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Databases post-processing in Tensoral

The Center for Turbulent Research (CTR) post-processing effort aims to make turbulence simulations and data more readily and usefully available to the research and industrial communities. The Tensoral language, introduced in this document and currently existing in prototype form, is the foundation of this effort. Tensoral provides a convenient and powerful protocol to connect users who wish to analyze fluids databases with the authors who generate them. In this document we introduce Tensoral and its prototype implementation in the form of a user's guide. This guide focuses on use of Tensoral for post-processing turbulence databases. The corresponding document - the Tensoral 'author's guide' - which focuses on how authors can make databases available to users via the Tensoral system - is currently unwritten. Section 1 of this user's guide defines Tensoral's basic notions: we explain the class of problems at hand and how Tensoral abstracts them. Section 2 defines Tensoral syntax for mathematical expressions. Section 3 shows how these expressions make up Tensoral statements. Section 4 shows how Tensoral statements and expressions are embedded into other computer languages (such as C or Vectoral) to make Tensoral programs. We conclude with a complete example program.

Dresselhaus, Eliot↗

Bioimaging Science Program: 2022 Principal Investigator Meetings Proceedings

The mission of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program’s Bioimaging Science Program (BSP) is to understand the translation of genomic information into the mechanisms that power living cells, communities of cells, and whole organisms. The goal of BSP is to develop new imaging and measurement technologies to visualize the spatial and temporal relationships of key metabolic processes governing phenotypic expression in plants and microbes. The extended goal of dynamic imaging is to functionally connect cellular components and interdependent organisms. Information about the time and place of chemical reactions in situ can identify causal relationships between biological activators and downstream effectors. BSP held its annual PI meeting virtually February 28–March 1. Contributing investigators are convened to review progress and current state-of-the-art bioimaging research. Holding the 2022 BSP meeting as part of the broader Genomic Science Program (GSP) PI meeting allowed researchers to interact with the extended GSP community. This convergence provided a platform for networking and exchange of ideas with experts in other technologies and in target BSP application areas, helping to forge new multidisciplinary collaborations among investigators from the sister programmatic areas within BER’s Biological Systems Science Division. An important highlight of the BSP meeting was the keynote presentation by Nobel Laureate Dr. Joachim Frank on Time-Resolved Macromolecular Imaging using Cryo-EM. He discussed microfluidic mixing and fast freezing to capture nonequilibrium intermediate states during molecular binding and conformational changes. The action of molecular machines can be captured at nanometer resolution and millisecond discrimination. BSP PIs made presentations describing their research focus and progress in plenary sessions on bioimaging science and on quantum-enabled bioimaging science research projects. BSP research at universities and DOE laboratories is presented in this report. A final discussion of the BSP was organized by meeting plenary session chairs, who prepared the following Executive Summary of current BSP research, research challenges, future opportunities, and potential ideas for expanding the BSP’s impact and interactions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Identifying management opportunities to combat climate, land, and marine threats across less climate exposed coral reefs

Conserving coral reefs is critical for maintaining marine biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and supporting livelihoods in many coastal communities. Climate change threatens coral reefs globally, but researchers have identified a portfolio of coral reefs (bioclimatic units [BCUs]) that are relatively less exposed to climate impacts and strongly connected to other coral reef systems. These reefs provide a proactive opportunity to secure a long-term future for coral reefs under climate change. To help guide local management efforts, we quantified marine cumulative human impact (CHI) from climate, marine, and land pressures (2013 and from 2008 to 2013) in BCUs and across countries tasked with BCU management. Additionally, we created a management index based on common management measures and policies for each pressure source (climate, marine, and land) to identify a country's intent and commitment to effectively manage these pressures. Twenty-two countries (79%) had increases in CHI from 2008 to 2013. Climate change pressures had the highest proportional contribution to CHI across all reefs and in all but one country (Singapore), but 18 BCUs (35%) and nine countries containing BCUs (32%) had relatively high land and marine impacts. There was a significant positive relationship between climate impact and the climate management index across countries (R 2 = 0.43, p = 0.02), potentially signifying that countries with greater climate impacts are more committed to managing them. However, this trend was driven by climate management intent in Fiji and Bangladesh. Our results can be used to guide future fine-scale analyses, national policies, and local management decisions, and our management indices reveal areas where management components can be improved. Cost-effectively managing local pressures (e.g., fishing and nutrients) in BCUs is essential for building a climate-ready future that benefits coral reefs and people.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

IPPOG: a global network for particle physics outreach and education

We present the International Particle Physics Outreach Group (IPPOG), a global network dedicated to connecting students, educators, and the general public with the world of particle physics. In this paper, we outline the need to bridge the existing gap between the particle physics community and the wider audience, and we present the solutions that IPPOG has implemented to overcome it through three pillar Activities: the International Masterclasses and the Global Cosmics hands-on activities network, which have engaged together over 200,000 high-school students to date, and the curation of an Outreach Resource Database and web portal.

Abreu, Pedro [University of Lisboa (Portugal); IPP↗

Universal Signal Conditioning Amplifier

The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) and NASA-KSC entered into a cooperative agreement in March of 1994 to achieve the utilization and commercialization of a technology development for benefiting both the Space Program and U.S. industry on a "dual-use basis". The technology involved in this transfer is a new, unique Universal Conditioning Amplifier (USCA) used in connection with various types of transducers. The project was initiated in partnership with I-Net Corporation, Lockheed Martin Telemetry & Instrumentation (formerly Loral Test and Information Systems) and Brevard Community College. The project consists of designing, miniaturizing, manufacturing, and testing an existing prototype of USCA that was developed for NASA-KSC by the I-Net Corporation. The USCA is a rugged and field-installable self (or remotely)- programmable amplifier that works in combination with a tag random access memory (RAM) attached to various types of transducers. This summary report comprises performance evaluations, TRDA partnership tasks, a project summary, project milestones and results.

Kinney, Frank↗

Using Earth Observations to Analyze Shoreline Changes and Understand the Effects of Sea Level Rise in Southern Puerto Rico

This summer, the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) partnered with NASA DEVELOP to evaluate water quality, mangrove forest extent, sea level rise, and land cover changes in Jobos Bay. DEVELOP is a national capacity building program that connects satellite data with early career scientists and decision makers. Through ten-week feasibility studies, DEVELOP partners with organizations that have the power to enact policy within their communities. Jobos Bay, in the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, has experienced intense hurricane seasons with increased seasonal storm surge, near-shore land use changes, and strong variations in precipitation and runoff. Through proposals, bi-weekly meetings, and frequent email communication, this cross-sector initiative provided valuable results for management decisions within the reserve. Using satellite observations to measure land use change, the team found that 17% of the reserve has shifted from land to water along the coast since 1997. Using Sentinel-2 the team was able to visualize turbidity, chlorophyll-a, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) for Jobos Bay. While some large events such as Hurricane Maria were reflected in the turbidity analysis, chlorophyll-a and CDOM visualizations were limited by the influence of shallow-water bottom reflectance, particularly around reefs and within the Bay. The team also found that Jobos Bay lost 4.9 square kilometers of mangrove habitat over the past decade, calculated using Landsat 7 and 8 within Google Earth Engine. The results from this study will inform JBNERR and its community members on the regional impacts of sea level rise as well as serve as a baseline for future conservation efforts and research in the estuary.

Olivia Spencer↗

Exploring Innovative Methods for Earth Science Communication Through NASA’s Earth Information Center

Environmental challenges stemming from unprecedented changes in our planet have increased the need to communicate our understanding of Earth as a connected system. In June 2023, NASA unveiled the Earth Information Center (EIC), part of NASA’s Earth Action Strategy aimed at amplifying NASA’s Earth science impact by engaging decision-makers beyond the scientific community. Existing in both physical and virtual space, the EIC provides critical information on how the planet is changing and affecting livelihoods across the globe. For over fifty years, NASA has utilized the unique vantage point space offers to monitor Earth in collaboration with Federal partners. Through an expanding fleet of Earth observing satellites and sensors, NASA informs local to global decision making within nine thematic areas: agriculture, biodiversity, disasters, greenhouse gases, health and air quality, sea level rise and coastal impacts, sustainable energy, water resources, and wildfires. Visitors to the inaugural location of the EIC at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C., can interact with Earth observation data and models through innovative exhibits and storytelling. Designed by an interdisciplinary team, the EIC is designed for multiple modality learning to reach a wide base of end-users. Data driven visualizations, near real-time information, and curated stories highlight the applications of Earth observations to address environmental challenges. Complementary exhibits and immersive storytelling allow visitors to physically step inside environmental data and connect with information on an emotional level. Taken together, the collective EIC provides scientists and non-scientists alike with the ability to see our home planet as NASA sees it, as a system of systems, while delivering easily accessible information to those who need it most.

Earth Information Center↗

SCOSTEP: Understanding the Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System

The international solar-terrestrial physics community had recognized the importance of space weather more than a decade ago, which resulted in a number of international collaborative activities such as the Climate and Weather of the Sun Earth System (CAWSES) by the Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP). The CAWSES program is the current major scientific program of SCOSTEP that will continue until the end of the year 2013. The CAWSES program has brought scientists from all over the world together to tackle the scientific issues behind the Sun-Earth connected system and explore ways of helping the human society. In addition to the vast array of space instruments, ground based instruments have been deployed, which not only filled voids in data coverage, but also inducted young scientists from developing countries into the scientific community. This paper presents a summary of CAWSES and other SCOSTEP activities that promote space weather science via complementary approaches in international scientific collaborations, capacity building, and public outreach.

Gopalswamy, Natchimuthuk↗

Data Mining for Science of the Sun-Earth Connection as a Single System

Establishing the Sun-Earth connection requires overcoming the challenges of exploring the data from past and current missions and leveraging tools and models (data mining) to create an efficient system treatment of the Sun and heliosphere. However, solar and heliospheric environment data constitute a vast source of information whose potential is far from being optimally exploited. In the next decade, the solar and heliospheric community will have to manage the increasing amount of information coming from new missions, improve reanalysis of data from past and current missions, and create new data products from the application of new methodologies. This complex task is further complicated by practical challenges such as different datasets and catalogs in different formats that may require different pre-processing and analysis tools, and the need for numerous analysis approaches that are not all fully optimized for large volumes of data. While several ongoing efforts aim at addressing these problems, the available datasets and tools are not always used to their full potential often due to lack of awareness of available resources. In this paper, we summarize the issues raised and goals discussed by members of the community during recent conference sessions focused on data mining for science.

Sun-Earth connection↗

Overview of Space Science and Information Research Opportunities at NASA

It is not possible to review all the opportunities that NASA provides to support the Space Science Enterprise, in the short amount of time allotted for this presentation. Therefore, only a few key programs will be discussed. The programs that I will discuss will concentrate on research opportunities for faculty, graduate and postdoctoral candidates in Space Science research and information technologies at NASA. One of the most important programs for research opportunities is the NASA Research Announcement or NRA. NASA Headquarters issues NRA's on a regular basis and these cover space science and computer science activities relating to NASA missions and programs. In the Space Sciences, the most important NRA is called the "Research Opportunities in Space Science or the ROSS NRA. The ROSS NRA is composed of multiple announcements in the areas of structure and evolution of the Universe, Solar System exploration, Sun-Earth connections, and applied information systems. Another important opportunity is the Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP). The GSRP is designed to cultivate research ties between a NASA Center and the academic community through the award of fellowships to promising students in science and engineering. This program is unique since it matches the student's area of research interest with existing work being carried out at NASA. This program is for U.S. citizens who are full-time graduate students. Students who are successful have made the match between their research and the NASA employee who will act as their NASA Advisor/ Mentor. In this program, the student's research is primarily accomplished under the supervision of his faculty advisor with periodic or frequent interactions with the NASA Mentor. These interactions typically involve travel to the sponsoring NASA Center on a regular basis. The one-year fellowships are renewable for up to three years and over $20,000 per year. These and other important opportunities will be discussed.

Green, James L.↗

NASA Strategy for Technology Development

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT) provides the strategy and leadership that integrates NASA’s technology development and open innovation activities to advance American aeronautic, science, and space exploration objectives. OCT performs an agency-level technology coordination role, coordinating with the NASA Mission Directorates, field centers, and other government agencies to align the agency’s technology investments to meet mission requirements while filling gaps, anticipating future needs, and minimizing duplication of effort. OCT provides the strategy and coordination that guide NASA's technology and innovation activities through Strategic Technology Integration, Digital Transformation, the Science and Technology Partnership Forum, and Innovation. The Strategic Technology Integration team informs policy, requirements, and strategy for NASA’s technology development activities in support of the Chief Technologist by coordinating with NASA mission directorates, other government agencies, and external organizations. As part of these efforts, OCT develops the NASA Technology Taxonomy and the NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan. Digital Transformation will increasingly change the way NASA operates and will enable the agency’s missions to be completed more efficiently and effectively. It will allow current and future employees to use their talents in more innovative ways. The Science and Technology Partnership Forum is a strategic forum, with principal partners at the United States Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. It was established to identify synergistic efforts and technologies in order to leverage those synergies and influence portfolios across space agencies in areas deemed pervasive and ready for collaboration. NASA's Innovation efforts are designed to transform diverse ideas into value and are guided by a framework that is focused on the agency’s people, processes, partnerships and portfolio. The innovation framework is used to connect the workforce to tools, strategies and activities to increase the pace of innovation. OCT translates National space policies into NASA technology strategies and coordination across the agency and interagency communities to guide NASA's technology and innovation activities to achieve capabilities needed for future missions. This chapter provides insight into the value of analyzing future states to inform technology developments to plot the strategic direction of NASA’s space technology program.

Erica Rodgers↗

Interactions Between Landslides, the Mining Industry, and the Communities Tethered to This Industry in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

The nature of the hilly and insecure terrain of the mining industry can also be home to numerous landslides that impact the lives of those dependent on this economy for survival. However, the connections between localized landslides in the mining sector and impacts to lives and livelihoods are often overlooked. This research focuses on the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality of the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa where frequent summer rains along with the steep terrain leads to abundant number of landslides. The mining analysis was performed within the eThekwini Municipality, while the entirety of KwaZulu-Natal Province was considered for the societal impact research.

Rachel Soobitsky↗

Developing New Polymeric Powder Feedstocks for Selective Laser Sintering: Emphasizing Particle Size and Shape

Although selective laser sintering is considered a major player in the additive manufacturing community, significant limitations exist when it comes to processing the polymeric powder feedstocks in the laser sintering machine. While these limitations – such as inadequate and uneven heating and complex thermal phenomena leading to curling and shrinkage – cannot be ignored and are being addressed in the community, it is also vitally important to turn our attention to the expansion of commercially available powder feedstocks. A major drawback of SLS is the lack of available feedstocks. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, a primary desire for advancement in the manufacturing or development of new feedstocks lies in the nuclear weapons applications program. New feedstocks with greater thermal stability and performance would provide the opportunity for insertion of production parts, rather than just prototype parts. Additionally, the ability to print with so-called commodity polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene poses great economic advantages for prototyping and production of large batches of parts. However, a gap exists between the Lab’s needs and what is commercially available – a gap which could be filled by collaboration with the broader industrial sector. Furthermore, connecting with and building relationships with industry partners allows for greater control and input in the developmental process of new powders. This would provide reliable feedstocks, improved quality assurance, and overall higher performance of processes across the additive manufacturing community.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Utility Managed Distributed Energy Resources Intelligent Community - UDERMS iCommunity (Final Technical Report)

The Utility Managed Distributed Energy Resources Intelligent Community (UDERMS iCommunity) project, led by PacifiCorp and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office (Award No. DEEE0009782), aimed to demonstrate an integrated, utility-managed “behind-the-meter” distributed energy resource (DER) program connecting multifamily, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings to deliver grid services and improve energy efficiency.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

The QBO–MJO Connection: A Possible Role for the SST and ENSO

We examine the hypothesis that the observed connection between the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the strength of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is modulated by the sea surface temperature (SST)—for example, by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). A composite analysis shows that, globally, La Niña SSTs are remarkably similar to those that occur during the easterly phase of the QBO. A maximum covariance analysis suggests that MJO power and SST are strongly linked on both the ENSO time scale and the QBO time scale. We analyze simulations with a modified configuration of version 2 of the Community Earth System Model, with a high top and fine vertical resolution. The model is able to simulate ENSO, the QBO, and the MJO. The ocean-coupled version of the model simulates the QBO, ENSO, and MJO, but does not simulate the observed QBO–MJO connection. When driven with prescribed observed SST anomalies based on composites for QBO east and QBO west (QBOE and QBOW), however, the same atmospheric model produces a modest enhancement of MJO power during QBOE relative to QBOW, as observed. We explore the possibility that the SST anomalies are forced by the QBO itself. Indeed, composite Hovmöller diagrams based on observations show the propagation of QBO zonal wind anomalies all the way from the upper stratosphere to the surface. Also, subsurface ocean temperature composites reveal a similarity between the western Pacific and Indian Ocean subsurface signal between La Niña and QBOE.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Transactive Energy Communications Interface Standards Landscape

Transactive energy represents distributed, optimal-seeking coordination approaches for managing the operation of large numbers of energy-related devices and systems. The concept assumes intelligent agents interact with other agents on behalf of their owners to balance the supply and demand of energy and coordinate other operation services in an electric system. They do this by exchanging value signals for services in near-term and forward time periods using market mechanisms. The technique is particularly applied to coordination of flexibility in operating distributed energy resources. The integration of large numbers of devices requires that they be able to connect and interoperate easily and reliably. Given the many technologies and solution providers integrating products, communications interfaces based on clear, unambiguous specifications with supporting tests require standardization and adoption by the community of system integrators. This report reviews the state of communications interface standards that show promise for transactive energy approaches to the coordination of distributed energy resources. It reviews promising standards to highlight challenges and gaps. It offers structured comparisons between standards and the features offered by their ecosystems of participants.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

State Energy Justice Roundtable Series: Energy Justice Metrics

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and National Governors Association (NGA) hosted a State Energy Justice Roundtable (Roundtable) in April 2022. Participants included federal and state decision-makers, members of community-based organizations, and subject-matter experts. The Roundtable members explored current state efforts to articulate and incorporate energy justice concerns into energy-related decision-making. Participants established connections with one another to better understand the current landscape of existing resources, learn about emerging efforts, and identify ongoing support opportunities for advancing energy justice.This paper is one of five authored by the host organizations on topics that were the focus of the Roundtable. Each paper summarizes key themes, emerging efforts, and group takeaways that were discussed at the Roundtable and should assist state members in developing and meeting their own state goals around energy justice. The papers all include the same discussions of background, introduction, and reading list so they can be read separately. Each paper is written from the perspective of one association and includes options for its members to take actions that could support more equitable state energy policies and programs. The five papers cover: (1) Participation in decision making (NARUC), (2) Customer affordability and arrearages (NARUC), (3) Energy justice metrics (NARUC), (4) Equity in clean energy research and development (NASEO), and (5) Equitable distributed energy resource (DER) access (NGA). The resources and recommendations listed in these papers are not meant to be exhaustive, as this field of study continues to evolve. Although this brief is focused on electricity, energy justice considerations extend to all energy needs and services, including the impact of energy extraction, processing, and distribution functions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

State Energy Justice Roundtable Series: Customer Affordability and Arrearages

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and National Governors Association (NGA) hosted a State Energy Justice Roundtable (Roundtable) in April 2022. Participants included federal and state decision-makers, members of community-based organizations, and subject-matter experts. The Roundtable members explored current state efforts to articulate and incorporate energy justice concerns into energy-related decision-making. Participants established connections with one another to better understand the current landscape of existing resources, learn about emerging efforts, and identify ongoing support opportunities for advancing energy justice. This paper is one of five authored by the host organizations on topics that were the focus of the Roundtable. Each paper summarizes key themes, emerging efforts, and group takeaways that were discussed at the Roundtable and should assist state members in developing and meeting their own state goals around energy justice. The papers all include the same discussions of background, introduction, and reading list so they can be read separately. Each paper is written from the perspective of one association and includes options for its members to take actions that could support more equitable state energy policies and programs. The five papers cover: (1) Participation in decision making (NARUC) (2) Customer affordability and arrearages (NARUC) (3) Energy justice metrics (NARUC) (4) Equity in clean energy research and development (NASEO) (5) Equitable distributed energy resource (DER) access (NGA). The resources and recommendations listed in these papers are not meant to be exhaustive, as this field of study continues to evolve. Although this brief is focused on electricity, energy justice considerations extend to all energy needs and services, including the impact of energy extraction, processing, and distribution functions.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗