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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 109 records · Page 6

Reproducible growth of Brachypodium in EcoFAB 2.0 reveals that nitrogen form and starvation modulate root exudation

Understanding plant-microbe interactions requires examination of root exudation under nutrient stress using standardized and reproducible experimental systems. We grew Brachypodium distachyon hydroponically in fabricated ecosystem devices (EcoFAB 2.0) under three inorganic nitrogen forms (nitrate, ammonium, and ammonium nitrate), followed by nitrogen starvation. Analyses of exudates with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, biomass, medium pH, and nitrogen uptake showed EcoFAB 2.0’s low intratreatment data variability. Furthermore, the three inorganic nitrogen forms caused differential exudation, generalized by abundant amino acids–peptides and alkaloids. Comparatively, nitrogen deficiency decreased nitrogen-containing compounds but increased shikimates-phenylpropanoids. Subsequent bioassays with two shikimates-phenylpropanoids (shikimic and p-coumaric acids) on soil bacteria or Brachypodium seedlings revealed their distinct capacity to regulate both bacterial and plant growth. Our results suggest that (i) Brachypodium alters exudation in response to nitrogen status, which can affect rhizobacterial growth, and (ii) EcoFAB 2.0 is a valuable standardized plant research tool.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Nutrient and carbon concentrations in dated soil cores at US-OWC Ameriflux wetland site (OWC NERR)

Soil cores were sampled at the Old Woman Creek (OWC) National Estuarine Research Reserve at the south shore of Lake Erie, near Huron, Ohio, USA. OWC is a temperate mineral soil marsh. We dated the soil cores using lead isotope analysis and measured the concentrations of carbon and nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) throughout the core depths. We analyzed 36 cores, sampled along three transects at areas of the wetland with different hydrological regimes. Each transect included three coring sites at different water depth categories (shallow, intermediate deep) with four core samples per coring site. The data can be used to determine the carbon sequestration rates and nutrient accumulation rates, at multiple locations throughout OWC wetland.Dataset, in csv format, with data variables in columns, and different cores and core depths slices in rows, includes results from 36 sediment cores (0-30 cm depth) taken at 9 locations (4 replicates at each location) along 3 gradients of water depth (shallow, intermediate, deep), each at a different hydrologic location (outflow, backflow, middle). At each depth slice within a core, we provide depth, date (using 210Pb), bulk density, and the concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, d13C, and d15N.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Specific conductivity and salinity of the Parker River, PIE LTER, Plum Island Sound MA, August-November 2022

This dataset contains specific conductivity and calculated salinity data of Parker River water at a tidal brackish wetland dominated by Typha angustifolia at the upper estuary of the Plum Island Sound in Newbury, Massachusetts (MA) within the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research site (PIE LTER). Measurements were taken to evaluate temporal changes in surface water salinity in high frequency to characterize boundary conditions of soil and plant responses to changes in salinity. A PVC pipe was installed in a low elevation spot in the creek bank so that the bottom of the pipe sat on the sediment surface allowing flushing with water during flooding. Raw measurements were collected using an Onset HOBO U24-002 Saltwater Conductivity/Salinity data logger. The specific conductance and salinity measurements were corrected and calculated respectively using Onset’s HOBOware software and reference specific conductivity measurements taken in tandem with the first and last points recorded by the HOBO sensor. These reference measurements were taken using a HACH HQ14D Portable Conductivity Meter. Because of the installation design, only data one hour before and after high tide are used. Metadata files Typha_ctd_salinity_dd.csv and Typha_ctd_salinity_flmd.csv contain detailed information on data variables, sampling and QA/QC methods, and site location.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Specific conductivity and salinity of the Parker River, PIE LTER, Plum Island Sound MA, March-November 2023

This dataset contains specific conductivity and calculated salinity data of Parker River water at a tidal brackish wetland dominated by Typha angustifolia at the upper estuary of the Plum Island Sound in Newbury, Massachusetts (MA) within the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research site (PIE LTER). Measurements were taken to evaluate temporal changes in surface water salinity in high frequency to characterize boundary conditions of soil and plant responses to changes in salinity. A PVC pipe was installed in a low elevation spot in the creek bank so that the bottom of the pipe sat on the sediment surface allowing flushing with water during flooding. Raw measurements were collected using an Onset HOBO U24-002 Saltwater Conductivity/Salinity data logger. The specific conductance and salinity measurements were corrected and calculated respectively using Onset’s HOBOware software and reference specific conductivity measurements taken in tandem with the first and last points recorded by the HOBO sensor. These reference measurements were taken using a HACH HQ14D Portable Conductivity Meter. Because of the installation design, only data one hour before and after high tide are used. Metadata files Typha_ctd_salinity_dd.csv and Typha_ctd_salinity_flmd.csv contain detailed information on data variables, sampling and QA/QC methods, and site location.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Porewater chemistry in Typha-dominated brackish tidal marsh, PIE LTER, Plum Island Sound, MA, July 2022–September 2024

This dataset contains profile measurements of porewater constituents taken on 3-4 days across the growing seasons in 2022, 2023, and 2024 in a tidal brackish marsh within the Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research site (PIE LTER), located in the Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts (MA). Measurements were taken to monitor changes in porewater chemistry induced by seasonal saltwater intrusion at the site. Samples were taken in two locations: one was close to the creek bank and the other in the marsh interior. Water was sampled from 2-5 depths between the surface to 50cm using a sipper consisting of a hollow stainless steel rod with an opening at the end similar to that described in (Berg & McGlathery, 2001). The rod was pushed into the sediment to the desired depth, typically every 10cm, and water samples were taken by syringe. Water was not obtained at all depths. Samples were preserved and analyzed in the lab. Metadata files Typha_porewater_sipper_dd.csv and Typha_porewater_sipper_flmd.csv contain detailed information on data variables, sampling and QA/QC methods, and site location.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

HFTS-1 Natural Joint Data and Engineering Summary

This report provides an analysis of engineering and geologic data collected from the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site #1 (HTSF-1) project in the southern Midland Basin, Reagan County, Texas. The site is being studied as part of the Science-informed Machine Learning for Accelerating Real-Time Decisions in Subsurface Applications (SMART) Initiative at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The data collected is intended to provide a basis of understanding of the site and to construct simulation models. This report provides a summary analysis of the engineering and geologic data collected from the project to provide a basis of understanding of the site and to construct simulation models. The report examines various possible correlations in engineering properties based on natural fracture data from the program, which consisted of 11 horizontal wells, one vertical well, and one slant well. The horizontal wells are in two horizons: 1) Upper and 2) Middle Wolfcamp formations. Program data include: fracture frequency and fracture orientation data from four core runs in a slant well; fracture spacing and orientation from a vertical pilot well; laboratory triaxial testing and mineralogical determinations; and porosity results from magnetic resonance analyses from various wells, together with observations based on the data collection. In addition, available references were reviewed on the site for additional insights. As the focus of the report is on the natural system, hydraulic fracture data from the site were not examined in detail in this report. Data variability is the chief observation in examination of the database. Fracture frequency in the slant well can range from sections with values as high as five fractures per ft to sections up to 100+ ft in length with no natural observed fractures. Fracture spacing across is typically less than 10 ft, but can range up to hundreds of feet. Apparent fracturing shows the trends in two predominate orientations, E-SW and WNW-ESE, but minor variations exist. The rock units vary across the site from siliceous mudstones to calcareous mudstones, showing a general layering with depth. The laboratory properties such as strength and modulus show no apparent trend with depth, but appear to correlate with rock mineralogy with high strength and modulus values where calcium content is high. In addition, an attempt to examine variability and mineralogy on a larger scale was made using a color-coded system based on gamma ray measurements. A staged colored approach was adopted, presuming that lower gamma ray values indicate higher value of calcium content (blue scale) and that higher gamma ray values indicate higher clay mineral content (orange scale). As provided in report appendices, the system correlated well with visual examination of the slant core and the petrofabric analyses of the vertical pilot well. The results showed large variability in mineral content along the horizontal plane across the site. The change in mineral content was also rapid, on a scale less than that of the average hydraulic fracture stage length of about 180 ft.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Evaluation of DNA Extraction Efficiency in Diverse Algae Strains Using Commercial Kits and Lysis Approaches

Efficient DNA extraction is essential for accurately monitoring microalgae communities in large-scale cultivation systems such as raceway ponds and wastewater ponds. Traditional phenol chloroform extracts are a staple in microbiology but are obsolete for routine sampling due to its high toxicity reagents and time intensive setups. Commercial DNA extraction kits are more favorable for the microbes found in these ponds, but lack specific kits made for these communities. Little is known about which kits perform the best, leading researchers to use a variety of different kits with inconsistent results. This project compared one precipitation based commercial kit (Lucigen Masterpure) and five wash based kits (Monarch, Zymo Quick-DNA, and three Qiagen DNeasy kits) using four brackish algae strains to determine which methods yield the greatest quantity and quality of genomic DNA. Extractions were evaluated using the manufacturers protocol, and additional pretreatment options were administered before a single kit to compare its potential in being added routinely before extractions. Pretreatment options included both cryogenic freeze-thawing and heat incubation using enzymes. DNA was quantified using Qubit fluorometry and NanoDrop purity ratios. Overall, the Qiagen PowerWater kit provided the highest DNA yield and purity, but at a significantly higher cost then the precipitation-based kit (MasterPure). It was also noted that while the precipitation-based kit was significantly cheaper, provided similar results, it took significantly more time to complete a single run. Cryogenic pretreatment (6x cycles) increased average DNA yields by up to 80%, whereas enzymatic pretreatment most improved purity ratios without substantially improving quantity. The results suggest that it may be more cost and time efficient to use Qiagen kits with the addition of lysis pretreatments to procure better results. Future works includes developing a better system to efficiently collect multi variable data, and to upscale to artificial polycultures using similar methodologies alongside sequencing to confirm kit results.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Program for computer aided reliability estimation

A computer program for estimating the reliability of self-repair and fault-tolerant systems with respect to selected system and mission parameters is presented. The computer program is capable of operation in an interactive conversational mode as well as in a batch mode and is characterized by maintenance of several general equations representative of basic redundancy schemes in an equation repository. Selected reliability functions applicable to any mathematical model formulated with the general equations, used singly or in combination with each other, are separately stored. One or more system and/or mission parameters may be designated as a variable. Data in the form of values for selected reliability functions is generated in a tabular or graphic format for each formulated model.

Mathur, F. P.↗

The Effects of Blowing Over Various Trailing-edge Flaps on an NACA 0006 Airfoil Section, Comparisons with Various Types of Flaps on other Airfoil Sections, and an Analysis of Flow and Power Relationships for Blowing Systems

The results are presented of a two-dimensional investigation conducted to determine the effect of blowing over various types of trailing-edge flaps on a wing having the NACA 0006 airfoil section and a drooped-nose flap. The position and profile of the trailing-edge flap, the nozzle height, and the location of the flap with respect to the nozzle were found to be important variables. Data from many investigations were used to make an evaluation of the effects of blowing on lift. An analysis was made of flow and power relationships for blowing systems.

Dods, J. B., Jr.↗

Air turbulence measurements in and below cumulus congestus over mountainous terrain

Consideration is given to the definition and application to air turbulence measurements over mountainous terrain of the ensemble averaging operator in the second-order turbulent transfer model of moist, precipitating mesoscale systems developed by Manton and Cotton (1977) as a first step in the formulation of a unified mesoscale turbulence theory. The use of running means to smooth out point-to-point data variability is proposed as a means of avoiding certain of the problems associated with ensemble averaging, and is applied to airborne velocity measurements in cumulus congestus over South Park, Colorado. It is found that, in general, vertical transport of any cloud parameter will be primarily eddy transport in the mesoscale modeling of cloud processes.

Cotton, W. R.↗

Turbofan forced mixer-nozzle internal flowfield. Volume 1: A benchmark experimental study

An experimental investigation of the flow field within a model turbofan forced mixer nozzle is described. Velocity and thermodynamic state variable data for use in assessing the accuracy and assisting the further development of computational procedures for predicting the flow field within mixer nozzles are provided. Velocity and temperature data suggested that the nozzle mixing process was dominated by circulations (secondary flows) of a length scale on the order the lobe dimensions which were associated with strong radial velocities observed near the lobe exit plane. The 'benchmark' model mixer experiment conducted for code assessment purposes is discussed.

Paterson, R. W.↗

X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei

The advantages of X-ray astronomy for studying active galactic nuclei (AGN) are discussed. If the X-ray emission from AGN arises from a region close to the central energy source X-ray observations may provide the best constraints on the central engine. The shape of the X-ray continuum gives information about the mechanism for photon generation; X-ray time variability data can constrain the size and mass of the continuum source; and X-ray occultation data gives constraints on the relative sizes of the continuum source and the intervening absorbing material. Since a fair fraction of the total energy of an AGN is emitted at X-ray wavelengths, direct measurement of the amount and spectral form of this radiation is important for modeling of the optically emitting clouds.

Mushotzky, R.↗

X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei

It is often held that the X-ray emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN) arises from a region close to the central energy source. Thus X-ray observations may provide the best constraints on the central engine. In particular, the shape of the X-ray continuum gives information about the mechanism for photon generation, X-ray time variability data can constrain the size and mass of the continuum source, and X-ray occultation data give constraints on the relative sizes of the continuum source and the intervening absorbing material (often assumed to be the broad line clouds). In addition, since a fair fraction of the total energy of an AGN is emitted at X-ray wavelengths, direct measurement of the amount and spectral form of this radiation is important for modeling of the optically emitting clouds.

Mushotzky, R.↗

Finite element analysis of notch behavior using a state variable constitutive equation

The state variable constitutive equation of Bodner and Partom was used to calculate the load-strain response of Inconel 718 at 649 C in the root of a notch. The constitutive equation was used with the Bodner-Partom evolution equation and with a second evolution equation that was derived from a potential function of the stress and state variable. Data used in determining constants for the constitutive models was from one-dimensional smooth bar tests. The response was calculated for a plane stress condition at the root of the notch with a finite element code using constant strain triangular elements. Results from both evolution equations compared favorably with the observed experimental response. The accuracy and efficiency of the finite element calculations also compared favorably to existing methods.

Dame, L. T.↗

Multifrequency observations of the BL Lacertae objects OQ 530 and ON 325

Spectral measurements of the two BL Lac objects OQ 530 and ON 325 are presented. The measurements were taken at frequencies ranging from radio to ultraviolet. Both sources show spectral curvature between the infrared and ultraviolet frequencies. The intensity and spectral shape of OQ 530 vary, but the spectral shape of ON 325 appears to remain constant during intensity variability. A nonthermal theoretical model of jet emission is developed which incorporates both the spectral and time variability data. The model predicts that ON 325 radiates at X-ray frequencies with Compton radiation dominating over synchrotron emission. The angular size of the jet emission is predicted to be less than 0.1 milli-arcsec at high radio frequencies.

Worrall, D. M.↗

Flow structure capturing on overset patched meshes

The present paper describes the application of a simple, robust stable implicit approach to solutions of the conservative equations of gasdynamics on either composite or overset meshes to capture flow structures such as shocks with high resolution in complex geometric domains. Without requiring special flux conservative operators, but rather, interpolating conservative variable data at mesh boundaries, the well posed upwind method provides accurate and oscillation free solutions, even when shocks cross the interior patch boundaries. In three problems with flow complexities that require grid refinement, the paper demonstrates the capability to conveniently carry out for gasdynamics the adaptive refined meshing strategy in overset patches proposed by Berger and Oliger (1984), and it extends this technique to rapidly convergent implicit methods for the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. The numerical experiments show concretely, in a realistic aerodynamic problem, the savings in mesh points (about an order of magnitude here in two dimensions) for similar accuracy that flow structure aligned adaptive patched meshing affords compared to uniform grid refinement.

Venkatapathy, E.↗

A comparison of several methods for the calculation of vibration mode shape derivatives

Four methods for the calculation of derivatives of vibration mode shapes (eigenvectors) with respect to design parameters are reviewed and compared. These methods (finite difference method, Nelson's method, modal method and a modified modal method) are implemented in a general-purpose commercial finite element program and applied to a cantilever beam and a stiffened cylinder with a cutout. A beam tip mass, a beam root height and specific dimensions of the cylinder model comprise the design variables. Data are presented showing the amount of central processor time used to compute the first four eigenvector derivatives for each example problem; errors and rapidity of convergence of the approximate derivative to the exact derivative are taken into account. Nelson's method proved to be most reliable and efficient.

Sutter, T. R.↗

General purpose algorithms for characterization of slow and fast phase nystagmus

In the overall aim for a better understanding of the vestibular and optokinetic systems and their roles in space motion sickness, the eye movement responses to various dynamic stimuli are measured. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and the optokinetic response, as the eye movement responses are known, consist of slow phase and fast phase nystagmus. The specific objective is to develop software programs necessary to characterize the vestibulo-ocular and optokinetic responses by distinguishing between the two phases of nystagmus. The overall program is to handle large volumes of highly variable data with minimum operator interaction. The programs include digital filters, differentiation, identification of fast phases, and reconstruction of the slow phase with a least squares fit such that sinusoidal or psuedorandom data may be processed with accurate results. The resultant waveform, slow phase velocity eye movements, serves as input data to the spectral analysis programs previously developed for NASA to analyze nystagmus responses to pseudorandom angular velocity inputs.

Lessard, Charles S.↗