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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 OSTI2019

Quantification of Soil Organic Carbon in Biochar-Amended Soil Using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

The application of biochar amendments to soil has been proposed as a strategy for mitigating global carbon (C) emissions and soil organic carbon (SOC) loss. Biochar can provide additional agronomic benefits to cropping systems, including improved crop yield, soil water holding capacity, seed germination, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and soil pH. To maximize the beneficial effects of biochar amendments towards the inventory, increase, and management of SOC pools, nondestructive analytical methods such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) are needed to identify and quantify belowground C. The use of GPR has been well characterized across geological, archaeological, engineering, and military applications. While GPR has been predominantly utilized to detect relatively large objects such as rocks, tree roots, land mines, and peat soils, the objective of this study was to quantify comparatively smaller, particulate sources of SOC. This research used three materials as C sources: biochar, graphite, and activated C. The C sources were mixed with sand—12 treatments in total—and scanned under three moisture levels: 0%, 10%, and 20% to simulate different soil conditions. GPR attribute analyses and Naïve Bayes predictive models were utilized in lieu of visualization methods because of the minute size of the C particles. Significant correlations between GPR attributes and both C content and moisture levels were detected. The accuracy of two predictive models using a Naïve Bayes classifier for C content was trivial but the accuracy for C structure was 56%. The analyses confirmed the ability of GPR to identify differences in both C content and C structure. Beneficial future applications could focus on applying GPR across more diverse soil conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Unexpected series of regular frequency spacing of δ Scuti stars in the non-asymptotic regime - I. The methodology

In this study, a sequence search method was developed to search the regular frequency spacing in δ Scuti stars through visual inspection and an algorithmic search. We searched for sequences of quasi-equally spaced frequencies, containing at least four members per sequence, in 90 δ Scuti stars observed by CoRoT. We found an unexpectedly large number of independent series of regular frequency spacing in 77 δ Scuti stars (from one to eight sequences) in the non-asymptotic regime. We introduce the sequence search method presenting the sequences and echelle diagram of CoRoT 102675756 and the structure of the algorithmic search. Four sequences (echelle ridges) were found in the 5–21 d –1 region where the pairs of the sequences are shifted (between 0.5 and 0.59 d –1 ) by twice the value of the estimated rotational splitting frequency (0.269 d –1 ). The general conclusions for the whole sample are also presented in this paper. The statistics of the spacings derived by the sequence search method, by FT (Fourier transform of the frequencies), and the statistics of the shifts are also compared. In many stars more than one almost equally valid spacing appeared. The model frequencies of FG Vir and their rotationally split components were used to formulate the possible explanation that one spacing is the large separation while the other is the sum of the large separation and the rotational frequency. In CoRoT 102675756, the two spacings (2.249 and 1.977 d –1 ) are in better agreement with the sum of a possible 1.710 d –1 large separation and two or one times, respectively, the value of the rotational frequency.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Chemiomics: Network Reconstruction and Kinetics of Port Wine Aging

Network reconstruction (NR) has proven to be useful in the detection and visualization of relationships among the compounds present in a Port wine aging data set. This view of the data provides a considerable amount of information with which to understand the kinetic contexts of the molecules represented by peaks in each chromatogram. The aim of this paper was to use NR together with the determination of kinetic parameters to extract more information about the mechanisms involved in Port wine aging. The volatile compounds present in samples of Port wines spanning 128 years in age were measured with the use of GC-MS. After chromatogram alignment, a peak matrix was created, and all peak vectors were compared to one another to determine their Pearson correlations over time. A correlation network was created and filtered on the basis of the resulting correlation values. Some nodes in the network were further studied in experiments on Port wines stored under different conditions of oxygen and temperature in order to determine their kinetic parameters. The resulting network can be divided into three main branches. The first branch is related to compounds that do not directly correlate to age, the second branch contains compounds affected by temperature, and the third branch contains compounds associated with oxygen. Compounds clustered in the same branch of the network have similar expression patterns over time as well as the same kinetic order, thus are likely to be dependent on the same technological parameters. Network construction and visualization provides more information with which to understand the probable kinetic contexts of the molecules represented by peaks in each chromatogram. Finally, the approach described here is a powerful tool for the study of mechanisms and kinetics in complex systems and should aid in the understanding and monitoring of wine quality.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

IrrigationViz: A Geospatial Visualization Application to Facilitate Irrigation Modernization

Irrigation water delivery infrastructure, such as canals and pipelines, are essential to agriculture in the Western U.S., yet many of these systems are reaching the end of their useful lives. Reinvestment can achieve a wide variety of benefits, from water conservation to energy savings or renewable energy generation. Modernization requires significant planning, design, and implementation funding which can be a challenge for many irrigation districts. Here, this paper introduces IrrigationViz, a web-based mapping application designed to help irrigation districts visualize and generate high-level cost and benefit estimates for infrastructure modernization projects. These estimates can help water managers identify projects that benefit from additional engineering resources and ultimately obtain funding. IrrigationViz includes map interactions, graphs, and visualization components to facilitate planning and communication to stakeholders and funders. IrrigationViz combines user-provided information about a water-delivery system with public datasets and basic engineering formulas to generate estimates of the benefits of reinvestment. Estimates include the amount of water seepage in earthen canals, potential hydropower generation associated with replacing a canal with a pressurized pipe, and pipe size recommendations. We found that hydropower generation estimates compared favorably with real world projects, but seepage loss estimates showed high variability relative to on-the-ground measurements

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Comparative accuracy of qualitative and quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT analysis in detection of lymph node metastasis from anal cancer

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of qualitative and quantitative 18F-FDG PET/CT in detection of regional and distant lymph node metastasis in patients with anal cancer. Methods: Between 2004 and 2017, 28 patients with anal cancer who had staging PET/CT and pathological assessment of suspicious lymph nodes were included. For qualitative analysis, positive lymph nodes were defined as uptake visually higher than the liver reference uptake. For quantitative study, lymph nodes were contoured to determine maximum standard uptake value (SUV{sub max}) and metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to extract the optimal cut-offs and area under the curve (AUC) of SUV{sub max}, lesion to background (L/B) ratio, short axis diameter (SAD), and MTV of lymph nodes. Histopathologic analysis was a reference standard. Results: A total of 28 lymph nodes (24 inguinal, 2 external iliac, 1 internal iliac, and 1 paraaortic nodes) in 28 patients on PET/CT were included. With the qualitative visual analysis, 19 patients were categorized as positive for nodal metastasis with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 85%, 75%, and 82%. The optimal SUV{sub max} and L/B ratio cut-offs were 2.6 and 1.0 with both sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 75% (AUC of SUV{sub max} = 0.893, AUC of L/B ratio = 0.912). Using the best cut-off of 1.6 cm for SAD and 3.65 cm{sup 3} for MTV, both sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 100% (AUC of SAD = 0.950, AUC of MTV = 0.931). Conclusions: SUV{sub max} optimization may be helpful in enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in nodal staging patients with anal cancer.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2019

A new method for increasing accuracy of distance measurement based on single visual camera

Camera has been widely used in computer vision and mobile robotics applications because the sensor provides complementary information. However, the chief drawback of camera is that it only can provide 2D image information without depth information. There are lots of people studying the distance measurement with single visual camera, however it is difficult to achieve high precision. Usually we use two cameras to form stereo image and measure distance. Obviously it is complex. In this paper, we study the reason why distance measurement with single camera can hardly achieve high precision and propose a new method for improving the accuracy. We evaluate the proposed method and compare with existing methods to demonstrate the efficiency and high precision.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Holistic energy analysis method for thermal management architectures of data centers

Modern high-performance computing (HPC) data centers (DCs), particularly those supporting energy-intensive artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, face escalating thermal management challenges that degrade performance through thermal throttling and drive up cooling power consumption and operational costs. To address this challenge, many have developed a wide variety of thermal management solutions (single-phase, two-phase, direct, indirect, hybrid, and more) which attempt to cool HPC DCs effectively while attempting to minimize overall system power consumption. However, the analysis of these solutions and methods to effectively compare one with another is lacking. Overall power usage effectiveness (PUE) and total-power usage effectiveness (TUE) provide a metric to quantify power consumption but fail to identify components in the system which require further optimization. To address this, we propose a holistic analytical framework – the waterfall diagram (WFD) – which leverages a waterfall chart methodology, offering a comprehensive visualization of both the thermal management system loop and heat flow pathways from individual server components to the outdoor ambient. Use of the WFD enables graphical estimations of power efficiency and cooling performance across each component of a DC cooling system and complements Sankey-style energy flow visualizations by additionally resolving stage-wise temperature changes and incremental TUE contributions. The framework is used in conjunction with simulation-based approaches, to conduct a detailed pressure drop and flow distribution analysis aimed at identifying the optimal coolant distribution architecture for a single-phase direct-to-chip water-cooled DC, which serves as the baseline for subsequent WFD analysis. Among the evaluated architectures, the 3 U modular coolant distribution architecture is found to demonstrate the best performance, considering minimal pressure drop and uniform flow distribution. In addition, TUE is calculated for each cooling loop component based on its associated pressure drop and corresponding pumping power, which are integrated into the WFD. This correlation between TUE and local temperature offers immediate insight into the power efficiency and thermal performance contributions of individual components, facilitating further development and optimization. Examples of WFD applications are presented under varying thermal loads and ambient conditions, demonstrating reasonable cooling strategies. Notably, the 3 U modular architecture maintains a consistent chip case temperature of 85°C, achieving a TUE of 1.016 at ambient temperature of 47°C, and a TUE of 1.026 at ambient temperature of 52°C. The WFD methodology provides an efficient, holistic, and streamlined framework for DC thermal management architecture assessment and enables design optimization which is important for addressing the thermal-fluidic energy challenges of current and next-generation DCs.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

High-temperature high-pressure microfluidic system for rapid screening of supercritical CO 2 foaming agents

CO 2 foam helps to increase the viscosity of CO 2 flood fluid and thus improve the process efficiency of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas’s subsurface utilization and sequestration. Successful CO 2 foam formation mandates the development of high-performance chemicals at close to reservoir conditions, which in turn requires extensive laboratory tests and evaluations. This work demonstrates the utilization of a microfluidic reservoir analogue for rapid evaluation and screening of commercial surfactants (i.e., Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Tallow Amine Ethoxylate, N,N,N' Trimethyl-N'-Tallow-1,3-diaminopropane, and Sodium Alpha Olefin Sulfonate) based on their performance to produce supercritical CO 2 foam at high salinity, temperature, and pressure conditions. The microfluidic analogue was designed to represent the pore sizes of the geologic reservoir rock and to operate at 100 °C and 13.8 MPa. Values of the pressure drop across the microfluidic analogue during flow of the CO 2 foam through its pore network was used to evaluate the strength of the generated foam and utilized only milliliters of liquid. The transparent microfluidic pore network allows in-situ quantitative visualization of CO 2 foam to calculate its half-life under static conditions while observing if there is any damage to the pore network due to precipitation and blockage. The microfluidic mobility reduction results agree with those of foam loop rheometer measurements, however, the microfluidic approach provided more accurate foam stability data to differentiate the foaming agent as compared with conventional balk testing. The results obtained here supports the utility of microfluidic systems for rapid screening of chemicals for carbon sequestration or enhanced oil recovery operations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

CGSim: A Simulation Framework for Large Scale Distributed Computing Environment

Large-scale distributed computing infrastructures such as the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) require comprehensive simulation tools for evaluating performance, testing new algorithms, and optimizing resource allocation strategies. However, existing simulators suffer from limited scalability, hardwired algorithms, lack of real-time monitoring, and inability to generate datasets suitable for modern machine learning approaches. We present CGSim, a simulation framework for large-scale distributed computing environments that addresses these limitations. Built upon the validated SimGrid simulation framework, CGSim provides high-level abstractions for modeling heterogeneous grid environments while maintaining accuracy and scalability. Key features include a modular plugin mechanism for testing custom workflow scheduling and data movement policies, interactive real-time visualization dashboards, and automatic generation of event-level datasets suitable for AI-assisted performance modeling. We demonstrate CGSim’s capabilities through a comprehensive evaluation using production ATLAS PanDA workloads, showing significant calibration accuracy improvements across WLCG computing sites. Scalability experiments show near-linear scaling for multi-site simulations, with distributed workloads achieving 6 × better performance compared to single-site execution. The framework enables researchers to simulate WLCG-scale infrastructures with hundreds of sites and thousands of concurrent jobs within practical time budget constraints on commodity hardware.

Vatsavai, Sairam Sri [Brookhaven National Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2022

Foxtail mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

Abstract Background Although the genome for the allotetraploid bioenergy crop switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) has been established, limitations in mutant resources have hampered in planta gene function studies toward crop optimization. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a versatile technique for transient genetic studies. Here we report the implementation of foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV)-mediated gene silencing in switchgrass in above- and below-ground tissues and at different developmental stages. Results The study demonstrated that leaf rub-inoculation is a suitable method for systemic gene silencing in switchgrass. For all three visual marker genes, Magnesium chelatase subunit D ( ChlD ) and I ( ChlI ) as well as phytoene desaturase ( PDS ), phenotypic changes were observed in leaves, albeit at different intensities. Gene silencing efficiency was verified by RT-PCR for all tested genes. Notably, systemic gene silencing was also observed in roots, although silencing efficiency was stronger in leaves (~ 63–94%) as compared to roots (~ 48–78%). Plants at a later developmental stage were moderately less amenable to VIGS than younger plants, but also less perturbed by the viral infection. Conclusions Using FoMV-mediated VIGS could be achieved in switchgrass leaves and roots, providing an alternative approach for studying gene functions and physiological traits in this important bioenergy crop.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: November 2022 Update [Slides]

The report describes income, demographic, and other socio-economic trends among U.S. residential rooftop solar adopters. The report is based on address-level data for roughly 2.8 million residential rooftop solar systems installed through 2021, representing 86% of all U.S. systems. With its unique size, geographic scope, and level of detail, this report is intended to serve as a foundational reference document for policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. Key findings include the following: -Median solar adopter income was about $\$110$k/year in 2021, compared to a U.S. median of about $\$63$k/year for all households and $\$79$k/year for all owner-occupied households -The degree of income skew varies significantly across all states, but all states exhibit some positive income skew, with median solar-adopter incomes ranging from 131-168% of the respective county-median income for all households -Notwithstanding the fact that solar adopter incomes skew high, a substantial share of adopters could be considered low-to-moderate income (LMI), with 22% of all 2021 adopters earning less than 80% of area median income, and an additional 21% between 80% and 120% of area median income. -Solar-adopter incomes are declining over time, with median incomes dropping from $\$129$k in 2010 to $\$110$k in 2021, as adoption becomes more proportionately distributed across the population and has started to broaden into low- and middle-income states since 2016. -Solar-adopter incomes are consistently higher for systems paired with battery storage, for host-owned systems, and for systems installed on single-family homes; higher income adopters also consistently install larger systems. -Solar adopters tend to live in Census Tracts not identified as “disadvantaged communities” (using the U.S. Department of Energy’s interim definitions developed March 2022), making up 11% of adopters compared to 18% of U.S. households. -Compared to the broader population, solar adopters tend to: identify as Non-Hispanic White, be primarily English-speaking, have higher education levels, be middle-aged, work in business and finance-related occupations, and live in higher-value homes In conjunction with the report, Berkeley Lab has published an updated accompanying set of online data visualizations that allow users to further explore the underlying data. Berkeley Lab is also offering related analytical support to states, local agencies, and other organizations on issues related to solar adoption among low-to-moderate income households; requests for analytical support may be submitted through this online form.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Computational Imaging for Intelligence in Highly Scattering Aerosols (Final Report)

Natural and man-made degraded visual environments pose major threats to national security. The random scattering and absorption of light by tiny particles suspended in the air reduces situational awareness and causes unacceptable down-time for critical systems and operations. To improve the situation, we have developed several approaches to interpret the information contained within scattered light to enhance sensing and imaging in scattering media. These approaches were tested at the Sandia National Laboratory Fog Chamber facility and with tabletop fog chambers. Computationally efficient light transport models were developed and leveraged for computational sensing. The models are based on a weak angular dependence approximation to the Boltzmann or radiative transfer equation that appears to be applicable in both the moderate and highly scattering regimes. After the new model was experimentally validated, statistical approaches for detection, localization, and imaging of objects hidden in fog were developed and demonstrated. A binary hypothesis test and the Neyman-Pearson lemma provided the highest theoretically possible probability of detection for a specified false alarm rate and signal-to-noise ratio. Maximum likelihood estimation allowed estimation of the fog optical properties as well as the position, size, and reflection coefficient of an object in fog. A computational dehazing approach was implemented to reduce the effects of scatter on images, making object features more readily discernible. We have developed, characterized, and deployed a new Tabletop Fog Chamber capable of repeatably generating multiple unique fog-analogues for optical testing in degraded visual environments. We characterized this chamber using both optical and microphysical techniques. In doing so we have explored the ability of droplet nucleation theory to describe the aerosols generated within the chamber, as well as Mie scattering theory to describe the attenuation of light by said aerosols, and correlated the aerosol microphysics to optical properties such as transmission and meteorological optical range (MOR). This chamber has proved highly valuable and has supported multiple efforts inclusive to and exclusive of this LDRD project to test optics in degraded visual environments. Circularly polarized light has been found to maintain its polarization state better than linearly polarized light when propagating through fog. This was demonstrated experimentally in both the visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR) by imaging targets made of different commercially available retroreflective films. It was found that active circularly polarized imaging can increase contrast and range compared to linearly polarized imaging. We have completed an initial investigation of the capability for machine learning methods to reduce the effects of light scattering when imaging through fog. Previously acquired experimental long-wave images were used to train an autoencoder denoising architecture. Overfitting was found to be a problem because of lack of variability in the object type in this data set. The lessons learned were used to collect a well labeled dataset with much more variability using the Tabletop Fog Chamber that will be available for future studies. We have developed several new sensing methods using speckle intensity correlations. First, the ability to image moving objects in fog was shown, establishing that our unique speckle imaging method can be implemented in dynamic scattering media. Second, the speckle decorrelation over time was found to be sensitive to fog composition, implying extensions to fog characterization. Third, the ability to distinguish macroscopically identical objects on a far-subwavelength scale was demonstrated, suggesting numerous applications ranging from nanoscale defect detection to security. Fourth, we have shown the capability to simultaneously image and localize hidden objects, allowing the speckle imaging method to be effective without prior object positional information. Finally, an interferometric effect was presented that illustrates a new approach for analyzing speckle intensity correlations that may lead to more effective ways to localize and image moving objects. All of these results represent significant developments that challenge the limits of the application of speckle imaging and open important application spaces. A theory was developed and simulations were performed to assess the potential transverse resolution benefit of relative motion in structured illumination for radar systems. Results for a simplified radar system model indicate that significant resolution benefits are possible using data from scanning a structured beam over the target, with the use of appropriate signal processing.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characterization of Rotating Detonation Engine Injector Response Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence

In this work, rotating detonation engine (RDE) fuel injector response was characterized in a lab-scale linear testing platform. The experimental design consists of a linear extrusion of an RDE cross section and allows rapid interchanging of modular, 3D printed inlet geometries. An array of helium jets was established within a channel, and a single combustion-driven shock pulse was presented at one end. The subsequent injector interruption and recovery were quantified using high-speed acetone planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). A quartz wall provided optical access to the channel and the injector response was visualized at up to 30 kHz. Three dynamic pressure transducers allowed the shock strength to be quantified along the length of the channel. Timescales associated with jet interruption and recovery were determined by analysis of instantaneous PLIF images and considered in conjunction with the dynamic pressure measurements. Finally, results are presented as a function of pertinent nondimensional parameters and compared with available experimental and computational data in a full, research-scale RDE.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Remotely Teleoperating a Humanoid Robot to Perform Fine Motor Tasks with Virtual Reality - 18446

In this paper, we describe our ongoing work to develop cooperative control of NASA's R5 Valkyrie humanoid robot for performing dexterous manipulation tasks inside gloveboxes commonly found in many nuclear facilities. These tasks can be physically demanding and provide some element of risk to the operator when done by a person in situ. For example, if a glove is ruptured, the operator could be exposed to radioactive material. In many cases, the operator has low visibility and is unable to reach the entire task space, requiring the use of additional tools located inside the glovebox. Such tasks include cleaning particulate from inside the glovebox via sweeping or vacuuming, separating a specific amount of a compound to be weighed on a scale, or grasping and manipulating objects inside the glovebox. There is potential to move the operator to a nearby, safe location and instead place a humanoid robot in the potentially hazardous environment. However, teleoperating a humanoid robot to perform dexterous tasks at a comparable level to a human hand remains a difficult problem. Previous work for controlling humanoid robots often involves one or more operators using a standard 2D display with a mouse and keyboard as controllers. Successful interfaces use sensor fusion to provide information to the operator for increased situation awareness, but these designs have limitations. Gaining proper situation awareness by visualizing 3D information on a 2D screen requires time and increases the cognitive load on the user. Instead, if the operator is able to visualize and control the robot properly in three dimensions, it can increase situation and task awareness, reduce task time, reduce the chance of mistakes, and increase the likelihood of overall task success. We propose a two-part system that combines an HTC Vive virtual reality headset with either the Vive handheld controllers, or the Manus VR wearable gloves as the primary control. The operator wears the headset in a remote location and can visualize a reconstruction of the glovebox, created live by sensor scans from the robot and with sensors located inside the glovebox for a perspective traditionally unavailable to operators. By using the controllers or gloves to control the humanoid robots hands directly, they can plan actions in the virtual reconstruction. When the operator is satisfied with the plan, the actions are sent to the real robot. To test this system we have created a mockup of a glovebox that is accessible by Valkyrie, as well as several tasks that are a subsample of the tasks that might be required when working in a real glovebox. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-J-264: Comparison of Two Commercially Available Software Platforms for Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the deformable image registration algorithms available in the Velocity (Velocity Medical Solutions, Atlanta, GA) and RayStation (RaySearch Americas, Inc., Garden city NY). Methods: Ten consecutive patient cone beam CTs (CBCT) for each fraction were collected. The CBCTs along with the simulation CT were exported to the Velocity and the RayStation software. Each CBCT was registered using deformable image registration to the simulation CT and the resulting deformable vector matrix was generated. Each registration was visually inspected by a physicist and the prescribing physician. The volumes of the critical organs were calculated for each deformable CT and used for comparison. Results: The resulting deformable registrations revealed differences between the two algorithms. These differences were realized when the organs at risk were contoured on each deformed CBCT. Differences in the order of 10% ±30% in volume were observed for bladder, 17 ±21% for rectum and 16±10% for sigmoid. The prostate and PTV volume differences were in the order of 3±5%. The volumetric differences observed had a respective impact on the DVHs of all organs at risk. Differences of 8–10% in the mean dose were observed for all organs above. Conclusion: Deformable registration is a powerful tool that aids in the definition of critical structures and is often used for the evaluation of daily dose delivered to the patient. It should be noted that extended QA should be performed before clinical implementation of the software and the users should be aware of advantages and limitations of the methods.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Device-level plug load disaggregation in a zero energy office building and opportunities for energy savings

Along with heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting, plug loads are one of the principal consumers of energy in commercial buildings. Managing ever-changing plug loads is a great challenge given the quantity and variety of devices in commercial buildings and the cost of monitoring equipment. To address this issue, we propose a method for developing a disaggregated model of an office building's plug loads that utilizes power data from a small portion of monitored devices and a device inventory. Using data from metering and control devices in the Research Support Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, we compared our model to the building's plug load submeters. We found that the model was effective in predicting the shape of the building's average plug loads; however, it did not account for the entire magnitude of the load. With the disaggregated breakdown, we identified devices that contributed significantly to the building's unoccupied load, such as the audio visual equipment as well as devices that contributed significantly at specific times of the day, such as the microwaves at noon. This disaggregated information enables building owners to make more informed decisions with respect to plug load controls and energy efficiency upgrades. Furthermore, we highlight how the plug loads in the Research Support Facility have changed over time and offer recommendations for implementing this disaggregation method in other buildings.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2021

Albumin in patients with liver disease shows an altered conformation

Abstract Human serum albumin (HSA) constitutes the primary transporter of fatty acids, bilirubin, and other plasma compounds. The binding, transport, and release of its cargos strongly depend on albumin conformation, which is affected by bound ligands induced by physiological and pathological conditions. HSA is both highly oxidized and heavily loaded with fatty acids and bilirubin in chronic liver disease. By employing small-angle X-ray scattering we show that HSA from the plasma of chronic liver disease patients undergoes a distinct opening compared to healthy donors. The extent of HSA opening correlates with clinically relevant variables, such as the model of end-stage liver disease score, bilirubin, and fatty acid levels. Although the mild oxidation of HSA in vitro does not alter overall structure, the alteration of patients’ HSA correlates with its redox state. This study connects clinical data with structural visualization of albumin dynamicity in solution and underlines the functional importance of albumin’s inherent flexibility.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SDSS-IV eBOSS emission-line galaxy pilot survey

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV extended Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (SDSS-IV/eBOSS) will observe 195,000 emission-line galaxies (ELGs) to measure the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation standard ruler (BAO) at redshift 0.9. To test different ELG selection algorithms, 9,000 spectra were observed with the SDSS spectrograph as a pilot survey based on data from several imaging surveys. First, using visual inspection and redshift quality flags, we show that the automated spectroscopic redshifts assigned by the pipeline meet the quality requirements for a reliable BAO measurement. We also show the correlations between sky emission, signal-to-noise ratio in the emission lines, and redshift error. Then we provide a detailed description of each target selection algorithm we tested and compare them with the requirements of the eBOSS experiment. As a result, we provide reliable redshift distributions for the different target selection schemes we tested. Lastly, we determine an target selection algorithms that is best suited to be applied on DECam photometry because they fulfill the eBOSS survey efficiency requirements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗