A magazine article about the discrimination male gay athletes underwent during their professional careers and their experiences with homophobia.

A magazine article about the discrimination and experiences lesbian athletes suffered during their professional careers.

An article clipping from The Dallas Morning News article 'A rosier picture' written by Larry Bleiberg. The piece covers the planned rebuilding of the Dallas ISD fine arts program through several years of revamped funding and building up of curriculum.

Mechanical design features of the reactor chamber for the HYLIFE-II inertial confinement fusion power plant are presented. A combination of oscillating and steady, molten salt streams (Li{sub 2}BeF{sub 4}) are used for shielding and blast protection of the chamber walls. The system is designed for a 6 Hz repetition rate. Beam path clearing, between shots, is accomplished with the oscillating flow. The mechanism for generating the oscillating streams is described. A design configuration of the vessel wall allows adequate cooling and provides extra shielding to reduce thermal stresses to tolerable levels. The bottom portion of the reactor chamber is designed to minimize splash back of the high velocity (>12 m/s) salt streams and also recover up to half of the dynamic head. Cost estimates for a 1 GWe and 2 GWe reactor chamber are presented.

This study investigates control strategies for coordinating the variable solar-optical properties of a dynamic building envelope system with a daylight controlled electric lighting system to reduce electricity consumption and increase comfort in the perimeter zone of commercial buildings. Control strategy design can be based on either simple, instantaneous measured data, or on complex, predictive algorithms that estimate the energy consumption for a selected operating state of the dynamic envelope and lighting system. The potential benefits of optimizing the operation of a dynamic envelope and lighting system are (1) significant reductions in electrical energy end-uses - lighting, and cooling due to solar and lighting heat gains - over that achieved by conventional static envelope and lighting systems, (2) significant reductions in peak demand, and (3) increased occupant visual and thermal comfort. The DOE-2 building energy simulation program was used to model two dynamic envelope and lighting systems, an automated venetian blind and an electrochromic glazing system, and their control strategies under a range of building conditions. The energy performance of simple control strategies are compared to the optimum performance of a theoretical envelope and lighting system to determine the maximum potential benefit of using more complex, predictive control algorithms. Results indicate …

Mechanisms through which static magnetic fields interact with living systems are described and illustrated by selected experimental observations. These mechanisms include electrodynamic interactions with moving, ionic charges (blood flow and nerve impulse conduction), magnetomechanical interactions (orientation and translation of molecules structures and magnetic particles), and interactions with electronic spin states in charge transfer reactions (photo-induced electron transfer in photosynthesis). A general summary is also presented of the biological effects of static magnetic fields. There is convincing experimental evidence for magnetoreception mechanisms in several classes of lower organisms, including bacteria and marine organisms. However, in more highly evolved species of animals, there is no evidence that the interactions of static magnetic fields with flux densities up to 2 Tesla (1 Tesla [T] = 10{sup 4} Gauss) produce either behavioral or physiolocical alterations. These results, based on controlled studies with laboratory animals, are consistent with the outcome of recent epidemiological surveys on human populations exposed occupationally to static magnetic fields.

The author reviews phenomenologically interesting aspects of supersymmetry. First he points out that the discovery of the positron can be regarded as a historic analogue to the would-be discovery of supersymmetry. Second he reviews the recent topics on the unification of the gauge coupling constants, m{sub b}-M{sub {tau}} relation, proton decay, and baryogenesis. The author also briefly discusses the recent proposals to solve the problem of flavor changing neutral currents. Finally he argues that the measurements of supersymmetry parameters may probe the physics at the Planck scale.

Electromagnetic fields can be separated into near and far components. Near fields are extensions of static fields. They do not radiate, and they fall off more rapidly from a source than far fields. Near fields can accelerate particles, but the ratio of acceleration to source fields at a distance R, is always less than R/{lambda} or 1, whichever is smaller. Far fields can be represented as sums of plane parallel, transversely polarized waves that travel at the velocity of light. A single such wave in a vacuum cannot give continuous acceleration, and it is shown that no sums of such waves can give net first order acceleration. This theorem is proven in three different ways; each method showing a different aspect of the situation.

Human-health impacts, especially to the surrounding public, are extremely difficult to assess at installations that contain multiple waste sites and a variety of mixed-waste constituents (e.g., organic, inorganic, and radioactive). These assessments must address different constituents, multiple waste sites, multiple release patterns, different transport pathways (i.e., groundwater, surface water, air, and overland soil), different receptor types and locations, various times of interest, population distributions, land-use patterns, baseline assessments, a variety of exposure scenarios, etc. Although the process is complex, two of the most important difficulties to overcome are associated with (1) establishing an approach that allows for modifying the source term, transport, or exposure component as an individual module without having to re-evaluate the entire installation-wide assessment (i.e., all modules simultaneously), and (2) displaying and communicating the results in an understandable and useable maimer to interested parties. An integrated, physics-based, compartmentalized approach, which is coupled to a Geographical Information System (GIS), captures the regional health impacts associated with multiple waste sites (e.g., hundreds to thousands of waste sites) at locations within and surrounding the installation. Utilizing a modular/GIS-based approach overcomes difficulties in (1) analyzing a wide variety of scenarios for multiple waste sites, and (2) communicating results from a complex …

TAISIR, Temperature and Imaging System InfraRed, is a nominally satellite based platform for remote sensing of the earth. One of its design features is to acquire atmospheric data simultaneous with ground data, resulting in minimal dependence on external atmospheric models for data correction. Extensive modeling of the rms error of determining a ground temperature and emissivity for a gray body has been performed as a function of integration time, spectroscopic resolution of the system, ground emissivity, atmospheric variables, and atmospheric data accuracy. We find that increased resolution improves measurement accuracy by emphasizing those regions where the atmospheric transmission is highest and atmospheric emission/absorption lowest. We find rms temperature errors {le}1K and rms emissivity errors <0.01 are obtainable for reasonable seeing and with sufficient information about the atmosphere. A new method is developed for modeling the dependence of the band-averaged transmission and emission. Monte Carlo simulations of satellite data taken using a multi-angle technique are used to derive signal-to-noise requirements. The applicability of those results to the TAISIR system requirements are discussed.

Using calculational methods based on R-matrix theory, we have obtained cross sections and spectra for a number of charged-particle reactions, including those initiated by d+t, t+t, and t+{sup 6}Li. The three-body resonance model used to calculate the spectra resembles the sequential-decay model, but it sometimes gives different results. Contributions from resonances involving the detected particle can produce the broad structure underlying the narrow peaks in the spectra that is often attributed to ``three-body phase space.`` We will show examples of calculated cross sections and spectra, compared to the measured data.

A dual-arm manipulation module is under development for application in decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) tasks. The development is led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory with support from Sandia National Laboratories, and with university and industry participation. The project is part of the Robotics Technology Development Program funded by the US Department of Energy, Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Office of Technology Development. The dual-arm module is designed to provide dexterous manipulation capability for remote characterization, decontamination, and dismantlement operations, and the module is reconfigurable to meet various deployment requirements. Remote manipulation capability can benefit D&D activities through reduced worker exposure to both contaminant and industrial hazards. When tasks conditions permit, increased use of robotic features reduce costs by increased efficiency of operation.

Statistical Process Control testing of manufacturing processes began back in the 1940`s with the development of Process Control Charts by Dr. Walter A. Shewart. Sandia National Laboratories has developed an application of the SPC method for performance testing of electronic security equipment. This paper documents the evaluation of this testing methodology applied to electronic security equipment and an associated laptop computer-based system for obtaining and analyzing the test data. Sandia developed this SPC sensor performance testing method primarily for use on portal metal detectors, but, has evaluated it for testing of an exterior intrusion detection sensor and other electronic security devices. This method is an alternative to the traditional binomial (alarm or no-alarm) performance testing. The limited amount of information in binomial data drives the number of tests necessary to meet regulatory requirements to unnecessarily high levels. For example, a requirement of a 0.85 probability of detection with a 90% confidence requires a minimum of 19 alarms out of 19 trials. By extracting and analyzing measurement (variables) data whenever possible instead of the more typical binomial data, the user becomes more informed about equipment health with fewer tests (as low as five per periodic evaluation).

Due to recent developments in elastomer technology, seismic isolation using elastomer bearings is rapidly becoming an acceptable design tool to enhance structural seismic margins and to protect people and equipment from earthquake damage. With proper design of isolators, high-energy seismic input motions are transformed into low-frequency, low energy harmonic motions and the accelerations acting on the isolated building are significantly reduced. Several alternatives exist for the modeling of the isolators. This study is concerned with the use of a viscoelastic model to predict the seismic response of base-isolated buildings. The in-house finite element computer code has been modified to incorporate a viscoelastic spring element, and several simulations are performed. Then, the computed results have been compared with the corresponding observed data recorded at the test facility.

We have proposed measuring the acceleration of antiprotons in the Earth`s gravitational field by launching antiprotons from a thermal distribution at 4 K upwards against the force of gravity and measuring their time-of-flight (TOF). The TOF distribution thus obtained will exhibit a cut-off representing the minimum kinetic energy necessary to reach the detector at the top of the experiment. The cut-off time is independent of the inertial mass of the particles and is a direct measure of g for the particles studied. We propose to compare the cut-off time, and thereby g, of negative hydrogen ions and antiprotons. The single most difficult problem to be solved for this method consists of shielding all stray-electric fields to a level where the force of gravity is dominating force acting on the particle. Alternative methods for reducing the effect of stray-electric fields are discussed and a brief analysis of experimental possibilities using neutral antihydrogen atoms is presented.

This research focuses on automating the time-consuming process of developing and optimizing multi-sensor integration techniques. Our approach is currently based on adaptively learning how to exploit low-level image detail. Although this system is specifically designed to be both sensor and application domain independent, an empirical validation with actual multi-modal sensor data is presented.

One of the more difficult problems associated with comparative neutron activation analysis (CNAA) is the preparation of standards which are tailor-made to the desired irradiation and counting conditions. Frequently, there simply is not a suitable standard available commercially, or the resulting gamma spectrum is convoluted with interferences. In a recent soil analysis project, the need arose for standards which contained about 35 elements. In response, a computer spreadsheet was developed to calculate the appropriate amount of each element so that the resulting gamma spectrum is relatively free of interferences. Incorporated in the program are options for calculating all of the irradiation and counting parameters including activity produced, necessary flux/bombardment time, counting time, and appropriate source-to-detector distance. The result is multi-element standards for CNAA which have optimal concentrations. The program retains ease of use without sacrificing capability. In addition to optimized standard production, a novel soil homogenization technique was developed which is a low cost, highly efficient alternative to commercially available homogenization systems. Comparative neutron activation analysis for large scale projects has been made easier through these advancements. This paper contains details of the design and function of the NAA spreadsheet and innovative sample handling techniques.

To address the problem of characterizing uranium-contaminated surface soil at federal facilities, the Department of Energy has the development of four uranium field screening technologies, under the direction of the Uranium-in-Soils Integrated Demonstration (USID) Program. These four technologies include: a long-range alpha detector a beta scintillation detector, an in situ gamma detector, and a mobile laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry (LA-ICP/AES) laboratory. As part of the performance assessment for these field screening technologies, cost estimates for the development and operation of each technology were created. A cost study was conducted to compare three of the USID field screening technologies to the use of traditional field surveying equipment to adequately characterize surface soils of a one-acre site. The results indicate that the use of traditional equipment costs more than the in situ gamma detector, but less than the beta scintillation detector and LRAD. The use of traditional field surveying equipment results in cost savings of 4% and 34% over the use of the beta scintillation and LRAD technologies, respectively. A study of single-point surface soil sampling and laboratory analysis costs was also conducted. Operational costs of the mobile LA-ICP/AES laboratory were compared with operational costs of traditional sampling and analysis, …

Infrared emission (IRE) spectra were obtained from two borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) thin-film sample sets. The first set consisted of 21 films deposited on undoped silicon wafers, and the second set consisted of 9 films deposited on patterned and doped (product) wafers. The IRE data were empirically modeled using partial least-squares calibration to simultaneously quantify four BPSG thin-film properties. The standard errors of the determinations when modeling the 21 monitor wafers were <O.l wt % for boron and phosphorus content, 36 {angstrom} for film thickness, and 1.9{degree}C for temperature. The standard errors of the determinations based on the product wafers were 0.13 wt % each for B and P content, 120 {angstrom} for film thickness, and 5.9 C for temperature.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) envisions many future situations in which the effectiveness and consequences of new intelligent vehicle-highway systems technologies will need to be studied in actual production vehicles. Such studies will enable evaluations in vehicles which are familiar to drivers. These studies would be future enhanced by the availability of an instrumentation package that can be easily installed in these vehicles to enable specific vehicle configurations of interest to be evaluated, thereby increasing the variety of vehicle options that are available for study. Ideally, an approach is needed that would allow data collection from a variety of vehicle models and types, and would address the issue of driver familiarity. Such an approach is embodied in the concept of a driver performance data acquisition system that could be installed in a wide range of vehicles within a relatively short period of time. As a universally adaptable system, it would provide researchers with the ability to manually input data as well as directly record information on driver, vehicle, roadway, and environmental parameters. Furthermore, it would enable the measurement of driver performance in the driver`s own vehicle, thereby ensuring vehicle familiarity. In addition, it would be possible to measure …

Maintaining structural integrity of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) during a postulated core melt accident is an important safety consideration in the design of the vessel. This study addresses the failure predictions of the vessel due to thermal and pressure loadings fro the molten core debris depositing on the lower head of the vessel. Different loading combinations were considered based on the dead load, yield stress assumptions, material response and internal pressurization. The analyses considered only short term failure (quasi static) modes, long term failure modes were not considered. Short term failure modes include plastic instabilities of the structure and failure due to exceeding the failure strain. Long term failure odes would be caused by creep rupture that leads to plastic instability of the structure. Due to the sort time durations analyzed, creep was not considered in the analyses presented.

An experimental study of ground motion from explosions designed to remove overburden in an open pit coal mine is reported. The purpose of this study is a characterization of these ground motions in the distance range of several tens of meters to several kilometers. The investigation has focused upon both single cylindrical sources with different explosive configurations as well as arrays of charges in the production mode. Critical to this study of source configuration and coupling is experimental control of the individual explosions, the timing of the explosions and the geological properties. The height of the explosive I charges, their depth and charge distribution were monitored in the field. High speed photography as well as velocity of detonation measurements were made on the multiple explosion source so that detonation of individual charges could be documented. Different yields of both ANFO and Emulsion explosives were used. Two tests were detonated with an air column or deck directly above the explosive while the remaining six, single shots were backfilled with stemming and drill cuttings. The air decks were designed to investigate proposed enhanced motions from such configurations. Observations were made as close as 50 m and as far as 10 km. This …

An anion exchange unit operation for the removal of actinides from a high nitrate-low acid solution has been successfully scaled-up more than one order of magnitude. The behavior of the scaled-up system was similar in many ways to the previous small scale experiments. It is characterized by a slow approach to equilibrium, displacement of Am by the other actinides, and improved column performance with increasing column length. The breakthrough of Americium, the most weakly sorbed actinide of those present, was predicted for the larger system with reasonable accuracy.

Recent design advances in airflow long-range alpha detector (LRAD) technology have improved the detectors` sensitivity, reduced their size and weight, and reduced their construction costs. These second-generation LRADs are also less influenced by fluctuations in background radiation. These advances now allow airflow LRAD systems to be lightweight, low-power, and portable, thereby increasing their usefulness to the radiation monitoring industry.