A study of commercially available and prototype aerodynamic drag reduction devices which can be retrofitted onto this nation's trucks to achieve significant fuel savings by 1980 was conducted. The results of the study are presented in seven sections. An overview of the basic study results is given in the Summary Section, and a brief introduction to the general nature of the truck drag problem and the study scope is contained in Section 1. Section 2 provides a more detailed discussion of the aerodynamic drag problem and the characteristics of specific retrofit aerodynamic drag reduction devices which are in the production or prototype status. The results of a survey of fleet owners utilizing aerodynamic drag reduction devices and their experience with regard to fuel savings and operational factors are given in Section 3. Section 4 contains the results of economic analyses made to determine the cost-benefit effects of drag reduction devices. An analysis of the US truck population to which such drag reduction devices may be applicable and the fuel savings potential attendant to their use is given in Section 5. The significant elements of a program structured to encourage the utilization of aerodynamic drag reduction devices on trucks are defined …

The three-volume report describes a dual-mode nuclear space power and propulsion system concept that employs an advanced solid-core nuclear fission reactor coupled via heat pipes to one of several electric power conversion systems. Such a concept could be particularly useful for missions which require both relatively high acceleration (e.g., for planetocentric maneuvers) and high performance at low acceleration (e.g., on heliocentric trajectories or for trajectory shaping). The first volume develops the mathematical model of the system.

The three-volume report describes a dual-mode nuclear space power and propulsion system concept that employs an advanced solid-core nuclear fission reactor coupled via heat pipes to one of several electric power conversion systems. The second volume describes the computer code and users' guide for the preliminary analysis of the system.

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The study assesses the value of seismic trip (scram) systems on commercial nuclear power plants. Five topics were specifically addressed: (1) the likelihood that existing instrumentation would trip the plant; (2) the consequences of spurious trips; (3) the consequences of tripping during an earthquake; (4) the advantages of a controlled shutdown; and (5) the desirability of continuing operation. A comparative risk assessment was made based on evaluation of fault trees constructed for plants with and without seismic trip systems. It was found that seismic trip systems would have a small and undetermined effect on risk due to nuclear reactor accidents and may indeed increase the risk to society from an earthquake.

The work reported includes the development of unit processes and equipment for reprocessing of High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) fuel and the design and development of an integrated line to demonstrate the head end of HTGR reprocessing using unirradiated fuel materials. Work is also described on trade-off studies concerning the required design of recycle facilities for the large-scale recycle of HTGR fuels in order to guide the development activities for HTGR fuel recycle.

The following research projects in radiation botany were conducted: mutation breeding of beans and cassava; biological response of coffee plants; and radiosensitivity of tropical plants. In the field of entomology experiments were conducted on radiosterilization of the Mediterranean fruit fly, the coffee leaf miner, the torsalo and the meliaceous shootborer. The following research projects in plant physiology were conducted: physiology of cassava plants; effects of temperature on germination of cacao seeds; physiology of cacao seeds; sulfur metabolism using /sup 35/S; diseases and parasites of banana fruits; the mechanism controlling dwarfism in a radioinduced single gene bean mutant; and the use of wetting agents in foliar nutrition. The following research projects in soil chemistry were conducted: acidity and cation movement in tropical soils; phosphate in soils of the humid tropics; movement, adsorption and desorption of sulfates; free iron and aluminium oxides in tropical soils; mineralization of organic nitrogen in soils on volcanic materials; soil chemical properties of recent volcanic ash; and spatial distribution of the absorbing roots in coffee. Discussions are presented of installation of radiation facilities and collection of rainfall for fallout analysis. (HLW)

Nondestructive assay techniques were developed and implemented to permit the measurement of residual plutonium in glove boxes, conveyors, and tanks in areas of varying background using both gamma and neutron portable detection equipment. The gamma detector was a 2 x 2 inch sodium iodide detector collimated to view a well defined area. The neutron detector consisted of /sup 3/He tubes in a polyethylene case with a small amount of directionality. Application of the described techniques to equipment prior to removal has shortened the clean-up time by identifying the locations of recoverable quantities. The agreement between assigned values and recovered plutonium has been within 16 percent for quantities ranging from several grams up to kilogram levels.

Whole-body exposure of rats to ionizing radiations yielded an increased incorporation of labeled amino acids into serum albumin in in vivo studies suggesting a stimulation of biosynthesis. Actually this may have been caused by an elevated hepatic transport of labeled amino acids (see below). A suppressed biosynthesis of albumin was observed when the experiments were performed in vitro using liver microsomes. Impaired biosynthesis appeared to be caused by a reduced mRNA production. Irradiation stimulated the biosynthesis of acute-phase plasma proteins (stress response) and inhibited the excretion of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/-globulin, the sex-dependent protein of the adult male rat. Exposure of rats to ..gamma..-rays stimulated amino acid transport into the liver. This process which is Na/sup +/ and energy-dependent was studied with ..cap alpha..-aminoisobutyric acid, cycloleucine, and L-methionine among others. After irradiation the serum glucagon and insulin, as well as hepatic cAMP levels, were elevated. Amino acid transport may be an important factor in controlling the increased gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis observed in rats following whole-body irradiation.

The potential for electric energy from geothermal resources in California is currently estimated to be equivalent to the output from 14 to 21 large (1000 MW) central station power plants. In addition, since over 30 California cities are located near potential geothermal resources, the non-electric applications of geothermal heat (industrial, agriculture, space heating, etc.) could be enormous. Therefore, the full-scale utilization of geothermal resources would have a major impact upon the energy picture of the state. This report presents a summary of the existing status of geothermal energy development in the state of California as of the early part of 1976. The report provides data on the extent of the resource base of the state and the present outlook for its utilization. It identifies the existing local, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations governing geothermal energy development and the responsibilities of each of the regulatory agencies involved. It also presents the differences in the development requirements among several counties and between California and its neighboring states. Finally, it describes on-going and planned activities in resource assessment and exploration, utilization, and research and development. Separate abstracts are prepared for ERDA Energy Research Abstracts (ERA) for Sections II--VI and the three …

The data systems on the three mass spectrometers at LLL are computer-controlled, pulse-counting systems synchronized to a repeatedly swept magnetic field. The data are accumulated in the memory of the computer or in a Nuclear Data ND 180 in a multi-scaler mode of operation. This mode of data acquisition allows a continuous check of the background stability and makes tune-up easier. But the main benefit is a reduction in the required ion emission rate stability. By the use of standards to set the system dead time, we have been able to utilize the sensitivity of a pulse counting system without the expense of exotic equipment.

The work reported includes studies of reactions between core materials and coolant impurities, basic fission product transport mechanisms, core graphite development and testing, the development and testing of recyclable fuel systems, and physics and fuel management studies. Materials studies include irradiation capsule tests of both fuel and graphite. Experimental procedures and results are discussed and the data are presented in tables, graphs, and photographs.

The performance of critical facilities at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL) are being evaluated for severe earthquake loading. Facilities at Livermore, Site-300 and the Nevada Test Site are included in this study. These facilities are identified, the seismic criteria used for the analysis are indicated, the various methods used for structural analysis are discussed and a summary of the results of facilities analyzed to date are presented.

The complete microcomputer controlled system consists of two interrelated subsystems. The first is the fast rabbit system for moving the sample in and out of the reactor at specified times and the second is the receiving station for the rapid automated chemical program for the irradiated sample and its disposal. The system allows operator interaction. (JSR)

Analytic studies were made of the adequacy of simulating earthquake effects at the Nevada Test Site for structural testing purposes. It is concluded that underground nuclear explosion ground motion will produce inelastic behavior and damage comparable to that produced by strong earthquakes. The generally longer duration of earthquakes compared with underground nuclear explosions does not appear to significantly affect the structural behavior of the building frames considered. A comparison of maximum ductility ratios, maximum story drifts, and maximum displacement indicate similar structural behavior for both types of ground motion. Low yield (10 - kt) underground nuclear explosions are capable of producing inelastic behavior in large structures. Ground motion produced by underground nuclear explosions can produce inelastic earthquake-like effects in large structures and could be used for testing large structures in the inelastic response regime. The Nevada Test Site is a feasible earthquake simulator for testing large structures.

A solid-state laser rod amplifier of moderate aperture achieving a high degree of spatial gain uniformity has been constructed and its performance evaluated. Digital and analogue techniques were used to optimize the amplifier design for performance in a laser fusion application. Results of simple 2-D computer simulations and experimental evaluations of amplifier performance are presented.

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This report contains oversight on the Humphrey-Hawkins bill in which it tried to create a full employment economy.

This report is a comprehensive outline of the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1976.

This report is on The First Years of The Congressional Budget Process.