This report is a compilation of submitted abstracts of scientific papers presented at the second Department of Energy-supported workshop on the use and applications of biomarkers held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from April 26--29, 1994. The abstracts present a synopsis of the latest scientific developments in biomarker research and how these developments meet with the practical needs of the occupational physician as well as the industrial hygienist and the health physicist. In addition to considering the practical applications and potential benefits of this promising technology, the potential ethical and legal ramifications of using biomarkers to monitor workers are discussed. The abstracts further present insights on the present benefits that can be derived from using biomarkers as well as a perspective on what further research is required to fully meet the needs of the medical community.

It may be possible to surround the region where fusion reactions are taking place with a neutronically thick liquid blanket which has penetrations that allow only a few tenths of a percent of the neutrons to leak out. Even these neutrons can be attenuated by adding an accurately placed liquid or solid near the target to shadow-shield the beam ports from line-of-sight neutrons. The logic of such designs are discussed and their evolution is described with examples applied to both magnetic and inertial fusion (HYLIFE-II). These designs with liquid protection are self healing when exposed to pulsed loading and have a number of advantages-over the usual designs with solid first walls. For example, the liquid-protected solid components will last the life of the plant, and therefore the capacity factor is estimated to be approximately 10% higher than for the non-liquid-walled blankets, because no blanket replacement shutdowns are required. The component replacement, operations, and maintenance costs might be half the usual value because no blanket change-out costs or accompanying facilities are required. These combined savings might lower the cost of electricity by 20%. Nuclear-grade construction should not be needed, largely because the liquid attenuates neutrons and results in less activation of …

The European Tracer EXperiment (ETEX). The ETEX program involves two tracer experiments each comprising from distinct elements: (a) long-range atmospheric tracer release, sampling, and analysis; (b) real-time model operation and evaluation; and (c) post-release model operation and evaluation. The experiments consist of the release of a non-buoyant tracer from a location in western Europe and sampling of the atmospheric concentration by a network of about 200 stations located in 17 countries. Twenty-three institutions from 19 countries are expected to participate in the real-time modeling program including the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC) of the US Department of Energy`s Savannah River Site (SRS). Notification of the release will occur only after the initiation of the release. Participants will be required to provide 60-h concentration predictions as quickly a possible (within 6 h of being notified) and updated predictions every 12 h after the notification. In 1993 two ``dry runs`` for the real-time modeling component of the program were conducted; the actual tracer release experiment is scheduled for the fall of 1994. This paper describes the modeling approach employed by SRTC and presents some of the results of the second ETEX real-time dry run.