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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 703 records · Page 39
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Ultrasonic Testing of Mechanical Changes in a Water-Filled Pipe with Multi-Mode and Broadband Signals and Two-Level Compensation

Ultrasonic testing (UT) has been widely used for the Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) of pipes due to its many favorable characteristics. However, one of the main challenges in the general use of UT for real-world pipelines is the sensitivity of this method to environmental and operational condition changes. This paper proposes a new UT method with enhanced compensation for environmental effects and operational condition changes. In particular, the effectiveness of the new method is tested in the presence of temperature variations, and changes in water flow rate inside a stainless-steel pipe. The proposed UT method uses multi-mode and broadband guided ultrasonic waves in the pipe walls, excited and received by single-element ultrasonic sensors that are spatially separated, forming a measurement zone between any pair of such transmit and receive sensors. Amplitude changes, time shifts, and frequency content variations in the ultrasonic signal due to temperature changes and water flow are evaluated and compensated for reliable UT of mechanical changes in the pipe. It is observed that spurious effects of water flow on ultrasonic response, if not properly compensated, can dominate over effects due to actual mechanical changes, but such liquid-boundary effects can be compensated effectively by the proposed time- and frequency-filtering method.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Modular 512-Channel Neural Signal Acquisition ASIC for High-Density 4096 Channel Electrophysiology

The complexity of information processing in the brain requires the development of technologies that can provide spatial and temporal resolution by means of dense electrode arrays paired with high-channel-count signal acquisition electronics. In this work, we present an ultra-low noise modular 512-channel neural recording circuit that is scalable to up to 4096 simultaneously recording channels. The neural readout application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) uses a dense 8.2 mm × 6.8 mm 2D layout to enable high-channel count, creating an ultra-light 350 mg flexible module. The module can be deployed on headstages for small animals like rodents and songbirds, and it can be integrated with a variety of electrode arrays. The chip was fabricated in a TSMC 0.18 µm 1.8 V CMOS technology and dissipates a total of 125 mW. Each DC-coupled channel features a gain and bandwidth programmable analog front-end along with 14 b analog-to-digital conversion at speeds up to 30 kS/s. Additionally, each front-end includes programmable electrode plating and electrode impedance measurement capability. We present both standalone and in vivo measurements results, demonstrating the readout of spikes and field potentials that are modulated by a sensory input.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Generating a Fractal Microstructure of Laminin-111 to Signal to Cells

Laminin-111 (Ln1) is an essential part of the extracellular matrix in epithelia, muscle and neural systems. We have previously demonstrated that the microstructure of Ln1 alters the way that it signals to cells, possibly because Ln1 assembly into networks exposes different adhesive domains. In this paper, we describe three methods to generate polymerized Ln1.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

SNEWPY: A Data Pipeline from Supernova Simulations to Neutrino Signals

Current neutrino detectors will observe hundreds to thousands of neutrinos from Galactic supernovae, and future detectors will increase this yield by an order of magnitude or more. With such a data set comes the potential for a huge increase in our understanding of the explosions of massive stars, nuclear physics under extreme conditions, and the properties of the neutrino. However, there is currently a large gap between supernova simulations and the corresponding signals in neutrino detectors, which will make any comparison between theory and observation very difficult. SNEWPY is an open-source software package that bridges this gap. The SNEWPY code can interface with supernova simulation data to generate from the model either a time series of neutrino spectral fluences at Earth, or the total time-integrated spectral fluence. Data from several hundred simulations of core-collapse, thermonuclear, and pair-instability supernovae is included in the package. This output may then be used by an event generator such as sntools or an event rate calculator such as the SuperNova Observatories with General Long Baseline Experiment Simulator (SNOwGLoBES). Additional routines in the SNEWPY package automate the processing of the generated data through the SNOwGLoBES software and collate its output into the observable channels of each detector. In this paper we describe the contents of the package, the physics behind SNEWPY, the organization of the code, and provide examples of how to make use of its capabilities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Possible Counterpart Signal of the Fermi Bubbles at the Cosmic-Ray Positrons

The inner Galaxy has hosted cosmic-ray burst events, including those responsible for the gamma-ray Fermi bubbles and the eROSITA bubbles in X-rays. In this work, we study the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer positron fraction and find three features around 12, 21, and 48 GeV, of which the lowest energy has a 1.4–4.9σ significance, depending on astrophysical background assumptions. Using background simulations that explain the cosmic-ray positron fraction, positron flux, and electron plus positron flux by primary and secondary cosmic rays and cosmic rays from local pulsars, we test these spectral features as originating from electron/positron burst events from the inner Galaxy. We find the 12 GeV feature to be explained by an event of age τ ≃ 3–10 Myr, in agreement with the proposed age of the Fermi bubbles. Furthermore, the energy in cosmic-ray electrons and positrons propagating along the Galactic disk and not within the Fermi bubbles volume is estimated to be 10 51.5 –10 57.5 erg, or O(10 –4 ) – O(1) the cosmic-ray energy causing the Fermi bubbles. We advocate that these positron fraction features are the counterpart signals of the Fermi bubbles, or of substructures within them, or of the eROSITA bubbles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Chasing Gamma-Ray Signals from Binary Neutron Star Coalescences with the Cherenkov Telescope Array: Prospects and Observing Strategies

The detection of gravitational waves (GWs) from a binary neutron star (BNS) merger by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo (GW170817), together with its electromagnetic counterpart, the short gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A, heralded the birth of multimessenger astronomy. The detection of TeV emission from GRBs motivates follow-up observations with the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), which is ideal for detecting such signals due to its unprecedented sensitivity, rapid response, and wide-field survey capabilities. The aim of this work is to evaluate GeV–TeV GW follow-up strategies for CTAO using a multistep simulation pipeline and to estimate the expected rate of joint GW–GRB detections during observing run O5. Using a simulated sample of BNS systems with corresponding GW detections, gamma-ray emission is simulated through phenomenological prescriptions based on the observed population of short GRBs, including off-axis jet scenarios. CTAO observations are simulated to account for instrument response, sky tiling strategies, integration times, and varying observing conditions. Strategies with variable and constant integration times are investigated. We find that, via an optimized follow-up strategy, about 5% of simulated GW-associated short GRBs produce GeV–TeV radiation detectable by CTAO. Detectability is strongly influenced by the jet opening angle and viewing angle, suggesting that even rough estimates of the viewing angle in GW alerts could enhance targeting. This framework motivates future follow-ups of GW-detectable events, including neutron star–black hole mergers, and further supports the development of advanced strategies incorporating galaxy distributions and synergies with future detectors such as the Einstein Telescope.

Abe, S. [University of Tokyo] (ORCID:0000000172503↗
DOE OSTI2024

Subphotospheric Emission from Short Gamma-Ray Bursts: Protons Mold the Multimessenger Signals

Abstract The origin of the observed Band-like photon spectrum in short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs) is a long-standing mystery. We carry out the first general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation of an sGRB jet with initial magnetizationσ 0 = 150 in dynamical ejecta from a binary merger. From this simulation, we identify regions along the jet of efficient energy dissipation due to magnetic reconnection and collisionless subshocks. Taking into account electron and proton acceleration processes, we solve for the first time the coupled transport equations for photons, electrons, protons, neutrinos, and intermediate particle species up to close to the photosphere (i.e., up to 1 × 10 12 cm), accounting for all relevant radiative and cooling processes. We find that the subphotospheric multimessenger signals carry strong signatures of the hadronic interactions and their resulting particle cascades. Importantly, the spectral energy distribution of photons is significantly distorted with respect to the Wien one, commonly assumed below the photosphere. Our findings suggest that the bulk of the nonthermal photon spectrum observed in sGRBs can stem from hadronic processes occurring below the photosphere and previously neglected, with an accompanying energy flux of neutrinos peaking in the GeV energy range.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced signal of momentum broadening in hard splittings for $γ$-tagged jets in a multistage approach

We investigate medium-induced modifications to jet substructure observables that characterize hard splitting patterns in central Pb-Pb collisions at the top energy of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Using a multistage Monte Carlo simulation of in-medium jet shower evolution, we explore flavor-dependent medium effects through simulations of inclusive and $γ$-tagged jets. The results show that quark jets undergo a non-monotonic modification compared to gluon jets in observables such as the Pb-Pb to $p$-$p$ ratio of the Soft Drop prong angle $r_g$, the relative prong transverse momentum $k_{T,g}$ and the groomed mass $m_g$ distributions. Due to this non-monotonic modification, $γ$-tagged jets, enriched in quark jets, provide surprisingly clear signals of medium-induced structural modifications, distinct from effects dominated by selection bias. This work highlights the potential of hard substructures in $γ$-tagged jets as powerful tools for probing the jet-medium interactions in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. All simulations for $γ$-tagged jet analyses carried out in this paper used triggered events containing at least one hard photon, which highlights the utility of these observables for future Bayesian analysis.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dark matter decay signals in cosmic filaments

Cosmic filaments form the backbone of the cosmic web, yet their properties and evolution remain uncertain. Using the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulations, we investigate the dark matter density profiles in filaments and their implications for dark matter decay signals. We show that GeV-scale dark matter particles decaying into electron-positron pairs can produce detectable radio synchrotron emission. By leveraging stacked filament radio data, we place stringent constraints on the dark matter decay lifetime, improving existing limits by up to two orders of magnitude for strong filamentary magnetic fields.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Exploring the elevated water vapor signal associated with the free tropospheric biomass burning plume over the southeast Atlantic Ocean

In southern Africa, widespread agricultural fires produce substantial biomass burning (BB) emissions over the region. The seasonal smoke plumes associated with these emissions are then advected westward over the persistent stratocumulus cloud deck in the southeast Atlantic (SEA) Ocean, resulting in aerosol effects which vary with time and location. Much work has focused on the effects of these aerosol plumes, but previous studies have also described an elevated free tropospheric water vapor signal over the SEA. Water vapor influences climate in its own right, and it is especially important to consider atmospheric water vapor when quantifying aerosol-cloud interactions and aerosol radiative effects. Here we present airborne observations made during the NASA ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) campaign over the SEA Ocean. In observations collected from multiple independent instruments on the NASA P-3 aircraft (from near-surface to 6-7 km), we observe a strongly linear correlation between pollution indicators (carbon monoxide (CO) and aerosol loading) and atmospheric water vapor content, seen at all altitudes above the boundary layer. The focus of the current study is on the especially strong correlation observed during the ORACLES-2016 deployment (out of Walvis Bay, Namibia), but a similar relationship is also observed in the August 2017 and October 2018 ORACLES deployments. Using reanalyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2), and specialized WRF-Chem simulations, we trace the plume-vapor relationship to an initial humid, smoky continental source region, where it mixes with clean, dry upper tropospheric air and then is subjected to conditions of strong westward advection, namely the southern African easterly jet (AEJ-S). Our analysis indicates that air masses likely left the continent with the same relationship between water vapor and carbon monoxide as was observed by aircraft. This linear relationship developed over the continent due to daytime convection within a deep continental boundary layer (up to ~5-6 km) and mixing with higher-altitude air, which resulted in fairly consistent vertical gradients in CO and water vapor, decreasing with altitude and varying in time, but this water vapor does not originate as a product of the BB combustion itself. Due to a combination of conditions and mixing between the smoky, moist continental boundary layer and the dry and fairly clean upper-troposphere air above (~6 km), the smoky, humid air is transported by strong zonal winds and then advected over the SEA (to the ORACLES flight region) following largely isentropic trajectories. Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) back trajectories support this interpretation. This work thus gives insights into the conditions and processes which cause water vapor to covary with plume strength. Better understanding of this relationship, including how it varies spatially and temporally, is important to accurately quantify direct, semi-direct, and indirect aerosol effects over this region.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A novel bivalent chromatin associates with rapid induction of camalexin biosynthesis genes in response to a pathogen signal in Arabidopsis

Temporal dynamics of gene expression underpin responses to internal and environmental stimuli. In eukaryotes, regulation of gene induction includes changing chromatin states at target genes and recruiting the transcriptional machinery that includes transcription factors. As one of the most potent defense compounds in Arabidopsis thaliana , camalexin can be rapidly induced by bacterial and fungal infections. Though several transcription factors controlling camalexin biosynthesis genes have been characterized, how the rapid activation of genes in this pathway upon a pathogen signal is enabled remains unknown. By combining publicly available epigenomic data with in vivo chromatin modification mapping, we found that camalexin biosynthesis genes are marked with two epigenetic modifications with opposite effects on gene expression, trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3) (repression) and acetylation of lysine 18 of histone 3 (H3K18ac) (activation), to form a previously uncharacterized type of bivalent chromatin. Mutants with reduced H3K27me3 or H3K18ac suggested that both modifications were required to determine the timing of gene expression and metabolite accumulation at an early stage of the stress response. Our study indicates that the H3K27me3-H3K18ac bivalent chromatin, which we name as kairostat, plays an important role in controlling the timely induction of gene expression upon stress stimuli in plants.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Increased signal-to-noise ratios within experimental field trials by regressing spatially distributed soil properties as principal components

Environmental variability poses a major challenge to any field study. Researchers attempt to mitigate this challenge through replication. Thus, the ability to detect experimental signals is determined by the degree of replication and the amount of environmental variation, noise, within the experimental system. A major source of noise in field studies comes from the natural heterogeneity of soil properties which create microtreatments throughout the field. In addition, the variation within different soil properties is often nonrandomly distributed across a field. We explore this challenge through a sorghum field trial dataset with accompanying plant, microbiome, and soil property data. Diverse sorghum genotypes and two watering regimes were applied in a split-plot design. We describe a process of identifying, estimating, and controlling for the effects of spatially distributed soil properties on plant traits and microbial communities using minimal degrees of freedom. Importantly, this process provides a method with which sources of environmental variation in field data can be identified and adjusted, improving our ability to resolve effects of interest and to quantify subtle phenotypes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Targeted protein degradation systems to enhance Wnt signaling

Molecules that facilitate targeted protein degradation (TPD) offer great promise as novel therapeutics. The human hepatic lectin asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR) is selectively expressed on hepatocytes. We have previously engineered an anti-ASGR1 antibody-mutant RSPO2 (RSPO2RA) fusion protein (called SWEETS) to drive tissue-specific degradation of ZNRF3/RNF43 E3 ubiquitin ligases, which achieved hepatocyte-specific enhanced Wnt signaling, proliferation, and restored liver function in mouse models, and an antibody–RSPO2RA fusion molecule is currently in human clinical trials. In the current study, we identified two new ASGR1- and ASGR1/2-specific antibodies, 8M24 and 8G8. High-resolution crystal structures of ASGR1:8M24 and ASGR2:8G8 complexes revealed that these antibodies bind to distinct epitopes on opposing sides of ASGR, away from the substrate-binding site. Both antibodies enhanced Wnt activity when assembled as SWEETS molecules with RSPO2RA through specific effects sequestering E3 ligases. In addition, 8M24-RSPO2RA and 8G8-RSPO2RA efficiently downregulate ASGR1 through TPD mechanisms. These results demonstrate the possibility of combining different therapeutic effects and degradation mechanisms in a single molecule.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Small signaling peptides, phylogenetic analysis

ML Phylogenetic analysis of small signaling peptides in Arabidopsis, Sorghum bicolor, Rice, Wheat, Maize, and Brachypodium. Sorghum only phylogenetic trees were used to name genes. All trees but RALF tree are rooted at midpoint.

Kurtz, Evan [Department of Biochemistry and Biophy↗
DOE OSTI2020

Hardware-in-the-loop Testing of Signal Temporal Logic Frequency Control in a Microgrid

This paper presents a hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and lessons learned for a signal temporal logic (STL) frequency control in a microgrid setting. In contrast to most, if not all, traditional control mechanisms, the STL control allows for including temporal constraints in the control formulation to handle sophisticated specifications from grid codes and protection relays. This feature provides richer descriptions of control specifications to address both magnitude and time simultaneously, hence a valuable tool for power system operation and control. An ultra-low voltage (24V) HITL microgrid platform consisting of two type-3 wind turbine generators and one diesel generator is used to test the proposed STL frequency control. In experimental case studies, we demonstrate that the HITL frequency responses closely match the simulated ones and strictly satisfy the designed STL control specifications.

Ferrari Maglia, Max↗
DOE OSTI2020

Matrix converter operating in current control mode using feed forward signals

A matrix converter system having a current control mode operation is provided. The system includes a matrix converter having a switching matrix. The matrix converter is coupled at its low-voltage side to a generator and at its output load side to a load. A controller having a pulse width modulation (PWM) control circuit is configured to control the matrix converter via its switching matrix to increase energy within the internal inductances of the generator when the switching matrix causes a short circuit. A feed forward calculator is configured to calculate a feed forward output phase angle. The feed forward output phase angle is an estimation of an angle between an output current vector and an output voltage vector that represent feedback signals of current and voltage output by the matrix converter. The angular position of the voltage output vector is adjusted as a function of the feed forward output phase angle to align angular position or phase angle of the voltage output vector that represents the voltage output with a selected angular position or phase angle.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Spatiotemporal Pattern Recognition in the PMU Signals in the WECC system

Phasor measurement unit (PMU) data has been used by multiple power system applications, including state estimation, post event analysis, oscillation detection, model validation, and many others. Still, due to its big data nature and availability to general research institutions, comprehensive understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns and underlying mechanisms are incomplete. This study applies a set of signal processing and machine learning approaches aiming at deciphering the characteristic behaviors of multiple phasor measurement units (PMUs) attributes (e.g., voltage, frequency, rate of change of frequency, phase angle), including their auto-correlation, cross-dependence, similarities and discrepancies across units and temporal scales, and distributions of anomalies and their linkages to potential external factors such as weather events. Data analytics are applied to PMUs from the U.S. Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) system. The PMU measurements, recorded events, outages, and weather extremes are all from real world datasets. The findings from the study and mechanistic understanding of the PMU dynamics help provide guidance on system control or preventing blackouts. The derived metrics can be directly used for adjusting or filtering simulated PMU data used for advanced algorithm development.

Hou, Zhangshuan↗