Daily newspaper from Altus, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Weekly newspaper from Alvin, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

This paper reviews the appropriations and authorization process for military construction. This report is categorized into seven categories (l) Most recent developments, (ll) Background, (lll) Status, (lV) Key Policy Issues, (V) History and Context, (Vl) Major Funding Trends, (Vll) Legislation

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Under both static and common MAS conditions (< 15 kHz) the question of residual X-Y heteronuclear decoupling can become a complicating factor in the analysis of various NMR results. In our lab the impact of {sup 31}P-{sup 23}Na dipolar coupling on the observed {sup 23}Na M{sub 2} relaxation for a series of sodium phosphate glasses was recently investigated by employing continuous wave {sup 31}P decoupling during the entire pulse sequence. Initially these efforts were complicate by the inability to provide a gating pulse during the data acquisition using the standard Bruker nomenclature, go=2, for the acquisition loop. A pulse sequence to overcome these restrictions is given below. Our AMX400 instrument is configured with a 3 channel MCI, but utilizes a linear AMT amplifier on the 3rd channel (requiring gating pulse via the C4 program call during the entire time it is on). The standard acquisition loop has been replaced by direct adc and aq commands for data acquisition. Unlike the go=2 statement which does not allow a C4 gating command to be included, these individual acquisition commands can all include distinct C4 gating.

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This paper makes the case for establishing efficient predictor variables for atmospheric thermodynamics that can be used to statistically correlate the fatigue accumulation seen on wind turbines. Recently, two approaches to this issue have been reported. One uses multiple linear-regression analysis to establish the relative causality between a number of predictors related to the turbulent inflow and turbine loads. The other approach, using many of the same predictors, applies the technique of principal component analysis. An examination of the ensemble of predictor variables revealed that they were all kinematic in nature; i.e., they were only related to the description of the velocity field. Boundary-layer turbulence dynamics depends upon a description of the thermal field and its interaction with the velocity distribution. We used a series of measurements taken within a multi-row wind farm to demonstrate the need to include atmospheric thermodynamic variables as well as velocity-related ones in the search for efficient turbulence loading predictors in various turbine-operating environments. Our results show that a combination of vertical stability and hub-height mean shearing stress variables meet this need over a period of 10 minutes.

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Molten salts are one source of inclusions and defects in aluminum ingots and cast shapes. A selective adsorption media was used to remove these inclusions and a device for detection of molten salts was tested. This set of experiments is described and the results are presented and analyzed.

A suite of plate loading tests has recently been conducted by Sandia National Laboratories at the Exploratory Studies Facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Fielding of these in situ tests as well as other approaches undertaken for the determination of rock mass modulus are described. The various methodologies are evaluated and their data compared. Calculation by existing empirical methods and numerical modeling are compared to each other as well as to field data.

In the past six months, this project was focused on more fundamental studies of the coating properties. The properties of each individual coating TiB{sub 2}, TiBC as well as the alternating TiB{sub 2}/TiBC laminates were studied. These properties include residual stress, surface morphology and topography, adhesion and wear rate. The coatings were deposited using dc magnetron reactive sputtering process. Deposition of the films was carried out in a production-scale, three-chamber-in-line coating system, consisting of a load-lock chamber, and two deposition chambers. The substrates were cleaned and mounted on a rack before going into the chamber. A computerized conveyor system transported the rack into the load-lock chamber, where the pressure was pumped down to around 2E-5 torr. The substrates were then preheated by an infrared heater to about 100 C. After preheating, the substrates were transported into the first deposition chamber through a gate valve. The base pressure of the deposition chambers is 2E-6 torr. A layer of Ti was deposited on the substrates using two 5 inch x 20 inch Ti targets in the first deposition chamber as the adhesion layer. The substrates were then transported to the second deposition chamber for the TiB{sub 2} and Ti-B-C-N depositions. In the …

This calculation is prepared by the Monitored Geologic Repository (MGR) Waste Package Operations (WPO). The purpose of this calculation is to determine the surface dose rates of a codisposal waste package (WP) containing a centrally located Department of Energy (DOE) standardized 18-in. spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canister, loaded with the TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) SNF. This canister is surrounded by five 3-m long canisters, loaded with Savannah River Site (SRS) high-level waste (HLW) glass. The results are to support the WP design and radiological analyses.

Current theories of CVD growth on (100) diamond are unable to account for the numerous experimental observations of slow-growing, locally smooth (100)(2x1) films. In this paper they use quantum mechanical calculations of diamond surface thermochemistry and atomic-scale kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of deposition to investigate the efficacy of preferential etching as a mechanism that can help to reconcile this discrepancy. This etching mechanism allows for the removal of undercoordinated carbon atoms from the diamond surface. In the absence of etching, simulated growth on the (100)(2x1) surface is faster than growth on the (110) and (111) surfaces, and the (100) surface is atomically rough. When etching is included in the simulations, the (100) growth rates decrease to values near those observed experimentally, while the rates of growth on the other surfaces remain largely unaffected and similar to those observed experimentally. In addition, the etching mechanism promotes the growth of smooth (100) surface regions in agreement with numerous scanning probe studies.

Stress measurement test chips were flip chip assembled to organic BGA substrates containing micro-vias and epoxy build-up interconnect layers. Mechanical degradation observed during temperature cycling was correlated to a damage theory developed based on 3D finite element method analysis. Degradation included die cracking, edge delamination and radial fillet cracking.

Daily newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

This paper details the design, construction and partial analysis of a low temperature flat heat pipe in order to determine the feasibility of implementing flat heat pipes into thermophotovoltaic (TPV) energy conversion systems.

Video footage from the Jo Streit Film Footage Collection consisting of original Betacam footage from filmmaker Jo Streit's documentary "Flirting with Power."

Following our detailed review of the granulation reports and additional conversations with process and development personnel, we have reached a consensus position regarding granulator selection. At this time, we recommend going forward with implementation of the tumbling granulator approach (GEMCO) based on our assessment of the tested granulation techniques using the established criteria. The basis for this selection is summarized in the following sections, followed by our recommendations for proceeding with implementation of the tumbling granulation approach. All five granulation technologies produced granulated products that can be made into acceptable sintered pucks. A possible exception is the product from the fluidized bed granulator. This material has been more difficult to press into uniform pucks without subsequent cracking of the puck during the sintering cycle for the pucks in this series of tests. This problem may be an artifact of the conditions of the particular granulation demonstration run involved, but earlier results have also been mixed. All granulators made acceptable granulated feed from the standpoint of transfer and press feeding, though the roller compactor and fluidized bed products were dustier than the rest. There was also differentiation among the granulators in the operational areas of (1) potential for process upset, (2) …

During the development and qualification of a radiation-hardened, 0.5 {micro}m shallow trench isolation technology, several yield-limiting defects were observed. The 256K (32K x 8) static-random access memories (SRAMs) used as a technology characterization vehicle had elevated power supply current during wafer probe testing. Many of the die sites were functional, but exhibited quiescent power supply current (I{sub DDQ}) in excess of 100 {micro}A, the present limit for this particular SRAM. Initial electrical analysis indicated that many of the die sites exhibited unstable I{sub DDQ} that fluctuated rapidly. We refer to this condition as ''jitter.'' The I{sub DDQ} jitter appeared to be independent of temperature and predominantly associated with the larger 256K SRAMs and not as prevalent in the 16K SRAMs (on the same reticle set). The root cause of failure was found to be two major processing problems: salicide bridging and stress-induced dislocations in the silicon islands.

Conventional fossil fired boilers have been retrofitted with low NO(sub)x burners in order for the power plants to comply with new clean air regulations. Due to the operating characteristics of these burners, boiler tube sulfidation corrosion typically has been enhanced resulting in premature tube failure. To protect the existing panels from accelerated attack, weld overlay coatings are typically being applied. By depositing an alloy that offers better corrosion resistance than the underlying tube material, the wastage rates can be reduced. While Ni-based and stainless steel compositions are presently providing protection, they are expensive and susceptible to failure via corrosion-fatigue due to microsegregation upon solidification. Another material system presently under consideration for use as a coating in the oxidation/sulfidation environments is iron-aluminum. These alloys are relatively inexpensive, exhibit little microsegregation, and show excellent corrosion resistance. However, their use is limited due to weldability issues and their lack of corrosion characterization in simulated low NO(sub)x gas compositions. Therefore a program was initiated in 1996 to evaluate the use of iron-aluminum weld overlay coatings for erosion/corrosion protection of boiler tubes in fossil fired boilers with low NO(sub)x burners. Investigated properties included weldability, corrosion behavior, erosion resistance, and erosion-corrosion performance.

This work is an attempt to elucidate effects that may limit efficiency in magnetrons operated at relativistic voltages (V {approximately} 500 kV). Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation is used to investigate the behavior of 14 and 22 cavity, cylindrical, rising-sun magnetrons. Power is extracted radially through a single iris located at the end of every other cavity. Numerical results show that in general output power and efficiency increase approximately linearly with increasing iris width (decreasing vacuum Q) until the total Q becomes too low for stable oscillation in the n-mode to be maintained. Beyond this point mode competition and/or switching occur and efficiency decreases. Results reveal that the minimum value of Q (maximum efficiency) that can be achieved prior to the onset of mode competition is significantly affected by the magnitude of the 0-space-harmonic of the {pi}-mode, a unique characteristic of rising-suns, and by the magnitude of the electron current density (space-charge effects). By minimizing these effects, up to 3.7 GW output power has been produced at an efficiency of 40%.

The Z-accelerator at the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) was modified in 1996 to deliver a 20 MA pulse to a z-pinch load in 100 ns. The pulsed-power driver is a 36-module waterline accelerator. Each waterline contains four self-break switches as part of the pulse-forming section. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing the capacitance of the waterline switches on the shape of the electrical prepulse at the load. Past studies have shown that increasing the prepulse at the z-pinch load increases the x-ray output power. In this study, one set of switches with its surrounding waterline hardware was modeled in 3-D and capacitance calculated using the electrostatic code, COULOME. The capacitance values were used in a SCREAMER model of the Z-accelerator. SCREAMER an SNL developed, lumped-element circuit code was used to calculate the time-dependent current waveforms delivered to the z-pinch load. The design was changed and a new capacitance matrix and output waveforms were calculated. This paper presents the results of the COULOMB 3-D modeling, and the SCREAMER circuit-model analyses.

A portable, autonomous, hand-held chemical laboratory ({mu}ChemLab{trademark}) is being developed for trace detection (ppb) of chemical warfare (CW) agents and explosives in real-world environments containing high concentrations of interfering compounds. Microfabrication is utilized to provide miniature, low-power components that are characterized by rapid, sensitive and selective response. Sensitivity and selectivity are enhanced using two parallel analysis channels, each containing the sequential connection of a front-end sample collector/concentrator, a gas chromatographic (GC) separator, and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) detector. Component design and fabrication and system performance are described.

We discuss the design and testing of a miniaturized explosives preconcentrator that can be used to enhance the capabilities of man-portable field detection systems, such as those based on ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The preconcentrator is a smaller version of a similar device that was developed recently at Sandia National Laboratories for use in a trace detection portal that screens personnel for explosives. Like its predecessor, this preconcentrator is basically a filtering device that allows a small amount of explosive residue in a large incoming airflow to be concentrated into a much smaller air volume via adsorption and resorption, prior to delivery into a chemical detector. We discuss laboratory testing of this preconcentrator interfaced to a commercially available IMS-based detection system, with emphasis on the explosives 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX). The issues investigated include optimization of the preconcentrator volume and inlet airflow, the use of different types of adsorbing surfaces within the preconcentrator, Wd preconcentrator efficiency and concentration factor. We discuss potential field applications of the preconcentrator, as well as avenues for further investigations and improvements.