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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

The Algae Foundation® and Algae Technology Educational Consortium

Abstract The Algae Foundation established in February 2013 has developed a diverse portfolio of algal‐based education and workforce development programs covering education levels from kindergarten through college, aquaculture extension, and free online courses. The Algae Foundation created the Algae Technology Educational Consortium (ATEC) with five major foci including community college certificate program in algae cultivation; community college curriculum adopted for algal biotechnology degree programs; Algal Massive Open Online Courses (Algal MOOCs); Algae Academy, a kindergarten to 12th grade STEM curriculum initiative; and aquaculture extension education through the Algae Cultivation Extension Short courses (ACES). The results include the education and training of over 102,000 students, aquaculturists, entrepreneurs, and bioeconomy‐based professionals aged 8–75 years in all 50 U.S. states and 66 countries. ATEC has completed agreements with 21 community colleges and universities located in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The first ATEC‐sponsored certificate degree program graduation was in May 2018. The Algae MOOC #1 has had over 15,752 students enrolled. ATEC initiated the Algae Academy in spring 2016 in Carlsbad, CA, and expanded to serving over 34,000 students in 46 states during the academic year 2019–2020. ACES has enrolled over 1,550 students from 66 countries.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Evaluating the Potential for Remote In-Process Monitoring of Tool Wear in Friction Stir Welding of Stainless Steel

A wear characterization study was performed to determine the useful lifetime of Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride tooling for the friction stir welding (FSW) of stainless steel samples in support of a nuclear repair welding research and development program. In-situ and ex-situ laser profilometry were utilized as primary methods of monitoring tool geometry degradation, and volumetric defects were detected through both non-destructive and destructive techniques, as repeated welds of a standard sample configuration were produced. The spectral content of weld forces were examined to search for indications of evolving material flow conditions, caused by significant tool wear, that would result in the formation of defects, and an artificial neural network was trained and evaluated as a means of automatically detecting these conditions. Here, the resulting performance constituted a successful demonstration of in-process monitoring of tool wear and weld quality in FSW of a high melting temperature, high hardness material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Performance of a 512 x 512 Gated CMOS Imager with a 250 ps Exposure Time

We describe the performance of a 512x512 gated CMOS read out integrated circuit (ROIC) with a 250 ps exposure time. A low-skew, H-tree trigger distribution system is used to locally generate individual pixel gates in each 8x8 neighborhood of the ROIC. The temporal width of the gate is voltage controlled and user selectable via a precision potentiometer. The gating implementation was first validated in optical tests of a 64x64 pixel prototype ROIC developed as a proof-of-concept during the early phases of the development program. The layout of the H-Tree addresses each quadrant of the ROIC independently and admits operation of the ROIC in two modes. If “common mode” triggering is used, the camera provides a single 512x512 image. If independent triggers are used, the camera can provide up to four 256x256 images with a frame separation set by the trigger intervals. The ROIC design includes small (sub-pixel) optical photodiode structures to allow test and characterization of the ROIC using optical sources prior to bump bonding. Reported test results were obtained using short pulse, second harmonic Ti:Sapphire laser systems operating at λ~ 400 nm at sub-ps pulse widths.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2014

TH-E-19A-01: Quality and Safety in Radiation Therapy

Clinical radiotherapy data clearly demonstrate the link between the quality and safety of radiation treatments and the outcome for patients. The medical physicist plays an essential role in this process. To ensure the highest quality treatments, the medical physicist must understand and employ modern quality improvement techniques. This extends well beyond the duties traditionally associated with prescriptive QA measures. This session will review the current best practices for improving quality and safety in radiation therapy. General elements of quality management will be reviewed including: what makes a good quality management structure, the use of prospective risk analysis such as FMEA, and the use of incident learning. All of these practices are recommended in society-level documents and are incorporated into the new Practice Accreditation program developed by ASTRO. To be effective, however, these techniques must be practical in a resource-limited environment. This session will therefore focus on practical tools such as the newly-released radiation oncology incident learning system, RO-ILS, supported by AAPM and ASTRO. With these general constructs in mind, a case study will be presented of quality management in an SBRT service. An example FMEA risk assessment will be presented along with incident learning examples including root cause analysis. As the physicist's role as “quality officer” continues to evolve it will be essential to understand and employ the most effective techniques for quality improvement. This session will provide a concrete overview of the fundamentals in quality and safety. Learning Objectives: Recognize the essential elements of a good quality management system in radiotherapy. Understand the value of incident learning and the AAPM/ASTRO ROILS incident learning system. Appreciate failure mode and effects analysis as a risk assessment tool and its use in resource-limited environments. Understand the fundamental principles of good error proofing that extends beyond traditional prescriptive QA measures.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-778: Use of the 2D MatriXX Detector for Measuring Scanned Ion Beam Parameters

Purpose: The quality assurance (QA) procedure has to check the most relevant beam parameters to ensure the delivery of the correct dose to patients. Film dosimetry, which is commonly used for scanned ion beam QA, does not provide immediate results. The purpose of this work is to answer whether, for scanned ion beam therapy, film dosimetry can be replaced with the 2D MatriXX detector as a real-time tool. Methods: MatriXX, equipped with 32×32 parallel plate ion-chambers, is a commercial device intended for pre-treatment verification of conventional radiation therapy.The MatriXX, placed at the isocenter, and GAFCHROMIC films, positioned on the MatriXX entrance, were exposed to 131.44 MeV proton and 221.45 MeV/u Carbon-ion beams.The OmniPro-I’mRT software, applied for the data taking of MatriXX, gives the possibility of acquiring consecutive snapshots. Using the NI LabVIEW, the data from snapshots were logged as text files for further analysis. Radiochromic films were scanned with EPSON scanner and analyzed using software programs developed in-house for comparative purposes. Results: The field dose uniformity, flatness, beam position and beam width were investigated. The field flatness for the region covering 6×6 cm{sup 2} square field was found to be better than 2%. The relative standard deviations, expected to be constant over 2×2, 4×4 and 6×6 pixels from MatriXX measurement gives a uniformity of 1.5% in good agreement with the film results.The beam center position is determined with a resolution better than 200 µm for Carbon and less than 100 µm for proton beam.The FWHM determination for a beam wider than 10 mm is satisfactory, whilst for smaller beams the determination is uncertain. Conclusion: Precise beam position and fast 2D dose distribution can be determined in real-time using MatriXX detector. The results show that MatriXX is quick and accurate enough to be used in charged-particle therapy QA.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

MO-D-213-01: Workflow Monitoring for a High Volume Radiation Oncology Center

Purpose: Implement a center wide communication system that increases interdepartmental transparency and accountability while decreasing redundant work and treatment delays by actively monitoring treatment planning workflow. Methods: Intake Management System (IMS), a program developed by ProCure Treatment Centers Inc., is a multi-function database that stores treatment planning process information. It was devised to work with the oncology information system (Mosaiq) to streamline interdepartmental workflow.Each step in the treatment planning process is visually represented and timelines for completion of individual tasks are established within the software. The currently active step of each patient’s planning process is highlighted either red or green according to whether the initially allocated amount of time has passed for the given process. This information is displayed as a Treatment Planning Process Monitor (TPPM), which is shown on screens in the relevant departments throughout the center. This display also includes the individuals who are responsible for each task.IMS is driven by Mosaiq’s quality checklist (QCL) functionality. Each step in the workflow is initiated by a Mosaiq user sending the responsible party a QCL assignment. IMS is connected to Mosaiq and the sending or completing of a QCL updates the associated field in the TPPM to the appropriate status. Results: Approximately one patient a week is identified during the workflow process as needing to have his/her treatment start date modified or resources re-allocated to address the most urgent cases. Being able to identify a realistic timeline for planning each patient and having multiple departments communicate their limitations and time constraints allows for quality plans to be developed and implemented without overburdening any one department. Conclusion: Monitoring the progression of the treatment planning process has increased transparency between departments, which enables efficient communication. Having built-in timelines allows easy prioritization of tasks and resources and facilitates effective time management.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

TU-CD-304-04: Scanning Field Total Body Irradiation Using Dynamic Arc with Variable Dose Rate and Gantry Speed

Purpose: Enable a scanning field total body irradiation (TBI) technique, using dynamic arcs, which is biologically equivalent to a moving couch TBI. Methods: Patient is treated slightly above the floor and the treatment field scans across the patient by a moving gantry. MLC positions change during gantry motion to keep same field opening at the level of the treatment plane (170 cm). This is done to mimic the same geometry as the moving couch TBI technique which has been used in our institution for over 10 years. The dose rate and the gantry speed are determined considering a constant speed of the moving field, variations in SSD and slanted depths resulting from oblique gantry angles. An Eclipse (Varian) planning system is commissioned to accommodate the extended SSD. The dosimetric foundations of the technique have been thoroughly investigated using phantom measurements. Results: Dose uniformity better than 2% across 180 cm length at 10cm depth is achieved by moving the gantry from −55 to +55 deg. Treatment range can be extended by increasing gantry range. No device such as a gravity-oriented compensator is needed to achieve a uniform dose. It is feasible to modify the dose distribution by adjusting the dose rate at each gantry angle to compensate for body thickness differences. Total treatment time for 2 Gy AP/PA fields is 40–50 minutes excluding patient set up time, at the machine dose rate of 100 MU/min. Conclusion: This novel yet transportable moving field technique enables TBI treatment in a small treatment room with less program development preparation than other techniques. Treatment length can be extended per need, and. MLC-based thickness compensation and partial lung blocking are also possible.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

TU-CD-BRB-09: Prediction of Chemo-Radiation Outcome for Rectal Cancer Based On Radiomics of Tumor Clinical Characteristics and Multi-Parametric MRI

Purpose: To evaluate the tumor clinical characteristics and quantitative multi-parametric MR imaging features for prediction of response to chemo-radiation treatment (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods: Forty-three consecutive patients (59.7±6.9 years, from 09/2013 – 06/2014) receiving neoadjuvant CRT followed by surgery were enrolled. All underwent MRI including anatomical T1/T2, Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE)-MRI and Diffusion-Weighted MRI (DWI) prior to the treatment. A total of 151 quantitative features, including morphology/Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture from T1/T2, enhancement kinetics and the voxelized distribution from DCE-MRI, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DWI, along with clinical information (carcinoembryonic antigen CEA level, TNM staging etc.), were extracted for each patient. Response groups were separated based on down-staging, good response and pathological complete response (pCR) status. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) was used to select the best predictors to classify different groups and the predictive performance were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Individual imaging category or clinical charateristics might yield certain level of power in assessing the response. However, the combined model outperformed than any category alone in prediction. With selected features as Volume, GLCM AutoCorrelation (T2), MaxEnhancementProbability (DCE-MRI), and MeanADC (DWI), the down-staging prediciton accuracy (area under the ROC curve, AUC) could be 0.95, better than individual tumor metrics with AUC from 0.53–0.85. While for the pCR prediction, the best set included CEA (clinical charateristics), Homogeneity (DCE-MRI) and MeanADC (DWI) with an AUC of 0.89, more favorable compared to conventional tumor metrics with an AUC ranging from 0.511–0.79. Conclusion: Through a systematic analysis of multi-parametric MR imaging features, we are able to build models with improved predictive value over conventional imaging or clinical metrics. This is encouraging, suggesting the wealth of imaging radiomics should be further explored to help tailor the treatment into the era of personalized medicine. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant No. 81201091), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program, Grant No. 2015AA020917), and Fund Project for Excellent Abroad Scholar Personnel in Science and Technology.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

WE-G-207-07: Iterative CT Shading Correction Method with No Prior Information

Purpose: Shading artifacts are caused by scatter contamination, beam hardening effects and other non-ideal imaging condition. Our Purpose is to propose a novel and general correction framework to eliminate low-frequency shading artifacts in CT imaging (e.g., cone-beam CT, low-kVp CT) without relying on prior information. Methods: Our method applies general knowledge of the relatively uniform CT number distribution in one tissue component. Image segmentation is applied to construct template image where each structure is filled with the same CT number of that specific tissue. By subtracting the ideal template from CT image, the residual from various error sources are generated. Since the forward projection is an integration process, the non-continuous low-frequency shading artifacts in the image become continuous and low-frequency signals in the line integral. Residual image is thus forward projected and its line integral is filtered using Savitzky-Golay filter to estimate the error. A compensation map is reconstructed on the error using standard FDK algorithm and added to the original image to obtain the shading corrected one. Since the segmentation is not accurate on shaded CT image, the proposed scheme is iterated until the variation of residual image is minimized. Results: The proposed method is evaluated on a Catphan600 phantom, a pelvic patient and a CT angiography scan for carotid artery assessment. Compared to the one without correction, our method reduces the overall CT number error from >200 HU to be <35 HU and increases the spatial uniformity by a factor of 1.4. Conclusion: We propose an effective iterative algorithm for shading correction in CT imaging. Being different from existing algorithms, our method is only assisted by general anatomical and physical information in CT imaging without relying on prior knowledge. Our method is thus practical and attractive as a general solution to CT shading correction. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant No. 81201091), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program, Grant No. 2015AA020917), and Fund Project for Excellent Abroad Scholar Personnel in Science and Technology.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

TH-EF-BRB-09: Total Body Irradiation with Uniform MU and Modulated Arc Segments, UMMS-TBI

Purpose: To test a novel total body irradiation (TBI) system using conformal partial arc with patient lying on the stationary couch which is biologically equivalent to a moving couch TBI. This improves the scanning field TBI, which is previously presented. Methods: The Uniform MU Modulated arc Segments TBI or UMMS-TBI scans the treatment plane with a constant machine dose rate and a constant gantry rotation speed. A dynamic MLC pattern which moves while gantry rotates has been designed so that the treatment field moves same distance at the treatment plane per each gantry angle, while maintaining same treatment field size (34cm) at the plane. Dose across the plane varies due to the geometric differences including the distance from the source to a point of interest and the different attenuation from the slanted depth which changes the effective depth. Beam intensity is modulated to correct the dose variation across the plane by assigning the number of gantry angles inversely proportional to the uncorrected dose. Results: Measured dose and calculated dose matched within 1 % for central axis and 3% for off axis for various patient scenarios. Dose from different distance does not follow the inverse square relation as it is predicted from calculation. Dose uniformity better than 5% across 180 cm at 10cm depth is achieved by moving the gantry from −55 to +55 deg. Total treatment time for 2 Gy AP/PA fields is 40–50 minutes excluding patient set up time, at the machine dose rate of 200 MU/min. Conclusion: This novel technique, yet accurate but easy to implement enables TBI treatment in a small treatment room with less program development preparation than other techniques. The VMAT function of treatment delivery is not required to modulate beams. One delivery pattern can be used for different patients by changing the monitor units.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

The creation of high-temperature superconducting cables of megawatt range in Russia

Urgent problems of the power industry in the 21st century require the creation of smart energy systems, providing a high effectiveness of generation, transmission, and consumption of electric power. Simultaneously, the requirements for controllability of power systems and ecological and resource-saving characteristics at all stages of production and distribution of electric power are increased. One of the decision methods of many problems of the power industry is the development of new high-efficiency electrical equipment for smart power systems based on superconducting technologies to ensure a qualitatively new level of functioning of the electric power industry. The intensive research and development of new types of electrical devices based on superconductors are being carried out in many industrialized advanced countries. Interest in such developments has especially increased in recent years owing to the discovery of so-called high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that do not require complicated and expensive cooling devices. Such devices can operate at cooling by inexpensive and easily accessible liquid nitrogen. Taking into account the obvious advantages of superconducting cable lines for the transmission of large power flows through an electrical network, as compared with conventional cables, the Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (JSC FGC UES) initiated a research and development program including the creation of superconducting HTS AC and DC cable lines. Two cable lines for the transmitted power of 50 MVA/MW at 20 kV were manufactured and tested within the framework of the program.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Simulation of Motion of H{sub 2} and D{sub 2} Molecules in Sextupole Magnets

We simulate the motion of hydrogen and deuterium molecules in the magnetic system of a setup intended for obtaining nuclear-spin-polarized molecules. Spatial separation of molecules with different magnetic moment projections by the spin filtration method in a nonuniform magnetic field is performed using superconducting sextupole magnets. Calculations are carried out for a magnetic field induction of 3.7 T at the poles and a nozzle temperature of 7 K. Simulation show that the ratio of polarized flux of hydrogen molecules to the detector to the total flux from the source nozzle is 2.3 × 10{sup –6}, nuclear polarization being close to 100%. Calculations performed for deuterium reveal that this ratio is 7 times smaller due to the smallness of the magnetic moment relative to hydrogen molecules. Trajectories of molecules in the magnetic system and their spatial distribution are represented graphically. Mathematical aspects of the algorithm of the computer program developed for this purpose are considered.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Caliper Context Annotation Library

To understand the performance of parallel programs, developers need to be able to relate performance measurement data with context information, such as the call path / line numbers or iteration numbers where measurements were taken. Caliper provides a generic way to specify and collect multi-dimensional context information across the software stack, and provide ti to third-party measurement tools or write it into a file or database in the form of context streams.

ECP↗
DOE OSTI2022

ODI notebook additive_manufacturing_video_2022

Additive Manufacturing, video dataset Two-photon lithography (TPL) is a widely used 3D nanoprinting technique that uses laser light to create objects. Challenges to large-scale adoption of this additive manufacturing method include identifying light dosage parameters and monitoring during fabrication. A research team from LLNL, Iowa State University, and Georgia Tech is applying machine learning models to tackle these challenges-i.e., accelerate the process of identifying optimal light dosage parameters and automate the detection of part quality. Funded by LLNL's Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program, the project team has curated a video dataset of TPL processes for parameters such as light dosages, photo-curable resins, and structures. Both raw and labeled versions of the datasets are available on the links in the Open Data Initiative page. The code uses the labeled dataset. Notebook compiled by Nisha Mulakken (mulakken1@llnl.gov) for LLNL Open Data Initiative, Summer 2022. Original code provided by research team. Publications: X.Y. Lee, S.K. Saha, S. Sarkar, B. Giera. "Automated detection of part quality during two-photon lithography via deep learning." Additive Manufacturing 36, December 2020: doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2020.101444 X.Y. Lee, S.K. Saha, S. Sarkar, B. Giera. "wo Photon lithography additive manufacturing: Video dataset of parameter sweep of light dosages, photo-curable resins, and structures." Data in Brief 32, October 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.106119.

Mulakken, NishaJ↗
DOE OSTI2024

ARM-DOE/adi-vap-pblhtsonde

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program developed a value added product that could run autonomously to determine planetary boundary height using radiosondes. This product has produced data for 117 unique sites and facilities for more than 10 years. The initial software was released around 2013 and data has been produced since 2001 for some sites.

Sivaraman, Chitra↗
DOE OSTI2023

TenSQL v.2023.01.20

SAND2024-02520O Tensor SQL Database performs certain relational database management system/structured query language (RDBMS/SQL) queries faster than is possible using existing state-of-the-art databases. Tensor SQL is optimized for sparse linear algebra problems and other whole-table queries. Currently, the database is being used only for research and program development. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Roose, Jonathan↗
DOE OSTI2026

Triso Analysis Tool For Predictive Source Terms

Source term modeling for TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuel has been performed for previous reactor designs, but few are available in the open literature. Thus, there is a need to develop a simple, versatile, and mechanistic model of fission product release and transport in gas reactor cores that can be applied to a variety of reactors through user inputs and reactor-specific radionuclide inventories. To meet this need, the TRISO Analysis Tool for Predictive Source terms (TRISO-ATOPS) was developed. This model calculates the release of the key safety-important fission products by diffusion through the kernel, silicon carbide and graphite based on fuel and graphite temperatures in the reactor under normal operation. These releases from the fuel enter the coolant where they can plate-out on cooler surfaces. A clean-up model is included for designs with a coolant purification system for removing fission gases. This initial distribution of fission products in the reactor serves as an initial condition for potential releases under postulated accident conditions. From this initial condition, the model calculates the fission product release for any transient temperature profile, and the fission product releases can then be used to assess radiological dose to the workers and the public using conventional radiological dose tools. Data on the diffusion of fission products is based on historic German TRISO experiments and the more current Department of Energy Advanced Gas Reactor TRISO fuel development program. The example cases in this work demonstrate the flexibility of the model

Stoyer, Benjamin [Idaho National Laboratory (INL),↗
DOE OSTI2022

Categorizing distributed wind energy installations in the United States to inform research and stakeholder priorities

Abstract Background Distributed wind energy adoption in the United States can contribute to the diverse portfolio of energy technologies needed to achieve ambitious decarbonization goals. However, with limited deployment to date, the current distributed wind market must be better understood; these efforts will support the range of stakeholders who will drive successful deployment. This article first distinguishes three categories of distributed wind from existing literature: (1) behind the meter, (2) intended for explicit local load, and (3) physically distributed. A novel methodology to classify individual wind installations into each of these categories is then presented and applied to two data sets of wind installations in the United States to categorize and illuminate distinct segments in the distributed wind market. Results Physically distributed installations, constituted by small to moderately sized projects serving local loads on distribution systems solely because of their proximity to them, account for the highest amount of capacity but the lowest number of installations out of the three categories. The inverse is true for behind-the-meter installations, which are used to serve on-site loads. Installations intended for explicit local load, which are interconnected on the utility side of the distribution system and intentionally built to provide energy to loads on the same distribution system, rank in the middle for both installed capacity and number of installations. Conclusions Distributed wind energy deployment in the United States is geographically widespread, but the extent to which a single category is developed in each state varies. Policies, wind resources, and broad energy technology trends contribute to these deployment patterns. By identifying the extent to which each category of installations exists, decision-makers are empowered with data necessary to tailor research and development programs and address stakeholder priorities through policy and other means, ultimately supporting future deployment.

17 WIND ENERGY↗