Newsletter issued by the Advisory Council for Technical-Vocational Education in Texas discussing news, events, and other relevant information related to technical and vocational education for adults in Texas.

Monthly newsletter of the Alamo Area Council of Governments describing news and events of relevance to the agencies.

A newsletter providing information and updates on the 208 Areawide Waste Treatment Management Plan.

Comprehensive policy and action strategy statement created to meet the drug abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation needs of the Alamo area.

Following a broad discussion of generalized hydrodynamics, three examples are given to illustrate how useful this approach is in extending hydrodynamics to nearly the scale of molecular dimensions and the time between collisions, principally by including viscoelastic effects. The three examples concern the behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function, the decay of fluctuations in a resonating system, and the calculation of the dynamic structure factor obtained from neutron scattering. In the latter case the molecular dynamics results are also compared to the predictions of generalized kinetic theory. Finally it is shown how to implement generalized hydrodynamics both on a microscopic and macroscopic level. Hydrodynamics is unable to account for the long time tails in the velocity autocorrelation functions and the divergent Burnett coefficients observed for the Lorentz gas. Instead, the long time behavior of the Burnett coefficient and the distribution of displacements (the self part of the dynamic structure factor) can be accounted for by a random walk with a waiting time distribution which is chosen to give the correct velocity autocorrelation function. This random walk predicts, in agreement with the observations, that this displacement distribution is Gaussian at long times for the Lorentz gas, while for hard disks it …

A model of public evacuation is developed for use in evaluating the efficacy of evacuation as a protective measure in response to atmospheric releases of radioactive material. Differences between this model and the model of public evacuation previously developed for the Reactor Safety Study are described. Based on an analysis of available EPA evacuation data, ranges are suggested for the temporal parameters in the new model. The relative importance of the model parameters is also discussed.

Evacuation, sheltering followed by population relocation, and iodine prophylaxis are evaluated as offsite public protective measures in response to nuclear reactor accidents involving core-melt. Evaluations were conducted using a modified version of the Reactor Safety Study consequence model. Models representing each measure were developed and are discussed. Potential PWR core-melt radioactive material releases are separated into two categories, ''Melt-through'' and ''Atmospheric,'' based upon the mode of containment failure. Protective measures are examined and compared for each category in terms of projected doses to the whole body and thyroid. Measures for ''Atmospheric'' accidents are also examined in terms of their influence on the occurrence of public health effects.

To simulate multispecies impurity transport in tokamaks, a set of coupled continuity equations including source and sink terms from atomic processes (rate terms) were solved numerically. The diffusion and rate terms are integrated separately in time using a fractional step-splitting technique which is accurate to second order in the time step. Calculations were performed treating individually all the ionization stages of oxygen and iron impurities in a hydrogen plasma. Calculated O VI and O VII relative density profiles agree qualitatively with profiles measured in the Adiabatic Toroidal Compressor (ATC) tokamak when purely neoclassical diffusion coefficients are used.

The potential for contamination of groundwater by organic pollutants leached from in-situ spent shale was studied in a series of laboratory leaching experiments. Both batch-mode and continuous-flow column experiments were conducted to study the leaching phenomenon. Experimental variables included retorting characteristics of spent shale, leaching time, initial quality of leach water, temperature of leach water, and particle size of spent shale. Several unique samples of spent shale were examined during the eaching experiments, including spent shale samples produced during combustion retorting, inert gas retorting, and combustion retorting employing recycle gas. The solid-phase organic carbon content of spent shale samples ranged from 0.2 to 3.9 percent by weight. Leachate derived from the batch-mode experiments was analyzed for organic carbon, organic nitrogen, phenols, and acid/base/netral fractions. The highest levels of organic carbon were detected in leachate derived from spent shale produced during either inert gas retorting or combstion retorting using recycle gas. The highest levels of phenols were observed in leachate obtained from spent shale produced during inert gas retorting; significant levels of organic nitrogen were also detected in various leachate samples. The most predominant organic fraction measured in leachate samples was the neutral fraction associated with spent shale produced during inert …

The study is composed of analytical chemistry and biological divisions with freshwater and marine biological subdivisions. The objective of the analytical phase is to identify those chemical compounds, other than the free and combined available halogen, which result from the addition of chlorine to fresh or saltwater. The objectives of the biological studies are to investigate the immediate and relatively long-term toxicity of several chlorination by-products to selected aquatic biota; to follow their pathways of action; and to analyze for bioaccumulation or biomagnification. Initial analytical experimentation has been directed toward isolating and identifying nonpolar, lipophylic organohalogens that might be expected to be absorbed and biomagnified in the lipids of aquatic biota. Chlorinated natural fresh and marine water samples were obtained from Task IIa and b. Organic components were concentrated by forcing chlorinated and unchlorinated water through columns of XAD-2 resin using a positive displacement pump. Ether extracts of the XAD-2 columns were analyzed for haloforms by gas chromatography. Bromoform was found to be the major constituent in all chlorinated sea water samples. In contrast, chloroform was the only haloform produced from chlorinated freshwater. The Freshwater Biology 6-month chronic bioassay on rainbow trout has produced several results. The mortality rate, although …

Report issued by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards discussing building codes and standards in earthquake-prone areas. As stated in the introduction, "the basic purpose of this project is to present, in one comprehensive document, current state-of-knowledge in the fields of engineering seismology and engineering practice as it pertains to seismic design and construction of buildings" (p. 1). This report includes tables, and illustrations.

Results are presented of an appraisal of the potential for the storage of radioactive wastes by burial in underground repositories and of efforts to define the more significant factors affecting the selection and design of a repository. Those areas in geomechanics, hydrogeology, and geochemistry where further research is needed to provide answers of the quality and certainty needed to resolve these issues are examined. Results of this appraisal suggest that argillaceous and crystalline rocks may provide suitable sites for nuclear waste repositories. The most important factor affecting their suitability appears to be the flux of groundwater through the repository. Although intense fracturing would be advantageous in retarding migration of hazardous materials from a repository in these rocks by sorption, the hydraulic conductivities of these fractures would have to be very small and the hydraulic gradient low.

This conference covers various aspects of fossil-fuel power plants based on coal or coal-conversion products, as well as the process control equipment involved in the conversion or combustion processes.

Prompt stimulated Brillouin scatter (SBS) is studied in an experiment wherein a high power, pulsed CO/sub 2/ laser irradiates an independently produced, theta-pinch plasma. SBS does not significantly affect laser heating of the plasma. Measurements of density profiles and temperature histories permitted examination of laser refraction, local heating and net absorption. Refractive containment of the CO/sub 2/ laser beam by an on-axis density minimum was observed at early times during the laser pulse. However, refractive containment was lost at late times due to the diffusive loss of the density minimum. Classical modeling of the expected heating required ''bleached'' absorption to account for the observed heating. A plasma absorptivity of approximately 46% was inferred from calorimetry measurements at 250 mtorr fill pressure. These results confirm that classical heating and refraction dominated the laser-plasma interaction.

A summary is presented of the progress of government sponsored projects undertaken to increase gas production from low permeability gas sands of the western United States during May, 1978. Background information is given in the September 1977 Status Report, NVO/0655-100. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Nevada Operations Office (NVO), is finalizing a Request for Proposal (RFP) covering Technical and Administrative Support for the Project Manager for FY79. C. H. Atkinson, the Western Gas Sands Project (WGSP) Manager, was an observer of the third MHF treatment of Mobil Research and Development Corporation's well No. F-31-136. The fracture was performed on May 10, 1978. R. L. Mann of CER Corporation, met with Dr. Steve Holditch of Texas A and M University to discuss the utilization of the PDP 11/10 computer to be installed in the Mobile Well Test Facility. The USGS is continuing geological and geophysical studies in the four primary study areas. Two flights were made in preparation for low-level olique photography. The Bartlesville Energy Research Center (BERC) and participating National Laboratories, funded by DOE, are continuing their work in the area of research and development. The emphasis is on the development of new tools and instrumentation systems, rock mechanics, mathematical …

A practical method for designing solar space and water heating systems, called the ''f-chart'' method, is described with the results calculated for Long Island, New York. The solar heating systems to be considered consist of a solar collector which uses either liquid or air, an energy storage which can be either a water tank or a pebble bed, and an auxiliary energy source which supplies heat when solar energy is not available. Solar heated water from storage can be used either for space heating or for preheating the domestic hot water. The results of the ''f-chart'' analysis can simply be expressed as follows. For the thermal performance, Annual Load Fraction Supplied by Solar Energy versus Collector Area, and for the economic performance, Life Cycle Cost Savings versus Collector Area.

Solar heat, as a potential source of clean energy, is available to all of us. Extensive R and D efforts are being made to effectively utilize this renewable energy source. A variety of different technologies for utilizing solar energy have been proven to be technically feasible. Here, some of the most promising technologies and their applications are briefly described. These are: Solar Heating and Cooling of Buildings (SHACOB), Solar Thermal Energy Conversion (STC), Wind Energy Conversion (WECS), Bioconversion to Fuels (BCF), Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), and Photovoltaic Electric Power Systems (PEPS). Special emphasis is placed on the discussion of the SHACOB technologies, since the technologies are being expeditiously developed for the near commercialization.

Progress is reported on the following: radiation monitoring with regard to personnel monitoring and health physics instrumentation; environs surveillance with regard to atmospheric monitoring, water monitoring, radiation background measurements, and soil and grass samples; radiation and safety surveys with regard to laboratory operations monitoring, radiation incidents, and laundry monitoring; industrial safety and special projects with regard to accident analysis, disabling injuries, and safety awards. (HLW)

Alloys of Al-CuAl/sub 2/ eutectic composition were prepared with high purity materials (99.999%) and directionally solidified horizontally in a rectangular ceramic boat at 0.96, 4.0, 8.3, 17.5, and 82.0 ..mu..m/sec through a temperature gradient of 45/sup 0/C/cm. These ingots were examined macroscopically and the best single grain regions were selected for further measurements. From micrographs taken of the top, side and cross section of the ingot, it was found that the interlamellar spacings were 7.5, 3.5, 2.6, 1.8 and 1.4 ..mu..m respectively, and from the measured lamellar orientation relationships specimens were machined with axes aligned in the principal lamellae coordinate directions. Transmission Laue photographs taken using Ni filtered Cu K..cap alpha.. radiation verified that the texture is consistent with the crystallographic relationships (121)/sub theta/ vertical bar vertical bar (111)/sub Al/; <12anti 3>/sub theta/ vertical bar vertical bar <1anti 21>/sub Al/. Thermal expansion was measured by standard dilatometry (Cu standard) using a set point program cycling between room temperature and 500/sup 0/C. It was found that the thermal expansion of the directionally solidified Al-CuAl/sub 2/ eutectic decreases with increasing interlamellar spacing, is greatest in the growth direction (approximately <1anti 21>/sub Al/, in the plane of the lamellae) least in the transverse …

Based on the High Temperature Sodium Facility (HTSF) experience and the extensive design efforts for FFTF, procedures are in place for the unloading of the tank cars and for the fill of the FFTF reactor. Special precautions have been taken to provide safe handling and to accommodate contingencies in operation. These contingencies include special protective suits allowing personnel to enter and correct conditions arising from fill operations in the course of moving 7.71 x 10/sup 5/ kg (1.7 x 10/sup 6/ lbs) of sodium from the tank cars into the reactor vessel and its loop system.

Results are presented of a project to obtain quantitative data to assist in the evaluation of basalts as a nuclear repository host rock, in particular those basalts underlying the Hanford reservation. The two basalts studied are the U.S. Geological Survey's standard Basalt Columbia River-1 (BCR-1) and a section of core from Hanford Drill Hole DDH-3 (A2120/3320). It was found that the principal minerals of Basalts BCR-1 and DDH-3 are still present after hydrothermal treatment up to 400/sup 0/C. No new phases have been observed, with the exception of one in the longest run, 300/sup 0/C for 56 days. There is not enough of this phase present to give positive identification in the bulk powder diffractogram. The spinel magnetite-ulvoespinel was observed to change oxidation state under some conditions. Because uranium and plutonium are both far more soluble in the +6 state than in the +4 state, the oxidation state of the system basalt + waste + water is important. The basalt is in enormous excess and contains both ferrous and ferric iron in its spinels and in augite. Together they should be the principal influence on the oxidation state of the system. Several further X-ray measurements would be useful: first, examination …

The unique determination of the weak neutral-current couplings of u and d quarks is discussed. Knowledge of these quark couplings has important implications for the determination of the electron's couplings. Recent data provide new restrictions on the charged-current couplings of quarks. The implications of these analyses for weak and electromagnetic gauge theories of quarks and leptons are examined.

Scenarios are worked out in straight circular cylindrical geometry for the evolution of flux conserving sequences of equilibria as the plasma is heated or compressed. It is shown that force-free currents are induced when the low pressure region at the edge of the plasma is compressed against a flux conserving wall. A force-free surface current is induced if there is a vacuum region between the expanding plasma and the wall. These edge currents run opposite to the direction of the current in the main body of the plasma. The force-free currents can be avoided or reversed at the edge of a plasma with diffuse resistivity profile by programming the total longitudinal current as the plasma is heated or compressed.

Results of shielding calculations for the Intnse Neutron Source (INS) facility are presented. The INS facility is designed to house two sources, each of which will produce D--T neutrons with intensities in the range from 1 to 3 x 10/sup 15/ n/s on a continuous basis. Topics covered include the design of the biological shield, use of two-dimensional discrete-ordinates results to specify the source terms for a Monte Carlo skyshine calculation, air activation, and dose rates in the source cell (after shutdown) due to activation of the biological shield.