Abstract: A compound is provided for increasing the concentration of a parent isoflavone in a subject in vivo. The parent isoflavone has a skeletal structure including a 5 position and a 7 position, a 5 alkyl group, and a 7-hydroxy group with a 7-hydroxy oxygen appended to the 7 position and a 7-hydroxy hydrogen appended to the 7-hydroxy oxygen. The compound includes a substrate having the skeletal structure of the parent isoflavone, with a 5 position and a 7 position corresponding to the 5 and 7 positions respectively of the parent isoflavone. An alkyl group is appended to the 5 position. A promoiety is appended to the 7-hydroxy oxygen of the substrate as a substitute for the 7-hydroxy hydrogen of the parent isoflavone, the promoiety and the 7-hydroxy oxygen establishing an alkylcarbonate ester. A related method also is provided.

Abstract: A compound is provided for increasing the concentration of a parent androgen in a subject in vivo. The parent androgen has a skeletal structure including a 1 position and a 17 position, a 17&bgr;-hydroxy group comprising a 17&bgr;-hydroxy oxygen appended to the 17 position, and a 17&bgr;-hydroxy hydrogen appended to the 17&bgr;-hydroxy oxygen. The compound includes a substrate having the skeletal structure of the parent androgen. It includes a 1 position and a 17 position corresponding to the 1 and 17 positions respectively of the parent androgen. The substrate has a carbon—carbon double bond at the 1 position. The compound also has a promoiety appended to the 17&bgr;-hydroxy oxygen of the substrate as a substitute for the 17&bgr;-hydroxy hydrogen of the parent androgen. The promoiety includes, and preferably consists of, an alkylcarbonate ester. A related method also is provided.

Abstract: The cementitious material comprises a cement having a cement mass, and an aggregate having an aggregate mass. The cement mass and the aggregate mass has a combined mass of about 80 to 95 percent of the total mass. The cementitious material also includes a pozzolan composition comprising at least one of a silica fume and a metakaolin. The pozzolan composition is present in an amount of about 4.0 to 6.0 percent of the total mass. The cementitious material further includes an acrylic polymer composition.

Abstract: An axial gap motor-generator of the type coupled to a shaft having an axis of rotation. The motor-generator comprises a rotor having a rotor body rotatably disposed about the shaft and having an outer region. The rotor includes a plurality of openings disposed in the outer region and spaced from one another. Each of the openings includes an outer edge. The motor-generator also includes a plurality of magnets equal in number to the openings. Each of the magnets includes an outer edge corresponding to the outer edge of a corresponding one of the openings. The outer edge of the magnets generally is non-conformal to and is slightly smaller than the outer edge of the openings, and each of the magnets is shaped to be inserted into the corresponding one of the openings. The motor-generator further includes a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor. The stator assembly includes windings positioned to be adjacent to the magnets when the rotor is rotated.

Abstract: The collapsible land anchor of this invention includes an anchor body, a drive anvil coupled to the top end portion of the anchor body, and a runner member that is slidable longitudinally through the drive anvil between an operative position and a collapsed position. A retraction anvil is coupled to the top end portion of the runner member, and a hammer weight is carried on the runner member. In its operative position, the runner member extends beyond the drive anvil away from the cavity of the anchor body to space the drive anvil apart from the retraction anvil. Also in the operative position, the hammer weight is slidable along the runner member into the drive anvil to drive the anchor body into the ground. In the collapsed position, the runner member is displaced towards and at least partially stowed in the cavity of the anchor body.

Abstract: A bromine-containing, hydroxy-functional copolymer is prepared from an initiator that is solid at room temperature and has at least one bromone atom. The initiator is reacted with an effective amount of lactone monomers, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, to establish a bromine-containing, hydroxy-functional copolymer that is a liquid at room temperature. The copolymer of this invention may be used as liquid reactive flame retardant and, in the event the copolymer is polyfunctional, as a crosslinker.

Abstract: A combustible cartridge case is provided that includes at least one energetic thermoplastic homopolymer or copolymer derived from, at least in part, poly(bis-azidomethyloxetane) prepolymer blocks terminated with isocyanate-reactive groups, such as hydroxyl groups. Chain linking of the prepolymer blocks is performed with diisocyanates for end-capping the prepolymer blocks, and a difunctional linking compound for linking the end-capped prepolymer blocks. The energetic thermoplastic is preferably capable of being pressed, extruded, rotational molded, injection loaded, or otherwise shaped into a desired configuration. Also provided is a chain-extended poly(bis-azidomethyloxetane) homopolymer derived from bis-azidomethyloxetane prepolymer blocks, which are terminated with isocyanate-reactive groups and chain extended with at least one diisocyanate end-capping compound and at least one difunctional linking compound.

Abstract: A novel and improved EPDM formulation for a solid propellant rocket motor is described wherein hexadiene EPDM monomer components are replaced by alkylidene norbornene components and with appropriate adjustment of curing and other additives functionally-required rheological and physical characteristics are achieved with the desired compatibility with any one of a plurality of solid filler materials, e.g. powder silica, carbon fibers or aramid fibers, and with appropriate adhesion and extended storage or shelf life characteristics.

Abstract: The farm implement of this invention is movable across ground along a direction of travel for tillage. The farm implement includes at least a frame and a disc/drive unit. The disc/drive unit includes first and second pluralities of discs, each having a ground-engaging outer periphery defining a plane angled acutely relative to the direction of travel. The first discs are angled to an opposite side of the direction of travel than the second discs. Positioned in front of the first discs is a ground-engaging driver rotatably coupled to the frame for rotating as the driver engages and is moved across the ground along the direction of travel. A driven flow controller is rotatably coupled and situated between the plurality of first discs and the plurality of second discs. The ground-engaging driver is operatively controlling and preferably accelerating the rotational speed of the driven flow controller.

Abstract: A process for preparing 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetracyclo[5.5.0.05,903,11]-dodecane involves reacting at least one hexa-substituted piperazine derivative with at least one nitrate source and optionally at least one strong acid and heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to induce an exothermic initial stage of the between the hexa-substituted piperazine derivative and the nitrate source. The mixture is maintained at a temperature in a range of at least ambient to not more than about 80° C. during the exothermic initial stage and at least a portion of a subsequent non-exothermic intermediate stage of the reaction by cooling the mixture during at least a portion of the exothermic initial stage of the reaction so that the reaction proceeds in a controlled manner. The mixture is then cooled to a temperature sufficiently low to prevent commencement of an exothermic NOx autocatalytic stage.

Abstract: A gauge for measuring heat flux, especially heat flux encountered in a high temperature environment, is provided. The gauge includes at least one thermocouple and an anisotropic pyrolytic graphite body that covers at least part of, and optionally encases the thermocouple. Heat flux is incident on the anisotropic pyrolytic graphite body by arranging the gauge so that the gauge surface on which convective and radiative fluxes are incident is perpendicular to the basal planes of the pyrolytic graphite. The conductivity of the pyrolytic graphite permits energy, transferred into the pyrolytic graphite body in the form of heat flux on the incident (or facing) surface, to be quickly distributed through the entire pyrolytic graphite body, resulting in small substantially instantaneous temperature gradients. Temperature changes to the body can thereby be measured by the thermocouple, and reduced to quantify the heat flux incident to the body.

Abstract: This multi-stage rocket motor assembly includes, a one main motor subassembly and a launch motor subassembly. The flight igniter of the main motor subassembly is integrated with the launch motor subassembly to permit the flight igniter to be jettisoned essentially in unison with the launch motor subassembly.

Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts, nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.

Abstract: An extrudable black body decoy flare composition which, when combusted, provided black body radiation is disclosed. The compositions generally include from about 40% to about 70% metal such as magnesium or aluminum, from about 10% to about 40% polytetrafluoroethylene, and from about 8% to about 30% binder. Important to the operation of the invention is the production of carbon upon combustion of the composition. Accordingly, polyaromatic thermoplastics, such as polystyrene and dimethyl phthalate, serve as the binder.

Abstract: A device for localized containment of extraneous material at and in the vicinity of the interface between a material receiving body (e.g., a reaction vessel) and a material dispensing body (e.g., a powder bin). The device includes a containment chamber and a ventilation system for ventilating the interior of the containment chamber whereby extraneous material at and in the vicinity of the interface between the material receiving body and the material dispensing body is transported to a remote location.

Abstract: 2,2-dinitro-1,3-propanediol-diformate is a novel low sensitivity, energetic plasticizer that is useful in explosive and propellant compositions. 2,2-dinitro-1,3-propanediol-diformate can be made by reacting 2,2-dinitro-1,3-propane diol with acetic formic anhydride in the presence of pyridine and at least one solvent.

Abstract: Nitramines are one of the more expensive and often the more plentiful ingredients found in energetic materials, such as solid rocket motor propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics. By treating aluminized energetic material with an aqueous nitric acid solution containing not more than 55% by weight aqueous nitric acid at a weight ratio of aqueous nitric acid to energetic material of about 4:1 to about 6:1, most constituents of conventional aluminized energetic materials are digested into solution, with the exception of nitramines, which remain substantially insoluble in the aqueous nitric acid and can be recovered without requiring recrystallization of the nitramines. A mineral acid other than nitric acid, preferably hydrochloric acid, is added to increase the rate of aluminum digestion. Treatment of the energetic material can be performed without volatile organic solvents, thus obviating ecological, cost, and safety concerns raised by the use of volatile organic solvents.

Abstract: This parachute flare igniter assembly has a novel slider for attaining high reliability in firing efficiency. The slider moves along a raceway of an igniter assembly housing. Also disposed in the housing is a cartridge retained in a stationary state relative to the housing. The cartridge includes a stationary primer and a spring. A striker arm connected to the cartridge is movable into a cocked state in which the spring urges the striker arm towards the primer. The slider has an igniter composition chamber and a cocking wall portion, and is movable in tandem with the igniter composition chamber along at least a portion of the length of said raceway from a loaded position to a firing position. In the loaded position, the striker arm is maintained in the cocked state by the cocking wall portion.

Abstract: Nitramine oxidizers are recovered from propellant, explosive, and pyrotechnic materials with a concentrated mineral acid bath, preferably comprising 70 to 90 wt. % nitric acid, that serves to dissolve the nitramine oxidizers into solution and permit filtration of the binder therefrom. The recovery process is conducted in the absence of organic solvents.

Abstract: Closure modules are coupled to and enclose ends of a multi-cell pressure vessel, especially a multi-cell pressure vessel having arcuate outer wall segments connected by internal web segments that define a plurality of cells in the pressure vessel. The closure modules each have an arcuate surface portion and at least one interfacing surface portion integrally connected at a marginal extent thereof with a marginal extent of the arcuate surface portion. The arcuate surface and interfacing surface portions define a closure module chamber and have peripheral edges. The arcuate surface portion of one of the closure modules abuts contiguously against an interfacing surface portion of an adjacent one of the closure modules. The closure modules are particularly useful for use with multi-cell tanks and vessel bodies, especially tanks and vessels suitable for storing liquid propane.