Biological effects occur in natural systems at chemical concentrations of parts per billion (1:10{sup 9}) or less. Affected biomolecules may be separable in only milligram or microgram quantities. Quantification at attomole sensitivity is needed to study these interactions. AMS measures isotope concentrations to parts per 10{sup 13--15} on milligram-sized samples and is ideal for quantifying long-lived radioisotopic labels that are commonly used to trace biochemical pathways in natural systems. {sup 14}C-AMS has now been coupled to a variety of organic separation and definition technologies. The primary research investigates pharmacokinetics and genotoxicities of toxins and drugs at very low doses. Human subject research using AMS includes nutrition, toxicity and elemental balance studies. {sup 3} H, {sup 41}Ca and {sup 26}Al are also traced by AMS for fundamental biochemical kinetic research. Expansion of biomedical AMS awaits further development of biochemical and accelerator technologies designed specifically for these applications.

Congressional Research Service: Issue Brief October 20, 1993 Chinese Missile and Nuclear Proliferation: Issues for Congress By Shirley A. Kan, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Divisi

The Electric Power Monthly (EPM) presents monthly electricity statistics. The purpose of this publication is to provide energy decisionmakers with accurate and timely information that may be used in forming various perspectives on electric issues that lie ahead. Data in this report are presented for a wide audience including Congress, Federal and State agencies, the electric utility industry, and the general public. The EIA collected the information in this report to fulfill its data collection and dissemination responsibilities as specified in the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-275) as amended. This publication provides monthly statistics at the US, Census division, and State levels for net generation, fossil fuel consumption and stocks, quantity and quality of fossil fuels, cost of fossil fuels, electricity sales, revenue, and average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold. Data on net generation, fuel consumption, fuel stocks, quantity and cost of fossil fuels are also displayed for the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) regions. Statistics by company and plant are published in the EPM on the capability of new generating units, net generation, fuel consumption, fuel stocks, quantity and quality of fuel, and cost of fossil fuels.

This report summarizes the successful first attempt to use a Michelson microwave interferometer to measure the position of a projectile throughout its acceleration by a railgun. The test was performed at the DNA Green Farm facility operated by Maxwell Labs Inc. The test was performed using the ARDEC-ACB gun to accelerate a 1.1 kg polycarbonate projectile-to about 2.5 km/s. The projectile had an initial injection velocity of about 490 m/s.

Recent Department of Energy requirements have led to a comprehensive evaluation of the industrial facilities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. The structures consist of simply connected steel frames infilled with structural clay tile walls. The objective of the evaluation was to determine the stability of the unreinforced infills, and whether they provide the lateral capacity necessary to resist the moderate seismic hazard at the site. Due to lack of information on the behavior of structural clay tile infills, various large-scale tests were performed to investigate the in-plane, out-of-plane and combined in-plane and out-of-plane behavior. The results of these tests are briefly summarized, and the development of analytical guidelines based on these tests is given. Little interaction between in-plane and out-of-plane loads was observed, both in terms of stiffness and strength. Out-of-plane stability can be examined panel by panel based on arching action. Inter-story drift does not appear to present a stability problem for the type of infill construction investigated. In-plane behavior may be adequately modeled with a nonlinear compression strut. A typical building is chosen for an illustrative application. The methodology and results of the seismic analysis are presented for this structure.

The photochemical reduction of uranyl nitrate solutions to tetravalent uranium was investigated as a means of producing uranium dioxide feed for the saltless direct oxide reduction (SDOR) process. At high uranium concentrations, reoxidation of U{sup +4} occurs rapidly. The kinetics of the nitric oxidation of tetravalent uranium depend on the concentrations of hydrogen ion, nitrate ion, nitrous acid, and tetravalent uranium in the same manner as was reported elsewhere for the nitrate oxidation of PU{sup +3}. Reaction rate data were successfully correlated with a mechanism in which nitrogen dioxide is the reactive intermediate. Addition of a nitrous acid scavenger suppresses the reoxidation reaction. An immersion reactor employing a mercury vapor lamp gave reduction times fast enough for routine production usage. Precipitation techniques for conversion of aqueous U(NO{sub 3}){sub 4} to hydrous UO{sub 2} were evaluated. Prolonged dewatering times tended to make the process time consuming. Use of 3- to 4-M aqueous NaOH gave the best dewatering times observed. Reoxidation of the UO{sub 2} by water of hydration was encountered, which required the drying process to be carried out under a reducing atmosphere.

Work continued on the development of the high-pressure helium-cooled design for the PULSAR reactor study. It was found that the high pressure helium-cooled solid breeder design may be able to breed adequate tritium without the use of Be as the neutron multiplier. Thermal-hydraulic results also indicate that the ARIES-IV shield can be used as the thermal storage component, while keeping outlet coolant temperature constant during the dwell time of about 2 minutes. During this period, two TE{sub 22,6} mode generators were fabricated and a report on the testing of the RF vacuum feed-throughs were written. Also, the DiMES sample chamber was operated in a piggyback mode and different samples were exposed to the DIII-D plasma during dedicated physics experiments.

The US Department of Energy is sponsoring a research and demonstration program on the Nevada Test Site to develop and test an optimized cleanup system for large-area, surface plutonium contamination. The project addresses three principle areas: vegetation and soil removal, volume reduction of the displaced soil, and site restoration consisting of soil stabilization and revegetation. Soil stabilization and revegetation are critical in order to prevent erosion and reestablish wildlife habitat. A series of field and laboratory studies have been initiated to develop technologies to stabilize and restore sites disturbed by TSSM activities. Soil stabilization studies will test suitable techniques and materials to control wind and water erosion. Revegetation studies will focus on determining suitable plant species, proper techniques for establishing plants by direct seeding, procedures for transplanting native shrubs, soil fertility and irrigation requirements, and effects of herbivory on plant establishment. Additional studies will determine the extent of plutonium contamination on native vegetation, and the potential for removing plutonium from vegetation. Laboratory and greenhouse studies will determine effects of plutonium decontamination processes on soil microbial populations, and the effects of gravel mulches and soil texture on plant establishment. Following completion of these studies, the most promising technologies will be demonstrated …

In the previous period of work, twelve overlay hardfacing alloys were selected for erosion testing based upon a literature review. All twelve coatings were deposited on 1018 steel substrates using the plasma arc welding process. Ten samples from each coating were prepared for erosion testing. The coating deposition and sample preparation procedures were described in the previous quarterly report. During the past quarter, all the coatings were erosion tested at 400 C. The erosion resistance of each coating was evaluated by determining the steady state erosion rate. In addition, the microstructure of each coating was characterized before and after the erosion tests. This progress report describes the erosion test results and coating microstructures. Also, a preliminary analysis on the relationships, between weld overlay coating hardness, microstructure, and erosion resistance will be discussed.

Monthly report providing tabular statistical information about motor vehicle accidents in rural areas of Texas during 1993, with data broken out by various criteria including number of persons, locations, types of accidents, time of day, and other factors.

Monthly report providing tabular statistical information about motor vehicle accidents in Texas during 1993, with data broken out by various criteria including number of persons, locations, types of accidents, time of day, and other factors.

AMS sensitivity arises from the direct counting of radioisotopes without interference from molecular isobars. No chemical or physical information other than a bulk isotope ratio is available from the usual AMS instrument. Chemical or biological significance of the isotope ratio depends on the definition of the sample prior to conversion to material used in the ion source. The authors use AMS to quantify biochemical interactions between labeled xenobiotics and their potential targets of toxicity. These potential target molecules are separated and defined by various types of plate and microbore separations, including thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gel electrophoresis (GE) in quantifying the binding of {sup 14}C-labeled compounds to specific DNA and protein fragments. They discuss their methods of using these microbore and plate separations of biomolecules while controlling contamination from {sup 14}C in laboratory equipment and give examples.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether the annual distribution of extra interest by the Texas County and District Retirement System to annuitants violates article III, section 52 of the Texas Constitution (RQ-569)

Letter opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Fees for issuing and “serving” a writ of income withholding for child support (RQ-548)

Letter opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether a policy requiring certain probationers to conform to a dress and hair code is prohibited by either the Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution (RQ-560)