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Director's Lecture Features 1997 Budget Boosts NIH, Medical Georgetown's Tannen Research Overall Well-known author, speaker and professor NIH Gets Good By Carla Garnett Dr. Deborah Tannen, whose book You Just Budget News for Don't Understand: Women and Men in FY1997 was on acki�g up an oral commitment to medical research with federal Conversation � the New York Times fundmg, Congress passed and the President signed an omnibus bestseller list for CFC Kicks Off-NIH appropriations bill that gave NIH $12.747 billion to spend in nearly 4 years, will Leads HHS Effort �iscal year 1997. The new budget represents a 6.9 percent present the NIH mcrease over NIH's 1996 budget of $11.9 billion. In addition, Director's Cultural the spending bill was signed by Sept. 30-before a continuing Lecture. Her topic will resol�tion needed to be crafted in order to keep the government Fran Proves Hard runnmg-and NIH's sister agencies in HHS and others involved in be "Women and Men To Get Over in Conversation: A scientific research and health-related pursuits all fared well in the Dr. Tannen Linguistic Approach." budget finale. The event will take "The Congress and the administration have shown tremendous NIDDK Installs New place on Monday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m. in confidence in NIH with this large funding increase at a time of Mega-magnet Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10. o�erall budget stringency," remarked Tony Itteilag, NIH deputy director for management. "We are especially grateful to congress­ men Uohn] Porter [R-Ill.] and [David] Obey [D-Wisc.] and Tannen's general audience books are based senators [Arlen] Specter [R-Pa.] and [Tom] Harkin [D-Iowa], as on her scholarly research, which is well What Plant Is This? recognized in the academic world. She is SEE NEW BUDGET, PAGE 8 one of only three University professors at A Comfy Gathering SEE TANNEN, PAGE 4 Weather Forces More Intimate CFC Kickoff Diversity Congress II Convenes

NIH's Office of Equal Opportunity will By Rich McManus sponsor Diversity Congress II on Oct. 30 and 31. Titled"Learning to Respect It got right friendly and cozy during this year's Combined Federal Diversity," the congress was developed in Campaign kickoff, forced indoors to Wilson Hall by uncharitable response to a weather on Oct. 2. Lots of people rubbing elbows, balloon­ recommendation by festooned tables, a jazz band burbling the 115 delegates standards in the corner-it was enough to who attended last make you wish bad weather would similarly fall's sessions that all harm next year's extravaganza. employees be The enhanced atmosphere didn't escape the educated and trained notice of emcee Tom Flavin, NIH special in managing diversity. projects officer, who introduced a small slate The 2-day, five­ of speakers that included a genuine, home­ session 1996 congress I : , ., grown CFC success story-Larry Chloupek, an NCI administrative officer who lost his begins in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10 at lJ.S. Department 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 30 with Dr. Samuel of Health ,md left leg to cancer at age 7 and has since gone Betances presenting "Harness the Rain­ Hum�rn Scn·iccs on to do remarkable things. Larry Chloupek ,;11irn1;1I Jn..,tittlll'" "It's almost more fun to hold [the kickoff] bow: Diversity and Change in the Work­ <>I lk.1ltl1 place." He will reprise his lecture for up here, where we can get together and get to know one another a little bit," said CFC-ballcapped host Flavin. Session Ill of the congress at 7:30 p.m., also October 22, 19% SEE DIVERSITY CONGRESS, PAGE 4 Vol. XLVIII, No. 22 SEE CFC KICKOFF, PAGE 6 fOITOR

Dear Editor, proved the efficiency of some major machinery in Overweight Kids, The recent update on campus construction the building, and have a "turn-off-the-lights" Parents Sought projects and their impact on parking/navigat­ program that the security guards help with (so the ing around campus was very informative building is now mostly dark when we come to Healthy overweight (Sept. 24, "Campus Improvements To Affect work). There are lots of other "Nature friendly" children and normal Parking ..."). The article helped me put some initiatives that are ongoing: a bluebird house trail, weight children with two perspective on the purpose for all of the roadside clean-up, worm-composting of cafeteria overweight parents are construction trailers, fencing, and equipment kitchen vegetable waste, etc. needed for NICHD study around campus. You were correct, Carl, that we should be aggres­ of body composition and Nevertheless, you may want to solicit an sive in procuring recycled-content materials. Unfor­ causes of overweight. article explaining efforts by NIH to improve tunately, government procurement is a complex African American and its employee shuttle service. I have recently process that can be, I gather, only slightly influenced Caucasian boys and girls needed to use our shuttles more frequently at the local level. I urge you to keep trying, for only ages 6-10 are sought. than in the past, and I am appalled at how by buying recycled-content products will there be There will be two lax the service is. Disregard for established any market for all the stuff we're trying to recycle. visits-one during the routes, schedules, and the safety of their The key to making all this happen is a solid day and one overnight. riders seems to be the modus operandi of commitment from management, and a group of Participants receive a some of the drivers. As the parking crunch employees willing to make it work. NIEHS is lucky thorough evaluation for on campus intensifies, improved (i.e., good) to have both. One also needs money: recycling medical causes of shuttle service will be imperative for employ­ costs about $30,000/year for our 800-person overweight, including a ees already frazzled by on-campus parking institute. And I must point out that it's considerably physical exam, blood dilemmas. I am sure other readers would easier to get something started for one institute than tests, metabolism tests, agree that a future Record article outlining it is for the entire main campus. I do know that tl1e and x-rays. This is not a shuttle problems/solutions/standards would Bethesda campus of NIH definitely has the employee treatment study. Partici­ be worthwhile. dedication, and various folks up to and including pants will be paid. Call Matthew Burr, OD Drs. Gottesman and Varmus have expressed their 6-4168 for more infor­ support for the idea. Perhaps your best contact to mation. Iii get involved is Dr. Kira Lueders (Bldg. 37, Rm. Dear Editor, 4C03, phone: 6-6855, email: I applaud Carl Henn's observations on the [email protected]). What's preventing a lack of recycling at NIH as related in his recycling program at the main campus is still a letter to the Record (Sept. 24 ). Carl is mystery to many of us. Keep pushing, I'm sure it learning first-hand how difficult it is to open can be done. NIH Rf CORO our collective mind to thinking past our Dr. RobertE. Chapin, Head, NIEHS Environmental Aware­ Published biweekly at Bethesda, primary goals of health care and research, to ness Advisory Committee Md., by the Editorial Operations address the more fundamental issues underly­ Branch, Division of Public Information, for the information of ing human health. employees of the National I can provide an example of one NIH Dear Editor, Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The success story: The National Institute of It seems a small solution to the parking problems content is reprintable without Environmental Health Sciences has, through would be to paint lines in street parking areas (e.g., permission. Pictures may be the efforts of our volunteer environmental available on request. Use of funds Convent Drive) so that people are forced to park for printing this periodical has been awareness advisory committee, actually had a correctly. approved by the director of the pretty comprehensive recycling program for Shelley Hoogstraten-Miller, VRRS/NEI Office of Management and Budget more than 3 years. This past month, we through Sept. 30, 1997. passed the million-pounds-recycled mark. NIH RecordOffice More than 90 percent of the total is ac­ Bldg. 31, Rm. 2B03 counted for by papers and cardboard. There Get Ready for Pumpkin Chase Phone 6-2125 are markets for other materials, too (glass, Fax 2-1485 cans, aluminum to name only a few); our The 5th annual Great Pumpkin Chase is set for Sunday, Oct. 27 and will benefit the Friends of the Editor nonhazardous lab plastics section (both Richard McManus polystyrene culture-ware and polypropylene) Clinical Center (FOCC). The SK run and 1-mile [email protected] is the fastest-growing section of our recycling walk will be sponsored by the NIH Federal Credit Union and radio station WKYS. Individuals and Assistant Editor stream. Carla Garnett You're right, Carl, in pointing out that teams can sign up for the races. There will be T­ [email protected] being "Earth-wise" is not limited to recycling. shirts, prizes and refreshments. For more informa­ tion call Wendy Ladas, 230-4817. To sign up as an The NIH Record reserves the right to In conjunction with our Facilities Engineering make corrections, changes, or deletions Branch, we've replaced virtually all the FOCC volunteer to help with the event, call Pat in submitted copy in conformity with incandescent lamps with quick-start Turner, 6-9271. Iii the policies of the paper and HHS. fluorescents, have automatic light switches in � The Record is recyclable as many conference rooms, have greatly im- office white paper. OER Launches Web Page Creating a World Wide Web page is no small feat, Pages must be timely and remain timely to get repeat particularly one that is designed to meet the infor­ business, so daily attention to content is a critical mation needs of scientists browsing the Internet in requirement, as is a dedicated, competent staff search of money to fund research. supporting the page. We're lucky to have all the The Office of Extramural Research recently right ingredients. reinvented its home page (www.nih/gov/grants/ How do you determine what goes on the page? oer.htm), complete with a new look and the latest Each of our offices is responsible for an area of information on grants, including funding opportuni­ extramural research at NIH and each determines Dr. Allen J. ties, award data and important policy changes. what needs to be disseminated to our clients. We Wilcox, chief of What is involved in the genesis of a Web site? post trans-ICD items like the Report on Rating of the Epidemiology Following is an interview with Dr. Wendy Baldwin, Grant Applications, the agenda of the peer review Branch, NIEHS, director of NIH's Office of Extramural Research, on oversight group and a wealth of information about has been elected how the site came to be. human subject and animal welfare issues, too. I president of the Why did you decide to use the web to disseminate formed a web coordinating committee to oversee 3,000-member grant info? Society for management of our web site and it reviews all Epidemiologic Several reasons, actually, and curiously enough documents posted to the OER page. Research. The they turn out to be the same ones which are driving Does this really save trees or do you find that society is the many federal people still are dealing in paper? primary organiza­ agencies into There will always be people who don't trust tion of epidemi­ electronic research anything but a crowded file cabinet. But remarkably ologists in the administration few people still insist on paper where a viable web United States and initiatives. First, alternative is available. Our problem-if it is a the largest such more and more of problem-is demand. We don't have enough paper organization in our clients­ documents converted and posted, especially forms. the world. Wilcox will universities, Of course, we're working hard to rectify that. become president research organizations and scientists-are doing Are there scientists who don't have the computer in June 1997, business on the web. Web-based information can be power to access the Internet? If so, does this after a year as more timely, more accurate and more quickly negatively affect their ability to get funding and president-elect. disseminated than printed information. And finally, award information? it costs us less to publish our materials on the web Fewer and fewer scientists lack access to the than to print and distribute them. Internet; it has been a way of life for researchers for How does your new page differ from the previous years now. Those scientists without Internet access incarnation? have difficulty staying connected and current with The new site is not only filled with current infor­ their fields, not just aware of funding opportunities. mation and useful background materials, it is So yes, they are negatively affected by their inability visually appealing and easy to navigate. We keep to communicate electronically, but not just by their tinkering with it and improving it, week by week, inability to obtain information about NIH. More not only adding information, but responding to and more scientists use the Internet to participate direct and indirect suggestions for improvement. fully in the scientific community as a whole. For example, a user complaint about the visual style How many hits do you get in a month? of the page was really a hint to us to get a link to the It varies. During this past summer-and summer is NIH Guide out front earlier than we'd had it. We're the slow season-we averaged between 1,000 and adding an alphabetical list of information sources on 2,000 hits a day. the page and a search engine, too. Who should people contact for advice on setting What is involved with creating a home page? up a page like yours? Well, there are so many pages out there these days Charlene Osborn and Peter Fitzgerald at DCRT that it seems all that is required is a kid at home have been invaluable to us as we've progressed. with a PC and a spare hour-like my son. Seriously DCRT sponsors a Web Interest Group that's got a though, a home page has to have a clear vision of page on the DCRT web server (mantis.dcrt.nih.gov/ the intended users of the page, straightforward WIG/), so that's a good place to go to look for organization of the materials to be presented, visual experts. Also, OIRM is home to the NIH Web appeal and ergonomic design-which includes Guidelines (www.nih.gov/od/oirm/guideli2.html), so attention to how people use computers, how they it's important to check in with them to get a list of track concepts and design consideration for speedy general directions. Just go down the list on the NIH computer response time-current material and Home Page (www.nih.gov/icd/) and look at some of constant improvement. Maybe the most important them, and get in touch with the people who run ingredient is to have a good reason to post a page. them. Iii Symposium TANNEN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 DIVERSITY CONGRESS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Honors Georgetown University. She has been on the linguis­ in Masur. Session II features Dr. Joan Reede of NICHD's tics department faculty since 1979, after receiving Harvard Medical School, who will discuss "Mentor­ Levine her Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of ing and Career Development in a Scientific Environ­ California, Berkeley. ment," from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in "Scientific She served as a fellow at the Center for Advanced Bldg. 31, Conf. Rm. 10. All Excellence at Study at Princeton, N.J., in 1992-1993. She has three sessions on Oct. 30 are NICHD," a also been the McGraw distinguished lecturer at open to all employees. symposium in Princeton University. She is associate editor of On Oct. 31, session IV will be honor of Dr. Arthur several journals and serves on the editorial boards of an executive briefing for ICD S. Levine, many others. directors, deputy directors, scientific director With 15 books and more than 70 articles to her scientific directors, Office of for the institute credit, Tannen has received fellowships and grants " the Director senior staff and since 1982, will from the National Science Foundation, the National -�tr-�fJ::,}le- executive officers. Featuring " -;; take place on Nov. Endowment for the Humanities, the Rockefeller Dr.Jodn Reede · guest speaker Dr. R. Roosevelt 1, from 1 to 4:30 Foundation, and the American Council of Learned Thomas, Jr., as well as a panel p.m. in Lister Hill Societies. Her most recent book, Talking From 9 to discussion, the session begins at 8:30 a.m. in Wilson Auditorium. 5: Women and Men in the Workplace: language, Hall, Bldg. 1. Presentations will sex and power, is newly out in paperback and has The congress concludes in Natcher Auditorium include: Regula­ been adapted as a business training video. from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 with a session for tion of GCN4: A The lecture is part of the Wednesday Afternoon managers, supervisors, laboratory and branch chiefs, Window on Lecture Series. All NIH employees are invited to and EEO, personnel and administrative officers. Translation attend. For more information, contact Hilda Thomas will conduct the session. Initiation Factors, Madine, 4-5595. Iii For more information, call John Medina III, 6- The Nucleosome­ 9281. Sign language interpretation will be provided. A Small, Yet For reasonable accommodation requests, call PowerfulCompo­ Carlton Coleman, 6-2906 (v/tty). Iii nent of Transcrip­ tion, and Growth Awards Honor Fellows' Research Regulation in Mice and Men. The Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) Speakers will this year will again recognize outstanding scientific include NCI research. One hundred and twenty basic science director Dr. and clinical fellows will be awarded $1,000 each for Richard Klausner, domestic travel and costs associated with a scientific NICHD director Dr. meeting. Applications, including abstracts, may be The final program for the 1995-1996 ORWH Women's electronically submitted to the NIH fellows commit­ Duane Alexander Health Seminar Series focused on "Women and the and NIH director Mystique of Smoking." Guest speakers discussed the tee website Felcom (ftp://helix.nih.gov/felcorn/ Dr. Harold Varmus. current status of smoking for women, health effects, index.html), mailed or hand-delivered to the Office changes in demographics, marketing, and what people of Education, Bldg. 10, Rm. 1C129, Attn. Shirley can do to help decrease the incidence of smoking. Forehand, before Nov. 15. Winners will be an­ Speakers included (from l) Dr. Robert Klesges, University nounced next January. Questions should be emailed Depression of Memphis; Charyn Sutton, the Onyx Group; Dr. to [email protected] or your institute's Study Needs Corinne Husten, Centers for Disease Control and fellows committee representative. The application Volunteers Prevention; Dr. john Pierce, University of California-San form and instructions can be accessed at Felcom. Iii Diego; and Dr. Karen Emmons, Harvard School of NIMH is looking Public Health, who was moderator. The 1996-1997 Alzheimer's Disease Family Study for adults, 18-65, series kicks off at 2 p.m. on Dec. 5 in Masur Auditorium, currently experi­ Bldg. 10 with a look at women and aging. For more If you are over age 50 and have a first-degree information, call 2-1770. encing depression relative (parent or sibling) with confirmed to participate in a Alzheimer's disease (AD), you may be wondering if short-term study you have an increased risk of developing AD Asian Heritage Program Planning Starts offering compre­ yourself. NIMH is doing a long-term study of hensive evaluation The firstplanning meeting for the 25th annual Asian/ potential risk factors in first-degree relatives of AD and consultation. PacificAmerican Heritage Program at NIH is sched­ patients. Evaluation includes memory testing as well For more informa­ uled for Thursday, Oct. 24 at noon in the Little as thorough medical screening, which will be tion call Julie Theater, Visitor Information Center, Bldg. 10. The repeated yearly. To learn more, come to an informa­ Dearing or Dr. program will be held in May 1997. All interested tion meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Cora-Locatelli, 6- parties are invited to attend the planning session. For 4th floor clinic conference room, Bldg. 10. Call 3421. more information, call Victor Fung, 6-1625. Iii Judy Friz, 6-0948, to reserve a place. Iii First Person A Violent Waltz with Fran I was relieved to see the intact roof of my house. However, my relief was undercut by the sheer By Jerry Phelps number of trees that had been uprooted. After looking around for a few minutes, I realized that I The destruction wrought by Hurricane Fran had to was witnessing the result of a miracle. All of the be witnessed first hand. Having lived in North trees that fell were pointed to the southwest, Carolina all my life, I had seen the results of power­ however, two trees northeast of the house were still ful storms. I had helped friends clear trees from standing. Had they been uprooted, our home would their yards after a tornado struck Raleigh in 1987. have been split in half. Within seconds of this Jerry Phelps is a In 1989, Hugo cleared a path from the South realization, I saw a hummingbird visiting a feeder. program analyst Carolina coast, through Charlotte. And last year, How did that tiny creature survive winds up to 80 in NIEHS' Office when my home was under construction, two trees mph? Where did it find shelter? Another miracle? of Policy, fell on it during a thunderstorm. So when forecast­ The first hours and days after the storm were Planning and ers said Fran would pass through the Triangle, I about survival. I spent Friday morning visiting all Evaluation. A knew there would be serious damage, but Fran my neighbors to make sure they were safe. All of former manage­ exceeded my expectations in her fury. my neighbors, some I am ashamed to say I had never ment intern, he I was alone at home Thursday, Sept. 5. My wife met, pitched in to clear the road and the blocked has been at NIH was in Seattle and I was on the phone with her at driveways. Saturday was a day for finding water, since 1985. 8:30 that evening when the power and the phone canned food, batteries, and gasoline for the chain went out. We live in a rural section of the Triangle saw, cleaning out the refrigerator, trying to get in area on 5 acres of heavily wooded land. I called my touch with friends, and trying to figure out how I parents on my cellular phone to find out how they was going to deal with all those trees. were. They were concerned about me being alone, Sunday morning, we bought a generator. After a so they asked me to come spend the night with them. lesson in electrical wiring After a minute of consideration, I locked all the at Home Depot, we took doors, put the dog in the basement, and climbed into it home, hooked it up to my old, battered pickup truck to make the 30 the fuse box and had hot minute drive to their house. The wind was already and cold running water, a howling, but I made the trip without any problems. working refrigerator, and My parents' home still had power when I arrived, we even watched a movie but at about 11 :30, their lights went out. I slept in on the VCR that evening. my old bed not knowing what I would find in the Tree clearing began in morning, and as usual, I slept like a rock. earnest Sunday afternoon. At 6:45 Friday morning, we awoke to a surpris­ The trees were so tangled ingly still powerful wind. My parents had three and piled on one another trees down, but had no structural damage. Their that at some points I was neighbors were not so lucky. They had two trees on 10 feet in the air standing their house and another at a precarious lean. I on limbs so that I could As Phelps was making the last cut on a tree trunk, this 12-foot high root ball fell back into decided to try to go home, but I hardly made it out reach higher branches. I the hole, snatching a chain saw out of his hands. of the driveway when I had to turn around because quickly realized what a Luckily he was uninjured. the road was blocked. Within a mile, a main road thing of beauty a sharp was blocked in three places, but by driving through chain saw is and how ditches and over limbs and branches, I was able to good it felt to be doing something. make progress. Every road seemed to be a blind Going to work on Monday was a pleasure; my alley-I would drive for miles through undamaged muscles had a chance to rest. Normalcy was areas only to round a corner and find the road returning and trading stories with friends was flooded or trees down with power lines tangled in helpful in getting over Fran. Tuesday night, when them. the power came back on and all the generators in In the 2 hours it took me to get home, my emotions our neighborhood went off, we could enjoy the were in turmoil. I saw undamaged areas that gave sounds of our creek, screech owls, and the air­ me hope followed by devastation that almost made conditioning compressor. Life has returned to me cry. Finally, as I turned onto my gravel road, I normal now, except that my weekends for the next 2 had resigned myself to just being happy that I was years are booked. For the foreseeable future, my alive and well, and that the people I cared most answering machine will play, "Come on over with about were safe-anything else could be fixed. I your chain saw, we'd love to see you." Iii couldn't drive all the way to my house because a tree had taken out a power pole and the line. As I walked the last 2,000 feet to the top of my driveway, CFC KICKOFF, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "NIH now has overall responsibility for the entire HHS campaign," he noted, adding that Cheryl Seamon of NIH's Office of Administration was chosen to coordinate the departmental effort. Last year, HHS contributed $2.25 million of a total $36 million federal CFC collection. Here on campus, the National Center for Research Resources is this year's lead ICD in an annual charity campaign for which some 2,500 nonprofit agencies are eligible. NCRR director Dr. Judith Vaitukaitis reminded the crowd that NIH'ers need only recall as far back as last winter, when federal Unveiling NIH's new CFC poster are NIH deputy furloughs and snowy weather shut down the director Dr. Ruth Kirschstein and Albert Marra, NCRR executive officer. government and threw many into financial straits, to be reminded how close all of us are to needing a PHOTOS: ERNIE BRANSON helping hand. "It went beyond personal inconvenience," she said. be plenty of hope on hand." "Many were worried about when the next paycheck Kirschstein urged NIH'ers to take a few moments was coming. What if we had to worry about our and consider that their donations help other federal next meal? What if there was a shutdown of hope?" workers, some close by. Fitting that description was Cafe Verde she asked, playing on the CFC theme "Help Hope Chloupek, an energetic administrator (see NIH 'Green' with Take Shape." Record, Mar. 12, 1996, Envy "We must make sure that such a shutdown never p. 1) who recently The Cafe Verde occurs," she declared. participated in the operated by Guest Vaitukaitis is contributing not only her center's Paralympic Games that Services, Inc. (GSI), managerial might to the effort, but also the skill of followed the Olympics located above the artist Margaret Georgiann, late of NCRR's Medical in Atlanta, helped bear Visitor Information Arts and Photography Branch (she recently launched the Olympic torch Center in Bldg. 10, her own business), who designed special posters and during its 15,000-mile will be receiving a T-shirts for the campaign that were unveiled at the journey from Los new look starting kickoff. The artwork will be submitted to a govern­ Angeles to Atlanta, and this month. GSl's ment-wide contest to determine which agency best who coaches baseball makeover plans promoted the CFC. after work at Potomac's Dr. Judith Vaitukaitis include installing "I think it's going to win," quipped Dr. Ruth Churchill High School. new carpeting, Kirschstein, NIH deputy director, who called upon A wheelchair athlete who competed for the United tables and chairs, the crowd to remember its long tradition of gener­ States in seated volleyball at the Paralympics-but cushioned ous giving and welcomed the honor of leading the whose team did not win a medal-Chloupek benches, and a charge for all of HHS. "It's a mission we take enumerated CFC-related help at important junctures high bar. For seriously," she remarked. "With your help there will in his life: funding for the Paralympics and training patrons who sites and equipment came from CFC sources, and for cannot miss a day the past 7 years, Chloupek has been associated with without their Special Love, Inc., which sponsors Camp Fantastic favorite cup of for children with cancer each summer. brewed coffee,GSI "The Combined Federal Campaign has personally will continue touched my heart and given me hope to pursue some services at this of my goals that I did not even think possible 28 location as usual years ago when I lost my leg to cancer," he said. during the "But more importantly, it provides assistance to renovation of the others who are in dire need of hope. Thank you for ACRF cafeteria. your love, support, and hope in making someone's The grand dream become a reality." reopening is set The kickoff closed with a raffle, whose winners for Nov. 4. and prizes are as follows: Chuck Sherman-color TV set (donated by Geico); Nancy Wirth-DSW Reminder: Only 85 Shoe Warehouse gift certificate; Olga Tjurmina­ days left until the $25 R&W gift certificate; Jon Retzlaff, Kevin Bldg. 31 cafeteria The indoor location of this year's kickoff prompted near­ McShane, Theresa Raymer, Joan Eaton-Cineplex renovation begins. eff artless schmoozing conditions for those in attendance. Odeon movie passes. Iii NIDDK Installs New Spectrometer spectrometer. The fold suggests a target for anti­ HIV drug design. "Our findings are promising," "It wasn't your typical office move," says Dr. Angela says Gronenborn. "But the 750 MHz would have Gronenborn, about the 10-foot-tall 3,527-pound eliminated problems we experienced with aggrega­ 750 megaHertz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tion and allowed us to work with protein solutions spectrometer recently installed in Bldg. 5. at reduced concentrations." To lower the giant magnet into the subbasement, The larger magnet also has a higher spectral more than a foot of brick was removed from the top resolution to analyze larger and more complicated of the rear entrance, ceiling beams were dislodged, proteins such as HIV-1 protease-drug complexes. It and the freight elevator was pulled out of the way. provides more detailed pictures of the dynamics of Dr. Carlos G. "It wasn't easy, but everything went smoothly," says proteins and protein-ligand complexes, helping Gutierrez was Gronenborn, who is chief of the structural biology researchers understand how large, complex mol­ recently pre­ section in NIDDK's Laboratory of Chemical Physics. ecules cause disease and identify options for prevent­ sented with a The biggest and most powerful spectrometer at ing or altering the disease process. Presidential NIH was purchased by NIDDK's LCP, NIDR, and NIDDK's first NMR spectrometer, purchased in the mentoring award. the Intramural AIDS Targeted Antiviral Program. It summer of 1957, was 40 MHz. "It was marvelous A member of the has the capacity to analyze the structure of AIDS to have an NMR spectrometer at that time," says National proteins, reveal the three-dimensional structures of Dr. Edwin Becker, chief of the NMR section. Advisory General Medical Sciences large cancer molecules and ultimately open new "Organic chemists came to see whether that big Council and a avenues of research at NIDDK. machine would tell them what compound they had director of "It brings our equipment up to speed with that of isolated or synthesized, and often it did!" Since then NIGMS' minority the other major NMR laboratories, including one at the field of NMR has increased dramatically. programs at the Department of Energy," Gronenborn says. The NIDDK graduated to the 60 MHz, then the 220, California State magnet will be used by four NIDDK research and then the 2 70, which was the only superconduct­ University, Los groups, headed by Drs. Adriaan Bax, Marius Clore, ing NMR system in the southeastern part of the Angeles, he was Gronenborn, and Robert Tycko, and one NIDR country for almost a decade, says Becker. Today, among the research group led by Dr. Dennis Torchia. NIH researchers hope the 750's ability to image recipients of the first annual The NIDDK lab, in collaboration with others in complex molecules will boost chemical and bio­ Presidential NIAMS, recently found an unexpected fold in the chemical research both in and outside of NIH.­ Awards for solution structure of HIV-1 Nef using a 600 MHz Sharon Ricks Iii Excellence in Science, Math­ ematics, and New Uses for Employee Express Pay Slips Undergo Changes Engineering Mentoring. He is Did you know that Employee Express, the auto­ Beginning with the pay slip for pay date Oct. 8, all a professor of mated system that allows federal employees to Social Security numbers and home addresses have chemistry at Cal manage many aspects of their own payroll/personnel been deleted from the pay slip. This step was taken State-LA. During information, now permits changes to health benefits to reduce the amount of personal information on the the past 20 years, (FEHB) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? pay slip that could be used for fraudulent purposes, he is credited ■■■ Yes, it's true. Using a said the Office of Human Resources Management. with mentoring touchtone pho?-e or This change may cause some minor inconvenience more than 180 Emploue'J e touch-screen k10sk, for some timekeepers and for those employees students. t. designated to distribute pay slips. Care must be ExpreSS employees may make changes beginning this taken in the distribution process if a timekeeper has open season, the first pay period in November 1996. employees with identical or similar names. All employees need is their Social Security number Employees who may be concerned that their and personal identification number to start, change address is incorrect in their personnel records can or stop their FEHB or start, change or allocate funds easily verify their address through the use of Em­ in their TSP. ployee Express (EE). Also, whenever employees If you have lost or forgotten your PIN, contact the make any personnel changes using EE, they can also Employee Express help desk, (912) 757-3030. Iii use EE to verify that the change has been made to their personnel record. Usually, when changes are made using EE, the change can be verified by the Treatment for Panic Attacks employee the next day. If you are interested in using EE to make your People currently experiencing panic attacks may be personnel changes, call the Customer Support Group eligible for a free treatment outcome study evaluat­ at 6-5072 or 6-4556 for information. EE is fast, ing nondrug treatments for panic and anxiety. For secure and the most efficient way to make changes more information call Matt Wineman at USUHS, to your record. Iii (301) 295-3651. Iii Camera Club NEW BUDGET, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Meets, Nov. 12 well as [HHS] Secretary Donna Shalala and Chief of program's spending will increase at a somewhat Staff Leon Panetta, for their efforts on behalf of lower rate than the overall budget, probably in the TheNIHR&W NIH. The budget increase-nearly 7 percent­ range of 3 to 4 percent. Camera Club will means that we will be able to support additional The National Foundation for Biomedical Research, meet Tuesday, high quality research leading, in the future, to authorized by Congress in 1990 legislation, received Nov. 12, at 7:30 improved health care outcomes for the American $200,000 in seed money. p.m. in Bldg. 31, people. Moreover, we will be able to begin con­ The NIH director's authority to transfer 1 percent Rm. 6C08. Guest struction of the new Clinical Research Center of the total budget among I CDs to meet unforeseen speakers will be (CRC), which will keep us in the forefront in research opportunities was continued. Pat Hansen and conducting first rate clinical research for years to As part of reaching final agreement on funding Mollie Issacs of F2 come. With the provision of annual funding at the levels, congressional conferees agreed to an addi­ Photography beginning of the fiscal year, we can assure the most tional $5 million for a pediatric research initiative; Design Studio efficient stewardship of these appropriations." an additional $8 million for neurodegenerative who will talk The centerpiece of NIH's 1997 budget is the $90 disease research; and $14.75 million for the Na­ about portrait million down payment on the CRC, which accord­ tional Action Plan on Breast Cancer. photography. The ing to the new budget law, will bear the name Medical research in other agencies received 1997 "Mark 0. Hatfield Clinical Research Center," in budget boons in the omnibus law as well: The subject for the honor of the retiring Republican senator from Department of Defense, for instance, will be able to evening's Oregon who has chaired the Senate appropriations launch a new prostate cancer research effort. competition is committee and has been a medical research sup­ "Abstract." All are porter in the Senate since 1967. CRC construction welcome to carries a $310 million price tag, with funding phases attend.For more NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH spread over several years, and is slated to begin in FY 1997 Budget information, this fiscal year. The current budget signed into law (Dollars in Thousands) contact Dr. Yuan by President Clinton contains precise language Liu, 4-6382. allowing NIH to contract for the full scope of the FY 1996* FY 1997 new project even though future year appropriations ICD Estimate Budget will be needed to complete funding. Other highlights of the spending law include a NCI $2,248,000 $2,382,532 resolution of the differences between the House and NHLBI 1,354,946 1,433,001 the Senate regarding funding for NIH AIDS re­ NIDR 182,923 195,997 search. The final agreement appropriates all funds NIDDK 770,582 815,982 Anxious to the institutes, but directs that "the funding for NINDS 680,902 726,746 Drinkers AIDS research as determined by the directors of NIAID 1,168,483 1,257,234 Needed NIH and OAR be allocated directly to OAR for NIGMS 946,896 998,470 distribution to the institutes consistent with the NICHD 594,547 631,703 Adults ages 18-65 AIDS research plan." The conference report states NEI 313,933 332,735 who have that the "directors of NIH and OAR have indicated NIEHS 288,378 308,819 significant social that within the total provided in the conference NIA 453,541 486,047 NIAMS 242,655 257,111 anxiety and high agreement for NIH, they expect to allocate $1,501,720,000 for AIDS research," a 6.8 percent NIDCD 176,383 188,422 alcohol consump­ NIMH 660,514 701,585 tion are needed for increase over last year. The agreement also includes transfer authority, permitting the directors of NIH NIDA 458,112 489,375 a psychology NIAAA 198,401 212,004 study. Social and OAR to shift up to 3 percent of AIDS research NINR 55,814 59,743 anxiety includes funding between institutes and centers throughout NCRR 390,298 415,145 feeling anxious in the year if needs change or unanticipated scientific NCHGR 169,768 189,657 opportunities arise. social and FIC 25,327 26,586 Special emphasis areas-research priorities such as NLM 140,936 151,103 performance the biology of brain disorders, new approaches to situations, e.g., OD 260,072 287,206 pathogenesis, new preventive strategies against Subtotal 11,781,411 12,547,203 parties,dates, disease, genetics of medicine, and advanced instru­ work, public mentation and computers in medicine and research Buildings & Facilities 146,151 200,000 speaking. Eligible that NIH director Dr. Harold Varmus has designated (Clinical Research Center) (23,000) (90,000) participants will to stress this year-were provided $240 million. receive $40 for 4-5 NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine received $12 TOTAL 11,927,562 12,747,203 hours of inter­ million, which more than doubles OAM's budget of views and testing. a year ago. The new funds will provide support to NIH will spend $1.502 billion-a 6.8 percent increase For more informa­ the ICDs through collaborative research projects. over last year-of its total 1997 budget on AIDS. tion, call Giao Although NIH's total budget increased over last Tran, (202) 885- year's, administrative costs will be held at fiscal year *Adjusted for rescissions. 1743. 1996's level. Overall, the intramural research Baltimore Students Help with NIEHS Use or Lose Air Pollution Research Annual Leave

Passengers on the city buses in Baltimore weren't Annual leave in too sure what to make of the high school students excess of the they saw this summer, each wearing a strange and maximum noisy electronic "blue box" device, plastic hoses carryover balance slung over their shoulders. (in most cases 240 Some of their fellow riders backed away, seeming hours) is normally to fear the students were suffering from a dread forfeited if not disease. used by the end of In fact, the students were participating in research the current leave to find out what contaminants they encountered in year. Employees the air on their daily rides to school. who have not The 2-week portable monitoring phase of the Students test for lead in soil collected from a Baltimore already planned to study ended in July, but the students continued public city garden. Demonstrating use of spectrometer is take those excess University of Maryland toxicologist Linda Watson, who working with professional scientists to analyze the hours should was students' mentor. samples they collected. discuss leave The work is part of a 4-year, $600,000 grant to introduces them to careers in science and the plans with their the University of Maryland School of Medicine's environment as well as providing what amounts to a supervisors now, Environmental Health Education Center from the summer job. while there is still National Institute of Environmental Health Sci­ A fringe benefit was that the group was the subject time to schedule ences, under its environmental justice program, to of a Baltimore Sun newspaper feature article and leave. Bi-weekly encourage communities to take an active role in photos. Earnings and research on, and prevention of environmental Two major sources of pollution, especially on the Leave Statements pollution and related disease. street, are the city's fleet of diesel sanitation trucks (pay slip) tell how Six students in all, such as Gia Grier and Joseph and city buses. With transfers, it is not unusual for much annual Jenkins V, both 16-year-olds recommended by their a student who commutes to spend 2 hours or more leave must be teachers and principals, were paid $5 an hour to each day traveling to and from school or work. Iii used or lost when participate for 6 weeks in the program, which the leave year ends on Saturday, NINDS, Baylor College of Medicine Hook Up on 'Brainlink' Jan. 4. For 2 years NINDS has participated in BrainLink, a in Neuroscience, a teacher's guide that provides collaborative program created to bring the excite­ lessons for the classroom and background informa­ Despite planning, ment of brain and nervous system science into tion for educators. Activities include making "brain circumstances classrooms, homes and communities nationwide. dough" to create a model brain and using water sometimes arise Funded by NIH, BrainLink is designed to teach balloons to learn about the size and the delicate that prevent elementary and early middle school students about nature of the brain. taking scheduled the brain and nervous system, while promoting safe In 1995 and 1996 NINDS sent BrainLink kits to and approved and healthy behaviors, advancing awareness of the winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence leave. In such science and health careers, and allowing teachers, in Science Teaching at the elementary level. The cases, employees students and families to explore science concepts award is the nation's highest honor for math and and supervisors using hands-on, discovery-oriented approaches. science teachers in grades kindergarten through 12. are jointly The program was developed by researchers, NINDS also sent kits to 85 teachers in the Atlanta, responsible for clinicians, and educators at Baylor College of Ga., Public School System as part of the Elementary ensuring that "use Medicine in Houston, in partnership with the Harris Science Education Partnership Program, a program or lose" leave is County (Tex.) Medical Society and the Houston designed to aid elementary school teachers in science scheduled in Independent School District. and mathematics instruction. For more information writing. This year, BrainLink consists of four teaching units, each on BrainLink, contact Judy Dresden, Baylor College use or lose leave focusing on a central neuroscience topic. The topics of Medicine, (713) 798-8205. liJ must be sched­ are Brain Comparisons, Motor Highways, Sensory uled in writing no Signals, and Learning and Memory. Within each Postmenopausal Vols Needed later than unit, the main topic is developed and maintained Saturday, Nov. 23. throughout three interrelated components including The Cardiology Branch, NHLBI, needs postmeno­ pausal volunteers for an outpatient study comparing Adventures in Neuroscience, a series of stories about Questions on use estrogen and lipid-lowering therapies. Participants a group of children called the NeuroExplorers; or lose leave must not be taking any medications, hormone Explorations in Neuroscience, a mini-magazine filled policy should be with information, health and safety tips, and fun replacements or vitamins or be willing to stop medications for 2 months. Volunteers will be paid. directed to ICD activities that encourage children and their families personnel offices. to do neuroscience projects together; and Activities Call Rita Mincemoyer, 6-3666. Iii Furlough Seals His Fate for scientific meetings and managing the Visitors Center where tours of NLM are given daily at 1 NLM's Gilkeson Retires After 30 Years p.m. "Showing people around the library and in Government introducing them to Grateful Med are probably the By Carla Garnett things I'll miss most," he remarked, describing how the computer age transformed the work at the For years Roger Gilkeson had wished he could library and, incidentally, helped him get over his pursue his love of the arts full time. Only one thing attachment to his IBM Selectric typewriter, which is stood in his way-his full-time job as assistant chief rapidly becoming obsolete. of the National Library of Medicine's public Gilkeson said one of the highlights of his career information office. During last year's federal was a special event he arranged in 1993 as a mem­ furlough, however, the ber of NIH's public affairs forum committee. Dr. 30-year NIH veteran got Steve Allen, Jr., son of the famous comedian, came a taste of freedom that to NIH to give a presentation on the relationship of convinced him to put his humor to health. The event generated attendance of time where his heart is. more than 700, requiring an overflow room to He retired on Sept. 27. accommodate the crowd. "That was probably my A 1966 English most satisfying project," he said, "because it literature graduate of involved a topic I'd always been interested in 0 berlin College, personally as well as professionally." Gilkeson began work at The son of a chicken farmer and a third grade NLM in 1967 as a GS-2 teacher, Gilkeson, who'll turn 53 in October, grew temporary clerk-typist, up in the Fairfax County, Va., area. An accom­ intending to pursue a plished amateur classical pianist who has recorded Ph.D. at Boston Univer­ and distributed a tape, "From Roger, With Love," he sity. While awaiting the Roger Gilkeson also paints, writes and publishes stories for children, results of his federal and occasionally entertains as a clown for his entrance exam, he was congregation at Dumbarton United Methodist assigned to the library's search section. Soon after, Church in Washington, D.C. Aside from a summer he was classified as a writer-editor and was inter­ stint as a clerk-typist for the Agency for Interna­ Attention viewed and hired in what once was called the Office tional Development, Gilkeson's only job has been as of Inquiries and Publications Management, where an NIH'er at NLM. Former he would spend his entire professional career. NAFl'ers "It took me about 2 years to decide to retire," he "I came to NLM thinking I was taking a short concluded, adding that it was hard to leave the If you have had break in my education," he recalled, smiling. comfort and security of a career he enjoyed. He prior service with "Actually, I ended up staying for some 30 years." intends to remain in the metro area and can be a nonappropriated While in the information office, Gilkeson handled reached now via email at dcjollyrog@aol.com. "The fund instrumental­ publications duties that included seeing that the furlough really crystallized my decision. It was ity (NAFI) of the library's best known Index Medicus was printed something I couldn't control, so I determined that I Department of every month, as well as writing for and producing would use the time energetically, practicing piano, Defense or Coast various brochures and pamphlets about NLM's reading the books I'd never had time for and doing Guard, you may offerings. some creative writing. I think my whole career at be eligible to make "The publication program grew and grew as the NLM has been a continuing education that has a retirement computer system allowed us to publish more prepared me for this time in my life." Iii election to include specific bibliographies and as the library's outreach your NAFI service to other libraries and physicians grew," he said. toward your FERS In 1977, Gilkeson took over editorship of the Female Volunteers Needed retirement or to National Library of Medicine News, the newsletter that informs thousands of medical libraries and The Behavioral Endocrinology Branch, NIMH, is have all of your seeking female volunteers ages 18-45 to participate current service individuals involved in biomedical communications about NLM programs and staff. Editing the in a 5-month study of the effects of reproductive credited under a hormones on brain and behavior. Volunteers must NAFI retirement newsletter introduced him to all the other aspects of NLM-including the Lister Hill Center (the library's have regular menstrual cycles with no changes in plan. If you mood in relation to menses, be free of medical believe you may research and development component), the Biblio­ graphic Services Division (which manages its illnesses and not taking any hormones or medication be eligible to make _ searching tools and databases), and the History of on a regular basis. They will complete daily rating such an election, forms and be asked to participate in one of several contact your Medicine Division (which stores collectibles and prepares exhibits). In the last few years, he as­ protocols. Payment is provided. For more informa­ personnel office as tion call Linda Simpson-St. Clair, 6-9576. Iii soon as possible sumed several other duties such as playing host to for details. NIH groups using the Lister Hill Center auditorium MAPB Offers Web Page Design Kaiser Plan NCRR's Medical Arts and Photography Branch l)(gJ"Courses and Programs Service Day (MAPB) has added a new venture to its repertoire: the design of home pages for the World Wide Web. All courses are on the NIH campus and are given Kaiser Permanente MAPB has longprovided state-of-the-art services without charge. For more information call 4-3278. Health Plan will be including consultation, production, design, photog­ on the NIH raphy, visual arts and video. Professional artists, Macintosh Shortcuts and Techniques 10/24 campus Thursday, Oracle Data Browser 10/25 Oct. 24 to assist designers, photographers and audiovisual special­ Designing an Intranet 10/25 ists-as well as a broad array of outside contrac­ plan enrollees Configuring Windows and Windows 95 who have claims tors-are available to NIH staff. for PARACHUTE Network Access 10/28 Now MAPB can provide HTML (hypertext or enrollment Introduction to Networks 10/29 problems or markup language), graphics, and animation for the Advanced Microsoft Windows NT Workshop questions. A plan web. Designer Richard Barnes began a few years (Optimizing Windows NT) 10/29 ago by creating web graphics for the International Memory Management on the PC 10/30 representative will Cancer Information Center. Designs for the NIH Avoiding Pitfalls in Statistical Analysis 10/30 be available from and NCRR home pages quickly followed. Some of ADBIS for Windows: Budget and Finance 10/30 10 a.m. to noon in his creations are on display at: http://www.nih.gov; ADBIS for Windows: NIH Property Managemt. 10/31 Bldg. 31, Conf. Rm. Computational Biology: Tools on the Web 10/31 7 and from 2:15 to http://www.ncrr.nih.gov; http://libwww.ncrr.nih.gov; MS Windows NT Overview for Managers 10/31 http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/intramur/mapb.htm; http:// 4 p.m. in Bldg. 38, Internet Explorer 11/1 Conf. Rm. B. No www.nih.gov.nigms. SAS Fundamentals I for Nonprogrammers 11/4-5 appointment is "There are some major differences between web Getting Started with C 11/4-7 necessary. design and traditional print design," Barnes said. Densitometric Analysis of 1-D Gels Assistance will be "With the web, it's not simply a matter of designing Using NIH Image 11/5 provided on a first­ a pretty page. I also have to create logical, clear SQL Extensions for DB2 Version 4 11/6 come, first-served links so that the end-user doesn't get lost while Electronic Forms Users Group 11/6 basis. trying to navigate from one page to another." Relational Database Design 11/7 He notes that, in contrast to print design, file size is Microsoft's Office 97 Preview 11/7 Account Sponsor Orientation 11/7 an important issue on the web. Users will quickly ADBIS for Windows: Budget and Finance 11/8 lose interest if they have to wait very long for the Biomedical Computing: Looking Beyond graphics to download. "There are tricks I use to the World Wide Web 11/8 keep file sizes small, even on graphics that are large Oracle Data Browser 11/12 dimensionally. WIG - World Wide Web Interest Group 11/12 "Three years ago, I didn't even know what the SAS Fundamentals II for Nonprogrammers 11/12-13 Internet was. Now I'm creating HTML, GIFs, Genetics Computer Group (GCG) JPEGs, and PDFs for the WWW at NIH," Barnes Sequence Analysis 11/13-15 jests. "It's this evolution-not knowing what I'll be doing 3 years from now-that keeps my job excit­ in ." DWD Training Tips ffor more information about MAPB's wide range of The Division of Workforce Development, OHRM, web and other services and rates, call 6-2628. Or offers the following courses. Personal computer check out MAPB's homepage at http:// training is also available through User Resource www.ncrr.nih.gov/intramur/mapb.htm. Iii Center hands-on self-study courses, at no cost to Study Needs NIH employees. For more information call DWD Volunteers Interested in Internet on surfing? Visit the NIH 6-6211 or consult the online catalog at http:// The cognitive Library in Bldg. 10 and www-urc.od.nih.gov/dwd/dwdhome.html. browse the World Wide neuroscience Web. The NIH Library, Courses and Programs Starting Dates section is looking for volunteers part of NCRR, now has a Management, Supervisory & Professional Development WWW workstation Coaching Skills: Coaching for Commitment 10/29 ages 18-40, male/ available in the reading Fostering Creative Thinking 10/30 female, to room that lets you navigate Interacting with Difficult People 11/7 participate in the web and find the information you need. The Changing Tomorrow Today: Rise and Shine 11/12 cognitive workstation is open to all NIH staff and visitors. No How Good Leaders Make Tough Choices 11/13 psychology appointments are necessary. You can go to sites on the experiments. Internet using specific addresses, connect through links Communication Skills Volunteers will be in the library's home page (http://libwww.ncrr.nih.gov), Writing Skills Review 11/12 or use one of the many search engines to find informa­ paid. Call 2-0060 tion on the Web. Questions? Call the library, 6-1156. Administrative Systems and ask for Pilar Ben Hope (above) and Stephanie Publicker of the NIH Domestic Travel 11/13 or Bob for more Library staff helped make this resource available. Foreign Travel 10/31 information. NIA science Wednesday Afternoon Lectures writer Susan Cahill is fairly The Wednesday Afternoon Lecture series, held on its certain that the namesake day at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Bldg. plant below is 10, ends the month on Oct. 30 with a talk by Dr. bittersweet Kenneth D. Stuart, senior scientist and director, nightshade, also known, poetically, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, and professor as f elonwort, of pathobiology, and adjunct professor of microbiol­ violet-bloom and ogy, University of Washington. His topic will be woody night­ "The Mechanism of mRNA Editing: gRNA­ shade. She found Specified Uridylate Insertion and Deletion." The it along a lecture is hosted by the Molecular Biology and RNA driveway beside Interest Groups. Bldg. 15K On Nov. 6, Dr. Tim R. Mosmann will address recently, and "Immune Regulation by T Cell Subsets and Their challenges campus Cytokines." He is professor, department of medical botanists to identify the plant microbiology and immunology, University of at right, which Alberta, Canada. Hosts for the event are the was seen growing Immunology and Cytokine Interest Groups. recently near the For more information or for reasonable accommo­ corner of Cedar dation, call Hilda Madine, 4-5595. Iii Ln. and Rockville Pike, behind Bldg. 31. Bittersweet Why Change the NIH Home Page? was once used If you visit the NIH World Wide Web home page medicinally as an you will notice it has taken on a different look. The internal antirheu­ matic, diuretic, new page was designed to load faster, but the real narcotic, astrin­ reason for the change was to accommodate a new, gent and sedative, first-level area called "Information for Employees." but now appears In the early days of the web, (a few years ago) the only to have slight NIH web site was used primarily for communicating antibiotic activity. with the public and the extramural scientific com­ This may explain munity. As web use has become more common­ its former use as place, there has been an expansion in online infor­ an external mation resources for internal agency use. remedy for sores. This new area provides a "home" for the many information links designed to help NIH employees. For example: you can look up items in the NIH Manual chapters, get procurement information, shop in the virtual computer store, look for career development courses, and submit requests to the NIH Library. You can even get the latest interest rates from the NIH Federal Credit Union or see what tickets are selling at the R&W. If you have ever had a hard time trying to find something on the NIH web site, you will appreciate another change to the NIH home page-the addition of an NIH "search engine." This service automati­ cally creates a searchable index of the entire NIH web. As with most Internet search tools, you will often uncover too many items when running a search. Successful searching involves learning how to select and associate your search terms carefully. The current search engine is still undergoing tests. User feedback is appreciated. l!.i!.i.!.i!m To try these new areas, point your browser to: http:// www.nih.gov/.