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Berkeley Lab Currents

July 25, 1997



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Astronomical Theory Offers New Explanation for Recent Ice Ages

By Jeffery Kahn

Recent ice ages--ten periods of glaciation in the past million years--are caused by changes in the tilt of the earth's orbit, according to research conducted by the Physics Division's Richard A. Muller and Gordon J. MacDonald of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Austria. Their analysis also presents strong evidence that another long-prevailing ice-age theory can be discounted.

In the July 11 issue of Science magazine, the researchers report that cyclical changes in the location of the Earth's orbit cause differing quantities of extraterrestrial debris to come into the Earth's atmosphere. This, in turn, results in variations of climate on the planet.

"As the earth moves up and down in the plane of the solar system, it runs into various amounts of debris, dust and meteoroids," said MacDonald. "Our work was an outgrowth of investigations of larger impacts, such as the comet or asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. However, meteoroids and dust are much smaller and more spread out over time."

Muller says the new research has important implications for the understanding of the present climate, and for predictions of future climate.

"As far as we know," he said, "none of the present climate models include the effects of dust and meteors. And yet our data suggests that such accretion played the dominant role in the climate for the last million years. If we wish to make accurate predictions, we must understand the role played by such material."

Despite the current relatively warm climate on Earth, regular recurring epochs of glaciation have dominated the planet for the past million years. Ten times, glaciers have advanced and then retreated, with the duration of retreat (and corresponding warmth) usually lasting 10,000 years or less. The earth has been in a warm period for about 10,000 years now.

In Science, the researchers compared the geological record to the climactic cycles that would result from their theory and to that of the competing theory, first published in 1912 by Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovitch.

Milankovitch said the ice ages are caused by variations in sunlight hitting the continents. In his theory, the ice ages are linked to "eccentricity," a very gradual, cyclic change in the shape of the earth's egg-shaped orbit around the sun that completes a cycle roughly every 100,000 years. Eccentricity changes the earth's average annual distance from the sun and slightly alters the amount of sunlight hitting the earth.

Using a geological fingerprinting technique, Muller and MacDonald found that the climatic changes recorded in the rocks matched their theory, but not that of Milankovitch.

To visualize the different astronomical cycle that Muller and MacDonald have found to match that of the climatic record, you can imagine a flat plane with the sun in the center and nine planets circling close to the plane. In fact, all the planets orbit the sun close to such a fixed orbital plane. The earth's orbit slowly tilts out of this plane and then returns. As Muller first calculated in 1993, the cycle of tilt repeats every 100,000 years.

In their Science paper, Muller and MacDonald examine the geological record of the past million years to see which of the two 100,000-year cycles (eccentricity or tilt) matched the data. They applied a technique called spectral analysis to ocean sediments taken from eight locations around the world, examining the oxygen-18 composition. This isotope is generally accepted to reflect the percentage of the earth's water frozen in ice.

The analysis yielded "spectral fingerprints" that can be compared to the predictions of the two theories. Their analysis shows a clear pattern. The fingerprints of the ice ages show a single dominant feature, a peak with a period of 100,000 years. This precisely matches their theory. The fingerprints do not match the expected trio of peaks predicted by the Milankovitch theory.

"The mechanism proposed by Milankovitch could be adjusted to explain the cycles of glaciation that occurred prior to one million years ago," Muller said. "However, for the past million years the glacial record is an excellent match to the cycle of tilt."

Photo: Physicist Rich Muller and a collaborator in Austria have developed a new theory to explain recent periods of glaciation. (XBD9707-03031-01) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

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UC Regents Approve Lease For New Genome Sequencing Facility

The University of California Board of Regents has approved a lease agreement that will ensure an actual home for the "virtual" institute created to decipher a significant complement of the human genetic code.

The 10-year lease, approved by the Board at its July 18 business meeting, covers 56,600 square feet of laboratory and office space in Walnut Creek, Calif., that will house operations of the Joint Genome Institute (JGI). The JGI represents a major part of the Department of Energy's contribution to the largest biological research endeavor ever undertaken--elucidating the human genetic blueprint or genome.

Execution of the lease is subject to approval by DOE, which is expected.

The JGI was formed last year to integrate human genome research at the three UC-managed national laboratories, in Berkeley, Livermore, and Los Alamos. The JGI's main objective is to map and sequence a substantial fraction of the three billion total bases of the human genome by 2005.

Technology is being developed within the JGI to improve the speed, accuracy and economy with which the genome can be decoded and the data logged into public databases. This will contribute to the scientific community's ultimate goal of discovering the biological significance in the information generated.

"This facility will take DOE to the next level of efficiency, allowing us to generate DNA sequence information at unprecedented rates of speed and accuracy," said DOE Secretary Federico Peña. "The genomic technologies being developed by the Joint Genome Institute and other similar efforts around the world will provide the basic information about our genes that will help in the diagnosis and treatment of disease."

Once remodeled, the former site of Dow Chemical's agricultural research center is expected to welcome its first new employees in early 1998. JGI Scientific Director Elbert Branscomb anticipates that the GSF will house at peak capacity 200 researchers in three shifts working around the clock for the task of high-throughput DNA sequencing. This production effort will be enabled by a state-of-the-art robotics facility, along with laboratories, support and office space.

DOE has a long-standing mission to understand the potential health risks posed by energy use and production. With the infrastructure in place in its national laboratories and a particular interest in the ultimate results, DOE in 1986 was the first federal agency to fund an initiative to completely decipher the entire human genetic code.

DOE's commitment has centered on detection of extremely rare genetic changes that may result from exposures to toxic substances. Moreover, defective genes directly account for an estimated 4,000 hereditary human diseases, including Huntington disease and cystic fibrosis. In some such cases, a single misplaced letter among the three-billion-letter code can lead to a disease state.

The benefits of the sequencing effort are already coming to light. A new era of molecular medicine is envisioned that is characterized not by treating symptoms, but rather by looking to the deepest causes of disease. Rapid and more accurate diagnostic tests will make possible earlier treatments. Insights into genetic susceptibilities to disease and to environmental damage, coupled with highly targeted pharmaceuticals, may soon help to attack diseases at their molecular foundations.

A number of important genetic factors underlying human disease have been discovered through work done at the three national laboratories. For example, recently a major genetic factor contributing to mental retardation in Downs syndrome has been identified by Berkeley Lab researchers. Researchers from Los Alamos have identified the gene responsible for Batten disease, a fatal, inherited disease of the nervous system that begins in childhood. Using chromosome fragments from Livermore, Dutch medical researchers involved in human patient studies have identified a gene that may hold a key to understanding and eventually treating migraine headache.

Over the next eight years, DOE is investing $350 milion in the JGI. A substantial amount of that investment will be used to fund sequencing efforts. The facility is located at 2800 Mitchell Dr., in the Shadelands Business Park near the intersection of Ygnacio Valley and Oak Grove roads.

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Summer Programs Help Put Student Interns on Career Path in Science Arena

By Denise Rogers, Student Intern

Unless you've tried it, studying magnetotactic bacteria and determining the correct time to harvest them may not sound like the most engaging activity. But for Berkeley Lab summer intern Wanda Rivera, this research experience is proving invaluable.

"The most important aspect of coming here is to be able to put into practice all of what you have learned in school," said Rivera, a senior at the Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico, who is working in Earth Sciences Division scientist Bob Buchanan's research lab. "To read about something is one thing, but in order to have a better understanding of things, research and hands-on experience are crucial."

Rivera, along with 40 other college students, is participating in the Lab's Summer Student Research Fellowships program, which offers research fellowships to outstanding undergraduate students majoring in physical and life sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Some of the students, including Rivera, are here as part of the Bioremediation Education Science and Technology (BEST) program--through which students conduct research in pursuit of new bioremediation technologies. Eleven other students are participating in the Community College Initiative in Biotechnology, which targets community college students.

Students are paired with Lab researchers in a 10-week program that provides hands-on experience in various areas of physics, chemistry, nuclear science, engineering, materials science, biology, computer science, and environmental studies. The students attend lectures and seminars, and prepare a poster presentation and report for publication on the web at the completion of their research.

"Matches (with mentors) are made in cyber-heaven," says program coordinator Laurel Egenberger of the Center for Science and Engineering Education. "This year, an overwhelming majority of students found out about the programs via the CSEE website."

Ted Yeh, a senior at UCLA and a transfer from Skyline Community College in Oakland, is studying oxidative DNA damage in yeast cells while working with Life Sciences Division researcher Priscilla Cooper.

"I have learned so much here--it's exciting to know that things I'm learning are some of the things that nobody has ever seen," says Yeh. "I am learning how to think like a scientist, and know I want to pursue a career in research. Maybe someday I'll be doing research here."

"National labs are a treasure, and it is critical to give access to young scientists who traditionally did not have access," said Egenberger. "These programs give guidance and open up some networks for them."

High school students are also an important part of the Lab's educational outreach efforts. The High School Student Research Program, coordinated by CSEE's Marva Wilkins, is an eight-week summer internship developed specifically for 11th and 12th grade students in the San Francisco Bay Area. A special effort is made to inform and recruit students who are underrepresented in science. The Lab is hosting 10 students in mentored positions around the Lab this summer.

From testing IC chips and building circuit boards to entering data and building web pages, the high school students say their experiences at the Lab have been valuable and interesting, and have given them career choices they might not have had otherwise.

"I have picked up a lot of computer skills," said Dana Nelson, a second-year intern from Skyline High School who is writing interactive web pages of interviews with researchers at the Advanced Light Source. "Now I want to go deeper and find out more information." Her mentors are Elizabeth Moxon and Annette Greiner.

Keovong Inthavongsa, a Fremont High School student who is interning in the Life Sciences Division with Rick Schwarz, says the internship has been a great experience. "I am learning things you can't learn at school."

"This is an educational experience you can't get in other places," said Wilkins. "It makes the Lab accessible to the students, and gives them an opportunity to learn how research is conducted to explore the many career options in an R&D facility. The students also serve as ambassadors, helping to give the Lab a positive image in the community."

For more information about CSEE's summer internship programs, or to become a mentor, visit the CSEE website at http://csee.lbl.gov/CSEE/ CSEE.html, or contact Wilkins (X5640) or Egenberger (X5190).

Photo: Brendon McSmith and Aqueela McKinley are learning new skills at the Lab this summer. (XBD9707-02972-01) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

Photo: Summer intern Wanda Rivera, who hails from Puerto Rico, says her experience at the Lab has been invaluable. (XBD9707-02971) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

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News Digest

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UC Regents' Meetings Now Broadcast Live Over the Internet

In an effort to make their monthly meetings more accessible, the Regents of the University of California have begun broadcasting their meetings live over the Internet for anyone who has access to the World Wide Web.

The July meeting, held last week in San Francisco, was the first to be broadcast, making the Regents the first state agency in California to use new cutting-edge technology known as audio streaming. The technology allows high-quality voice transmissions to be broadcast live over the Internet in a manner similar to radio broadcasts.

In order to receive the broadcast, a listener must have a computer connected to the web either through a direct cable connection or via a dialup modem. The computer--PC or Macintosh--must also be equipped with a sound card, speakers, and RealAudioreg. software, a program that continually decompresses the digital signal and plays it back over the computer's speakers.

"Broadcasting the Regents' meetings over the Internet makes the board the most accessible, open and public agency in California," said Regents' Chairman Tirso del Junco. "We hope students, parents and anyone interested in issues before the board will tune in over the World Wide Web to hear first-hand how university policy is made."

Depending on how a listener is connected to the Internet, RealAudio broadcasts are available in so-called radio quality for users connected over a modem with a speed of at least a 14.4-baud, and higher quality for those with a direct high-speed Internet connection.

UC has set up a web page, http://www.ucop.edu/regents/meetings.html, that explains how to download and install the software and links listeners to the RealAudio broadcast.

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Touring In Style

Photo: Rolls Royces lined the Bldg. 50 parking lot last weekend (right) when members of the Northern California Rolls Royce Owner's Club came to the Laboratory to tour the facilities. The club visited the National Center for Electron Microscopy and the Advanced Light Source. While at the ALS, Scientific Director Neville Smith (below) provided a general overview of the ALS's history and the research conducted there. (XBD9707-03028)

Photo: The visit was arranged by club member Paul Williams, a researcher in the Life Sciences Division who owns a 1953 Bentley R-Type. "Usually three or four times a year we have some sort of an event, and this time it was to come up here and tour the Lab," Williams said. "I think there was a good turnout and good response because a lot of the members' interest in cars comes from a background of engineering--so they learned something while at the Lab." (XBD9707-03027) Photos by Denise Rogers

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Sun Microsystems to Hold Computer Demo Here

Lab employees are invited to attend a free series of technical seminars presented by Sun Microsystems Computer Co. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, in Perseverance Hall, adjoining the Lab cafeteria.

There will also be an all-day demonstration of the latest Sun workstations, server systems and applications. The demonstations will run continuously from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During the day there will be four specialized presentations with time for questions and answers. The schedule as follows:

Organizing "Sun Day" at Berkeley Lab is Mike Hammett, the Lab's Sun representative. Seating for the technical presentations is limited and advance registration is required. For more information or to register in advance, visit the URL: http://www.lbl.gov/CS/BKY/sunday.html You can also sign up for the sessions by sending an e-mail to [email protected] and specifying which sessions you would like to attend.

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Tobias Book Chronicles Lab's Early Days

Cornelius A. Tobias and his wife Ida chronicle the history of Berkeley Lab--from the early days of founder Ernest Lawrence's cyclotron to the heavy ion research at the Bevalac--in a new book called "People and Particles."

Tobias, who retired after 40 years as heavy-ion research group leader at Berkeley Lab and professor of biophysics at UC Berkeley, is a pioneer in the physical studies of the biological effects of ionizing radiation, including those of cosmic rays. He says he wrote the book to explain to his granddaughter what he did.

In his book, Tobias describes the Lawrence brothers, their laboratories (the Crocker and Donner laboratories and Berkeley Lab), and their invaluable contributions to the world, as well as those of such important Lab researchers as Lawrence's brother John Lawrence, who compared for the first time the biological effectiveness of neutron rays to those of x-rays; Joseph Hamilton, who worked on the biological effects of fissionable elements; Hal Anger, who built the first gamma-ray camera; and many others. He also covers the role the Lab's accelerators have played in making scientific history.

Cornelius and Ida Tobias intertwine their telling of the scientific story with many personal vignettes from their own years as members of the Lab community. Tobias concludes the book with three chapters in which, with the help of several noted researchers, he discusses the nature and progression of time. Living systems are their own time clocks, he says, and the actions of living organisms, such as learning and memory, depend crucially on the passage of time.

The book is published by the San Francisco Press, and is available at the following bookstores in Berkeley: Cody's Books, 2454 Telegraph (at Haste); and Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave. Or you may order a copy by sending a check for $25 plus $2 for handling and postage (California residents add state tax) to the following address (all orders must be prepaid; no credit card orders):

San Francisco Press
P.O. Box 426800
San Francisco, CA 94142-6800
(tel. 524-1000)

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Around the Lab

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Lab's Human Genome Effort Undergoes Reorganization

By Ron Kolb

The recently established Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a collaboration of Department of Energy genomic research at Berkeley Lab and its sister labs in Livermore and Los Alamos, has generated organizational changes within Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division.

In an effort to streamline operations, all genomic activities previously carried out under the auspices of the Human Genome Center will now be structured into three focus areas in the Life Sciences Division--Drosophila (fruit fly) Genome Sequencing, Human Genome Sequencing, and Functional Genomics.

Mike Palazzolo, who was most recently the director of the Human Genome Center, will now head the Drosophila component. Chris Martin will be acting head of human sequencing, and Eddy Rubin will lead functional genomics. All will report directly to LSD Director Mina Bissell, who has appointed Mohan Narla as a new deputy in the Life Sciences Division--complementing the duties of Division Deputy Aloke Chatterjee--to help coordinate the genome affairs.

In a memo to Life Sciences Division employees, Berkeley Lab Director Charles Shank noted that the reorganization will enhance the Lab's effectiveness within the JGI collaboration--one that now includes a Genome Sequencing Center to be developed in Walnut Creek (see related story). Shank recognized the earlier work of the Human Genome Center as "enormously successful," having led to "exciting research collaborations throughout the genomic community."

In particular, he cited the contributions of Palazzolo "for his visionary leadership of the LBNL Human Genome Center over the past year. This reorganization will give him the opportunity to direct his attention full time to the very promising Drosophila genome program and to continue his outstanding contributions to the field."

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Waste Watchers

New Web Pages

Be sure to check out Berkeley Lab's new waste minimization website, located via the Lab's home-page under Waste Minimization (also http://www-ehs.lbl.gov/wastemin/index.html). Some of the topics of information include:

1997 Recycling Guides

Alameda County has released a 1997 Recycling Guide. The guide is packed with information on:

Copies of the Recycling Guide are available from Lab recycling coordinator Shelley Worsham (X6123 or [email protected]).

WM misses mark on waste pick-ups

The Waste Management Group (WM) recently received several calls from waste generators asking about delays in getting their waste picked up. Upon close examination, errors were found in waste requisition processing, which were WM's fault. Some waste had exceeded the seven-day target without being picked up. In some cases, WM's pick-ups were well beyond the seven days.

The delinquent waste was immediately picked up, and performance to the seven-day standard has generally returned. WM apologizes for the inconvenience this created and promises to monitor its performance much more closely in the future. The following is a summary of pick-up performance to date for this calendar year. It can be noted that the start-up of the new waste handling facility and closure of the old facility (approximately February - May) coincides with the decline in performance:

Brought to you monthly by EH&S's Waste Management Group

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Lab's Fire Reduction Plan Emphasizes Native Plant Restoration

By Denise Rogers, Student Intern

The Lab's location in the Berkeley Hills is prized for its great views and natural setting, with towering trees and varied wildlife. However, as facilities planner Rich McClure points out, there is a price to pay--the abundant vegetation and long dry summers keeps the Facilities Department busy reducing the risk of fire.

"The traditional way is to till the land over or to bulldoze a fire break, but we don't want to do that up here on the Hill because of soil erosion," said McClure. "Also, people like the setting here. They like looking out their windows and seeing trees. I think we are a unique institution in that we have such pleasing natural aesthetics."

The Facilities Department has worked with UC Berkeley faculty to assess the natural areas around the Lab, and is now trying to maintain the setting by planting vegetation best suited to the site and removing some of the non-native vegetation, which is more likely to be flammable.

McClure says the fire management responsibilities are made more difficult now that two of the most common species of trees, Monterey pines and eucalyptus, are at risk from serious fungal and beetle attacks. "Loss of these trees while the Lab is working to alter other portions of the landscape to reduce fire risk could make it appear that we are trying to make too many changes," he said. "Fortunately, we think we can retain most of the eucalyptus groves if we thin them to their natural densities. And some Monterey pines seem to be resistant to the pitch canker disease."

The Laboratory's approach to reducing fire risk is to work with the native vegetation "palette" of Strawberry Canyon, McClure says. "The palette of plant communities consists mainly of oak-bay woodlands, grasslands with wildflowers and various types of scrubland. Using computer models of wildland fire spread, the Laboratory is able to identify areas where various native plant communities can grow in a manner that both enhances the natural setting and reduces the risk of wildland fire."

Workers are now planting native grasses, flowering plants and trees in areas where they are appropriate and removing aged vegetation and trees that pose particularly high risks.

"We have planted a lot of oak and redwood trees recently, as well as Northern California grasses and flowers like poppies, to help us get back to a natural environment," said facilities superintendent Bob Berninzoni, who is overseeing the planting project. "But we can't get rid of all our trees because they help screen the buildings."

McClure said many young trees have been planted along Centennial Drive by Strawberry Canyon gate. "You don't see any of them yet--it will be about five to seven years, but they are there. We also planted a grove of redwoods as an understory to the Monterey pine grove down by the Bevatron as well as a few other areas."

The Lab is receiving help from tree companies in removing some of the trees that are in locations where they pose a particularly high fire risk. The trees are then being recycled through a chipping process.

"They take the tree and turn it into chips and put it on a ship to Japan, where it is turned into paper," said McClure. "This is a multi-year project, and work is currently under way around the new human genome building." He said the area was identified as one of the most dangerous because there are eucalyptus trees growing within a native Oak/Bay grove. "This combination of fuels in such close proximity to the buildings was identified by the computer model and local fire departments as an extremely serious risk."

"Fire risk depends on flame height," Berninzoni said. "If we plant grasslands and there is no way for the fire to reach into the trees, then we only have a grassfire instead of a forest fire next to the building. By reducing the flame height we reduce the fire risk big time."

For more information on the Lab's vegetation management plan, contact Bob Berninzoni at X5576 or Rich McClure at X4486.

Photo: Stacey Garrett, Tien Huynh, and Jeriah Gurley ease a young tree into place. (XBD9707-02973) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

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New Association to Focus on Challenges Facing Lab's Postdocs

To help address some of the challenges facing postdoctoral fellows, a new postdoctoral association is being formed at Berkeley Lab.

The move to form an organization was initiated in the Life Sciences Division with the encouragement of LSD Director Mina Bissell, who also helped create such an organization within the American Society of Cell Biology. However, all divisions and disciplines at Berkeley Lab are encouraged to participate.

The goal of the LBNL Postdoctoral Association (LBNL-PA) will be to generate a thriving postdoctoral community by:

An additional function of the LBNL-PA will be to organize a supplemental mentoring process, including programs in which additional training can occur in practical topics such as laboratory management, budgeting, grant writing, publishing, and preparing a job application. This process could offer established scientists a chance to provide advice on professional conduct, and strengthen the entire scientific community within the Lab.

All interested postdoctoral fellows are invited to help organize and structure this group. To indicate your interest, please contact Brian Rowning ([email protected]), or Sophie Lelièvre (Sophie_Lelievre@ macmail3.lbl.gov) before Aug. 31. The intent is to organize the new association in time to welcome new and continuing postdocs in the fall. In your e-mail message, please indicate whether or not you are interested in having a lead role in the association.

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Recycle Currents

Currents is printed on recycled and recyclable paper, using soy-based inks. You can recycle your copy by placing it in one of the "white paper" receptacles provided by Richmond Sanitary.

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Currents Online

The full text of each edition of Currents is published on the Lab's home page on the World Wide Web. View it at http://www.lbl.gov/ under "Research News and Publications." To set up your computer to access the World Wide Web, call the Mac and PC Support Group at X6858.

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Ergonomics Fair Starts Monday

The Lab's annual Ergonomics Fair begins Monday, July 28, and runs through Wednesday in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 54 addition). Ergonomic furniture, tools and accessories will be on display each day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and vendors will be present to demonstrate their products and answer questions. All employees are encouraged to attend. For more information contact Larry McLouth at X5286.

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New Workshop Series Designed to Keep Employees Up to Date on Community Issues

A planned series of informal workshops designed to inform Berkeley Lab employees about important community issues will begin at noon on Friday, Aug. 1, in Perseverance Hall.

Employees are invited to bring their lunches to the session, which will feature brief presentations and discussions about issues that include the recent lawsuit filed against Berkeley Lab over its request for a permit modification for its waste management program, the National Tritium Labeling Facility (NTLF) and concerns about tritium emissions, and vegetation management activities.

Relevant Laboratory officials will address each issue and describe how the Laboratory is answering public concerns about them. Input will also be sought from participants about how subsequent sessions, or other forms of communication, can be most useful to the Laboratory community.

The first "Brown-Bag Issues Forum" is sponsored by the Planning and Communications Department.

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Procurement Turning to Catalog for Lab and Chemical Supplies

The Procurement Department has established a new contract with VWR Laboratory Supply to provide most of the Laboratory's lab and chemical supply needs, with next-day delivery on most catalog items.

An information session about the new catalog system is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and again at 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Aug 6, in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 54 addition).

Procurement and VWR representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the contract and ordering procedures. Representatives from several manufacturers, including Barnestead, Brinkman, EM Science, and Lab Con, will be available to discuss their products.

Catalogs from VWR, as well as chemical suppliers Mallinckrodt, JT Baker, and EM Science will be available, as will ordering pads. There will be a sign-up sheet to request catalogs from other manufacturers.

Ordering procedures for the VWR supplies will be similar to those for Boise Cascade office products. Orders will be faxed or e-mailed to Procurement for direct processing into the VWR system. Stores will no longer stock most lab and chemical supplies.

For more information, contact Procurement's Zelma Richardson at X4216.

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Bulletin Board

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New Onsite Computer Course Focuses on Web Use

For those who would like to know more about how to use the World Wide Web, the Employee Development & Training unit has scheduled a new all-day, onsite course entitled "Web Use - Fundamentals." AIM instructors will teach the course on the following dates:

The cost is $100 and will cover the use of Netscape in the Windows 95reg. environment. Participants will also learn about such topics as accessing the Internet at the Lab, creating and using bookmarks, searching the Web, finding the Lab's on-line resources, and communicating with others.

To enroll, visit ED&T's website at http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/EDT/ and download an enrollment form. For more information, contact AIM program manager Dian Scott at 988-0929.

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House Hunting?

Housing listings are available online via the Reception Center's file server. Macintosh users can get them through the Chooser. Select AppleShare, Entry zone, and the Reception Server. Connect to the server as a guest and select the RC Fileserver. The RC Housing-Listing file is located in the Housing folder.

Reception listings include ads appearing in the Currents flea market as well as ads from non-employees. To post a housing ad in Currents, send it via e-mail to [email protected], or fax to X6641.

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Chaperones Needed for Open House Education Activities

Chaperones are needed to assist facilitators and assist with audience flow for the following Open House education activities:

If interested, contact Marva Wilkins at X5640 or mowilkins@ lbl.gov. Time commitment will vary depending on the activity and your availability.

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Softball Results

Scores and standings from the most recent Berkeley Lab Softball League games are listed below. Games are played Wednesdays at Kleeberger Field on campus. For more information, contact Steve Blair at X5927.

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August Onsite Courses

Oracle Channel Classes

The following classes will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bldg. 936-12. Registration deadlines for each class is the Monday prior to the week the class is to be held.

To register for a class, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call X5999. Course participants are advised to arrive to class on time. For information about class content, see http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/EDT/computers/oracle.html

Computer Courses

The following on-site computer courses for Windows are taught from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bldg. 51L computer room (next to the lower level of the Bevatron). The cost is $100 for each of these one-day courses (except for Windows 95 Transition and Windows 95 Fundamentals, which are free).

To enroll, complete an AIM Enrollment Form (http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/EDT/computers/PC_Classes.html), obtain your supervisor's approval, and fax it to AIM at 827-1614. You will receive a confirmation call within two business days. Your division account will be charged for on-site computer classes that have a fee unless you cancel five working days prior to the scheduled class.

EH&S Classes

*Pre-registration is required for all courses except Introduction to EH&S. To pre-register for all other classes, send e-mail to [email protected] with your name, employee ID number, extension, and class name, date & code (or call X5999).

July-August

28 Monday

Ergonomics Fair
The Laboratory's annual Ergonomics Fair begins today and runs through Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Perseverance Hall.

29 Tuesday

Ergonomics Fair
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Perseverance Hall

BodyWorks Aerobics Class
Noon-1 p.m. in Bldg. 90-4133.

31 Thursday

Ergonomics Fair
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Perseverance Hall

BodyWorks Aerobics Class
Noon-1 p.m. in Bldg. 90-4133.

1 Friday

Workshop on Community Issues
The first in a series of informal brown-bag workshops on important community issues will begin at noon in Perseverance Hall. All employees are invited to attend.

5 Tuesday

BodyWorks Aerobics Class
Noon-1 p.m.; meet at main entrance to Bldg. 90.

6 Wednesday

Procurement Information Session
Procurement will hold an information session about its new contract with VWR Laboratory Supply at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. in Perseverance Hall (Bldg. 54 addition). Procurement and VWR representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the contract and ordering procedures. Representatives from several manufacturers will be available to discuss their products.

7 Thursday

BodyWorks Aerobics Class
Noon-1 p.m. in Bldg. 90-4133.

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Seminars & Lectures

JULY 28, Monday

ALS/CXRO Seminar
"X-ray Atom and Molecular Spectroscopy" will be presented by Dennis Lindle of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas at 3:30 p.m. in Bldg. 2-100B.

JULY 31, Thursday

EETD Building Energy Seminar
"Kick-Off to Energy Star Month (Aug. '97)" will be presented by Jeanne Briskin of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at noon in Bldg. 90-3148.

Als/CXRO Seminar
"Edge Radiation as a Higher Brillance Source of Infrared Synchrotron Radiation" will be presented by Pascale Ray of LURE at 3:30 p.m. in Bldg. 4-102B.

Life Sciences Division And Advanced Light Source Seminar
"Nuclear Architecture" will be presented by Jeffrey A. Nickerson of the University of Massachusetts Medical School at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 66-316.

AUGUST 5, Tuesday

Life Sciences Division and Advanced Light Source Seminar
"ERM Proteins; Head-to-Tail Regulation of Actin-Plasma Membrane Interaction" will be presented by Sachiko Tsukita of Kyoto University at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 66-316.

AUGUST 7, Thursday

EETD Building Energy Seminar
"Energy Star Office Equipment" will be presented by Jon Koomey, Mary Ann Piette & Bruce Nordman of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at noon in Bldg. 90-3148.

AUGUST 8, Friday

Center for Beam Physics Seminar
"Frequency Upshifting Without Ionization: A New Paradigm For Tunable Plasma-Based Radiation Source" will be presented by Gennady Shvets of PPPL at 10:30 a.m. in the Bldg. 71 conference room.

Items for the calendars may be sent via e-mail to [email protected], faxed to X6641 or mailed to Bldg. 65B. The deadline for the Aug. 8 issue is 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4.

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Cafeteria Menus

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Flea Market

Autos/Supplies

'75 DODGE, Maxi-van, room for 4 people + 8 ft. cargo space, $1500. Ken, X7739, 482-3331

'82 TOYOTA Corolla, white, 2-dr, 165K mi., 5-spd, runs well, $600. Mike, X8667, 704-1918

'84 HONDA Civic, wgn, 5-spd, wt, a/t, 103K, reliable, gd. cond, $2900/b.o., X4691, 527-1358

'85 TOYOTA, Camry LE, 4-dr, a/t, p/s, p/b, a/c, w/transferable warranty, recent brake, lube, oil & tune-up, $4228. Karen, 526-8335

'85 VOLKSWAGEN Scirocco, 115K mi., $1500. Francois, 558-1228 (after 8/3)

'88 HYUNDAI Excel, 4-dr sedan, manual trans., rebuilt eng., gd cond., $1900. X5205

'89 CHEVY Cavalier, 4-dr, a/c, auto., gd commute car, 98K mi., $3800. Mahesh, X5220, 793-8672

'90 BMW 525i, green/tan, a/t, sunrf, 94K mi., exc. cond., $15K. 944-9031

'90 SUBARU, Legacy wgn L, 4-dr, 105K mi., gd cond., leaving, must sell, $4500. Shinzo, X7057, 528-1698, (no calls before Aug. 1)

'90 TOYOTA Corolla DX, a/t, a/c, p/s, 89K mi., $4900. Ahn, X4712

'93 SUBARU Impreza, 4-dr sedan, 31K mi., 5-spd, Pro-Lock security, Blaupunct AM/FM cass., exc. cond., $7500 (hi BB= $8.5K; low BB= $4.5k) B.O, David, X7074, 528-1935

BIKE RACK, $25; U-lock, $15; kid's bike w/suspension fork, $35; exc. cond. for all items. X6878, 528-3408

CAMPER VAN, pop-top, '93 Ford E250, self-contained, slps 4, a/c, AM/FM cass., exc. cond., $23K. Don, 233-5846

MOTORCYCLE, Honda Shadow 500, red, like new, extras, 15K., $1800/b.o., X4691, 527-1358

TIRES, Michelin Steel Belted Radial Tires, XH4, all season 195/75R14, $45/pr. X5658, 530-0522

TRAILER, flat bed for hauling materials, 6' x 10', single axle, steel frame w/ply base & removable side panels, 1800lb. cap., $500. Mark, X7251

Wanted

HOUSESITTER for house & cat. Dwight, X6960

NIGHT ATTENDANT for Owen Chamberlain who has Parkinson's disease, responsible, caring, night "presence", light duties, in exchange for rm w/bay view, Oakland Hills, extras negot., CDL, refs. 524-4654

VCR, cheap, in reasonable cond. Simon, 845-4897

VOLUNTEERS to be counselors-in-training for summer science campbased at Berkeley Lab, camp runs 7/21 thru 8/29, volunteers may sign up for one or more wks, but must be able to participate full-time, prefer that volunteers have some experience working with children & are at least 15 yr. old. X6566

Miscellaneous

ABDOMINAL, Westflo Cruncher, arms fold down for easy storage, mat attached w/comfortable headrest, $25. Ruth, X4040, 839-0976

BABY ITEMS, Fisher Price high chair, $25; FP booster seat, $10; Little Tikes toddler swing, $10; Gerry 690/695 car seat, $30; Gerry wire-mesh security gate, $10; Graco totwheels II, $10; Graco swyngomatic, $15; Graco portable crib, $40; plastic security gate, $10; Kelty toddler back pack, $40; McLaren stroller, $15; Simmons maple crib and mattress, $125; various other household furn. items for sale. Phil, X7336, 444-1640

CANOPY, aluminum frame expandable, 12 X 12, cost $385, asking $110. Barbara, X7840, 939-7754

COMPUTER, Apple Macintosh Performa 6116CD 60MHz/8MB Ram/700MB hard drive, CD-rom drive, 14.4 modem, 14" color monitor 1 yr. old, $1300. Everett, 548-4267

COMPUTER, Powerbook 150, 4MB RAM, 250MB HD, perf. cond., incl. battery, AC adapter, carrying case, software. $500/o.b. John, 272-2353

COMPUTER, Mac 6115CD,16M Ram, 350 HD, 2xCDRom, monitor, key board, mouse, 14.4 Modem, color printer & software, $900/o.b. X4371, 370-6002

COUCH, 8-ft. long, camel color w/subtle multi-hues, heavy-duty casters $175; stuffed chair, moss green $45. Bill, X7735, 932-8252

CRADLE, Gerry, nat. maple finish, $50; Graco portable crib, $40; Play-n-Fold Clubhouse, $40. Peter, X7653

CRIB, white, Simmons, wood, w/mattress, gd cond. $200. Richard, X6221, 938-5100

DESK, white, 43x28x18", $20; black desk chair, $20; iron $5. Andreas, X6991, 548-6557

EXERCISER, Lifestyler Cardiofit plus, pd $260, take $80.00; fold up Director's chair w/grn seat & back, $18; 4 MB 72 pin 8 element 70-ns PC RAM $10; road gear bike carrier, hold 3 bikes, adj. & mounts on trunk, $45/b.o. Kris, X5571

EXERCISE EQUIP., Stepper aerobic, w/timer & computer, model 730, gd. shape, $75. Paul, X6220

GUITAR, electric Aria Pro II, built-in preamp, old but gd sound, w/ hardshell case, Traynor practice amp, strap, gd for beginner, $250. Cyndy, 530-8443

MONITOR, brand new 20" Nano, .25 dot pitch, $1200; MS Office 95 CD full version $140. Michael, X5208

MOVING SALE, misc. items, multi-family garage sale, 7/26, X4691, 527-1358

MOVING SALE, Serta slp sofa, queen sz., comf. mattress, grt for studio apt., $150; full-size computer desk, w/built-in bookcase and 2 drawers, pull-out keyboard shelf, $75; smaller computer stand, pull-out shelf & keyboard shelf, $50, must sell, any offer considered. Mike, X5480, 825-8480

NOTEBOOK, Texas Inst. 5000, P75, 8Mb RAM, 810 Mb HD, active matrix 480x640, trackpoint, PCI bus, soundcard & speaker, dual Li ion battery (~ 4 hrs), 6 lb., top rated in `95, $1200/b.o. Alfred, X4167

PAPER MACHE BIRD, Bustamente, "Blue Giant," $500; antique "Bloomed Gold" & dia. drop earrings $500; Hermes scarves "Giverny" & "Les Rubans," $175 ea.; opera glasses w/case, $50; IBM correcting selectric typewriter, brown, $175; antique spice cabinet, 6.5"X 23.5"X33," $175; antique hutch, 40.5"X19.5"X78," $1K. Lisa, X6268, 841-4855 (eve.)

PIANO, Fischer upright mahoney, $400. X6627, 462-0198

PC COMPUTER, 486 100Mhz, 1.0GB HD, 16 MB Mem, 2x CD, 16-Bit SoundBlaster, 2400 Modem, 14" color monitor, lots of software, $500. Robert, X5579, (415) 863-6133.

ROAD BIKE, Schwinn 10-spd, $50; Eureka 4HP vacuum cleaner, $50; Stereophile magazine 85-current (over 100 issues), $50; Converse golf shoes, sz. 8 1/2M (used once), $20; Ray Cook putter (new), $20; sewing table, $20. X4506

SAILBOAT, '93 Sunfish, w/trailer & some access, exc. cond., white & aqua, never sailed in salt water, $1800. John, 531-1739 (eve.)

SAN DIEGO TICKETS, vacation for 2, 2 nites, airfare & lodging, flights leave Tues., reg. by 8/26, travel by 10/21, tix. transferrable. Dave, 4506

SCUBA GEAR, Viking Dry Suit w/thermal underwear & built-in hard-sole boots, unisex, will fit to 5'6" tall, durable, warm, & dry, $600; Seaquest jacket BC, sz. small, $50. Mary, X5270, 938-9891

SEWING MACHINE, Singer "Merritt" w/accessories, model # 4530 w/carrying case, $120. Mike, X5208

STAINED GLASS SUPPLIES, colored glass pieces, assort. sizes, $3-$5/sheet; came $1-$3 a strip, assort. length, buy entire lot for $135/b.o.; rolls of wire solder, $5/roll; stain glass foiler, $8. Maureen, 232-2160

Housing

BERKELEY, Carleton/Grant, nr BART, Berkeley Bowl,10 min. drive to LBNL, newly renov. 2 bdrm apt., ground flr. of Victorian house, washer/dryer, no smoking, no pets, avail. 10/1, $1150/mo. + util. Richard, X6320

BERKELEY, 2-bdrm apt in Victorian house on Pleasant St., nr Berkeley Bowl, completely furn., incl. linens & kitchenware, share yard, basement storage & laundry with owner, avail. 8/1 (flex.), 9 or 12 mo. lease. $1150/mo. incl. utils. Ann, X6985, 845-2052

BERKELEY, 4-bdrm, 2-bth house, washer/dryer, central heat, frpl, 1.5 mi. to UCB, lg. kitchen, family rm overlooks garden, avail. late Aug., $2K/mo. 644-2075 (eve).

BERKELEY, Northside, furn. rm in 4 bdrm house, 5 blks from UCB, nr LBNL shuttle stop, 2 other visiting scholars live here, avail. 8/1, $500/mo. + utils. 841-2749

BERKELEY, Elmood area, furn. 1-bdrm + flat, sunny, walk to UCB, split level, hill view from lg. terrace, linen, dishes, HiFi, VCR, microwave, garage, avail-Aug.-early Sept. (flex.) for 1 yr.+, prefer 1 resp., mature, neat & nonsmoking visiting scholar, incl. occasional accomm. in Cambridge, MA, $885/mo. Andre, 843-6325

BERKELEY HILLS, 5-bdrm house, walk to UCB & LBNL, avail. 7/29-8/28, $1450. 704-0538

NO. BERKELEY, house for rent, 3-bdrm, 2-bath, fully furn. & equip., avail. 9/1 for 2 yrs. or less, $1520/mo. ("rent on time" bonus), X4691, 527-1358

NO. BERKELEY, short-term, 9/22-10/31, 1-bdrm apt, 5-10 min. walk to LBNL shuttle/UCB, furn., hardwd flrs, lots of light, take care of easy cat & plants, $750. Erik, X6435, 848-4675

NO. BERKELEY, furn. bdrm in house, util., washer/dryer, phone & cable TV line. Jan, 845-9055

EL CERRITO HILLS, furn. in-law studio, ktchn + bath, pvt. entrance, nr. transp., no pets, no smoking, $480 + utils. 525-7329

KENSINGTON, 182 Kenyon Ave., 3+bdrm, 2-bth, incl. gardening & cleaning, furn., stove, refrig, washer, dryer, wd flr, carpet, yard, frpl, bay view, frml dining rm, study, nr shops, bus, & school, avail. 8/15, $1850/mo. Henrik, X4242, 527-2138

OAKLAND, behind Claremont Hotel, unfurn. studio, non-smoker, no pets,

1 person only, $600/mo. 549-1857

PIEDMONT, prv. bdrm & bath, w/shared kitchen, dining, living room, in a 4 bdrm house not far from LBNL, looking for a resp., non-smoking person to share home, garbage & util. are incl. in the $500/mo. Alma, X5732, 595-7820

WANTED: young visiting scholar seeking 1 bdrm apt./studio from end of July, pref. nr LBNL shuttle bus stop, $600/mo. Jingsong, X5315 845-9079 (eve.)

WANTED: furn. house/apt for month of Aug. for resp. prof. couple visiting from N.Y., could start last wk of July. Mel/Margaret, 843-6863

WANTED: rm in shared house in Berkeley for SSL/LBNL postdoc, looking for nice place w/amenities, hot tub pref., big rm req., housemates must share resp. of running house. Bruce Grossan, X5489

WANTED: 3 bdrm house/apt. in Berkeley or nearby areas for scientist w/wife & 3 children (3, 6 & 8), coming from France 8/12, would like to rent for 1-2 yrs., max. rent $1500/mo. Philippe, X7030

WANTED: sublet housing or apts in nearby area for 2 recent UCB grads, beg. 8/16 to 9/ 31. X4348, 548-4267

WANTED: spanish LBNL postdoc seeking 1 bdrm apt/house in Berkeley, or shared house, for 1 yr., starting in Aug./Sept. Gonzalo, X1440, 540-8866

WANTED: long term rental of 2-3 bdrm house/apt in Berkeley or nearby area for LBNL postdoc & spouse starting anywhere between 7/15-9/1, no smoking, no kids. Karen or Clem, (801) 581-4793 (work), (801) 463-6796 (home), [email protected]

WANTED: 1 bdrm apt. for grad student, furn. or unfurn., in nearby area, amendable to taking nice dog, up to $650. Colleen, 848-7932

WANTED: rm w/double bed or sm. apt for 2, w/kitchen, for Italian visiting scientist, in the Berkeley area, from 8/13 - 9/15, not necessarily within walking distance from the lab, rent around $800 or below. Gautier, 495-2983, GHamelDeMonchenault @lbl.gov, Marcella, X6304

WANTED: furn. 1 bdrm in apt/house in LBNL area for female visiting researcher from Germany, shared housing OK, for 2 yr. postdoc position. [email protected]

WANTED 2-3 bdrm apt/house for visiting scientist from Israel, 2 high-school aged children, from Sept. '97 to Aug. '98, for $1K/mo. or less (or house-sitting), non-smoker, Albany, Orinda/Moraga, or Marin County. Write to Varda Soskolne, Ph.D, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Public Health, e-mail: [email protected], 972-2-643-9730 (fax)

Real Estate

ROCKRIDGE, College Ave.area, 3 units, 1-bdrm house; 2, 3-bdrm flats 1800 sq. ft. units, $590K. Paul, X6220, 682-8872

SONOMA COAST, 2.16 acres, Timbercove, Ft. Ross area, all utils. Nick, 527-1965

Vacation

BAHAMAS, Taino Beach Resort, 1-bdrm condo, slps 4, every amenity, pool/tennis, on beach, maid service, min. 60 days adv. notice, $500/wk. X6005

HAWAII, 20 mi. below Hilo on rainy side of Big Island, convenient to Univ. of Hawaii & orchid plantation, 2-bdrm, 2-bth house, nr schools, shopping & rec. center, 1 mi. to ocean bluff, $450/mo., possible lease-option to buy for $60K. X6005

SO. LAKE TAHOE, Tahoe Keys, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house, upstairs living, on the water, boat dock, fenced yd, quiet area but nr attractions, views of water & mountains. 376-2211

For Free

SHINGLES, used cedar, gd. for kindling, by the bag or will load into pickups. Roger, X7701, 373-3374

Flea Market Deadline

Flea Market items may be sent via Quickmail, e-mailed to [email protected], faxed to X6641, or mailed to Bldg. 65B. The deadline for the Aug. 8 issue is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1.

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Flea Market ad policy

Due to the large volume of ads received each week, ads are accepted only from LBNL employees, retirees, and on-site DOE personnel. No other ads will be accepted. We encourage past contributors to the Flea Market to use other local services, such as LBNL's online housing listing (call X6198 for information), and the UC Housing Office.

Please note also: