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At least 1,027 records · Page 57
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-J-193: Efficient Dose Extinction Method for Water Equivalent Path Length (WEPL) of Real Tissue Samples for Validation of CT HU to Stopping Power Conversion

Purpose: For proton therapy, an accurate model of CT HU to relative stopping power (RSP) conversion is essential. In current practice, validation of these models relies solely on measurements of tissue substitutes with standard compositions. Validation based on real tissue samples would be much more direct and can address variations between patients. This study intends to develop an efficient and accurate system based on the concept of dose extinction to measure WEPL and retrieve RSP in biological tissue in large number of types. Methods: A broad AP proton beam delivering a spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) is used to irradiate the samples with a Matrixx detector positioned immediately below. A water tank was placed on top of the samples, with the water level controllable in sub-millimeter by a remotely controlled dosing pump. While gradually lowering the water level with beam on, the transmission dose was recorded at 1 frame/sec. The WEPL were determined as the difference between the known beam range of the delivered SOBP (80%) and the water level corresponding to 80% of measured dose profiles in time. A Gammex 467 phantom was used to test the system and various types of biological tissue was measured. Results: RSP for all Gammex inserts, expect the one made with lung-450 material (<2% error), were determined within ±0.5% error. Depends on the WEPL of investigated phantom, a measurement takes around 10 min, which can be accelerated by a faster pump. Conclusion: Based on the concept of dose extinction, a system was explored to measure WEPL efficiently and accurately for a large number of samples. This allows the validation of CT HU to stopping power conversions based on large number of samples and real tissues. It also allows the assessment of beam uncertainties due to variations over patients, which issue has never been sufficiently studied before.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Formation and evolution of carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu: Direct evidence from returned samples

Samples of the carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu were brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. We analyzed 17 Ryugu samples measuring 1 to 8 millimeters. Carbon dioxide–bearing water inclusions are present within a pyrrhotite crystal, indicating that Ryugu’s parent asteroid formed in the outer Solar System. The samples contain low abundances of materials that formed at high temperatures, such as chondrules and calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions. The samples are rich in phyllosilicates and carbonates, which formed through aqueous alteration reactions at low temperature, high pH, and water/rock ratios of <1 (by mass). Less altered fragments contain olivine, pyroxene, amorphous silicates, calcite, and phosphide. Numerical simulations, based on the mineralogical and physical properties of the samples, indicate that Ryugu’s parent body formed ~2 million years after the beginning of Solar System formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Advanced Techniques for Sample Processing of the Reusable Metal-Containing Raw Material (Review)

A review of the sample processing of different types of reusable metal-containing material (catalytic agents, e-wastes, cuttings, etc.) is given in the article; the purpose of the sample processing is the further analysis in the form of solutions: dilution in the mineral acid mix, alloying with different fluxes, leaching, etc. Increase in the temperature and pressure, ultrasonic impact, and microwave radiation are applied for the purpose of sample processing intensification. Methods of sample processing with application of sorbate concentration for the further definition of not only the noble, nonferrous, and rare metals but also the toxic elements are described. The review shows that the stage of sample processing is very important for achieving the potential of the applied analytical methods.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Microhardness of armco iron samples with different initial structures after rolling in a helium or nitrogen medium

We have analyzed the dependences of microhardness H on load P for the surface layers of Armco iron samples with different initial structures, i.e., annealed and after equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). The microhardness was measured in air after rolling of the sample in helium or nitrogen medium. It has been found that these mediums produce different effects on the H(P) dependences for preliminarily annealed samples compared to those subjected to ECAP. This is due to the differences in their initial defects structures and in the types of binding forces of helium atoms and nitrogen molecules with dislocations, which determine the intensity of their penetration into the surface layer of the samples under investigation. We have obtained curves that describe the release of helium from samples rolled in different mediums and have measured the amount of helium.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Initiation Thresholds and Dynamic Characteristics of an Explosion for Thin Samples of PETN-Al Composites under Laser Irradiation

In this paper, we measured thresholds H{sub cr} of explosive decomposition of thin (h = 1 mm) samples of PETN-Al composites with densities in the range of ρ = 0.9–1.7 g/cm{sup 3} and variations in the concentration of aluminum inclusions in the range of 0.025–1.0 wt % upon exposure to pulses of a neodymium laser (λ = 1064 nm, 14 ns). For each ρ, inclusion concentrations n{sub opt}, at which the threshold for explosive decomposition of H{sub cr} is minimal, are obtained. The velocities of air shock waves (ASWs) were determined depending on sample density ρ, and the times of the start of explosive decomposition were determined depending on the inclusion concentration. The amplitude (in relative units) and time shift of the maximal pressure of an ASW at the piezodetector are determined depending on sample density. It is concluded that the explosion is governed by the SW mechanism at high densities. As sample ρ decreases, the completeness of the explosion increases, with the most likely mechanism for small ρ being explosive burning. The efficiency of explosive decomposition is higher for samples with lower densities.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Optimization for Peptide Sample Preparation for Urine Peptidomics

Analysis of native or endogenous peptides in biofluids can provide valuable insights into disease mechanisms. Furthermore, the detected peptides may also have utility as potential biomarkers for non-invasive monitoring of human diseases. The non-invasive nature of urine collection and the abundance of peptides in the urine makes analysis by high-throughput ‘peptidomics’ methods , an attractive approach for investigating the pathogenesis of renal disease. However, urine peptidomics methodologies can be problematic with regards to difficulties associated with sample preparation. The urine matrix can provide significant background interference in making the analytical measurements that it hampers both the identification of peptides and the depth of the peptidomics read when utilizing LC-MS based peptidome analysis. We report on a novel adaptation of the standard solid phase extraction (SPE) method to a modified SPE (mSPE) approach for improved peptide yield and analysis sensitivity with LC-MS based peptidomics in terms of time, cost, clogging of the LC-MS column, peptide yield, peptide quality, and number of peptides identified by each method. Expense and time requirements were comparable for both SPE and mSPE, but more interfering contaminants from the urine matrix were evident in the SPE preparations (e.g., clogging of the LC-MS columns, yellowish background coloration of prepared samples due to retained urobilin, lower peptide yields) when compared to the mSPE method. When we compared data from technical replicates of 4 runs, the mSPE method provided significantly improved efficiencies for the preparation of samples from urine (e.g., mSPE peptide identification 82% versus 18% with SPE; p = 8.92E-05). Additionally, peptide identifications, when applying the mSPE method, highlighted the biology of differential activation of urine peptidases during acute renal transplant rejection with distinct laddering of specific peptides, which was obscured for most proteins when utilizing the conventional SPE method. In conclusion, the mSPE method was found to be superior to the conventional, standard SPE method for urine peptide sample preparation when applying LC-MS peptidomics analysis due to the optimized sample clean up that provided improved experimental inference from the confidently identified peptides.

biomarker↗
DOE OSTI2015

Rare earth element geochemistry of outcrop and core samples from the Marcellus Shale

In this paper, we studied the geochemistry of the rare earth elements (REE) in eleven outcrop samples and six, depth-interval samples of a core from the Marcellus Shale. The REE are classically applied analytes for investigating depositional environments and inferring geochemical processes, making them of interest as potential, naturally occurring indicators of fluid sources as well as indicators of geochemical processes in solid waste disposal. However, little is known of the REE occurrence in the Marcellus Shale or its produced waters, and this study represents one of the first, thorough characterizations of the REE in the Marcellus Shale. In these samples, the abundance of REE and the fractionation of REE profiles were correlated with different mineral components of the shale. Namely, samples with a larger clay component were inferred to have higher absolute concentrations of REE but have less distinctive patterns. Conversely, samples with larger carbonate fractions exhibited a greater degree of fractionation, albeit with lower total abundance. Further study is necessary to determine release mechanisms, as well as REE fate-and-transport, however these results have implications for future brine and solid waste management applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

The Microbial Detection Array Combined with Random Phi29-Amplification Used as a Diagnostic Tool for Virus Detection in Clinical Samples

A common technique used for sensitive and specific diagnostic virus detection in clinical samples is PCR that can identify one or several viruses in one assay. However, a diagnostic microarray containing probes for all human pathogens could replace hundreds of individual PCR-reactions and remove the need for a clear clinical hypothesis regarding a suspected pathogen. We have established such a diagnostic platform for random amplification and subsequent microarray identification of viral pathogens in clinical samples. We show that Phi29 polymerase-amplification of a diverse set of clinical samples generates enough viral material for successful identification by the Microbial Detection Array, demonstrating the potential of the microarray technique for broad-spectrum pathogen detection. We conclude that this method detects both DNA and RNA virus, present in the same sample, as well as differentiates between different virus subtypes. We propose this assay for diagnostic analysis of viruses in clinical samples.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Investigating the Impact of Storage Conditions on Microbial Community Composition in Soil Samples

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have allowed scientists to probe increasingly complex biological systems, including the diversity of bacteria in the environment. However, despite a multitude of recent studies incorporating these methods, many questions regarding how environmental samples should be collected and stored still persist. Here, we assess the impact of different soil storage conditions on microbial community composition using Illumina-based 16S rRNA V4 amplicon sequencing. Both storage time and temperature affected bacterial community composition and structure. Frozen samples maintained the highest alpha diversity and differed least in beta diversity, suggesting the utility of cold storage for maintaining consistent communities. Samples stored for intermediate times (three and seven days) had both the highest alpha diversity and the largest differences in overall beta diversity, showing the degree of community change after sample collection. These divergences notwithstanding, differences in neither storage time nor storage temperature substantially altered overall communities relative to more than 500 previously examined soil samples. These results systematically support previous studies and stress the importance of methodological consistency for accurate characterization and comparison of soil microbiological assemblages.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Locations, metadata, and species cover from field sampling survey associated with NEON AOP survey, East River, CO 2018

Locations and descriptions of the sites where field sampling was conducted during the 2018 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Airborne Observation Platform (AOP) imaging spectroscopy and lidar surveys in Gunnison County, Colorado. The sampling sites were located across East River, Washington Gulch, Slate River, and Coal Creek watersheds and contained a mixture of meadow, shrub, and tree sampling sites. This data package contains the location, metadata, species composition, and vector files for the sampling sites in this project. Species vouchers that have been preserved in the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory herbarium can be found on the Consortia of Southern Rocky Mountain Herbaria website: http://soroherbaria.org/portal/collections/index.php. Vector files provided here are for areas delineated based on the AOP reflectance data and mosaic developed by Brodrick et al. (doi: 10.15485/1618131), and use with other datasets should be closely evaluated. Subsequent data packages will contain additional biogeochemical, microbial, and geophysical data as they become available for these sampling sites. For full documentation, please see associated reference and additional references will be added here as they become available.

2018 NEON and 2025 CHESS Campaigns↗
DOE OSTI2020

Site-level Foliar C, N, delta13C data from samples collected during field survey associated with NEON AOP survey, East River, CO 2018

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) weight percent concentrations were obtained from the bulk foliar samples collected across East River, Washington Gulch, Slate River, and Coal Creek watersheds in Gunnison, Colorado during the summer of 2018. These samples were collected from sun-lit leaves of meadow, shrub, and tree vegetation types within 72 hours of the National Ecological Observatory Network Airborne Observation Platform (NEON AOP) hyperspectral survey. These samples were dried and then run on an elemental analyzer coupled to a mass spectrometer for C and N concentrations and delta13C. The intention of these data were to provide ground truth data to develop foliar nutrient models across the imaging spectroscopy domain. Additional associated site metadata and vegetation fractional cover information can be found in the associated data releases (DOI: 10.15485/1618130). Here we provide site level C, N, and delta 13C data in the CN_Results_Foliar.csv. All of these samples were also registered with IGSN codes, and the details from that registration with metadata for the samples is included in foliar_sample_igsn_metadata.csv.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Germanium-76 Sample Analysis: Revision 3

The MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR is a large array of ultra-low background high-purity germanium detectors, enriched in 76Ge, designed to search for zero-neutrino double-beta decay (0{nu}{beta}{beta}). The DEMONSTRATOR will utilize 76Ge from Russia. The first one-gram sample was received from the supplier for analysis on April 24, 2011. The second one-gram sample was received from the supplier for analysis on July 12, 2011. The third sample, which came from the first large shipment of germanium from the vendor, was received from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on September 13, 2011. The Environmental Molecular Sciences facility, a DOE user facility at PNNL, was used to make the required isotopic and chemical purity measurements that are essential to the quality assurance for the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR. The results of these analyses are reported here. The isotopic composition of a sample of natural germanium was also measured twice. Differences in the result between these two measurements led to a re-measurement of the second 76Ge sample.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

CHARACTERIZATION OF DWPF MELTER OFF-GAS QUENCHER SAMPLE

The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) recently received a deposit sample from the Melter Primary Off Gas System (POG) of the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). This sample was composed of material that had been collected while the quencher was in operation January 27, 2011 through March 31, 2011. DWPF requested, through a technical assistance request, characterization of the melter off-gas deposits by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemical analysis. The purpose of the Melter Off-Gas System is to reduce the amount of radioactive particles and mercury in the gases vented to the atmosphere. Gases emitted from the melter pass through the primary film cooler, quencher, Off-Gas Condensate Tank (OGCT), Steam Atomized Scrubbers (SAS), a condenser, a high efficiency mist eliminator, and a high efficiency particulate air filter, before being vented to the Process Vessel Vent System. The film coolers cool the gases leaving the melter vapor space from {approx}750 C to {approx}375 C, by introducing air and steam to the flow. In the next step, the quencher cools the gas to about 60 C by bringing the condensate from the OGCT in contact with the effluent (Figure 1). Most of the steam in the effluent is then condensed and the melter vapor space pressure is reduced. The purpose of the OGCT is to collect and store the condensate formed during the melter operation. Condensate from the OGCT is circulated to the SAS and atomized with steam. This atomized condensate is mixed with the off-gas to wet and join the particulate which is then removed in the cyclone. The next stage incorporates a chilled water condenser which separates the vapors and elemental mercury from the off-gas steam. Primary off-gas deposit samples from the DWPF melter have previously been analyzed. In 2003, samples from just past the film cooler, from the inlet of the quencher and inside the quencher were analyzed at SRNL. It was determined that the samples were a mixture of sludge and glass frit. The major component was Si along with Fe, Al, and other elements in the radioactive waste being processed. The deposits analyzed also contained U-235 fission products and actinide elements. Prior to that, deposits in the off-gas system in the DWPF nonradioactive half scale melter and the one-tenth scale integrated DWPF melter system were analyzed and determined to be mixtures of alkali rich chlorides, sulfates, borates, and fluorides entrained with iron oxides, spinels and frit particles formed by vapor-phase transport and condensation. Additional work was performed in 2007 in which researchers similarly found the deposits to be a combination of sludge and frit particles.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

REPORT ON THE ANALYSIS OF WAC SAMPLES FROM EVAPORATOR OVERHEADS FOR 2011

This report tabulates the chemical analysis of the 3H, 2H and 2F evaporator overhead samples including the inorganic, organic, and radionuclide species according the ETP WAC (rev.4). In addition, the physical properties including pH, total suspended solids, and average particle size are listed for each sample. The report identifies all sample receipt dates, preparation methods, and analyses completed to accumulate these values. All values were found to be within the ETP WAC specifications for WWCT except for the {sup 137}Cs concentration for the 2F sample which was slightly above the limit (~5%). However, tank farm personnel sample each tank overhead for beta/gamma prior to transfer using a pulse height analyzer and these field readings were all well within limits. Additional actions will be taken to help understand the reason in the discrepancy of the field measurement versus laboratory analysis.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

Characterization of Tank 16 Annulus Samples

The closure of Tank 16H will require removal of material from the annulus of the tank. Samples from Tank 16H annulus were characterized and tested to provide information to evaluate various alternatives for removing the annulus waste. The analysis found all four annulus samples to be composed mainly of Si, Na, and Al and lesser amounts of other elements. The XRD data indicate quartz (SiO 2 ) and sodium aluminum nitrate silicate hydrate (Na 8 (Al 6 Si 6 O 24 )(NO 3 ) 2 .4H 2 O) as the predominant crystalline mineral phases in the samples. The XRD data also indicate the presence of crystalline sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, gibbsite, hydrated sodium bicarbonate, and muscovite. Based on the weight of solids remaining at the end of the test, the water leaching test results indicate approximately 20-35% of the solids dissolved after three contacts with an approximately 3:1 volume of water at 45 C. The chemical analysis of the leachates and the XRD results of the remaining solids indicate sodium salts of nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, and possibly carbonate/bicarbonate make up the majority of the dissolved material. The majority of these salts were dissolved in the first water contact and simply diluted with each subsequent water contact. The water leaching removed large amounts of the uranium in two of the samples and {approx}1/3 of the {sup 99}Tc from all four samples. Most of the other radionuclides analyzed showed low solubility in the water leaching test. The preliminary data on the oxalic acid leaching test indicate the three acid contacts at 45 C dissolved from {approx}34-47% of the solids. The somewhat higher dissolution found in the oxalic acid leaching test versus the water leaching test might be offset by the tendency of the oxalic acid solutions to take on a gel-like consistency. The filtered solids left behind after three oxalic acid contacts were sticky and formed large clumps after drying. These two observations could indicate potential processing difficulties with solutions and solids from oxalic acid leaching. The gel formation might be avoided by using larger volumes of the acid. Further testing would be recommended before using oxalic acid to dissolve the Tank 16H annulus waste to ensure no processing difficulties are encountered in the full scale process.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

Analysis Of DWPF Sludge Batch 7a (Macrobatch 8) Pour Stream Samples

The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) began processing Sludge Batch 7a (SB7a), also referred to as Macrobatch 8 (MB8), in June 2011. SB7a is a blend of the heel of Tank 40 from Sludge Batch 6 (SB6) and the SB7a material that was transferred to Tank 40 from Tank 51. SB7a was processed using Frit 418. During processing of each sludge batch, the DWPF is required to take at least one glass sample to meet the objectives of the Glass Product Control Program (GPCP), which is governed by the DWPF Waste Compliance Plan, and to complete the necessary Production Records so that the final glass product may be disposed of at a Federal Repository. Three pour stream glass samples and two Melter Feed Tank (MFT) slurry samples were collected while processing SB7a. These additional samples were taken during SB7a to understand the impact of antifoam and the melter bubblers on glass redox chemistry. The samples were transferred to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) where they were analyzed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

Data Report on Post-Irradiation Dimensional Change of AGC-1 Samples

This report summarizes the initial dimensional changes for loaded and unloaded AGC-1 samples. The dimensional change for all samples is presented as a function of dose. The data is further presented by graphite type and applied load levels to illustrate the differences between graphite forming processes and stress levels within the graphite components. While the three different loads placed on the samples have been verified [ ref: Larry Hull’s report] verification of the AGC-1 sample temperatures and dose levels are expected in the summer of 2012. Only estimated dose and temperature values for the samples are presented in this report to allow a partial analysis of the results.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Wipe Sampling Collection Efficiencies and Holding Time Studies

Despite the fact that wipe sampling is commonly performed and the data produced by this technique is used to make numerous decisions, there is not an overwhelming consensus on the best method for collecting a wipe sample. It is generally agreed that, in order to produce reproducible quantitative results, consistent wetting solvents, wipe materials, sampling techniques, and sampling areas must be used. In addition, wetting solvents should be selected with consideration of the analyte of interest and wet wipes are better than dry wipes for the collection of organic chemicals. Thus, the goal of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) study was to understand factors affecting wipe sampling for specific chemical warfare agents (CWAs), including sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), distilled sulfur mustard (HD), and O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX), and the pesticides diazinon and malathion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗