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At least 37 records · Page 2

Self-Repairing Fatigue Damage in Metallic Structures for Aerospace Vehicles Using Shape Memory Alloy Self-healing (SMASH) Technology

This DAA is for the Phase II webinar presentation of the ARMD-funded SMASH technology. A self-repairing aluminum-based composite system has been developed using liquid-assisted healing theory in conjunction with the shape memory effect of wire reinforcements. The metal matrix composite was thermodynamically designed to have a matrix with a relatively even dispersion of low-melting phase, allowing for repair of cracks at a pre-determined temperature. Shape memory alloy wire reinforcements were used within the composite to provide crack closure. Investigators focused the research on fatigue cracks propagating through the matrix in order to optimize and computer model the SMASH technology for aeronautical applications.

fatigue

Study of self-focusing and self-phase-modulation in the picosecond-time regime.

Study of the propagation of a single picosecond pulse of a mode-locked Nd-glass laser in CS2 nitrobenzene and toluene by observations of the birefringence and spectral changes in self-focused laser light. Multiple second-harmonic probing beams are used for birefringence measurements in a single IR pulse in various portions of the active cell. The orientational Kerr effect is found to be the prime factor of induced birefringence in nitrobenzene and toluene. The results for CS2 are also consistent with this mechanism and show that the duration of an IR pulse in the focal volume is less than that of the incident pulse. The properties of beams which are focused within the cell by an external lens are also investigated.

Reintjes, J.

Self-checking self-repairing computer nodes using the mirror processor

Circuitry added to fault-tolerant systems for concurrent error deduction usually reduces performance. Using a technique called micro rollback, it is possible to eliminate most of the performance penalty of concurrent error detection. Error detection is performed in parallel with intermodule communication, and erroneous state changes are later undone. The author reports on the design and implementation of a VLSI RISC microprocessor, called the Mirror Processor (MP), which is capable of micro rollback. In order to achieve concurrent error detection, two MP chips operate in lockstep, comparing external signals and a signature of internal signals every clock cycle. If a mismatch is detected, both processors roll back to the beginning of the cycle when the error occurred. In some cases the erroneous state is corrected by copying a value from the fault-free processor to the faulty processor. The architecture, microarchitecture, and VLSI implementation of the MP, emphasizing its error-detection, error-recovery, and self-diagnosis capabilities, are described.

Tamir, Yuval

Self-propelling, self-locating colonoscope

Articulated instrument moves by air actuated bladder, while defining position by ultrasonic or RF signals. Device allows optical inspection of large bowel from cecum to rectum with minimal discomfort or risk to patient.

Fazer, R. E.

Microgravity vestibular investigations: perception of self-orientation and self-motion

Four astronauts experienced passive whole-body rotation in a number of test sessions during a 7-day orbital mission. Pitch (Y-axis) and roll (X-axis) rotation required subject orientations on the rotator in which the otolith system was at radius of 0.5 m. Thus subjects experienced a constant -0.22 Gz stimulus to the otoliths during the 60 s constant-velocity segments of "pitch" and "roll" ramp profiles. The Gz stimulus, a radius-dependent vector ranging from -0.22 Gz at the otoliths to +0.36 Gz at the feet, generated sensory information that was not interpreted as inversion in any of the 16 tests carried out in flight (12 in pitch and 4 in roll orientation). None of the subjects was rotated with head off-center during the first 33 h of the mission. In the state of orbital adaptation of these subjects, a -0.22 Gz otolith stimulus did not provide a vertical reference in the presence of a gradient of +Gz stimuli to the trunk and legs.

NASA Experiment Number 284058

Psychomotor Vigilance Self Test on ISS (Reaction Self Test on Expeditions 21 and 22)

The experiment addresses the following high-priority NASA Risk Gaps in the Behavioral Health and Performance (BHP) area: 1) Identify brief, valid objective measures of changes in cognitive functions during spaceflight that astronauts can use with minimal burden. 2) Find a practical objective aid for astronauts to quickly identify and manage the effects of fatigue (from sleep loss, circadian disruptions, workload and other factors) on their performance during space flight.

Dinges, David F.

Tocopherol in Elder Self-Neglect

Although elder self-neglect is the most common form of elder mistreatment, its pathophysiology is not well understood. Alpha-tocopherol is a lipid soluble antioxidant required for the preservation of cell membranes. Since the association between tocopherol and cognitive impairment in older adults has been described, we explored the possibility of its role in elder self-neglect. OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine whether serum tocopherol levels are associated with elder self-neglect, and (2) to assess the association of serum tocopherol levels and cognitive function in elder self-neglect. METHODS: Serum tocopherol levels were measured in a cohort of 67 self-neglecting elders and 67 matched controls, recruited for the Consortium for Research in Elder Self-neglect of Texas. Pearson s correlation tests were performed to assess bivariate associations between serum tocopherol levels and cognitive function. RESULTS: Mean serum alpha-tocopherol levels were 10.8 +/- 4.7 ug/mL in self-neglect group and 13.0 +/- 4.9 ug/mL in control group (p = 0.006, unpaired student s t-test). None of the participants from either group had alpha-tocopherol level lower than the reference range. Mean serum gamma-tocopherol levels were 2.0 +/- 1.0 ug/mL in self-neglect group and 2.0 +/- 1.1 in control group (p=0.83). Proportion of the elders with gamma-tocopherol level lower than the reference range were 4.5% (3/66) in self-neglect group and 10.4% (7/67) in control group (p=0.32, Fisher s Exact Test). Among the self-neglecting elders, no association was found between serum alpha-tocopherol levels and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or the Wolf-Klein Clock Drawing Test (CDT) scores (r =-0.42, p=0.75 for MMSE; r=0.08, p=0.54 for CDT). No association was found between serum gamma-tocopherol levels and the MMSE or the CDT (r=-0.12, p=0.35 for MMSE; r=0.05, p=0.68 for CDT). CONCLUSION: In our sample, neither alpha-tocopherol nor gamma-tocopherol appears to have a role in pathophysiology of elder self-neglect. Nevertheless, significantly lower serum alpha-tocopherol levels in the self neglect group merits further research.

Aung, K.