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Results for “reference cells”

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
NASA NTRS1982

Results of the 1981 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The calibration of the direct conversion of solar energy through use of solar cells at high altitudes by balloon flight is reported. Twenty seven modules were carried to an altitude of 35.4 kilometers. Silicon cells are stable for long periods of time and can be used as standards. It is demonstrated that the cell mounting cavity may be either black or white with equal validity in setting solar simulators. The calibrated cells can be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays.

Seaman, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Morphogenesis of a higher plant from cultured cells and embryos in space

Reference is made to the Cosmos 782 experiment, which showed that cultured totipotent cells of carrot can give rise to embryos with well-developed roots but minimally developed shoots at near-zero g. The problem of whether the development of leafy shoots is sensitive to near-zero g conditions is considered. A test system that would allow this problem to be resolved in a future space flight is described.

Krikorian, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Fast response solar array simulator

Tradeoff studies to determine the design requirements for a fast response solar array simulator capable of delivering output power in the range of 20 to 5000 watts are reported. The studies were divided into four major areas: frequency and transient response considerations, digital versus analog characteristic generation and programming, optimum power module size, and accuracy considerations. Based on an evaluation of the tradeoffs, a reference design was selected with a forward biased solar cell as an analog reference, and with current accuracy of + or - 0.5% of the short circuit setting.

Zerbel, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A portable hypergolic oxidizer vapor sensor for NASA's Space Shuttle program

The design and performance characteristics of an electrochemical NO2 sensor selected by NASA for the space shuttle program is described. The instrument consists of a sample pump, an electrochemical cell, and control and display electronics. The pump pushes the sample through the electrochemical cell where the vapors are analyzed and an output proportional to the NO2 concentration is produced. The output is displayed on a panel meter, and is also available at a recorder jack. The electrochemical cell is made up of a polypropylene chamber covered with teflon membrane faceplates. Plantinum electrodes are bonded to the faceplates, and the sensing and counter electrodes are potentiostatically controlled at -200 mV with respect to the reference electrode. The cell is filled with electrolyte, consisting of 13.5 cc of 23% solution of KOH.

Helms, W. R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Learning perturbation-inducible cell states from observability analysis of transcriptome dynamics

Abstract A major challenge in biotechnology and biomanufacturing is the identification of a set of biomarkers for perturbations and metabolites of interest. Here, we develop a data-driven, transcriptome-wide approach to rank perturbation-inducible genes from time-series RNA sequencing data for the discovery of analyte-responsive promoters. This provides a set of biomarkers that act as a proxy for the transcriptional state referred to as cell state. We construct low-dimensional models of gene expression dynamics and rank genes by their ability to capture the perturbation-specific cell state using a novel observability analysis. Using this ranking, we extract 15 analyte-responsive promoters for the organophosphate malathion in the underutilized host organism Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25. We develop synthetic genetic reporters from each analyte-responsive promoter and characterize their response to malathion. Furthermore, we enhance malathion reporting through the aggregation of the response of individual reporters with a synthetic consortium approach, and we exemplify the library’s ability to be useful outside the lab by detecting malathion in the environment. The engineered host cell, a living malathion sensor, can be optimized for use in environmental diagnostics while the developed machine learning tool can be applied to discover perturbation-inducible gene expression systems in the compendium of host organisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1984

Structure and functions of fungal cell surfaces

A review with 24 references on the biochemistry, molecular structure, and function of cell surfaces of fungi, especially dermatophytes: the chemistry and structure of the cell wall, the effect of polyene antibiotics on the morphology and function of cytoplasmic membranes, and the chemical structure and function of pigments produced by various fungi are discussed.

Nozawa, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Genetic Correlation with the DNA Repair Assay in Mice Exposed to High-LET

We hypothesize that DNA damage induced by high local energy deposition, occurring when cells are traversed by high-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) particles, can be experimentally modeled by exposing cells to high doses of low-LET. In this work, we validate such hypothesis by characterizing and correlating the time dependence of 53BP1 radiation-induced foci (RIF) for various doses and LET across 72 primary skin fibroblast from mice. This genetically diverse population allows us to understand how genetic may modulate the dose and LET relationship. The cohort was made on average from 3 males and 3 females belonging to 15 different strains of mice with various genetic backgrounds, including the collaborative cross (CC) genetic model (10 strains) and 5 reference mice strains. Cells were exposed to two fluences of three HZE (High Atomic Energy) particles (Si 350 megaelectronvolts per nucleon, Ar 350 megaelectronvolts per nucleon and Fe 600 megaelectronvolts per nucleon) and to 0.1, 1 and 4 grays from a 160 kilovolt X-ray. Individual radiation sensitivity was investigated by high throughput measurements of DNA repair kinetics for different doses of each radiation type. The 53BP1 RIF dose response to high-LET particles showed a linear dependency that matched the expected number of tracks per cell, clearly illustrating the fact that close-by DNA double strand breaks along tracks cluster within one single RIF. By comparing the slope of the high-LET dose curve to the expected number of tracks per cell we computed the number of remaining unrepaired tracks as a function of time post-irradiation. Results show that the percentage of unrepaired track over a 48 hours follow-up is higher as the LET increases across all strains. We also observe a strong correlation between the high dose repair kinetics following exposure to 160 kilovolts X-ray and the repair kinetics of high-LET tracks, with higher correlation with higher LET. At the in-vivo level for the 10-CC strains, we observe that drops in the number of T-cells and B-cells found in the blood of mice 24 hours after exposure to 0.1 gray of 320 kilovolts X-ray correlate well with slower DNA repair kinetics in skin cells exposed to X-ray. Overall, our results suggest that repair kinetics found in skin is a surrogate marker for in-vivo radiation sensitivity in other tissue, such as blood cells, and that such response is modulated by genetic variability.

cosmic radiation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimal Power Management for Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems via Bayesian Inference

Large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) have found ever-increasing use across industry and society to accelerate clean energy transition and improve energy supply reliability and resilience. However, their optimal power management poses significant challenges: the underlying high-dimensional nonlinear nonconvex optimization lacks computational tractability in real-world implementation, and the uncertainty of the exogenous power demand makes exact optimization difficult. This paper presents a new solution framework to address these bottlenecks. The solution pivots on introducing power-sharing ratios to specify each cell’s power quota from the output power demand. To find the optimal power-sharing ratios, we formulate a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) problem to achieve power-loss-minimizing BESS operation while complying with safety, cell balancing, and power supply-demand constraints. We then propose a parameterized control policy for the power-sharing ratios, which utilizes only three parameters, to reduce the computational demand in solving the NMPC problem. This policy parameterization allows us to translate the NMPC problem into a Bayesian inference problem for the sake of 1) computational tractability, and 2) overcoming the nonconvexity of the optimization problem. We leverage the ensemble Kalman inversion technique to solve the parameter estimation problem. Concurrently, a low-level control loop is developed to seamlessly integrate our proposed approach with the BESS to ensure practical implementation. This low-level controller receives the optimal power-sharing ratios, generates output power references for the cells, and maintains a balance between power supply and demand despite uncertainty in output power. We conduct extensive simulations and experiments on a 20-cell prototype to validate the proposed approach.

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs)↗
NASA NTRS2002

Improved performance and safety of lithium ion cells with the use of fluorinated carbonate-based electrolytes

There has been increasing interest in developing lithium-ion electrolytes that possess enhanced safety characteristics, while still able to provide the desired stability and performance. Toward this end, our efforts have been focused on the development of lithium-ion electrolytes which contain partially and fully fluorinated carbonate solvents. The advantage of using such solvents is that they possess the requisite stability demonstrated by the hydrocarbon-based carbonates, while also possessing more desirable physical properties imparted by the presence of the fluorine substituents, such as lower melting points, increased stability toward oxidation, and favorable SEI film forming Characteristics on carbon. Specifically, we have demonstrated the beneficial effect of electrolytes which contain the following fluorinated carbonate-based solvents: methyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (MTFEC), ethyl-2,2,2 trifluoroethyl carbonate (ETFEC), propyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (PTFEC), methyl-2,2,2,2',2',2' -hexafluoro-i-propyl carbonate (MHFPC), ethyl- 2,2,2,2',2',2' -hexafluoro-i-propyl carbonate (EHFPC), and di-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (DTFEC). These solvents have been incorporated into multi-component ternary and quaternary carbonate-based electrolytes and evaluated in lithium-carbon and carbon-LiNio.8Coo.202 cells (equipped with lithium reference electrodes). In addition to determining the charge/discharge behavior of these cells, a number of electrochemical techniques were employed (i.e., Tafel polarization measurements, linear polarization measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) to further characterize the performance of these electrolytes, including the SEI formation characteristics and lithium intercalatiodde-intercalation kinetics. In addition to their evaluation in experimental cells, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and conductivity measurements were performed on select electrolyte formulations to further our understanding of the trends in stability and ionic mobility imparted by different alkyl substituents in linear carbonates.

li-ion batteries fluorinated carbonate electrolyte↗
DOE OSTI2024

Parallel measurement of transcriptomes and proteomes from same single cells using nanodroplet splitting

Single-cell multiomics provides comprehensive insights into gene regulatory networks, cellular diversity, and temporal dynamics. Here, we introduce nanoSPLITS (nanodroplet SPlitting for Linked-multimodal Investigations of Trace Samples), an integrated platform that enables global profiling of the transcriptome and proteome from same single cells via RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics, respectively. Benchmarking of nanoSPLITS demonstrates high measurement precision with deep proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of single-cells. We apply nanoSPLITS to cyclin-dependent kinase 1 inhibited cells and found phospho-signaling events could be quantified alongside global protein and mRNA measurements, providing insights into cell cycle regulation. We extend nanoSPLITS to primary cells isolated from human pancreatic islets, introducing an efficient approach for facile identification of unknown cell types and their protein markers by mapping transcriptomic data to existing large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing reference databases. Accordingly, we establish nanoSPLITS as a multiomic technology incorporating global proteomics and anticipate the approach will be critical to furthering our understanding of biological systems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparative genomics of Aspergillus nidulans and section Nidulantes

Aspergillus nidulans is an important model organism for eukaryotic biology and the reference for the section Nidulantes in comparative studies. In this study, we de novo sequenced the genomes of 25 species of this section. Whole-genome phylogeny of 34 Aspergillus species and Penicillium chrysogenum clarifies the position of clades inside section Nidulantes. Comparative genomics reveals a high genetic diversity between species with 684 up to 2433 unique protein families. Furthermore, we categorized 2118 secondary metabolite gene clusters (SMGC) into 603 families across Aspergilli, with at least 40 % of the families shared between Nidulantes species. Genetic dereplication of SMGC and subsequent synteny analysis provides evidence for horizontal gene transfer of a SMGC. Proteins that have been investigated in A. nidulans as well as its SMGC families are generally present in the section Nidulantes, supporting its role as model organism. The set of genes encoding plant biomass-related CAZymes is highly conserved in section Nidulantes, while there is remarkable diversity of organization of MAT-loci both within and between the different clades. This study provides a deeper understanding of the genomic conservation and diversity of this section and supports the position of A. nidulans as a reference species for cell biology.

Theobald, Sebastian [Technical University of Denma↗
DOE OSTI2023

Modeling, analysis, and optimization of complex nuclear processes and facilities via computational methods: The HALEU process case study

Improving and adapting industrial systems to timely meet changing programmatic and market demands is an important goal to achieve, including when operating and maintaining complex nuclear processes and facilities. However, changes to these complex systems are costly, particularly when they are already in place and bounded to stringent requirements and constraints such as when handling radioactive material and contaminated equipment. These conditions often exist when treating spent nuclear fuel remotely within shielded nuclear radiation chambers, commonly referred as hot cells, to condition nuclear material and/or fabricate products for utilization in other nuclear enterprises such as in the manufacture of advanced nuclear fuel. The illustrative case considered here is the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) products supporting the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. For the HALEU program, resources invested were and are being systematically analyzed so that these investments are maximized in a facility that is nearly 60 years old. A methodology that has effectively enabled optimized and improvements in the Spent Fuel Treatment (SFT) program, and consequently the HALEU program, involves discrete event simulation as addressed in this article. Here, the quantification of multiple productivity metrics, including material processing rates, cycle times, bottlenecks, number of material transfers as well as equipment, workstation, and material handling utilization, has resulted in a myriad of diverse discoveries and data-informed decisions regarding process layout and constituent, labor levels and schedules, selection of new process units, storage needs, and other critical process configurations. This article describes such a computational capability being applied for decision-making, illustrates its application to an actual process and program, provides illustrative results, and argues how computational methods for the modeling, analysis, and optimization of complex processes and facilities does lead to informed decisions derived from data and not only from intuition.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Investigation of Active Life Balancing to Recondition Li-ion Battery Packs for 2nd Life

An investigation is presented into the application of active life balancing battery management systems to recondition inhomogeneous Li-ion battery packs and achieve homogeneity in capacity for second life. This paper proposes a life balancing objective map, which controls the state of charge references for each cell in a battery pack based on its capacity relative to other cells. The impacts of life balancing objective maps on the reconditioning time and overall pack capacity fade are considered. Moreover, the proposed approach accounts for various load and environmental effects, including depth-of-discharge, battery pack temperature, number of cycles per day, and cells’ resting time at various states of charge. The study results in a battery pack with convergent capacities achieved in minimal time, while curtailing overall capacity fade. Simulation results for a battery pack with sixteen series connected 75 Ah Kokam NMC cells with 3.6% initial capacity imbalance are presented, indicating a reconditioning time of 1.34 months with a final capacity imbalance of 0.1% and an overall capacity fade of 0.005%.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1983

Results of the 1982 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The 1982 solar cell calibration balloon flight was successfully completed on July 21, meeting all objectives of the program. Twenty-eight modules were carried to an altitude of 36.0 kilometers. The calibrated cells can now be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays.

Downing, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Results of the 1983 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The 1983 solar cell calibration balloon flight was successfully completed and met all objectives of the program. Thirty-four modules were carried to an altitude of 36.0 kilometers. The calibrated cells can now be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays. Cell calibration data are tabulated as well as the repeatability of standard solar cell BFS-17A (35 flights over a 21-year period).

Downing, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Advanced photovoltaic experiment (S0014)

The advanced photovoltaics-related experiments for investigating a portion of the solar spectrum and the effect of the space environment on photovoltaics. The information will be used to provide correlation between space and ground testing and also to provide for more accurate performance measurement in the laboratory. Specific objectives of these experiments are to provide information on the performance and endurance of advanced and conventional solar cells, to improve reference standards for photovoltaic measurements, and to measure the energy distribution in the extraterrestrial solar spectrum. Data to be obtained will include temperatures and short-circuit current of the samples. Six-point current-voltage (I-V) characteristics will be obtained for selected samples. These data will be recorded once a day during the flight. Orbit data will be correlated with preflight and postflight measurement of the samples.

Bradhorst, H. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Results of the 1984 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The 1984 solar cell calibration balloon flight was successfully completed on July 19, meeting all objectives of the program. Thirty-six modules were carried to an altitude of 36.0 kilometers. The calibrated cells can now be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays.

Downing, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Results of the 1985 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

The 1985 solar cell calibration balloon flight was successfully completed on July 12, 1985, meeting all objectives of the program. Fifty-seven modules were carried to an altitude of 115,000 ft (35.0 km). The calibrated cells can now be used as reference standards in simulator testing of cells and arrays.

Anspaugh, B. E.↗