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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

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NASA NTRS1987

Comparison of composite rotor blade models: A coupled-beam analysis and an MSC/NASTRAN finite-element model

A methodology was developed for the structural analysis of composite rotor blades. This coupled-beam analysis is relatively simple to use compared with alternative analysis techniques. The beam analysis was developed for thin-wall single-cell rotor structures and includes the effects of elastic coupling. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the new composite-beam analysis method through comparison of its results with those of an established baseline analysis technique. The baseline analysis is an MSC/NASTRAN finite-element model built up from anisotropic shell elements. Deformations are compared for three linear static load cases of centrifugal force at design rotor speed, applied torque, and lift for an ideal rotor in hover. A D-spar designed to twist under axial loading is the subject of the analysis. Results indicate the coupled-beam analysis is well within engineering accuracy.

Hodges, Robert V.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Analysis on Large Format Lithium-Ion Batteries in Thermal Runaway

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can deliver electrical power across a large range of applications, and large format versions of these batteries are common in aerospace for their low mass and energy dense properties. Li-ion cells usage has increased as they are more power dense than fuel cells and have overall higher performance over lead-acid/NiCd batteries. However, Li-ion cells can experience Thermal Runaway (TR) via electro-chemical, mechanical, or thermal abuse. TR is a phenomenon where the stored energy in a cell is rapidly released along with vented gases and other effluents. A cell is generally determined to be in TR if its internal heat generation has surpassed its ability to dissipate that heat. If a Li-ion cell enters TR, propagation within the battery may occur. Propagation is the chain reaction that can occur to nearby cells due to a cell that has entered TR initially. Understanding a battery’s susceptiveness to propagation is necessary to evaluate risks associated with TR phenomenon. To determine if a battery is designed in a sufficient manner to prevent battery propagation if single cell TR occurs, testing and thermal analysis of the battery must be conducted. The presentation for TFAWS 2026 will cover considerations for battery TR thermal analysis, such as: testing methods, influences on the cells, failure mechanisms, and TR parameters. This presentation will include a walkthrough of an example battery TR thermal analysis, and the results thereof.

Lithium Ion Batteries↗

DOE OSTI2022

Single-Cell Metabolomics with Rapid Determination of Chemical Formulas from Isotopic Fine Structures

Metabolomic measurements can provide functional readouts of cellular states and phenotypes. Here, we present a protocol for single-cell metabolomics that permits direct untargeted detection of a broad number of metabolites under ambient conditions, without the need for sample processing, and with high confidence in the discovery and identification of the molecular formulas for detected metabolites. This protocol describes combining fiber-based laser ablation electrospray ionization (f-LAESI) with a 21 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (21T-FTICR-MS) to obtain high confidence molecular formula information about detected metabolites. The f-LAESI source utilizes mid-infrared laser ablation through a sharp optical fiber tip, affording direct ambient analysis of cells without the need for sample processing. Using the 21T-FTICR-MS as a mass analyzer enabled measurement of the isotopic fine structure (IFS) for numerous metabolites simultaneously from single cells, and the IFSs were in turn computationally processed to rapidly determine the corresponding elemental compositions. This metabolomics technique complements other single cell omics measurement methods, helping to resolve complex molecular interactions that take place within cells unattainable from single cell transcriptomic and proteomics methods.

mass spectrometry, FTICR, FTMS, ultrahigh mass res↗

DOE OSTI2024

Spatial co-transcriptomics reveals discrete stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Abstract The symbiotic interaction of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is ancient and widespread. Plants provide AM fungi with carbon in exchange for nutrients and water, making this interaction a prime target for crop improvement. However, plant–fungal interactions are restricted to a small subset of root cells, precluding the application of most conventional functional genomic techniques to study the molecular bases of these interactions. Here we used single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing to explore both Medicago truncatula and Rhizophagus irregularis transcriptomes in AM symbiosis at cellular and spatial resolution. Integrated, spatially registered single-cell maps revealed infected and uninfected plant root cell types. We observed that cortex cells exhibit distinct transcriptome profiles during different stages of colonization by AM fungi, indicating dynamic interplay between both organisms during establishment of the cellular interface enabling successful symbiosis. Our study provides insight into a symbiotic relationship of major agricultural and environmental importance and demonstrates a paradigm combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics for the analysis of complex organismal interactions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1991

A non-invasive measure of minerals and electrolytes in tissue

A system for collecting epithelial cells from the oral mucosa for the determination of ion concentration is discussed with application to the study of man's adaptation to microgravity. A number of characteristics of these cells influenced the choice for clinical testing. They are non-cornified epithelial cells located on the inferior aspect of the tongue; therefore, they are well protected from trauma. They have the capability of reflecting relatively recent physiologic changes since they are renewed every three days and have aerobic metabolism. Most importantly, they are easily accessible and can be removed by a wooden applicator stick with minimum discomfort. Smears of cells removed in this manner show predominantly individual cells rather than sheets of contiuous cells. This facilitates the visual isolation of single cells with the electron microscope for analysis. NASA's principle effort in the development of a test to measure the ion concentration in sublingual cells has been research by the biomedical program carried out by scientists with expertise in skeletal metabolism. These efforts were directed toward determining the biological meaning and deviations in interacellular ions in nonhuman primates and in male volunteers for experiments in a model for weightlessness. A brief one page summary of the experiments and results are presented.

Arnaud, Sara B.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Single-cell spatial metabolomics with cell-type specific protein profiling for tissue systems biology

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer and immune cells occurs to support their increasing energy needs in biological tissues. Here we propose Single Cell Spatially resolved Metabolic (scSpaMet) framework for joint protein-metabolite profiling of single immune and cancer cells in male human tissues by incorporating untargeted spatial metabolomics and targeted multiplexed protein imaging in a single pipeline. We utilized the scSpaMet to profile cell types and spatial metabolomic maps of 19507, 31156, and 8215 single cells in human lung cancer, tonsil, and endometrium tissues, respectively. The scSpaMet analysis revealed cell type-dependent metabolite profiles and local metabolite competition of neighboring single cells in human tissues. Deep learning-based joint embedding revealed unique metabolite states within cell types. Trajectory inference showed metabolic patterns along cell differentiation paths. Here we show scSpaMet’s ability to quantify and visualize the cell-type specific and spatially resolved metabolic-protein mapping as an emerging tool for systems-level understanding of tissue biology.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1989

Asymmetrical SRAM Cells For Radiation Tests

Features of circuits altered to increase or decrease sensitivity to radiation. State-space analysis used to analyze single-event-upset behavior of memory cell. When voltage on node a is set at one of indicated initial values Vao and then released, voltages on nodes a and b then follow indicated trajectory to final logic "one" or logic "zero" state. Ability to do this important for design of radiation-detecting integrated circuits (deliberately made more sensitive to ionizing radiation) and "radiation-hardened" integrated circuits - those intended to be relatively invulnerable to intense radiation.

Buehler, Martin G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Neuron analysis of visual perception

The receptive fields of single cells in the visual system of cat and squirrel monkey were studied investigating the vestibular input affecting the cells, and the cell's responses during visual discrimination learning process. The receptive field characteristics of the rabbit visual system, its normal development, its abnormal development following visual deprivation, and on the structural and functional re-organization of the visual system following neo-natal and prenatal surgery were also studied. The results of each individual part of each investigation are detailed.

Chow, K. L.↗

DOE OSTI2026

High-throughput Single-Cell Proteomics and Transcriptomics from the Same Cells with a Nanoliter-Scale Spin-Transfer Approach

Single-cell multiomic platforms provide a comprehensive snapshot of cellular states and cell types by offering critical insights into the spatiotemporal regulation of biomolecular networks at a systems level, thereby defining the basis of multicellularity. Here, we introduce nanoSPINS, an advanced platform that enables high-throughput profiling and integrative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome from the same single cells using RNA sequencing and isobaric labeling LC-MS-based proteomics, respectively. NanoSPINS can efficiently transfer mRNA-containing droplets across two microarrays via a centrifugation-based approach, while proteins are retained on the initial platform. Benchmarking of nanoSPINS on two cell lines demonstrates its ability to generate global proteomic and transcriptomic profiles that align well with previously established methodologies/platforms. The incorporation of isobaric TMTpro labeling into this single-cell multiomics platform significantly enhances the throughput of single-cell proteomic analyses. Through the high-throughput quantification of the proteome and transcriptome, nanoSPINS not only facilitates the identification of molecular features at both mRNA and protein level but also provides larger sample sizes for improved statistical power in clustering and differential abundance. Given the broad applicability of single-cell multiomics in biological research and clinical settings, we believe nanoSPINS represents a powerful platform for the characterization of heterogeneous cell populations.

multi 'omics↗

DOE OSTI2026

Inclusive Search for Anomalous Single-Photon Production in MicroBooNE

The MicroBooNE experiment is an 85-ton active volume liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector situated in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam. One of the main goals for MicroBooNE is to investigate the “low energy excess” (LEE) of electromagnetic events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment by leveraging the unique capabilities of the LArTPC technology to distinguish photons from electron electromagnetic showers. In this poster, we present an inclusive search for anomalous production of single-photon events from neutrino interactions in the MicroBooNE experiment, motivated by the MiniBooNE LEE. The analysis uses the Wire-Cell reconstruction framework to select a sample of inclusive single-photon final-state interactions and leverages simultaneous measurements of sidebands to constrain signal and background predictions and reduce uncertainties. We perform a blind analysis using a dataset collected from February 2016 to July 2018 from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. In the full signal region, we observe agreement between the data and the prediction, with a goodness-of-fit p-value of 0.11. We then isolate a sub-sample of these events containing no visible protons, and observe 93 $/pm$ 22(stat.) $\pm$ 35(syst.) data events above prediction, corresponding to just above 2$\sigma$ local significance, concentrated at shower energies below 600 MeV.

Yandel, Erin [Los Alamos] (ORCID:0000000277123709)↗

DOE OSTI2020

Improved Single-Cell Proteome Coverage Using Narrow-Bore Packed NanoLC Columns and Ultrasensitive Mass Spectrometry

Single-cell proteomics can provide unique insights into biological processes by resolving heterogeneity that is obscured by bulk measurements. Gains in the overall sensitivity and proteome coverage through improvements in sample processing and analysis increase the information content obtained from each cell, particularly for less abundant proteins. Here we report on improved single-cell proteome coverage through the combination of the previously developed Nanodroplet Processing in One Pot for Trace Samples (nanoPOTS) platform with further miniaturization of liquid chromatography (LC) separations and implementation of an ultrasensitive latest-generation mass spectrometry (MS) instrument. Following nanoPOTS sample preparation, protein digest from single cells were separated using a 20-µm-i.d. in-house-packed nanoLC column. Separated peptides were ionized using an etched fused silica emitter capable of stable ionization at the ~20 nL/min flow rate provided by the LC separation. Ultrasensitive LC-MS analysis was achieved using the Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid mass spectrometer. An average of 362 protein groups were identified by MS/MS from single HeLa cells, and 874 protein groups were identified using the Match Between Runs (MBR) feature of MaxQuant. This represents a >70% increase in label-free proteome coverage for single cells relative to previous efforts using larger-bore (30-µm-i.d.) LC columns coupled to a previous-generation MS (Orbitrap Fusion Lumos).

Cong, Yongzheng↗

DOE OSTI2025

Spatial profiling of the interplay between cell type- and vision-dependent transcriptomic programs in the visual cortex

How early sensory experience during “critical periods” of postnatal life affects the organization of the mammalian neocortex at the resolution of neuronal cell types is poorly understood. We previously reported that the functional and molecular profiles of layer 2/3 (L2/3) cell types in the primary visual cortex (V1) are vision-dependent [S. Chenget al.,Cell185, 311–327.e24 (2022)]. Here, we characterize the spatial organization of L2/3 cell types with and without visual experience. Spatial transcriptomic profiling based on 500 genes recapitulates the zonation of L2/3 cell types along the pial–ventricular axis in V1. By applying multitasking theory, we suggest that the spatial zonation of L2/3 cell types is linked to the continuous nature of their gene expression profiles, which can be represented as a 2D manifold bounded by three archetypal cell types. By comparing normally reared and dark reared L2/3 cells, we show that visual deprivation-induced transcriptomic changes comprise two independent gene programs. The first, induced specifically in the visual cortex, includes immediate-early genes and genes associated with metabolic processes. It manifests as a change in cell state that is orthogonal to cell-type-specific gene expression programs. By contrast, the second program impacts L2/3 cell-type identity, regulating a subset of cell-type-specific genes and shifting the distribution of cells within the L2/3 cell-type manifold. Through an integrated analysis of spatial transcriptomics with single-nucleus RNA-seq data, we describe how vision patterns cortical L2/3 cell types during the critical period.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2021

SINGLE: Atomic-resolution structure identification of nanocrystals by graphene liquid cell EM

Analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) structures of nanocrystals with solution-phase transmission electron microscopy is beginning to reveal their unique physiochemical properties. We developed a “one-particle Brownian 3D reconstruction method” based on imaging of ensembles of colloidal nanocrystals using graphene liquid cell electron microscopy. Projection images of differently rotated nanocrystals are acquired using a direct electron detector with high temporal (<2.5 ms) resolution and analyzed to obtain an ensemble of 3D reconstructions. Here, we introduce computational methods required for successful atomic-resolution 3D reconstruction: (i) tracking of the individual particles throughout the time series, (ii) subtraction of the interfering background of the graphene liquid cell, (iii) identification and rejection of low-quality images, and (iv) tailored strategies for 2D/3D alignment and averaging that differ from those used in biological cryo–electron microscopy. Our developments are made available through the open-source software package SINGLE.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

A deep generative model for deciphering cellular dynamics and in silico drug discovery in complex diseases

Human diseases are characterized by intricate cellular dynamics. Single-cell transcriptomics provides critical insights, yet a persistent gap remains in computational tools for detailed disease progression analysis and targeted in silico drug interventions. Here we introduce UNAGI, a deep generative neural network tailored to analyse time-series single-cell transcriptomic data. This tool captures the complex cellular dynamics underlying disease progression, enhancing drug perturbation modelling and screening. When applied to a dataset from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, UNAGI learns disease-informed cell embeddings that sharpen our understanding of disease progression, leading to the identification of potential therapeutic drug candidates. Validation using proteomics reveals the accuracy of UNAGI’s cellular dynamics analysis, and the use of the fibrotic cocktail-treated human precision-cut lung slices confirms UNAGI’s predictions that nifedipine, an antihypertensive drug, may have anti-fibrotic effects on human tissues. UNAGI’s versatility extends to other diseases, including COVID, demonstrating adaptability and confirming its broader applicability in decoding complex cellular dynamics beyond idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, amplifying its use in the quest for therapeutic solutions across diverse pathological landscapes.

Neural Network↗

NASA NTRS1978

A gas filter correlation analyzer for methane

A fast-response instrument for monitoring CH4 was designed and tested using a modified nondispersive infrared technique. An analysis of the single-beam rotating-cell system is presented along with the signal processing circuit. A calibration of the instrument shows that the technique can be used to measure CH4 concentrations as small as 5 ppm-m and the effects of interfering gases are analyzed.

Sebacher, D. I.↗

DOE OSTI2023

SURFACE ROUGHNESS REDUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF Nb3Sn FILM FOR SRF APPLICATIONS

Nb3Sn offers better RF performance (Q and Eacc) than Nb at any given temperature because of its superior superconducting properties. The potential deployment of Nb3Sn-coated SRF cavities at 4 K, delivering similar performance to that of Nb cavities at 2 K, will be a transformational technology to enable new classes of SRF accelerator applications. A clean and smooth surface can enhance the performance of the Nb3Sn-coated cavity, typically, the attainable acceleration gradient. The reduction of surface roughness is often linked with a correlative reduction in average coating thickness and grain size. A new approach to enhance the nucleation centers using the pre-deposition of Sn on Nb is introduced for surface roughness reduction. Besides Sn supply's careful tuning, the temperature profiles were varied to engineer the coating surface with reduced roughness as low as ~40 nm in 20 µm × 20 µm AFM scans, one-third that of the typical coating. Electropolishing of coated sample shows surface a clear surface smoothening. A few sets of coating parameters were used to coat 1.3 GHz sin-gle-cell cavities to understand the effects of roughness variation on the RF performance. This presentation discusses ways to reduce surface roughness with results from a systematic analysis of the samples and Nb3Sn-coated single-cell cavities.

Pudasaini, Uttar↗

DOE OSTI2023

SURFACE ROUGHNESS REDUCTION AND PERFORMANCE OF Nb3Sn FILM FOR SRF APPLICATIONS

Pudasaini, Uttar↗

DOE OSTI2021

Spatially Resolved Mass Spectrometry at the Single Cell: Recent Innovations in Proteomics and Metabolomics

Biological systems are composed of heterogeneous populations of cells that intercommunicate to form a functional living tissue. Biological function varies greatly across populations of cells, as each single cell has a unique transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome that translates to functional differences within single species and across kingdoms. Over the past decade, substantial advancements in our ability to characterize omic profiles on a single cell level have occurred, including in multiple spectroscopic and mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques. Of these technologies, spatially resolved mass spectrometry approaches, including mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), have shown the most progress for single cell proteomics and metabolomics. For example, reporter-based methods using heavy metal tags have allowed for targeted MS investigation of the proteome at the subcellular level, and development of technologies such as laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) now mean that dynamic metabolomics can be performed in situ. In this Perspective, we showcase advancements in single cell spatial metabolomics and proteomics over the past decade and highlight important aspects related to high-throughput screening, data analysis, and more which are vital to the success of achieving proteomic and metabolomic profiling at the single cell scale. Finally, using this broad literature summary, we provide a perspective on how the next decade may unfold in the area of single cell MS-based proteomics and metabolomics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗