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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 1,135 records · Page 63
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Targeted synthesis of predicted metastable compounds using modulated elemental reactants

Three metastable compounds predicted to be kinetically stable using an “island” approach were successfully synthesized from designed modulated elemental reactants. Fe0.8V0.2Se2 was synthesized by depositing ultrathin elemental layers in a V|Fe|Se sequence to control the local composition. An alloyed rock salt structured Pb3Mn2Se5 constituent layer, which does not exist as a bulk compound, was synthesized in the heterostructure (Pb3Mn2Se5)0.6VSe2 by depositing a precursor with a V|Se|Pb|Se|Mn|Se|Pb|Se|Mn|Se|Pb|Se sequence of elemental layers that mimicked the compositional profile of the targeted heterostructure. The heterostructure (PbSe)1+δ(FeSe2)2 was prepared by depositing a precursor with a repeating layering sequence of Fe|Pb|Fe|Se, where each sequence contains the number of atoms required to form a single unit cell. In all three systems, the local compositions in the layer sequence kinetically favored the nucleation and growth of the targeted products during the deposition. The diffusion lengths to form the targeted compounds were short, and the diffusion was limited by postdeposition low temperature annealing to favor the growth of the targeted compounds and avoid the decomposition into a mixture of thermodynamically stable compounds.

Lemon, Mellie (ORCID:0000000328705881)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Strategies for the in-orbit gain tracking using the modulated X-ray sources for the Resolve microcalorimeter spectrometer on the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission

Accurate and precise correction of the gain drift is the key to achieve the required energy resolution of the Resolve microcalorimeter spectrometer on the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). Therefore, Resolve is equipped with highly configurable X-ray sources called the modulated X-ray source (MXS). The pulsed nature allows us to separate calibration and astrophysical X-rays by time interval selections. However, undesirable characteristics of the MXS, such as the afterglow X-rays, restrict the allowed configuration range. Moreover, the nonlinear and discontinuous behaviors of the calibration line count rate make the determination of the optimal setting highly complex. The MXS count rate model has been established using measurements in the spacecraft thermal vacuum test with the flight detector and MXS. A trade-off study using the model enables us to choose a few settings for the continuous use of the MXS optimized for different ranges of target gain tracking intervals. An alternative approach, where the MXS is used only intermittently, has also been developed and implemented. This new mode enables us to reconstruct the drift without having most of the undesirable effects in science data. This also forms the basis of the gain tracking under the current Resolve configuration with the closed gate valve.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗
DOE OSTI2025

In-orbit operation of Resolve Filter Wheel and modulated X-ray source

The Resolve soft X-ray spectrometer is a high spectral resolution microcalorimeter spectrometer for the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission. In the beam of Resolve, there is a filter wheel containing X-ray filters. In the beam, there is also an active calibration source, the modulated X-ray source (MXS), which can provide pulsed X-rays to facilitate gain calibration. The filter wheel consists of six filter positions. Two open positions, one 55 Fe source to aid in spectrometer characterization during the commissioning phase, and three transmission filters: a neutral density filter, an optical blocking filter, and a beryllium filter. The X-ray intensity, pulse period, and pulse separation of an MXS are highly configurable. Furthermore, the switch-on time is synchronized with the spacecraft’s internal clock to give accurate start and end times of the pulses. One of the issues raised during ground testing was the susceptibility of an MXS at high voltage to ambient light. Although measures were taken to mitigate the light leak, the efficacy of those measures must be verified in orbit. Along with an overview of issues raised during ground testing, we will discuss the calibration source and the filter performance in-flight and compare with the transmission curves present in the Resolve calibration database.

X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission/Resolve↗
DOE OSTI2020

Retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) binds monoacylglycerols and modulates gut endocrine signaling and body weight

Expressed in the small intestine, retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) facilitates dietary retinoid absorption. Rbp2-deficient (Rbp2 –/– ) mice fed a chow diet exhibit by 6-7 months-of-age higher body weights, impaired glucose metabolism, and greater hepatic triglyceride levels compared to controls. These phenotypes are also observed when young Rbp2 –/– mice are fed a high fat diet. Retinoids do not account for the phenotypes. Rather, RBP2 is a previously unidentified monoacylglycerol (MAG)-binding protein, interacting with the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and other MAGs with affinities comparable to retinol. X-ray crystallographic studies show that MAGs bind in the retinol binding pocket. When challenged with an oil gavage, Rbp2 –/– mice show elevated mucosal levels of 2-MAGs. This is accompanied by significantly elevated blood levels of the gut hormone GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). Thus, RBP2, in addition to facilitating dietary retinoid absorption, modulates MAG metabolism and likely signaling, playing a heretofore unknown role in systemic energy balance.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Structure-function analysis of the FCRL5–IgG1 Fc complex reveals an unappreciated pathway for B cell modulation by Fc-attenuated IgG

The Fc region of therapeutic IgG antibodies is often engineered to remove or “silence” Fc effector functions, but it remains unclear whether these mutations eliminate all Fc-mediated effector activity. Human Fc receptor-like 5 (FCRL5/FcRH5) is a low-affinity IgG Fc receptor expressed on B cells and is an actively pursued antibody target in multiple myeloma. Here, we show that common Fc function-silencing mutations do not impair FCRL5-mediated activity and therefore attenuate, rather than eliminate, Fc effector function. The crystal structure of the FCRL5-IgG1 Fc complex, solved at 3.4 Å resolution, revealed that FCRL5 binds IgG1 Fc in a 1:1 complex through a binding mode distinct from that of classical Fcγ receptors, explaining why mutations that attenuate Fc effector function spare FCRL5 binding. Fc-engineered antibodies that selectively engage FCRL5 inhibited B cell receptor-induced Ca 2+ flux in FCRL5-expressing B cells. These findings demonstrate that Fc-attenuated therapeutic IgG retains the ability to engage FCRL5, identifying an unappreciated pathway for B cell modulation.

Herpers, Bart M. [Department of Biomedical Enginee↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stabilizing perovskite-substrate interfaces for high-performance perovskite modules

The interfaces of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are important in determining their efficiency and stability, but the morphology and stability of imbedded perovskite-substrate interfaces have received less attention than have top interfaces. We found that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which is a liquid additive broadly applied to enhance perovskite film morphology, was trapped during film formation and led to voids at perovskite-substrate interfaces that accelerated the film degradation under illumination. Partial replacement of DMSO with solid-state carbohydrazide reduces interfacial voids. A maximum stabilized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.6% was realized for blade-coated p-type/intrinsic/n-type (p-i-n) structure PSCs with no efficiency loss after 550-hour operational stability tests at 60°C. The perovskite mini-modules showed certified PCEs of 19.3 and 19.2%, with aperture areas of 18.1 and 50.0 square centimeters, respectively.

Chen, Shangshang↗
DOE OSTI2020

Root Microbiome Modulates Plant Growth Promotion Induced by Low Doses of Glyphosate

Since the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops, glyphosate has become the most common and widely used herbicide around the world. Due to its intensive use and ability to bind to soil particles, it can be found at low concentrations in the environment. The effect of these remnants of glyphosate in plants has not been broadly studied; however, glyphosate 1,000 to 100,000 times less concentrated than the recommended field dose promoted growth in several species in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. However, this effect is rarely observed in agricultural fields, where complex communities of microbes have a central role in the way plants respond to external cues. Our study reveals how root-associated bacteria modulate the responses of Arabidopsis to low doses of glyphosate, shifting between growth promotion and growth inhibition.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rhizosphere and detritusphere habitats modulate expression of soil N-cycling genes during plant development

Interactions between plant roots and rhizosphere bacteria modulate nitrogen (N)-cycling processes and create habitats rich in low molecular weight compounds (exudates) and complex organic molecules (decaying root litter) compared to those of bulk soil. Microbial N-cycling is regulated by edaphic conditions and genes from many interconnected metabolic pathways, but most studies of soil N-cycling gene expression have focused on single pathways. Currently, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between soil N-cycling gene regulation, spatial habitat, and time. We present results from a replicated time series of soil metatranscriptomes; we followed gene expression of multiple N transformations in four soil habitats (rhizosphere, detritusphere, rhizo-detritusphere, and bulk soil) during active root growth for the annual grass, Avena fatua. The presence of root litter and living roots significantly altered the trajectories of N-cycling gene expression. Upregulation of assimilatory nitrate reduction in the rhizosphere suggests that rhizosphere bacteria were actively competing with roots for nitrate. Simultaneously, ammonium assimilatory pathways were upregulated in both rhizosphere and detritusphere soil, which could have limited N availability to plants. The detritusphere supported dissimilatory processes DNRA and denitrification. Expression of nitrification genes was dominated by three phylotypes of Thaumarch aeota and was upregulated in bulk soil. Unidirectional ammonium assimilation and its regulatory genes (GS/GOGAT) were upregulated near relatively young roots and highly decayed root litter, suggesting N may have been limiting in these habitats (GS/GOGAT is typically activated under N limitation). In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis indicates that differences in carbon and inorganic N availability control contemporaneous transcription of N-cycling pathways in soil habitats.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Lipo-Chitooligosaccharides Induce Specialized Fungal Metabolite Profiles That Modulate Bacterial Growth

Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) are historically known for their role as microbial-derived signaling molecules that shape plant symbiosis with beneficial rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi. Recent studies showing that LCOs are widespread across the fungal kingdom have raised questions about the ecological function of these compounds in organisms that do not form symbiotic relationships with plants. To elucidate the ecological function of these compounds, we investigate the metabolomic response of the ubiquitous human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to LCOs. Our metabolomics data revealed that exogenous application of various types of LCOs to A. fumigatus resulted in significant shifts in the fungal metabolic profile, with marked changes in the production of specialized metabolites known to mediate ecological interactions. Using network analyses, we identify specific types of LCOs with the most significant effect on the abundance of known metabolites. Extracts of several LCO-induced metabolic profiles significantly impact the growth rates of diverse bacterial species. These findings suggest that LCOs may play an important role in the competitive dynamics of non-plant-symbiotic fungi and bacteria. This study identifies specific metabolomic profiles induced by these ubiquitously produced chemicals and creates a foundation for future studies into the potential roles of LCOs as modulators of interkingdom competition.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Giant Virus Infection Signatures Are Modulated by Euphotic Zone Depth Strata and Iron Regimes of the Subantarctic Southern Ocean

Viruses can alter the abundance, evolution, and metabolism of microorganisms in the ocean, playing a key role in water column biogeochemistry and global carbon cycles. Large efforts to measure the contribution of eukaryotic microorganisms (e.g., protists) to the marine food web have been made, yet the in situ activities of the ecologically relevant viruses that infect these organisms are not well characterized. Viruses within the phylum Nucleocytoviricota (“giant viruses”) are known to infect a diverse range of ecologically relevant marine protists, yet how these viruses are influenced by environmental conditions remains under-characterized. By employing metatranscriptomic analyses of in situ microbial communities along a temporal and depthresolved gradient, we describe the diversity of giant viruses at the Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS), a site within the subpolar Southern Ocean. Using a phylogeny-guided taxonomic assessment of detected giant virus genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes, we observed depth-dependent structuring of divergent giant virus families mirroring dynamic physicochemical gradients in the stratified euphotic zone. Analyses of transcribed metabolic genes from giant viruses suggest viral metabolic reprogramming of hosts from the surface to a 200-m depth. Lastly, using on-deck incubations reflecting a gradient of iron availability, we show that modulating iron regimes influences the activity of giant viruses in the field. Specifically, we show enhanced infection signatures of giant viruses under both iron-replete and iron-limited conditions. Collectively, these results expand our understanding of how the water column’s vertical biogeography and chemical surroundings affect an important group of viruses within the Southern Ocean

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Optimization of the first CUPID detector module

CUPID will be a next generation experiment searching for the neutrinoless double β decay, whose discovery would establish the Majorana nature of the neutrino. Based on the experience achieved with the CUORE experiment, presently taking data at LNGS, CUPID aims to reach a background free environment by means of scintillating Li 2 100 MoO 4 crystals coupled to light detectors. Indeed, the simultaneous heat and light detection allows us to reject the dominant background of α particles, as proven by the CUPID-0 and CUPID-Mo demonstrators. In this work we present the results of the first test of the CUPID baseline module. In particular, we propose a new optimized detector structure and light sensors design to enhance the engineering and the light collection, respectively. We characterized the heat detectors, achieving an energy resolution of (5.9 ± 0.2) keV FWHM at the Q-value of 100 Mo (about 3034 keV). We studied the light collection of the baseline CUPID design with respect to an alternative configuration which features gravity-assisted light detectors’ mounting. In both cases we obtained an improvement in the light collection with respect to past measures and we validated the particle identification capability of the detector, which ensures an α particle rejection higher than 99.9%, fully satisfying the requirements for CUPID.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Reconstruction of atmospheric neutrinos in DUNE’s horizontal-drift far-detector module

This paper reports on the capabilities in reconstructing and identifying atmospheric neutrino interactions in one of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment’s (DUNE) far detector modules, a liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) with horizontal drift (FD-HD) of ionization electrons. The reconstruction is based upon the workflow developed for DUNE’s long-baseline oscillation analysis, with some necessary machine-learning models’ retraining and the addition of features relevant only to atmospheric neutrinos such as the neutrino direction reconstruction. Where relevant, the impact of the detection of the charged particles of the hadronic system is emphasized, and comparisons are carried out between the case when lepton-only information is considered in the reconstruction (as is the case for many neutrino oscillation experiments), versus when all particles identified in the LArTPC were included. Three neutrino direction reconstruction methods have been developed and studied for the atmospheric analyses: using lepton-only information, using all reconstructed particles, and using only correlations from reconstructed hits. The results indicate that incorporating more than just lepton information significantly improves the resolution of both neutrino direction and energy reconstruction. The angle reconstruction algorithms developed in this work result in no strong dependence on particle direction for reconstruction efficiencies or neutrino flavor identification. This comprehensive review of the reconstruction of atmospheric neutrinos in DUNE’s FD-HD LArTPC is the first step towards developing a first neutrino oscillation sensitivity analysis, which will ready DUNE for its first measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Design and development of optical modules for the BUTTON-30 detector

BUTTON-30 is a neutrino detector demonstrator located in the STFC Boulby underground facility in the north-east of England. The main goal of the project is to deploy and test the performance of the gadolinium-loaded water-based liquid scintillator for neutrino detection in an underground environment. This will pave the way for a future large-volume neutrino observatory that can also perform remote monitoring of nuclear reactors for nonproliferation. This paper describes the design and construction of the watertight optical modules of the experiment.

COMSOL simulations↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rapid Electrochemical Diagnosis of Battery Health and Safety from Cells to Modules

Rapid electrochemical diagnosis of battery health and failure is critical for ensuring reliable battery performance and battery safety. Traditional battery health diagnostics such as capacity measurements and DC pulse tests are reliable and well-understood, however, these measurements of battery capacity and resistance do not capture all aspects of battery degradation. Other aspects of degradation, such as electrolyte decomposition, lithium-plating, and particle cracking are difficult to detect electrochemically but are crucial to measure to get a full picture of battery safety and flag out potential failures. In this work, lab- and field-aged commercial lithium-ion batteries and modules of various chemistries and formats are tested using a variety of traditional electrochemical characterization methods as well as using 2-minute pseudo-random DC pulse sequences at rest and during charge/discharge. The electrochemical measurements are compared to physical cell measurements, cell efficiency, drive cycle performance, physical and thermal heterogeneity, and qualitative safety metrics using statistical and machine-learning methods to discover if a comprehensive "battery health map" can be accurately identified using only rapid DC measurements.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Traditional Chinese Medicine Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis via Modulating Gut Microbiota

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder characterized by relapsing and remitting inflammation of the bowel. In recent decades, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in the therapy of UC. However, its underlying mechanisms have not been sufficiently elucidated. Accumulating studies indicate that the gut microbial dysbiosis is closely related to UC. It has been demonstrated that TCM could alter the composition of intestinal microbiota by enriching beneficial and SCFA-producing bacteria and reducing pathogenic bacteria. In this review, we discussed recent evidence regarding the TCM and its role in modulating gut microbiota for the treatment of UC.

Feng, Wan↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Python Module for Storing CCD Images with openPMD (openPMD-CCD) v0.1.0

openPMD is an open meta-data schema that provides meaning and self-description to data sets in science and engineering. The openPMD-CCD software module adds interfaces to organize camera (CCD) images in hierarchical data files. This software provides modern I/O storage formats from high-performance computing and provides bindings for integration into experimental control systems, e.g. via Python 3 and LabView 2020.

Gonsalves, AnthonyJ↗
DOE OSTI2021

example_cmec_module

This is an example CMEC module intended for use in demonstrations and tutorials. It does not produce any scientific results.

Ordonez, AnaC↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Modulation of Gulf Stream Influence on the Troposphere by the Eddy-Driven Jet

This study suggests that the Gulf Stream influence on the wintertime North Atlantic troposphere is most pronounced when the eddy-driven jet (EDJ) is farthest south and better collocated with the Gulf Stream. Using the reanalysis dataset NCEP-CFSR for December–February 1979–2009, the daily EDJ latitude is separated into three regimes (northern, central, and southern). It is found that the average trajectory of atmospheric fronts covaries with EDJ latitude. In the southern EDJ regime (~19% of the time), the frequency of near-surface atmospheric fronts that pass across the Gulf Stream is maximized. Analysis suggests that this leads to significant strengthening in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence resulting from strong air–sea sensible heat flux gradients (due to strong temperature gradients in the atmosphere and ocean). In recent studies, it was shown that the pronounced band of time-mean near-surface wind convergence across the Gulf Stream is set by atmospheric fronts. Here, it is shown that an even smaller subset of atmospheric fronts—those associated with a southern EDJ—primarily sets the time mean, due to enhanced Gulf Stream air–sea interaction. Furthermore, statistically significant anomalies in vertical velocity extending well above the boundary layer are identified in association with changes in EDJ latitude. These anomalies are particularly strong for a southern EDJ and are spatially consistent with increases in near-surface atmospheric frontal convergence over the Gulf Stream. These results imply that much of the Gulf Stream influence on the time-mean atmosphere is modulated on synoptic time scales, and enhanced when the EDJ is farthest south.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗