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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

The Unified Phenotype Ontology : a framework for cross-species integrative phenomics

Phenotypic data are critical for understanding biological mechanisms and consequences of genomic variation, and are pivotal for clinical use cases such as disease diagnostics and treatment development. For over a century, vast quantities of phenotype data have been collected in many different contexts covering a variety of organisms. The emerging field of phenomics focuses on integrating and interpreting these data to inform biological hypotheses. A major impediment in phenomics is the wide range of distinct and disconnected approaches to recording the observable characteristics of an organism. Phenotype data are collected and curated using free text, single terms or combinations of terms, using multiple vocabularies, terminologies, or ontologies. Integrating these heterogeneous and often siloed data enables the application of biological knowledge both within and across species. Existing integration efforts are typically limited to mappings between pairs of terminologies; a generic knowledge representation that captures the full range of cross-species phenomics data is much needed. We have developed the Unified Phenotype Ontology (uPheno) framework, a community effort to provide an integration layer over domain-specific phenotype ontologies, as a single, unified, logical representation. uPheno comprises (1) a system for consistent computational definition of phenotype terms using ontology design patterns, maintained as a community library; (2) a hierarchical vocabulary of species-neutral phenotype terms under which their species-specific counterparts are grouped; and (3) mapping tables between species-specific ontologies. This harmonized representation supports use cases such as cross-species integration of genotype-phenotype associations from different organisms and cross-species informed variant prioritization.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Improved modeling of in-ice particle showers for IceCube event reconstruction

The IceCube Neutrino Observatory relies on an array of photomultiplier tubes to detect Cherenkov light produced by charged particles in the South Pole ice. IceCube data analyses depend on an in-depth characterization of the glacial ice, and on novel approaches in event reconstruction that utilize fast approximations of photoelectron yields. Here, a more accurate model is derived for event reconstruction that better captures our current knowledge of ice optical properties. When evaluated on a Monte Carlo simulation set, the median angular resolution for in-ice particle showers improves by over a factor of three compared to a reconstruction based on a simplified model of the ice. The most substantial improvement is obtained when including effects of birefringence due to the polycrystalline structure of the ice. When evaluated on data classified as particle showers in the high-energy starting events sample, a significantly improved description of the events is observed.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1988

An interactive testbed for development of expert tools for pattern recognition

The initial implementation of an interactive testbed for development of expert system applications in image processing, i.e., a toolbox of procedures designed to facilitate the capture of expert knowledge for region grouping and analysis is described. The user can elect to interactively enter commands (via a command interpreter) for region manipulation to, in effect, simulate the actions of a hypothetical expert system. The user can then incorporate any rules and procedures as derived from interactive experimentation into customized region processing procedures using the library of utility functions. An iterative technique based on image pyramids is used to compute the initial region segmentation without the use of process parameters. These regions can then be interactively examined and manipulated using the command interpreter.

Wharton, Stephen W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Qualitative and quantitative reasoning about thermodynamics

One goal of qualitative physics is to capture the tacit knowledge of engineers and scientists. It is shown how Qualitative Process theory can be used to express concepts of engineering thermodynamics. In particular, it is shown how to integrate qualitative and quantitative knowledge to solve textbook problems involving thermodynamic cycles, such as gas turbine plants and steam power plants. These ideas were implemented in a program called SCHISM. Its analysis of a sample textbook problem is described and plans for future work are discussed.

Skorstad, Gordon↗
NASA NTRS1989

DAWN (Design Assistant Workstation) for advanced physical-chemical life support systems

This paper reports the results of a project supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (NASA-OAST) under the Advanced Life Support Development Program. It is an initial attempt to integrate artificial intelligence techniques (via expert systems) with conventional quantitative modeling tools for advanced physical-chemical life support systems. The addition of artificial intelligence techniques will assist the designer in the definition and simulation of loosely/well-defined life support processes/problems as well as assist in the capture of design knowledge, both quantitative and qualitative. Expert system and conventional modeling tools are integrated to provide a design workstation that assists the engineer/scientist in creating, evaluating, documenting and optimizing physical-chemical life support systems for short-term and extended duration missions.

Rudokas, Mary R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Software reengineering

Today's software systems generally use obsolete technology, are not integrated properly with other software systems, and are difficult and costly to maintain. The discipline of reverse engineering is becoming prominent as organizations try to move their systems up to more modern and maintainable technology in a cost effective manner. JSC created a significant set of tools to develop and maintain FORTRAN and C code during development of the Space Shuttle. This tool set forms the basis for an integrated environment to re-engineer existing code into modern software engineering structures which are then easier and less costly to maintain and which allow a fairly straightforward translation into other target languages. The environment will support these structures and practices even in areas where the language definition and compilers do not enforce good software engineering. The knowledge and data captured using the reverse engineering tools is passed to standard forward engineering tools to redesign or perform major upgrades to software systems in a much more cost effective manner than using older technologies. A beta vision of the environment was released in Mar. 1991. The commercial potential for such re-engineering tools is very great. CASE TRENDS magazine reported it to be the primary concern of over four hundred of the top MIS executives.

Fridge, Ernest M., III↗
NASA NTRS1993

Software engineering

Today's software systems generally use obsolete technology, are not integrated properly with other software systems, and are difficult and costly to maintain. The discipline of reverse engineering is becoming prominent as organizations try to move their systems up to more modern and maintainable technology in a cost effective manner. The Johnson Space Center (JSC) created a significant set of tools to develop and maintain FORTRAN and C code during development of the space shuttle. This tool set forms the basis for an integrated environment to reengineer existing code into modern software engineering structures which are then easier and less costly to maintain and which allow a fairly straightforward translation into other target languages. The environment will support these structures and practices even in areas where the language definition and compilers do not enforce good software engineering. The knowledge and data captured using the reverse engineering tools is passed to standard forward engineering tools to redesign or perform major upgrades to software systems in a much more cost effective manner than using older technologies. The latest release of the environment was in Feb. 1992.

Fridge, Ernest M., III↗
NASA NTRS1993

Automating a human factors evaluation of graphical user interfaces for NASA applications: An update on CHIMES

Capturing human factors knowledge about the design of graphical user interfaces (GUI's) and applying this knowledge on-line are the primary objectives of the Computer-Human Interaction Models (CHIMES) project. The current CHIMES prototype is designed to check a GUI's compliance with industry-standard guidelines, general human factors guidelines, and human factors recommendations on color usage. Following the evaluation, CHIMES presents human factors feedback and advice to the GUI designer. The paper describes the approach to modeling human factors guidelines, the system architecture, a new method developed to convert quantitative RGB primaries into qualitative color representations, and the potential for integrating CHIMES with user interface management systems (UIMS). Both the conceptual approach and its implementation are discussed. This paper updates the presentation on CHIMES at the first International Symposium on Ground Data Systems for Spacecraft Control.

Jiang, Jian-Ping↗
NASA NTRS2000

ScienceDesk Project Overview

NASA's ScienceDesk Project at the Ames Research Center is responsible for scientific knowledge management which includes ensuring the capture, preservation, and traceability of scientific knowledge. Other responsibilities include: 1) Maintaining uniform information access which is achieved through intelligent indexing and visualization, 2) Collaborating both asynchronous and synchronous science teamwork, 3) Monitoring and controlling semi-autonomous remote experimentation.

Keller, Richard M.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Semantic Analysis of Email Using Domain Ontologies and WordNet

The problem of capturing and accessing knowledge in paper form has been supplanted by a problem of providing structure to vast amounts of electronic information. Systems that can construct semantic links for natural language documents like email messages automatically will be a crucial element of semantic email tools. We have designed an information extraction process that can leverage the knowledge already contained in an existing semantic web, recognizing references in email to existing nodes in a network of ontology instances by using linguistic knowledge and knowledge of the structure of the semantic web. We developed a heuristic score that uses several forms of evidence to detect references in email to existing nodes in the Semanticorganizer repository's network. While these scores cannot directly support automated probabilistic inference, they can be used to rank nodes by relevance and link those deemed most relevant to email messages.

Berrios, Daniel C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

NASA Human Health and Performance Center (NHHPC)

The NASA Human Health and Performance Center (NHHPC) will provide a collaborative and virtual forum to integrate all disciplines of the human system to address spaceflight, aviation, and terrestrial human health and performance topics and issues. The NHHPC will serve a vital role as integrator, convening members to share information and capture a diverse knowledge base, while allowing the parties to collaborate to address the most important human health and performance topics of interest to members. The Center and its member organizations will address high-priority risk reduction strategies, including research and technology development, improved medical and environmental health diagnostics and therapeutics, and state-of-the art design approaches for human factors and habitability. Once full established in 2011, the NHHPC will focus on a number of collaborative projects focused on human health and performance, including workshops, education and outreach, information sharing and knowledge management, and research and technology development projects, to advance the study of the human system for spaceflight and other national and international priorities.

Davis, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS2020

A Review of In-Space Propellant Transfer Capabilities and Challenges for Missions Involving Propellant Resupply

This paper captures and transfers knowledge of in-space propellant transfer accomplishments and communicate the remaining challenges to a new generation of NASA engineers as multiple NASA programs and centers have worked related and applicable efforts. The Propulsion Technical Discipline Team (TDT) established a plan to draft this paper as an effort to help engineers and decision makers recognize and access the various islands of experience that have formed within the agency as different NASA directorates and projects have embraced the challenges associated with propellant transfer.

Propellant Transfer↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Topographic Slant Range Modeling and Fault Detection for Precision Planetary Landing

This work presents a novel landing site relative topographic measurement model for aslant range sensor being utilized for precision planetary landing operations. The measurement model accounts for the local terrain the slant range sensor captures and leverages knowledge of the estimated landing site provided by the navigation filter. Notably, in contrast to previous works, the new model does not rely on surface normal approximation, reducing the model’s sensitivity to noisy digital elevation maps which represent the local topography. In addition to the measurement model, this work introduces a novel fault detection method, denoted the probabilistic inspection of topographic filter altitude likelihood (PITFAL) algorithm, that implements a statistical outlier rejection algorithm. PITFAL is designed for multi-beam slant range sensors, such as the Navigation Doppler LIDAR (NDL), and identifies statistically inconsistent range estimates through a consensus check on the set of apparent altitudes computed for each individual beam. These models are numerically validated by the Safe and Precise Landing Capability Evolution (SPLICE) project’s high-fidelity terrestrial and lunar lander simulations.

Davis W Adams↗
NASA NTRS2025

Topographic Slant Range Modeling and Fault Detection for Precision Planetary Landing

This work presents a novel landing site relative topographic measurement model for aslant range sensor being utilized for precision planetary landing operations. The measurement model accounts for the local terrain the slant range sensor captures and leverages knowledge of the estimated landing site provided by the navigation filter. Notably, in contrast to previous works, the new model does not rely on surface normal approximation, reducing the model’s sensitivity to noisy digital elevation maps which represent the local topography. In addition to the measurement model, this work introduces a novel fault detection method, denoted the probabilistic inspection of topographic filter altitude likelihood (PITFAL) algorithm, that implements a statistical outlier rejection algorithm. PITFAL is designed for multi-beam slant range sensors, such as the Navigation Doppler LIDAR (NDL), and identifies statistically inconsistent range estimates through a consensus check on the set of apparent altitudes computed for each individual beam. These models are numerically validated by the Safe and Precise Landing Capability Evolution (SPLICE) project’s high-fidelity terrestrial and lunar lander simulations.

Davis W Adams↗
DOE OSTI2024

Sustainable Enablers of Knowledge Management Strategies in a Higher Education Institution

By facilitating the capture, organization, and dissemination of knowledge within and beyond the institution, knowledge management (KM) in higher education institutions (HEIs) fuels innovation, enhances research impact, and strengthens collaboration, ultimately leading to the creation of new knowledge and its valuable exchange. However, there is still much to explore in terms of the enablers of knowledge creation, sharing, and transfer. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the enablers of effective KM in the Polytechnique University of Leiria, which serves as a benchmark for other higher education institutions due to its leadership role in RUN-EU, a consortium of European universities. To achieve this, a narrative analysis based on information from SCOPUS and the institute’s website, focusing on innovation, research, and development strategies, is proposed. The findings suggest that for KM initiatives to be successful, they need to be strategically designed, culturally supported, technologically enabled, and integrated into existing workflows.

Santos, Eleonora (ORCID:0000000346930804)↗
NASA NTRS2008

Applying Knowledge Management to an Organization's Transformation

Although workers in the information age have more information at their fingertips than ever before, the ability to effectively capture and reuse actual knowledge is still a surmounting challenge for many organizations. As high tech organizations transform from providing complex products and services in an established domain to providing them in new domains, knowledge remains an increasingly valuable commodity. This paper explores the supply and demand elements of the "knowledge market" within the International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate (ISSSPD) of NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC). It examines how knowledge supply and knowledge demand determine the success of an organization's knowledge management (KM) activities, and how the elements of a KM infrastructure (tools, culture, and training), can be used to create and sustain knowledge supply and demand

Potter, Shannon↗
NASA NTRS1987

Temporal and contextual knowledge in model-based expert systems

A basic paradigm that allows representation of physical systems with a focus on context and time is presented. Paragon provides the capability to quickly capture an expert's knowledge in a cognitively resonant manner. From that description, Paragon creates a simulation model in LISP, which when executed, verifies that the domain expert did not make any mistakes. The Achille's heel of rule-based systems has been the lack of a systematic methodology for testing, and Paragon's developers are certain that the model-based approach overcomes that problem. The reason this testing is now possible is that software, which is very difficult to test, has in essence been transformed into hardware.

Toth-Fejel, Tihamer↗
NASA NTRS2006

Safety and Mission Assurance Knowledge Management Retention

This viewgraph presentation reviews the issues surrounding the management of knowledge in regards to safety and mission assurance. The JSC workers who were hired in the 1960's are slated to retire in the next two to three years. The experiences and knowledge of these NASA workers must be identified, and disseminated. This paper reviews some of the strategies that the S&MA is developing to capture that valuable institutional knowledge.

Johnson, Teresa A.↗