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LBL Currents

June 9, 1995



Table of Contents


Hazel O'Leary candid about future of DOE, national labs

Says labs must win support of public

By Lynn Yarris, LCYarris@LBL.gov

The May 17 issue of Science magazine featured an interview with Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary in which the secretary candidly expressed her opinions on a number of issues that concern the national laboratories.

With regards to the House Republican budget plan, O'Leary called it "bad news for basic and applied science." Noting that basic science would take a 35-percent cut, a reduction of about $6 billion over seven years, the Secretary said, "It almost gives the appearance that the people involved in this exercise had no idea of the value science has, or what it has contributed. This budget is shortsighted and foolish."

In discussing her own ideas for restructuring the national laboratories, O'Leary said, "I have never said we should support all of these labs. I believed when I first came into this job that it would be a far simpler matter to look at a lab and move its programs. I have since learned with the sophistication that comes from dealing with the many stakeholders that that is not a thing done easily. But I think there is an opportunity for consolidation, and we will put the pieces together for our 1997 budget."

With regards to science and DOE's mission, the Secretary expressed strong support for the role played by the national laboratories, but indicated she would pick her spots as to where she would fight.

"Our major mission has never been energy," O'Leary said. "Science and technology have always been the supporting base (of DOE). Almost the tail wagging the dog was the energy piece put into DOE simply because of the energy crisis. Programs like the human genome have become an integral part of the intellectual muscle of the laboratories which I would not like to see stripped away. Over time will that happen? Possibly. I am not going to stand and defend every programmatic responsibility of the Department."

Regarding major new science facilities, the Secretary was emphatic in arguing that the scientific community must play an active role in promoting its agenda before Congress and cannot exclusively rely on her efforts.

"We must ensure we're not schnookering the public or the Congress about the cost of new facilities," she said. "What took down the Superconducting Super Collider was the fact that the cost kept increasing. We can only go forward if the public understands the value of (scientific) projects. And I'm not Superwoman. I don't wake up and say, Dammit, I'm going to take on the Congress. You've got to have a lot of people on your side."

The key to winning the support of the Congress for new facilities, the Secretary said, was to win the support of the public.

"The scientific community must work with real live people so they are conversant and understand the long-term benefit of research," O'Leary said. "For example, neutrinos have mass. Great, now why does my mother care? We can't be so bright and know-it-all that we do not spend time engaging the public. I can't do this alone."

On other subjects of interest, the Secretary said that the proposal to establish a Department of Science "is counterintuitive to everything I know about managing organizations and managing basic science." Such a gigantic department (77,000 employees) she said would be too large to manage and too monolithic for the scientists who would be forced to deal with it.

On the subject of fusion research, O'Leary said future large-scale projects would probably require an international approach "like the SSC should have been from the start." On the issue of environmental cleanup, the Secretary said there probably is not enough money in the world to restore sites such as the nuclear production facility at Hanford, Wash., to pristine conditions. Instead she asked for a budget that would permit DOE "to drive the technology to help us improve our pace and depth of cleanup so we can do better every time for less."


Researchers pave way for even better anti-cancer drug

By Lynn Yarris, LCYarris@LBL.gov

Taxol, a natural substance found only in the bark of the Pacific yew tree, and chemically synthesized last year, has been shown to be an effective treatment for a number of cancers, including ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.

According to experts, however, an even more potent anti-cancer drug could be designed if scientists had sufficient structural knowledge of the interactions of the taxol molecule with its target at the atomic level. Now, LBL scientists have produced the first high-resolution, 3-D image of the site where taxol interacts with vital cell proteins.

The researchers have used electron crystallography to produce three-dimensional images of a protein called tubulin at near atomic-scale resolution. Tubulin is the major constituent of microtubules, which are hollow cylinders, like tiny drinking straws, that serve as part of the skeletal system for cells and are crucial to a number of vital functions including mitosis (cell division). The LBL images have revealed the site where taxol (the name has been trademarked by Bristol-Myers-Squibb) binds to tubulin and prevents the protein from performing its necessary tasks.

The research team was led by Kenneth Downing, Eva Nogales and Sharon Wolf, all biophysicists with LBL's Life Sciences Division. The team also included Israr Khan and Richard Luduena from the University of Texas in San Antonio. The work was reported in the June 1 issue of the journal Nature.

For a cell to divide, the microtubule skeleton that gives it shape must first disassemble, then reform into spindles across which duplicate sets of DNA material line up, and finally disassemble once more and reform into skeletal systems for the two new cells. The extreme flexibility of the tubulin protein enables microtubules to shift through these various formations.

"Taxol is a mitotic stabilizer," says Downing. "When taxol binds to tubulin, the protein loses its flexibility and the microtubules can no longer disassemble."

Other studies have shown that taxol binds only to tubulin that has been polymerized into chains of protofilaments, not to free proteins. The LBL images indicate that taxol attaches itself at the junction where tubulin protofilaments are linked, affecting their interaction and locking them into a fixed position.

"This is the first time that a taxol binding site has been visualized in the tubulin molecule," says Nogales. "Although many questions remain unanswered, a number of biological properties can now be interpreted in terms of our structural results."

With the latest refinements of their imaging technique and the collection of additional images, the researchers are certain they will be able to construct an atomic model of tubulin and the taxol binding site. Such a model should then enable drug companies to design new and improved versions of taxol.

"We are at the stage now where we feel it is just a matter of collecting and processing enough data to be able to construct an atomic model of the taxol binding site," Downing says.

To produce their images, Downing, Nogales, and Wolf polymerize their tubulin proteins in the same conditions under which microtubules are formed, except that the researchers add zinc. The presence of zinc prevents the protofilaments of tubulin from curling around into a closed cylinder. Instead, the polymerized tubulin forms two-dimensional crystalline sheets that are ideal for imaging by electron crystallography. These sheets are then embedded in a mixture of tannic acid and sugar to preserve them during observation and to increase the resolution of the image.

The images were generated on an electron microscope that is equipped with a special "cold stage" that reduces damage to the crystals from the electron beam and yields a less "noisy" image than a conventional electron microscope. The specially equipped microscope also allows samples to be tilted at various angles so images can be recorded from different directions.

"Our group has produced projection maps of these two-dimensional tubulin sheets with a resolution of 3.5 angstroms, compared to a resolution of about 15 angstroms for images of microtubules," Downing says. "With enough two-dimensional images of sheets taken at different angles, we've been able to reconstruct three-dimensional images at a resolution of about 6.5 angstroms."


CAPTION -- Using a specially equipped electron microscope, LBL biophysicists (from left) Eva Nogales, Kenneth Downing, and Sharon Wolf have produced the first 3-D image of the taxol binding site, a potent weapon in the war against cancer. Photo by Paul Hames


UC Provost Walter Massey named president of Morehouse College

Walter E. Massey, UC provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, has been appointed president of Morehouse College. Located in Atlanta, the college is Massey's alma mater and the nation's only historically black, all-male, four-year liberal arts college.

Massey, 57, announced last month that he would step down this fall after two years in UC's number two post. In announcing his acceptance of the Morehouse post, he said, "My wife and I gave this matter a great deal of consideration. Based upon my personal commitment to Morehouse and the opportunity to play a significant role in its future, it is the right choice for us.

"I've enjoyed my service to the University of California and I will greatly miss the people who have built it into one of the finest institutions in higher education," he said.

President Jack W. Peltason congratulated Massey. "Walter has served the University of California with distinction and he will be missed. Morehouse College certainly gains a dynamic leader and a forceful advocate for higher education," he said.

Peltason said Massey helped lead UC through its worst budget crisis since the Great Depression. His guidance in such areas as budget planning, long-range academic planning and refocusing the federal relationship with UC's national research laboratories helped insure UC's continued role as the nation's premiere research university.

Peltason, who has announced he will retire October 1, said he will begin the recruitment process for a new provost, leaving the selection to his successor. Morehouse officials are negotiating with Massey for a start date.

Massey was appointed to the position of provost in April 1993 after serving as director of the National Science Foundation, a post to which he was appointed in 1991 by then-President George Bush. He brought to his UC job extensive hands-on experience garnering government funding and enhancing support of university research.


CAPTION -- LBL Director Charles Shank describes the Laboratory's human genome program to Senator Dianne Feinstein during her visit to Lawrence Livermore National Lab last week. Feinstein was briefed on all the California labs (LBL, LLNL, SLAC, Sandia, and Cal Tech), and toured the Nova laser fusion facility with LLNL Director Bruce Tarter.
Photo by Bryan Quintard


D.C. mail service

LBL Mail Services has set up a new mailstop for the Lab's new Washington office.

The address is LBL WASH. Mail going to this mailstop may be put into inter-office envelopes that will be delivered via pouch on a daily basis. Mail should be addressed with the recipient's name and the mailstop.


N e w s W i r e

SENATE ENDORSES ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESEARCH:

During a recent debate over an FY96 budget resolution, the Senate passed an amendment stating that "renewable energy and energy efficiency technology research, development, and demonstration activities should be given priority among federal energy research programs." The "sense of the Senate provision," which is not binding on the final budget package, praises energy efficiency technology research, citing it for saving ". . . more than $3 trillion for industries, consumers, and the federal government over the past 20 years while creating jobs, improving the competitiveness of the economy, making housing more affordable, and reducing the emission of environmentally damaging pollutants." The amendment was offered by James Jeffords (R-Vt.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)

NEW "PERFORMANCE-BASED" CONTRACT FOR ANL:

The University of Chicago became the first non-profit organization to sign a performance-based agreement to manage a national laboratory when it renewed its contract to manage the Argonne National Laboratory. The four-year contract, which extends through September 1999, continues a relationship that began in 1946. It calls for DOE to pay about $2.2 billion in operating costs for research at ANL and reflects the performance goals enunciated under the department's strategic realignment initiative. The idea of performance-based contracts has received the endorsement of many of the national lab directors, including LBL's Charles Shank. DOE officials says the new ANL contract will serve as the prototype for future management agreements. In return for accepting some liability for wrongful actions by its managers, the University of Chicago will become eligible for an annual performance fee from DOE. This fee could be as high as $3.7 million if ANL's managers meet specified performance goals. The contract also authorizes the University to use as much as 20 percent of the performance fee in research jointly funded by the school and DOE. This money is to be allocated at the discretion of ANL's director.

PUTTING THE DANGERS OF PLUTONIUM IN PERSPECTIVE:

"Dispersal of plutonium by terrorists as described in the press could not produce the drastic health effects that are popularly imagined," states a recent report issued by the Center for Security and Technology Studies at LLNL. Entitled "A Perspective on the Dangers of Plutonium," the report is a response to newspaper reports that plutonium stolen from the former Soviet Union is available on the black market. The purpose of the report is to provide a scientific perspective for evaluating possible terrorist threats. "The claims of dire health consequences from the introduction of plutonium into the air or into a municipal water supply are greatly exaggerated," the report concludes. Citing factors ranging from dilution in large volumes of water to dissipation as a result of wind and air turbulence, the report claims that for most citizens, the increase in cancer risk arising from a plutonium-based terrorist plot would be a fraction of the risk arising from other, more common health hazards. The report's authors express concern that erroneous and exaggerated statements in the media might actually "promote a market for stolen and smuggled nuclear material for the purpose of terrorism."


CAPTION -- Congressman Frank Riggs (R-Calif.) and legislative director Mark Davis receive a tour of the Advanced Light Source with Lab Director Charles Shank, ALS Director Brian Kincaid, and Rod Fleischman, head of Industry and Government Partnerships. Riggs is on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, whose jurisdiction includes DOE. The Congressman also toured the Lab's inertial fusion energy facilities at Bldg. 58 during the afternoon visit.


CAPTION -- Chris Kniel of the Technology Transfer Department peers inside an ion implantation prototype built by AFRD researcher Ka-Ngo Leung, as Tech Transfer's Cole Cannon, and Mike Tucker and Don Weeks of Spectrum Sciences Inc., look on. The table-top apparatus, to be used in semiconductor manufacturing, is the fruit of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) signed last October by LBL and Spectrum Sciences. Leung's device uses plasma immersion technology to embed ions in newly fabricated silicon wafers. Manufacturers use the technique--also known as ion "doping"--to tailor a semiconductor's electrical properties. Leung's plasma-based system eliminates the accelerator, as well as the mass analyzing magnet and electron flood-guns needed in conventional ion implantation devices. The result is a smaller, less expensive device.
Photos by Paul Hames


House Republicans unveil plan for Department of Energy

By Lynn Yarris, LCYarris@LBL.gov

House Republicans formally announced their plan for the Department of Energy at a press conference held on Thursday, June 8. The plan calls for DOE to lose its cabinet status in six months and to be eliminated within three years.

If the Republican plan passes and is signed by President Clinton, DOE's name would be changed to the "Energy Programs Resolution Agency." The new agency would exist for a three-year transition period during which some of its functions would be transferred to the Defense and Interior departments. An independent, seven-member commission would be established to determine the future of the national laboratories.

The Republicans said their plan would save an estimated $20 billion over a five-year period compared to the $14 billion in savings claimed for the plan announced last month by Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary (see Currents, May 5). In response to the House Republican plan (which was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole), O'Leary said, "Is this plan really about politics? It certainly can't be about saving large amounts of money."


Computing Z O N E

Computing Zone features topics of interest to computer users at LBL. Send suggestions and comments to Mike Wooldridge at mawooldridge@lbl.gov.

Trojan horse alert

DOS and Windows users at the Lab should keep an eye out for a dangerous version of PKZIP, a popular archiving utility for PCs. Watchdogs at DOE's Computer Incident Advisory Capability report a "trojan horse" form of the software that erases a user's hard drive when executed. A trojan horse is a malicious program that is hidden inside another program.

The bad software goes by the file name PKZ300B.EXE or PKZ300B.ZIP. (The most recent safe version of PKZIP is 2.04G.) There have been no reports of the trojan horse at LBL, according to Mark Rosenberg, LBL's Computer Protection Program manager.

Computer users are reminded to install up-to-date virus protection software on their machines. Mac users can retrieve Disinfectant from the WKSG Server in the LBL-Server zone via the Chooser. PC users can retrieve Data Physician Plus from the Novell server ICSD_NOV1.


LBL observes Gay Pride Month with film fest

In recognition of Gay Pride Month -- June -- the Laboratory is sponsoring a mini film fest and special guest lecture. All employees are invited to the presentations, which will take place in the Bldg. 50 Auditorium at noon. The events are presented by the Work Force Diversity Office and the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Association.

Wednesday, June 14: "Two-Spirit People"

Lesbian and gay Native Americans discuss their pre-colonial spiritual traditions and how exploring these traditions helped them embrace their sexual orientation.

Thursday, June 15: "Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter"

This year's documentary Oscar-winner is an account of director Deborah Hoffman's own struggle with her mother's Alzheimer's disease. As her mother's condition worsens, she becomes more accepting of her daughter's lesbianism.

Tuesday, June 20: Special Guest Speaker

Jim Campbell, a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, will speak about "The Gifts that Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People Have for All of Us...If We Could but See Them."

A member of LLNL's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Association, Campbell is straight, married, and the father of three grown daughters. He explains how our differences are intended to be doorways, not barriers. He will share his perspectives on the gifts lesbian, gay and bisexual people offer to the community, and comment on what keeps some of us from seeing and accepting them. His service to the Catholic Diocese of Oakland as an ordained permanent deacon has included bridge-building between the Church and the gay and lesbian community.

Thursday, June 22: "Deaf Heaven"

A short film about a gay man facing his partner's advancing AIDS dementia.

Thursday, June 22: "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (No Regrets)"

The late Marlon Riggs' predecessor to the controversial "Tongues Untied," "No Regrets" examines the experiences of six gay African American men of widely varying ages and backgrounds, and their "coming out" experiences--both as gay men and as gay men with AIDS.

Thursday, June 29: "Queer Son"

This film chronicles the journey of Vicki Seichuk as she attempts to understand her son's sexual orientation and how he expresses it. She interviews other parents and their gay and lesbian children as well.


A little ingenuity goes a long way in saving paper, money

By Brennan Kreller

Cutting paper consumption has been an objective of LBL's waste minimization strategy for some time now, but Anushka Drescher, a graduate student research assistant in the Indoor Environment Program, wanted to go one step further. Printing all draft copies on used paper, she figured, could significantly reduce her group's paper consumption.

Her coworkers liked the idea, but found that reused paper often jammed the copy machine. Drescher did a little research and discovered that some copy machines make the paper curl at the edges, which causes problems when it is reused. All she needed was a way to flatten the paper.

Encouraged by Radon Group Leader Bill Fisk, Drescher checked out the salvage area and machine shop, and found the materials needed to make a box and a metal weight to press the paper so it could be reused.

"It really seems to have caught on," Drescher said, "although it did require some getting used to." She says she hopes that the idea spreads to other areas of the lab. Any box just big enough to hold the paper, topped by a flat weight, will do (even a thick telephone book would work).

EH&S Waste Minimization Specialist Shelley Worsham, who develops waste reduction strategies lab-wide, applauds Drescher's initiative. "It's a great idea," she says. "Paper used only once is not waste, but a plentiful resource. The more people reuse it like this, the more cost-effective it is for the Lab."

Worsham also reuses paper for all her draft printing, but without the use of a paper press. "Curling can happen with certain printers, but not all," she says. "It's a good idea just to try it out first."

Worsham recommends that offices throughout the lab experiment to see if their printers can tolerate used paper. For printers that experience jams, she is researching the possibility of making the paper flattening boxes available on-site.


CAPTION -- Anushka Drescher demonstrates the paper flattening box she helped design. She discovered that in some offices drafts make up 90 percent of all printing jobs.
Photo by Paul Hames


LHS summer fun begins this month

The Lawrence Hall of Science's summer schedule begins on Monday, June 19, with something for the whole family. Featured exhibits, all of which run through the summer, include Electric Space: Exploring Our Plasma Universe; The A-maze-ing Maze, and Small Wonders: Insect Treasures from UC Berkeley.

Summer Fundays--free activities on Wednesdays, June 21-August 9--and other special activities include: Ice Cream Day (June 21), Rocketry Day (June 28), Fourth of July Bay Cruise (July 4), Fourth of July at LHS (July 4), Dinosaur Party (July 5), Boogie Down Jugglers (July 12), Mirror Magic (July 19), Animal Homes (July 26), Journey From the Center of the Earth (August 2), and New Pickle Circus (August 9).

There are also special family workshops and ongoing public programs. The Hall is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors, students, and children 7-18; and $2 for children 3-6. For 24-hour recorded information, call 642-5132.


Employee training

The Employee Development and Training (EDT) office is offering a two-part workshop to employees to assist them with the management of their LBL careers. The two sessions will be offered twice. Session One, "An Introduction to Career Planning and Development," will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, and Thursday, July 13. Session Two, "Self-Assessment and Planning: The Career Development Journey Begins," will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 22, and Thursday, July 20.

To enroll in the June sessions, please complete an On-Site Training Enrollment Application and mail it to EDT, M.S. 51-208 by Tuesday, June 13. For more information, call X5999.


Calendar of Events for June 12-23

Calendar items may be sent via e-mail to currents_calendar@lbl.gov, Fax to X6641, or Lab mail to Bldg. 65B. The deadline is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

12 m o n d a y

NUCLEAR SCIENCE DIVISION COLLOQUIUM

"Nuclei in the Mass 80 Region: Observation of Superdeformation, Band Termination and High-K Band Structures" will be presented by Joachim Doering of Florida State University at 2 p.m. in Bldg. 70A-3377.

THEORETICAL PHYSICS SEMINAR

"The Z Decay Rate, Mass Corrections and [[alpha]]s - Measurements" will be presented by J.H. Kühn of Karlsruhe University, Germany, at 2:30 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-3107.

13 t u e s d a y

EH&S CLASS

Fire Extinguisher Use (EHS 530), 10 - 11:30 a.m., Bldg. 48-109; pre-registration required, X6554.

THE CENTER FOR PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS SEMINAR

"Mergers and Structure Formation: An Analytic Model" will be presented by Cedric Lacey of UCSB/ITP at 12:30 p.m. in 375 Le Conte Hall.

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"The Search for K+ > n+vv" will be presented by Mark Convery of Princeton University at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50B-4205; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

14 w e d n e s d a y

EH&S CLASS

Recertification Crane/Hoist (Level 1) Operator Training (EHS 216), 8 a.m. - Noon, Bldg. 70A-3307; pre-registration required, X6612.

DATABASE FORUM

The next meeting of the Database Forum will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Bldg. 50A-5132 (Director's Conference Room). The meeting will provide an overview of LBL's current financial systems. Rich Nosek, supervisor of the ISS Financial Systems Section, will discuss what these systems do, how they are related to one another, and what information they contain. There are more than 40 feeder systems to LBL's General Ledger. These will be illustrated at a general level along with a look at some of the internal intricacies.

LBL TOASTMASTERS

Build Confidence and Develop the Ability to Effectively Organize and Present Your Ideas in a Friendly and Supportive Atmosphere, 12:10 - 1 p.m. in Bldg. 2-100.

15 t h u r s d a y

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING CLASS

An Introduction to Career Planning and Development, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Bldg. 51-201; pre-registration required, X5999.

THE CENTER FOR PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS SPECIAL SEMINAR

"New Evolutionary Tracks for Low-Mass Stars and Baryonic Mass Fraction for the Galactic Missing Mass" will be presented by Gilles Chabrier of Ecole Normale Superieure, Lyon, at noon in 375 Le Conte Hall.

EH&S CLASS

Chemical Hygiene and Safety Training (EHS 348), 1 - 4:30 p.m., Bldg. 51-201; pre-registration required, X6612.

SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS SCIENCE SEMINAR

"Surface Science and Catalytic Studies of Alumina-Supported Molybdenum Carbide Catalysts" will be presented by Mark Bussell of Western Washington University at 1:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"Results on Heavy Quark Production from Fermilab E789" will be presented by George Gidal of LBL at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

16 f r i d a y

CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY SEMINAR

"Biodegradation by Microbial Communities in Soil: The Challenges of Bioavailability and Multiple Substrates" will be presented by Kate Scow of UCD at 11 a.m. in Bldg. 50A-5132.

19 m o n d a y

EH&S CLASS

Laser Safety (EHS 280), 9:30 a.m. - noon, Bldg. 90-2063; pre-registration required, X6612.

20 t u e s d a y

THE CENTER FOR PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS SEMINAR

"Causality and the Microwave Background" will be presented by Andreas Albrecht of Imperial College, London, at 12:30 p.m. in 375 Le Conte Hall.

EH&S CLASSES

Introduction to Environment, Health & Safety at LBL (EHS 10), 1 - 4 p.m., Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

Pressure Safety/Compressed Gases (EHS 230), 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., Bldg. 90-4133; pre-registration required, X6612.

LockOut/TagOut Training (EHS 256/257), 9 - 11:30 a.m., Bldg. 48-109; pre-registration required, X6612.

21 w e d n e s d a y

EH&S CLASS

Building Emergency Team Training (EHS 154), 9 - 11:30 a.m., Bldg. 48-109; pre-registration required, X6554.

22 t h u r s d a y

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT
AND TRAINING CLASS

Self-Assessment and Planning: The Career Development Journey Begins, 8:30 a.m. - noon, Bldg. 51-201; pre-registration required, X5999.

SURFACE SCIENCE AND CATALYSIS SCIENCE SEMINAR

"Observing Individual Molecules on Semiconductor Surfaces by STM at Room Temperature and Above" will be presented by Andrew Briggs of Oxford University, England, at 1:30 p.m. in the Bldg. 66 Auditorium.

PHYSICS DIVISION RESEARCH PROGRESS MEETING

"The Search for Gravitational Waves" will be presented by Barry C. Barish of CalTech at 4 p.m. in the Bldg. 50 Auditorium; refreshments at 3:40 p.m.

23 f r i d a y

CENTER FOR BEAM PHYSICS SEMINAR

"LBL's Latest RFQ's or What's Going on in Building 71A?" will be presented by John Staple of LBL at 10:30 a.m. in the Bldg. 71 Conference Room.


Dining Center Menu for June 12-16

monday

Sadie's Early Bird: Cinnamon french toast w/coffee $2.05

Soup of the Day: Minestrone(TM) reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Lasagna w/meat sauce & garlic bread $3.95

Passports: South of the Border

Sadie's Grill: Chicken Santa Fe w/fries $3.05

tuesday

Sadie's Early Bird: Biscuit & gravy w/eggs $2.60

Soup of the Day: Vegetarian split pea(TM) reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Hand-carved ham w/glazed carrots & broccoli $3.95

Passports: South of the Border a la carte

Sadie's Grill: Fishwich w/fries $3.25

wednesday

Sadie's Early Bird: Eggs, bacon, & toast $2.05

Soup of the Day: Cream of potato leek reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Chicken teriyaki stir fry over noodles(TM) $3.95

Passports: South of the Border a la carte

Sadie's Grill: Grilled Reuben sandwich w/fries $3.25

thursday

Sadie's Early Bird: Blueberry pancakes w/coffee $2.05

Soup of the Day: Creamy clam chowder reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Baked cod filet w/risotto almandine & veggies(TM) $3.95

Passports: South of the Border

Sadie's Grill: Philly cheese steak sandwich $3.95

friday

Sadie's Early Bird: Ham scramble $2.60

Soup of the Day: Vegetable barley(TM) reg. $1.35 lg. $1.95

Bistro Fare: Pasta Piatti(TM) $3.95

Sadie's Grill: Meatball sub w/fries $3.25

(TM) Denotes recipe lower in fat, calories & cholesterol


Have you bought an LBL mug?

Buy a mug and the dining center will fill it with a soft drink or coffee for only 60 cents each time you come in.


Currents online edition

The full text of each edition of Currents is published electronically on the World Wide Web at the following URL: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.


F l e a M a r k e t

Flea Market ads may be sent via e-mail to fleamarket@lbl.gov, Fax to X6641, or Lab mail to Bldg. 65B. The deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

AUTOS/SUPPLIES

'69 CAMARO Z28, silver/black, Chevy 350, orig. Holley, hi-rise manifold, headers, 8K tach, Hurst, 12-bolt posi rear, great cond., $11900. (408)356-1936

'80 DATSUN 280ZX, 2.8 liter eng., 2+2, a/t, a/c, stereo, pwr mirrors, 120K mi., maint. records. X4688, 528-2678

'81 DATSUN 310GX, 150K mi. on engine & trans., wrecked, does run, all or parts, $300/b.o. Don, 930-9957

'82 FORD Club wgn van, 7-pass., 351 cu. in. V-8, 127K mi., blue/white, runs great, $3K/b.o. Sergio, X5457, (707)429-2575

'82 TOYOTA Corolla, 4-dr, 5-spd, a/c, 104K mi., gd cond., $1675. Jim, X6480, 654-1900

'84 MAZDA GLC coupe, 4-spd, gd cond., recently reconditioned brakes, must sell by 6/17, $1500 or nearest offer. Leann, X7030

'84 TOYOTA Corolla SR5 sport coupe, 5-spd, a/c, p/s, p/b, many new parts, 118K mi., exc. cond., orig. owner, $2500. Phil, X6226

'85 MAZDA 626LX, 115K mi., 5-spd, 4-dr, sunroof, AM/FM stereo, a/c, 2 owners, very gd cond., $3200. 644-0666

'91 JEEP Wrangler, 6-cyl., hard top, cass., exc. cond., 50K mi., $11.5K/b.o. Nancy, X4497

MOTORCYCLE, '78 Honda CX500, 12K mi., trunk & wind screen, $500. David, X5684, 483-7926

LUMBER RACK for p/u trucks, fits Toyota long bed or equiv., exc. cond., $100/b.o. Gale, X4826, 372-0933

CARPOOL

RIDER NEEDED for 4 person carpool from Vacaville, Fairfield area, share driving, Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. work hrs. Mark, X4671, (707)448-7979

WANTED

MEN'S BIKE, used. Sungho, X7038

COMPUTER, donation of PC--386 or higher, w/terminal & color printer, for use at non-profit organization. Subhadhra Gunn, X6078, 655-8677 (eve.)

CRICKETERS, Kennedy Cricket Club, for semi-serious cricket league. Sushil, X6670

HOUSE TO SIT, 6/28 - 7/9 for couple from Toronto, prefer in Berkeley/Albany/Kensington/Oakland hills, loves animals, can care for plants, mail, etc., exc. refs. Andrea Brewer, X4695

NANNY, El Sobrante area, FT, N/S, live-out, for 3 mo. old girl, experience, patience & enthusiasm desired, driver's license & own car req'd, willing to share w/another child same age in our home or yours, starts 7/10. Carlene, 222-5406

PLACE TO PARK 13' travel trailer, prefer nr Berkeley. Phila Rogers, 848-9156

ROTO-TILLER, for sm. gardening. David, X4629

MISCELLANEOUS

APPLE Monitor, 15" Multi-synch, up to 832x624, zoom, software power off, Energy Star compliant, built-in stereo spkrs, sound input, phone output, 7 mos. old, perfect cond., all manuals, software & cables, $330/b.o. Sidnei, X4824, 649-9242

BABY PACK, Gerry Ultra Deluxe, w/instructions, fits baby up to 40 lbs., new, used once, orig. $65, sell for $50/b.o. Charlotte, X4259

CELLULAR PHONE, AAA, hand-held, new, very compact, 100 number alpha-numeric memory, many features, $299 new, asking $180. Sherry Gee, X6972, (415) 564-7881

CHILD'S BIKE, 2-wheeler, British-made, 20" frame, hand brakes, Sturmey-Archer 3-spd, front & back baskets, gd cond., $50/b.o. Lee Schipper, X5057, 527-5821

COFFEE TABLE, oak, ~48"x24"x15", $75/b.o.; book storage unit, 3'x2'x6', walnut vinyl covered particle board, 3 movable shelves, $25/b.o.; sm. 3-drwr dresser & 2-drwr desk w/chair, walnut veneer, Danish, $50/b.o. for both; brn & gold woven wool rug 4'x6', $100/b.o.; 3-drwr legal size metal file cabinet, SteelCase, needs paint, $60/b.o. Hannah, X4781, 528-6386

COLOR TV, RCA 19", 2.5 mos. old, moving overseas, $150. Rolf Koch, X7431, 848-3438

COLOR TV 22", $55; VCR, remote ctrl + 8 videotapes, $25. Ederio, X7257, 704-9261

COMPUTER TABLE & hutch, pine $100, Alder Table $65. Flavio, X5997

CRIB, white, w/mattress, sheets & extras, exc. cond., $125. Steve, X7702, Suzanna, 643-0269, 655-6616

EXERCISE BIKE, w/speedometer & timer, $50; drawing/drafting table $125; spill proof keyboard, $20. X6479

HIKING BOOTS, men's, leather, Asolo Scarpa Attack, sz. 46 (sz. 10-1/2 -11), used twice, paid $220, $70. Tom, X5644, 232-8532

IBM COMPATIBLE PC, EDC 486DX2/66 computer w/8 MB RAM, 420 MB IDE HD, 2F/2H IDE contr. 1.44, Video VLB (1MB), 101 keyboard 2S, 1P, 1G w/Viewsonic 6E Monitor, word perfect & MSword, 5 mos. old, must sell by 6/17, $1200 or nearest offer. Leann, X7030

INTERNAL HD, Quantum, 256 megabyte SCSI device, used 10 mos. in a PowerPC 6100, $120/b.o., will consider trade for gd working Apple 14" color monitor, will install the drive for $20. Wolf Read, 527-3557

LAWN MOWER, Murray, 3.75 hp, grass bag, 2 yrs old, used 1 season, $150/b.o.; CD player, TEAC, $50/b.o. Volker, X5323, 525-3976

MACINTOSH CLASSIC, 40 mb hard drive, software, manuals, HP deskwriter printer, clean, like new, $700/b.o. Lisa, 649-8765

MATTRESS & box springs (no frame), queen sz., $185/b.o.; futon, queen sz., oak frame, $100/b.o.; dining table w/glass top, 4 matching chairs, $125/b.o.; rocking chair, curled wood w/wicker seat & back, $25/b.o. Margo, X6280, (415)871-4450

MOUNTAIN BIKE, 21" Nishiki Colorado frameset, Shimano Deore XT/XTR gruppo, SIS shifter, $600. Rick, X7341, 849-0413

MOUNTAIN BIKE, Cannondale, $300. Kerrie, X5124

MOVING SALE, Whirlpool refrig.-freezer, 18 cubic ft., almost new, $320; Whirlpool super-washer, almost new, w/older dryer, $220; microwave oven, $35. X6004

NORTON DESKTOP for Windows, reg. card + manual, $25; kneeling chair (no back support), by JDI group, $5; rear wheel raising bicycle stand, Minoura $5; table top truing stand, Minoura, $20, immac. cond. Gene, X7717

PIANO, Kohler Campbell spinet & bench, exc. cond. $1200; bicycles, 10-spd, 1 boy's, 1 girl's, $50 ea.; basketball backboard & hoop $50; weedeater, $10; cordless grass shears, $5; grass edger, $10. Carol, X6696, 526-4152

SOFA, loose cushion style, beige & brn textured plaid, $75. Mary Thompson, X7408, 540-6538

SOFA SLEEPER, queen sz., rust colored print w/shell design, $225; cream colored armchair, blond wood, $35; 2 end tables w/coffee table, light wood, $75, all gd/exc. cond. Jo-Ann, 525-0460

TODDLER BED, New, still in box, red metal w/new mattress still in plastic, $60. Teresa, X6246

UPGRADE to Apple Macintosh 660AV, 20MB RAM, 500 MB hard drive, CD ROM, Global Village Teleport Gold 2 modem, Sony spkrs, painter 2.0 drawing program, $1650/b.o., w/NEC 4FGE, $2300; Mitsubishi 19" color TV, $100/b.o. Cindy/Dan (415)648-8250

HOUSING

ALBANY, furn. 1-bdrm apt, washer/dryer, nr UC Village & bus to LBL/UCB, family dist., no more than 3 persons, prefer visiting professor w/spouse, nonsmokers, $675/mo. Donald Mangold, X6459

ALBANY, 2-bdrm, 2-bath condo, bay view, gym, $950/mo. water & garbage incl. 631-0510

BERKELEY, furn., sunny, lg. studio, walk to Lab/shuttle, avail. 6/18 - 7/23, $700 incl. PG&E. X6842, 848-1739

BERKELEY, 1/2 blk no. of UC/LBL shuttle, furn. 2-bdrm, 2-bth condo to share w/quiet male UC student, $550/mo.+utils.+dep. 245-7816

BERKELEY, spacious, furn. rm in lg. brn shingle, walk to BART, UC, LBL shuttle & shops, washer/dryer, kitchen privs., non-smoker, short term OK, $400/mo. Rob, 843-5987

BERKELEY HILLS, 3-bdrm, 1-bth house, 2 mi. from LBL, avail. 6/15 - 9/15, $1650/mo. 286-7612

BERKELEY HILLS, furn. rm in pvt. home, sep. entrance, own bth, garden view, kitchen & laundry privs., walking distance to LHS, $485/mo. 549-0510

NO. BERKELEY, Shattuck near Rose, sublet 1 rm in 2-bdrm apt, 7/8 - 8/13, $320. Alicea, X6898

NO. BERKELEY, Acton St. nr Cedar, furn. 2-bdrm, 1-bth house to share w/upper div. male student, washer/dryer, frpl, DR, backyd, deck, pets OK, parking, alarm, 2 blks from BART, $530/mo., $530 dep. negot. 841-1996

NO. BERKELEY, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth, 2 workrms, LR, DR, den, lg. kitchen, avail. mid-Aug. '95 to mid-Aug. '96, non-smoking, $1500+utils. Lee or Agneta Schipper, 527-5821

NO. BERKELEY, furn. 3-bdrm, 2-bth house, nr Solano shops & buses, hot tub, deck, bay view, avail. 7/1 - 8/20, $1250/mo. X7127, 524-0305

EL CERRITO, 1-bdrm in 5-bdrm house, avail. July & August, walk to Del Norte BART, $350/mo. (415)381-5758

EL CERRITO, 1-bdrm, 1-bth split-level apt in duplex, hardwd flr, 8 min. walk to BART/plaza, 1/2 blk to bus, $620/mo. 525-7596

EL CERRITO, unfurn. 2-bdrm, 1-bth apt, LR, kitchen, laundry hookup, sep. entrance, pvt deck, bay views, nr bus/BART, avail. July, $1050/mo. incl. utils. X4868, X5234

EL CERRITO, 1 person, furn. 1 bdrm, 1-bth apt, LR, no kitchen, but has microwave & refrig., wkly cleaning service, lg. garden, own entrance, bay view, no smoking, nr bus/BART, $450/mo. 525-8761

KENSINGTON, nr Spruce & Grizzly Peak, lg. rm in house, easy access to LBL via busses, $425/mo. X7853, 526-7388

OAKLAND, 2-bdrm upstairs apt in brn-shingle house, Grand-Lake area, walk to BART & Piedmont Ave., quiet, non-smoker(s) pref., reasonable utils. incl., $650/mo. 268-0674

OAKLAND HILLS, nr Claremont Hotel, new 1-bdrm in-law apt, balcony, 3-bridge view, hardwd flrs, pvt. entrance, 1-car garage, use of washer/dryer, no smoking, no pets, bicycle to Lab, $875/mo. incl. utils.+dep. 841-6285

ORINDA, furn. 1-bdrm apt, yd, off st. parking, 10 min. from Lab, 1 yr. lease, $650. Marie Geist, 652-0111, 254-3886

WALNUT CREEK, unfurn. 2-bdrm, 2-bth detached home, DR, frpl, yd, hill views, nr stores & BART, $1300 + utils., lease. X4221, 935-2285

WANTED: Visiting male grad student needs furn. own rm w/access to kitchen & laundry, nr shopping & trans. to LBL, starting 7/5, prefer pvt home or mature roommate in apt. (814)867-0760

WANTED: 1-bdrm, 1-bth house/apt from 8/1 for 1 yr., living rm, kitchen, parking, prefer Berkeley/Albany. X7708

WANTED: 2-bdrm house/apt for visiting scientist & wife from Japan, 7/13 - 9/9, little or no stairs, Berkeley area. Henry Stapp, X4488

WANTED: Furn. 2-bdrm apt/house for Hungarian visiting scholar w/family, between 7/11 & 8/3. X4978

VACATION

TAHOE KEYS, 3-bdrm, 2.5-bth house w/boat dock, mountain view, wk/wkend rates. Bob, 376-2211

REAL ESTATE

BERKELEY HILLS, 3-bdrm, 2-bth home, 2-car garage, hardwd flrs, frpl, lg. yd, leveled terrace, SF bay view, nr Tilden Park & trans. Santiago, 527-2525, 283-9753

EL CERRITO, .45-acre downslope, facing east, borders Wildcat Reg. Park, $140K. Mary Wildensten, 339-8432

FOR FREE

DOG, 3 yr. old Golden Ret. lab, female, spayed, gd watchdog, very playful, leaving country. Vera, 526-2438

ELECTRIC STOVE, Jenn-Aire, works fine, you haul. Fred, X4892


currents

Published weekly by the
Public Information Department
for the employees and retirees
of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

EDITOR:
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mgbodvarsson@lbl.gov

STAFF WRITERS:

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Lynn Yarris, X5375

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT:

Brennan Kreller, X6566

PRODUCTION:

Alice Ramirez

FLEA MARKET/CALENDAR:

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currents_calendar@lbl.gov

fleamarket@lbl.gov

Public Information Department

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