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At least 811 records · Page 45

Convergence Analysis for an Online Data-Driven Feedback Control Algorithm

This paper presents convergence analysis of a novel data-driven feedback control algorithm designed for generating online controls based on partial noisy observational data. The algorithm comprises a particle filter-enabled state estimation component, estimating the controlled system’s state via indirect observations, alongside an efficient stochastic maximum principle-type optimal control solver. By integrating weak convergence techniques for the particle filter with convergence analysis for the stochastic maximum principle control solver, we derive a weak convergence result for the optimization procedure in search of optimal data-driven feedback control. Numerical experiments are performed to validate the theoretical findings.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Data Visualization and Analysis for Climate Studies using NASA Giovanni Online System

With many global earth observation systems and missions focused on climate systems and the associated large volumes of observational data available for exploring and explaining how climate is changing and why, there is an urgent need for climate services. Giovanni, the NASA GES DISC Interactive Online Visualization ANd ANalysis Infrastructure, is a simple to use yet powerful tool for analysing these data for research on global warming and climate change, as well as for applications to weather. air quality, agriculture, and water resources,

Rui, Hualan↗

A global station coordinate solution based upon camera and laser data - GSFC 1973

Results for the geocentric coordinates of 72 globally distributed satellite tracking stations consisting of 58 cameras and 14 lasers are presented. The observational data for this solution consists of over 65,000 optical observations and more than 350 laser passes recorded during the National Geodetic Satellite Program, the 1968 Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales/Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Program, and International Satellite Geodesy Experiment Program. Dynamic methods were used. The data were analyzed with the GSFC GEM and SAO 1969 Standard Earth Gravity Models. The recent value of GM = 398600.8 cu km/sec square derived at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) gave the best results for this combination laser/optical solution. Solutions are made with the deep space solution of JPL (LS-25 solution) including results obtained at GSFC from Mariner-9 Unified B-Band tracking. Datum transformation parameters relating North America, Europe, South America, and Australia are given, enabling the positions of some 200 other tracking stations to be placed in the geocentric system.

Marsh, J. G.↗

The use of satellite observations in ice cover simulations

Satellites can furnish observational data on ice cover over greater areas and for longer periods than field observations; a combination of visible or IR fine-resolution satellite imagery and radar altimetry, in conjunction with coarse-resolution data from passive microwave sources, have been used to verify and validate many numerical models of ice cover. Satellite passive microwave data are especially useful in the case of large-scale models used in studies of sea ice interannual variability. A number of remotely-sensed data sources are used by the NOAA's Joint Ice Center to create a qualitative weekly analysis of ice concentrations.

Preller, Ruth H.↗

Transmission spectroscopy of the hot Jupiter WASP-12b from 0.7 to 5 μm

Since the first report of a potentially non-solar carbon-to-oxygen ratio (C/O) in its dayside atmosphere, the highly irradiated exoplanet WASP-12b has been under intense scrutiny and the subject of many follow-up observations. Additionally, the recent discovery of stellar binary companions ∼1'' from WASP-12 has obfuscated interpretation of the observational data. Here we present new ground-based multi-object transmission-spectroscopy observations of WASP-12b that we acquired over two consecutive nights in the red optical with Gemini-N/GMOS. After correcting for the influence of WASP-12's stellar companions, we find that these data rule out a cloud-free H{sub 2} atmosphere with no additional opacity sources. We detect features in the transmission spectrum that may be attributed to metal oxides (such as TiO and VO) for an O-rich atmosphere or to metal hydrides (such as TiH) for a C-rich atmosphere. We also reanalyzed NIR transit-spectroscopy observations of WASP-12b from HST/WFC3 and broadband transit photometry from Warm Spitzer. We attribute the broad spectral features in the WFC3 data to either H{sub 2}O or CH{sub 4} and HCN for an O-rich or C-rich atmosphere, respectively. The Spitzer data suggest shallower transit depths than the models predict at infrared wavelengths, albeit at low statistical significance. A multi-instrument, broad-wavelength analysis of WASP-12b suggests that the transmission spectrum is well approximated by a simple Rayleigh scattering model with a planet terminator temperature of 1870 ± 130 K. We conclude that additional high-precision data and isolated spectroscopic measurements of the companion stars are required to place definitive constraints on the composition of WASP-12b's atmosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Using Historical and Experimental Data to Reveal Warming Effects on Ant Assemblages

Historical records of species are compared with current records to elucidate effects of recent climate change. However, confounding variables such as succession, land-use change, and species invasions make it difficult to demonstrate a causal link between changes in biota and changes in climate. Experiments that manipulate temperature can overcome this issue of attribution, but long-term impacts of warming are difficult to test directly. Here we combine historical and experimental data to explore effects of warming on ant assemblages in southeastern US. Observational data span a 35-year period (1976–2011), during which mean annual temperatures had an increasing trend. Mean summer temperatures in 2010–2011 were ~2.7°C warmer than in 1976. Experimental data come from an ongoing study in the same region, for which temperatures have been increased ~1.5–5.5°C above ambient from 2010 to 2012. Ant species richness and evenness decreased with warming under natural but not experimental warming. These discrepancies could have resulted from differences in timescales of warming, abiotic or biotic factors, or initial species pools. Species turnover tended to increase with temperature in observational and experimental datasets. At the species level, the observational and experimental datasets had four species in common, two of which exhibited consistent patterns between datasets. With natural and experimental warming, collections of the numerically dominant, thermophilic species, Crematogaster lineolata, increased roughly two-fold. Myrmecina americana, a relatively heat intolerant species, decreased with temperature in natural and experimental warming. In contrast, species in the Solenopsis molesta group did not show consistent responses to warming, and Temenothorax pergandei was rare across temperatures. Our results highlight the difficulty of interpreting community responses to warming based on historical records or experiments alone. Because some species showed consistent responses to warming based on thermal tolerances, understanding functional traits may prove useful in explaining responses of species to warming.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Non-asymptotic analysis of ensemble Kalman updates: effective dimension and localization

Many modern algorithms for inverse problems and data assimilation rely on ensemble Kalman updates to blend prior predictions with observed data. Ensemble Kalman methods often perform well with a small ensemble size, which is essential in applications where generating each particle is costly. This paper develops a non-asymptotic analysis of ensemble Kalman updates, which rigorously explains why a small ensemble size suffices if the prior covariance has moderate effective dimension due to fast spectrum decay or approximate sparsity. Here, we present our theory in a unified framework, comparing everal implementations of ensemble Kalman updates that use perturbed observations, square root filtering and localization. As part of our analysis, we develop new dimension-free covariance estimation bounds for approximately sparse matrices that may be of independent interest.

Mathematics↗

The Response of the BATSE LADs to Radiation From the Crab Nebula and Plans for Radioactivity Studies on Space Station

The Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) onboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) was designed to measure X-rays and gamma rays with energies from about 50 keV to above 2 MeV. As with many scientific investigations, the success of the original experiment lead to additional areas of research interest. In the case of BATSE the ability to observe the radiation from sources down to about 20 keV became readily apparent. This lead to a continuing program of measuring the spectrum of radiation from stellar objects at these lower energies. One of these, the Crab Nebula, has a very steady radiation flux and, thus, has become a "standard candle" for such measurements. The Large Area Detectors (LADS) on BATSE contain a 1.27-cm thick, 25.4-cm radius NaI(Tl) detector behind a 6.35-mm thick polystyrene Charged Particle Detector (CPD) used to "veto" charged particles signals. The detectors have been calibrated with a series of gamma and X-ray sources and the results carefully simulated with a Monte Carlo code. In the calibration process the computer simulation accounts for scattering from material in the counting room as well as the BATSE structure. For an orbiting detector, scattering from the entire spacecraft must be modeled as well as for all covering material over the detectors. Five years after CGRO was launched on April 5, 1991, a large body of observational data has been taken of the Crab Nebula. The technique used for these observations, and for many other X-ray sources, is Earth occultation. From the perspective of the spacecraft, the Earth occults most stellar objects once in orbit, i.e., the signal is lost as the source sets and is regained as the source rises. A careful analysis of the continuing signals from all sources measured allows for an accurate measurement of the spectrum of a given source. An analysis of this data from the Crab has indicated that the LADs are very responsive at energies as low as 20 keV-at energies below the range of calibration. While the model accounts for many of the interactions of the photons with the detectors, the observation of nonstatistical deviations at low energy and at small angles has suggested a need to recalibrate at energies where the attenuation effects are increasing exponentially.

Laird, C. E.↗

Developmental Testing of Habitability and Human Factors Tools and Methods During Neemo 15

Currently, no established methods exist to collect real-time human factors and habitability data while crewmembers are living aboard the International Space Station (ISS), traveling aboard other space vehicles, or living in remote habitats. Currently, human factors and habitability data regarding space vehicles and habitats are acquired at the end of missions during postflight crew debriefs. These debriefs occur weeks or often longer after events have occurred, which forces a significant reliance on incomplete human memory, which is imperfect. Without a means to collect real-time data, small issues may have a cumulative effect and continue to cause crew frustration and inefficiencies. Without timely and appropriate reporting methodologies, issues may be repeated or lost. TOOL DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION: As part of a directed research project (DRP) aiming to develop and validate tools and methods for collecting near real-time human factors and habitability data, a preliminary set of tools and methods was developed. These tools and methods were evaluated during the NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO) 15 mission in October 2011. Two versions of a software tool were used to collect observational data from NEEMO crewmembers that also used targeted strategies for using video cameras to collect observations. Space habitability observation reporting tool (SHORT) was created based on a tool previously developed by NASA to capture human factors and habitability issues during spaceflight. SHORT uses a web-based interface that allows users to enter a text description of any observations they wish to report and assign a priority level if changes are needed. In addition to the web-based format, a mobile Apple (iOS) format was implemented, referred to as iSHORT. iSHORT allows users to provide text, audio, photograph, and video data to report observations. iSHORT can be deployed on an iPod Touch, iPhone, or iPad; for NEEMO 15, the app was provided on an iPad2.

Thaxton, S. S.↗

Rotational excitation and de-excitation of magnesium mono-sulphide (MgS) by He collisions

ABSTRACT Magnesium mono-sulphide (MgS) plays a crucial role in astrochemical processes, particularly in the interstellar medium (ISM), where metal-sulphur chemistry influences molecular formation and evolution. This work presents a detailed study of the rotational excitation and de-excitation of MgS through collisions with helium (He) atoms, the second most abundant species in the ISM after hydrogen, which includes both atomic (H) and molecular forms (H2). The focus on MgS–He collisions arises from He's high abundance, chemical inertness, and simpler electronic structure, which make it well suited for quantum scattering calculations. These characteristics establish He as an ideal candidate for initial studies, providing fundamental data for future investigations involving H2. The study uses quantum scattering methods to calculate the collisional rate coefficients over a broad temperature range. These rates are critical for interpreting observational data on MgS and predicting its abundance in space. The interaction potential between MgS and He is calculated using the rigid rotor approximation and the Jacobi coordinate system, employing the CCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ method for accurate two-dimensional potential energy surface. The study explores the anisotropic nature of the MgS–He interaction, which favours odd Δj rotational transitions at low collision energies. The inelastic cross-sections for rotational transitions involving up to 16 rotational levels of MgS were computed up to 1000 cm−1, enabling the calculation of rate coefficients up to 150 K for Δj = ±1, ±2, and ± 3 rotational transitions. The results show that Δj = 1 transitions dominate at low temperatures, while Δj = 2 transitions become more significant at higher temperatures. This study provides valuable data for interpreting future astrophysical observations of MgS. The findings also propose new rotational transitions for MgS detection in space, enhancing our ability to track and study this molecule in various cosmic environments.

Hendaoui, Hamza (ORCID:0000000218641872)↗

Landmark-embedded Gaussian process with applications for functional data modeling

In practice, we often need to infer the value of a target variable from functional observation data. A challenge in this task is that the relationship between the functional data and the target variable is very complex: the target variable not only influences the shape but also the location of the functional data. In addition, due to the uncertainties in the environment, the relationship is probabilistic, that is, for a given fixed target variable value, we still see variations in the shape and location of the functional data. To address this challenge, we present a landmark-embedded Gaussian process model that describes the relationship between the functional data and the target variable. A unique feature of the model is that landmark information is embedded in the Gaussian process model so that both the shape and location information of the functional data are considered simultaneously in a unified manner. Gibbs-Metropolis-Hasting algorithm is used for model parameters estimation and target variable inference. The performance of the proposed framework is evaluated by extensive numerical studies and a case study of nano-sensor calibration.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Standardizing Algorithm Documentation For Improved Scientific Data Understanding: The Algorithm Publication Tool Prototype

Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents (ATBDs) are documents which accompany Earth observation data products generated from algorithms. While ATBDs are essential to scientific reproducibility, these key documents are not standardized and are often difficult to find. In this paper, we present the prototype Algorithm Publication Tool (APT), a cloud-based ATBD authoring and editing tool for NASA’s Earth science data systems. A standardized ATBD information model is also described as well as lessons learned from developing the prototype tool.

Kaylin Bugbee↗

A search for heavy Higgs bosons decaying into vector bosons in same-sign two-lepton final states in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector

A search for heavy Higgs bosons produced in association with a vector boson and decaying into a pair of vector bosons is performed in final states with two leptons (electrons or muons) of the same electric charge, missing transverse momentum and jets. A data sample of proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider between 2015 and 2018 is used. The data correspond to a total integrated luminosity of 139 fb –1 . The observed data are in agreement with Standard Model background expectations. The results are interpreted using higher-dimensional operators in an effective field theory. Upper limits on the production cross-section are calculated at 95% confidence level as a function of the heavy Higgs boson’s mass and coupling strengths to vector bosons. Limits are set in the Higgs boson mass range from 300 to 1500 GeV, and depend on the assumed couplings. The highest excluded mass for a heavy Higgs boson with the coupling combinations explored is 900 GeV. Limits on coupling strengths are also provided.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Correlating transcription and protein expression profiles of immune biomarkers following lipopolysaccharide exposure in lung epithelial cells

Universal and early recognition of pathogens occurs through recognition of evolutionarily conserved pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by innate immune receptors and the consequent secretion of cytokines and chemokines. The intrinsic complexity of innate immune signaling and associated signal transduction challenges our ability to obtain physiologically relevant, reproducible and accurate data from experimental systems. One of the reasons for the discrepancy in observed data is the choice of measurement strategy. Immune signaling is regulated by the interplay between pathogen-derived molecules with host cells resulting in cellular expression changes. However, these cellular processes are often studied by the independent assessment of either the transcriptome or the proteome. Correlation between transcription and protein analysis is lacking in a variety of studies. In order to methodically evaluate the correlation between transcription and protein expression profiles associated with innate immune signaling, we measured cytokine and chemokine levels following exposure of human cells to the PAMP lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Expression of 84 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts and 69 proteins, including 35 overlapping targets, were measured in human lung epithelial cells. We evaluated 50 biological replicates to determine reproducibility of outcomes. Following pairwise normalization, 16 mRNA transcripts and 6 proteins were significantly upregulated following LPS exposure, while only five (CCL2, CSF3, CXCL5, CXCL8/IL8, and IL6) were upregulated in both transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. This lack of correlation between transcription and protein expression data may contribute to the discrepancy in the immune profiles reported in various studies. The use of multiomic assessments to achieve a systems-level understanding of immune signaling processes can result in the identification of host biomarker profiles for a variety of infectious diseases and facilitate countermeasure design and development.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Custom NEON AOP reflectance mosaics and maps of shade masks, canopy water content

This mosaic of visible to shortwave infrared (VSWIR) data was derived from the assignable asset NEON AOP radiance data that was collected by LBNL’s Watershed Function SFA during the summer of 2018 (DOI: 10.15485/1617204). This atmospheric correction was completed to take into account site-specific terrain variability in the 334 km2 survey area centered around Crested Butte, CO. The atmospheric correction was completed using ACORN atmospheric correction software executed on 200 x 200 pixel kernels rather than line by line in order to capture local flight altitude conditions. Manual cloud delineation removed any small shaded areas that occurred within the data collection areas. Mosaics were developed based on preference for days that were in close timing proximity to the coincident ground campaign and with mosaicing criteria that minimized the angle between the sun and the sensor to retrieve the most consistent reflectance (min_phase_refl_tiled). Finally, we generated shade masks based on the geometry between the sun angle at time of flight, the ground surface, and the sensor. Here we provide the orthomosaiced estimated reflectance data (min_phase_refl_tiled.tif), canopy water content (wtrl), estimated atmospheric water vapor (wtrv), the observational data (obs) for this particular mosaic, the estimated visibility (vis), shade masks derived from the digital surface elevation model (shade) and the digital terrain model (shade_tch) added to the canopy height model (DOI: 10.15485/1617203), and a wavelength metadata file. Each image file is provided as a GeoTiff with internal tiling and LZW compression. These data can also be found on Google Earth Engine for extraction, download, and analysis of smaller extents (Google Earth Engine data is linked in external link table).

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗

SANSMIC Validation.

SANSMIC is solution mining software that was developed and utilized by SNL in its role as geotechnical advisor to the US DOE SPR for planning purposes. Three SANSMIC leach modes - withdrawal, direct, and reverse leach - have been revalidated with multiple test cases for each mode. The withdrawal mode was validated using high quality data from recent leach activity while the direct and reverse modes utilized data from historical cavern completion reports. Withdrawal results compared very well with observed data, including the location and size of shelves due to string breaks with relative leached volume differences ranging from 6 - 10% and relative radius differences from 1.5 - 3%. Profile comparisons for the direct mode were very good with relative leached volume differences ranging from 6 - 12% and relative radius differences from 5 - 7%. First, second, and third reverse configurations were simulated in order to validate SANSMIC over a range of relative hanging string and OBI locations. The first-reverse was simulated reasonably well with relative leached volume differences ranging from 1 - 9% and relative radius differences from 5 - 12%. The second-reverse mode showed the largest discrepancies in leach profile. Leached volume differences ranged from 8 - 12% and relative radius differences from 1 - 10%. In the third-reverse, relative leached volume differences ranged from 10 - 13% and relative radius differences were %7E4 %. Comparisons to historical reports were quite good, indicating that SANSMIC is essentially the same as documented and validated in the early 1980's.

Weber, Paula D.↗

Model Coupling Through Learned Representations

Reliable climate predictions are important for making robust decisions in response to the changing climate. This project aims to reduce mis-modeling uncertainties arising from the representation of the land-atmosphere coupling in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) by using a machine learning approach. This approach will use an encoder-decoder architecture to represent the information that is developed in the land model and given to the atmosphere model. The simulated data will be taken from the E3SM simulation. However, the incorporation of observed data into the simulated dataset reduces mis-modeling uncertainties.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Sea ice-atmosphere interaction: Application of multispectral satellite data in polar surface energy flux estimates

The application of multi-spectral satellite data to estimate polar surface energy fluxes is addressed. To what accuracy and over which geographic areas large scale energy budgets can be estimated are investigated based upon a combination of available remote sensing and climatological data sets. The general approach was to: (1) formulate parameterization schemes for the appropriate sea ice energy budget terms based upon the remotely sensed and/or in-situ data sets; (2) conduct sensitivity analyses using as input both natural variability (observed data in regional case studies) and theoretical variability based upon energy flux model concepts; (3) assess the applicability of these parameterization schemes to both regional and basin wide energy balance estimates using remote sensing data sets; and (4) assemble multi-spectral, multi-sensor data sets for at least two regions of the Arctic Basin and possibly one region of the Antarctic. The type of data needed for a basin-wide assessment is described and the temporal coverage of these data sets are determined by data availability and need as defined by parameterization scheme. The titles of the subjects are as follows: (1) Heat flux calculations from SSM/I and LANDSAT data in the Bering Sea; (2) Energy flux estimation using passive microwave data; (3) Fetch and stability sensitivity estimates of turbulent heat flux; and (4) Surface temperature algorithm.

Steffen, K.↗