Nonflammable potting, encapsulating and/or conformal coating compound

Compound formed from dimethylpolysiloxane, ammonium phosphate, and ground glass is nonflammable in air environment and self-extingushing in atmosphere of 60 percent oxygen and 40 percent nitrogen. Material may have applications for reducing industrial fire hazards and should interest aircraft industry, machinery manufacturers, and automotive industry

Absorbent product and articles made therefrom

A multilayer absorbent product for use in contact with the skin to absorb fluids is described. The product has a water pervious facing layer for contacting the skin, and a first fibrous wicking layer overlaying the water pervious layer. A first container section is defined by inner and outer layers of a water pervious wicking material in between a first absorbent mass and a second container section defined by inner and outer layers of a water pervious wicking material between what is disposed a second absorbent mass, and a liquid impermeable/gas permeable layer overlaying the second fibrous wicking layer

Absorbent product to absorb fluids

A multi-layer absorbent product for use in contact with the skin to absorb fluids is discussed. The product utilizes a water pervious facing layer for contacting the skin, overlayed by a first fibrous wicking layer, the wicking layer preferably being of the one-way variety in which fluid or liquid is moved away from the facing layer. The product further includes a first container section defined by inner and outer layer of a water pervious wicking material between which is disposed a first absorbent mass. A second container section defined by inner and outer layers between which is disposed a second absorbent mass and a liquid impermeable/gas permeable layer. Spacesuit applications are discussed

Lightweight electrically-powered flexible thermal laminate

Cross-layered woven or unwoven yarns are used to provide an active thermal control mechanism for spacecraft use. One set of yarns is composed of flexible electrically conductive metal fibers which are capable of being resistance heated by the application of voltage. Another set of yarns, nonconductive and flexible, provides mechanical strength and precludes the passage of electrical current between the metal yarns by virtue of the spacing between them. A lightweight, electrically nonconductive film is bonded to the cross-layered yarns to protect the metal yarns from the elements (minimize electrical shorts from moisture such as rain), to provide additional strength to the fabric, and to prevent conductive loss of heat in nonvacuum applications. The nonconductive film is metalized on its obverse side to provide a more uniform heat load distribution

Comparison of hand laid-up tape and filament wound composite cylinders and panels with and without impact damage

The results of this experimental comparison of filament wound control (unimpacted) cylinders loaded to failure in axial compression indicates that one fiber cross-over location has no effect on the failure mode or strain in thick walled filament wound graphite-epoxy specimens with stacking sequence (plus or minus 45/90) sub 3s. A comparison between filament wound and hand laid-up tape control cylinders indicates that there is little or no difference in the response of cylinders constructed by using two different fabrication methods, however, unimpacted panels with many fiber cross-overs fail at up to 15 percent lower strains than panels with no fiber cross-overs. A comparison of samples subjected to low speed impact damage prior to compressive loading indicates that impact damage reduces the strain at failure by over 60 percent in tape and filament wound graphite-epoxy cylinders and in tape flat panels. The presence of fiber cross-overs was observed to reduce the strength of filament wound impact-damaged panels, but to have no significant effect on the strength of filament wound impact-damaged cylinders

Design of a reusable kinetic energy absorber for an astronaut safety tether to be used during extravehicular activities on the Space Station

The goal of this project is to design a reusable safety device for a waist tether which will absorb the kinetic energy of an astronaut drifting away from the Space Station. The safety device must limit the tension of the tether line in order to prevent damage to the astronaut's space suit or to the structure of the spacecraft. The tether currently used on shuttle missions must be replaced after the safety feature has been developed. A reusable tether for the Space Station would eliminate the need for replacement tethers, conserving space and mass. This report presents background information, scope and limitations, methods of research and development, alternative designs, a final design solution and its evaluation, and recommendations for further work

The development of literary blackness in the Dominican Republic

The concept of Dominican racial identity presents a problem in the investigation of Afro-Dominican literature. While Whiteness may be the cultural and physical standard for the Dominican, people of African descent have always been the majority in the Dominican Republic. This demographic and historical reality helps explain why Afro-Dominican literature has evolved despite efforts to erase their African ancestors from official history. Nineteenth-century Dominican literature forged the definition of Dominicanness that is still accepted today. By establishing the native Indian woman as the mother of Dominican identity, the nation\u27s foundational writers gave darker Dominicans a racial background that replaced their African, and therefore, inferior past. Consequently, much of contemporary Dominican culture and history reflect the nineteenth century\u27s literary campaign of denial

The development of literary blackness in the Dominican Republic

The concept of Dominican racial identity presents a problem in the investigation of Afro-Dominican literature. While Whiteness may be the cultural and physical standard for the Dominican, people of African descent have always been the majority in the Dominican Republic. This demographic and historical reality helps explain why Afro-Dominican literature has evolved despite efforts to erase their African ancestors from official history. Nineteenth-century Dominican literature forged the definition of Dominicanness that is still accepted today. By establishing the native Indian woman as the mother of Dominican identity, the nation\u27s foundational writers gave darker Dominicans a racial background that replaced their African, and therefore, inferior past. Consequently, much of contemporary Dominican culture and history reflect the nineteenth century\u27s literary campaign of denial

Why older adults spend time sedentary and break their sedentary behavior: a mixed methods approach using life-logging equipment

Older adults are recommended to reduce their sedentary time to promote healthy ageing. To develop effective interventions identifying when, why, and how older adults are able to change their sitting habits is important. The aim of this mixed-method study was to improve our understanding of reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior in older adults. Thirty older adults (74.0 [+/- 5.3] years old, 73% women) were asked about their believed reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior, and about their actual reasons when looking at a personal storyboard with objective records of activPAL monitor data and time-lapse camera pictures showing all their periods of sedentary time in a day. The most often mentioned believed reason for remaining sedentary was television/radio (mentioned by 48.3%), while eating/drinking was most often mentioned as actual reason (96.6%). Only 17.2% believed that food/tea preparation was a reason to break up sitting, while this was an actual reason for 82.8% of the study sample. Results of this study show that there is a discrepancy between believed and actual reasons for (breaking) sedentary behavior. These findings suggest developing interventions utilizing the actual reasons for breaking sedentary behavior to reduce sedentary time in older adults

Lightweight ducts fabricated from reinforced plastics and elastomers

Method has been developed for fabrication of lightweight ducts that are three times stronger than aluminum ducts. Method can be used to produce either flexible or rigid ducts