Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “separation”

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.

At least 163 records · Page 9

Separation of spin Seebeck effect and anomalous Nernst effect in Co/Cu/YIG

The spin Seebeck effect (SSE) and Anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) have been observed in Co/Cu/YIG (yttrium iron garnet) multi-layer structure, where the ferromagnetic insulator YIG acts as the pure spin injector and the ferromagnetic metal Co layer acts as the spin current detector. Finally, with the insertion of 5 nm Cu layer, the two ferromagnetic layers are decoupled, thus allowing unambiguous separation of the SSE and ANE contributions under the same experimental conditions in the same sample.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

G-mode magnetic force microscopy: Separating magnetic and electrostatic interactions using big data analytics

In this work, we develop a full information capture approach for Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), referred to as generalized mode (G-Mode) MFM. G-Mode MFM acquires and stores the full data stream from the photodetector, captured at sampling rates approaching the intrinsic photodiode limit. The data can be subsequently compressed, denoised, and analyzed, without information loss. Here, G-Mode MFM is implemented and compared to the traditional heterodyne-based MFM on model systems, including domain structures in ferromagnetic Yttrium Iron Garnet and the electronically and magnetically inhomogeneous high entropy alloy, CoFeMnNiSn. We investigate the use of information theory to mine the G-Mode MFM data and demonstrate its usefulness for extracting information which may be hidden in traditional MFM modes, including signatures of nonlinearities and mode-coupling phenomena. Finally, we demonstrate detection and separation of magnetic and electrostatic tip-sample interactions from a single G-Mode image, by analyzing the entire frequency response of the cantilever. G-Mode MFM is immediately implementable on any atomic force microscopy platform and as such is expected to be a useful technique for probing spatiotemporal cantilever dynamics and mapping material properties, as well as their mutual interactions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Separating hyperfine from spin-orbit interactions in organic semiconductors by multi-octave magnetic resonance using coplanar waveguide microresonators

Separating the influence of hyperfine from spin-orbit interactions in spin-dependent carrier recombination and dissociation processes necessitates magnetic resonance spectroscopy over a wide range of frequencies. For this, we have designed compact and versatile coplanar waveguide resonators for continuous-wave electrically detected magnetic resonance and tested these on organic light-emitting diodes. By exploiting both the fundamental and higher-harmonic modes of the resonators, we cover almost five octaves in resonance frequency within a single setup. The measurements with a common π-conjugated polymer as the active material reveal small but non-negligible effects of spin-orbit interactions, which give rise to a broadening of the magnetic resonance spectrum with increasing frequency.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Taming the fixed-node error in diffusion Monte Carlo via range separation

By combining density-functional theory (DFT) and wave function theory via the range separation (RS) of the interelectronic Coulomb operator, we obtain accurate fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo (FN-DMC) energies with compact multi-determinant trial wave functions. In particular, we combine here short-range exchange-correlation functionals with a flavor of selected configuration interaction known as configuration interaction using a perturbative selection made iteratively (CIPSI), a scheme that we label RS-DFT-CIPSI. One of the take-home messages of the present study is that RS-DFT-CIPSI trial wave functions yield lower fixed-node energies with more compact multi-determinant expansions than CIPSI, especially for small basis sets. Indeed, as the CIPSI component of RS-DFT-CIPSI is relieved from describing the short-range part of the correlation hole around the electron-electron coalescence points, the number of determinants in the trial wave function required to reach a given accuracy is significantly reduced as compared to a conventional CIPSI calculation. Importantly, by performing various numerical experiments, we evidence that the RS-DFT scheme essentially plays the role of a simple Jastrow factor by mimicking short-range correlation effects, hence avoiding the burden of performing a stochastic optimization. Considering the 55 atomization energies of the Gaussian-1 benchmark set of molecules, we show that using a fixed value of mu = 0.5 bohr(-1) provides effective error cancellations as well as compact trial wave functions, making the present method a good candidate for the accurate description of large chemical systems.

Scemama, Anthony↗

Laser‐ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with ion mobility separation reveals metabolites in the symbiotic interactions of soybean roots and rhizobia

Summary Technologies enabling in situ metabolic profiling of living plant systems are invaluable for understanding physiological processes and could be used for rapid phenotypic screening (e.g., to produce plants with superior biological nitrogen‐fixing ability). The symbiotic interaction between legumes and nitrogen‐fixing soil bacteria results in a specialized plant organ (i.e., root nodule) where the exchange of nutrients between host and endosymbiont occurs. Laser‐ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry ( LAESI ‐ MS ) is a method that can be performed under ambient conditions requiring minimal sample preparation. Here, we employed LAESI ‐ MS to explore the well characterized symbiosis between soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) and its compatible symbiont, Bradyrhizobium japonicum . The utilization of ion mobility separation ( IMS ) improved the molecular coverage, selectivity, and identification of the detected biomolecules. Specifically, incorporation of IMS resulted in an increase of 153 differentially abundant spectral features in the nodule samples. The data presented demonstrate the advantages of using LAESI – IMS – MS for the rapid analysis of intact root nodules, uninfected root segments, and free‐living rhizobia. Untargeted pathway analysis revealed several metabolic processes within the nodule (e.g., zeatin, riboflavin, and purine synthesis). Compounds specific to the uninfected root and bacteria were also detected. Lastly, we performed depth profiling of intact nodules to reveal the location of metabolites to the cortex and inside the infected region, and lateral profiling of sectioned nodules confirmed these molecular distributions. Our results established the feasibility of LAESI – IMS – MS for the analysis and spatial mapping of plant tissues, with its specific demonstration to improve our understanding of the soybean‐rhizobial symbiosis.

Stopka, Sylwia A.↗

Spectroanalysis in native gels (SING): rapid spectral analysis of pigmented thylakoid membrane complexes separated by CN-PAGE

Photosynthetic organisms rapidly adjust the capture, transfer and utilization of light energy to optimize the efficiency of photosynthesis and avoid photodamage. These adjustments involve fine-tuning of expression levels and mutual interactions among electron/proton transfer components and their associated light-harvesting antenna. Detailed studies of these interactions and their dynamics have been hindered by the low throughput and resolution of currently available research tools, which involve laborious isolation, separation and characterization steps. To address these issues, we developed an approach that measured multiple spectroscopic properties of thylakoid preparations directly in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels, enabling unprecedented resolution of photosynthetic complexes, both in terms of the spectroscopic and functional details, as well as the ability to distinguish separate complexes and thus test their functional connections. As a demonstration, we explore the thylakoid membrane components of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii acclimated to high and low light, using a combination of room temperature absorption and 77K fluorescence emission to generate a multi-dimensional molecular and spectroscopic map of the photosynthetic apparatus. We show that low-light-acclimated cells accumulate a photosystem I-containing megacomplex that is absent in high-light-acclimated cells and contains distinct LhcII proteins that can be distinguished based on their spectral signatures.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Separate, separated, and together: the transcriptional program of the Clostridium acetobutylicum-Clostridium ljungdahlii syntrophy leading to interspecies cell fusion

ABSTRACT Syntrophic cocultures (hitherto assumed to be commensalistic) of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium ljungdahlii , whereby CO 2 and H 2 produced by the former feed the latter, result in interspecies cell fusion involving large-scale exchange of protein, RNA, and DNA between the two organisms. Although mammalian cell fusion is mechanistically dissected, the mechanism for such microbial-cell fusions is unknown. To start exploring this mechanism, we used RNA sequencing to identify genes differentially expressed in this coculture using two types of comparisons. One type compared coculture to the two monocultures, capturing the combined impact of interactions through soluble signals in the medium and through direct cell-to-cell interactions. The second type compared membrane-separated versus -unseparated cocultures, isolating the impact of interspecies physical contact. While we could not firmly identify specific genes that might drive cell fusion, consistent with our hypothesized model for this interspecies microbial cell fusion, we observed differential regulation of genes involved in C. ljungdahlii’s autotrophic Wood-Ljungdahl pathway metabolism and genes of the motility machinery. Unexpectedly, we also identified differential regulation of biosynthetic genes of several amino acids, and notably of arginine and histidine. We verified that they are produced by C. acetobutylicum and are metabolized by C. ljungdahlii to its growth advantage. These and other findings, and notably upregulation of C. acetobutylicum ribosomal-protein genes, paint a more complex syntrophic picture and suggest a mutualistic relationship, whereby beyond CO 2 and H 2 , C. acetobutylicum feeds C. ljungdahlii with growth-boosting amino acids, while benefiting from the H 2 utilization by C. ljungdahlii . IMPORTANCE The construction and study of synthetic microbial cocultures is a growing research area due to the untapped potential of defined multi-species industrial bioprocesses and the utility of defined cocultures for generating insight into complex, undefined, natural microbial consortia. Our previous work showed that coculturing C. acetobutylicum and C. ljungdahlii leads to a unique metabolic phenotype (production of isopropanol) and heterologous cell fusion events. Here, we used RNAseq to explore genes involved in and impacted by these fusions. First, we compared gene expression in coculture to each monoculture. Second, we utilized a transwell system to compare gene expression in mixed cocultures to cocultures with both species physically separated by a permeable membrane, isolating the impact of interspecies “touching” on the transcriptome. This study deepens our mechanistic understanding of the C. acetobutylicum-C. ljungdahlii coculture phenotype, laying the groundwork for reverse genetic studies of heterologous cell fusion in Clostridium cocultures.

Willis, Noah B. (ORCID:0009000689365955)↗

FY12 Final Report for PL10-Mod Separations-PD12: Electrochemically Modulated Separation of Plutonium from Dilute and Concentrated Dissolver Solutions for Analysis by Gamma Spectroscopy

Accurate and timely analysis of plutonium in spent nuclear fuel is critical in nuclear safeguards for detection of both protracted and rapid plutonium diversions. Gamma spectroscopy is a viable method for accurate and timely measurements of plutonium provided that the plutonium is well separated from the interfering fission and activation products present in spent nuclear fuel. Electrochemically modulated separation (EMS) is a method that has been used successfully to isolate picogram amounts of Pu from nitric acid matrices. With EMS, Pu adsorption may be turned “on” and “off” depending on the applied voltage, allowing for collection and stripping of Pu without the addition of chemical reagents. In this work, we have scaled up the EMS process to isolate microgram quantities of Pu from matrices encountered in spent nuclear fuel during reprocessing. Several challenges have been addressed including surface area limitations, radiolysis effects, electrochemical cell performance stability, and chemical interferences. After these challenges were resolved, 6 µg Pu was deposited in the electrochemical cell with approximately an 800-fold reduction of fission and activation product levels from a spent nuclear fuel sample. Modeling showed that these levels of Pu collection and interference reduction may not be sufficient for Pu detection by gamma spectroscopy. The main remaining challenges are to achieve a more complete Pu isolation and to deposit larger quantities of Pu for successful gamma analysis of Pu. If gamma analyses of Pu are successful, EMS will allow for accurate and timely on-site analysis for enhanced Pu safeguards.

Pratt, Sandra H.↗

Features of a separating turbulent boundary layer in the vicinity of separation

Laser anemometer measurements using a directionally sensitive system were obtained for a nominally two-dimensional separating turbulent boundary layer produced by an adverse pressure gradient. An airfoil-type flow was generated in which the flow was accelerated and then decelerated until separation. The results include the skin friction, mean velocity profiles, turbulent shear stresses and intensities, spectra, dissipation rate, turbulent/non-turbulent interfacial intermittency, and eddy speeds.

Simpson, R. L.↗

Measurements of Aircraft Wake Vortex Separation at High Arrival Rates and a Proposed New Wake Vortex Separation Philosophy

This paper presents data and a proposed new aircraft wake vortex separation standard that argues for a fundamental re-thinking of international practice. The current static standard, under certain atmospheric conditions, presents an unnecessary restriction on system capacity. A new approach, that decreases aircraft separation when atmospheric conditions dictate, is proposed based upon the availability of new instrumentation and a better understanding of wake physics.

Rutishauser, David↗

Process for separating carbon dioxide from flue gas using sweep-based membrane separation and absorption steps

A gas separation process for treating flue gases from combustion processes, and combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the flue gas stream to be treated to an absorption-based carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the flue gas across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas to the combustor.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

In search of chiral magnetic effect: Separating flow-driven background effects and quantifying anomaly-induced charge separations

Here we report our recent progress on the search of Chiral Magnetic Effect (CME) by developing new measurements as well as by hydrodynamic simulations of CME and background effects, with both approaches addressing the pressing issue of separating flow-driven background contributions and possible CME signal in current heavy ion collision measurements.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗