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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

D 3 -creatine dilution for skeletal muscle mass measurement: historical development and current status

The French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered creatine in meat two centuries ago. Extensive biochemical and physiological studies of this organic molecule followed with confirmation that creatine is found within the cytoplasm and mitochondria of human skeletal muscles. Two groups of investigators exploited these relationships five decades ago by first estimating the creatine pool size in vivo with 14 C and 15 N labelled isotopes. Skeletal muscle mass (kg) was then calculated by dividing the creatine pool size (g) by muscle creatine concentration (g/kg) measured on a single muscle biopsy or estimated from the literature. This approach for quantifying skeletal muscle mass is generating renewed interest with the recent introduction of a practical stable isotope (creatine-(methyl-d 3 )) dilution method for estimating the creatine pool size across the full human lifespan. The need for a muscle biopsy has been eliminated by assuming a constant value for whole-body skeletal muscle creatine concentration of 4.3 g/kg wet weight. The current single compartment model of estimating creatine pool size and skeletal muscle mass rests on four main assumptions: tracer absorption is complete; tracer is all retained; tracer is distributed solely in skeletal muscle; and skeletal muscle creatine concentration is known and constant. Three of these assumptions are false to varying degrees. Not all tracer is retained with urinary isotope losses ranging from 0% to 9%; an empirical equation requiring further validation is used to correct for spillage. Not all tracer is distributed in skeletal muscle with non-muscle creatine sources ranging from 2% to 10% with a definitive value lacking. Lastly, skeletal muscle creatine concentration is not constant and varies between muscles (e.g. 3.89–4.62 g/kg), with diets (e.g. vegetarian and omnivore), across age groups (e.g. middle-age, ~4.5 g/kg; old-age, 4.0 g/kg), activity levels (e.g. athletes, ~5 g/kg) and in disease states (e.g. muscular dystrophies, <3 g/kg). Some of the variability in skeletal muscle creatine concentrations can be attributed to heterogeneity in the proportions of wet skeletal muscle as myofibres, connective tissues, and fat. These observations raise serious concerns regarding the accuracy of the deuterated-creatine dilution method for estimating total body skeletal muscle mass as now defined by cadaver analyses of whole wet tissues and in vivo approaches such as magnetic resonance imaging. A new framework is needed in thinking about how this potentially valuable method for measuring the creatine pool size in vivo can be used in the future to study skeletal muscle biology in health and disease.

body composition↗
DOE OSTI2014

WE-E-18C-01: Multi-Energy CT: Current Status and Recent Innovations

Conventional computed tomography (CT) uses a single polychromatic x-ray spectrum and energy integrating detectors, and produces images whose contrast depends on the effective attenuation coefficient of the broad spectrum beam. This can introduce errors from beam hardening and does not produce the optimal contrast-to-noise ratio. In addition, multiple materials can have the same effective attenuation coefficient, causing different materials to be indistinguishable in conventional CT images. If transmission measurements at two or more energies are obtained, even with polychromatic beams, more specific information about the object can be obtained. If the object does not contain materials with k-edges in the spectrum, the x-ray attenuation can be well-approximated by a linear combination of two processes (photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering) or, equivalently, two basis materials. For such cases, two spectral measurements suffice, although additional measurements can provide higher precision. If K-edge materials are present, additional spectral measurements can allow these materials to be isolated. Current commercial implementations use varied approaches, including two sources operating a different kVp, one source whose kVp is rapidly switched in a single scan, and a dual layer detector that can provide spectral information in every reading. Processing of the spectral information can be performed in the raw data domain or in the image domain. The process of calculating the amount of the two basis functions implicitly corrects for beam hardening and therefore can lead to improvements in quantitative accuracy. Information can be extracted to provide material specific information beyond that of conventional CT. This additional information has been shown to be important in several clinical applications, and can also lead to more efficient clinical protocols. Recent innovations in x-ray sources, detectors, and systems have made multi-energy CT much more practical and improved its performance. In addition, this is a very active area of research and further improvements are expected through further technological improvements. Learning Objectives: Basic principles of multi-energy CT Current implementations of mutli-energy CT Data and image analysis methods in multi-energy CT Current clinical applications of dual energy CT5. recent innovations and anticipated advances in multi-energy CT.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Fuel Motion Monitoring System at TREAT - Current Status and Future Plans

An important component of the United States Nuclear Fuel Safety Transient Testing Program, the Fuel Motion Monitoring System (FMMS) at Idaho National Laboratory's Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) is fast-neutron hodoscope capable of imaging the location, movement, and relocation of nuclear fuel experiments under simulated transient accident conditions. The FMMS was refurbished in parallel with the TREAT restart program starting in 2014, restoring 96-channels of fast-neutron detection. Since returning to operation in 2017 the FMMS has supported many fuel safety experiments supporting accident tolerant fuel development, light-water reactor safety, space thermal nuclear propulsion fuel development, and advanced reactor research and development. In Phase 2 of the FMMS restoration. work is now under way to expand the FMMS' field-of-view by adding an additional 96 channels of fast neutron detectors to the system's hodoscope, along with an expanded data acquisition system and associated transient timing electronics. An overview of the FMSS system and its fast-neutron detectors will be presented along with examples of current FMMS imaging performance and associated information.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Electric-Drive Vehicle Power Electronics Thermal Management: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Directions

Effective thermal management of traction-drive power electronics is critical to the advancement of electric-drive vehicles and is necessary for increasing power density and improving reliability. Replacing traditional silicon devices with more efficient, higher temperature, higher voltage, and higher frequency wide-bandgap (WBG) devices will enable increased power density but will result in higher device heat fluxes. Compact packaging of high-temperature WBG devices near low-temperature-rated components creates thermal management challenges that need to be addressed for future power-dense systems. This paper summarizes the thermal performance of on-road automotive power electronics thermal management systems and provides thermal performance and pumping-power metrics for select vehicles. Thermal analyses reveal that the package/conduction resistance dominates the total thermal resistance (for existing automotive systems). We model advanced packaging concepts and compare the results with existing packaging designs to quantify their thermal performance enhancements. Double-side-cooled configurations that do not use thermal interface materials are package concepts predicted to provide a low junction-to-fluid thermal resistance (compared to current packages). Dielectric-fluid-cooled concepts enable a redesign of the package to reduce the package resistance, can be implemented in single- and two-phase cooling approaches, and allow for cooling of passive components (e.g., capacitors) and bus bars.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Current Status on the Manufacturing of Nanomaterials for Proton Exchange Membrane Energy Systems by Vapor-Based Processes

Development of novel technologies for catalyst synthesis and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication is of primary importance for further improvement of the performance and economics of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). While the traditional manufacturing methods are time-consuming, energy intensive, and require many processing steps, the new vapor-based methods provide many benefits including the development of improved catalysts and catalyst supports, deposition of uniform thin films, reduction of catalyst loading, and minimizing the number of manufacturing steps. Recent publications in the field identified spray pyrolysis, reactive spray deposition technology, chemical vapor deposition, and atomic layer deposition as advanced vapor-based catalyst synthesis and deposition methods used for fabrication of MEAs for PEMFCs and PEMWEs. Here, the MEAs fabricated via vapor-based processes have shown significant performance improvements in comparison to the state-of-the-art MEAs, which are attributed to better catalyst distribution, improved catalyst supports, and controlled, uniform catalyst layer microstructures. This review provides an overview of the vapor-based synthesis and deposition methods currently being used for the development of PEM-based devices. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are critically compared and discussed while the outlook for future development is provided.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Current status of R and D activities and future plan and role of JAEA's two generic URLs - 15356

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has promoted R and D on geological disposal technology contribute to the implementation and safety regulation for high-level radioactive waste(HLW) disposal. JAEA launched two purpose-built generic URL projects to cover the diversity of geological environments in Japan, in accordance with 'Long-Term Program for Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy' published in 1994 by the Japan Atomic Energy Commission. One is the Mizunami URL Project started in 1996. The Mizunami URL Project is a comprehensive geo-scientific research project investigating the deep underground environment within crystalline rock at Mizunami City in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. The other one is the Horonobe URL Project started in 2001. The Horonobe URL Project consists of two major research areas, geo-scientific studies and R and D on geological disposal technology in the sedimentary rock environment at Horonobe Town in Hokkaido Prefecture, northern Japan. Both of the URL projects have been planned to proceed in three overlapping phases, 'Phase I: Surface-based investigation', 'Phase II: Construction' and 'Phase III: Operation', with a total duration of about 20 years. Currently, the construction of research galleries in both of the Mizunami and the Horonobe URLs has been completed to 500 m and 350 m depths, respectively. R and D activities in Phase III are being conducted at both URLs. According to the latest five-year plan, announced in September 2014, JAEA will promote R and D activities in Phase III including study of the effects of long-term evolution of the geological environment on geological characteristics such as groundwater flow and chemistry for reducing the uncertainty inherent in the evaluation of the long-term stability of the geological environment. This has been a very critical issue for HLW geological disposal in Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Furthermore, JAEA will contribute to international cooperation especially with countries having a similar geological environment such as those in the Circum-Pacific area, development of human resources and communication amongst stakeholders through the generic URL projects. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Electrode Structures for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Current Status and Path Forward

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have demonstrated their viability as a promising candidate for clean energy applications. However, performance of conventional PEMFC electrodes, especially the cathode electrode, suffers from low catalyst utilization and sluggish mass transport due to the randomly distributed components and tortuous transport pathways. Development of alternative architectures in which the electrode structure is controlled across a range of length scales provides a promising path toward overcoming these limitations. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of recent research and development of advanced electrode structures, organized by decreasing length-scale from the millimeter-scale to the nanometer-scale. Specifically, advanced electrode structures are categorized into five unique architectures for specific functions: (1) macro-patterned electrodes for enhanced macro-scale mass transport, (2) micro-patterned electrodes for enhanced micro-scale mass transport, (3) electrospun electrodes with fiber-based morphology for enhanced in-plane proton transport and through-plane O 2 transport, (4) enhanced-porosity electrodes for improved oxygen transport through selective inclusion of void space, and (5) catalyst film electrodes for elimination of carbon corrosion and ionomer poisoning. The PEMFC performance results achieved from each alternative electrode structure are presented and tabulated for comparison with conventional electrode architectures. Moreover, analysis of mechanisms by which new electrode structures can improve performance is presented and discussed. Finally, an overview of current limitations and future research needs is presented to guide the development of electrode structures for next generation PEMFCs. Graphical Abstract Development of improved electrode architectures with the control of structure on length scales ranging from millimeters to nanometers could enable a new generation of fuel cells with increased performance and reduced cost. This paper presents an in-depth review and critical analysis of recent developments and future outlook on the design of advanced electrode structures.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS2010

Current Status of NASA's Heavy Lift Plans

Numerous studies since the Apollo Program of the 1960s have highlighted the benefits of - and the need for - a national heavy lift launch capability to support human exploration, science, national security, and commercial development of space. NASA's most recent and most refined effort to develop that heavy lift capability is the Ares V. Ares V is a key element of NASA's Constellation Program. It s overall goal s part of approved national space policy is to retire the Space Shuttle and develop its successor, complete the International Space Station, and resume human exploration beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), beginning with exploration of the Moon as a step to other destinations in the Solar System. Ares V s first role is that of cargo vehicle to carry a lunar lander into Earth orbit, rendezvous with astronauts launched on the smaller Ares I crew launch vehicle, and perform the trans lunar injection (TLI) mission to send the mated crew and lander vehicles to the Moon. The design reference missions (DRMs) envisioned for it also include direct lunar cargo flights and a human Mars mission. Although NASA's priority from the start of the Constellation Program to the present has been development of the Ares I and Orion crew vehicle to replace the retiring Shuttle fleet, the Ares team has made significant progress in understanding the performance, design trades, technology needs, mission scenarios, ground and flight operations, cost, and other factors associated with heavy lift development. The current reference configuration was selected during the Lunar Capabilities Concept Review (LCCR) in fall 2008. That design has served since then as a point of departure for further refinements and trades among five participating NASA field centers. Ares V development to date has benefited from progress on the Ares I due to commonality between the vehicles. The Ares I first stage completed a successful firing of a 5-segment solid rocket motor. The Ares I-X launch Numerous studies since the Apollo Program of the 1960s have highlighted the benefits of and the need for - a national heavy lift launch capability to support human exploration, science, national security, and commercial development of space. NASA s most recent and most refined effort to develop that heavy lift capability is the Ares V. Ares V is a key element of NASA s Constellation Program. It s overall goal s part of approved national space policy is to retire the Space Shuttle and develop its successor, complete the International Space Station, and resume human exploration beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), beginning with exploration of the Moon as a step to other destinations in the Solar System. Ares V s first role is that of cargo vehicle to carry a lunar lander into Earth orbit, rendezvous with astronauts launched on the smaller Ares I crew launch vehicle, and perform the trans lunar injection (TLI) mission to send the mated crew and lander vehicles to the Moon. The design reference missions (DRMs) envisioned for it also include direct lunar cargo flights and a human Mars mission. Although NASA s priority from the start of the Constellation Program to the present has been development of the Ares I and Orion crew vehicle to replace the retiring Shuttle fleet, the Ares team has made significant progress in understanding the performance, design trades, technology needs, mission scenarios, ground and flight operations, cost, and other factors associated with heavy lift development. The current reference configuration was selected during the Lunar Capabilities Concept Review (LCCR) in fall 2008. That design has served since then as a point of departure for further refinements and trades among five participating NASA field centers. Ares V development to date has benefited from progress on the Ares I due to commonality between the vehicles. The Ares I first stage completed a successful firing of a 5-segment solid rocket motor. The Ares I-X launch successfully demonstrated in suborbital flighhe ability to assemble, prepare, launch, control and recover the Ares I configuration and compare performance to computer models. Component tests continue on the J-2X engine, which will put both the Ares I and Ares V upper stages into orbit. In addition, more than 100,000 parts have been manufactured or on the assembly line for the first J-2X powerpack and the first two development engines, with hot fire tests to begin in 2011. This paper will further detail the progress to date on the Ares V and planned activities for the remainder of 2010. In addition, the Ares V team has continued its outreach to potential user communities in science and national security. Through the Constellation Program, NASA has amassed an enormous knowledge base in the design, technologies, and operations of heavy lift launch vehicles that will be a national asset for any future launch vehicle decision. This early phase of the design presents the best opportunity to incorporate where possible the insights and needs of other users.

Creech, Steve↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Initial analysis of “stone” size Ryugu samples: current status

As a part of the initial analysis of the Ryugu samples, we perform a variety of analyses of millimeter-sized "stones". Our goals are to elucidate the entire formation process of C-type asteroid Ryugu from the viewpoint of petrology and mineralogy ande obtain necessary information by sample analysis, and then simulate the formation of Ryugu based on the evidencef obtained rom sample analysis. Eighteen stones (8 from Room A and 10 from Room C) were received from the ISAS curation facility on June 1, 2021, and brought into a fully nitrogen-displaced glove box at Tohoku University. At the same time, we also received the powder samples from Room A and Room C. To completely block the atmosphere from leaking into the container, all samples were put in the sample transport containers prepared by ISAS, transferred from the main chamber to the glovebox at ISAS, and then all containers were completely sealed in plastic bags with moisture and oxygen absorbers. No moisture or oxygen was detected when the bags were opened in the glove box at Tohoku University, so it was confirmed that there was no exposure to the atmosphere during transport. To date, a number of analyses have been carried out successfully and almost on schedule. The analysis started with the measurement of reflectance spectra, which are sensitive to atmospheric oxidation, hydroxylation, and adsorbed water. The visible, near-infrared, and mid-infrared reflectance spectra were measured while the samples were kept airtight. The spectra of powder samples and stone samples (as aggregates and as single stone) were successfully obtained. A major feature of the stone team's analysis is the use of synchrotron radiation facilities around the world. Since this analysis is non-destructive, stone samples whose reflectance spectra were measured were sent to KEK, SPring-8, ESRF (France), SOLEIL (France), DESY (Germany), and APS (USA). Using these synchrotron radiation facilities, high spatial resolution and sensitivity XRD, STXM, XANES, CT [1], IR-CT, FT-IR [2, 3], XRF, and Mössbauer analyses were performed. Most of the analyses were carried out under air-tight conditions on the stone samples and the particulates separated from the stone samples. These analyses allowed us to determine the three-dimensional distribution of minerals and elements, redox state, density and porosity of the stone samples. Furthermore, as a characteristic analysis of the stone team, light elemental analysis using negative Muon was performed at the MLF facility of J-PARC with an exceptionally long allocation of machine time. This is the only non-destructive method to measure the concentration of light elements in the whole (not the surface) of stone samples. Because the characteristic X-rays produced by muon irradiation are much higher in energy than the fluorescent X-rays produced by X-ray irradiation, there is little effect of self-absorption by the sample, and therefore, the concentration of light elements such as carbon, oxygen, and Na in the entire "stone" sample can be determined. Some stone samples are currently being measured for heat and strength physical properties in order to understand the physical properties of asteroid Ryugu. The data obtained from these measurements are useful for interpreting the remote-sensing data data taken from the surface layer of the asteroid Ryugu [4-7]. It is also important for understanding the behavior of the Ryugu material during impact events. The surfaces of many stone samples were observed by electron microscopy and other techniques, especially on natural “flat” surfaces formed on 5 stomes. As a result, characteristric mineral aggregates formed by the reactions with water and characteiristic impact features were observed on some of the samples. Based on the observations of surfaces and the synchrotron measurements of the whole stones, important objects such as characteristic structures and specific crystal aggregates for understanding the formation history of the asteroid were identified, and these parts were separated from the stone samples using an Xe beam (pFIB) and analyzed by various methods including transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron radiation analysis. Many stone samples, from which important objects have been separated, are embedded in epoxy resin and cut to produce many polished sections. Electron microscopy and spectroscopic measurements of the polished surfaces are being carried out to reveal the detailed mineralogical properties and elemental distribution inside the stone samples. In the fall, machine time for synchrotron radiation will begin, and we plan to analyze single crystals and characteristic objects separated from the stone samples.

Tomoki Nakamura↗
DOE OSTI2020

Current status and muon g - 2 explanation of lepton portal dark matter

In this paper, we summarize phenomenology in lepton portal dark matter (DM) models, where DM couples to leptons and extra leptons/sleptons. There are several possible setups: a DM field is either a complex/real scalar or a Dirac/Majorana fermion, and chiralities of leptons that couple to the DM are different according to the spin of the DM. We discuss the prediction of each model and compare it with the latest experimental constraints from the DM detections, the LHC, and the flavor experiments. We also propose simple setups to resolve the discrepancy in the anomalous magnetic moment of muon.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

The Observed and Projected Changes of Global Monsoons: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The global monsoon system, encompassing the Asian-Australian, African, and American monsoons, sustains two-thirds of the world’s population by regulating water resources and agriculture. Monsoon anomalies pose severe risks, including floods and droughts. Recent research associated with the implementation of the Global Monsoons Model Intercomparison Project under the umbrella of CMIP6 has advanced our understanding of its historical variability and driving mechanisms. Observational data reveal a 20th-century shift: increased rainfall pre-1950s, followed by aridification and partial recovery post-1980s, driven by both internal variability (e.g., Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation) and external forcings (greenhouse gases, aerosols), while ENSO drives interannual variability through ocean-atmosphere interactions. Future projections under greenhouse forcing suggest long-term monsoon intensification, though regional disparities and model uncertainties persist. Models indicate robust trends but struggle to quantify extremes, where thermodynamic effects (warming-induced moisture rise) uniformly boost heavy rainfall, while dynamical shifts (circulation changes) create spatial heterogeneity. Volcanic eruptions and proposed solar radiation modification (SRM) further complicate predictions: tropical eruptions suppress monsoons, whereas high-latitude events alter cross-equatorial flows, highlighting unresolved feedbacks. The emergent constraint approach is booming in terms of correcting future projections and reducing uncertainty with respect to the global monsoons. Critical challenges remain. Model biases and sparse 20th-century observational data hinder accurate attribution. The interplay between natural variability and anthropogenic forcings, along with nonlinear extreme precipitation risks under warming, demands deeper mechanistic insights. Additionally, SRM’s regional impacts and hemispheric monsoon interactions require systematic evaluation. Addressing these gaps necessitates enhanced observational networks, refined climate models, and interdisciplinary efforts to disentangle multiscale drivers, ultimately improving resilience strategies for monsoon-dependent regions.

climate extreme events↗
DOE OSTI2022

Membrane design for non-aqueous redox flow batteries: Current status and path forward

Redox flow batteries are promising technologies for large-scale, long-duration energy storage applications. Among them, non-aqueous redox flow batteries (NARFB) represent a transformative flow battery system since NARFBs potentially offer a higher energy density than aqueous flow batteries. However, many technical challenges remain for NARFBs, including the lack of high-performance membranes, low solubility of redox materials, and poor cycling efficiencies. Membranes serve a vital function in NARFBs, as they allow for selective ion transport while providing separation between the anolyte and catholyte. NARFB membrane development is an emerging research area, and this article reviews their design and critical factors that influence membrane properties, including solvent uptake, ion transport, and redox species permeability. A greater understanding of membrane behavior in non-aqueous solutions provides design principles for developing next-generation membranes for NARFB. In conclusion, we summarize the challenges, target metrics, and future perspectives for NARFBs.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Urban mining from biomass, brine, sewage sludge, phosphogypsum and e-waste for reducing the environmental pollution: Current status of availability, potential, and technologies with a focus on LCA and TEA

We discuss how rapid industrialization, improved standards of living, growing economies and ever-increasing population has led to the unprecedented exploitation of the finite and non-renewable resources of minerals in past years. It was observed that out of 100 BMT of raw materials processed annually only 10% is recycled back. This has resulted in a strenuous burden on natural or primary resources of minerals (such as ores) having limited availability. Moreover, severe environmental concerns have been raised by the huge piles of waste generated at landfill sites. To resolve these issues, ‘Urban Mining’ from waste or secondary resources in a Circular Economy’ concept is the only sustainable solution. The objective of this review is to critically examine the availability, elemental composition, and the market potential of the selected secondary resources such as lignocellulosic/algal biomass, desalination water, sewage sludge, phosphogypsum, and e-waste for minerals sequestration. This review showed that, secondary resources have potential to partially replace the minerals required in different sectors such as macro and microelements in agriculture, rare earth elements (REEs) in electrical and electronics industry, metals in manufacturing sector and precious elements such as gold and platinum in ornamental industry. Further, inputs from the selected life cycle analysis (LCA) & techno economic analysis (TEA) were discussed which showed that although, urban mining has a potential to reduce the greenhouse gaseous (GHG) emissions in a sustainable manner however, process improvements through innovative, novel and cost-effective pathways are essentially required for its large-scale deployment at industrial scale in future.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

A comprehensive review of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) techniques in protonic ceramic cells (PCCs): Current status and future perspective

Protonic ceramic cells (PCCs) have emerged as a promising technology for power generation, energy storage, and value-added chemical synthesis, offering benefits such as fuel flexibility, low emissions, and efficient operation at intermediate temperatures (300–600 ​°C). Recently, significant breakthroughs in materials and manufacturing methods have markedly enhanced the performance of PCCs. However, establishing a fundamental understanding of their electrocatalytic reactions has gained less attention. As a fast and cost-effective method for physicochemical fingerprinting, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) has proven to be a surface-sensitive analytical tool for structural and functional studies. This review critically examines the most up-to-date applications of DRIFTS for characterizing key components of PCCs, including oxygen electrodes, protonic electrolytes, and hydrogen electrodes for different applications, with a focus on revealing hydration properties and catalytic reactions, and guiding rational material design. The challenges for advancing DRIFTS, including quantitative capabilities and operando applications for PCC investigations, are highlighted and strategies to tackle these challenges are discussed. Ultimately, this review underscores the critical role of DRIFTS in accelerating the development of high-performance and durable PCCs for next-generation energy solutions, offering methodologies and insights broadly applicable to a wide range of electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies.

Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spe↗
DOE OSTI2017

Current Status of Targeted Radioprotection and Radiation Injury Mitigation and Treatment Agents: A Critical Review of the Literature

As more cancer patients survive their disease, concerns about radiation therapy–induced side effects have increased. The concept of radioprotection and radiation injury mitigation and treatment offers the possibility to enhance the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy by limiting radiation therapy–induced normal tissue injury without compromising its antitumor effect. Advances in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of radiation toxicity have stimulated radiation oncologists to target these pathways across different organ systems. These generalized radiation injury mechanisms include production of free radicals such as superoxides, activation of inflammatory pathways, and vascular endothelial dysfunction leading to tissue hypoxia. There is a significant body of literature evaluating the effectiveness of various treatments in preventing, mitigating, or treating radiation-induced normal tissue injury. Whereas some reviews have focused on a specific disease site or agent, this critical review focuses on a mechanistic classification of activity and assesses multiple agents across different disease sites. The classification of agents used herein further offers a useful framework to organize the multitude of treatments that have been studied. Many commonly available treatments have demonstrated benefit in prevention, mitigation, and/or treatment of radiation toxicity and warrant further investigation. These drug-based approaches to radioprotection and radiation injury mitigation and treatment represent an important method of making radiation therapy safer.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗