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DOE OSTI2025

SlimIO: Lightweight I/O Path Design for Write Isolation in FDP-backed In-Memory Databases

In-Memory Databases (IMDBs) are widely used with HPC applications to manage transient data, often using snapshot-based persistence for backups. Redis, a representative IMDB, employs both snapshot and Write-Ahead Log (WAL) mechanisms, storing data on persistent devices via the traditional kernel I/O path. This method incurs syscall overhead, I/O contention between processes, and SSD garbage collection (GC) delays. To address these issues, we propose SlimIO, which adopts I/O passthru to minimize syscall overhead and inter-process I/O interference. Additionally, it leverages Flexible Data Placement (FDP) SSDs as backup storage to avoid performance degradation from SSD GC. Experimental results show that SlimIO reduces snapshot time by up to 25%, increases query throughput by up to 30% during non-snapshot periods, and lowers 99.9%-ile latency by up to 50%. Furthermore, it achieves a write amplification factor (WAF) of 1.00, indicating no redundant internal writes, thus extending SSD lifespan.

Lee, Sangyun [Sogang University]↗

NASA NTRS1980

A translator writing system for microcomputer high-level languages and assemblers

In order to implement high level languages whenever possible, a translator writing system of advanced design was developed. It is intended for routine production use by many programmers working on different projects. As well as a fairly conventional parser generator, it includes a system for the rapid generation of table driven code generators. The parser generator was developed from a prototype version. The translator writing system includes various tools for the management of the source text of a compiler under construction. In addition, it supplies various default source code sections so that its output is always compilable and executable. The system thereby encourages iterative enhancement as a development methodology by ensuring an executable program from the earliest stages of a compiler development project. The translator writing system includes PASCAL/48 compiler, three assemblers, and two compilers for a subset of HAL/S.

Collins, W. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

What is technical writing? Prolegomenon to a contextual definition

The question, "What is Technical Writing?", is addressed. Interest about the stance a teacher assumes in a classroom, the orientation of textbooks, and the shape of curricula are considered. Technical writing is considered of age, definitions abound and the time is ripe for a metaperspective on the question. This analyzes pitfalls in representative definitions of technical writing suggest a direction for future inquiry.

Barton, B. F.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Applied tagmemics: A heuristic approach to the use of graphic aids in technical writing

In technical report writing, two needs which must be met if reports are to be useable by an audience are the language needs and the technical needs of that particular audience. A heuristic analysis helps to decide the most suitable format for information; that is, whether the information should be presented verbally or visually. The report writing process should be seen as an organic whole which can be divided and subdivided according to the writer's purpose, but which always functions as a totality. The tagmemic heuristic, because it itself follows a process of deconstructing and reconstructing information, lends itself to being a useful approach to the teaching of technical writing. By applying the abstract questions this heuristic asks to specific parts of the report. The language and technical needs of the audience are analyzed by examining the viability of the solution within the givens of the corporate structure, and by deciding which graphic or verbal format will best suit the writer's purpose. By following such a method, answers which are both specific and thorough in their range of application are found.

Brownlee, P. P.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Writing as decision-making

The need to teach informational writing as a decision-making process is discussed. Situational analysis, its relationship to decisions in writing, and the need for relevant assignments are considered. Teaching students to ask the right questions is covered. The need to teach writing responsiveness is described. Three steps to get started and four teaching techniques are described. The information needs of the 'expert' and the 'manager' are contrasted.

Souther, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Integrate oral communication with technical writing: Towards a rationale

Integrating oral communication and technical writing instruction, to give students the opportunity to learn and practice interpersonal skills, is proposed. By linking speech and writing the importance of small-group interaction in developing transferrable ideas is acknowledged. Three reasons for integration are examined: workday activities, application of role-taking to writing, and conflict resolution. Four advantages of integration are stated.

Skelton, T.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Whys and hows of in-house writing

The combining of requisite technical knowledge with requisite writing ability is addressed. Considerations in the development of in-house writing courses, in-plant training, are presented and evaluated. Specific problems in past methodology are also detailed. It is suggested that teachers of technical writing should be technical people themselves, preferably with working experience in industry or business; the training provided should be user-oriented, not theory oriented.

Lane, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Technical writing practically unified through industry

General background details in the development of a university level technical writing program, based upon the writing tasks of the student's occupations, are summarized. Objectives and methods for unifying the courses of study with the needs of industry are discussed. Four academic course divisions, Industries Technologies, in which preparation and training are offered are: Animal, Horticulture, Agriculture, and Agricultural Business. Occupational competence is cited as the main goal for these programs in which technical writing is to be practically unified through industry. Course descriptions are also provided.

Houston, L. S.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Direct Laser Writing Crystal Polymorphs of Organic Semiconductors for Phase Change Electronics

The many diverse polymorphic behaviors observed in organic electronic materials offer opportunities to modulate electronic properties through reversibly switching crystal structures. Here, we access the prolific polymorphism observed in two-dimensional quinoidal terthiophene via laser writing to locally heat and direct the phase transitions. We access a metastable polymorph IV through rapid cooling and observe distinct symmetry as well as packing through grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD). Using our open-source PolyChemPrint patterning platform, we direct laser heating to initiate the IV-I transition, switching the conductance by >2 orders of magnitude. Here, this is confirmed via a combination of GIXD and Raman spectroscopy. Finally, we demonstrate switching of transistor devices as well as discrete tuning of conductance via laser writing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Amorphous Indium Oxide Channel FEFETs With Write Voltage of 0.9 V and Endurance >10 12 for Refresh-Free Embedded Memory

This work presents, for the first time, a back-end-of-the-line (BEOL)-compatible W-doped indium oxide (IWO) ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FEFET) with a record-low operating voltage below 0.9 V and a write speed of 20 ns while achieving a transient read current window (CW) ratio ( I LVT /I HVT ) greater than 10 4 . The device also exhibits exceptional reliability characteristics such as: 1) measured bipolar write endurance up to 10 12 cycles; 2) a fast read speed of 50 ns; 3) read endurance surpassing 10 12 cycles; and 4) retention exceeding 10 4 s at 85 ∘ C. Furthermore, a physics-based numerical model has been developed to investigate the nanoscale characteristics of BEOL FEFET devices, leveraging nucleation-limited switching in HfO 2 ferroelectrics and dc characterization to extract material and channel parameters for accurate device simulation. The simulation uncovers the stochastic switching behavior of BEOL amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) FEFETs and demonstrates an intrinsic switching time as low as 1 ps, highlighting the potential of BEOL AOS FEFETs for ultrafast memory applications. These results establish AOS FEFETs as a compelling candidate for high-density embedded memory applications for last-level cache (LLC) (L4) in advanced CMOS technology nodes.

1-V ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FEFET)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Direct‐Write Printed Contacts to Layered and 2D Materials

Advancements in fabrication methods have shaped new computing device technologies. Among these methods, depositing electrical contacts to the channel material is fundamental to device characterization. Novel layered and 2D materials are promising for next-generation computing electronic channel materials. Direct-write printing of conductive inks is introduced as a surprisingly effective, significantly faster, and cleaner method to contact different classes of layered materials, including graphene (semi-metal), MoS 2 (semiconductor), Bi-2212 (superconductor), and Fe 5 GeTe 2 (metallic ferromagnet). Based on the electrical response, the quality of the printed contacts is comparable to what is achievable with resist-based lithography techniques. These devices are tested by sweeping gate voltage, temperature, and magnetic field to show that the materials remain pristine post-processing. This work demonstrates that direct-write printing is an agile method for prototyping and characterizing the electrical properties of novel layered materials.

2D materials↗

DOE OSTI2025

TalkPipe Writing Assistant

SAND2025-14316O TalkPipe Writing Assistant offers AI assistance, providing help on a point-by-point basis. Authors can start with their own ideas—whether bullet points, partial paragraphs, or phrases—and specify the document type, desired tone, audience, and any other relevant context. As they write, the assistant provides tailored suggestions for each paragraph. They can request high-level concepts, draft a paragraph, or proofread existing text. The large language model (LLM) considers both preceding and following paragraphs to ensure coherence and flow. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Bauer, Travis [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Live↗

DOE OSTI2024

Low loss fiber-coupled volumetric interconnects fabricated via direct laser writing

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are vital for high-speed data transmission. However, optical routing is limited in PICs composed of only one or a few stacked planes. Further, coupling losses must be low in deployed systems. Previously, we developed the subsurface controllable refractive index via beam exposure (SCRIBE) technique to write accurate 3D gradient refractive index (GRIN) profiles within a mesoporous silica scaffold. Here, we apply SCRIBE to fabricate low loss, broadband, polarization insensitive, fiber-coupled, single-mode volumetric interconnects that include waveguides traversing arbitrary 3D paths. By seamlessly integrating mode-matching subsurface lenses and GRIN waveguide tapers, calibrating for positional writing errors, implementing multipass exposure, automating alignment, and switching to antireflection coated fibers, we reduced the insertion loss for a fiber-PIC-fiber interconnect from 50 to 2.14 dB, or 1.47 dB, excluding the fiber array’s loss. Further, we establish an upper bound of 0.45 dB loss per coupler. We report quality factors of 27,000 and 77,000 and bending losses of 6 and 3 dB/cm for 15 and 30 µm radii microrings, respectively. We also demonstrate Bézier escalators, polarization-rotating and polarization-splitting interconnects, and a seven-channel 25 µm pitch volumetric interconnect. The SCRIBE platform presents a clear path toward realizing 3D PICs with unique functionality.

Optics↗

NASA NTRS1973

Pulsed writing of solid state holograms.

The pulsed writing of volume holograms in lithium niobate is reported, both with 200-nsec and 20-nsec duration pulses. This information is of particular interest in high capacity information storage applications since it indicates that writing times at least as short as 20-nsec are readily possible. A series of pulses was used in each case, and the diffraction efficiency was monitored using a He-Ne laser operating at 6328 A and aligned to its corresponding Bragg angle.

Gaylord, T. K.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Evaluation of HAL/S language compilability using SAMSO's Compiler Writing System (CWS)

NASA/Langley is engaged in a program to develop an adaptable guidance and control software concept for spacecraft such as shuttle-launched payloads. It is envisioned that this flight software be written in a higher-order language, such as HAL/S, to facilitate changes or additions. To make this adaptable software transferable to various onboard computers, a compiler writing system capability is necessary. A joint program with the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Organization was initiated to determine if the Compiler Writing System (CWS) owned by the Air Force could be utilized for this purpose. The present study explores the feasibility of including the HAL/S language constructs in CWS and the effort required to implement these constructs. This will determine the compilability of HAL/S using CWS and permit NASA/Langley to identify the HAL/S constructs desired for their applications. The study consisted of comparing the implementation of the Space Programming Language using CWS with the requirements for the implementation of HAL/S. It is the conclusion of the study that CWS already contains many of the language features of HAL/S and that it can be expanded for compiling part or all of HAL/S. It is assumed that persons reading and evaluating this report have a basic familiarity with (1) the principles of compiler construction and operation, and (2) the logical structure and applications characteristics of HAL/S and SPL.

Feliciano, M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Inconsistencies in tape read and tape write programs on the I-100 image analysis system

The author has identified the following significant results. The tape read and write programs currently available on the 1-100 perform their intended functions of reading and writing tapes, but are difficult to use because they contain a number of inconsistencies. These inconsistencies can often be overcome by the use of work-around procedures and by trial and error, which is an inefficient use of expensive computer systems that should not be necessary.

Hocutt, W. T.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Clinical report writing: Process and perspective

Clinical report writing in psychology and psychiatry is addressed. Audience/use analysis and the basic procedures of information gathering, diagnosis, and prognosis are described. Two interlinking processes are involved: the process of creation and the process of communication. Techniques for good report writing are presented.

Ewald, H. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Enlightened Use of Passive Voice in Technical Writing

The passive voice as a normal, acceptable, and established syntactic form in technical writing is defended. Passive/active verb ratios, taken from sources including 'antipassivist' text books, are considered. The suitability of the passive voice in technical writing which involves unknown or irrelevant agents is explored. Three 'myths' that the passive (1) utilizes an abnormal and artificial word order, (2) is lifeless, and (3) is indirect are considered. Awkward and abnormal sounding examples encountered in text books are addressed in terms of original context. Unattractive or incoherent passive sentences are explained in terms of inappropriate conversion from active sentences having (1) short nominal or pronominal subjects or (2) verbs with restrictions on their passive use.

Trammell, M. K.↗