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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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The ionization structure of the interstellar trace elements predicted by the steady-state cosmic-ray, X-ray, and ultraviolet star ionization models, even when allowance is made for the stellar H II region, is in disagreement with satellite observations of at least two stars. The conclusion is reached that, in some regions of the Galaxy, the flux of cosmic rays or X-rays is much smaller than was thought previously.
A thermodynamic analysis is given of different regimes of storage of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon using the high vacuum of space. Optimal regimes are determined from the standpoint of minimizing weight characteristics. Several unique storage regimes are proposed.
For abstract, see N74-32929.
Microliter quantities of tetrodotoxin, tetraethylammonium chloride, and picrotoxin injected into the inferior colliculus and superior olive of unanesthetized cats differentially affect the amplitude and waveform of click-evoked potentials and evoked resistance shifts. Tetrodotoxin simultaneously reduces the negative phase of the evoked potential and eliminates the evoked resistance shift. Tetraethylammonium enhances the negative evoked potential component, presumably of postsynaptic origin, without significantly altering evoked resistance shift amplitude. Picrotoxin also enhances the negative evoked potential wave but increases evoked resistance shift amplitude. These findings implicate events associated with postsynaptic membrane depolarization in the production of the evoked resistance shift.
Firefly luciferase ATP assay is used in clinical and industrial applications, such as determination of urinary infection levels, microbial susceptibility testing, and monitoring of yeast levels in beverages. Three categories of extractants were investigated for their extracting efficiency. They were ionizing organic solvents, nonionizing organic solvents, and inorganic acids. Dimethylsulfoxide and formamide represented the ionizing organic solvents, while n-butanol, chloroform, ethanol, acetone, and methylene chloride were used for the nonionizing organic solvents. Nitric acid and perchloric acid were chosen for the inorganic acids category. Pathogens were tested with each solvent. They included: Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter species, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. These results are shown in graphic representations.
A reaction which oligomerizes nucleotides under possible prebiotic conditions has been characterized. Nucleoside monophosphate in the presence of cyanamide at acid pH condenses to form dithymidine pyrophosphate and phosphodiester bonded compounds. Imidazole compounds and activated precursors such as nucleoside triphosphate are not necessary for this oligomerization reaction which produces primarily cyclic oligonucleotides.
Easily-formulated detergent solution (aromatic polyglycolether) lowers cost and increases quality of aluminum stud welds made by capacitor-discharge welding.
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Topical treatment of guayule plant with triethylamine compounds may boost rubber yield 400 to 500 percent.
The formation of pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate and phosphorylimidazole from orthophosphate in the presence of the thioester N, S-diacetylcysteamine is reported. Reactions performed with 0.20 M orthophosphate and 0.20 M N, S-diacetylcysteamine in 0.40 M imidazole under drying conditions at 50 C yielded pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate after six days in the presence and absence of divalent metal ions. Reactions carried out at ambient temperature yielded phosphorylimidazole in the presence or absence of 0.05 M MgCl2, phosphorylimidazole and pyrophosphate in the presence of 0.05 M CaCl2, and pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate in the presence of 0.15 M CaCl2. Such reactions represent potential pathways for the formation of energy-rich compounds providing free energy for use in prebiotic biopolymer synthesis.
Liquid carbon dioxide inexpensive solvent. Inexpensive process proposed for removing such poisons as furfural and related compounds from fermentation baths of biomass hydrolysates. New process based on use of liquid carbon dioxide as extraction solvent. Liquid CO2 preferable to such other liquid solvents as ether or methylene chloride.
Grit-blasting method makes unnecessary to disassemble equipment for cleaning. Stream of small, frozen pellets directed at assembly to be cleaned. Pellets consist of deionized-water ice, carbon dioxide ice, or another substance that does not react chemically with parts to be cleaned and leaves no residue. Method suited to cleaning titanium and parts that touch liquid oxygen.
Purification by precipitation in this study is not considered primarily as a means of phosphate removal but as a method for reduction of suspended solids BOD and COD. A dynamic calculation procedure is used to allow for exact determination of time dependent variation of costs. The results show that costs of wastewater treatment by precipitation may equal those of conventional primary clarification and secondary biological treatment, especially with low-cost iron-II-salts in simultaneous precipitation and in larger plants ( 20,000 PF). Cost advantages may be accrued in smaller plants by using the more expensive trivalent salts in pre-precipitation as compared to conventional low-load biological treatment. This is due mainly to better effluent quality and, consequently, lower wastewater fees (Wastewater Discharge Act). If the precipitant is dosed temporarily only during periods of highest pollution the savings can be about 5 to 10%.
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A near-infrared (1.8 to 3.5) microns extinction curve for the Orion molecular cloud is presented. The curve is derived from high-resolution spectra of the Orion H2 source recorded from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. The data reveal that the Orion extinction law is indistinguishable from a 1/lambda form in the near-infrared, except for strongly enhanced extinction near a wavelength of about 3 microns. The implications of these results, in the context of current interstellar grain models, are discussed.
A layered-abduction model of perception is presented which unifies bottom-up and top-down processing in a single logical and information-processing framework. The process of interpreting the input from each sense is broken down into discrete layers of interpretation, where at each layer a best explanation hypothesis is formed of the data presented by the layer or layers below, with the help of information available laterally and from above. The formation of this hypothesis is treated as a problem of abductive inference, similar to diagnosis and theory formation. Thus this model brings a knowledge-based problem-solving approach to the analysis of perception, treating perception as a kind of compiled cognition. The bottom-up passing of information from layer to layer defines channels of information flow, which separate and converge in a specific way for any specific sense modality. Multi-modal perception occurs where channels converge from more than one sense. This model has not yet been implemented, though it is based on systems which have been successful in medical and mechanical diagnosis and medical test interpretation.
The ground-based demonstration of Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Retriever, a voice-supervised, intelligent, free-flying robot, is designed to evaluate the capability to retrieve objects (astronauts, equipment, and tools) which have accidentally separated from the Space Station. The EVA Retriever software is required to autonomously plan and execute a target rendezvous, grapple, and return to base while avoiding stationary and moving obstacles. The software architecture incorporates a hierarchical decomposition of the control system that is horizontally partitioned into five major functional subsystems: perception, world model, reasoning, sensing, and acting. The design provides for supervised autonomy as the primary mode of operation with teleoperation as the backup mode. It is intended to be an evolutionary system improving in capability over time and as it earns crew trust through reliable operation.
The debate on the history of the Martian atmosphere continues without resolution. Much hinges on a satisfactory solution to the problem of what liquid was responsible for the extensive development of canyons, channels, fretted terrain, and similar features. The 1960s and 1970s saw much debate about the roles of various fluids, namely water or brine, liquid CO2, or H2O sources in CO2 clathrate (CC), or magma. The last was discounted long ago, CC is largely ignored, and the most recent look at CO2 was by ourselves, utilizing the phase diagrams for the CO2-H2O system. In this article, we will further investigate this dilemma.