Tube-to-header joint for bimetallic construction

Design advantages of bimetallic construction enables an all-welded bimetallic joint to be made from the accessible header side of the tube-to-header joint. In the two-piece header design the weld joints completely seal the tube-header plate crevice and prevent crevice and stringer corrosion

Determination of the weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloys quarterly report no. 6, 21 sep. - 20 dec. 1964

Determination of weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloy

Joining refractory/austenitic bimetal tubing Supplemental report

Joining bimetal tubing consisting of austenitic stainless steel with inner lining of niobium or tantalu

Determination of the weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloys Ninth quarterly report, 21 Jun. - 20 Sep. 1965

Tensile strength and thermostability of welded refractory metal joint

Determination of the weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloys seventh quarterly report, dec. 21, 1964 - mar. 20, 1965

Weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloy

Determination of the weldability and elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloys Tenth quarterly report, 21 Sep. - 20 Dec. 1965

Weldability and long time elevated temperature stability of refractory metal alloys for advanced alkali-metal space electric power system

Estrogenic chemicals often leach from BPA-free plastic products that are replacements for BPA-containing polycarbonate products

Background: Xenobiotic chemicals with estrogenic activity (EA), such as bisphenol A (BPA), have been reported to have potential adverse health effects in mammals, including humans, especially in fetal and infant stages. Concerns about safety have caused many manufacturers to use alternatives to polycarbonate (PC) resins to make hard and clear, reusable, plastic products that do not leach BPA. However, no study has focused on whether such BPA-free PC-replacement products, chosen for their perceived higher safety, especially for babies, also release other chemicals that have EA. Methods: We used two, well-established, mammalian cell-based, assays (MCF-7 and BG1Luc) to assess the EA of chemicals that leached into over 1000 saline or ethanol extracts of 50 unstressed or stressed (autoclaving, microwaving, and UV radiation) BPA-free PC-replacement products. An EA antagonist, ICI 182,780, was used to confirm that agonist activity in leachates was due to chemicals that activated the mammalian estrogen receptor. Results: Many unstressed and stressed, PC-replacement-products made from acrylic, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, and Tritan™ resins leached chemicals with EA, including products made for use by babies. Exposure to various forms of UV radiation often increased the leaching of chemicals with EA. In contrast, some BPA-free PC-replacement products made from glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate or cyclic olefin polymer or co-polymer resins did not release chemicals with detectable EA under any conditions tested. Conclusions: This hazard assessment survey showed that many BPA-free PC- replacement products still leached chemicals having significant levels of EA, as did BPA-containing PC counterparts they were meant to replace. That is, BPA-free did not mean EA-free. However, this study also showed that some PC-replacement products did not leach chemicals having significant levels of EA. That is, EA-free PC-replacement products could be made in commercial quantities at prices that compete with PC-replacement products that were not BPA-free. Since plastic products often have advantages (price, weight, shatter-resistance, etc.) compared to other materials such as steel or glass, it is not necessary to forgo those advantages to avoid release into foodstuffs or the environment of chemicals having EA that may have potential adverse effects on our health or the health of future generations.This work was supported by the following NIH/NIEHS grants: R44 ES011469, 01–03 (CZY); 1R43/44 ES014806, 01–03 (CZY); subcontract (CZY, PI) on an NIH Grant 01–03 43/44ES018083-01 to PlastiPure (DK, SY PIs).Neuroscienc

Development of large diameter T-111 /Ta-8W-2Hf/ tubing Final report

Large diameter T-111 tubing processed from seamless and welded tube shell

The Interaction of Nitrogen and Moisture on Crop Yield and Water Use

In recent years, a subject of considerable speculation among South Dakota farmers is whether or not the use of nitrogenous fertilizers is profitable under conditions of dryland farming. There has been a prejudice against the use of nitrogenous fertilizers as giving a leafy, succulent growth, liable to drought damage. Frequent claims are that additions of nitrogen result in “burning” of crops when moisture conditions become unfavorable, and that under these conditions yields are often better without the use of fertilizer. A common explanation is that fertilized crops use more water than unfertilized crops and this results in the fertilized crops having less chance to reach maturity when the moisture is limited. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect if nitrogenous fertilizer applications on the yield and moisture use of crops grown under various conditions of moisture supply. These objectives were pursued in experiments conducted in the field where it was anticipated that considerable natural moisture stress would occur, and in the greenhouse, some with no control over moisture conditions and others with controlled moisture. In some experiments, partial biochemical analysis of plants were made in an endeavor to find a physiochemical basis for observed results. It is hoped that the results of this investigation will serve in the aid in making better recommendations with regard to the application of nitrogenous fertilizers to crops under conditions of limited moisture

Group B streptococcal infection and activation of human astrocytes.

BACKGROUND:Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening meningitis in human newborns in industrialized countries. Meningitis results from neonatal infection that occurs when GBS leaves the bloodstream (bacteremia), crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and enters the central nervous system (CNS), where the bacteria contact the meninges. Although GBS is known to invade the BBB, subsequent interaction with astrocytes that physically associate with brain endothelium has not been well studied. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We hypothesize that human astrocytes play a unique role in GBS infection and contribute to the development of meningitis. To address this, we used a well- characterized human fetal astrocyte cell line, SVG-A, and examined GBS infection in vitro. We observed that all GBS strains of representative clinically dominant serotypes (Ia, Ib, III, and V) were able to adhere to and invade astrocytes. Cellular invasion was dependent on host actin cytoskeleton rearrangements, and was specific to GBS as Streptococcus gordonii failed to enter astrocytes. Analysis of isogenic mutant GBS strains deficient in various cell surface organelles showed that anchored LTA, serine-rich repeat protein (Srr1) and fibronectin binding (SfbA) proteins all contribute to host cell internalization. Wild-type GBS also displayed an ability to persist and survive within an intracellular compartment for at least 12 h following invasion. Moreover, GBS infection resulted in increased astrocyte transcription of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and VEGF. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:This study has further characterized the interaction of GBS with human astrocytes, and has identified the importance of specific virulence factors in these interactions. Understanding the role of astrocytes during GBS infection will provide important information regarding BBB disruption and the development of neonatal meningitis