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1. The r a t e s of photosynthesis and subsequent respiration of Chlorella pyrenoidosa were measured using an oxygen analyzer (sensitive to paramagnetism). The energy absorbed during the photosynthesis periods was determined and the quantum requirement was calculated. 2. Dark respiration r a t e was found to depend on the r a t e of light absorption during the period of photosynthesis, and increased with increasing photosynthesis rate. 3 . The quantum requirement, corrected for respiration, varied from 4. 9 ( a t a ratio of photosynthesis to respiration of 1.4) to 6. 9 (at a r a t i o of 12). Both uncorrected and corrected quantum requirements approach an experimental value of 7. 4 a t high light intensity. 4. The lower quantum requirement obtained a t low light intensity is believed to be due to a relatively greater importance of contribution of energy from respiration t o photosynthesis. An expression i s derived for the relation between this contribution and the enhancement of dark respiration due to the level of photosynthesis to which the plants a r e conditioned. 5. Attempts to obtain the blue -light stimulation of photosynthesis with algae photosynthesizing in r e …

W. J. O`Leary and R. R. Herries visited BMI to review the progress of subcontract research on extended fuel elements. 1. Three ``pinhole`` corrosion samples, bonded at ERL by fluid pressure, have been tested in boiling distilled water for, 624 hours with no evidence of undercutting corrosion. 2. A series of 30 samples is being prepared to investigate the effect of higher bonding pressures on resistance to undercutting corrosion. 3. A 25-pound lot of Horizons` thorium is analyzed and has been compacted in preparation for consumable electrode arc melting.

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This document presents a summary of work and progress at the Hanford Engineer Works for January 1955. The report is divided into sections by department. A plant wide general summary is included at the beginning of the report, after which the departmental summaries begin. The Manufacturing Department reports plant statistics, and summaries for the Metal Preparation, Reactor and Separation sections. The Engineering Department`s section summarizes work for the Technical Design, and Project Sections. Costs for the various departments are presented in the Financial department`s summary. The Medical, Radiological Sciences, Utilities and General Services, Employee and Public Relations, and Community Real Estate and Services departments have sections presenting their monthly statistics, work, progress, and summaries.

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A potentially attractive method of achieving additional flexible reactivity control in the production reactors is that of introducing neutron absorbers contained in thin flexible metal strips between the slug and process tube wall. It is possible that the neutron absorbing splines could be used to provide additional flexible control during operation as well as temporary control during outages. The application of splines during reactor operation is contingent upon the neutron absorber creating tolerable thermal gradients such that excessive slug rupture rates will not ensue. This report describes measurements of the distribution of power in a uranium slug immediately adjacent to a prototype control spline. Measurements were made in the metal test stringer of the Hanford Test Pile.

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The topics discussed at this meeting included: the approval for six technical studies, safety concerns, fuel elements for tritium production, and the Mark III fuel assembly. Appendices attached to this report describe the financial status [unreadable], the theoretical physics program, experimental physics program, pile engineering program, and the Technical Division study status.