbertson Professor of Pathology at IUMC from 1988-2003. John opened the discussion with comments about Dr. Culbertson, a Pathologist, who came to I.U. in 1931 and started the first Blood Bank in 1934. It is difficult today for us to imagine a world without intravenous fluids and blood transfusions.

The coroner system in Indiana is better understood if one is acquainted with some basic Indiana history. Vincennes was named the capital of the Northwest Territory in 1794. With the coming of Statehood in 1816, Indiana adopted the British coroner system. A revision of the Indiana constitution in 1852 improved standards for the coroner. In 1932 the autopsy was recognized as a method of establishing the cause of death. Significantly, a Commission on Forensic Science was formed in 1959. Then in 1963 there was a major revision of the law concerning the coroner and death investigations. It gave the coroner unlimited referral of cases to a Pathologist for performance of an autopsy. The law was re-codified in 1980.

The origin of the word and the system, coroner, dates back to the reign of Alfred the Great (AD 871-910). It originates from the English Crown and the coroner was formerly known as the crowner. The Normans were the ones responsible for the system that we know today. From the time of 1194, when Richard the Lionhearted was King, the elective Office of Coroner was established. Since people had no rights in those days (not until the Magna Carta in 1215), upon a person's death, his or her goods became property of the Crown. Originally this was a function of the sheriff (shire-reeve) but their power was judged to be too great and the Crown established the coroner to gather the revenue, thus diminishing the power of the sheriff. The coroner was involved in the investigation of deaths, usually to establish the circumstances and ensure that the Crown benefited. Early on, because the coroner did not receive a salary, he was chosen from the nobility and the landed gentry. The office had quite a bit of power in the first two centuries by investigating deaths and non-fatal injuries, hearing confessions of felons and holding inquests.

Now back to Indiana. The State has a coroner system for death investigation and it is one of 15 States that have only a coroner or justice of the peace system. In each county, the coroner has the ultimate authority for establishing the cause of death, whether or not an autopsy is done. With the passage of the 1963 law, Indiana became the first State to have autopsies certified by a Board Certified Pathologist. The coroner received subpoena power and unlimited use of the autopsy. In 1973, the work of the Commission of Forensic Science led to the passage of another law calling for five regional Medical Examiners, corresponding to the five State Police districts. The law still exists but has never been implemented because of lack of funding.

With errors in some high profile cases and the past problems in the Marion County coroner's office, demand for a review of the coroner system is growing. One needs only to be an Indiana resident of age 18 and a "freed man" in order to qualify for the office of coroner, which is an elected office. Dr. Pless explained that Indiana needs more requirements for the office of coroner and he believes that it should not be an elected office. The coroner is virtually a law unto him self and can sometimes overstep his area of expertise. Only 20 of 92 counties in Indiana have a physician as coroner. The first Medical Examiner system was formed in Virginia in 1946. The U.S. is one of few countries in the world that has elections for coroners.

Dr. Pless cited a famous case from 1925 as an example of how the autopsy (and Forensic Science) has been important in establishing the cause of death. While in Medical School, John heard Dr. Rolla Harger, tell the story of Madge Oberholzer, who died while under the control of D.C. Stephenson, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana (in 1924 about 40% of men in Indiana belonged to the Klan). Dr. Harger stated that Ms. Oberholzer died of suicide from Bi-Chloride of Mercury poisoning (mercury was an over the counter medicine and some women used it to try to induce an abortion). "But Dr. Harger, not a physician, was incorrect and did not have all of the medical information," Dr. Pless related. Using a ruse, Mr. Stephenson lured Madge aboard his private railroad car for a trip to Chicago. While on the train, he brutally raped her and bit her many times, leaving large bite wounds. When the train stopped for passengers, Ms. Oberholzer went to a pharmacy, purchased and then ingested the mercury. She lingered for over a month and then expired. An autopsy was performed at IUMC by Dr. Fritz Moon. Dr. Pless continued, "The multiple bite marks had become severely infected and multiple lung abscesses were found. That was the cause of death," he exclaimed. With the antibiotic age more than a decade in the future, there was no treatment for the unfortunate woman. Stephenson was later convicted of his crimes by a jury in Noblesville; it was the first trial to use medical information in Indiana.

Today there are fifteen Forensic Pathologists in Indiana and they function as consultants to the coroner. There are 60,000 deaths in Indiana yearly, about 1% of the population. Approximately 10-15 % of the deaths require investigation. With many of Indiana's coroners also employed as funeral directors, there may be a certain conflict of interest in the system. A regional medical examiner system, with ties to their local coroners, would likely be better. The various TV programs highlighting all of the various forensic science tools, from use of DNA, to computer reconstruction of a victim's face from a skull, bears witness to the public's fascination with the skills of the Forensic Pathologist in the death investigation process.

Dr. Pless summarized by saying that we need to institute the medical examiner system, take the coroner out of the political system, continue educational efforts and develop post-mortem facilities around the State.

Notes from Bill Dick

Vol 86 No 20 - May 18, 2009

Business Blogging - Science or Art?

Presented by: Rhoda Israelov

Rhoda is a member of Scientech. She is a retired 25 year financial planner, and in addition has had a long career in business journalism. She has served for many years as a financial columnist for the Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal. Currently she is an executive career mentor at Butler University College of Business and a Nina scholars' tutor at Ivy Tech.

In recent years Rhoda has established a business "Say It For You". This business is that of "ghost blogging". Through creativity and imagination she recognized the need for such a service and developed the concept.

The term "blog" is actually a contraction of the words "web" and "blog". It is usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, description of events, or other material such as graphics and video.

Rhoda recognized that business owners do not like to write or to meet regular writing deadlines. Yet they do recognize the need for recognition by the public of their particular business activity. With her financial and writing background, she saw the need for ghost blogging. She writes these blogs for various businesses and they can be found on the Internet through search engines particularly Google but also MSN, Yahoo, Ask.com, etc. This is referred to as blog marketing. There are several types of marketing, such as push marketing when literature is sent out to prospective clients, but in blog marketing an interested individual is actually searching for a product or service on the Internet (in a subsequent note Ms. Israelov pointed out that blog marketing is referred to as "Pull" marketing while most ads (billboards, TV, etc.) as known as "Push" marketing. She made it clear that every line of her blog is reviewed by an attorney in order to avoid libel. A recent Wall Street Journal (23 May) article brought home that point).

If one enters "professional ghost blogger" on the search engine Google approximately 66,000 entries are discovered of which Rhoda's "Say it for You" is number one. Of the two primary columns on Google, those on the left appear free of charge from Google. Those on the right are pay sites. Google receives anywhere from two cents to $20 per click on the pay sites on the right. Rhoda does not pay for her position on the left side. She gets this highly desirable spot from Google, based on 1: The frequency of the blog (hers appears three times per week); 2: The recency of the blog as to when it was posted; and 3: The relevancy, that is how the content matches the inquiry. 20 to 25% of online purchases are from the right-hand column for which Google receives payment. Since those percentages are relatively constant, the more overall entries the better as far as Google is concerned. Millions of new blogs are posted each week on Google. For more information on posting a blog, one can go to the website blog.com. To set up a blog, go to Wordpress.com or to Blogger.com.

Business blogging has become particularly important for small businesses which do not have large advertising budgets but who want to get their names before the public through Google and other Internet search engines. Google software recognizes key words so there must be consistent word usage in the title and in the description for recognition.

A business blog may be more personal and conversational. That is the business can characterize the activity in which it is involved and emphasize why it may be different or better than others in the same or similar businesses. It may also contain free information useful to the prospective client or customer including links to government or other websites containing more detailed information relating to the topic of interest.

An individual can sign up to receive a blog on a particular topic of interest as with an RSS feed (enter these letters into a search engine on how to do this). Compendium blogware is one of the most actively growing Indianapolis businesses. This company provides a blog platform for business blogging. Rhoda is a provider of content for these blogs on the Internet, and because of the remarkable viral networking nature of the Internet, businesses can get their story out and become more successful. As a ghost blogger she does not sign her name to the blog but rather as a team or group member.

Notes from Gerald Kurlander

Avoiding Computer Headaches While Saving Time and Money

Presented by: Patric Welch

Mr. Welch gave us an excellent presentation of several topics relating to the home computer. This continued a recent talk given by Mr. Welch.

His first topic was about spam filters. He pointed out that most service providers had spam filters associated with their email services. Of all of the service providers, Google Gmail had in his opinion the best spam filtering mechanism. He suggested that if any member receives spam he should report it to his service provider by pushing the Report Spam button. There are several strategies for combating spam within your inbox. One method is to blacklist any email address that represents spam. Unfortunately, many spammers change email addresses frequently. Another strategy is a white listing strategy. In this you approve only the email address that you want to receive messages from and exclude all other email. This is time consuming as you have to make adjustments each time you make an online purchase or need to receive email for a new source.

As most online email accounts have pretty good spam filters, people who use Outlook, Outlook Express, or Thunderbird as their email clients might want to try out Cloudmark Desktop at www.cloudmark.com. This software costs $3/month. The idea is that all subscribers report spam to the website, and once a critical mass of complaints is reached, the website is labeled as spam and excluded from your email mailbox.

The second topic of discussion was that of data backup. The speaker stressed the importance of an automatic backup system whether this be to a hard drive or online. Mr. Welch prefers to use online backup. He specifically uses Carbonite online backup as advertised on the Rush Limbaugh show. The other online backup software is by Mozy. Carbonite costs about $50/year for unlimited backup; Mozy costs about $10/year more but provides 2GB of backup storage for free.

The third topic of discussion was antivirus/spyware software. The speaker felt that the three offerings by Norton, McAfee, and Microsoft were excellent packages. They all include antivirus, spyware, and firewalls in their suite packages. An excellent free antivirus software is put out by AVG. If you choose to download a free package, be sure to download it from a reputable website such as CNET, as you may download an actual virus instead of the software if you go to the first site that pops up in a Google search.

The fourth topic had been requested by one of our members. A request was made for Microsoft Office alternatives. The speaker suggested three offerings. The first is OpenOffice: www.openoffice.org . This can open Office documents and make Office documents that others can open. It does not have all of the functionality of Microsoft Office. He also recommended Web based products such as Google Apps, located at the Google website. Zoho has innumerable web based apps at their website www.zoho.com.

About the speaker: Patric Welch owns and manages Noobie, a company which provides friendly technology coaching and consulting. Associated with this is his web site: www.noobie.com.

Address: PO Box 353, Greenwood, IN 46142
Phone: 317 509-6842
Email: pwelch@noobie.com


Mr. Welch had several requests after the meeting for copies of the slides for his talk. If you would like a copy of the slides, please contact him at the above email address, and he will send you the Powerpoint slide show by return email.

Notes from Bill Elliott

Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Michigan

Presented by: Dr. Alan Steinman

Dr. Steinman has a PhD from Oregon State and is the director of the Annis Water Resources Institute ("AWRI"). AWRI is a multidisciplinary research organization within the College of Liberal Arts and Science of Grand Valley State University, Muskegon, Michigan. GVSU is a state university with 24,000 students. The mission of AWRI is to integrate research, education, and outreach to enhance and preserve freshwater resources. Further information on the Institute may be found at http://www.gvsu.edu/wri/

At the commencement of the proceedings, The D.J. Angus Scientech Educational Foundation presented Dr. Steinman with a check for $14,000 and funds for a scholarship. The Foundation provides funds for summer interns and the Ron Ward Scholarships at AWRI. Funding for summer interns is also provided by the R.B.Annis Educational Foundation.

AWRI integrates education and outreach into its research by putting students on its research ships. There were over 6060 users of the W.G. Jackson and the D.J. Angus this year. The Angus is currently being refurbished by a private owner. Five graduate students completed their masters degrees this year. Twentytwo peer-reviewed articles and book chapters were written. Various research projects included the study of sinkholes on the bottom of Lake Huron.

Muskegon Lake was the subject of recent studies by AWRI. The lake has 6.5 square miles surface with a volume of 33 million gallons of water. The water was hardly pure. In the 1800s, logging deforested the area around the lake. From 1900 to the 1970, waste from papermills, metal finishing plants, casting plants and petrochemical plants polluted Muskegon Lake.

Ruddiman Creek is an urban watershed that flows into Muskegon Lake. The Creek was severely polluted. Over 85,000 cubic yards of sediment containing cadmium, chromium, PCBs and lead were removed from the Creek and the bottom was lined. Waste water flowing into the Lake now goes through treatment plants.

Muskegon Lake is being monitored by AWRI. Cleaning Ruddiman Creek and other projects to stop pollution of the lake have had considerable success. The total phosphorus concentration was reduced by 2/3 from 1972 to 2008 and the chlorophyll level was reduced by 3/4. This helps reduce blue-green algae blooms by treating the problem, not the symptom.

AWRI has pioneered a method of determining the valuation of the ecosystem. It takes into account what we receive from the ecosystem, including provisions, regulating flooding, cultural benefits and support of habitat. See: http://www.invest.wri.gvsu.edu/

Water resources issues can be resolved with multidisciplinary research and outreach that involves local citizens and takes into account political realities.

Notes from Malcolm Mallette

What Science Owes to Music

Presented by: Dr. Louis F. Chenette

We were treated to a very interesting lecture today by Dr. Chenette. Dr. Chenette is Professor Emeritus at Butler University and has been involved with music as a music teacher and musician. His Doctoral dissertation was on the relationship of science and music.

The sense of hearing as it relates to music has been the source of interest for at least 2500 years dating back to Pythagoras who died in 580 BC. Music is composed of several different parts which included tone, tempo, and timbre. The brain processes each of these parts in a separate region of the primitive portions of the brain and sends them to a specific area of the human cortex in the left cerebral hemisphere called Wernicke's area. This area of the brain allows us to appreciate the sounds coming in as music. This area of the brain connects directly to the pleasure centers of the brain and causes them to be activated in much the same way that cocaine activates the pleasure centers. Music is able to affect people in deep and primitive ways eliciting all of the emotional states including fear, sadness, joy, dread, etc.

Mathematicians over the years have noticed mathematical correlations between notes that are harmonic. Pythagoras first related music to proportions of small integers based on the notes produced by various weights of hammers. Boethius noted in the fifth century that some combination of notes were harmonic and pleasing to the ear, while others were dissonant. It is said that a newborn infant will turn towards a harmonic sound, and away from a dissonant sound.

In the renaissance, Gioseffo Zarlino an Italian music theorist and composer described a scales based on 51 notes making up his scale from the arithmetic proportions of the relative string length of equal kind and tension to obtain pitch. William Lord Brouncker used log rhythmic proportions to temper the octave, the tenth, and twelfth (1653). Bach published his "Well-tempered clavier" 84 years later (1737) affirming the usefulness of scales in geometric rather than arithmetic proportions. Giuseppe Tartini in the 1700s is credited with the discovery of sum and difference tones. These are harmonic tones which develop outside of the pure tone of the instruments.

Even Charles Darwin was interested in music as it involved evolution. "As we have every reason to suppose that articulate speech is one of the latest, as it certainly is the highest, of the arts acquired by man, and as the instinctive power of producing musical notes and rhythms is developed low down in the animal series, it would be altogether opposed to the principle of evolution, if we were to admit that man's musical capacity has been developed from the tone used in impassioned speech. We must suppose that the rhythms and cadences of oratory are derived from the previously developed musical powers."

Joseph Fourier noted that musical sounds are complex wave forms and the ability to analyze these wave forms and to constitute other complex wave forms is basic in much new music making. Fourier Transform in music takes a complex audio wave form and expresses it as a sum combination of sine waves at various amplitudes. This fact was used by Max Matthews in work done at Bell Labs which used computer programs that were able to synthesize both music and the human voice. He is considered the father of computer music.

A question from the audience elicited an interesting discussion on the expectations that we have regarding the chord and note sequences that will follow as the music progresses, and the ease with which we are able to recognize a mistake made by a musician even if it is made in non native music that we have heard for only a short time.

Notes from Bill Elliott

Human Error in Industry

Presented by: Charles Russell

Mr. Russell is a native of Evansville Indiana. He began his presentation, speaking very briefly about the Service Club, which has been meeting regularly for almost 90 years. They also meet on Monday in the same building as the Scientech Club occupying the rooms at the west end of the K of C building. The club was started by a group of World War I veterans for the purposes of fellowship, networking and sharing of experiences. These principles still apply.

Mr. Russell is a retired flight engineer. His background is in psychology and education and he provides technical support for the Service Club. He has been employed in related fields of behavioral psychology including at Central State Hospital and IUPUI in Columbus, Indiana.

The thrust of his presentation relates to reducing human error in all aspects of life, both personal and professional. To accomplish this, serious thought effort must be employed. Accidents occur, but with appropriate training and education they can and must be kept to a minimum.

There were 31,110 auto fatalities, 1649 civil aviation fatalities, 1168 construction fatalities, 6588 fatalities among health care workers, 5488 fatalities in industry and 140 accidental fatalities in the field of public safety, including 88 accidental gunshot wounds in law enforcement officers, last year.

Mr. Russell discussed human and management errors in the Pan Am/KLM disaster at Tenerife several years ago. There were countless avoidable errors in the Challenger and Discovery disasters as well as in the mis-grinding of the telescope lens in the Hubble spacecraft. He also discussed several of the innumerable errors in building construction in the 9-11-2001 World Trade Center tragedy as well as the futility of sending firefighters with 85 pounds of equipment up 116 flights of stairs.

For the past 35 years Mr. Russell has been involved with the Air Force Reserve in the education and training of air crews in an effort to reduce human error. These same principals can be applied to all aspects of industry as well as to personal and private endeavors.

Since the mid-1970s, the very thoughtful efforts made by the aviation industry have set an example in human error reduction. It became clear that crews perform better as mission teams rather than as individuals. This was contrary to the "macho" pilot culture earlier in the century. Detailed reporting of aviation accidents was encouraged and those involved learned they that they would not punished if they rendered complete and honest reports. The analyses of the National Transportation Safety Board are extremely in-depth even describing the size of rivets used in the aircraft. A psychological autopsy is rendered of the involved personnel. The purpose of all this is to learn from the experience and teach the lessons learned to others.

Continued crew resource management is essential in this process of reducing human error and the process must be ongoing. Mission planning, situation awareness, communication, crew coordination, risk management, task management and complete and honest debriefing must all be employed to accomplish this goal.

These lessons learned in aviation have applications in medicine, construction, rail transport, maritime and power plant operations among others. The principles of risk management can be applied to one individual as well as to large organizations. With all this in mind, it is clear that most mishaps result from loss of attention to detail and this must be continually addressed in reducing human error.

Notes from Gerald Kurlander

Destination Indiana: Historic Homes and Sites

Presented by: Ray Boomhower

Mr. Boomhower spoke about 6 historic Indiana sites:



1. Hazelden, Home of George Ade

Hazelden is located in the town of Brook. George Ade was a graduate of Purdue University and became one of the big four of Hoosier literary lions, along with Riley, Nicholson, and Tarkington, during the golden age of Indiana literature. Ade hosted many gatherings at his estate, including a visit by GOP presidential nominee Wlliam Howard Taft. The home is operated today by the George Ade Memorial Association.

2. Ruthmere

One of Indiana's treasures is the Ruthmere Mansion in Elkhart, IN. Albert and Elizabeth built the mansion between 1908-1910. Albert made his fortune in the Mile Medical Company. The mansion was named in honor of their only child, who died in infancy. The home possessed such modern conveniences as a fire protection system and an air-purifying unit. A green house was connected to the main house with an underground tunnel. There was a carriage house with a movable vehicle turntable.

3. Hillforest

Hillforest is located in Aurora, IN along the Ohio River. It was the home of Thomas Gaff. Thomas and his brother, James, operated a distillery and a brewing company. The home design was influenced by Tom's interest in Ohio River steamboats. A full width front porch is reminiscent of a steamboat's deck and the interior features a flying staircase in the entrance hall. The Hillforest Historical Foundation owns the home and opened it to the public in 1956.

4. Oakhurst

Oakhurst is located in Muncie, IN and was the residence of George and Frances Ball. They were parents of Elisabeth Ball, poet, collector and gardener. She majored in botany and improved the grounds. The mansion has been restored by the Minnetrista Cultural Foundation which has opened it to the public.

5. Seiberling Mansion

The Seiberling Mansion is located in Kokomo, IN and was the home of industrialist Monroe Seiberling. He built the Strawboard Co. and the Diamond Plate Glass Co. He built the mansion in 1889 on two acres of land known as Haskett's Grove. In 1946 IU Kokomo bought the house to use as classrooms. The Howard County Historical Society now operates the home as a museum.

6. General Lew Wallace Study and Ben Hur Museum

This facility is located in Crawfordsville, IN. Lew Wallace was a lawyer, Indiana state senator, Major General in the Civil War, New Mexico Territorial governor, US minister to Turkey from 1881 to 1885, and vice president of the court-martial that tried the conspirators behind the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He is best remembered as the author of the classic historical novel," Bun Hur: Tale of the Christ" The study facility was built 1896-1899. Wallace died in 1905 and the study was cared for by the family. The Community House Organization purchased the study in 1941 and presented it to the city of Crawfordsville as a memorial.

Notes from Jim Bettner

Climate Change: Realities, Challenges, and Opportunities

Presented by: Dr. Paul B. Shepson
Professor and Head, Brown Laboratory of Chemistry
Purdue University

"Climate change is an unbelievable challenge. We have never had a challenge quite like (it)."

Professor Shepson approached the issue of climate change with a pragmatic and positive view. He cited the scientific facts available and proposes to deal with the problem (as a country) in a fashion similar to the U.S. putting a man on the moon.

Shepson's View of the Issue

First, according to Shepson, we have some amount of control over climate change. We should try to exercise that control rather than abrogate it to chance.

Second, climate change is something that "we," (inhabitants of earth) caused. "We" didn't know we were causing the problem at the time, but we're, in fact, responsible for it.

Finally, Shepson believes that it's a tough problem and we need to think about it in a most positive manner. We need to approach the situation as an opportunity.

What Do We Know about Climate Change?

(Shepson starts with a photographic view of Earth taken from Apollo 17) Shepson points out that we can see the atmosphere and notes that it is incredibly small: about a tenth of a percent of the diameter of the earth. The atmosphere is 78 percent nitrogen and that all was the result of microbiology: bacteria in the soil. By extension he states, if bacteria can impact the atmosphere to that extent, it seems logical that human activity can alter the atmosphere and thus the human impact on the climate.

The atmosphere is dynamic as evidenced by the swirling clouds. Shepson points out that we are connected on a worldwide basis and the things we do in the U.S. impact people in other regions.

The Basics...

The Earth absorbs visible light and heats up; for the temperature of Earth to remain constant it must re-radiate heat out to space; it does that by emitting infrared radiation as a blackbody radiator; there are gases (carbon dioxide and water) in Earth's atmosphere that can absorb that outgoing radiation; about half of that radiation is re-directed back to the surface of Earth. Therefore, Earth receives more radiation at the surface than it would if there were no atmosphere: the Greenhouse Effect.

Current Situation

Earth is, according to Shepson, about 55 degrees (F) warmer than if there were no atmosphere and that's a good thing as it enables life to exist on earth. About one-third of the warming is created by the natural amount of carbon dioxide.

Burning fuels (coal, gas, etc.) for energy production creates carbon dioxide as a by-product and this has increased CO2 in the atmosphere by about 35 percent.

The long-term trend line shows a global warming of 1.5 degrees F. This change is incredibly slow. There are periods of cooling on the graph, but the overall trend is dramatically up.

CO2 content in the atmosphere has not been higher than 280 parts per million in the last 800,000 years. It was believed to be higher than that 30 - 60 million years ago for natural reasons, but the world was enormously different at that time.

Climate change does not mean the world is coming to an end, but with society dependent on stability, it means that we will have to grow different "stuff" and modify the way we live. This change is, however, highly disruptive to people and society. We can and should, according to Shepson, avoid this massive disruption.

Note: After the meeting Dr. Shepson suggested the following source for further scientific data on climate change: http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/download-the-report
Another source which examines some of the contrary claims about Global Warming may be found at: http://www.skepticalscience.com/

Notes from Jim Reid

Demystifying Green Design

Presented by: Mike Grubb and Stewart Whitcomb
Cripe Architects and Engineers

Today's meeting "Demystifying Green Design" was presented by Mike Grubb and Stewart Whitcomb from Cripe Architects & Engineers of Indianapolis. We all hear about how building and communities are being designed and built under "Green Design". To understand this concept our speakers reviewed some of the common definitions now being used. "Green" means that the project will be environmentally sound and beneficial in the process of, or in the attempt to, reach a sustainable state or goal. In other words the project will consider its effect on the world environment. A Green design is aesthetic and committed to creating maximum results with minimum harm or change to the environment. This is called a Low-Impact Design. A sustainable project is in reference to building or a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their needs. A green project provides a triple bottom line which is fully sustainable in these areas: Environmentally, social/humanitarian and economics/profitable.

A number of organizations have become active in this area. USGBC: United States Green Building Council; GBCI: Green Building Certification Institute; and LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED organization was developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The LEED focus for 2009 includes sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment quality, innovation and design, and regional focus credits. Buildings receive points for their design. A certified building has 40+ points, Silver 50+, Gold 60+, Platinum 80-100 pts.

The Green Trend has affected buildings with the choice of materials and local resources, and indoor environmental quality. Buildings now have a Green Building rating system that has been developed by LEED and other organizations. This rating system is controlled by third party verification and government requirements. Green design is relevant to resource usage, integrated/system design, and return on investments. Green design looks at long term issues such as energy usage, public infrastructure, maintenance and upkeep, resale/property value which affects the 50 year+ building life. Green design is also relevant to the project approach and application. These include holistic design, occupant health and comfort. Holistic Design involves the city, neighborhood, building and occupant space scales and interaction with the stakeholders.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design requires covers sustainable sites that include such areas as light pollution and alternative transportation. Water efficiency that includes use reduction, water efficient landscaping, and innovative wastewater technology is also needed. Looking at Energy and Atmosphere, on-site or purchasing renewable energy, and refrigerant management is required as well. Waste management along with the use of regional and recycled material will affect the design. Lastly, an awareness of indoor environmental quality that includes indoor pollutant control, low emitting materials, thermal comfort, day lighting and views and outdoor air delivery monitoring.

GREEN in building design and environmental design is an important area of improving the quality of life today and our children's tomorrow.

Notes from Hank Wolfla

Dogs - Are They Good Medicine?

Presented by: Ann Ronayne and Monon
Indiana Canine Assistance Network (ICAN)

Ms. Ronayne is Director of Client Services for ICAN, and she was assisted by Monon, a Lab-poodle which is in the final stages of her training. The mission of ICAN is to train service dogs to assist people with both physical and emotional disabilities. Much of the training is done by inmates of Indiana prisons, and it is notable that recidivism among those inmates, when released from prison, is much less than that among prisoners in general.

Ms. Ronayne showed us that ICAN's program is beneficial to the recipients of the dogs; to the prisoners who train the dogs; and to all of us, in that it is a non-governmental charitable organization.

ICAN expects to place 20 fully trained dogs this year, which requires that they have 40-50 dogs in training at all times. It presently has a 2-year backlog of people who need helper dogs, which are donated to ICAN by the public.

They started working in 2001 with a small number of volunteers, have grown rapidly and have a present need for more volunteers to carry on the program.

They graduated 11 dogs in their last class. One now belongs to 10-year-old "A". who has brittle bone disease. She just had an operation, and is now pushing her physical therapist for faster progress because she needs and wants to be able to cue her dog properly, and also just to be with her dog.

A yellow Labrador belongs to a Purdue professor who is 75% paraplegic. The dog carries things for him, picks up his helpless feet and puts them on the wheelchair's footrests, helps him undress, delivers things to other people, and helps the professor get to the toilet and to chairs.

Another graduate went to 9-year-old "B" who has Downs and autism. He previously did things like sitting down in the middle of a crosswalk. But now he feels responsibility for his dog and very seldom spaces out. His parents can reinforce his good behavior by rewarding him by giving him the treats for his dog. The dog discourages "B"'s aggressive tendencies by just leaving. The dog makes it possible to encourage pathways of beneficial behavior in the patient.

They take dogs to hospitals, where the doctors tell them what the dogs should teach the patients. For example, grooming a dog teaches responsibility and kindliness. Walking a dog on a leash encourages a reluctant child to walk.

Kids and dogs tend to work together naturally. To a degree, a trained dog can replace a therapist.

Some dogs are trained to recognize when its person is near a hypoglycemic attack. The person's sweat has a distinctive smell when that happens, and the dog is trained to recognize the smell and signal the person. Other dogs can recognize when an epileptic seizure is about to happen, although no one knows what signal they recognize.

Further information about ICAN can be found on their web site at: http://www.icandog.org/index.htm

Notes from Joe Jones

Moving Toward a Cure for Bladder Cancer

Presented by: Dr. Scott Crist
Purdue Center for Cancer Research

Cancer is not a disease, but a class of diseases, typified by uncontrolled cell division, invasion of normal tissues, and sometimes metastasis to distant sites. There are myriad different causes, many involving mutation, and the cancer can happen in basically any organ. Since there are so many "kinds" of cancer, it is not surprising that "a cure for cancer" has eluded us.

Historically, the effort was to find cytotoxic chemotherapy which would kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells. It started with nitrogen mustard, then methotrexate, then vinca alkaloids, then others with various uses. The paradigm changed with the development of Gleevec.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is caused by a chromosome error which leads to the presence of a rogue protein called BCR-ABL. The developer of Gleevec sought a way to block the action specifically of BCR-ABL, using a multidisciplinary team of experts. Gleevec turned out to be that blocker, and it results in greater than 90% remission in CML, with few side effects.

This trail blazed by the makers of Gleevec forms the mission of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research. They ask "what is the mechanism of cancer type X" and, with that answer in hand, then use all the weapons at their disposal to find a way to inhibit or prevent that mechanism. Finally, they seek ways to bring the treatment out of the laboratory to the bedside. Among the weapons at their disposal are proteomics, genomics, and bioinformatics. Even if they are unable to find a cure for cancer X, their work might find ways to detect cancers quickly.

Bladder cancer is the 5th most common cancer, with 67,000 new cases per year. Most cases are superficial, which means the tumor is only on the interior lining of the bladder. Systemic therapy is not terribly successful, as the treatment cannot get into the bladder, but it can be treated by putting a drug into the cavity of the bladder, where it is not absorbed. However, if the tumor has damaged the lining of the bladder, there can be absorption and widespread toxicity.

Since 1976 the treatment of choice for superficial cancer (in addition to surgery) has been to wash the bladder with a kind of bacteria called BCG. They cause an extreme inflammatory reaction, which is believed to alert the body to the need to attack the cancer. On the down side, it is impossible to keep the tumor exposed to the BCG for long, as they get diluted with urine and washed out. Also, there is always a risk of systemic infection, and the treatment is so painful that compliance is poor.

It was discovered that the BCG organisms are able to enter tumor cells, where they shed proteins which alert the inflammatory mechanism. A great deal of work has elucidated the mechanism of this entry into the cell, and the Purdue group has managed to synthesize (via recombination) a protein (called FAP) which is vital to that process. Now, they are working toward producing liposomes or other nano-machines. These liposomes would use the recombinant FAP to enter the cell, where they would deliver a drug chosen to be effective within the tumor cell. Work so far in mouse models has shown that these liposomes can be used to shrink tumors.

This talk was an excellent illustration of the importance of multidisciplinary research into our serious health problems.

Notes from Tom Spradlin

Three Dimensional Atomic Structures of Viruses Determine their Function

Presented by: Dr. Michael Rossmann
Purdue University

Michael Rossmann obtained his PhD from the University of Glasgow, Scotland and is the Hanley Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. The central interest of his laboratory is the determination of the three-dimensional, atomic resolution structure of viruses.

Viruses are a particle consisting of a genome, RNA or DNA, surrounded by a capsule consisting of a protein coat and sometimes also a lipid coat. It is a parasite, requiring a host to replicate and is not really alive outside a host. The protein coating is the portion of the particle which recognizes the host. It has been determined that the genome is only sufficient to code for a single protein. Identical proteins aggregate in a triangular manner to form the geometric structure. Viruses are regular polyhedrons, most being icosahedrons, consisting of 60 surfaces formed by the one protein aligning in many differing patterns.

It has long been known that viruses can be crystallized. Those crystals can be examined by x-ray crystallography to determine their structure. In addition, by utilizing electron microscopy, many differing orientations of the virus are viewed and used to compute the three-dimensional structure of the virus. In order to study viruses, they must be propagated. Plant viruses can be cultured using plant material, but human viruses need human material for culture.

The common cold rhinovirus is a simple virus consisting of only RNA and a protein envelope. Each triangular section of the icosahedron has a receptor site and depressions known as canyons on the surface. For antibodies to be effective, they must bind to the surface of the virus. If antibodies cannot enter the canyons, they cannot affect the virus. Viruses continually mutate and as they mutate the surface is altered. Infection occurs in spite of the presence of antibodies.

Defense against viruses are either vaccines or anti-viral agents. The anti-viral compounds can enter through the canyon into a pocket below the canyon and increase the size of the pocket. This stabilizes the virus so that it cannot release its genome into the host. In some cases it cannot bind to the host cell at all. Binding of the receptor by the host will in itself destabilize the virus so it can enter the cell. The presence of antiviral agents inhibits binding. Heat also destabilizes a virus.

Antiviral compounds that do work against the common cold rhinovirus have not been approved by the FDA due to concern that they might cause mutation of the virus to a more harmful form and due to concern about side effects, especially in women taking birth control drugs.

Flaviviruses, causing Dengue (hemorrhagic) Fever, West Nile and Yellow Fever, are more complex, consisting of both a protein and a lipid coating. The life cycle of these viruses consist of inclusion into the host cell, viral disassembly, genome replication, virus assembly, passage through the Golgi bodies of the cell, virus maturation, and release from the cell. Ph changes in the cell stimulate maturation. If the lipid surface of the maturing virus fuses with membranes of the host cell, the virus is inhibited within the cell. Determining the mode of action of a virus may be effective in predicting treatment possibilities.

Converting Diesel Engines to Natural Gas

Presented by: Mike Hudson
I Power Energy Systems

Today's talk was given by Mr. Mike Hudson the long-time President of The Allison Engine Company. In December, 2005, Mike and a group of local Anderson investors joined together to acquire the assets of the Distributed Power and Alternative Energy division of DTE Energy Technologies, Inc. Mike became the chairman and chief executive officer of I Power Energy Systems. Mike gave our club an outline of the company, its products and success over the past 4 years.

I Power Energy Systems, LLC is a private company that is a leading provider of prime power cogeneration equipment. Cogeneration equipment is used in a variety of applications that have need for both heat and electrical energy. The company serves both conventional natural gas markets and the rapidly expanding renewable bio gas markets (i.e. landfills, waste water treatment plants and farms - both animal waste and renewable). The I Power ENI Units range from 20 KW to 365 KW. The units are designed to generate electrical power and provide heat energy where needed. In South Korea, the units provide electrical power to the Hyundai Apartments, while at the same time providing heating to the apartments that have copper tubing in the concrete floors. The units are also used as back up power for many commercial facilities including hotels where the heat is used for pool heating. The units are extremely quiet, generating only 70 dbm of noise. The generator is 90% energy efficient. The use of the generator is chiefly determined by the local cost of electrical power, the cost of fuel, and if the heat energy can be used.

A problem with small generator plants has been the wide range of electrical power needs. These include AC or DC voltages and frequency of the AC current. This problem has been recently been solved with the use of high-power solid-state inverters that can be programmed for any type of power required. This provides a cost savings, and allows the unit to be moved into places that might need a different power source.

The use of natural gas can provide over 40% in energy savings compared to coalfired grid power, and produces approximately 600 tons per year less greenhouse gas pollution than normal coal-fired grid power.

Within the last few years, new gas fuels have become available. Biogas from landfills, waste water treatment plants, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO's) have become available. Any gas with a fuel rating greater than 500 btu/cubic foot is suitable. The process of anaerobic digestion employs specialized bacteria to break down organic waste, converting it to a stable solid and biogas, a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane. This process is quickly growing, and includes the Bestway South Side Landfill here in Indianapolis.

Another new process, Pyrolyzation, is quickly growing with a joint venture between I Power and US Thermal Technologies. Pyrolysis is the decomposition of organic materials (even those that cannot be digested) during heating in oxygen-free atmosphere to produce gas, liquid and solid residuals.

I Power is on the cutting edge of developing manufacturing and supporting a product line of energy systems for today's world, combined Heat and Power Units using new technologies that address low emissions, energy efficiencies, durability, and low noise.

Additional information can be seen at www.ipowers.com.

It is wonderful to see technology transfer occur in Indiana, and especially in a community needing economic growth.

Notes from Hank Wolfla

Operation Deep Freeze and the International Geophysical Year

Presented by: Dick Bowers
US Navy Civil Engineer Corps (Ret)

Dick has an engineering background with a BCE (Civil) and BME (Structural Analysis) from Yale University. Soon after graduation and during the Korean War he applied for and was granted a commission in the Navy Civil Engineering Corps. After his tour in Antarctica (1955-57) he accepted a permanent commission and enjoyed many challenging assignments. He left the Navy in 1972 to take a position at Lafayette College, Easton, PA as director of its physical plant. He was a registered PE in various states throughout his career until he retired in 1998.

Dick's talk covered the origins of Antarctica's Age of Science and the early role the U.S. Navy played in constructing scientific stations at McMurdo and the South Pole (two of seven U.S. Stations in Antarctica) in preparation for the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958). The IGY was designed as a major international effort of the world's scientists to gather and share data on the Earth's natural phenomena. The 1957-1958 period was selected because scientists desired to coordinate worldwide observations during this known period of maximum sun spot activity. More than 10,000 scientists from 67 countries participated in a program in which 2,500 IGY stations were established throughout the world. The IGY was the first worldwide scientific effort to involve Antarctica owning to rapid advances in logistics and technology that enabled these activities to be undertaken on the southern continent.

The Navy's commissioned Task Force 43 under the command of Rear Admiral George Dufek, USN, with the sole mission to build, operate and maintain Scientific Research stations for use of the IGY Scientists. The code name for this operation was "Operation Deep Freeze." The Task Force had to provide ships and aircraft necessary to transport construction materials, personnel, supplies, VX-6, and a small Seabee battalion, MCB (Special). Dick was attached to the Seabee unit.

Dick showed many photos of the construction of the two stations dating back to the 1950's. He also had a large map on the wall at the K of C.

McMurdo was put in place during the first Antarctic summer (1955-56) for the purpose of providing aerial support for Pole Station construction the following Antarctic summer (1956-57). During it early years it was not a Scientific Station. Following completion, the winter-over party had to build a 6,000 foot sea ice runway to accommodate wheeled Air Force cargo aircraft to be used to deliver cargo to the Pole by airdrop of free fall. Navy ski-equipped aircraft would be used to transport people and sensitive equipment.

Pole Station was built as planned by a Seabee detachment of 24 men, thanks to combined operations of Navy and Air Force squadrons which included the first ever aircraft landing and take off at the South Pole by Navy R4D Que Sera Sra. Pole Station was in full operation well in advance of the IGY start date of July 1, 1957.

Scientific efforts in Antarctica continued after successes of the IGY when scientists worldwide sought and obtained approval and funding from their governments. Politically sensitive problems were avoided with the creation of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, endorsed by all participants.

The National Science Foundation subsequently assumed operational responsibilities for continuing Antarctic research with ever declining support from the military other than air support. Navy air support was provided through 1999 when VX-6 was decommissioned, and its functions transferred to the Air Force. Construction and infrastructure needs were and are now met through private long-term contracts. Dick's talk has followed the 50th anniversary of this effort with the International Polar Year in 2007-2008. He also showed some photographs of current infrastructure and equipment at McMurdo and Pole Station.

Notes from Hank Wolfla and Bill Dick

Excavating an Ice-Age Mastodon in Central Indiana

Presented by: Dr. Arthur Mirsky
Professor Emeritus, IUPUI Department of Earth Sciences

Dr. Arthur Mirsky, IUPUI Dept. of Earth Sciences, received his bachelor's degree from UCLA, his master's from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D from Ohio State University. He is a Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at IUPUI.

On December 19, 1976, Dr. Mirsky received a call from Christensen, a farmer near the town of Greenfield, Indiana. While excavating for a farm pond on Christensen's farm, a backhoe operator had dug up some large fossilized bones. That had occurred in October. The excavation was stopped and the fossilized bones were placed in the farmer's garage.

Christensen had contacted IU at Bloomington and Purdue at Lafayette, but there was no interest in the bones. In 1976, Dr. Mirsky was organizing a Geology Department at IUPUI and Christensen learned about the new department and Dr. Mirsky's role. On the day he received the call, Dr. Mirsky went to Christensen's farm. The bones in the garage included the skull of a mastodon.

Dr. Mirsky knew that the bones were that of a mastodon and not a woolly mammoth because there is a very distinctive difference between the mammoth teeth with flat molars and the mastodon teeth with cone shaped protrusions on the molars. Radioisotope dating of plant remains in the soil at the level the bones were recovered showed the mastodon dated back to 12,500 years ago, the layer of soil above the bones dating to 12,000 years ago and the layer below the bones dating to 13,000 years ago.

Christensen agreed to a scientific excavation of the site by Dr. Mirsky. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis provided a place to work on the bones and agreed to display the reconstructed skeleton. If the skeleton is ever taken off display, it will be returned to the Geolgy Department at IUPUI.

In 1977, the dig began. There were 101 people who participated for varying lengths of time. The farm was north of the Wisconsin Glacial boundary and the glaciers had advanced over the farm and retreated many times. The sedimentary layers were sampled throughout the field. These layers consisted of:

1. Light lake bottom (top layer)
2. Dark peaty bog (where the majority of the bones were found)
3. Yellow silt
4. Dark mud
5. Sand and gravel

Pumping out the water in the site was a real problem. A fire engine was used, emptying the site until the next day when the water was back. It was discovered that there were tiles from a drainage ditch to the site used for irrigation. When the tiles were blocked it was possible to keep the site dry enough with a sump pump.

The surface of the field was surveyed into 10-foot squares. The 10-foot squares were then excavated one by one. Vertebrae were found, some still attached. Many ribs were found. Two leg bones were found, still attached to each other.

After the bones were transported to the Museum, they were packed in wet sand to preserve them from drying out and cracking. At the Museum, the bones were cleaned and coated in preparation for their assembly for exhibit.

When four tusks were found, it was apparent that there were bones from two mastodons. One was an adult female and the other an adolescent male. Eighty percent of the bones of the adult female were found. The bones were found in two clusters, each cluster containing mostly bones from one Mastodon.

The position of each bone in its 10-foot grid was carefully recorded, together with the depth. Russ Graham, a paleontologist, assembled the bones. The adult female is today on display in the Children's Museum. Eighty percent of the bones are those found in the dig. The remaining twenty percent are fiberglass, crafted by the Field Museum.

Caribou bones were also found on the site, the first discovery of caribou bones in Indiana. In addition, fossilized bones of giant beaver and peccary, both extinct, were found on the site. The predominant plant at the time of the mastodons was spruce.

Arrowheads were found in the rubble from the original backhoe excavation before the scientific excavation was started. It is impossible to determine if the arrowheads were from the time of the mastodons. It is believed that the mastodons died because they became mired in the bog.

Today, the Christensen Mastodon is a magnificent display at the Children's Museum.

Notes from Joyce and Malcolm Mallette

Sources of Sustainable Energy

Presented by: Dr. Ronald Steuterman
Managing Director, Purdue Energy Center

Dr. Steuterman is a graduate of Purdue University, having earned two university degrees. Prior to coming to Purdue he had 20 years experience in the energy and energy services industry.

Discovery Park is part of Purdue University. It represents an interdisciplinary effort, bringing together several branches of engineering, science and economics trying to meet the state, national and international energy challenge. The Energy Center of Discovery Park is 4 years old. Lilly Endowment provided seed money initially, and after seeing good progress, a second grant was given. Twenty-nine startup companies were launched from Discovery Park and most are still in business.

Nobel laureate Smalley listed the top challenges facing mankind with energy being number one. Others including water, food, environmental protection, etc. have an important relationship to energy.

There is disagreement about how long the oil supply of the world will last, but it is clear that, as the oil is depleted, the price will increase to an almost unaffordable level. The United States is the Saudi Arabia of coal. There may be a 200-year coal supply in the United States, but because of the climate and environmental impact it is not feasible to continue coal use on the current scale. Coal can be treated however, to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. It is critical that the use of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) be reduced and perhaps phased out over time. (See BP Statistical Review of World Energy, URL below). In 2004 14.5 terrawatts of energy were utilized and by 2050, 30 to 60 terrawatts will be needed. Sources for this energy must be planned for and developed.

Hydroelectric power is nearly maxed out. The environmental impact and regulatory requirements for new large dams is almost prohibitive and small dams are hardly economically feasible.

The mission of the Energy Center is primarily research and education. Grants are necessary to continue research and some of the results of the research can be licensed and marketed as a source of funds. An important program started by Purdue with the Indianapolis Public Schools is referred to as "Science Bound". This program is designed for less privileged students. If the students continue with the program and with involvement of their parents, they may be eligible to receive free tuition to Purdue University.

Two hundred university faculty members from nine colleges are represented in Discovery Park. These faculty members include inventors, scientists, economists, psychologists and experts in government energy policy. One of the faculty members, formerly with IBM, had more patents than any other IBM researcher. Members of the group are studying battery design and production, hybrid vehicles, materials development and many other energy related projects. They have developed methods for quantifying growing plant utilization of water, and using Hestia Vision measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from a single building. This, of course, is very important in determining energy credits as currently used in Europe and perhaps in the future in the United States.

Wind energy has become very important in Indiana. $9 billion was invested in 2007. Gearboxes last three to five years in wind turbines and there is considerable noise. They are working on projects to predict failure of the gear boxes so as to increase their longevity, decrease noise and reduce blade failure. Researchers are working on problems relating to solar cells, connectivity of solar power to the grid, and the functioning of the grid as well.

A Purdue scientist introduced a variety of yeast which improves the conversion of biomass to ethanol. They have developed a hybrid poplar tree which grows 10 to 15 feet per year. This is a great source of wood chips, which are an important export to Europe where they are burned to gain energy credits. They are also working on liquefying coal and the possible advantage of mixing biomass with coal for energy.

Nuclear power provides about 20% of the energy needs in the United States. The cost of building a nuclear plant is in the billions of dollars, but authorities are making it easier now to obtain design and production licensing.

Discovery Park is partnering with Indiana University, Crane Depot and others to provide a very competitive team to be a factor in the United States and world energy challenge.

Notes from Gerald Kurlander

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Further information may be found at:

Purdue Energy Center Newsletter - http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/newsletters/Energy_Center_Newsletter_Summer2009.pdf

BP Statistical Review of World Energy - http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/reports_and_publications/statistical_energy_review_2008/STAGING/local_assets/2009_downloads/statistical_review_of_world_energy_full_report_2009.pdf

Wind Turbine Failure - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqEccgR0q-o     (video of turbine failure shown forward, backward, and in slow motion)

Boranes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borane     (Boranes are compounds of boron and hydrogen studied as potential fuels for rockets and automotive uses)

Hydraulic Hybrids - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPSob1gH_wk     (An excellent video showing a hydraulic drive train)

Ball State Geothermal Project - http://www.laibecorp.com/bsugeo.html

Spectacular Engine Testing and Certification

Presented by: Larry Nightingale and Bob Yeager
Rolls Royce Corporation

Note - A summary of this talk has not been included at the request of the speaker

Deserted Ocean: the North Atlantic at 2100?

Presented by: Dr. Norman Holly

Dr. Norman Holy is the recipient of a "Smartgear" award from the World Wildlife Fund for inventing barium impregnated nylon nets and other gear to mitigate the loss of dolphins, porpoises, and whales from gear used by commercial fishermen. He also received the Laureate Award from the Tech Museum (San Jose, CA) for inventing fishing gear for use in developing countries. He has over 80 publications and patents.

Dr. Holy began his talk with a discussion of overfishing in the North Atlantic Ocean. He showed a slide demonstrating the over fishing along the Northeast shores of North America and Canada demonstrating the marked decline in fish tonnage available in the ocean between 1900 and 2000. He emphasized that the Atlantic had already been overfished in 1900. There are many areas in the North Atlantic which have been overfished to such an extent and their ecosystems so changed that the valuable fish that had been present are gone and despite no further fishing have not been able to recover. These fish have been replaced by other species, including and in particular jellyfish.

Blue fin tuna which had been abundant around England now have disappeared from this area. A blue fin tuna caught off the coast of North America may sell for up to $100,000 in fish markets in Japan. By 1990 herring were decimated in the North and Baltic Seas, and as of 2009, show no sign of recovering.

Cod, haddock, etc. have decreased dramatically on the North Bank around Nova Scotia and Newfoundland by overfishing particularly by Russian Trawlers since 1960. The Russians had large processing ships out in the Atlantic that could service 20 large fishing vessels, decimating the fish population.

Europeans routinely overfish the waters off of Africa. They will pay the local government a small fee for trawling off of their coastlines and proceed to net almost all of the fish in the area leaving local fishermen to manage as best they can.

Several areas of the North Atlantic have become dead zones at certain times of the year. In particular there is a dead zone around the Mississippi Delta area in the summer that is the size of New Jersey.

The next topic of discussion was that of global warming. He discussed warming of the Arctic Ocean, melting of the ice caps, and the possible shutdown of the deep ocean currents by the dilution of the salt water by melting ice caps.

The third interesting topic was that of oceanic acidification due to increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. This causes severe problems for shellfish.

Many thanks go to Dr. Holy for this most interesting of talks.

Notes from Bill Elliott

Folate Targeted Therapies for Cancer

Presented by: Dr. Christopher Leamon
Vice President, Research, Endocyte, Inc.

Another thank you goes to Mr. Jim Wark for providing our speaker today - Christopher Leamon, Ph.D., Vice President of Research from Endocyte, Inc. Endocyte was formed in 1996 and is another success story for the Purdue University Research facility in West Lafayette, IN. The company was formed using private and venture funds. Presently it has 60 employees. Endocyte Research does diagnostics and therapeutics on radiopharmaceuticals, targetable chemotherapy, cancer immunotherapy, and activate macrophage targeting of inflammatory diseases. This includes doing Phase 2 drug testing on Tc-Folate as a diagnostic imaging image agent. Other Phase 2 research is active in targeted immunotherapy, and targeted chemotherapy (EC145). Lastly Phase I targeted chemo (EC0225/EC0489) is also underway.

Dr. Leamon began his research in 1996 with a paper in the Proc. Natl.Acad.Sci/USA. The abstract of this paper gives a good overview of the science now being used by Endocyte. "The natural endocytosis pathway for the vitamin folate can be exploited to nondestructively introduce macromolecules into cultured cells if the macromolecule is first covalently linked to folate. Since folate is an essential vitamin required in substantial quantities by virtually all cells, these observations may open the possibility of scientific and medical applications for many macromolecules." In simple language if you can attach other drugs or imaging drugs to the folate, in many cells the folate will carry this compound into the nucleus of the cell.

Folate can be a carrier for compounds in radiopharmaceuticals, targetable chemotherapy, cancer immunotherapy, and activate macrophage targeting - inflammatory diseases. At least 600,000 cases of folate-receptor positive cancers occur worldwide (Primary Tumors). The first folate was called EC145 - A folate-Vinca Conjugate.

The next step in finding what folate could reach which cells, and then which compounds could be attached to the folate. In radiopharmaceuticals a nuclear agent 99mTC - EC20 Specificity was used. This allowed much better imaging for determining the location and size of tumors within the body.

The next study was to attach a drug that would attach itself to the microtubule so that in metaphase the drug (EC145) would be carried along. Dramatic slides were shown of large tumors which would disappear in just weeks after the drug was delivered. Dr. Leamon then reviewed the synergy with Doxil (chemotherapy drug) and ED145. Presently Phase 2 studies show that the side effects of the combination are far less than using the drug along. For this therapy to work, the cancer must be folate positive. Some of these include ovarian and endometrial cancer, non small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, solid tumors, and inflammation.

Regarding the business side of drug development and patent technology, Dr. Leamon pointed out that the drug development costs are astoundingly high. Market exclusivity is necessary to warrant the $800M cost. A patent is the grant of a right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale, and importing that which is claimed. This patent runs for 20 years from earliest filing date, not issuance.

Dr. Leamon had many excellent slides which provided far more information than can be shown here. The author would highly recommend that you visit www.endocyte.com for a much better review of this company and what is happening in our own back yard in medical technology.

Notes from Hank Wolfla

Evolution of Industrial Medicine to Occupational Health

Presented by: Dr. Floyd Thurston

Over time, there have been an increasing number of females in the workforce. The age of the workforce has also been gradually increasing. There has been a transition from haphazard attempts to prevent injury and illness to these workers, to the idea of maintaining a healthy workforce which is a good idea economically and is cost-effective.

The earliest systematically recorded instances of workplace hazards was by Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist who lived from 23 to 79 AD. He noted the high frequency of lung disease in miners working in sand as well as illnesses occurring in those working in gold mining and lead smelting. He suggested that these workers wear masks made from pig bladders to protect themselves from the fumes. Much of this work was done by slaves and convicts. To reduce the incidence of these illnesses the work hours per day and work days per month were limited

Interestingly Pliny as an admiral of the Roman navy died from poisonous smoke and fume inhalation while rescuing victims from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Paracelsus (1493-1541), called by some the father of chemistry, was one of the very few to recognize occupational illnesses in the Medieval and Renaissance period.

Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) published his seminal textbook, "On the Diseases of Trades" in 1700 as the first in-depth compilation of ailments associated with certain occupations. He was the first to point out the importance for a physician to elicit the patient's occupational history in reaching a medical diagnosis. He characterized the features of lead poisoning, consumption (silicosis), and ergonomic injury leading to sciatica.

Percival Pott (1714-1788), a London surgeon, recognized the high frequency of scrotal cancer in young chimney sweeps. He correctly attributed this to the prolonged exposure of these children to coal soot collected on their skin and in their clothes. In 1814 a chimney design act was passed to increase the size of the chimneys so that others, rather than children, could be chimney sweeps. This and later acts were not enforced. Then, in an 1875 act, children were no longer allowed to work as chimney sweeps.

Charles Turner Thackrah (1795-1833), a Leeds physician, in 1832 wrote about numerous diseases and disabilities which were occupation related.

Dr. Alice Hamilton, whose family was from Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduated from the new University of Michigan medical school in 1893. She spent many years running a pediatric clinic in the basement of Hull House in Chicago. There she learned of the plight of immigrant families and of the working conditions to which they were exposed. She was one of the first physicians to investigate and report illnesses and injuries sustained by workers in American industry in the early 20th century. Perhaps most notable of her articles related to "dead fingers" in Bedford, Indiana quarry workers from cutting and carving stone.

Notes from Gerald Kurlander

A Day to Remember - Doris Day

Presented by: Mary Anne Barothy

Ms. Barothy is author of the award-winning book, "Day at a Time--- an Indiana Girl's Sentimental Journey to Doris Day's Hollywood and Beyond", published by Hawthorne Publishing .

Before moving to Los Angeles in 1968 Ms. Barothy was a society reporter for the Indianapolis News, formerly the evening sister paper of the Indianapolis Star. She has been an ardent lifelong fan of Doris Day. This was noted in her senior yearbook at St. Agnes Academy. She then went on to graduation from Marion College (now Marion University) with a degree in journalism. Her ambition was however to become a private secretary to a movie star.

She noted in Photoplay Magazine that there was no fan club for Ms. Day in the United States. The only one at the time was in London, England. She met another ardent fan, Eileen, and together they made almost superhuman efforts to see and meet Ms. Day. This included attending LA Lakers games, sitting in Bailey's bakery and looking for her in the Safeway in Beverly Hills. Ms. Day was a serious bicyclist and they even looked for her riding on neighborhood streets .These efforts were largely unsuccessful, although in 1966 Ms. Day did arrange a private studio tour for them.

Doris Day is a lover of animals. She has had as many as 17 dogs at one time. One of her neighbors was very concerned about this, going as far as filing a lawsuit. To avoid conflict, she moved from her home on Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills to Carmel Valley, where she now has a beautiful estate. She also owns a hotel in Carmel with her son Terry Melcher.

Ms. Barothy moved to Los Angeles in 1968 to pursue to pursue her ambition. Her first job was with the May Company in public relations. She had by that time met Doris Day. She also met Ms. Day's mother and brother. Marty Melcher, Ms. Day's husband, died around that time. He had been serving as her manager. This was during the fifth year of her successful television show on CBS.

Traveling on Highway 10 between Palm Springs and Los Angeles, Ms. Barothy was involved in a serious auto accident. She was in the hospital 19 days and six months was required for recuperation. Her roommate Mary took a leave of absence during that period to provide care for her.

She was subsequently offered the position of private secretary to Doris Day. To prepare for this she took business classes so that she could learn speed writing. It was a real pleasure to work for Ms. Day. She had a very pleasant personality sometimes breaking into song during the course of the day. In addition to her talent as a singer and actress, she was also a very good dancer. She was able to dance with a long gown and high heels moving up and down stairs with ease. Gower Champion, the well-known dancer and choreographer warned her about the danger of falling under these circumstances

Ms. Barothy was the only non-family member to live in Doris Day's home. She had the opportunity to meet and to get to know many well known actors and actresses. The work was often long and arduous. When Ms. Day was working on a project the workday could go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to her leading roles in television and the movies she spent a great deal of time working on animal welfare projects. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for animal advocacy.

Doris Day is still living in Carmel California at the age of 87.

Notes from Gerald Kurlander

Climbing Mt. Cho-Oyu from the Tibetan Side

Presented by: Robert Meyer

Mt. Cho-Oyu is 26,906 ft high and is located in Tibet just east of Katmandu. There are 14 mountain peaks in the world that are over 8000 m high and Cho-Oyu is the 6th highest and is considered to be one of the "easier" climbs. It is not highly technical although it has two nearly vertical ice cliffs that must be climbed up and repelled down.

The climbing team consisted of 12 members and was led by a young woman. The expedition was carried out from 8/19 to 10/12 in 2008. There were problems with sickness and leeches. The leeches were very difficult to keep out of climbers boots.

When the team arrived at Katmandu they were interviewed by a Elizabeth Pawley ( who also assessed their climb when they returned).They arranged gear at Katmandu (16,700 lbs, which consisted of 110 tents, 40-50 sleeping bags, 3-80 watt solar panels, food, water, etc).

It was a 3 day drive from Katmandu to Tingri (16,000 ft) -the jumping off point. From here Yaks carried 130 lb each and there were 129 Yak loads. From here on up it was on foot. An interim camp was set up at 17515 ft on Day 4. On Day 5 the team moved on up to set up the Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 18,481 ft. Mrs. Meyer stayed with the climb team until 18,000 ft. The ABC consisted of tents for the climb team, 1 shower, 3 out houses, 1 cook tent and a communication tent. The outside temperature was around 50 F during the day and 20 F at night. Tent inside temperature at night was near 30 F.

On day 8 the team climbed to 19,000 ft, rested, and then climbed on to 21,000 ft where they set up Camp No 1 (C1). The team stayed at C1 until Day 12 where they continued their climb to the first ice cliff. They returned to C1 and on Day 16 were hit by a very intense wind storm. Their team did not lose any equipment but a nearby team lost 22 tents. On Day 20 the team climbed the first ice wall again and proceeded on to the second ice wall which was at 23,000 ft. They were not using oxygen yet. They returned to the ABC to practice with oxygen in preparation for the climb to the summit.

On Day 26 the team climbed to C2 at 22,799 ft in preparation for the summit bid. On day 27 the team moved above C2 to C3 which was at 24,061 ft and put on oxygen.

On Day 28 the summit climb began with the climb beginning at night. The climb was interrupted for a rescued climber who was descending. but later he fell and died. In the morning of the 29th day the summit of 29,906 ft was attained. One climber, Mina Valic, tried to reach the summit without oxygen, passed out during a repel, fell and died.

The team returned to the ABC at 18,000 ft and, following tradition, Meyer swam in a very cold pool of water. The team returned to Katmandu on 8/19.

During the Q and A session, Meyer noted that the estimated cost for such a venture was about $50,000 . He used the example that a permit to climb Mt. Everest is $10,000 per person. His conditioning, for preparation for such an adventure, includes lifting weights and stair climbing.

Notes from J. L. Bettner

Changes to Medicare and Supplemental Insurance Programs (2010)

Presented by: Ed Solinski

Mr. Solinski is a volunteer for the Indiana Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free assistance for Medicare-eligible people in managing their insurance programs. The program publishes information on all insurance plans, and provides counselors free for all seniors. Just ask.

He emphasized that the best online source of data about Medicare and related programs is Medicare.gov It gives you all details about every Medicare-related plan, including its cost, and can give you each plan's coverage and personalize it for your own prescriptions. If that site is too complicated for you, call SHIP at the Indianapolis number 1-800-452-4800 or the Hamilton County number 317-315-7000

The only change in VA plans this year is in Group 8, which includes high-income people.

It is time to think about enrolling for 2010, since the enrollment for Medicare Advantage (AD) and drug plans is from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. You may enroll, switch or cancel plans then; you may also switch plans from Jan. 1 to March 31.

The Medigap plans have been standardized since 1990; all companies offer the same small number of identical plans-identical except for the premium. You must shop those plans every year. There will be some new Medigap plans this year, some of which will cover the deductibles of Plans A and B, or offer a high-deductible option. The premiums will vary, and we must be careful, as always.

Medicare Plan C (drugs) and Plan D (drugs and other coverage) will have higher premiums next year. The infamous "doughnut hole" will be from $2830 to $4550 per year.

Over 40 plans are offered by insurance companies in our area. If you choose a MA plan, remember that some of them have a low premium, or even none, but charge high co-pays. Comparing MA plans with each other, or with a Medigap plan, is very hard, and SHIP can help on the job. Preexisting conditions aren't an issue in navigating the Medicare plans, unless you want to change from a MA plan to a Medigap plan.

Mr. Solinski stated that MA plans are cheaper than any other form of insurance, comparing similar levels of coverage.

There is an insurance company named Advantage which is a legitimate company. Be careful not to confuse it with the Medicare’s Advantage Policies. Don’t pay attention to advertising that is frightening, or makes exaggerated claims-go to the Medicare website, or to SHIP, and get the straight story.

Notes from Joe Jones

Using Gasification to Produce Ethanol from Municipal Solid Waste

Presented by: Kenneth Bosar, P.E.
Vice-President, Powers Energy of America, Inc.

Kenneth Bosar PE, Vice President of Powers Energy of America, Inc. spoke about the conversion of municipal solid waste into ethanol and electricity. The company recently announced plans to construct a $285 million plant in Schneider, Indiana. The process includes six major processing areas: 1) feedstock processing; 2) thermal gasification which produces a syngas; 3) syngas cooling and cleaning; 4) power generation; 5) conversion of syngas to bioethanol; and, 6) distillation. At the heart of the process is an anaerobic conversion step that converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into ethanol using microbes. The licensed INEOS Bio technology allows clean, renewable fuel production in an environmentally-friendly way, without using our nation's food crops.

Background: Powers Energy of America, Inc. (Powers Energy) is an energy firm in Evansville, Indiana specializing in the development of advanced biofuel projects focused on conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) to ethanol (www.powersenergyofamerica.com). The firm provides a wide range of services in this new industry, including marketing, facility process selection, land evaluation and acquisition services, site development design, permitting, capital and construction cost estimation, economic evaluation, environmental impact assessment, site selection, feedstock evaluation, and contract negotiations. Prior to his current position, Mr. Bosar was Department Head of Civil Design at Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. in Indianapolis, Indiana. His specialization was in waste management facility engineering and construction, coal mining engineering and construction, and environmental engineering. Mr. Bosar has a BS in Mining Engineering from Penn State, 1978.

The following chart shows the process which Powers America will use in their new plant in Lake County.

The secret of this process is the use of a single-cell organism that, when mixed with syngas produced from the municipal solid waste, will convert approximately 90% of the syngas into ethanol. This process takes approximately 7 minutes. Materials like steel, copper, aluminum are sorted out first, and sold as scrap. The heat energy produced by burning the solid waste will be used in the distillation process; to produce electricity for the operation of the facility,;and sold to the local utility. The fine ash from the production of syngas will be placed in a local landfill, reducing the amount of landfill by 90%.

The members enjoyed learning more about the growth of biofuel in Indiana.

Notes from Hank Wolfla

Overview of the Indiana State Museum Center for Science and Culture with Emphasis on the Science Aspects

Presented by: Damon Lowe, Curator of Biology

The Indiana State Museum (ISM) and Historic Sites collects, preserves, interprets, and presents the material record of Indiana's science and culture to encourage people to discover the world - as it was, as it is and as it can be.

Among its core exhibits are Geology, Paleontology, Paleobiology, and Archeology.

Geology which is divided into Birth of the Earth, which deals with the formation of the solar system; Geologic Time, or the Precambrian to the phanerozoic eon; and Missing Record, the geologic time period when dinosaurs would have inhabited Indiana but the geologic evidence is no longer present.

The Paleontology and Paleobiology exhibits cover the ice age and the intergalactic periods. The ice age was not one continuous period of cold and ice but consisted of several different periods of glacial retreat and expansion. The inter-glacial periods of retreat could be quite warm giving rise to different species.

The Archeology exhibits deal with the prehistoric Native Americans. The Historic Archeology deals with the time of the French trappers and fur traders and how they changed the ecological systems.

There are 12 Historic Sites in the state such as the Jean Stratton Home and the Lanier Mansion in Madison.

The Biology exhibits display 5 of the 12 natural regions of Indiana with many neat artifacts on display. They deal with the food, water, shelter, and space required by nature. These educational exhibits are very popular with school children.

Rotating Exhibits show the relationship of past to the present and possible effects on the future. Such is the case of grass that mutated into corn which became very important in the whole world. Amazing Maize looks at the tremendous impact the corn plant has had on our modern world. In a serious yet intriguing way, the exhibit traces the history and science of corn. From its mysterious origins and breeding by Native Americans to its role in the slave trade and the opening of the American West, corn has been the lifeblood of many cultures and the story remains fascinating today. It was found in Indiana in 800 AD. many years earlier than previously thought.

The current exhibit at the Museum is "Footprints" which draws on the museum's rich collection of prehistoric and more recent specimens to show how animals and humans depend on one another - and the habitat they must share - for survival. "Science on the Edge - New Harmony" is an exhibit which will be coming in the future. Though short-lived, Robert Owen's New Harmony experiment drew the interest of many scientists who went on to become leaders in their fields. This exhibit will explore this extraordinary time in New Harmony to illustrate the spirit of new world exploration and cutting edge science.

Indiana's Elephant Graveyards exhibit immerses visitors in an enlightening and educational adventure that explores the life and death of these giant ice age animals and poses the question of why they became extinct.

Outreach Programs include Educational programs, and Summer Digs in the areas of Paleontology and Archaeology.

One such educational program with school children in Columbus is "Indiana's Changing Environment" which focuses on the changing environment and how humans influence changes in our environment. Program partners include Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, Columbus Signature Academy, Indiana State Museum, IUPUI, and the Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES); Discover the Science of the Environment program, Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Mill Race Park, Hansen Research Services. This plan allows students to build upon the knowledge they gained the previous year. By engaging the students over a four year period, we can see if the subject matter is retained better than a one year experience.

Mr. Lowe went on to list numerous educational and volunteer programs that the museum offers. Volunteer Opportunities abound. Anyone interested should contact Volunteer Services.

During questioning it was pointed out that the new Naturalist's Lab at the Museum had been donated by the R. B. Annis Foundation established by Bob Annis, a long-time leader of Scientech. This lab is an interactive, user-friendly nature information center that is very educational for youngsters from age 5 to 95.

Notes from Charles Hamm

FIRST Program to Create Interest in Engineering, Science, and Technology

Presented by: Steve Florence and Andy Baker

Today we listened to an interesting presentation given by Steve Florence and Andy Baker about FIRST, an organization designed to create interest in Engineering and science and technology among students from kindergarten through high school.

FIRST began as a vision of innovator Dean Kamen the inventor of the Segway. Dean also invented a wheelchair that elevated paraplegics to eye level, a portable dialysis machine, robotic prosthetic limbs, and several other items. FIRST's mission statement is "To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes." The road to doing this was to involve students in designing and building robots which would be used competitively with a chance to win cash prize awards and scholarship money. Students are paired with educators, engineers, and other professionals to design and build a robotic project. A new project is conceived each year and the teams are given material boxes and 6 weeks to design and fabricate their projects. Teams come from all over the world, and are sponsored by local schools and corporations. The initial contest was in 1992 with 28 teams competing in a New Hampshire high-school gym. Currently the contest reaches over 150,000 kids and the FIRST Championship is held in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia.

There are 4 levels of competition. Level 1 is for students between the ages of 6 and 9 who comprise the Jr. FIRST Lego League. The second is for students between the ages 9 and 14 and comprises the FIRST Lego League. The third level is for high school students and is called the FIRST tech challenge. The final level is the FIRST Robotics Challenge also for high school aged students.

The first three levels of competition require much lower expenses than the FIRST Robotics Challenge. The first three level teams cost about $1000 to fund and send to the championship. The robotics competition costs the Lafayette team about $35,000.

Many teams with corporate sponsors have budgets much higher than this. The FIRST Robotics 2009 "Lunacy" Competition had 1686 teams with 42,000 high-school aged students. There are 40 Regional, 7 District and 1 State Competition (Michigan only). There is then 1 FIRST Championship which includes many countries. The two local FIRST contests will be on Nov 21, 10am-4pm and March 18-20, 9am-4pm, both at the Purdue Armory.

The impact of this program is that many more of the students that compete if FIRST are likely to attend college, major in science, attend graduate school, and major specifically in Engineering. In addition, FIRST participants are much more likely to have a career in science and technology.

A list of institutions participating in FIRST includes more than 3000 major corporations and agencies including NASA. Scholarship sponsorship in the range or $9,000,000 comes from more than 120 colleges, universities and corporations. It is also supported by several mass media organizations.

Our speakers next enumerated several opportunities for our membership to contribute to FIRST. There is the opportunity to donate funds, time, and expertise. Steve suggested that just showing up and observing the students at work on their project would be interesting and inspirational. There are currently 36 teams located throughout the state of Indiana.

Further information about the FIRST program can be found on their web site at: http://www.usfirst.org

A special thanks to Steve and Andy for this inspirational and interesting discussion.

Notes from Bill Elliott

Tour and Update of the Indianapolis Central Library

Presented by: Mike Coghlan and Cheryl Wright

Today, we were treated to an interesting discussion about the new addition to the central library and a tour of the library.

The initial discussion in the impressive Clowes Auditorium focused on the new addition to the library which opened two years ago. Woollen, Molzan and Partners served as the library programmer and designer for this downtown landmark facility.

Of particular interest were the glass walls on either side of the large atrium. These glass panels are suspended between multiple horizontal steel cables. The cables are kept taught by two ton counterweights which hang to the side of the glass walls and are incorporated artistically into the building walls, appearing visible through three circular openings in the wall on either side of the atrium. The glass is clamped to the cables and sealed by a silicone material which can be compressed 50% or stretched 200%. The glass itself is a special low iron glass which is 99.2% transparent. It is comprised of two ½ inch thick pieces of glass laminated together. Each plate of glass appeared to be roughly 8 by 16 feet (approximation by dead reckoning). Of particular interest to the engineers in the audience was the fact that the walls are able to flex up to 15 inches in the center of the wall in both directions for a total play of 30 inches.

The original library, the Cret Building, is located on St. Clair Street extending from Meridian to Pennsylvania Streets. It was built on land donated by James Whitcomb Riley. The construction was completed in October, 1917.

Designed by Paul Cret and built in the Greek Doric style, the Cret Building was considered to be one of the most outstanding library structures in the United States. The exterior is fittingly of Indiana limestone built on a base of Vermont marble, with carved stone cornices adding to its beauty. A broad expanse of steps leads up to the entrance, which is framed with impressive Greek columns.

The Cret Building interior materials include Indiana limestone, walnut and white oak. The ceiling of the Simon Reading Room was painted in Pompeian style by C. C. Zantzinger, and tells the history of Indiana. There are two 30 foot bronze chandeliers decorated to match the ceiling of this room.

The gates at the Cret's Building's main entrance on St. Clair Street were given by Indianapolis school children. The bronze gates were purchased with pennies by the children. The bronze tables on each of the massive wrought iron gates contain the inscription:

"The gates are the gift of the children of Indianapolis in loving remembrance of their friend James Whitcomb Riley"

In the 1990s the Library Board adopted a comprehensive strategic plan to meet the needs of the Indianapolis community well into the 21st Century which included the expansion of Central Library as discussed previously.

The library tour covered the Clowes auditorium, the Simon reading room, the six floors where most of the library materials are located, the large atrium, and the Annis West Reading Room. Remodeling of this room was donated by the R.B.Annis Educational Foundation.

Thanks to the library personnel for this interesting tour.

Notes from Bill Elliott

Sudetenland's Deadly Hobgoblins: The Daughters of Radon

Presented by: Dr. Roger Robison

Dr. Robert Robison, MD provided a review of radiation and the sources of radiation to one of our best attended meetings this year. The title of his talk was "Sudetenland's Deadly Hobgoblins: The Daughters of Radon".

Dr. Robison started his talk with the element polonium. Polonium is a radioactive element and was the first element discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. It has 33 known isotopes, all of which are radioactive. Polonium-210 was the agent that killed former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. In the 60's it was discovered that cigarettes contain significant levels of polonium. The American Journal of Public Health recommends that cigarette packs should carry a radiation exposure label.

With this as the beginning of his talk, Dr. Robison then gave a brief physics overview. In the periodic table (the product of an obsessive compulsive scientist) there are 92 elements and 1400 isotopes. Key polonium isotope precursors with radioactive properties include U-230, thorium-231, polonium-210 and radium-226. These together with radon, polonium, bismuth, and uranium have high levels of Alpha particles. The energy levels of Polonium-210 are in the vicinity of 5.1 MeV. Uranium has an extremely long half life, while the other isotopes have very short half lifes compared to uranium.

Uranium was first mined in the Sudetenland Mountains in the present Czech Republic. The Saxons (1200-1400) used these mountains for iron and lead. Quickly it was found that the miners died at a very early age from some malady (Goblins?). Miner's life expectancy of less than 20 years was first reported by Harting and Heese in 1879; however, the cause was unknown at that time. Premature deaths from lung disease in miners due to underground hobgoblins guarding the metals were reported in Schneeberg, Saxony in 1470 and Jachimsthal, Bohemia in 1516. Paracelsus published a book on the diseases of miners which was the first monograph on the diseases of an occupational group. Schneeberg lung cancer was reported in various journals between 1789 and 1896. Lung cancer caused death in 75% of the miners.

In the early 1900's it was found that Schneeberg Lung cancer was caused by radon in the air in the Schneeberg mines and some homes (see http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/114078747/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0). In 1928 the mines were closed, and in 1926 the cancer became a compensable occupational disease. As early as 1939 the Nazis recognized the danger of radon in tobacco. Yet in 1944 the USA said that radon was not at fault.

Radium-Uranium Mines are presently located in 4 regions: Sudetenland Erzgebirge, Colorado Plateau, Belgium Congo, and the Arctic Circle. The Belgium Congo pitchblende ore has more than 50% uranium. Ore from the Colorado Plateau has levels of 2-3% uranium in carnotite.

The National Socialist government in Erzgebirge re-opened the Schneeberg mines. Using this source of material in 1938/1938 nuclear fission was discovered in Berlin. The Nazi's did not have a nuclear bomb, but silos full of nuclear waste were discovered in northern France. The Nazis had plans to use their rocket technology to deliver this material to England or New York as "dirty" bombs.

The history of Sudetenland Ur-Ra-Ur shows that uranium was discovered by Klaproth in 1789, Between 1800 and 1900 uranium was used to color fire-resistant glass/porcelain and in photography and armaments. In 1889/99, radium was discovered. In 1938, nuclear fission of uranium was discovered, and the process of converting Uranium to Radon. Then, in 1945-1989, the Cold War uranium frenzy began.

Dr. Robison answered many questions from the audience.

Notes from Hank Wolfla

Annual Meeting and Presentation of the D.J.Angus-Scientech Educational Foundation

Presented by: George Cunningham, Vic Wenning, Doug Wagner, and Jim Wark

George Cunningham, President of the Foundation, was introduced, and gave an excellent presentation of the history and role of the Foundation. It was formed by Scientech in 1967 as the charitable arm of the club. Its Board consists of past Presidents of Scientech, plus a few special people chosen by the Board. Its original primary role was to support Science Fairs, and it has greatly expanded that role as will be shown. At present it has investments of about $1.6 million and disburses roughly $100,000/year. Scientech members give it about $16,000/year, and the investments provide the rest of the money given to its beneficiaries.

The Foundation's gifts are allotted about 24% to grades K-8 activities, about 52% to high school activities, and 21% to college activities.

The colleges where Foundation gifts are awarded are Anderson Univ., Butler Univ., DePauw Univ., Earlham College, Franklin College, Grand Valley State Univ. (MI), Huntington Univ., IUPUI Engineering, IUPUI Physics, Marian College, Rose Hulman, Taylor University, Tri-State College, Univ. of Indianapolis, Valparaiso Univ., Wabash College, and Univ. of Southern Indiana.

Vic Wenning, who joined Scientech in 1965, described the Most Improved Student awards which the Foundation makes to students chosen by their colleges annually. About $12,500/year is given in this program. The colleges rate this program very highly.

Vic also described Wabash College's Learn About Business program, a competitive business formation and operation game, in which the Foundation sponsors three college students each year.

Jim Wark, who joined Scientech in 1983, described a scholarship program which gives $2,500 to each of 2 students at each of IU, Purdue, Rose, IUPUI and Grand Valley State. The Foundation also supports seminars at Purdue for 9-12-year-olds who are top science prospects. These gifts are based on need, as chosen by their schools.

Doug Wagner, who didn't join Scientech until 1999, then talked on the science fair program. Scientech provides judges for the regional Science Fair in March, at the State Fair Grounds. Boys and girls are judged separately, so more prizes can be awarded, about 500 entries per year in total. Entrants from grades 4-12 are judged, and Scientech provides awards for winners, and funds part of the cost of the program.

The grand prize winners are invited for a 3-day trip to Grand Valley State's Annis Water Resources institute, escorted by Scientech members and some parents. They go out on Lake Michigan in a research boat, collect samples and data, and see scientists doing research/project work.

Scientech's tie to Grand Valley State is through Bob Annis, a protégé of D. J. Angus, and an early member of Scientech, who contributed heavily to the Water Resources Institute and built up a close relationship.

George closed the presentation by pointing out that the Foundation spreads its gifts widely, but concentrates them specifically on scientific and technical education with the goal of encouraging students to study and enjoy those subjects.

Notes from Joe Jones

Timing and Scoring at Indy Racing League

Presented by: Jon Koskey
Director of Timing and Scoring, Indy Racing League

The year is 1911…..There was a revolution in China - Sun Yat-sen was named president; Roald Amundsen was the first man to the South Pole; Hiram Bingham discovered the Incan city of Machu Picchu; Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in NYC killed 145 people; IBM began business; Supreme Court found Standard Oil in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act; NYC Public Library opened; William Howard Taft was U.S. President and the first Indianapolis "500" race was held, with Ray Harroun declared the winner in the Marmon Wasp. We know that Harroun was the winner because of timing and scoring, as the speaker Jon Koskey told us. There was even an attempt at automated scoring with a cable laid across the finish line.

Mr. Koskey explained that he is a techie and he is a very key guy at IRL. He told us that he loves to talk and he clearly loves his job. Jon grew up near 30th Street and Lafayette Road, not far from the Speedway. He never dreamed that he would have an important job at the "500" Track someday. He attended Purdue University, and then transferred to ITT, where he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Technology. He joined the Timing and Scoring section at IRL in 1998 and became its director in 2003. He took us back to the beginning of the "500" Race, reviewing the scoring method used in 1911 and the different methods used through the years to 2005.

Mr. Koskey detailed the stages of progress in the scoring methods (nine in all). In the beginning a serial scoring system and a car scoring system were used. The first attempt at automated scoring in 1911 was not very successful. The 1926-1977 era saw punch card systems tried; 1978-81, the first electronic system; 1982-89, a push button system - it took 12 to 24 hours to compute the data; 1990-96, a Data 1 multi-loop type with transponders on each car, assuring accuracy to .01 seconds; 1997-99 realized car scorers with Newtons - early PDA's; 2000 the AMB Chronix single-loop system, accurate to .001 seconds; 2001-04 witnessed two new advances which allowed scoring to .0001 second; and in 2005 there was a new high speed camera, which could take 10,000 photos per second (!) and DVR recorders. In the 2005 race there were no car scorers - the first time in 90 years.

Jon attends all IRL races, 15 in all across the U.S., plus one in Japan. In March 2010, the first race in Brazil will take place. He and his crew arrive two days before a race to set up equipment. (Take down only requires three hours). Timing and scoring is so important now because as many as 10 drivers can finish the race on the same lap. He showed video clips of the top 10 photo finish races in IRL history. The closest race was won by .0005 seconds. IRL is the only racing league that scores to four decimal places. Before 2000, timing was done to two decimal places so that in a few races it could have been a guess as to who finished first, if photos were insufficient to prove the winner.

Today's scoring is performed via a camera system and an electronic system. There is an emergency generator which can power the equipment for three hours. The transponder, which will work for six days on a single battery charge, sits on the outside of each car 33 inches back from the nose of the car; it sends 10,000 signals per second. Cars, moving at 200 mph can now be scored down to ½ inch precision.

Timing information has these uses over and above timing: officiating, sharing information with all teams and manufacturers, sending information to broadcast and TV networks, crash analysis can be performed, sending data to the historical archive and the information can be used to entertain fans. Data distribution has taken on as much importance as the timing and scoring itself. Live timing can be seen at www.indycar.com.

Notes from Dr.Bill Dick