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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 397 records · Page 22

16 O + 16 O fusion at sub-coulomb energies

A simple optical model (OPM) method using non-monotonic (NM) potentials characterized by a repulsive core from the microscopic theory of the Pauli-led energy-density functional (EDF) has been developed to investigate the 16 O + 16 O fusion at sub-Coulomb energies relevant to the oxygen burning. Here, the study involves the analysis of the experimental fusion cross-section (FCS) data in energy range 6.92 ≤ E cm ≤ 13.83 MeV, which includes the Coulomb barrier region E cm = 10.0–11.92 MeV. Apart from an excellent description of the existing FCS data in the studied energy range, the associated hindrance, characterized by the S-factor reaching a maximum and then gradually falling off at lower energies, so far suggested empirically for the system, is reproduced down to 4 MeV for the first time in the simple OPM. An S-factor maximum of S 0 = 3.15 × 10 25 MeV.b at E 0 = 7.14 MeV is observed with T ≃ 2.6 GK, which conforms to the values reported for quiescent and explosive burning. Our reaction rate, deduced from the NM potential, compares well with the Caughlan and Fowler data. Dominant partial waves implicit in the observed maximum S-factor in the studied Gamow range are also explored. Our present findings, with the success of NM potentials, suggest that the nucleus–nucleus potential is non-monotonic.

16O+16O↗

Prostate Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: An Overview of Toxicity and Dose Response

Ultrahypofractionationed radiation therapy for prostate cancer is increasingly studied and adopted. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine Working Group on Biological Effects of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy therefore aimed to review studies examining toxicity and quality of life after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer and model its effect.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Fate of Listeria monocytogenes Serotypes on Frozen Mixed Vegetables During Consumer‐Simulated Thawing and Storage

ABSTRACT Recent outbreaks and recalls associated with frozen vegetables in the United States and Europe have been linked to Listeria monocytogenes . This study aims to understand the extent to which frozen vegetables support the growth of L. monocytogenes once thawed and held at different temperatures. Six L. monocytogenes strains, two of each from serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b, and 4b, were individually inoculated onto frozen vegetables and stored at −18°C for 7 days. After 7 days, the vegetables were thawed and stored at 5°C or 10°C for up to 14 days or at 25°C for up to 7 days. L. monocytogenes was enumerated from the thawed vegetables throughout the storage period. Population data were fitted to the primary Baranyi model to estimate growth rates and lag phase durations; the secondary Ratkowsky square root model was used to model the relationship of the growth rates with storage temperature. Five of the L. monocytogenes strains survived and grew on the thawed vegetables (population increases of > 1 log CFU/g) stored at 5°C, and all six of the strains proliferated at 10°C and 25°C (population increases of > 3 log CFU/g after 14 days and > 4 log CFU/g after 7 days, respectively). A secondary model was successfully generated based on the growth rates of the six L. monocytogenes strains on the thawed vegetables ( r 2 = 0.8888, RMSE = 0.2057). Results from this study fill a data gap associated with L. monocytogenes survival on thawed vegetables and can be used to determine safe handling and storage practices for these products to protect public health.

Salazar, Joelle K. [Division of Food Processing Sc↗

Acid Erosion of Carbonate Fractures and Accessibility of Arsenic-Bearing Minerals: In Operando Synchrotron-Based Microfluidic Experiment

Underground flows of acidic fluids through fractured rock can create new porosity and increase accessibility to hazardous trace elements such as arsenic. In this study, we developed a custom microfluidic cell for an in operando synchrotron experiment using X-ray attenuation. The experiment mimics reactive fracture flow by passing an acidic fluid over a surface of mineralogically heterogeneous rock from the Eagle Ford shale. Over 48 h, calcite was preferentially dissolved, forming an altered layer 200–500 μm thick with a porosity of 63–68% and surface area >10$\times$ higher than that in the unreacted shale as shown by xCT analyses. Calcite dissolution rate quantified from the attenuation data was 3 $\times$ 10 –4 mol/m 2 s and decreased to 3 $\times$ 10 –5 mol/m 2 s after 24 h because of increasing diffusion limitations. Erosion of the fracture surface increased access to iron-rich minerals, thereby increasing access to toxic metals such as arsenic. Quantification using XRF and XANES microspectroscopy indicated up to 0.5 wt % of As(-I) in arsenopyrite and 1.2 wt % of As(V) associated with ferrihydrite. This study provides valuable contributions for understanding and predicting fracture alteration and changes to the mobilization potential of hazardous metals and metalloids.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Cloud and Precipitation Properties of MCSs Along the Meiyu Frontal Zone in Central and Southern China and Their Associated Large-Scale Environments

This study focuses on investigating the cloud and precipitation features of Meiyu mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) and their relation to the large-scale environments in central and southern China using satellite observations and reanalysis data during the period 2014–2018. MCSs from two different locations, the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) and Southern China (SC), are examined separately. The Meiyu MCSs have a mean precipitation rate of 3.6 mm/hr and contribute 20% to 60% of the total precipitation during the Meiyu period. The diurnal cycle of Meiyu MCSs shows a maximum precipitation amount in the morning, which is associated with the enhanced nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ) overnight. Although the synoptic setups in YRB and SC are found to be similar when normalized around the MCS initiation locations, MCSs exhibit some differences in terms of the cloud top height, precipitation rate, and duration, which are likely by the differences in the local forcing. Large interannual variations are found in MCSs' number, cloud size, lifetime, and rainfall intensity, which is found to be associated with the interannual variabilities in the large-scale environments. By comparing the large-scale environments with climatological mean states, we find that the year with the most intense MCS activity during the study period is characterized by an intensified southwesterly LLJ, which increases the moisture transport from the Indian Ocean and an enhancement of the midtropospheric westerly jet, which induces adiabatic ascent along the Meiyu front, creating more favorable conditions for convection.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

FeS colloids – formation and mobilization pathways in natural waters

For this study, we have used synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (structure of Fe–S clusters), transmission electron microscopy (solid-phase crystallinity), Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometry (identity and composition of natural organic carbon compounds), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (total aqueous Fe), and the revised ferrozine method (aqueous Fe( II ) and Fe( III ) concentrations) to determine the stability and nature of colloids generated by sulfidation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles in the absence and presence of organic compounds. We observed that reductive dissolution of ferrihydrite by aqueous sulfide generates nm-scale FeS clusters. Their subsequent aggregation, which promotes settling of FeS aggregates into the solid fraction, was directly correlated with sulfide/Fe ratio. At sulfide/Fe ratios ≤0.5, FeS clusters and larger colloids remained in suspension for at least 14 days (and up to several months). At sulfide/Fe ratios >0.5, sulfidation reaction rates were rapid and FeS cluster aggregation was accelerated. Moreover, the presence of organic compounds increased the time of suspension of FeS colloids, whereas increased ionic strength inhibited the generation of FeS colloids. We present a general conceptual model to predict when and where FeS colloids can form and enhance or inhibit the mobility of contaminants and nutrients associated with them. Our study indicates that in lowsalinity fresh groundwater systems poor in sulfate (i.e. low sulfidation; lakes, floodplains, peatlands etc.), the ferrihydrite sulfidation reaction generates aqueous FeS clusters and larger colloids that remain suspended over long time periods, thus mobilizing a substantial fraction of the total aqueous Fe and S.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Dietary B group vitamin intake and the bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies

Abstract Purpose Diet may play an essential role in the aetiology of bladder cancer (BC). The B group complex vitamins involve diverse biological functions that could be influential in cancer prevention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between various components of the B group vitamin complex and BC risk. Methods Dietary data were pooled from four cohort studies. Food item intake was converted to daily intakes of B group vitamins and pooled multivariate hazard ratios (HRs), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were obtained using Cox-regression models. Dose–response relationships were examined using a nonparametric test for trend. Results In total, 2915 BC cases and 530,012 non-cases were included in the analyses. The present study showed an increased BC risk for moderate intake of vitamin B1 (HR B1 : 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00–1.20). In men, moderate intake of the vitamins B1, B2, energy-related vitamins and high intake of vitamin B1 were associated with an increased BC risk (HR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.02–1.26), 1.14 (1.02–1.26), 1.13 (1.02–1.26; 1.13 (1.02–1.26), respectively). In women, high intake of all vitamins and vitamin combinations, except for the entire complex, showed an inverse association (HR (95% CI): 0.80 (0.67–0.97), 0.83 (0.70–1.00); 0.77 (0.63–0.93), 0.73 (0.61–0.88), 0.82 (0.68–0.99), 0.79 (0.66–0.95), 0.80 (0.66–0.96), 0.74 (0.62–0.89), 0.76 (0.63–0.92), respectively). Dose–response analyses showed an increased BC risk for higher intake of vitamin B1 and B12. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of future research on the food sources of B group vitamins in the context of the overall and sex-stratified diet.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Excitonic effects in absorption spectra of carbon dioxide reduction photocatalysts

Abstract The formation and disassociation of excitons play a crucial role in any photovoltaic or photocatalytic application. However, excitonic effects are seldom considered in materials discovery studies due to the monumental computational cost associated with the examination of these properties. Here, we study the excitonic properties of nearly 50 photocatalysts using state-of-the-art Bethe–Salpeter formalism. These ~50 materials were recently recognized as promising photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction through a data-driven screening of 68,860 materials. Here, we propose three screening criteria based on the optical properties of these materials, taking excitonic effects into account, to further down select six materials. Furthermore, we study the correlation between the exciton binding energies obtained from the Bethe–Salpeter formalism and those obtained from the computationally much less-expensive Wannier–Mott model for these chemically diverse ~50 materials. This work presents a paradigm towards the inclusion of excitonic effects in future materials discovery for solar-energy harvesting applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bayesian Spatial Models for Projecting Corn Yields

Climate change is predicted to impact corn yields. Previous studies analyzing these impacts differ in data and modeling approaches and, consequently, corn yield projections. We analyze the impacts of climate change on corn yields using two statistical models with different approaches for dealing with county-level effects. The first model, which is novel to modeling corn yields, uses a computationally efficient spatial basis function approach. We use a Bayesian framework to incorporate both parametric and climate model structural uncertainty. We find that the statistical models have similar predictive abilities, but the spatial basis function model is faster and hence potentially a useful tool for crop yield projections. We also explore how different gridded temperature datasets affect the statistical model fit and performance. Compared to the dataset with only weather station data, we find that the dataset composed of satellite and weather station data results in a model with a magnified relationship between temperature and corn yields. For all statistical models, we observe a relationship between temperature and corn yields that is broadly similar to previous studies. We use downscaled and bias-corrected CMIP5 climate model projections to obtain detrended corn yield projections for 2020–2049 and 2069–2098. In both periods, we project a decrease in the mean corn yield production, reinforcing the findings of other studies. However, the magnitude of the decrease and the associated uncertainties we obtain differ from previous studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Benchmark study of the DTU OWC chamber with both two-way and one-way absorption

This paper reports on a benchmark study based on small-scale (1:50) measurements of a single, oscillating water column chamber mounted sideways in a long flume. The geometry of the OWC chamber is extracted from a barge-like, attenuator-type floating concept “KNSwing” with 40 chambers targeted for deployment in the Danish part of the North Sea. In addition to traditional two-way energy extraction we also consider one-way energy extraction with passive venting and compare chamber response, pressures and total absorbed energy between the two methods. A blind study was established for the numerical modeling, with participants applying several implementations of weakly nonlinear potential flow theory and commercial Navier–Stokes solvers (CFD). Both compressible and incompressible models were used for the air phase. Potential flow calculations predict more energy absorption near the chamber resonance for one-way absorption than for two-way absorption, but the opposite is found from the experimental measurements. This outcome is mainly attributed to energy losses in the experimental passive valve system, but this conclusion must be confirmed by better experimental measurements. Modeling the one-way valve in CFD proved to be very challenging and only one team was able to provide results which were generally closer to the experiments. The study illustrates the challenges associated with both numerical and experimental analysis of OWC chambers. Air compressibility effects were not found to be important at this scale, even with the large volume of additional air used for the one-way case.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗

Distinct Dynamics of Lithium Intercalation and Plating on Graphite Anode for Li‐Ion Batteries in eVTOL Applications

In the absence of viable high-energy-density battery alternatives, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries remain essential for enabling electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) platforms in advanced air mobility. Unlike Li-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and portable electronics, eVTOL battery systems operate under distinct high-power demands, which necessitate an independent assessment of material degradation mechanisms. This study presents a case analysis of graphite anode evolution under high-power cycling conditions. The findings reveal lithium entrapment within graphite particles, potentially resulting from incomplete Li-ion de-intercalation during a high-rate discharge event that is characteristic of eVTOL take-off and landing. This phenomenon leads to a progressive reduction in graphite-specific capacity and, over time, promotes lithium metal plating on the anode. Notably, the Li-metal plating observed in this study differs from that associated with fast-charging conditions, as it is primarily governed by concentration polarization-induced overpotential in the latter case. In conclusion, these findings highlight the inherent challenges of utilizing graphite in high-power Li-ion battery applications and elucidate the unique degradation mechanisms that arise due to the sluggish reaction kinetics of Li-ion intercalation and de-intercalation within graphite.

Li plating↗

Discontinuity in RG flows across dimensions: entanglement, anomaly coefficients and geometry

We study the entanglement entropy associated with a holographic RG flow from AdS 7 to AdS 4 × $\mathbb{H}$ 3 , where $\mathbb{H}$ 3 is a 3-dimensional hyperbolic manifold with curvature κ. The dual six-dimensional RG flow is disconnected from Lorentz-invariant flows. In this context we address various notions of central charges and identify a monotonic candidate c-function that captures IR aspects of the flow. The UV behavior of the holographic entanglement entropy and, in particular its universal term, display an interesting dependence on the curvature, κ. We then contrast our holographic results with existing field theory computations in six dimensions and find a series of new corrections in curvature to the universal term in the entanglement entropy.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurement of differential ZZ + jets production cross sections in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s} $ = 13 TeV

Diboson production in association with jets is studied in the fully leptonic final states, pp → (Z/γ$^{*}$)(Z/γ$^{*}$) + jets → 2ℓ2ℓ′ + jets, (ℓ, ℓ′ = e or μ) in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb$^{−1}$ collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. Differential distributions and normalized differential cross sections are measured as a function of jet multiplicity, transverse momentum p$_{T}$, pseudorapidity η, invariant mass and ∆η of the highest-p$_{T}$ and second-highest-p$_{T}$ jets, and as a function of invariant mass of the four-lepton system for events with various jet multiplicities. These differential cross sections are compared with theoretical predictions that mostly agree with the experimental data. However, in a few regions we observe discrepancies between the predicted and measured values. Further improvement of the predictions is required to describe the ZZ+jets production in the whole phase space.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Open associahedra and scattering forms

We continue the study of open associahedra associated with bi-color scattering amplitudes initiated in ref. [1]. We focus on the facet geometries of the open associahedra, uncovering many new phenomena such as fiber-product geometries. We then provide novel recursion procedures for calculating the canonical form of open associahedra, generalizing recursion relations for bounded polytopes to unbounded polytopes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Reducing host DNA contamination in 16S rRNA gene surveys of anthozoan microbiomes using PNA clamps

Efforts to study the microbial communities associated with corals can be limited by inefficiencies in the sequencing process due to high levels of host amplification by universal bacterial 16S rRNA gene primers. Here, we develop an inexpensive peptide nucleic acid (PNA) clamp that binds to a target sequence of host DNA during PCR and blocks amplification. We then test the ability of this PNA clamp to mitigate host contamination and increase overall microbial sequence coverage on samples from three coral species: the gorgonians Eunicea flexuosa and Gorgonia ventalina, and the scleractinian Porites panamensis. The 20-bp PNA clamp was designed using DNA from E. flexuosa. Adding the PNA clamp during PCR increased the percentage of microbial reads in E. flexuosa samples more than 11-fold. Microbial community diversity was similar without- and with-PNA clamps, as were the relative frequencies of the ten most abundant ASVs (amplicon sequence variants), indicating that the clamps successfully blocked host DNA amplification while simultaneously increasing microbial DNA amplification proportionally across the most abundant taxa. The reduction of E. flexuosa DNA correlated with an increase in the abundance of rarer taxa. The clamp also increased the average percentage of microbial reads in another gorgonian, G. ventalina, by 8.6-fold without altering the microbial community beta diversity, and in a distantly related scleractinian coral, P. panamensis, by nearly double. The reduction of host contamination correlated with the number of nucleotide mismatches between the host amplicon and the PNA clamp. The PNA clamp costs as little as $0.48 per sample, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution to increase microbial sequence coverage for high-throughput sequencing of coral microbial communities.

16S rRNA gene sequencing↗

Evaluation of color in digital nuclear power plant control room displays

Human system interface design in industrial process control is guided by industry standards, human factors best practices, and domain-specific conventions, and often there is a conflict between one or more of the sources of design input for specific design elements. In the nuclear domain, one design element for which conflict arises is the use of color to represent equipment state. Here, this study evaluates the tradeoffs associated with using color in a process control display versus using white and shades of gray. The performance metrics were response time, accuracy, and eye movement metrics using a simplified experimental task and professional operators. Results revealed that adhering to color conventions in nuclear power yielded small advantages in simple tasks, but did not exist for more complex tasks. The results did not provide strong evidence for or against using a particular color scheme and revealed the need for further research on the use of color for commercial nuclear power plants and other process control industries.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

A deep redox proteome profiling workflow and its application to skeletal muscle of a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy model

Perturbation to the redox state accompanies many diseases and its effects are viewed through oxidation of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. The thiol groups of protein cysteine residues undergo an array of redox post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are important for regulation of protein and pathway function. To better understand what proteins are redox regulated following a perturbation, it is important to be able to comprehensively profile protein thiol oxidation at the proteome level. Herein, we report a deep redox proteome profiling workflow and demonstrate its application in measuring the changes in thiol oxidation along with global protein expression in skeletal muscle from mdx mice, a model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In depth coverage of the thiol proteome was achieved with >18,000 Cys sites from 5608 proteins in muscle being quantified. Compared to the control group, mdx mice exhibit markedly increased thiol oxidation, where ~2% shift in the median oxidation occupancy was observed. Further, pathway analysis for the redox data revealed that coagulation system and immune-related pathways were among the most susceptible to increased thiol oxidation in mdx mice, whereas protein abundance changes were more enriched in pathways associated with bioenergetics. This study illustrates the importance of deep redox profiling in gaining greater insight into oxidative stress regulation and pathways/processes that are perturbed in an oxidizing environment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Contribution of decomposing plant roots to N 2 O emissions by water absorption

The “sponge effect”, or water absorption by incorporated plant leaf residues, was recently identified as one of the mechanisms that drives activity in microbial hotspots. We explored the presence of the sponge effect in plant root residues, and its role in root decomposition and associated N 2 O and CO 2 emissions. Young soybean (Glycine max) plants were grown in microcosms with two soil materials dominated by (i) large (>30 μm Ø) and (ii) small (<10 μm Ø) pores. After termination, the microcosms with the decomposing roots were incubated at 50% and 75% water-filled pore space (WFPS) soil moisture levels. Root decomposition, water absorption by the decomposing roots, and water redistribution were quantified using X-ray computed micro-tomography (μCT), including dual-energy scanning. The results demonstrated occurrence of the sponge effect in young, in-situ grown soybean roots and sharp gradients in the distribution of the added liquid within ~150 µm distance from the decomposing roots. At 50% WFPS the large pore soil emitted 185% more N 2 O than the small pore soil; and, during the first 5 days of incubation, more N 2 O than the large pore soil at 75% WFPS. This finding indicates that the decomposing roots acted as hotspots of N 2 O production, potentially due to sponge effect and associated anoxic conditions. This study suggests that the interactions between pore characteristics and soil moisture can play a significant role in defining the contribution of detritusphere, specifically, decomposing young roots, to soil biogeochemical processes, including microbial activity and denitrification dynamics.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗