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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2001

The effect of a microgravity (space) environment on the expression of expansins from the peg and root tissues of Cucumis sativus

In young cucumber seedlings, the peg is a polar outgrowth of tissue that functions by snagging the seed coat, thereby freeing the cotyledons. The development of the peg is thought to be gravity-dependent and has become a model system for plant-gravity response. Peg development requires rapid cell expansion, a process thought to be catalyzed by alpha-expansins, and thus was a good system to identify expansins that were regulated by gravity. This study identified 7 new alpha-expansin cDNAs from cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L. cv Burpee Hybrid II) and examined their expression patterns. Two alpha-expansins (CsExp3 and CsExp4) were more highly expressed in the peg and the root. Earlier reports stated that pegs tend not to form in the absence of gravity, so the expression levels were compared in the pegs of seedlings grown in space (STS-95), on a clinostat, and on earth (1 g). Pegs were observed to form at high frequency on clinostat and space-grown seedlings, yet on clinostats there was more than a 4-fold reduction in the expression of CsExp3 in the pegs of seedlings grown on clinostats vs. those grown at 1 g, while the CsExp4 gene appeared to be turned off (below detection limits). There were no detectable differences in expansin gene expression levels for the pegs of seedlings grown in space or in the orbiter environmental simulator (OES) (1 g) at NASA. The microgravity environment did not affect the expression of CsExp3 or CsExp4, and the clinostat did not simulate the microgravity environment well.

manned↗
DOE OSTI2022

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate–Mediated Graphene Sensor for Electrochemical Detection of the Antibiotic Drug: Ciprofloxacin

The present study involves detecting and determining CIP by a new electrochemical sensor based on graphene (Gr) in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) employing voltammetric techniques. Surface morphology studies of the sensing material were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). In the electroanalysis of CIP at the developed electrode, an enhanced anodic peak response was recorded, suggesting the electro-oxidation of CIP at the electrode surface. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of the electrolytic solution, scan rate, accumulation time, and concentration variation on the electrochemical behavior of CIP. The possible electrode mechanism was proposed based on the acquired experimental information. A concentration variation study was performed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in the lower concentration range, and the fabricated electrode achieved a detection limit of 2.9 × 10 -8 M. The proposed sensor detected CIP in pharmaceutical and biological samples. The findings displayed good recovery, with 93.8% for tablet analysis and 93.3% to 98.7% for urine analysis. The stability of a developed electrode was tested by inter- and intraday analysis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Vitrification of Hanford Tank 241-AP-101 Waste and Simulant

Hanford tank 241-AP-101 (referred to herein as AP-101) is the second Hanford radioactive tank waste planned to be processed and vitrified. A simulant version of AP 101 waste was formulated from the best-basis inventory (BBI) for the Hanford Tank 241-AP-101 liquid with an assumed target dilution of the waste from the BBI sodium molarity of 8.61 M to the desired 5.5 M Na. After the addition of glass-forming chemicals (GFCs), the simulant melter feed was processed in a non-radioactive, continuous laboratory-scale melter (CLSM) system. The AP-101 simulant melter feed was charged into the CLSM for 6.11 h of processing, which produced 6.55 kg of glass, for an average glass production rate of 2275 kg m 2 d -1 . Since there were no processing issues with the AP-101 simulant melter feed, AP-101 melter feed made with actual waste was then processed in a CLSM system built into a contamination area in a radioactive environment. The melting behavior characteristics appeared similar for both the simulant and waste melter feeds. The AP-101 waste melter feed was charged into the CLSM for 12.14 h of processing, which produced 8.75 kg of glass, for an average glass production rate of 1530 kg m 2 d -1 . During the AP-101 waste melter feed charging, the pump used to move the feed reached a maximum and it is believed that if the pump had a greater capacity, a greater average glass production rate could have been achieved. A constituent of interest present in low quantities in the AP-101 waste is 99 Tc or its non-radioactive surrogate, Re, added to the AP-101 simulant. Analysis for the quantities of 99 Tc and Re in the AP-101 glass product resulted in an average single-pass retention from the melter feed during relative chemical steady state of 55 ± 2 % for 99 Tc and 45 ± 2 % for Re. Compared to the processing of other melter feeds, the retention of 99 Tc in the AP-101 glass was greater than in both AP-107 and AP-105 glass, while the retention of Re in the AP-101 was less than in the AP-107 glass, but greater than in the AP-105 glass. A spike of I was added into the AP-101 melter feed that could be detected above the analysis detection limits. However, the iodine was only detectable above the ~6 ppm limit in one glass pour: the pour immediately following the burn off of the cold cap, where the I level reached ~30 ppm. This event was significant because the glass was poured immediately after burn off and thus it is presumed that the iodine had yet to volatilize from the glass melt while idling. It is recommended to perform future tests with I spikes at greater levels so that it can be detected in additional glass pours to determine if the expected 50 % retention of I used in the Kim et al. glass models can be confirmed. Offgas liquid samples were analyzed for acetonitrile, which was present at greater concentrations in CLSM liquids than in other scaled melter systems. This result was expected based on unique conditions with the CLSM system including a small plenum space leading to low residence time for offgas and the rapidity of offgas cooling upon exiting the CLSM vessel due to the location and environment. About 90 % of the total acetonitrile captured during both the AP-101 simulant and waste CLSM runs was found in the offgas condensate and demister liquids, thus it is recommended that only those liquids be sent for analysis if future testing to study the presence of acetonitrile in offgas products is desired.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantifying the Potential of Argon Detection Capabilities for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

Abstract Current noble gas detection systems for nuclear explosion monitoring are based on the detection of four radioxenon isotopes—Xe-131m, -133, -133m and -135. The data provided by radioxenon detection could be enhanced by other radionuclide signatures such as Ar-37. Activation of Ca-40 in rock by neutrons produces Ar-37, and monitoring for this additional nuclide could help distinguish detections of nuclear explosions from background sources, such as medical isotope production. This work studies the capabilities of a hypothetical argon detection network. A 10 kt explosion was modeled using MCNP and SCALE to determine the inventory of Ar-37 created in a representative granite rock layer, assuming either 0.1, 1 or 10% of the total inventory was released. The Ar-37 inventory was combined with atmospheric transport data from HYSPLIT compiled in a previous study, along with the detection limits of standard Ar-37 detection systems, to determine how many hypothetical monitoring stations would detect Ar-37 from an explosion. This method was repeated for 365 HYSPLIT data sets to create a year’s worth of hypothetical explosions, releases, and detections. The study quantified the average number of detections per release, the number of stations detecting Ar-37, and the possibility of detecting Ar-37 in coincidence with xenon.

37Ar↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ultra low background time projection alpha particle detector ( Phase II Final Scientific/Technical Report)

When alpha particles are emitted into a gas they create an ionization track of gas ions and electrons. In our commercial UltraLo instrument we apply a voltage between a planar sample and an anode, integrate the anode signal as it collects the electrons, and distinguish between alphas emitted from the sample and elsewhere (anode, sidewalls) by the duration and shape of the resultant signal. The major contributors limiting the instrument’s lower detection limit are cosmic rays that pass through the detector close to the sample and Rn decays that produce charge tracks the originate in the gas and end on the sample. In this work we proposed to identify and reject these events by converting the anode into a multi-pixel array and operating in time projection mode. Cosmic rays would be eliminated by generating charge on many pixels, while charge collection asymmetry would distinguish between sample events (Bragg curve up) and Rn events (Bragg curve down). We therefore proposed to modify an UltraLo by pixilating its anode, developing low noise, low power multiplexed electronics to track each pixel’s signal individually, and develop analysis software to make the required discriminations.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advances in PFAS Monitoring and Remediation Using a Functionalized Material Approach - 20080

The growing global concerns about the effects to public health from human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) motivates the development of strategies for reliable monitoring of PFAS in environmental streams, as well as for their rapid, effective removal if detected. For the continuous PFAS monitoring, an inexpensive, field-deployable, in situ sensor is urgently needed; yet the prevalent in situ techniques often struggle to strike a balance between the practical sensitivity and selectivity demands of the real world. Similarly, for effective PFAS removal, strategies for their fast, selective, and quantitative capture are desired, yet the present commercially available sorbents are unable to meet the requirements of rapid, quantitative capture of all PFAS components, and are notably inefficient in removing the more toxic smaller chains. To address these twin challenges, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing strategies for improved detection and remediation of PFAS. For the rapid, selective, quantitative removal of PFAS from environmental streams, the strategy relies on designing capture probes with exclusively tailored electronic and spatial affinities for the PFAS that are able to selectively capture them from environmental streams. For the in situ detection and quantification of PFAS in complex, multicomponent matrices such as groundwater, the approach relies on the targeted capture of specific PFAS by these PFAS-specific capture probes immobilized on a platform. The platform acts as an electrode to directly measure PFAS concentration through a proportional change in electrical response upon their capture. A combination of optimization of platform design and incorporation of additional, sensitive detection modalities have allowed us to achieve detection limits as low as 0.5 ng/L for detection of PFAS compounds (compared to the 70 ng/L Health Advisory Limit of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). (authors)

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dielectrophoresis assisted rapid, selective and single cell detection of antibiotic resistant bacteria with G-FETs

Time-consuming, expensive and low sensitivity diagnostic methods used for monitoring bacterial infections lead to unnecessary or delays in prescription of the right antibiotic treatment. Determining an optimal clinical treatment requires rapid detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria and their sensitivity to specific antimicrobials. However, diagnostic devices that meet all of these criteria have proven elusive thus far. Graphene field effect transistors (G-FET) are a promising solution, since they are highly sensitive to chemical/biological modification, can have fast detection times and can be placed on different substrates. Here, by integrating specific peptide probes over G-FETs, we present a proof-of-concept study for species and strain specific label-free detection of clinical strains of pathogenic bacteria with high specificity and sensitivity. We found that pyrene-conjugated peptides immobilized on G-FETs were capable of detecting pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus at the single-cell level and discriminate against other gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens. A similar device was able to discriminate between antibiotic resistant and sensitive strains of Acinetobacter baumannii , suggesting that these devices can also be used for detecting antibiotic resistive pathogens. Furthermore, a new means of enhancing attachment, electric-field assisted binding, reduced the detection limit to 104 cells/ml and the detection time to below 5 minutes. Here, the combination of single step attachment, inexpensive production, rapid, selective and sensitive detection suggest G-FETs plus pyrene-conjugated peptides are a new platform for solving major challenges faced in point of care diagnostics to fight infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Vacuum-ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of functionalized four-carbon species

Absorption cross-sections were measured in the vacuum ultraviolet from 5.17 – 9.92 eV using differential absorption spectroscopy for 33 four-carbon species: n-butane, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, butanal, butyric acid, ethyloxirane, trans-2,3-dimethyloxirane, cis-2,3-dimethyloxirane, 2-methyloxetane, 2,2'-bioxirane, vinyl oxirane, 3,4-epoxybutan-2-one, diacetyl, diethyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, vinyl acetate, acetic anhydride, 1-butanol, 3-buten-1-ol, 1–hydroxy-butan-2-one, 1–hydroxy-butan-3-one, 2,3-epoxybutan-1-ol, 3,4-epoxybutan-1-ol, 2-oxetanemethanol, butanone, methyl vinyl ketone, 4H-1,3-dioxine, allyl formate, 2-oxobutanal, 4-hydroxybutanal, 2-methyloxetan-3-one, cis–but-2-en-1-ol, and trans-2–but-enal. Uncertainties were quantified in all cases by accounting for errors in gas-phase concentration, experimental repeatability, and signal-to-noise ratio as a function of photon energy. With the exception of 2-oxobutanal, which is reported with an uncertainty of 10%, convolving the sources of error using the root-sum-square method led to an upper limit of 5% uncertainty above the detection limit, which is largely attributable to chemical purity. Here, the primary objective of the present work is to provide absolute cross-sections along with quantified uncertainty limits. The majority of the absorption spectra, which reflect electronic transitions such as σ → σ* and n → σ*, are reported for the first time and provide insight into fundamental chemical physics, such as vibrational band structure and Rydberg transitions. The quantitative spectra in the present work facilitates the discovery of chemical intermediates that support improvement in the accuracy of computational models for low-temperature combustion and atmospheric chemistry.

biofuels↗
NASA NTRS2012

Direct Imaging of Extra-Solar Planets in Star Forming Regions: Lessons Learned from a False Positive Around IM Lup

Context. Most exoplanet imagers consist of ground-based adaptive optics coronagraphic cameras which are currently limited in contrast, sensitivity and astrometric precision, but advantageously observe in the near-infrared window (1 5 m). Because of these practical limitations, our current observational aim at detecting and characterizing planets puts heavy constraints on target selection, observing strategies, data reduction, and follow-up. Most surveys so far have thus targeted young systems (1 100 Myr) to catch the putative remnant thermal radiation of giant planets, which peaks in the near-infrared. They also favor systems in the solar neighborhood (d less than 80 pc), which eases angular resolution requirements but also ensures a good knowledge of the distance and proper motion, which are critical to secure the planet status, and enable subsequent characterization. Aims. Because of their youth, it is very tempting to target the nearby star forming regions, which are typically twice as far as the bulk of objects usually combed for planets by direct imaging. Probing these interesting reservoirs sets additional constraints that we review in this paper by presenting the planet search that we initiated in 2008 around the disk-bearing T Tauri star IM Lup, which is part of the Lupus star forming region (140-190 pc). Methods. We show and discuss why age determination, the choice of evolutionary model for both the central star and the planet, precise knowledge of the host star proper motion, relative or absolute (between different instruments) astrometric accuracy (including plate scale calibration), and patience are the key ingredients for exoplanet searches around more distant young stars. Results. Unfortunately, most of the time, precision and perseverance are not paying off: we discovered a candidate companion around IM Lup in 2008, which we report here to be an unbound background object. We nevertheless review in details the lessons learned from our endeavor, and additionally present the best detection limits ever calculated for IM Lup. We also accessorily report on the successful use of innovative data reduction techniques, such as the damped-LOCI and iterative roll subtraction.

D Mawet↗
DOE OSTI2020

Advances in PFAS Monitoring and Remediation Using a Functionalized Material Approach

The growing global concerns about the effects to public health from human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) motivates the development of strategies for reliable monitoring of PFAS in environmental streams, as well as for their rapid, effective removal if detected. For the continuous PFAS monitoring, an inexpensive, field-deployable, in situ sensor is urgently needed; yet the prevalent in situ techniques often struggle to strike a balance between the practical sensitivity and selectivity demands of the real world. Similarly, for effective PFAS removal, strategies for their fast, selective, and quantitative capture are desired, yet the present commercially available sorbents are unable to meet the requirements of rapid, quantitative capture of all PFAS components, and are notably inefficient in removing the more toxic smaller chains. To address these twin challenges, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing strategies for improved detection and remediation of PFAS. For the rapid, selective, quantitative removal of PFAS from environmental streams, the strategy relies on designing capture probes with exclusively tailored electronic and spatial affinities for the PFAS that are able to selectively capture them from environmental streams. For the in situ detection and quantification of PFAS in complex, multicomponent matrices such as groundwater, the approach relies on the targeted capture of specific PFAS by these PFAS-specific capture probes immobilized on a platform. The platform acts as an electrode to directly measure PFAS concentration through a proportional change in electrical response upon their capture. A combination of optimization of platform design and incorporation of additional, sensitive detection modalities have allowed us to achieve detection limits as low as 0.5 ng/L for detection of PFAS compounds (compared to the 70 ng/L Health Advisory Limit of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS),↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Double ChemFET for the In-Line Monitoring of Silver Dosing in Potable Water Systems

With NASA Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Life Support Systems (LSS) baselining ionic silver (Ag+) as the biocide of choice, development in silver monitoring technologies becomes necessary to monitor and control Ag+ release. Ion-selctive field effect transistors (ISFETs) and chemically-sensitive field effect transistors (ChemFETs) are capable of selective detection of Ag+ with reversible and low detection limit responses. However, one major hurdle to ChemFET technologies is the requirement of a reference electrode, which can leak its fill solution into the potable water system and is prone to drift requiring frequent calibration. To circumvent this issue, we are developing a double chemically-sensitive field effect transistor (dChemFET). The dChemFET uses a second ChemFET to selectively monitor the counter ion and serves in place of the reference electrode. We report our work in developing the dChemFET, starting with the development of the Ag+ and NO3- ion selective memberanes (ISMs) to be used in the ChemFETs. The Ag+ ISM has a detection range of 50-105 ppb . The counter ion ISM, NO3- ISM, has shown a detection range of 400-105 ppb. NO3- ISMs are limited in detecting at lower ppb levels required for the dChemFET application on the potable water system. In response to this issue, we also report our studies in using the Ag+ ISM to measure deionized (DI) water as a reference measurement to be implemented in-line before the Ag+ is dosed.

Lance Dean Delzeit↗
DOE OSTI2021

Rapid quantitative analysis of trace elements in plutonium alloys using a handheld laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) device coupled with chemometrics and machine learning

Here, we present the first reported quantification of trace elements in plutonium via a portable laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) device and demonstrate the use of chemometric analysis to enhance the handheld device's sensitivity and precision. Quantification of trace elements such as iron and nickel in plutonium metal via LIBS is a challenging problem due to the complex nature of the plutonium optical emission spectra. While rapid analysis of plutonium alloys has been demonstrated using portable LIBS devices, such as the SciAps Z300, their detection limits for trace elements are severely constrained by their achievable pulse power and length, light collection optics, and detectors. In this paper, analytical methods are evaluated as a means to circumvent the detection constraints. Three chemometric methods often used in analytical spectroscopy are evaluated; principal component regression, partial least-squares regression, and artificial neural networks. These models are evaluated based on goodness-of-fit metrics, root mean-squared error, and their achievable limits of detection (LoDs). Partial least squares proved superior for determining content of iron and nickel in plutonium metal, yielding LoDs of 15 and 20 ppm, respectively. These results of identifying the undesirable trace elements in plutonium components are critical for applications such as fabricating radioisotope thermoelectric generators or nuclear fuel.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1982

Star formation in the M17 SW giant molecular cloud

The first high-sensitivity, high-resolution far-IR survey of an entire molecular cloud complex is presented. The 20 km/s M17 SW complex, in addition to the three luminous M17 sources, contains 10 sources spread over 110 pc. The 10 lower luminosity sources divide into two groups: small blister sources powered by late O stars and compact sources powered by clusters of early B stars. No compact far-IR sources with luminosities between the detection limit and 10,000 solar luminosities were detected. Three possible formation mechanisms for the stars that power the far-IR sources in the M17 SW complex are examined. Sequential formation cannot explain the sources seen throughout the complex. Some type of stochastic formation mechanism or collapse induced by a spiral density wave could explain the observations.

Jaffe, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Analysis of LANDSAT-4 TM Data for Lithologic and Image Mapping Purpose

Lithologic mapping techniques using the near infrared bands of the Thematic Mapper onboard the LANDSAT 4 satellite are investigated. These methods are coupled with digital masking to test the capability of mapping geologic materials. Data are examined under medium to low Sun angle illumination conditions to determine the detection limits of materials with absorption features. Several detection anomalies are observed and explained.

Podwysocki, M. H.↗