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At least 289 records · Page 16

Amino acid precursors in lunar fines - Limits to the contribution of jet exhaust

A sample of lunar fines collected at a maximum distance, 6.5 km, from the descent engine on Apollo 17 has been analyzed for total amino acids obtainable by hydrolysis of aqueous extracts. The minimum amounts of amino acids, calculated for a disk of 6 km radius are 10,000 to 100,000 times those which could be contributed by the lunar module jet exhaust, on the basis of conservatively limiting assumptions. The amino acids thus obtained are not explainable as due to chemical or biological contamination; their source is accordingly inferred as lunar. Under the conditions of hydrolysis of lunar extracts, cyanide is found to be converted, almost exclusively to glycine, to an extent of 0.0001.

Fox, S. W.↗

Millimeter emission lines in Orion A

During the course of a search of Orion A for signals from three large organic molecules, several millimeter-wave lines from known interstellar molecules were observed. Results are reported for observations of methanol (CH3OH), methyl cyanide (CH3CN), methyl acetylene (CH3CCH), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and (Si-29)O. Emission signals from two hydrogen recombination lines (H41-alpha and H42-alpha) detected from the H II region of Orion A are also reported. Negative results were obtained for several millimeter-wave transitions of ethylene oxide, acetone, and cyclopropenone.

Lovas, F. J.↗

Analytical methods for toxic gases from thermal degradation of polymers

Toxic gases evolved from the thermal oxidative degradation of synthetic or natural polymers in small laboratory chambers or in large scale fire tests are measured by several different analytical methods. Gas detector tubes are used for fast on-site detection of suspect toxic gases. The infrared spectroscopic method is an excellent qualitative and quantitative analysis for some toxic gases. Permanent gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and ethylene, can be quantitatively determined by gas chromatography. Highly toxic and corrosive gases such as nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide should be passed into a scrubbing solution for subsequent analysis by either specific ion electrodes or spectrophotometric methods. Low-concentration toxic organic vapors can be concentrated in a cold trap and then analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The limitations of different methods are discussed.

Hsu, M.-T. S.↗

A search for interstellar glycine

A search has been made for the simplest amino acid - glycine - in Sgr B2, Ori A, and seven other molecular clouds. Six different lines were sought ranging from 83.4 GHz down to 22.7 GHz, and radio telescopes at Parkes, New South Wales, Kitt Peak, Arizona, and Onsala, Sweden, were used. On the assumption of reasonable values for excitation temperature and Boltzmann distributions over rotational energy states, upper limits of column densities for glycine of a few times 10 to the 12th per sq cm to a few times 10 to the 14th per sq cm were typically established in the sources surveyed. Glycine appears to be less abundant than ethanol or ethyl cyanide in molecular clouds such as Sgr B2 and Ori A.

Brown, R. D.↗

Applying the helium ionization detector in chromatography

High noise levels and oversensitivity of helium detector make flame-ionization and thermal-conductivity detectors more suitable for chromotography. Deficiencies are eliminated by modifying helium device to operate in saturation rather than multiplication mode. Result is low background current, low noise, high stability, and high sensitivity. Detector analyzes halocarbons, hydrocarbons, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and inorganics without requiring expensive research-grade helium.

Gibson, E. K.↗

Performance storage, safety and disposal of Li/SO2 cells

Cell performance characteristics after storage at room temperature and 71 C as well as some cell failure modes are evaluated. The performance of cells at low temperatures (-30 C) even into voltage reversal is also considered. The correlation of Li/SO2 coulombic ratio with generated free cyanide (CN-) in forced discharged D cells is also included.

Dimasi, G. J.↗

Air pollutant production by algal cell cultures

The production of phytotoxic air pollutants by cultures of Chlorella vulgaris and Euglena gracilis is considered. Algal and plant culture systems, a fumigation system, and ethylene, ethane, cyanide, and nitrogen oxides assays are discussed. Bean, tobacco, mustard green, cantaloupe and wheat plants all showed injury when fumigated with algal gases for 4 hours. Only coleus plants showed any resistance to the gases. It is found that a closed or recycled air effluent system does not produce plant injury from algal air pollutants.

Fong, F.↗

Delayed darkening of radiation-exposed radiochromic dye dosimeters

Experiments have verified the existence of considerable delayed darkening in FWT-60 dosimetry films that may, depending on relative humidity, last for several hours. The amount of delayed darkening depends very strongly on the relative humidity at which the films are equilibrated before irradiation. It is pointed out that the delayed darkening effect must be taken into account before any meaningful dosimetric measurements may be made using these nylon-based thin dosimetry films. The particular radiation-sensitive compound used in the FWT-60 films is the hexahydrosyethyl pararosanaline cyanide with the Dupont nylon resin, Elvamide 8061, which forms the host matrix of a solid-state solution.

Danchenko, V.↗

Ti/Pd/Cu Contacts for Semiconductor Devices

Copper systems equivalent in performance to silver or gold systems. Titanium layer and palladium layer deposited on semiconductor device by electron beam evaporation. Desired pattern etched using photoresist. Thin layer of copper plated on contact pattern from cyanide solution. Copper layer then built up to 4 to 8 microns by electroplatng from acid solution.

Campbell, R. B.↗

The effects of CO and HCN on pole-jump avoidance-escape behavior

The effects of carbon monoxide and mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide at different concentrations and times of exposure were studied in a pole-jump apparatus. The time to loose the avoidance and escape response for mice exposed to these atmospheres was obtained. Correlations to predict the loss as a function of dosage are presented.

Winslow, W.↗

Multiaxial Cyclic Thermoplasticity Analysis with Besseling's Subvolume Method

A modification was formulated to Besseling's Subvolume Method to allow it to use multilinear stress-strain curves which are temperature dependent to perform cyclic thermoplasticity analyses. This method automotically reproduces certain aspects of real material behavior important in the analysis of Aircraft Gas Turbine Engine (AGTE) components. These include the Bauschinger effect, cross-hardening, and memory. This constitutive equation was implemented in a finite element computer program called CYANIDE. Subsequently, classical time dependent plasticity (creep) was added to the program. Since its inception, this program was assessed against laboratory and component testing and engine experience. The ability of this program to simulate AGTE material response characteristics was verified by this experience and its utility in providing data for life analyses was demonstrated. In this area of life analysis, the multiaxial thermoplasticity capabilities of the method have proved a match for the actual AGTE life experience.

Mcknight, R. L.↗

Photochemistry of NH3, CH4 and PH3 - Possible applications to the Jovian planets

It is found that the photolysis of NH4 at 185 nm in the presence of a two-fold excess of CH4 results in the loss of about 0.25 mole of CH4 per mole of NH3 decomposed. The loss is shown to arise from the abstraction of hydrogen atoms from CH4 by photolytically generated hot hydrogen atoms. It is concluded that NH3 photolysis in the H2-abundant atmosphere of Jupiter is not responsible for the presence of the carbon compounds observed there, such as ethane, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide, but may have had a role in the early atmosphere of Titan. Also, it is found that the photolysis of PH3 with a 206 nm light source gives P2H4, which in turn is converted to a red-brown solid. The course of the photolysis is not changed appreciably when the temperature is lowered to 157 K except that the concentration of P2H4 increases, while the presence of H2 has no effect on the P2H4 yield. Photolysis of 9:1 NH3:PH3 is found to give a rate of decomposition of PH3 that is comparable with that observed by the direct photolysis of PH3 and comparable amounts of the red-brown solid and P2H4 are observed. In addition, the implications of these results for the structures of the compounds responsible for the wide array of colors observed in the atmosphere of Jupiter are examined.

Ferris, J. P.↗

The atmosphere of the primitive earth and the prebiotic synthesis of organic compounds

The prebiotic synthesis of organic compounds is investigated using a spark discharge on various simulated prebiotic atmospheres at 25 C. It is found that glycine is almost the only amino acid produced from the model atmospheres containing CO and CO2. These results show that the maximum yield is about the same for the three carbon sources (CO, CO2, and CH4) at high H2/carbon ratios, but that CH4 is superior at low H2/carbon ratios. CH4 is found to yield a much greater variety of amino acids than either CO or CO2. If it is assumed that amino acids more complex than glycine were required for the origin of life, then these findings indicate the need for CH4 in the primitive atmosphere. The yields of cyanide and formaldehyde are shown to parallel the amino acid results, with yields of HCN and H2CO as high as 13 percent based on carbon. Ammonia is also found to be produced from N2 in experiments with no added NH3 in yields as high as 4.9 percent. These results indicate that large amounts of NH3 would have been synthesized on the primitive earth by electric discharges.

Miller, S. L.↗

Spectroscopic measurements of atmospheric HCN at northern and southern latitudes

A number of lines belonging to the nu(3) fundamental vibration-rotation band of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) have been identified in atmospheric infrared absorption spectra obtained on high-altitude balloon flights at 32 deg N in 1976 and at 30 deg S in 1977. Quantitative analysis of these spectral features has resulted in the first determination of atmospheric HCN concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as an independent estimate of stratospheric HCN abundance in the Northern Hemisphere. Within the uncertainties of the present and previous measurements, the Northern Hemisphere result is consistent with those of other investigators, and Southern Hemisphere HCN concentrations appear to be similar to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Smith, M. A. H.↗

Organic matter in the Saturn system

Theoretical and experimental predictions of the formation (and outgassing) of organic molecules in the outer solar system are compared with Voyager IRIS spectral data for the Titan atmosphere. The organic molecules of Titan are of interest because the species and processes within the atmosphere of that moon may have had analogs in the early earth atmosphere 4 Gyr ago. The spacecraft data confirmed the presence of alkanes, ethane, propane, ethylene, alkynes, acetylene, butadiene, methylacetylene, nitriles, hydrogen cyanide, cyanoacetylene, and cyanogen, all heavier than the dominant CH4. Experimental simulation of the effects of UV photolysis, alpha and gamma ray irradiation, electrical discharges and proton and electron bombardment of similar gas mixtures has shown the best promise for modeling the reactions producing the Titan atmosphere chemicals.

Sagan, C.↗

Ab initio study of BeCN, MgCN, CaCN and BaCN

The structure and energetics of the BeCN, MgCN, CaCN and BaCN molecules are studied at both the Hartree-Fock and singles plus doubles configuration-interaction level using Gaussian basis sets of at least triple-zeta plus double polarization quality. All molecules are predicted to be linear, with the isocyanide structures more stable by 0.3 to 0.5 eV than the corresponding cyanides. The theoretical dissociation energies (De) in eV with an estimated uncertainty are (with the experimental values in parentheses): Be-NC 4.2 + or - 0.1 (4.46 + or - 0.29), Mg-NC 3.45 + or - 0.1 (4.21 + or - 0.22), Ca-NC 4.2 + or - 0.1 (4.46 + or - 0.22) and Ba-NC 4.5 + or 0.2 (4.87 + or - 0.26).

Bauschlicher, C. W., Jr.↗

The production of trace gases by photochemistry and lightning in the early atmosphere

Recent atmospheric calculation suggest that the prebiological atmosphere was most probably composed of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, resulting from volatile outgassing, as opposed to the older view of a strongly reducing early atmosphere composed of methane, ammonia, and hydrogen. Photochemical calculations indicate that methane would have been readily destroyed via reaction with the hydroxyl radical produced from water vapor and that ammonia would have been readily lost via photolysis and rainout. The rapid loss of methane and ammonia, coupled with the absence of a significant source of these gases, suggest that atmospheric methane and ammonia were very short lived, if they were present at all. An early atmosphere of N2, CO2, and H2O is stable and leads to the chemical production of a number of atmospheric species of biological significance, including oxygen, ozone, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and hydrogen cyanide. Using a photochemical model of the early atmosphere, the chemical productionof these species over a wide range of atmospheric parameters were investigated. These calculations indicate that early atmospheric levels of O3 were significantly below the levels needed to provide UV shielding. The fate of volcanically emitted sulfur species, e.g., sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, was investigated in the early atmosphere to assess their UV shielding properties. The photochemical calculations show that these species were of insufficient levels, due in part to their short photochemical lifetimes, to provide UV shielding.

Levine, J. S.↗

Photochemistry and clouds of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus

Photochemistry of ammonia, methane, phosphine, hydrogen sulfide, methylamine, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus is discussed. Condensation of ammonia, ammonium hydrosulfide, water, methane, ethane and acetylene below and near the tropopause of these planets is formulated. Whenever necessary, new calculations are included. Candidates for the upper atmospheric hazes, and the reddish-brown chromosphore in the clouds of Jupiter and Saturn are discussed.

Atreya, S. K.↗