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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Methods for Developing Successful Systems Engineers

Systems Engineering (SE) is a complex and challenging field that incorporates the knowledge of systems engineering processes, the ability to synthesize a wide-range of engineering disciplines, and the ability to lead a team of people to successfully accomplish the goals of a project. It requires hard technical skills and soft-skill leadership savvy. As a result, three main development needs are identified: 1. Knowledge of SE processes, the benefits of these processes to a project and their tailored application 2. Knowledge of a wide-range of engineering disciplines, how they interrelate in a system, and the development of sound technical judgement 3. Team leadership to direct and motivate a team of subsystem and discipline experts This paper describes the establishment of a comprehensive training and development program for Systems Engineers at NASA Ames Research Center that addresses in part each of these three areas from the perspective of the implementing manager. A variety of methods have been utilized including the establishment of a SE Community of Practice, a unique and innovative web tool, on-line videos, classroom training in NASA’s 17 Common Technical Processes, guidance on the tailored application of these processes, monthly technical talks, mentoring in both technical judgment and team leadership, and NASA’s Leadership Development Programs. While much of professional SE development must come through project experience, the approaches listed above can accelerate development. The diversity of skills required of Systems Engineering demands a multi-faceted approach to successfully train and develop this critical skill.

development↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing A Dependable Multi-Agent Rover Swarm Using cFS

The future of space exploration lies in cooperative autonomous systems. Ensuring their high integrity remains a challenge. The Robust Software Engineering group at NASA Ames Research Center has been developing the Troupe project to explore the challenges with developing and assuring high integrity of cooperative autonomous robotic systems. In particular, Troupe aims to develop a swarm of autonomous rovers capable of mapping unknown terrain and assure their high integrity using the advanced V&V tools developed in the group. In this paper, we present the evolution of the design of Troupe. We focus on the lessons learned in developing and assuring the rover swarm using core Flight System (cFS). In particular, we discuss the benefits and challenges in applying model-based development to develop the rover swarm.

space systems↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing A Dependable Multi-Agent Rover Swarm Using cFS

space systems↗

DOE OSTI2016

Development Impact Assessment Highlights Co-benefits of GHG Mitigation Actions

This EC-LEDS document describes the Development Impact Assessment (DIA) process that explores interactions between development goals and the low emission development strategies. DIA aims to support informed decision-making by considering how policies and programs intended to meet one goal may impact other development priorities. Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) is a flagship U.S. government-led effort that assists countries in developing and implementing LEDS. The program enhances partner country efforts by providing targeting technical assistance and building a shared global knowledge base on LEDS. is a flagship U.S. government-led effort that assists countries in developing and implementing LEDS. The program enhances partner country efforts by providing targeting technical assistance and building a shared global knowledge base on LEDS.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

On the Formalization of Development and Assessment Process for Digital Twins in the Nearly Autonomous Management and Control System

In recent years, the autonomous control system has been encouraged in advanced reactors for restoring economic viability, simplifying the operation and maintenance, and enabling remote-site power generations [1]. Since the reactor is expected to be operated for a long period of time with a limited number of individuals onsite, it is recommended that the autonomous control system should have access to very realistic models of the state of processes in the whole lifecycle, together with these process behaviors in interaction with their environment in the real world. As a result, digital twin (DT) technology is suggested in autonomous control systems. DT is defined as a digital representation of a physical object or system, which contains a record for the histories of loads, operation and maintenance status, predictions for the near-term transient of important state variables, and decision-making process [2]. Since machine learning (ML) can recognize patterns within a complex system in real-time applications, it has been used to build DTs in the autonomous control systems for advanced reactors. Meanwhile, due to the rareness of operation data in accident scenarios, the development and assessment of DTs is expected to be mainly driven by simulations. Although the capability and feasibility of ML-based DTs are recognized in improving the safety and efficiency of reactor control, a major concern from the regulatory commission and the nuclear industry is whether the information from a DT is developed and assessed in accordance with expectation and requirements by the target decision. Such concerns not only affect the acceptance criteria for DTs, but also values that can be extracted from DTs and autonomous control system during operations. Inspired by the success of formal methods in improving the reliability and robustness of computer programming and software development, it is suggested that the development and assessment process (DAP) for both separate DTs and integral control system should be formalized in a transparent, consistent, and improvable manner. In this study, a digital-twin development and assessment process (DT-DAP) is proposed by adapting the evaluation model development and assessment process (EMDAP) [3] to requirements by the autonomous control system, ML algorithms, and DT technology. To demonstrate the framework, a baseline nearly autonomous management and control (NAMAC) system with ML-based DTs for diagnosis and prognosis is developed and assessed based on the framework. It is found that with selected testing methods and techniques, the DT-DAP can help identify errors in DTs and NAMAC which would otherwise be left unverified. Meanwhile, it is found that the DT-DAP can improve the DTs and NAMAC by continuously learning and iterating through different elements.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

DOE OSTI2016

ADAM10 is essential for cranial neural crest-derived maxillofacial bone development

Growth disorders of the craniofacial bones may lead to craniofacial deformities. The majority of maxillofacial bones are derived from cranial neural crest cells via intramembranous bone formation. Any interruption of the craniofacial skeleton development process might lead to craniofacial malformation. A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)10 plays an essential role in organ development and tissue integrity in different organs. However, little is known about its function in craniofacial bone formation. Therefore, we investigated the role of ADAM10 in the developing craniofacial skeleton, particularly during typical mandibular bone development. First, we showed that ADAM10 was expressed in a specific area of the craniofacial bone and that the expression pattern dynamically changed during normal mouse craniofacial development. Then, we crossed wnt1-cre transgenic mice with adam10-flox mice to generate ADAM10 conditional knockout mice. The stereomicroscopic, radiographic, and von Kossa staining results showed that conditional knockout of ADAM10 in cranial neural crest cells led to embryonic death, craniofacial dysmorphia and bone defects. Furthermore, we demonstrated that impaired mineralization could be triggered by decreased osteoblast differentiation, increased cell death. Overall, these findings show that ADAM10 plays an essential role in craniofacial bone development. -- Highlights: •We firstly reported that ADAM10 was essentially involved in maxillofacial bone development. •ADAM10 cKO mice present craniofacial dysmorphia and bone defects. •Impaired osteoblast differentiation,proliferation and apoptosis underlie the bone deformity.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2018

Yap1/Taz are essential for the liver development in zebrafish

Highlights: • Taz is significantly up-regulated in zebrafish yap1 mutants. • yap1{sup −/−}; taz{sup +/−} embryos are defective in digestive organs development. • Mutations in yap1{sup −/−}; taz{sup +/−} impair cell proliferation in liver and movement of LPM. • Taz can substituteYap1's function in liver development in zebrafish. Hippo pathway regulates cell proliferation and differentiation. Yes-associated protein (Yap) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz) are effectors of Hippo pathway. The function of Yap/Taz in embryonic liver development has yet to be reported. Here yap1 and taz were found expressed in liver and other digestive organs in zebrafish embryos, and knockout of yap1 or taz did not lead to visible defects during embryogenesis. Interestingly, Taz was significantly increased in yap1 mutants, which may account for their normal development, albeit losing Yap1. However, yap1{sup −/−}; taz{sup +/-} embryos exhibited smaller digestive organs, and more than half of them showed bilateral livers and pancreas and non-looped intestines. Further analysis revealed that the disrupted gene function in yap1{sup −/−}; taz{sup +/-} embryos did not disturb liver bud formation, but instead impaired cell proliferation in liver and movement of the neighboring lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). Overexpression of wild type yap1 or taz could rescue the defective liver phenotypes in yap1{sup −/−}; taz{sup +/-} embryos, indicating that Yap1 cooperate with Taz to regulate the liver development. In addition, Yap1 was found to function in a Tead-dependent manner in the liver development. Our results suggest that Yap1/Taz regulate LPM movement and promote cell proliferation to ensure proper liver development in zebrafish.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2018

Grhl2 regulation of SPINT1 expression controls salivary gland development

Development of the salivary gland is characterized by extensive branching morphogenesis and lumen formation, the latter of which is closely associated with differentiation into acinar and ductal cells. Although various molecules, including signaling and cell adhesion molecules, have been implicated in salivary gland development, transcription factors (TFs) regulating the expression of those molecules and morphological development of the gland are largely unknown. Here we show that knockdown of the epithelial TF, Grainyhead-like 2 (Grhl2), with siRNA in developing mouse submandibular salivary gland (SMG) cultured ex vivo resulted in retardation of epithelial development. This retardation was concomitant with suppression of gene expression for the cell adhesion molecules, such as E-cadherin and the extracellular protease inhibitor SPINT1, and with the disorganized deposition of the basal lamina protein laminin. ChIP-PCR demonstrated the binding of Grhl2 protein to the Spint1 gene in the SMG. Notably, addition of recombinant SPINT1 protein in cultured SMG overcame the suppressive effects of Grhl2 siRNA on epithelial development and laminin deposition. These findings show that Grhl2 regulation of SPINT1 expression controls salivary gland development.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

A dataset of eco-evidence tools to inform early-stage environmental impact assessments of hydropower development

The datasets described herein provide the foundation for a decision support prototype (DSP) toolkit aimed at assisting stakeholders in determining evidence of which aspects of river ecosystems have been impacted by hydropower. The DSP toolkit and its application are presented and described in the article “Evidence-based indicator approach to guide preliminary environmental impact assessments of hydropower development” [1]. Development of the DSP and the output for decision support centralize around 42 river function indicators describing the dimensionality of river ecosystems through six main categories: biota and biodiversity, water quality, hydrology, geomorphology, land cover, and river connectivity. Three main tools are represented in the DSP: A science-based questionnaire (SBQ), an environmental envelope model (EEM), and a river function linkage assessment tool (RFLAT). The SBQ is a structured survey-style questionnaire whose objective is to provide evidence of which indicators have been impacted by hydropower. Based on a global literature review, 140 questions were developed from general hypotheses regarding the impacts of dams on rivers. The EEM is a model to predict the likelihood of hydropower impacting indicators based on a several variables. The intended use of the EEM is for situations of new hydropower development where results of the SBQ are incomplete or highly uncertain. The EEM was developed through the compilation of a dataset containing attributes of dams, reservoirs, and geospatial information on environmental concerns, which was combined with data on ecological indicators documented at those sites through literature review. The model operates through 247 “envelopes” and weighting factors, representing the individual effect of each variable on each indicator, all available through spreadsheets. Finally, the RFLAT is a tool to examine causal relationships amongst indicators. Inter-indicator relationships were hypothesized based on literature review and summarized into node and edge datasets to represent the structure of a graphical network. Bayes theorem was used estimate conditional probabilities of inter-indicator relationships based on the output of the SBQ. Nodes and edges were imported into R programming environment to visualize ecological indicator networks. The datasets can be expanded upon and enriched with more detailed questions for the SBQ, building upon the EEM with to develop more sophisticated models, and identifying new relationships for the RFALT. Additionally, once the tools are applied to numerous hydropower developments, the output of the tools (e.g. evidence of impacted indicators) becomes a very useful dataset for meta-analyses of hydropower impacts.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2018

Investigation of a “coupling model” of coordination between low-carbon development and urbanization in China

Based on data from 30 provinces in China, this paper builds evaluation models or a carbon emission-urbanization system that explores how to achieve low-carbon development during a rapid urbanization phase. Through mathematical and statistical analysis, principal component analysis and entropy evaluation methods are applied to calculate index weights for a comprehensive evaluation index of carbon emission-urbanization. A coordination degree model and a coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) for a carbon emission-urbanization system (CUS) that explores how to achieve low-carbon development during a rapid urbanization phase. Scenario analyses and case study were applied to illustrate the results, which show five basic conclusions. (1) Low-carbon development doesn't require eliminating energy consumption completely during urbanization (2) The average level of urbanization is relatively low owing to the large disparities among provinces and the provinces’ economic development. Though the development of low-carbon in the 30 provinces is generally rapid, the gap between the highest provinces and the lowest provinces is relatively large because of their different socio-economic features. (3) Much more attention should be paid to CO 2 emissions per capita. The quality of public social service,the basic and medical insurance coverage for the elderly, the community service coverage in infrastructure and the green design during urban construction should be improved. (4) The coordination of CUS is closely related to the different development stages and geographic locations of each province. (5) For different types of provinces with different degrees of coupling coordination,there is a need to explore different development directions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2016

Technology readiness levels for advanced nuclear fuels and materials development

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) process is used to quantitatively assess the maturity of a given technology. It was pioneered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1980s to develop and deploy new systems for space applications. The process was subsequently adopted by the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop and deploy new technology and systems for defense applications as well as the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate the maturity of new technologies in major construction projects. Advanced nuclear fuels and materials development is a critical technology needed for improving the performance and safety of current and advanced reactors, and ultimately closing the nuclear fuel cycle. Because deployment of new nuclear fuel forms requires a lengthy and expensive research, development, and demonstration program, applying the TRL concept to the advanced fuel development program is very useful as a management, communication and tracking tool. Furthermore, this article provides examples regarding the methods by which TRLs are currently used to assess the maturity of nuclear fuels and materials under development in the DOE Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) Program within the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Slit/Robo1 signaling regulates neural tube development by balancing neuroepithelial cell proliferation and differentiation

Formation of the neural tube is the morphological hallmark for development of the embryonic central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, neural tube development is a crucial step in the neurulation process. Slit/Robo signaling was initially identified as a chemo-repellent that regulated axon growth cone elongation, but its role in controlling neural tube development is currently unknown. To address this issue, we investigated Slit/Robo1 signaling in the development of chick neCollege of Life Sciences Biocentre, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UKural tube and transgenic mice over-expressing Slit2. We disrupted Slit/Robo1 signaling by injecting R5 monoclonal antibodies into HH10 neural tubes to block the Robo1 receptor. This inhibited the normal development of the ventral body curvature and caused the spinal cord to curl up into a S-shape. Next, Slit/Robo1 signaling on one half-side of the chick embryo neural tube was disturbed by electroporation in ovo. We found that the morphology of the neural tube was dramatically abnormal after we interfered with Slit/Robo1 signaling. Furthermore, we established that silencing Robo1 inhibited cell proliferation while over-expressing Robo1 enhanced cell proliferation. We also investigated the effects of altering Slit/Robo1 expression on Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Pax7 expression in the developing neural tube. We demonstrated that over-expressing Robo1 down-regulated Shh expression in the ventral neural tube and resulted in the production of fewer HNK-1{sup +} migrating neural crest cells (NCCs). In addition, Robo1 over-expression enhanced Pax7 expression in the dorsal neural tube and increased the number of Slug{sup +} pre-migratory NCCs. Conversely, silencing Robo1 expression resulted in an enhanced Shh expression and more HNK-1{sup +} migrating NCCs but reduced Pax7 expression and fewer Slug{sup +} pre-migratory NCCs were observed. In conclusion, we propose that Slit/Robo1 signaling is involved in regulating neural tube development by tightly coordinating cell proliferation and differentiation during neurulation. - Highlights: ► The role of Slit/Robo1 signaling was investigated with chick and mouse models. ► Disturbance of Slit/Robo1 signaling resulted in neural tube defects. ► Slit/Robo1 signaling regulated the proliferation of neural tube cells. ► Slit/Robo1 signaling modulated the differentiation of neural tube cells. ► Slit/Robo1 signaling balanced the proliferation and differentiation of neural tube.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Marf-mediated mitochondrial fusion is imperative for the development and functioning of indirect flight muscles (IFMs) in drosophila

Highlights: • Mitochondrial fusion is essential during development of Drosophila IFM. • Marf expression is required during early muscle development. • Marf knock down during IFM development affects mitochondrial shape and function. • Marf deficiency alters myofibril size and decreases muscle function. Dynamic changes in mitochondrial shape and size are vital for mitochondrial health and for tissue development and function. Adult Drosophila indirect flight muscles contain densely packed mitochondria. We show here that mitochondrial fusion is critical during early muscle development (in pupa) and that silencing of the outer mitochondrial membrane fusion gene, Marf, in muscles results in smaller mitochondria that are functionally defective. This leads to abnormal muscle development resulting in muscle dysfunction in adult flies. However, post-developmental silencing of Marf has no obvious effects on mitochondrial and muscle phenotype in adult flies, indicating the importance of mitochondrial fusion during early muscle development.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Developing and validating advanced divertor solutions on DIII-D for next-step fusion devices

A major challenge facing the design and operation of next-step high-power steady-state fusion devices is to develop a viable divertor solution with order-of-magnitude increases in power handling capability relative to present experience, while having acceptable divertor target plate erosion and being compatible with maintaining good core plasma confinement. A new initiative has been launched on DIII-D to develop the scientific basis for design, installation, and operation of an advanced divertor to evaluate boundary plasma solutions applicable to next step fusion experiments beyond ITER. Developing the scientific basis for fusion reactor divertor solutions must necessarily follow three lines of research, which we plan to pursue in DIII-D: (1) Advance scientific understanding and predictive capability through development and comparison between state-of-the art computational models and enhanced measurements using targeted parametric scans; (2) Develop and validate key divertor design concepts and codes through innovative variations in physical structure and magnetic geometry; (3) Assess candidate materials, determining the implications for core plasma operation and control, and develop mitigation techniques for any deleterious effects, incorporating development of plasma-material interaction models. These efforts will lead to design, installation, and evaluation of an advanced divertor for DIII-D to enable highly dissipative divertor operation at core density (n e/n GW), neutral fueling and impurity influx most compatible with high performance plasma scenarios and reactor relevant plasma facing components (PFCs). In conclusion, this paper highlights the current progress and near-term strategies of boundary/PMI research on DIII-D.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

A Three-Tier Incremental Approach for Development of Smart Corridor Digital Twins

Development of an arterial smart corridor digital twin requires the integration of real time data streams, data storage, and simulation model execution. This process may be complex, time consuming, and susceptible to errors. To aid in smart corridor digital twin development this paper seeks to provide a framework, best practices, and development guidance. As such, a three-tier incremental approach to smart corridor digital twin development is presented. The paper highlights practical issues in digital twin construction along with key data challenges based on experiences from the development of digital twins for two large Smart Corridor deployments, one in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the other in Atlanta, Georgia. The presented three-tier incremental approach includes: 1) development of a prepopulated offline simulation, 2) development of a pseudo digital twin that is driven by archived data, and 3) integration of real time data streams to create the online digital twin model. The three-tiered approach facilitates conducting multiple trials and scenarios with increasing complexity, allowing for incremental error processing and updating of the digital twin.

Saroj, Abhilasha↗

DOE OSTI2016

The Fast-Evolving phy-2 Gene Modulates Sexual Development in Response to Light in the Model Fungus Neurospora crassa

Rapid responses to changes in incident light are critical to the guidance of behavior and development in most species. Phytochrome light receptors in particular play key roles in bacterial physiology and plant development, but their functions and regulation are less well understood in fungi. Nevertheless, genome-wide expression measurements provide key information that can guide experiments that reveal how genes respond to environmental signals and clarify their role in development. We performed functional genomic and phenotypic analyses of the two phytochromes in Neurospora crassa, a fungal model adapted to a postfire environment that experiences dramatically variable light conditions. Expression of phy-1 and phy-2 was low in early sexual development and in the case of phy-2 increased in late sexual development. Under light stimulation, strains with the phytochromes deleted exhibited increased expression of sexual development-related genes. Moreover, under red light, the phy-2 knockout strain commenced sexual development early. In the evolution of phytochromes within ascomycetes, at least two duplications have occurred, and the faster-evolving phy-2 gene has frequently been lost. Additionally, the three key cysteine sites that are critical for bacterial and plant phytochrome function are not conserved within fungal phy-2 homologs. Through the action of phytochromes, transitions between asexual and sexual reproduction are modulated by light level and light quality, presumably as an adaptation for fast asexual growth and initiation of sexual reproduction of N. crassa in exposed postfire ecosystems.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2019

Secure Design and Development Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (SD2-C2M2): Next-Generation Cyber Resilience by Design

The Secure Design and Development Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model (SD2-C2M2) provides a browser-based tool that allows hardware and software developers to assess the maturity level of their design and development processes, allows management to determine desired maturity levels in seven domains, and allows developers to monitor process maturity improvements against management goals. The tool can be used by commercial developers as well as internal development organizations. This paper provides an overview of the tool and domains and presents a hypothetical case study of the tool to reduce software buffer overflow attack vulnerabilities by improving the software development process.

Gourisetti, Sri Nikhil G.↗

DOE OSTI2017

LungMAP: The Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is funding an effort to create a molecular atlas of the developing lung (LungMAP) to serve as a research resource and public education tool. The lung is a complex organ with lengthy development time driven by interactive gene networks and dynamic cross talk among multiple cell types to control and coordinate lineage specification, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, morphogenesis, and injury repair. A better understanding of the processes that regulate lung development, particularly alveologenesis, will have a significant impact on survival rates for premature infants born with incomplete lung development and will facilitate lung injury repair and regeneration in adults. A consortium of four research centers, a data coordinating center, and a human tissue repository provides high-quality molecular data of developing human and mouse lungs. LungMAP includes mouse and human data for cross correlation of developmental processes across species. LungMAP is generating foundational data and analysis, creating a web portal for presentation of results and public sharing of data sets, establishing a repository of young human lung tissues obtained through organ donor organizations, and developing a comprehensive lung ontology that incorporates the latest findings of the consortium. The LungMAP website (www.lungmap.net) currently contains more than 6,000 high-resolution lung images and transcriptomic, proteomic, and lipidomic human and mouse data and provides scientific information to stimulate interest in research careers for young audiences. This paper presents a brief description of research conducted by the consortium, database, and portal development and upcoming features that will enhance the LungMAP experience for a community of users.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗