SLAC Today is available online at:
http://today.slac.stanford.edu

In this issue:
SSRL Research Helps Uncover the Secrets of an Age-Old Killer
Profile: John Ku: Music Man
Old Unix Passwords to Expire in January

SLAC Today

Wednesday - December 6, 2006

(Image - TB Gene)
The crystallographic structure of the M. tuberculosis CsoR protein.

SSRL Research Helps Uncover the Secrets of an Age-Old Killer

Scientists working in part at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) have discovered a gene for a protein that regulates the cellular response to copper in the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. Copper is a biologically essential element, but its levels within a cell must be carefully controlled because too much can cause cell death. These findings, reported in the January issue of Nature Chemical Biology, explain how a wide variety of bacteria control copper concentrations within their cells, and this understanding could lead to new treatments for tuberculosis.

The research team, led by David Giedroc of Texas A&M University, discovered the gene that encodes a "Copper-sensitive operon Repressor" (CsoR), which controls the production of copper-binding proteins and is present in many types of bacteria.  Read more...

(Weekly Column - Profile)

John Ku: Music Man

(Image - John Ku)
John Ku is a Music for Minors docent at Canoas Elementary School, where he works with kindergarteners.
(Image courtesy of Vicki Thompson.)

This article, published in the Willow Glen Resident, features LSST Camera / GLAST LAT Structural Analyst John Ku.

Walking with John Ku past Canoas Elementary School kindergartners is like accompanying a rock star for a stroll—they all know his name, and they can all sing his songs.

Ku is a Music for Minors docent who volunteers four times a week teaching music at Canoas. He began teaching every kindergarten class in 2005, when his oldest son, Peter, entered as a student. Read more...

Photo: EPAC Meeting Comes to a Close

(Photo - EPAC)
Yesterday, experts from laboratories in Asia, Europe and the U.S. finished their evaluation of the South Arc Beam Experimental Region (SABER) project.

Old Unix Passwords to Expire on January 17

Did you know that SLAC policy requires all passwords to be changed at least once a year for unprivileged accounts and at least every six months for accounts with certain additional privileges?

For Windows and privileged central unix accounts, this policy has been enforced for the last few years. The SLAC Computer Security Team will begin enforcing the policy for unprivileged central unix accounts next month.

Within the next week, all central unix systems users whose password is older than one year (6 months for privileged users) will be notified by e-mail that they have to change their password by January 17, 2007. The e-mail notification will contain instructions on how to change the password and will be repeated as the cutoff date approaches. Instructions on how to change passwords and suggestions on how to pick strong passwords can be found online.

After the cutoff date, all central unix accounts that have a password older than the maximum password age will expire. To recover an expired unix account, ssh to password.slac.stanford.edu. After you have logged in with your old password, you will be prompted for a new password.

Central unix accounts that have been expired for more than three months will be disabled. At that point, you will need to contact the SCCS Help Desk in order to have your account re-enabled.

Please contact the Computer Security Team if you have any questions.

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