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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Rain retrieval from dual-frequency radar Doppler spectra: validation and potential for a midlatitude precipitating case-study

A recently developed technique retrieving the binned raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and air state parameters from ground-based K a and W-band radars Doppler spectra profiles is improved and applied to a typical midlatitude rain event. The retrievals are thoroughly validated against DSD observations of a 2D video disdrometer and independent X-band observations. Here for this case-study, profiles of rain rate, R, mean volume diameter and concentration parameter are retrieved, with low bias and standard deviations. In light rain (0.1 < R < 1 mm h -1 ), the radar reflectivities must be calibrated with a collocated disdrometer which introduces random errors due to sampling mismatch between the two instruments. The best performances are obtained in moderate rain (1 < R < 20 mm h -1 ) where the retrieval is providing self-consistent estimates of the absolute calibration and of the attenuation caused by antenna or radome wetness for both radars.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Superspin renormalization and slow relaxation in random spin systems

We develop an excited-state real-space renormalization group (RSRG-X) formalism to describe the dynamics of conserved densities in randomly interacting spin-12 systems. Our formalism is suitable for systems with U(1) and Z2 symmetries, and we apply it to chains of randomly positioned spins with dipolar XX+YY interactions, as arise in Rydberg quantum simulators and other platforms. The formalism generates a sequence of effective Hamiltonians that provide approximate descriptions for dynamics on successively smaller energy scales. These effective Hamiltonians involve “superspins”: two-level collective degrees of freedom constructed from (anti)aligned microscopic spins. Conserved densities can then be understood as relaxing via coherent collective spin flips. For the well-studied simpler case of randomly interacting nearest-neighbor XX+YY chains, the superspins reduce to single spins. Our formalism also leads to a numerical method capable of simulating the dynamics up to an otherwise inaccessible combination of large system size and late time. Focusing on disorder-averaged infinite-temperature autocorrelation functions, in particular the spin survival probability Sp¯(t), we demonstrate quantitative agreement between our algorithm and exact diagonalization (ED) at low but nonzero frequencies. Such agreement holds for chains with nearest-neighbor, next-nearest-neighbor, and long-range dipolar interactions. Our results indicate decay of Sp¯(t) slower than any power law and feature no significant deviation from the ∼1/ln2(t) asymptote expected from the infinite-randomness fixed-point of the nearest-neighbor model. We also apply the RSRG-X formalism to two-dimensional long-range systems of moderate size and find slow late-time decay of Sp¯(t).

Zhao, Yi J↗
DOE OSTI2023

Simulation of a strong steady-state plasma shock in a warm dense matter regime

The structure of collisional plasma shocks has been subject to an extensive, multi-decadal investigation—in the hydrodynamic, hybrid kinetic ion/electron fluid, and fully kinetic ion/electron limits. Despite this thoroughness, all of these studies apply exclusively to classical, weakly coupled plasmas. Here, we report the first results for a planar hydrodynamic simulation of a strong, steady-state shock in a subspace of the warm dense matter (WDM) regime. Specifically, we consider a plasma of fully degenerate electrons with moderate-to-strongly coupled ions. Since the WDM ion and electron transport coefficients and equation of state differ markedly from their non-degenerate, weak-coupling equivalents, we find that the structure of a WDM plasma shock notably deviates from the ideal plasma picture.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2010

Biomass Burning Aerosol Absorption Measurements with MODIS Using the Critical Reflectance Method

This research uses the critical reflectance technique, a space-based remote sensing method, to measure the spatial distribution of aerosol absorption properties over land. Choosing two regions dominated by biomass burning aerosols, a series of sensitivity studies were undertaken to analyze the potential limitations of this method for the type of aerosol to be encountered in the selected study areas, and to show that the retrieved results are relatively insensitive to uncertainties in the assumptions used in the retrieval of smoke aerosol. The critical reflectance technique is then applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) data to retrieve the spectral aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) in South African and South American 35 biomass burning events. The retrieved results were validated with collocated Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) retrievals. One standard deviation of mean MODIS retrievals match AERONET products to within 0.03, the magnitude of the AERONET uncertainty. The overlap of the two retrievals increases to 88%, allowing for measurement variance in the MODIS retrievals as well. The ensemble average of MODIS-derived SSA for the Amazon forest station is 0.92 at 670 nm, and 0.84-0.89 for the southern African savanna stations. The critical reflectance technique allows evaluation of the spatial variability of SSA, and shows that SSA in South America exhibits higher spatial variation than in South Africa. The accuracy of the retrieved aerosol SSA from MODIS data indicates that this product can help to better understand 44 how aerosols affect the regional and global climate.

Zhu, Li↗
NASA NTRS2017

Seasonal Assessment and Classification of Aerosols Transported to Lahore Using AERONET and MODIS Deep Blue Retrievals

Daily measurements of aerosol optical depth (𝜏) and Ångstrom wavelength exponent (𝛼) acquired from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) are analysed over Lahore - an urban city of Pakistan (period: 2010-2014) to investigate contribution of different types of aerosols originating from both local and regional source locations. The obtained annual averages (mean+/-standard deviation) for AERONET retrievals of 𝜏 (500 nm) and 𝛼 (440-870 nm) are 0.68+/-0.37 (0.08-2.91) and 0.99+/-0.33 (0-1.8), respectively. Of all the sources, 61% are found within Pakistan, 11% in India, 19% in Afghanistan, 6% in Iran and 2% in Saudi Arabia with seasonal contributions of 35, 25, 23 and 17% in pre-monsoon, monsoon, winter and post-monsoon, respectively. The bimodal distributions of 𝛼 show dominance of coarse-mode particles during pre-monsoon, fine-mode particles during post-monsoon and presence of both coarse-mode and fine-mode particles during winter and monsoon with winter showing more fine-mode particles. Two broad classes of aerosols namely desert dust (DD) and biomass burning/urban industrial (BU) are identified with criteria, e.g. 𝜏 ≥0.3 and 𝛼 ≤0.75 indicating presence of DD while 𝜏 ≥0.2 and 𝛼 ≥1.15 indicating BU. The frequency of occurrence (FOO) of DD and BU aerosols is further identified by applying classification criteria over Aqua-MODIS deep blue retrievals. The FOO identifies anthropogenic activity on-going throughout the year, disrupted with DD aerosols only during pre-monsoon and monsoon. The maximum dust activity is seen over Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) (localized maxima: 35-45%) and the Arabian peninsula (>55%) during pre-monsoon, while maximum BU aerosols are found over IGP, central and south-eastern plains of India and the state of Gujarat (localized maxima: >70%) in winter and post-monsoon.

Zafar, Qudsia↗
NASA NTRS2021

Maine Ecological Forecasting: Using NASA Earth Observations to Assess Federally Endangered Atlantic Salmon Habitat in Maine

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is a species of anadromous fish that was historically prevalent throughout the New England region. Overfishing and habitat loss caused a severe decline in the salmon population, restricting North America’s remaining wild Atlantic salmon to rivers in Maine. Land use and land cover (LULC) change and factors associated with temperature and precipitation are important for understanding the suitability of freshwater habitat for juvenile salmon. In collaboration with the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Downeast Salmon Federation, the team utilized NASA Earth observations to aid partners in understanding how these factors change in relation to critical salmon habitat. Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) imagery was analyzed to assess changes in LULC between 1985 and 2021. Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM IMERG) data were used to determine land surface temperature and precipitation, respectively; between 2000 and 2020. Lastly, temperature and precipitation anomaly maps visualized deviation from the 20-year climatic average for each pixel. LULC analysis for 1985 to 2020 showed a loss of forest cover throughout critical salmon habitat although gains in forested area were also observed. Assessment of mean summer land surface temperature revealed an increase in temperature from 2000 to 2020 and anomaly maps highlighted areas experiencing abnormally high or low summer precipitation and temperature. These results and the underlying data were packaged for the partner organizations to inform future conservation efforts.

Michael Corley↗
DOE OSTI2021

Discovery of AMPX Thermal Scattering Law Processing Issue for Solid Moderators

The 2020 edition of The International Criticality Safety Benchmark Evaluation Project (ICSBEP) Handbook includes a newly produced plastic-moderated evaluation, identified as PU-MET-MIXED-002 and referred to as PMM002. The 2021 edition should include another new plastic-moderated experiment, HEU-MET-THERM-004, referred to as HMT-004. These evaluations are of particular interest, as PMM-002 is moderated with polyethylene, and HMT-004 is moderated with polymethyl methacrylate (Lucite), allowing for investigation of the differences in the thermal scattering laws (TSLs) available for these materials. ENDF/B-VIII.0 includes newly produced data for 1 H-based scattering materials, including Lucite and yttrium hydride. Other available 1 H TSLs include polyethylene, light water, zirconium hydride. The unbound 1 H (free-gas) cross sections were also used. ENDF/B-VIII.0 also includes revisions made to the ENDF/B-VII.1 light water and polyethylene evaluations. Zirconium hydride was unchanged from ENDF/B-VII.1. As of this writing, there are no benchmarks included in the Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) that are primarily moderated with any solid moderator, so validation that includes the PMM-002 and HMT-004 evaluations would expand the coverage to two new moderators. A study was undertaken at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with two purposes: to provide validation data based on systems that are primarily moderated with polyethylene and Lucite, and to demonstrate the reactivity changes that can result from use of different 1 H TSLs in these plastic-moderated systems. The first objective was mainly to test data and code for SCALE and AMPX, whereas the second objective was to provide useful data for practitioners on the potential variability of predicted $k_{eff}$ based on TSL changes. The use of an exactly correct TSL is often not possible given the materials involved (e.g., lubricants), but this study was intended to provide some indication of the magnitude of the changes among similar materials that can manifest through application of different TSLs in hydrogenous systems over a range of different neutron energy spectra. Unfortunately, the nominal $k_{eff}$ results exposed deviations between SCALE and Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP). Some of the results using different TSLs were also unexpected and difficult to explain. An investigation revealed a processing issue in AMPX that was caused by an ambiguous description of the data for incoherent elastic scattering in the ENDF manual. This issue is discussed in detail in a SCALE User Notification, and it affects some solid moderators, but it does not apply to 1 H bound in water. This issue highlights the importance of validating all TSLs used in safety analysis calculations. The remainder of this paper provides a more detailed examination of the results that triggered the investigation and a summary of the findings of that investigation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Threshold and spin factors in the yield of bremsstrahlung-induced reactions

Relative yields of photon-induced reactions are systematized in a function of the threshold parameter for moderately heavy targets at the bremsstrahlung end-point energy lower than 30 MeV. Regular dependence is established for the group of (γ, n), (γ, p), and (γ, d) reactions, while the yields of (γ, 2n) and (γ,α) reactions deviate from the regularity. Physical conclusions are discussed and possible application of this systematic for data processing is proposed. In particular, the constituent threshold and spin factors in the isomer-to-ground-state ratio could be isolated separately. For spin dependence of the yields, a new regularization parameter is introduced and previously hidden peculiarities are concluded.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaluation of B and W UO{sub 2}/ThO{sub 2} VIII Experimental Core: Criticality and Thermal Disadvantage Factor Analysis

In the framework of the OECD/NEA International Reactor Physics Experiment (IRPHE) Project, an evaluation of core VIII of the Babcock and Wilcox (B and W) Spectral Shift Control Reactor (SSCR), critical experiment program was performed. The SSCR concept, moderated and cooled by a variable mixture of heavy and light water, envisaged changing of the thermal neutron spectrum during the operation to encourage breeding and to sustain the core criticality. Core VIII contained 2188 fuel rods with 93% enriched UO{sub 2}-ThO{sub 2} fuel in a moderator mixture of heavy and light water. The criticality experiment and measurements of the thermal disadvantage factor were evaluated. Benchmark criticality results using different cross-section libraries are reported. ENDF/B-VI.6 calculation was run using the S(α, β) model based on ENDF/B-VI.3 data while ENDF/B-VII.0 and ENDF/BVII.1 used an S(α, β) model based on ENDF/B-VII.0 data. JEFF calculations were run using the S(α, β) model based on JEFF 3.1.1 data except for the aluminum isotope, for which the S(α, β) model was missing. The maximum absolute deviation from the benchmark model was obtained using the JEFF-3.1.1 cross sections while closer results were obtained using ENDF/ B-VII.0 and ENDF/B-VII.1. Only ENDF/B-VII.1 and ENDF/B-VII.0 results are inside the 3σ uncertainty band (+2.8σ and 2.4σ, respectively), having deviations on the order of 300 pcm. The maximum deviation is -827 pcm (-6.1σ), using JEFF.3.1.1. Sample calculations of the TDF benchmark were also performed, studying the effects of the main nuclear data libraries. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Fermi monitoring of radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

We present detailed analysis of the γ-ray flux variability and spectral properties of the five radio-loud narrow line Seyfert 1 (RL-NLSy1) galaxies, detected by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope, namely 1H 0323+342, SBS 0846+513, PMN J0948+0022, PKS 1502+036, and PKS 2004−447. The first three sources show significant flux variations, including the rapid variability of a few hours by 1H 0323+342. The average γ-ray spectrum of 1H 0323+342 and PMN J0948+0022 shows deviation from a simple power-law (PL) behavior, whereas the PL model gives a better fit for the other three sources. The spectra of 1H 0323+342, SBS 0846+513, and PMN J0948+0022, which are in low, flaring, and moderately active states, respectively, show significant curvature. Such curvature in the γ-ray spectrum of 1H 0323+342 and PMN J0948+0022 could be due to the emission region located inside the broad line region (BLR) where the primary mechanism of the γ-ray emission is inverse-Compton (IC) scattering of BLR photons occurring in the Klein–Nishina regime. The γ-ray emission of SBS 0846+513 is explained by IC scattering of dusty torus photons, which puts the emission region outside the BLR and thus under the Thomson regime. Therefore, the observed curvature of SBS 0846+513 could be intrinsic to the particle energy distribution. The presence of curvature in the γ-ray spectrum and flux variability amplitudes of some of the RL-NLSy1 galaxies suggests that these sources could be akin to low/moderate jet power flat spectrum radio quasars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2011

Loop Heat Pipe Operation Using Heat Source Temperature for Set Point Control

The LHP operating temperature is governed by the saturation temperature of its reservoir. Controlling the reservoir saturation temperature is commonly accomplished by cold biasing the reservoir and using electrical heaters to provide the required control power. Using this method, the loop operating temperature can be controlled within +/- 0.5K. However, because of the thermal resistance that exists between the heat source and the LHP evaporator, the heat source temperature will vary with its heat output even if LHP operating temperature is kept constant. Since maintaining a constant heat source temperature is of most interest, a question often raised is whether the heat source temperature can be used for LHP set point temperature control. A test program with a miniature LHP has been carried out to investigate the effects on the LHP operation when the control temperature sensor is placed on the heat source instead of the reservoir. In these tests, the LHP reservoir is cold-biased and is heated by a control heater. Tests results show that it is feasible to use the heat source temperature for feedback control of the LHP operation. Using this method, the heat source temperature can be maintained within a tight range for moderate and high powers. At low powers, however, temperature oscillations may occur due to interactions among the reservoir control heater power, the heat source mass, and the heat output from the heat source. In addition, the heat source temperature could temporarily deviate from its set point during fast thermal transients. The implication is that more sophisticated feedback control algorithms need to be implemented for LHP transient operation when the heat source temperature is used for feedback control.

Ku, Jentung↗
DOE OSTI2016

Interactions between Polyelectrolyte Gel Surfaces

We see surfaces formed by charged polymeric species are highly abundant in both synthetic and biological systems, for which maintaining an optimum contact distance and a pressure balance is paramount. Here we investigate interactions between surfaces of two same-charged and highly swollen polyelectrolyte gels, using extensive molecular dynamic simulations and minimal analytical methods. The external-pressure responses of the gels and the polymer-free ionic solvent layer separating two surfaces are considered. Simulations confirmed that the surfaces are held apart by osmotic pressure resulting from excess charges diffusing out of the network. At a threshold pressure, the counterion-induced osmotic pressure in the gel interiors becomes nearly equal to that in solvent gap, and the gels begin to deform. At the threshold pressure, the distance between surfaces is equivalent to the electrostatic screening length imposed by excess charges. Both the solvent layer and pressure dependence are well described by an analytical model based on the Poisson–Boltzmann solution for low and moderate electrostatic strengths. Scaling descriptions for the threshold pressure and critical distance compare well with the simulations. The threshold pressure decreases with increasing polymerization degree of network chains, similar to sparsely grafted polyelectrolyte brushes. As the electrostatic coupling strength is increased, the deviations from the analytical model also increase due to condensed counterions. Our results are of great importance for systems where charged gels or gel-like structures interact in various solvents, including systems encapsulated by gels and microgels in confinement.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Spaceborne Lidar Retrievals of PM2.5 for Air Quality Studies and Applications

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) substantially contributes to air pollution and negatively affects human health. While many studies have investigated the use of passive column-integrated aerosol optical depth to infer surface PM2.5, the use of lidar observations for air quality characterization is not nearly as extensive. Lidar measurements are critical, however, due to the vertical aerosol information they provide, including near the surface. In this presentation, we first provide an overview of various lidar-based approaches for estimating PM2.5 concentrations and then discuss how lidar measurements can assist other air quality applications. For example, estimates of PM2.5 have been obtained in a physics-based approach through CALIOP near-surface aerosol extinction retrievals, assumptions on the mass extinction efficiency, and incorporating other parameters (an aerosol hygroscopic growth factor and PM2.5/PM10 ratio). Application of this algorithm over the contiguous United States (CONUS) from 2006 to 2018 yielded larger PM2.5 values over the eastern and western CONUS (~10-15 μg/m³) and lower PM2.5 levels in the central CONUS (~5 μg/m³). These spatial patterns were similar to those from gridded PM2.5 concentrations obtained through in situ measurements at ground stations operated by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In another approach, the Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS) lidar was used with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model in a 1D ensemble-based variational technique to obtain PM2.5 over the US and Europe, and the spatial patterns of the CATS/GEOS based PM2.5 concentrations generally captured those from surface stations (with corresponding hourly EPA PM2.5 vs CATS PM2.5 statistics of R=0.4 and bias=1.5 μg/m³). In our recent work, as part of the Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) Working Group, we have applied both the CALIOP and CATS/GEOS based approaches over the highly polluted country of India during the post-monsoon season (September-October 2016). We derived elevated levels of two-month mean PM2.5 (~100 μg/m³) in northern India, especially near New Delhi. These high PM2.5 concentrations in the Indo-Gangetic plain are driven in large part from the seasonal burning of crop residue and meteorological conditions typical at this time of the year, such as low wind speeds and a shallow boundary layer. While the satellite-derived PM2.5 moderately replicates (R = ~0.7-0.9) the spatial variability in the two-month mean of surface in situ PM2.5 from monitoring sites operated by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, we show results from specific scenes for which there are large deviations between the satellite-derived PM2.5 and in situ measurements. Other current work on this topic focuses on developing PM2.5 estimates using airborne high spectral resolution lidar measurements through machine learning regression algorithms and involves several parameters (e.g., aerosol extinction, color ratio, lidar ratio). Application of this method over major metropolitan areas in the US and Asia have resulted in high correlations (R = 0.93) with surface measurements. This airborne lidar approach can be adapted to spaceborne lidar measurements, and all three of these approaches can be applied to ESA’s EarthCARE Atmospheric Lidar instrument, setting the stage for the future Cloud Aerosol Lidar for Global Scale Observations of the Ocean-Land Atmosphere System (CALIGOLA) mission. Ultimately, beyond estimates of PM2.5, the aerosol vertical distribution from lidars can benefit studies involving passive sensor approaches for PM2.5 proxies (including from geostationary satellites), wildfire smoke plume injection heights, volcanic emissions (e.g., ash height retrievals), and aerosol/air quality model assimilation, evaluation, and forecasts.

Travis D Toth↗
DOE OSTI2020

Structural coupling and magnetic tuning in Mn 2– x Co x P magnetocalorics for thermomagnetic power generation

Promising materials for magnetic refrigeration and thermomagnetic power generation often display strong coupling between magnetism and structure. It has been previously proposed that MnCoP exhibits this strong coupling, contributing to its substantial magnetocaloric effect near T C = 578K. Here, we show from temperature-dependent synchrotron x-ray diffraction that MnCoP displays a discontinuity in the thermal expansion at T C , with spontaneous magnetostriction that is positive in the a direction and negative in the b direction, highlighting the anisotropic nature of the magnetostructural coupling. Varying the Mn:Co ratio of Mn 2– x Co x P within the range of 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 1.4 allows the magnetic properties to be tuned. T C decreases as the composition deviates from stoichiometric MnCoP, as does the saturation magnetization. The magnitude of the magnetocaloric effect, |Δ S M |, decreases as well, due to broadening of the magnetic transition. The large reversible change in magnetization Δ M accessible over a small temperature range under moderate magnetic fields makes these materials promising for thermomagnetic power generation from waste heat.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1994

Mode properties of low-frequency waves: Kinetic theory versus Hall-MHD

In fluid theory, the ordering of low-frequency modes in a homogeneous plasma is based on the phase velocity, since modes do not intersect each other in dispersion diagrams as a function of wavenumber or other parameters. In linear kinetic theory, modes cross each other. Thus a consistent and useful classification should be based on the physical properties of the modes instead. This paper attempts such a classification by documeting the dispersion and general mode properties of the low-frequency waves (omega much less than (OMEGA(sub ci) OMEGA(sub ce) (exp 1/2)), where OMEGA(sub ci), OMEGA(sub ce) are the cyclotron frequencies of the ions and electrons, respectively) in kinetic theory, and by comparing them to the results of two-fluid theory. Kinetic theory gives a seperate Alfven/ion-cyclotron (A/IC) wave with phase speed Omega/k approximately = v(sub A) cos theta for omega much less than OMEGA(sub ci), where v(sub A) is the Alfven velocity and theta the angle of propagation between wave vector k and background magnetic field B(sub o). For a given wavenumber, the magnetosonic mode is a double-valued solution with a singular point in theta, beta parameter space, where beta is the ratio of thermal pressure to magnetic pressure. It is shown that a branch cut starting at the singular point theta approximately 30 deg, beta approximately 3 and leading to larger beta gives a practical and consitent seperation of this double-valued magnetosonic solution. Selection of this branch cut results in a moderately damped fast/magnetos onic and a heavily damped slow/sound wave. A comprehensive review of the polarization, compressibility and other mode properties is given and shown to be consistent with the selected branch cut. At small wavenumbers, the kinetic mode properties typically start to deviate significantly from their fluid counterparts at beta approximately 0.5. At larger beta, there is no longer a consistent correspondence between the fluid and kinetic modes. Kinetic theory also dictates the use of different mode properties to distinguish between them in observational data. For example, the phase between the density and magnetic field perturbation may become useless at high beta, whereas the direction of the magnetic field perturbations with respect to k and B(sub o) remains a useful characteristic. Two quantities based on this characteristic are suggested and are shown to be useful also to distinguish between the mirror mode and A/IC waves in a plasma with temperature anisotropy.

Krauss-Varban, D.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Brain IGFBP-5 modifies the relation of depressive symptoms to decline in cognition in older persons.

BACKGROUND: Brain proteins, including Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 (IGFBP-5), have been associated with cognitive dysfunction in aging. Mechanisms linking depression with cognition are poorly understood. We hypothesize that the association of depressive symptoms with cognition is mediated or modified by brain proteins. METHODS: IGFBP-5, HSPB2, AK4, ITPK1 and PLXNB1 were measured in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in 1057 deceased participants, who underwent annual assessments of depressive symptoms and cognition for a mean of 8.9 years. The average number of depressive symptoms per year before a dementia diagnosis was calculated for each person. RESULTS: A one standard deviation above the mean IGFBP-5 was associated with a 14% higher odds of having more depressive symptoms (p < 0.031). Higher IGFBP-5 was associated with faster decline in global cognition (p < 0.001) and five cognitive domains (p < 0.008), controlling for depressive symptoms. IGFBP-5 moderated the association of depressive symptoms with decline in global cognition (p?=?0.045). IGFBP-5 mediated ten percent or less of the total effect of depressive symptoms on decline in global cognition and the cognitive domains (p > 0.070). LIMITATIONS: Participants were volunteers and self-selection bias limits the generalizability of our findings. In addition, we used self-reported data on depressive symptoms. However, we also used data on depression medications as sensitivity analyses to confirm findings. CONCLUSIONS: In old age, brain IGFBP-5 is associated with depressive symptoms and cognition. The association of depressive symptoms with cognitive decline is conditional on IGFBP-5

depression, dementia, cognition, IGFBP-5, Protien↗
NASA NTRS1976

A comparison of low-cloud satellite wind estimates with analyses based on aircraft observations in a disturbed tropical regime

Low-level, ATS-3 satellite wind estimates are compared with values of wind direction and speed interpolated from analyses based on research aircraft observations of a synoptic tropical wave of moderate intensity on 26 July 1969 during BOMEX. The data were stratified according to whether a satellite estimate was positioned in one of three regions; namely, east or west of the wave trough or north of the disturbance center. When cloud and analysis vector magnitude deviations were computed, regional differences became apparent. These differences are attributed to the physical behavior of the cloud targets tracked under the influence of the surrounding large-scale environment.

Smith, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Elemental and isotopic composition of solar energetic particles - Preliminary results from the Phoenix I telescope

The Phoenix I instrument on the S81-1 mission was designed to resolve isotopes in the charge range He to Ni. Analysis of four periods of moderate flare activity shows no strong evidence for mass dependent acceleration in the range C to Si; indeed, the mass abundance ratios are consistent with 'solar system' composition. However, the average Ne-22/Ne-20 ratio for these periods is 0.060 (+0.045, -0.023), i.e. about one standard deviation below ratios reported earlier for solar energetic neon.

Simpson, J. A.↗