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2010 Census: Basic Design Has Potential, but Remaining Challenges Need Prompt Resolution (open access)

2010 Census: Basic Design Has Potential, but Remaining Challenges Need Prompt Resolution

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "A rigorous testing and evaluation program is a critical component of the census planning process because it helps the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) assess activities that show promise for a more cost-effective head count. The Bureau conducted a field test in 2004, and we were asked to (1) assess the soundness of the test design and the extent to which the Bureau implemented it consistent with its plans, (2) review the quality of the Bureau's information technology (IT) security practices, and (3) identify initial lessons learned from conducting the test and their implications for future tests and the 2010 Census."
Date: January 12, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government (open access)

21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government

A chapter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "This report is intended to help the Congress in reviewing and reconsidering the base of federal spending and tax programs. It is intended as one input among many that Congress will receive as it decides what its agenda will be for oversight and program review. We have framed the issues presented as illustrative questions for policymakers to consider as a supplement to their own efforts. The questions are drawn from GAO's issued work, our strategic plan prepared in consultation with the Congress, input from several inspectors general and the institutional knowledge of our staff. They cover discretionary spending, mandatory spending, including entitlements, as well as tax policies and programs. While answers to these questions may draw on the work of GAO and others, only elected officials can and should decide which questions to address as well as how and when to address them. The report is organized in three sections. The first section sets the stage by providing the rationale for reexamining the base of the federal government and the scope of GAO's effort. The second section is organized around 12 areas of federal activity and …
Date: February 1, 2005
Creator: United States. Government Accountability Office.
System: The UNT Digital Library
235U Holdup Measurements in Three 321-M Exhaust HEPA Banks (open access)

235U Holdup Measurements in Three 321-M Exhaust HEPA Banks

The Analytical Development Section of Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was requested by the Facilities Disposition Division to determine the holdup of enriched uranium in the 321-M facility as part of an overall deactivation project of the facility. The 321-M facility was used to fabricate enriched uranium fuel assemblies, lithium-aluminum target tubes, neptunium assemblies, and miscellaneous components for the production reactors. The results of the holdup assays are essential for determining compliance with the Waste Acceptance Criteria, Material Control & Accountability, and to meet criticality safety controls. This report covers holdup measurements of uranium residue in three HEPA filter exhaust banks of the 321-M facility. Each of the exhaust banks has dimensions near 7' x 14' x 4' and represents a complex holdup problem. A portable HPGe detector and EG&G Dart system that contains the high voltage power supply and signal processing electronics were used to determine highly enriched uranium (HEU) holdup. A personal computer with Gamma-Vision software was used to control the Dart MCA and to provide space to store and manipulate multiple 4096-channel {gamma}-ray spectra. Some acquisitions were performed with the portable detector configured to a Canberra Inspector using NDA2000 acquisition and analysis software. Our results for each …
Date: February 24, 2005
Creator: Dewberry, R
System: The UNT Digital Library
2nd American Conference on Neutron Scattering (open access)

2nd American Conference on Neutron Scattering

Final report on 2nd American Conference on Neutron Scattering.
Date: April 13, 2005
Creator: Belanger, David P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
3D Active photonic crystal devices for integrated photonics and silicon photonics. (open access)

3D Active photonic crystal devices for integrated photonics and silicon photonics.

Over the past 15 years, basic photonic crystals operating in optical wavelengths have been theoretically investigated and experimentally realized. New directions must now be set to understand fundamental photon-matter interactions and thus realize active photonic components for integrated and silicon-based photonic applications. This proposal aims at two key areas to study. They are: (1) Thermal emission and silicon photonic crystal lasers--an aspect of photon-phonon interaction. (2) Optical interconnects--an aspect of photonic transport and mutual interaction. Understanding the underlining photon-phonon interaction, blackbody radiation can be altered, and wasted thermal energy recycled. Furthermore, we intend to build SOI based optical components, and study their mutual interaction for achieving complex optical functionality. Two examples are waveguide-cavity and cavity-cavity interaction for channel dropping filter applications. Indeed, the next challenge in photonic crystal research is in material integration, in on-chip integration of photonic components, and lastly the realization of silicon lasers.
Date: November 1, 2005
Creator: Clem, Paul Gilbert; Chow, Weng Wah; Subramania,Ganapathi Subramanian; Fleming, James Grant; Wendt, Joel Robert & El-Kady, Ihab Fathy
System: The UNT Digital Library
3D reconstruction of tensors and vectors (open access)

3D reconstruction of tensors and vectors

Here we have developed formulations for the reconstruction of 3D tensor fields from planar (Radon) and line-integral (X-ray) projections of 3D vector and tensor fields. Much of the motivation for this work is the potential application of MRI to perform diffusion tensor tomography. The goal is to develop a theory for the reconstruction of both Radon planar and X-ray or line-integral projections because of the flexibility of MRI to obtain both of these type of projections in 3D. The development presented here for the linear tensor tomography problem provides insight into the structure of the nonlinear MRI diffusion tensor inverse problem. A particular application of tensor imaging in MRI is the potential application of cardiac diffusion tensor tomography for determining in vivo cardiac fiber structure. One difficulty in the cardiac application is the motion of the heart. This presents a need for developing future theory for tensor tomography in a motion field. This means developing a better understanding of the MRI signal for diffusion processes in a deforming media. The techniques developed may allow the application of MRI tensor tomography for the study of structure of fiber tracts in the brain, atherosclerotic plaque, and spine in addition to fiber structure …
Date: February 17, 2005
Creator: Defrise, Michel & Gullberg, Grant T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
3rd Tech DeltaSphere-3000 Laser 3D Scene Digitizer infrared laser scanner hazard analysis. (open access)

3rd Tech DeltaSphere-3000 Laser 3D Scene Digitizer infrared laser scanner hazard analysis.

A laser hazard analysis and safety assessment was performed for the 3rd Tech model DeltaSphere-3000{reg_sign} Laser 3D Scene Digitizer, infrared laser scanner model based on the 2000 version of the American National Standard Institute's Standard Z136.1, for the Safe Use of Lasers. The portable scanner system is used in the Robotic Manufacturing Science and Engineering Laboratory (RMSEL). This scanning system had been proposed to be a demonstrator for a new application. The manufacture lists the Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD) as less than 2 meters. It was necessary that SNL validate this NOHD prior to its use as a demonstrator involving the general public. A formal laser hazard analysis is presented for the typical mode of operation for the current configuration as well as a possible modified mode and alternative configuration.
Date: February 1, 2005
Creator: Augustoni, Arnold L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
4th-International Symposium on Ultrafast Surface Science - Final Report (open access)

4th-International Symposium on Ultrafast Surface Science - Final Report

The 4-th International Symposium on Ultrafast Surface Dynamics (UDS4) was held at the Telluride Summer Research Center on June 22-27, 2003. The International Organizing Committee consisting of Hrvoje Petek (USA), Xiaoyang Zhu (USA), Pedro Echenique (Spain) and Maki Kawai (Japan) brought together a total of 51 participants 16 of whom were from Europe, 10 from Japan, and 25 from the USA. The focus of the conference was on ultrafast electron or light induced processes at well-defined surfaces. Ultrafast surface dynamics concerns the transfer of charge and energy at solid surfaces on the femtosecond time scale. These processes govern rates of fundamental steps in surface reactions, interfacial electron transfer in molecular electronics, and relaxation in spin transport. Recent developments in femtosecond laser technology make it possible to measure by a variety of nonlinear optical techniques directly in the time domain the microscopic rates underlying these interfacial processes. Parallel progress in scanning probe microscopy makes it possible at a single molecular level to perform the vibrational and electronic spectroscopy measurements, to induce reactions with tunneling electrons, and to observe their outcome. There is no doubt that successful development in the field of ultrafast surface dynamics will contribute to many important disciplines.
Date: January 26, 2005
Creator: Petek, Hrvoje
System: The UNT Digital Library
59Fe(n,g)60Fe and 60Fe(n,g)61Fe Reaction Rates from Local Systematics (open access)

59Fe(n,g)60Fe and 60Fe(n,g)61Fe Reaction Rates from Local Systematics

We present modeled neutron capture cross sections relevant to stellar production of {sup 60}Fe. Systematics for the input parameters required by the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model are developed based on measured data in the local region of the isotopic plane (20 {le} Z {le} 29, 43 {le} A {le} 65). These parameters and used to calculate reaction cross sections and rates for select target isotopes. Modeled cross sections are compared to experimental data where available. The {sup 59}Fe(n,{gamma}){sup 60}Fe and {sup 60}Fe(n, {gamma}){sup 61}Fe rates are compared to previous calculations. A brief discussion of errors related to the modeling is provided. We conclude by investigating the sensitivity of stellar production of {sup 26}Al and {sup 60}Fe to the {sup 59}Fe(n,{gamma}){sup 60}Fe and {sup 60}Fe(n,{gamma})61Fe reaction rates using a single zone model.
Date: April 25, 2005
Creator: Kelley, K; Hoffman, R D & Drake, M
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Ab Initio Approach Towards Engineering Fischer-Tropsch Surface Chemistry (open access)

An Ab Initio Approach Towards Engineering Fischer-Tropsch Surface Chemistry

As petroleum prices continue to rise and the United States seeks to reduce its dependency on foreign oil, there is a renewed interest in the research and development of more efficient and alternative energy sources, such as fuel cells. One approach is to utilize processes that can produce long-chain hydrocarbons from other sources. One such reaction is Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a process by which syngas (CO and H{sub 2}) is converted to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The reaction involves a complex set of bond-breaking and bond-making reactions, such as CO and H{sub 2} activation, hydrocarbon hydrogenation reactions, and hydrocarbon coupling reactions. This report details our initial construction of an ab initio based kinetic Monte Carlo code that can be used to begin to simulate Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over model Co(0001) surfaces. The code is based on a stochastic kinetic formalism that allows us to explicitly track the transformation of all reactants, intermediates and products. The intrinsic kinetics for the simulations were derived from the ab initio results that we reported in previous year summaries.
Date: June 13, 2005
Creator: Neurock, Matthew
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ab-Initio Study on Plutonium Compounds Pu3M (M=Al, Ga, In), PuNp and Elemental Neptunium (open access)

Ab-Initio Study on Plutonium Compounds Pu3M (M=Al, Ga, In), PuNp and Elemental Neptunium

Using spin-polarized relativistic density functional theory the electronic and magnetic structures for the plutonium compounds Pu{sub 3}M(M = Al; Ga; In) and PuNp have been investigated. For the first group of compounds the enhanced hybridization between Pu 5f and p-states of alloying element, as it has been found in spin-polarized calculations, is believed to be the main reason for the higher formation energies obtained in such kind of studies in comparison with the non-spin-polarized case. Also, comparative analysis of the actinides U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm has been performed based on their electronic and magnetic structure. Some noticeable difference in the calculated magnetic structure was discovered between the actinide with local magnetic moments (Cm) and the actinides (Pu, Am) in which magnetic moments were found only in the calculations.
Date: September 7, 2005
Creator: Kutepov, A L
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abandoned Mine Land Fund Reauthorization: Selected Issues (open access)

Abandoned Mine Land Fund Reauthorization: Selected Issues

This report provides a summary of the structure of the Abandon Mine Land (AML) program, distribution of funds, and discusses major proposals considered in the 108th Congress.
Date: March 8, 2005
Creator: Bamberger, Robert L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee on Coal (open access)

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fee on Coal

This report provides a summary about reclamation fee on coal to finance the Abandoned Mine Fund.
Date: July 13, 2005
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Justice O'Connor's Opinions (open access)

Abortion: Justice O'Connor's Opinions

This report examines Justice O'Connor's notable opinions on abortion, and explores her role in the development of the undue burden standard, adopted in 1992. Under the new standard, a reviewing court would consider whether an abortion restriction has the effect of imposing an "undue burden" on a woman's right to obtain an abortion.
Date: July 15, 2005
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Legislative Response

The primary focus of this issue brief is legislative action with respect to abortion. However, discussion of those legislative proposals necessarily involves a brief discussion of the leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a more detailed discussion of the relevant case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: June 17, 2005
Creator: Lewis, Karen J. & Jon, Shimbukuro O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Abortion: Legislative Response (open access)

Abortion: Legislative Response

The primary focus of this issue brief is legislative action with respect to abortion. However, discussion of those legislative proposals necessarily involves a brief discussion of the leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate her pregnancy. For a more detailed discussion of the relevant case law, see CRS Report 95-724, Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview.
Date: April 5, 2005
Creator: Lewis, Karen J.; Shimabukuro, Jon O. & Ely, Dana
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Abridged View of the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279) (open access)

An Abridged View of the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279)

This report summarizes the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (H.R. 1279) and its effects. This includes information such as an increase in criminal penalties assigned to violent crimes and expanding the instances where juveniles could be tried as adults. For more information see CRS Report RL32946 "Gang Deterrence A Legal Analysis of H.R. 1279 With References to S. 155.
Date: June 13, 2005
Creator: Doyle, Charles
System: The UNT Digital Library
Absorbed XFEL dose in the components of the LCLS X-Ray Optics (open access)

Absorbed XFEL dose in the components of the LCLS X-Ray Optics

We list the materials that are anticipated to be placed into the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) beam line, their positions, and the absorbed dose, and compare this dose with anticipated damage thresholds.
Date: September 27, 2005
Creator: Hau-Riege, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerated Stem Growth Rates and Improved Fiber Properties of Loblolly Pine: Functional Analysis Of CyclinD from Pinus taeda (open access)

Accelerated Stem Growth Rates and Improved Fiber Properties of Loblolly Pine: Functional Analysis Of CyclinD from Pinus taeda

A sustained supply of low-cost, high quality raw materials is essential for the future success of the U.S. forest products industry. To maximize stem (trunk) growth, a fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate cell divisions within the cambial meristem is essential. We hypothesize that auxin levels within the cambial meristem regulate cyclin gene expression and this in turn controls cell cycle progression as occurs in all eukaryotic cells. Work with model plant species has shown that ectopic overexpression of cyclins promotes cell division thereby increasing root growth > five times. We intended to test whether ectopic overexpression of cambial cyclins in the cambial zone of loblolly pine also promotes cell division rates that enhance stem growth rates. Results generated in model annual angiosperm systems cannot be reliably extrapolated to perennial gymnosperms, thus while the generation and development of transgenic pine is time consuming, this is the necessary approach for meaningful data. We succeeded in isolating a cyclin D gene and Clustal analysis to the Arabidopsis cyclin D gene family indicates that it is more closely related to cyclin D2 than D1 or D3 Using this gene as a probe we observed a small stimulation of cyclin D expression …
Date: November 30, 2005
Creator: Cairney, John; Peter, Gary; Egertsdotter, Ulrika & Wagner, Armin
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerated Testing of the CSNF Waste Form: Applicability to Yucca Mountain (open access)

Accelerated Testing of the CSNF Waste Form: Applicability to Yucca Mountain

Spent fuel tests in support of Yucca Mountain have been performed for many years. Most of these tests have been either single-pass flowthrough (SPFT) or unsaturated drip tests that have been used to elucidate waste form degradation rates. In general, the tests have been considered accelerated tests per the definition found in ASTM Standard C1174 in that either the temperature or flow rate has been increased in order to increase the rate of alteration. However, as the design and models for the proposed repository have solidified, it is clear that much of what was originally considered an accelerated test is, in reality, either a service condition test or a test that determines bounding conditions that grossly overestimate radionuclide degradation and release rates under repository relevant conditions. This presentation will examine the factors that need to be considered for future waste form, including waste package internals, degradation tests.
Date: January 11, 2005
Creator: Hanson, B.; Buck, E. & Brady, P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerator/Experiment Operations - FY 2005 (open access)

Accelerator/Experiment Operations - FY 2005

None
Date: October 1, 2005
Creator: Casey, B.; Childress, S.; Conrad, J.; Evans, H.; Ginther, G.; Holmes, Stephen D. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Accelerator Mass Spectrometric (AMS) Measurements of Plutonium Activity Concentrations and 240Pu/239Pu Atom Ratios In Soil Extracts Supplied by the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (open access)

Accelerator Mass Spectrometric (AMS) Measurements of Plutonium Activity Concentrations and 240Pu/239Pu Atom Ratios In Soil Extracts Supplied by the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center

Plutonium-239 ({sup 239}Pu) and plutonium-239+240 ({sup 239+240}Pu) activities concentrations and {sup 240}Pu/{sup 239}Pu atom ratios are reported for a series of chemically purified soil extracts received from the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CEMRC) in New Mexico. Samples were analyzed without further purification at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). This report also includes a brief description of the AMS system and internal laboratory procedures used to ensure the quality and reliability of the measurement data.
Date: February 28, 2005
Creator: Hamilton, T F; Brown, T A; Marchetti, A A; Martinelli, R E & Kehl, S R
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Acceptance of Gifts of Free Meals by Members of Congress (open access)

The Acceptance of Gifts of Free Meals by Members of Congress

This report outlines the rules by which Congress may accept free meals from outside private third parties. The report highlights that the most common exceptions to this rule are of de minimis value (under 50 dollars). Moreover, the report specifies that gifts from foreign agents, lobbyists, and those who have direct interest in congressional legislation are of the most concern.
Date: August 26, 2005
Creator: Maskell, Jack
System: The UNT Digital Library
Access to Government Information In the United States (open access)

Access to Government Information In the United States

The Constitution of the United States makes no specific allowance for any one of the co-equal branches to have access to information held by the others and contains no provision expressly establishing a procedure for, or a right of, public access to government information. Nonetheless, Congress has legislated various public access laws. These include two records access statutes — the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act — and two meetings access statutes — the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Government in the Sunshine Act. This report provides background on the issue of government transparency.
Date: January 7, 2005
Creator: Relyea, Harold C.
System: The UNT Digital Library