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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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Perform Design Support with MCNP for New Measurements

This report incorporates our work carried out during our 5-month internship at LANL under an internship agreement with EAMEA (École des Applications Militaires de l’Énergie Atomique). After outlining the context in which we worked, we present our work as aid to modeling and predicting the neutronic behavior of nuclear systems, with a view to carrying out criticality experiments qualifying the MCNP code as part of innovative projects. Fourth generation reactors will enable to tackle a lot of issues such as environmental crisis, affordable energy access, and nuclear waste management. They seem to be one of the keys for a sustainable future. Most of the projects that emerge nowadays include the use of HALEU (high assay low enriched uranium) or MOX recycled fuels. Our projects are part of this dynamic and addresses concrete scientific research issues in the nuclear field. Studies of HALEU package are essential to anticipate the need, therefore the Optimus L (OPTImal Modular Universal Shipping cask technology) designed by NAC (Nuclear Assurance Corporation) international but filled with 20 % enriched uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) will be studied to support safe transportation. However, it seems there is no benchmark with a high correlation with the combination of this fuel and this package to validate MCNP simulations. As such, the study will focus on the development of new criticality safety benchmarks for this case. On the other hand, there is a great need for critical benchmarks in the intermediate energy range with MOX fuel. An IER (Integral Experiment Request) has then be requested to answer it through a partnership between French institution IRSN and U.S. Department of Energy's Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP). This experience planned for 2025 requires to gather calculated data through a MCNP model to be realized safely. Finally, a presentation of our one-week experience at the DAF as part of our discovery of criticality experiments will be introduced in Appendix 1: Week at the DAF (Device Assembly Facility)

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

GLBRC Soil Yearlong Incubation 13C-SIP-Lipidomics

Data package for Lipids represent a dynamic, yet stable pool of microbially-derived soil carbon This data is published under a CC0 license. The authors encourage data reuse and request attribution by referencing the below citations for the data packages and associated manuscript. Please cite as: Rempfert KR, Bell SL, Kasanke CP, Kyle JE, Hofmockel KS. 2025. GLBRC Soil Yearlong Incubation 13C-SIP-Lipidomics. [Data Set] PNNL DataHub. doi: Rempfert KR, Bell SL, Kasanke CP, Kyle JE, Hofmockel KS. 2025. MSV000097435: GLBRC soil yearlong incubation 13C-SIP-Lipidomics [Data Set] MassIVE. doi:10.25345/C57659T3K Rempfert KR, Bell SL, Kasanke CP, Kyle JE, Hofmockel KS. 2025. Lipids represent a dynamic, yet stable pool of microbially-derived soil carbon. In Prep This data package consists of compound-specific 13C SIP-lipidomics data from a yearlong tracer incubation experiment designed to investigate microbial lipid persistence in switchgrass bioenergy crop soils. In order to explore how lipid structure may modulate the persistence of C in soil lipids, we leveraged soils from two sites (Michigan - sandy texture, Wisconsin - silty texture) operated by the U.S. Department of Energy-funded Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC). These sites had comparable climates, identical management practices, but contrasting soil textures, allowing us to assess the variability of lipid accrual or degradation in soils as well as provide insight regarding the degree to which edaphic properties may regulate the retention of soil lipids. Untargeted lipidomics analyses were performed to identify 13C-labeled lipids in the soil microbiome after long-term incubation. Soils were supplemented with 100 micrograms glucose per gram dry soil (99 atom % 13C or natural abundance for paired control) and incubated; samples were collected two months and one year after glucose addition. Lipid extracts (MPLEx) were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and identified using LIQUID. Calculation of isotopic enrichment of lipids was performed by targeted approach using TarMet to quantify lipid isotopologues and IsoCorrectoR to correct for natural abundance isotopes. Contents: Data package contents reported here are the first version and contain downstream analysis files for the raw LC-MS mass spectrometry files (.mzXML) deposited at the MassIVE database repository under accession MSV000097435 (80 experimental runs; 5.85 GB) | MassIVE DOI: 10.25345/C57659T3K. Support files include the additional data download 'Read Me' file containing data descriptor information. Reported data download contents are structured for compliance with project data sharing guidelines, community standards initiatives, and sponsor stakeholder policies supporting FAIR data principles. Data processing software, analysis tools, and data workflows are listed below corresponding to the host repository long-term location. Available Data Downloads (0.3 GB): "GLBRC soil yearlong incubation 13C-SIP-Lipidomics_readme.txt" - 'Read Me' data package content file (txt) "GLBRC_DataPackage_analysis files" - Data processing files (Rmd) and saved intermediate data processing outputs (rds, csv, xlsx) "GLBRC_13C_lipidomics_dataset.xlsx" - processed data in tabular format (xlsx) Linked Software: LIQUID LC-MS Analysis Software | 10.5281/zenodo.6459462 Lipid Mini-On Software Tools | 10.5281/zenodo.1492803 pmartR Omics Statistical Software | 10.5281/zenodo.6108667 xcms (v4.3.3) TarMet (v1.1.1) IsoCorrectoR (1.24.0) Funding Acknowledgments: This research was supported by an Early Career Research Program award funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) Genomic Science program under FWP 68292, FWP 07880 and EMSL Exploratory Research Project 51095. A portion of this work was performed in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a national scientific user facility sponsored by OBER and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a multi-program national laboratory operated by Battelle for the DOE under Contract DE-AC05-76RLO1830.

Rempfert, Kaitlin R [Pacific Northwest National La↗

Nickel-incorporated Oxide Composites for Fiber-Optic Based Gas Sensing

Numerous high-value applications within the energy sector involve environmental conditions that are incompatible with traditional sensor technology due to degradation of electrical interconnects, packaging, or the sensors themselves. These can include chemically harsh conditions, high temperature operation, or the presence of electromagnetic interference due to high voltage. The fiber optic platform, constructed of robust, electrically insulating glass or single crystal oxides, offers a versatile and often low cost per node solution to this problem, especially with the integration of distributed sensing techniques such as optical time-domain and frequency-domain reflectometry (OTDR, OFDR). A major challenge of gas and chemical sensing on the optical fiber platform is the fabrication of robust and stable sensing materials that interact quickly and reversibly to the presence of the target analytes. In this work, we discuss the utilization of nickel-incorporated oxides on evanescent-field optical fiber sensors for gas sensing under harsh conditions relevant to multiple energy infrastructure applications. This paper will discuss a Ni/GDC (Ni / Gd-doped ceria) based sensing layer targeting conditions relevant for high-temperature (up to at least 800 oC) hydrogen sensing applications (e.g., for operation within a solid oxide fuel cell or electrolyzer). The impact of hydrogen at elevated temperatures on the optical properties of Ni/GDC will be shown and the material mechanisms for the optical response will be discussed.

gas sensors↗

Nickel-incorporated Oxide Composites for Fiber-Optic Based Gas Sensing

Numerous high-value applications within the energy sector involve environmental conditions that are incompatible with traditional sensor technology due to degradation of electrical interconnects, packaging, or the sensors themselves. These can include chemically harsh conditions, high temperature operation, or the presence of electromagnetic interference due to high voltage. The fiber optic platform, constructed of robust, electrically insulating glass or single crystal oxides, offers a versatile and often low cost per node solution to this problem, especially with the integration of distributed sensing techniques such as optical time-domain and frequency-domain reflectometry (OTDR, OFDR). A major challenge of gas and chemical sensing on the optical fiber platform is the fabrication of robust and stable sensing materials that interact quickly and reversibly to the presence of the target analytes. In this work, we discuss the utilization of nickel-incorporated oxides on evanescent-field optical fiber sensors for gas sensing under harsh conditions relevant to multiple energy infrastructure applications. This paper will discuss a Ni/GDC (Ni / Gd-doped ceria) based sensing layer targeting conditions relevant for high-temperature (up to at least 800oC) hydrogen sensing applications (e.g., for operation within a solid oxide fuel cell or electrolyzer). The impact of hydrogen at elevated temperatures on the optical properties of Ni/GDC will be shown and the material mechanisms for the optical response will be discussed.

gas sensors↗

Electron-impact excitation data for W 2+ in support of tungsten spectroscopy and re-deposition measurements for magnetically-confined plasmas

Abstract To better understand plasma wall interactions involving tungsten, accurate atomic structure and electron-impact driven collisional processes for near-neutral ion stages of tungsten are required. Complementing existing work on neutral and singly ionised tungsten, atomic structure and collisional calculations for W 2+ electron-impact excitation have been completed. These excitation calculations are an important component of S/XB coefficients for near-neutral charge states, which may be used to spectroscopically infer re-deposition of tungsten at the plasma-solid boundary of fusion relevant devices. With W 2+ in particular having emission lines that can be observed at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, while higher charge states of tungsten are unlikely to have lines possible to observe outside of the vacuum UV range. The atomic structure was generated using the General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package (GRASP 0 ), implementing the Multi-configuration Dirac Fock approach. This structure was the basis for a subsequent Dirac R -matrix electron-impact excitation calculation to provide Maxwellian averaged rate coefficients. A synthetic spectrum was generated from this data using a collisional-radiative model to predict the strongest W III spectral lines and these lines were compared to emission from the Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) plasma device. Several of the strongest W III lines are observed in CTH and agree well with the modelled line wavelengths and intensities, a table of these lines is provided that could be observed in other devices.

McCann, M. (ORCID:0000000215321240)↗

A new metrics framework for quantifying and intercomparing atmospheric rivers in observations, reanalyses, and climate models

We present a new atmospheric river (AR) analysis and benchmarking tool, namely Atmospheric River Metrics Package (ARMP). It includes a suite of new AR metrics that are designed for quick analysis of AR characteristics via statistics in gridded climate datasets such as model output and reanalysis. This package can be used for climate model evaluation in comparison with reanalysis and observational products. Integrated metrics such as mean bias and spatial pattern correlation are efficient for diagnosing systematic AR biases in climate models. For example, the package identifies the fact that, in CMIP5 and CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phases 5 and 6) models, AR tracks in the South Atlantic are positioned farther poleward compared to ERA5 reanalysis, while in the South Pacific, tracks are generally biased towards the Equator. For the landfalling AR peak season, we find that most climate models simulate a completely opposite seasonal cycle over western Africa. This tool can also be used for identifying and characterizing structural differences among different AR detectors (ARDTs). For example, ARs detected with the Mundhenk algorithm exhibit systematically larger size, width, and length compared to the TempestExtremes (TE) method. The AR metrics developed from this work can be routinely applied for model benchmarking and during the development cycle to trace performance evolution across model versions or generations and set objective targets for the improvement of models. They can also be used by operational centers to perform near-real-time climate and extreme event impact assessments as part of their forecast cycle.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Investigating resource-efficient neutron/gamma classification ML models targeting eFPGAs

There has been considerable interest and resulting progress in implementing machine learning (ML) models in hardware over the last several years from the particle and nuclear physics communities. A big driver has been the release of the Python package, hls4ml, which has enabled porting models specified and trained using Python ML libraries to register transfer level (RTL) code. So far, the primary end targets have been commercial field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or synthesized custom blocks on application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). However, recent developments in open-source embedded FPGA (eFPGA) frameworks now provide an alternate, more flexible pathway for implementing ML models in hardware. These customized eFPGA fabrics can be integrated as part of an overall chip design. In general, the decision between a fully custom, eFPGA, or commercial FPGA ML implementation will depend on the details of the end-use application. In this work, we explored the parameter space for eFPGA implementations of fully-connected neural network (fcNN) and boosted decision tree (BDT) models using the task of neutron/gamma classification with a specific focus on resource efficiency. We used data collected using an AmBe sealed source incident on Stilbene, which was optically coupled to an OnSemi J-series silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) to generate training and test data for this study. We investigated relevant input features and the effects of bit-resolution and sampling rate as well as trade-offs in hyperparameters for both ML architectures while tracking total resource usage. The performance metric used to track model performance was the calculated neutron efficiency at a gamma leakage of 10 -3 . The results of the study will be used to aid the specification of an eFPGA fabric, which will be integrated as part of a test chip.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Casing Annulus Monitoring of CO 2 Injection Using Wireless Autonomous Distributed Sensor Networks

Effective and secure carbon subsurface storage, involving the deep underground injection of CO 2 into geological formations where it is permanently trapped, is paramount to mitigating CO 2 emissions (Figure I). Ensuring the integrity of these storage sites and detecting potential leakage through the casing annulus necessitates robust monitoring. This work provides the first integrated demonstration of a wireless casing-annulus monitoring architecture that can operate in highly attenuating cement-brine environments relevant to CO 2 storage. This project focused on developing and validating a novel sensor system for integration with autonomous monitoring near the cement reservoir interface. The goal was a fully integrated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 field validation of a distributed wireless intelligent sensor system providing real-time, direct subsurface formation measurements to enhance fluid movement monitoring in the cemented casing annulus. Achieving this objective required the development and integration of 1) wireless autonomous microsensor technology by California Institute of Technology (Caltech); 2) sensor packaging and emplacement technology by Research Triangle Institute (RTI); and 3) smart well completions using wireless active casing collars and NOV pipe by the Sandia National Lab (SNL). The collaboration with the Caltech team in this project aimed to develop millimeter-scale radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors capable of detecting CO 2 , pH, and/or methane levels. These sensors are engineered to be impervious to fluids, allowing them to be mixed with cement and installed within the casing annulus. They operate using RFID protocols at frequencies of 902–928 MHz for both power and communication. A Sandia National Laboratories’ team engaged their expertise in the development of a Smart Collar system designed for the wireless data collection from these RFID sensors embedded in the cement annulus and transmission of this information to the ground surface via IntelliPipe/IntelliServ NOV drill pipe. This is accomplished through inductive coupling at the collar, which facilitates data transfer through each segment of the pipe. Because the system cannot transmit a direct current signal to power the Smart Collar, both power and communication were implemented using alternating current and electromagnetic signals at varying frequencies. Furthermore, the developed microsensor technology had to be demonstrated and validated in comparison with reference transducer measurements in a field test site at The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). Although the full sensor suite did not reach field-deployment readiness, the system-level integration achieved in this project establishes a validated pathway for future incorporation of advanced microsensors.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

An Early Investigation of the HHL Quantum Linear Solver for Scientific Applications

In this paper, we explore using the Harrow–Hassidim–Lloyd (HHL) algorithm to address scientific and engineering problems through quantum computing, utilizing the NWQSim simulation package on a high-performance computing platform. Focusing on domains such as power-grid management and climate projection, we demonstrate the correlations of the accuracy of quantum phase estimation, along with various properties of coefficient matrices, on the final solution and quantum resource cost in iterative and non-iterative numerical methods such as the Newton–Raphson method and finite difference method, as well as their impacts on quantum error correction costs using the Microsoft Azure Quantum resource estimator. We summarize the exponential resource cost from quantum phase estimation before and after quantum error correction and illustrate a potential way to reduce the demands on physical qubits. This work lays down a preliminary step for future investigations, urging a closer examination of quantum algorithms’ scalability and efficiency in domain applications.

hybrid software for QC-HPC↗

Identifying Controlling Variables for Mercury Vapors in Alpha-4 at Y-12: Two Year Data Collection Update

Multiple sensor packages were deployed at Alpha-4 by SRNL, in collaboration with United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR), to monitor mercury vapor concentrations and meteorological parameters. These sensors collected data, inside and outside of the legacy-use facility, for approximately two years. Though data gaps still exist, particularly in colder months, several controlling variables were identified that govern mercury vapor concentrations within Alpha-4. Temperature, barometric pressure gradients, humidity, and wind speed have been identified as controlling variables. A strong positive correlation was seen between mercury vapor concentrations and temperature which generally followed diurnal fluctuations. Temperatures below approximately 10 degrees Celsius did not show any spikes above the PEL, indicating more work can be performed at any time during the winter months – more data should be collected to confirm consistency in this finding. Additionally, spikes in mercury vapor concentrations above that of the permissible exposure limit (PEL; 100 µg/m 3 ) occurred primarily in late afternoon or evening/overnight hours (between 3 PM and 6 AM), which suggests D&D operations might be best scheduled during morning or daytime hours prior to the late afternoon. However, a limited number of spikes did occur outside of the identified window, although this may be attributed to disturbances in air flow and mercury vapor release from work activities performed inside of the Alpha-4 building. The analysis conducted allows for a strong predictive capability for estimating mercury vapor concentrations based upon accurate meteorological parameters. Still, additional data collection, particularly in the winter months, could help to strengthen the predictive power and validate the identified data trends. Further, increased temporal resolution could also help to better characterize the incipient stages of the increases and decreases in the mercury vapor concentration. Continued monitoring support by SRNL at Y-12 is underway at Alpha-4 to further close remaining data gaps and support deactivation and decommissioning work. Within a collaborative effort with UCOR, the SRNL team is collecting mercury vapor data to study the efficacy of a novel mercury suppressant, FerroBlack® which was recently deployed at Alpha-4. In addition, modifications to the current monitoring setup to increase measurement resolution is also being investigated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Surrogate Neural Architecture Codesign Package (SNAC-Pack)

Neural Architecture Search is a powerful approach for automating model design, but existing methods struggle to accurately optimize for real hardware performance, often relying on proxy metrics such as bit operations. We present Surrogate Neural Architecture Codesign Package (SNAC-Pack), an integrated framework that automates the discovery and optimization of neural networks focusing on FPGA deployment. SNAC-Pack combines Neural Architecture Codesign's multi-stage search capabilities with the Resource Utilization and Latency Estimator, enabling multi-objective optimization across accuracy, FPGA resource utilization, and latency without requiring time-intensive synthesis for each candidate model. We demonstrate SNAC-Pack on a high energy physics jet classification task, achieving 63.84% accuracy with resource estimation. When synthesized on a Xilinx Virtex UltraScale+ VU13P FPGA, the SNAC-Pack model matches baseline accuracy while maintaining comparable resource utilization to models optimized using traditional BOPs metrics. This work demonstrates the potential of hardware-aware neural architecture search for resource-constrained deployments and provides an open-source framework for automating the design of efficient FPGA-accelerated models.

Weitz, Jason [UC, San Diego] (ORCID:00090004631535↗

Critical Component/Technology Gap in 21 st Century Power Plant Gasification Based Polygeneration: Advanced Ceramic Membranes/Modules for Ultra Efficient Hydrogen (H 2 ) Production/Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Capture for Coal-Based Polygeneration

The 21 st Century Power Plant Gasification Based Polygeneration power plant layout is a relatively straightforward retrofit of well-established ammonia synthesis technology to the baseline IGCC process and envisions co-production of power and chemicals from coal in the context of carbon capture. A Dual Stage Membrane Process (DSMP) for pre-combustion CO 2 capture in a coal fired IGCC power plant has been demonstrated by Media and Process Technology Inc (MPT) (DE-FE0013064) in bench-scale live gas testing at the NCCC. This work, however, highlighted the importance of permeate purge capability to deliver deep H 2 recovery at moderate pressures and high carbon capture performance. Further, in the area of warm gas processing, a permeate purgeable membrane support for a wide range of inorganic high-performance membrane materials (CMS, Pd-alloy, zeolite, ZIF, graphene, etc.) was not available and hence had been a common and significant barrier to their commercialization. Hence, the Critical Technology Gap to implementing the DSMP in the Polygeneration power plant and more broadly in advanced warm gas separation applications was the inability to permeate purge the membranes coupled with the lack of the availability of a high packing density scalable package design. To overcome this Critical Technology Gap, in this project, the primary objective was the development of a permeate purgeable full ceramic support for these high-performance inorganic membranes and the complementary high packing density housing. Our goal and approach were to extend our “candle filter” design to a “dual end open” package to enable permeate purge and scalability. Microporous ceramic membranes have been proven to be a low cost, stable material for high temperature applications under harsh environment. They are the leading support choice of researchers in advanced inorganic membrane development in applications such as pre-combustion CO 2 capture. The new 2nd Generation “dual end open” bundle developed in this project is a universal support for these existing and emerging inorganic membrane technologies that up to now have lacked a pathway out of the laboratory. The full ceramic permeate purgeable support represents a transformational technology and opens the door to commercialization of these advanced membrane materials in a wide array of mega scale commercial applications in gas (and liquid) processing under aggressive conditions not suited to conventional polymeric membranes.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Principal Landau determinants

We reformulate the Landau analysis of Feynman integrals with the aim of advancing the state of the art in modern particle-physics computations. We contribute new algorithms for computing Landau singularities, using tools from polyhedral geometry and symbolic/numerical elimination. Inspired by the work of Gelfand, Kapranov, and Zelevinsky (GKZ) on generalized Euler integrals, we define the principal Landau determinant of a Feynman diagram. We illustrate with a number of examples that this algebraic formalism allows to compute many components of the Landau singular locus. We adapt the GKZ framework by carefully specializing Euler integrals to Feynman integrals. For instance, ultraviolet and infrared singularities are detected as irreducible components of an incidence variety, which project dominantly to the kinematic space. We compute principal Landau determinants for the infinite families of one-loop and banana diagrams with different mass configurations, and for a range of cutting-edge Standard Model processes. Furthermore, our algorithms build on the Julia package this http URL and are implemented in the new open-source package this http URL available at this https URL.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Extending JuTrack’s capabilities to the FRIB accelerator to enhance online modeling

JuTrack is a Julia-based accelerator modeling and tracking package that utilizes compiler-level automatic differentiation (AD) to enable fast and accurate derivative calculations. While JuTrack provides a solid foundation for beam dynamics simulations, its capabilities must be extended to support the Facility for Rare Isotopes (FRIB) linac. This includes modeling heavy-ion linac accelerator components such as the liquid-lithium charge stripper, which facilitates efficient acceleration by remove electrons from heavy isotopes, and incorporating multi-charge state acceleration tracking, which allows for charge-dependent beam dynamics. These extensions address challenges such as the beam matching and optimization of multi charge state through various accelerating structures and beam-material interaction modeling while maintaining the auto differentiation capability. This work focuses on adapting JuTrack to incorporate these elements, enhancing its online modeling abilities. We present modifications to JuTrack’s framework and demonstrate their performance in FRIB simulations.

Accelerator Physics↗

A comprehensive first-principles study of the effects of the exchange-correlation functional and magnetism on defect and diffusion properties of the CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy

The present work is a novel, systematic study of the effect of density functional theory input parameters on the vacancy formation energy (VFE), migration barrier for diffusion, and electronic structure for each element in the CoCrNi medium-entropy alloy (MEA). In particular, the novelties include: (1) calculating the aforementioned properties of Co, Cr, or Ni, in the CoCrNi MEA using magnetic and non-magnetic states, and two versions of the generalized gradient approximation: Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) and the PBE version for solids (PBEsol), and (2) a detailed comparison of 0 K activation energy to experimental creep activation energies. First-principles calculations at 0 K are performed using the Vienna ab-initio simulation package. Special quasirandom structures (SQS) and Widom-type substitution are employed. For each element, Co, Cr, or Ni, non-magnetic calculations result in a higher VFE and larger range of calculated values for the configurations studied. The averaged migration barrier is the highest for Co in the CoCrNi for three of four sets of calculation parameters in the configurations studied. Finally, the results indicate that the average 0 K activation energy for diffusion makes up 70–80% of the experimental creep activation energy, depending on the exchange-correlation functional employed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low Cost High-Performance HRE-Free 3-in-1 Electric Drive Unit

The project team completed work to expand upon American Axle & Manufacturing’s (AAM) baseline technology and develop a high-speed, AC induction electric drive unit (EDU) with total direct-oil-cooling and integrated power electronics. The project accelerated advancements in EDU technology by allowing AAM to build upon the progress made in developing the underlying baseline technologies. The following seven improvements to AAM’s baseline technology were implemented in this research and development program: 1) Increased speed (30k RPM) AC induction motor, 2) Silver-sintering of discrete silicon carbide (SiC) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET) to heat sinks, 3) Electrically insulated rotor bars, 4) Optimized lamination steel, 5) EDU-integrated 650VDC inverter package, 6) Over-molded stator with molded liners, and 7) 650VDC power-dense stator design. The successful development of the technology resulted in a meaningful cost reduction for EDU systems in the market. Coupled with falling battery system costs, lower EDU costs will likely accelerate the market acceptance and related production scaling of battery electric vehicles. The objective of this project was to research, develop, and test a Heavy Rare Earth (HRE)-free 3-In-1 electric drive unit (EDU) that has class leading power density and cost. The key technologies to be developed were anticipated to meet or exceed the Department of Energy (DOE) targets of a cost ≤ $\$$7/kilowatt (kW), power density ≥ 12 kW/liter, and operating voltage ≥ 600 VDC.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Interactions involved in the adsorption of ethylene glycol and 2-hydroxyethoxide on the Au(111) surface: a Density Functional Theory study

Abstract Context:The monolayers of ethylene glycol and 2-hydroxyethoxide on gold surfaces have been used in hybrid materials as biosensors. In this article, the adsorption of ethylene glycol and 2-hydroxyethoxide on the Au(111) surface was analyzed. For the first system, ethylene glycol on Au(111), there are Au$$\cdot \cdot \cdot $$ · · · O and Au$$\cdot \cdot \cdot $$ · · · H interactions. To the best of our knowledge, the Au$$\cdot \cdot \cdot $$ · · · H interaction has been overlooked until now. However, in this work, there is strong evidence that this interaction is important to stabilize the system. For the second system, the atomic interactions mentioned previously are also predicted, although there is an additional interaction between 2-hydroxyethoxide molecules. Such an interaction induces the link -O-H-O-, with high values of the electron density at the critical points of the corresponding bond path of the O-H interaction. These links suggest the forming of ethylene glycol chains.Methods:The calculations were performed using two exchange-correlation functionals: BEEF-vdW and C09$$_{x}$$ x -vdW; both functionals incorporate dispersion effects within the Kohn-Sham approach in Density Functional Theory as implemented in GPAW code and ASE computational packages. The contacts between the molecules considered in this article and the Au(111) surface were analyzed through the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules implemented in GPUAM code.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Surface Water Quality Data from Beaver-Impacted Streams; Trail Creek and East River, Colorado 2025

This data package contains surface water chemistry measurements collected in 2025 to evaluate how beaver damming and low-tech process-based stream restoration influence water quality and metal mobility in mountainous headwater systems of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Sampling was conducted at Trail Creek (Taylor Park watershed, Colorado), a tributary undergoing restoration through installation of low-tech process-based structures (i.e., beaver dam analogs), and at off-channel beaver ponds within the East River floodplain (East River watershed, Colorado). Samples were collected along longitudinal transects spanning upstream control reaches, beaver-influenced ponded reaches, and downstream segments. Additional samples were collected from near-surface pore waters within a beaver dam seepage face. The dataset includes concentrations of major and trace elements measured by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), major anions measured by ion chromatography (IC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC; reported as non-purgeable organic carbon, NPOC). Samples were size-fractionated at 0.45 micrometers (µm), 0.22 µm, and 0.02 µm to distinguish particulate (>0.45 µm), colloidal (0.22–0.02 µm), and dissolved (<0.02 µm) fractions. The data package consists of comma-separated value (.csv) files containing tabulated chemical concentration data, sample metadata (site identifiers, geographic coordinates, sampling dates, fraction type), and quality control flags. All files are provided in open, non-proprietary formats that can be accessed using standard data analysis software such as Microsoft Excel, R, Python, MATLAB, or other programs capable of reading .csv files. Units, detection limits, and analytical methods are documented in accompanying metadata files. The dataset is designed to support analyses of (1) how beaver impoundment and restoration structures alter elemental partitioning and transport, (2) the role of iron and organic carbon in mediating trace metal mobility, and (3) reach-scale changes in water quality across restoration gradients. This work was supported by the Watershed Function Science Focus Area at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. Part of this work was performed at SLAC Accelerator Laboratory funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515.

Anions↗