Kosovo Relief . . . More than 30 UCLA faculty and staff members participated in a May 20-June 5 relief effort to Albania, bringing donated medical supplies from the UCLA Medical Center and other southern California hospitals. They were flown to the refugee sites by British Airways.

New Elements . . . Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered two new "superheavy" elements. Element 118 and its immediate decay product, element 116, were discovered by bombarding targets of lead with an intense beam of high-energy krypton ions. Members of the discovery team included graduate students and professors in the UC Berkeley department of chemistry.

MacArthur Awards . . . Two UC Berkeley professors, a visiting Berkeley scholar and a UCLA history professor are winners of MacArthur Foundation fellowships for their exceptionally creative work in journalism, chemistry history and the classics. Chemist Carolyn Bertozzi, journalist Mark Danner and classicist Leslie Kurke at Berkeley will receive awards of more than $200,000 and UCLA’s Saul Friedlander. will receive $375,000.

Top Ranking . . . All four UC San Francisco health science schools ranked among the nation’s top three comparable institutions in the 1998 fiscal year competition for research dollars from the National Institutes of Health. The UCSF schools received a total of $224.7 million during the 1998 federal fiscal year, $13.5 million more than during the 1997 fiscal year. Peer review determines who receives NIH research money.

Charter School . . . A total of 150 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students have been selected by lottery from among 503 applicants as charter members of the new Preuss School on the UC San Diego campus. They will begin studies Sept. 7 at the only public charter school in the state to be established on a university campus.

Top 100 . . . UC Santa Barbara rates in the top 100 colleges and universities among Latino students, according to the publication The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. The ranking was based on the number of degrees conferred to Latinos.

Small Appointed . . . Patricia A. Small, treasurer of the UC Regents, has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Association for Investment Management and Research. The association establishes educational standards in the professional practices of financial analysis and establishes ethics and standards of conduct for those engaged in the investment decision-making process.

Cardiovascular Research Center . . . Nobel laureate Louis Ignarro will head the newly created Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine at UCLA. The center brings leading UCLA researchers together for one of the nation’s most extensive multidiscipline approaches to studying common links in diseases of the arteries and veins.

Marine Research . . .UC Santa Cruz and Wells Fargo Bank have completed escrow for a $4 million purchase of approximately 55 acres adjacent to the campus’s Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory and the new Seymour Marine Discovery Center. The agreement provides that land devoted to coastal marine research will be named the Wells Fargo Coastal Marine Research Center at UC Santa Cruz.

Health and Nutrition

Brain Cancer Vaccine . . . Preliminary studies at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center show promise in the development of a vaccine to treat brain cancer. The findings are expected to serve as a basis for future clinical trials in humans.

Meat Spurred Evolution . . . Human ancestors who roamed the dry savannas of Africa about two million years ago routinely began to include meat in their diets to compensate for a decline in the quality of plant foods, says a report from UC Berkeley researcher Katharine Milton. It was this new meat diet, full of densely-packed nutrients, that provided the catalyst for human evolution, particularly the growth of the brain, she contends.

Heat and Sickness . . . People with underlying heart disease, mental illness and kidney disorders, and those who have had strokes, are more likely to succumb to heatstroke in very hot weather, UC Irvine researchers report. The study recommends that public health measures pay attention to people with these conditions during heat waves.

New Cervical Cancer Hope . . . UC Irvine researchers have found that by grafting human cervical tissue into mice, they could trace its development and experiment for the first time with factors that increase risk of the disease. The findings may help develop new treatments for the disease, which affects about half a million women worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among young women.

SQUID Sensors . . . Work by researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory with Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) sensors to measure extremely small magnetic fields could help fight disease. It may allow neurosurgeons to pinpoint areas associated with brain injury or functional abnormalities such as epilepsy and may help researchers study such brain-related disorders as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.

Insights Into Schizophrenia . . . Brains of people with schizophrenia contain levels of a chemical related to marijuana that are two times higher than those in people who don’t have the disease, UC Irvine College of Medicine researchers have found. The findings could bring scientists closer to learning what causes schizophrenia, a disease that has bewildered researchers for decades.

Alzheimer Proteins . . . A team of UC San Francisco scientists and colleagues studying Alzheimer’s disease has found the interaction of two brain proteins may be a critical factor in development of the disorder. Understanding the process could lead to development of better treatments to prevent or slow the degeneration of nerve cells that causes memory loss or disturbed thinking, both symptoms of the illness.

Developments and Discoveries

Magnetic Fields . . . A team of UC San Diego astrophysicists holds that there are significant flaws in the theory that some stars contain the universe’s strongest magnetic fields. Instead, researchers at the Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences argue that the stars’ strange and potent energy bursts may be due to the strong wind of particles ejected by these peculiar neutron stars, called "soft gamma-ray repeaters."

Attack of the Tomato Plants . . .UC Davis researchers have found new evidence that, in the battle to avoid being eaten, plants are not passive victims but effective defenders against their insect attackers. They found that parasitic wasps on tomato plants whose chemical defense systems had been artificially stimulated killed twice as many caterpillars as did wasps on untreated plants. The finding provides information for developing environmentally friendly agricultural pest control methods.

Immune System Study . . . Researchers at UCLA have discovered that the human thymus, the organ that produces the immune system’s infection-fighting T cells, remains functional until at least the age of 56 and does not shut down at puberty as originally believed. The finding is promising to HIV and cancer patients who have lost T cells during chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Salmonella Master Switch . . . UC Santa Barbara researchers have uncovered a cellular master switch that can control the salmonella bacteria’s ability to infect. The same switch can be found in other bacteria, opening the door for new vaccinations against several deadly diseases.

Far, Far Away . . . A team of astronomers led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers report they have discovered the most distant radio galaxy found to date. The find is also believed to represent the most-distant black hole discovered so far – nearly 11 billion light years from Earth. Black holes are massive star-like objects that only flare with light when they engulf nearby stars.

Sex and Brains . . . The first evidence in mammals that circulating male sex hormones can dramatically change the size of a brain region has been found by UC Berkeley researchers. The structure under study is associated with sexual arousal in male rats and its size seems to be completely controlled in adult animals by levels of androgens or male hormones that circulate in the bloodstream.

Turbo Lizards . . . Monitor lizards have an advantage most other lizards can’t claim, according to a UC Irvine study. The speedy reptiles can breathe while they run by pumping air through sacs in their throats, unlike most lizards who must use the same muscles to run as they do to breathe and therefore cannot do both at the same time. Now scientists know how monitor lizards got around that problem, a finding that sheds more light on the process of evolution.

Staying Aloft . . . Insects have been flitting about far longer than any other creature, yet how they manage to stay aloft has been a mystery. UC Berkeley researchers, using a pair of robotic wings they’ve dubbed "robofly," have found three distinct wing motions that not only allow insects like flies and bees to stay airborne, but also let them execute amazing acrobatic maneuvers. The mechanisms seem to be common to most insects, and perhaps even to the hummingbird.

The Cutting Edge

Fiber-optic Drug Detector . . . Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a technology for the noninvasive measurement of drug concentrations in tissue. The fiber-optic instrument uses optical spectroscopy to detect changes in tissue in real time and with site specificity.

Gene Discovery . . . Researchers at UC San Diego have discovered a gene that gives plants the ability to detoxify heavy metals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. The researchers believe this discovery, and similar gene discoveries in the future, will help bring down the levels of toxicity in hazardous waste sites to below levels determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Rapid Detector . . . Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have successfully tested an improved instrument for the rapid detection and identification of microbial pathogens in biological weapons or outbreaks of infectious disease. The battery-operated DNA analyzer, which can be used in the field, provides critical information about biological agents in minutes rather than the hours, or even days, previously required.

Aging and Reproduction . . . Researchers at UC San Francisco have determined that signals from the reproductive system influence the life span of the nematode roundworm C. elegans, a phenomenon that could offer insight into the impact of reproductive development on aging in humans. They report that signals from germ cells – the sperm and egg in humans – shorten life span, while signals from the somatic gonads – the part of the reproductive tissue that surrounds the germ cells – lengthen lifespan, sending equal but opposite signals.

Can Houseflies Help? . . . Just as canaries signaled the presence of toxic gases to coal miners, researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center say the common housefly may prove effective in signaling the effects of air pollution at the cellular and molecular level in humans. In essence, they say, the fly’s entire body is a respiratory system that allows researchers to investigate the effects that air pollutants have on important molecules in the body.

Planet and Environment

Enormous Pollution . . . Climate experts from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and colleagues have documented pollution covering about 10 million square kilometers of the tropical Indian Ocean – about the same area as the continental United States. The finding raises serious questions about what impact the extensive pollution is having on climate processes and ocean life.

Butterflies Move North . . . A study from UC Santa Barbara reports a significant number of butterfly species in Europe and North America are relocating northward to find cooler haunts. The study points to global warming as the culprit for the change in habitat range.

Pollution Solution . . . A novel technology capable of removing toxic metal contaminants from acidic mine runoff has been developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Project co-investigator Tom Robison said polymer filtration uses patented water-soluble, ion-binding polymers to remove contaminants like lead from acid mine drainage, while allowing for recovery of valuable metals like silver, copper and zinc.

A Sting to the Wallet . . .The red fire ant, latest in a line of insect pests to establish a toehold in California, could cost homeowners more than $250 million annually if it makes a permanent home in the state, UC Riverside scientists report. The estimate includes the costs of pesticides used to treat garden infestations, medical treatment for stings and repairs for damage caused by the ants to outdoor electrical equipment.

El Niño Warnings . . . One year after El Niño blasted the Central Coast, a team of UC Santa Cruz researchers is investigating the role that early warnings had on farmers, fishermen and residents of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The researchers will conduct archival research and in-depth interviews to determine how people used the information that was provided in advance of El Niño.

Fishing Reserves . . . "No-take zones" in coastal waters could reduce the effects of fishing and better preserve biodiversity in the world’s oceans, while yielding the same industry harvest as current fishing-control methods, say UC Davis researchers. Their mathematical models show that setting aside a portion of coastal waters as zones where fishing is prohibited can produce a sustainable yield equal to the harvest from the current practice, which allows the industry to take a fixed percentage of the fishery stock.

Insights on Society

Unclogging the Internet . . . Much Internet congestion can be chalked up to flat-rate pricing and consumer waste, says a new study from UC Berkeley. Researchers found that by charging subscribers as little as a few extra pennies per megabyte of information moved across the Internet –about $3 per month for the average user studied – network traffic dropped 35 percent.

Get Mad, Light Up . . . Men and women smoke for different emotional reasons, UC Irvine researchers have found. They discovered that anger, anxiety and edginess make men – but not women – want to smoke, and happiness gives women the urge to smoke. The findings indicate that effective stop-smoking programs need to address the emotional reasons for smoking as well as the differences why men and women have the urge to smoke.

Lacking Health Insurance . . . California’s robust economy has not helped the state’s minority residents increase access to affordable health insurance, according to a series of reports by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Even though some minority groups have benefited from higher employment levels, the number of non-elderly minority people who lack health insurance has remained high or even increased.

Base Closures Woe Overstated . . . A military base closure likely will not lead to economic catastrophe despite community fears, reports a UC Davis researcher. The fear of near-catastrophe when a base closes is exaggerated due partially to overstated effects of economic multipliers and to subsequent community re-formation after a closure, says researcher Ted Bradshaw.

Immigration Studies . . . An academic center for the study of worldwide immigration patterns, the first of its kind on the West Coast, has been launched by UC San Diego. The Center for Comparative Immigration Studies will involve more than 30 UCSD faculty, along with specialists at UC Irvine and UC Davis.

Looking to the Future

Internet’s Impact . . .UCLA researchers have launched the first comprehensive study of changes produced by the Internet. The project, funded by America Online, Microsoft, The Walt Disney Co., Sony, GTE, Pacific Bell, the National Cable Television Association and the university, will examine how information technology is shaping the world – today, tomorrow and into the future.

Herbal Hope . . . UC San Francisco researchers report that an herbal compound reduced prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, an indicator of cancer cells, in men with advanced prostate cancer. In response to the compound, 75 percent experienced more than a 50 percent decline in their PSA levels. The compound is a combination of eight Chinese herbs, the most common of which is saw palmetto.

Simply Efficient Engine . . . A remarkably simple, energy-efficient engine with no moving parts may someday provide homes with heat and electricity through cogeneration. Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers Scott Backhaus and Greg Swift have developed a thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine that is environmentally friendly, extremely efficient, reliable and inexpensive.

Kudos

Academy Elections . . . Eighteen UC faculty, officials and researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory have been elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. They join a membership of approximately 4,000 of the nation’s foremost contributors to science, public affairs, scholarship and the arts.

New Guggenheim Fellows . . . Twenty-one UC faculty received Guggenheim fellowships this year in recognition of their demonstrated exceptional scholarship or creative ability. From Berkeley, they were: Rene Davids, Barry Eichengreen, David Frick, Jeffrey Knapp and Montgomery Slatkin; Davis, Pam Ronald; UCLA, Rogers Brubaker, Christopher B. Donnan, Ellen Carol DuBois, Alessandro Duranti, Roberto H. Schonmann and Alice Wexler; Riverside, Carole Fabricant; San Diego, Terence T.- L. Hwa; Santa Barbara, C. Edson Armi, Leda Cosmides, John Foran, Carol Lansing, David J. Pine and John Tooby; Santa Cruz, Michael Riordan.

Biology Honors . . . Sidney Golub, UC Irvine professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, has been named executive director of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, effective Sept. 1. The federation is the largest coalition of life sciences societies in the nation.

Soil Scientist Honored . . . William Jury, a professor of soil physics at UC Riverside, was awarded a U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary’s Honor Award for Environmental Protection for his ground-breaking work in measuring and modeling the movement of pesticides and other toxic chemicals through soil, water and air. As part of his research, Jury developed screening models that predict the contamination tendencies of pesticides. The models are widely used by regulatory agencies and industry to evaluate new pesticides.

Highest Recognition . . . Social psychologist Elliot Aronson, professor emeritus of psychology at UC Santa Cruz who is currently teaching on campus, will receive the American Psychological Association’s 1998-99 Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. It is the highest recognition offered to psychologists for a lifetime of research.

Investing in Education

Student foundation . . . A gift of $100,000 to UC San Diego from alumnus Marc Brutten will establish a student foundation to introduce students to philanthropic enterprises and concepts and the workings of educational foundations. Students selected as trustees will invest the seed money, raise additional funds to invest and distribute the income from investment earnings.

Teller Chair Established . . . The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation has made a grant of $1 million to establish an endowed professorship at UC Davis in honor of Edward Teller, an extraordinary 20th-century scientist who has influenced world history for 60 years. The professorship will be held by the chair of the UC Davis Department of Applied Science – a position first held by Teller, who established the department in 1963.

Gift for Rebuilding . . . A unitrust established by Wayne J. Harman, president of Harman Construction Co. Inc., will provide more than $5 million, in the form of real estate, to UCLA. The gift will support rebuilding plans for the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center.