New equations for continuous, operational interpolation on four plates in rectangular array are derived. The equations can be applied to the interpretation of experimental data. Other topics include convergence of operational formulas and extrapolation by operational methods. 11 refs.

Work has continued on characterizing the kinetics of lignin peroxidases and has now expanded to include the chemistry of Mn peroxidases. Progress in these two area in addition to the authors work on the molecular biology of lignin biodegradation is briefly described below. Copies of two reprints and one preprint which have resulted from the work are attached.

We wish to describe a method for formulating, on the lattice, field theories that contain Dirac particles with chiral couplings to gauge fields. As is well-known, the most straight-forward lattice transcription of the continuum action for a Dirac particle leads to the doubling problem: for every particle of a given chirality in the continuum theory, there appear on the lattice, in d dimensions, 2{sup d} particles, with equal numbers of particles of left- and right-handed chirality. No-go theorems, state that it is impossible to eliminate the doubling problem and still maintain an exact chiral gauge symmetry. Rather than follow an approach that attempts to circumvent the no-go theorems we, instead, explore the possibility of abandoning exact chiral symmetry.

National laboratories have limited resources to devote to the transfer of government-funded technologies to the commercial sector. Companies, too, face resource constraints in their attempt to identify and assimilate innovations which fit with their strategic objectives. For these reasons, persons engaged in technology transfer should attempt to identify laboratory developments which represent the best possible match with industry needs and focus their attention on those technologies which are most likely to make and impact in the marketplace. In a structured approach designed to meet this objective, Martin Marietta Energy Systems, which operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy, has established formal ties with the University of Tennessee Business School, to enhance the role of marketing for technology transfer. The school's MBA students continue to play a key role in the formulation and execution of plans designed to transform Oak Ridge technologies into new products, new jobs, and economic prosperity for US companies.

We discuss the role played by right-handed sterile neutrinos in the early universe. We show how well known {sup 4}He constraint on the number of relativistic degrees of freedom at early times limits the equilibration of the right handed neutrino sea with the background plasma. We discuss how this allows interesting constraints to be placed on neutrino properties. In particular, a new limit on the Dirac mass of the neutrino is presented. 12 refs.

Disclosed is a method for producing a superconductor of the R-Ba-Cu-O system which comprises of selecting an insulating material of the formula RBa{sub x}Cu{sub y}O{sub z} where R is selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm, and Lu, and where x ranges from about 1.7 to about 2.3, y ranges from about 2.7 to about 3.3 and z ranges from about 5.0 to about 6.99, and halogenating said material with a halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, and mixtures thereof, while maintaining said material at a temperature ranging from about 160 to about 440{degrees}C, for a period of time sufficient to cause incorporation of said halogen into said material. Also, disclosed are the materials produced by the method and articles of manufacture incorporating said materials as electronic circuitry components.

The overall objective of this project is to produce antibodies to unique modified DNA bases and develop immunochemical assays to quantitate these lesions in damaged DNA. During this past year we have developed an antibody and chemical test to quantitate a basic sites in DNA and produced antibodies to the 8-oxopurines. This report discusses the detection of a basic sites in DNA and the preparation of antibodies to 8-hydroxyadenine and 8-hydroxyguanine.