Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Characterization”

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 1,513 records · Page 84
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Characterizing 4-string contact interaction using machine learning

Abstract The geometry of 4-string contact interaction of closed string field theory is characterized using machine learning. We obtain Strebel quadratic differentials on 4-punctured spheres as a neural network by performing unsupervised learning with a custom-built loss function. This allows us to solve for local coordinates and compute their associated mapping radii numerically. We also train a neural network distinguishing vertex from Feynman region. As a check, 4-tachyon contact term in the tachyon potential is computed and a good agreement with the results in the literature is observed. We argue that our algorithm is manifestly independent of number of punctures and scaling it to characterize the geometry ofn-string contact interaction is feasible.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Characterizing Topological Order with Matrix Product Operators

One of the most striking features of gapped quantum phases that exhibit topological order is the presence of long-range entanglement that cannot be detected by any local order parameter. The formalism of projected entangled-pair states is a natural framework for the parameterization of gapped ground state wavefunctions which allows one to characterize topological order in terms of the virtual symmetries of the local tensors that encode the wavefunction. In their most general form, these symmetries are represented by matrix product operators acting on the virtual level, which leads to a set of algebraic rules characterizing states with topological quantum order. This construction generalizes the concepts of $\mathsf G$- and twisted injectivity; the corresponding matrix product operators encode all topological features of the theory and provide a complete picture of the ground state manifold on the torus. We show how the string-net models of Levin and Wen fit within this formalism and in doing so provide a particularly intuitive interpretation of the pentagon equation for F-symbols as the pulling of matrix product operators through the string-net tensor network. Our approach paves the way to finding novel topological phases beyond string nets and elucidates the description of topological phases in terms of entanglement Hamiltonians and edge theories.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Efficacy of perfusion CT in differentiating of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from mass-forming chronic pancreatitis and characterization of isoattenuating pancreatic lesions

Purpose: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is routinely used in the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but it may be inadequate in some cases, especially mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP) and isoattenuating pancreatic lesions. Perfusion CT (pCT) may help resolve this problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pCT could help differentiating PDAC from MFCP and in characterization of isoattenuating pancreatic lesions. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 89 cases of pancreatic lesions detected by MDCT and further analyzed with pCT. Sixty-one cases with final pathological diagnosis PDAC and 12 cases with MFCP were included from the study. Blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability surface area product (PS) maps were obtained. Perfusion values obtained from the lesions and normal parenchyma were compared. Results: Compared with normal parenchyma, BV, BF, PS were lower and MTT was longer in PDAC and MFCP (p < 0.05). Compared with MFCP, BV, BF, PS were lower and MTT was longer in PDAC (p < 0.001). Compared with normal parenchyma, BV, BF, PS were lower and MTT was longer in isoattenuating lesions, (p < 0.001). Cutoff values of 7.60 mL/100 mL, 64.43 mL/100 mL/min, 28.08 mL/100 mL/min for BV, BF, PS, respectively, provided 100% sensitivity and specificity and 7.47 s for MTT provided 98.3% sensitivity, 80% specificity for distinguishing PDAC from MFCP. Conclusion: pCT is a useful technology that can be helpful in overcoming the limitations of routine MDCT in diagnosing PDAC and characterization of isoattenuating lesions.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Usefulness of rapid kV-switching dual energy CT in renal tumor characterization

Purpose: To investigate whether iodine content can discriminate between benign or malignant renal tumors, malign tumor subtypes, low-grade and high-grade tumors on rapid kv-switching dual-energy CT (rsDECT). Methods: This prospective study enrolled 95 patients with renal tumors who underwent rsDECT for tumor characterization between 2016 and 2018. Attenuation on true and virtual unenhanced images, absolute enhancement and enhancement ratio and iodine content of each lesion on nephrographic phase iodine density images were measured. Histopathological diagnosis was obtained following either surgery or core biopsy. Results: Eighty-five tumors were renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (56 clear cell, 20 papillary, 9 chromophobe) and 10 were benign (6 angiomyolipoma,4 oncocytoma). 46 tumors were low-grade and 23 high-grade. There was significant difference between iodine content of clear cell and non-clear cell (papillary + chromophobe) RCC (p < 0.001). However, no significant iodine content differences were found between papillary and chromophobe RCC, benign and malignant tumors, low-grade and high-grade tumors. The best cut-off iodine content for differentiating clear cell from non-clear cell RCC was 3.2 mg/ml and clear cell from papillary RCC was 2.9 mg/ml with a high sensitivity and specificity. Also, significant difference was found between attenuation values of true and virtual unenhanced images (p = 0.007). Mean iodine content, absolute enhancement and enhancement ratio were highly correlated. Conclusion: rsDECT contributes to renal tumor characterization by showing higher iodine content in clear cell RCCs compared with non-clear cell RCCs.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Extended abdominopelvic MRI versus CT at the time of adnexal mass characterization for assessing radiologic peritoneal cancer index (PCI) prior to cytoreductive surgery

Purpose: To evaluate whether extending the MRI scan to include the abdomen at the time of adnexal mass characterization could replace additional CT for peritoneal cancer index (PCI) assessment. Methods: After institutional review board approval for this prospective study, 36 consecutive females with ovarian and FT malignancies were included. All patients signed an informed consent. Patients underwent preoperative CT (32 patients) and MRI (36 patients). Images were interpreted by 2 independent observers. Surgical data were available in 27 patients. Region-by-region analysis was performed for detection rates of peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Inter-observer agreement for each region was evaluated by kappa statistics. Radiologic PCI was calculated by CT and MRI independently and inter-observer agreement for CT and MRI as well as agreement between radiologic and surgical PCI were evaluated by weighted-kappa statistics. Results: On region-by-region analysis, the highest detection rates of PC were noted at the central abdomen and pelvis. Detection rates were higher by MRI than CT, mainly in bowel serosal surface, pelvis, and right upper abdomen regions. Inter-observer agreement of MRI was higher than CT in most regions. The median PCI by CT was 5 and 4 for the first and second observers (range 0–21 for both observers), respectively. The median PCI by MRI was 6 (range 0–23 for both observers). The inter-observer agreement of PCI was excellent by both CT and MRI (k = 0.876 and k = 0.912, respectively). The agreement between CT and surgical PCI was 0.660 and 0.590 for the first and second observers, respectively. The agreement between MRI and surgical PCI was 0.797 and 0.798 for the first and second observers, respectively. Conclusions: Extending MRI scan to include the abdomen at the time of adnexal mass characterization allows accurate estimation of PC, with better results than CT, obviating the need for dedicated CT scan of abdomen and pelvis for imaging of PC.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterization of partially observed epidemics through Bayesian inference: application to COVID-19

We demonstrate a Bayesian method for the "real-time'" characterization and forecasting of partially observed COVID-19 epidemic. Characterization is the estimation of infection spread parameters using daily counts of symptomatic patients.The method is designed to help guide medical resource allocation in the early epoch of the outbreak. The estimation problem is posed as one of Bayesian inference and solved using a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. The data used in this study was sourced before the arrival of the second wave of infection in July 2020. The proposed modeling approach, when applied at the country level, generally provides accurate forecasts at the regional, state and country level. The epidemiological model detected the flattening of the curve in California, after public health measures were instituted.The method also detected different disease dynamics when applied to specific region of New Mexico

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Statistic inversion of multi-zone transition probability models for aquifer characterization in alluvial fans

Understanding the heterogeneity arising from the complex architecture of sedimentary sequences in alluvial fans is challenging. This study develops a statistical inverse framework in a multi-zone transition probability approach for characterizing the heterogeneity in alluvial fans. An analytical solution of the transition probability matrix is used to define the statistical relationships among different hydrofacies and their mean lengths, integral scales, and volumetric proportions. A statistical inversion is conducted to identify the multi-zone transition probability models and estimate the optimal statistical parameters using the modified Gauss–Newton–Levenberg–Marquardt method. The Jacobian matrix is computed by the sensitivity equation method, which results in an accurate inverse solution with quantification of parameter uncertainty. We use the Chaobai River alluvial fan in the Beijing Plain, China, as an example for elucidating the methodology of alluvial fan characterization. The alluvial fan is divided into three sediment zones. In each zone, the explicit mathematical formulations of the transition probability models are constructed with optimized different integral scales and volumetric proportions. The hydrofacies distributions in the three zones are simulated sequentially by the multi-zone transition probability-based indicator simulations. Finally, the result of this study provides the heterogeneous structure of the alluvial fan for further study of flow and transport simulations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterizing the general chelating affinity of serum protein fetuin for lanthanides

Fetuin is an abundant blood protein that participates in multiple biological processes, including the transport and regulation of calcium. Fetuin is also known to have a high affinity for uranium (as the uranyl dioxo cation) and plutonium, thus it has been suggested as one of the main endogenous chelating biomolecules involved in the transport of actinides following an internal uptake event. Nevertheless, no direct measurements of its affinity for f-elements beside these two actinides have been reported. Here, we investigate the interaction between fetuin and trivalent lanthanides, such as samarium, europium, terbium, and dysprosium, by mass spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. In this work, mass spectrometry results indicated that fetuin has four metal binding sites for the metal ions studied. Upon formation, the metal–protein complexes showed luminescence emission as a result of antenna sensitization of the metal ions, whose photophysics were characterized and exploited to perform direct spectrofluorimetric titrations. Furthermore, the thermodynamic constants were calculated for all complexes, confirming the formation of stable complexes with log $β^{\prime}_4$ values between 26 and 27. In characterizing the affinity of the serum protein fetuin for several f-elements, this study expands upon the initial findings focused on uranyl and plutonium, and contributes to a better understanding of the internal distribution and deposition of lanthanides, potentially representative of trivalent actinides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Characterizing Peatland Microtopography Using Gradient and Microform-Based Approaches

Abstract Peatlands represent an important component of the global carbon cycle, storing 180–621 Gt of carbon (C). Small-scale spatial variations in elevation, frequently referred to as microtopography, influence ecological processes associated with the peatland C cycle, including Sphagnum photosynthesis and methane flux. Microtopography can be characterized with measures of topographic variability and by using conceptual classes (microforms) linked to function: most commonly hummocks and hollows. However, the criteria used to define these conceptual classes are often poorly described, if at all, and vary between studies. Such inconsistencies compel development of explicit quantitative methods to classify microforms. Furthermore, gradient-based characterizations that describe spatial variability without the use of microforms are lacking in the literature. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) calculate peatland microtopographical elevation gradients and measures of spatial variability, (2) develop three microform classification methods intended for specific purposes, and (3) evaluate and contrast classification methods. Our results suggest that at spatial scales much larger than microforms, elevation distributions are unimodal and are well approximated with parametric probability density functions. Results from classifications were variable between methods and years and exhibited significant differences in mean hollow areal coverages of a raised ombrotrophic bog. Our results suggest that the conceptualization and classification of microforms can significantly influence microtopographic structural metrics. The three explicit methods for microform classification described here may be used and built upon for future applications.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

The preparation and characterization of chemically deuterium incorporated cotton fibers

Preparation of deuterium incorporated cellulose is a vital tool to investigate cellulose internal structure and to expand the application fields of cellulose materials. In this study, cellulosic cotton fibers with anti-rehydration (exchange-resistant) deuterium incorporated in cellulose were prepared by chemical hydrogen–deuterium exchange treatment. The chemical hydrogen–deuterium exchange process, along with exchange time, were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H-NMR). The anti-rehydration deuterium incorporation was determined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Stable Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRSM). Here, the effect of the deuterium hydroxyl substitution on cotton fiber’s spectral data, microstructure, crystalline information, degree of polymerization, as well as it’s thermogravimetric analysis (charcoalization and combustion) are explored. Analysis of the chemical exchange process indicated that the hydrogen–deuterium exchange occurred preferentially in the amorphous cellulose component over the first several minutes. Deuterium exchange in the anti-rehydration crystalline phase took several hours. Increasing the treatment time, enhanced exchange-resistant deuterium incorporation to as high as about 60% of the cotton fibers’ cellulose hydroxyl groups was achieved. The characterization of FTIR, Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman), and near-infrared spectra (NIR) all exhibited the deuterium spectral isotope effect on cellulose hydroxl groups. While, apart from the effect of reaction temperature, deuterium incorporation isotope effect did not affect the cellulose microstructure, crystalline index and the degree of polymerization properties. Furthermore, the thermogravimetric analysis of deuterated cotton fibers under N 2 and air atmosphere were both altered due to the thermodynamic isotope effect. These observations revealed the hydrogen–deuterium exchange treatment process and impacts on cellulose fiber properties, which helped us to better understand the cellulose internal structure and may facilitate the potential utilization of deuterated cellulosic materials.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Using a Fluorescent 1-Methyl-4-(2-Pyren-1-Yl-Vinyl)-Pyridinium Iodide to Characterize Solvent Polarities

We used 1-methyl-4-(2-pyren-1-yl-vinyl)-pyridinium iodide, a pyridinium derivative fluorescent dye, as a solvatochromic and solvatofluorchromic probe to straightforwardly characterize the solvent polarity. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1-methyl-4-(2-pyren-1-yl-vinyl)-pyridinium iodide show a dramatic dependence on solvent polarities in the high-polar range. It exhibits two absorption peaks around 400 and 450 nm, as well as an emission maximum at 605 nm. Several parameters (ratio of the two absorption peaks, wavelength of the principal absorption peak, fluorescence signal, and ratio of fluorescence intensities excited at the two absorption bands) are linearly dependent on the solvent polarity–polarizability values. Strong correlations have been also obtained with the P' and P{sub y} polarity scales with small deviations. Moreover, 1-methyl-4-(2-pyren-1-yl-vinyl)-pyridinium iodide possesses high fluorescence quantum yield (0.38–0.54) and relatively long lifetime (2.2–2.6 ns) in all studied organic solvents. All these optical properties make 1-methyl-4-(2-pyren-1-yl-vinyl)-pyridinium iodide a favorable probe to quantitatively characterize the solvent polarities in the high-polar range through a multiparametric approach.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Advanced ACTPol Low-Frequency Array: Readout and Characterization of Prototype 27 and 39 GHz Transition Edge Sensors

Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) is a third-generation polarization upgrade to the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, designed to observe the cosmic microwave background (CMB). AdvACT expands on the 90 and 150 GHz transition edge sensor (TES) bolometer arrays of the ACT Polarimeter (ACTPol), adding both high-frequency (HF, 150/230 GHz) and low-frequency (LF, 27/39 GHz) multichroic arrays. The addition of the high- and low-frequency detectors allows for the characterization of synchrotron and spinning dust emission at the low frequencies and foreground emission from galactic dust and dusty star-forming galaxies at the high frequencies. The increased spectral coverage of AdvACT will enable a wide range of CMB science, such as improving constraints on dark energy, the sum of the neutrino masses, and the existence of primordial gravitational waves. The LF array will be the final AdvACT array, replacing one of the MF arrays for a single season. Prior to the fabrication of the final LF detector array, we designed and characterized prototype TES bolometers. Detector geometries in these prototypes are varied in order to inform and optimize the bolometer designs for the LF array, which requires significantly lower noise levels and saturation powers (as low as ~1 pW) than the higher-frequency detectors. Here we present results from tests of the first LF prototype TES detectors for AdvACT, including measurements of the saturation power, critical temperature, thermal conductance, and time constants. Finally, we also describe the modifications to the time-division SQUID readout architecture compared to the MF and HF arrays.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

RF Plasma Polymerization of Orange Oil and Characterization of the Polymer Thin Films

The present study describes an environmentally friendly approach to fabricate hydrocarbon-rich polymer thin films from a bio-renewable precursor, orange oil, cold extracted from orange peels using radio frequency plasma polymerization. The polymer thin films fabricated at different RF power level (10–75 W) were characterized with variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Optical characterization showed that independent of deposition power films exhibited good transparency (~ 90%) in the visible region and a refractive index of 1.55 at 500 nm. The optical band gap measured around 3.60 eV and falls within the insulating region. The atomic force microscopic images revealed that the surface is pinhole-free in nature and smooth at nanoscale, with average surface roughness dependent on the deposition power. Film hardness increased from 0.50 to 0.78 GPa as applied power increased from 10 to 75 W.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Crosslinked Polyacrylamide Composite Hydrogels Impregnated with Fly Ash: Synthesis, Characterization and Their Application as Fractures Sealant for High Water Producing Zones in Oil and Gas Wells

Polymeric hydrogels are designed to serve many purposes in various fields of human endeavor. Herein, crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAM) composite hydrogels impregnated with coal fly ash (CFA) were synthesized, characterized and tested as fracture sealing agents in high water producing permeable zones in petroleum industry. The concept of utilizing CFA as an inorganic additive in the matrix of hydrogel emanates from the fact that CFA constitutes majorly alumina and silica. Both chemical oxides can induce the CFA to promote the inherent properties of hydrogel. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was chosen as the crosslinking agent. Neat PAM/PEI hydrogel and PAM/PEI–CFA hydrogels at various CFA loadings (0.5, 1 and 2 wt%) were synthesized via a transamidation reaction pathway. The developed hydrogels were characterized by hybrid rheometer, FTIR, SEM and XRD instruments. Rheological results reveal that the PAM/PEI–CFA composite hydrogels embedded with various CFA quantities were more elastic than the neat PAM/PEI hydrogel, indicating the dispersion and reinforcing effect of CFA. The functional groups of these hydrogels were confirmed by the FTIR while SEM analysis show that the surface micrographs of neat PAM/PEI hydrogel and PAM/PEI–CFA1 hydrogel were porous in several regions. In contrast, the micrographs of PAM/PEI–CFA2 and PAM/PEI–CFA3 hydrogels demonstrated dense and “net-like” structural patterns. Further, XRD analysis revealed that CFA impregnation has a significant effect on the bulk structural properties of the fabricated hydrogels. The swelling rates of these hydrogels were determined by the gravimetric method and their diffusion parameters evaluated using Fickian diffusion and Schott-order kinetic models. Efficacy of the PAM/PEI–CFA composite hydrogel as fractures sealant in oil and gas wells was conducted at a typical reservoir temperature, 90 °C, and the outcome demonstrated considerable sealing potency.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Two-step Conversion of Crude Glycerol Generated by Biodiesel Production into Biopolyols: Synthesis, Structural and Physical Chemical Characterization

In this work biopolyols were synthesized via two-step process from crude glycerol and castor oil. For better evaluation of analyzed process, the impact of its time and temperature on the structure and properties of biopolyols was determined. Obtained results fully justified conducting of synthesis in two steps. Prepared materials were characterized by hydroxyl value and water content comparable to polyols industrially applied in manufacturing of polyurethane materials. Synthesized biopolyols were characterized in terms of their chemical structure using spectroscopic techniques: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Obtained data confirmed the influence of synthesis’ parameters on the chemical structure of prepared biopolyols and correlated with their other parameters. On both stages of reaction, collected by-products were also analyzed with FTIR spectroscopy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Physicochemical, Microstructural and Thermal Characterization of Chitosan from Blue Crab Shell Waste and Its Bioactivity Characteristics

The aim of the present study was to characterize the chitosan synthesized from blue crab (Callinectes sapidus, Rathbun, 1986) shell waste and to investigate its physicochemical and microstructural analyses as well as its antioxidant and antibacterial potentials. Microstructural and elemental characterization of the synthesized and commercial chitosan powders were performed using fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Thermal analysis were done using thermogravimetric analysis. Antioxidant and antimicrobial analysis were done using by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay and agar well diffusion assay, respectively. The yield of the synthesized chitosan was calculated as 7.47% with moisture and ash contents of 0.151 ± 0.0025% and 0.19 ± 0.01%, respectively. Synthesized chitosan demonstrated the values of degree of deacetylation (71%), water (620.029 ± 52.59%) and fat (437.93 ± 15.92%) binding capacities, solubility (94.15 ± 2.84%), viscosity (463.25 ± 13.10 cPs) and whiteness (90.23 ± 0.27%). Antioxidant activity of synthesized chitosan was found to be moderate (55.30 ± 5.05%) when compared to ascorbic acid standard (87.61 ± 1.34). Chitosan obtained from blue crab shell also showed moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The findings of the study indicated that blue crab shell waste might be a potentially effective biopolymer source for commercial applications especially in food industry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Quantum Mappings and Characterization of Entangled Quantum States

We review quantum mappings used in problems of characterization of entanglement of two-part and multi-particle systems. Together with positive and n-tensorial constant positive mappings, we consider physical dynamical processes that lead to quantum channels that break entanglement, annihilate entanglement, dissociate entanglement of multi-particle states, and prohibit distillation of output states. We introduce a new class of absolutely disentangling channels that provide absolutely separable states at the output, and also characterize a new class of entanglement-imposing channels whose output states are entangled. We present states that are most resistant to loss of entanglement and prove that they may differ from maximally entangled states.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗