S>Relative biological hazards of blast were studied in two types of communal air-raid shelters during Shots 1 and 8. Dogs, restrained within the shelters during detonation, were studied pathologically and clinically for blast injuries. Two anthropometric dummies were test objects for displacement studies utilizing high-speed photography. Physical data included pressure vs time and air-drag determinations. During Shot 1, animals sustained marked blast damages (hemorrhages in lungs and abdominal organs), three dogs were ataxic. and the dummies were rather violently displaced. In Shot 8, however, no significant injuries were found in the animals, and the dummies were minimally displaced. Analysis of the physical data indicated that blast injuries and violent displacements may occur at much lower static overpressures than previously assumed from conventional explosion data. Furthermore, biological damage appeared to be related to the rate of rise of the overpressure and air drag, as well as the maximum overpressure values. (auth)

Static overpressure and dynamic pressure versus time over surfaces processing different physical properties were measured on two tower shots, 6 and 12. On Shot 12, three surfaces were provided: the natural desert, a water surface consisting of a flooded area, and an asphalt surface. On Shot 6, desert and asphalt areas only were available. There were 123 channels of instrumentation installed for Shot 12, and 24 for Shot 6. From the data, a system of wave-form classification was devised for overpressure and dynamic-pressure- versus-time measurements. Incorporation of this system into data analysios indicates that it is possible for an ideal peak pressure to be identified with a nonideal wave form. Introducing both variables, wave form and peak pressure, into analyses reduces ambiguioties associoated with comparing results of different nuclear tests. The data show the effect of the nature of the surface upon airblast phenomena from a nuclear explosion. The effects of surface conditions upon shock phenomena are made more understandable by a review of temperature computatioons, using shock wave parameters in addition to an analysis based upon the arrioval time of the thermal pulse. A phenomenological discussion of precursor formation is presented, and comparisons are made using data from all …

In 1957 a radiometric examination of rock outcrops in the Ayabaca and Huancabamba areas of northwestern Peru was made in conjunction with a geologic search for structures favorable for the occurrence of uranium minerals. No anomalous radioactivity was detected, and the geologic setting is believed to be generally unfavorable for uranium mineralization. (auth)

The basic information about the path of carbon in photosynthesis is reviewed together with the methods that were used to discover it. This has led to the knowledge of what is required of the photochemical reaction in the form of chemical species. Attention is then directed to the structure of the photochemical apparatus itself insofar as it is viewable by electron microscopy, and some principoles of ordered structure are devised for the types of molecules to be found in the chloroplasts. From the combination of these, a structure for the grana lamella is suggested and a mode of function proposed. Experimental test for this mode of function is underway; one method is to examine photoproduced unpaired electrons. This is discussed.

The recent production and identification of isotopes of elements with atomic numbers up to six higher than the target element through bombardment with hexapositive 120-Mev carbon ions made it seem worthwhile to apply this technique to the transuranium region. Accordingly, small pieces of natural uranium metal (about 0.5 mil thick and 205 cm by 0.6 cm area) were irradiated in the internal carbon ion beam in the Berkeley 60-inch cyclotron. Following the irradiations, the uranium was dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid containing hydrogen peroxide and a transplutonium fraction was isolated through the use of lanthanum fluoride, and lanthanum hydroxide precipitation steps followed by the ion exchange adsorption column procedure in which concentrated hydrochloric acid is used to separate the tripositive actinide elements from the rare earth elements. The transplutonium fractions in hydrochloric acid were evaporated as weightless films on platinum plates which were placed in the ionization chamber of the 48 channel pulse analyzer apparatus in order to measure the yield and energies of any alpha-particles which might be present. In the best experiment at about one hour after the end of the 90-minute bombardment, some 50 disintegrations per minute of the distinctive 7.1-Mev alpha-particles of Cf{sup 244} were observed …

This document is an addendum to DC 56-8-167 and gives a description of the proposed Navy nuclear seaplane program and the objectives of the X211 engine study program.

As a result of a wide variety of studies on photosynthesis in living plants and plant fragments, together with the development of photosensitive, photovoltaic junctions in inorganic crystals and the discovery and exploration of semiconduction in organic molecular substances, a suggestion has been made that the primary quantum conversion process in photosynthetic tissues involves the creation and separation of charge to opposite sides of an asymmetrically-constructed lamina, followed by the trapping of both the electrons and the holes which then lead to their respective chemical processes, namely reduction of carbon dioxide and oxidation of the water to oxygen. This has led us to study model systems as semiconductors with a view to creating an organic photovoltaic junction.

The electrostatically deflected beam of the 184-inch cyclotron has been used with the stacked foil and absorber technique to determine the excitation functions for the following reactions: Th{sup 232}(p,6n)Pa{sup 227}, Th{sup 232}(p,3n)Pa{sup 230}, Th{sup 232}(d,7n)Pa{sup 227}, Th{sup 232}({alpha},p8n)Pa{sup 227}, Th{sup 232}({alpha},p5n)Pa{sup 230}, and U{sup 238}(p,{alpha}8n)Pa{sup 227}. The data are presented graphically and discussed individually for each of the reactions. Some rough excitation function data have also been determined for the reactions Th{sup 232}(d,4n)Pa{sup 230}, U{sup 238}(p,{alpha}5n)Pa{sup 230}, Th{sup 232}({alpha},7n)U{sup 229}, and Th{sup 232}({alpha},6n)U{sup 230}. The results are discussed in terms of compound nucleus formation, transparency effects, and other factors in order to arrive at a qualitative picture for the mechanism of high energy nuclear reactions with heavy nuclei.

The X-ray Spectrum Produced by 322 Mev Electrons Striking a Platinum Target. The differential energy spectrum of the photons produced by 322 Mev electrons striking a 20 mil platinum target was measured by observing the energy of 3467 pairs produced in a one mil thick lead foil in a Wilson cloud chamber in a magnetic field of 10,000 gauss. The spectrum is found to agree with that predicted by the Bethe-Heitler bremsstrahlung theory using a Thomas-Fermi model with suitable corrections for the thickness of the target. The energy of the 322 Mev electrons was determined by the spectrum of the photons observed in this experiment. Apparatus used and the experimental data and results obtained are reported fully in UCRL-660.

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The flowsheet proposed by KAPL for the treatment of alkaline nitrate radiochemical processing waste has been modified to include an ion-exchange step for the decontamination of cesium, strontium, and other cationic fission products. In laboratory studies of the electrolysis steps in a nitrate reduction cell, synthetic alkaline waste, 0.55 to 4.83 M total electrolyte, was decontaminated from ruthenium by factors of > 210. The nitrate of 3.0 M waste was reduced to ammonia with current efficiencies of 100%. Power consumption was 4.7 kwh/lb of nitrate reduced. Significant factors affecting the rate of ruthenium decontamination were temperature, cathode area, cathode current density, and electrolyte concentration. Those affecting nitrate reduction current efficiencies were the cathode current density, electrolyte concentration, and stirring rate. In an acid-base membrane cell, reusable nitric acid as well as sodium hydroxide was regenerated. However, such a cell is less economical to construct and operate than the nitrate reduction cell. At least 5 kwh of power is required to transfer 1 lb of nitrate from ORNL type waste. In addition, the greater complexity of the acid-base cell makes it less adaptable for remote control.

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Tests have been made to study the effects of lowering process water pH from pH 7.7 to the range pH 6.2--7.3; of reducing the amount of sodium dichromate inhibitor added to the water; and of eliminating the filtration step in the water treatment process. The results on the pH testing showed that reducing the pH of the cooling water would reduce aluminum corrosion rates. The plant specification has been changed to lower process water pH from 7.7 to 7.3 and plant scale testing of pH 7.0 water is in progress. Reducing the dichromate concentration in the water from 2 to 0.2 ppm had no deleterious effects on the aluminium pile components but might cause pitting of the carbon steel pile effluent lines. The use of unfiltered water is technically feasible from the stand-points of corrosion and film formation but probably would cause a sizable increase in the radioactivity of the pile effluent water. 6 figs., 5 tabs.

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This report describes the operation of the fuels preparation department for the month of August, 1957. Manufacturing, employee relations, process development, plant improvements, and financial operations are described.

Management of first-cycle wastes from the Bismuth Phosphate Plant using Nickel Ferrocyanide scavenging is described.

The test established that a practical orifice selecting device can be made and used to control the water flow rate to a process tube at either of two accurately calibrated rates with no loss of accuracy in flow measurement. With the selector tested, there was no flow restriction during the orifice transition. The pressure fluctuations during the change were small in magnitude, and caused no operational problem. The test demonstrated that orifice selection is feasible from operating other factors justify their use.

This report is written to provide information concerning the status of the Hot Semiworks facility as it is placed in stand-by on July 1, 1957. The plant was constructed in 1951 and early 1952. It vas operated on Redox type investigations until the last of 1953. The plant was then converted to the Purex flowsheet under Project CA 513 D. Operations on the Purex type investigations were started in early 1955 and continued until early in 1956. At that time a maintenance program for plant improvement and repair was initiated. This program was completed on July 1, 1957. Statements are contained in this report which pertain to the present status of physical equipment and facilities and the adequacy, operating experience, recommendations for improvement, previous work, and future considerations of the plant. However, the primary intent of the report is to provide pertinent information to personnel associated with a future start-up. For this reason, certain parts of the report are quite detailed. Only statements concerning the existing or previous state of the facility and equipment are factual. Others are opinions or experiences of plant operating personnel. Emphasis has also been placed on the faults encountered rather than the good features of …

The purpose of this document is to present a capacity study of the existing UO{sub 3} Plant Nitric Oxide Absorption System.

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We have prepared what we call a bonded segmented fuel element. This fuel element has characteristics which make it an attractive prospect for high specific power operation at relatively low uranium temperatures. The fuel slug is made up of six longitudinal segments; each segment being bonded to the aluminum webbing and tubing that encases it. The pertinent information for this irradiation is summarized along with fabrication details and hazards, thermal aspects and calculations, and figures.

The demand for filtered water will be increased when I and E slugs are charged into the reactors. Some of the filter plants are near their ultimate capacity. One of the quickest ways of obtaining increased amounts of filtered water for production use is to restore to normal process service certain filters which are now isolated for exclusive drinking water use. These drinking water filters are isolated because the process water filters are being treated with Separans, a material which has not been approved for use in drinking water. A suitable approved substitute material was found and tested in the model filter at B Area. A full scale plant test was run at F Area for the purpose of confirming the results obtained in the model filter plant. The results of the full scale toot are presented in this report.