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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
DOE OSTI2025

Adaptive modification of antiviral defense systems in microbial community under Cr-induced stress

Background The prokaryotic antiviral defense systems are crucial for mediating prokaryote-virus interactions that influence microbiome functioning and evolutionary dynamics. Despite the prevalence and significance of prokaryotic antiviral defense systems, their responses to abiotic stress and ecological consequences remain poorly understood in soil ecosystems. We established microcosm systems with varying concentrations of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) to investigate the adaptive modifications of prokaryotic antiviral defense systems under abiotic stress. Results Utilizing hybrid metagenomic assembly with long-read and short-read sequencing, we discovered that anti- viral defense systems were more diverse and prevalent in heavily polluted soils, which was corroborated by meta-analyses of public datasets from various heavy metal-contaminated sites. As the Cr(VI) concentration increased, prokaryotes with defense systems favoring prokaryote-virus mutualism gradually supplanted those with defense systems incurring high adaptive costs. Additionally, as Cr(VI) concentrations increased, enriched antiviral defense systems exhibited synchronization with microbial heavy metal resistance genes. Furthermore, the proportion of antiviral defense systems carried by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), including plasmids and viruses, increased by approximately 43% and 39%, respectively, with rising Cr concentrations. This trend is conducive to strengthening the dissemination and sharing of defense resources within microbial communities. Conclusions Overall, our study reveals the adaptive modification of prokaryotic antiviral defense systems in soil ecosystems under abiotic stress, as well as their positive contributions to establishing prokaryote-virus mutualism and the evolution of microbial heavy metal resistance. These findings advance our understanding of microbial adaptation in stressful environments and may inspire novel approaches for microbiome manipulation and bioremediation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Computing the QRPA level density with the finite amplitude method

Here, we describe a new algorithm to calculate the vibrational nuclear level density of an atomic nucleus. Fictitious perturbation operators that probe the response of the system are generated by drawing their matrix elements from some probability distribution function. We use the Finite Amplitude Method to explicitly compute the response for each such sample. With the help of the Kernel Polynomial Method, we build an estimator of the vibrational level density and provide the upper bound of the relative error in the limit of infinitely many random samples. The new algorithm can give accurate estimates of the vibrational level density. Since it is based on drawing multiple samples of perturbation operators, its computational implementation is naturally parallel and scales like the number of available processing units.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Molecular dynamics simulations of uranyl and plutonyl cations in a task-specific ionic liquid

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a unique class of solvents with potential applications in advanced separation technologies relevant to the nuclear industry. ILs are salts with low melting points and a wide range of tunable physical properties, such as viscosity, hydrophobiciy, conductivity, and liquidus range. ILs have negligible vapor pressure, are often non-flammable, and can have high thermal stability and a wide electrochemical window, making them attractive for use in separations processes relevant to the nuclear industry. Metal salts generally have a low solubility in ILs; however, by incorporating new functional groups into the IL cation or anion that promote complexation with the metal, the solubility can be greatly increased. One such task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL) is 1-carboxy-N, N, N-trimethylglycine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf 2 N]). Water, which is detrimental for electrochemical separations, is a common impurity in ILs and can coordinate with actinyl cations, particularly in ILs containing only weakly coordinating components. Understanding the behavior of actinides in TSIL/water mixtures on a molecular level is vital for designing improved separations processes. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of uranyl(VI) and plutonyl(VI) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][Tf 2 N]) with deprotonated Hbet (betaine) and water have been performed to understand the coordination and dynamics of the actinyl cations. We find that betaine is a much stronger ligand than water and prefers to coordinate the metal in a bidentate manner. Potential of mean force simulations yield a relative free energy for betaine coordination of approximately -120 to -90 kJ/mol in mixtures with water. As the amount of betaine coordinated to the actinide increases, the diffusion coefficient of the actinyl cation decreases. Moreover, the betaine ligand is able to bridge between two metal centers, resulting in dimeric complexes with actinide–actinide distances of ~5 Å. Potential of mean force simulations show that these structures are stable, with relative free energies of up to -40 kJ/mol. The crystal structure for [(UO 2 ) 2 (bet) 6 (H 2 O) 2 ][Tf 2 N] 4 shows that the betaine bridges between two uranium atoms to form dimeric complexes similar to those found in our simulations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Substrate-Mediated Evaporation and Stochastic Evolution of Supported Au Nanoparticles

Here, we use in situ transmission electron microscopy with automated tracking to study supported gold nanoparticles (NPs) during high-temperature vacuum annealing. The average mass loss per NP is governed by a flat, nearly size-independent substrate-mediated evaporation profile. On top of this mean shrinkage, individual NPs show significant fluctuations in apparent growth or shrinkage, and NP volume follows a random-walk-like trajectory. To rationalize both the ensemble-mean behavior and the particle-resolved variability, we develop a self-consistent theory that couples substrate-mediated evaporation to collective 2D Ostwald-type mass exchange through a shared adatom field, described in terms of a renormalized screening length and background concentration. In the experimentally relevant regime, the theory predicts an approximately size-independent mean shrinkage rate and clarifies how net mass loss suppresses classical coarsening. Superimposed on this deterministic drift, we quantify stochastic volume trajectories and capture their fluctuation spectrum with a minimal Langevin description consistent with intermittent adatom attachment and detachment events. In addition, we characterize the lateral diffusive motion of NPs, which is responsible for their coalescence. Altogether, our results highlight that stochasticity is intrinsic at the nanoscale and that predicting the evolution of supported NPs at early and intermediate times requires a unified framework combining substrate-mediated evaporation, collective mass exchange, and stochastic fluctuations.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Disorder-induced magnetoelastic behaviors of MnTexSbyBi1-x-y alloys

This dataset contains input and output files from density functional theory (DFT) simulations used to study the disorder-induced magnetoelastic behaviors of MnTexSbyBi1-x-y (0 ≤ x + y ≤ 1) alloys and their binary end members MnTe, MnSb, and MnBi. The alloys adopt the hexagonal NiAs-type (nickeline) structure and span ternary (MnTexSb1-x, MnTexBi1-x, MnBixSb1-x), and quaternary compositions across the full MnTe–MnSb–MnBi composition triangle. For each alloy composition, the dataset provides DFT calculations in three magnetic configurations: A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM), C-type AFM, and ferromagnetic (FM). Every magnetic configuration folder contains the fully relaxed crystal structure (CONTCAR), VASP input parameters (INCAR), and the main VASP output file (OUTCAR), from which total electronic energies, Mn magnetic moments, lattice parameters, and percent volume changes between magnetic states are extracted. These data are used to construct compositional phase diagrams, evaluate thermodynamic stability (formability), and map magnetoelastic responses across the alloy space. For A-type AFM and FM configurations, additional data are provided as follows: (i) FORCE_CONSTANTS and thermal_properties.yaml files at the top level of A-type_AFM/ and FM/ folders — present only for compositions marked with an asterisk (*) in Table I of the main text. These are derived from Phonopy finite-displacement calculations on full disordered 128-atom supercells and provide vibrational free energy, entropy (Svib)contribution from explicit disorder calculations. (Table I of the associated main manuscript) (ii) A VCA/ subfolder within A-type_AFM/ and FM/, containing FORCE_CONSTANTS and thermal_properties.yaml from Virtual Crystal Approximation phonon calculations (without spin-orbit coupling). VCA data are available for all compositions and are used to estimate vibrational contributions to the Gibbs free energy across the full composition space. (iii) A SOC/ subfolder containing CONTCAR, INCAR, and OUTCAR from spin-orbit coupling calculations, providing relativistic corrections to electronic energies and lattice parameters (Tables S2–S3 of the SM, and Table I of the main manuscript). (iv) A SOC/VCA/ subfolder containing FORCE_CONSTANTS and thermal_properties.yaml from VCA phonon calculations performed within the SOC framework, combining relativistic and vibrational thermodynamic corrections. The computed properties are used to map the AFM–FM magnetic crossover near MnTe0.75Sb0.25, demonstrate disorder- and spin-induced phonon broadening, identify a semiconductor-to-metal crossover, and quantify the pronounced magnetoelastic volume response near the magnetic phase boundary.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Model Parameter Development for Complex Materials: Species-Specific Diffusion Barriers in 316 Stainless Steel from Systematic DFT Calculations

Vacancy-mediated diffusion barriers in 316 stainless steel have been systematically calculated using density functional theory to provide essential parameters for mesoscale microstructure evolution models. A statistical sampling approach employing 210 nudged elastic band calculations across multiple special quasi-random structures captures the effects of local chemical environments in this concentrated alloy. The computational methodology addresses challenges specific to chemically disordered systems, including proper magnetic treatment throughout multi-step calculations and validation against experimental structural properties. The calculated activation barriers reveal clear species-dependent diffusion behavior with the hierarchy Ni >> Fe ˜ Cr >> Mo. Nickel exhibits the highest barriers (0.74–1.31 eV, mean 1.045 eV), confirming its role as the slowest-diffusing major component. Iron and chromium show similar moderate barriers averaging 0.587 eV and 0.522 eV, respectively. Remarkably, molybdenum demonstrates exceptionally low barriers (0.12–0.28 eV, mean 0.194 eV), suggesting much higher mobility than previously recognized and potentially significant implications for precipitation kinetics and microstructure evolution. The barrier ranges remain consistent across different 316 SS compositions, supporting parameter transferability for modeling applications. The overall mean barrier of 0.64 eV provides a practical approximation for phase field simulations, while species-specific values enable detailed treatments of diffusion-controlled processes. This systematic approach establishes a validated framework for generating diffusion parameters in other concentrated alloys where experimental data are limited, while providing the first systematic set of species-specific barriers for predictive modeling of 316 stainless steel microstructure evolution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Controlled electrochemical nutrient delivery to enhance marine primary productivity

Oceanic photosynthesis contributes to approximately half of the Earth’s net annual primary productivity. Marine photosynthetic productivity has a high degree of heterogeneity due to spatial and temporal co-limitations of light, temperature, and/or nutrients. Across coastal, near-shore, and open ocean regions, insufficient concentrations of key nutrients (e.g., N, P, Fe) can limit primary productivity. Although studies have shown a significant increase in primary productivity with the addition of low doses of trace nutrients, a sustainable approach to reliably deliver and maintain low doses of nutrients and ensure their bioavailability, remains a challenge. Chemical nutrient addition has relied on the use of chelating agents to ensure nutrient bioavailability, but synthetic chelators are persistent environmental pollutants. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the use of a controlled electrochemical nutrient delivery (CEND) approach to accelerate the growth of phytoplankton without the need for such chelators. Our study uses commercial stainless-steel electrodes to deliver low concentrations of iron to enhance growth rates in the microalga Picochlorum celeri TG2. To demonstrate the process control offered by the CEND method, we evaluate iron delivery as a function of pulse time, pulse frequency, and rest time between pulses. Our data show that at the same total Fe dose of 163 ppb, electrochemical iron delivery can achieve 9.54 ± 0.58 mg biomass/µg Fe, which is comparable to 9.14 ± 0.17 mg biomass/µg Fe achieved with chemical iron additions that include the synthetic chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Further, when different total iron doses (163 ppb, 325 ppb, and 650 ppb) were delivered over 72 h using CEND, biomass yield per iron dose was higher at lower doses: 9.54 ± 0.58 mg biomass/µg Fe at 163 ppb vs. 4.32 ± 0.32 mg biomass/µg Fe at 650 ppb. This highlights the benefits of CEND in delivering frequent and low doses of nutrients for improved process efficiency. Preliminary assessments show both lower cost and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from electrochemical over chemical iron additions with EDTA. The CEND approach opens new pathways to enhance marine primary productivity, without the unintended environmental impacts of synthetic chelators.

analytical chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structural Distortions and Uniaxial Negative Thermal Expansion in the Polar Dion–Jacobson Oxide RbNdTa 2 O 7

We provide deeper insight into the crystal structures, sequential structural phase transitions (I2cm → Cmce → I4/mcm → P4/mmm), thermal expansion, and electronic properties of the n = 2 Dion–Jacobson polar oxide RbNdTa 2 O 7 , through X-ray powder diffraction, neutron powder diffraction, Raman studies, and density functional theory calculations. We observed a uniaxial negative thermal expansion (NTE) across the first-order transition, I2cm → Cmce, where the unit cell contracts along the c-axis, which is driven by a contraction of the NdTa 2 O 6 layer. Here, this NTE occurs within the temperature range of the first-order phase transition and contrasts with the corkscrew mechanism typically observed in Ruddlesden–Popper phases. In RbNdTa 2 O 7 , the I2cm (hybrid improper ferroelectric) → Cmce (antipolar) transition involves crucial changes in the bond lengths of Nd and Ta polyhedra, coupled with polar to antipolar displacement of the Nd ions, leading to a net contraction in the NdTa 2 O 6 layer along the c-axis, while preserving the overall octahedral tilting magnitude. This transition highlights the intricate interplay between the Nd and Ta coordination and the associated TaO 6 distortions. Temperature-dependent Raman spectra analysis further confirms the first-order structural transition and associated NTE, providing evidence for increased bond stiffness across this transition. Additionally, using neutron powder diffraction, we have determined that the transition I4/mcm → P4/mmm occurs at approximately 1150 K. Finally, we have calculated from DFT + U, the partial density of states, the energy bandgaps, and effective masses of the charge carriers of the polar ground structure.

Chemical structure↗
DOE OSTI2025

Molecular Level Understanding of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Depolymerization in Base/Alcohol Hybrid Systems

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization in base/alcohol hybrid systems represents a promising low-energy approach for chemically recycling PET waste into valuable monomers. This study investigates the mechanistic pathways of PET depolymerization in NaOH/alcohol solutions, emphasizing the competing roles of hydroxide and alkoxide species. Utilizing a combination of experimental techniques, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we explore how factors such as base concentration, alcohol chain length, and pKa values of alcohols influence PET depolymerization efficiency and pathways. Our findings indicate that alkoxide ions (RO⁻) exhibit notably higher reactivity than hydroxide ions (HO⁻), favoring an alcoholysis pathway in the base/alcohol hybrid system. Experimental results across a series of C1 to C5 alcohols show that longer-chain alcohols, particularly 1-butanol, achieve higher PET conversion, although this does not align solely with simple nucleophilicity trends of alkoxides. While DFT calculations reveal comparable activation energies for various alkoxides in PET depolymerization, MD simulations underscore the significant role of alcohol chain length, with longer-chain alcohols forming more stable or frequent interactions with PET. Additionally, the alkoxide concentration, influenced by the alcohol’s pK a , directly impacts PET conversion. These suggest that PET depolymerization is governed by a balance between alkoxide concentration and alkoxide-PET interactions, rather than activation energies or nucleophilicity alone. From a practical perspective, incorporating long-chain alcohols as cosolvents may enhance process efficiency but increases raw material costs by approximately 30%. However, long-chain alcohols present a safer and more sustainable alternative to hazardous cosolvents such as dichloromethane. This work offers a molecular-level understanding of PET depolymerization in base/alcohol systems and provides insights into optimizing these systems for more efficient and sustainable PET recycling processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development and Experimental Optimization of High-Temperature Modeling Tools and Methods for Concentrated Solar Power Particle - Systems

A novel, open-source radiative modeling toolset was developed to extend the functionality of particle-based modeling software (e.g. discrete element method (DEM)) to environmental conditions relevant to concentrated solar power applications. This toolset was optimized for deployment on desktop workstations instead of high-performance computing systems, to render such tools more accessible to the research community. Both particle-based modeling and radiative exchange modeling are computationally expensive and often require specialized programming expertise, making these methods cumbersome to use. Recent developments in DEM software by DCS Computing have greatly reduced these challenges, providing a graphical-user-interface based platform and modeling optimization for desktop workstations, HPCs, and cloud computing. The University of Dayton leveraged the experience of DCS Computing in developing a user-friendly, open-source radiative heat transfer expansion for DEM modeling. The University of Dayton DEM+ radiative modeling toolset was developed using a combination of fundamental experimental measurements, modeling, and simplified flow experiments over a range of temperatures and flow conditions. The toolset provides researchers with access to multiple radiative models including an accelerated Monte-Carlo Ray Tracing (application agnostic, highly computationally expensive), an expanded database of distance-based approximations (application limited, computationally light), and a weighted blending of the two methods capable of achieving over 90% reduction in computation time with equivalent accuracy compared to Monte-Carlo Ray Tracing. Through a graphical user interface, users can customize the radiative models to match their desired accuracy and available computational resources, improving access to particle based modeling for the research community. Ceramic sintered bauxite proppants were used in modeling and experimentally as a baseline. Both the radiative heat transfer and flow properties for particulate systems were investigated at elevated temperatures up to 800 °C. The major accomplishments for this work include a verified, open-source radiative modeling toolset to be distributed amongst the research community and the fabrication of three small-scale test facilities to investigate particle behavior and tune DEM flow properties for operation up to 800 °C. The findings have been shared with the research community via conference modeling workshops, deployment of the tools in DCS Computing Aspherix®, and open-source access to the developed radiative modeling tool. The development of next-generation CSP facilities and thermal energy storage systems based on ceramic particles requires providing access to computationally efficient and accurate modeling tools. Particles will experience a wide range of environments (20-800 °C) and handling conditions (dilute curtains or dense packing), requiring specially designed and optimized equipment. Optimizing solid particle physics models and establishing best-practices for particle modeling in CSP environments will assist researchers with designing optimized equipment, accelerating the deployment of more economically-competitive CSP facilities.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mapping strain and structural heterogeneities around bubbles in amorphous ionically conductive Bi 2 O 3

While amorphous materials are often approximated to have a statistically homogeneous atomic structure, they frequently exhibit localized structural heterogeneity that challenges simplified models. This study uses 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy to investigate the strain and structural modifications around gas bubbles in amorphous Bi 2 O 3 induced by argon irradiation. We present a method for determining strain fields surrounding bubbles that can be used to measure the internal pressure of the gas. Compressive strain is observed around the cavities, with higher-order crystalline symmetries emerging near the cavity interfaces, suggesting paracrystalline ordering as a result of bubble coarsening. This ordering, along with a compressive strain gradient, indicates that gas bubbles induce significant localized changes in atomic packing. By analyzing strain fields with maximum compressive strains of 3%, we estimate a lower bound on the internal pressure of the bubbles at 2.5 GPa. These findings provide insight into the complex structural behavior of amorphous materials under stress, particularly in systems with gas inclusions, and offer new methods for probing the local atomic structure in disordered materials. Although considering structural heterogeneity in amorphous systems is non-trivial, these features have crucial impacts on material functionalities, such as mechanical strength, ionic conductivity, and electronic mobility.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

First-principles theory of direct-gap optical emission in hexagonal Ge and its enhancement via strain engineering

The emergence of hexagonal Ge (2H-Ge) as a candidate direct-gap group-IV semiconductor for Si photonics mandates a rigorous understanding of its optoelectronic properties. Theoretical predictions of a “pseudodirect” band gap, characterized by weak oscillator strength, contrast with a claimed high radiative recombination coefficient 𝐵 comparable to conventional (cubic) InAs. We compute 𝐵 in 2H-Ge from first principles and quantify its dependence on temperature, carrier density, and strain. For unstrained 2H-Ge, our calculated spontaneous emission spectra corroborate that measured photoluminescence corresponds to direct-gap emission, but with 𝐵 being approximately three orders of magnitude lower than in InAs. We confirm a pseudodirect-to-direct-gap transition under ∼2% [0001] uniaxial tension, which can enhance 𝐵 by up to 3 orders of magnitude, making it comparable to that of InAs. Beyond quantifying the strong enhancement of 𝐵 via strain engineering, our analysis suggests the dominance of additional, as-yet unquantified recombination mechanisms in this nascent material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Generalized Quantum Signal Processing

Quantum signal processing (QSP) and quantum singular value transformation (QSVT) currently stand as the most efficient techniques for implementing functions of block-encoded matrices, a central task that lies at the heart of most prominent quantum algorithms. However, current QSP approaches face several challenges, such as the restrictions imposed on the family of achievable polynomials and the difficulty of calculating the required phase angles for specific transformations. In this paper, we present a generalized quantum signal processing (GQSP) approach, employing general SU(2) rotations as our signal-processing operators, rather than relying solely on rotations in a single basis. Our approach lifts all practical restrictions on the family of achievable transformations, with the sole remaining condition being that | P | ≤ 1 , a restriction necessary due to the unitary nature of quantum computation. Furthermore, GQSP provides a straightforward recursive formula for determining the rotation angles needed to construct the polynomials in cases where P and Q are known. In cases where only P is known, we provide an efficient optimization algorithm capable of identifying in under a minute of GPU time, a corresponding Q for polynomials of degree on the order of 10 7 . We further illustrate GQSP simplifies QSP-based strategies for Hamiltonian simulation, offer an optimal solution to the ϵ -approximate fractional query problem that requires O ( ( 1 / δ ) + log ( 1 / ϵ ) ) queries to perform where O ( 1 / δ ) is a proved lower bound, and introduces novel approaches for implementing bosonic operators. Moreover, we propose a novel framework for the implementation of normal matrices, demonstrating its applicability through synthesis of diagonal matrices, as well as the development of a new algorithm for convolution through synthesis of circulant matrices using only O ( d log N + log 2 N ) 1 and 2-qubit gates for a filter of lengths d . Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Motlagh, Danial↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the effects of molecular beam epitaxy growth characteristics on the temperature performance of state-of-the-art terahertz quantum cascade lasers

This study conducts a comparative analysis, using non-equilibrium Green’s functions (NEGF), of two state-of-the-art two-well (TW) Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers (THz QCLs) supporting clean 3-level systems. The devices have nearly identical parameters and the NEGF calculations with an abrupt-interface roughness height of 0.12 nm predict a maximum operating temperature (T max ) of ~ 250 K for both devices. However, experimentally, one device reaches a T max of ~ 250 K and the other a T max of only ~ 134 K. Both devices were fabricated and measured under identical conditions in the same laboratory, with high quality processes as verified by reference devices. The main difference between the two devices is that they were grown in different MBE reactors. Our NEGF-based analysis considered all parameters related to MBE growth, including the maximum estimated variation in aluminum content, growth rate, doping density, background doping, and abrupt-interface roughness height. From our NEGF calculations it is evident that the sole parameter to which a drastic drop in T max could be attributed is the abrupt-interface roughness height. We can also learn from the simulations that both devices exhibit high-quality interfaces, with one having an abrupt-interface roughness height of approximately an atomic layer and the other approximately a monolayer. However, these small differences in interface sharpness are the cause of the large performance discrepancy. This underscores the sensitivity of device performance to interface roughness and emphasizes its strategic role in achieving higher operating temperatures for THz QCLs. We suggest Atom Probe Tomography (APT) as a path to analyze and measure the (graded)-interfaces roughness (IFR) parameters for THz QCLs, and subsequently as a design tool for higher performance THz QCLs, as was done for mid-IR QCLs. Our study not only addresses challenges faced by other groups in reproducing the record T max of ~ 250 K and ~ 261 K but also proposes a systematic pathway for further improving the temperature performance of THz QCLs beyond the state-of-the-art.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

SAGA1 and MITH1 produce matrix-traversing membranes in the CO2-fixing pyrenoid

Abstract Approximately one-third of global CO 2 assimilation is performed by the pyrenoid, a liquid-like organelle found in most algae and some plants. Specialized pyrenoid-traversing membranes are hypothesized to drive CO 2 assimilation in the pyrenoid by delivering concentrated CO 2 , but how these membranes are made to traverse the pyrenoid matrix remains unknown. Here we show that proteins SAGA1 and MITH1 cause membranes to traverse the pyrenoid matrix in the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Mutants deficient in SAGA1 or MITH1 lack matrix-traversing membranes and exhibit growth defects under CO 2 -limiting conditions. Expression of SAGA1 and MITH1 together in a heterologous system, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana , produces matrix-traversing membranes. Both proteins localize to matrix-traversing membranes. SAGA1 binds to the major matrix component, Rubisco, and is necessary to initiate matrix-traversing membranes. MITH1 binds to SAGA1 and is necessary for extension of membranes through the matrix. Our data suggest that SAGA1 and MITH1 cause membranes to traverse the matrix by creating an adhesive interaction between the membrane and matrix. Our study identifies and characterizes key factors in the biogenesis of pyrenoid matrix-traversing membranes, demonstrates the importance of these membranes to pyrenoid function and marks a key milestone toward pyrenoid engineering into crops for improving yields.

Hennacy, Jessica H.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Assembly of CMS Endcap MIP Timing Detector Module at FNAL

The High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) will enable a more detailed exploration of new phenomena thanks to an anticipated increase in collisions where pileup is expected to reach approximately 200 simultaneous interactions. Many CMS systems will be significantly upgraded to prepare for this new era, including the MIP Timing Detector (MTD) project. The MTD is designed to mitigate the effect of pileup and is set to provide a timestamp accurate to 30 ~ 40 picoseconds for every event, ensuring sustained detector performance at HL-LHC. The MTD is divided into two sections, Barrel Timing Layer (BTL) and Endcap Timing Layer (ETL) which utilize different sensor and ASIC technologies due to the difference in active surfaces, irradiation conditions, and installation schedules. The ETL, composed of two double-sided disks, employs the Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensor and the Endcap Timing Readout Chip (ETROC). More than 8,000 modules, each consisting of four LGAD sensors and ETROCs are required for the ETL detector. These modules will be assembled using an automated robotic gantry that guarantees precise placement at a level of 10 micrometers. In addition, the full assembly of ETL modules includes film application with the jig, wire-bonding, encapsulation with the automated dispensing robot for protecting the wire-bonding, and film curing with a vacuum oven. This talk reports on the successfully completed throughput test with mockup components using the gantry and the successful assembly of real functional modules for beam tests at CERN and FNAL, including the first official ETL module.

Apresyan, Artur↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enabling probabilistic learning on manifolds through double diffusion maps

Here, we present a generative learning framework for probabilistic sampling that extends Probabilistic Learning on Manifolds (PLoM), which is designed to generate statistically consistent realizations of a random vector in a finite-dimensional Euclidean space, informed by a (representative) set of observations. In its original form, PLoM constructs a reduced-order probabilistic model by combining three main components: (a) kernel density estimation to approximate the underlying probability measure, (b) Diffusion Maps to characterize the manifold of the data, and (c) a reduced-order Itô Stochastic Differential Equation (ISDE) to sample from the learned distribution. However, its sampling dynamics are posed in the ambient space and the retained number of reduced coordinates is chosen by projection-reconstruction error. In practice, this often (i) requires more coordinates than the data’s intrinsic dimension to achieve stable sampling and (ii) lacks a smooth, basis-independent lifting back to the data domain; moreover, standard Diffusion Maps emphasize harmonic eigenfunctions and can miss non-harmonic latent structure. We address these limitations by decoupling geometry learning from sampling: a first Diffusion Maps pass identifies non-harmonic coordinates on which we formulate a full-order ISDE directly in the latent space, while Double Diffusion Maps captures multiscale geometric features and Geometric Harmonics (GH) learns a smooth lifting map to the ambient variables that is independent of the particular diffusion basis. This hybrid design preserves the system’s dynamical richness with a compact geometric representation and enables principled out-of-sample inference. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method are illustrated through two numerical studies: one based on data generated from two-dimensional Hermite polynomial functions and another based on high-fidelity simulations of a detonation wave in a reactive flow.

Double diffusion maps↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of the Radioactive Material Released in the Harborview Research and Training Building and Some Implications for Emergency Response

On 2 May 2019, during the 137 Cs source recovery operation, a source capsule in a research irradiator containing approximately 77.1 TBq was breached. Based on a geometric reconstruction analysis of the damage to the capsule, approximately 46.3 GBq (0.04%) was impacted by the chop saw (grinder) inside a mobile hot cell on the loading dock at the University of Washington Harborview Research and Training (HRT) Building. A very small fraction of the material impacted, less than 1%, was released from the mobile hot cell and then to the rest of the HRT Building. The objectives of this project were to assess the accidental release of 137 CsCl and its implications related to emergency response methods and the ramifications of 137 CsCl transport. The phenomenology of this event was also compared with past alkali halide dispersal events. The vast number of measurements and samples collected by the remediation contractors, the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team, and the small number of retrospective samples collected by the authors informed the analysis. The techniques included (1) autoradiography and electron microscopy of samples collected from the HRT Building and the irradiator, (2) 3D visualization of deposition on surfaces and within the ventilation system, and (3) a study of the damage to the source capsule to evaluate the Cs particle size and particle composition due to the grinding accident. Subsequently, the cesium contaminant transport through the numerous pathways in the building was reconstructed to assess the deposition on surfaces as a function of particle size. Furthermore, the implications for emergency response are relevant to data quality and management. A Data Quality Objective guides data collection methods so that they have appropriate accuracy and precision for the intended application. Recommendations were made with respect to the sample collection protocols and archiving of samples.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗