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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Dynamic PET Measures of Tau Accumulation in Cognitively Normal Older Adults and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Measured Using [18F] THK-5351

Background [ 18F]THK5351, a recently-developed positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for measuring tau neurofibrillary tangle accumulation, may help researchers examine aging, disease, and tau pathology in living human brains. We examined THK5351 tracer pharmacokinetics to define an optimal acquisition time for static late images. Methods Primary measurements were calculation of regional values of distribution volume ratios (DVR) and standardized uptake value ratios (SUVR) in 6 healthy older control and 10 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) participants. We examined associations between DVR and SUVR, searching for a 20 min SUVR time window that was stable and comparable to DVR. We additionally examined diagnostic group differences in this 20 min SUVR. Results In healthy controls, [18F]THK5351 uptake was low, with increased temporal relative to frontal binding. In AD, regional uptake was substantially higher than in healthy controls, with temporal exceeding frontal binding. Retention in cerebellar gray matter, which was used as the reference region, was low compared to other regions. Both DVR and SUVR values showed minimal change over time after 40 min. SUVR 20–40, 30–50, and 40–60 min were most consistently correlated with DVR; SUVR 40–60 min, the most stable time window, was used in further analyses. Significant (AD > healthy control) group differences existed in temporoparietal regions, with marginal medial temporal differences. We found high basal ganglia SUVR 40–60 min signal, with no group differences. Conclusions We examined THK5351, a new PET tracer for measuring tau accumulation, and compared multiple analysis methods for quantifying regional tracer uptake. SUVR 40–60 min performed optimally when examining 20 min SUVR windows, and appears to be a practical method for quantifying relative regional tracer retention. The results of this study offer clinical potential, given the usefulness of THK5351-PET as a biomarker of tau pathology in aging and disease.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Making Quality HPGe Gamma Ray Spectrum Measurements for Uranium: The Role of FRAM for Analysis, Quality Control and Enrichment Measurements, and Opportunities for Improved Quantification Documentation

Enrichment measurements are used in uranium safeguards verification and accountancy as both an attribute signature and in the interpretation of other nondestructive assay information, such as active interrogation for mass. Accurate and reliable assessments require quality information. The practices used to collect the raw data are therefore the crucial first step in managing the overall quality and uncertainty of the enrichment determination. This report discusses several topics associated with gamma-ray spectrum measurements of uranium using HPGe detectors. First a discussion of good data acquisition practices including physical setup, detector types and configurations, detector shielding and filtering, spectrum stabilization, and data acquisition protocols. Next is a discussion of analysis options to obtain isotopic composition and/or enrichment centered on the FRAM gamma ray isotopic analysis software. The report discusses the results of the development of a FRAM parameter file to perform classical Enrichment Meter Principle (EMP) analysis. Possible analysis and data acquisition issues (random summing, x-ray fluorescence peaks, peak interferences, shielding) that can affect FRAM analyses are also discussed. There is also a brief discussion of FRAM measurements in the field. Under the topic of uncertainty propagation and quantification in FRAM, uncertainty propagation verification methods and gaps in available uncertainty quantification data for uranium is covered. Suggestions are made for areas where ORNL can contribute to closing the identified uncertainty quantification gaps, and also to contributing nuclear data quality spectra to the research community.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Direct Measurement of Small Particle Growth and Aging at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains Observatory Field Campaign Report

Two identical Captive Aerosol Growth and Evolution (CAGE) chambers were operated at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility’s Southern Great Plains (SGP) observatory in the late summer and fall of 2021. The field study was scheduled to begin in spring, 2020, but was delayed because of the pandemic. CAGE chambers are designed to expose particles to an environment that mirrors that of the surroundings with or without a controlled perturbation designed to assess a sensitivity. The analysis here focuses on roughly the last two months of the overall study period during which measurements were almost continuous and when several perturbation experiments were conducted. Though the utility of a dual-chamber system is the ability to measure the influence of a single change on top of ambient conditions, both chambers were initially operated in the same way, with ambient air pulled through the gas exchange channel in both and ammonium sulfate particles injected into both. The similar time-dependent particle growth observed in the chambers for those periods provides confidence in differences observed during the subsequent perturbation experiments. The growth rate of particles in the reference chamber into which only ammonium sulfate particles were injected and for which only ambient air was pulled through were used to describe time-of-day averages. The average growth rate was highest in the evening and in the morning after sunrise and lowest in the late afternoon. The sensitivity of particle growth to secondary aerosol precursor gases was studied by adding them at a controlled rate to the ambient air flow pulled through one of the two chambers. Addition of 5 ppb of α-pinene resulted in an average particle growth rate of 4.4 nm hr -1 , compared with that of just 0.8 nm hr -1 in the reference chamber. The added α-pinene also triggered one new particle formation (NPF) event in the early evening just before sunset and another in the morning just after sunrise. Similarly, addition of 5 ppb of SO 2 to one chamber led to a pair of NPF events and to increased particle growth rate, though unlike the impact of added α-pinene, growth was enhanced only during the daytime when OH concentration is highest. The influence of aerosol liquid water on secondary aerosol formation and particle growth was investigated by injecting ammonium sulfate seed particles into one chamber and potassium sulfate particles into the other. Particles were injected into the two chambers four times over a 1.5-day period. The chamber relative humidity (RH) history during and following each injection was used to determine whether each particle type was crystalline or aqueous. For the case when both particle types remained crystalline throughout the period, they were tracked and for the case when they remained aqueous, the magnitude and time-dependence of the growth of both were almost exactly the same. For the other two cases the ammonium sulfate particles deliquesced upon injection and remained aqueous, while the potassium sulfate particles remained crystalline. For those two cases, the aqueous particles grew substantially faster than did the crystalline particles, providing evidence of the role of aerosol liquid water on secondary aerosol formation and particle growth.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

An ecosystem-scale perspective of the net land methanol flux: synthesis of micrometeorological flux measurements

We present field observations made in June 2011 downwind of Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, and evaluate the role of stabilized Criegee radicals (sCIs) in gaseous sulfuric acid (H2SO4) production. Zero-dimensional model calculations show that sCI from BVOCs composed the majority of the sCIs. The main uncertainty associated with an evaluation of H2SO4 production from the sCI reaction channel is the lack of experimentally determined reaction rates for sCIs formed from isoprene ozonolysis with SO2. In general, the maximum of H2SO4 production from the sCI channel is found in the late afternoon as ozone increases towards the late afternoon. The sCI channel, however, contributes minor H2SO4 production compared with the conventional OH channel. Finally, The production and the loss rates of H2SO4 are compared. The application of the recommended mass accommodation coefficient causes significant overestimation of H2SO4 loss rates compared with H2SO4 production rates. On the other hand, the application of a lower experimental value for the mass accommodation coefficient provides good agreement between the loss and production rates of H2SO4. The results suggest that the recommended coefficient for the H2O surface may not be suitable for this relatively dry environment.

Wohlfahrt, G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Turbulence in planetary occultations. II - Effects on atmospheric profiles derived from Doppler measurements. III - Effects on atmospheric profiles derived from intensity measurements

The nature and magnitude of turbulence-induced errors in atmospheric profiles derived from Doppler measurements made during radio occultations are investigated. It is found that turbulence in planetary atmospheres induces both fluctuating and systematic errors in derived profiles, but the errors of both types are very small. Consideration of the occultation of Mariner 10 by Venus and of the Pioneer occultations by Jupiter shows that the rms fractional errors in the atmospheric profiles derived from these observations were less than 0.01 in both temperature and pressure, while the fractional systematic errors were typically of the order of 1 millionth. The extent to which atmospheric profiles derived from radio and optical intensity measurements are affected by turbulence is also examined. The results indicate that turbulence in planetary atmospheres has only a marginal effect on derived profiles in the weak-scattering limit and that the turbulence-induced errors in this case are always much larger than the corresponding errors in profiles derived from radio Doppler measurements.

Haugstad, B. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Techniques for measurement of vertical and horizontal velocities: Monostatic versus bistatic measurements

Three techniques of direct measurement are presented from which velocities may be obtained: (1) Doppler frequency shift, (2) spaced antenna drift, (3) spatially modulated transverse beam measurements. Emphasis is placed on the Doppler frequency measurement approach. It will compare bistatic with monostatic configurations as regards received power (or sensitivity), spatial resolution, Doppler shift and avoidance of ground clutter.

Waterman, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Slant-lidar aerosol extinction measurements and their relation to measured and calculated albedo changes

Lidar and albedo data for a single day on which aerosols increased the surface plus atmospheric albedo above values measured on two surrounding very clean days are presented. The slant-lidar extinction measurement technique used is described along with the equipment and operating procedures. The derivation of optical depths, backscatter-to-extinction ratios, and extinction profiles is addressed, and the use of the lidar-derived optical depths in calculating expected albedo change is considered. Measured and calculated albedo changes are compared, and the results are found to agree within experimental uncertainties.

Russell, P. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of AM 1.5 global measurement procedures and international cell measurement round robin

The development of the capability for measurement under global irradiance spectral distribution is reported. The airmass 1.5 global measurement procedure is given. Also given is the procedure and justification for using the large area pulsed solar simulator (LAPSS). The status of the international round robin of reference cell measurements managed by the Commission of European Communities (CEC) is described.

Mueller, R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. 1: Measurement and analysis technique

This two-part paper presents laser anemometer measurements of the unsteady velocity field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. The objective is to provide additional insight into unsteady blade-row interactions within high speed compressors which affect stage efficiency, energy transfer, and other design considerations. Part 1 describes the measurement and analysis techniques used for resolving the unsteady flow field features. The ensemble-average and variance of the measured velocities are used to identify the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness, respectively. (Rotor wake generated unsteadiness refers to the unsteadiness generated by the rotor wake velocity deficit and the term unresolved unsteadiness refers to all remaining contributions to unsteadiness such as vortex shedding, turbulence, mass flow fluctuations, etc.). A procedure for calculating auto and cross correlations of the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteady velocity fluctuations is described. These unsteady-velocity correlations have significance since they also result from a decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations. This decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations resulting in the velocity correlations used to describe the unsteady velocity field will also be outlined in this paper.

Suder, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Surrogate measures: A proposed alternative in human factors assessment of operational measures of performance

Surrogate measures are proposed as an alternative to direct assessment of operational performance for purposes of screening agents who may have to work under unusual stresses or in exotic environments. Such measures are particularly proposed when the surrogate can be empirically validated against the operational criterion. The focus is on cognitive (or throughput) performances in humans as opposed to sensory (input) or motor (output) measures, but the methods should be applicable for development of batteries which will tap input/output functions. A menu of performance tasks is under development for implementation on a battery-operated portable microcomputer, with 21 tests currently available. The tasks are reliable and become stable in minimum amounts of time; appear sensitive to some agents; comprise constructs related to actual job tasks; and are easily administered in most environments. Implications for human factors engineering studies in environmental stress are discussed.

Kennedy, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of the unsteady flow field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. I - Measurement and analysis technique

This two-part paper presents laser anemometer measurements of the unsteady velocity field within the stator row of a transonic axial-flow fan. The objective is to provide additional insight into unsteady blade-row interactions within highspeed compressors which affect stage efficiency, energy transfer, and other design considerations. Part 1 describes the measurement and analysis techniques used for resolving the unsteady flow field features. The ensemble-average and variance of the measured velocities are used to identify the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteadiness, respectively. (Rotor wake generated unsteadiness refers to the unsteadiness generated by the rotor wake velocity deficit and the term unresolved unsteadiness refers to all remaining contributions to unsteadiness such as vortex shedding, turbulence, mass flow fluctutions, etc.). A procedure for calculating auto and cross correlations of the rotor wake generated and unresolved unsteady velocity fluctuations is described. These unsteady-velocity correlations have significance since they also result from a decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations. This decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations resulting in the velocity correlations used to describe the unsteady velocity field will also be outlined in this paper.

Suder, K. L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Zone measurements during wintertime in the Arctic. Comparision with recent measurements at the same places are made. Here the 30 hPa Temperatures are shown

Moon measurements made at Tromso, and at Spitzbergen, 70 and 78 N, back in the fifties have been re-evaluated. One has to take into account that the wedge calibration will change when the focussed image of the moon on the inlet slit is used. A correction was later decided to be used after several experiments in Dobsons Laboratory in Oxford. The absorption coefficients have been changed since the observations were taken and evaluated the first time. The re-evaluated ozone values have been plotted, in one diagram for Spitzbergen, and in one for Tromso. The zonal mean value for ozone is given as a reference. Ozone measurements from the winter season 1985/86 and 1986/87 made at the same places are presented. Here the daylight measurements are incorporated and also TIROS satellite data from single point data retrieval are given. The two winter seasons were very different. In the first we had a late final stratospheric warming, and in the other we had an early final stratospheric warming. This can be seen from the 30 millibar temperatures, provided by Barbara Naujokat, and plotted in the diagrams. Again the zonal mean values of ozone are given as reference.

Larsen, Soren H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Response of Venus exospheric temperature measured by neutral mass spectrometer to solar EUV flux measured by Langmuir probe on the Pioneer Venus orbiter

The photoelectron current from the Pioneer Venus Langmuir probe has provided measurements of the total flux of solar EUV photons at Venus since 1979. The neutral oxygen scale height measured by the orbiter neutral mass spectrometer has permitted the exospheric temperature to be derived during the same mission. In this paper, the EUV observations are used to examine the response of exospheric temperature to changes in solar activity, primarily those related to solar rotation. It is found that the dayside exospheric temperature quite faithfully tracks variations in the EUV flux. Comparison is also made with the earth-based solar activity index F10.7 adjusted to the position of Venus. This index varied from 142 to 249 flux units during the period of measurements. The exospheric temperature is better correlated with EUV flux than with the 10.7-cm solar radio flux.

Mahajan, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Retrieval of precipitation profiles from airborne radar and passive radiometer measurements - Comparison with dual-frequency radar measurements

Precipitation-rate profiles derived from a single-frequency radar and a radiometer are compared with profiles derived from a dual-frequency radar, using data obtained during the 1985-1986 Communication Research Laboratory/NASA rain measuring experiment over the Atlantic Ocean from a dual-frequency X- and Ka-band radars and an X-band passive radiometer. Profiles were retrieved using a modification of the Hitschfeld-Bordan (1954) algorithm constrained by a measurement of the path integrated extinction derived from passive radiometry. It was found that the two techniques under comparison yielded average rainfall rates that agreed within about 25 percent. It is suggested that, while a single-frequency radar operating in conjunction with multifrequency passive radiometers might provide cost-effective spaceborne measurements of tropical rainfall distributions, a dual-frequency radar might be able to remove some ambiguities that were encountered in this study.

Weinman, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dual redundant arm system operational quality measures and their applications - Dynamic measures

Dual-arm dynamic operation quality measures are presented which quantify the efficiency and capability of generating Cartesian accelerations by two cooperative arms based on the analysis of dual-arm dynamic interactions. Dual-arm dynamic manipulability is defined as the efficiency of generating Cartesian accelerations under the dynamic and kinematic interactions between individual arms and an object under manipulation. The analysis of dual-arm dynamic interactions is based on the so-called Cartesian space agent model of an arm, which represents an individual arm as a force source acting upon a point mass with the effective Cartesian space arm dynamics and an environment or an object under manipulation. The Cartesian space agent model of an arm makes it possible to derive the dynamic and kinematic constraints involved in the transport, assembly and grasping modes of dual-arm cooperation. A task-oriented operational quality measure, (TOQd) is defined by evaluating dual-arm dynamic manipulability in terms of given task requirements. TOQd is used in dual-arm joint configuration optimization. Simulation results are shown. A complete set of forward dynamic equations for a dual-arm system is derived, and dual-arm dynamic operational quality measures for various modes of dual-arm cooperation allowing sliding contacts are established.

Lee, Sukhan↗
NASA NTRS1992

FAGE measurements of tropospheric HO with measurements and model of interferences

Ambient HO measurements by low-pressure laser-excited fluorescence with chemical modulation, and supporting ozone and water-vapor data, are presented for periods in May and August 1987. The observed peak daytime ambient HO concentrations are in the range (2.5 to 8) x 10 exp 6 molecules/cu cm and show small negative offsets due to photochemical interference. Direct measurements of the interference at fixed (O3) give the dependence on ambient (H2O) and on the modulating reagent (isobutane). At ambient (O3) = 30 ppb and 10 torr H2O, with excitation and detection at a total pressure of 4 torr, the net interference is equal to (HO) = -1.3 x 10 exp 6 molecules/cu cm. Production of HO by the reaction of isobutane with O(1D) accounts for the negative interference. Quenching of HO fluorescence by the modulating reagent contributes a smaller positive term to the interference; kinetic measurements of the quenching rate coefficient are reported. The experimental interference results are compared with a detailed kinetic model of HO production, excitation, relaxation, and detection; reasonable agreement is found.

Hard, T. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Exit plane H2O concentration measurements correlated with OH PLIF near-injector mixing measurements for scramjet flows

Mixing and combusting high enthalpy flows, similar to those encountered in scramjet engines, were investigated using a shock tunnel to produce the flow in conjunction with non-intrusive optical diagnostics which monitored the performance of two injector configurations. The shock tunnel is configured to produce Mach 3 flow and stagnation enthalpies corresponding to flight equivalent Mach numbers between 7 and 11. A pulsed hydrogen injection capability and interchangeable injector blocks provide a means of examining high speed, high enthalpy reacting flows. Planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH molecules in the near injector region produced images which show the combusting and mixing zones for the reacting flow. Line-of-sight exit plane measurement of water concentration and temperature were used to provide a unique method of monitoring exit plane products. These results demonstrated that a velocity matched axial injection system produced a fuel jet that lifted off the floor of the duct. Mixing was observed to increase for this system as a velocity mismatch was introduced. Comparison of exit plane water concentrations for a wall jet injection system and a velocity matched injection system indicated similar mixing performance but an accurate pressure measurement is necessary to further validate the result. In addition, exit plane measurements indicated an approximate steady-state condition was achieved during the 1 to 2 ms test times.

Parker, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1937

Flight measurements of the dynamic longitudinal stability of several airplanes and a correlation of the measurements with pilots' observations of handling characteristics

The dynamic longitudinal stability characteristics of eight airplanes as defined by the period and damping of the longitudinal oscillations were measured in flight to determine the degree of stability that may be expected in conventional airplanes. An attempt was made to correlate the measured stability with pilots' opinions of the general handling characteristics of the airplanes in order to obtain an indication of the most desirable degree of dynamic stability. The results of the measurements show that the period of oscillation increases with speed. At low speeds a range of periods from 11 to 23 seconds was recorded for the different airplanes. At high speeds the periods ranged from 23 to 64 seconds. The damping showed no definite trend with speed.

Soule, Hartley A↗