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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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• To provide an overview of the MC Tablet Hybrid software. • To communicate the new procedure EP-DIV-SOP-20224. • To communicate changes in Work Order (WO) generation and distribution. • To provide step-by-step process for electronic WO data entry for control measure inspection forms.
Increased stratification, less mixing and reduced nutrient concentrations in marine surface waters are predicted under a number of climate-change scenarios. These conditions are considered favorable for tiny photosynthetic algae (picophytoplankton), shaping their role in mediating future CO2 conditions. One possibility is that picophytoplankton such as Micromonas that have broad geographical ranges will more successfully adapt to changing environmental conditions. However, their capacity to thrive under the multi-factorial impacts of low pH, low nutrients, increasing temperature and changes in community composition is not known. Here, we developed the dual-Micromonas model system, which entailed generating optimized genomic information for two Micromonas species and developing a highperformance chemostat system in which both CO2 and nutrients could be consistently manipulated. This system is now fully operational. Project results are available in several publications will others are still in the analysis phase. Overall, our results show that Micromonas primary production will likely decrease under predicted future climate conditions. Furthermore, our studies on Micromonas provide new insights to the land plant ancestor, including the discovery of conserved signaling mechanisms (known to be essential to plant development) as well as the discovery of widespread chemical-sensing molecular switches. Collectively, this research highlights Micromonas as an important new model green alga for understanding plant gene networks and evolution as well as for investigating perturbation effects on marine primary production.
This document contains a summary of the Streptococcus species for which data was gathered in the project.
Sandia Labs has corporate, lab-wide efforts to enhance the research environment as well as improve physical space. However, these two efforts are usually done in isolation. The integration of physical space design with the nurturing of what we call psychosocial space can foster more efficient and effective creativity, innovation, collaboration, and performance. This paper presents a brief literature review on how academia and industry are studying the integration of physical and psychosocial space and focuses on the efforts that we, the authors, have made to improve the research environment in the Cyber Engineering Research Lab (CERL), home to Group 1460. Interviews with subject matter experts from Silicon Valley and the University of New Mexico plus changes to actual spaces in CERL provided us with six lessons learned when integrating physical and psychosocial space. We describe these six key takeaways in hopes that Sandia will see this area as an evolving research capability that Sandia can both contribute to and benefit from.
An overview of Los Alamos National Lab’s (LANL) storm sewer system, the presentation includes information on the management storm sewer permit and environmental programs and projects of LANL institutions.
This standard provides performance test specifications and requirements for inverters to be used in grid-tied photovoltaic systems.
This activity is supported by the US Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Fuels Product Line (FPL). Two major accomplishments in FY 15 are summarized in this report: (1) implementation of the FASTGRASS module in the BISON code; and (2) a Xe implantation experiment for large-grained UO 2 . Both BISON AND MARMOT codes have been developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to enable next generation fuel performance modeling capability as part of the NEAMS Program FPL. To contribute to the development of the Moose-Bison-Marmot (MBM) code suite, we have implemented the FASTGRASS fission gas model as a module in the BISON code. Based on rate theory formulations, the coupled FASTGRASS module in BISON is capable of modeling LWR oxide fuel fission gas behavior and fission gas release. In addition, we conducted a Xe implantation experiment at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) in order to produce the needed UO 2 samples with desired bubble morphology. With these samples, further experiments to study the fission gas diffusivity are planned to provide validation data for the Fission Gas Release Model in MARMOT codes.
Due to the iconic status of the pillars of the Eagle Nebula, this research will bring popular attention to plasma physics, HED laboratory physics, and fundamental science at NIF and other experimental facilities. The result will be to both to bring new perspectives to the studies of hydrodynamics in inertial confinement fusion and HED scenarios in general, and to promote interest in the STEM disciplines.
The characterization, modeling, analysis, and tuning of software performance has been a central topic in High Performance Computing (HPC) since its early beginnings. The overall goal is to make HPC software run faster on particular hardware, either through better scheduling, on-node resource utilization, or more efficient distributed communication.
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, managing and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, is the lead laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s advanced vehicle testing. Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC contracted with Intertek Testing Services, North America to conduct several U.S. Department of Defense-based micro-climate studies to identify potential U.S. Department of Defense transportation systems that are strong candidates for introduction or expansion of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The study included Joint Base Lewis McChord, located in Washington State; Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, located in Washington State; and United States Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune, located in North Carolina. The project was divided into four tasks for each of the three bases studied. Task 1 consisted of surveying the non-tactical fleet of vehicles to begin review of vehicle mission assignments and types of vehicles in service. In Task 2, the daily operational characteristics of the vehicles were identified to select vehicles for further monitoring and attachment of data loggers. Task 3 recorded vehicle movements in order to characterize the vehicles’ missions. Results of the data analysis and observations were provided. Individual observations of these selected vehicles provided the basis for recommendations related to PEV adoption (i.e., whether a battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle [collectively referred to as PEVs] can fulfill the mission requirements). It also provided the basis for recommendations related to placement of PEV charging infrastructure. In Task 4, an implementation approach was provided for near-term adoption of PEVs into the respective fleets. Each facility was provided detailed reports on each of these tasks. This paper summarizes and provides observations on the project and completes Intertek’s required actions.
Steel-plate composite (SC) structures have been used to expedite construction of the third generation of nuclear power plants, for example, consider AP1000® and US-APWR®, both of which use SC walls for the primary and secondary shield walls within the containment internal structures (CIS). Additionally, AP1000® uses an SC shield building outside of the steel containment vessel to provide radiation shielding, earthquake resistance, and aircraft impact resistance.
On February 2, 2015 the Offices of High Energy Physics (HEP) and Basic Energy Sciences (BES) convened a Round Table discussion among a group of physicists on ‘Common Problems in Condensed Matter and High Energy Physics’. This was motivated by the realization that both fields deal with quantum many body problems, share many of the same challenges, use quantum field theoretical approaches and have productively interacted in the past. The meeting brought together physicists with intersecting interests to explore recent developments and identify possible areas of collaboration.... Several topics were identified as offering great opportunity for discovery and advancement in both condensed matter physics and particle physics research. These included topological phases of matter, the use of entanglement as a tool to study nontrivial quantum systems in condensed matter and gravity, the gauge-gravity duality, non-Fermi liquids, the interplay of transport and anomalies, and strongly interacting disordered systems. Many of the condensed matter problems are realizable in laboratory experiments, where new methods beyond the usual quasi-particle approximation are needed to explain the observed exotic and anomalous results. Tools and techniques such as lattice gauge theories, numerical simulations of many-body systems, and tensor networks are seen as valuable to both communities and will likely benefit from collaborative development.
These are slides which are part of the ASC L2 Milestone Review. The following topics are covered: Legion Backend, Distributed-Memory Partitioning, Sparse Data Representations, and MPI-Legion Interoperability.
The ultimate goal of this work was to quantify soil and volatile organic compound fluxes as a function of tree species and associated mycorrhizal associations in an intact forest, but also to describe the physical and biological factors that control these emissions. The results of this research lay the foundation toward an improved mechanistic understanding of carbon pathways, fluxes, and ecosystem function, ultimately improving the representation of forest ecosystems in Earth System models. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach was necessary to fill a critical gap in our understanding of how soil and root processes may influence whole-ecosystem carbon-based volatile fluxes in the face of a rapidly changing climate. We developed a series of novel sampling protocols and coupled a variety of advanced analytical techniques, resulting in findings relevant across disciplines. Furthermore, we leveraged existing infrastructure, research sites, and datasets to design a low-cost exploratory project that links belowground processes, soil volatile emissions, and total ecosystem carbon budgets. Measurements from soil collars installed across a species/mycorrhizal gradient at the DOE-supported Moran Monroe State Forest Ameriflux tower site suggest that leaf litter is the primary source of belowground and forest floor volatile emissions, but the strength of this source is significantly affected not only by leaf litter type, but the strength of the soil as a sink. Results suggest that the strength of the sink is influenced by tree species-specific associated microbial communities that change throughout the season as a function of temperature, soil moisture, leaf litter inputs, and phenology. The magnitude of the observed volatile fluxes from the forest floor is small relative to total aboveground ecosystem flux, but the contribution of these emissions to volatile-mediated ecological interactions and soil processes (e.g. nitrification) varies substantially across the growing season. This research lays the foundation to answer important questions regarding the impacts of seasonality and forest composition on belowground volatile source-sink dynamics in mediating nutrient cycling and biogeochemistry dynamics—critical components of overall ecosystem functioning. In collaboration with the Environmental Simulations Unit (EUS) at the Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich, Germany (headed by Prof. Dr. Joerg-Peter Schinitzler), we investigated carbon investment in above and belowground plant volatile compounds in response to environmental conditions and mycorrhizal associations. Using the sophisticated phytotron facility and on-line trace gas instruments, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments that showed that biotic stresses, such as herbivore feeding, can alter the magnitude of belowground volatile emissions as well as carbon allocation towards these volatiles. We saw no effect of mycorrhizae on any induced response, suggesting that microbial effects were unrelated to source-sink dynamics driving terpene emissions. Furthermore, the results suggest that even though enzyme activity responsible for root volatile synthesis is up-regulated following herbivory, the sink strength of the soil can significantly impact what is measured at the soil/atmosphere interface and thereby what enters the atmosphere. This is important as scientists may be underestimating the magnitude of belowground volatile emissions and their influence on belowground interactions due to limitations associated with current sampling techniques. These key findings are being integrated with results from a hydroxyl radical reactivity-VOC campaign and a late season litter removal experiment to offer a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the sources and controls over soil volatile emissions, particularly during times of the year when vegetative aboveground emissions are low (leaf senescence). Ultimately, these coupled field and laboratory experiments offer insights into seasonal dynamics of volatile emissions and the mechanisms that control carbon allocation to these compounds with an eye towards improving carbon budgets, nutrient cycling, and terrestrial ecosystem models.
The statistics of primordial curvature fluctuations are our window into the period of inflation, where these fluctuations were generated. To date, the cosmic microwave background has been the dominant source of information about these perturbations. Large-scale structure is, however, from where drastic improvements should originate. In this paper, we explain the theoretical motivations for pursuing such measurements and the challenges that lie ahead. In particular, we discuss and identify theoretical targets regarding the measurement of primordial non-Gaussianity. We argue that when quantified in terms of the local (equilateral) template amplitude f$loc\atop{NL}$ (f$eq\atop{NL}$), natural target levels of sensitivity are Δf$loc, eq\atop{NL}$ ≃ 1. We highlight that such levels are within reach of future surveys by measuring 2-, 3- and 4-point statistics of the galaxy spatial distribution. This paper summarizes a workshop held at CITA (University of Toronto) on October 23-24, 2014.
This was a collaborative effort between Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC as manager and operator of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and ION Geophysical. The main goal of the proposed effort was to develop industry-leading state of the art modeling and analysis capabilities to address an important aspect of hydraulic fracturing operations -- the evolution of the fracture network in the subsurface and the associated generation of the microseismic signals associated with the creation of the fracture network. The proposed effort leveraged on-going code development activities at LLNL. The codes used to execute the proposed research were to be transitioned to ION Geophysical through a visitor exchange program whereby ION Geophysical employees would visit LLNL and interact with the code developers and subject matter experts enabling them to develop the technical understanding and the expertise needed to independently perform simulations and analyze results.
The work performed in this project has generally consisted of research to design and experimentally prototype a Pb–free composite solder paste that is capable of use at high temperatures (150°C and up to 400 °C) while maintaining the acceptable electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of a typical soldering material (particularly Pb–5wt.%Sn), even over long–term aging and thermal cycling. The research experiments completed have thoroughly investigated the requirements needed to transform the concept of using liquid–phase diffusion–bonding (LPDB) on a Cu–Ni/Sn–based alloy composite solder paste for use in die attach joining as a real and tangible product for use in industry.
We propose a project that will extend and expand the activities and contributions of AmeriFlux, to the global stage by working with our international partners to continue operating and expand the functioning of global FLUXNET database. One goal is to produce the next-generation FLUXNET dataset. This will be an integrated dataset on carbon, water and energy fluxes, on meteorological conditions and on the structure and function of the ecosystems; we have to potential to construct a new database, double the size of the La Thuile dataset, with over 2000 site-years of trace gas flux measurements, and supporting meteorological and site meta-data from over 400 sites world-wide. The production of the next FLUXNET database is critical to the activities of this ROSE’s solicitation because these data will drive many of the carbon cycle synthesis activities and the model parameterization and validation activities. A second goal is to build the next-generation, data-system that will house, distribute and query data and discover new information by the broader biogeoscience user community. The third goal is to use these data in synthesis activities that improve our understanding on how climate, weather, ecological, physiological and soil factors govern the exchange of carbon, water and energy between vegetation and the atmosphere at multiple time and space scales. The fourth goal is to act as a coordinator of the project to recruit data, to organize a workshop/conference and to build a community of data sharing and interaction across vast cultural spectrum of participating scientists. The rationale for proposing this work is based on the fact that the vast databases that are produced by flux networks cannot perpetuate and evolve without continued support of the intellectual activities of scientists who produce data, expert in databases, and scientists who use data for modeling. The actuality of a flux network takes human intervention to recruit data from different countries and cultures, to build trust to share data in open-access format, to support data users, and to collaborate. Specifically, we will develop an updated data portal that is easy to navigate and conducive for distributing, visualization, evaluation and discovery of the multiple types of flux and environmental data and information. We will foster collaboration and interactions with our national and international partners and the recruitment of data by: 1) continuing the periodic publication of the newsletter, FLUXLETTER; 2) by hosting an international conference; 3) by coordinating and launching multi-investigator data synthesis activities; and 4) by developing tools that coordinate the development of research papers resulting from the dataset. Data products include raw and gap-filled data at their native time steps (30 minute averages), data products that are integrated on daily and annual time scales and value added products like ecosystem respiration and canopy photosynthesis. Uncertainty analysis and quality control metrics will be produced in coordination with AmeriFlux and ICOS. We will also work with colleagues to expand the scope of FLUXNET beyond carbon dioxide and water vapor, and start archiving the growing methane flux databases that are being collected, world-wide. The interpretation of the flux data relies on good meta-data. We will work with data providers to populate and expand the meta-data archives. We will also work with collaborators to incorporate data from remote sensing products such as MODIS and Landsat, from corresponding climate and weather stations. Another goal is to incorporate new data on canopy structure, with recent LIDAR acquisitions, to populate the data archive with automated soil respiration and understory flux measurements, where available and local climate records for corresponding sites. And, we will collaborate with the TRY database, by merging flux data with plant trait information.
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