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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 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-359: Emulation of Yb-169 Gamma-Ray Spectrum Using Metal-Filtered 250 KVp X-Rays for Pre-Clinical Studies of Gold Nanoparticle-Aided Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To develop an external beam surrogate of the Yb-169 brachytherapy source applying a filter-based spectrum modulation technique to 250 kVp x-rays. In-vitro/vivo studies performed with the modulated 250 kVp beam will help gauge the benefits of implementing gold nanoparticle-aided radiotherapy with the Yb-169 source. Methods: A previously validated MCNP5 model of the Phillips RT-250 orthovoltage unit was used to obtain the percentage depth dose (PDD) and filtered photon spectra for a variety of filtration and irradiation conditions. Photon spectra were obtained using the average flux F4 tally in air right after all collimation. A 30 x 30 x 30 cm{sup 3} water phantom was used to compute the PDD along the central axis (CAX) under the standards conditions of a 10 x 10 cm{sup 2} field size at 50 cm SSD. Cylindrical cells of 4 cm in diameter and the energy deposition F6 tally were used along the CAX to score the doses down to 20 cm depth. The number of particle history was set to 2 x 10{sup 8} in order to keep the relative uncertainty within each cell < 0.3%. The secondary electron spectrum within a gold-loaded tissue due to each photon spectrum was also calculated using EGSnrc and compared with that due to Yb-169 gamma rays. Results: Under the practical constraints for the spectrum modulation task, 250 kVp x-rays filtered by a 0.25 mm Erbium (Er) foil produced the best match with Yb-169 gamma rays, in terms of PDD and, more importantly, secondary electron spectrum. Conclusion: Modulation of 250kVp x-ray spectrum by an Er-filter was found effective in emulating the gamma ray spectrum of Yb-169. Possible benefits as predicted from the current MC model such as enhanced radiosensitization with the Er-filtered beam (as a surrogate of Yb-169) was confirmed with a separate in-vitro study. Supported by DOD/PCRP grant W81XWH-12-1-0198.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-F-207-07: Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Detection Limit of Various Radiopaque Contrast Agents That Can Be Infused Within Absorbable Inferior Vena Cava Filters

Purpose: Absorbable IVC filters are shown to be safe and efficacious in preventing pulmonary embolism. These absorbable filters disappear from the body after their required duration, alleviating costly removal procedures and downstream complications. Monitoring the positioning and integrity of absorbable devices using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) would improve treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study is to determine the limit of detection and the energy dependence of DECT for various contrast agents that may be infused within the IVC filters including gold nanoparticles (AuNP) having diameters of 2 and 4 nm. Methods: All imaging studies were performed on a GE Discovery CT750 system in Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) mode. Plastic vials containing the contrast agent solutions of water and blood were placed in a water bath, and images were acquired with the GSI-5 preset. The images were reformatted into the coronal plane and 5mm diameter ROIs were placed within each solution on a GE Advantage Workstation. Monoenergetic reconstructions were generated from 40 – 140 keV. Results: Mass attenuation (contrast per unit density) for AuNPs was greater than iron, but less than barium and iodine. Contrast was 10.2 (± 3.6) HU for 4 nm AuNP at 0.72 mg/ml and 12.1 (± 4.2) for 2 nm AuNP at 0.31 mg/ml at 70 keV suggesting reasonable chance of visualization at these concentrations for 70 keV reconstruction. The contrast as a function of CT energy is similar in both water and blood. Iodine is most dependent, followed closely by barium and iron, and trailed by a large margin by the AuNP. This was unexpected given Au’s large atomic number and the predominance of photoelectric effect at low energy. Conclusion: Infusion of IVC filters with AuNP is feasible. Discrimination of AuNP-infused IVC filters from surrounding anatomy warrants further investigation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

A Novel Pruning Method for Convolutional Neural Networks Based off Identifying Critical Filters

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are one of the most extensively used tools in machine learning, but they are still not well understood and in many cases they are over-parameterized, leading to slow inference and impeding their deployment on low-power devices. In the last few years, many methods for decreasing the number of parameters in a network by pruning its output channels have been suggested, but a very recent work has argued that random pruning of channels performs on-par with state-of-the-art pruning methods. While random and other pruning methods might be effectively used for lowering the number of parameters in a CNN, none of these methods can be used to gain any further understanding of the model that the CNN has built. In this work, we propose a novel method for pruning a network, that at the same time can lead to a better understanding of what the individual filters of the network learn about the data. The method proposed aims to keep only the filters that are "important" for a class. We define a filter as important for a class if its removal has the highest negative impact on the accuracy for that class. We demonstrate that our method is better than random pruning on two networks used on the EMNIST and CIFAR10 datasets. By analyzing the important filters, we find that the important filters in the pruned networks learn features which are more general across classes. We demonstrate the importance and applicability of that observation in two transfer-learning tasks.

Dimovska, Mihaela↗
DOE OSTI2023

Improving Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Readout Signals Using Adaptive Filters on Reconfigurable Controls Hardware

This study investigates the optimization of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in superconducting quantum computing readout signals through adaptive filtering. Quantum computing technology has the potential to revolutionize various fields by delivering exponential speedup in solving certain computational problems. However, the technology's practical implementation is hindered by the difficulty of extracting clean, reliable signals during the readout phase, with various sources of noise presenting a significant barrier to clean signals. This noise, often present in readout profiles due to imperfect isolation, degrades the system's overall SNR, thus impeding the ability to extract the quantum state accurately. The research leverages the power of adaptive filtering to improve the SNR of quantum computing readout signals. Specifically, an adaptive filter is implemented in a PYNQ overlay on an FPGA, and eventually will be connected to a quantum computing system. The system models the n oise with a Least Mean Squares (LMS) adaptive filter, and then subtracts the estimated noise from the received signal to improve the SNR. A Direct Memory Access (DMA) channel is used to handle the signal processing, delivering efficient, high-speed data transfer between the PYNQ system and the hardware. The study explores the benefits of this adaptive filtering technique, potentially providing a significant contribution to practical and fast quantum computing.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Making an s1G Self-Preserving Environmental DNA (eDNA) Filter from Sustainable Materials

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling of aquatic environments is a powerful new tool for resource managers to use in detecting the presence of rare and endangered species. The use of eDNA for species detection is quickly becoming an industry-standard methodology in environmental science, and the technology sector is moving quickly to create purpose-built tools for eDNA sampling. Smith-Root, Inc. pioneered the new technology of self-preserving eDNA filters that automatically preserve the DNA captured on filters by desiccating the internal filter membrane. This capability saves the sampling technician significant time in the field and drastically reduces the potential for sample contamination. One main constraint of this new technology, however, is the necessity of single-use plastics for eDNA sampling. Single-use designs are employed because sampling equipment must be devoid of potential contaminating DNA, and the time required to sterilize equipment is often not cost-effective for practitioners. Thus, this technology is creating a significant new source of plastic waste—something that eDNA practitioners, and society, would like to avoid. This project explores the use of alternative bio based polymers and composites as replacements for incumbent industrial standards for eDNA filtration systems, with an emphasis on ease of processing and biodegradable options. 8 candidate materials, 3 for the top filter housing and 5 for the bottom filter housing, were investigated to replace incumbent housing materials. Of the 8 candidates, 2 materials were identified for future investigation which met performance requirements, were bio-based and could potentially offer better disposal options like soil degradation or composting, features sought by the customers of these products. The top housing candidate, material 1, has comparable performance to the incumbent material and equally manufacturable. The bottom housing candidate, material 6, improved desiccation performance by 81% after 1 hour in comparison to the incumbent material, is 100% bio-based, compostable and can be sourced domestically throughout the U.S.A.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Aerosol-Assisted Deposition for TiO 2 Immobilization on Photocatalytic Fibrous Filters for VOC Degradation

Atomization and spraying are well-established methods for the production of submicrometer- and micrometer- sized powders. In addition, they could be of interest to the immobilization of photocatalytic nanoparticles onto supports because they enable the formation of microporous films with photocatalytic activity. Here, we provide a comparison of aerosol-assisted immobilization methods, such as spray-drying (SD), spray atomization (SA), and spray gun (SG), which were used for the deposition of TiO 2 dispersions onto fibrous filter media. The morphology, microstructure, and electronic properties of the structures with deposited TiO 2 were characterized by SEM and TEM, BET and USAXS, and UV-Vis spectrometry, respectively. The photocatalytic performances of the functionalized filters were evaluated and compared to the benchmark dip-coating method. Our results showed that the SG and SA immobilization methods led to the best photocatalytic and operational performance for the degradation of toluene, whereas the SD method showed the lowest degradation efficiency and poor stability of coating. We demonstrated that TiO2 sprays using the SG and SA methods with direct deposition onto filter media involving dispersed colloidal droplets revealed to be promising alternatives to the dip-coating method owing to the ability to uniformly cover the filter fibers. In addition, the SA method allowed for fast and simple control of the coating thickness as the dispersed particles were continuously directed onto the filter media without the need for repetitive coatings, which is common for the SG and dip-coating methods. Our study highlighted the importance of the proper immobilization method for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of VOCs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1966

Composite filter steepens rejection slopes in microwave application

Composite filter is used to obtain sharp rejection slopes in microwave transmission by filtering techniques. It consists of a bandpass filter to shape the passband and a bandreject filter on each edge of the bandpass filter to steepen the rejection slopes.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1969

Replacement of fluid-filter elements without interruption of flow

Gatling-type filter assembly, preloaded with several filter elements enables filter replacement without breaking into the operative fluid system. When the filter element becomes contaminated, a unit inner subassembly is rotated 60 degrees to position a clean filter in the line.

Kotler, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The use of linear programming techniques to design optimal digital filters for pulse shaping and channel equalization

A time domain technique is developed to design finite-duration impulse response digital filters using linear programming. Two related applications of this technique in data transmission systems are considered. The first is the design of pulse shaping digital filters to generate or detect signaling waveforms transmitted over bandlimited channels that are assumed to have ideal low pass or bandpass characteristics. The second is the design of digital filters to be used as preset equalizers in cascade with channels that have known impulse response characteristics. Example designs are presented which illustrate that excellent waveforms can be generated with frequency-sampling filters and the ease with which digital transversal filters can be designed for preset equalization.

Houts, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Analytical methods for performance evaluation of nonlinear filters.

In the investigation, the filtering problem is considered in the continuous time domain. The postulated simple suboptimal nonlinear filter structure closely parallels the structure of the Kalman-Bucy optimal linear filter algorithm. Two filter performance evaluation methods are developed based on the Kolmogorov equations for the transition density of Markov processes. The expansions in the approximations for the nonlinear system and observation functions are in effect carried out up to second-order terms in both methods. The description of the filter's performance is sought in terms of second-order statistics in both methods.

Bejczy, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Regenerative particulate filter development

Development, design, and fabrication of a prototype filter regeneration unit for regenerating clean fluid particle filter elements by using a backflush/jet impingement technique are reported. Development tests were also conducted on a vortex particle separator designed for use in zero gravity environment. A maintainable filter was designed, fabricated and tested that allows filter element replacement without any leakage or spillage of system fluid. Also described are spacecraft fluid system design and filter maintenance techniques with respect to inflight maintenance for the space shuttle and space station.

Descamp, V. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Statistical properties of filtered pseudorandom digital sequences formed from the sum of maximum-length sequences

The statistics of filtered pseudorandom digital sequences called hybrid-sum sequences, formed from the modulo-two sum of several maximum-length sequences, are analyzed. The results indicate that a relation exists between the statistics of the filtered sequence and the characteristic polynomials of the component maximum length sequences. An analysis procedure is developed for identifying a large group of sequences with good statistical properties for applications requiring the generation of analog pseudorandom noise. By use of the analysis approach, the filtering process is approximated by the convolution of the sequence with a sum of unit step functions. A parameter reflecting the overall statistical properties of filtered pseudorandom sequences is derived. This parameter is called the statistical quality factor. A computer algorithm to calculate the statistical quality factor for the filtered sequences is presented, and the results for two examples of sequence combinations are included. The analysis reveals that the statistics of the signals generated with the hybrid-sum generator are potentially superior to the statistics of signals generated with maximum-length generators. Furthermore, fewer calculations are required to evaluate the statistics of a large group of hybrid-sum generators than are required to evaluate the statistics of the same size group of approximately equivalent maximum-length sequences.

Wallace, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Properties of multilayer filters

New methods were investigated of using optical interference coatings to produce bandpass filters for the spectral region 110 nm to 200 nm. The types of filter are: triple cavity metal dielectric filters; all dielectric reflection filters; and all dielectric Fabry Perot type filters. The latter two types use thorium fluoride and either cryolite films or magnesium fluoride films in the stacks. The optical properties of the thorium fluoride were also measured.

Baumeister, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Video-signal improvement using comb filtering techniques.

Significant improvement in the signal-to-noise performance of television signals has been obtained through the application of comb filtering techniques. This improvement is achieved by removing the inherent redundancy in the television signal through linear prediction and by utilizing the unique noise-rejection characteristics of the receiver comb filter. Theoretical and experimental results describe the signal-to-noise ratio and picture-quality improvement obtained through the use of baseband comb filters and the implementation of a comb network as the loop filter in a phase-lock-loop demodulator. Attention is given to the fact that noise becomes correlated when processed by the receiver comb filter.

Arndt, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A motion-constraint logic for moving-base simulators based on variable filter parameters

A motion-constraint logic for moving-base simulators has been developed that is a modification to the linear second-order filters generally employed in conventional constraints. In the modified constraint logic, the filter parameters are not constant but vary with the instantaneous motion-base position to increase the constraint as the system approaches the positional limits. With the modified constraint logic, accelerations larger than originally expected are limited while conventional linear filters would result in automatic shutdown of the motion base. In addition, the modified washout logic has frequency-response characteristics that are an improvement over conventional linear filters with braking for low-frequency pilot inputs. During simulated landing approaches of an externally blown flap short take-off and landing (STOL) transport using decoupled longitudinal controls, the pilots were unable to detect much difference between the modified constraint logic and the logic based on linear filters with braking.

Miller, G. K., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Physical correction filter for improving the optical quality of an image

A family of physical correction filters is described. Each filter is designed to correct image content of a photographed scene of limited resolution and includes a first filter element with a pinhole through which light passes to a differential amplifier. A second filter element through which light passes through one or more openings, whose geometric configuration is a function of the cause of the resolution loss included. The light, passing through the second filter element, is also supplied to the differential amplifier whose output is used to activate an optical display or recorder to reproduce a photograph or display of the scene in the original photograph or display of the scene in the original photograph with resolution which is significantly greater than that characterizing the original photograph.

Lee, S. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Drift in interference filters. II - Radiation effects

Studies of peak transmission drift in narrow-band interference filters have shown that there exist two mechanisms that cause drift toward shorter wavelengths. One is dependent on the thermal history of the filter and is discussed in Part 1 of this paper. The other is dependent on the exposure of the filter to radiation. For ZnS-cryolite filters of particular design, it is experimentally demonstrated that the filters are most sensitive to radiation in a 100-A band centered at approximately 3900 A. The drift rate in the focal plane of an f/20 solar image is approximately 3 A/100 hr of exposure. Further, it is also shown by model calculations that the observed radiation-induced drift is consistent with the hypothesis that the optical thickness of ZnS decreases in proportion to the radiant energy absorbed.

Title, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Performance of the square root information filter for navigation of the Mariner 10 spacecraft

The use is described of a sequential least squares filter in the orbit determination for the Mariner Venus-Mercury (Mariner 10) spacecraft. The orbit determination strategy outlining the use of both the sequential filter and a conventional batch filter is given. Highlighted are the mission events from launch to the first Mercury encounter with emphasis on the sequential filter performance. Advantages to the mission derived from the sequential filter are pointed out.

Christensen, C. S.↗