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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Wireless Temperature-Monitoring System

A relatively inexpensive instrumentation system that includes units that are connected to thermocouples and that are parts of a radio-communication network has been developed to enable monitoring of temperatures at multiple locations. Because there is no need to string wires or cables for communication, the system is well suited for monitoring temperatures at remote locations and for applications in which frequent changes of monitored or monitoring locations are needed. The system can also be adapted to monitoring of slowly varying physical quantities, other than temperature, that can be transduced by solid-state electronic sensors. electronic sensors. The system comprises any number of transmitting units and a single receiving unit. Each transmitting unit includes connections for as many as four external thermocouples, a signal-conditioning module, a control module, and a radio-communication module. The signal-conditioning module acts as an interface between the thermocouples and the rest of the transmitting unit and includes a built-in solid ambient temperature sensor that is in addition to the external thermocouples. The control module is a system-on-chip embedded processor that includes analog-to-digital converters, serial and parallel data ports, and an interface for local connection to an analog meter that is used during installation to verify correct operation. The radio-communication module contains a commercial spread-spectrum transceiver that operates in the 900-MHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. This transceiver transmits data to the receiving unit at a rate of 19,200 baud. The receiving unit includes a transceiver like that of a transmitting unit, plus a control module that contains a system-on-chip processor that includes serial data port for output to a computer that runs monitoring and/or control software, a parallel data port for output to a printer, and a seven-segment light-emitting-diode display. Each transmitting unit is battery-powered and can operate for at least seven days continuously while reporting temperatures every half hour. The receiving unit is powered by a wall-mounted transformer source. The receiving unit responds to each transmitting unit and reports the readings of each of the four thermocouples and of the ambient-temperature sensor of the transmitting unit. The end-to-end accuracy of the system is plus or minus 0.2 C over the temperature range from 0 to 100 C. The radio-communication range between the receiving and transmitting units is approximately equal to 0.5 mile (approximately equal to 0.8 km).

Solano, Wanda↗
NASA NTRS2010

Radiation Beamline Testbeds for the Simulation of Planetary and Spacecraft Environments for Human and Robotic Mission Risk Assessment

The Center for Radiation Engineering and Science for Space Exploration (CRESSE) at Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, USA, is establishing an integrated, multi-disciplinary research program on the scientific and engineering challenges faced by NASA and the international space community caused by space radiation. CRESSE focuses on space radiation research directly applicable to astronaut health and safety during future long term, deep space missions, including Martian, lunar, and other planetary body missions beyond low earth orbit. The research approach will consist of experimental and theoretical radiation modeling studies utilizing particle accelerator facilities including: 1. NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratory; 2. Proton Synchrotron at Loma Linda University Medical Center; and 3. Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Specifically, CRESSE investigators are designing, developing, and building experimental test beds that simulate the lunar and Martian radiation environments for experiments focused on risk assessment for astronauts and instrumentation. The testbeds have been designated the Bioastronautics Experimental Research Testbeds for Environmental Radiation Nostrum Investigations and Education (BERT and ERNIE). The designs of BERT and ERNIE will allow for a high degree of flexibility and adaptability to modify experimental configurations to simulate planetary surface environments, planetary habitats, and spacecraft interiors. In the nominal configuration, BERT and ERIE will consist of a set of experimental zones that will simulate the planetary atmosphere (Solid CO2 in the case of the Martian surface.), the planetary surface, and sub-surface regions. These experimental zones can be used for dosimetry, shielding, biological, and electronic effects radiation studies in support of space exploration missions. BERT and ERNIE are designed to be compatible with the experimental areas associated with the above facilities. CRESSE has broad expertise in space radiation in the areas of space radiation environment modeling, Monte-Carlo radiation transport modeling, space radiation instrumentation and dosimetry, radiation effects on electronics, and multi-functional composite shielding materials. The BERT and ERNIE testbeds will be utilized in individual and collaborative research incorporating this expertise. The research goal is to maximize the technical readiness level (TRL) of radiation instrumentation for human and robotic missions, optimizing the return value of CRESSE for NASA exploration and international co-operative missions. Outcomes and knowledge from research utilizing BERT and ERNIE will be applied to a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines vital for safe and reliable execution of future space exploration missions, which can be negatively impacted by the space radiation environment. The testbeds will be central to a variety of university educational activities and educational goals of NASA. Specifically, BERT and ERNIE will enhance educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines for engineering and science students at PVAMU, a historically black college/university. Preliminary data on prototype testbed configurations, including simulated lunar regolith (JSC-1A stimulant based on Apollo 11 samples), regolith/polyethylene composites, and dry ice, will be presented to demonstrate the usefulness of BERT and ERNIE in radiation beam line experiments.

Wilkins, Richard↗
NASA NTRS2003

Wireless Temperature-Monitoring System

A relatively inexpensive instrumentation system that includes units that are connected to thermocouples and that are parts of a radio-communication network has been developed to enable monitoring of temperatures at multiple locations. Because there is no need to string wires or cables for communication, the system is well suited for monitoring temperatures at remote locations and for applications in which frequent changes of monitored or monitoring locations are needed. The system can also be adapted to monitoring of slowly varying physical quantities, other than temperature, that can be transduced by solid-state electronic sensors. The system comprises any number of transmitting units and a single receiving unit (see figure). Each transmitting unit includes connections for as many as four external thermocouples, a signal-conditioning module, a control module, and a radio-communication module. The signal- conditioning module acts as an interface between the thermocouples and the rest of the transmitting unit and includes a built-in solid ambient-temperature sensor that is in addition to the external thermocouples. The control module is a "system-on-chip" embedded processor that includes analog-to-digital converters, serial and parallel data ports, and an interface for local connection to an analog meter that is used during installation to verify correct operation. The radio-communication module contains a commercial spread-spectrum transceiver that operates in the 900-MHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band. This transceiver transmits data to the receiving unit at a rate of 19,200 baud. The receiving unit includes a transceiver like that of a transmitting unit, plus a control module that contains a system-on-chip processor that includes serial data port for output to a computer that runs monitoring and/or control software, a parallel data port for output to a printer, and a seven-segment light-emitting-diode display.

Solano, Wanda↗
NASA NTRS1993

Emergency medical service (EMS): A unique flight environment

The EMS flight environment is unique in today's aviation. The pilots must respond quickly to emergency events and often fly to landing zones where they have never been before . The time from initially receiving a call to being airborne can be as little as two to three minutes. Often the EMS pilot is the only aviation professional on site, they have no operations people or other pilots to aid them in making decisons. Further, since they are often flying to accident scenes, not airports, there is often complete weather and condition information. Therefore, the initial decision that the pilot must make, accepting or declining a flight, can become very difficult. The accident rate of EMS helicopters has been relatively high over the past years. NASA-Ames research center has taken several steps in an attempt to aid EMS pilots in their decision making and situational awareness. A preflight risk assessment system (SAFE) was developed to aid pilots in their decision making, and was tested at an EMS service. The resutls of the study were promising and a second version incorporating the lessons learned is under development. A second line of research was the development of a low cost electronic chart display (ECD). This is a digital map display to help pilots maintain geographical orientation. Another thrust was undertaken in conjunction with the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). This involved publicizing the ASRS to EMS pilots and personnel, and calling each of the reporters back to gather additional information. This paper will discuss these efforts and how they may positively impact the safety of EMS operations.

Shively, R. Jay↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fabrication of Nb3Sn by Magnetron Sputtering for Superconducting Radiofrequency Application

Particle accelerators are considered as an important device that has wide applications in cancer treatment, sterilizing waste, preserving foods, ion implantation in semiconductor industry, and in production of isotopes for medical applications. Superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities are the building blocks of a linear particle accelerator. Current particle accelerators use niobium (Nb) superconductors as the sheet material to fabricate a single SRF cavity for particle acceleration. With better superconducting properties (critical temperature Tc ~ 18.3 K, superheating field Hsh~ 400 mT), Nb3Sn is considered a potential candidate in SRF technology. Magnetron sputtering is a promising deposition method to fabricate Nb3Sn thin films inside SRF cavities. Superconducting Nb3Sn films were fabricated on Nb and sapphire substrates by magnetron sputtering from a single stoichiometric Nb3Sn target, by multilayer sputtering of Nb and Sn followed by annealing, and by co-sputtering of Nb and Sn followed by annealing. The variation of morphological and superconducting properties was investigated for different substrate temperatures, annealing temperatures, annealing durations, and thicknesses. The film properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The films had crystalline Nb3Sn structure without any presence of poor superconducting Nb6Sn5 and NbSn2 phases. The highest Tc of the films fabricated from the stoichiometric target, multilayer sputtering and co-sputtering were 17.44, 17.93, and 17.66 K respectively. Finally, a cylindrical sputter coater with two identical magnetrons was designed and commissioned to fabricate Nb3Sn films inside a 2.6 GHz SRF cavity. The magnetrons were installed facing opposite to each other in a custom designed vacuum chamber and multilayers of Nb and Sn films on 1 cm2 Nb substrates replicating the beam tubes and equator locations of the cavity and the coated multilayered films were annealed at 950 °C for 3 h. The XRD of the as?deposited and annealed films confirmed the formation of Nb3Sn after the annealing. The dissertation discusses the fabrication process, characterized results of the fabricated films, the design of the cylindrical sputter coater and the preliminary data obtained from the sputter coater.

Sayeed, Md Nizam↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaluation of medical treatments to increase survival of ebullism in guinea pigs

Spaceflight carriers run a constant risk of exposure to vacuum. Above 63,000 ft (47 mmHg), the ambient pressure falls below the vapor pressure of water at 37 C, and tissue vaporization (ebullism) begins. Little is know about appropriate resuscitative protocols after such an ebullism exposure. This study identified injury patterns and mortality rates associated with ebullism while verifying effectiveness of traditional pulmonary resuscitative techniques. Male Hartley guinea pigs were exposed to 87,000 ft for periods of 40 to 115 sec. After descent, those animals that did not breathe spontaneously were given artificial ventilation by bag and mask for up to 15 minutes. Those animals surviving were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups--hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), ground-level oxygen (GLO2), and ground-level air (GLAIR). The HBO group was treated on a standard treatment table 6A while the GLO2 animals received O2 for an equivalent length of time. Those animals in the GLAIR group were observed only. All surviving animals were humanely sacrified at 48 hours. Inflation of the animal's lungs after the exposure was found to be difficult and, at times, impossible. This may be due to surfactant disruption at the alveolar lining. Electron microscopy identified a disruption of the surfactant layer in animals that did not survive initial exposure. Mortality was found to increase with exposure time: 40 sec--0 percent; 60 sec--6 percent; 70 sec--40 percent; 80 sec--13 percent; 100 sec--38 percent; 110 sec--40 percent; and 115 sec--100 percent. There was no difference in the delayed mortality among the treatment groups (HBO--15 percent, GLO2--11 percent, GLAIR--11 percent). However, since resuscitation was ineffective, the effectiveness of any post-exposure treatment was severely limited. Preliminary results indicate that reuscitation of guinea pigs following ebullism exposure is difficult, and that current techniques (such as traditional CPR) may not be appropriate.

Stegmann, Barbara J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

A 15-Mev/nucleon Iso-Cyclotron for Security and Radioisotope Production

Cargo inspection systems exploit the broad bremsstrahlung spectrum from a 6-10 MeV, low-duty cycle electron accelerator which in the presence of significant backgrounds presents challenges in image and material identification. An alternative approach is to use ions which can excite nuclear states either directly, or through generation of secondary high-energy signature gammas produced from nuclear interactions in a target. RadiaBeam is designing a compact sector isocyclotron 1.25 m in radius, with high-gradient cavities to accelerate multi-ion species up to 15-20 MeV/u with large turn-to turn, centimeter-level separation for low-loss extraction without lossy foil stripping. A strong-focusing radial field profile will be optimized in a separated-sector format for control over machine tune simultaneous with isochronous orbist requirements for high-current (~0.5 milliamp) operation. Innovation in injection will be introduced to replace the high-loss central region. Non-security applications of the cyclotron include medical isotope production, ion radiobiology, as well as material science research and ion instrumentation development.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS2007

Association between Randall's Plaque and Calcifying Nanoparticles

Randall's plaques, first described by Alexander Randall in the 1930s, are small subepithelial calcifications in the renal papillae (RP) that also extend deeply into the renal medulla. Despite the strong correlation between the presence of these plaques and the formation of renal stones, the precise origin and pathogenesis of Randall s plaque formation remain elusive. The discovery of calcifying nanoparticles (CNP) and their detection in many calcifying processes of human tissues has raised hypotheses about their possible involvement in renal stone formation. We collected RP and blood samples from 17 human patients who had undergone laparoscopic nephrectomy due to neoplasia. Homogenized RP tissues and serum samples were cultured for CNP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis were performed on fixed RP samples. Immunohistochemical staining (IHS) was applied on the tissue samples using CNP-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb). Randall s plaques were visible on gross inspection in 11 out of 17 collected samples. Cultures of all serum samples and 13 tissue homogenates had CNP growth within 4 weeks. SEM revealed spherical apatite formations in 14 samples, with calcium and phosphate peaks detected by EDS analysis. IHS was positive in 9 out of 17 samples. A strong link was found between the presence of Randall s plaques and the detection of CNP, also referred to as nanobacteria. These results suggest new insights into the etiology of Randall's plaque formation, and will help us understand the pathogenesis of stone formation. Further studies on this topic may lead us to new approaches on early diagnosis and novel medical therapies of kidney stone formation.

Ciftcioglu, Neva↗
DOE OSTI2026

Small-molecule modulation of β-arrestins

β-Arrestins are multifunctional regulators of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling and orchestrate diverse downstream signalling events and physiological responses across the GPCR superfamily. Although GPCR pharmacology has advanced to target orthosteric and allosteric sites, as well as G proteins and GPCR kinases, direct chemical tools to modulate β-arrestin activities have remained conspicuously absent. Here we report the identification of small-molecule inhibitors that selectively target β-arrestins and delineate their mechanism of action through integrated pharmacological, biochemical, biophysical and structural analyses. These inhibitors disrupt β-arrestin engagement with agonist-activated GPCRs, impairing desensitization, internalization and β-arrestin-dependent physiological functions while sparing G protein–receptor coupling. Cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and structure-guided mutagenesis reveal that one modulator, Cmpd-5, engages a pocket within the central crest of β-arrestin1 formed by the middle, C and lariat loops, a critical receptor-binding interface, stabilizing a distinct conformation that is incompatible with full β-arrestin–receptor engagement. Together, these findings establish a mechanistic framework for β-arrestin modulation, reveal a novel allosteric site for structure-based drug design, and open new avenues for transducer-targeted, pathway-specific GPCR therapeutic agents.

Kahsai, Alem W. [Duke University, Durham, NC (Unit↗
NASA NTRS2025

Influence of Microgravity on Bacterial Pathogen Virulence and Immune Cell Function—Relevance for Infectious Disease Risk During Spaceflight

Spaceflight has measurable impacts on astronaut immune profiles as well as the virulence patterns of bacterial pathogens. Data with respect to human immunity indicate diminished T and NK cell function, altered cytokine profiles, persistent inflammation, and latent herpesvirus reactivation. Furthermore, evaluation of International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers gives evidence of compromised immunity, including atypical allergy, infectious disease, and dermatitis. Data with respect to certain human bacterial pathogens suggest modified virulence that may be enhanced. It is therefore critical to examine this interaction of immune dysregulation and increased microbial virulence and whether it might synergistically increase the risk of infectious disease to crew members. The goal of this study is to use modeled microgravity to study the impact of medically significant ISS bacteria that may have altered virulence on the immune response of the host. This study consists of two primary aims to assess this relationship. First, immune cells will be collected from healthy test subjects and cultured in static or in modeled microgravity conditions together with either control pathogens or with microgravity conditioned pathogens that were grown in bioreactors. Second, immune cells will be collected from astronauts before, during, and after flight and co-cultured with the control or the microgravity conditioned bacteria. Three pathogens were selected for this investigation: Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and Burkholderia cepacia . Previously, the optimal cell to bacteria ratios that produce the greatest immune cell responses have been derived for these three bacteria. Cellular activation, as determined by the induction of cell surface activation markers and cytokine profiles, will be measured. Interactions between cells and bacteria will be assessed using fluorescent and electron microscopy techniques. This study will provide critical information to help understand how microgravity alters microbial virulence and the associated infectious disease risk to crewmembers during spaceflight missions. Over the past year, the Immunology and Microbiology laboratories at NASA Johnson Space Center have collaborated to process the astronaut subject samples to complete the last year of the flight portion of this study. This included the completion of four astronaut subjects full mission sampling sets. Sample processing included innate and adaptive cell flow cytometry as well as analysis of cytokine concentrations in the supernatant. The ground control segment of the study will take place during FY25 which involves parallel infections run under static and clinostat conditions. The acquired data sets over this 3-year study are now being analyzed to provide a comprehensive set of results and conclusions that will contribute to a more effective risk assessment for astronauts during spaceflight regarding this host-pathogen context.

Immunology↗
DOE OSTI2022

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Army Aircrew

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by disrupted sleep and excessive daytime fatigue. Associated cognitive and psychomotor decrements pose a threat to aviators’ performance and flight safety. Additionally, the longer term health effects associated with the disease can jeopardize an aviator’s career and negatively impact operational outputs. This study reviews OSA prevalence, related comorbid conditions in Army aviators, and analyzes the aeromedical dispositions of affected individuals. METHODS: The U.S. Army Aeromedical Electronic Resource Office (AERO) database was interrogated for all cases of OSA from June 2005 through June 2015 using ICD-9 code 327.23. Prevalence rates for OSA and other comorbid conditions were then calculated using the total number of aviators in the AERO database. RESULTS: A total of 663 unique instances of OSA were found among the aviator population ( N = 24,568), giving a point prevalence of 2.69%. Four cases affected women. Mean age of initial presentation was 42.62 yr and mean Body Mass Index was 28.69. The top five most prevalent comorbid conditions were hypertension, lumbago, degeneration of a lumbar or lumbosacral intervertebral disc, PTSD, and testicular hypofunction. DISCUSSION: Prevalence of OSA among aviators is lower than the general population but is not uncommon. A positive diagnosis requires a waiver or can result in suspension if not managed effectively, potentially leading to a reduction in aviator numbers. Aggressive health promotion and robust medical surveillance and aeromedical disposition management by the aeromedical community is essential to reduce OSA numbers, maintain aviator health, and maximize flight safety. Goldie C, Stork B, Bernhardt K, Gaydos SJ, Kelley AM. Obstructive sleep apnea among army aircrew . Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(5):415–420.

Biophysics↗
DOE OSTI2024

Glycosyl transferase GT2 genes mediate the biosynthesis of an unusual (1,3;1,4)‐β‐glucan exopolysaccharide in the bacterium Sarcina ventriculi

Abstract Linear, unbranched (1,3;1,4)‐β‐glucans (mixed‐linkage glucans or MLGs) are commonly found in the cell walls of grasses, but have also been detected in basal land plants, algae, fungi and bacteria. Here we show that two family GT2 glycosyltransferases from the Gram‐positive bacteriumSarcina ventriculiare capable of synthesizing MLGs. Immunotransmission electron microscopy demonstrates that MLG is secreted as an exopolysaccharide, where it may play a role in organizing individual cells into packets that are characteristic ofSarcinaspecies. Heterologous expression of these two genes shows that they are capable of producing MLGsin planta, including an MLG that is chemically identical to the MLG secreted fromS. ventriculicells but which has regularly spaced (1,3)‐β‐linkages in a structure not reported previously for MLGs. The tandemly arranged, paralogous pair of genes are designatedSvBmlgs1andSvBmlgs2. The data indicate that MLG synthases have evolved different enzymic mechanisms for the incorporation of (1,3)‐β‐ and (1,4)‐β‐glucosyl residues into a single polysaccharide chain. Amino acid variants associated with the evolutionary switch from (1,4)‐β‐glucan (cellulose) to MLG synthesis have been identified in the active site regions of the enzymes. The presence of MLG synthesis in bacteria could prove valuable for large‐scale production of MLG for medical, food and beverage applications.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗
DOE OSTI2020

Towards data-driven next-generation transmission electron microscopy

Electron microscopy touches on nearly every aspect of modern life, underpinning materials development for quantum computing, energy and medicine. We discuss the open, highly integrated and data-driven microscopy architecture needed to realize transformative discoveries in the coming decade.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electron paramagnetic resonance dose measurements in teeth of tissue donors to the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries

Abstract The United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR) is a research program that studies actinide biokinetics in occupationally exposed individuals with known intakes of these elements. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in tooth enamel was applied to reconstruct external doses of nine USTUR registrants. Only in two cases there is a reasonable agreement between the EPR-measured dose and the worksite external dose record. For two registrants, high EPR doses can be explained by possible cancer radiotherapy. For the remaining five cases, EPR doses significantly exceed official occupational doses with no plausible explanation for the observed discrepancy. More EPR dose measurements need to be done to explain this anomaly.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2024

Proton Quenching in Rare-Earth Inorganic Scintillators: GAGG:Ce and YSO:Ce

Scintillator detectors are an integral component of radiation detection systems for a variety of applications such as medical imaging, accelerator diagnostics, and space science. Typically, a scintillator detector’s response is characterized using gamma sources to understand the detection response to different types of radiation, including charged particle detection. However, there exists a nonlinearity of the amount of light produced from an incident gamma ray of specific energy and the light produced from an incident charged particle of the same energy. This important effect, known as quenching, must be accounted for to interpret energies from charged particles incident on detectors. In this article, we present results of quenching parameterization for two types of cerium-doped inorganic scintillators, Y2SiO5:Ce (YSO:Ce) and Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce (GAGG:Ce). We measured the light output from incident proton energies from 1 to 25 MeV using a 3-MV tandem accelerator and two reactions: Au(p,p)Au and 3He(d,p)⁴He. Using gamma-ray sources to calibrate the detectors, we compared the measured electron-equivalent energy versus the incident energy expected. Using an adaptation of the Birks semi-empirical formula, we extracted the Birks parameter (kB) to understand quenching. For one of the GAGG:Ce samples, the kB parameter of 0.0072 [g cm-2 MeV-1] is comparable to a similar study where the value of kB was 0.0065 [g cm-2 MeV-1]. For YSO:Ce, no other kB values were found in the literature. Three different types of GAGG:Ce were used to collect measurements of kB as a function of dopant concentration.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Programmable soft valves for digital and analog control

In soft devices, complex actuation sequences and precise force control typically require hard electronic valves and microcontrollers. Existing designs for entirely soft pneumatic control systems are capable of either digital or analog operation, but not both, and are limited by speed of actuation, range of pressure, time required for fabrication, or loss of power through pull-down resistors. Using the nonlinear mechanics intrinsic to structures composed of soft materials—in this case, by leveraging membrane inversion and tube kinking—two modular soft components are developed: a piston actuator and a bistable pneumatic switch. These two components combine to create valves capable of analog pressure regulation, simplified digital logic, controlled oscillation, nonvolatile memory storage, linear actuation, and interfacing with human users in both digital and analog formats. Three demonstrations showcase the capabilities of systems constructed from these valves: 1) a wearable glove capable of analog control of a soft artificial robotic hand based on input from a human user’s fingers, 2) a human-controlled cushion matrix designed for use in medical care, and 3) an untethered robot which travels a distance dynamically programmed at the time of operation to retrieve an object. This work illustrates pathways for complementary digital and analog control of soft robots using a unified valve design.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modifications to the Bubble experiment and preparation for additional irradiations

SHINE Medical Technologies is planning to use neutron-induced fission in a subcritical low-enriched-uranium uranyl sulfate target solution for production of 99 Mo. During this operation, the solution will undergo self-heating due to fissioning of the uranium, radiolytic decomposition of the water, and circulation due to thermal gradients generated in the solution, and will be cooled by cooling tubes running through the annulus and from cooling outside the annulus. Because the formation of the radiolysis-induced bubbles (H 2 and O 2 ) and their size and dynamics will impact the operational parameters of the liquid target, an understanding of bubble behavior is critical for the ability to predict the behavior of the target solution during this operation. It is also important to be able to predict the thermal gradients and the circulation in the vessel. Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have designed an experimental setup to study radiolytic gas formation in uranyl sulfate under direct electron beam irradiation and have conducted initial experiments. Results of those experiments provided invaluable information on thermal hydraulic behavior of the solution and some information on bubble formation and behavior, but those initial experiments fell short in the measurements of the gas generation rates and bubble behavior. To address the shortcomings of the original experiment, the irradiation setup was modified to improve our abilities to measure gas generation rates and measure the temperature distribution in the solution with better precision. Modifications to the experimental setup and preparation for the irradiations are described below.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
NASA NTRS2014

Public-Private Collaborations with Earth-Space Benefits

The NASA Human Health and Performance Center (NHHPC) was established in October 2010 to promote collaborative problem solving and project development to advance human health and performance innovations benefiting life in space and on Earth. The NHHPC, which now boasts over 150 corporate, government, academic and non-profit members, has convened four successful workshops and engaged in multiple collaborative projects. The virtual center facilitates member engagement through a variety of vehicles, including annual in-person workshops, webcasts, quarterly electronic newsletters, web postings, and the new system for partner engagement. NHHPC workshops serve to bring member organizations together to share best practices, discuss common goals, and facilitate development of the collaborative projects. The most recent NHHPC workshop was conducted in November 2013 on the topic of "Accelerating Innovation: New Organizational Business Models," and focused on various collaborative approaches successfully used by organizations to achieve their goals. Past workshops have addressed smart media and health applications, connecting through collaboration, microbiology innovations, and strategies and best practices in open innovation. A fifth workshop in Houston, Texas, planned for September 18, 2014, will feature "Innovation Through Co-Development: Engaging Partners". One area of great interest to NASA is mobile health applications, including mobile laboratory analytics, health monitoring, and close loop sensing, all of which also offer ground-based health applications for remote and underserved areas. Another project being coordinated by NASA and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute is the pursuit of one to several novel strategies to increase medication stability that would enable health care in remote terrestrial settings as well as during space flight. NASA has also funded work with corporate NHHPC partner GE, seeking to develop ultrasound methodologies that will enable NASA to further understand the eye changes related to long-duration space flight. The adaptation of ultrasound to this type of eye examination could also expand the use of ultrasound in health care on the Earth in settings where MRIs are not available. To further engage NHHPC members and facilitate partnership development for NASA, the NHHPC created and deployed an engagement system in 2014 that facilitates identification and evaluation of technical needs and opportunities among all NHHPC members.

Davis, Jeffrey R.↗