This paper contains a general description of the field tests proposed for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project repository sealing program. The tests are intended to resolve various performance and emplacement concerns associated with sealing components. Ten discrete tests are proposed to address these concerns. These tests are divided into two categories -- simple and complex tests. The simple tests are: the small-scale in situ tests: the intermediate-scale borehole seal tests; the fracture grouting tests; the surface backfill tests; and the grouted rock mass tests. The complex tests are the seepage control tests; in situ backfill tests; in situ bulkhead tests; large-scale shaft seal tests; and remote borehole seal tests. These tests are proposed to be performed in welded and nonwelded tuff environments. The final selection of sealing tests will depend on the nature of the geologic and hydrologic conditions encountered during the development of the exploratory studies facility. Some tests may be performed before license application and some after license application.

The design of cementitious repository seals requires an understanding of cement hydration effects in developing a tight interface zone between the rock and the seal. For this paper, a computer code, SHAFT.SEAL, is used to model early-age cement hydration effects and performs thermal and thermomechanical analysis of cementitious seals. The model is described, and then used to analyze for the effects of seal size, rock temperature and placement temperature. The model results assist in selecting the instrumentation necessary for progressive evaluation of seal components and seal-system tests. Also, the results identify strategies for seal emplacement for a series of repository seal tests for the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project (YMP).

VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector) is commonly used for measuring flyer-plate velocities up to 6 km/s. Flyer plates can travel as much as 1 mm, which is large compared to usual depth-of-focus requirements for VISARs. Flyer plates are explosively driven, or driven by some other very energetic means; as such, they must be tested in a chamber, which will contain the explosion. Routing the laser beam to the chamber and the signal beam to the VISAR can be done safely and easily in multi-mode optical fibers. We have optimized a fiber-coupled VISAR system for measuring flyer-plate velocities. This system given constant signal levels over the full travel of the flyer plate. Furthermore, the signal-collection efficiency is maximized, which allows use of a moderately sized laser. We also have optimized the VISAR cavity so it does not limit the system efficiency while giving a velocity sensitivity of about 1 km/s per fringe. 5 refs.

The similarities and differences of a universal network to normal neural networks are outlined. The description and application of a universal network is discussed by showing how a simple linear system is modeled by normal techniques and by universal network techniques. A full implementation of the universal network as universal process modeling software on a dedicated computer system at EBR-II is described and example results are presented. It is concluded that the universal network provides different feature recognition capabilities than a neural network and that the universal network can provide extremely fast, accurate, and fault-tolerant estimation, validation, and replacement of signals in a real system.

The TPC's (Time Projection Chamber) used in E-810 at the AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchroton) were exposed to silicon ion fluxes equivalent to more than 10{sup 7} minimum ionizing particles per second to measure the distortion of the electric field caused by positive ions in the drift region. Results of these tests are presented and the consequences for the TPC based experiment at RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) are discussed.

Nuclear explosives may be used to capture small asteroids (e.g., 20--50 meters in diameter) into bound orbits around the earth. The captured objects could be used for construction material for manned and unmanned activity in Earth orbit. Asteroids with small approach velocities, which are the ones most likely to have close approaches to the Earth, require the least energy for capture. They are particularly easy to capture if they pass within one Earth radius of the surface of the Earth. They could be intercepted with intercontinental missiles if the latter were retrofit with a more flexible guiding and homing capability. This asteroid capture-defense system could be implemented in a few years at low cost by using decommissioned ICMs. The economic value of even one captured asteroid is many times the initial investment. The asteroid capture system would be an essential part of the learning curve for dealing with larger asteroids that can hit the earth.

The APS prototype undulator U-5 has been installed at NSLS VUV ring. Its effects on the beam behaviour have been simulated with tracking codes TEAPOT and RACETRACK. The tune shift, the distortion of betatron function, the chromaticity, the transverse coupling, and some of the amplitude-dependent effects on the VUV ring have been compared and are presented in this paper.

Nuclear explosives may be used to capture small asteroids (e.g., 20--50 meters in diameter) into bound orbits around the earth. The captured objects could be used for construction material for manned and unmanned activity in Earth orbit. Asteroids with small approach velocities, which are the ones most likely to have close approaches to the Earth, require the least energy for capture. They are particularly easy to capture if they pass within one Earth radius of the surface of the Earth. They could be intercepted with intercontinental missiles if the latter were retrofit with a more flexible guiding and homing capability. This asteroid capture-defense system could be implemented in a few years at low cost by using decommissioned ICMs. The economic value of even one captured asteroid is many times the initial investment. The asteroid capture system would be an essential part of the learning curve for dealing with larger asteroids that can hit the earth.

The APS prototype undulator U-5 has been installed at NSLS VUV ring. Its effects on the beam behaviour have been simulated with tracking codes TEAPOT and RACETRACK. The tune shift, the distortion of betatron function, the chromaticity, the transverse coupling, and some of the amplitude-dependent effects on the VUV ring have been compared and are presented in this paper.

The similarities and differences of a universal network to normal neural networks are outlined. The description and application of a universal network is discussed by showing how a simple linear system is modeled by normal techniques and by universal network techniques. A full implementation of the universal network as universal process modeling software on a dedicated computer system at EBR-II is described and example results are presented. It is concluded that the universal network provides different feature recognition capabilities than a neural network and that the universal network can provide extremely fast, accurate, and fault-tolerant estimation, validation, and replacement of signals in a real system.

Subcooled flow of liquid nitrogen in microchannels is proposed as a means to enhance the stability of a superconducting magnet. Analysis shows high current density or a low stabilizer fraction is obtainable in a cryostable magnet. Increase in stability (using the Stekley criterion) is directly related to coolant velocity and coolant channel aspect ratio, however, there is a corresponding increase in pressure drop of the system. Another constraint is the coolant temperature rise, which is found to be a function of coolant residence time and the coolant to conductor ratio.

ERCC2 was first identified as a gene on human chromosome 19 that complemented the UV sensitivity of CHO UV5 cells in somatic cell hybrids. Subsequent studies localized ERCC2 to the same chromosomal region (19q13.2--13.3) as the ERCC1 gene and showed that the two genes were less than 250 kb apart. Cloning of ERCC2 was accomplished by transfection of genomic DNA into UV5 cells and rescue of the gene from a secondary transformant. Recovery of the gene was aided by the presence of repetitive sequences that were detected on Southern blots with a probe for Alu-family repeats. ERCC2, which is 19 kb in size, quantitatively corrected the UV sensitivity and incision defect in UV5 cells upon transfection. An ERCC2 CDNA clone was recovered from the pcD2 expression library. Although this clone was truncated at the 5 in. end, it conferred transient, but not stable, correction to UV5 cells upon transfection. Based on genomic sequence, this clone was extended by oligonucleotide addition to obtain minigene constructs in which the complete open reading frame (ORF) was present. Translation of the ERCC2 ORF gives an amino acid sequence that has 72% similarity with the S. cerevisiae RAD3 protein, which encodes a DNA helicase.

Subcooled flow of liquid nitrogen in microchannels is proposed as a means to enhance the stability of a superconducting magnet. Analysis shows high current density or a low stabilizer fraction is obtainable in a cryostable magnet. Increase in stability (using the Stekley criterion) is directly related to coolant velocity and coolant channel aspect ratio, however, there is a corresponding increase in pressure drop of the system. Another constraint is the coolant temperature rise, which is found to be a function of coolant residence time and the coolant to conductor ratio.