Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Activity detect”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

An ISEE 3 high time resolution study of interplanetary parameter correlations with magnetospheric activity

The coupling between the solar wind and the geomagnetic disturbances was examined using data from the ISEE-3 spacecraft at an earth-sun libration point and ground-based data. One minute data were used to avoid aliasing in determining the internal magnetospheric response to solar wind conditions. Attention was given to the cross-correlations between the geomagnetic index (AE), the total energy dissipation rate (UT), and the solar wind parameters, as well as the spatial and temporal scales on which the magnetosphere reacts to the solar wind conditions. It was considered necessary to characterize the physics of the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling in order to define the requirements for a spacecraft like the ISEE-3 that could be used as a real time monitoring system for predicting storms and substorms. The correlations among all but one parameter were lower during disturbance intervals; UT was highly correlated with all parameters during the disturbed times. An intrinsic 25-40 min delay was detected between interplanetary activity and magnetospheric response in quite times, diminishing to no more than 15 min during disturbed times.

Baker, D. N.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurements of the ionization efficiency of protons in methane

The amount of energy released by a nuclear recoil ionizing the atoms of the active volume of detection appears “quenched” compared to an electron of the same kinetic energy. This different behavior in ionization between electrons and nuclei is described by the Ionization Quenching Factor (IQF) and it plays a crucial role in direct dark matter searches. For low kinetic energies (below 50 keV ), IQF measurements deviate significantly from common models used for theoretical predictions and simulations. We report measurements of the IQF for proton, an appropriate target for searches of Dark Matter candidates with a mass of approximately 1 GeV , with kinetic energies in between 2 keV and 13 keV in 100 mbar of methane. We used the Comimac facility in order to produce the motion of nuclei and electrons of controlled kinetic energy in the active volume, and a NEWS-G SPC to measure the deposited energy. The Comimac electrons are used as a reference to calibrate the detector with 7 energy points. A detailed study of systematic effects led to the final results well fitted by IQF (E K )=E$^α_K$ / (β+E$^α_K$) with α=0.70±0.08 and β=1.32±0.17 . In agreement with some previous works in other gas mixtures, we measured less ionization energy than predicted from SRIM simulations, the difference reaching 33% at 2 keV .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Methods for radiation detection and characterization using a multiple detector probe

Apparatuses, methods, and systems relating to radiological characterization of environments are disclosed. Multi-detector probes with a plurality of detectors in a common housing may be used to substantially concurrently detect a plurality of different radiation activities and types. Multiple multi-detector probes may be used in a down-hole environment to substantially concurrently detect radioactive activity and contents of a buried waste container. Software may process, analyze, and integrate the data from the different multi-detector probes and the different detector types therein to provide source location and integrated analysis as to the source types and activity in the measured environment. Further, the integrated data may be used to compensate for differential density effects and the effects of radiation shielding materials within the volume being measured.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Graphene Electric Field Sensor Enables Single Shot Label-Free Imaging of Bioelectric Potentials

The measurement of electrical activity across systems of excitable cells underlies current progress in neuroscience, cardiac pharmacology, and neurotechnology. However, bioelectricity spans orders of magnitude in intensity, space, and time, posing substantial technological challenges. The development of methods permitting network-scale recordings with high spatial resolution remains key to studies of electrogenic cells, emergent networks, and bioelectric computation. Here, for this work, we demonstrate single-shot and label-free imaging of extracellular potentials with high resolution across a wide field-of-view. The critically coupled waveguide-amplified graphene electric field (CAGE) sensor leverages the field-sensitive optical transitions in graphene to convert electric potentials into the optical regime. As a proof-of-concept, we use the CAGE sensor to detect native electrical activity from cardiac action potentials with tens-of-microns resolution, simultaneously map the propagation of these potentials at tissue-scale, and monitor their modification by pharmacological agents. This platform is robust, scalable, and compatible with existing microscopy techniques for multimodal correlative imaging.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1989

Latent nitrate reductase activity is associated with the plasma membrane of corn roots

Latent nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was detected in corn (Zea mays L., Golden Jubilee) root microsome fractions. Microsome-associated NRA was stimulated up to 20-fold by Triton X-100 (octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol) whereas soluble NRA was only increased up to 1.2-fold. Microsome-associated NRA represented up to 19% of the total root NRA. Analysis of microsomal fractions by aqueous two-phase partitioning showed that the membrane-associated NRA was localized in the second upper phase (U2). Analysis with marker enzymes indicated that the U2 fraction was plasma membrane (PM). The PM-associated NRA was not removed by washing vesicles with up to 1.0 M NACl but was solubilized from the PM with 0.05% Triton X-100. In contrast, vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity was not solubilized from the PM by treatment with 0.1% Triton X-100. The results show that a protein capable of reducing nitrate is embedded in the hydrophobic region of the PM of corn roots.

NASA Discipline Number 61-10↗
DOE OSTI2016

Open ISEmeter: An open hardware high-impedance interface for potentiometric detection

In this work, a new open hardware interface based on Arduino to read electromotive force (emf) from potentiometric detectors is presented. The interface has been fully designed with the open code philosophy and all documentation will be accessible on web. The paper describes a comprehensive project including the electronic design, the firmware loaded on Arduino, and the Java-coded graphical user interface to load data in a computer (PC or Mac) for processing. The prototype was tested by measuring the calibration curve of a detector. As detection element, an active poly(vinyl chloride)-based membrane was used, doped with cetyltrimethylammonium dodecylsulphate (CTA{sup +}-DS{sup −}). The experimental measures of emf indicate Nernstian behaviour with the CTA{sup +} content of test solutions, as it was described in the literature, proving the validity of the developed prototype. A comparative analysis of performance was made by using the same chemical detector but changing the measurement instrumentation.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Radiolabeled and fluorescent PARP inhibitors for imaging and radiotherapy

The present disclosure relates to compounds of Formula I and II, wherein R1-R20 and FL are defined herein. Also provided are methods of targeting alpha-radiation to poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1) enzyme expression, reducing proliferation of cancer cells, reducing proliferation of cancer cells, detecting intact and enzymatically active poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1) enzyme expression, detecting PARP-1 enzyme expression in a subjects tissue sample, monitoring cancer treatment in a subject, or detecting a PARP-1 receptive cancer in a subject.

Mach, Robert H.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Two new long-period giant planets from the McDonald Observatory planet search and two stars with long-period radial velocity signals related to stellar activity cycles

We report the detection of two new long-period giant planets orbiting the stars HD 95872 and HD 162004 (ψ{sup 1} Dra B) by the McDonald Observatory planet search. The planet HD 95872b has a minimum mass of 4.6 M{sub Jup} and an orbital semimajor axis of 5.2 AU. The giant planet ψ{sup 1} Dra Bb has a minimum mass of 1.5 M{sub Jup} and an orbital semimajor axis of 4.4 AU. Both of these planets qualify as Jupiter analogs. These results are based on over one and a half decades of precise radial velocity (RV) measurements collected by our program using the McDonald Observatory Tull Coude spectrograph at the 2.7 m Harlan J. Smith Telescope. In the case of ψ{sup 1} Dra B we also detect a long-term nonlinear trend in our data that indicates the presence of an additional giant planet, similar to the Jupiter–Saturn pair. The primary of the binary star system, ψ{sup 1} Dra A, exhibits a very large amplitude RV variation due to another stellar companion. We detect this additional member using speckle imaging. We also report two cases—HD 10086 and HD 102870 (β Virginis)—of significant RV variation consistent with the presence of a planet, but that are probably caused by stellar activity, rather than reflexive Keplerian motion. These two cases stress the importance of monitoring the magnetic activity level of a target star, as long-term activity cycles can mimic the presence of a Jupiter-analog planet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

The awakening of the γ-ray narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036

After a long low-activity period, we detected a γ-ray flare from the narrow-line Seyfert 1 PKS 1502+036 (z = 0.4089) by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi in 2015. On 2015 December 20, the source reached a daily peak flux, in the 0.1–300 GeV band, of (93 ± 19) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1 , attaining a flux of (237 ± 71) × 10 -8 ph cm -2 s -1 on 3-h time-scales, which corresponds to an isotropic luminosity of (7.3 ± 2.1) × 10 47 erg s -1 . The γ-ray flare was not accompanied by significant spectral changes. We report on multiwavelength radio-to-γ-ray observations of PKS 1502+036 during 2008 August–2016 March by Fermi-LAT, Swift, XMM–Newton, Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO). An increase in activity was observed on 2015 December 22 by Swift in optical, UV and X-rays. The OVRO 15 GHz light curve reached the highest flux density observed from this source on 2016 January 12, indicating a delay of about three weeks between the γ-ray and 15 GHz emission peaks. Furthermore, this suggests that the γ-ray-emitting region is located beyond the broad-line region. We also compared the spectral energy distribution (SED) of an average activity state with that of the flaring state. The two SED, with the high-energy bump modelled as an external Compton component with seed photons from a dust torus, could be fitted by changing the electron distribution parameters as well as the magnetic field. Furthermore, the fit of the disc emission during the average state constrains the black hole mass to values lower than 108 M⊙. The SED, high-energy emission mechanisms and γ-ray properties of the source resemble those of a flat spectrum radio quasar.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Long-term monitoring of PKS 0537-441 with Fermi-LAT and multiwavelength observations

Here, we report on multiwavelength observations of the blazar PKS 0537-441 (z = 0.896) obtained from microwaves through γ-rays by Submillimeter Array, Rapid Eye Mounting, Automatic Telescope for Optical Monitoring (ATOM), Swift and Fermi mostly during 2008 August–2010 April. Strong variability has been observed in γ-rays, with two major flaring episodes (2009 July and 2010 March) and a harder-when-brighter behaviour, quite common for flat spectrum radio quasars and low-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), in 2010 March. In the same way, the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the source cannot be modelled by a simple synchrotron self-Compton model, as opposed to many BL Lacs, but the addition of an external Compton component of seed photons from a dust torus is needed. The 230 GHz light curve showed an increase simultaneous with the γ-ray one, indicating co-spatiality of the mm and γ-ray emission region likely at large distance from the central engine. The low, average, and high activity SED of the source could be fit changing only the electron distribution parameters, but two breaks in the electron distribution are necessary. The ensuing extra spectral break, located at near-infrared (NIR)–optical frequencies, together with that in γ-rays seem to indicate a common origin, most likely due to an intrinsic feature in the underlying electron distribution. An overall correlation between the γ-ray band with the R band and K band has been observed with no significant time lag. On the other hand, when inspecting the light curves on short time-scales some differences are evident. In particular, flaring activity has been detected in NIR and optical bands with no evident γ-ray counterparts in 2009 September and November. Moderate variability has been observed in X-rays with no correlation between flux and photon index. Finally, an increase of the detected X-ray flux with no counterpart at the other wavelengths has been observed in 2008 October, suggesting once more a complex correlation between the emission at different energy bands.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Alma observations of nearby luminous infrared galaxies with various agn energetic contributions using dense gas tracers

We present the results of our ALMA Cycle 0 observations, using HCN/HCO{sup +}/HNC J = 4-3 lines, of six nearby luminous infrared galaxies with various energetic contributions from active galactic nuclei (AGNs) estimated from previous infrared spectroscopy. These lines are very effective for probing the physical properties of high-density molecular gas around the hidden energy sources in the nuclear regions of these galaxies. We find that HCN to HCO{sup +} J = 4-3 flux ratios tend to be higher in AGN-important galaxies than in starburst-dominated regions, as was seen at the J = 1-0 transition, while there is no clear difference in the HCN-to-HNC J = 4-3 flux ratios among observed sources. A galaxy with a starburst-type infrared spectral shape and very large molecular line widths shows a high HCN-to-HCO{sup +} J = 4-3 flux ratio, which could be due to turbulence-induced heating. We propose that enhanced HCN J = 4-3 emission relative to HCO{sup +} J = 4-3 could be used to detect more energetic activity than normal starbursts, including deeply buried AGNs, in dusty galaxy populations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetoimpedance Biosensors and Real-Time Healthcare Monitors: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

A small DC magnetic field can induce an enormous response in the impedance of a soft magnetic conductor in various forms of wire, ribbon, and thin film. Also known as the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect, this phenomenon forms the basis for the development of high-performance magnetic biosensors with magnetic field sensitivity down to the picoTesla regime at room temperature. Over the past decade, some state-of-the-art prototypes have become available for trial tests due to continuous efforts to improve the sensitivity of GMI biosensors for the ultrasensitive detection of biological entities and biomagnetic field detection of human activities through the use of magnetic nanoparticles as biomarkers. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the development of GMI biosensors and review medical devices for applications in biomedical diagnostics and healthcare monitoring, including real-time monitoring of respiratory motion in COVID-19 patients at various stages. We also discuss exciting research opportunities and existing challenges that will stimulate further study into ultrasensitive magnetic biosensors and healthcare monitors based on the GMI effect.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1974

Enzyme activity in terrestrial soil in relation to exploration of the Martian surface

Sensitive tests for the detection of extracellular enzyme activity in Martian soil was investigated using simulated Martian soil. Enzyme action at solid-liquid water interfaces and at low humidity were studied, and a kinetic scheme was devised and tested based on the growth of microorganisms and the oxidation of ammonium nitrite.

Mclaren, A. D.↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-J-93: Automated Segmentation of High-Resolution 3D WholeBrain Spectroscopic MRI for Glioblastoma Treatment Planning

Purpose: We report on an automated segmentation algorithm for defining radiation therapy target volumes using spectroscopic MR images (sMRI) acquired at nominal voxel resolution of 100 microliters. Methods: Wholebrain sMRI combining 3D echo-planar spectroscopic imaging, generalized auto-calibrating partially-parallel acquisitions, and elliptical k-space encoding were conducted on 3T MRI scanner with 32-channel head coil array creating images. Metabolite maps generated include choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA), as well as Cho/NAA, Cho/Cr, and NAA/Cr ratio maps. Automated segmentation was achieved by concomitantly considering sMRI metabolite maps with standard contrast enhancing (CE) imaging in a pipeline that first uses the water signal for skull stripping. Subsequently, an initial blob of tumor region is identified by searching for regions of FLAIR abnormalities that also display reduced NAA activity using a mean ratio correlation and morphological filters. These regions are used as starting point for a geodesic level-set refinement that adapts the initial blob to the fine details specific to each metabolite. Results: Accuracy of the segmentation model was tested on a cohort of 12 patients that had sMRI datasets acquired pre, mid and post-treatment, providing a broad range of enhancement patterns. Compared to classical imaging, where heterogeneity in the tumor appearance and shape across posed a greater challenge to the algorithm, sMRI’s regions of abnormal activity were easily detected in the sMRI metabolite maps when combining the detail available in the standard imaging with the local enhancement produced by the metabolites. Results can be imported in the treatment planning, leading in general increase in the target volumes (GTV60) when using sMRI+CE MRI compared to the standard CE MRI alone. Conclusion: Integration of automated segmentation of sMRI metabolite maps into planning is feasible and will likely streamline acceptance of this new acquisition modality in clinical practice.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Investigation and Recovery Following the Drum Event at INL's ARP-V Facility - 19517

Contractors working under the Department of Energy's (DoE's) Idaho Field Office have been exhuming and processing buried legacy waste from early weapons development and productions operations since 1984. Since operations began, nearly 400,000 drums have passed through this process. On April 11, 2018, repackaged drums were staged in an airlock (radiological buffer area) awaiting transfer to another facility for characterization. Late in the evening after operations had ended, four of the drums over pressurized causing an energetic displacement of their lids. A significant fraction of drum contents was ejected and dispersed throughout the airlock. The event activated the fire detection system in the facility initiating an emergency response from the site fire department, radiological protection, and operations. Initial intervention by fire department personnel was unsuccessful at quenching the reaction, so the responders egressed to a safe distance and monitored the situation. After determining the event had terminated and it was safe to enter, the facility was assessed revealing significant contamination in the airlock from the ejected waste. The area surrounding the facility was surveyed and it was determined that no contamination was released outside the facility. The Fluor Idaho, LLC (Fluor Idaho) Program Manager commissioned an investigation and recovery effort, which focused on three aspects: (1) technical investigation, (2) event and causal analysis, and (3) facility recovery. A team of highly qualified individuals from around the DOE Complex was assembled to support the technical investigation. The team included representatives from several Fluor Idaho, Fluor Corporate, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (INL), LANL, SRNL, South West Research Institute, DOE Carlsbad Field Office, and Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board, and DOE-Headquarters. This team addressed the reaction mechanism of the event by guiding the sampling activities and coordinating analysis and testing by the analytical laboratories. Independent and experienced investigators were brought in to conduct a rigorous event and cause analysis. The Causal Analysis Team pursued direct, root, and contributing causes. Interviews were conducted, and documents were reviewed to develop an event and causal analysis. The Accelerated Retrieval Project V Operations team mobilized to decontaminate and recover the facility. Significant progress has been made in this effort, area and airborne contamination levels have been significantly reduced allowing limited activities to resume. In addition, this group supported sample collection efforts as directed by the Technical Investigation Team. This paper reviews key findings and milestones from the technical investigation, the event and causal analysis, and facility recovery operations. From these elements of the investigation, lessons learned are identified that would benefit other organizations involved with legacy waste management and disposition. Waste management is common to all sites in the DOE Complex and the events and recovery efforts described in this paper may provide beneficial insights to these operations. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2013

TESTING DIAGNOSTICS OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY AND STAR FORMATION IN GALAXIES AT z > 1

We present some of the first science data with the new Keck/MOSFIRE instrument to test the effectiveness of different AGN/SF diagnostics at z {approx} 1.5. MOSFIRE spectra were obtained in three H-band multi-slit masks in the GOODS-S field, resulting in 2 hr exposures of 36 emission-line galaxies. We compare X-ray data with the traditional emission-line ratio diagnostics and the alternative mass-excitation and color-excitation diagrams, combining new MOSFIRE infrared data with previous HST/WFC3 infrared spectra (from the 3D-HST survey) and multiwavelength photometry. We demonstrate that a high [O III]/H{beta} ratio is insufficient as an active galactic nucleus (AGN) indicator at z > 1. For the four X-ray-detected galaxies, the classic diagnostics ([O III]/H{beta} versus [N II]/H{alpha} and [S II]/H{alpha}) remain consistent with X-ray AGN/SF classification. The X-ray data also suggest that 'composite' galaxies (with intermediate AGN/SF classification) host bona fide AGNs. Nearly {approx}2/3 of the z {approx} 1.5 emission-line galaxies have nuclear activity detected by either X-rays or the classic diagnostics. Compared to the X-ray and line ratio classifications, the mass-excitation method remains effective at z > 1, but we show that the color-excitation method requires a new calibration to successfully identify AGNs at these redshifts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

X-Ray Superflares on CC Eri

We present an in-depth study of two superflares (F1 and F2) detected on an active binary star CC Eridani by the Swift observatory. These superflares triggered the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) in the hard X-ray band on 2008 October 16 and 2012 February 24. The rise phases of both the flares were observed only with BAT, whereas the decay phases were observed simultaneously with the X-ray Telescope. It has been found that the flares decay faster in the hard X-ray band than in the soft X-ray band. Both flares F1 and F2 are highly energetic with respective peak X-ray luminosities of ∼10{sup 32.2} and ∼10{sup 31.8} erg s{sup −1} in 0.3–50 keV energy band, which are larger than any other flares previously observed on CC Eri. The time-resolved spectral analysis during the flares shows the variation in the coronal temperature, emission measure, and abundances. The elemental abundances are enhanced by a factor of ∼8 to the minimum observed in the post-flare phase for the flare F1. The observed peak temperatures in these two flares are found to be 174 and 128 MK. Using the hydrodynamic loop modeling, we derive loop lengths for both the flares as 1.2 ± 0.1 × 10{sup 10} cm and 2.2 ± 0.6 × 10{sup 10} cm, respectively. The Fe Kα emission at 6.4 keV is also detected in the X-ray spectra and we model the Kα emission feature as fluorescence from the hot flare source irradiating the photospheric iron. These superflares are the brightest, hottest, and shortest in duration observed thus far on CC Eri.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ice-nucleating particles in precipitation samples from the Texas Panhandle

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) influence the formation of ice crystals in clouds and many types of precipitation. This study reports unique properties of INPs collected from 42 precipitation samples in the Texas Panhandle region from June 2018 to July 2019. We used a cold stage instrument called the West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test system to estimate INP concentrations per unit volume of air (nINP) through immersion freezing in our precipitation samples with our detection capability of >0.006 INP L -1 . A disdrometer was used for two purposes: (1) to characterize the ground-level precipitation type and (2) to measure the precipitation intensity as well as size of precipitating particles at the ground level during each precipitation event. While no clear seasonal variations of n INP values were apparent, the analysis of yearlong ground-level precipitation observation as well as INPs in the precipitation samples showed some INP variations, e.g., the highest and lowest n INP values at -25°C both in the summer for hail-involved severe thunderstorm samples (3.0 to 1130 INP L -1 ), followed by the second lowest at the same temperature from one of our snow samples collected during the winter (3.2 INP L -1 ). Furthermore, we conducted bacteria community analyses using a subset of our precipitation samples to examine the presence of known biological INPs. In parallel, we also performed metagenomics characterization of the bacterial microbiome in suspended ambient dust samples collected at commercial open-lot livestock facilities (cattle feedyards hereafter) in the Texas Panhandle (i.e., the northernmost counties of Texas, also known as “West Texas”) to ascertain whether local cattle feedyards can act as a source of bioaerosol particles and/or INPs found in the precipitation samples. Some key bacterial phyla present in cattle feedyard samples appeared in precipitation samples. However, no known ice nucleation active species were detected in our samples. Overall, our results showed that cumulative n INP in our precipitation samples below -20°C could be high in the samples collected while observing > 10 mm h -1 precipitation with notably large hydrometeor sizes and an implication of cattle feedyard bacteria inclusion.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗