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Thomas, Matthew

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas, Matthew.

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Full-scale FEED Study for Retrofitting the Prairie State Generating Station with an 816 MWe Capture Plant using Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Post-Combustion CO 2 Capture Technology

A full front-end engineering design (FEED) study to for a carbon capture system for Unit #2 (816 MWe) at the Prairie State Generating Company’s (PSGC) Energy Campus in Marissa, IL based on the KM CDR Process CO 2 capture technology from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) using their proprietary solvent KS-21TM. If built this carbon capture plant would be the world's largest to date. The cost of capture of 100 percent of the plant emissions was calculated to be $43.42 per metric tonne of CO 2 based on levelized costs for 30 years of operation (85% capacity factor), and includes Interest on Debt and Return on Equity During Operation.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2018

A decade of remotely sensed observations highlight complex processes linked to coastal permafrost bluff erosion in the Arctic

We report that eroding permafrost coasts are likely indicators and integrators of changes in the Arctic System as they are susceptible to the combined effects of declining sea ice extent, increases in open water duration, more frequent and impactful storms, sea-level rise, and warming permafrost. However, few observation sites in the Arctic have yet to link decadal-scale erosion rates with changing environmental conditions due to temporal data gaps. This study increases the temporal fidelity of coastal permafrost bluff observations using near-annual high spatial resolution (<1 m) satellite imagery acquired between 2008–2017 for a 9 km segment of coastline at Drew Point, Beaufort Sea coast, Alaska. Our results show that mean annual erosion for the 2007–2016 decade was 17.2 m yr -1 , which is 2.5 times faster than historic rates, indicating that bluff erosion at this site is likely responding to changes in the Arctic System. In spite of a sustained increase in decadal-scale mean annual erosion rates, mean open water season erosion varied from 6.7 m yr -1 in 2010 to more than 22.0 m yr -1 in 2007, 2012, and 2016. This variability provided a range of coastal responses through which we explored the different roles of potential environmental drivers. The lack of significant correlations between mean open water season erosion and the environmental variables compiled in this study indicates that we may not be adequately capturing the environmental forcing factors, that the system is conditioned by long-term transient effects or extreme weather events rather than annual variability, or that other not yet considered factors may be responsible for the increased erosion occurring at Drew Point. Finally, our results highlight an increase in erosion at Drew Point in the 21st century as well as the complexities associated with unraveling the factors responsible for changing coastal permafrost bluffs in the Arctic.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Clinical Advances of Hypoxia-Activated Prodrugs in Combination With Radiation Therapy

With the increasing incidence of cancer worldwide, the need for specific, effective therapies is ever more urgent. One example of targeted cancer therapeutics is hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs), also known as bioreductive prodrugs. These prodrugs are inactive in cells with normal oxygen levels but in hypoxic cells (with low oxygen levels) undergo chemical reduction to the active compound. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors and is associated with a more aggressive phenotype and resistance to all modes of therapy. Therefore, the combination of radiation therapy and bioreductive drugs presents an attractive opportunity for synergistic effects, because the HAP targets the radiation-resistant hypoxic cells. Hypoxia-activated prodrugs have typically been precursors of DNA-damaging agents, but a new generation of molecularly targeted HAPs is emerging. By targeting proteins associated with tumorigenesis and survival, these compounds may result in greater selectivity over healthy tissue. We review the clinical progress of HAPs as adjuncts to radiation therapy and conclude that the use of HAPs alongside radiation is vastly underexplored at the clinical level.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Novel ROCK inhibitors for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

A novel class of selective inhibitors of ROCK1 and ROCK2 has been identified by structural based drug design. PK/PD experiments using a set of highly selective Rho kinase inhibitors suggest that systemic Rho kinase inhibition is linked to a reversible reduction in lymphocyte counts. These results led to the consideration of topical delivery of these molecules, and to the identification of a lead molecule 7 which shows promising PK and PD in a murine model of pulmonary hypertension after intra-tracheal dosing.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Mass Spectrometry Imaging Quick View

MSI QuickView is a software designed to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for greatly speeding up experimental feedback (visualization and analysis) of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI or IMS) data during data acquisition. Often different software loads the entire data set, i.e., all lines of data into computer memory (RAM). This causes out of memory errors for larger datasets. We solved this in MSI QuickView by reading in the data one line at a time. Only the required information (e.g. the final pixel values for that line of heat map) is maintained in RAM. Interim analysis options include the mean intensity vs. m/z spectrum, intensity vs. time spectrums for up to 6 different m/z values or ranges chosen by the user and heat maps for each line. This assists in validating the usefulness of the particular experiment after scanning the first few lines. In addition, the tool facilitates further processing and analysis of the massive datasets. The user can manually pick different m/z values, time ranges, scroll through the spectra for any line in the data without having to load it in manually, save multiple images, change aspect ratios for the heat maps, and process the heat maps in multiple ways including overlaying images at different m/z values, displaying up to 9 different heat maps, alignment of scans along each line etc. There is no manipulation of the data required by the user to visualize the data.

Carson, JamesP.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Status on Technology Development of Optic Fiber-Coupled Laser Ignition System for Rocket Engine Applications

To pursue technology developments for future launch vehicles, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is examining vortex chamber concepts for liquid rocket engine applications. Past studies indicated that the vortex chamber schemes potentially have a number of advantages over conventional chamber methods. Due to the nature of the vortex flow, relatively cooler propellant streams tend to flow along the chamber wall. Hence, the thruster chamber can be operated without the need of any cooling techniques. This vortex flow also creates strong turbulence, which promotes the propellant mixing process. Consequently, the subject chamber concept: not only offer system simplicity, but also enhance the combustion performance. Test results have shown that chamber performance is markedly high even at a low chamber length-to-diameter ratio. This incentive can be translated to a convenience in the thrust chamber packaging.

Trinh, Huu P.↗