The Year 2000 computer problem (Y2K) is a widespread software issue that can affect all computers form the tiniest "embedded" microprocessor to the largest mainframe computer. There are a number of causes of this problem, the most frequent being the use of two digits instead of four to represent the year. As the century digits change from 19 to 20 there is a very real possibility that programs will make errors when processing dates. This paper discusses the origin of the problem, looks into symptoms and failure modes, describes how organizations are attacking the problem, and then spends some time discussing the international security aspects.

The main non-neutral plasma science issue in heavy ion drivers is focusability at the target. Considerations of the intrinsic six-dimensional phase volume at the beginning of the accelerator, and the required six dimensional phase volume required at the target, suggests there exists accelerator designs in which there is a reasonably large leeway to allow adequate focusability. Space-charge effects may also be controlled by properly designed neutralization methods, or large beam numbers, or high beam kinetic energy (and hence reduced currents for fixed target yield). Known beam instabilities also must be considered in the accelerator design. Errors in the focusing and accelerating systems also contribute to emittance growth. Simulations must play a crucial role in determining the level of errors that allow the accelerator to meet the focusing requirements, and in ensuring that beam instabilities are benign.

A new type of material processing is enabled with ultrashort (t < 10 psec) laser pulses. Cutting, drilling, sculpting of all materials (biologic materials, ceramics, sapphire, silicon carbide, diamond, metals) occurs by new mechanisms which eliminate thermal shock or collateral damage. High precision machining to submicron tolerances is enabled resulting in high surface quality and negligible heat affected zone.

The objective of this study is to observe changes in coal structure in situ with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) during solvent swelling and during pyrolysis. We have built a SAXS instrument at the Basic Energy Sciences Synchrotrons Research Center at the Advanced Photon Source that allows us to obtain scattering patterns in the millisecond time domain. The eight Argonne Premium Coal samples were used in this study. The information that can be derived from these experiments, such as changes in fractal dimensionality and in size and type of porosity, was found to be very rank-dependent. In the swelling experiments, it was noted that for certain coals, structural changes occurred in just a few minutes.

Li et al. found that the critical current density J{sub c}{sup J} across atomically clean c-axis twist junctions of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}Ca Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8+{delta}} is the same as that of the constituent single crystal, J{sub c}{sup S}, independent of the twist angle {phi}{sub 0}, even at T{sub c}. They investigated theoretically if a d{sub x{sup 2}-y{sup 2}}-wave order parameter might twist by mixing in d{sub xy} components, but find that such twisting cannot possibly explain the data near to T{sub c}. Hence, the order parameter contains an s-wave component, but not any d{sub x{sup 2}-y{sup 2}}-wave component. In addition, the c-axis Josephson tunneling is completely incoherent. They also propose a c-axis junction tricrystal experiment which does not rely upon expensive substrates.

This historical records review report concerns the activities of the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) at Amchitka Island, Alaska, over a period extending from 1942 to 1993. The report focuses on AEC activities resulting in known or suspected contamination of the island environment by nonradiological hazardous or toxic materials as discerned through historical records. In addition, the information from historical records was augmented by an August 1998 sampling event. Both the records review and sampling were conducted by IT Corporation on behalf of the US Department of Energy (DOE), the predecessor agency to the AEC. The intent of this investigation was to identify all potentially contaminated sites for which DOE may be responsible, wholly or partially, including all official sites of concern as recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Additionally, potential data gaps that the DOE will need to fill to support the ecological and human health risk assessments performed were identified. A review of the available historical information regarding AEC's activities on Amchitka Island indicates that the DOE is potentially responsible for 11 sites identified by USFWS and an additional 10 sites that are not included in the USFWS database of sites of potential concern.

A number of auto companies have announced plans to have fuel cell powered vehicles on the road by the year 2004. The low-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells to be used in these vehicles require high quality hydrogen. Without a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure, these vehicles need to convert the available hydrocarbon fuels into a hydrogen-rich gas on-board the vehicle. Earlier analysis has shown that fuel processors based on partial oxidation reforming are well suited to meet the size and weight targets and the other performance-related needs of on-board fuel processors for light-duty fuel cell vehicles (1).

We are developing a method for analysis of airborne microparticles based on laser ablation of individual molecules in an ion trap mass spectrometer. Airborne particles enter the spectrometer through a differentially-pumped inlet, are detected by light scattered from two CW laser beams, and sampled by a pulsed excimer laser as they pass through the center of the ion trap electrodes. After the laser pulse, the stored ions are separated by conventional ion trap methods. The mass spectra are then analyzed using genetically-trained neural networks (NNs). A number of mass spectra are averaged to obtain training cases which contain a recognizable spectral signature. Averaged spectra for a bacteria and a non-bacteria are shown to the NNs, the response evaluated, and the weights of the connections between neurodes adjusted by a Genetic Algorithm (GA) such that the output from the NN ranges from 0 for non-bacteria to 1 for bacteria. This process is iterated until the population of the GA converges or satisfies predetermined stopping criteria. Using this type of bipolar training we have obtained generalizing NNs able to distinguish five new bacteria from five new non-bacteria, none of which were used in training the NN.

Sorbent Technologies Corporation (Sorbtech) of Twinsburg, Ohio has developed a new technology for converting SO{sub 2}-rich gas streams directly to elemental sulfur. Key to the technology is a special catalyst that promotes the reaction of SO{sub 2} with reformed natural gas. The technology evolved from earlier flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) work that Sorbtech engineers performed in the late 1980's. In 1995, with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) support, Sorbtech designed and constructed a larger, skid-mounted pilot-test unit suitable for demonstrating the new technology in field tests. This Report summarizes months of preparation work and eight days of testing that were performed at FETC'S facilities during late September and early October, 1997. On the basis of the results of this phase of the project, the following conclusions were made: (1) The chemistry of the new technology was well proven and demonstrated at FETC. The overall S0{sub 2}-to-elemental sulfur yields were typically in the range of 93 to 98 percent. (The project goal was 95 percent, so the goal was exceeded). (2) Sulfur selectivity values, indicating the tendency of S0{sub 2} to be converted to elemental sulfur in preference to H{sub 2}S or COS, were typically in the range of 98 to 100 …