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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 1,495 records · Page 83

Spinoff 2009

Topics covered include: Image-Capture Devices Extend Medicine's Reach; Medical Devices Assess, Treat Balance Disorders; NASA Bioreactors Advance Disease Treatments; Robotics Algorithms Provide Nutritional Guidelines; "Anti-Gravity" Treadmills Speed Rehabilitation; Crew Management Processes Revitalize Patient Care; Hubble Systems Optimize Hospital Schedules; Web-based Programs Assess Cognitive Fitness; Electrolyte Concentrates Treat Dehydration; Tools Lighten Designs, Maintain Structural Integrity; Insulating Foams Save Money, Increase Safety; Polyimide Resins Resist Extreme Temperatures; Sensors Locate Radio Interference; Surface Operations Systems Improve Airport Efficiency; Nontoxic Resins Advance Aerospace Manufacturing; Sensors Provide Early Warning of Biological Threats; Robot Saves Soldier's Lives Overseas (MarcBot); Apollo-Era Life Raft Saves Hundreds of Sailors; Circuits Enhance Scientific Instruments and Safety Devices; Tough Textiles Protect Payloads and Public Safety Officers; Forecasting Tools Point to Fishing Hotspots; Air Purifiers Eliminate Pathogens, Preserve Food; Fabrics Protect Sensitive Skin from UV Rays; Phase Change Fabrics Control Temperature; Tiny Devices Project Sharp, Colorful Images; Star-Mapping Tools Enable Tracking of Endangered Animals; Nanofiber Filters Eliminate Contaminants; Modeling Innovations Advance Wind Energy Industry; Thermal Insulation Strips Conserve Energy; Satellite Respondent Buoys Identify Ocean Debris; Mobile Instruments Measure Atmospheric Pollutants; Cloud Imagers Offer New Details on Earth's Health; Antennas Lower Cost of Satellite Access; Feature Detection Systems Enhance Satellite Imagery; Chlorophyll Meters Aid Plant Nutrient Management; Telemetry Boards Interpret Rocket, Airplane Engine Data; Programs Automate Complex Operations Monitoring; Software Tools Streamline Project Management; Modeling Languages Refine Vehicle Design; Radio Relays Improve Wireless Products; Advanced Sensors Boost Optical Communication, Imaging; Tensile Fabrics Enhance Architecture Around the World; Robust Light Filters Support Powerful Imaging Devices; Thermoelectric Devices Cool, Power Electronics; Innovative Tools Advance Revolutionary Weld Technique; Methods Reduce Cost, Enhance Quality of Nanotubes; Gauging Systems Monitor Cryogenic Liquids; Voltage Sensors Monitor Harmful Static; and Compact Instruments Measure Heat Potential.

Source record↗

Snowmass2021 Cosmic Frontier White Paper: Cosmological Simulations for Dark Matter Physics

Over the past several decades, unexpected astronomical discoveries have been fueling a new wave of particle model building and are inspiring the next generation of ever-more-sophisticated simulations to reveal the nature of Dark Matter (DM). This coincides with the advent of new observing facilities coming online, including JWST, the Rubin Observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and CMB-S4. The time is now to build a novel simulation program to interpret observations so that we can identify novel signatures of DM microphysics across a large dynamic range of length scales and cosmic time. This white paper identifies the key elements that are needed for such a simulation program. We identify areas of growth on both the particle theory side as well as the simulation algorithm and implementation side, so that we can robustly simulate the cosmic evolution of DM for well-motivated models. We recommend that simulations include a fully calibrated and well-tested treatment of baryonic physics, and that outputs should connect with observations in the space of observables. We identify the tools and methods currently available to make predictions and the path forward for building more of these tools. A strong cosmic DM simulation program is key to translating cosmological observations to robust constraints on DM fundamental physics, and provides a connection to lab-based probes of DM physics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Integrated Network Decompositions and Dynamic Programming for Graph Optimization (INDDGO)

The INDDGO software package offers a set of tools for finding exact solutions to graph optimization problems via tree decompositions and dynamic programming algorithms. Currently the framework offers serial and parallel (distributed memory) algorithms for finding tree decompositions and solving the maximum weighted independent set problem. The parallel dynamic programming algorithm is implemented on top of the MADNESS task-based runtime.

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Award ER25844: Minimizing System Noise Effects for Extreme-Scale Scientific Simulation Through Function Delegation

In software running on distributed computing clusters, time spent on communication between nodes in the cluster can be a significant portion of the overall computation time; background operating system tasks and other computational noise on the nodes of the system can have a significant impact on the amount of time this communication takes, especially on large systems. The research completed in this period has improved understanding of when such noise will have a significant impact. Specifically, it was demonstrated that not just noise on the nodes, but also noise on the network between nodes can have a significant impact on computation time. It was also demonstrated that noise patterns matter more than noise intensity: very regular noise can cause less disruption than lighter (on average) but less regular noise. It was also demonstrated that the effect of noise is more prominent as the speed of the network between nodes is increased. Furthermore, a tracing tool, Netgauge, was improved via our work, and a system simulator, LogGOPSim, was developed; they can be used by application developers to improve performance of their program and by system designers to mitigate the effects of noise by adjusting the noise characteristics of the operating system. Both have been made freely available as open source programs. In the course of developing these tools, we demonstrated weaknesses in existing methodologies for modeling communication, and we introduced a more detailed model, LogGOPS, for simulating systems. Not only were the deleterious effects of noise explored but we have also offered solutions. Our studies of simulations of system noise have led to specific recommendations on tuning systems to mitigate noise. We have also improved existing approaches to mitigating noise. Non-blocking collective communication avoids the effects of noise by letting communication continue simultaneously with computation (thus being non-blocking), so that the delays in communication introduced by noise have a smaller impact on overall computation time. Potentially, noise can be reduced much further by offloading communication tasks to a separate processing element than the operating system is using. We have improved our library LibNBC, which provides an implementation of non-blocking collectives, via this work. During this research, our proposal to include non-blocking collectives (which used LibNBC as a reference implementation) in the upcoming MPI-3 standard was accepted. As MPI is a ubiquitous and important standard for communication in parallel computing, this demonstrates a certain acceptance of the practicality and desirability of non-blocking collectives. Now that non-blocking collectives are a part of the standard we can expect to see optimized platform-specific implementations of non-blocking collectives. Also as part of this work we have also developed a language GOAL (Global Operation Assembly Language) that can be used as a starting point for defining languages to express optimized communication algorithms.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Integrated Network Decompositions and Dynamic Programming for Graph Optimization (INDDGO)

The INDDGO software package offers a set of tools for finding exact solutions to graph optimization problems via tree decompositions and dynamic programming algorithms. Currently the framework offers serial and parallel (distributed memory) algorithms for finding tree decompositions and solving the maximum weighted independent set problem. The parallel dynamic programming algorithm is implemented on top of the MADNESS task-based runtime.

Source record↗

Operations research modeling in support of the Hanford direct feed low activity waste program - 15538

Operations Research (OR) modeling is a supplemental system planning tool for the Hanford Tank Farm Contractor. OR models are designed to quantify the impact of equipment failures and other constraints on mission duration; to determine overall system performance; and to identify any potential bottleneck areas and identify any potential improvement areas. OR models are being developed to provide critical insights into the expected operational performance of current and planned facilities and to help identify any operational risks which impact performance of plant and equipment. This information is used to aid decision making on facility design and operations. A new OR model is being developed in support of the Direct Feed Low Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program and will be a valuable tool in the development of overall operational and management strategies as well as providing input to facility design. The OR model will identify predicted system availability, process bottlenecks, and key equipment influencing system performance. The OR model will also test proposed solutions to improve system availability by resolving process bottlenecks and provide this information to the design agent for incorporation into the DFLAW process design. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Evalution of a DE-Identification Process for Ocular Imaging

Medical privacy of NASA astronauts requires an organized and comprehensive approach when data are being made available outside NASA systems. A combination of factors, including the uniquely small patient population, the extensive medical testing done on these individuals, and the relative cultural popularity of the astronauts puts them at a far greater risk to potential exposure of personal information than the general public. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the astronauts' identities are concealed. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) medical data is a recent source of interest to researchers concerned with the development of Visual Impairment due to Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) in the astronaut population. Each vision MRI scan of an astronaut includes 176 separate sagittal images that are saved as an "image series" for clinical use. In addition to the medical information these image sets provide, they also inherently contain a substantial amount of non-medical personally identifiable information (PII) such as-name, date of birth, and date of exam. We have shown that an image set of this type can be rendered, using free software, to give an accurate representation of the patient's face. This currently restricts NASA from dispensing MRI data to researchers in a deidentified format. Automated software programs, such as the Brain Extraction Tool, are available to researchers who wish to de-identify MRI sagittal brain images by "erasing" identifying characteristics such as the nose and jaw on the image sets. However, this software is not useful to NASA for vision research because it removes the portion of the images around the eye orbits, which is the main area of interest to researchers studying the VIIP syndrome. The Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program has resolved this issue by developing a protocol to de-identify MRI sagittal brain images using Showcase Premier, a DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) software package. The software allows manual editing of one image from a patient's image set to be automatically applied to the entire image series. This new approach would allow a new level of access to untapped medical imaging data relating to VIIP that can be utilized by researchers while protecting the privacy of the astronauts. In the next step toward finalizing this technique, NASA clinical radiology consultants will test the images to verify removal of all metadata and PII.

LaPelusa, Michael B.↗

Advanced Algal Biofoundries for the Production of Polyurethane Precursors (CRADA Final Report)

The primary goal of the BEEPs project was to develop a process that could accelerate the development of algae as bioproduction platforms, from initial chemical product concept to an economically viable market supply. Under this program we elected to develop strains of algae that could generate polyurethane precursors, while simultaneously developing basic genetic tools to enable improved algal production systems. This program was specifically designed to incorporate National Laboratories as a means to utilize the expertise and facilities for new bioproduction platforms.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Test-Analysis Correlation for Space Shuttle External Tank Foam Impacting RCC Wing Leading Edge Component Panels

The Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommended that NASA develop, validate, and maintain a modeling tool capable of predicting the damage threshold for debris impacts on the Space Shuttle Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) wing leading edge and nosecap assembly. The results presented in this paper are one part of a multi-level approach that supported the development of the predictive tool used to recertify the shuttle for flight following the Columbia Accident. The assessment of predictive capability was largely based on test analysis comparisons for simpler component structures. This paper provides comparisons of finite element simulations with test data for external tank foam debris impacts onto 6-in. square RCC flat panels. Both quantitative displacement and qualitative damage assessment correlations are provided. The comparisons show good agreement and provided the Space Shuttle Program with confidence in the predictive tool.

Lyle, Karen H.↗

Open library of g-functions for 34,321 configurations

Thermal response functions, known as g-functions, are commonly used in ground heat exchanger design tools and whole building energy simulation programs to simulate the ground heat exchanger performance. Calculation of g-functions can be quite computationally time-consuming, particularly as the number of boreholes gets large. However, once the g-function is computed, the actual simulation time can be quite short, particularly if a hybrid time-step (Cullin and Spitler 2011) approach is used. Because of this, pre-computed g-function libraries are commonly used in design tools and building simulation tools. This paper describes development of a new, publicly available library containing g-functions for 34,321 borehole field configurations; for each configuration, gfunctions are provided for 5 depths to allow interpolation between different borehole-to-height ratios. The available configurations include configurations in standard shapes: lines, rectangles, open rectangles, L-shapes, and U-shapes. It also includes new configurations: C-shapes, lopsided-U-shapes, and zoned rectangles, which are rectangular configurations with different interior and perimeter spacing of the boreholes.

Spitler, Jeffery↗

BCAUS Project description and consideration of separation of data and control

The commonly stated truths that data may be segregated from program control in generic expert system shells and that such tools support straightforward knowledge representation were examined. The ideal of separation of data from program control in expert systems is difficult to realize for a variety of reasons. One approach to achieving this goal is to integrate hybrid collections of specialized shells and tools instead of producing custom systems built with a single all purpose expert system tool. Aspects of these issues are examined in the context of a specific diagnostic expert system application, the Backup Control Mode Analysis and Utility System (BCAUS), being developed for the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) spacecraft. The project and the knowledge gained in working on the project are described.

Bush, Joy L.↗

DAVE-ML Utility Programs

DAVEtools is a set of Java archives that embodies tools for manipulating flight-dynamics models that have been encoded in dynamic aerospace vehicle exchange markup language (DAVE-ML). [DAVE-ML is an application program, written in Extensible Markup Language (XML), for encoding complete computational models of the dynamics of aircraft and spacecraft.

Jackson, Bruce↗

SDN-NGenIA, a Software Defined Next Generation Integrated Architecture for HEP and Data Intensive Science

This project aims to enable the LHC and other leading programs in high energy physics and other global science domains funded by the DOE to operate with a new level of efficiency and control, through the development of a Next Generation Integrated Architecture (NGenIA) based on intelligent software defined network (SDN)-driven network systems coupled to high throughput applications. While the initial focus is on the challenging LHC use case, the systems and products being developed are general, and apply to many fields of data intensive science ranging from astrophysical sky surveys to bioinformatics and earth observation, as well as other organizations facing the challenges of extracting knowledge from distributed multi-petabyte data stores. A central concept in this development program is a new paradigm ‘consistent network operations’ among widely distributed computing and storage facilities, where stable high throughput flows, at set rates, cross load-balanced network paths, up to flexible high water marks that are adjusted in real time to accommodate other network traffic. The large smooth flows are launched and managed by SDN services that act in concert with the experiments’ site-resident data distribution and management systems, to meet the expanding needs of the science programs. The technical goals include the construction of autonomous, intelligent site-resident services that interact dynamically with network-resident services, and with the science programs’ principal data distribution and management tools, to request or command network resources in support of high throughput petascale to exascale workflow Specific work items include: 1. Developing compact Data Transfer Nodes (DTNs) with auto-tuning functions that support data transfer rates in the 100 Gbps to the 1 Tbps range when used with high throughput data transfer applications 2. Deep site orchestration among virtualized clusters, storage subsystems and subnets to successfully coschedule CPU, storage and network resources 3. Science-program designed site architectures, operational modes, and policy and resource usage priorities, adjudicated across multiple network domains and virtual organizations, using the orchestration functions and methods 4. Seamlessly extending end-to-end operation across both extra-site and intra-site boundaries through the use of Open vSwitch (OVS), FireQoS + next generation Science DMZs 5. Novel methods of system integration that enable granular control of extreme scale long distance transfers through flow matching of scattered source-destination address pairs to multi-domain dynamic circuits 6. Funneling massive sets of streams to DTNs at the site edge hosting petascale buffer pools configured for flows of 100 Gbps and up, exploiting state of the art data transfers 7. Adaptive scheduling based on pervasive end-to-end monitoring, including DTN or compute-node resident agents providing comprehensive end-system profiling 8. Developing unsupervised and supervised machine learning and modeling methods to optimize the workflow involving terabyte to multi-petabyte datasets.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

State Technical Assistance - New Mexico Energy and Conservation Management Division Report [Slides]

The New Mexico Energy and Conservation Management Division (ECMD) sought technical assistance to enhance their ability to evaluate program impacts using the Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) tool. NLR assisted ECMD in leveraging the LEAD tool to calculate and analyze energy burden across electric utility service areas, enabling them to assess program outcomes more effectively. To meet ECMD's goals, NLR developed a customized methodology to calculate utility-specific energy burden metrics using census tract data and available utility service area information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). While acknowledging some limitations in the EIA dataset, NLR estimated the percentage of households within each service territory and incorporated relevant filters such as income, housing characteristics, and other demographics from the LEAD tool. The analysis provided ECMD with a new capability to evaluate program success based on energy savings, reductions in energy burden, and other performance indicators. The data and methodology also support discussions with utilities to improve the accuracy of service territory datasets. ECMD can use the outputs to track program effectiveness and plan future initiatives. NLR offered the possibility of follow-on work, including capacity-building for ECMD to repeat the analysis independently and the option to refine the analysis with updated service.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Structural Optimization for Reliability Using Nonlinear Goal Programming

This report details the development of a reliability based multi-objective design tool for solving structural optimization problems. Based on two different optimization techniques, namely sequential unconstrained minimization and nonlinear goal programming, the developed design method has the capability to take into account the effects of variability on the proposed design through a user specified reliability design criterion. In its sequential unconstrained minimization mode, the developed design tool uses a composite objective function, in conjunction with weight ordered design objectives, in order to take into account conflicting and multiple design criteria. Multiple design criteria of interest including structural weight, load induced stress and deflection, and mechanical reliability. The nonlinear goal programming mode, on the other hand, provides for a design method that eliminates the difficulty of having to define an objective function and constraints, while at the same time has the capability of handling rank ordered design objectives or goals. For simulation purposes the design of a pressure vessel cover plate was undertaken as a test bed for the newly developed design tool. The formulation of this structural optimization problem into sequential unconstrained minimization and goal programming form is presented. The resulting optimization problem was solved using: (i) the linear extended interior penalty function method algorithm; and (ii) Powell's conjugate directions method. Both single and multi-objective numerical test cases are included demonstrating the design tool's capabilities as it applies to this design problem.

El-Sayed, Mohamed E.↗

Passive millimeter-wave imaging - A tool for remote sensing

This paper describes a program of airborne radiometric imaging at 90 GHz and 140 GHz. Using high sensitivity (below 1 K) and high angular resolution (0.5-1.0 degree), high quality images have been made. The following measurements are discussed: cloud and fog penetration at 90 GHz, discrimination between agricultural and urban areas, discrimination between different vegetation types, detection of vehicles on roads, detection and classification of airports and airplanes, ship detection and quantitative oil spill sensing. The application of information enhancement techniques with automatic and real time application aspects is also described, and results of applied techniques for contrast and contour enhancement are shown.

Suess, Helmut↗