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At least 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

The connectome of the adult Drosophila mushroom body provides insights into function

Making inferences about the computations performed by neuronal circuits from synapse-level connectivity maps is an emerging opportunity in neuroscience. The mushroom body (MB) is well positioned for developing and testing such an approach due to its conserved neuronal architecture, recently completed dense connectome, and extensive prior experimental studies of its roles in learning, memory, and activity regulation. Here, we identify new components of the MB circuit in Drosophila , including extensive visual input and MB output neurons (MBONs) with direct connections to descending neurons. We find unexpected structure in sensory inputs, in the transfer of information about different sensory modalities to MBONs, and in the modulation of that transfer by dopaminergic neurons (DANs). We provide insights into the circuitry used to integrate MB outputs, connectivity between the MB and the central complex and inputs to DANs, including feedback from MBONs. Our results provide a foundation for further theoretical and experimental work.

Li, Feng↗
NASA NTRS1978

Maryland Automated Geographic Information System

A computer based system designed for storing geographic data in a consistent and coordinated manner is described. The data are stored, retrieved, and analyzed using a 400 km sq/acre cell. Stored information can be displayed on computer maps in a manner similar to standard map graphics. The data bank contains various information for performing land use analysis in a variety of areas.

Thomas, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

An array processing system for lunar geochemical and geophysical data

A computerized array processing system has been developed to reduce, analyze, display, and correlate a large number of orbital and earth-based geochemical, geophysical, and geological measurements of the moon on a global scale. The system supports the activities of a consortium of about 30 lunar scientists involved in data synthesis studies. The system was modeled after standard digital image-processing techniques but differs in that processing is performed with floating point precision rather than integer precision. Because of flexibility in floating-point image processing, a series of techniques that are impossible or cumbersome in conventional integer processing were developed to perform optimum interpolation and smoothing of data. Recently color maps of about 25 lunar geophysical and geochemical variables have been generated.

Eliason, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An experimental and analytical investigation of the aerodynamics of a hypersonic vehicle at free stream Mach 6

The goal of this research is the assessment of the validity of existing three dimensional numerical programs in the prediction of the flow fields about general three dimensional hypersonic bodies. A detailed experimental research program was performed in which surface and flow field pressures were mapped. The results of the experimental work were compared with existing inviscid programs. Improvements were made on the existing numerical methods to include angle of attack. A summary of this work is presented.

Zakkay, V.↗
NASA NTRS1984

An interactive technique to generate digital elevation data using a vidicon camera

A technique is proposed for the semi-automatic digitization of topographic maps using a vidicon camera interfaced with a mini-computer system. The required input is a black and white map that shows only contour lines and corresponding elevation values such as the advance prints of 7.5 minute USGS topographic sheets. A set of image processing algorithms is implemented on an image of the contour map acquired by a vidicon camera. The system developed performs extraction of contour lines, tagging elevation values and subsequent interpolation of elevations to produce, in 5 sec. x 5 sec. intervals of latitude and longitude, digital elevation matrices. The interpolation of elevations for non-contour points is achieved using a steepest descent algorithm. A communications capability allows the final data to be transferred over telephone lines to an off-site unit such as the floppy disk or a micro-computer.

Sircar, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Correlations of TOMS total ozone data (Nimbus-7 satellite) with tropopause height

Two correlation studies of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) data with tropopause height from radiosondes performed over Europe showed a correlation coefficient of 0.94 and 0.96. As a result, the rms error in the prediction of tropopause height from total ozone was found to be 20 mb. Correlation between tropopause height and TOMS data was the highest of all the other correlations with variables directly derived from radiosondes or simulated thermal radiances over the location of radiosondes. Comparing the two dimensional fields of TOMS, tropopause height from radiosondes and tropopause height field from TIROS-N retrievals, we can say that the first field is much closer to the true field from radiosondes than the third. The correlation coefficient for a ten-day study between TOMS data and tropopause height from radiosondes is between 0.85 and 0.9 for 30-70N. Tropopause analysis provided by GLA model also shows a very high correlation with TOMS data.

Munteanu, Marie-Jeanne↗
NASA NTRS1989

Progress in D-region studies during MAP

During MAP, active studies of the ionospheric D region were performed. The most interesting and fruitful were those in which variations of D region parameters and of the dynamical regime of the middle atmosphere were intercompared. As a result, the general picture of the D region behavior became much clearer than before. It appears that the D region is strongly influenced by dissipation of internal gravity waves which come from below and are destroyed at altitudes 80 to 100 km. This influence is much stronger in winter than in summer due to the filtering effect of the stratospheric circulation on these waves. As a result, strong day-to-day variability of the D region in winter and relative stability in summer, is now clear.

Danilov, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A maximum correlation method for image construction of IRAS survey data

An algorithm is presented for the construction of images using linear array data with nonuniform scan coverage of object space and nonuniform detector responses. The algorithm achieves the maximum correlation between adjacent pixels, i.e., the smoothest image, consistent with the data and data uncertainties. For high spatial data density and signal-to-noise ratio, the achievable spatial resolution can exceed the diffraction limit of the optics. The capability of the algorithm is illustrated using 60-micron data from the region centered on the galaxy M101, obtained during the all-sky survey performed by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. The 60-micron map produced has a resolution of about 36 arcsec and allows the identification of many H II regions by position and aperture photometry for the brighter ones. The achieved resolution is discussed in terms of the a priori estimate of the mean correlation length of the data, the directly measured FWHM in the final image, and the results of aperture photometry of M101 H II regions NGC 5447, 5455, 5461, 5462 and 5471.

Aumann, H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

VLSI neuroprocessors

Electronic and optoelectronic hardware implementations of highly parallel computing architectures address several ill-defined and/or computation-intensive problems not easily solved by conventional computing techniques. The concurrent processing architectures developed are derived from a variety of advanced computing paradigms including neural network models, fuzzy logic, and cellular automata. Hardware implementation technologies range from state-of-the-art digital/analog custom-VLSI to advanced optoelectronic devices such as computer-generated holograms and e-beam fabricated Dammann gratings. JPL's concurrent processing devices group has developed a broad technology base in hardware implementable parallel algorithms, low-power and high-speed VLSI designs and building block VLSI chips, leading to application-specific high-performance embeddable processors. Application areas include high throughput map-data classification using feedforward neural networks, terrain based tactical movement planner using cellular automata, resource optimization (weapon-target assignment) using a multidimensional feedback network with lateral inhibition, and classification of rocks using an inner-product scheme on thematic mapper data. In addition to addressing specific functional needs of DOD and NASA, the JPL-developed concurrent processing device technology is also being customized for a variety of commercial applications (in collaboration with industrial partners), and is being transferred to U.S. industries. This viewgraph p resentation focuses on two application-specific processors which solve the computation intensive tasks of resource allocation (weapon-target assignment) and terrain based tactical movement planning using two extremely different topologies. Resource allocation is implemented as an asynchronous analog competitive assignment architecture inspired by the Hopfield network. Hardware realization leads to a two to four order of magnitude speed-up over conventional techniques and enables multiple assignments, (many to many), not achievable with standard statistical approaches. Tactical movement planning (finding the best path from A to B) is accomplished with a digital two-dimensional concurrent processor array. By exploiting the natural parallel decomposition of the problem in silicon, a four order of magnitude speed-up over optimized software approaches has been demonstrated.

Kemeny, Sabrina E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Determining structure in molecular clouds

We descibe an automatic, objective routine for analyzing the clumpy structure in a spectral line position-position-velocity data cube. The algorithm works by first contouring the data at a multiple of the rms noise of the observations, then searches for peaks of emission which locate the clumps, and then follows them down to lower intensities. No a proiri clump profile is assumed. By creating simulated data, we test the performance of the algorithm and show that a contour map most accurately depicts internal structure at a contouring interval equal to twice the rms noise of the map. Blending of clump emission leads to small errors in mass and size determinations and in severe cases can result in a number of clumps being misidentified as a single unit, flattening the measured clump mass spectrum. The algorithm is applied to two real data sets as an example of its use. The Rosette molecular cloud is a 'typical' star-forming cloud, but in the Maddalena molecular cloud high-mass star formation is completely absent. Comparison of the two clump lists generated by the algorithm show that on a one-to-one basis the clumps in the star-forming cloud have higher peak temperatures, higher average densities, and are more gravitationally bound than in the non-star-forming cloud. Collective properties of the clumps, such as temperature-size-line-width-mass relations appear very similar, however. Contrary to the initial results reported in a previous paper (Williams & Blitz 1993), we find that the current, more thoroughly tes ted analysis finds no significant difference in the clump mass spectrum of the two clouds.

Williams, Jonathan P.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Lobed Mixer Optimization for Advanced Ejector Geometries

The overall objectives are: 1) to pursue analytical, computational, and experimental studies that enhance basic understanding of forced mixing phenomena relevant to supersonic jet noise reduction, and 2) to integrate this enhanced understanding (analytical, computational, and empirical) into a design-oriented model of a mixer-ejector noise suppression system. The work is focused on ejector geometries and flow conditions typical of those being investigated in the NASA High Speed Research Program (HSRP). The research will be carried out in collaboration with the NASA HSRP Nozzle Integrated Technology Development (ITD) Team, and will both contribute to, and benefit from, the results of other HSRP research. The noise suppressor system model that is being developed under this grant is distinct from analytical tools developed by industry because it directly links details of lobe geometry to mixer-ejector performance. In addition, the model provides a 'technology road map to define gaps in the current understanding of various phenomena related to mixer-ejector design and to help prioritize research areas. This report describes research completed in the past year, as well as work proposed for the following year.

Waitz, Ian A.↗
NASA NTRS2009

A Method for Retrieving Ground Flash Fraction from Satellite Lightning Imager Data

A general theory for retrieving the fraction of ground flashes in N lightning observed by a satellite-based lightning imager is provided. An "exponential model" is applied as a physically reasonable constraint to describe the measured optical parameter distributions, and population statistics (i.e., mean, variance) are invoked to add additional constraints to the retrieval process. The retrieval itself is expressed in terms of a Bayesian inference, and the Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) solution is obtained. The approach is tested by performing simulated retrievals, and retrieval error statistics are provided. The ability to retrieve ground flash fraction has important benefits to the atmospheric chemistry community. For example, using the method to partition the existing satellite global lightning climatology into separate ground and cloud flash climatologies will improve estimates of lightning nitrogen oxides (NOx) production; this in turn will improve both regional air quality and global chemistry/climate model predictions.

Koshak, William J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

A Ground Flash Fraction Retrieval Algorithm for GLM

A Bayesian inversion method is introduced for retrieving the fraction of ground flashes in a set of N lightning observed by a satellite lightning imager (such as the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, GLM). An exponential model is applied as a physically reasonable constraint to describe the measured lightning optical parameter distributions. Population statistics (i.e., the mean and variance) are invoked to add additional constraints to the retrieval process. The Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) solution is employed. The approach is tested by performing simulated retrievals, and retrieval error statistics are provided. The approach is feasible for N greater than 2000, and retrieval errors decrease as N is increased.

Koshak, William J.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Flight Deck Technologies to Enable NextGen Low Visibility Surface Operations

Many key capabilities are being identified to enable Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), including the concept of Equivalent Visual Operations (EVO) . replicating the capacity and safety of today.s visual flight rules (VFR) in all-weather conditions. NASA is striving to develop the technologies and knowledge to enable EVO and to extend EVO towards a Better-Than-Visual operational concept. This operational concept envisions an .equivalent visual. paradigm where an electronic means provides sufficient visual references of the external world and other required flight references on flight deck displays that enable Visual Flight Rules (VFR)-like operational tempos while maintaining and improving safety of VFR while using VFR-like procedures in all-weather conditions. The Langley Research Center (LaRC) has recently completed preliminary research on flight deck technologies for low visibility surface operations. The work assessed the potential of enhanced vision and airport moving map displays to achieve equivalent levels of safety and performance to existing low visibility operational requirements. The work has the potential to better enable NextGen by perhaps providing an operational credit for conducting safe low visibility surface operations by use of the flight deck technologies.

Prinzel, Lawrence (Lance) J., III↗
NASA NTRS2012

A Risk-Constrained Multi-Stage Decision Making Approach to the Architectural Analysis of Mars Missions

This paper presents a novel risk-constrained multi-stage decision making approach to the architectural analysis of planetary rover missions. In particular, focusing on a 2018 Mars rover concept, which was considered as part of a potential Mars Sample Return campaign, we model the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) phase and the rover traverse phase as four sequential decision-making stages. The problem is to find a sequence of divert and driving maneuvers so that the rover drive is minimized and the probability of a mission failure (e.g., due to a failed landing) is below a user specified bound. By solving this problem for several different values of the model parameters (e.g., divert authority), this approach enables rigorous, accurate and systematic trade-offs for the EDL system vs. the mobility system, and, more in general, cross-domain trade-offs for the different phases of a space mission. The overall optimization problem can be seen as a chance-constrained dynamic programming problem, with the additional complexity that 1) in some stages the disturbances do not have any probabilistic characterization, and 2) the state space is extremely large (i.e, hundreds of millions of states for trade-offs with high-resolution Martian maps). To this purpose, we solve the problem by performing an unconventional combination of average and minimax cost analysis and by leveraging high efficient computation tools from the image processing community. Preliminary trade-off results are presented.

entry, descent, and landing (EDL)↗
NASA NTRS2016

Building Climate Resilience at NASA Ames

NASA Ames Research Center, located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay (SFB) estuary has identified three primary vulnerabilities to changes in climate. The Ames Climate Adaptation Science Investigator (CASI) workgroup has studied each of these challenges to operations and the potential exposure of infrastructure and employees to an increased frequency of hazards. Sea level rise inundation scenarios for the SFB Area generally refer to projected scenarios in mean sea level rather than changes in extreme tides that could occur during future storm conditions. In the Summer of 2014, high resolution 3-D mapping of the low lying portion of Ames was performed. Those data are integrated with improved sea level inundation scenarios to identify the buildings, basements and drainage systems potentially affected. We will also identify the impacts of sea level and storm surge effects on transportation to and from the Center. This information will help Center Management develop future Master Plans. Climate change will also lead to changes in temperature, storm frequency and intensity. These changes have potential impacts on localized floods and ecosystems, as well as on electricity and water availability. Over the coming decades, these changes are going to be imposed on top of ongoing land use and land cover changes, especially those deriving from continued urbanization and increase in impervious surface areas. These coupled changes have the potential to create a series of cascading impacts on ecosystems, including changes in primary productivity and disturbance of hydrological properties and increased flood risk.The majority of the electricity used at Ames is supplied by hydroelectric dams, which will be influenced by reductions in precipitation or changes in the timing or phase of precipitation which reduces snow pack. Coupled with increased demand for summertime air conditioning and other cooling needs, NASA Ames is at risk for electricity shortfalls. To assess the anticipated energy usage as climate changes, the Ames CASI team is collecting historical energy usage data from Ames facilities, historical weather data, and projected future weather parameters from the CASI Climate subgroup. This data will be incorporated into the RETScreen model to predict how energy usage at Ames will change over the coming century.

climate↗
DOE OSTI2019

Classification of Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Galaxy Clusters using Deep Learning

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe. One way to find and characterize them is through the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect in millimeter wave observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). From cluster abundance across redshifts and cluster masses, we can infer the growth rate of the universe and thereby extract information about dark energy and cosmic structure evolution. This work represents a first step in applying convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to extract this information. We train a CNN on realistic simulations of the millimeter-wave sky to find galaxy clusters through classification and then to measure their gas mass through regression. We employ relatively simple CNN architectures on a suite of simulated CMB maps, each of which has a different combination of signals and noise: SZ effect, CMB signal, instrument noise, and different foregrounds. In our initial experiments we find varying classification succe ss --- worsening as more of the aforementioned contaminants are included. For regression, the correlation between the predicted and input SZ signal is clear for the case of maps with SZ, CMB, and instrument noise. While the performance does not beat current methods, the CNN is easier to set up and is less susceptible to the influence of highly structured noise terms, such as galactic dust.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nafion Passivation of c-Si Surface and Edge for Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

Effective surface passivation of crystalline silicon (c-Si) surface by reducing the carrier recombination rate has led to modern c-Si solar cells with efficiencies > 25% in both laboratory and industrial settings. Typical mainstream surface passivation techniques include high-temperature silicon oxide (SiOx), amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), hydrogen-rich silicon nitride (SiNx), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) [1]. They have demonstrated excellent surface recombination velocity of < 1 cm/s owing to both chemical passivation (via the hydrogen saturation of Si dangling bonds at the c-Si surface), and field-effect passivation (via the band bending from the fixed charge of the dielectric layers). Recently, several groups have studied solution-based organic materials for c-Si passivation, including bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI), polystyrenesulfonate, and Nafion [2, 3] via spin or dip coating. All films were processed at ambient room temperature, and a high lifetime of 12 ms, as well as a low saturation current density (J0) of 16 fA/cm2, have been demonstrated using Nafion passivation [2]. However, despite the air instability, Nafion has several advantages when introduced to PV applications: (a) Wafer quality can be measured at high throughput after several process stages. (b) It is compatible with PL mapping, compared to HF liquid passivation which cannot be performed in room ambient. (c) Nafion process is fast and poses fewer constraints on process complexity, and cleanness, compared to Al2O3 and a-Si:H passivation. (d) Nafion is the ideal room temperature passivation, which can be applied onto a small fragment of a degraded module to investigate microscopic mechanisms when studying degradation mechanisms. Edge passivation is needed for advanced characterization tests such as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Electrically Detected Magnetic Resonance (EDMR), Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS), local cell current-voltage (J-V), and Suns-Voc. In such cases, the laser-damaged minicell edges will obscure the true degradation mechanisms, and Nafion can effectively passivate them without causing further degradation through elevated-temperature processes. In this contribution, we show the passivation results of Nafion on bare nCz and compare it with a Al2O3 witness. We highlight the importance of edge pre-treatment before Nafion to achieve good passivation. We show that Nafion can reach decent passivation without undergoing high-temperature processes. We also explore the temperature dependency of Nafion through photoluminescence (PL) study and demonstrate the application of Nafion under cryogenic temperature (~6 K) through EPR. Our results reveal that Nafion can reduce surface and edge Si dangling bonds at low temperatures. Thus, it can be used as an effective room temperature passivation technique for advanced characterization methods.

c-Si↗