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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 793 records · Page 44
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2001

The molecular responses of skeletal muscle satellite cells to continuous expression of IGF-1: implications for the rescue of induced muscular atrophy in aged rats

Approximately 50% of humans older than 85 years have physical frailty due to weak skeletal muscles. This indicates a need for determining mechanisms to combat this problem. A critical cellular factor for postnatal muscle growth is a population of myogenic precursor cells called satellite cells. Given the complex process of sarcopenia, it has been postulated that, at some point in this process, a limited satellite cell proliferation potential could become rate-limiting to the regrowth of old muscles. It is conceivable that if satellite cell proliferative capacity can be maintained or enhanced with advanced age, sarcopenia could potentially be delayed or prevented. Therefore, the purposes of this paper are to describe whether IGF-I can prevent muscular atrophy induced by repeated cycles of hindlimb immobilization, increase the in vitro proliferation in satellite cells from these muscles and, if so, the molecular mechanisms by which IGF-I mediates this increased proliferation. Our results provide evidence that IGF-I can enhance aged muscle regrowth possibly through increased satellite cell proliferation. The results also suggest that IGF-I enhances satellite cell proliferation by decreasing the cell cycle inhibitor, p27Kip1, through the PI3'-K/Akt pathway. These data provide molecular evidence for IGF-I's rescue effect upon aging-associated skeletal muscle atrophy.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗
DOE OSTI2015

Physical aging and charge transport in poly(3‐hexylthiophene)

The bulk charge transport in a series of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) materials with different molecular weights (MW) has been studied by the time‐of‐flight technique. Three distinct temperature regions with transitions at ∼60 and ∼140 °C in lower MW material (9.6 kDa), and four regions with an additional transition at ∼180 °C in higher MW material (32.3 kDa) are identified in the temperature dependence of charge carrier mobility and the origin of these transitions is discussed. A pronounced effect of physical aging which reveals as a reversible increase of charge mobility is found. Densification of amorphous phase in‐between the nanocrystals, which reduces the potential energy barriers and provides larger charge transfer integrals, is proposed as an origin of the effect.

Duzhko, Volodimyr V.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Assessment of AFM - KPFM and SSRM for Measuring and Characterizing Materials Aging Processes

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), in conjunction with Peak Force Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (PF-KPFM) and Peak Force Scanning Spreading Resistance Microscopy (PF-SSRM), was used to assess changes on thin metal films that underwent accelerated aging. The AFM technique provides a relatively easy, non-destructive methodology that does not require high-vacuum facilities to obtain nanometer-scale spatial resolution of surface chemistry changes. Surface morphology, roughness, contact potential difference, and spreading resistance were monitored to qualitatively identify effects of aging-morphology changes and oxidation of Au, Al, Cu thin film standards as well as diffusion of CuAu and AlAu thin film stacks at 65C under dried nitrogen flow conditions. AFM PF-KPFM and PF-SSRM modes have been exercised, refined and have proven to be viable and necessary early aging detection tools.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Chemical aging of single and multicomponent biomass burning aerosol surrogate particles by OH: implications for cloud condensation nucleus activity

Multiphase OH and O 3 oxidation reactions with atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) can influence particle physicochemical properties including composition, morphology, and lifetime. Chemical aging of initially insoluble or low-soluble single-component OA by OH and O 3 can increase their water solubility and hygroscopicity, making them more active as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and susceptible to wet deposition. However, an outstanding problem is whether the effects of chemical aging on their CCN activity are preserved when mixed with other organic or inorganic compounds exhibiting greater water solubility. In this work, the CCN activity of laboratory-generated biomass burning aerosol (BBA) surrogate particles exposed to OH and O 3 is evaluated by determining the hygroscopicity parameter, κ, as a function of particle type, mixing state, and OH and O 3 exposure applying a CCN counter (CCNc) coupled to an aerosol flow reactor (AFR). Levoglucosan (LEV), 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (MNC), and potassium sulfate (KS) serve as representative BBA compounds that exhibit different hygroscopicity, water solubility, chemical functionalities, and reactivity with OH radicals, and thus exemplify the complexity of mixed inorganic/organic aerosol in the atmosphere. The CCN activities of all of the particles were unaffected by O 3 exposure. Following exposure to OH, κ of MNC was enhanced by an order of magnitude, from 0.009 to ~ 0.1, indicating that chemically aged MNC particles are better CCN and more prone to wet deposition than pure MNC particles. No significant enhancement in κ was observed for pure LEV particles following OH exposure. κ of the internally mixed particles was not affected by OH oxidation. Furthermore, the CCN activity of OH-exposed MNC-coated KS particles is similar to the OH unexposed atomized 1 : 1 by mass MNC : KS binary-component particles. Our results strongly suggest that when OA is dominated by water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) or inorganic ions, chemical aging has no significant impact on OA hygroscopicity. The organic compounds exhibiting low solubility behave as if they are infinitely soluble when mixed with a sufficient number of water-soluble compounds. At and beyond this point, the particles' CCN activity is governed entirely by the water-soluble fraction and is not influenced by the oxidized organic fraction. Our results have important implications for heterogeneous oxidation and its impact on cloud formation given that atmospheric aerosol is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds exhibiting a wide range of solubilities.

Slade, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Material Test Results for the Capillary Flow Experiments (CFE)

In support of the Capillary Flow Experiments (CFE) program, several polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) flight vessels were constructed. Some vessels used a multipiece design, which was chemically welded together. Due to questions regarding the effects of the experiment fluid (silicone oil) on the weld integrity, a series of tests were conducted to provide evidence of the adequacy of the current vessel design. Tensile tests were conducted on PMMA samples that were both in the as-received condition, and also aged in air or oil for up to 8 weeks. Both welded and unwelded samples were examined. Fracture of the joints was studied using notched tensile specimens and Brazilian disk tests. Results showed that aging had no effect on tensile properties. While the welded samples were weaker than the base parent material, the weld strength was found to be further degraded by bubbles in the weld zone. Finally a fracture analysis using the worst-case fracture conditions of the vessel was performed, and the vessel design was found to have a factor of three safety margin.

Lerch, Bradley A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Oil Dispersant Corexit 9500 Is Weakly Estrogenic, but Does Not Skew the Sex Ratio in Alligator Mississippiensis

During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, vast quantities of the chemical dispersant Corexit 9500 were applied in remediation efforts. In addition to the acute toxicity and obesogenicity of Corexit, it is important to further evaluate Corexit with long-term sublethal endocrine endpoints. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination, in which egg incubation temperatures during a thermosensitive period (TSP) in embryonic development determine sex of the embryos. Estrogen signals also play critical roles in this process. For example, a single exposure to exogenous estrogen during the TSP overrides the effects of temperature and leads to skewed sex ratios. At a dose of 100 ppm, Corexit significantly induced transcriptional activity of both alligator nuclear estrogen receptors 1 and 2 in vitro using the reporter gene assays. To investigate the estrogenic effects on gonadal development in ovo, alligator eggs were exposed to Corexit at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.25, 2.5, and 25 ppm) prior to the TSP. Significant delays in the hatching and growth were observed in 0.25 and 25 ppm Corexit exposed groups. At one week of age, no significant effects on sex ratios or testicular mRNA abundance were observed as a result of exposure to Corexit at the tested exposure levels, suggesting Corexit does not have strong estrogenic activity in ovo. Further investigations are required using individual components of Corexit to better understand their estrogenic effects on the development and reproductive health of alligators and other coastal aquatic wildlife.

Nicole Mcnabb↗
NASA NTRS1981

Global isostatic geoid anomalies for plate and boundary layer models of the lithosphere

Commonly used one dimensional geoid models predict that the isostatic geoid anomaly over old ocean basins for the boundary layer thermal model of the lithosphere is a factor of two greater than that for the plate model. Calculations presented, using the spherical analogues of the plate and boundary layer thermal models, show that for the actual global distribution of plate ages, one dimensional models are not accurate and a spherical, fully three dimensional treatment is necessary. The maximum difference in geoid heights predicted for the two models is only about two meters. The thermal structure of old lithosphere is unlikely to be resolvable using global geoid anomalies. Stripping the effects of plate aging and a hypothetical uniform, 35 km, isostatically-compensated continental crust from the observed geoid emphasizes that the largest-amplitude geoid anomaly is the geoid low of almost 120 m over West Antarctica, a factor of two greater than the low of 60 m over Ceylon.

Hager, B. H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Hindlimb suspension diminishes femoral cross-sectional growth in the rat

Growth, functional adaptation, and torsional strength were examined in the femora of 39-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to hindlimb suspension for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks and were compared with measurements for age-matched control animals. Our goal was to understand the effect of reduced loading on the normal age-related changes in femoral properties during growth. The control animals exhibited growth-related increases in all geometric and torsional properties of the femur. The mean body mass and femoral length of the hindlimb-suspended rats were similar to those of the controls throughout the experiment. Over 4 weeks, the femoral cross-sectional and torsional measurements from the hindlimb-suspended rats demonstrated increases in comparison with the basal values (+33% cross-sectional area, +64% polar moment of inertia, +67% ultimate torque, and +181% torsional rigidity), but the age-matched controls showed significantly greater growth-related increases (+71% cross-sectional area, +136% polar moment of inertia, +127% ultimate torque, and +367% torsional rigidity). The differences in femoral structural strength between the hindlimb-suspended animals and the age-matched controls were attributable to differences in altered cross-sectional geometry.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗
NASA NTRS2003

Aircraft Engine Sensor/Actuator/Component Fault Diagnosis Using a Bank of Kalman Filters

In this report, a fault detection and isolation (FDI) system which utilizes a bank of Kalman filters is developed for aircraft engine sensor and actuator FDI in conjunction with the detection of component faults. This FDI approach uses multiple Kalman filters, each of which is designed based on a specific hypothesis for detecting a specific sensor or actuator fault. In the event that a fault does occur, all filters except the one using the correct hypothesis will produce large estimation errors, from which a specific fault is isolated. In the meantime, a set of parameters that indicate engine component performance is estimated for the detection of abrupt degradation. The performance of the FDI system is evaluated against a nonlinear engine simulation for various engine faults at cruise operating conditions. In order to mimic the real engine environment, the nonlinear simulation is executed not only at the nominal, or healthy, condition but also at aged conditions. When the FDI system designed at the healthy condition is applied to an aged engine, the effectiveness of the FDI system is impacted by the mismatch in the engine health condition. Depending on its severity, this mismatch can cause the FDI system to generate incorrect diagnostic results, such as false alarms and missed detections. To partially recover the nominal performance, two approaches, which incorporate information regarding the engine s aging condition in the FDI system, will be discussed and evaluated. The results indicate that the proposed FDI system is promising for reliable diagnostics of aircraft engines.

Kobayashi, Takahisa↗
DOE OSTI2013

Age hardening and creep resistance of cast Al–Cu alloy modified by praseodymium

The effects of praseodymium on age hardening behavior and creep resistance of cast Al–Cu alloy were investigated. The results indicated that praseodymium facilitated the formation of the θ′ precipitates during the age process and improved the hardness of the Al–Cu alloy. Besides, praseodymium resulted in the formation of the Al{sub 11}Pr{sub 3} phase in the grain boundaries and among the dendrites of the modified alloy. Because of the good thermal stability of Al{sub 11}Pr{sub 3} phase, it inhibits grain boundary migration and dislocation movement during the creep process, which contributes to the improvement in the creep resistance of the modified alloy at elevated temperatures. - Highlights: • Pr addition enhances the hardness and creep resistance of the Al–Cu alloy. • Pr addition facilitates the formation of the θ′ precipitates. • Pr addition results in the formation of the Al11Pr3 phase in the Al–Cu alloy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Association of Age-Related and Off-Target Retention with Longitudinal Quantification of [ 18 F]MK6240 Tau PET in Target Regions

6-(fluoro- 18 F)-3-(1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridin-1-yl)isoquinolin-5-amine ([ 18 F]MK6240) tau PET tracer quantifies the brain tau neurofibrillary tangle load in Alzheimer disease. The aims of our study were to test the stability of common reference region estimates in the cerebellum over time and across diagnoses and evaluate the effects of age-related and off-target retention on the longitudinal quantification of [ 18 F]MK6240 in target regions. Methods: We assessed reference, target, age-related, and off-target regions in 125 individuals across the aging and Alzheimer disease spectrum with longitudinal [ 18 F]MK6240 SUVs and SUV ratios (SUVRs) (mean ± SD, 2.25 ± 0.40 y of follow-up). We obtained SUVR from meninges, exhibiting frequent off-target retention with [ 18 F]MK6240. Additionally, we compared tracer uptake between 37 cognitively unimpaired young (CUY) (mean age, 23.41 ± 3.33 y) and 27 cognitively unimpaired older (CU) adults (amyloid-β–negative and tau-negative, 58.50 ± 9.01 y) to identify possible nonvisually apparent, age-related signal. Two-tailed t testing and Pearson correlation testing were used to determine the difference between groups and associations between changes in region uptake, respectively. Results: Inferior cerebellar gray matter SUV did not differ on the basis of diagnosis and amyloid-β status, cross-sectionally and over time. [ 18 F]MK6240 uptake significantly differed between CUY and CU adults in the putamen or pallidum (affecting ~75% of the region) and in the Braak II region (affecting ~35%). Changes in meningeal and putamen or pallidum SUVRs did not significantly differ from zero, nor did they vary across diagnostic groups. We did not observe significant correlations between longitudinal changes in age-related or meningeal off-target retention and changes in target regions, whereas changes in all target regions were strongly correlated. Conclusion: Inferior cerebellar gray matter was similar across diagnostic groups cross-sectionally and stable over time and thus was deemed a suitable reference region for quantification. Despite not being visually perceptible, [ 18 F]MK6240 has age-related retention in subcortical regions, at a much lower magnitude but topographically colocalized with significant off-target signal of the first-generation tau tracers. The lack of correlation between changes in age-related or meningeal and target retention suggests little influence of possible off-target signals on longitudinal tracer quantification. Nevertheless, the age-related retention in the Braak II region needs to be further investigated. Future postmortem studies should elucidate the source of the newly reported age-related [ 18 F]MK6240 signal, and in vivo studies should further explore its impact on tracer quantification.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
NASA NTRS1992

Microtopographic evolution of lava flows at Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California

Microtopographic profiles were measured and power spectra calculated for dated lava flow surfaces at Cima volcanic field in the eastern Mojave Desert of California in order to quantify changes in centimeter- to meter-scale roughness as a function of age. For lava flows younger than about 0.8 m.y., roughness over all spatial scales decreases with age, with meter-scale roughness decreasing slightly more than centimeter scales. Flows older than about 0.8 m.y. show a reversal of this trend, becoming as rough as young flows at these scales. Modeling indicates that eolian deposition can explain most of the change observed in the offset, or roughness amplitude, of power spectra of flow surface profiles up to 0.8 m.y. Other processes, such as rubbing and stone pavement development, appear to have a minor effect in this age range. Changes in power spectra of surfaces older than about 0.8 m.y. are consistent with roughening due to fluvial dissection. These results agree qualitatively with a process-response model that attributes systematic changes in flow surface morphology to cyclic changes in the rates of eolian, soil formation, and fluvial processes. Identification of active surficial processes and estimation of the extent of their effects, or stage of surficial evolution, through measurement of surface roughness will help put the correlation of surficial units on a quantitative basis. This may form the basis for the use of radar remote sensing data to help in regional correlations of surficial units.

Farr, Tom G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Nocturnal illumination maintains reproductive function and simulates the period-lengthening effect of constant light in the mature male Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Mature male Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) were placed in individual light-tight, sound attenuated chambers and exposed to one of four lighting conditions for a duration of approximately seven weeks. The four lighting conditions were: constant light (LL); constant dark (DD); feedback lighting (LDFB; a condition that illuminates the cage in response to locomotor activity); or a feedback lighting neighbor control (LDFB NC; the animal receives the same light pattern as a paired animal in feedback lighting, but has no control over it). Exposure of hamsters to LL or LDFB produced significantly and similarly longer free-running periods of the locomotor activity rhythm than exposure of animals to DD. Hamsters exposed to LDFB NC did not free-run or entrain, but rather displayed "relative coordination". The paired testes and sex accessory glands weights suggest that in the Djungarian hamster, LL and LDFB exposed animals maintained reproductive function, whereas DD exposed animals did not. Animals exposed to LDFB NC had intermediate paired testes weights. Since several previous studies have demonstrated that short pulses of light, which are coincident with the subjective night, are photostimulatory, it is not surprising that LDFB maintained reproductive function in the mature Djungarian hamster. Feedback lighting, however, has been shown to be an insufficient stimulus to maintain reproductive function of mature male and female Syrian hamsters, and to the reproductive maturation of immature Djungarian hamsters. The results suggest that there may be slight, but significant differences in the way these two species interpret photoperiod, as well as a developmental change in the photoperiodic response of Djungarian hamsters.

NASA Program Space Biology↗
NASA NTRS2010

Out-Life Characteristics of IM7/977-3 Composites

The capability to manufacture large structures leads to weight savings and reduced risk relative to joining smaller components. However, manufacture of increasingly large composite components is pushing the out-time limits of epoxy/ carbon fiber prepreg. IM7/977-3 is an autoclave processable prepreg material, commonly used in aerospace structures. The out-time limit is reported as 30 days by the manufacturer. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the material processability and composite properties of 977-3 resin and IM7/977-3 prepreg that had been aged at room temperature for up to 60 days. The effects of room temperature aging on the thermal and visco-elastic properties of the materials were investigated. Neat resin was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry to characterize thermal properties and change in activation energy of cure. Neat resin was also evaluated by rheometry to characterize its processability in composite fabrication. IM7/977-3 prepreg was evaluated by dynamic mechanical analysis to characterize the curing behavior. Prepreg tack was also evaluated over 60 days. The overall test results suggested that IM7/977-3 was a robust material that offered quality laminates throughout this aging process when processed by autoclave.

Miller, Sandi G.↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Resolved Stellar Population in 50 Regions of M83 from HST/WFC3 Early Release Science Observations

We present a multi-wavelength photometric study of approximately 15,000 resolved stars in the nearby spiral galaxy M83 (NGC 5236, D = 4.61 Mpc) based on Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 observations using four filters: F336W, F438W, F555W, and F814W. We select 50 regions (an average size of 260 pc by 280 pc) in the spiral arm and inter-arm areas of M83 and determine the age distribution of the luminous stellar populations in each region. This is accomplished by correcting for extinction toward each individual star by comparing its colors with predictions from stellar isochrones.We compare the resulting luminosity-weighted mean ages of the luminous stars in the 50 regions with those determined from several independent methods, including the number ratio of red-to-blue supergiants, morphological appearance of the regions, surface brightness fluctuations, and the ages of clusters in the regions. We find reasonably good agreement between these methods. We also find that young stars are much more likely to be found in concentrated aggregates along spiral arms, while older stars are more dispersed. These results are consistent with the scenario that star formation is associated with the spiral arms, and stars form primarily in star clusters and then disperse on short timescales to form the field population. The locations ofWolf-Rayet stars are found to correlate with the positions of many of the youngest regions, providing additional support for our ability to accurately estimate ages. We address the effects of spatial resolution on the measured colors, magnitudes, and age estimates. While individual stars can occasionally show measurable differences in the colors and magnitudes, the age estimates for entire regions are only slightly affected.

Hubble Space Telescope↗
DOE OSTI2019

The Effect of Melt Ultrasound Treatment on the Microstructure and Age Hardenability of Al-4 Wt Pct Cu/TiC Composite

In the present work, Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite was synthesized by the molten salt route that contains submicron-sized TiC particles in the Al-4 wt pct Cu matrix. The concentration of the TiC particle in the base alloy is 7.5 wt pct. Melt ultrasound treatment was done by remelting the as-cast composite at 1023 K (750 °C) in a view to refine the size of TiC particles to nanoscale and distribute them evenly in the matrix. The microstructure and age hardenability of the untreated and ultrasound-treated composites were investigated. The TiC particles accelerate the precipitation kinetics of CuAl{sub 2} phase in Al-4 wt pct Cu alloy. In the present study, the hardness obtained for untreated Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite is 120 VHN within 5 hours of peak aging time, which is higher than the hardness of the monolithic Al-4 wt pct Cu, which is 104 VHN at 35 hours of peak aging time. Melt ultrasound treatment of Al-4 wt pct Cu/TiC composite shows no significant effect on the distribution and refinement of TiC particles in the matrix. However, it partially disintegrates the TiC into Al{sub 3}Ti and Al{sub 4}C{sub 3} particles. The ultrasound-treated composite showed an improved hardness of about 132 VHN at 5 hours of peak aging, in comparison to that of the untreated composite, by forming denser and homogeneous CuAl{sub 2} precipitates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2008

Kevlar 49/Epoxy COPV Aging Evaluation

NASA initiated an effort to determine if the aging of Kevlar 49/Epoxy composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV) affected their performance. This study briefly reviews the history and certification of composite pressure vessels employed on NASA Orbiters. Tests to evaluate overwrap tensile strength changes compared 30 year old samples from Orbiter vessels to new Kevlar/Epoxy pressure vessel materials. Other tests include transverse compression and thermal analyses (glass transition and moduli). Results from these tests do not indicate a noticeable effect due to aging of the overwrap materials.

Sutter, James K.↗
DOE OSTI2013

PHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF THE MASS ACCRETION RATES OF PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS. IV. RECENT STAR FORMATION IN NGC 602

We have studied the young stellar populations in NGC 602, in the Small Magellanic Cloud, using a novel method that we have developed to combine Hubble Space Telescope photometry in the V, I, and Hα bands. We have identified about 300 pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars, all of which are still undergoing active mass accretion, and have determined their physical parameters (effective temperature, luminosity, age, mass, and mass accretion rate). Our analysis shows that star formation has been present in this field over the last 60 Myr. In addition, we can recognize at least two clear, distinct, and prominent episodes in the recent past: one about 2 Myr ago, but still ongoing in regions of higher nebulosity, and one (or more) older than 30 Myr, encompassing both stars dispersed in the field and two smaller clusters located about 100'' north of the center of NGC 602. The relative locations of younger and older PMS stars do not imply a causal effect or triggering of one generation on the other. The strength of the two episodes appears to be comparable, but the episodes occurring more than 30 Myr ago might have been even stronger than the current one. We have investigated the evolution of the mass accretion rate, M-dot{sub acc}, as a function of the stellar parameters finding that log M-dot{sub acc}≅-0.6 log t + log m + c, where t is the age of the star, m is its mass, and c is a decreasing function of the metallicity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗