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About NACS

Y2K Bug is a No-Show at NACS

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Thanks to preparations and planning, NACS is pleased to report that no Y2K-related problems occurred on the campus network, in the campus telephone system, or on NACS computing systems on January 1. Only minor Y2K problems had been anticipated, but we were concerned about possible threats to network and computer security by those attempting to exploit holiday absences and Y2K confusion.

NACS had staff standing by during the holiday to deal with potential Y2K problems or security attacks. Our goal was to be sure the UCI community could depend on NACS services upon their return to campus.

During the break, about a half-dozen different attempts to find or exploit weaknesses in UCI systems were detected and handled. In addition, several network and computing problems of a routine nature were fielded, and some key installation projections completed. Many thanks to the NACS computing and communications staff who worked or were on call during the holiday.

NACS Staffing Update

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NACS is currently undergoing some staff turnover, which is common in the opportunity-rich computing industry. We are in the process of recruiting to replace each staff member who has departured.

Jim Surlow
Jim Surlow, who managed NACS’ DCS contract support group, left in September to fulfill a longtime goal of moving out of state. He has joined Kenan Systems in Denver. Dan Stromberg (strombrg@uci.edu) is acting as Interim Manager of DCS, with the support of NACS Associate Director Dana Roode (DRoode@uci.edu).

Don Frederick
Don Frederick, NACS’ research and scientific computing consultant, has left NACS to join the San Diego Supercomputer Center, SDSC. Until we hire a replacement, Allen Schiano (schiano@uci.edu) is fielding requests normally sent to Don, and redistributing them to other NACS Staff as appropriate.

Jan Vescera
Jan Vescera, NACS’ campus-wide computing support coordinator, has left NACS to seek employment closer to her Los Angeles home. Andrew Laurence (atlauren@uci.edu) and Bob Hudack (rjhudack@uci.edu) of NACS’ Indirect Support Team will be taking over Jan’s responsibilities, with help from a technical staffer being recruited.

Finally, we are pleased to welcome Carol Sison, who joins NACS’ Electronic Communication Services unit as Telecommunications Specialist. Carol comes to NACS/ECS from GE Capital Mortgage Services, where she spent 10 years as Telecommunications and Facilities Manager. Carol will be helping to administer UCI’s telephone system and wiring plant.

UCI Epidemiology to Manage Internet-based Informatics Systems

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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has chosen the Epidemiology Division of UC Irvine’s College of Medicine to manage two Internet-based informatics systems. The first is for an existing NCI network of twelve international institutions studying genetic and other causes of breast and colon cancer, and the second will link eight major research centers nationally (including UCI) in NCI’s newly created Cancer Genetics Network. Both informatics systems will take advantage of emerging technologies and recent discoveries that are allowing scientists to explore, more than ever before, the key role gene mutations play in human cancer susceptibility.

In early May, the Epidemiology Division moved the Cancer Genetics Network and Informatics Centers to one of the new buildings on Theory Drive in the University Research Park (URP). The Informatics Centers are the first campus programs to utilize high-speed fiber-optic communication links from URP to the campus network backbone, orchestrated in large part through NACS. NACS will also be instrumental in planning networking and security needs for the Informatics Center.

The UCI Informatics Centers will develop one of the most comprehensive human cancer genetics research databases ever undertaken. The system will contain data on hundreds of thousands of people who are genetically predisposed to cancer, as well as information on biological specimens, educational materials and other resources designed to increase the world’s understanding of the genetic basis of cancer.

The Principal Investigators on these research projects are Hoda Anton-Culver, Ph.D., Robert Moyzis, Ph.D., Alberto Manetta, M.D., F. Allan Hubbell, M.D., and Argyrios Ziogas, Ph.D., among many others.

UCI Computing Supporters and Y2K

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NACS hosts monthly meetings of campus computing supporters: the CSCs (Computer Support Coordinators) and CLCs (Computing Lab Coordinators). NACS staff and others will present on Y2K topics during two summer meetings of these groups:

Meeting agendas, schedules, and locations are announced and discussed on the UCICSCG@UCI.EDU LISTSERV mailing list, which anyone may join.

NACS Electronic Educational Environment Staffing Update

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NACS’ participation in UCI’s Electronic Educational Environment is once again in full swing after a series of staffing challenges earlier in the year. Shohreh Bozorgmehri, NACS’ principal EEE coordinator, has returned from a few months away on maternity leave. Eric Friedman and Leonard Megliola, who left to accept jobs in the commercial sector, have been replaced by Eric Carter and David Baskin.

Eric, a former NACS student staff member, joins NACS once again after a year working for the UCI school of Humanities. Eric is EEE’s system administrator and helps support EEE Web tools. He is currently working on a pilot program with other EEE team members to evaluate the “WebCT” web course software.

David Baskin joins NACS from USC-Wrigley Institute, where he was their Webmaster. He was previously responsible for the National Academy of Sciences Web site for the Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications. David is helping plan and teach EEE workshops, providing assistance to instructors, and is participating in the enhancement of the EEE Web site to improve usability and functionality.