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Since its inception in January 2003, thc program has provided support for 1 faculty and a total of 7 Graduate Research Scholar Assistants, of these all 7 have completed their MS degree program. The program has generated 5 MS thesis and 2 MS project reports. Attachment: Appendix A, B, C, and D.
This final report describes the R&D activities and projects conducted for NASA under the 6-year NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities grant program. Contained within this report are summaries of the overall activities, one-page description of all the reports funded under this program and all of the individual reports from each of the 29 projects supported by the effort. The R&D activities cover hydrogen technologies related to production, cryogenics, sensors, storage, separation processes, fuel cells, resource assessments and education. In the span of 6 years, the NASA Hydrogen Research at Florida Universities program funded a total of 44 individual university projects, and employed more than 100 faculty and over 100 graduate research students in the six participating universities. Researchers involved in this program have filed more than 20 patents in all hydrogen technology areas and put out over 220 technical publications in the last 2 years alone. This 6 year hydrogen research program was conducted by a consortium of six Florida universities: Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida State University (FSU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, and University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) of the University of Central Florida managed the research activities of all consortium member universities except those at the University of Florida. This report does not include any of the programs or activities conducted at the University of Florida, but can be found in NASA/CR-2008-215440-PART 1-3.
Since its inception in December 1999, the program has provided support for a total of 11 Graduate Research Scholar Assistants, of these, 6 have completed their MS degree program. The program has generated 3 MS theses and a total of 4 publications/presentations.
The Aeroacoustics Research Program is an integral part of the Joint Institute for Advancement of Flight Sciences at The George Washington University. It is affiliated with many civil, mechanical, and environmental engineering courses, particularly those that stress theory and numerical or other analytic methods in engineering. This report lists the courses presented, the names of graduate research assistants, and bibliographic information regarding publications and presentations. Three graduate degrees were awarded and the abstracts of each dissertation is included. The dissertations were as follows: "A Numerical Investigation of Thermoacoustic Oscillations", which discusses advances in the study of acoustic phenomena through the use of computational aeroacoustics. "Computation of Vortex Shedding and Radiated Sound for a Circular Cylinder: Subcritical to Transcritical Reynolds Numbers", which discusses predicting tonal noise generated by vortex shedding from a circular cylinder. And finally, "The Radiated Field Generated by a Monopole Source in a Short, Rigid, Rectangular Duct", which develops a method for modeling the acoustic field generated by a monopole source placed in a moving rectangular duct.
Hardware and software systems developed to further research and education in interactive computer graphics were described, as well as several of the ongoing application-oriented projects, educational graphics programs, and graduate research projects. The software system consists of a FORTRAN 4 subroutine package, in conjunction with a PDP 11/40 minicomputer as the primary computation processor and the Imlac PDS-1 as an intelligent display processor. The package comprises a comprehensive set of graphics routines for dynamic, structured two-dimensional display manipulation, and numerous routines to handle a variety of input devices at the Imlac.
Through this research, we aim to combine transition metal catalysts with light-absorbing semiconductors for use in efficient solar energy conversion. Upon receiving photogenerated electrons from the semiconductors, the transition metal catalysts could accelerate the reduction of carbon dioxide into energy-rich fuels. We have deposited cobalt complexes, including cobalt macrocycles and single cobalt catalysts, onto different semiconductors that demonstrated targeted activities in photochemical carbon dioxide reduction. The structures and catalytic mechanisms of the surface cobalt catalysts were investigated using advanced techniques, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy at DOE user facilities. Our research provides new strategies to enable effective coupling between molecularly defined catalytic sites with heterogeneous surfaces for converting solar energy into chemicals and fuels. Research results obtained through this project have been disseminated through journal publications and conference presentation. In addition, this project provided important interdisciplinary training opportunities for two postdoctoral scholars, four graduate researchers, and one high school student. It also allowed us to establish successful State-National Laboratory partnerships with Brookhaven National Lab and Argonne National Lab.
Research programs in science and engineering at predominantly black and white universities which assist in training and furthering the capabilities of minorities in the field, are examined. The Minority Graduate Researcher's Program and the Historically Black College and University Program were the focus of this research. The objectives included investigating the organizational structure and processes of the programs, how they are run, how they differ, defining particular administrative tasks for these programs, the collection of data related to these programs, and recommending ways in which these programs can be improved for greater efficiency and effectiveness through the Equal Opportunity Programs Office.
The Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at MIT, started in Jul. 1988, has completed two years of research. The Center is approaching the operational phase of its first testbed, is midway through the construction of a second testbed, and is in the design phase of a third. We presently have seven participating faculty, four participating staff members, ten graduate students, and numerous undergraduates. This report reviews the testbed programs, individual graduate research, other SERC activities not funded by the Center, interaction with non-MIT organizations, and SERC milestones. Published papers made possible by SERC funding are included at the end of the report.
The program objectives were defined in the original proposal entitled 'Program of Research in Flight Dynamics in the JIAFS at NASA Langley Research Center' which was originated March 20, 1975, and yearly renewals of the research program dated December 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002. The program included three major topics: 1) Improvement of existing methods and development of new methods for flight and wind tunnel data analysis based on system identification methodology; 2) Application of these methods to flight and wind tunnel data obtained from advanced aircraft; 3) Modeling and control of aircraft. The principal investigator of the program was Dr. Vladislav Klein, Professor Emeritus at The George Washington University, DC. Seven Graduate Research Scholar Assistants (GRSA) participated in the program. The results of the research conducted during four years of the total co-operative period were published in 2 NASA Technical Reports, 3 thesis and 3 papers. The list of these publications is included.
The program objectives are fully defined in the original proposal entitled 'Program of Research in Flight Dynamics in GW at NASA Langley Research Center,' which was originated March 20, 1975, and in the renewals of the research program from December 1, 2000 to November 30, 2001. The program in its present form includes three major topics: 1) the improvement of existing methods and development of new methods for wind tunnel and flight test data analysis, 2) the application of these methods to wind tunnel and flight test data obtained from advanced airplanes, 3) the correlation of flight results with wind tunnel measurements, and theoretical predictions. The Principal Investigator of the program is Dr. Vladislav Klein. Three Graduate Research Scholar Assistants (K. G. Mas, M. M. Eissa and N. M. Szyba) also participated in the program. Specific developments in the program during the period Dec. 1, 2001 through Nov. 30, 2002 included: 1) Data analysis of highly swept delta wing aircraft from wind and water tunnel data, and 2) Aerodynamic characteristics of the radio control aircraft from flight test.
The program objectives were defined in the original proposal entitled "Program of Research in Flight Dynamics in the JIAFS at NASA Langley Research Center" which was originated March 20, 1975, and in yearly renewals of the research program dated December 1, 1979 to December 1, 1998. The program included three major topics: 1) Improvement of existing methods and development of new methods for flight and wind tunnel data analysis based on system identification methodology. 2) Application of these methods to flight and wind tunnel data obtained from advanced aircraft. 3) Modeling and control of aircraft, space structures and spacecraft. The principal investigator of the program was Dr. Vladislav Klein, Professor at The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.. Thirty-seven Graduate Research Scholar Assistants, two of them doctoral students, also participated in the program. The results of the research conducted during nineteen years of the total co-operative period were published in 23 NASA technical reports, 2 D.Sc. Dissertations, 14 M.S. Theses and 33 papers. The list of these publications is included. The results were also reported in more than 30 seminar lectures presented at various research establishments world-wide. For contributions to the research supported by the co-operative agreement, three NASA Awards were received: 1) NASA LARC Group Achievement Award, May 30, 1990, to Dr. V. Klein as a member of the X-29 Drop Model Team. 2) NASA Medal for Exceptional Engineering Achievement, March 27, 1992, to Dr. V. Klein for innovative contributions in the development of advanced techniques and computer programs in the field of system identification. 3) NASA LaRC Team Excellence Award, May 7, 1994, to Dr. V. Klein as a member of the X-31 Drop Model Team.
Work under this grant was carried out by the author and by a graduate research assistant. An instrumented bicycle ergometer was implemented focusing on the stated objective: to estimate the forces exerted by each muscle of the feet, calf, and thigh of an individual while bicycling. The sensors used were light and compact. These were probes to measure muscle EMG activity, miniature accelerometers, miniature load sensors, and small encoders to measure angular positions of the pedal. A methodology was developed and implemented to completely describe the kinematics of the limbs using data from the sensors. This work has been published as a Master's Thesis by the Graduate student supported by the grant. The instrumented ergometer along with the sensors and instrumentation were tested during a KC-135 Zero-Gravity flight in July, 1994. A complete description of the system and the tests performed have been published as a report submitted to NASA Johnson Space Center. The data collected during the KC-135 flight is currently being processed so that a kinematic description of the bicycling experiment will be soon determined. A methodology to estimate the muscle forces has been formulated based on previous work. The methodology involves the use of optimization concepts so that the individual muscle forces that represent variables in dynamic equations of motion may be estimated. Optimization of a criteria (goal) function such as minimization of energy will be used along with constraint equations defined by rigid body equations of motion. Use of optimization principles is necessary, because the equations of motion alone constitute an indeterminate system of equations with respect to the large amount of muscle forces which constitute the variables in these equations. The number of variables is reduced somewhat by using forces measured by the load cells installed on the pedal. These load cells measure pressure and shear forces on the foot. The author and his collaborators at NASA and at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, are continuing the work of reducing the experimental data from the KC-135 flight, and the implementation of the optimization methods to estimate muscle forces. As soon as results from these efforts are available, they will be published in reputable journals. Results of this work will impact studies addressing bone density loss and development of countermeasures to minimize bone loss in zero gravity conditions. By analyzing muscle forces on Earth and in Space during exercise, scientists could eventually formulate new exercises and machines to help maintain bone density. On Earth, this work will impact studies concerning arthritis, and will provide the means to study possible exercise countermeasures to minimize arthritis problems.
The National Wind Technology Center (NWTC), located at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Flatirons Campus, has been a driving force in advancing wind energy technology research worldwide since its designation as a DOE national research center in 1992. Enabled by the Flatirons Campus's world-class facilities, scientists, engineers, analysts, and researchers are pushing the frontiers of science to pursue wind energy innovation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, NREL continued to provide the technical expertise, research capabilities, and industry understanding to support DOE's ambitious climate action and research goals by advancing technology, addressing market and deployment barriers, and driving down costs with more efficient, reliable, and predictable wind energy systems. One of several highlights, NREL received an R&D 100 Special Recognition Award for its Thermoplastic Resin System for Wind Turbine Blades. This breakthrough in the wind turbine manufacturing process will enable the production of recyclable blades that are stronger, longer, and less expensive, while increasing energy capture, decreasing energy and transportation costs, and increasing blade reliability. In a year when the entire U.S. economy struggled to address workforce gaps, an NREL study compared wind industry needs, training programs, and hiring practices with perspectives from students and recent college graduates. Researchers hope that, by pinpointing areas of disconnect, the expectations of employers who have difficulty filling entry-level jobs can better align with the preparation of the potential applicants who find it hard to break into the field. The lab also made numerous new data and modeling resources available in FY 2021. Recent NREL releases include a modeling tool for predicting the power performance and structural loads of wind turbines within a wind farm (FAST.Farm), a computational framework for modeling golden eagle behavior near wind farms, and 20 years of offshore wind data. Updates were also made to the widely used Wind Plant Integrated Systems Design and Engineering Model (WISDEM), which couples engineering and cost models to examine system-level trade-offs. Now, bolstered by a renewed national commitment to tackle climate change and revitalize the U.S. economy through increased investment in clean energy - particularly in offshore wind energy - NREL stands poised to lead the way to a sustainable future that powers the United States with significant levels of reliable, low-cost, accessible wind energy. This report provides an overview of the achievements NREL made on behalf of DOE's Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and other partners during FY 2021 (between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021).
In spite of rapid advances in both scalar and parallel computational tools, the large number of variables involved in both design and inverse problems make the use of sophisticated fluid flow models impractical, With this restriction, it is concluded that an important family of methods for mathematical/computational development are reduced or approximate fluid flow models. In this study a combined perturbation/numerical modeling methodology is developed which provides a rigorously derived family of solutions. The mathematical model is computationally more efficient than classical boundary layer but provides important two-dimensional information not available using quasi-1-d approaches. An additional strength of the current methodology is its ability to locally predict static pressure fields in a manner analogous to more sophisticated parabolized Navier Stokes (PNS) formulations. To resolve singular behavior, the model utilizes classical analytical solution techniques. Hence, analytical methods have been combined with efficient numerical methods to yield an efficient hybrid fluid flow model. In particular, the main objective of this research has been to develop a system of analytical and numerical ejector/mixer nozzle models, which require minimal empirical input. A computer code, DREA Differential Reduced Ejector/mixer Analysis has been developed with the ability to run sufficiently fast so that it may be used either as a subroutine or called by an design optimization routine. Models are of direct use to the High Speed Civil Transport Program (a joint government/industry project seeking to develop an economically.viable U.S. commercial supersonic transport vehicle) and are currently being adopted by both NASA and industry. Experimental validation of these models is provided by comparison to results obtained from open literature and Limited Exclusive Right Distribution (LERD) sources, as well as dedicated experiments performed at Texas A&M. These experiments have been performed using a hydraulic/gas flow analog. Results of comparisons of DREA computations with experimental data, which include entrainment, thrust, and local profile information, are overall good. Computational time studies indicate that DREA provides considerably more information at a lower computational cost than contemporary ejector nozzle design models. Finally. physical limitations of the method, deviations from experimental data, potential improvements and alternative formulations are described. This report represents closure to the NASA Graduate Researchers Program. Versions of the DREA code and a user's guide may be obtained from the NASA Lewis Research Center.
In solvent extraction processes for recovering metal ions from used nuclear fuel, as well as other industrial applications, a better understanding of the metal complex phase transfer phenomenon would greatly aid ligand design and process optimization. We have approached this challenge by utilizing classical molecular dynamics simulations technique to gain visual appreciation of the vapor/liquid and liquid/liquid interface between tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and n-dodecane with air and water. In this study, we successfully reparameterized polarizable force fields for TBP and n-dodecane that accurately reproduced several of their thermophysical properties such as: density, heat of vaporization, and dipole moment. Our models were able to predict the surface and interfacial tension of different systems when compared to experimental results also performed by us. Through this study, we gained numerous atomistic understanding of the behaviors of TBP and n-dodecane at the interface against air and water, useful in further computational studies of such systems. Lastly, our studies indicate that the initial configuration of a simulation may have a large effect on the final result.
Ethanol is a promising platform molecule for production of a variety of fuels and chemicals. Of particular interest is producing middle distillate fuels (i.e., jet and diesel blendstock) from renewable ethanol feedstock. State-of-the-art alcohol-to-jet technology requires multiple process steps based on catalytic dehydration of ethanol to form ethylene, followed by sometimes a multi-step oligomerization, and then hydrotreatment and distillation. Here we report on a new catalytic route in which ethanol is directly converted to n-butene (1- and 2-butene mixtures) over Ag-ZrO2/SBA-16, thus offering the potential for a reduction in the number of required processing steps versus conventional alcohol-to-jet technology. This catalyst system provides the balanced metal and Lewis acid sites required to selectively facilitate a cascading sequence of reactions that includes dehydrogenation, aldol condensation, Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction, dehydration, and hydrogenation. High conversion and selectivity toward either n-butene or 1,3-butadiene is achieved by tuning the hydrogen feed partial pressure and other process/catalyst parameters. With sufficient hydrogen partial pressure 1,3-butadiene is completely and selectively hydrogenated to form n-butene. The reaction mechanism was elucidated through operando-nuclear magnetic resonance investigations coupled with reactivity measurements. Combined experimental-computational investigation reveals how changes in silver and zirconium composition and the silver oxidation state affects reactivity under controlled hydrogen partial pressures and after prolonged run times. Finally, catalyst effectiveness also was demonstrated when using wet ethanol feed, thus highlighting process flexibility in terms of feedstock purity requirements. This work was financially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Bioenergy Technologies Office, and was performed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) under Contract No. DE-AC05-76RL01830 and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC36- 08GO28308. Part of the work conducted by S. A. Akhade was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344. This work was partly supported through the PNNL-WSU Distinguished Graduate Research Program for ADW. NMR and XPS experiments were performed using EMSL (grid.436923.9), a DOE Office of Science User Facility sponsored by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research
Plants are chemists that have spent the last 425 million years evolving unique secondary metabolites to communicate with their surroundings, defend themselves against pathogens, insects, and herbivores, and grow and develop. Many secondary metabolites are biosynthesized from the aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, and the shikimate and aromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathways link primary and specialized metabolism. Prephenate aminotransferase (PAT) is a key enzyme in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis because its product, arogenate, is the immediate precursor for both tyrosine and phenylalanine. Interestingly, the enzyme has a dual role in metabolism and can also function as a classical aspartate aminotransferase. AtPAT is pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate‐dependent (PLP) enzyme belonging to the AAT‐like aspartate aminotransferase domain and follows a ping‐pong bi‐bi reaction mechanism through Schiff‐base formation to a catalytic K306 in the active site. Each subunit of the AtPAT dimer consists of a large domain and a small domain that belong to the α‐β class of protein fold. Despite the structural similarities to aspartate aminotransferases, the molecular basis of prephenate binding specificity remains elusive. To gain an understanding of the enzyme's chemistry and substrate selectivity, a 2.5 Å x‐ray structure of PAT from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) was solved in complex with the PLP. To our knowledge, this is the first structure of a bona fide prephenate aminotransferase. Amino acid sequence comparisons of all known functional PATs shows that T84 and K169 are highly conserved; however, some enzymes annotated as PAT display sequence variations at these positions. Biochemical analysis of T84V, K169V, and T84V/K169V PAT reveals that the double mutant gained tyrosine aminotransferase activity and was able to convert 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate to tyrosine. T84 is on the opposite side of the active site pocket, while the amine backbone of K169 hydrogen bonds to PLP. We hypothesize that Thr84 and Lys169 are important for substrate recognition in the active site and will use these mutants in future crystallographic experiments. Overall, our structural studies will assist in understanding the role of this bi‐functional enzyme in the context of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in plants. Support or Funding Information This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE‐1143954. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Results shown in this report are derived from work performed at Argonne National Laboratory, Structural Biology Center at the Advanced Photon Source. Argonne is operated by UChicago Argonne, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research under contract DE‐AC02‐06CH11357.
Purpose: To test the potential of early Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) recurrence detection utilizing image texture pattern analysis in serial MR images post primary treatment intervention. Methods: MR image-sets of six time points prior to the confirmed recurrence diagnosis of a GBM patient were included in this study, with each time point containing T1 pre-contrast, T1 post-contrast, T2-Flair, and T2-TSE images. Eight Gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture features including Contrast, Correlation, Dissimilarity, Energy, Entropy, Homogeneity, Sum-Average, and Variance were calculated from all images, resulting in a total of 32 features at each time point. A confirmed recurrent volume was contoured, along with an adjacent non-recurrent region-of-interest (ROI) and both volumes were propagated to all prior time points via deformable image registration. A support vector machine (SVM) with radial-basis-function kernels was trained on the latest time point prior to the confirmed recurrence to construct a model for recurrence classification. The SVM model was then applied to all prior time points and the volumes classified as recurrence were obtained. Results: An increase in classified volume was observed over time as expected. The size of classified recurrence maintained at a stable level of approximately 0.1 cm{sup 3} up to 272 days prior to confirmation. Noticeable volume increase to 0.44 cm{sup 3} was demonstrated at 96 days prior, followed by significant increase to 1.57 cm{sup 3} at 42 days prior. Visualization of the classified volume shows the merging of recurrence-susceptible region as the volume change became noticeable. Conclusion: Image texture pattern analysis in serial MR images appears to be sensitive to detecting the recurrent GBM a long time before the recurrence is confirmed by a radiologist. The early detection may improve the efficacy of targeted intervention including radiosurgery. More patient cases will be included to create a generalizable classification model applicable to a larger patient cohort. NIH R43CA183390 and R01CA188300.NSF Graduate Research Fellowship DGE-1144087.