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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Spatially Resolved Top-Down Proteomics of Tissue Sections Based on a Microfluidic Nanodroplet Sample Preparation Platform

Conventional proteomics measures the averaged signal from mixed cell populations or bulk tissues, leading to the dilution of significant changes in subpopulations of cells that might serve as important biomarkers. Recent developments in bottom-up proteomics have enabled spatial mapping of cellular heterogeneity in tissue microenvironments. However, bottom-up proteomics cannot precisely infer the abundance changes of intact proteins, which are presented as proteoforms. Herein, we described a spatially resolved top-down proteomics (TDP) platform for proteoform identification and quantification directly on thin tissue sections. The spatial TDP platform consisted of a nanoPOTS (nanodroplet Processing in One pot for Trace Samples)-based sample preparation system and an LCM (laser capture microdissection)-based cell isolation system. We improved the nanoPOTS sample preparation by adding benzonase in the extraction buffer to enhance the coverage of nucleus proteins. Using ~200 cultured cells as model samples, the improved approach increased proteoform identifications from 493 to 700; newly identified proteoforms primarily corresponded to nuclear proteins. To demonstrate the spatial TDP platform in tissue samples, we analyzed LCM-isolated tissue voxels from rat brain cortex and hypothalamus regions. We quantified 426 proteoforms by combining identifications from TopPIC and TDPortal with the quantitation from ProMex. Several proteoforms corresponding to the same gene exhibited mixed abundance profiles between two tissue regions, suggesting potential PTM-specific spatial distributions. The spatial TDP workflow has prospects for biomarker discovery at proteoform level from small tissue sections.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

A web-based geovisual analytics platform for identifying potential contributors to culvert sedimentation

Sediment accumulation at culverts involves large-scale and interlinked environmental processes that are difficult to address with experimental or physical modeling methods. This article presents an alternative data-driven investigation for shedding insights into these processes. Accordingly, a web-based geovisual analytics application, the IowaDOT platform, was developed, which allows users to explore the complex processes associated with the sediment deposition at culverts. The platform provides systematic procedures for (1) collecting and integrating analytical variables into a single dataset, (2) quantifying the degree of culvert sedimentation using time series of aerial images, (3) identifying drivers that contribute to culvert sedimentation processes from a variety of culvert structural and upstream landscape characteristics using a tree-based feature selection algorithm, and (4) facilitating the understanding of complex spatial and relational patterns of culvert sedimentation processes using multivariate geovisualizations supported by a self-organizing map (SOM). As the outcomes of this study, these patterns identify culvert sedimentation-prone regions in Iowa and quantify empirical relationships between the drivers and culvert sedimentation degrees. Finally, a simple evaluation of the platform was performed to assess the usefulness and user satisfaction of the tool by professional users, and positive feedbacks are received.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Versatility of the adenovirus-vectored foot-and-mouth disease vaccine platform across multiple foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes and topotypes using a vaccine dose representative of the AdtA24 conditionally licensed vaccine

We investigated the serotype- and topotype versatility of a replication-deficient human adenovirus serotype 5 vectored foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine platform (AdtFMD). Sixteen AdtFMD recombinant subunit monovalent vaccines targeting twelve distinct FMD virus (FMDV) serotype/topotypes in FMD Regional Pools I-VII were constructed. The AdtA24 serotype conditionally licensed vaccine served as the basis for vaccine design and target dose for cattle clinical trials. Several vaccines contained an additional RGD motif genetic insertion in the adenovector fiber knob, and/or a full-length 2B gene insertion in the FMDV P1 gene cassette. In 13 of the 22 efficacy studies conducted, naïve control and AdtFMD vaccinated cattle were challenged intradermolingually at 2 weeks post-vaccination using a FMDV strain homologous to the AdtFMD vaccine strain. Each of the 16 AdtFMD vaccines were immunogenic based on the presence of homologous neutralizing antibodies in the serum of approximately 90% of total vaccinates (n = 375) on the day of challenge. Importantly, for 75% of vaccines tested, the effective dose that conferred 100% protection against clinical FMD was identical to or in some cases lower than, the minimum protective dose for the conditionally licensed AdtA24 vaccine formulated with ENABL® adjuvant. Results also confirmed the capability of the AdtFMD vaccine platform to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) across the five FMDV serotypes evaluated. Collectively, this comprehensive set of FMD cattle vaccine dose ranging studies highlights the serotype- and topotype versatility of the AdtFMD vaccine platform for further development, licensure, and application in FMD outbreak control and disease eradication efforts.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Lab-on-a-chip platforms for quantification of multicellular interactions in bone remodeling

Highlights: • Microchips are developed for stimulating bone cells and quantifying activity. • A chip permits osteocyte loading and soluble signal analysis. • A chip enables quantification of bone resorption and formation. • This model may remove spatial and temporal limitations of existing systems. • This microfluidic approach shows promise for future discovery in the bone field. Researchers have been using lab-on-a-chip systems to isolate factors for study, simulate laboratory analysis and model cellular, tissue and organ level processes. The technology is increasing rapidly, but the bone field has been slow to keep pace. Novel models are needed that have the power and flexibility to investigate the elegant and synchronous multicellular interactions that occur in normal bone turnover and in disease states in which remodeling is implicated. By removing temporal and spatial limitations and enabling quantification of functional outcomes, the platforms should provide unique environments that are more biomimetic than single cell type systems while minimizing complex systemic effects of in vivo models. This manuscript details the development and characterization of lab-on-a-chip platforms for stimulating osteocytes and quantifying bone remodeling. Our platforms provide the foundation for a model that can be used to investigate remodeling interactions as a whole or as a standard mechanotransduction tool by which isolated activity can be quantified as a function of load.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sensitive Top-Down Proteomics Analysis of a Low Number of Mammalian Cells Using a Nanodroplet Sample Processing Platform

Top-down proteomics is a powerful tool for characterizing genetic variations and post-translational modifications at intact protein level. That being said, one significant technical gap of top-down proteomics is the inability to analyze low amount of biological samples, which limits its access to isolated rare cells, fine-needle aspiration biopsies, and tissue substructures. Herein, we developed an ultrasensitive top-down platform by incorporating a microfluidic sample preparation system, termed nanoPOTS (Nanodroplet Processing in One pot for Trace Samples), into a top-down proteomics workflow. A unique combination of a nonionic detergent dodecyl-ß-D-maltopyranoside (DDM) with urea as protein extraction buffer significantly improved both protein extraction efficiency and sample recovery. We hypothesize that the DDM detergent improves protein recovery by efficiently reducing non-specific adsorption of intact proteins on container surfaces, while urea serves as a strong denaturant to disrupt noncovalent complexes and release intact proteins for downstream analysis. The nanoPOTS-based top-down platform reproducibly and quantitatively identified ~170 to ~620 proteoforms from ~70 to ~770 HeLa cells containing ~10 to ~115 ng of total protein. A variety of post-translational modifications including acetylation, myristoylation, and iron binding were identified using only less than 800 cells. We anticipate the nanoPOTS top-down proteomics platform will be broadly applicable in biomedical researches, particularly where clinical specimens are not available in amounts amenable to standard workflows.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Soft Three-Dimensional Microscale Vibratory Platforms for Characterization of Nano-Thin Polymer Films

Vibrational resonances of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can serve as means for assessing physical properties of ultrathin coatings in sensors and analytical platforms. Most such technologies exist in largely two-dimensional configurations with a limited total number of accessible vibration modes and modal displacements, thereby placing constraints on design options and operational capabilities. This study presents a set of concepts in three-dimensional (3D) microscale platforms with vibrational resonances excited by Lorentz-force actuation for purposes of measuring properties of thin-film coatings. Nanoscale films including photodefinable epoxy, cresol novolak resin, and polymer brush with thicknesses as small as 270 nm serve as the test vehicles for demonstrating the advantages of these 3D MEMS for detection of multiple physical properties, such as modulus and density, within a single polymer sample. The stability and reusability of the structure are demonstrated through multiple measurements of polymer samples using a single platform, and via integration with thermal actuators, the temperature-dependent physical properties of polymer films are assessed. Numerical modeling also suggests the potential for characterization of anisotropic mechanical properties in single or multilayer films. Finaly, the findings establish unusual opportunities for interrogation of the physical properties of polymers through advanced MEMS design.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

An ultra-tunable platform for molecular engineering of high-performance crystalline porous materials

Metal-organic frameworks are a class of crystalline porous materials with potential applications in catalysis, gas separation and storage, and so on. Of great importance is the development of innovative synthetic strategies to optimize porosity, composition and functionality to target specific applications. Here we show a platform for the development of metal-organic materials and control of their gas sorption properties. This platform can accommodate a large variety of organic ligands and homo- or hetero-metallic clusters, which allows for extraordinary tunability in gas sorption properties. Even without any strong binding sites, most members of this platform exhibit high gas uptake capacity. As a result, the high capacity is accomplished with an isosteric heat of adsorption as low as 20 kJ mol –1 for carbon dioxide, which could bring a distinct economic advantage because of the significantly reduced energy consumption for activation and regeneration of adsorbents.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

A common assembly module in injectisome and flagellar type III secretion sorting platforms

Translocating proteins across the double membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, type III secretion systems (T3SS) occur in two evolutionarily related forms: injectisomes, delivering virulence factors into host cells, and the flagellar system, secreting the polymeric filament used for motility. While both systems share related elements of a cytoplasmic sorting platform that facilitates the hierarchical secretion of protein substrates, its assembly and regulation remain unclear. Here we describe a module mediating the assembly of the sorting platform in both secretion systems, and elucidate the structural basis for segregation of homologous components among these divergent T3SS subtypes sharing a common cytoplasmic milieu. These results provide a foundation for the subtype-specific assembly of T3SS sorting platforms and will support further mechanistic analysis and anti-virulence drug design.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2022

PlasmidMaker is a versatile, automated, and high throughput end-to-end platform for plasmid construction

Abstract Plasmids are used extensively in basic and applied biology. However, design and construction of plasmids, specifically the ones carrying complex genetic information, remains one of the most time-consuming, labor-intensive, and rate-limiting steps in performing sophisticated biological experiments. Here, we report the development of a versatile, robust, automated end-to-end platform named PlasmidMaker that allows error-free construction of plasmids with virtually any sequences in a high throughput manner. This platform consists of a most versatile DNA assembly method using Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute ( Pf Ago)-based artificial restriction enzymes, a user-friendly frontend for plasmid design, and a backend that streamlines the workflow and integration with a robotic system. As a proof of concept, we used this platform to generate 101 plasmids from six different species ranging from 5 to 18 kb in size from up to 11 DNA fragments. PlasmidMaker should greatly expand the potential of synthetic biology.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cross-platform comparison of arbitrary quantum states

As we approach the era of quantum advantage, when quantum computers (QCs) can outperform any classical computer on particular tasks, there remains the difficult challenge of how to validate their performance. While algorithmic success can be easily verified in some instances such as number factoring or oracular algorithms, these approaches only provide pass/fail information of executing specific tasks for a single QC. On the other hand, a comparison between different QCs preparing nominally the same arbitrary circuit provides an insight for generic validation: a quantum computation is only as valid as the agreement between the results produced on different QCs. Such an approach is also at the heart of evaluating metrological standards such as disparate atomic clocks. In this paper, we report a cross-platform QC comparison using randomized and correlated measurements that results in a wealth of information on the QC systems. We execute several quantum circuits on widely different physical QC platforms and analyze the cross-platform state fidelities.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

An integrated high-throughput robotic platform and active learning approach for accelerated discovery of optimal electrolyte formulations

Solubility of redox-active molecules is an important determining factor of the energy density in redox flow batteries. However, the advancement of electrolyte materials discovery has been constrained by the absence of extensive experimental solubility datasets, which are crucial for leveraging data-driven methodologies. In this study, we design and investigate a highly automated workflow that synergizes a high-throughput experimentation platform with a state-of-the-art active learning algorithm to significantly enhance the solubility of redox-active molecules in organic solvents. Our platform identifies multiple solvents that achieve a remarkable solubility threshold exceeding 6.20 M for the archetype redox-active molecule, 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole, from a comprehensive library of more than 2000 potential solvents. Significantly, our integrated strategy necessitates solubility assessments for fewer than 10% of these candidates, underscoring the efficiency of our approach. Our results also show that binary solvent mixtures, particularly those incorporating 1,4-dioxane, are instrumental in boosting the solubility of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole. Beyond designing an efficient workflow for developing high-performance redox flow batteries, our machine learning-guided high-throughput robotic platform presents a robust and general approach for expedited discovery of functional materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

A generalized platform for artificial intelligence-powered autonomous enzyme engineering

Proteins are the molecular machines of life with numerous applications in energy, health, and sustainability. However, engineering proteins with desired functions for practical applications remains slow, expensive, and specialist-dependent. Here we report a generally applicable platform for autonomous enzyme engineering that integrates machine learning and large language models with biofoundry automation to eliminate the need for human intervention, judgement, and domain expertise. Requiring only an input protein sequence and a quantifiable way to measure fitness, this automated platform can be applied to engineer a wide array of proteins. As a proof of concept, we engineer Arabidopsis thaliana halide methyltransferase (AtHMT) for a 90-fold improvement in substrate preference and 16-fold improvement in ethyltransferase activity, along with developing a Yersinia mollaretii phytase (YmPhytase) variant with 26-fold improvement in activity at neutral pH. This is accomplished in four rounds over 4 weeks, while requiring construction and characterization of fewer than 500 variants for each enzyme. This platform for autonomous experimentation paves the way for rapid advancements across diverse industries, from medicine and biotechnology to renewable energy and sustainable chemistry.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

High-throughput platform for yeast morphological profiling predicts the targets of bioactive compounds

Abstract Morphological profiling is an omics-based approach for predicting intracellular targets of chemical compounds in which the dose-dependent morphological changes induced by the compound are systematically compared to the morphological changes in gene-deleted cells. In this study, we developed a reliable high-throughput (HT) platform for yeast morphological profiling using drug-hypersensitive strains to minimize compound use, HT microscopy to speed up data generation and analysis, and a generalized linear model to predict targets with high reliability. We first conducted a proof-of-concept study using six compounds with known targets: bortezomib, hydroxyurea, methyl methanesulfonate, benomyl, tunicamycin, and echinocandin B. Then we applied our platform to predict the mechanism of action of a novel diferulate-derived compound, poacidiene. Morphological profiling of poacidiene implied that it affects the DNA damage response, which genetic analysis confirmed. Furthermore, we found that poacidiene inhibits the growth of phytopathogenic fungi, implying applications as an effective antifungal agent. Thus, our platform is a new whole-cell target prediction tool for drug discovery.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

An open-source data storage and visualization platform for collaborative qubit control

Developing collaborative research platforms for quantum bit control is crucial for driving innovation in the field, as they enable the exchange of ideas, data, and implementation to achieve more impactful outcomes. Furthermore, considering the high costs associated with quantum experimental setups, collaborative environments are vital for maximizing resource utilization efficiently. However, the lack of dedicated data management platforms presents a significant obstacle to progress, highlighting the necessity for essential assistive tools tailored for this purpose. Current qubit control systems are unable to handle complicated management of extensive calibration data and do not support effectively visualizing intricate quantum experiment outcomes. In this paper, we introduce Qubit Control Storage and Visualization ( QubiCSV ), a platform specifically designed to meet the demands of quantum computing research, focusing on the storage and analysis of calibration and characterization data in qubit control systems. As an open-source tool, QubiCSV facilitates efficient data management of quantum computing, providing data versioning capabilities for data storage and allowing researchers and programmers to interact with qubits in real time. The insightful visualization are developed to interpret complex quantum experiments and optimize qubit performance. QubiCSV not only streamlines the handling of qubit control system data but also improves the user experience with intuitive visualization features, making it a valuable asset for researchers in the quantum computing domain.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Hybrid plasmonic Au–TiN vertically aligned nanocomposites: a nanoscale platform towards tunable optical sensing

Tunable plasmonic structure at the nanometer scale presents enormous opportunities for various photonic devices. In this work, we present a hybrid plasmonic thin film platform: i.e., a vertically aligned Au nanopillar array grown inside a TiN matrix with controllable Au pillar density. Compared to single phase plasmonic materials, the presented tunable hybrid nanostructures attain optical flexibility including gradual tuning and anisotropic behavior of the complex dielectric function, resonant peak shifting and change of surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) in the UV-visible range, all confirmed by numerical simulations. Lastly, the tailorable hybrid platform also demonstrates enhanced surface plasmon Raman response for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements, and presents great potentials as designable hybrid platforms for tunable optical-based chemical sensing applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sharp-tip enhanced catalytic CO oxidation by atomically dispersed Pt 1 /Pt 2 on a raised graphene oxide platform

Revealing structure–activity relationships of graphene-supported atomically dispersed transition metal catalysts is of key importance in catalysis chemistry and materials science. In this work, we report a first-principles theoretical study on O 2 activation and CO oxidation catalyzed by atomically dispersed Pt 1 /Pt 2 anchored on a raised graphene (Gr) platform. The unique sharp-tip structure of the protuberant graphene platform (carbon-tip) can collect extra polarization electrons on the Pt-tip, promoting electron transfer between the catalyst and adsorbates, and greatly enhancing the chemical activity. Higher carbon-tips on defective graphene oxide with a carbon vacancy (Gr-V) produce more polarization electrons, a more localized electric field, and a larger up-shift of the d-orbital center of the Pt-tip, resulting in better catalytic performance. The carbon-tip enhancement reduces the energy barrier for the CO oxidation on Pt 1 O 2 /Gr-V from 1.19 eV to 0.56 eV compared with Pt 1 on planar Gr. In addition, CO poisoning is significantly alleviated, with the CO poisoning rate Γ θ reduced from 2.00 eV to 0.52 eV. Moreover, a linear relationship between the activation barrier and the binding energy of adsorbates is found for various atomically dispersed Pt-tip catalysts on the raised graphene oxide platform. Importantly, the order of catalytic activity is consistent with the carbon-tip enhancement, i.e., Pt 1 O 2 /Gr-V > Pt 2 O 4 /Gr-V > Pt 1 O 2 /Gr > Pt 2 O 4 /Gr. These findings provide important guidance for rational design of atomically dispersed catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Go with the flow: modeling unique biological flows in engineered in vitro platforms

Interest in recapitulating in vivo phenomena in vitro using organ-on-a-chip technology has grown rapidly and with it, attention to the types of fluid flow experienced in the body has followed suit. These platforms offer distinct advantages over in vivo models with regards to human relevance, cost, and control of inputs (e.g., controlled manipulation of biomechanical cues from fluid perfusion). Given the critical role biophysical forces play in several tissues and organs, it is therefore imperative that engineered in vitro platforms capture the complex, unique flow profiles experienced in the body that are intimately tied with organ function. In this review, we outline the complex and unique flow regimes experienced by three different organ systems: blood vasculature, lymphatic vasculature, and the intestinal system. Here, we highlight current state-of-the-art platforms that strive to replicate physiological flows within engineered tissues while introducing potential limitations in current approaches.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Autonomous elemental characterization enabled by a low cost robotic platform built upon a generalized software architecture

Despite the rapidly growing applications of robots in industry, the use of robots to automate tasks in scientific laboratories is less prolific due to the lack of generalized methodologies and the high cost of hardware. This paper focuses on the automation of characterization tasks necessary for reducing cost while maintaining generalization and proposes a software architecture for building robotic systems in scientific laboratory environments. A dual-layer (Socket.IO and ROS) action server design is the basic building block, which facilitates the implementation of a web-based front end for user-friendly operation and the use of ROS Behavior Trees for convenient task planning and execution. A robotic platform for automating mineral and material sample characterization is built upon the architecture, with an open-source, low-cost three-axis computer numerical control gantry system serving as the main robot. A handheld laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) analyzer is integrated with a 3D printed adapter, enabling (1) automated 2D chemical mapping and (2) autonomous sample measurement (with the support of an RGB-Depth camera). We demonstrate the utility of automated chemical mapping by scanning the surface of a spodumene-bearing pegmatite core sample with a 1071-point dense hyperspectral map acquired at a rate of 1520 bits per second. Furthermore, we showcase the autonomy of the platform in terms of perception, dynamic decision-making, and execution, through a case study of LIBS measurement of multiple mineral samples. The platform enables controlled and autonomous chemical quantification in the laboratory that complements field-based measurements acquired with the same handheld device, linking resource exploration and processing steps in the supply chain for lithium-based battery materials.

Cao, Xuan [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (↗