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

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2016

Metabolomic and Genomic Markers of Atherosclerosis as Related to Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Vascular Function in Twin Astronauts

Background: Future human space travel will consist primarily of long-duration missions onboard the International Space Station (ISS) or exploration-class missions to Mars, its moons, or nearby asteroids. Astronauts participating in long-duration missions may be at an increased risk of oxidative stress and inflammatory damage due to radiation, psychological stress, altered physical activity, nutritional insufficiency, and hyperoxia during extravehicular activity. By studying one identical twin during his 1-year ISS mission and one ground-based twin, this work extends a current NASA-funded investigation to determine whether these spaceflight factors contribute to an accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. This study of twins affords a unique opportunity to examine the spaceflight-related atherosclerosis risk independent of the confounding factors associated with different genotypes. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether biomarkers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after long-duration spaceflight and determine if a relation exists between levels of these biomarkers and structural and functional indices of atherosclerotic risk measured in the carotid and brachial arteries. These physiological and biochemical data will be extended by using an exploratory approach to investigate the relationship between intermediate phenotypes and risk factors for atherosclerosis and the metabolomic signature from plasma and urine samples. Since metabolites are often the indirect products of gene expression, we will simultaneously assess gene expression and DNA methylation in leukocytes. Hypothesis: We predict that the space-flown twin will experience elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory damage, altered arterial structure and function, accelerated telomere shortening, dysregulation of genes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and a metabolic profile shift that is associated with elevated atherosclerosis risk factors. Conversely, these will not be observed in the ground-based twin. Methods: We will measure blood and urine biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation as well as arterial structure and function (carotid intima-medial thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation) in one twin astronaut before, during, and after long-duration spaceflight and in his twin serving as a ground-based control. Furthermore, we will measure metabolomics (targeted and untargeted approaches) and genomic markers (DNA methylation, mRNA gene expression, telomere length) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. A panel of biomarkers of oxidative and inflammatory stress will be measured in venous blood samples and 24-hour (in-flight) and 48-hour (pre- and post-flight) urine pools twice before flight, early (flight days 15 and 60) and late (2 weeks before landing) during the mission, and early in the post-flight recovery phase (approximately 3-5 days after landing). Arterial structure, assessed from measures of intima-media thickness, will be measured at the same times. Arterial function will be assessed using brachial flow-mediated dilation, a well-validated measure used to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation and a sensitive predictor of atherosclerotic risk, only before and after spaceflight. Discussion: Pre- and in-flight data collection is in progress for the space-flown twin, and similar data have been obtained from the ground-based twin. Blood and urine samples will be batch processed when received from ISS after the conclusion of the 1-year mission. Results from these individual subjects will be compared to the larger complement of subjects participating in the companion study currently ongoing in ISS astronauts.

Lee, Stuart M. C.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Electronic Procedures for Medical Operations

Electronic procedures are replacing text-based documents for recording the steps in performing medical operations aboard the International Space Station. S&K Aerospace, LLC, has developed a content-based electronic system-based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML) standard-that separates text from formatting standards and tags items contained in procedures so they can be recognized by other electronic systems. For example, to change a standard format, electronic procedures are changed in a single batch process, and the entire body of procedures will have the new format. Procedures can be quickly searched to determine which are affected by software and hardware changes. Similarly, procedures are easily shared with other electronic systems. The system also enables real-time data capture and automatic bookmarking of current procedure steps. In Phase II of the project, S&K Aerospace developed a Procedure Representation Language (PRL) and tools to support the creation and maintenance of electronic procedures for medical operations. The goal is to develop these tools in such a way that new advances can be inserted easily, leading to an eventual medical decision support system.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2015

An Upgrade of the Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) Software

The Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) code is used at NASA Langley Research Center to analyze global aeroheating data on wind tunnel models tested in the Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory. One-dimensional, semi-infinite heating data derived from IHEAT are used to design thermal protection systems to mitigate the risks due to the aeroheating loads on hypersonic vehicles, such as re-entry vehicles during descent and landing procedures. This code was originally written in the PV-WAVE programming language to analyze phosphor thermography data from the two-color, relativeintensity system developed at Langley. To increase the efficiency, functionality, and reliability of IHEAT, the code was migrated to MATLAB syntax and compiled as a stand-alone executable file labeled version 4.0. New features of IHEAT 4.0 include the options to batch process all of the data from a wind tunnel run, to map the two-dimensional heating distribution to a three-dimensional computer-aided design model of the vehicle to be viewed in Tecplot, and to extract data from a segmented line that follows an interesting feature in the data. Results from IHEAT 4.0 were compared on a pixel level to the output images from the legacy code to validate the program. The differences between the two codes were on the order of 10-5 to 10-7. IHEAT 4.0 replaces the PV-WAVE version as the production code for aeroheating experiments conducted in the hypersonic facilities at NASA Langley.

Mason, Michelle L.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Features of the Upgraded Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) Software

The Imaging for Hypersonic Experimental Aeroheating Testing (IHEAT) software is used at the NASA Langley Research Center to analyze global aeroheating data on wind tunnel models tested in the Langley Aerothermodynamics Laboratory. One-dimensional, semi-infinite heating data derived from IHEAT are used in the design of thermal protection systems for hypersonic vehicles that are exposed to severe aeroheating loads, such as reentry vehicles during descent and landing procedures. This software program originally was written in the PV-WAVE(Registered Trademark) programming language to analyze phosphor thermography data from the two-color, relative-intensity system developed at Langley. To increase the efficiency, functionality, and reliability of IHEAT, the program was migrated to MATLAB(Registered Trademark) syntax and compiled as a stand-alone executable file labeled version 4.0. New features of IHEAT 4.0 include the options to perform diagnostic checks of the accuracy of the acquired data during a wind tunnel test, to extract data along a specified multi-segment line following a feature such as a leading edge or a streamline, and to batch process all of the temporal frame data from a wind tunnel run. Results from IHEAT 4.0 were compared on a pixel level to the output images from the legacy software to validate the program. The absolute differences between the heat transfer data output from the two programs were on the order of 10(exp -5) to 10(exp -7). IHEAT 4.0 replaces the PV-WAVE(Registered Trademark) version as the production software for aeroheating experiments conducted in the hypersonic facilities at NASA Langley.

Mason, Michelle L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Metabolomic and Genomic Markers of Atherosclerosis as Related to Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Vascular Function in Twin Astronauts

BACKGROUND: Future human space travel will consist primarily of long-duration missions onboard the International Space Station (ISS) or exploration-class missions to Mars, its moons, or nearby asteroids. Astronauts participating in long-duration missions may be at an increased risk of oxidative stress and inflammatory damage due to radiation, psychological stress, altered physical activity, nutritional insufficiency, and hyperoxia during extravehicular activity. By studying one identical twin during his 1-year ISS mission and his ground-based twin, this work extends a current NASA-funded investigation to determine whether these spaceflight factors contribute to an accelerated progression of atherosclerosis. This study of twins affords a unique opportunity to examine spaceflight-related atherosclerosis risk that is independent of the confounding factors associated with different genotypes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether biomarkers of oxidative and inflammatory stress are elevated during and after long-duration spaceflight and determine if a relation exists between levels of these biomarkers and structural and functional indices of atherosclerotic risk measured in the carotid and brachial arteries. These physiological and biochemical data will be extended by using an exploratory approach to investigate the relationship between intermediate phenotypes and risk factors for atherosclerosis and the metabolomic signature from plasma and urine samples. Since metabolites are often the indirect products of gene expression, we simultaneously assessed gene expression and DNA methylation in leukocytes. HYPOTHESIS: We predict that, compared to the ground-based twin, the space-flown twin will experience elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory damage, altered arterial structure and function, accelerated telomere shortening, dysregulation of genes associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, and a metabolic profile shift that is associated with elevated atherosclerosis risk factors. METHODS: In the space-flown twin, a panel of biomarkers of oxidative and inflammatory stress were measured in venous blood samples and in 24-h (in-flight) and 48-h (pre- and post-flight) urine pools collected twice before flight, six times during the mission (~FD15, 75, 180, 240, 300, 335), and early in the post-flight recovery phase (3-5 days after landing). We also measured metabolomic (targeted and untargeted approaches) and genomic markers (DNA methylation, mRNA gene expression, telomere length) in these samples. Arterial structure, assessed from measures of intima-media thickness, also were measured using standard clinical ultrasound at the same time points. Arterial function was assessed using brachial flow-mediated dilation, a well-validated measure used to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation and a sensitive predictor of atherosclerotic risk, only before and after spaceflight. All of the same measures were obtained in the ground-based twin, but less frequently. DISCUSSION: All data collection has been completed for both the space-flown twin and the ground-based twin. Vascular structure and function measures have been analyzed, blood and urine samples have been batch-processed. Results from these individuals will be compared to each other, to data from other Twin Study investigations, and to the larger complement of subjects participating in the companion study currently ongoing in ISS astronauts.

Lee, Stuart M. C.↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Data Exploration Tool for Large Sets of Spectra

We present an exploration tool for very large spectrum data sets such as the SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey), LAMOST (Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope), and 4MOST (4-meter Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope) data sets. The tool works in two stages: the first uses batch processing and the second runs interactively. The latter employs the NASA hyperwall, a configuration of 128 workstation displays (8 by 16 array) controlled by a parallelized software suite running on NASA's Pleiades supercomputer. The stellar subset of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, DR10, was chosen to show how the our tool may be used. In stage one, SDSS files for 569,740 stars are processed through our data pipeline. The pipeline fits each spectrum using an iterative continuum algorithm, distinguishing emission from absorption and handling molecular absorption bands correctly. It then measures 1659 discrete atomic and molecular spectral features that were carefully preselected based on their likelihood of being visible at some spectral type. The depths relative to the local continuum at each feature wavelength are determined for each spectrum: these depths, the local S/N (signal to noise ratio) level, and DR10-supplied variables such as magnitudes, colors, positions, and radial velocities are the basic measured quantities used on the hyperwall. In stage two, each hyperwall panel is used to display a 2-D scatter plot showing the depth of feature A vs the depth of feature B for all of the stars. A and B change from panel to panel. The relationships between the various (A,B) strengths and any distinctive clustering are immediately apparent when examining and inter-comparing the different panels on the hyperwall. The interactive software allows the user to select the stars in any interesting region of any 2-D plot on the hyperwall, immediately rendering the same stars on all the other 2-D plots in a unique color. The process may be repeated multiple times, each selection displaying a distinctive color on all the plots. At any time, the spectra of the selected stars may be examined in detail on a connected workstation display. We illustrate how our approach allows us to quickly isolate and examine such interesting stellar subsets as EMP (Extremely Metal‐Poor) stars, CV (Cataclymic Variable) stars and C (Carbon)-rich stars.

Data Exploration↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Optimization of the 4-Bed CO2 Scrubber Performance Based on Ground Tests

Testing of ground hardware closely matching the flight design for the 4-Bed CO2Scrubber (4BCO2) has provided a wealth of information about the complex and highly coupled batch process. The 4BCO2 process is a Thermal and Vacuum Swing Adsorption (TVSA) cycle with recirculating flows. The ability to measure CO2concentration at intermediate points in this architecture is new to this ground test system and has revealed a better understanding of system performance and its dependence on system design, operational parameters, and boundary conditions. This paper will discuss a statistical analysis performed to identify significant correlations between performance factors and operational parameters. Using these new insights on the highly coupled system physics, means for improvements to system performance are proposed.

CO2 Removal↗
DOE OSTI2018

Continuing Efforts on Efficiency and Performance Improvement of mdtmFTP

mdtmFTP is a high-performance data transfer tool: • Pipelined I/O-centric design to streamline data transfer • Multicore-aware data transfer middleware (MDTM) optimizes use of underlying multicore system • Extremely efficient in transferring of Lots Of Small Files • Various optimization mechanisms including Asynchronous I/O and Batch processing. • Sponsored by DOE/SC/ASCR. http://mdtm.fnal.gov $\bullet$Continuing efforts on efficiency and Performance Improvement: • Refactoring event queue mechanism • I/O optimization • Scalability evaluation

Zhang, L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evaluating the Feasibility of Higher Titers and Yields for 2,3-Butanediol Production to Achieve the Biofuel Industry Economic Goal of Under $3.50 GGE

To achieve the economic goal of producing biofuels that can compete with petroleum-based products, we increased titers of 2,3-butanediol (BDO) production. BDO has many advantages over ethanol; including lower toxicity, higher heat of capacity, and is a precursor to various valuable applications. To produce BDO for fuel upgrading, we have genetically modified Zymomonas mobilis (YC-1). Several materials and feed strategies were evaluated to determine the best titer and economic feasibility. Titers from DMR corn stover in a batch process were in the range of 70-80 g/L. The fully hydrolyzed material was easy to work with but suffered from dilution issues. We pushed the concentration of solids to above 25% w/w and were met with numerous challenges. This included an initial sugar concentration above 150 g/L, the high solid concentration altered the oxygen mass transfer rate and affected which products were produced, and the fermentation conditions were not optimal for the enzyme. Despite these challenges, our current results yielded 100 g/L of upgradeable products (70 g/L BDO and 30 g/L acetoin) and 83% fermentation process yield. However, the poor enzymatic hydrolysis yield of 64%, unconverted xylose, and the high acetoin levels warrant further exploration for optimization. Using unhydrolyzed solids as the feed material, we achieved titers in the range of 75-95 g/L BDO. The raw solids feed, though operationally more challenging to work with, proved to be promising as the rate of hydrolysis promoted co-utilization of the sugars. We reached 150 g/L BDO using concentrated DDR liquors under boules and continuous feeding strategies. The clarified liquors showed high titers, high productivity, high yield, and high sugar utilization with little drawback operationally. The target goal of under $3.50 GGE was achieved in several feeding strategies. Scale-up feasibility has also been demonstrated at the 100L scale using both whole slurry and liquor hydrolysates.

BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Direct contact particle-fluid heat exchanger

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that transfer heat directly from hot particles to a cold fluid, such as sCO 2 , by bringing the hot particles and cold fluid into direct contact at the operating pressure of the cold fluid. These systems and methods can both stand-off large pressure differentials while allowing particles to pass through and limiting cold fluid leakage either continuously or through a batch process.

Carlson, Matthew D.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of a Discrete Event Simulation Model for Pyroprocessing Safeguardability

Advanced nuclear energy systems offer benefits for energy sustainability, independence, security, economic growth, and carbon emission reduction. Nuclear fuel fabricated for these systems utilize remotely-handled facilities for batch processing in hot cells. Because special nuclear material is in both different physical and chemical form than that of the contemporary fuel cycle, new challenges arise in terms of safeguardability. To that end, we are developing a system model for a commercial pyroprocessing facility that can also produce quantitative metrics to assess facility design. This paper presents the progress of a first build of a material throughput model using discrete event simulation for the fuel fabrication subsystem. The intent is to study the Type I error, or false alarm, as a metric for safeguardability. Initiating events that could cause false alarms arise from safeguards, safety, and security. False alarms can necessitate a facility shutdown until the anomaly is resolved by facility inspection. A high number would be costly for the facility operator both in terms of operation throughput goals and possible compensatory penalties. Therefore, different conceptual facility designs exhibit different frequencies for the false alarm per initiating event, and this can provide a measure of the safeguardability of each design. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Fed-batch hydrolysate addition and cell separation by settling in high cell density lignocellulosic ethanol fermentations on AFEX™ corn stover in the Rapid Bioconversion with Integrated recycling Technology process

Abstract The Rapid Bioconversion with Integrated recycling Technology (RaBIT) process uses enzyme and yeast recycling to improve cellulosic ethanol production economics. The previous versions of the RaBIT process exhibited decreased xylose consumption using cell recycle for a variety of different micro-organisms. Process changes were tested in an attempt to eliminate the xylose consumption decrease. Three different RaBIT process changes were evaluated in this work including (1) shortening the fermentation time, (2) fed-batch hydrolysate addition, and (3) selective cell recycling using a settling method. Shorting the RaBIT fermentation process to 11 h and introducing fed-batch hydrolysate addition eliminated any xylose consumption decrease over ten fermentation cycles; otherwise, decreased xylose consumption was apparent by the third cell recycle event. However, partial removal of yeast cells during recycle was not economical when compared to recycling all yeast cells.

Sarks, Cory↗
DOE OSTI2024

Defining Golden Batches in Biomanufacturing Processes From Internal Metabolic Activity to Detect Process Changes That May Affect Product Quality

ABSTRACT Cellular metabolism plays a role in the observed variability of a drug substance's Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs) made by biomanufacturing processes. Therefore, here we describe a new approach for monitoring biomanufacturing processes that measures a set of metabolic reaction rates (named Critical Metabolic Parameters (CMP) in addition to the macroscopic process conditions currently being used as Critical Process Parameters (CPP) for biomanufacturing. Constraint‐based systems biology models like Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) are used to estimate metabolic reaction rates, and metabolic rates are used as inputs for multivariate Batch Evolution Models (BEM). Metabolic activity was reproducible among batches and could be monitored to detect a deliberately induced macroscopic process shift (i.e., temperature change). The CMP approach has the potential to enable “golden batches” in biomanufacturing processes to be defined from the internal metabolic activity and to aid in detecting process changes that may impact the quality of the product. Overall, the data suggested that monitoring of metabolic activity has promise for biomanufacturing process control.

Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology↗
DOE OSTI2022

Kinetic modelling of an environmentally friendly carbamazepine synthesis via urea and iminostilbene in batch and continuous processes

Accurate kinetic models for reaction systems allow for improved process understanding and greater quality control, which is particularly beneficial as the pharmaceutical industry shifts from batch to continuous manufacturing (CM). In this work, a first principles kinetic model has been developed for the synthesis of carbamazepine (CBZ) from iminostilbene and urea, starting in a batch reactor and subsequently in a continuous flow reactor. An eco-friendly reaction pathway using urea was selected to avoid the toxic reagents that are typically used for synthesis of CBZ. The kinetic parameters determined from batch reactions were utilized in a MATLAB based kinetic model to simulate the yield for the continuous process. Overall, good agreement between the model prediction and corresponding experimental values was observed for the batch and continuous reaction systems within the full factorial design space. However, the model slightly overpredicted the yield of the continuous reaction system for higher conversion values (>60%) since it did not account for the reverse reaction that can occur at the studied reaction conditions. Here, the use of broken order kinetics was compared with whole number orders, and it was determined that the whole number orders resulted in better agreement at all conversion values for the continuous system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Accelerating Laboratory-Based, All-Solid-State Battery Research and Development: Industrially Relevant Small-Batch Dry-Processing, Small and Low-Cost Test Fixtures, and Short-Tolerant Separators

This work presents improvements to mixing (for dry-processed electrodes), separator robustness, and cell testing jigs for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). These developments combine synergistically to enable rapid research and development of ASSB catholytes. A mechanical "kneader" is designed and built which emulates the mixing and fibrillation of poly-tetrafluoroethylene binder that occurs in industrially relevant twin-screw extruders. A modest improvement in the mixing and dispersion catholyte materials is observed using micro-resolution X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). Catholytes are paired with an In-metal anode and separated by a novel, dual-layer, polyaramid-fiber-supported, sulfide-solid electrolyte (Li6 PS5 Cl) separator. This separator achieves high short tolerance which enabled a 95% success rate across 20 attempted cells and to date over 100 successful cells have been built. ASSBs were tested in a 2032 coin-cell format. Simultaneous cycling of a large number of cells is further enabled by a compact and low cost (~ 38 USD per jig) pressure application jig of which 100 have been constructed to date. The utility of these advances is demonstrated through a brief study on the effect cathode-side conductive carbon and current collector type has on capacity and rate performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1974

User's instructions for the Grodins' respiratory control model using the UNIVAC 1110 remote batch and demand processing

The transient and steady state response of the respiratory control system for variations in volumetric fractions of inspired gases and special system parameters are modeled. The program contains the capability to change workload. The program is based on Grodins' respiratory control model and can be envisioned as a feedback control system comprised of a plant (the controlled system) and the regulating component (controlling system). The controlled system is partitioned into 3 compartments corresponding to lungs, brain, and tissue with a fluid interconnecting patch representing the blood.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

User's instructions for the Guyton circulatory dynamics model using the Univac 1110 batch and demand processing (with graphic capabilities)

The model presents a systems analysis of a human circulatory regulation based almost entirely on experimental data and cumulative present knowledge of the many facets of the circulatory system. The model itself consists of eighteen different major systems that enter into circulatory control. These systems are grouped into sixteen distinct subprograms that are melded together to form the total model. The model develops circulatory and fluid regulation in a simultaneous manner. Thus, the effects of hormonal and autonomic control, electrolyte regulation, and excretory dynamics are all important and are all included in the model.

Archer, G. T.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Validation and optimization of batch and continuous particle separation processes

Recent advances in simulation capabilities coupled with advanced manufacturing can be leveraged to create highly efficient compact reactors with low emissions, low cost, high reliability, and high flexibility for energy conversion. This type of reactor is especially important for conversion of bio-mass, a storable, renewable and fast-growing energy source, considering the distributed nature of raw material and cost of biomass collection and transportation. To achieve this goal, it is critical to developing new process technologies that are significantly more efficient than traditional processes for which the added manufacture provides a fast way of realization and evaluation. Based upon the flagship MFiX multiphase computational fluid dynamic software suite, NETL has developed an Optimization Toolset to facilitate the CFD simulation based reactor design and optimization, and process intensification. This technical report presents the recent development and application of the Optimization Toolset and the framework for process optimization of particle separation in batch and continuous processes. In these processes, a fluidized bed reactor under proper operating condition was used to separate particles of different physical properties. MFiX-DEM simulations were conducted for a batch system to simulate the process covering a wide range of superficial gas velocities from which the optimal operational parameter can be determined through analyzing the system response. After successful demonstration of the framework, a continuous system for particle separation was designed based on CFD simulations. Similar optimization exercises were conducted for the continuous particle separation considering multiple operating parameters. The design was then fabricated in the laboratory through 3D printing for testing. The particle separation performance was carefully measured through high-speed video for particle tracking. Quantitative comparison between numerical results and experimental measurements were conducted for confirmation and validation.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗