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At least 379 records · Page 21

Nanoscale Bioengineering Solutions for Space Exploration the Nanopore Sequencer

Characterization of biological systems at the molecular level and extraction of essential information for nano-engineering design to guide the nano-fabrication of solid-state sensors and molecular identification devices is a computational challenge. The alpha hemolysin protein ion channel is used as a model system for structural analysis of nucleic acids like DNA. Applied voltage draws a DNA strand and surrounding ionic solution through the biological nanopore. The subunits in the DNA strand block ion flow by differing amounts. Atomistic scale simulations are employed using NASA supercomputers to study DNA translocation. with the aim to enhance single DNA subunit identification. Compared to protein channels, solid-state nanopores offer a better temporal control of the translocation of DNA and the possibility to easily tune its chemistry to increase the signal resolution. Potential applications for NASA missions, besides real-time genome sequencing include astronaut health, life detection and decoding of various genomes. http://phenomrph.arc.nasa.gov/index.php

Ioana, Cozmuta↗

Optimal space communications techniques

The design, development, and analysis are reported of a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) for FM demodulation and threshold extension. One of the features of the developed DPLL is its synchronous, real time operation. The sampling frequency is constant and all the required arithmetic and logic operations are performed within one sampling period, generating an output sequence which is converted to analog form and filtered. An equation relating the sampling frequency to the carrier frequency must be satisfied to guarantee proper DPLL operation. The synchronous operation enables a time-shared operation of one DPLL to demodulate several FM signals simultaneously. In order to obtain information about the DPLL performance at low input signal-to-noise ratios, a model of an input noise spike was introduced, and the DPLL equation was solved using a digital computer. The spike model was successful in finding a second order DPLL which yielded a five db threshold extension beyond that of a first order DPLL.

Schilling, D. L.↗

Preliminary 2-D shell analysis of the space shuttle solid rocket boosters

A two-dimensional shell model of an entire solid rocket booster (SRB) has been developed using the STAGSC-1 computer code and executed on the Ames CRAY computer. The purpose of these analyses is to calculate the overall deflection and stress distributions for the SRB when subjected to mechanical loads corresponding to critical times during the launch sequence. The mechanical loading conditions for the full SRB arise from the external tank (ET) attachment points, the solid rocket motor (SRM) pressure load, and the SRB hold down posts. The ET strut loads vary with time after the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) ignition. The SRM internal pressure varies axially by approximately 100 psi. Static analyses of the full SRB are performed using a snapshot picture of the loads. The field and factory joints are modeled by using equivalent stiffness joints instead of detailed models of the joint. As such, local joint behavior cannot be obtained from this global model.

Knight, Norman F., Jr.↗

On the convergence of local approximations to pseudodifferential operators with applications

We consider the approximation of a class pseudodifferential operators by sequences of operators which can be expressed as compositions of differential operators and their inverses. We show that the error in such approximations can be bounded in terms of L(1) error in approximating a convolution kernel, and use this fact to develop convergence results. Our main result is a finite time convergence analysis of the Engquist-Majda Pade approximants to the square root of the d'Alembertian. We also show that no spatially local approximation to this operator can be convergent uniformly in time. We propose some temporally local but spatially nonlocal operators with better long time behavior. These are based on Laguerre and exponential series.

Hagstrom, Thomas↗

X-Ray Emission from Pre-Main-Sequence Stars - Testing the Solar Analogy

This LTSA award funds my research on the origin of stellar X-ray emission and the solar-stellar analogy. The focus during most of this reporting period continued to be on the reduction and analysis of data acquired with the ASCA observatory (Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics). During the last few months of this reporting period, considerable time and effort was also devoted to the submission of AXAF observing proposals in preparation for the upcoming AXAF launch. During this reporting period, five papers appeared in refereed journals for which I was either author or co-author, and two additional papers have recently been submitted to ApJ. Also, three conference proceedings papers were submitted. These publications are listed in the attached bibliography.

Skinner, Stephen L.↗

Optimizing Heat Recovery with Storage: Control Validation and Sensitivity Analysis of the Time-Independent Energy Recovery Plant Using Modelica

Heat recovery in large building central plants saves energy but traditionally requires simultaneous heating and cooling. The Time-Independent Energy Recovery (TIER) plant shifts this paradigm by integrating thermal energy storage (TES) to enable heat recovery regardless of concurrent demand, offering a highly efficient, space-saving solution to achieve California’s energy goals. However, its integration of heat recovery chillers, cooling-only chillers, cooling towers, and trim air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) creates growing control and sizing complexity. To overcome this, this study employs high-fidelity Modelica dynamic simulation to validate TIER control sequences and optimize equipment sizing. We translated the written Sequences of Operation into executable Control Description Language (CDL) to test logic against sub-hourly loads. This verification workflow successfully identified and resolved critical vulnerabilities, such as thermal storage freezing and equipment short-cycling, in a virtual environment prior to physical deployment. Then, the study analyzes TIER plant performance across three simulated building types in three locations, and a real building load profile, ensuring variety in heating and cooling loads, and simultaneity factors and explores sizing rules for the TES and ASHP capacity. The analysis shows that the TIER plant operates equipment efficiently leading to a plant SCOP of around 7.5 across all scenarios, higher than a traditional ASHP plant, and a viable pathway to de-risk complex system design and control through simulation to identify optimal designs that maximize energy efficiency, minimize operational costs, and ensure robust operation in varied environmental conditions, thereby facilitating the broader adoption of such a solution for large buildings.

Zanetti, Ettore↗

Benchmarking and performance analysis of the CM-2

A suite of benchmarking routines testing communication, basic arithmetic operations, and selected kernel algorithms written in LISP and PARIS was developed for the CM-2. Experiment runs are automated via a software framework that sequences individual tests, allowing for unattended overnight operation. Multiple measurements are made and treated statistically to generate well-characterized results from the noisy values given by cm:time. The results obtained provide a comparison with similar, but less extensive, testing done on a CM-1. Tests were chosen to aid the algorithmist in constructing fast, efficient, and correct code on the CM-2, as well as gain insight into what performance criteria are needed when evaluating parallel processing machines.

Myers, David W.↗

Five key aspects of metaproteomics as a tool to understand functional interactions in host-associated microbiomes

Host-associated microbial communities (microbiomes) play critical roles in human, animal, and plant health and development. However, interactions between the host, members of the microbiome, and invading pathogens are in most cases still poorly understood. Such interactions are multidimensional and can alter the taxonomic composition and/or the functional metabolic activities of the microbiome in response to disease or treatment conditions. For example, after 2 days of antibiotic treatment, the mouse gut microbiome is altered and more susceptible to invasion by the pathogen Clostridioides difficile. Studies of these multidimensional interactions have been fueled by the ability to use high-throughput sequencing of phylogenetic marker genes to profile microbial community composition and shotgun metagenomics to profile functional potential. However, many protein-coding genes predicted from metagenomes are not necessarily expressed under a given condition, and thus, it is difficult to assess the activities and functional interactions in microbial communities based on DNA sequencing data alone. The physiological and pathological processes expressed in these communities under specific conditions are better reflected by the abundances of transcripts or proteins. In this Pearl, we provide a brief introduction to metaproteomics, which is a tool for the large-scale analysis of proteins in microbiomes that allows researchers to address a diversity of questions related to functions and interactions in microbiomes. The term “metaproteomics” was first used in 2004 for “the large-scale characterization of the entire protein complement of environmental microbiota at a given point in time”, and since then, a large array of metaproteomics approaches have been developed. Our objective in this Pearl is to highlight what we feel are 5 essential elements to be considered for a metaproteomics research campaign and to introduce nonexpert readers to the topic without going into too much technical detail.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Solar activity and its relation to certain parameters of phenomena in the geophysical complex

Results of a detailed analysis of solar activity in 1957-1965 are compared with the data on solar activity with variations of cosmic ray activity, and geomagnetic, ionospheric and terrestrial currents. Cosmic ray variations are investigated with reference to the asymmetry of solar hemispheres. All storms in the IGY are classified and a symbolic diagram of the time sequence is drawn up.

Razmadze, T. S.↗

An information system design for watershed-wide modeling of water loss to the atmosphere using remote sensing techniques

Results are presented of a study intended to develop a general location-specific remote-sensing procedure for watershed-wide estimation of water loss to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration. The general approach involves a stepwise sequence of required information definition (input data), appropriate sample design, mathematical modeling, and evaluation of results. More specifically, the remote sensing-aided system developed to evaluate evapotranspiration employs a basic two-stage two-phase sample of three information resolution levels. Based on the discussed design, documentation, and feasibility analysis to yield timely, relatively accurate, and cost-effective evapotranspiration estimates on a watershed or subwatershed basis, work is now proceeding to implement this remote sensing-aided system.

Khorram, S.↗

On damping mechanisms in beams

A partial differential equation model of a cantilevered beam with a tip mass at its free end is used to study damping in a composite. Four separate damping mechanisms consisting of air damping, strain rate damping, spatial hysteresis and time hysteresis are considered experimentally. Dynamic tests were performed to produce time histories. The time history data is then used along with an approximate model to form a sequence of least squares problems. The solution of the least squares problem yields the estimated damping coefficients. The resulting experimentally determined analytical model is compared with the time histories via numerical simulation of the dynamic response. The procedure suggested here is compared with a standard modal damping ratio model commonly used in experimental modal analysis.

Banks, H. T.↗

On damping mechanisms in beams

A partial differential equation model of a cantilevered beam with a tip mass at its free end is used to study damping in a composite. Four separate damping mechanisms consisting of air damping, strain rate damping, spatial hysteresis and time hysteresis are considered experimentally. Dynamic tests were performed to produce time histories. The time history data is then used along with an approximate model to form a sequence of least squares problems. The solution of the least squares problem yields the estimated damping coefficients. The resulting experimentally determined analytical model is compared with the time histories via numerical simulation of the dynamic response. The procedure suggested here is compared with a standard modal damping ratio model commonly used in experimental modal analysis.

Banks, H. T.↗

Theoretical study of refraction effects on noise produced by turbulent jets

The transmission of acoustic disturbances from the interior of a jet into the ambient air is studied. The jet is assumed infinitely long with mean velocity profile independent of streamwise location. The noise generator is a sequence of transient sources drifting with the local fluid and confined to a short length of the jet. In Part 1, supersonic jets are considered. Numerical results for mean-square pressure versus angle in the far-field show unexpected peaks which are very sharp. Analysis of simplified models indicates that these are complex quasi-resonant effects which appear to the stationary observer in a high frequency range. The peaks are real for the idealized model, but would be smoothed by mathematical integration over source position, velocity, and frequency. Subsonic jets were considered in part 2, and a preliminary study of the near-field was attempted. Mean-square radial displacements (or mean radial energy flow or space-time correlations of radial pressure gradient) are first found for very simple cases. The most difficult case studied is a sequence of transient sources at the center of a uniform-velocity circular cylindrical jet. Here a numerical triple integration is required and seems feasible although only preliminary results for mean square radial displacement are now available. These preliminary results show disturbances decreasing with increasing radial distance, and with increasing distance upstream and downstream from the source. A trend towards greater downstream disturbances appears even in the near field.

Graham, E. W.↗

Hierarchical semi-Markov models with duration-aware dynamics for activity sequences

Residential electricity demand at granular scales is driven by what people do and for how long. Accurately forecasting this demand for applications like microgrid management and demand response therefore requires generative models for activities that can produce realistic daily activity sequences, capturing both the timing and duration of human behavior. This paper develops a generative model of human activity sequences using nationally representative time-use diaries at a 10-min resolution. We use this model to quantify which demographic factors are most critical for improving predictive performance. We propose a hierarchical semi-Markov framework that addresses two key modeling challenges. First, a time-inhomogeneous Markov router learns the patterns of “which activity comes next.” Second, a semi-Markov hazard component explicitly models activity durations, capturing “how long” activities realistically last. To ensure statistical stability when data are sparse, the model pools information across related demographic groups and time blocks. The entire framework is trained and evaluated using survey design weights to ensure our findings are representative of the U.S. population. On a held-out test set, we demonstrate that explicitly modeling durations with the hazard component provides a substantial and statistically significant improvement over purely Markovian models. Furthermore, our analysis reveals a clear hierarchy of demographic factors: Sex, Day-Type, and Household Size provide the largest predictive gains, while Region and Season, though important for energy calculations, contribute little to predicting the activity sequence itself. The result is an interpretable and robust generator of synthetic activity traces, providing a high-fidelity foundation for downstream energy systems modeling.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Monte Carlo Simulation and Reconstruction: Assessment of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging of Tracer Dynamics With Cardiac Motion Due to Deformation and Respiration Using Gamma Camera With Continuous Acquisition

Purpose: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is routinely used for stress testing in nuclear medicine. Recently, our group extended its potential going from 3D visual qualitative image analysis to 4D spatiotemporal reconstruction of dynamically acquired data to capture the time variation of the radiotracer concentration and the estimated myocardial blood flow (MBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR). However, the quality of reconstructed image is compromised due to cardiac deformation and respiration. The work presented here develops an algorithm that reconstructs the dynamic sequence of separate respiratory and cardiac phases and evaluates the algorithm with data simulated with a Monte Carlo simulation for the continuous image acquisition and processing with a slowly rotating SPECT camera. Methods: A clinically realistic Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is developed using the 4D Extended Cardiac Torso (XCAT) digital phantom with respiratory and cardiac motion to model continuous data acquisition of dynamic cardiac SPECT with slowly rotating gamma cameras by incorporating deformation and displacement of the myocardium due to cardiac and respiratory motion. We extended our previously developed 4D maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) reconstruction algorithm for a data set binned from a continuous list mode (LM) simulation with cardiac and respiratory information. Our spatiotemporal image reconstruction uses splines to explicitly model the temporal change of the tracer for each cardiac and respiratory gate that delineates the myocardial spatial position as the tracer washes in and out. Unlike in a fully list-mode data acquisition and reconstruction the accumulated photons are binned over a specific but very short time interval corresponding to each cardiac and respiratory gate. Reconstruction results are presented showing the dynamics of the tracer in the myocardium as it continuously deforms. These results are then compared with the conventional 4D spatiotemporal reconstruction method that models only the temporal changes of the tracer activity. Mean Stabilized Activity (MSA), signal to noise ratio (SNR) and Bias for the myocardium activities for three different target-to-background ratios (TBRs) are evaluated. Dynamic quantitative indices such as wash-in (K1) and wash-out (k2) rates at each gate were also estimated. Results: The MSA and SNR are higher with higher TBRs while biases were improved with higher TBRs to less than 10%. The correlation between exhalation-inhalation sequence with the ground truth during respiratory cycle was excellent. Our reconstruction method showed better resolved myocardial walls during diastole to systole as compared to the ungated 4D image. Estimated values of K1 and k2 were also consistent with the ground truth. Conclusion: The continuous image acquisition for dynamic scan using conventional two-head gamma cameras can provide valuable information for MPI. Our study demonstrated the viability of using a continuous image acquisition method on a widely used clinical two-head SPECT system. Our reconstruction method showed better resolved myocardial walls during diastole to systole as compared to the ungated 4D image. Precise implementation of reconstruction algorithms, better segmentation techniques by generating images of different tissue types and background activity would improve the feasibility of the method in real clinical environment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Video detection and analysis techniques of transient astronomical phenomena

Low-light-level television systems have been utilized to gain information on meteors, aurorae, and other faint, transient astronomical phenomena. Such phenomena change not only their position as a function of time, but also their photometric and spectral characteristics in as little as 1/60 second, thus requiring unique methods of analysis. Data observed with television systems and recorded on video tape have been analyzed with a system utilizing both analog and digital techniques. Both off-the-shelf equipment and inhouse developments are used to isolate sequences of moving images and to store them in a form suitable for photometric and spectral reduction. Current emphasis of the analysis effort is directed at the measurement of the first-order emission lines of meteor spectra, the results of which will yield important compositional information concerning the nature of the impinging meteoroid.

Clifton, K. S.↗

Ares I-X Flight Test Vehicle Similitude to the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle

The Ares I-X Flight Test Vehicle is the first in a series of flight test vehicles that will take the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle design from development to operational capability. The test flight is scheduled for April 2009, relatively early in the Ares I design process so that data obtained from the flight can impact the design of Ares I before its Critical Design Review. Because of the short time frame (relative to new launch vehicle development) before the Ares I-X flight, decisions about the flight test vehicle design had to be made in order to complete analysis and testing in time to manufacture the Ares I-X vehicle hardware elements. This paper describes the similarities and differences between the Ares I-X Flight Test Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. Areas of comparison include the outer mold line geometry, aerosciences, trajectory, structural modes, flight control architecture, separation sequence, and relevant element differences. Most of the outer mold line differences present between Ares I and Ares I-X are minor and will not have a significant effect on overall vehicle performance. The most significant impacts are related to the geometric differences in Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle at the forward end of the stack. These physical differences will cause differences in the flow physics in these areas. Even with these differences, the Ares I-X flight test is poised to meet all five primary objectives and six secondary objectives. Knowledge of what the Ares I-X flight test will provide in similitude to Ares I as well as what the test will not provide is important in the continued execution of the Ares I-X mission leading to its flight and the continued design and development of Ares I.

Huebner, Lawrence D.↗

Catalogue of UBVRI photometry of T Tauri stars and analysis of the causes of their variability

A computer-based catalogue of UBVRI photoelectric photometry of T Tauri stars and their earlier type analogs has been compiled. It presently includes over 10 000 entries on 80 stars and will be updated on a regular basis; it is available on Internet. The catalogue is used to analyze the sometimes bizarre light variations of pre-main-sequence stars on time scales of days to months in an attempt to illuminate the nature and causes of the phenomenon. It is useful in discussing their light variations to divide the stars into three groups according to their spectra. These are: weak T Tauri stars (WTTS; spectral class later than K0 and W(sub H-alpha less than 10 A), classical T Tauri stars (CTTS; spectral class later than K0 and W(sub H-alpha) greater than 10 A), and early type T Tauri stars (ETTS; spectral class of K0 or earlier). Three distinct types of variability are displayed by stars in the catalogue. Type I variations are periodic in VRI and undoubtedly caused by rotational modulation of a star with an asymmetric distribution of cool spots on its surface. Irregular flare activity is sometimes seen on such stars in U and B. Type I variations are easiest to see on WTTS but are clearly present on CTTS and ETTS as well. Type II variations are caused by hot 'spots' or zones and, it is argued, result from changes in the excess or 'veiling' continuum commonly attributed to an accretion boundary layer or impact zone of a magnetically channeled accretion flow. This type of variation is seen predominantly or solely in CTTS. A subcategory, designated Type IIp, consists of stars which display periodic variations caused by hot spots. Whereas cool spots may last for hundreds or thousands of rotations, hot spots appear to come and go on a much shorter time scale. This suggests that both unsteady accretion and rotation of the star contribute to Type II variations. It is shown that a third type of variation exists among ETTS, including stars as early as A type. UX Ori is a typical example and we call these Type III variables or UXors. Their distinguishing characteristic is that they can display very large amplitudes (exceeding 2.8 mag in V) while showing little or no evidence for a veiling continuum or any substantial change in their photospheric spectra. If Type III variations are caused by changes in accretion luminosity, then boundary layers or impact zones in ETTS must be much different from CTTS which, of course, is possible since mass accretion rates are probably much higher. However, the leading hypothesis for explaining Type III variations is variable obscuration by circumstellar dust. It is argued that the putative dust clumps causing such variations cannot be confined to a disk; otherwise UXors would be rare. Perhaps magnetic effects are involved in levitating accreting dust out of the plane, as has been suggested for CTTS, or perhaps we are witnessing continuing infall of clumps from placental clouds. A third possibility is that dust may be condensing in an outflow.

Herbst, William↗