Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “section”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,495 records · Page 83

Argon broad ion beam sectioning and high resolution scanning electron microscopy imaging of hydrated alite

Highlights: • The native fibrous outer and dense inner C-S-H structure are preserved by using low energy argon broad ion beam sectioning. • Possible artefacts of the preparation and imaging of hydrated alite are shown and discussed. • An approach for a semi automated pore analysis of the obtained high resolution images is demonstrated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging is able to visualize micro- to nano-structures of cement and concrete. A prerequisite is that the sample preparation preserves the native structure of the specimen. In this study, argon broad ion beam (BIB) sectioning is compared to state-of-the-art sample preparation (resin embedding, polishing) for hydrated alite. Additionally, it is investigated if during BIB, sample cooling is beneficial to avoid deterioration of cement hydrates. The aim is to quantitatively measure pore size distributions in hardened alite pastes. Therefore, not only optimized sample preparation but also optimized imaging conditions are investigated. Finally, it is demonstrated that by image analysis pores down to a diameter of 5 nm in hydrated alite pastes can be quantitatively analysed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quantitation of repaglinide and metabolites in mouse whole-body thin tissue sections using droplet-based liquid microjunction surface sampling-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Herein, quantitation aspects of a fully automated autosampler/HPLC-MS/MS system applied for unattended droplet-based surface sampling of repaglinide dosed thin tissue sections with subsequent HPLC separation and mass spectrometric analysis of parent drug and various drug metabolites was studied. Major organs (brain, lung, liver, kidney, muscle) from whole-body thin tissue sections and corresponding organ homogenates prepared from repaglinide dosed mice were sampled by surface sampling and by bulk extraction, respectively, and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. A semi-quantitative agreement between data obtained by surface sampling and that by employing organ homogenate extraction was observed. Drug concentrations obtained by the two methods followed the same patterns for post-dose time points (0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 h). Drug amounts determined in the specific tissues was typically higher when analyzing extracts from the organ homogenates. Furthermore, relative comparison of the levels of individual metabolites between the two analytical methods also revealed good semi-quantitative agreement.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Measurement and prediction of through-section residual stresses in the manufacturing sequence of bearing components

Through-section residual stresses in an asymmetric, thin-walled tapered bearing component were non-destructively studied via neutron diffraction after soft machining, heat treatment and hard turning. Two-dimensional area maps revealed non-uniform distributions of stress fields in both the thinnest and thickest sections of the component, indicating that the entire processing sequence plays a vital role — not only in distortion, but in the final stress state as well. Here, a computational model was developed to further understand the extent of the distortion induced in bearing components as a result of process variables in the manufacturing sequence.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reflected shock-initiated ignition probed via simultaneous lateral and endwall high-speed imaging with a transparent, cylindrical test-section

A TRAnsparent cylindrical (TRAC) shock tube test section has been developed to explore the ignition structure behind reflected shockwaves via simultaneous lateral and endwall high-speed imaging using three fuel/oxidizer mixtures: 0.1% n-C 7 H 16 /1.10% O 2 /4.14% N 2 /94.66% Ar, 0.1% iC 8 H 18 /1.25% O 2 /4.69% N 2 /93.96% Ar, and 5% CH 4 /10% O 2 /85% CO 2 . During mild ignition, the first exothermic centers were located outside of the observable test section. It is shown that with increasing temperature the far-wall ignition events move closer to the endwall, until a strong ignition is achieved. The temperature gradients that promote mild ignition were quantified and were found to have a slight dependence on fuel with the RMS temperature gradients being 0.80% for n-heptane and 1.07% for isooctane. The impact of temperature gradients on metrics used to improve kinetic models, such as species time histories, is noteworthy. From this temperature gradient, an experimental correlation is provided to estimate the transition temperature from mild to strong ignition for a mixture. The effect of diagnostic location in non-homogeneous reactions is quantified in reference to ignition delay. In conclusion, the unique and insightful perspective on the ignition process under heavy shock bifurcation is also discussed.

02 PETROLEUM↗

A cross-sectional aeroelastic analysis and structural optimization tool for slender composite structures

A fully open-source available framework for the parametric cross-sectional analysis and design optimization of slender composite structures, such as helicopter or wind turbine blades, is presented. The framework—Structural Optimization and Aeroelastic Analysis (SONATA)—incorporates two structural solvers, the commercial tool VABS, and the novel open-source code ANBA4. SONATA also parameterizes the design inputs, postprocesses and visualizes the results, and generates the structural inputs to a variety of aeroelastic analysis tools. It is linked to the optimization library OpenMDAO. This work presents the methodology and explains the fundamental approaches of SONATA. Structural characteristics were successfully verified for both VABS and ANBA4 using box beam examples from literature, thereby verifying the parametric approach to generating the topology and mesh in a cross section as well as the solver integration. The framework was furthermore exercised by analyzing and evaluating a fully resolved highly flexible wind turbine blade. Computed structural characteristics correlated between VABS and ANBA4, including off-diagonal terms. Stresses, strains, and deformations were recovered from loads derived through coupling with aeroelastic analysis. The framework, therefore, proves effective in accurately analyzing and optimizing slender composite structures on a high-fidelity level that is close to a three-dimensional finite element model.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Integrated OMICS platforms identify LAIR1 genetic variants as novel predictors of cross-sectional and longitudinal susceptibility to severe malaria and all-cause mortality in Kenyan children

Background: Severe malarial anaemia (SMA) is a leading cause of childhood mortality in holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum regions. Methods: To gain an improved understanding of SMA pathogenesis, whole genome and transcriptome profiling was performed in Kenyan children (n = 144, 3–36 months) with discrete non-SMA and SMA phenotypes. Leukocyte associated immunoglobulin like receptor 1 (LAIR1) emerged as a predictor of susceptibility to SMA (P b 1 × 10-2 , OR: 0.44–1.37), and was suppressed in severe disease (-1.69-fold, P = 0.004). To extend these findings, the relationship between LAIR1 polymorphisms [rs6509867 (16231CNA); rs2287827 (18835GNA)] and clinical outcomes were investigated in individuals (n = 1512, b5 years) at enrolment and during a 36-month longitudinal follow-up. Findings: Inheritance of the 16,231 recessive genotype (AA) increased susceptibility to SMA at enrolment (OR = 1.903, 95%CI: 1.252–2.891, P = 0.003), and longitudinally (RR = 1.527, 95%CI: 1.119–2.083, P = 0.008). Carriage of the 18,835 GA genotype protected against SMA cross-sectionally (OR = 0.672, 95%CI: 0.480–0.9439, P = 0.020). Haplotype carriage (C16231A/G18835A) also altered cross-sectional susceptibility to SMA: CG (OR = 0.717, 95%CI: 0.527–0.9675, P = 0.034), CA (OR = 0.745, 95%CI: 0.536–1.036, P = 0.080), and AG (OR = 1.641, 95%CI: 1.160–2.321, P = 0.005). Longitudinally, CA carriage was protective against SMA (RR = 0.715, 95%CI: 0.554–0.923, P = 0.010), while AG carriage had an additive effect on enhanced SMA risk (RR = 1.283, 95%CI: 1.057–1.557, P = 0.011). Variants that protected against SMA had elevated LAIR1 transcripts, while those with enhanced risk had lower expression (P b 0.05). Inheritance of 18,835 GA reduced all-cause mortality by 44.8% (HR = 0.552, 95%CI: 0.329–0.925, P = 0.024), while AG haplotype carriage increased susceptibility by 68% (HR = 1.680, 95%CI: 1.020–2.770, P = 0.040). Interpretation: These findings suggest LAIR1 is important for modulating susceptibility to SMA and all-cause childhood mortality.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Modeling framework for evaluating the impacts of hydrodynamic pressure on hydrologic exchange fluxes and residence time for a large-scale river section over a long-term period

Quantifying hydrologic exchange fluxes (HEF) at the river and subsurface interface and their residence times (RT) in subsurface are important for managing the water quality and ecosystem health in dynamic river corridor systems. In this study, a modeling framework is developed for coupling the three-dimensional (3D) multi-phase surface, subsurface flow transport, and numerical tracer model for RT in a large-scale river section over a long period. The framework is utilized to evaluate the impacts of hydrodynamic pressure on HEFs and RT for a 30 km section of the Columbia River in Washington State over a three-year period. Based on comparisons between model simulations with and without considering hydrodynamic pressure, we found that hydrodynamic pressure increases the net HEFs by 7% with river gaining water from the subsurface domain, and leads to slight reduction of RT.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Enhanced photon ionization cross-section of shock-heated materials

A recent paper reported an enhancement of the boron K-shell photon ionization cross-section per electron at high photon energies along the principal Hugoniot. Here, it is shown that the enhancement is due to known properties of isolated ions rather than subtle plasma effects. In addition, approximations and corrections to the photon absorption cross-section are examined.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

GaN nanowires with pentagon shape cross-section by ammonia-source molecular beam epitaxy

In this study, ammonia-based molecular beam epitaxy (NH 3 -MBE) was used to grow catalyst-assisted GaN nanowires on (11¯02) r-plane sapphire substrates. Dislocation free [112¯0] oriented nanowires are formed with pentagon shape cross-section, instead of the usual triangular shape facet configuration. Specifically, the cross-section is the result of the additional two nonpolar {101¯0} side facets, which appear due to a decrease in relative growth rate of the {101¯0} facets to the {101¯1} and {101¯1} facets under the growth regime in NH 3 -MBE. Compared to GaN nanowires grown by Ni-catalyzed metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, the NH 3 -MBE grown GaN nanowires show more than an order of magnitude increase in band-edge to yellow luminescence intensity ratio, as measured by cathodoluminescence, indicating improved microstructural and optical properties.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Vacuum-ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of functionalized cyclic hydrocarbons: Five-membered rings

Cross-sections were measured at 50 °C and 800 Torr using differential absorption spectroscopy in the vacuum-ultraviolet from 5.17 – 9.92 eV for a series of five-membered cyclic hydrocarbons: cyclopentane, cyclopentene, methylcyclopentane, tetrahydrofuran, furan, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 2,3-dihydro-5-methylfuran, tetrahydrofuran-3-one, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, cyclopentanol, 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran, cyclopentanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 3-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-methylcyclopentan-1-one, 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one, 1,2-epoxycyclopentane, 2,3-epoxycyclopentanone, and 3,4-epoxycyclopentanone. The majority of the species are functionalized and are directly related to chain-reactions relevant to combustion, such as substituted cyclic ethers and cycloalkenes. Uncertainty calculations were conducted as a function of photon energy to quantify errors associated with experimental repeatability, signal-to-noise ratio, and gas-phase concentration, yielding an upper limit of 5% in spectral regions where absorption is >2%. Here, the primary objective of the present work is to provide quantitative absorption cross-sections of species commonly produced in combustion reactions. Comparing qualitative differences among the five-membered cyclic species, in order to analyze the effect of functional groups on absorption, is a secondary objective. The majority of the spectra are reported for the first time and enable quantitative isomer-resolved speciation measurements in combustion chemistry.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

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↗

Isothermal sections of the quasi-ternary systems Ag{sub 2}S(Se)–Ga{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3}–In{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3} at 820 K and the physical properties of the ternary phases Ga{sub 5.5}In{sub 4.5}S{sub 15}, Ga{sub 6}In{sub 4}Se{sub 15} and Ga{sub 5.5}In{sub 4.5}S{sub 15}:Er{sup 3+}, Ga{sub 6}In{sub 4}Se{sub 15}:Er{sup 3+}

Isothermal sections of the quasi-ternary systems Ag{sub 2}S(Se)–Ga{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3}–In{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3} at 820 K were compared. Along the 50 mol% Ag{sub 2}S(Se), both systems feature continuous solid solutions with the chalcopyrite structure. Along the 17 mol% Ag{sub 2}S(Se), the interactions at the AgIn{sub 5}S(Se){sub 8}–'AgGa{sub 5}S(Se){sub 8}' sections are different. In the Ag{sub 2}S–Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3}–In{sub 2}S{sub 3} system the existence of the layered phase AgGa{sub x}In{sub 5–x}S{sub 8}, 2.25≤x≤2.85, was confirmed (S.G. P6{sub 3}mc). The Ag{sub 2}Se–Ga{sub 2}Se{sub 3}–In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} system features the formation of solid solution (up to 53 mol% Ga{sub 2}Se{sub 3}) based on AgIn{sub 5}Se{sub 8} (S.G. P-42m). Crystal structure, atomic coordinates were determined by powder diffraction method for samples from the homogeneity region of AgIn{sub 5}Se{sub 8}. Specific conductivities of the crystals Ga{sub 6}In{sub 4}Se{sub 15} (1.33·10{sup −6} Ω{sup −1} m{sup −1}), Ga{sub 5.94}In{sub 3.96}Er{sub 0.1}Se{sub 15} (3.17·10{sup −6} Ω{sup −1} m{sup −1}), Ga{sub 5.5}In{sub 4.5}S{sub 15} (7.94·10{sup −6} Ω{sup −1} m{sup −1}), Ga{sub 5.46}In{sub 4.47}Er{sub 0.07}S{sub 15} (1·10{sup −9} Ω{sup −1} m{sup −1}) were measured at room temperature. Optical absorption and photoconductivity spectra were recorded in the range 400–760 nm. The introduction of erbium leads to an increase in the absorption coefficient and to the appearance of absorption bands at 530, 660, 810, 980, 1530 nm. - Highlights: • Nature of solid solutions in Ag{sub 2}S(Se)–Ga{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3}–In{sub 2}S(Se){sub 3} (820 K) were discussed. • Crystal structures of ternary and quaternary compounds were discussed. • Specific conductivity, optical properties of four single crystals were measured. • Photoconductivity of the Ga{sub 5.5}In{sub 4.5}S{sub 15} in the range 400–760 nm were recorded.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The Ce-Ni-Si system as a representative of the rare earth-Ni-Si family: Isothermal section and new rare-earth nickel silicides

The Ce-Ni-Si system has been investigated at 870/1070 K by X-ray and microprobe analyses. The existence of the known compounds, i.e.: Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 15.8}Si{sub 1.2} (Th{sub 2}Ni{sub 17}-type), Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 15-14}Si{sub 2-3} (Th{sub 2}Zn{sub 17}-type), CeNi{sub 8.6}Si{sub 2.4} (BaCd{sub 11}-type), CeNi{sub 8.8}Si{sub 4.2} (LaCo{sub 9}Si{sub 4}-type), CeNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6} (CeNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6}-type), CeNi{sub 5}Si{sub 1-0.3} (TbCu{sub 7}-type), CeNi{sub 4}Si (YNi{sub 4}Si-type), CeNi{sub 2}Si{sub 2} (CeGa{sub 2}Al{sub 2}-type), Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}Si{sub 5} (U{sub 2}Co{sub 3}Si{sub 5}-type), Ce{sub 3}Ni{sub 6}Si{sub 2} (Ce{sub 3}Ni{sub 6}Si{sub 2}-type), Ce{sub 3}Ni{sub 4}Si{sub 4} (U{sub 3}Ni{sub 4}Si{sub 4}-type), CeNiSi{sub 2} (CeNiSi{sub 2}-type), ~CeNi{sub 1.3}Si{sub 0.7} (unknown type structure), Ce{sub 6}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 4} (Pr{sub 6}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 4}-type), CeNiSi (LaPtSi-type), CeNi{sub 0.8-0.3}Si{sub 1.2-1.7} (AlB{sub 2}-type), ~Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Si (unknown type structure), ~Ce{sub 4.5}Ni{sub 3.5}Si{sub 2} (unknown type structure), Ce{sub 15}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 10} (Pr{sub 15}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 10}-type), Ce{sub 5}Ni{sub 1.85}Si{sub 3} (Ce{sub 5}Ni{sub 1.85}Si{sub 3}-type), Ce{sub 6}Ni{sub 1.4}Si{sub 3.4} (Ce{sub 6}Ni{sub 1.67}Si{sub 3}-type), Ce{sub 7}Ni{sub 2}Si{sub 5} (Ce{sub 7}Ni{sub 2}Si{sub 5}-type) and Ce{sub 3}NiSi{sub 3} (Y{sub 3}NiSi{sub 3}-type) has been confirmed in this section. Moreover, the type structure has been determined for ~Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Si (Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5}) and ~Ce{sub 4.5}Ni{sub 3.5}Si{sub 2} (W{sub 3}CoB{sub 3}-type Ce{sub 3}Ni{sub 3-2.7}Si{sub 1-1.3}) and new ternary phases Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 6.25}Si{sub 0.75} (Gd{sub 2}Co{sub 7}-type), CeNi{sub 7-7.6}Si{sub 6-5.4} (GdNi{sub 7}Si{sub 6}-type) and ~Ce{sub 27}Ni{sub 42}Si{sub 31} (unknown type structure) have been identified in this system. Quasi-binary phases, solid solutions, were detected at 870/1070 K for CeNi{sub 5}, CeNi{sub 3} and CeSi{sub 2}; while no appreciable solubility was observed for the other binary compounds of the Ce-Ni-Si system. As a prolongation of Rare Earth-Ni-Si system’s isostructural rows, LaNi{sub 7}Si{sub 6} and YNi{sub 6.6}Si{sub 6.1} (GdNi{sub 7}Si{sub 6}-type), ScNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6} (YCo{sub 6}Ge{sub 6}-type), NdNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6} (YNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6}-type), (Tb, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 15}Si{sub 2} (Th{sub 2}Zn{sub 17}-type), Nd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.3}Si{sub 0.7} and Sm{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.2}Si{sub 0.8} (Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type), Nd{sub 3}Ni{sub 2.55}Si{sub 1.45} (W{sub 3}CoB{sub 3}-type) and (Tb, Dy){sub 7}Ni{sub 50}Si{sub 19} (Y{sub 7}Ni{sub 49}Si{sub 20}-type) compounds were synthesized and investigated. Magnetic properties of the CeNi{sub 6}Si{sub 6}, CeNi{sub 7}Si{sub 6}, CeNi{sub 8.8}Si{sub 4.2}, Ce{sub 6}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 4}, CeNi{sub 5}Si, Ce{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5}, Nd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.3}Si{sub 0.7} and Dy{sub 7}Ni{sub 50}Si{sub 19} compounds have also been investigated and are presented here. - Highlights: • Ce-Ni-Si isothermal section was obtained at 870/1070 K. • Twenty one known ternary cerium nickel silicides were confirmed in Ce-Ni-Si. • Five new cerium nickel silicides were detected in Ce-Ni-Si. • Eleven new rare earth nickel silicides were detected in R-Ni-Si. • Magnetic properties of eight rare earth nickel silicides were investigated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Poisson equation method for prescribing fully developed non-Newtonian inlet conditions for computational fluid dynamics simulations in models of arbitrary cross-section

Prescribing inlet boundary conditions for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of internal flow in complex geometries such as anatomical vascular models is challenging. In the absence of patient-specific inlet velocity data, a common approach for long blood vessels is to assume that the inlet flow is fully developed. In vessels of irregular cross section, however, prescribing fully developed conditions is complicated due to the lack of a general closed-form analytical solution. In this study, we develop a simple Poisson equation method for prescribing fully developed inlet conditions for the flow of either Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluids in CFD models of arbitrary cross-section. We first derive the generalized Poisson equation for fully developed flow of a non-Newtonian fluid and we then develop and verify a methodology for numerically computing the solution on any planar boundary domain. In addition, we develop a simple extension of the method for prescribing a non-orthogonal inlet velocity that represents fully developed flow from an upstream tube that is connected to the CFD inlet at a non-orthogonal angle. This may be used to investigate a common source of uncertainty in CFD simulations of internal flow that is due to a lack of information concerning the exact streamwise flow direction at the inlets. Comparison to several Newtonian and non-Newtonian benchmark verification solutions shows the method to be extremely accurate. As a practical demonstration case, we use the method to prescribe fully developed conditions on multiple non-circular inlets for the non-Newtonian flow of blood in a patient-specific model of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Finally, we further demonstrate the utility of the method by performing a sensitivity study using the patient-specific IVC model, wherein we investigate the influence of inlet velocity flow direction on the non-Newtonian IVC hemodynamics. Given its simplicity and computational efficiency, the method is shown to be far superior to alternative approaches for prescribing fully developed inlet conditions in such complicated geometries. In conclusion, to facilitate the adoption of our Poisson equation method, we have distributed our OpenFOAM source code and the associated test cases from this study as open-source software.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Spatially Resolved Top-Down Proteomics of Tissue Sections Based on a Microfluidic Nanodroplet Sample Preparation Platform

Conventional proteomics measures the averaged signal from mixed cell populations or bulk tissues, leading to the dilution of significant changes in subpopulations of cells that might serve as important biomarkers. Recent developments in bottom-up proteomics have enabled spatial mapping of cellular heterogeneity in tissue microenvironments. However, bottom-up proteomics cannot precisely infer the abundance changes of intact proteins, which are presented as proteoforms. Herein, we described a spatially resolved top-down proteomics (TDP) platform for proteoform identification and quantification directly on thin tissue sections. The spatial TDP platform consisted of a nanoPOTS (nanodroplet Processing in One pot for Trace Samples)-based sample preparation system and an LCM (laser capture microdissection)-based cell isolation system. We improved the nanoPOTS sample preparation by adding benzonase in the extraction buffer to enhance the coverage of nucleus proteins. Using ~200 cultured cells as model samples, the improved approach increased proteoform identifications from 493 to 700; newly identified proteoforms primarily corresponded to nuclear proteins. To demonstrate the spatial TDP platform in tissue samples, we analyzed LCM-isolated tissue voxels from rat brain cortex and hypothalamus regions. We quantified 426 proteoforms by combining identifications from TopPIC and TDPortal with the quantitation from ProMex. Several proteoforms corresponding to the same gene exhibited mixed abundance profiles between two tissue regions, suggesting potential PTM-specific spatial distributions. The spatial TDP workflow has prospects for biomarker discovery at proteoform level from small tissue sections.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Photofission cross-section ratio measurement of 235 U/ 238 U using monoenergetic photons in the energy range of 9.0–16.6 MeV

Photofission cross-section ratios of 235U and 238U have been measured using monoenergetic photon beams from the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source facility at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory. These measurements have been performed in small energy steps between 9.0 and 16.6 MeV using a dual-fission ionization chamber. The measured cross-section ratios are compared with the previous experimental data as well as with the recent evaluated nuclear data library ENDF.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The calculation of light element impurity (α, n) yield curves in a PuO 2 matrix and associated specific yield coefficients: Influence of the reaction cross sections

Most of the Pu separated from irradiated commercial nuclear fuel is stored as PuO 2 . The primary quantitative nondestructive measurement technique used to verify the amount of Pu in storage containers is passive neutron correlation counting. An important physical property of the oxide material is the ratio, α, of the rate of (α, n) neutrons produced inside the item to the rate of neutrons produced by spontaneous fission. This ratio influences the precision of the correlated counting method and affects the interpretation of the data because of how it changes both the primary total neutron production rate and the rate of induced fission events taking place inside the item. In addition to the main O(α, n) contribution, additional contributions come from α-particle interactions with light element impurities that are inevitably present. In this work, we calculate specific (α, n) yield coefficients, expressed in units of neutrons per second per gram of α-emitting nuclide per part per million by mass of the specified impurity element distributed in a pure PuO 2 matrix, for some key α-emitting actinides commonly present in reprocessed Pu ( 238–242 Pu+ 241 Am). These coefficients are directly applicable to nuclear safeguards verification work in which the α ratio is often calculated from the Pu-isotopic composition and chemical information obtained by other means. Further, they also provide a convenient up-to-date reference set against which values generated by other methods can be compared. Results are presented for impurities with atomic number from 3 to 17 inclusive, plus K and Fe. In most cases, these coefficients are not expected to change by more than 5%–10% at any time in the future. However, as new data become available, changes as large as 20% may be needed for some targets (e.g., F). The present yield calculations are limited by the general shortage of quality experimental total (α, n) reaction cross section data, which, together with unexplained variation between determinations, means that an objective and coherent evaluation is not possible. The situation is even less satisfactory for the partial differential cross section needed to calculate neutron spectra.

(𝛼, n) reactions↗

The total neutron cross section of liquid and solid ammonia

Ammonia is a material of interest for future neutron moderators at high-power sources due to its high hydrogen density, low melting point, and resistance to polymerization in an intense radiation field. Its performance in such applications cannot currently be calculated due to the absence of suitable computer models for the interaction of neutrons with ammonia under relevant conditions. In an effort to develop suitable scattering kernels for computer simulations of moderator performance, we have conducted a series of Density Functional Theory and Molecular Dynamics calculations of the molecular-level thermal properties of ammonia at various temperatures within both the solid and liquid phases. In this paper, we compare computer calculations for the energy-dependent total neutron cross section of ammonia, based on these models, to experimental measurements of those cross sections at temperatures of 221 K, 180 K, and 35 K. The experimental data were collected over an energy range from 0.1 meV to 10 eV using time-of-flight techniques at the Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS) facility at Indiana University. This comparison provides a first validation in the development of thermal scattering libraries for Monte Carlo source design simulations based on liquid and solid ammonia. In conclusion, we also provide some insights into where additional development of tools for creating such models may be needed.

Ammonia↗