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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 73 records · Page 4

MST e-News (Fall 2020)

As we just closed the fiscal year, I have been reflecting on the state of the division, and in particular, the health of our budget, staffing plans, and infrastructure. As many of you know, the division has grown in both budget and workforce. Since 2018, the division has grown from 150 to 174 permanent staff (but note, with students, post docs, and contractors—we are a division of 218). As one might imagine, our budget has grown significantly too. In 2018, at year end, we had a budget of $85 million. While I am still collecting some final numbers, all projections indicate that we closed out FY20 at $115 million. This growth has occurred primarily in our applied energy programs as well as Pu Sustainment. However, it is important to note that there have been important contributions to this growth across much of the portfolio, including in our OES, BES, and LDRD programs. With that said, to support this programmatic growth, as a division we have done a tremendous amount of hiring to grow while outpacing attrition. At the same time, we have been establishing numerous new capabilities at TAs -3, -35, and -55. While this is exciting, it means we have some things to carefully consider. We have had numerous capability investments (i.e., new microscopes at TAs -3 and -55, new mechanical testing capabilities at TAs -3 and -35, and new synthesis capabilities across the division). But we are starting to feel the real crunch of the limitations of our aging facilities. Still more, even with this substantial growth, we continue to hire. And I believe that we really need to spend time thinking about mentoring, career development, and retention of our most important investment—our staff.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Physical Sciences Vistas (Issue 3 2020)

In this issue, highlights of our outstanding R&D supporting the Laboratory’s nuclear security mission include the following. 1. The essential nuclear materials science contributions of MST’s Materials Properties Team to a range of Lab missions, operations, and initiatives. 2. Work in the Sigma Complex supporting NNSA’s Advanced Manufacturing Development milestones by members of Sigma Division and colleagues across the Laboratory and other NNSA sites. 3. Greg Dale’s role in the Lab’s molybdenum program and today as a technical lead on the Scorpius project. 4. Measurements that reveal the role thermal interfaces play in dynamic compression experiments. 5. The first-ever synthesis of an actinide framework, which offers opportunities for understanding these structures as potential radioactive waste forms and provides new models of actinide species transport in the environment. This issue also showcases, as part of our commitment to simultaneous excellence in mission operations and community relations, the successful high-hazard repair of the LANSCE accelerator, which resulted in a large team Laboratory Distinguished Performance Award, and a virtual Summer Physics Camp for Young Women that brought together participants from around the world, even as COVID kept them socially distant in their homes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Distributed Grid Control of Flexible Loads and DERs for Optimized Provision of Synthetic Regulating Reserves

Over the course of this project, we have successfully de-risked our distributed microgrid control architecture by tightly integrating its associated control algorithms into a unified software library, installing the software library on several industrial-grade target hardware platforms, and validating the performance of the resulting microgrid controller in a real-life microgrid. Upon completion of the project, we demonstrated that our distributed control architecture is resilient against (i) failures in control devices, (ii) unreliable communication links, (iii) delays in transmitted data, and (iv) imperfect knowledge of the number of (and state of) generation and load assets in the microgrid. In this final report, we present results from all the milestones that were accomplished over the course of this project.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A change language for ontologies and knowledge graphs

Ontologies and knowledge graphs (KGs) are general-purpose computable representations of some domain, such as human anatomy, and are frequently a crucial part of modern information systems. Most of these structures change over time, incorporating new knowledge or information that was previously missing. Managing these changes is a challenge, both in terms of communicating changes to users and providing mechanisms to make it easier for multiple stakeholders to contribute. To fill that need, we have created KGCL, the Knowledge Graph Change Language (https://github.com/INCATools/kgcl), a standard data model for describing changes to KGs and ontologies at a high level, and an accompanying human-readable Controlled Natural Language (CNL). This language serves two purposes: a curator can use it to request desired changes, and it can also be used to describe changes that have already happened, corresponding to the concepts of “apply patch” and “diff” commonly used for managing changes in text documents and computer programs. Another key feature of KGCL is that descriptions are at a high enough level to be useful and understood by a variety of stakeholders—e.g. ontology edits can be specified by commands like “add synonym ‘arm’ to ‘forelimb’” or “move ‘Parkinson disease’ under ‘neurodegenerative disease’.” We have also built a suite of tools for managing ontology changes. These include an automated agent that integrates with and monitors GitHub ontology repositories and applies any requested changes and a new component in the BioPortal ontology resource that allows users to make change requests directly from within the BioPortal user interface. Overall, the KGCL data model, its CNL, and associated tooling allow for easier management and processing of changes associated with the development of ontologies and KGs.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Exaflops Biomedical Knowledge Graph Analytics

We are motivated by newly proposed methods for mining large-scale corpora of scholarly publications (e.g., full biomedical literature), which consists of tens of millions of papers spanning decades of research. In this setting, analysts seek to discover relationships among concepts. They construct graph representations from annotated text databases and then formulate the relationship-mining problem as an all-pairs shortest paths (APSP) and validate connective paths against curated biomedical knowledge graphs (e.g., Spoke). In this context, we present Coast (Exascale Communication-Optimized All-Pairs Shortest Path) and demonstrate 1.004 EF/s on 9,200 Frontier nodes (73,600 GCDs). We develop hyperbolic performance models (HYPERMOD), which guide optimizations and parametric tuning. The proposed Coast algorithm achieved the memory constant parallel efficiency of 99% in the single-precision tropical semiring. Looking forward, Coast will enable the integration of scholarly corpora like PubMed into the Spoke biomedical knowledge graph.

Kannan, Ramakrishnan {ramki}↗

An idea to explore: How an interdisciplinary undergraduate course exploring a global health challenge in molecular detail enabled science communication and collaboration in diverse audiences

Abstract Communication and collaboration are key science competencies that support sharing of scientific knowledge with experts and non‐experts alike. On the one hand, they facilitate interdisciplinary conversations between students, educators, and researchers, while on the other they improve public awareness, enable informed choices, and impact policy decisions. Herein, we describe an interdisciplinary undergraduate course focused on using data from various bioinformatics data resources to explore the molecular underpinnings of diabetes mellitus (Types 1 and 2) and introducing students to science communication. Building on course materials and original student‐generated artifacts, a series of collaborative activities engaged students, educators, researchers, healthcare professionals and community members in exploring, learning about, and discussing the molecular bases of diabetes. These collaborations generated novel educational materials and approaches to learning and presenting complex ideas about major global health challenges in formats accessible to diverse audiences.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Technology Transfer from Fermi Research Alliance to Itasca Plastics for the purpose of Commercializing Scintillator Material

Researchers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) developed extruded plastic scintillator in the late 1990s, which was first used in the D-Zero experiment. Extruded plastic scintillator is currently produced at Fermilab and is used in particle detectors worldwide. The purpose of this CRADA is to transfer the knowledge related to the Fermilab extrusion process to Itasca Plastics, Inc. (Itasca Plastics). Much of this knowledge is contained in documentation that is in the public domain, although it is distributed over several communications (papers, conference records, etc.) and over several years. Under this CRADA Fermilab will assemble the information, provide it to Itasca Plastics and provide limited consulting to complete the knowledge transfer. If the transfer is successful, Itasca Plastics will be able to establish a U.S. commercial manufacturing capability for extruded scintillator material that can be used for high energy physics and commercial applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Privacy Preserving Distributed Model Identification Algorithm for Power Distribution Systems

Distributed control/optimization is a promising approach for network systems due to its advantages over centralized schemes, such as robustness, cost-effectiveness, and improved privacy. However, distributed methods can have drawbacks, such as slower convergence rates due to limited knowledge of the overall network model. Additionally, ensuring privacy in the communication of sensitive information can pose implementation challenges. To address this issue, we propose a distributed model identification algorithm that enables each agent to identify the sub-model that characterizes the relationship between its local control and the overall system outputs. The proposed algorithm maintains the privacy of local agents by only communicating through dummy variables. We demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm in the context of power distribution systems by applying it to the voltage regulation of a modified IEEE distribution system. The proposed algorithm is well-suited to the needs of power distribution controls and offers an effective solution to the challenges of distributed model identification in network systems.

data-driven modeling↗

A Privacy Preserving Distributed Model Identification Algorithm for Power Distribution Systems: Preprint

Distributed control/optimization is a promising approach for network systems due to its advantages over centralized schemes, such as robustness, cost-effectiveness, and improved privacy. However, distributed methods can have drawbacks, such as slower convergence rates due to limited knowledge of the overall network model. Additionally, ensuring privacy in the communication of sensitive information can pose implementation challenges. To address this issue, we propose a distributed model identification algorithm that enables each agent to identify the sub-model that characterizes the relationship between its local control and the overall system outputs. The proposed algorithm maintains the privacy of local agents by only communicating through dummy variables. We demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm in the context of power distribution systems by applying it to the voltage regulation of a modified IEEE distribution system. The proposed algorithm is well-suited to the needs of power distribution controls and offers an effective solution to the challenges of distributed model identification in network systems.

data-driven modeling↗

Reliable machine prognostic health management in the presence of missing data

Prognostics and health management enables the prediction of future degradation and remaining useful life (RUL) for in-service systems based on historical and contemporary data, showing promise for many practical applications. One major challenge for prognostics is the common occurrence of missing values in time-series data, often caused by disruptions in sensor communication or hardware/software failures. Another major concern is that the sufficient prior knowledge of critical component degradation with a clear failure threshold is often not readily available in practice. These issues can significantly hinder the application of advanced signal and data analysis methods and consequently degrade the health management performance. In this article, we propose a novel data-driven framework that is capable of providing accurate and reliable predictions of degradation and RUL. In this approach, one-hot health state indicators are appended to the historical time series so that the model learns end-of-life automatically. A modified gate recurrent unit based variational autoencoder is employed in generative adversarial networks to model the temporal irregularity of the incomplete time series. Furthermore, experiments on multivariate time-series datasets collected from real-world aeroengines verify that significant performance improvement can be achieved using the proposed model for robust long-term prognostics.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Ultra-short and broadband polarization splitter based on PCF and metal surface plasmons resonance

An ultra-short and broadband polarization splitter based on PCF and metal surface plasmons resonance is proposed by designing a new structure and filling gold wire into certain air holes. The introducing of gold wire aims to couple with the basic modes. Then high birefringence is obtained to improve the splitter’s performances including length, bandwidth and maximal extinction ratio. The numerical results demonstrate that the splitter can be the shortest length of 100 μm (to our knowledge) and the broad bandwidth is 470 nm simultaneously. And when the splitter’s length is set as 104 μm, the widest bandwidth reaches the maximum 575 nm (to our knowledge) which covers almost all the E, S, C, L, and U communication band. In addition, the structure is relatively simple, so it is easy to fabricate using available methods. These properties will help designing splitter in the optical communication and sensing system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Design & Brand Guidelines (V.1.03)

The goal is to revitalize the Lab’s identity so that it reflects a focused and forward-looking approach to solving national security challenges. This goal is achieved through design that is dynamic, accessible, and optimized for 21st century communications.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

RCT Module: 2.02 Communication Systems [Slides]

Good communication skills are essential to an RCT. RCTs need to develop an ability to communicate using both verbal and non-verbal media. These skills will ensure important information is transmitted to the proper individuals in a clear and concise manner. This unit will provide an overview of communication systems at LANL.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Public expectations of and responses to WEA message content

Risk communication is crucial to building resilient communities because it allows multi-directional information exchange about a hazard event and its associated risks among stakeholders, and it seeks to promote protective behavior among at-risk populations. Public response to alerts and warnings and inclination to take protective action, however, are influenced by several factors, including message content and style (accuracy, consistency, and clarity), message source and frequency of delivery, language and technologies used for dissemination, and the socio-psychological characteristics of message recipients. Using the Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), this chapter examines the role of language preference of at-risk individuals on their response to alerts received from authoritative sources (i.e., Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages) and via Online Social Networks (OSN) (i.e., social media). An analysis of survey responses of a sample of residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast was conducted to determine the (1) socioeconomic characteristics influencing public response to warnings – specifically, response to evacuation notice; and (2) role of language preference on public use of specific communication channel. The southeastern United States is home to diverse ethnic and sociocultural communities whose first language is not English. The results of this study provide evidence that will contribute to efforts to make risk communication more inclusive of greater segments of society, ensure integration of local knowledge, and contextualize messages to promote more effective public response.

Kar, Bandana↗

Teachers’ Beliefs and Their Influence on Math Instructions for Gifted English Learners

The dynamic interplay between teachers’ beliefs and practices significantly impact the quality of instruction and the trajectory of talent development in young students. This case study explores the beliefs and practices of two elementary teachers instructing gifted ELs in mathematics. The constant comparison method was used to analyze data collected from classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, and field notes. Three factors were found to affect the (in)consistency between teachers’ expressed beliefs and observed practices: compatibility among core and peripheral beliefs, knowledge about evidence-based practices, and classroom management skills. Students exhibit higher levels of participation, communication, and engagement in critical thinking skills when their teacher embraces constructive perspectives in teaching mathematics, demonstrates pedagogical expertise, and employs a proactive classroom management approach. Conversely, students encounter restricted opportunities to independently construct their own understanding of mathematics when their teacher holds maladaptive beliefs about teaching mathematics, has limited knowledge of evidence-based practices, and has an authoritarian classroom management style. These findings underscore the need for a new approach to professional development (PD) that encourages teachers to critically examine the connection between their beliefs and instructional practices and their impact on the student’s mathematical talent development.

Yang, Jenny (ORCID:0000000296905466)↗

A Simple and Accurate Energy-Detector-Based Transient Waveform Detection for Smart Grids: Real-World Field Data Performance

Integration of distributed energy sources, advanced meshed operation, sensors, automation, and communication networks all contribute to autonomous operations and decision-making processes utilized in the grid. Therefore, smart grid systems require sophisticated supporting structures. Furthermore, rapid detection and identification of disturbances and transients are a necessary first step towards situationally aware smart grid systems. This way, high-level monitoring is achieved and the entire system kept operational. Even though smart grid systems are unavoidably sophisticated, low-complexity algorithms need to be developed for real-time sensing on the edge and online applications to alert stakeholders in the event of an anomaly. In this study, the simplest form of anomaly detection mechanism in the absence of any a priori knowledge, namely, the energy detector (also known as radiometer in the field of wireless communications and signal processing), is investigated as a triggering mechanism, which may include automated alerts and notifications for grid anomalies. In contrast to the mainstream literature, it does not rely on transform domain tools; therefore, utmost design and implementation simplicity are attained. Performance results of the proposed energy detector algorithm are validated by real power system data obtained from the DOE/EPRI National Database of power system events and the Grid Signature Library.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Interactive Visualizations for Communicating Compliance and Sustainability Statements in Annual Site Environmental Reports - 20419

The annual reports of organizations are a recurring type of public disclosure that communicates what an organization has done and/or plans to do. Worldwide, organizations use annual reports as powerful instruments for communication that is rich in narrative content and visuals. From the perspective of the leadership of an organization, statutory annual reports are communication devices to stakeholders. By analogy, from the perspective of stakeholders, the annual reports are learning devices that presents stakeholders with contents to generate knowledge about an organization. We have chosen the online accessible U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Annual Site Environmental Reports (ASERs) as a collection of resources for communicating and learning the environmental management strategies on environmental compliance and environmental sustainability. Environmental Compliance 'consists of regulatory compliance and monitoring programs that implement federal, state, and local requirements, agreements, and permits.' Environmental Sustainability 'promotes and integrates initiatives such as energy and natural resource conservation, waste minimization, green remediation, and the use of sustainable products and services.' Interactive visualizations of textual data designed with visual analytics software can allow stakeholders to interact with statements on the environmental management strategies by performing diverse actions that promote learning. These actions include annotating, comparing, filtering, navigating, selecting and sharing relevant statements. We expect that the possibility of these multiple actions in an interactive manner help stakeholders to learn more effectively about the environmental strategies at U.S. DOE sites. The current case study for the project is a collection of 1,894 annotated (value-added) statements (sentence text) from the eight chapters of the 2017 Savanah River Site (SRS) annual site environmental report. The preliminary interactive visualizations are available online. (authors)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

32 examples of LLM applications in materials science and chemistry: towards automation, assistants, agents, and accelerated scientific discovery

Abstract Large language models (LLMs) are reshaping many aspects of materials science and chemistry research, enabling advances in molecular property prediction, materials design, scientific automation, knowledge extraction, and more. Recent developments demonstrate that the latest class of models are able to integrate structured and unstructured data, assist in hypothesis generation, and streamline research workflows. To explore the frontier of LLM capabilities across the research lifecycle, we review applications of LLMs through 32 total projects developed during the second annual LLM hackathon for applications in materials science and chemistry, a global hybrid event. These projects spanned seven key research areas: (1) molecular and material property prediction, (2) molecular and material design, (3) automation and novel interfaces, (4) scientific communication and education, (5) research data management and automation, (6) hypothesis generation and evaluation, and (7) knowledge extraction and reasoning from the scientific literature. Collectively, these applications illustrate how LLMs serve as versatile predictive models, platforms for rapid prototyping of domain-specific tools, and much more. In particular, improvements in both open source and proprietary LLM performance through the addition of reasoning, additional training data, and new techniques have expanded effectiveness, particularly in low-data environments and interdisciplinary research. As LLMs continue to improve, their integration into scientific workflows presents both new opportunities and new challenges, requiring ongoing exploration, continued refinement, and further research to address reliability, interpretability, and reproducibility.

Computer Science↗