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At least 901 records · Page 50

Effect of aluminum phosphate additions on composition of three-component plasma-sprayed solid lubricant

Image analysis (IA) and electron microprobe X-ray analysis (EMXA) were used to characterize a plasma-sprayed, self-lubricating coating, NASA LUBE PS106, specified by weight percent as 35NiCr-35Ag-30CaF2. To minimize segregation of the powder mixture during the plasma-spraying procedure, monoaluminum phosphate was added to form agglomerate particles. Three concentrations of AlPO4 were added to the mixtures: 1.25, 2.5, and 6.25 percent by weight. Analysis showed that 1.25 wt% AlPO4 yielded a CaF2 deficiency, 2.5 wt% kept the coating closest to specification, and 6.25 wt% yielded excess CaF2 as well as more impurities and voids and a deficiency in silver. Photomicrographs and X-ray maps are presented. The methods of IA and EMXA complement each other, and the reasonable agreement in the results increases the confidence in determining the coating composition.

Jacobson, T. P.↗

The isotopic composition and concentration of Ag in iron meteorites and the origin of exotic silver

The isotopic composition of Ag and the concentration of Ag and Pd in Canyon Diablo (IA), Grant (IIIB), Santa Clara, Tlacotepec and Warburton Range (IVB), Pinon and Deep Springs (anom) were analyzed. Troilite from Santa Clara and from Grant was also studied. With the exception of IA, all the meteorites were enriched in Ag-107 by about 2%-212% and the ratio of Ag-107/Ag-109 in the metal phase was found to be greater than the terrestrial value. Ag of anomalous isotopic composition was found to be common in all IVB and anomalous meteorites. A correlation of Ag-107/Ag-109 with Pd/Ag was established except for the iron meteorite of Santa Clara. The excess Ag-107 is thought to result from the decay of Pd-107. The Grant data appear to represent a Pd-107-Ag-107 isochron and indicate that the cooling rate at elevated temperatures was rapid enough to preserve the isotopic differences between metal and troilite. The data suggest that Ag in Santa Clara is made up of almost pure Ag-107 produced from Pd-107 decay and Ag-109 produced by nuclear reactions with only a small amount of 'normal' Ag. This indicates an intense energetic particle bombardment history in the early solar system which occurred after the formation of small planetary bodies.

Kaiser, T.↗

The ultraviolet variability of early-type supergiants

Four early-type supergiants - HD 79186 (B5 Ia), HD 96919 (B9 Ia), HD 105056 (ON9.7 Iae), and HD 148379 (B2 Iae) - have been observed with the low-resolution spectrographs of IUE in the large aperture on 14 days. The behavior of the ultraviolet fluxes with time is studied. The light from all four stars seems to vary. Typically the dispersion about the mean magnitude at any wavelength corresponds to + or - 0.085, + or - 0.080, + or - 0.101, and + or - 0.106 mag, respectively. These amplitudes exceed the typical uncertainty in an IUE measurement of flux by about a factor of 3; they are somewhat larger than the variations known in the visible wavelength range. There are insufficient data to investigate periodicity in the observed light changes. The effective temperatures and angular diameters of the stars have been estimated using the present ultraviolet photometry, published UBV and uvby photometry, and the model-atmosphere fluxes reported by Kurucz in 1979. The program stars have dimensions typical for their spectral types. A brief discussion is given of possible causes of the variability of hot supergiants.

Underhill, A. B.↗

Petrology and mineralogy of Type II, FeO-rich chondrules in Semarkona (LL3.0) - Origin by closed-system fractional crystallization, with evidence for supercooling

The petrology of type II porphyritic olivine chondrules in Semarkona (LL3.0) has been studied in detail. Olivines in these chondrules are euhedral, Fe-rich, and are strongly zoned from cores to rims of grains in FeO (Fa10-30), Cr2O3 (0.2-0.6 wt pct), MnO (0.2-0.7 wt pct), and CaO (0.1-0.4 wt pct). Interstitial mesostasis is rich in Si, Al, and Ca and is glassy with abundant microcrystallites. Minor minerals include troilite, Fe,Ni metal, and chromite. Some olivine grains contain euhedral, fayalite-rich cores that are probably produced during initial supercooling of the chondrule melt. Rare relict grains of forsteritic olivine have compositions very similar to olivines in type IA chondrules in Semarkona and may result from disaggregation of such chondrules. Apart from these relics, all properties of type II chondrules can be described by closed-system fractional crystallization of droplets which were essentially entirely molten. Type IA chondrules may have formed from type II chondrules by loss of Fe and volatiles. Alternatively, the two chondrule types may have formed in regions of considerable diversity in the solar nebula from precursor materials with different Fe/Mg ratios.

Jones, Rhian H.↗

A cloud, precipitation and electrification modeling effort for COHMEX

In mid-1987, the Modeling Group of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences (IAS) began to simulate and analyze cloud runs that were made during the Cooperative Huntsville Meteorological Experiment (COHMEX) Project and later. The cloud model was run nearly every day during the summer 1986 COHMEX Project. The Modeling Group was then funded to analyze the results, make further modeling tests, and help explain the precipitation processes in the Southeastern United States. The main science objectives of COHMEX were: (1) to observe the prestorm environment and understand the physical mechanisms leading to the formation of small convective systems and processes controlling the production of precipitation; (2) to describe the structure of small convective systems producing precipitation including the large and small scale events in the environment surrounding the developing and mature convective system; (3) to understand the interrelationships between electrical activity within the convective system and the process of precipitation; and (4) to develop and test numerical models describing the boundary layer, tropospheric, and cloud scale thermodynamics and dynamics associated with small convective systems. The latter three of these objectives were addressed by the modeling activities of the IAS. A series of cloud modes were used to simulate the clouds that formed during the operational project. The primary models used to date on the project were a two dimensional bulk water model, a two dimensional electrical model, and to a lesser extent, a two dimensional detailed microphysical cloud model. All of the models are based on fully interacting microphysics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and electrical equations. Only the 20 July 1986 case was analyzed in detail, although all of the cases run during the summer were analyzed as to how well they did in predicting the characteristics of the convection for that day.

Orville, Harold D.↗

A limit on the production of Ni-56 in a type I supernova

The data from the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission satellite have been searched for evidence of gamma-ray line emission from the decay of Co-56 in the type Ia SN, 1986G. No significant flux at either 847 or 1238 keV, the energies of the two strongest decay lines is found. Based on the data, a 3-sigma upper limit of 0.4 solar masses (D/3 Mpc)-squared on the amount of Ni-56 produced in the explosion is set. This value is consistent with radioactive models of type I light curves. For distances less than 3 Mpc, the limit is inconsistent with most models of SN Ia as thermonuclear explosions of white dwarfs.

Matz, Steven M.↗

Composition of chondrule silicates in LL3-5 chondrites and implications for their nebular history and parent body metamorphism

The composition of 75 type-IA and type-II porphyritic olivine chondrules from nine LL type 3 to type 5 chondrites was determined and was compared with that of chondrules from the Semarkona type 3.0 meteorite. Chemical data for silicates in the LL3.3-5 chondrites indicated that porphyritic olivine chondrules in these chondrites could be derived from chondrules similar to those from the Semarkona LL3.0, the least metamorphosed one of the known LL chondrites. It is shown that the chemical trends defined by the minerals of type-IA and type-II chondrules can be satisfactorily accounted for by the process of solid-state diffusive equilibration between minerals in chondrules and the opaque matrix rather than by changes in conditions during chondrule crystallization.

Mccoy, Timothy J.↗

Analysis of global cloud imagery from multiple satellites

IR measurements simultaneously conducted by four GEO and two polar-orbit satellites have been used to create synoptic global cloud-field images. The composite Global Cloud Imagery (GCI), with 0.5-deg horizontal resolution and 3-hr temporal resolution, constitute a nearly instantaneous snapshot of the global cloud pattern. To facilitate analysis of global cloud behavior, the GCI has been constructed with certain homogeneous properties. An interactive Image Analysis System (IAS) is developed in order to investigate the space-time behavior of global cloud activity. Due to its customized architecture and the homogeneous properties of the GCI, the IAS can perform space-time covariance analyses of the three-dimensional data with 'interactive' speed. Statistical properties of cloud variability are given.

Salby, Murry L.↗

Holographic enhanced remote sensing system

The Holographic Enhanced Remote Sensing System (HERSS) consists of three primary subsystems: (1) an Image Acquisition System (IAS); (2) a Digital Image Processing System (DIPS); and (3) a Holographic Generation System (HGS) which multiply exposes a thermoplastic recording medium with sequential 2-D depth slices that are displayed on a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). Full-parallax holograms were successfully generated by superimposing SLM images onto the thermoplastic and photopolymer. An improved HGS configuration utilizes the phase conjugate recording configuration, the 3-SLM-stacking technique, and the photopolymer. The holographic volume size is currently limited to the physical size of the SLM. A larger-format SLM is necessary to meet the desired 6 inch holographic volume. A photopolymer with an increased photospeed is required to ultimately meet a display update rate of less than 30 seconds. It is projected that the latter two technology developments will occur in the near future. While the IAS and DIPS subsystems were unable to meet NASA goals, an alternative technology is now available to perform the IAS/DIPS functions. Specifically, a laser range scanner can be utilized to build the HGS numerical database of the objects at the remote work site.

Iavecchia, Helene P.↗

A ROSAT upper limit on X-ray emission from SN 1992A

We have used the Position Sensitive Proportional Counter on ROSAT to search for X-ray emission from the Type Ia supernova 1992A in NGC 1380 about 16 days after the outburst maximum. No X-ray emission is present to a flux of about 4 x 10 exp -14 ergs/s cm, which corresponds to a 0.5-2 keV luminosity 99 percent upper limit of about 3-5 x 10 exp 38 ergs/s. This implies a presupernova mass-loss rate of less than a few x 10 exp -6 solar mass/yr. This is the most sensitive upper limit, by several orders of magnitude, yet obtained for a Type Ia supernova.

Schlegel, Eric M.↗

A solvent resistant copolyimide

A solvent resistant copolyimide was prepared by reacting 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride with a diamine blend comprising, based on the total amount of the diamine blend, about 75 to 90 mole percent of 3,4'-oxydianiline and about 10 to 25 mole percent p-phenylene diamine. The solvent resistant copolyimide had a higher glass transition temperature when cured at 350 C, 371 C and 400 C than LaRC(TM)-IA. The composite prepared from the copolyimide had similar mechanical properties to LaRC(TM)-IA. Films prepared from the copolyimide were resistant to immediate breakage when exposed to solvents such as dimethylacetamide and chloroform. The adhesive properties of the copolyimide were maintained even after testing at 23 C, 150 C, 177 C and 204 C.

Chang, Alice C.↗

Presence of methyl sterol and bacteriohopanepolyol in an outer-membrane preparation from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Cytoplasmic/intracytoplasmic and outer membrane preparations of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) were isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of a total membrane fraction prepared by disruption using a French pressure cell. The cytoplasmic and/or intracytoplasmic membrane fraction consisted of two distinct bands, Ia and Ib (buoyant densities 1.16 and 1.18 g ml (exp -1), respectively) that together contained 57% of the protein, 68% of the phospholipid, 73% of the ubiquinone and 89% of the CN-sensitive NADH oxidase activity. The only apparent difference between these two cytoplasmic bands was a much higher phospholipid content for Ia. The outer membrane fraction (buoyant density 1.23-1.24 g ml (exp -1)) contained 60% of the lipopolysaccharide-associated, beta-hydroxypalmitic acid, 74% of the methylsterol, and 66% of the bacteriohopanepolyol (BHP); phospholipid to methyl sterol or BHP ratios were 6:1. Methanol dehydrogenase activity and a c-type cytochrome were also present in this outer membrane fraction. Phospholipase A activity was present in borh the cytoplasmic membrane and outer membrane fractions. The unique distribution of cyclic triterpenes may reflect a specific role in conferring outer membrane stability in this methanotrophic bacterium.

Jahnke, Linda L.↗

The Rhesus monkey as a model for testing the immunological effects of space flight

The Rhesus monkey has been proposed as a model for the effects of space flight on immunity. In order to determine the feasibility of the use of the Rhesus monkey as a model, we studied the use of Rhesus monkey cells for immunological procedures that have been shown to be affected by space flight in both rodents and humans. We have shown that both lymph node cells and peripheral blood leukocytes can be stained with monoclonal antibodies to detect the following surface markers: CD4, CD-8, Ia and surface immunoglobulin. Also, the level of Ia antigen expression was increased by treatment of the cells with human interferon-gamma. In addition, cells were induced to produce interferons and interleukins. Isolated neutrophils also demonstrated increased oxidative burst. These data indicate that the Rhesus monkey will be a useful model for space flight studies of immunity.

Sonnenfeld, G.↗

The very soft X-ray emission of X-ray-faint early-type galaxies

A recent reanaylsis of Einstein data, and new ROSAT observations, have revealed the presence of at least two components in the X-ray spectra of X-ray faint early-type galaxies: a relatively hard component (kT greater than 1.5 keV), and a very soft component (kT approximately 0.2-0.3 keV). In this paper we address the problem of the nature of the very soft component and whether it can be due to a hot interstellar medium (ISM), or is most likely originated by the collective emission of very soft stellar sources. To this purpose, hydrodynamical evolutionary sequences for the secular behavior of gas flows in ellipticals have been performed, varying the Type Ia supernovae rate of explosion, and the dark matter amount and distribution. The results are compared with the observational X-ray data: the average Einstein spectrum for six X-ray faint early-type galaxies (among which are NGC 4365 and NGC 4697), and the spectrum obtained by the ROSAT pointed observation of NGC 4365. The very soft component could be entirely explained with a hot ISM only in galaxies such as NGC 4697, i.e., when the depth of the potential well-on which the average ISM temperature strongly depends-is quite shallow; in NGC 4365 a diffuse hot ISM would have a temperature larger than that of the very soft component, because of the deeper potential well. So, in NGC 4365 the softest contribution to the X-ray emission comes certainly from stellar sources. As stellar soft X-ray emitters, we consider late-type stellar coronae, supersoft sources such as those discovered by ROSAT in the Magellanic Clouds and M31, and RS CVn systems. All these candidates can be substantial contributors to the very soft emission, though none of them, taken separately, plausibly accounts entirely for its properties. We finally present a model for the X-ray emission of NGC 4365, to reproduce in detail the results of the ROSAT pointed observation, including the Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) spectrum and radial surface brightness distribution. The present data may suggest that the X-ray surface brightness is more extended than the optical profile. In this case, a straightforward explanation in terms of stellar sources could not be satisfactory. The available data can be better explained with three different contributions: a very soft component of stellar origin, a hard component from X-ray binaries, and an approximately 0.6 keV hot ISM. The latter can explain the extended X-ray surface brightness profile, if the galaxy has a dark-to-luminous mass ratio of 9, with the dark matter very broadly distributed, and a SN Ia explosive rate of approximately 0.6 the Tammann rate.

Pellegrini, S.↗

The Star Formation History of Orion and its Environs

During the Winter and Fall 2001 observing campaigns, we obtained multifilter photometry using the Quest camera on the 1mt Schmidt of the Venezuelan National Observatory, to continue the survey of the Orion clouds. In the Winter 2001 season, we obtained photometry for 9 scans at DEC=+5, 3 scans at DEC=-5, and 2 scans at DEC=-3, while 2 additional scans at DEC=-3 were obtained during the Fall 2001 observing campaign (the width of each scan is 2.3 arc minutes). The photometric survey has not been completed this season because the instrument was damaged by lightening on Sep 2001 and operations were suspended until Dec 2001. Observations are still under way. Nonetheless, we have enough scans at -3 and +5 to start selecting candidates for spectroscopic follow up on the next season. Spectra of more than 300 objects was obtained with the FAST spectrograph on the Mt Hopkins 48 inch telescope during observing campaigns Jan-March 2001, and Oct-Dec 2001. Bad weather prevented observations with Hydra on the WIYN telescope on KPNO in Jan 2001. The FAST spectra are been analyzed to select the young population of the regions. Observations in the JHKL bands were obtained for a sample of 20-30 objects in Ori Ia and Ib from scan centered at DEC=-l, with the StellIRCam on the Mt Hopkins 48 inch telescope on Nov 2001. L band observations will be effective for picking up objects surrounded by accretion disks, in which inner disk holes prevent having any excess at shorter wavelength bands. Observations at 10 micrometers and 18 micrometers were obtained in que mode for a sample of 20 objects in Ori Ia and Ib in the same regions as the near IR photometry with the Gemini-South telescope. These new data is presently been reduced and analyzed, together with data from the observing campaigns of 2000. Analysis of Hydra fields at strips centered at DEC=-1 and +1 have confirmed 105 more candidates as low mass pre-main sequence objects. In addition, every target was detected at 10 micrometers and a few at 18 micrometers. With these data, combined with our optical and JHKL photometry, we will construct spectral energy distributions. This will allow us to begin studying the structure of disks around low mass T Tauri stars in the distributed population of the Orion clouds, for direct comparison with that of Taurus. Ours is the first determination of the infrared emission of protoplanetary disks around low mass stars in the Orion region.

Calvet, Nuria↗

Investigating Type I Polar Stratospheric Cloud Formation Mechanisms with POAM Satellite Observations

Type Ia PSCs are believed to be composed of nitric acid hydrate particles. Recent results from the SOLVE/THESEO 2000 campaign showed evidence that this type of PSC was composed of a small number of very large particles capable of sedimentary denitrification of regions of the stratosphere. It is unknown whether homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation is responsible for the formation of these PSCs. Arctic winters are tending to be colder in response to global tropospheric warming. The degree to which this influences ozone depletion will depend on the freezing mechanism of nitric acid hydrate particles. If nucleation is homogeneous it implies that the freezing process is an inherent property of the particle, while heterogeneous freezing means that the extent of PSCs will depend in part on the number of nuclei available. The Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM)II and III satellites have been making observations of stratospheric aerosols and Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) since 1994. Recently, we have developed a technique that can discriminate between Type Ia and Ib PSCs using these observations. A statistical approach is employed to demonstrate the robustness of this approach and results are compared with lidar measurements. The technique is used to analyze observations from POAM II and II during Northern Hemisphere winters where significant PSC formation occurred with the objective of exploring Type I PSC formation mechanisms. The different PSCs identified using this method exhibit different growth curve as expressed as extinction versus temperature.

Strawa, Anthony W.↗

Intermediate Element Abundances In Galaxy Clusters

We present the average abundances of the intermediate elements obtained by performing a stacked analysis of all the galaxy clusters in the archive of the X-ray telescope AKA. We determine the abundances of Fe, Si, S, and Ni as a function of cluster temperature (mass) from 1 - 10 keV, and place strong upper limits on the abundances of Ca and Ar. In general, Si and Ni are overabundant with respect to Fe, while Ar and Ca are very underabundant. The discrepancy between the abundances of Si, S , Ar, and Ca indicate that the alpha-elements do not behave homogeneously as a single group. We show that the abundances of the most well-determined elements Fe, Si, and S in conjunction with recent theoretical supernovae yields do not give a consistent solution for the fraction of material produced by Type Ia and Type II supernovae at any temperature or mass. The general trend is for higher temperature clusters to have more of their metals produced in Type II supernovae than in Type Ias. The inconsistency of our results with abundances in the Milky Way indicate that spiral galaxies are not the dominant metal contributors to the intracluster medium (ICM). The pattern of elemental abundances requires an additional source of metals beyond standard SNIa and SNII enrichment. The properties of this new source are well matched to those of Type II supernovae with very massive, metal-poor progenitor stars. These results are consistent with a significant fraction of the ICM metals produced by an early generation of population III stars.

White, Nicholas E.↗

Compound gravity receptor polarization vectors evidenced by linear vestibular evoked potentials

The utricle and saccule are gravity receptor organs of the vestibular system. These receptors rely on a high-density otoconial membrane to detect linear acceleration and the position of the cranium relative to Earth's gravitational vector. The linear vestibular evoked potential (VsEP) has been shown to be an effective non-invasive functional test specifically for otoconial gravity receptors (Jones et al., 1999). Moreover, there is some evidence that the VsEP can be used to independently test utricular and saccular function (Taylor et al., 1997; Jones et al., 1998). Here we characterize compound macular polarization vectors for the utricle and saccule in hatchling chickens. Pulsed linear acceleration stimuli were presented in two axes, the dorsoventral (DV, +/- Z axis) to isolate the saccule, and the interaural (IA, +/- Y axis) to isolate the utricle. Traditional signal averaging was used to resolve responses recorded from the surface of the skull. Latency and amplitude of eighth nerve components of the linear VsEP were measured. Gravity receptor responses exhibited clear preferences for one stimulus direction in each axis. With respect to each utricular macula, lateral translation in the IA axis produced maximum ipsilateral response amplitudes with substantially greater amplitude intensity (AI) slopes than medially directed movement. Downward caudal motions in the DV axis produced substantially larger response amplitudes and AI slopes. The results show that the macula lagena does not contribute to the VsEP compound polarization vectors of the sacculus and utricle. The findings suggest further that preferred compound vectors for the utricle depend on the pars externa (i.e. lateral hair cell field) whereas for the saccule they depend on pars interna (i.e. superior hair cell fields). These data provide evidence that maculae saccule and utricle can be selectively evaluated using the linear VsEP.

NASA Discipline Developmental Biology↗