Monthly publication documenting statistics related to economic information in the Mexico-Texas border areas including types of border crossings, employment, customs revenues, and other related data.

Monthly newsletter documenting statistics related to employment in Texas including nonagricultural job trends, labor force numbers, and other relevant indicators as well as information on related topics.

Magazine discussing natural resources, parks, hunting and fishing, and other information related to the outdoors in Texas.

Magazine for Texas Lottery retailers that contains news, retailer spotlights, and a list of lottery winners.

Bimonthly magazine containing news and information that pertains to Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. "The magazine's goals are to help organizations function professionally as EMS providers, to educate individuals so they can perform lifesaving prehospital skills under stressful conditions, and to help the public get into the EMS system when they need it" (p. 4).

This report provides manual for motor vehicle registration according to the Texas department of transportation.

Report describing progress on various aspects outlined in the "Master Plan for Educational Technology" providing background information, goals, recommendations, and descriptions of relevant accomplishments and activities during September 2000 - August 2002.

Monthly newsletter of the general manage at the Edwards Aquifer Authority discussing news and activities of the organization as well as other information related to water in southern Texas.

The contribution of lubrication oil to particulate matter (PM) emissions from a Cummins B5.9 Diesel engine was measured using accelerator mass spectrometry to trace carbon isotope concentrations. The engine operated at fixed medium load (285 N-m (210 ft.lbs.) 1600 m) used 100% biodiesel fuel (B100) with a contemporary carbon-14 ({sup 14}C) concentration of 103 amol {sup 14}C/ mg C. The C concentration of the exhaust C02 and PM were 102 and 99 amol {sup 14}C/mg C, respectively. The decrease in I4C content in the PM is due to the consumption of lubrication oil which is {sup 14}C-free. Approximately 4% of the carbon in PM came from lubrication oil under these operating conditions. The slight depression in CO{sub 2} isotope content could be attributed to ambient CO{sub 2} levels and measurement uncertainty.

This report summarizes data collected from samples in borehole C3103. Borehole C3103 was completed to further characterize the nature and extent of vadose zone contaminants supplied by intentional liquid discharges into the crib 216-B7A/7B between 1954 and 1967. These cribs received dilute waste streams from the bismuth phosphate fuel reprocessing program in the 1950's and decontamination waste in the 1960's. Elevated concentrations of several constituents were primarily measured at different depth intervals. The primary radionuclides present in this borehole are cesium-137 and uranium near the top of the borehole. Chemical characteristics attributed to wastewater-soil interaction at different locations within this zone are elevated pH, sodium, fluoride, carbonate nitrate, and sulphate

Various operations are authorized in Hanford single- and double-shell tanks that disturb all or a large fraction of the waste. These globally waste-disturbing activities have the potential to release a large fraction of the retained flammable gas and to affect future gas generation, retention, and release behavior. This report presents analyses of the expected flammable gas release mechanisms and the potential release rates and volumes resulting from these activities. The background of the flammable gas safety issue at Hanford is summarized, as is the current understanding of gas generation, retention, and release phenomena. Considerations for gas monitoring and assessment of the potential for changes in tank classification and steady-state flammability are given.

This engineering study identifies the options for removal of radioactive waste from the Shielded Materials Facility (SMF) located within the 324 Building, 300 area, of the Hanford Site.

We measure the He-like, time-resolved emission from thin foils consisting of 250 {angstrom} of carbon-250 {angstrom} of aluminum and 500 {angstrom} aluminum illuminated with a 150 fs laser pulse at an intensity of 1 x 10{sup 19} W/cm{sup 2}. Dielectronic satellite contributions to the 1s{sup 2}-1s2p({sup 1}P), 1s{sup 2}-1s3p({sup 1}P), and 1s{sup 2}1s4p({sup 1}P) line intensities are modeled using the configuration averaged code AVERROES and is found to be significant for all three resonance lines. The contribution of opacity broadening is inferred from the data and found to be significant only in the 1s{sup 2}-1s2p({sup 1}P).

This paper presents various architectural options for implementing a K-Means Re-Clustering algorithm suitable for unsupervised segmentation of hyperspectral images. Performance metrics are developed based upon quantitative comparisons of convergence rates and segmentation quality. A methodology for making these comparisons is developed and used to establish K values that produce the best segmentations with minimal processing requirements. Convergence rates depend on the initial choice of cluster centers. Consequently, this same methodology may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different initialization techniques.

This guide is designed to serve as a source for O&M management and technical staff. It does not try to represent the universe of O&M related material. Rather, it attempts to: (1) provide needed background information on why O&M is important and the potential for savings from good O&M, (2) define the major O&M program types and provide guidance on the structure of a good O&M program, (3) provide information on state-of-the-art maintenance technologies and procedures for key equipment, and (4) identify information sources and contacts to assist you in getting your job done.

This report presents vadose sediment characterization data that improves understanding of the nature and extent of past releases in the B tank farm. A vertical borehole, located approximately 15 ft (5 m) from the northeast edge of single-shell tank 241-B-110 was drilled to a total depth of 264.4 ft bgs, the groundwater table was encountered at 255.8 ft bgs. During drilling, a total of 3 two-ft long, 4-inch diameter split-spoon core samples were collected between 10 and 254 ft bgs-an average of every 7.5 ft. Grab samples were collected between these core sample intervals to yield near continuous samples to a depth of 78.3 m (257 ft). Geologic logging occurred after each core segment was emptied into an open plastic container, followed by photographing and sub-sampling for physical and chemical characterization. In addition, 54 out of a total of 120 composite grab samples were opened, sub-sampled, logged, and photographed. Immediately following the geologic examination, the core and selected grab samples were sub-sampled for moisture content, gamma-emission radiocounting, tritium and strontium-90 determinations, total carbon and inorganic carbon content, and 8 M nitric acid extracts (which provide a measure of the total leachable sediment content of contaminants) and one-to-one sediment to water …

Chemical sensors using interactive sorptive materials typically involve a ''two-step'' response mechanism. While the sorptive material collects and concentrates gas phase molecules, the device on which it has been applied transduces the presence of these sorbed molecules into an analytical signal. Usually, the sorptive material is a thin film and the device is a microfabricated structure, although other configurations exist. The film of a sorptive material is often referred to as the ''selective layer''. This general concept for gas phase chemical sensing is shown. The selective layer on a gas phase chemical microsensor plays a critical role in the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor's response. Polymers can rapidly and reversibly absorb vapor molecules. As sorptive layers on chemical sensors, polymers are useful for a variety of chemical microsensor types and transduction mechanisms, either as is or as composites with conductive particles or dyes. The performance requirements for polymers are described in terms of their chemical and physical properties. A versatile synthetic approach for preparing sensing polymers has been developed using hydrosilylation chemistry to prepare carbosiloxane polymers. Polymers with diverse chemical selectivities have been prepared by this method. Furthermore, sorptive polymer materials can be photopatterned into defined areas on surfaces …

We present our work on fast entropy coders for binary messages utilizing only bit shifts and table lookups. To minimize code table size we limit our code lengths with a novel type of variable-to-variable (VV) length code created from source word merging. We refer to these codes as merged codes. With merged codes it is possible to achieve a desired level of efficiency by adjusting the number of bits read from the source at each step. The most efficient merged codes yield a coder with an inefficiency of 0.4%, relative to the Shannon entropy, in the worst case. On one of our test systems a current implementation of coder using merged codes has a throughput of 35 Mbytes/sec.

COGEMA Engineering Corporation (COGEMA), under a contract from CH2M Hill Hanford Group (CH2M Hill), has performed an ultrasonic examination of selected portions of Double-Shell Tank 241-AN-105. The purpose of this examination was to provide information that could be used to evaluate the integrity of the wall of the primary tank. The requirements for the ultrasonic examination of Tank 241-AN-105 were to detect, characterize (identify, size, and locate), and record measurements made of any wall thinning, pitting, or cracks that might be present in the wall of the primary tank. Any measurements that exceed the requirements set forth in the Engineering Task Plan (ETP), RPP-8867, are reported to CH2M Hill and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for further evaluation. Under the contract with CH2M Hill, all data is to be recorded on disk and paper copies of all measurements are provided to PNNL for third-party evaluation. PNNL is responsible for preparing a report(s) that describes the results of the COGEMA ultrasonic examinations.

This paper represents a summary of our methodology for Verification and Validation and Uncertainty Quantification. A graded scale methodology is presented and related to other concepts in the literature. We describe the critical nature of quantified Verification and Validation with Uncertainty Quantification at specified Confidence levels in evaluating system certification status. Only after Verification and Validation has contributed to Uncertainty Quantification at specified confidence can rational tradeoffs of various scenarios be made. Verification and Validation methods for various scenarios and issues are applied in assessments of Quantified Reliability at Confidence and we summarize briefly how this can lead to a Value Engineering methodology for investment strategy.

Transmission electron microscopy results from a sintered ceramics with stoichiometry of Ca(U{sub 0.5}Ce{sub 0.25}Hf{sub 0.25})Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7} show the material contains both pyrochlore and zirconolite phases and structural intergrowth of zirconolite lamellae within pyrochlore. (001) plane of zirconolite is parallel to (111) plane of pyrochlore because of their structural similarities. The pyrochlore is relatively rich in U, Ce, and Ca with respect to the coexisting zirconolite. Average compositions for the coexisting pyrochlore and zirconolite produced by sintering at 1350 C are (Ca{sub 1.01}Ce{sub 0.13}{sup 3+}Ce{sub 0.19}{sup 4+}U{sub 0.52}Hf{sub 0.18})(Ti{sub 1.95}Hf{sub 0.05})O{sub 7} (with U/(U+Hf) (in the AB sites) = 0.74) and (Ca{sub 0.91}Ce{sub 0.09})(Ce{sub 0.08}{sup 3+}U{sub 0.26}Hf{sub 0.66}Ti{sub 0.01})Ti{sub 2.00}O{sub 7} (with U/(U+Hf) = 0.28) respectively. A single pyrochlore ((Ca,U,Hf){sub 2}Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7}) phase may be synthesized at 1350 C if the ratio of U/(U+Hf) is greater than 0.72, and a single zirconolite (Ca(Hf,U)Ti{sub 2}O{sub 7}) phase may be synthesized at 1350 C if the ratio of U/(U+Hf) is less than 0.28. An amorphous leached layer that is rich in Ti and Hf forms on the surface after the ceramics has been leached in pH 4 buffered solution. The thickness of the layer ranges from 5 nm to 15 nm. …

This report represents Phase I of a multi-phase approach to a source investigation of DDT at the Heckathorn Superfund Site, Richmond, California, the former site of a pesticide packaging plant, and the adjacent waterway, the Lauritzen Channel. Potential identified sources of contamination were from sloughed material from undredged areas (such as side banks) and from outfall pipes. Objectives of Phase I included the (1) evaluation of pesticide concentrations associated with discharge from outfalls, (2) identification of additional outfalls in the area, (3) identification of type, quantity, and distribution of sediment under the Levin pier, (4) quantification of pesticide concentrations in sediment under the pier, and (5) evaluation of sediment structure and slope stability under the pier. Field operations included the collection of sediment directly from inside the mouths of outfall pipes, when possible, or the deployment of specially designed particle traps where direct sampling was problematic. Passive water samplers were placed at the end of known outfall pipes and analyzed for DDT and other pesticides of concern. Underwater dive surveys were conducted beneath the Levin pier to document type, slope, and thickness of sediment. Samples were collected at locations of interest and analyzed for contaminants. Also sampled was soil from …

We have developed a Nd:doped cladding pumped fiber amplifier, which operates at 938nm with greater than 2W of output power. The core co-dopants were specifically chosen to enhance emission at 938nm. The fiber was liquid nitrogen cooled in order to achieve four-level laser operation on a laser transition that is normally three level at room temperature, thus permitting efficient cladding pumping of the amplifier. Wavelength selective attenuation was induced by bending the fiber around a mandrel, which permitted near complete suppression of amplified spontaneous emission at 1088nm. We are presently seeking to scale the output of this laser to 10W. We will discuss the fiber and laser design issues involved in scaling the laser to the 10W power level and present our most recent results.

Geological, geophysical, and engineering-geological research conducted at the 'Yeniseisky' site obtained data on climatic, geomorphologic, geological conditions, structure and properties of composing rock, and conditions of underground water recharge and discharge. These results provide sufficient information to make an estimate of the suitability of locating a radioactive waste (R W) underground isolation facility at the Nizhnekansky granitoid massif