Technology transfer provides new technology, jobs, and growth to the private sector but it also pays benefits to LBL and its employees. This week, LBL Director Charles Shank handed out royalty checks to seven inventors whose work has been licensed to private industry.
Technology Transfer Department Head Cheryl Fragiadakis joined Shank in congratulating the recipients, saying they represented "the tip of the iceberg" in terms of the Laboratory's growing technology transfer efforts, and the royalties likely to be received in the future.
Gisella Clemons, a retired researcher from the Life Sciences Division who was the first inventor to receive royalties based on an invention licensed by LBL, received her third annual royalty check. Clemons invented a method of producing an anti-serum that can be used to measure erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys that controls the production of red blood cells.
LBL licensed the technology to Diagnostics Systems Laboratories in Webster, Texas. The company makes some 10 different types of erythropoietin kits and components that are based on Clemon's invention, and already has sold thousands of units.
Energy and Environment Division researcher Greg Ward received a royalty check for his development of RADIANCE, lighting simulation software that has been licensed to Genlyte of Secaucus, New Jersey.
According to Technology Transfer Department licensing manager Viviana Wolinsky, RADIANCE aids lighting designers and architects by predicting the light levels and appearance of a space prior to its actual construction. Genlyte has incorporated this package into its Genesys software program, which is distributed to lighting designers.
Earth Sciences Division researchers Chin-Fu Tsang and Frank Hale received royalty checks for their development of a high resolution instrument/software package for characterizing groundwater contamination.
Colog Inc. of Colorado has licensed the process for use in the cleanup of contaminated sites. Termed hydrophysical logging, the technique is based on a new concept for measuring fluid flow. It allows characterization of groundwater problems more quickly, more cost effectively, and with higher resolution than current industry standards.
The Engineering Division's William Hearn and Issy Kipnis, along with visiting researcher Henrik von Der Lippe, received royalty checks for their development of a customized integrated circuit.
Advanced Photonics Inc. licensed the chip for use with its avalanche photodetectors. As part of LBL's work for the Superconducting Super Collider, Hearn, Kipnis, and von Der Lippe designed a chip that was readily customized to match API's avalanche devices. The circuit contains 16 ultra-low noise preamplifiers for use with API's new line of photodetectors.
Technology Transfer Department (TTD) licensing manager Viviana Wolinsky says the process kicks off when an inventor files an invention disclosure statement with the LBL Patent Department. The Patent Department and TTD then jointly assess the invention, both in terms of the type of intellectual property protection possible, and the commercial viability of the invention. The two departments then choose the most promising candidates for commercialization.
Focusing on these high priority inventions, the Patent Department pursues a patent or other form of protection. After the Patent Department has filed for protection, TTD attempts to market the technology by negotiating a license with an interested company. Licensing agreements typically pay LBL an up-front fee as well as royalties based on future sales.
All income from the licensing agreement--fees and royalties--are split between LBL and the inventors. The amount of the fee that goes to the inventors is determined by a standard formula. Of the first $100,000 of net cumulative income (what remains after LBL's cost to patent and license the technology is deducted), 50 percent goes to the inventors and 50 percent goes to LBL. Inventors receive 35 percent of the next $400,000, and 20 percent of any additional income.
One of the things that makes this time of the year so special for me is the vitality of the human spirit that surfaces amid the joy of the holiday season. And year's end is an appropriate time to take stock of what's been accomplished and what lies ahead. I think you'll agree that we have ample reason to celebrate our past and our future.
This has been a richly rewarding year in research for LBL. Just to recall a few of the many highlights, our scientists helped unveil the first evidence of the Top Quark, achieved new progress in revealing nuclear structure with the installation of the Gammasphere, built the reputation of the Advanced Light Source with its unprecedented operating performance, and contributed extensively to our country's energy efficiency programs. We can also be proud of our renewed tradition of achievement in partnership with SLAC as we successfully initiated construction of the B-factory.
We have no reason to be any less enthusiastic about our prospects for 1995, a year that promises the groundbreaking for our new Human Genome Laboratory and the beginning of the Induction Linac Systems Experiment. For the international high energy physics community, we are now developing future leadership roles for key detector and accelerator components for the Large Hadron Collider. These efforts serve to rekindle our optimism and remind us of the long-term role we play in the future of science throughout the world.
It is this spirit of achievement, dedication and community that emerges for me with the hope and good will of the season. And in this same spirit, I send to everyone in the LBL family my heartiest best wishes for a safe and relaxing holiday and a prosperous New Year.
"If I can do it, anybody can do it," says LBL employee Julie Rodriguez Jones of Procurement. Jones, who stands 5'2", weighed 250 pounds a little over a year ago. Today she is a trim 120 pounds.
How did she do it?
"I got very aggressive about diet and exercise," says Jones. "I bought a kitchen scale and learned a lot about food from a nutritionist."
She had a major motivation for losing the excess weight accumulated over a 10-year period. Last December she found out she was severely diabetic and would have to take insulin.
Signs of diabetes
As an Hispanic person over 40, Jones was in a higher-than-average risk group for the condition. But although she had classic symptoms of diabetes--unusual thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, tingling and numbness in her feet, tiredness, excessive weight--Jones had attributed each of them to other causes.
Her doctor (at Kaiser) immediately sent her to a nutritionist and a diabetes educator. What they told her about the potential results of uncontrolled diabetes frightened her: blindness, the loss of a limb, early death. But she learned that many of her symptoms could be reversed through diet and exercise.
"I started losing weight immediately," says Jones. "I was off insulin in 60 days."
Encouragement helped
The encouragement of her many friends at LBL helped her get through the difficult period of learning she had diabetes and beginning to do something about it.
"My colleagues in Procurement have been very, very good at encouraging me," she says.
The day she had to draw her own blood for the first time, and her eyesight was failing, coworker Jean Lawther visited her at home. "Jean came and sat with me and read the directions for me so I could do the test."
Other LBLers show support by honking and waving their encouragement as she does her daily lunchtime jog/walk down the Hill and around the block at Euclid and Hearst and back up the Hill again.
"First we saw Julie out walking," says LBL bus supervisor Tammy Brown. "And then it didn't seem that long before she was jogging along slowly, and then she was jogging along faster. This was all going downhill. Then we saw her jogging uphill! It's very inspirational."
Friends around the Lab continue to send her encouraging words on e-mail. "People have no idea how important that is," she says.
Besides increasing her level of physical activity, she has radically changed her eating habits in the last year.
"I learned about eating and nutrition all over again," she says. "Right now I'm probably obsessed, but I think it's a good thing."
A diet for everyone
Jones says her diet has been a very important part of her weight-loss program.
"A diabetic diet is one everyone should be living on," she says. "It's very healthy."
Her diet is heavy on vegetables and grains and minimizes fats and sugars. It includes moderate amounts of carbohydrates and small portions of fruit and protein.
"I think variety is really important," says Jones. "There are a billion varieties of squashes out there that are really good, and all kinds of different lettuces, veggies, and seasoned vinegar dressings."
Besides diet and exercise, Jones has made other changes in her life to make more time for herself. She has excused herself from her volunteer work with a parent- teachers association and one nonprofit organization, and cut back to the role of advisor on another. Now she has time to swim, bike, jog, and take care of herself.
She has taken to wearing fitted clothing and for the first time enjoys having her picture taken. Best of all, she says, she has plans to be around to see her eight-year-old son grow up.
"Hopefully," she says, "I've added an extra fifteen years to my life, if not more."
For information about weight loss or diabetes, please contact your personal physician. Limited information is also available at LBL Health Services.
LBL Associate Director at Large Glenn Seaborg was awarded the first annual Explorers Club Award for Exploration in Science in New York City on November 16. The award was in recognition of, among other things, Seaborg's efforts to assist students in understanding science and its importance to society's well-being.
AMES LAB NAMES ACTING DIRECTOR:
James P. Corones has been named acting director of the Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, effective Dec. 7, 1994. Corones will serve in an interim capacity until a new director is named to replace Thomas J. Barton, who announced his resignation in July after serving six years. Corones served as Ames' deputy director from January 1989 through April 1991. Most recently, he has been director of the Lab's Applied Mathematical Sciences program and the Environmental Technology Development program, which he established in 1990. Corones holds a Ph.D. in mathematical physics from Boston University and is a professor of mathematics at Iowa State University. A national search for a permanent director began in November. Review of applications will begin in January.
http://www.lbl.gov/Publications/Currents/Currents.html.
To set up your computer to access the World Wide Web, call the Mac and PC support Group at X6858.
The LBL Special Review Board, appointed by the University President, met in closed sessions at the Lab on Dec. 12-13.
On Jan. 10-11, 1995, the Board will hear from employees selected by the Board who have asked to comment in person. This meeting will be held off-site in order to maintain the confidentiality of those requesting to speak.
In the interest of time and efficiency, the Board encourages employees who wish to comment to do so in writing. Employees also may ask to be heard in person.
Written statements may be sent to the Chairman of the Review Board: Dr. John Armstrong, c/o University of California, Office of Laboratory Affairs, 300 Lakeside Drive, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612-3550. Written statements should be submitted no later than Jan. 6, 1995.
Employees who wish to address the Board in person may request to do so by writing to the same address or by calling the Office of Laboratory Affairs at 987-9409. These request should be submitted no later than Dec. 22. The University welcomes your input to this process.
Equity 7.08%
Bond <11.42%>
Multi-Asset 2.64%
Money Market 4.03%
Savings 6.70%
Insurance Company Contract 7.92%
* Past performance does not guarantee future results
E-mail virus? Not this "Time"
Many employees received an e-mail alert about a destructive virus rumored to be floating around the Internet. The virus, it said, was in the form of an e-mail message with the subject line "Good Times," that when opened erased all the data on a computer's hard drive.
It turns out the "Good Times" rumor was just that. According to Mark Rosenberg, the Computer Protection Program manager at LBL, the rumor appears to have been started by someone on the Internet provider America Online.
In this case, any panic the rumor caused was probably greater than the risk, Rosenberg says--there is little chance information in a simple e-mail message could carry anything destructive. "It is highly unlikely that opening up e-mail to read could ever damage your computer," he says.
However, items enclosed with e-mail, such as graphics or postscript files, are a slightly different story. In theory, such items could contain viruses that could infect a computer when accessed.
Any employee receiving an alert about a computer virus in the future should contact the Lab's Computer Protection Program rather than e-mailing friends and co-workers. "We want to assess situations as soon as possible and let computer users know if there is any risk," Rosenberg says. "There really wasn't enough evidence to conclude that the "Good Times" rumor had any merit."
LBL also has measures set up--such as the Computer Emergency Response Team--to check for computer viruses on the LBL network on a daily basis.
For more information on computer security, or to report computer security-related incidents, contact Rosenberg at cppm@lbl.gov or at X6708.
Standards set for popular software
To reduce costs, streamline information exchange, and improve service, the Lab is establishing standards for three common types of office computer software for Macintoshes and PCs. Microsoft Word will be the standard for document preparation, MS Excel for spreadsheets, and MS PowerPoint for presentations.
To help employees follow the new standards, ICSD is making arrangements to enable Stores to provide "10-pack" prices on the full Microsoft Office package--which includes all three products--as well as the standard discount prices on copy-only licenses.
Please remember that valid licenses are required for any software you use. Copy-only licenses may be obtained for software copies.
The ICSD Mac/PCSupport Group now offers full support on Word and Excel, and is preparing to provide full support for PowerPoint. Mac/PCSupport can be reached at X6858, or at baseline@lbl.gov.
Follow the rules and avoid computer break-ins
Every month, the Information and Computing Services Division detects illegal penetration attempts on the network at LBL. Several attacks have been successful in gaining access to LBL computer systems, with the result that all files had to be checked and all users re-authenticated. This recovery process is burdensome. Please observe password selection procedures and administration guidelines so that disturbances are kept to a minimum.
Security is also an issue for file sharing. You should make sure that sharing on your computer is enabled only for those files you wish to share, and only for those people with whom you wish to share them.
The virus danger is also still with us. Installing software from an unknown source exposes computers to the threat of virus infection. Employees are reminded to install and use appropriate virus protection software, and to periodically scan disks for viruses.
Questions about computer security issues may be addressed to Mark Rosenberg, the Computer Protection Program Manager, at X6708 or cppm@lbl.gov.
SHOEMOBILE
7:30 a.m-4:30 p.m., Bldg. 77
20 t u e s d a y
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
10-11 a.m., Bldg. 50 Aud., Martha Krebs, Office of Energy Research, "New Challenges, New Directions, and New Opportunities"
EH&S CLASS
10 a.m.-noon, Bldg. 90-2063; Machine Tool Safeguarding (EHS 245); pre-registration required, X6612
LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL ASSOCIATION
Noon, Bldg. 50F Conf. Rm.; general meeting
EH&S CLASS
1-4 p.m., Bldg. 48-109; Adult CPR (EHS-123); pre-registration required, X6554
STRING THEORY SEMINAR
2:10 p.m., Bldg. 50A-3106; N. Obers, L'École Polytechnique, Paris, "Plane Gravitational Waves in String Theory"
PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING
4 p.m., Bldg. 50A-5132; P. Langacker, Univ. of Pennsylvania, "Neutrino Mass and Solar Neutrinos," Refreshments, 3:40 p.m.
21 w e d n e s d a y
OPEN CALENDAR
22 t h u r s d a y
BUILDING ENERGY SEMINAR
Noon, Bldg. 90-3148; M. Siminovitch and E. Mills, LBL, "Residential Compact Fluorescent Fixtures--the Next Generation for CFLs"
PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING
4 p.m., Bldg. 50A-5132; B. Schumm, LBL, "A Direct Measurement of Parity Violation in the Zbb Vertex at SLC/SLD," Refreshments, 3:40 p.m.
23 f r i d a y
OPEN CALENDAR
3-cheese omelet
Cream of mushroom
Barbecued tri-tip
Bacon cheeseburger & fries
tuesday
Apple-cinnamon French toast
Old-fashioned bean w/ham
Rosemary chicken
Fishwich & fries
wednesday
Corned beef hash & eggs
Chicken noodle
Lemon dill cod
Sloppy Joe & fries
thursday
Big blueberry pancakes
Manhattan clam chowder
Pizza
Philly cheesesteak & fries
friday
Ham scramble
Hearty vegetable
Chef's choice
Grill closed
Minimum work forces will continue during the shutdown; all employees who must work during the period must have advance approval by the appropriate division director. In addition, employees who must work with unsealed radioactive materials must have the intended work reviewed and approved by the EH&S Division one week before the shutdown period.
If you work during this period, you can help save as much as 30 percent of LBL's daily ($18,000) expenditure of energy by
AUTOS/SUPPLIES
SCOOTER, Yamaha Razz, runs well, reliable, $250. Detlef, X4350, 654-9514
'85 HONDA Accord LX, 4-dr,
5-spd., a/c, gd tires, new carpets, reliable, gd commuter car, $3500/b.o. 625-4415
'88 CHEVROLET Camaro RS, 50K mi., fuel injection, p/b,
p/s, 5-spd, a/t, very gd cond., $5500/b.o. 935-9161 (msg.)
'88 CORVETTE, black on black coupe w/2 tops, a/t, Z52 pkg., exc. cond., 33K mi., $17600/b.o. Mark, X7451, 895-0151
'88 HONDA Civic LX, 4-dr, a/t, a/c, am/fm cass., p/s, p/l,
p/w, alarm, 65K mi., runs exc., $5000/b.o. Leon X5305, 261-8774
'91 NISSAN 240SX, white, 2-dr, p/s, p/b, a/c, am/fm cass., new tires & rims, mask, $9800. Al Harcourt, X7660
WANTED
HOST VOLUNTEERS for int'l students living on campus, to maintain informal contact & hospitality throughout the yr & during school breaks and holidays. John Ruzek, X5987, 939-5181 (eve.)
MACINTOSH COMPUTERS, printers or monitors, for non-profit literary assoc., tax doc. provided. John, X4897,
339-8950
SIMMS, 1-mg, for IBM type machine, 30 pins x 9; also, old CD-ROM w/card. 482-3030, 2-8745
FOUND
BRACELET, on rdwy from Blackberry Canyon pkg lot. Carol, X6651
WRISTWATCH, nr bldg 26
12/16. David, X7457
MISCELLANEOUS
BRONZEWARE, setting for 12, from Bangkok, Thailand, circa 1967, only used twice, elegant, unique,144 pieces, 12 11-pce place settings & 12 serving pieces, wooden case, $3,250/b.o. Auben, X4613, 245-0343
COUCH $25/b.o., sofabed $50. Sajid Hakim, X5184, 548-0641, shhakim@lbl.gov
ELEC. RANGE, 1986 Corning glass top, model R30JB, 4-burner w/standard oven, clock, mustard yellow color, equiv. to GE JBP-75. $75.00/b.o. Greg Stover, X7706
FUTON & FRAME, queen, $230; queen bed w/frame, $180; TV, 19", $150; stereo $180; dining table w/4 chairs $50; lots more. Ferdinand, X5994,
204-9184
FUTON & FRAME, queen, gd cond., $70. Detlef, X4350, 654-9514
FUTON, w/oak frame, sofabed, great cond., $100. Krista, X7523, 548-3769
GLASS TANK, 35-gal., w/ glass hood, fluor. light, underwater visitherm heater, blue & white gravel & colorful bkgrd, $70/b.o. Joe, 522-4905 eves
MOTORCYCLE JACKET, Motorport, leather, safari-style, size 40, padded, rem. liner, like new, $195; leather overpants, vent-teck, size 34, padded, rem. liner, $195. John Thompson, 524-1844
PIANO, 1914 upright, ivory keys, bench, antique tiger oak, looks/sounds great, $1850. Peter/Anne, 531-7837
SCANNER, Radio Shack Pro-34 UHF/VHF Programmable w/charger $100; Panasonic Cell. Phone, many features, orig. $450, now $200; Canon E65 Camcorder w/2 batts, charger, car charger, $500. Fred Ottens, X6068, 526-3259
SKI BOOTS, Salomon size 320, approx. size 8, exc. cond., gd for teen or intermed. skier, used only two seasons. $45.
H. Matis, X5031, 339-0584
SKI BOOTS, Raichle, size 7-1/2, $25. Ron, X4410, 276-8079
SKI RACKS, locking, 2 pr, Barrecrafters, adj. width, for snowbds or several pr skis, requires car w/rain gutters, $30/pr/b.o. 642-2156, 527-2937
TV, 24" color Mitsubishi, oak cab., $125. Al Harcourt, X7660
TOTE BAG, navy vinyl Gucci, $50; Precor 714 stair stepper $150; Val St. Lambert crystal pitcher $150; Erte silk scarf "dream voyage" $75; Nintendo gameboy w/4 games $60. Lisa, X6268, 841-4855
TOYS, Playmobile, Duplo bldg. blocks, exc. cond., no parts missing, price negot. Paul Molinari, 235-6602
HOUSING
ALBANY, furn. 1-bdrm apt., wash./dry., nr UC Village & bus to LBL/UCB, quiet family dist., no more than 3 persons, visiting professor w/spouse pref., nonsmokers, $675/mo. Donald Mangold, X6459
ALBANY, 2+bdrm house, furn., lg. study, garage, deck, modern kitch., avail. Jan for 1 yr. $1300/mo. incl. gardener. 526-3349
BERKELEY, cute studio w/skylight, small garden, walk to UC/LBL shuttle/Gourmet Ghetto, $515/mo. 548-9869
BERKELEY, newly remodeled
2-bdrm uppper flat, new hdwd flrs, high ceilings, new appliances, yard, pkg, Ocean View area, $875/mo. 540-0385, 548-9869
BERKELEY, small furn. rm in furn. rooming house, 5-min. walk to UC/LBL shuttle, $435/mo. incl. utils. 540-0385
BERKELEY, furn. 1-bdrm apt, bay view, priv. redwd deck, hardwd flrs, new tile bth, kitch. w/microwave & refrig. only, non-smoker, nr. Claremont Hotel, walk to campus, $750 incl. utils. 849-4588
BERKELEY HILLS, furn. rm in priv. home; on Euclid/Cedar Ave.; 5 blks from campus; kitch. privileges; washer/dryer; deck; view of SF/ Golden Gate/bay; nr. transp./shops/tennis/Rose Garden; no smoking or pets; pref. visitng scholar or FT working person, $450+util. Laura, 548-1287
CONCORD,3-bdrm house,1 new bath, back fence w/gate on park, hdwd flrs, tile entry, new paint, nr BART/shopping/schools, $895 +dep. 689-7213
EL CERRITO, 1 person, furn.,
1-bdrm apt, lvng rm, bth, kitch. only microwave, refrig., cleaning service, lg. garden, bay view, no smoking, nr. bus/BART, rent negot. Alice, 524-1641
KENSINGTON, furn. 3-bdrm house, view, garden patio, quiet, 2 cats, pref. visiting LBL staff, avail. 1/1, rental period flex., $1200/mo. 526-6730
KENSINGTON, furn. studio, pvt, small patio, ideal for one person, short term OK, avail. 1/21, $475 incl. util., cable. 559-8021
NORTH BERKELEY, furn.,
1-bdrm apt (incl. 486 computer), 2/11-4/7, 2 blks from N. Berk. BART, $525/mo+dep. X4093, 849-1929
SAN FRANCISCO Marina share, 1-bdrm in 3-bdrm flat, lvrm w/ fireplace, full kitch., storage area, bkyd, great loc., avail. 2/1, $510/mo+1/3 util. Karen, X7330, 415/771-5157
WANTED: 1-bdrm apt/studio for visiting German scholar at Berk., non-smoker, male, for 14 mo. from 2/1. kober@ruf.uni-freiburg.de or fax/phone c/o Peter, 415/322-9674
WANTED: Studio apt or rm in house, Walnut Creek/Berk./Oak., $325/mo. Catherine, X7249, 947-0447
WANTED: Share in Berk. for UC professor who spends 3-4 days a wk in Berk. Priv. rm w/bath in No. Berkeley pref. (916) 758-5015
WANTED: Furn. studio, rm, or houseshare for visiting grad. student researcher 1/14-5/20, pref. Rockridge, Elmwood or N. Berk. Nancy Sallee X4497
WANTED: 1-bdrm furn. apt nr LBL for visiting researcher 1/26-9/8. Ian X4174, 548-7102
VACATION
BAHAMAS, 1-bdrm beach condo., sleeps 4, all amenities, Taino Beach Resort Club, $500/wk (Sat.-Sat.), need 2 mos. adv. notice. 528-1614
MENDOCINO COAST, 8 acres, secluded 3-bdrm, 2-bth house, river/ocean view 3 mi. west, 700-ft. elev, grassland, mature forest, grdns, avail. May, $900. Photos. 707/937-4015
SO. LAKE TAHOE 4-bdrm cabin, exc. loc., 2 mi. from Heavenly Valley, AEK, washer/dryer. Bill Holley, X4822, 283-3094
NORTH TAHOE, new 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house; avail. for wknd or wkdy ski season rental; quiet; greenbelt views; w/in 10 min. of North Star/casinos/shopping/lake/dining; x-country/resort skiing all around; reas. price. Wayne Nordby, X7685, 837-2409
REAL ESTATE
RICHMOND, 2-bdrm split-level MacGregor home, gd neighborhood, 20 min. from LBL, lg. kitch., stove, refrig., washer/dryer, hdwd flrs, new carpet, fam. rm, compact priv. fenced yd w/patio, fruit trees, rock garden, $127,500. Jim, X7231, or Heidi Long, 486-1495
Mary Bodvarsson, X4014
Mac QuickMail, fax X6641
mgbodvarsson@lbl.gov
STAFF WRITERS:
Jeffery Kahn
Diane LaMacchia
Mike Wooldridge
Lynn Yarris
CALENDAR:
Fax X6641
currents_calendar@lbl.gov
Deadline: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday
FLEA MARKET:
Fax X6641
fleamarket@lbl.gov
Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday
INFORMATION:
Mary Padilla, X5771
PRODUCTION:
Alice Ramirez
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY:
Public Information Dept., Bldg. 65B
Mike Chartock, Acting Manager