A valve concept for remote fluid flow control

Valve concept has been devised which offers lightweight, simplified mechanism capable of automatic control of large number of fluid flow ports. Valve control is achieved with valve stem which is bimetallic device activated by heating coil to open or close selected supply port. Number of controlled ports is limited only by desired physical size of system

Multidisciplinary research in the space sciences

Research activities were carried out in the following areas during this reporting period: (1) astrophysics; (2) climate and atmospheric modeling; and (3) climate applications of earth observations & geological studies. An ultra-low-noise 115 GHz receiver based upon a superconducting tunnel diode mixer has been designed and constructed. The first laboratory tests have yielded spectacular results: a single-sideband noise temperature of 75 K considerably more sensitive than any other receiver at this frequency. The receiver will replace that currently in use on the Columbia-GISS CO Sky Survey telescope. The 1.2 meter millimeter-wave telescope at Columbia University has been used to complete two large-scale surveys of molecular matter in the part of the inner galaxy which is visible from the Northern hemisphere (the first galactic quadrant); one of the distant galaxy and one of the solar neighborhood. The research conducted during the past year in the climate and atmospheric modeling programs has been focused on the development of appropriate atmospheric and upper ocean models, and preliminary applications of these models. Principal models are a one-dimensional radiative-convective model, a three-dimensional global climate model, and an upper ocean model. During the past year this project has focused on development of 2-channel satellite analysis methods and radiative transfer studies in support of multichannel analysis techniques

Hair radioactivity as a measure of exposure to radioisotopes

Since many radioisotopes accumulate in hair, this tropism was investigated by comparing the radioactivity of shaved with plucked hair collected from rats at various time intervals up to 24 hrs after intravenous injection of the ecologically important radioisotopes, iodine-131, manganese-54, strontium-85, and zinc-65. The plucked hair includes the hair follicles where biochemical transformations are taking place. The data indicate a slight surge of each radioisotpe into the hair immediately after injection, a variation of content of each radionuclide in the hair, and a greater accumulation of radioactivity in plucked than in shaved hair. These results have application not only to hair as a measure of exposure to radioisotopes, but also to tissue damage and repair at the hair follicle

Measuring and changing negative stuttering stereotypes in adolescents

Stuttering is known to carry stereotypes, e.g., that people who stutter are nervous, anxious, and shy. Research has shown that negative stereotypes about people who stutter exist within the general population. Moreover, negative stereotypes exist among teachers, students, speech-language pathologists, and even the parents of people who stutter. While public opinion of stuttering does not vary dramatically between populations, the ways in which we might change it does. Research has shown that educational videos, books, and classes about stuttering do not appear to significantly alter public opinion positively.;This study compared the effectiveness of two forms of advocacy, a live presentation versus a video presentation, in altering the stuttering stereotype among adolescents. Participants filled out a questionnaire before they were exposed to a 45-minute live presentation or a 45-minute video presentation. After these live and video presentations, they completed a second questionnaire. Then, participants who watched the video were exposed to a shortened 20-minute live presentation followed by a third and final questionnaire.;Results indicated that adolescents showed evidence of negative stereotypes towards people who stutter prior to the presentations. Overall, there were 27 significant positive attitude changes towards stuttering (p \u3c 0.005), 15 for live presentations and 12 for video presentations. Five additional significant positive attitude changes occurred after the video presentation as a result of the shortened live presentation. These findings demonstrate that adolescents\u27 opinions on stuttering can be altered in a positive direction. A live presentation appears to have a greater positive impact on altering attitudes than a video presentation, and moreover, a shortened live presentation following a video presentation can further alter attitudes positively