Abstract: An improved static pressure probe containing a water cooling mechanism. This probe has a hollow interior containing a central coolant tube and multiple individual pressure measurement tubes connected to holes placed on the exterior. Coolant from the central tube symmetrically immerses the interior of the probe, allowing it to sustain high temperature, in the region of 2500.degree. F., supersonic jet flow indefinitely, while still recording accurate pressure data. The coolant exits the probe body by way of a reservoir attached to the aft of the probe. The pressure measurement tubes are joined to a single, larger manifold in the reservoir. This manifold is attached to a pressure transducer that records the average static pressure.

Abstract: A high temperature, flexible brush seal comprises a bundle of fibers or bristles held tightly together and secured at one end with a backing plate. The assembly includes a secondary spring-clip having one end anchored to the brush seal backing plate.An alternate embodiment of the seal utilizes a metal bellows containing coolant holes. Another embodiment of the seal uses non-circular cross-sectional fibers which may be square, rectangular or hexagonal in cross section.

Abstract: A flow reactor for simulating the interaction in the troposphere is set forth. A first reactant mixed with a carrier gas is delivered from a pump and flows through a duct having louvers therein. The louvers straighten out the flow, reduce turbulence and provide laminar flow discharge from the duct. A second reactant delivered from a source through a pump is input into the flowing stream, the second reactant being diffused through a plurality of small diffusion tubes to avoid disturbing the laminar flow. The commingled first and second reactants in the carrier gas are then directed along an elongate duct where the walls are spaced away from the flow of reactants to avoid wall interference, disturbance or turbulence arising from the walls. A probe connected with a measuring device can be inserted through various sampling ports in the second duct to complete measurements of the first and second reactants and the product of their reaction at selected XYZ locations relative to the flowing system.

Abstract: Amorphous Co:Si (1:2 ratio) films (12) are electron gun-evaporated on clean Si(111) substrates (10), such as in a molecular beam epitaxy system. These layers are then crystallized selectively with a focused electron beam (14) to form very small crystalline CoSi.sub.2 regions (12') in an amorphous matrix. Finally, the amorphous regions are etched away selectively using plasma or chemical techniques.

Abstract: A method of intercalating large quantities of fibrous structures uses a rotatable reaction chamber containing a liquid phase intercalate. The intercalate liquid phase is controlled by appropriately heating, cooling or pressurizing the reaction. Rotation of the chamber containing the fiber sample enables total submergence of the fiber during intercalation. Intercalated graphite fibers having metal-like resistivities are achieved and are conceivably useful as electrical conductors.

Abstract: A decapeptide of the formula: N-AC-A.sup.1 -A.sup.2 -A.sup.3 -Ser-A-.sup.4 -A.sup.5 -A.sup.6 -A.sup.7 -A.sup.8 -A.sup.9, wherein each A.sup.1, A.sup.2, and A.sup.3, independently, is D-.beta.-Nal, D-p-X-Phe (where X is halogen, H, NH.sub.2, NO.sub.2, OH, or C.sub.1-3 alkyl), D-benzothienyl (2)-Ala, or D-benzothienyl (1)-Ala; A.sup.4 is p-X-Phe (where X is halogen, H, NH.sub.2, NO.sub.2, or C.sub.1-3 alkyl), Tyr, Lys, Arg, Leu, Trp, or Nal; A.sup.5 is D-Lys, D-Tyr, D-Arg, D-Phe, D-.beta.-Nal, D-Trp, D-homo-Arg, D-diethyl-homo-Arg, D-p-X-Phe (where X is halogen, H, NH.sub.2, NO.sub.2, or C.sub.1-3 alkyl), or D-Lys-.epsilon.-NH-R (where R is H, a branched or straight chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl group, or an aryl group); A.sub.6 is Leu, .beta.-Nal, p-X-Phe (where X is halogen, H, NH.sub.2, NO.sub.2, OH, C.sub.2 F.sub.5, C.sub.1-3 alkyl), or Trp; A.sup.7 is Arg, Lys, or Lys .epsilon.-NH-R (where R is H, a branched or straight chain C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, or an aryl group); A.sub.8 is Pro; and A.sup.

Abstract: A method of treating a mammal suffering from cancer by administering to the mammal somatostatin or an analog thereof, the analog being a hexapeptide analog or higher, in a dosage of at least 25 .mu.g/kg/day.

Abstract: A method is provided for visualizing aerodynamic flow effects on a test surface. First, discrete quantities of a sublimating chemical such as naphthalene are distinctively colored via appropriate dyes or paints. Next, a uniform layer of the sublimating chemical having a particular color is applied to the test surface. This layer is covered with a second uniform layer of a different colored sublimating chemical, and so on until a composite of multi-colored layers is formed having a discrete thickness. Friction caused by an airflow results in the distinctly colored layers being removed in proportion to such aerodynamic flow characteristics as velocity and temperature, resulting in a multi-colored portrait which approximates the airflow on the underlying test surface.

Abstract: The combination 10 of a foot restraint platform 12 designed primarily for use by an astronaut being rigidly and permanently attached to an end effector 14 which is suitable for attachment to the manipulator arm 16 of a remote manipulating system. The foot restraint platform, is attached by a brace 36 to the end effector 14 at a location away from the grappling interface of the end effector. The platform comprises a support plate 18 provided with a pair of stirrups 21,22 for receiving the toe portion of an astronaut's boots when standing on the platform and a pair of heel retainers 23,24 in the form of raised members which are fixed to the surface of the platform and located to provide abutment surfaces for abutting engagement with the heels of the astronaut's boots when his toes are in the stirrups. The heel retainers 23,24 preclude a backward sliding movement of the feet on the platform and instead require a lifting of the heels in order to extract the feet.

Abstract: Bipolar transistors fabricated in separate buried layers of an integrated circuit chip are electrically isolated with a built-in potential barrier established by doping the buried layer with a polarity opposite doping in the chip substrate. To increase the resistance of the bipolar transistors to single-event upsets due to ionized particle radiation, the substrate is biased relative to the buried layer with an external bias voltage selected to offset the built-in potential just enough (typically between about +0.1 to +0.2 volt) to prevent an accumulation of charge in the buried-layer-substrate junction.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for finding the lowest cost path of several variable paths comprising a plurality of linked cost-incurring areas existing between an origin point and a destination point. The method comprises the steps of, connecting a plurality of nodes together in the manner of the cost-incurring areas; programming each node to have a cost associated therewith corresponding to one of the cost-incurring areas; injecting a signal into one of the nodes representing the origin point; propagating the signal through the plurality of nodes from inputs to outputs thereof; reducing the signal in magnitude at each node as a function of the respective cost of the node; and, starting at one of the nodes representing the destination point and following a path having the least reduction in magnitude of the signal from node to node back to the one of the nodes representing the origin point whereby the lowest cost path from the origin point to the destination point is found.

Abstract: A method of degrading halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons is disclosed comprising incubating microorganisms capable of degrading halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons by an aromatic degradative pathway together with the halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons under conditions such that said aromatic degradative pathway is active.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein a load limiting, energy absorbing net is arranged to overlay a normally-covered vent opening in the rear bulkhead of the space orbiter vehicle. Spatially-disposed flexible retainer straps are extended from the net and respectively secured to bulkhead brackets spaced around the vent opening. The intermediate portions of the straps are doubled over and stitched together in a pattern enabling the doubled-over portions to progressively separate at a predicable load designed to be well below the tensile capability of the straps as the stitches are successively torn apart by the forces imposed on the retainer members whenever the cover plate is explosively separated from the bulkhead and propelled into the net.

Abstract: A device 10 for applying constant pressure to a surface includes a cylinder 12 having a longitudinal axis greater than the diameter of cylinder 12. A first wheel 14 and a second wheel 16 are coupled to each end 18 and 20, respectively, of cylinder 12. Wheels 14 and 16 have a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of cylinder 12. An elastomeric covering 22 surrounds cylinder 12. Elastomeric covering 22 has an outer diameter substantially greater than the diameter of wheels 14 and 16. A handle 24 is coupled to wheels 14 and 16 for rolling and applying pressure to elastomeric covering 22.

Abstract: A hypervelocity impact shield 10 and method for protecting a wall structure, such as a spacecraft wall 12, from impact with particles of debris having densities of about 2.7 g/cm.sup.3 and impact velocities up to 16 km/s. The shield comprises a stack of ultra thin sheets 11 of impactor disrupting material supported and arranged by support means 13 in spaced relationship to one another and mounted to cover the wall 12 in a position for intercepting the particles. The sheets 11 are of a number and spacing such that are impacting particle 15 and the resulting particulates of the impacting particle and sheet material are successively impact-shocked to a thermal state of total melt and/or vaporization to a degree as precludes perforation of the wall. The ratio of individual sheet thickness to the theoretical diameter of particles of debris which may be of spherical form is in the range of 0.03 to 0.05.

Abstract: A thermal power transfer system using a phase change liquid gas fluid in a closed loop configuration has a heat exchanger member connected to a gas conduit for inputting thermal energy into the fluid. The pressure in the gas conduit is higher than a liquid conduit that is connected to a heat exchanger member for outputting thermal energy. A solid electrolyte member acts as a barrier between the gas conduit and the liquid conduit adjacent a solid electrolyte member. The solid electrolyte member has the capacity of transmitting ions of a fluid through the electrolyte member. The ions can be recombined with electrons with the assistance of a porous electrode. An electrical field is applied across the solid electrolyte member to force the ions of the fluid from a lower pressure liquid conduit to the higher pressure gas conduit.

Abstract: A video-rate coordinate remapper includes a memory for storing a plurality of transformations on look-up tables for remapping input images from one coordinate system to another. Such transformations are operator selectable. The remapper includes a collective processor by which certain input pixels of an input image are transformed to a portion of the output image in a many-to-one relationship. The remapper includes an interpolative processor by which the remaining input pixels of the input image are transformed to another portion of the output image in a one-to-many relationship. The invention includes certain specific transforms for creating output images useful for certain defects of visually impaired people. The invention also includes circuitry for shifting input pixels and circuitry for scrolling the output matrix.

Abstract: Ceramic structures having high strength at temperatures above 1000.degree. C. after sintering are made by mixing ceramic powders with binder deflocculants such as guanidine salts of polymeric acids, guanidine salts of aliphatic organic caboxylic acids or guanidine alkylsulfates with the foregoing guanidine salts.

Abstract: Polyimidazoles (Pl) are prepared by the aromatic nucleophilic displacement reaction of di(hydroxyphenyl)imidazole monomers with activated aromatic dihalides or activated aromatic dinitro compounds. The reactions are carried out in polar aprotic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, sulfolane, N-methylpyrroldinone, dimethylsulfoxide, or diphenylsulfone using alkali metal bases such as potassium carbonate at elevated temperature under nitrogen. The di(hydroxyphenyl)imidazole monomers are prepared by reacting an aromatic aldehyde with a dimethoxybenzil or by reacting an aromatic dialdehyde with a methoxybenzil in the presence of ammonium acetate. The di(methoxyphenyl)imidazole is subsequently treated with aqueous hydrobromic acid to give the di(hydroxyphenyl)imidazole monomer.

Abstract: An electropolymerized film comprised of polymers and copolymers of a monomer having the general formula: ##STR1## is formed on the surface of an anode. The finished structures have superior electrical and mechanical properties for use in applications such as electrostatic dissipation and for the reduction of the radar cross section of advanced aircraft.