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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 433 records · Page 24
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NASA NTRS1981

Idiopathic orthostatic hypotension: Recent data (eleven cases) and review of the literature

Eight cases of Shy-Drager syndrome and three of Bradbury-Eggleston idiopathic orthostatic hypotension were examined. In all cases, examination of circulatory reflexes showed major dysfunction of the sympathetic vasoconstrictor system. Anomalies in the vagal cardiomoderator system were less constant. Normal urinary elimination of catecholamines was recorded daily. Characteristically, no elevation of blood or urine norepinephrine levels were found in orthostatism. Insulin hypoglycemia normally raised urinary adrenalin elimination in three of ten patients. Plasma dopa-beta-hydroxylase activity was normal. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system showed variable activity at basal state but usually rose during orthostatism. On the average, very low homovanillic acid levels were found in cerebrospinal fluid before and after probenecid; hydroxyindolacetic acid was normal. Cerebral autoregulation had deteriorated in two of four cases. Physiopathologically the two clinical types are indistinguishable with or without central neurological signs.

Ninet, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Changes in cardiac output and tibial artery flow during and after progressive LBNP

A 3.0 MHz Pulsed Doppler velocity meter (PD) was used to determine blood velocities in the ascending aorta from the suprasternal notch before, during and after progressive 5 min stages of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in 7 subjects. Changes in stroke volume were calculated from the systolic velocity integrals. A unique 20 MHz PD was used to estimate bloodflow in the posterior tibial artery. With -20 torr mean stroke volume fell 11% and then continued to decline by 48% before LBNP was terminated. Mean tibial flow fell progressively with LBNP stress, due to an increase in reverse flow component and a reduction in peak forward flow and diameter. Stroke volume increased and heart rate fell dramatically during the first 15 sec of recovery. The LBNP was terminated early in 2 subjects because of vasovagal symptons (V). During V the stroke volume rose 86% which more than compensated for the drop in heart rate. This implies that V is accompanied by a paradoxical increase in venous return and that the reduction in HR is the primary cardiovascular event. During the first 15 sec of recovery these 2 subjects had a distinctive marked rise to heart rate reminiscent of the Bainbridge reflex.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

Objective appraisal of tolerance to ventriculography with various radiocontrast media (according to electronystagmography data)

The vestibulo oculomotor reflex (nystagmus) was recorded by means of electronystagmography in 33 neurosurgical patients in dynamics prior to and after ventriculography. For contrasting the ventricular system a water soluble medium (Conrey, dimer X or Amipak) was used in 18 patients and contrast mixtures of water soluble agents in combination with Myodil emulsion in 15. It was established that after ventriculography with water soluble media the trunk vestibular reactions in all types of nystagmus grew frequently and sharply and the vestibulovegetative reactions increased markedly.

Blagoveshchenskaya, N. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Pathogenesis of sudden death following water immersion (immersion syndrome)

Sympathetic activity under cold stress is investigated. Predominantly vagal cardio-depressive reflexes are discussed besides currently known mechanisms of sudden death after water immersion. Pronounced circulatory centralization in diving animals as well as following exposure in cold water indicates additional sympathetic activity. In cold water baths of 15 C, measurements indicate an increase in plasma catecholamine levels by more than 300 percent. This may lead to cardiac arrhythmias by the following mechanisms: cold water essentially induces sinus bradycardia; brady-and tachycardiarrhythmias may supervene as secondary complications; sinusbradycardia may be enhanced by sympathetic hypertonus. Furthermore, ectopic dysrhythmias are liable to be induced by the strictly sympathetic innervation of the ventricle. Myocardial ischemia following a rise in peripheral blood pressure constitutes another arrhythmogenic factor. Some of these reactions are enhanced by alcohol intoxication.

Buhring, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Orthostatic hypotension

Basic orientation of the article, by the leader of a group of medical researchers associated with hospitals in Lyon, France, is toward definition and classification. A table divides OH (orthostatic hypotension) according to physiopathological classification into sympathicotonic and asympathicotonic types and then each of these into primary and secondary with subdivisions. The figure sketches organization and functioning of the baroreflex arc. Applications to clinical study of circulatory reflexes, listing measurement tests and the biological study of hormonal regulation listing the appropriate kinds of studies. Data are not given.

Ninet, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Physiology of man and animals in the Tenth Five-Year Plan: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Congress of the I. P. Pavlov All-Union Physiological Society

Research in the field of animal and human physiology is reviewed. The following topics on problems of physiological science and related fields of knowledge are discussed: neurophysiology and higher nervous activity, physiology of sensory systems, physiology of visceral systems, evolutionary and ecological physiology, physiological cybernetics, computer application in physiology, information support of physiological research, history and theory of development of physiology. Also discussed were: artificial intelligence, physiological problems of reflex therapy, correlation of structure and function of the brain, adaptation and activity, microcirculation, and physiological studies in nerve and mental diseases.

Lange, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, and stability of hang gliders. Experimental results

One-fifth-scale models of three basic ultralight glider designs were constructed to simulate the elastic properties of full scale gliders and were tested at Reynolds numbers close to full scale values. Twenty-four minor modifications were made to the basic configurations in order to evaluate the effects of twist, reflex, dihedral, and various stability enhancement devices. Longitudinal and lateral data were obtained at several speeds through an angle of attack range of -30 deg to +45 deg with sideslip angles of up to 20 deg. The importance of vertical center of gravity displacement is discussed. Lateral data indicate that effective dihedral is lost at low angles of attack for nearly all of the configurations tested. Drag data suggest that lift-dependent viscous drag is a large part of the glider's total drag as is expected for thin, cambered sections at these relatively low Reynolds numbers.

Kroo, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Habituation to novel visual vestibular environments with special reference to space flight

The etiology of space motion sickness and the underlying physiological mechanisms associated with spatial orientation in a space environment were investigated. Human psychophysical experiments were used as the basis for the research concerning the interaction of visual and vestibular cues in the development of motion sickness. Particular emphasis is placed on the conflict theory in terms of explaining these interactions. Research on the plasticity of the vestibulo-ocular reflex is discussed.

Young, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The negative effect of hypokinesia involving injury and preventive measures

The optimum length of bed rest for athletes suffering from broken bones is considered. Negative effects of hypokinesia induced by bed rest include general weakness and deconditioning of the muscles as well as sleeplessness, headaches, muscle pain, constipation, unstable pulse and arterial pressure, and changes in reflexes. This is considered to be the result of a vegetative dysfunction induced by the decreased flow of nerve impulses and a decrease in interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. The briefest possible period of bed rest, followed by an increase in motor activity, the prescription of a large quantity of LFK, and an active program of physical therapy are recommended. The symptomology associated with hypokinesia disappears after one month of free motor activity.

Izakson, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The guidance of saccadic eye movements to perceptually mislocalized visual and non-visual targets

The present experiment examined whether saccadic eye movements to visual targets are dependent on the perceived directions of the targets or on their retinally specified directions. Perceptual mislocations of visual targets were induced by having the target light attached to a subject's stationary hand while his biceps or triceps muscle was vibrated. Such vibration leads to apparent extension or flexion of the subject's restrained forearm and perceived visual motion of the stationary target light. Subjects always made accurate saccadic eye movements to a visual target, even when the target was perceptually mislocalized by as much as 20 deg. By contrast, when subjects made saccadic eye movements to a nonvisual target, the location of their hand in the dark, they always looked to the perceived direction of the target even though it did not necessarily correspond to the true direction. These findings indicate that a distinction is maintained between 'reflexive aspects' of oculomotor control related to foveation and the computation of perceived visual direction.

Lackner, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Load compensating reactions to perturbations at wrist joint in normal man

The electromyographic responses to step torque loads were studied in flexors and extensors at the human wrist. Based on temporal bursting patterns and functional behavior, the response was divided into four temporal components. Two early components, the myotatic (30-60 ms) late myotatic (60-120 ms) appears to be reflex response. The third postmyotatic component (120-200 ms) appear to be a triggered reaction, preceeding the fourth, stabilizing component (200-400 ms). A comparison of response at the wrist with similar data at the ankle provides the basis for a generalized classification of the response in various muscles to torque step perturbations.

Jaeger, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The composing process of technical writers: A preliminary study

The assumption that technical writers compose as do other writers is tested. The literature on the composing process, not limited to the pure or applied sciences, was reviewed, yielding three areas of general agreement. The composing process (1) consists of several stages, (2) is reflexive, and (3) may be mastered by means of strategies. Data on the ways technical writers compose were collected, and findings were related to the three areas of agreement. Questionnaires and interviews surveying 70 writers were used. The disciplines represented by these writers included civil, chemical, agricultural, geological, mechanical, electrical, and petroleum engineering, chemistry, hydrology, geology, and biology. Those providing consulting services, or performing research. No technical editors or professional writers were surveyed, only technicians, engineers, and researchers whose jobs involved composing reports. Three pedagogical implications are included.

Mair, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Vestibular experiments

Spacelab experiments designed to investigate space motion sickness, any associated changes in otolith-mediated responses occurring during weightlessness, and the carryover of any such changes to postflight conditions are described. The experiments aimed at assessing otolithic responses in space are intended to clarify presumed alterations in vestibular function during weightlessness. Vestibular function will be investigated at several levels: vestibulo-ocular reflexes, vestibulo-spinal pathways, cortical functions involving perception of motion and spatial orientation, visual vestibular interaction, and motion sickness susceptibility. A second major objective relates to space motion sickness and man's well-being and productivity in space.

Young, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Active head rotations and eye-head coordination

It is pointed out that head movements play an important role in gaze. The interaction between eye and head movements involves both their shared role in directing gaze and the compensatory vestibular ocular reflex. The dynamics of head trajectories are discussed, taking into account the use of parameterization to obtain the peak velocity, peak accelerations, the times of these extrema, and the duration of the movement. Attention is given to the main sequence, neck muscle EMG and details of the head-movement trajectory, types of head model accelerations, the latency of eye and head movement in coordinated gaze, gaze latency as a function of various factors, and coordinated gaze types. Clinical examples of gaze-plane analysis are considered along with the instantaneous change of compensatory eye movement (CEM) gain, and aspects of variability.

Zangemeister, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The phototron: A light to RF energy conversion device

The phototron, a photoelectric device that converts light to radio frequency energy, is described. It is a vacuum tube, free electron, device that is mechanically similar to a reflex klystron with the hot filament cathode replaced by a large area photocathode. The device can operate either with an external voltage source used to accelerate the photoelectrons or with zero bias voltage; in which case the photokinetic energy of the electrons sustains the R.F. oscillations in the tuned R.F. circuit. One basic design of the phototron was tested. Frequencies as high as about 1 GHz and an overall efficiency of about 1% in the biased mode were obtained. In the unbiased mode, the frequencies of operation and efficiences are considerably lower. Success with test model suggests that considerable improvements are possible through design refinements. One such design refinement is the reduction of the length of the electron flight path.

Freeman, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Gravito-inertial sensitivity of the spider - Araneus sericatus

The gravito-inertial transfer function of the orb-weaving spider was evaluated by changes in the cardiac reflex. A non-intrusive method, using a laser system recorded the cardiac pulse. Between 1.001 and 1.5 Gz the data are 'best-fit' by a log function (r-squared 0.92). The response of the neurogenic heart is seen to be a good dependent variable for invetebrate research. The arachnid lyriform organ has those qualities which complement the obtained gravity function. It is hypothesized that the cardiac pump maintains the spiders equilibrium in the gravito-inertial field.

Finck, A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Two-dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of three rotorcraft airfoils at Mach numbers from 0.35 to 0.90

Three airfoils designed for helicopter rotor application were investigated in the Langley 6- by 28-inch Transonic Tunnel to determine the two dimensional aerodynamic characteristics at Mach numbers from 0.34 to 0.88 and respective Reynolds numbers from about 4.4 x 10(6) power to 9.5 x 10(6) power. The airfoils have thickness-to-chord ratios of 0.08, 0.10, and 0.12. Trailing-edge reflex was applied to minimize pitching moment. The maximum normal-force coefficient of the RC(3)-12 airfoil is from 0.1 to 0.2 higher, depending on Mach number M, than that of the NACA 0012 airfoil tested in the same facility. The maximum normal-force coefficient of the RC(3)-10 is about equal to that of the NACA 0012 at Mach numbers to 0.40 and is higher than that of the NACA 0012 at Mach numbers above 0.40. The maximum normal force coefficient of the RC(3)-08 is about 0.19 lower than that of the NACA 0012 at a Mach number of 0.35 and about 0.05 lower at a Mach number of 0.54. The drag divergence Mach number of the RC(3)-08 airfoil at normal-force coefficients below 0.1 was indicated to be greater than the maximum test Mach number of 0.88. At zero lift, the drag-divergence Mach numbers of the RC(3)-12 and the RC(3)-10 are about 0.77 and 0.82, respectively.

Bingham, G. J.↗