Search

Electrical-discharge wire cutting is a promising technique that provides flexibility and lightness for a flapping micro aerial vehicle. Electrical-discharge wire cutting is used to fabricate the high-aspect-ratio structure of the four-bar linkage gear transmission module made of aluminum-alloy 7075. Aluminum-alloy 7075 has excellent specific strength (yield strength/density) good for durability of the transmission module in a micro aerial vehicle's tuff operation. A new flapping micro aerial vehicle of 21.6 cm wing span consequently has a minimum body mass of 5.9 g after installing the transmission module and a flexible wing frame made of carbon fibers and polyethylene terephthalate film. This micro aerial vehicle can endure a flight time of 6 min 7 s with the wingbeat frequency of 10-20 Hz. The lift and thrust coefficients of the micro aerial vehicle have been investigated through wind-tunnel testing. The proposed flapping micro aerial vehicle also exhibits the improved characteristic in the scaling law with respect to wingbeat frequency versus body mass. DOI: 10.2514/1.38862

The reaction mechanism that gives rise to the blue-emitting phosphorescent complexes [Os[(CO).sub.2][(fppz).sub.2]] and [Os[(CO).sub.2][(fptz).sub.2]] is explained by isolating and characterizing the triosmium intermediate complexes [Os.sub.3][(CO).sub.8][(fppz).sub.2] and [Os.sub.3][(CO).sub.8][(fptz).sub.2]] bearing two 2-pyridylazolate ligands. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of newly obtained hybrid complexes confirmed their monometallic and isomeric nature together with the coordination of two phosphine ligands located in the trans-disposition and one CO and one hydride located opposite to the pyridyl triazolate chelate.

Glucooligosaccharide oxidase from Acremonium strictum is isolated for potential applications in oligosaccharide acid production and carbohydrate detection. The protein is a unique covalent flavoenzyme and the kinetic measurements have indicated that the enzyme possess an open carbohydrate-binding groove, which is mainly composed of two glucosyl-binding subsites.

A cross-linking studies in transgenic mouse lenses designed for overexpression of His-tagged human [alpha]A-crystallin is conducted to identify potential binding partners for [alpha]-crystallin in the intact ocular lens. The data for binding interaction between [alpha]-crystallin and GRIFIN, enhanced up to 5-fold in the presence of 3 mM ATP supported the hypothesis that GRIFIN is a novel binding partner of [alpha]-crystallin in the lens.

A series of new [Ru.sup.II] complexes bearing cyclometalated benzo-[h]quinoline (BQ) and dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline (DBQ) ligands were designed and synthesized in order to investigate the associated photoluminescence properties. Results indicate that for the given complexes, the weaker spin-orbit coupling present within the molecules reduces the [T.sub.1]-[S.sub.0] interaction, from which the thermally activated radiationless deactivation may take place.

The effects of Chinese yam (Dioscorea alata) and Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica) on gastrointestinal functions including intestinal microflora and intestinal enzymes' activities, as well as antioxidant protection against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative damage, in Balb/cA mice were examined. Both Chinese and Japanese yams contained dietary fibers, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which might contribute to the observed gastrointestinal function and antioxidant protection suggesting that both Chinese yam and Japanese yam were beneficial for intestinal health and oxidation prevention.

A rapid synthesis procedure for nonagglomerated silicate nanocrystals is developed. The simple modification was very effective in preventing the aggregation of precursor particles into colloidal zeolite, and the silicate produced appeared as transparent and fully dispersible nonagglomerated nanocrystals.

A new and simple means of growing ZnO nanowire (NW) arrays using a TiN buffer layer is proposed although the crystal structure obtained differed entirely from that of ZnO. One-dimensional semiconductor nanomaterials are expected to be important components in nanodevices.

The properties of the ZnO-doped Zr0.8Sn0.2TiO4 thin films on n-type silicon substrate are investigated at different argon-oxygen (Ar/O2) ratios (100/0-80/20) and substrate temperatures. The effects of the Ar/O2 ratio and substrate temperature on the crystal structure and dielectric properties of ZST films are discussed.

Mixed Initiative Activity Plan Generator (MAPGEN) combines two existing-planning systems such as the APGEN activity-planning tool and Scheduling system from NASA Ames Research Center. It generates a plan and actively enforcing flight and mission rules with conflict resolution, such as forbidden activity overlaps or resource violations.

A structural isomer of the core chromophore 4-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,2-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-one (p-HBDI) in green fluorescence protein (GFP) is synthesized. The 4-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-1,2-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-5(4H)-one (o-HBDI) has possessed a seven-membered-ring hydrogen bond, from which ultrafast excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) takes place, leading in a proton-transfer tautomer emission in nonpolar solvents.