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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 271 records · Page 15

Crystal Structures of Diaryl Hydrazone and Sulfone Stabilizers in Complex with an Amyloidogenic Light Chain Reveal an Alternate Ligand‐Binding Cavity

Abstract Stabilization of amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chains (LCs) by binding of small molecule “kinetic stabilizers” is under development as a novel treatment for light chain amyloidosis. From a high‐throughput screen, we previously identified 16 full‐length (FL) LC stabilizers from five distinct chemotypes. We then obtained structural biological information on two classes of hits, coumarins and hydantoins, revealing that both chemotypes bind to a pocket at the V L −V L interface of the FL LC dimer. Here, we report crystal structures of three screening hits from two other chemotypes, diaryl hydrazones and sulfones, in complex with an amyloidogenic FL LC. While two of these hits bind to the previously identified pocket, one diaryl hydrazone binds to a different pocket bisected by the C 2 symmetry axis of the dimer. These data further expand on the FL LC stabilizer‐binding surface that could be used in design of more potent FL LC aggregation inhibitors.

Chemistry↗

Recent Developments in Femtosecond Laser-Enabled TriBeam Systems

Streams of multimodal three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) data are revolutionizing our ability to design and predict the behavior of a broad array of advanced materials systems. Over the last 10 years, a new 3D imaging platform consisting of a femtosecond (fs) pulsed laser coupled with a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB SEM) has been developed by UC Santa Barbara in collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific (formerly FEI). The femtosecond-laser-enabled FIB SEM, called the TriBeam, has become one of the only 3D serial sectioning methods available that can gather millimeter-scaled multimodal datasets at sub-μm voxel resolutions; these length scales are critical for many materials problems. Multimodal chemical, crystallographic, and morphological information can be gathered rapidly on a layer-by-layer basis and reconstructed in 3D. Large (gigabyte to terabyte scale) 3D datasets have been generated for a broad array of materials systems, including metallic alloys, ceramics, biomaterials, polymer- and ceramic-matrix composites, and semiconductors. The research tasks conducted have resulted in a completely new design, operating with a dual-wavelength femtosecond-pulsed laser on a plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) platform.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fluctuation suppression in microgels by polymer electrolytes

Structural details of thermoresponsive, cationically poly(N-iso-propylacrylamide-co-methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride) microgels and the influence of the anionic electrolyte polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) on the internal structure and dynamics of the cationic microgels have been studied with a combination of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron spin echo (NSE) spectroscopy. While SANS can yield information on the overall size of the particles and on the typical correlation length inside the particles, studying the segmental polymer dynamics with NSE gives access to more internal details, which only appear due to their effect on the polymer motion. The segmental dynamics of the microgels studied in this paper is to a large extent suppressed by the PSS additive. Possible scenarios of the influence of the polyanions on the microgel structure and dynamics are discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Measurement of the longitudinal flow-plane decorrelation using multiplane cumulants in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au, Ru+Ru, and Zr+Zr collisions

Measurements of the variation of anisotropic flow-plane angles (𝛹 𝑛 ) with rapidity, commonly known as the flow-plane decorrelation, provide important insights into the initial conditions of the matter produced in heavy-ion collisions. Here, in this paper, using data collected by the STAR experiment, we report the first measurement of the four-plane correlator observable 𝑇 𝑛 ⁡{𝑏⁢𝑎;𝑑⁢𝑐}=⟨⟨sin⁡[𝑛⁢(𝛹$^𝑏_𝑛$ − 𝛹$^𝑎_𝑛$)]⁢sin⁡[𝑛⁢(𝛹$^𝑑_𝑛$ − 𝛹$^𝑐_𝑛$)]⟩⟩, where superscripts 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, and 𝑑 denote sequential pseudorapidity (𝜂) regions with 𝑎 corresponding to the most backward region, 𝑏 and 𝑐 close to mid-rapidity with 𝜂 𝑏 < 0 and 𝜂 𝑐 > 0, and 𝑑 being the most forward. The measurement is performed for the elliptic and triangular flow (i.e.~𝑛 = 2 and 3) in Au+Au and isobar (Ru+Ru, Zr+Zr) collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200~GeV. The goal of calculating the correlation of the flow-plane angle variations from backward to mid-central, and from mid-central to forward regions, is to probe the systematic variation of flow angle over a wide 𝜂 range. In mid-central collisions (10−30% centrality), we find 𝑇 2 ⁡{𝑏⁢𝑎;𝑑⁢𝑐} =−0.004 ±0.001⁢(s⁢t⁢a⁢t) ±0.002⁢(s⁢y⁢s⁢t) independent of the collision system. Such a small value of 𝑇 2 favors a random-walk'' variation of the flow-plane angles, where the rapidity correlation length is smaller than the entire region under study. These measurements provide new information on the decorrelation patterns in the system and offer a quantitative estimate of possible systematic variations in anisotropic flow angles such astwist’’ between forward and backward regions. This opens new opportunities for understanding the three-dimensional structure and the time evolution of the quark-gluon plasma created in heavy-ion collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The mechanical response of micron-sized molecular crystals

Abstract Microstructures and corresponding properties of compacted powders ultimately depend on the mechanical response of individual particles. In principle, computational simulations can predict the results of powder compaction processes, but the selection of appropriate models for both particle–particle interactions and particle deformations across all relevant length scales remain nontrivial tasks, especially in material systems lacking detailed mechanical property information. The work presented here addresses these issues by conducting uniaxial compressions in situ inside of a scanning electron microscope to characterize the mechanical response of individual micron-sized particles of a molecular crystal, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20). This experimental approach enabled the collection of quantitative force and displacement data alongside simultaneous imaging to capture morphology changes. The results reveal information about elastic deformation, yield, plastic deformation, creep, and fracture phenomena. Accordingly, this work demonstrates a generalizable approach for assessing the mechanical response of individual micron-sized molecular crystal particles and utilizing those responses in particle-level models. Graphic abstract

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Some potential blood flow experiments for space

Blood is a colloidal suspension of cells, predominantly erythrocytes, (red cells) in an aqueous solution called plasma. Because the red cells are more dense than the plasma, and because they tend to aggregate, erythrocyte sedimentation can be significant when the shear stresses in flowing blood are small. This behavior, coupled with equipment restrictions, has prevented certain definitive fluid mechanical studies from being performed with blood in ground-based experiments. Among such experiments, which could be satisfactorily performed in a microgravity environment, are the following: (1) studies of blood flow in small tubes, to obtain pressure-flow rate relationships, to determine if increased red cell aggregation can be an aid to blood circulation, and to determine vessel entrance lengths, and (2) studies of blood flow through vessel junctions (bifurcations), to obtain information on cell distribution in downstream vessels of (arterial) bifurcations, and to test flow models of stratified convergent blood flows downstream from (venous) bifurcations.

Cokelet, G. R.↗

Personal Computer (PC) based image processing applied to fluid mechanics

A PC based image processing system was employed to determine the instantaneous velocity field of a two-dimensional unsteady flow. The flow was visualized using a suspension of seeding particles in water, and a laser sheet for illumination. With a finite time exposure, the particle motion was captured on a photograph as a pattern of streaks. The streak pattern was digitized and processed using various imaging operations, including contrast manipulation, noise cleaning, filtering, statistical differencing, and thresholding. Information concerning the velocity was extracted from the enhanced image by measuring the length and orientation of the individual streaks. The fluid velocities deduced from the randomly distributed particle streaks were interpolated to obtain velocities at uniform grid points. For the interpolation a simple convolution technique with an adaptive Gaussian window was used. The results are compared with a numerical prediction by a Navier-Stokes computation.

Cho, Y.-C.↗

Personal computer (PC) based image processing applied to fluid mechanics research

A PC based image processing system was employed to determine the instantaneous velocity field of a two-dimensional unsteady flow. The flow was visualized using a suspension of seeding particles in water, and a laser sheet for illumination. With a finite time exposure, the particle motion was captured on a photograph as a pattern of streaks. The streak pattern was digitized and processsed using various imaging operations, including contrast manipulation, noise cleaning, filtering, statistical differencing, and thresholding. Information concerning the velocity was extracted from the enhanced image by measuring the length and orientation of the individual streaks. The fluid velocities deduced from the randomly distributed particle streaks were interpolated to obtain velocities at uniform grid points. For the interpolation a simple convolution technique with an adaptive Gaussian window was used. The results are compared with a numerical prediction by a Navier-Stokes commputation.

Cho, Y.-C.↗

Soft X-ray astronomy using grazing incidence optics

The instrumental background of X-ray astronomy with an emphasis on high resolution imagery is outlined. Optical and system performance, in terms of resolution, are compared and methods for improving the latter in finite length instruments described. The method of analysis of broadband images to obtain diagnostic information is described and is applied to the analysis of coronal structures.

Davis, John M.↗

Bandwidth efficient coding for fading channels - Code construction and performance analysis

The authors apply a general method of bounding the event error probability of trellis-coded modulation schemes to fading channels and use the effective length and the minimum-squared-product distance to replace the minimum-free-squared-Euclidean distance as code design parameters for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels with a substantial multipath component. They present 8-PSK trellis codes specifically constructed for fading channels that outperform equivalent codes designed for the additive white Gaussian noise channel when v is greater than or equal to 5. For quasiregular trellis codes there exists an efficient algorithm for evaluating event error probability, and numerical results on Pe which demonstrate the importance of the effective length as a code design parameter for fading channels with or without side information have been obtained. This is consistent with the case for binary signaling, where the Hamming distance remains the best code design parameter for fading channels. The authors show that the use of Reed-Solomon block codes with expanded signal sets becomes interesting only for large values of E(s)/N(0), where they begin to outperform trellis codes.

Schlegel, Christian↗

Takeoff Performance Monitoring System display options

The development of displays for the Takeoff Performance Monitoring System (TPMS) is described with attention given to the three concepts prepared for commercial applications. The TPMS algorithm is described and related to the display requirements for pilots of two-engine airplanes. Head-up and -down displays are considered for displaying the simple advisory data which indicate whether the takeoff is a 'Go' or 'No-go' based on engine failure, acceleration error, and runway length. Six pilots are shown the three display options which include: (1) basic information; (2) basic data with 'Go/No-go' advisory flags; and (3) basic data, advisory flags, and an abort-warning symbol. The pilots tended to select the option with the most advisory data available, but the inconclusive preference study led to the concept of presenting all three configurations as possible display options for the TPMS.

Middleton, David B.↗

Liquid metal micro heat pipes for space radiator applications

Micromachining is a chemical means of etching three-dimensional structures, typically in single-crystalline silicon. These techniques are leading toward what is coming to be referred to as MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems), where in addition to the ordinary two dimensional (planar) microelectronics, it is possible to build three-dimensional micromotors, electrically-actuated microvalves, hydraulic systems, and much more on the same microchip. These techniques become possible because of differential etching rates of various crystallographic planes and materials used for semiconductor microfabrication. The University of Cincinnati group in collaboration with NASA Lewis formed micro heat pipes in silicon by the above techniques. Work is ongoing at a modest level, but several essential bonding and packaging techniques have been recently developed. Currently, we have constructed and filled water/silicon micro heat pipes. Preliminary thermal tests of arrays of 125 micro heat pipes etched in a 1 inch x 1 inch x 250 micron silicon wafer have been completed. These pipes are instrumented with extremely small P-N junctions to measure their effective conductivity and their maximum operating power. A relatively simple one-dimensional model has been developed in order to predict micro heat pipes' operating characteristics. This information can be used to optimize micro heat pipe design with respect to length, hydraulic diameter, and number of pipes. Work is progressing on the fabrication of liquid-metal micro heat pipes. In order to be compatible with liquid metal (sodium or potassium), the inside of the micro heat pipes will be coated with a refractory metal (such as tungsten, molybdenum, or titanium).

Gerner, F. M.↗

Translaminar Fracture Toughness of a Composite Wing Skin Made of Stitched Warp-knit Fabric

A series of tests were conducted to measure the fracture toughness of carbon/epoxy composites. The composites were made from warp-knit carbon fabric and infiltrated with epoxy using a resin-film-infusion process. The fabric, which was designed by McDonnell Douglas for the skin of an all-composite subsonic transport wing, contained fibers in the 0 deg, +/-45 deg, and 90 deg directions. Layers of fabric were stacked and stitched together with Kevlar yarn to form a 3-dimensional preform. Three types of test specimens were evaluated: compact tension, center notch tension, and edge notch tension. The effects of specimen size and crack length on fracture toughness were measured for each specimen type. These data provide information on the effectiveness of the test methods and on general trends in the material response. The scope of the investigation was limited by the material that was available.

Masters, John E.↗

Mars Dynamics from Earth-Based Tracking of the Mars Pathfinder Lander

Measurements of Mars' rotational variations can be conducted via Earth-based radio tracking observations of the Mars Pathfinder lander during an extended mission. Two-way range measurements between an Earth tracking station and the lander will enable precise monitoring of the planet's orientation, allowing details of Mars' internal structure and global surface/atmosphere interactions to be determined. An analysis has been performed to investigate the accuracy with which key physical parameters of Mars can be determined using the Earth-based radio tracking measurements. Acquisition of such measurements over one Martian year should enable determination of Mars' polar moment of inertia to 1% or better, providing a strong constraint on radial density profiles (and hence on the iron content of the core and mantle) and on long-term variations of the obliquity, which influences the climate. Variations in Mars length of day and polar motion should also be detectable, and will yield information on the seasonal cycling of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and the surface.

Folkner, W. M.↗

Gravity and the Adaptation of Form and Function in Lower Vertebrates

Comparative data emphasizing lower vertebrates will be used to justify the following generalized conclusions or expectations: 1) Gravitational stress produces adaptive increases in arterial pressure. 2) Gravitational stress produces adaptive reorganization of anatomy. 3) Natural selection favors small body size in high G-stress environments. 4) Gravitational stress produces low-compliant perivascular tissues (morphological antigravity suit). 5) Gradients or regional zonation of vascular characters evolve along the length of elongate vertebrates living in high G-stress environments. Presentation of information will include new data gathered by the author and Dr. Alan Hargens while the author was a NRC Senior Research Associate at NASA Ames Research Center. While there is no published abstract provided at the meeting, a symposium manuscript will be published in a special volume of Journal of Experimental Zoology.

Lillywhite, Harvey B.↗

Required Area for a Crew Person in a Space Vehicle

This 176 page report was written in circa 1966 to examine the effects of confmement during space flight. One of the topics covered was the required size of a space vehicle for extended missions. Analysis was done using size of crew and length of time in a confmed space. The report was based on all information available at that time. The data collected and analyzed included both NASA and (when possible) Russian missions flown to date, analogs (such as submarines), and ground studies. Both psychological and physiological responses to confmement were examined. Factors evaluated in estimating the degree of impairment included the level of performance of intellectual, perceptual, manual and co-ordinated tasks, response to psychological testing, subjective comments of the participants, nature and extent of physiological change, and the nature and extent of behavioral change and the nature and extent of somatic complaints. Information was not included from studies where elements of perceptual isolation were more than mildly incidental - water immersion studies, studies in darkened and acoustically insulated rooms, studies with distorted environmental inputs - unpattemed light and white noise. Using the graph from the document, the upper line provides a threshold of minimum acceptable volumeall points above the line may be considered acceptable. The lower line provides a threshold of unacceptable volume - all points below the line are unacceptable. The area in between the two lines is the area of doubtful acceptability where impairment tends to increase with reduction in volume and increased duration of exposure. Reference is made of the Gemini VII, 14-day duration mission which had detectable impairment with a combination of 40 cubic feet per man for 14 days. In line with all other data this point should be in the 'marked impairment' zone. It is assumed that the state of fitness, dedication and experience influenced this outcome.

Mount, Frances E.↗

Astronaut Photography of the Earth: A Long-Term Dataset for Earth Systems Research, Applications, and Education

The NASA Earth observations dataset obtained by humans in orbit using handheld film and digital cameras is freely accessible to the global community through the online searchable database at https://eol.jsc.nasa.gov, and offers a useful compliment to traditional ground-commanded sensor data. The dataset includes imagery from the NASA Mercury (1961) through present-day International Space Station (ISS) programs, and currently totals over 2.6 million individual frames. Geographic coverage of the dataset includes land and oceans areas between approximately 52 degrees North and South latitudes, but is spatially and temporally discontinuous. The photographic dataset includes some significant impediments for immediate research, applied, and educational use: commercial RGB films and camera systems with overlapping bandpasses; use of different focal length lenses, unconstrained look angles, and variable spacecraft altitudes; and no native geolocation information. Such factors led to this dataset being underutilized by the community but recent advances in automated and semi-automated image geolocation, image feature classification, and web-based services are adding new value to the astronaut-acquired imagery. A coupled ground software and on-orbit hardware system for the ISS is in development for planned deployment in mid-2017; this system will capture camera pose information for each astronaut photograph to allow automated, full georegistration of the data. The ground system component of the system is currently in use to fully georeference imagery collected in response to International Disaster Charter activations, and the auto-registration procedures are being applied to the extensive historical database of imagery to add value for research and educational purposes. In parallel, machine learning techniques are being applied to automate feature identification and classification throughout the dataset, in order to build descriptive metadata that will improve search capabilities. It is expected that these value additions will increase interest and use of the dataset by the global community.

Stefanov, William L.↗

A Combined Computational, Experimental, and Technology Development Approach to In-Space Laser Manufacturing Maturation at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

In-space manufacturing (ISM) is emerging as a field vital to continued access and capabilities in the space environment. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is advancing the frontier of in-space laser manufacturing (ISLM) techniques through work initially focused on maturing laser beam welding (LBW) and laser forming (LF) for use in space. Such techniques proffer the ability to assemble and join structures in space from sheet metal or other stock – extant satellites, in situ resource utilization of Lunar regolith, etc. – by forming to desired shapes and then joining via in-space welding (ISW). ISLM processes are useful for assembly, joining, modification, and repair of structures in free space and on the Lunar surface such as large observatories, antennas, trusses, blast/thermal/radiation shields, pressure vessels, and more. However, these techniques are not yet qualified & certified (Q&C) for regular application in space. It would be prohibitively expensive, laborious, and time-consuming to perform Q&C via traditional experimental approaches as data collection & experimentation in space is resource-intensive. As such, benchmark experiments and focused, properly instrumented technology demonstration efforts in space can collect sufficient data that – when combined with verified computational models in an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) approach – can validate ICME tools capable of translating more readily obtained ground data to in-space, in situ, computationally informed Q&C of ISLM techniques. Several ISLM projects at MSFC are obtaining the data required to validate ICME tools through both ground and flight experiments. A parabolic flight experiment of LBW under vacuum is manifested for August 2024, including both microgravity and Lunar gravity profiles. This collaboration with the Ohio State University is investigating common aerospace alloys such as 316L stainless steel, 2219 aluminum alloy, and Ti64 titanium alloy. In situ data collection includes videography, thermography, and reference thermocouples to build a thermal model of the welds. This will elucidate the relevant physics when combined with post-flight microstructural examination and mechanical testing. MSFC is also progressing towards a suborbital flight experiment of LBW under vacuum, which could provide reams of data on ISW during sustained, high-quality reduced gravity. The effect of combined thermal (cryogenic and high-temperature) and vacuum exposure on both LBW (NASA-funded) and LF (DARPA-funded) is being investigated through ground experiments. In addition to the copious data collected during these ground experiments, ruggedization of LBW hardware will also be pursued. The datasets from these experiments will be used to validate computational models which will inform future ISLM efforts in an ICME framework. A variety of techniques across lengths scales, from CALPHAD-driven thermodynamics & kinetics to phase field modeling of solidification to kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of grain evolution at the mesoscale, will be employed to accelerate the infusion and eventual Q&C of LBW and LF for use in space. The development of data-driven surrogate models to bridge ground to flight experiments and thereby reduce the need for resource-intensive experiments in space will also be investigated. These ICME techniques, surrogate models, and datasets from ground testing can also be employed to advance manufacturing in terrestrial environments.

in-space welding↗