Resilience testing device Patent

Automated ball rebound resilience test equipment for determining viscoelastic properties of polymer

A Projected School-Community Relationship Program in Western Kansas.

The purpose of this study is to determine the need for a better school-community relationship, and a suggested solution of the problems involved, if there be need for improvement of the relationship of school and community

Evaluation of multilayer printed wiring boards by metallographic techniques: An illustrated guide to the preparation and inspection of plated-through hole test coupons based on the requirements of Mil-P-55110D

This work is an illustrated handbook containing the rationale and procedure for the evaluation of multilayer printed wiring board construction integrity with respect to plated-through holes in accordance with the requirements of MIL-P-55110D, Printed Wiring Boards. It is intended as a practical aid for those concerned with determining the construction integrity of multilayer boards for high reliability applications. Photomicrographs of cross sectioned holes illustrate defect types, acceptable and unacceptable conditions, and methods of measurement. A procedure for specimen preparation is given, and appropriate paragraphs of the military specification are included and explained

Patterns of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Production by Three Species of Wood Decay Fungi

Wood decay experiments using red spruce wood resting on moist soil were conducted to discern temporal and spatial patterns of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal production by three species of fungi over the course of decay. All three species produced crystals of calcium oxalate dihydrate, but not monohydrate, in and on wood. Over the course of decay, the production of CaOx crystals was shown to be heterogeneous in both space and time. The relative quantity, morphology and longevity of CaOx crystals varied among species. Gloeophyllum (G.) trabeum produced substantial quantities of free crystals; Fomitopsis (F.) pinicola produced encrusting crystals; and Trichaptum (T.) abietinum produced adhering crystals and druses. Paramorphic corrosion of crystals was observed most frequently in the brown rot fungus G. trabeum and not at all in the white-rot fungus T. abietinum. Often associated with crystal precipitations was the production of crystal surface-obscuring extracellular matrix. All the species observed produced CaOx crystals more consistently in or on soil than in wood. The study of crystal production patterns and crystal morphologies could yield important information about the microenvironmental conditions in wood during biodegradation and the mechanisms by which wood decay fungi decompose lignocellulose

Growth, Characterization, and Electrochemical Properties of Doped n-Type KTaO_3 Photoanodes

The effects of compositionally induced changes on the semiconducting properties, optical response, chemical stability, and overall performance of KTaO_3 photoanodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells have been investigated. Single crystals of n-type Ca- and Ba-doped KTaO_3 with carrier concentrations ranging from 0.45 to 11.5×10^(19) cm^(−3) were grown and characterized as photoanodes in basic aqueous electrolyte PEC cells. The PEC properties of the crystals, including the photocurrent, photovoltage, and flatband potential in contact with 8.5 M NaOH(aq) were relatively independent of whether Ca or Ba was used to produce the semiconducting form of KTaO_3. All of the Ca- or Ba-doped KTaO_3 single-crystal photoanodes were chemically stable in the electrolyte and, based on the open-circuit potential and the band-edge positions, were capable of unassisted photochemical H_2 and O_2 evolution from H_2O. The minority-carrier diffusion lengths values were small and comparable to the depletion region width. Photoanodic currents were only observed for photoanode illumination with light above the bandgap (i.e., λ<340 nm). The maximum external quantum yield occurred at λ=255 nm (4.85 eV), and the depletion width plus the minority-carrier diffusion length ranged from 20 to 65 nm for the various KTaO_3-based photoanode materials

The Importance of Background in the Detection and Identification of Gas Plumes Using Emissive Infrared Hyperspectral Sensing

Using a Fourier transform infrared field spectrometer, spectral infrared radiance measurements were made of several generated gas plumes against both a uniform sky and terrestrial background. Background temperature, spectral complexity, and physical homogeneity each influenced the success of emissive infrared spectral sensing technology in detecting and identifying the presence of a gas plume and its component constituents. As expected, high temperature contrast and uniform backgrounds provided the best conditions for detectability and diagnostic identification. This report will summarize some of SITAC’s findings concerning plume detectability, including the importance of plume cooling, plumes in emission and absorption, the effects of optical thickness, and the effects of condensing plumes on gas detection

Avidity maturation of memory CD8 T cells is limited by self-antigen expression

Immune tolerance to self-antigens is a complex process that utilizes multiple mechanisms working in concert to maintain homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. We developed a system that revealed a population of self-specific CD8 T cells within the endogenous T cell repertoire. Immunization of ovalbumin (OVA)-expressing transgenic mice with recombinant viruses expressing OVA-peptide variants induced self-reactive T cells in vivo that matured into memory T cells able to respond to secondary infection. However, whereas the avidity of memory cells in normal mice increased dramatically with repeated immunizations, avidity maturation was limited for self-specific CD8 T cells. Despite decreased avidity, such memory cells afforded protection against infection, but did not induce overt autoimmunity. Further, up-regulation of self-antigen expression in dendritic cells using an inducible system promoted programmed death-1 expression, but not clonal expansion of preexisting memory cells. Thus, the self-reactive T cell repertoire is controlled by overlapping mechanisms influenced by antigen dose

CD4+ T Cell Regulation of CD25 Expression Controls Development of Short-Lived Effector CD8+ T Cells in Primary and Secondary Responses

Both CD4(+) T cell help and IL-2 have been postulated to program activated CD8(+) T cells for memory cell development. However, the linkage between these two signals has not been well elucidated. Here we have studied effector and memory CD8(+) T cell differentiation following infection with three pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, vesicular stomatitis virus, and vaccinia virus) in the absence of both CD4(+) T cells and IL-2 signaling. We found that expression of CD25 on antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells peaked 3-4 days after initial priming and was dependent on CD4(+) T cell help, likely through a CD28:CD80/86 mediated pathway. CD4(+) T cell or CD25-deficiency led to normal early effector CD8(+) T cell differentiation, but a subsequent lack of accumulation of CD8(+) T cells resulting in overall decreased memory cell generation. Interestingly, in both primary and recall responses KLRG1(high) CD127(low) short-lived effector cells were drastically diminished in the absence of IL-2 signaling, although memory precursors remained intact. In contrast to previous reports, upon secondary antigen encounter CD25-deficient CD8(+) T cells were capable of undergoing robust expansion, but short-lived effector development was again impaired. Thus, these results demonstrated that CD4(+) T cell help and IL-2 signaling were linked via CD25 up-regulation, which controls the expansion and differentiation of antigen-specific effector CD8(+) T cells, rather than programming memory cell traits

Epidemiologic and Molecular Analysis of Human Tularemia, United States, 1964–2004

Distinct subpopulations of F. tularensis differ in their clinical manifestations, geographic distribution, and likely modes of transmission