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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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At least 199 records · Page 11

Radioactive nondestructive test method

Various radioisotope techniques were used as diagnostic tools for determining the performance of spacecraft propulsion feed system elements. Applications were studied in four tasks. The first two required experimental testing involving the propellant liquid oxygen difluoride (OF2): the neutron activation analysis of dissolved or suspended metals, and the use of radioactive tracers to evaluate the probability of constrictions in passive components (orifices and filters) becoming clogged by matter dissolved or suspended in the OF2. The other tasks were an appraisal of the applicability of radioisotope techniques to problems arising from the exposure of components to liquid/gas combinations, and an assessment of the applicability of the techniques to other propellants.

Obrien, J. R.↗

Magnetic coercivity and ferromagnetic species in lunar materials

Lunar samples have reduced coercive force, high values of R sub H (ratio of remanent coercive force to coercive force), and constriction in their magnetic hysteresis loops due to the presence of superparamagnetic and multidomain iron grains. The high R sub H values are also attributable to the magnetic shape effects of the iron grains. Spheres, cubes, and needles, as well as more irregular metal grains were observed. The coercive force values are quite meaningless unless the size and shape distributions are determined. The R sub H and the ratio of saturation remanence to saturation magnetization values can be considered characteristic of the size and shape modes of the ferromagnetic grains in a natural sample, and a classification of natural materials based on their hysteresis characteristics is presented with special reference to lunar samples.

Wasilewski, P.↗

Generation of a uranium plasma at near gaseous core reactor conditions.

A constricted sliding spark discharge is used to generate a high density, high temperature uranium plasma. Uranium particle densities up to 10 to the 20th power per cu cm are obtained over a temperature range of 30,000 to 50,000 K. The device consists of a capillary discharge channel lined with pressed and sintered UO2. A 250 joule capacitor bank is discharged into the channel, producing a plasma of 10-20 microsec duration. Spectroscopic observations are made over the spectral range of 1300 to 2500 A.

Davis, J. F., III↗

Ultrastructure of Pseudomonas saccharophila at early and late log phase of growth.

Description of the fine structure of Pseudomonas saccarophila at the early log phase and the late log phase of growth, such as shown by electron microscopy with the aid of various techniques of preparation. The observations reported suggested that, under the experimental conditions applied, P. saccharophila multiplies by the method of constrictive division.

Young, H. L.↗

Splanchnic blood flow and plus or minus Gx acceleration.

Experimental data show that there is a neurogenic response to acceleration stress in the front to back direction and that this response is intensified during higher accelerative forces. The afferent limb of this response is unknown but possibilities are suggested. The integrated response at high acceleration levels might serve to conserve oxygen during the stress time. The effector limb is the constriction of less critical vascular beds to preserve blood flow to the heart and brain. The concomitant increase in vagal activity causes a slowing down of the heart.

Stone, H. L.↗

Experimental investigation of a wall stablized arc with comparisons to theoretical predictions

A wall-stabilized, constricted-arc heater was investigated by extensive measurements of pressure, voltage, and wall heat flux at different axial locations along the constrictor. Radial temperature profiles were measured at one axial location by the radiance of a single line method and also by the continuum radiance at a wavelength of 4955 A. The arc heater with an inside diameter of 2.37 cm and a constrictor length of 42 cm was operated with nitrogen flow rate from about 2 to 10 g/sec, and are currents from 400 to 1200 amperes. Based on a literature search, two different digital computer programs were selected which were used to predict the pertinent parameters by numerical solutions to the governing differential equations. The program selections were based on completeness and availability. In general the predictions were adequate when laminar flow was assumed, and the greatest difficulty was encountered in the predictions of wall heat flux. The results of the measurements are shown in graphical form, along with the theoretical predictions from both computer programs.

Wells, W. L.↗

On detonation waves supported by diffusion flames.

An eigenvalue condition to determine propagation velocity of detonation waves in a tube is derived for the case where the oxidizer and fuel are in the gaseous and condensed phase, respectively, so that the combustion occurs only within the peripheral boundary layer. It is shown that the self-sustained shock propagation is possible if core streamtube constriction, due to combustion in the boundary layer, is strong enough to form a converging nozzle, and for a sonic throat to exist.

Fujitsuna, Y.↗

Otolithic influences on extraocular and intraocular muscles

Selective stimulation of utricular gravireceptors leads to gross activation of the bulbar reticular formation where a strong interaction with evoked spino-bulbo-spinal reflex activity occurs. The utricular neurons encountered by microelectrodes in the lateral vestibular nuclei show four types of elicited activity; two of these display an increased firing rate, and two exhibit pronounced inhibitory effects. Application of a stimulus of long duration and constant intensity to the utricle has shown that rapid adaptation of the peripheral receptors is a prominent feature. The effects of selective utricular stimulation upon eye movements, as recorded by the corneoretinal potential method, have been studied in experiments on cats and monkeys and it can be firmly stated that prolonged stimulation of the utricle can evoke strong primary nystagmus, followed by a secondary nystagmus at the cessation of stimulation. The action of utricular stimulation on ocular reflexes has been examined further, with particular attention to evoked pupillary reactions in both cats and monkeys: constriction during the fast phase of the brisk conjugate eye movement, and dilatation during the flow phase.

Gernandt, B. E.↗

Magnetic hysteresis in natural materials

Magnetic hysteresis loops and the derived hysteresis ratios R sub H and R sub I are used to classify the various natural dilute magnetic materials. R sub I is the ratio of saturation isothermal remanence (I sub R) to saturation (I sub S) magnetization, and R sub H is the ratio of remanent coercive force (H sub R) to coercive force (H sub C). The R sub H and R sub I values depend on grain size, the characteristics of separate size modes in mixtures of grains of high and low coercivity, and the packing characteristics. Both R sub H and R sub I are affected by thermochemical alterations of the ferromagnetic fraction. Hysteresis loop constriction is observed in lunar samples, chondrite meteorites, and thermochemically altered basaltic rocks, and is due to mixtures of components of high and low coercivity. Discrete ranges of R sub H and R sub I for terrestrial and lunar samples and for chondrite meteorites provide for a classification of these natural materials based on their hysteresis properties.

Wasilewski, P. J.↗

Geysering inhibitor for vertical cryogenic transfer piping

Geysering (i.e., the expulsion of boiling liquid and its vapor from a vertical tube) has been a problem for the missile industry in long vertical cryogenic propellant feed lines connecting the launch vehicle propellant tank with the rocket engines. A proposed novel method of inhibiting geysering and the associated pressure gradients provides a self-starting self-regulating action that is not dependent on other active systems or components. The inhibiting action is attained by incorporating a concentric tube within the main transfer tube to prevent constriction of natural convective flow.

Howard, F. S.↗

Formation of internally-confined semiconductor lasers

In technique for fabrication of strip lasers, current constriction is accomplished by diffusing blocking regions into n-type substrate prior to growth. Current flow is controlled by blocking layers, which results in reduction of threshold current and better heat dissipation.

Cannuli, V. M.↗

Jet pump assisted artery

A procedure for priming an arterial heat pump is reported; the procedure also has a means for maintaining the pump in a primed state. This concept utilizes a capillary driven jet pump to create the necessary suction to fill the artery. Basically, the jet pump consists of a venturi or nozzle-diffuser type constriction in the vapor passage. The throat of this venturi is connected to the artery. Thus vapor, gas, liquid, or a combination of the above is pumped continuously out of the artery. As a result, the artery is always filled with liquid and an adequate supply of working fluid is provided to the evaporator of the heat pipe.

Source record↗

Reflex limb dilatation following norepinephrine and angiotensin II in conscious dogs

The extent to which norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (AN) constrict the mesenteric, renal, and iliac beds in conscious dogs is evaluated with a view to elicit opposing reflex actions tempering the vasoconstriction in the limb of the animals tested. The afferent and efferent mechanisms mediating this reflex are analyzed. It is shown that intravenous NE and AN cause striking reflex iliac dilatation in the limb of the conscious dog. The afferent arc of this reflex involves both arterial baroreceptor and vagal path-ways, whereas the efferent mechanism involves an interaction of alpha-adrenergic and histaminergic receptors.

Vatner, S. F.↗

Solar modulation and a galactic origin for the anomalous component observed in low-energy cosmic rays

The current theory of solar modulation can be used to argue that the cosmic-ray component at low energies, which is observed to have an anomalous composition, is not of galactic origin, i.e., it is not a component of the galactic cosmic-ray flux. The current theory predicts, from quite general considerations, that an unreasonably large intensity of cosmic rays, by many orders of magnitude, would be required in the interstellar medium to account for the observed fluxes. Conceivably, the current modulation theory could be modified so that only reasonable interstellar fluxes are predicted. One such modification involves an unusual scheme for particle diffusion in the interplanetary medium. Particles are assumed to diffuse not as a result of their own motion among small-scale irregularities in the magnetic field, but rather in a process in which they are trapped between time-varying constrictions in the large-scale field.

Fisk, L. A.↗

Germanium-overcoated niobium Dayem bridges

Overcoating constriction microbridges with semiconducting germanium provides additional thermal conductivity at liquid-helium temperatures to reduce the effects of self-heating in these Josephson junctions. Microwave-induced steps were observed in the I-V characteristics of an overcoated Dayem bridge fabricated in a 15-nm-thick niobium film; at least 20 steps could be counted at 4.2 K. No steps were observed in the I-V characteristics of the bridge prior to overcoating. In addition, the germanium overcoat can protect against electrical disturbances at room temperature.

Holdeman, L. B.↗

Methods and new approaches to the calculation of physiological parameters by videodensitometry

A complex system featuring a video-camera connected to a video disk, cine (medical motion picture) camera and PDP-9 computer with various input/output facilities has been developed. This system enables the performance of quantitative analysis of various functions recorded in clinical studies. Several studies are described, such as heart chamber volume calculations, left ventricle ejection fraction, blood flow through the lungs and also the possibility of obtaining information about blood flow and constrictions in small cross-section vessels

Kedem, D.↗

Plasma cleaning device

High vacuum cleaning of contaminated surfaces such as hydrocarbon containment films can be accomplished by a plasma cleaning device which includes a plasma discharge housing to permit generation of a plasma in an environment having a higher pressure than the surface which is to be cleaned. A ground electrode and a radio frequency electrode partially surround a quartz plasma tube, for the introduction of an ionizable gas. These electrodes ionize the gas and help generate the plasma. This plasma flows through a non-constrictive aperture, through the plasma discharge housing and then on to the contaminated surface.

Shannon, R. L.↗