SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
XGC-6D is a geometric full-f Particle-In-Cell code on unstructured meshes including XGC-like unstructured mesh, tetrahedral mesh, etc. The code is particularly suitable to study boundary plasma with steep gradient and frequency higher than ion gyro-frequency. References: Wang Z, Qin H, Sturdevant B, Chang CS. Geometric electrostatic particle-in-cell algorithm on unstructured meshes. Journal of Plasma Physics. 2021;87(4):905870406.
XGC-6D is a geometric full-f Particle-In-Cell code on unstructured meshes including XGC-like unstructured mesh, tetrahedral mesh, etc. The code is particularly suitable to study boundary plasma with steep gradient and frequency higher than ion gyro-frequency. References: Wang Z, Qin H, Sturdevant B, Chang CS. Geometric electrostatic particle-in-cell algorithm on unstructured meshes. Journal of Plasma Physics. 2021;87(4):905870406.
Additive manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize the fabrication of lithium-ion batteries for a diversity of applications including in portable, biomedical, aerospace, and the transportation fields. Standard commercial batteries consist of stacked layers of various components (current collectors, cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte) in a two-dimensional manner. By leveraging the latest advances in additive manufacturing and computer-aided design, an improved geometric and electrochemical configuration of these batteries can maximize energy efficiency while allowing design optimization to reduce dead space for a given application. In this work, a composite UV photosensitive resin was prepared and used as feedstock in a vat photopolymerization system. The resin was loaded with LiCoO 2 acting as electrochemically active material for the cathode of a lithium-ion battery, and was further improved with the addition of conductivity-enhancing carbonaceous additives. Challenges to additive manufacturing arise from the opacity and high viscosity of the composite nature of these electrochemically-active resins, which cause light refraction during selective UV curing. Subsequently, items were printed and subjected to a thermal post-processing step to obtain an adequate compromise between electrochemical performance and mechanical integrity. Both sintered and green state 3D printed cathodes were assembled into half-cell lithium-ion batteries using lithium metal as a reference and counter electrode. Electrochemical cycling of these batteries yielded satisfactory results approaching commercial LiCoO 2 cathodes’ performance, with the potential advantages of additive manufacturing – high surface area anode–cathode configurations for power performance as well as shape conformability.
Plasmas interacting with liquids enable the generation of a highly reactive interfacial liquid layer due to a variety of processes driven by plasma-produced electrons, ions, photons, and radicals. These processes show promise to enable selective, efficient, and green chemical transformations and new material synthesis approaches. While many differences are to be expected between conventional electrolysis and plasma–liquid interactions, plasma–liquid interactions can be viewed, to a first approximation, as replacing a metal electrode in an electrolytic cell with a gas phase plasma. For this reason, we refer to this method as plasma-driven solution electrochemistry (PDSE). In this Perspective, we address two fundamental questions that should be answered to enable researchers to make transformational advances in PDSE: How far from equilibrium can plasma-induced solution processes be driven? and What are the fundamental differences between PDSE and other more traditional electrochemical processes? Different aspects of both questions are discussed in five sub-questions for which we review the current state-of-the art and we provide a motivation and research vision.
We study the evolution equation for magnetic energy density for a non-relativistic magnetized plasma in the (Lagrangian) reference frame comoving with the electron bulk velocity. Analyzing the terms that arise due to the ideal electric field, namely, perpendicular electron compression and magnetic field line bending, we recast them to reveal a quantity with a functional form analogous to the often-studied pressure–strain interaction term that describes one piece of internal energy density evolution of the species in a plasma, except with the species pressure tensor replaced by the magnetic stress tensor. We dub it the “magnetic stress–strain interaction.” We discuss decompositions of the magnetic stress–strain interaction analogous to those used for pressure–strain interaction. These analogies facilitate the interpretation of the evolution of the various forms of energy in magnetized plasmas and should be useful for a wide array of applications, including magnetic reconnection, turbulence, collisionless shocks, and wave–particle interactions. We display and analyze all the terms that can change magnetic energy density in the Lagrangian reference frame of the electrons using a particle-in-cell simulation of magnetic reconnection.
There have been increasing surface characterization studies of battery materials specifically in the context of before and after cell operation to determine any chemical changes. Therefore, providing reliable reference spectra of battery-related materials is important. In this paper, survey and high-energy resolution data are reported for the solid-state electrolyte Li 7 P 2 S 8 Br 0.5 I 0.5 (LPSBI), which has been synthesized and characterized at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The current data presents narrow scan regions of I 3d, I 4d, Br 3d, O 1s, P 2p, S 2p, and C 1s core level spectra as well as wide-scan survey data that was obtained using Al K a x-ray source with a Thermo Fisher Nexsa instrument.
The manufacturing of clean energy technologies has become a global enterprise. An analysis of four clean energy technology manufacturing processes—wind turbine components, crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic modules, light-duty vehicle lithium-ion battery cells, and light-emitting diodes—was conducted to provide a reference point for comparison over time as this sector evolves. The manufacturing supply chain analysis included processing of raw materials, making required subcomponents, and assembling final products, using benchmarks that crossed 12 economies: Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Republic of China (Taiwan), the United Kingdom, and the United States. Larger economies, with extensive manufacturing supply chains and high prevailing wages, tend to retain more value added from clean energy manufacturing than small economies. Manufacturing of clean energy technologies drives extensive trade among economies to support the widely distributed supply chain links. Production of wind turbine components and photovoltaic modules is more centralized than production of light-emitting diodes and lithium-ion battery cells. Across the four clean energy technologies evaluated, there was generally an excess of manufacturing capacity relative to global supply.
This paper proposes an energy management system (EMS) for nanogrids to balance the power supply and forecasted demand in consideration of forecasting errors arising from high instantaneous demand. The proposed EMS employs a power-balancing optimization process for forecasted demand and a reference power modulation strategy for forecasting errors. This power-balancing optimization utilizes nanogrid sources, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, and batteries, to meet forecasted demand and a supercapacitor charging process to overcome issues with a low energy density. The proposed reference power modulation strategy is utilized to allocate power from a hybrid energy storage system consisting of a battery and supercapacitor in order to compensate for forecasting errors. In addition, this proposed strategy considers battery and supercapacitor constraints such as the power changing rate and total power limitations. Further, the power-balancing optimization process also operates at faster sampling rate than the reference power modulation process in order to improve the computational efficiency. The performance of the proposed EMS is evaluated using real data obtained from the Korea Electric Power Exchange.
Background The application of single-cell omics tools to biological systems can provide unique insights into diverse cellular populations and their heterogeneous responses to internal and external perturbations. Thus far, most single-cell studies in plant systems have been limited to RNA-sequencing approaches, which only provide indirect readouts of cellular functions. Results Here, we present a single-cell proteomics workflow for plant cells that integrates tape-sandwich protoplasting, piezoelectric cell sorting, nanoPOTS sample preparation, and ion mobility-based MS data acquisition method for label-free single-cell proteomics analysis of Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll cells. From a single leaf protoplast, over 3,000 proteins were quantified with high precision. The workflow is demonstrated to identify stress associated changes in protein abundance by analyzing 117 protoplasts from well-watered and water-deficit stressed plants. Additionally, we describe a new approach for constructing covarying protein networks at the single-cell level and demonstrate how single-cell protein covariation analysis can reveal previously unrecognized protein functions while also capturing stress-induced changes in protein–protein dynamics. Conclusions The label-free scProteomic approach presented here represents a significant advance through the demonstration of a facile protoplast isolation method combined with deep and precise proteomic coverage of Arabidopsis leaf mesophyll cell types. We believe this study will serve as an informative reference to future plant scProteomic investigations.
Reference electrodes are essential for studying Li metal interfaces, yet their integration into coin cells remains challenging due to geometric constraints and assembly complexity. Here, we present a simple three-electrode coin cell design in which a thin Cu film is evaporated directly onto a trilayer PP/PE/PP separator, forming a conductive and flexible in situ current collector. The microporous Cu preserves separator porosity and pressure uniformity, avoiding artifacts introduced by wire- or mesh-type references. It is easily activated by Li plating and provides stable potentials for over 10 days in ether-based electrolytes without affecting Coulombic efficiency (>99%) or Li deposition morphology. Operando measurements using this design reveal electrode-specific impedance evolution and voltage responses otherwise obscured in two-electrode setups, uncovering a correlation between the SEI resistance and electrolyte ionic conductivity. This microporous Cu reference electrode offers a robust and accessible platform for characterizing reactive interfaces under realistic cycling conditions.
Chloroplasts respond to stress and changes in the environment by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) that have specific signaling abilities. The ROS singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) is unique in that it can signal to initiate cellular degradation including the selective degradation of damaged chloroplasts. This chloroplast quality control pathway can be monitored in the Arabidopsis thaliana mutant plastid ferrochelatase two ( fc2 ) that conditionally accumulates chloroplast 1 O 2 under diurnal light cycling conditions leading to rapid chloroplast degradation and eventual cell death. The cellular machinery involved in such degradation, however, remains unknown. Recently, it was demonstrated that whole damaged chloroplasts can be transported to the central vacuole via a process requiring autophagosomes and core components of the autophagy machinery. The relationship between this process, referred to as chlorophagy, and the degradation of 1 O 2 -stressed chloroplasts and cells has remained unexplored. Results To further understand 1 O 2 -induced cellular degradation and determine what role autophagy may play, the expression of autophagy-related genes was monitored in 1 O 2 -stressed fc2 seedlings and found to be induced. Although autophagosomes were present in fc2 cells, they did not associate with chloroplasts during 1 O 2 stress. Mutations affecting the core autophagy machinery ( atg5 , atg7 , and atg10 ) were unable to suppress 1 O 2 -induced cell death or chloroplast protrusion into the central vacuole, suggesting autophagosome formation is dispensable for such 1 O 2 –mediated cellular degradation. However, both atg5 and atg7 led to specific defects in chloroplast ultrastructure and photosynthetic efficiencies, suggesting core autophagy machinery is involved in protecting chloroplasts from photo-oxidative damage. Finally, genes predicted to be involved in microautophagy were shown to be induced in stressed fc2 seedlings, indicating a possible role for an alternate form of autophagy in the dismantling of 1 O 2 -damaged chloroplasts. Conclusions Our results support the hypothesis that 1 O 2 -dependent cell death is independent from autophagosome formation, canonical autophagy, and chlorophagy. Furthermore, autophagosome-independent microautophagy may be involved in degrading 1 O 2 -damaged chloroplasts. At the same time, canonical autophagy may still play a role in protecting chloroplasts from 1 O 2 -induced photo-oxidative stress. Together, this suggests chloroplast function and degradation is a complex process utilizing multiple autophagy and degradation machineries, possibly depending on the type of stress or damage incurred.
Abstract High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) uses gene expression profiling to characterize the biological activity of chemicals in in vitro cell-based test systems. As an extension of a previous study testing 44 chemicals, HTTr was used to screen an additional 1,751 unique chemicals from the EPA’s ToxCast collection in MCF7 cells using 8 concentrations and an exposure duration of 6 h. We hypothesized that concentration-response modeling of signature scores could be used to identify putative molecular targets and cluster chemicals with similar bioactivity. Clustering and enrichment analyses were conducted based on signature catalog annotations and ToxPrint chemotypes to facilitate molecular target prediction and grouping of chemicals with similar bioactivity profiles. Enrichment analysis based on signature catalog annotation identified known mechanisms of action (MeOAs) associated with well-studied chemicals and generated putative MeOAs for other active chemicals. Chemicals with predicted MeOAs included those targeting estrogen receptor (ER), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), retinoic acid receptor (RAR), the NRF2/KEAP/ARE pathway, AP-1 activation, and others. Using reference chemicals for ER modulation, the study demonstrated that HTTr in MCF7 cells was able to stratify chemicals in terms of agonist potency, distinguish ER agonists from antagonists, and cluster chemicals with similar activities as predicted by the ToxCast ER Pathway model. Uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) embedding of signature-level results identified novel ER modulators with no ToxCast ER Pathway model predictions. Finally, UMAP combined with ToxPrint chemotype enrichment was used to explore the biological activity of structurally related chemicals. The study demonstrates that HTTr can be used to inform chemical risk assessment by determining in vitro points of departure, predicting chemicals’ MeOA and grouping chemicals with similar bioactivity profiles.
A minority of HIV-1-infected patients produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Identification of viral and host correlates of bNAb production may help develop vaccines. We aimed to characterize the neutralizing response and viral and host-associated factors in Angola, which has one of the oldest, most dynamic, and most diverse HIV-1 epidemics in the world. Three hundred twenty-two HIV-1-infected adults from Angola were included in this retrospective study. Phylogenetic analysis of C2V3C3 env gene sequences was used for virus subtyping. Env-binding antibody reactivity was tested against polypeptides comprising the C2, V3, and C3 regions. Neutralizing-antibody responses were determined against a reference panel of tier 2 Env pseudoviruses in TZM-bl cells; neutralizing epitope specificities were predicted using ClustVis. All subtypes were found, along with untypeable strains and recombinant forms. Notably, 56% of the patients developed cross neutralizing, broadly neutralizing, or elite neutralizing responses. Broad and elite neutralization was associated with longer infection time, subtype C, lower CD4 + T cell counts, higher age, and higher titer of C2V3C3-specific antibodies relative to failure to develop bNAbs. Neutralizing antibodies targeted the V3-glycan supersite in most patients. V3 and C3 regions were significantly less variable in elite neutralizers than in weak neutralizers and nonneutralizers, suggesting an active role of V3C3-directed bNAbs in controlling HIV-1 replication and diversification. In conclusion, prolonged and low-level envelope V3C3 stimulation by highly diverse and ancestral HIV-1 isolates promotes the frequent elicitation of bNAbs. These results provide important clues for the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine. Studies on neutralization by antibodies and their determinants in HIV-1-infected individuals have mostly been conducted in relatively recent epidemics caused by subtype B and C viruses. Results have suggested that elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) is uncommon. The mechanisms underlying the elicitation of bNAbs are still largely unknown. We performed the first characterization of the plasma neutralizing response in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients from Angola. Angola is characterized by an old and dynamic epidemic caused by highly diverse HIV-1 variants. Remarkably, more than half of the patients produced bNAbs, mostly targeting the V3-glycan supersite in HIV-1. This was associated with higher age, longer infection time, lower CD4 + T cell counts, subtype C infection, or higher titer of C2V3C3-specific antibodies relative to patients that did not develop bNAbs. These results may help develop the next generation of vaccine candidates for HIV-1.
This report presents the development of the second-generation Severe Accident Test Station, referred to as SATS 2.0. SATS 2.0 represents a major advancement in addressing critical research needs for the United States nuclear industry, particularly in relation to fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD) concerns associated with the nuclear industry’s goal to extend fuel burnup beyond a peak rod average of 62 GWd/tU. The central objective of SATS 2.0 was the deployment a new furnace capable of achieving heating rates up to 100°C/s. This achievement addresses critical capability gaps, enabling assessment of prioritized research objectives established by the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Collaborative Research on Advanced Fuel Technologies (CRAFT) working group. These research objectives are directly related to high-burnup loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions and the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures, both of which are crucial to enhancing nuclear safety and efficiency. The SATS 2.0 system builds upon prior experience with the original SATS system, which focused on evaluating accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding concepts during accident conditions. However, the new system not only expands upon prior core capabilities by achieving higher heating rates with a better furnace but also plans to incorporate novel auxiliary systems to create a versatile platform for addressing current research needs. For example, a system was developed for the quantification and characterization of fission gas released during high-temperature transients. Additionally, in situ measurement capabilities were developed, such as digital image correlation which enabled the real-time capture of strain related to balloon and burst events and fiber-optic sensors that allowed for high-fidelity characterization of temperature gradients. Demonstration tests of the new 12-lamp furnace achieved heating rates up to 120°C/s. Notably, SATS 2.0 demonstrated its capacity to simulate LOCA burst tests at different pressures, yielding burst data that align with historical empirical models. Moreover, the system exhibited its capability to simulate complex conditions observed in anticipated operational occurrences, while effectively mitigating temperature overshoots. These accomplishments mark significant progress toward overcoming FFRD challenges and advancing the United States nuclear industry's safety basis and technical capabilities for extended burnup.
Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL) (or Greatwall kinase (GWL)) is an important cell cycle regulating kinase that regulates the G2-M transition. Uncontrolled MASTL activity is implicated in breast cancer progression. To date, very few inhibitors have been reported against this protein. Here, structure-based computational modeling indicates that the natural product flavopiridol (FLV) binds strongly to MASTL and these results are validated using molecular dynamics simulation studies. Further, an in vitro kinase assay reveals an EC 50 (effective concentration) value of FLV to be 82.1 nM and a better IC 50 compared to the positive reference compound, staurosporine. FLV is found to inhibit MASTL kinase activity, arresting the cell growth in the G1 phase and inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Consistent with these results differential gene expression obtained using RNA sequencing studies, and validated by RT PCR and immunoblot analysis, indicate that MASTL inhibition induces cell cycle arrest and apoptotic-related genes. Furthermore, metastasis- and inflammation- related genes are downregulated. Thus, the deregulation of MASTL signaling pathways on targeted inhibition of its kinase activity is revealed. This study lays a strong foundation for investigating FLV as a lead compound in breast cancer therapeutics.
The use of precision timing measurements will be a major tool at the HL-LHC, where it will be used to suppress pile-up and to search for long-lived particles. To control a reference clock with sub-picosecond accuracy, we have fabricated in the TSMC 65 nm process a digitally controlled phase shifter. It is composed of a chain of 66 cells, each with a digitally controlled planar wave guide with either a short or long delay. With this a reference clock’s phase can be controlled to a precision of 200 fs with dynamic range of 12 ps.
The photosynthetic unicellular alga Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) is a versatile reference for algal biology because of its ease of culture in the laboratory. Genomic and systems biology approaches have previously described transcriptome responses to environmental changes using bulk data, thus representing the average behavior from pools of cells. Here, we apply single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to probe the heterogeneity of Chlamydomonas cell populations under three environments and in two genotypes differing by the presence of a cell wall. First, we determined that RNA can be extracted from single algal cells with or without a cell wall, offering the possibility to sample natural algal communities. Second, scRNA-seq successfully separated single cells into nonoverlapping cell clusters according to their growth conditions. Cells exposed to iron or nitrogen deficiency were easily distinguished despite a shared tendency to arrest photosynthesis and cell division to economize resources. Notably, these groups of cells not only recapitulated known patterns observed with bulk RNA-seq but also revealed their inherent heterogeneity. A substantial source of variation between cells originated from their endogenous diurnal phase, although cultures were grown in constant light. We exploited this result to show that circadian iron responses may be conserved from algae to land plants. We document experimentally that bulk RNA-seq data represent an average of typically hidden heterogeneity in the population.
The International Maritime Organization has committed to 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 worldwide as of 2023. This analysis includes performing an inventory and modeling efforts to understand the energy, equipment and cost requirements to support decarbonization of cargo handling and shore power at U.S. Ports, along with assessment of zero- and near- zero emission fuel supplies at or near U.S. ports focused upon Hydrogen technologies. Initial market assessment for ocean going vessels for harbor support and ocean-going vessels is explored. An energy analysis is performed on the port system using a holistic approach and considering the port as an entire ecosystem that functions as a transportation and energy node. Presently, a comprehensive view is lacking for future analysis efforts, this analysis seeks to address this gap in data by evaluating four representative port types and the potential for utilizing hydrogen for the maritime industry. Every port is different, but broadly they could be bracketed into reference cases with scaling factors for the relative size of the port operations. These reference ports are for future use, potentially as baselines for analysis and development of demonstration programs. An equipment inventory for each reference port type (container, bulk, breakbulk, and inland waterway) is presented. A comparative analysis of fuel cell electric and battery electric equipment is conducted based on the following criteria: technology readiness level, refueling/charging time, operational range, energy consumption, and fuel cost savings compared to baseline internal combustion engine equipment. The tradeoffs and synergies between two alternative powertrains is highlighted. Based on energy and infrastructure analysis, average and high equipment utilization profiles across different port types is identified and quantified baseline fuel and electricity demand for various decarbonization scenarios. Based on the portfolio of equipment converted to fuel cell electric, the estimates of initial capital investment are provided for hydrogen refueling stations across ports. An energy demand model is developed that predicts well the all-electric cargo handling equipment annual energy consumption for ports with annual tonnage under 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The model is a good rubric to follow for further energy demand models that can create a scalable solution to understand the energy needs of cargo handling equipment, whether they are all-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or powered by another fuel-type. Zero and near-zero emission fuel supply at ports is evaluated looking into the characteristics of hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol as an alternative fuel, as well as the bunkering status. The readiness of reference ports to produce ammonia or methanol and bunker the fuel is examined based on the framework developed by the Global Maritime Forum and Rocky Mountain Institute.