To explore the various issues and options surrounding software development, the author has selected a specific Safeguards Systems Group (NIS-7) project to serve as a case study. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and any reference to {open_quotes}we{close_quotes} or {open_quotes}our{close_quotes} refers to this single author. The goal of the selected project is to produce software that can accurately analyze data from sensors in tanks containing solutions of nuclear material (solution monitoring). This project focuses on data from Japanese reprocessing facilities. The software is to be used by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back at headquarters in Vienna after obtaining data from a site. I feel that the ideas presented in this paper may be applicable to numerous software developers whose project requirements are similar to those for this project. Two considerations for developing software for use by others are discussed. (1) What software tools should be used during the development process? (2) What is the most effective way of distributing the software and documentation? The requirements for the software environment and distribution of software and documentation include the following: portability; cross-platform compatibility; graphical user interface and builder, creating modular/reusable software components; generic libraries; environment should facilitate …

Most of the facilities of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) can be classified as Hazard Category 3, or less, according to the U.S. Department of Energy Standard 1027- 92. Because of the limited amount of radioactive material stored within it, a Category 3 facility is defined as being capable of only localized significant consequences; thus, the safety of the facility and its operating personnel can be ensured with operational controls that are less strict and rigid than would be the case with facilities requiring limiting conditions for operations (LCOs). Therefore, during a recent upgrade of safety analysis reports (SARS) for Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) facilities and the Materials Management Area (MMA), the LCOs prepared for the technical safety requirements (TSRS) were rewritten as administrative controls. This paper presents the results, and some of the lessons learned, of this rewriting endeavor.

The first Quarterly Report of 1992 on the Catalytic Conversion of Light Alkanes reviews the work done between January 1. 1992 and March 31, 1992 on the Cooperative Agreement. The mission of this work is to devise a new catalyst which can be used in a simple economic process to convert the light alkanes in natural gas to oxygenate products which can either be used as clean-burning, high octane liquid fuels, as fuel components or as precursors to liquid hydrocarbon transportation fuel. During the past quarter we have continued to design, prepare, characterize and test novel catalysts for the mild selective reaction of light hydrocarbons with air or oxygen to produce alcohols directly. These catalysts are designed to form active metal oxo (MO) species and to be uniquely active for the homolytic cleavage of the carbon-hydrogen bonds in light alkanes producing intermediates which can form alcohols. We continue to investigate three molecular environments for the active catalytic species that we are trying to generate: electron-deficient porphryinic macrocycles (PHASE I), polyoxometallates (PHASE II), and regular oxidic lattices including zeolites and related structures as well as other molecular surface structures having metal oxo groups (PHASE III).

The authors examine the threshold characteristics of selectively oxidized VCSELs as a function of the number, thickness, and placement of the buried oxide apertures. The threshold current density for small area VCSELs is shown to increase with the number of oxide apertures in the cavity due to increased optical loss, while the threshold current density for broad area VCSELs decreases with increasing number of apertures due to more uniform current injection. Reductions of the threshold gain and optical loss are achieved for small area VCSELs using thin oxide apertures which are displaced longitudinally away from te optical cavity. They show that the optical loss can be sufficiently reduced to allow lasing in VCSELs with aperture area as small as 0.25 {micro}m{sup 2}.

Newsletter issued by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service related to news, events and other updates in the organization related to raising and managing horses, as well as other relevant topics of interest to county extension agents.

Within the spectrum of advanced intermetallic materials, an alloy containing 44Nb-35Ti-6Al-5Cr-8V-1W-0.5Mo-0.3Hf (at. %) was investigated in the industrial-scale produced condition. The alloy was tensile tested in air from room temperature to 1,000 C and in vacuum at 750 and 850 C. Results of this study have shown that the alloy can be commercially produced and has adequate ductility for its secondary processing even at an oxygen level of 1,160 wppm. The alloy has room temperature ductility of 16% and superplastic elongation of 244% at 1,000 C. This alloy shows low intermediate temperature (600--850 C) ductility when tested in air. The vacuum testing revealed that the low ductility is associated within oxygen embrittlement phenomenon. It is expected that such an embrittlement can be taken care of by an oxidation resistant coating. The alloy also possesses superior strength to similar alloys in this class. Results of this investigation suggest a strong potential for consideration of this alloy to exceed the useful temperature range of nickel-base superalloys.

Tasks associated with research in candle filters are described. Candle filters will be tested for permeability measurements, pressure distribution evaluation, and microanalysis.

Neutron reflection is one of only a few characterization techniques which can be used to study buried interfaces in situ. While restricted to model samples, interfacial density and composition profiles can be obtained with a resolution of {approx}5 {angstrom} using isotopic substitution (typically H/D for organic materials). We are using neutron reflection to address several problems of fundamental importance to the durability of organic/inorganic interphases. One important focus of this study is water adsorption within interphases with and without coupling agents. From the time and temperature dependence of moisture uptake and removal in vacuum, information regarding the nature of the interaction of water with the interphase species can be obtained.

An optical digital-interferometric surface profile measurement system was used for quantitative assessment of the smoothness of polished nickel and gold spherical surfaces. Measurements were made after each of the last three polishing steps on the nickel spheres and after each of the three polishing steps on the gold spheres. Results of the interferometric measurement system were compared with those of a step-height standard certified by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST).

As DOE dismantles its nuclear processing facilities, site managers must employ the best means of disposing or remediating hundreds of miles of potentially contaminated piping and duct work. Their interiors are difficult to access, and in many cases even the exteriors are inaccessible. Without adequate characterization, it must be assumed that the piping is contaminated, and the disposal cost of buried drain lines can be on the order of $1,200/ft and is often unnecessary as residual contamination levels often are below free release criteria. This paper describes the program to develop a solution to the problem of characterizing radioactive contamination in pipes. The technical approach and results of using the Pipe Explorer {trademark} system are presented. The heart of the system is SEA`s pressurized inverting membrane adapted to transport radiation detectors and other tools into pipes. It offers many benefits over other pipe inspection approaches. It has video and beta/gamma detection capabilities, and the need for alpha detection has been addressed through the development of the Alpha Explorer{trademark}. These systems have been used during various stages of decontamination and decommissioning of DOE sites, including the ANL CP-5 reactor D&D. Future improvements and extensions of their capabilities are discussed.

To obtain superconductivity in a layered copper-oxide compound, it is necessary to introduce charge carriers into the antiferromagnetic CuO{sub 2} planes. Recent neutron diffraction studies of the system La{sub 1.6-x}Nd{sub 0.4}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} provide evidence that the dopant-induced holes choose to segregate into periodically-spaced stripes which separate antiferromagnetic domains, in a manner similar to that found in hole-doped La{sub 2}NiO{sub 4}. The charge and spin stripe modulations are identified by the appearance of scattering at incommensurate positions. In the Nd-doped system, elastic scattering is observed, corresponding to static stripes. In pure La{sub 2-x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4}, the magnetic scattering that is observed is purely inelastic. Where samples with and without Nd, but with the same Sr concentration, have been measured, the incommensurate (IC) splittings of the magnetic signal are found to be essentially identical. It has been proposed that the spin correlations in the two systems are fundamentally the same, thus implying similar charge correlations. The static nature of the stripes in the Nd-doped system is attributed to pinning of the otherwise dynamic correlations by a special distortion of the lattice. That distortion is driven by purely ionic interactions and is stabilized by the smaller ionic radius of the substituted Nd.

This publication is an alert by the EPA to notify possible hazards from carbon adsorption deodorizing systems.

This is an ALERT report on possible catastrophic failure of storage tanks.

Since preindustrial times, the concentrations of a number of key greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}), methane (CH{sub 4}) and the nitric oxides (N{sub 2}O) have increased. Additionally, the concentrations of anthropogenic aerosols have also increased during the same time period. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are expected to increase temperature, while the aerosols tend to have a net cooling effect. Taking both of these effects into account, the current best scientific estimate is that the global average surface temperature is expected to increase by 2{degrees}C between the years 1990 to 2100. A climate change if this magnitude will both directly and indirectly impact atmospheric chemistry. For example, many important tropospheric reactions have a temperature dependence (either Arrhenius or otherwise). Thus, if temperature increase, reaction rates will also increase.

Report of the Texas State Auditor's Office related to the Funeral Services Commission's 75 percent rate of compliance with the Position Classification Act.

Accelerator-based neutron sources are an attractive alternative to nuclear reactors for providing epithermal neutron beams for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Based on clinical requirements and neutronics modeling the use of proton and deuteron induced reactions in {sup 7}Li and {sup 9}Be targets has been compared. Excellent epithermal neutron beams can be produced via the {sup 7}Li(p,n){sup 7}Be reaction at proton energies of {approximately}2.5 MeV. An electrostatic quadrupole accelerator and a lithium target, which can deliver and handle 2.5 MeV protons at beam currents up to 50 mA, are under development for an accelerator-based BNCT facility at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Here we give an introduction to the observed spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) and discuss what can be learned about it. Particular attention will be given to how Compton scattering can distort the spectrum of the CMBR. An incomplete bibliography of relevant papers is also provided.

The objective of the proposed project is to test the technical, environmental, and economic viability of a coal-fired diesel generator for producing electric power in small power generating markets. Coal for the diesel generator would be provided from existing supplies transported for use in the University`s power plant. A cleanup system would be installed for limiting gaseous and particulate emissions. Electricity and steam produced by the diesel generator would be used to supply the needs of the University. The proposed diesel generator and supporting facilities would occupy approximately 2 acres of land adjacent to existing coal- and oil-fired power plant and research laboratory buildings at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The environmental analysis identified that the most notable changes to result from the proposed project would occur in the following areas: power plant configuration at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks; air emissions, water use and discharge, and the quantity of solid waste for disposal; noise levels at the power plant site; and transportation of coal to the power plant. No substantive adverse impacts or environmental concerns were identified in analyzing the effects of these changes.

A coated-wire-in-tube (CWIT) process greatly increases the silver/superconductor interface area in silver-sheathed Bi-2223 superconductors. When the performance of CWIT samples is compared to that of conventional monofilaments made with the same powder, critical current density increases significantly with increased silver/superconductor interface area. Benefits of increasing the silver/superconductor interface area are realized only when there is good continuity of the coated wires, and this requires a mechanical deformation sequence to preserve good continuity of the wires.

Beam emittances in a circular accelerator with a high beam intensity are strongly affected by the small angle intrabeam Coulomb scattering. In the computer simulation model the authors present here they used three coupled nonlinear differential equations to describe the evolution of the emittances in the transverse and the longitudinal planes. These equations include terms which take into account the intra-beam scattering, adiabatic damping, microwave instabilities, synchrotron damping, and quantum excitations. A code is generated to solve the equations numerically and incorporated into a FORTRAN code library. Circular high intensity physics routines are included in the library such as intrabeam scattering, Touschek scattering, and the bunch lengthening effect of higher harmonic cavities. The code runs presently in the PC environment. Description of the code and some examples are presented.

Low transition temperature (low-{Tc}) and high-{Tc} Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) have been used to perform high-resolution magnetic measurements on samples whose temperatures are much higher than the operating temperatures of the devices. Part 1 of this work focuses on measurements of the rigidity of flux vortices in high-{Tc} superconductors using two low-{Tc} SQUIDs, one on either side of a thermally-insulated sample. The correlation between the signals of the SQUIDs is a direct measure of the extent of correlation between the movements of opposite ends of vortices. These measurements were conducted under the previously-unexplored experimental conditions of nominally-zero applied magnetic field, such that vortex-vortex interactions were unimportant, and with zero external current. At specific temperatures, the authors observed highly-correlated noise sources, suggesting that the vortices moved as rigid rods. At other temperatures, the noise was mostly uncorrelated, suggesting that the relevant vortices were pinned at more than one point along their length. Part 2 describes the design, construction, performance, and applications of a scanning high-{Tc} SQUID microscope optimized for imaging room-temperature objects with very high spatial resolution and magnetic source sensitivity.

Whether it`s photography, computer graphics, publishing, or video; each medium has a defined color space, or gamut, which defines the extent that a given set of RGB colors can be mixed. When converting from one medium to another, an image must go through some form of conversion which maps colors into the destination color space. The conversion process isn`t always straight forward, easy, or reversible. In video, two common analog composite color spaces are Y`tjv (used in PAL) and Y`IQ (used in NTSC). These two color spaces have been around since the beginning of color television, and are primarily used in video transmission. Another analog scheme used in broadcast studios is Y`, R`-Y`, B`-Y` (used in Betacam and Mll) which is a component format. Y`, R`-Y`,B`-Y` maintains the color information of RGB but in less space. From this, the digital component video specification, ITU-Rec. 601-4 (formerly CCIR Rec. 601) was based. The color space for Rec. 601 is symbolized as Y`CbCr. Digital video formats such as DV, Dl, Digital-S, etc., use Rec. 601 to define their color gamut. Digital composite video (for D2 tape) is digitized analog Y`UV and is seeing decreased use. Because so much information is contained in …

The cited paper estimates the consequences that might occur should a purpose-built ship transporting Vitrified High Level Waste (VHLW) be involved in a severe collision that causes the VHLW canisters in one Type-B package to spill onto the floor of a major ocean fishing region. Release of radioactivity from VHLW glass logs, failure of elastomer cask seals, failure of VHLW canisters due to stress corrosion cracking (SCC), and the probabilities of the hypothesized accident scenario, of catastrophic cask failure, and of cask recovery from the sea are all discussed.

The low-level RF system for PEP-II is a modular design housed in a VXI environment and supported by EPICS. All signal processing and control is done at baseband using in-phase and quadrature (IQ) techniques. Remotely configurable RF feedback loops are used to control coupled-bunch instabilities driven by the accelerating mode of the RF cavities. A programmable DSP based feedback loop is implemented to control phase variations across the klystron due to the required adjustment of the cathode voltage to limit cathode power dissipation. The DSP loop also adaptively cancels modulations caused by klystron power supply ripple at selected power line harmonics between 60 Hz and 10 kHz. The system contains a built-in baseband network analyzer which allows remote measurement of the RF feedback loop transfer functions and automated configuration of these loops. This paper presents observations and measured data from the system.