Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Collaborative Science”

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 1,585 records · Page 88

Multi-omics Characterization of the Host Response to COVID-19

This project is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between investigators at PNNL with expertise in mass spectrometry (MS)-based omics technology development, omics measurement methods development and application, statistics, machine learning and integration of disparate datasets for a systems-level understanding, and expertise in pathogenic coronaviruses, and investigators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) with expertise in pathogenic respiratory viruses (e.g. influenza). The goal of this project is to obtain a comprehensive picture of the human host factors critical for the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We will generate broad untargeted multi-omics profiles using both state-of-the-art and novel instrumentation and approaches to enable the identification of the molecular mechanisms and host response pathways that impact human COVID-19 outcomes. We anticipate these results will lead to the generation of biomarker panels that are predictive of disease outcomes and mechanistic hypotheses that can be further interrogated in future studies and will provide the basis for vaccine or therapeutic development. To do so, we are obtaining and analyzing blood samples from COVID-19 patients with a range of disease outcomes that were treated at the Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo, Japan and other collaborating hospitals in our network. Specifically, this project will fund proteomics and metabolomics analyses of clinical COVID samples, machine learning-based integration of the data, and pathway-based interpretation of the data. This project was funded in June 2020. In the time span of June to September 2020, the project team developed an analytically and statistically robust analysis plan and made various preparations to facilitate sample receipt from our UW-Madison collaborators. This included blocking and randomization of sample prep orders, ordering of reagents and reference materials, and shipping of materials needed for preparation of the samples under BSL3 conditions to our collaborators at UW-Madison. As of FY21, this project has been picked up via a sponsor, the Naval Medical Research Center, which will cover the remainder of the proposed scope of work.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Experimental Results on SS 304H and 2.25Cr-1Mo in Support of Developing Inelastic Constitutive Models

To address critical data gaps necessary for updating viscoplastic constitutive material models for Class A materials used in inelastic design analysis under the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) conducted experimental studies on stainless steel 304H (SS 304H) and 2¼Cr-1Mo steel (F22), to probe their temperature dependent deformation behaviors. These studies covered a range of temperatures up to the maximum limits specified in Division 5 and are intended to support the development of material models by collaborators at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2015 Annual Financial Report

FY2015 financial results reflect a year of significant scientific, operational and financial achievement for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Complementing many scientific accomplishments, Berkeley Lab completed construction of four new research facilities: the General Purpose Laboratory, Chu Hall, Wang Hall and the Flexlab Building Efficiency Testbed. These state-of-the-art facilities allow for program growth and enhanced collaboration, in part by enabling programs to return to the Lab’s Hill Campus from offsite locations. Detailed planning began for the new Integrative Genomics Building (IGB) that will house another major program currently located offsite. Existing site infrastructure was another key focus area. The Lab prioritized and increased investments in deferred maintenance in alignment with the Berkeley Lab Infrastructure Plan, which was developed under the leadership of the DOE Office of Science. With the expiration of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, we completed the close-out of all of our 134 ARRA projects, recording total costs of $331M over the FY2009-2015 period. Download the report to read more.

Source record↗

Designing an Observing System to Study the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) of the Earth in the 2020s

Abstract Observations of planet Earth from space are a critical resource for science and society. Satellite measurements represent very large investments and United States (US) agencies organize their effort to maximize the return on that investment. The US National Research Council conducts a survey of Earth science and applications to prioritize observations for the coming decade. The most recent survey prioritized a visible to shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer and a multispectral thermal infrared imager to meet a range of needs for studying Surface Biology and Geology (SBG). SBG will be the premier integrated observatory for observing the emerging impacts of climate change by characterizing the diversity of plant life and resolving chemical and physiological signatures. It will address wildfire risk, behavior, and recovery as well as responses to hazards such as oil spills, toxic minerals in minelands, harmful algal blooms, landslides, and other geological hazards. The SBG team analyzed needed instrument characteristics (spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions, measurement uncertainty) and assessed the cost, mass, power, volume, and risk of different architectures. We present an overview of the Research and Applications trade‐study analysis of algorithms, calibration and validation needs, and societal applications with specifics of substudies detailed in other articles in this special collection. We provide a value framework to converge from hundreds down to three candidate architectures recommended for development. The analysis identified valuable opportunities for international collaboration to increase the revisit frequency, adding value for all partners, leading to a clear measurement strategy for an observing system architecture.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A functional microbiome catalogue crowdsourced from North American rivers

Predicting elemental cycles and maintaining water quality under increasing anthropogenic influence requires knowledge of the spatial drivers of river microbiomes. However, understanding of the core microbial processes governing river biogeochemistry is hindered by a lack of genome-resolved functional insights and sampling across multiple rivers. Here we used a community science effort to accelerate the sampling, sequencing and genome-resolved analyses of river microbiomes to create the Genome Resolved Open Watersheds database (GROWdb). GROWdb profiles the identity, distribution, function and expression of microbial genomes across river surface waters covering 90% of United States watersheds. Specifically, GROWdb encompasses microbial lineages from 27 phyla, including novel members from 10 families and 128 genera, and defines the core river microbiome at the genome level. GROWdb analyses coupled to extensive geospatial information reveals local and regional drivers of microbial community structuring, while also presenting foundational hypotheses about ecosystem function. Building on the previously conceived River Continuum Concept, we layer on microbial functional trait expression, which suggests that the structure and function of river microbiomes is predictable. We make GROWdb available through various collaborative cyberinfrastructures, so that it can be widely accessed across disciplines for watershed predictive modelling and microbiome-based management practices.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Material Needs and Measurement Challenges for Advanced Semiconductor Packaging: Understanding the Soft Side of Science

This Perspective builds upon insights from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-organized workshop, “Materials and Metrology Needs for Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Strategies,” held at the 35th annual Electronics Packaging Symposium in Binghamton, NY, on September 5, 2024. It outlines critical challenges and opportunities related to polymer-based “soft” materials in advanced semiconductor packaging, with emphasis on polymer science, measurement science (metrology), and the strategic development of Research-Grade Test Materials (RGTMs). These efforts, led by the NIST CHIPS team, aim to advance the fundamental understanding of structure-property-processing relationships, promote standardized guidelines and innovative methods for material characterization, and accelerate the development, qualification, and adoption of next-generation packaging materials. The Perspective also distills key insights from the panel discussion with industry experts, emphasizing the need for close collaboration among materials scientists, process engineers, and metrology experts to enable a holistic strategy, further highlighting the importance of cross-sector partnerships among industry, academia, and government to address pressing challenges in packaging materials and processes.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The Luminosity Measurement for the DZERO Experiment at Fermilab

Primary project objective: The addition of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) human resources supported by this grant helped ensure that Fermilab’s DZERO experiment had a reliable luminosity measurement through the end of Run II data taking and an easily-accessible repository of luminosity information for all collaborators performing physics analyses through the publication of its final physics results. Secondary project objective: The collaboration between the UNL Instrument Shop and Fermilab’s Scintillation Detector Development Center enhanced the University of Nebraska’s future role as a particle detector R&D and production facility for future high energy physics experiments. Overall project objective: This targeted project enhanced the University of Nebraska’s presence in both frontier high energy physics research in DZERO and particle detector development, and it thereby served the goals of the DOE Office of Science and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for the state of Nebraska.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Regulation of the gyr operon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by overlapping promoters, DNA topology, and reiterative transcription

Highlights: • Demonstrated reiterative transcription at the gyr overlapping promoters in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. • Regulation by reiterative transcription is DNA topology-dependent. • Another player in the regulation of DNA Gyrase. DNA gyrase introduces negative supercoils into DNA to maintain topological homeostasis. The genes encoding gyrase, gyrB and gyrA, form a dicistronic operon in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and other actinobacteria. Earlier work indicated that DNA relaxation stimulates the expression of the gyr genes, a phenomenon termed relaxation-stimulated transcription (RST). The present study addresses the underlying mechanism of gyr operon regulation. The operon is regulated by overlapping and divergently oriented promoters located upstream of gyrB. The principal promoter, P{sub gyrB1}, drives transcription of the operon, while a weak “reverse” promoter, P{sub gyrR}, transcribes in opposite direction. We demonstrate that P{sub gyrR} plays a role in fine tuning gyr gene expression by reiterative transcription (RT), a regulatory mechanism hitherto not found in Mtb. In vitro transcription assays showed that RT at P{sub gyrR} depended on the negatively supercoiled state of the DNA template. The principal promoter, P{sub gyrB1}, was also sensitive to DNA supercoiling, but it was stimulated by DNA relaxation. Moreover, RNA polymerase binding to the promoter was efficient at P{sub gyrB1} when template DNA was relaxed, whereas binding to P{sub gyrR} was preferred when DNA was supercoiled. Thus, a collaboration between RST and RT governs the regulation of the gyr operon; the differing sensitivity of the two overlapping promoters to superhelix density explains how gyrase expression responds to changes in supercoiling to determine the efficiency of transcription initiation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Growth-coupled bioconversion of levulinic acid to butanone

Common strategies for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to chemical products center on deconstructing biomass polymers into fermentable sugars. Here, we demonstrate an alternative strategy, a growth-coupled, high-yield bioconversion, by feeding cells a non-sugar substrate, by-passing central metabolism, and linking a key metabolic step to generation of acetyl-CoA that is required for biomass and energy generation. Specifically, we converted levulinic acid (LA), an established degradation product of lignocellulosic biomass, to butanone (a.k.a. methyl-ethyl ketone - MEK), a widely used industrial solvent. Our strategy combines a catabolic pathway from Pseudomonas putida that enables conversion of LA to 3-ketovaleryl-CoA, a CoA transferase that generates 3-ketovalerate and acetyl-CoA, and a decarboxylase that generates 2-butanone. By removing the ability of E. coli to consume LA and supplying excess acetate as a carbon source, we built a strain of E. coli that could convert LA to butanone at high yields, but at the cost of significant acetate consumption. Using flux balance analysis as a guide, we built a strain of E. coli that linked acetate assimilation to production of butanone. This strain was capable of complete bioconversion of LA to butanone with a reduced acetate requirement and increased specific productivity. To demonstrate the bioconversion on real world feedstocks, we produced LA from furfuryl alcohol, a compound readily obtained from biomass. These LA feedstocks were found to contain inhibitors that prevented cell growth and bioconversion of LA to butanone. We used a combination of column chromatography and activated carbon to remove the toxic compounds from the feedstock, resulting in LA that could be completely converted to butanone. In conclusion, this work motivates continued collaboration between chemical and biological catalysis researchers to explore alternative conversion pathways and the technical hurdles that prevent their rapid deployment.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

WE-AB-BRA-07: Quantitative Evaluation of 2D-2D and 2D-3D Image Guided Radiation Therapy for Clinical Trial Credentialing, NRG Oncology/RTOG

Purpose: 2D-2D kV image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) credentialing evaluation for clinical trial qualification was historically qualitative through submitting screen captures of the fusion process. However, as quantitative DICOM 2D-2D and 2D-3D image registration tools are implemented in clinical practice for better precision, especially in centers that treat patients with protons, better IGRT credentialing techniques are needed. The aim of this work is to establish methodologies for quantitatively reviewing IGRT submissions based on DICOM 2D-2D and 2D-3D image registration and to test the methodologies in reviewing 2D-2D and 2D-3D IGRT submissions for RTOG/NRG Oncology clinical trials qualifications. Methods: DICOM 2D-2D and 2D-3D automated and manual image registration have been tested using the Harmony tool in MIM software. 2D kV orthogonal portal images are fused with the reference digital reconstructed radiographs (DRR) in the 2D-2D registration while the 2D portal images are fused with DICOM planning CT image in the 2D-3D registration. The Harmony tool allows alignment of the two images used in the registration process and also calculates the required shifts. Shifts calculated using MIM are compared with those submitted by institutions for IGRT credentialing. Reported shifts are considered to be acceptable if differences are less than 3mm. Results: Several tests have been performed on the 2D-2D and 2D-3D registration. The results indicated good agreement between submitted and calculated shifts. A workflow for reviewing these IGRT submissions has been developed and will eventually be used to review IGRT submissions. Conclusion: The IROC Philadelphia RTQA center has developed and tested a new workflow for reviewing DICOM 2D-2D and 2D-3D IGRT credentialing submissions made by different cancer clinical centers, especially proton centers. NRG Center for Innovation in Radiation Oncology (CIRO) and IROC RTQA center continue their collaborative efforts to enhance quality assurance services and to be consistently adaptive to the new advances in radiation therapy. This project was supported by NCI grants U10CA180868, U10CA180822, U24CA180803, U24CA12014 and PA CURE Grant.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Water quality data collected from the Muskegon River (MI, USA) using AquaBOT June-July 2024.

This dataset contains processed output from AquaBOT, which combines 30-second interval measurements of GPS location and YSI water quality parameters (temperature (degrees Celsius), dissolved oxygen (mg/l), specific conductance(microSiemens/cm at 25 degrees Celsius), and turbidity (NTU)), for 3 sections of the Muskegon River in Michigan, USA. The file aquabot2024_MuskegonRiver.csv has information on locations, dates and times, and observations. The data were processed by removing observations recorded before and after AquaBOT was in the water and observations where no data values were recorded. No other QA/QC was done. This research was performed as part of the DOE Research Development and Partnership Pilot award “Expanding Collaborative Capacity to Address Climate Resiliency in the Great Lakes Region”, which aims to expand collaborations between researchers at Central Michigan University and U.S. Department of Energy labs and projects focused on enhancing climate resilience in Great Lakes communities and ecosystems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

EPAct Programs Share Goals, Collaborate for Success (Fact Sheet)

EPAct-regulated fleets and Clean Cities coalitions form an advanced transportation community knowledgeable about a wide range of technologies and eager to develop markets, leverage resources, collaborate on projects and policy issues, and promote advanced transportation. This EPAct–Clean Cities community will continue to provide vital leadership as the United States moves toward a cleaner, more secure, more prosperous transportation future.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Final Report Collaborative Project: Improving the Representation of Coastal and Estuarine Processes in Earth System Models

This project aimed to improve long term global climate simulations by resolving and enhancing the representation of the processes involved in the cycling of freshwater through estuaries and coastal regions. This was a collaborative multi-institution project consisting of physical oceanographers, climate model developers, and computational scientists. It specifically targeted the DOE objectives of advancing simulation and predictive capability of climate models through improvements in resolution and physical process representation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Developing Ultra-small Scale Mechanical Testing Methods and Microstructural Investigation Procedures for Irradiated Materials

Nuclear materials are an essential aspect of nuclear engineering. While great effort is spent on designing more advanced reactors or enhancing a reactor’s safety, materials have been the bottleneck of most new developments. The designs of new reactor concepts are driven by neutronic and thermodynamic aspects, leading to unusual coolants (liquid metal, liquid salt, gases), higher temperatures, and higher radiation doses than conventional light water reactors have. However, any (nuclear) engineering design must consider the materials used in the anticipated application in order to ever be realized. Designs which may look easy, simple and efficient considering thermodynamics or neutronic aspects can show their true difficulty in the materials area, which then prevents them from being deployed. In turn, the materials available are influencing the neutronic and thermodynamic designs and therefore must be considered from the beginning, requiring close collaborations between different aspects of nuclear engineering. If a particular design requires new materials, the licensing of the reactor must be considered, but licensing can be a costly and time consuming process that results in long lead times to realize true materials innovation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Project Accomplishments Summary - SC03/01672.04.0. Flow, Thermal Evolution, and Electrochemistry in Layered Poroelastic Materials

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Procter and Gamble Company (P&G), which eventually spun off The Duracell Company (Duracell) to Berkshire Hathaway, collaborated to develop a computational tool that predicts the in-use and manufacturing-process performance of consumer electrical energy storage devices. This computational tool was particularly useful in exploring the effects of material microstructure, device configuration/geometry, manufacturing and manufacturing defects on product performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Chasing the Future: How Will Ocean Change Affect Marine Life?

Understanding the potential consequences of rising ocean carbon levels and related ocean changes for marine life and ecosystems is a high priority for the ocean research community and marine resource management. In the mid-1990s, two geoengineering proposals to mitigate global warming by carbon sequestration in the deep sea led to research measuring the effects of increased deep ocean carbon dioxide levels on marine animals. A few years later, ocean acidification and its effects on marine life became an international research priority. Here we provide an overview of several technical developments by scientists and engineers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) that have enabled and enhanced deep-sea exploration and experiments to assess the effects of changing ocean conditions on benthic marine animals. Improvements in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) have increased the efficiency of dive operations and enabled more complex measurements and experiments at great ocean depths. In situ respirometers and Free Ocean CO 2 Enrichment (FOCE) mesocosms have allowed measurement of physiological and behavioral responses of deep-sea animals to environmental change. A laboratory-based, gas-controlled aquarium system that regulates oxygen and pH in chilled waters was engineered to measure the physiological responses of deep-sea animals and biological communities to expected future environmental conditions. Recently, MBARI engineers and scientists developed an Upwelling Simulator, a lab-based aquarium control system that mimics ocean conditions during coastal upwelling. This system is programmable, allowing independent control of pH, oxygen, and temperature to enable experiments that examine the effects of present-day upwelling conditions, expected future conditions, or other changes in these environmental conditions. In sum, collaboration between the marine operations group, engineers, and scientists at MBARI has advanced methods to explore the ocean and understand the consequences of ocean change for marine organisms and ecosystems.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗