1,2-Hydroxypyridinones (1,2-HOPO) form very stable lanthanide complexes that may be useful as contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). X-ray diffraction of single crystals established that the solid state structures of the Eu(III) and the previously reported [Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 5452] Gd(III) complex are identical. The recently discovered sensitizing properties of 1,2-HOPO chelates for Eu(III) luminescence allow direct measurement of the number if water molecules in the metal complex. Fluorescence measurements of the Eu(III) complex corroborate that in solution two water molecules coordinate the lanthanide (q = 2) as proposed from the analysis of NMRD profiles. In addition, fluorescence measurements have verified the anion binding interactions of lanthanide TREN-1,2-HOPO complexes in solution, studied by relaxivity, revealing only very weak oxalate binding (K{sub A} = 82.7 {+-} 6.5 M{sup -1}). Solution thermodynamic studies of the metal complex and free ligand have been carried out using potentiometry, spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The metal ion selectivity of TREN-1,2-HOPO supports the feasibility of using 1,2-HOPO ligands for selective lanthanide binding [pGd = 19.3 (2); pZn = 15.2 (2), pCa = 8.8 (3)].

This report reviews the provisions of S. 2262, highlights the most controversial bill provision, and identifies potential amendments to the bill.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to allowing a student receiving special education services to participate in a graduation ceremony after the fourth year of high school.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to issuance and renewal of a driver's license of an elderly person.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to the acquisition of certain automated external defibrillators.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to condemnation of historical sites at the direction of the Commission of Control for Texas Centennial Celebrations.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools.

Bill introduced by the Texas House of Representatives relating to publication of the annual financial statement by a school district.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the qualifications to serve as an associate judge in certain family law proceedings.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to providing that a municipality may allow a municipal fire marshal or arson investigator to travel in an unmarked municipal vehicle when performing official duties.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the submission of annual reports by farm mutual insurance companies.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to the regulation of consumer debt management services.

Bill introduced by the Texas Senate relating to regulation of emissions from residential water heaters.

The ACP Branchbus, a high speed differential bus for data movement in multiprocessing and data acquisition environments, is described. This bus was designed as the central bus in the ACP multiprocessing system. In its full implementation with 16 branches and a bus switch, it will handle data rates of 160 MByte/sec and allow reliable data transmission over inter rack distances. We also summarize applications of the ACP system in experimental data acquisition, triggering and monitoring, with special attention paid to FASTBUS environments.

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy project sheet summarizing general information about the Agile Delivery of Electrical Power Technology (ADEPT) program including critical needs, innovation and advantages, impacts, and contact information. This sheet discusses advanced power electronics for LED drivers as part of the "Advanced Technologies for Integrated Power Electronics" project.

From Introduction: "This paper presents the results of the investigation of the wing alone and of the wing-fuselage configurations employing a wing with an unswept quarter-chord line, aspect ratio 4, taper ratio 0.6, and an NACA 65A004 airfoil section parallel to the air stream. The experimental results of a wing of identical plan from having an NACA 65A006 airfoil section which was tested as part of the transonic program are presented in reference 1.

Report presenting an investigation concerned with the measurement of the characteristics of longitudinal-control devices for a wing-fuselage combination with a wing with the leading edge swept back 63 degrees. Most of the investigation was devoted to testing a 30-percent-chord, 50-percent-semispan elevon, but some used upper-surface spoilers. Results regarding the characteristics of the wing with the elevon undeflected and control-surface effectiveness are provided.

Report presenting an experimental investigation to determine the aerodynamic load distributions of a series of five bodies with conical or slightly blunted noses and cylindrical afterbodies in the 1- by 1-foot supersonic wind tunnel. Pressure distributions and viscous drags were measured at Mach number 3.12 for a range of Reynolds numbers and angles of attack.

This report discusses the issue of U.S. economic assistance to sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the importance of continued assistance in light of U.S. national security and also various U.S.-led efforts to promote reform amongst African citizens themselves. U.S. assistance finds its way to Africa through a variety of channels, including the USAID-administered DA program, food aid programs, and indirect aid provided through international financial institutions and the United Nations.

Over the past two decades, Sandia has developed a variety of specialized analytical techniques for evaluating the long-term aging and stability of cable insulation and other related materials. These techniques have been applied to cable reliability studies involving numerous insulation types and environmental factors. This work has allowed the monitoring of the occurrence and progression of cable material deterioration in application environments, and has provided insights into material degradation mechanisms. It has also allowed development of more reliable lifetime prediction methodologies. As a part of the FAA program for intrusive inspection of aircraft wiring, they are beginning to apply a battery of techniques to assessing the condition of cable specimens removed from retired aircraft. It is anticipated that in a future part of this program, they may employ these techniques in conjunction with accelerated aging methodologies and models that the authros have developed and employed in the past to predict cable lifetimes. The types of materials to be assessed include 5 different wire types: polyimide, PVC/Glass/Nylon, extruded XL-polyalkene/PVDF, Poly-X, and XL-ETFE. This presentation provides a brief overview of the main techniques that will be employed in assessing the state of health of aircraft wire insulation. The discussion will be illustrated …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the noninsured assistance program, and emergency disaster loans. Since 1988, Congress regularly has made supplemental financial assistance available to farmers and ranchers, primarily in the form of crop disaster payments and emergency livestock assistance. The Senate-passed version of a pending FY2006 supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 4939) contains an adopted committee amendment that would provide an estimated additional $3.9 billion in various forms of farm assistance, including payments for major crop and livestock losses caused by any 2005 disaster, such as the drought in portions of the Midwest and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf.

This report discusses air pollutants (petroleum, natural gas, and coal), which account for about two-thirds of U.S. electricity generation. These gases include several pollutants that directly pose risks to human health and welfare. The report also discusses the utilities that are subject to an array of environmental regulations.

This report discusses aircraft noise regulations as they relate to hushkits, which is a combination of strategies designed to reduce aircraft noise. These strategies can include new technologies, redesigned engine enclosures, replacement engine components, entirely new engines, or a combination of any of the above. This report dicusses the new EU regulation limiting hushkitted commercial jet aircraft in the EU, the United States' response to this regulation, and the effect this could have on international air travel relations.

This report describes the Issues in Congress regarding Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles.