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Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998
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New brain center builds on work done at Laboratory
| PHOTO
This color contour map of the magnetic fields measured
near the surface of a person's head is shown with a pattern of SQUID sensors
around the head. The contours are real data measured for a visual experiment.
The sensors show the pattern of the Laboratory's whole-head system, but
not all the sensors are shown. |
The recently established National Foundation for Functional Brain Imaging
in Albuquerque will build on research conducted at the Laboratory in understanding
how the brain works.
The foundation, which was dedicated during a ceremony in Albuquerque
last month, is being funded this year with a $10 million federal appropriation.
It is expected to receive a total of $60 million during the next five years.
During the 1980s, Laboratory researchers, led by Ed Flynn of Biophysics
(P-2), began research into the human brain using a technology called magnetoencephalography
or MEG for short. MEG uses sensors known as SQUIDs, for superconducting
quantum interference device, to detect minute magnetic field changes in
parts of the brain. The changes, which indicate neural activity, can be
located with high accuracy.
"I've watched as MEG has developed from the very first single-sensor
measurements at Los Alamos in about 1984 to a wonderfully capable system
providing good spatial resolution of the entire head," Sen. Pete Domenici,
R-N.M., said during the dedication ceremony.
"The pioneering work at Los Alamos, and the partnership among the
Veterans Administration Medical Center in Albuquerque, Los Alamos and several
companies has led to dramatic progress in the capabilities of MEG,"
said Domenici, who was instrumental in obtaining funding for the new foundation.
The foundation, which is located at the University of New Mexico's Science
and Technology Park, is designed to combine the technologies of MEG and
functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, which can measure changes
in blood flow and blood-oxygen content in the brain. Using the technologies
together has the potential of allowing precise studies of rapid brain response
to changing external stimuli.
The foundation's stated goals include using advanced imaging technologies
to conduct basic research in normal brain functions, neurological disorders
and mental illness. In addition, it will serve as a national resource for
data and analytical techniques associated with imaging, students in physical
and medical sciences, visiting scientists and physicians, industrial collaborations
and scientific meetings on issues related to mental disease.
Since the pioneering work of Flynn and his colleagues, the Laboratory
has continued to make advances in MEG technology. It developed computer
techniques to interpret the data and recently developed a "whole-head"
detection system that incorporates its own shielding, thereby eliminating
the need for special magnetically shielded rooms that usually cost more
than $1 million to build.
Domenici noted that the whole-head detection system was used to observe
human brain response in an unshielded environment for the first time the
week before the dedication ceremony.
Laboratory Director John Browne said at the ceremony that current Lab
efforts are focused on applying computational resources and skills to enhance
the clinical and research applications of MEG technology and using instrumentation
experience to build sensor systems that are more effective and cheaper.
Others at the dedication included Flynn; the Laboratory's Bob Kraus and
Chris Wood, who work on current MEG efforts; National Institute of Mental
Health Director Steve Hyman; and officials from UNM, Sandia National Laboratories,
the VA and two other collaborating institutions, Massachusetts General Hospital
and the University of Minnesota.
--John A. Webster
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Veterans Day Activities
PHOTO Laboratory Director John
Browne, right, listens as Randy Mynard of Environmental Science (EES-15)
points out some of the features in the official Lab Veterans Day poster
designed by Gail Flower of Communication Arts and Services (CIC-1) and Mynard.
Mynard and Jim Van Hecke, left, of Human Resource Information Systems (HR-3)
presented Browne with the Veterans Day poster and T-shirt. Mynard is chairperson
of the Lab's Veterans Committee and Van Hecke is immediate past-chairperson.
Photo by Fred Rick
The Laboratory will honor this country's military veterans with a number
of activities at the Lab Nov. 12, including a fun run and walk.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, is officially Veterans Day in the United States and
an official Laboratory holiday.
There also is a photo display of Hispanic Medal of Honor winners in the
Otowi Building lobby near the entrance to the Human Resources (HR) Division.
There are about 1,200 veterans working at the Lab, according to Jim Van
Hecke of Human Resource Information Systems (HR-3) and past chair of the
Lab's Veterans Committee.
The Lab's Veterans Day celebration begins at 7 a.m. with a breakfast
in the Otowi Building cafeteria side dining rooms A, B and C, said Van Hecke.
The no-host breakfast is open to all Lab employees, including nonveterans,
he said.
The guest speaker is Commander David Iglesias, Judge Advocate General
(JAG), United States Naval Reserve. Van Hecke said Iglesias is the military
defense attorney portrayed in the early 1990s movie "A Few Good Men."
At 8:15 a.m. activities move to the front of the Laboratory Administration
Building, where a flag-raising ceremony will be conducted, said Van Hecke.
The Los Alamos Junior Naval ROTC will conduct the flag-raising. Former
Laboratory employee Missy Orr will sing the national anthem, and Van Hecke
will lead the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Van Hecke said Laboratory Director Browne would then make some short
comments.
James Langenbrunner of Santa Fe will play trumpet during the flag
raising. Randy Mynard of Environmental Science (EES-15), a captain in the
Naval Reserve and chairperson of the Lab's Veterans Committee, will act
as master of ceremonies.
The road in front of the Badge Office and Administration Building will
be closed to all vehicle traffic beginning at 7 a.m. until ceremonies have
concluded.
| PHOTO
Laboratory Director John Browne, center, Jim Van Hecke,
left, of Human Resource Information Systems (HR-3) and Randy Mynard of Environmental
Science (EES-15) look at the official Laboratory Veterans Day T-shirt. This
year's T-shirt pays tribute to veterans who served in the Vietnam War. This
year is the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam conflict. Photo by Fred Rick |
Veterans Day activities conclude with a fun run and walk beginning at
12:15 p.m. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at SM-31, just south of the
SM-30 Warehouse at Technical Area 3. The first 375 people who register and
complete the course will receive a Lab Veterans Day T-shirt. "This
is not a race," Van Hecke said. "We want employees to come out
and show their support for all of our veterans by joining in the fun run
and walk. The key is to get over there, register and get a special ticket."
Van Hecke explained that the ticket would be punched at the halfway point
on the fun run/walk course. The punched ticket can be exchanged for a T-shirt,
he said.
The official fun-run T-shirt will commemorate the end of U.S. involvement
in Vietnam, said Van Hecke. "The largest number of veterans working
at the Lab are Vietnam-era veterans," said Van Hecke
--Steve Sandoval
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United Way campaign update
More than halfway through the Laboratory/Johnson Controls 1999 United
Way of Northern New Mexico/Los Alamos giving campaign, Laboratory employees
and subcontract personnel have pledged or donated $310,000.
The figure is $40,000 short of the Lab's goal of $350,000, said Chris
Olivera of the Community Relations Office (CRO) and one of the co-chairpersons
of this year's campaign.
The Lab's United Way campaign has been extended to Nov. 20 to coincide
with the community campaign deadline, he said. The 1999 United Way goal
for the Northern New Mexico/Los Alamos campaign is $650,000.
"We've gotten great response from all levels of the Laboratory,"
said Olivera. "Eighty percent of senior management have participated."
Olivera said senior managers will be receiving a letter next week from
the United Way campaign committee reminding them and their employees of
the Nov. 20 deadline.
Last year's campaign raised $712,000 for a number of social-service programs
in Los Alamos, Española, Fairview, Santa Fe, Albuquerque and El Rito.
Of the total amount raised last year, $350,000 came from the Laboratory,
said Olivera.
Employees and subcontract personnel who donated to United Way last year
have received a pre-campaign pledge card and information about this year's
campaign. Olivera said the pre-campaign pledge cards were mailed to employees
and other Lab personnel at their Lab mail stops to encourage early donations
to the campaign.
Employees can pledge to United Way of Northern New Mexico through payroll
deduction. Or they can write a check to United Way and attach the check
to the pledge card and return it to Mail Stop A117 through interoffice mail.
Olivera, Carlton Darnell of Facilities Project Delivery (FE-6) and Suzanne
Maez of Los Alamos Technical Associates are the 1999 United Way campaign
chairpersons.
For more information about the 1999 United Way campaign, call Olivera
at 5-3908 or write to unitedway@lanl.gov
by electronic mail.
--Steve Sandoval
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A reminder to staff who discuss technical data with
foreign nationals
Only information that is in the public domain may be discussed without
some form of Department of Commerce license for the transfer of technical
data. Data that have any form of distribution restriction (proprietary data,
nondisclosure agreements, cooperative research and development agreements,
or unclassified controlled nuclear or classified information) is not publicly
available and is therefore export-controlled. Contact Mark Jones of Classification
(S-7) at 7-5011 if you want to discuss technical data that is not publicly
available with a foreign national. If you are in discussions with foreign
nationals and they request information that you are not sure is publicly
available, write down their requests and tell them you'll get back to them.
Then contact your program manager, group leader or S-7 for assistance in
making the determination.
Descriptions of technical data, technical assistance, fundamental research
and public domain can be found online at the following Web sites:
Back to top
Lab director to host brown bag meeting Friday
Director John Browne will hold an "information gathering" meeting
from noon to 1:15 p.m. Friday in the Physics Building Auditorium. The purpose
of the meeting is to get employee comments and input on the requirements
and characteristics for the type of individual who should be selected for
the new position of Associate Laboratory Director for Strategic and Supporting
Research. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to comment,
forward your input to Portia Blackman, human resources generalist for the
Director's Office, at portia@lanl.gov
by electronic mail. Feel free to bring a lunch.
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Lab Director to host brown bag meeting Friday