A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is a mechanism established by P.L. 99-602, the Federal Technology Transfer Act, to allow the transfer of technology, knowledge, and expertise from government laboratories to the private sector for further development and commercialization. The government provides support in the way of overhead for research and development performed in the federal laboratory and is prohibited from providing funding directly to the partner in the collaborative effort. Currently, more than 5,000 CRADAs have been signed. As the 105th Congress determines its approach to science and technology policies, the role of CRADAs continues to be debated within the context of federal support for R&D

Efforts by the 104th Congress to eliminate several government-industry-university research and development partnership programs reflected some opposition to federally funded programs designed to facilitate the commercialization of technology. Within the context of the budget decisions, the 106th Congress is expected to again debate the government's role in promoting collaborative ventures focused on generating new products and processes for the marketplace.

In Simon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the new York State Crime Victims Board, the U.S. Supreme Court held that New York State's "Son of Sam" law was inconsistent with the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech and press. This report examines the Supreme Court decision and then considers whether its rationale renders the federal law unconstitutional. Concluding that it likely does, the report considers whether it would be possible to enact a constitutional Son-of-Sam statute. Finally, the report takes note of some state Son-of-Sam statutes that have been enacted since the Supreme Court decision.

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effect of near-field rock treatment by injection of reactive material (calcite) above the drift for the purpose of decreasing postclosure drift seepage. The method used for the calculation was a coupled reaction-transport numerical model for gas-water-rock interaction. This includes the mass conservation of heat, liquid and gas for thermohydrological calculations, of aqueous and gaseous species for advective and diffusive transport, and the kinetics of mineral-water reactions.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to developing an accurate population of subdivisions approved by Hidalgo County from 1991 to 1994; drawing a statistically valid sample of subdivisions composed of four or more residential lots not located within any city limit from this population; determining an accurate number of exceptions within the sample; and projecting a reliable rate of exception for the entire 1991 to 1994 population.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to determining if management controls for the selected segments of the Texas Department of Transportation's (Department) inventories and fixed assets were adequate and if related performance goals were routinely and accurately measured.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to the financial statements of the Office of the Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner (Commission). The report discusses the changes that the Commission has implemented to reduce investment operations risk, and the reportable conditions related to internal controls that, if not corrected, could adversely affect the Commission's ability record, process, summarize, and report its financial data accurately.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to determining if appropriate purchasing controls exist at universities, and identifying any material instances of waste, fraud, and abuse.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to Texas A&M University - Kingsville's (University) effective management of current fund revenues, and opportunities for improvement to prevent financial or compliance problems.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to how the Juvenile Probation Commission (Commission) ensures that local juvenile probation departments (local departments) accomplish the tasks that the Legislature expects, and how the Commission ensures that the information it provides to the Legislature and others is accurate.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to information on the number of state employees and the number of consultants and contract individuals who perform services for state government.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to determine the effectiveness of small internal audit functions by evaluating the effectiveness of internal audit departments with four or fewer staff members and internal audit services provided by contractors at 33 state agencies and universities, and by surveying internal audit directors, agency directors, university presidents, and board chairs to obtain their opinions regarding the effectiveness of internal audit functions.

The 9968 package is designed for surface shipment of fissile and other radioactive materials where a high degree of double containment is required. The use of the 9968 radioactive material package for a one time shipment of a 32 watt heat source versus the SARP approved maximum 30 watt heat source is addressed in this report. The analyses show that the small increase in heat load from 30 watts to 32 watts does not substantially increase internal temperatures or pressures that would approach limits for the package. Also, the weight of the content is within the current 9968 package limits. It is concluded that the 32-watt heat source can be safely shipped in the 9968 package and therefore a waiver to ship the source is justified.

The Plutonium Immobilization Facility will immobilize plutonium in ceramic pucks and seal the pucks inside welded cans. Remote equipment will place these cans in magazines and the magazines in a Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) canister. The DWPF will fill the canister with glass for permanent storage. This report summarizes FY98 Can Loading work completed for the Plutonium Immobilization Project and it includes summaries of reports on Can Size, Equipment Review, Preliminary Concepts, Conceptual Design, and Preliminary Specification. Plant trip reports for the Greenville Automation and Manufacturing Exposition, Rocky Flats BNFL Pu repackaging glovebox line, and vendor trips are also included.

This report discusses the Plutonium Immobilization can loading preliminary equipment specifications and includes a process block diagram, process description, equipment list, preliminary equipment specifications, plan and elevation sketches, and some commercial catalogs. This report identifies loading pucks into cans and backfilling cans with helium as the top priority can loading development areas.

In this quarter we completed low consistency laboratory pulping trials. Pulping results were analyzed in terms of defibering index or yield and the concentration of free wax. The objective of these trials is to identify pulping conditions that will give higher yield and higher concentration of free wax. The yields from low consistency pulping trials ranged from 90 to 99% based on 6-cut laboratory screen rejects. In general, high temperatures (140-150{degrees}F) and high pH (9.5-10) conditions resulted in higher yield and the generation of free wax. Factors such as rotor speed and the gap (between the rotor and grate) were not significant in affecting defibering. Generally, the turbidities of filtrates from wax-contaminated pulps increased with increase in temperature and/or pH. The filtrate turbidity indicated the relative concentration of finely dispersed wax that could be removed from pulp dewatered on a 30 {micro}m filter paper. Preliminary experiments were conducted to study flotation conditions necessary for effective removal of wax from pulp. Factors which are important for effective flotation include flotation time, volume of air, surfactant concentration and type, and low temperature. Future plans include additional flotation trials to better optimize conditions. Other contaminant types include pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melts …

This report provides background and an overview on clearcutting use in the National Forests and effects.

This report focuses on policies, programs, and benefits of interest to veterans. Included are discussions of issues before the 105th Congress, and the current status of major legislation.

This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year.It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health, and Human Services, and Education. It summarizes the current legislative status of the bill, its scope, its major issues, funding levels, and related legislative activity.

This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Subcommittees on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations. It summarizes the current legislative status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related Congressional Research Service products.

This report discusses how The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 has affected alien (illegal immigrants and nonimmigrants in the country) eligibility for federal, state, and local government assistance.

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