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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Classifying and rating AI benchmarks

We created a set of standards to efficiently evaluate AI benchmarks through objective means. Although prevalent, especially in recent times, AI benchmarks have no single way to measure their effectiveness. The MLCommons team provided a set of criteria for evaluating benchmarks, although the criteria lacks a clearly defined set of evaluation rules. We created a rubric with preset factors to efficiently and objectively evaluate a benchmark’s quality. We created a software framework for processing lists of benchmarks for visualization. The framework and rating system allows researchers to quickly check if their benchmarks are effective.

Shiraishi, Reece [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Cosmology from Cross-correlations of unWISE Galaxies and ACT DR6 CMB Lensing

We present tomographic measurements of structure growth using cross-correlations of Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) DR6 and Planck cosmic microwave background (CMB) lensing maps with the unWISE Blue and Green galaxy samples, which span the redshift ranges 0.2 ≲ z ≲ 1.1 and 0.3 ≲ z ≲ 1.8, respectively. We improve on prior unWISE cross-correlations not just by making use of the new, high-precision ACT DR6 lensing maps, but also by including additional spectroscopic data for redshift calibration and by analyzing our measurements with a more flexible theoretical model. We determine the amplitude of matter fluctuations at low redshifts (z ≃ 0.2–1.6), finding S 8 ≡ σ 8 (Ω m /0.3) 0.5 = 0.813 ± 0.021 using the ACT cross-correlation alone and S 8 = 0.810 ± 0.015 with a combination of Planck and ACT cross-correlations; these measurements are fully consistent with the predictions from primary CMB measurements assuming standard structure growth. The addition of baryon acoustic oscillation data breaks the degeneracy between σ 8 and Ω m , allowing us to measure σ 8 = 0.813 ± 0.020 from the cross-correlation of unWISE with ACT and σ 8 = 0.813 ± 0.015 from the combination of cross-correlations with ACT and Planck. These results also agree with the expectations from primary CMB extrapolations in ΛCDM cosmology; the consistency of σ 8 derived from our two redshift samples at z ∼ 0.6 and 1.1 provides a further check of our cosmological model. Our results suggest that structure formation on linear scales is well described by ΛCDM even down to low redshifts z ≲ 1.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Navigator function for the conformal bootstrap

Current numerical conformal bootstrap techniques carve out islands in theory space by repeatedly checking whether points are allowed or excluded. We propose a new method for searching theory space that replaces the binary information "allowed"/"excluded" with a continuous "navigator" function that is negative in the allowed region and positive in the excluded region. Such a navigator function allows one to efficiently explore high-dimensional parameter spaces and smoothly sail towards any islands they may contain. The specific functions we introduce have several attractive features: they are well-defined in large regions of parameter space, can be computed with standard methods, and evaluation of their gradient is immediate due to an SDP gradient formula that we provide. The latter property allows for the use of efficient quasi-Newton optimization methods, which we illustrate by navigating towards the 3d Ising island.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermodynamic investigation of the NaCl-KCl salt system from 25 to 950 °C

NaCl-KCl molten salt system has been proposed as a primary component of several promising heat transfer eutectics and fuel host for Generation IV molten salt reactors (MSR). In this work, several key thermodynamic parameters, including high temperature enthalpies, isobaric heat capacities (C p ) and molar enthalpies of mixing (ΔH mix ), of the NaCl -KCl system (NaCl, 75mol% NaCl – 25mol% KCl, 51mol% NaCl – 49mol% KCl, 25mol% NaCl – 75mol% KCl, and KCl) were measured by high temperature drop calorimetry (HTDC) utilizing laser sealed nickel and aluminum crucibles. Salts were checked for phase purity by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and water content by Karl Fischer coulometric titrimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA) utilizing custom-built boron nitride (BN) crucibles was employed to determine temperatures of phase transitions (solid $\rightarrow$ liquid) for the salts and plotted against the pseudobinary phase diagram for the NaCl-KCl system. Small deviations (3-10 %) were found among C p values obtained from HTDC, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and NIST, comparable to the average uncertainty based on two standard deviations of measured data that are ~6% for DSC and ~3% for HTDC. Additionally, the measured enthalpies and C p values of mixed NaCl-KCl salts (e.g., 51mol% NaCl – 49mol% KCl eutectic) were shown to behave as statistical mixtures of its pure endmembers, consistent with ΔH mix = ~ 0 kJ/mol at 800 °C, and a regular interaction parameter of Ω = 1.20 ± 0.76 kJ/mol. In conclusion, this study represents a step towards improved accuracy and precision in determinations of thermodynamic parameters of molten salts by using DSC, TMA, and HTDC, in completion of the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database (MSTDB).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Primary observables for indirect searches at colliders

We consider the complete set of observables for collider searches for indirect effects of new heavy physics. They consist of SU(3) C × U(1) EM invariant interaction terms/operators that parameterize deviations from the Standard Model. We show that, un der very general assumptions, the leading deviations from the Standard Model are given by a finite number of ‘primary’ operators, with the remaining operators given by ‘Mandelstam descendants’ whose effects are suppressed by powers of Mandelstam variables divided by the mass scale M of the heavy physics. We explicitly determine all 3 and 4-point primary operators relevant for Higgs signals at colliders by using the correspondence between on-shell amplitudes and independent operators. We give a detailed discussion of the methods used to obtain this result, including a new analytical method for determining the independent operators. The results are checked using the Hilbert series that counts independent operators. We also give a rough sketch of the phenomenology, including unitarity bounds on the interaction strengths and rough estimates of their importance for Higgs decays at the HL-LHC. These results motivate further exploration of Higgs decays to $Z\overline{f}f$, $W\overline{f}f'$, $γ\overline{f}f$, and $Zγγ$.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Soft Syndrome Decoding of Quantum LDPC Codes for Joint Correction of Data and Syndrome Errors

Quantum errors are primarily detected and corrected using the measurement of syndrome information which itself is an unreliable step in practical error correction implementations. Typically, such faulty or noisy syndrome measurements are modeled as a binary measurement outcome flipped with some probability. However, the measured syndrome is in fact a discretized value of the continuous voltage or current values obtained in the physical implementation of the syndrome extraction. In this paper, we use this "soft" or analog information without the conventional discretization step to benefit the iterative decoders for decoding quantum low-density parity-check (QLDPC) codes. Syndrome-based iterative belief propagation (BP) decoders are modified to utilize the syndrome-soft information to successfully correct both data and syndrome errors simultaneously, without repeated measurements. We demonstrate the advantages of extracting the soft information from the syndrome in our improved decoders, not only in terms of comparison of thresholds and logical error rates for quasi-cyclic lifted-product QLDPC code families, but also for faster convergence of iterative decoders. In particular, the new BP decoder with noisy syndrome performs as good as the standard BP decoder under ideal syndrome.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Towards in-situ certification of additively manufactured parts: the vital roles of physics-based and data-driven models

Certifying additively manufactured (AM) parts in-situ at the completion of a build is an enticing prospect, as it can help reduce the high costs associated with post-build testing and evaluation. However, achieving this goal presents significant challenges that may keep it aspirational for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, incremental progress can pave the way forward. A critical aspect of in-situ certification involves continuous quality checking due to the random nature of the AM process and the difficulties in detecting defects or anomalies once layers are built over. While real-time in-situ monitoring strategies assisted by machine learning (ML) play a pivotal role in auditing part quality, they must ideally be supported by real-time (or near real-time) adaptive process control enabled by ML-assisted decision-making. By analyzing in-situ monitoring data in real-time (or near real- time) to dynamically adjust manufacturing parameters, such intervention can ensure AM parts are built to meet stringent certification standards. This can be achieved virtually by using high-fidelity performance models for the physical testing and evaluation tasks. In this short editorial, we discuss the key contributions made by data-driven and physics-based models in providing intelligence to the monitoring and process control tasks underpinning in-situ certification and in the simulation of the build’s performance under test and service conditions. While our focus lies in metal AM, the concepts discussed here are also relevant to other AM processes.

: In-situ monitoring↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effects of ionising radiation exposure in offspring and next generations: dosimetric aspects and uncertainties

The impact of the exposure to ionizing radiation in the offspring and next generation has been investigated in the last decades and currently is the subject of study of the ICRP Task Group 121. Studying the effects of radiation exposure in pre-conceptional and post-conceptional phases can be a challenge since potential effects to the fetus vary depending on the stage of fetal development. Epidemiology and radiobiology studies are the two sources of information one can use to correlate the radiation dose to the human body and tissues and the resulting effects. For a proper evaluation of the outcomes of such studies, and a correct appraisal of the exposure/dose-effect relationship, (i) reliable dosimetry, (ii) accurate reporting, and (iii) reproducibility of results are required. Although variables related to dose, including for instance source of radiation, geometry of irradiation, dose rate etc., are usually known, especially in radiobiology studies, often important details of the irradiation are not reported. In conclusion, based on standards developed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a review of the scientific studies used by the UNSCEAR to estimate the risk of hereditary effects, and by the ICRP in its current recommendations, was conducted to evaluate the way dosimetry was reported. Dosimetry and the related uncertainties were not adequately described in the vast majority of those studies. This does not necessarily mean that they do not provide relevant information, however it prevents from a thorough verification and reproduction of their findings. In order to guarantee the reliability and robustness of the process of revision of the estimates of risk and detriment it is therefore considered mandatory to include a careful check of the new relevant literature with regard to the criteria on the completeness and reproducibility of the dosimetric information.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗
DOE OSTI2020

Phase field benchmark problems targeting fluid flow and electrochemistry

Here, we continue our development of phase field model benchmark problems with the addition of a third set, complimenting our previously developed problems for diffusion, precipitation, dendritic growth and linear elasticity. These benchmark problems are being jointly developed by the Center for Hierarchical Materials Design (CHiMaD) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) along with input from the phase field community. The first problem in this third set targets Stokes flow, with a particular emphasis on flow around an obstruction placed asymmetrically in the domain. While Stokes flow is not traditionally in the canon of phase field problems, it is a class of problems gaining importance in areas such as filtration and water purification. The second problem deals with coupled Cahn-Hilliard diffusion and electrostatic forces, which is an important area in energy storage and battery sciences. We present our own solutions and discuss sources of numerical errors for the Stokes problem as well as simple checks to avoid fundamental issues in the coupled diffusion-electrostatics problem. The latter problem contains some subtleties that we expand on in an Appendix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-throughput ab initio reaction mechanism exploration in the cloud with automated multi-reference validation

Quantum chemical calculations on atomistic systems have evolved into a standard approach to studying molecular matter. These calculations often involve a significant amount of manual input and expertise, although most of this effort could be automated, which would alleviate the need for expertise in software and hardware accessibility. Here, we present the AutoRXN workflow, an automated workflow for exploratory high-throughput electronic structure calculations of molecular systems, in which (i) density functional theory methods are exploited to deliver minimum and transition-state structures and corresponding energies and properties, (ii) coupled cluster calculations are then launched for optimized structures to provide more accurate energy and property estimates, and (iii) multi-reference diagnostics are evaluated to back check the coupled cluster results and subject them to automated multi-configurational calculations for potential multi-configurational cases. All calculations are carried out in a cloud environment and support massive computational campaigns. Key features of all components of the AutoRXN workflow are autonomy, stability, and minimum operator interference. We highlight the AutoRXN workflow with the example of an autonomous reaction mechanism exploration of the mode of action of a homogeneous catalyst for the asymmetric reduction of ketones.

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

Advanced Method Optimization with Categorical and Constrained Continuous Parameters

Traditional approaches to analytical method optimization (e.g., univariate and “guess-and-check”) can be time-consuming, costly, and often fail to identify true optima within the parameter space. Previous work defined and implemented a generalized technique for method optimization for continuous method parameters, but a knowledge gap remains for the incorporation of categorical variables into these advanced method optimization schemes. This work presents and validates a generalized optimization approach that incorporates both continuous and categorical variables while also utilizing a multivariate, multiobjective optimization scheme with Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions to bound the optimization space to solutions within the physical limitations of the parameter space. Method optimization from a case study using GC–MS for the analysis of 11 analytical standards with objectives to minimize peak width and maximize peak height resulted in a 3 orders of magnitude improvement in the average peak height and a 2 orders of magnitude improvement in the average peak width compared to the least optimal (but reasonable) instrumental parameters utilized in this study. This approach to optimization allows for a customizable method optimization in which users can include both continuous and categorical variables to achieve objectives specific to their analytical goals. This approach significantly reduces the labor and cost associated with traditional method development approaches and can be applied in a variety of scientific fields across a range of laboratory techniques (e.g., instrument method development, sample preparation, and extraction techniques).

Amorphous materials↗
DOE OSTI2022

What, why and when to go virtual: An international analysis of early adopters of virtual building energy codes inspections

To meet greenhouse gas reduction targets, several countries are pursuing more ambitious policies in their buildings and construction sectors, such as introducing zero net energy/carbon building codes. Countries often report not having enough qualified staff for performing building energy code inspections and many are exploring faster, easier, and more reliable methods to check the compliance of buildings with their codes. Building inspections are a critical element for ensuring code compliance and they have traditionally been performed in person. However, in-person inspections can be labor and travel intensive, costly, and prone to human error. In this paper, the authors explore how virtual inspections, particularly in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted processes for building code compliance checks in jurisdictions and communities around the world. Here, the authors collected data on four key parameters (time and financial savings, scope of inspections, changing practices and technological innovation, and benefits to consumers) from six jurisdictions and communities in five countries (Australia, Canada, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and the United States) to analyze the impacts of virtual inspections on code compliance checks. The analysis found the greatest value from virtual inspections in geographically dispersed regions and for cities experiencing rapid building construction. The study also explored emerging technologies that are being piloted for virtual inspections. Although many of these technologies hold promise, more resources and capacity are needed to make them viable for use in building energy code inspections.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

The DEHVILS in the details: Type Ia supernova Hubble residual comparisons and mass step analysis in the near-infrared

Measurements of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the near-infrared (NIR) have been used both as an alternate path to cosmology compared to optical measurements and as a method of constraining key systematics for the larger optical studies. With the DEHVILS sample, the largest published NIR sample with consistent NIR coverage of maximum light across three NIR bands ( Y, J , and H ), we check three key systematics: (i) the reduction in Hubble residual scatter as compared to the optical, (ii) the measurement of a “mass step” or lack thereof and its implications, and (iii) the ability to distinguish between various dust models by analyzing slopes and correlations between Hubble residuals in the NIR and optical. We produce SN Ia simulations of the DEHVILS sample and find that it is harder to differentiate between various dust models than previously understood. Additionally, we find that fitting with the current SALT3-NIR model does not yield accurate wavelength-dependent stretch-luminosity correlations, and we propose a limited solution for this problem. From the data, we see that (i) the standard deviation of Hubble residual values from NIR bands treated as standard candles are 0.007–0.042 mag smaller than those in the optical, (ii) the NIR mass step is not constrainable with the current sample size of 47 SNe Ia from DEHVILS, and (iii) Hubble residuals in the NIR and optical are correlated in the data. We test a few variations on the number and combinations of filters and data samples, and we observe that none of our findings or conclusions are significantly impacted by these modifications.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2020

Navigation and Meteorological Data from Multiple Sensors on Airborne Platform (NAVMET-AIR) Value-Added Product Report

The Navigation and Meteorological Data from Multiple Sensors on Airborne Platform (NAVMET-AIR) value-added product encompasses the aafnaviwg data set in the ARM Data Center (ADC), known as the IWG file, named for the Inter-Agency Working Group for Airborne Data and Telemetry Systems (IWGADTS). Its purpose is to produce a suite of tools to promote standardization of instrument interface, data format, and data processing. This data set’s contents are navigational and meteorological state variables at 1 Hz. It also contains higher-order data flags created by ARM Aerial Facility (AAF) scientists to aid analysis such as periods when the aircraft is flying level, operating in maneuvers, or flying through cloud. Due to the nature of research flights, the payload of the aircraft consists of many duplicate and overlapping instruments to ensure, in case of instrument failure, there is a backup to record the data. Measurements from multiple instruments are consolidated into a single file. Each variable of this data set is carefully chosen from the onboard instrumentation and quality checked by AAF scientists to create this wholistic and most accurate data set for airborne research. This document is intended to be a hub towards the individual “read me” files produced for each campaign. For reference about what instrument was used for calculations on specific days, the read me files are located in the ARM IOP archive at the addresses listed, or access the IOP (intensive operational period) database at https://www.archive.arm.gov/.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Datum: A Scientific Metadata Catalog

The data catalog market is currently flooded with a myriad of different products, but none serve the scientific community well. There are cloud-native tools like Databricks, Snowflake,to on-premise solutions like Collibra and Datahub. The common failing of all these tools however, is their inability to serve the scientific data community directly. Most catalogs are targeted towards financial, health, or user data - not sensor or scientific domain data. They also prioritize integrations that often don’t exist or are just starting to be used in the scientific realm - all while ignoring common scientific tools and file types. Datum is a catalog which targets the scientific data directly, including the tools and networks in which those tools are used. We work with the producers and consumers of the data where they are, targeting cloud and on-premise with a focus on classified networks. Datum is an Erlang/Elixir application. Technical Features Note: The features listed below are still under development and may change, slightly, upon final delivery of the product. File Formats - Datum has the ability to read additional metadata and provides processing pipelines for the following file formats: Plain Text, PDF, LaTeX, HTML, Open Document Format (.odt), XML, CSV/TSV (and other standard delimiters), OpenDocument Database and Spreadsheets, Geo-Referenced TIFF, Common Data Format, HDF/HDF5, LabView TDMS, Excel, DeltaTables, Parquet, Apache Iceberg, Apache Hudi and many others. Metadata Collection - Scanners for the local and networked file systems and cloud storage providers. Network integration with common databases such as MSSQL and MySQL. User Plugin System - Users are able to provide either file processing, metadata extraction, or sampling plugins in the programming language of their choice. Authentication/Authorization -: OIDC integration, SCIM provisioning and EntraID integration out of the box. Full user and group management system with a “least privilege” operating mode. Governance - Customizable data governance platform; dictate and enforce required metadata, enforce data embargos, and enforce user agreements and NDAs before data access. Ability to create health checks on data, rejecting abandoned or poorly curated data and automatically removing it from the search index. Ability for users to submit corrections. Search - Semantic search is a first class citizen. No licenses to expensive, external software required. Integrated use of vectors and vector-based search allows for AI agent integration at all levels of operation. Metadata Model - Display and control data’s lineage and connections to other data and data directories. Data is modeled after a filesystem - an organization instantly recognizable and navigable by most any user. CLI and SDK - Ships with a Command Line Interface (CLI) tool and with a fully-featured Python SDK. This allows for rapid and programmatic use of Datum by every level of user. Minimal Infrastructure - Datum ships as a single executable file and can be run on any operating system and most CPU architectures. Datum has no reliance on external databases, search indexing tools, or other outside services - and it runs equally well on edge computing devices, cloud services, or in a clustered HPC environment.

darrington, john↗
DOE OSTI2025

Generalized parton distributions and gravitational form factors at large momentum transfer

Within the soft collinear effective theory (SCET), we derive a factorization theorem which resums Sudakov logarithms (α s ln 2 ( –t)) n to all orders in the quark-in-quark generalized parton distribution (GPD) at large momentum transfer t, and perform a consistency check to one-loop. We show that the same Sudakov factor appears in the ‘Feynman’ contribution to the GPDs of the nucleon. Our result enables the resummation of all the large logarithms ln Q 2 and ln 2 t in exclusive processes with two hard scales Λ$^{2}_{QCD}$ ≪ |t| ≪ Q 2 . We also present a SCET power counting analysis of the Feynman contributions to the GPDs and show that the x-dependence of GPDs factorizes at large-t with controlled corrections. This in particular implies that any ratio of GPD moments such as the electromagnetic and gravitational form factors (GFF) is perturbatively calculable in this approximation. Furthermore, we identify a novel order α s power-law t-dependence in the GPD and the D-type GFF that will dominate over the standard order α$^{2}_{s}$ ‘leading twist’ asymptotic contribution in the phenomenologically relevant region of t.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

BuildingSync® v.2.7.0 (released 9.11.2025) [SWR-18-28]

BuildingSync® is a building data exchange schema to better enable integration between software tools and building data workflows. The schema's original use case was focused on commercial building energy audits; however, several additional use cases have been realized including building energy modeling and more high-level generic building data exchange. Version 2.7.0 adds new elements for file attachment feature and FederalBuilding, and generalizes usage of Optional Elements (e.g. EquipmentCondition, EquipmentID) to all assets/systems. BuildingSync helps streamline the data exchange process, improving the value of the data, minimizing duplication of effort for subsequent building data collection efforts (including audits), and facilitating the achievement of greater energy efficiency. This in done in part by standardizing on (a) reporting audits in an electronic format, (b) tracking proposed, implemented, and discarded energy conservation measures, and (c) storing building characteristics (at multiple levels) for audits, benchmarking, and building energy analysis. BuildingSync has several documents and tools available to help users understand how to best leverage BuildingSync. The list below are only a subset of the resources available. If new resources are discovered, then feel free to create a new pull request with the additions. Generic BuildingSync information is available on the DOE website and the project website. BuildingSync Examples - These examples are kept up to date and show a wide range of implementations. Any new update to BuildingSync is required to pass validation on these example files. BuildingSync Use Case Validator allows for users to determine if their instance complies with a specific use case for BuildingSync by checking if the required elements are implemented in an uploaded instance. An API is also provided for automated integration into other tools. Also, the website contains an easy way to view the entirety of the schema and how elements relate to the Building Exchange Data Exchange Specification. The Validator is open sourced here Use Case TestSuite provides a Python package for easier generation of BuildingSync use cases. BuildingSync use cases depend on the generation of schematron documents, which is time-consuming and difficult to implement well. The TestSuite allows users to define a use case using a more palatable CSV template, which it then turns into a Schematron document. The source code is available here. BuildingSync to OpenStudio/EnergyPlus. The translator is open sourced here. This project will translate a Level 1 (and partial Level 2) ASHRAE Energy Audit to a fully defined OpenStudio and EnergyPlus model. This project is in early Beta testing and any feedback is welcome!

Long, Nicholas [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NR↗
DOE OSTI2025

TropiRoot 1.0: Database of tropical root characteristics across environments

Tropical ecosystems contain the world's largest biodiversity of vascular plants. Yet, our understanding of tropical functional diversity and its contribution to global diversity patterns is constrained by data availability. This discrepancy underscores an urgent need to bridge data gaps by incorporating comprehensive tropical root data into global datasets. Here, we provide a database of tropical root characteristics. This new database, TropiRoot 1.0, will be instrumental in evaluating an array of hypotheses pertaining to root functional ecology and plant biogeography, both within the tropics and relative to other global biomes. The data compilation was conducted by the TropiRoot Initiative, in partnership with the Fine-Root Ecology Database (FRED) and the Global Root Trait (GRooT) database, Colorado State University (CSU) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Literature search and data extraction were conducted between 2020 and 2024. Literature was identified using Web of Science, Scopus, and complemented using the expert knowledge of members of TropiRoot. To provide broad environmental and geographical distributions, literature searches included root characteristics (traits) across global change drivers, natural gradients, and from different continents. We adopted FRED standardized data columns and streamlined the format to enhance accessibility for data extraction across various user groups. This optimized framework resulted in a smaller, yet comprehensive datasheet. To make the database compatible with other global root trait initiatives, column identification was standardized following the codes provided by FRED. These efforts culminated in data extracted from 104 new sources, resulting in more than 8000 rows of data (either species or community data). Most of the data in TropiRoot 1.0 include root characteristics such as root biomass, morphology, root dynamics, mass fraction, architecture, anatomy, physiology, and root chemistry. This initiative represents a 30% increase in the currently available data for tropical roots in FRED. TropiRoot 1.0 contains root characteristics from 25 different countries, where seven are located in Asia, six in South America, five in Central America and the Caribbean, four in Africa, two in North America, and 1 in Oceania. Due to the volume of data, when ancillary data were available, including soil data, these data were either extracted and included in the database or its availability was recorded in an additional column. Multiple contributors checked the entries for outliers during the collation process to ensure data quality. For text-based observations, we examined all cells to ensure that their content relates to their specific categories. For numerical observations, we ordered each numerical value from least to greatest and plotted the values, checking apparent outliers against the data in their respective sources and correcting or removing incorrect or impossible values. Some data (soil and aboveground) have different columns for the same variable presented in different units, including originally published units, but root characteristics data had units converted to match those reported in FRED. By filling a gap from global databases, TropiRoot 1.0 expands our knowledge of otherwise so far underrepresented regions and our ability to assess global trends. This advancement can be used to improve tropical forest representation in vegetation models. The data are freely available and should be cited when used.

FRED↗