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DOE OSTI2025

ESAC (EQ-SANS Assisting Chatbot): Application of large language models and retrieval-augmented generation for enhanced user experience at EQ-SANS

Neutron scattering experiments have played vital roles in exploring materials properties in the past decades. While user interfaces have been improved over time, neutron scattering experiments still require specific knowledge or training by an expert due to the complexity of such advanced instrumentation and the limited number of experiments each person may perform each year. This paper introduces an innovative chatbot application that leverages Large Language Models(LLM) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technologies to significantly enhance the user experience at the EQ-SANS, a small-angle neutron scattering instrument at the Spallation Neutron Source of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Through a user-centric design approach, the EQ-SANS Assisting Chatbot (ESAC) serves as an interactive reference for users, thereby facilitating the use of the instrument by visiting scientists. By bridging the gap between the users of EQ-SANS and the control systems required to perform their experiments, the ESAC sets a new standard for interactive learning and support for the scientific community using large-scale scientific facilities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2021

Bridging cognitive gaps between user and model in interactive dimension reduction

Interactive machine learning (ML) systems are difficult to design because of the "Two Black Boxes" problem that exists at the interface between human and machine. Many algorithms that are used in interactive ML systems are black boxes that are presented to users, while the human cognition represents a second black box that can be difficult for the algorithm to interpret. These two black boxes create cognitive gaps between the user and the interactive ML model when a user interacts with the system. In this paper, we identify several cognitive gaps that exist in a previously-developed interactive visual analytics (VA) system, Andromeda. These cognitive gaps that we are addressing in Andromeda are representative of common problems in other VA systems. Our goal with this work is to open both black boxes and bridge these cognitive gaps by making improvements to the original Andromeda system, including designing new visual features to help people better understand how Andromeda processes and interacts with data and improving the underlying algorithm so that the Andromeda system can better understand the intent of the user during the data exploration process. We evaluate our designs through both qualitative and quantitative analysis (i.e., user study and simulation analysis), and the results confirm that the improved Andromeda system outperforms the original version significantly in a series of high-dimensional data understanding tasks.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2012

Identification of User Facility Related Publications

Scientific user facilities provide physical resources and technical support that enable scientists to conduct experiments or simulations pertinent to their respective research. One metric for evaluating the scientific value or impact of a facility is the number of publications by users as a direct result of using that facility. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, capturing accurate values for this metric proves time consuming and error-prone. This work describes a new approach that leverages automated browser technology combined with text analytics to reduce the time and error involved in identifying publications related to user facilities. With this approach, scientific user facilities gain more accurate measures of their impact as well as insight into policy revisions for user access.

Patton, Robert M↗

DOE OSTI2022

Investigating Users’ Privacy Concerns of Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Devices

Although the number of smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices has grown in recent years, the public's perception of how effectively these devices secure IoT data has been questioned. Many IoT users do not have a good level of confidence in the security or privacy procedures implemented within IoT smart devices for protecting personal IoT data. Moreover, determining the level of confidence end users have in their smart devices is becoming a major challenge. In this paper, we present a study that focuses on identifying privacy concerns IoT end users have when using IoT smart devices. We investigated multiple smart devices and conducted a survey to identify users’ privacy concerns. Furthermore, we identify five IoT privacy-preserving (IoTPP) control policies that we define and employ in comparing the privacy measures implemented by various popular smart devices. Results from our study show that the over 86% of participants are very or extremely concerned about the security and privacy of their personal data when using smart IoT devices such as Google Nest Hub or Amazon Alexa. In addition, our study shows that a significant number of IoT users may not be aware that their personal data is collected, stored or shared by IoT devices.

Joy, Daniel↗

DOE OSTI2021

Educating HPC Users in the use of advanced computing technology

We examine a multi-modal approach to educating and training users of an advanced computing technology testbed at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University. Ookami provides researchers worldwide with access to 176 Fujitsu A64FX compute nodes, this being the same processor technology powering the Japanese Fugaku supercomputer, the fastest computer in the world since June 2020. However, achieving high-performance on this Arm-based, leadership computing technology requires that users be familiar with details of computer architecture, performance analysis and modeling, and high-performance programming models that are commonly omitted in introductory programming courses. Indeed, regardless of their seniority, many of the testbed users are surprisingly unfamiliar with basic concepts such as vectorization, pipelining, latency/bandwidth, roofline models, computing energy/power, threads, and non-uniform memory access. These same concepts also pervade mainstream x86 technologies, so this is of widespread concern. Due to the national/global nature of our user community that is also very diverse in both discipline and experience, the inability to offer formal classes, and our experience that most people do not tend to read online documentation or training materials in sufficient depth, we have consciously employed multiple approaches that heavily emphasize (online) personal interactions and transfer of skills. Online documentation has been organized around best-practices and FAQs; twice-weekly hackathons and office hours via Zoom enable deep dives by both the team and the user community with multiple broad benefits; a Slack channel provides both real time and archived answers and discussions; and workshops, training and webinars target community needs as they arise. Furthermore, the perspective that these tools are being used in an educational setting rather than just for project communication makes them more effective and contributes to community success.

A64FX↗

DOE OSTI2024

A graphical user interface platform to support power electronic converters and integrated systems

Power Electronic Systems have grown in size and complexity over the past years. Therefore, users require interfaces to properly configure, develop, and deploy these systems. This work presents a Graphical User Interface that dynamically adapts to the system and allows the user to control and monitor its operation. This GUI uses networked communication and open-source Python libraries to allow the user to interact with the system at its different hierarchical layers, as well as visualize the interconnection of the full system. This is demonstrated by showing the user interface applied to a megawatt class charging station that consists of various energy resources.

Dean, Ben↗

DOE OSTI2021

User Role Identification in Software Vulnerability Discussions over Social Networks

Understanding and early awareness of software vulnerabilities is vital for preventing and mitigating potential impacts from cybersecurity events. One step toward early characterization of software vulnerabilities may involve analyzing discussion and spread of information in online social networks. Prior work has used information from such discussions over multiple online forums to develop dynamic networks among users followed by analysis of structure, spread, and information evolution. In this work, we advance the state-of-the-art by focusing on data-driven learning of types, roles, and transition of roles exhibited by users over time. In social networks, users take on particular roles based on their actions and structure of the network. Identifying “meaningful” roles can help separate potential users of interest from the larger community, and identify patterns in a network. We will identify and compare roles found in online forums (e.g., Twitter) using techniques such as feature-based Non-negative Matrix Factorization coupled with topological and influence-based measures of centrality. Since users’ activities change over time, we also analyze role evolution in dynamic networks.

Jones, Rebecca D.↗

DOE OSTI2017

Scientific User Behavior and Data-Sharing Trends in a Petascale File System

The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) runs the No. 4 supercomputer in the world, supported by a petascale file system, to facilitate scientific discovery. In this paper, using the daily file system metadata snapshots collected over 500 days, we have studied the behavioral trends of 1, 362 active users and 380 projects across 35 science domains. In particular, we have analyzed both individual and collective behavior of users and projects, highlighting needs from individual communities and the overall requirements to operate the file system. We have analyzed the metadata across three dimensions, namely (i) the projects' file generation and usage trends, using quantitative file system-centric metrics, (ii) scientific user behavior on the file system, and (iii) the data sharing trends of users and projects. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first of its kind to provide comprehensive insights on user behavior from multiple science domains through metadata analysis of a large-scale shared file system. We envision that this OLCF case study will provide valuable insights for the design, operation, and management of storage systems at scale, and also encourage other HPC centers to undertake similar such efforts.

Lim, Seung-Hwan↗

DOE OSTI2011

Co-PylotDB - A Python-Based Single-Window User Interface for Transmitting Information to a Database

Co-PylotDB, written completely in Python, provides a user interface (UI) with which to select user and data file(s), directories, and file content, and provide or capture various other information for sending data collected from running any computer program to a pre-formatted database table for persistent storage. The interface allows the user to select input, output, make, source, executable, and qsub files. It also provides fields for specifying the machine name on which the software was run, capturing compile and execution lines, and listing relevant user comments. Data automatically captured by Co-PylotDB and sent to the database are user, current directory, local hostname, current date, and time of send. The UI provides fields for logging into a local or remote database server, specifying a database and a table, and sending the information to the selected database table. If a server is not available, the UI provides for saving the command that would have saved the information to a database table for either later submission or for sending via email to a collaborator who has access to the desired database.

Barnette, DanielW.↗

DOE OSTI2016

Modeling and evaluating user behavior in exploratory visual analysis

Empirical evaluation methods for visualizations have traditionally focused on assessing the outcome of the visual analytic process as opposed to characterizing how that process unfolds. There are only a handful of methods that can be used to systematically study how people use visualizations, making it difficult for researchers to capture and characterize the subtlety of cognitive and interaction behaviors users exhibit during visual analysis. To validate and improve visualization design, however, it is important for researchers to be able to assess and understand how users interact with visualization systems under realistic scenarios. This paper presents a methodology for modeling and evaluating the behavior of users in exploratory visual analysis. We model visual exploration using a Markov chain process comprising transitions between mental, interaction, and computational states. These states and the transitions between them can be deduced from a variety of sources, including verbal transcripts, videos and audio recordings, and log files. This model enables the evaluator to characterize the cognitive and computational processes that are essential to insight acquisition in exploratory visual analysis, and reconstruct the dynamics of interaction between the user and the visualization system. We illustrate this model with two exemplar user studies, and demonstrate the qualitative and quantitative analytical tools it affords.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2016

MuSim, a Graphical User Interface for Multiple Simulation Programs

MuSim is a new user-friendly program designed to interface to many different particle simulation codes, regardless of their data formats or geometry descriptions. It presents the user with a compelling graphical user interface that includes a flexible 3-D view of the simulated world plus powerful editing and drag-and-drop capabilities. All aspects of the design can be parametrized so that parameter scans and optimizations are easy. It is simple to create plots and display events in the 3-D viewer (with a slider to vary the transparency of solids), allowing for an effortless comparison of different simulation codes. Simulation codes: G4beamline, MAD-X, and MCNP; more coming. Many accelerator design tools and beam optics codes were written long ago, with primitive user interfaces by today's standards. MuSim is specifically designed to make it easy to interface to such codes, providing a common user experience for all, and permitting the construction and exploration of models with very little overhead. For today's technology-driven students, graphical interfaces meet their expectations far better than text-based tools, and education in accelerator physics is one of our primary goals.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2012

HTGR Cost Model Users' Manual

The High Temperature Gas-Cooler Reactor (HTGR) Cost Model was developed at the Idaho National Laboratory for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project. The HTGR Cost Model calculates an estimate of the capital costs, annual operating and maintenance costs, and decommissioning costs for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. The user can generate these costs for multiple reactor outlet temperatures; with and without power cycles, including either a Brayton or Rankine cycle; for the demonstration plant, first of a kind, or nth of a kind project phases; for a single or four-pack configuration; and for a reactor size of 350 or 600 MWt. This users manual contains the mathematical models and operating instructions for the HTGR Cost Model. Instructions, screenshots, and examples are provided to guide the user through the HTGR Cost Model. This model was design for users who are familiar with the HTGR design and Excel. Modification of the HTGR Cost Model should only be performed by users familiar with Excel and Visual Basic.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2012

HTGR Application Economic Model Users' Manual

The High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Application Economic Model was developed at the Idaho National Laboratory for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project. The HTGR Application Economic Model calculates either the required selling price of power and/or heat for a given internal rate of return (IRR) or the IRR for power and/or heat being sold at the market price. The user can generate these economic results for a range of reactor outlet temperatures; with and without power cycles, including either a Brayton or Rankine cycle; for the demonstration plant, first of a kind, or nth of a kind project phases; for up to 16 reactor modules; and for module ratings of 200, 350, or 600 MWt. This users manual contains the mathematical models and operating instructions for the HTGR Application Economic Model. Instructions, screenshots, and examples are provided to guide the user through the HTGR Application Economic Model. This model was designed for users who are familiar with the HTGR design and Excel and engineering economics. Modification of the HTGR Application Economic Model should only be performed by users familiar with the HTGR and its applications, Excel, and Visual Basic.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2015

User's Guide for RESRAD-OFFSITE

The RESRAD-OFFSITE code can be used to model the radiological dose or risk to an offsite receptor. This User’s Guide for RESRAD-OFFSITE Version 3.1 is an update of the User’s Guide for RESRAD-OFFSITE Version 2 contained in the Appendix A of the User’s Manual for RESRAD-OFFSITE Version 2 (ANL/EVS/TM/07-1, DOE/HS-0005, NUREG/CR-6937). This user’s guide presents the basic information necessary to use Version 3.1 of the code. It also points to the help file and other documents that provide more detailed information about the inputs, the input forms and features/tools in the code; two of the features (overriding the source term and computing area factors) are discussed in the appendices to this guide. Section 2 describes how to download and install the code and then verify the installation of the code. Section 3 shows ways to navigate through the input screens to simulate various exposure scenarios and to view the results in graphics and text reports. Section 4 has screen shots of each input form in the code and provides basic information about each parameter to increase the user’s understanding of the code. Section 5 outlines the contents of all the text reports and the graphical output. It also describes the commands in the two output viewers. Section 6 deals with the probabilistic and sensitivity analysis tools available in the code. Section 7 details the various ways of obtaining help in the code.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2015

The Weatherization Assistant User's Manual (Version 8.9)

The Weatherization Assistant is a Windows-based energy audit software tool that was developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to help states and their local weatherization agencies implement the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program. The Weatherization Assistant is an umbrella program for two individual energy audits or measure selection programs: the National Energy Audit Tool (NEAT) for site-built single-family homes and the Manufactured Home Energy Audit (MHEA) for mobile homes. The Weatherization Assistant User's Manual documents the operation of the user interface for Version 8.9 of the software. This includes how to install and setup the software, navigate through the program, and initiate an energy audit. All of the user interface forms associated with the software and the data fields on these forms are described in detail. The manual is intended to be a training manual for new users of the Weatherization Assistant and as a reference manual for experienced users.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2015

The PANTHER User Experience

This document describes the PANTHER R&D Application, a proof-of-concept user interface application developed under the PANTHER Grand Challenge LDRD. The purpose of the application is to explore interaction models for graph analytics, drive algorithmic improvements from an end-user point of view, and support demonstration of PANTHER technologies to potential customers. The R&D Application implements a graph-centric interaction model that exposes analysts to the algorithms contained within the GeoGraphy graph analytics library. Users define geospatial-temporal semantic graph queries by constructing search templates based on nodes, edges, and the constraints among them. Users then analyze the results of the queries using both geo-spatial and temporal visualizations. Development of this application has made user experience an explicit driver for project and algorithmic level decisions that will affect how analysts one day make use of PANTHER technologies.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2016

SHARP User Manual

SHARP is an advanced modeling and simulation toolkit for the analysis of nuclear reactors. It is comprised of several components including physical modeling tools, tools to integrate the physics codes for multi-physics analyses, and a set of tools to couple the codes within the MOAB framework. Physics modules currently include the neutronics code PROTEUS, the thermal-hydraulics code Nek5000, and the structural mechanics code Diablo. This manual focuses on performing multi-physics calculations with the SHARP ToolKit. Manuals for the three individual physics modules are available with the SHARP distribution to help the user to either carry out the primary multi-physics calculation with basic knowledge or perform further advanced development with in-depth knowledge of these codes. This manual provides step-by-step instructions on employing SHARP, including how to download and install the code, how to build the drivers for a test case, how to perform a calculation and how to visualize the results. Since SHARP has some specific library and environment dependencies, it is highly recommended that the user read this manual prior to installing SHARP. Verification tests cases are included to check proper installation of each module. It is suggested that the new user should first follow the step-by-step instructions provided for a test problem in this manual to understand the basic procedure of using SHARP before using SHARP for his/her own analysis. Both reference output and scripts are provided along with the test cases in order to verify correct installation and execution of the SHARP package. At the end of this manual, detailed instructions are provided on how to create a new test case so that user can perform novel multi-physics calculations with SHARP. Frequently asked questions are listed at the end of this manual to help the user to troubleshoot issues.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Summary of October 2023 ARM User Executive Committee Meeting

The User Executive Committee (UEC) provides objective, timely feedback to the leadership of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility with respect to the user experience. The UEC held a hybrid meeting at the ARM Southern Great Plains Observatory in October 2023. Four goals were identified for this meeting: (1) to take an in-depth look at the ARM user facility, (2) to provide actionable items to ARM within the context of the UEC subgroups, (3) to develop new user engagement strategies, and (4) to see an ARM facility in operation, providing valuable context for future UEC discussions. The outcomes of the successful meeting are highlighted in this report. The UEC is grateful to ARM for facilitating this in-person meeting and to our gracious hosts at SGP.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗