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Berkeley Lab Currents

August 21, 1998


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Semilocal Strings: A Virtual Glimpse at the Early Universe

"Bigger than the Titanic at a fraction of the cost," is how astrophysicist Julian Borrill jokingly describes the weird "semilocal strings" featured in 3-D stills and movies he created with the help of the Visualization Group's Kevin Campbell, using a Cray T3E computer at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC).

Borrill says the theoretical objects "are like magnetic tubes with north and south poles" which may have condensed from interacting quantum fields only a hundred billionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. Some of the writhing tubes of energy linked to form space-spanning filaments. Others looped head to tail and devoured themselves.

Until the recent work on the Cray T3E, semilocal strings were too complex to understand. Calculations performed by Borrill and his collaborators on workstations could handle only a million initial quantum field values, simulating a tiny volume of the universe--far too small to investigate the strings' properties.

But the NERSC supercomputer allowed Borrill to specify well over three billion initial quantum field values.

Semilocal strings may have caused perturbations of the early universe and may have played a role in the formation of matter, providing insight into such fundamental cosmological questions as why, given its exceedingly smooth beginnings, the universe is so clumpy, and why there is more matter than antimatter.

"It's a challenge to try to test theories of the early universe when the only observations we can make are billions of years after the fact," says Borrill. "Computers are essential to model the initial conditions and see how they evolve, so we can compare the results with what we can observe. That's why we need machines like the 512-processor Cray T3E at NERSC."

Movies and stills of semilocal strings can be seen in vivid 3-D on the web at http://cfpa.berkeley.edu/~borrill/defects/semilocal.html.--Paul Preuss and Jon Bashor

Photos:Semilocal strings.

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Milestone in Mitochondrial Structure Revealed at Berkeley Lab

By Lynn Yarris

In the short-term, the announcement is of consequence only to those cell biologists whose focus is on mitochondria, the subcellular structures which generate energy for living cells. In the long-term, however, the announcement may be recorded as a milestone on the road to discovering a way to slow down the aging process, or a means of treating Alzheimer's disease or any of a number of other potentially devastating degenerative disorders.

An international team of researchers which includes scientists with Berkeley Lab has determined the complete crystal structure of one of the four protein complexes in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Called "cytochrome bc1" or complex III, this enzyme plays a critical role in the relay of electrons for producing energy that sustains the health of tissues, organs and the body as a whole.

Bing Jap, a biophysicist in the Life Sciences Division, led the effort which took approximately eight years. Using x-ray crystallography, Jap and his colleagues have produced structural images of the entire 11 subunits of cytochrome bc1 at a resolution of approximately 3 angstroms. Images of the cytochrome bc1 complexes, which came from cow heart cells, provide the most detailed and complete pictures of the complex ever reported.

Every cell in the body contains hundreds of mitochondria which, together, provide about 90 percent of the energy that a cell needs to carry out its life processes. This energy is produced by the transfer of electrons from molecules of food through the respiratory chain and into the production of ATP, the molecules that serve as traveling battery packs, delivering energy throughout the cell.

Numerous studies of the mitochondria have shown that anything that impedes the flow of electrons through the respiratory chain causes a decline in energy production.

If uncorrected, this energy drop-off eventually begins to debilitate the normal operations of cells--which, in turn, poses mounting problems for tissues and organs. Impeded electron flow also promotes the production of oxygen free-radical molecules which can attack all components of a cell and cause mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

As determined by Jap and his colleagues, the structure of cytochrome bc1 is a dimer: a complex of two sets of 11-polypeptide chains. The shape of the dimer is considered essential to its role in the electron-transfer process, which is partly carried out in a hollow cavity formed by the two polypeptide chains. This work has provided structural confirmation of the hollow's existence.

The cytochrome bc1 dimer is a non-crystalline protein embedded in the lipids of the mitochondrial inner membrane. Coaxing the protein into forming a crystal, a pre-requisite for x-ray imaging, was a major challenge.

"To crystallize cytochrome bc1 we had to first purify the protein by breaking the membrane using just the right proportion of a specific detergent," says Jap. "It is one of the most difficult of all crystallization techniques to carry out, but we now have one of the finest collections of (cytochrome bc1) crystals known. Without these high-quality crystals, we could not have achieved success."

With the solving of the cytochrome bc1 structure, scientists now have more than half of the mitochondrial respiratory chain filled in. What remains is the small complex II protein and the very large complex I protein. Jap and his group will join the effort now underway to solve complex I. For this, he plans to try a new strategy, one in which he will combine x-ray and electron crystallography techniques.

This approach will include the use of multiple crystal averaging and phase information from both heavy atom derivatives and electron micrographs. Despite the small size of the complex II protein, its structure will also have to be solved.

As Jap explains, "Scientists need to have the resources to evaluate the entire structural picture of all the protein complexes in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in order to understand exactly what is going on. Otherwise, it is like trying to construct a map of Berkeley by visiting only half the city."

Collaborating with Jap on his work from Berkeley Lab were Joong Lee and John Kyongwon Lee, both with the Life Sciences Division. Other collaborators came from Sweden, Germany and France. Their results were published in the July 3, 1998 issue of Science.

Photo: Biophysicist Bing Jap (right), along with Joon Lee (center) and John Kyongwon Lee (left), all with the Life Sciences Division, have determined the complete crystal structure of a major enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. (XBD9808-02043) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

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Some of the "BEST" from Puerto Rico Join Summer Poster Session at Berkeley Lab

By Eli Kintisch

Visitors who attended the Aug. 5 Summer Student Poster Session were treated to the customary mixed bag of Berkeley Lab science. This year's crop of students spent 10 weeks immersed in virtually all areas of research at the Lab--from breast cancer studies to particle detectors and automated genomic sequencing technologies. Some even created educational websites.

At the end of their experience on the Hill, interns raved about the independence of research and extensive staff support. Several praised the brown bag lunches, the weekly seminars on varied topics, such as the politics of science or graduate school.

Mixed in with the midwestern wide-eyes, high school upstarts, Cal diehards, and preppy east-coasters were two aspiring interns from Puerto Rico: Maribelliz Perazza and Francisco Rivera. These students are participating in the Bioremediation Education, Science, and Technology (BEST) program--an education research program that trains students from Jackson State University in Mississippi and the Anna G. Mendez University System in Puerto Rico in the science of cleaning the environment. Perazza and Rivera are the latest in a long line of young people from these institutions who have come to Berkeley Lab to pursue their scientific dreams.

"We try to groom them to be street-wise and street-smart. The whole idea is an extended family," said Jennie Hunter-Cevera, the program's manager and director of the Center for Environmental Biotechnology where the students do their research. "When they apply for graduate school," she added, "they'll be ready."

Rivera, who spent a semester at the Lab in 1997, continued his earlier research on using microorganisms to bind toxic metals. But Perazza, trained in inorganic chemistry, had to adapt not only to a new culture pervaded by nose piercings and orange smoothies, but to a whole new science. With chemist Richard Fish, she tackled bioorganic methods to clean polluted water.

"It's been a great experience," she said, "I've learned a lot. And it lets me practice my English."

Grace Castro, a senior research associate in Hunter-Cevera's lab, serves as a mentor for the students, encouraging them, hosting them for an occasional dinner, e-mailing past interns, and speaking with them in Spanish.

"I teach them how to stay out of trouble with their pronunciation," she laughs. "They're very eager to learn the techniques. I think they appreciate it more than other students that have come through."

What's more, these students bring what they learn back to their communities. James Garmon, a graduate student from Puerto Rico, came to Berkeley Lab first in 1994 and again last year looking for a way to use microorganisms to dispose of excess filters from labs on the island. He knew little of bioremediation techniques.

"By the time he left," recalled Castro, "he knew how to prepare media, isolate microorganisms, and enrich the soil with them. He isolated some very interesting fungi."

Rivera is following his countrymen's lead. "The work I'm doing follows research done in Puerto Rico, but it was new stuff," said Rivera.

UC Berkeley's Terrence Leighton says this kind of continuity is a fundamental part of BEST. By building educational infrastructure, training faculty and providing one-on-one internships, the students have a better chance of staying involved with science.

"Generally, these programs for at-risk populations jet students in for a semester and jet them out," he says, "When our students leave Berkeley, they can share their research. It's a learning institute without walls."

And one that imparts a sense of empowerment as well as scientific know-how, says Castro. "People have a lot of misconceptions of what being Hispanic is. They expect very little of us. We say `si, se puede'--Yes you can."

Students from these universities have come to the Lab since 1981 as part of a DOE-funded science consortium between the three schools. Based on student interest in the field, the program's board of directors decided to launch a separate program--BEST. Nancy Brown of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division, along with Terrance Leighton and Bob Buchanan, laid the foundation for this program, which was coordinated through the Center for Science and Engineering Education.

With an original two-million-dollar budget funded by the Army Corps of Engineers and continued funding at the level of four million dollars, the program has established undergraduate programs and laboratories in Mississippi and Puerto Rico, as well as a graduate curriculum at Jackson State. Integral in the program for each student is a semester or summer at either Berkeley Lab or UC Berkeley. More than 80 students have participated so far, and almost all of the Lab's divisions have hosted students.

Leighton reports that every BEST student he knows of has gone on to industry or graduate school. And the ties between Berkeley Lab and the Puerto Rican scientific community continue to remain strong. "I have some friends who had come to the Lab before and some professors who came to UC Berkeley as students," says Rivera.

Laurel Egenberger, the long-time coordinator of the Lab's summer internships, says that by culling interns from both BEST and the DOE-sponsored Energy Research Undergraduate Laboratory Fellowships she can attract a wider range of students.

"The whole idea is to make the Lab accessible for students who otherwise wouldn't have access and to bring students together. It's important that chemists hang out with physicists and that people from Puerto Rico hang out with people from Yale--they're all going to be colleagues in ten years."

Photo: This year's summer interns participated in a poster session on Aug. 5 in which they presented the results of their research to fellow students and Lab employees. (XBD9808-02063 & XBD9808-02064) Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt

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News Digest

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Washington News

Tech Transfer Top Priority of DOE Contract Reform Head

Walter Howes, director of DOE's Contract Reform and Privatization Office, thinks the department should offer greater financial incentives for management and operating contractors and researchers at its national laboratories in order to increase the amount of technology transferred to the private sector.

"For too long, we have erred on the side of caution by focusing too much on basic science," Howes told reporters in Washington last week.

Basic research would continue to play a role at the labs, Howes said, but DOE should focus technology transfer on what the private sector needs, instead of only considering "what the scientific community finds interesting."

Howes, who came to DOE last March from an investment banking firm, said there's "nothing wrong" with researchers at the national laboratories cooperating with the private sector to develop new technologies. The real challenge, he said, is to increase the private sector's awareness of the labs' capabilities.

"There are a lot of great technologies at DOE that the private sector does not know about. That's one of the biggest challenges we face," Howes said.

Counterpoint from Sid Drell

Sidney Drell, outgoing deputy director of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, told Washington reporters last week that while he supports technology transfer, it should not come at the expense of basic research activities.

"We must always remember that basic research is where the great ideas come from," Drell said. "My passionate interest is seeing that DOE maintains a core emphasis on conducting basic research."

Drell plans to retire from his current position in September, but will remain as an emeritus professor of physics at Stanford University, which operates SLAC for DOE.

In addition to endorsing the primacy of basic research, Drell also urged that DOE's national laboratories narrow the focus of their research as they move into the next century.

Instead of attempting to maintain five or six areas of specialization, each lab, he said, should consider focusing on a few in order to maximize resources. "It's easy to lose a sense of what your mission is when you have so many activities going on in one place," Drell said.

Drell, who first joined SLAC in 1963 and became its deputy director in 1989, expressed optimism about the future of DOE's Office of Energy Research because of the efforts of its director, Martha Krebs, to sharpen its research focus.

"Overall, ER's programs are well-defined, particularly in high energy physics," he said.--Lynn Yarris

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Conference on Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation

Photo: More than 500 scientists from 40 different countries attended the 12th International Conference on Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation Physics, held Aug. 3-7 in San Francisco and hosted by the Lab's Advanced Light Source. Above, the ALS' Neville Smith (left), Conference Chair for VUV-12, passes the ceremonial gavel to Giorgio Margaritondo, Interim Conference Chair for VUV-13, which will be held in Trieste. The VUV conference series, which began in 1962, encompasses all research into the interaction of uv and soft x-ray radiation with matter, over a photon energy range between 5 eV and several KeV. (XBD9808-02076) Photo by Don Fike

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Nanowriter Officially Dedicated

The Berkeley Lab "Nanowriter" was officially dedicated at its new home on the first floor of Bldg. 2 on Aug. 12. This ultra-high resolution electron beam lithography machine gives the Laboratory a world-class tool for nanostructure research.

From palm-sized supercomputers to molecular-sized machines, the promise of nanotechnology is bright. One approach to nanofabrication starts with a sharply focused beam of electrons to "write" patterns onto recording media. Berkeley Lab's Nanowriter can generate an electron beam at energies up to 100,000 volts with a diameter of only five nanometers--that is about ten thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. With its accurate laser interferometer-controlled stage, the Nanowriter can write patterns with a high degree of accuracy over an area some 150 millimeters wide.

"We have greatly enhanced our capabilities to do in-house pattern writing for a wide range of applications, from x-ray zone plate lens fabrication, to 24 nanometer CMOS transistor research, to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography research," says Erik Anderson of the Center for X-Ray Optics (CXRO), who managed the Nanowriter project and, along with Volker Boegli and Larry Muray, designed the Nanowriter pattern generator and control system.

Other key Berkeley Lab contributors to the project included Kirk Haley, Bruce Harteneck and Eugene Veklerov.

"The electron optics column, stage, and related systems were built by Leica Lithography, Ltd.," says Anderson. "Olga Perez, with the Procurement Department, handled the complicated purchasing contract."

On hand to dedicate the Nanowriter were Lab Director Charles Shank, Daniel Chemla, who directs both the Materials Sciences Division (MSD) and the Advanced Light Source, and David Attwood, who heads the CXRO for MSD. Also in attendance, from England, were Peter Crawley, the CEO for Leica Lithography, and David Patterson, from DARPA--the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency--which funded the design and construction of the Nanowriter.

Photo: Nanowriter

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Berkeley Lab in the News

Berkeley Lab featured prominently in two of the world's premier science magazines this week.

Hans J. Queisser, a guest working in the Material Sciences Division (MSD) and MSD's Eugene E. Haller were invited to write one of the four special-section articles in the Aug. 14 issue of Science magazine, devoted to the "Control and Use of Defects in Materials." Their article, "Defects in semiconductors: some fatal, some vital," notes that what began as an art--the doping of semiconductors with impurities--has evolved into today's indispensable technology.

The authors explore a wide range of experimental and theoretical work on such phenomena as native defects, surfaces and interfaces, and metastable defects. One of the article's illustrations--a striking micrograph of a single screw dislocation in a gallium nitride crystal--provides the cover for the special issue.

The September issue of Scientific American has an article on "Making New Elements" by Peter Armbruster and Fritz Peter Hessberger of Germany's Institute for Heavy-Ion Research--an interesting history despite minor inaccuracies in the authors' perforce lengthy account of work at Berkeley Lab. Blithely taking sole credit for creating element 110 in 1994, they invite response from Berkeley Lab researchers who did it three years earlier (not to mention the Russians).--Paul Preuss

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Lab Blood Drive a Big Success

The American Red Cross would like to thank the 158 Lab employees who participated in the two-day blood drive held on July 29 and 30 at Berkeley Lab. According to the Red Cross spokesperson, 141 pints of blood were collected, exceeding estimated goals.

The donation benefits the Blood Bank of Alameda-Contra Costa Counties, recently partnered with the Red Cross.

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Berkeley Lab Currents

Published twice a month by the Public Information Department for the employees and retirees of Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Ron Kolb, PID department head.

EDITOR: Monica Friedlander, X2248 (495-2248 from outside), msfriedlander@lbl.gov
STAFF WRITERS: Paul Preuss, X6249; Lynn Yarris, X5375
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jon Bashor, X5849; Allan Chen, X4210; Jeffery Kahn X4019
FLEA MARKET / CALENDAR: Jacqueline Noble, X5771
fleamarket@lbl.gov / currents_calendar@lbl.gov

Public Information Department, Berkeley Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley CA 94720
Tel: (510) 486-5771 Fax: (510) 486-6641

Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Around the Lab

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Computer Corner

UC Benefits & Year 2000

Most Lab employees expect to be around to collect on their retirement and other benefits after Jan. 1, 2000, and UC's system-wide Benefits Office is currently converting its systems to ensure that those services continue to be delivered.

As a result, Alice Plebuch, the manager of Campus and Employee Direct Systems for the UC system, expects that such benefits as medical, dental, vision and accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverages will sail smoothly into the next millennium.

"Every insurance program with an effective start date--and they all have them--could be affected by the year 2000," Plebuch said. "This project has been underway for several years, and we expect most of our systems to be Y2K compliant by the end of this year."

The potential problems stem from older computer designs which allocated only two spaces for recording the year in any date-sensitive application. For instance, the year 1998 shows up as 98, and the year 2000 will be 00, which some computers could equate with the year 1900.

In some applications, such as automated security and safety systems, the results could be catastrophic. As a result, the U.S. Government has required all of its agencies and facilities to ensure that computer systems are "Year 2000 compliant."

Without the extra effort, the Year 2000 problem could interfere with a wide range of benefits provided by UC. However, the steps being taken to deal with the situation will actually streamline the way in which employers report employee data to insurance carriers, Plebuch said.

Currently, UC uses a data reporting method developed by the University. Many other organizations have likewise come up with their own systems. As part of the government's effort to address the situation, insurance carriers will be required to send and receive information using a standard format endorsed by the American National Standards Institute.

"Whether the data are being sent by UC, Stanford or Joe's Bar and Grill, they will all be sent using the same format," Plebuch said. "Not only will this address the Y2K issue, but it will also streamline the flow of information."

For more information about these issues, visit the Lab's Y2K website at http://www.lbl.gov/ ICSD/CIS/y2k.html.--Jon Bashor

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Safety Awareness Month

September 1998

Health and Wellness Month

September 1998

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New Parking Permits to Be Issued Labwide Next Month

The Site Access Office will be reissuing new parking permits next month for all eligible Laboratory employees and guests. Effective Nov. 1, all current permits, with the exception of motorcycle decals, will become invalid. Permit holders will be asked to return their current hanging tags, temporary permits or to remove decals from their vehicles. Motorcycle permits will be valid for the next fiscal year.

The changes are part of a two-year, phased approach to improve the parking situation at the Laboratory. In addition to issuing new permits, the Site Access Office will also offer incentives for carpooling. Employees are also being encouraged to use the free shuttle buses, bicycles and public transportation. The Lab's shuttle bus service is being reviewed to improve service both onsite and to BART.

The changes come as a result of efforts by the Site Access Office and the Parking Advisory Committee to reduce traffic congestion at the Laboratory and insure that only authorized vehicles park on the Hill.

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Long-Range Plan

During the next year, the Parking Advisory Committee--which represents diverse groups and organizations at the Lab--will consider all parking-related issues and make long-term recommendations. Employees are encouraged to contact their Committee representative (see sidebar) to communicate their ideas or concerns regarding parking issues at the Lab.

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Carpooling incentives

The changes will also offer significant benefits to employees interested in carpooling. A different color permit will be issued for carpooling vehicles with three or more passengers, and special spaces will be established for them. Employees with a general parking permit may obtain a blue triangle if two passengers are included in the carpool. By signing up for a carpooling permit, however, drivers will forfeit their individual parking permit.

Carpooling requirements and policies will include:

Further details about upcoming parking-related changes--including dates, times and locations--will be discussed in future issues of Currents.

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Parking Advisory Committee Representatives

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Employee Activities Association Holds Elections

The Employee Activities Association is holding labwide elections to fill three vacant three-year seats on the EAA Panel. Ballots are currently being accepted from all Lab employees.

The main functions of the EAA Panel are to recommend and advise on the scope of Associations programs; to advise, review and recommend the distribution of recreation funds for approval; to monitor activities as needed; to provide and develop long-term program planning; and to provide recommendations for new activity clubs and programs.

Ballotting Instructions Ballots must be received by Sept. 4. Please mark your choice of candidates (one for each position) on the form below and include your employee ID number to insure one vote per employee. Your ballot will remain confidential.

Send the completed ballot to Michael Goldstein at Human Resources, MS 938A. You may also vote by e-mail by sending the names of the candidates to EAACoordinator@lbl.gov.

The second highest vote-getters in each category will be asked to serve as alternates to the EAA Panel in the event that any of the elected members cannot complete their term.

More information on EAA sponsored groups and activities can be found at http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/HumanResources/EAA.

Candidate Statements

Cultural Representative

"I've been at the Lab nearly a year and would like now that I have learned the ropes to get involved in the larger life of the Lab community. I support the mission and the agenda of the Employee Activities Association and have a work background in the entertainment industry, which I think makes me an ideal candidate for cultural representative. My experience on formal panels and committees is limited. I have, however, been a member of several working groups both here at the Lab (the Flywheel "Know it All Group") and in prior jobs, including, at Providence Health Plans, a stint as chair of a group formed to promote inter-departmental relations."

"I've been working at the Laboratory for 23 years in the EH&S Division as a health and safety specialist with the Radiation Protection Group. My responsibility is assessing radiation hazards. Other activities I'm involved in are member of the Emergency Response Team and currently the second chair of the African American Employees Association. Each summer our organization co-sponsors the summer picnic for students. I am the mother of three teenagers and I volunteer by serving on the PTA, at St. Mary's and Northern Light School. I have seen the Laboratory change and grow over the last 23 years and I am quite knowledgeable of Lab policies and procedures. I would welcome the opportunity to work with the EAA Panel."

Recreation Representative

"I have been actively involved in the LBNL Softball League for the past 18 years and as co-commissioner for the past 10 years. The LBNL Softball League is the largest recreational group at the Lab in terms of employee participation. Among the cultural groups, I am also president of the LBNL Music Club, which was formed three years ago and performs at various Lab functions, including the Runaround, Open House, and Director's Christmas Reception. I believe some of the best working relationships at the Lab are formed through participation in after-hours recreational and cultural functions. These club activities bring together a true cross-section of the Laboratory population to share their common hobbies and interests. The resulting personal relationships carry over into the work environment, boost employee morale, and complement the Laboratory's mission."

Member at Large

"I am presently working within the CS organization as a Budget Analyst. Prior to working at LBNL, I worked for Continuing Education of the Bar (part of UCB). I was responsible for coordinating events, both on-site and off-site. Some events included participation at the State Bar of California's Annual Meeting, bimonthly Governing Committee meetings and annual retreat, annual employee holiday party, annual employee picnic, employee awards receptions, and retirement celebrations. I handled the budgeting, planning and logistics for each of these events. I thoroughly enjoyed working with and for the employees. I would like to work with the people at LBNL at large, and feel that my enthusiasm, know-how and common sense will help me to do a good job. Thank you for your consideration."

"As a Lab employee for the past 11 years, I have been a volunteer as a member and officer of the African American Employees Association, a volunteer at the Emergency Command Center, an assistant building manager, and most recently I am completing a three-year term on the Employee Activities Association Panel representing the cultural organizations. My longevity and dedication make me a qualified candidate. I look forward to running as a candidate for the at-large position."

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Bulletin Board

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EETD Volunteers Help Build Low Income Housing

Photo: Steve Brown, Jiang Lin and Lynn Price were among the dozen members of Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division who pitched in on a hot Saturday early this month to help at the Oakland work site of Habitat for Humanity--a non-profit organization that helps finance and build affordable housing for needy families both in the U.S. and internationally. The program relies almost exclusively on volunteer labor. Lab employees put up siding and roofing on several homes at East Bay Habitat's 105th Avenue site. The day-long event was sponsored informally by EETD and organized by Steve Pickle and Nathan Martin of the Energy Analysis Department. Says EETD director Mark Levine, "This type of volunteer activity is not only important and valuable, but consistent with the Division and the Lab's objective of improving the lives of Americans through hard work and public service." (XBD9808-01925)

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Eurest to Run Combined Coffee Stand and Employees' Buying Service

Eurest, the current manager of the Lab's dining center, will also assume management of the Employees' Buying Service (EBS) and the Coffee Stand starting Sept. 21. Between Sept. 8 and Sept. 18 new cabinetry and equipment will be installed in the dining area of Bldg. 54 (where the Peabody's Coffee stand is currently located) to house the new combined coffee and merchandise counter. The service will be staffed by Eurest employees. A grand opening for the new center will be held on Sept. 21.

All merchandise currently available at the EBS will continue to be available at the new location, as will Upper Crust sandwiches, salads and sodas in the afternoon--and of course, your favorite coffees and smoothies. The new center will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Peabody's Coffee will close Friday, Sept. 4, to allow construction of the new center.

Any questions, comments or suggestions may be directed to Louise Millard at X5547, HLMillard@ lbl.gov.

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Library Catalog On the Web

The Berkeley Lab library catalog is now available via an easy-to-use web catalog, located at http://www-library.lbl.gov/opac/sf. The interface offers both simple and advanced search features, including different means to sort results. Also, you may now renew your library materials online simply by clicking on the "Request Renewal" button and supplying your employee ID number. The old Telnet version on CSA1 will no longer be available in the near future. For further questions call the Library at X5621.

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Postdoctoral Society Barbecue on Sunday

Bring your friends and family this Sunday, Aug. 23, for an afternoon of fun and conversation with postdocs, researchers, and their families and friends. The event is open to all Berkeley postdocs, Lab staff and affiliated students. The picnic will be held at Codornices Park (1201 Euclid in Berkeley, Picnic Area 2) starting at 4:30 p.m. The softball field is also reserved for two hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Bring your own meat to grill and a dish to share, as well as your favorite recreational equipment.

Parking is limited and carpooling is advised. The Postdoctoral Society will attempt to find you a ride if you contact one of the society officers or leave a message on the website bulletin board at http://white.lbl.gov/ ~postdoc/.

For more information contact Brian (X7076, BARowning@lbl.gov), Jana (X4335, Steiger@lcbvax.cchem. berkeley.edu) or Linda (mcpheron@ nature.Berkeley.edu).

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New Property System to Replace FOCUS

During the second week of September a new web-based property system is scheduled to go into production, replacing the old mainframe FOCUS application.

The new application, developed by Sunflower Systems, will be accessible from Property Management's Home Page. It allows property custodians to make changes to property assets in their name, request another custodian to take over responsibility, inventory their asset from the web, and offers users a variety of query options. Several instructional brown bag sessions are planned for early September to demonstrate the application.

For further questions call Gavin Robillard at X4184.

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New Weight Watchers Series Starts Aug. 25

Weight Watchers' At Work Program invites everyone to attend the first session of its 10-week series on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at noon in Bldg. 26-109. The initial meeting is free. The cost afterwards is $8.90 per week, based on prepaid series.

For more information call Judy Kody at X6266.

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LabVIEW and Data Acquisition Classes

A National Instruments LabVIEW basic three-day class and a Data Acquisition two-day class will be held at Berkeley Lab the week of Sept. 28. For details contact Roger at rddwindell@ lbl.gov or X7701.

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Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events at Berkeley Lab

BERKELEY LAB CALENDAR

The Berkeley Lab Calendar is published biweekly here on the World Wide Web and in Currents by the Public Information Department. Employees can list a meeting, class, or event in the Calendar by using this submission form. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Monday in the week that Currents is published.

In addition to the events listed below, Berkeley Lab's Washington, D.C. Projects office is hosting a Science and Technology Seminars series. 

Scientific Conferences

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August 21 - September 4

General Interest

SUN., AUG. 23

Postdoctoral Society Picnic
4:30 p.m., Codornices Park, Berkeley

TUES., AUG. 25

Weight Watchers Open Meeting
Noon, Bldg. 26-109

THURS., AUG. 27

Shoemobile
7:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m., Bldg. 54 parking lot

Seminars & Lectures
FRI., AUG. 28

Center for Beam Physics
"The PEP-II Project: Design and Commissioning" will be presented by Mike Zisman of CBP.
10:30 a.m., Bldg. 71 conference room

MON., AUG. 31

Physics Department
"Flawed Reflections: Studies of the Matter/Antimatter Asymmetry" will be presented by Robert Jacobsen of the UC Berkeley Physics Department.
4:30 p.m., 1 LeConte Hall

TUES., SEPT. 1

Center for Environmental Biotechnology
"Lessons from the Immune System: From Catalysis to Materials" will be presented by Peter Schultz of UC Berkeley.
12 noon, 338 Koshland Hall, UCB campus

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Sports Happenings

Golf Club

Softball

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CAFETERIA MENU

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Flea Market

Autos / Supplies

`69 VW Bug, classic, convertible, red w/ white top, rebuilt engine at 85K mi, rebuilt transmission, interior clean, needs body work/paint, $3,000/b.o., Dick, X4850 or Michael, 237-5330

`82 VW Rabbit, diesel, 130K mi, one owner, have all records, runs well, has cooling problem, $1,000, Dale or Erika, 525-7061

`84 TOYOTA Tercel, hatchback, manual, stereo, all records, 120K mi, runs exc, moving back to Europe, must sell fast, $980/b.o., Diana, 377-7402

`85 HONDA Civic, 5 spd, 4 dr, ac, CD player, 124K mi, good cond, $2,000, Vern, X7504, 528-2951

`86 PLYMOUTH Voyager LE Wagon, 137K mi, good cond, 7-8 passenger, $3,000/b.o., Othon, X6159

`86 TOYOTA Tercel, 4 door hatchback auto, 86K mi, navy blue, am/fm, new timing belt, spark plugs, ignition rotor, fuel and air filters, tires, inner and outer bearings, well maintained, clean, ac needs recharging, $2,900/b.o., Ashok, X4651, 237-8806

`86 TOYOTA Celica GT, 2 dr hatchback, automatic, white w/ blue interior, pwr steering, pwr mirrors, ac, am/fm, new tires, well maintained, runs great, highway miles 124K, $1,900/b.o. Faiz, X2328 (408) 247-3690

`87 DODGE Colt E, 91K mi, 4 dr, at, ps, ac, am/fm/cass + 4 speakers, complete service records, registered to 7/99, $1,500, Ron, X4410, 276-8079

`88.5 FORD Escort LX, 4 dr/hatchback, 79K mi, at, ac, reliable, single owner am/fm/cassette, good cond, $1,500, Barbara, 642-3990, 652-6696

`89 VW FOX GL, 4 dr, 4 sp, a/c, am/fm/tape, 103K mi, new tires, battery, clutch, smog checked, good cond, $2,200, Luc, X7962, 412-0301

`90 PLYMOUTH Voyager LE, 31 V6 eng, 98K mi, at, ac, am/fm/cass, pwr steering, cruise control, pwr windows, new front tires, brake system (pads, calipers, rotors, main cylinder) new, runs good, clean, $5,900/b.o., Olaf, X6676

`90 PLYMOUTH Voyager minivan, exc cond, V6, at/ac, am/fm, tilt/cruise, 115K mi, $4,000, Bryan, (925) 937-8778

`90 HARLEY FLST, new 1998 motor, new back wheel, windshield, bags, many extras, $13,950, Wesley, X7893, 724-3012

`93 JEEP Grand Cherokee Ltd, white w/ gray leather, 4-wheel/all-wheel drive, tow pkg, tint, premium sound, new tires, all options, exc cond, 95K mi, $14,500/b.o., Wayne, X7685, (925) 837-2409

`94 MAZDA Protege, manual, stereo, AC, warranty until 2000, 60K mi, very reliable, runs exc, moving back to Europe, must sell fast, $6,900, Diana, 377-7402

`94 FORD Mustang, silver, 3.8L, new transmission, 56K mi, fully loaded, CD and cassette, pwr everything, anti-lock brakes, fold-down rear seats, runs great, $9,500, Lisa, X5314, (925) 906-9786

`94 FORD Tempo, 42K mi, white, new parts, $4,500, Massimo, (415) 292-9215

`98 JEEP Cherokee Sport, 4 dr, 4wd, 4.0l, white, 20K mi, ac, ps, pw, pwr door lock, tilt wheel, cruise control, privacy glass, am/fm, cassette, dual air bags, roof rack, towing pkg, allow wheels, security, 3 yr warranty 36K mi, $19,000, Yasuhisa, X6645

CAMPER SHELL, dark blue fiberglass for short bed Toyota pickup, like new, Dave, X4171

FACTORY Repair Manual for `87 Toyota Tercel, 4WD Wagon, $15, Jim, X4958, 339-3277

Housing

BERKELEY, sublet one rm in shared 2 bdrm apt on UC campus northside, spacious and bright, living rm, dining alcove, kitchen, bdrm has own bth, open fireplace, fully furn, laundry facility, individual phone line, off street parking for 2 cars, close public transportation, UCB/LBNL Shuttle, AC Transit bus stop on Hearst, Berkeley Center BART is 10 min walk, ideal for visiting scientist, util not included, $648/mo, Joachim, X5083

BERKELEY HILLS, 1 bdrm, 1 bth, in-law apt avail Sept. 1, fully furn, newly remodeled, private patio, marble bthrm, nonsmoker only, $895 + util, Helga, 524-8308

KENSINGTON, furn rm avail, $375/mo, Ruth, 526-2007

PIEDMONT, bright 2 bdrm, 1 bth house, laundry rm, formal dining rm, storage, no smoking, lease, 15 mins from LBNL/UCB, $1,500, Lydia, X4952

SAN FRANCISCO, large furn room avail from 11/1-1/15/99 or possibly 4/20/99, $575, Evelyn, X5898

Miscellaneous

BACKPACK, Dana Designs Bomb pack, size small, only used once, perfect for short overnight backpacking or ski trips, $115, Julie, X2420

COMMERCIAL Stove, Comstock-Castle, $1,200/b.o.; Fischer Lovebirds two breeders, one cock, lg cage, $150; queen sofa, green & tan (new) $250; tanning lamp, $40, Linda, X6442, 237-3723

FURNITURE, matching blue & white sofa set, good cond, $350, Peter, X6942

FUTON, queen-size Atlantic frame, oak, 8', separate print cover, 3 level reclination, 9 mo old, $250; twin bed, mattress w/ metal frame/cover, $20; Laserline CD-200T spinner, $15; Laserline AC-100 Cassette spinner, $8; Proctor Silex 2-slice wide-slot toaster, $6; foldable chairs, 5 metal, 2 wooden, $35 total or $6 ea, Ziwei, X5466, 644-9721

GARAGE SALE, Sat. 8/22, 9 am to 3 pm, corner of Cedar & Grant, Berkeley, Patti, X7603

HOT TUB/SPA, Cal-X, 7'x8', almond tub w/ blue tile and redwood skirt, seats 8, massage seat, lounge, 2 benches & step-seat, retractable cover w/ lift, operates on 110V standard outlet or switches to 220V, $1,850/b.o., Wayne, X7685, (925) 837-2409

INFANT CAR SEATS (2), Evenflo "On My Way" w/ base(s), perfect cond, $30 ea; Medela breast pump, top of the line w/ all accessories, travel case w/ car adapter, $150, David, (925) 516-2358

MAC IIsi Computer, 9 MB RAM, 40 MB internal hard disk, 100 MB external hard disk drive Apple Color High Resolution 13" RGB Monitor, Apple Extended Keyboard II, Day Star 50 MHz Universal Power Cache, lots of software, $250, Ron, X4410, 276-8079

MOVING SALE, queen size bed w/ 1 yr old mattress, $150; 19" Sharp Color TV, $80; Futon w/ frame, $70; Comforter, electric heater, night desk, chairs, dresser, halogen, iron, kitchenware, telephone, other items, negotiable, Jerome, X5265

MOVING SALE, queen size bed, $150; sofa sleeper, $250; coffee table, $50; desk w/ shelves and chair, $40; Sony WebTV, $50; bookshelf, $15; 2 lamps, $15-$20; 2 tables, $10/pc; 2 chairs, $10/pc; coffee maker, $10; battery charger, $10; hair dryer, $5; moveable shower head, $20; shower curtain, $10, Tamas, X4828, 558-9192

MOVING SALE, sofa, 3 & 2 seater, 1.5 yrs old, $300; 2 drawers, brown, $40; drawer, brown, wood, $15; drawer, white, wood, $35; platform bed, queen (new), $100; foam mattress, queen, 1.5 yrs old, $150; entertainment center, brown, $120; desk, small, brown, $40; 4 chairs, wood, light brown, 1.5 yrs old, $30; bookshelf, wood, $45; rocking chair, brown, $30; 2 small folding tables, $12 ea; 2 white table lamps, $10 ea; halogen standard lamp, $10; 3 bulb standard lamp, 1.5 yrs old, $15; telephone + answering machine, $25; Black & Decker toaster oven, 1.5 yrs old, $25; 19" TV, RCA, $50; 15" computer monitor, Proton, 1 yr old, $130, Olaf, X6676

MOVING SALE, twin bed, like new, quality mattress and box, in exc cond, $60/b.o.; study desk (3), 60'x36', $50/b.o.; 48'x30', $15; 42'x20', $5; end table w/ glass top, like new, $5, and others, Christine, X7039, 527-0705

OPERA TICKETS, 2, in Dress Circle: 10/30, Tristan und Isolde, and 12/11, Peter Grimes, $170/pr; tickets (2) in the Grand Tier: 12/11, Peter Grimes, $240, Esther, X5306, 843-7678

OPERA TICKETS, SF: 9/25, Turandot; 10/2 Streetcar Named Desire; 10/23 Manon; 10/30 Tristan und Isolde; 11/27 Bethrothal in a Monastery; 12/11 Peter Grimes, Balcony Circle, $150/pr, Diana, X6444

PENTIUM Computer, Gateway Pr-120, 80MB RAM, 4.2GB HD, 28.8 modem, 8x IDE CD ROM, 15" monitor, keyboard, stereo, HP Deskjet 600c printer, Win95, all in exc cond, except printer which needs work, $800, Rick or Laura, X2233, 848-3662

PIANO w/ bench, Schafer & Sons, 52" high, gloss black, one owner, very good cond, $1,950, Anne, X7337, 531-7837

ROTARY power mower, 22", B&S engine, w/ grass bag, $45; fertilizer spreader, $20; bass guitar (Epiphone), w/ practice amp, $200; child's bicycle helmet, new in bag, $15; trundle bed w/ one mattress, $20, Jim, X4958, 339-3277

ROTTWEILER pure bred puppies, w/ papers, avail after 8/20, Miguel, 237-1609

SATELLITE Dish, 10 ft, old descrambler (needs upgrade), needs LNB/receiver, $50, Ted, X4144, 237-3723

SF OPERA tickets, Arabella, Sat. 9/12, and possibly other Sat operas, balc pair, 2nd row ctr, $100/pair, P. Concus, 526-3519

TICKETS (2), Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, for 9/10 and 10/30, Zellerbach, $17/ticket, Ed, 526-1260

Vacation

HAWAII, 20 miles below Hilo on Big Island, convenient to Univ of Hawaii campus, unfurn, 2 bdrm, 2 bth house for rent by week ($150) or by month ($450), $55,000 to buy, nr schools, shopping, rec ctr, 1 mi to ocean bluff, Marlene, X6005

Wanted

APT, 1 bdrm for German LBNL participating guest, student of Physics, only for 9/1 to 9/26, in Berkeley nr LBNL shuttle or No Berkeley, Christoph, X2402

GLOBE (terrestrial), pre 1945 preferred, Ruth, 526-2007

HOUSE/CONDO, furn, 2+ bdrm, nice area nr LBNL for visiting scientist and wife, 11/1/98 to 4/30/99, Bill, X5910

ROOM in a home, retired male, non-smoker, non-drinker, Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, San Pablo area, ref avail, $50 finders fee, Paul, 528-9056

ROOM, Berkeley area, for French scientist, 8/31 to 9/15, Sebastien, X7838

SINGERS for a small, informal madrigal group which meets on Sunday evenings in Albany, all voices welcome; join us for a wonderful musical experience, Carol, X6696, 526-4152

TV/VCR Combo, small size, prefer portable, Klaus, X2232, (925) 258-8963

Free

3 YOUNG CATS (teenagers) really need a home, black, 2 long-haired (male & female), 1 short-haired (female), adorable, playful, affectionate and purr loudly when held, Robin, X4141

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Flea Market Ad Policy

Ads are accepted only from LBNL employees, retirees, and on-site DOE personnel. Only items of your own personal property may be offered for sale.

Submissions must include name, affiliation, extension, and home telephone number.

Ads must be submitted in writing--via e-mail (fleamarket@lbl.gov), fax (X6641), or delivered/ mailed to Bldg. 65B. No ads will be taken by phone.

Ads will run one week only unless resubmitted in writing. They will be repeated only as space permits.

The deadline for the Sept. 4 issue is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Ads will not be accepted after that date.

============

Currents/The View and the Communications Department Staff

Published once a month by the Communications Department for the employees and retirees of Berkeley Lab.

Reid Edwards, Public Affairs Department head
Ron Kolb, Communications Department head

EDITOR
Pamela Patterson, 486-4045, pjpatterson@lbl.gov
Associate editor
Lyn Hunter, 486-4698, lhunter@lbl.gov

STAFF WRITERS
Dan Krotz, 486-4019
Paul Preuss, 486-6249
Lynn Yarris, 486-5375

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ucilia Wang, 495-2402
Allan Chen, 486-4210
David Gilbert, (925) 296-5643

DESIGN
Caitlin Youngquist, 486-4020
Creative Services Office

Berkeley Lab
Communications Department
MS 65, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley CA 94720
(510) 486-5771
Fax: (510) 486-6641

Berkeley Lab is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Flea Market is now online at www.lbl.gov/fleamarket

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