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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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Population genomics provides insights into the genetic basis of adaptive evolution in the mushroom-forming fungus Lentinula edodes

Introduction: Mushroom-forming fungi comprise diverse species that develop complex multicellular structures. In cultivated species, both ecological adaptation and artificial selection have driven genome evolution. However, little is known about the connections among genotype, phenotype and adaptation in mushroom-forming fungi. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) uncover the population structure and demographic history of Lentinula edodes, (2) dissect the genetic basis of adaptive evolution in L. edodes, and (3) determine if genes related to fruiting body development are involved in adaptive evolution. Methods: We analyzed genomes and fruiting body-related traits (FBRTs) in 133 L. edodes strains and conducted RNA-seq analysis of fruiting body development in the YS69 strain. Combined methods of genomic scan for divergence, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and RNA-seq were used to dissect the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. Results: We detected three distinct subgroups of L. edodes via single nucleotide polymorphisms, which showed robust phenotypic and temperature response differentiation and correlation with geographical distribution. Demographic history inference suggests that the subgroups diverged 36,871 generations ago. Moreover, L. edodes cultivars in China may have originated from the vicinity of Northeast China. A total of 942 genes were found to be related to genetic divergence by genomic scan, and 719 genes were identified to be candidates underlying FBRTs by GWAS. Integrating results of genomic scan and GWAS, 80 genes were detected to be related to phenotypic differentiation. A total of 364 genes related to fruiting body development were involved in genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation. Conclusion: Adaptation to the local environment, especially temperature, triggered genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation of L. edodes. A general model for genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation during adaptive evolution in L. edodes, which involves in signal perception and transduction, transcriptional regulation, and fruiting body morphogenesis, was also integrated here.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Reservoirs Modify River Thermal Regime Sensitivity to Climate Change: A Case Study in the Southeastern United States

Seasonal thermal stratification in reservoirs changes the thermal regime of regulated river systems as well as stream temperature responses to climate change. Cold releases from reservoir hypolimnion can depress downstream river temperature during warm seasons. Recent large-scale climate change studies on stream temperature have largely ignored reservoir thermal stratification. In this study, we used established models to develop a framework which considers water demand and reservoir regulation with thermal stratification, and applied this model framework to the southeastern US. About half of all 271 reservoirs in our study area retain strong thermal stratification by the 2080s (2070-2099) under RCP8.5 even as median residence times decrease to 60 days from 69 days in the historic period (1979-2010). Reservoir impacts on downstream temperatures become slightly weaker in the future because of higher air temperature and stronger solar radiation. We defined a “cooling potential” to quantify the thermal energy that a water body can absorb before exceeding a water temperature threshold. In the future, higher river temperatures will reduce the cooling potential for all river segments, but more so for river segments minimally impacted by thermal stratification. Reservoir impacts on cooling potential remain strong for river segments downstream of reservoirs with strong thermal stratification. We conducted a sensitivity analysis to evaluate the robustness of our findings to errors in the hydrological simulations. While river segments subject to reservoir regulation are more sensitive to errors in hydrology than those without regulation impacts, our overall findings do not materially change due to these errors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Current-Regulated Arc Modulator Optimization

n this study, the performance of a current-regulated arc modulator was investigated with a focus on its role in initiating and sustaining plasma discharge within the Magnetron Body of the LINAC system. The analysis centered on how switching components, circuit topology, and feedback loop architecture influence critical factors such as energy efficiency, discharge stability, and long-term plasma containment. Particular attention was given to variations in pulse termination behavior, as observed through oscilloscope traces, which revealed inconsistencies affecting the duty factor and cathode temperature. These fluctuations have downstream effects on the cesium-coated cathode surface, thereby impacting H⁻ ion production and beam reliability. Simulation-based testing in LTspice was used to evaluate noise suppression techniques and arc current regulation schemes, revealing how optimized snubber networks, improved pulse shaping, and feedback stability can mitigate modulator-induced noise. The results ide

Campos, Nathan↗

Development and Testing of a new Current-Regulated Arc Modulator for the LINAC

In this study, the performance of a current-regulated arc modulator was investigated with a focus on its role in initiating and sustaining plasma discharge within the Magnetron Body of the LINAC system. The analysis centered on how switching components, circuit topology, and feedback loop architecture influence critical factors such as energy efficiency, discharge stability, and long-term plasma containment. Particular attention was given to variations in pulse termination behavior, as observed through oscilloscope traces, which revealed inconsistencies affecting the duty factor and cathode temperature. These fluctuations have downstream effects on the cesium-coated cathode surface, thereby impacting H⁻ ion production and beam reliability. Simulation-based testing in LTspice was used to evaluate noise suppression techniques and arc current regulation schemes, revealing how optimized snubber networks, improved pulse shaping, and feedback stability can mitigate modulator-induced noise. The results identified hardware level parameters that significantly enhance discharge repeatability and improve overall plasma performance under operational conditions.

Campos, Nathan [Unlisted, US; Fermilab]↗

A correlation between seasonally changing photoperiod, whole body lipid, and condition factor in juvenile spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

The regulation of lipid stores is a central process for the physiology and ecology of fishes. Seasonal variation in lipid stores has been directly linked to survival of fishes across periods of food deprivation. We assessed whether a seasonally changing photoperiod was correlated to seasonal changes in energetic status to help better understand these important processes. Groups of first feeding Chinook salmon fry were introduced to a seasonal photoperiod cycle, but the point of entrance into the seasonal cycle varied from near the winter solstice (December), to either side of the spring equinox (February & May). Temperature and feeding rate were similar for all treatments. Subsequently, condition factor and whole body lipid content were assessed through a seasonal progression. Throughout most of the experiment, length and weight did not differ between the different photoperiod treatments, however whole body lipid and Fulton’s condition factor did. Furthermore, changes in both whole body lipid and Fulton’s condition factor in all treatment groups followed a similar seasonal pattern that was inversely related to day length (highest K and lipid levels found during days with the least light). These results suggest that regardless of age or size, there is a correlation between seasonal changes in photoperiod and changes in body composition in juvenile Chinook salmonids.

Spangenberg, Dina K. (ORCID:000000018861395X)↗

A Thermal Radiation Modulation Platform by Emissivity Engineering with Graded Metal–Insulator Transition

Thermal radiation from a black body increases with the fourth power of absolute temperature (T 4 ), an effect known as the Stefan-Boltzmann law. Typical materials radiate heat at a portion of this limit, where the portion, called integrated emissivity (ε int ), is insensitive to temperature (|dε int /dT| ≈ 10 -4 °C -1 ). The resultant radiance bound by the T 4 law limits the ability to regulate radiative heat. Here, an unusual material platform is shown in which ε int can be engineered to decrease in an arbitrary manner near room temperature (|dε int /dT| ≈ 8 × 10 -3 °C -1 ), enabling unprecedented manipulation of infrared radiation. As an example, ε int is programmed to vary with temperature as the inverse of T 4 , precisely counteracting the T 4 dependence; hence, thermal radiance from the surface becomes temperature-independent, allowing the fabrication of flexible and power-free infrared camouflage with unique advantage in performance stability. In this work, the structure is based on thin films of tungsten-doped vanadium dioxide where the tungsten fraction is judiciously graded across a thickness less than the skin depth of electromagnetic screening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Use Attainability Analysis for Upper Sandia Canyon

This document presents a use attainability analysis (UAA) for the perennial segment of Upper Sandia Canyon, which is located within the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) property near Los Alamos, New Mexico.1 This UAA is consistent with 20.6.4.15 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) (New Mexico Environment Department [NMED] 2011c), which describes the perennial segment as “Sandia Canyon from Sigma Canyon upstream to LANL [National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System] NPDES outfall 001.” The perennial segment’s designated uses are coldwater aquatic life, livestock watering, wildlife habitat, and secondary contact. 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 131.10(g) permits a state to remove a designated use that is not an existing use (as defined in 40 CFR §131.3), if a UAA demonstrates that naturally occurring pollutant concentrations prevent the attainment of the use or if physical conditions related to the natural features of the water body preclude the attainment of the aquatic life protection use. This UAA considers whether natural physical conditions in Upper Sandia Canyon, specifically air and/or water temperatures, prevent the designated aquatic life use water temperature limits (i.e., coldwater) from being attained in the perennial segment. The weight of evidence presented in this UAA supports the conclusion that, based on air-water temperature modeling and instream thermograph data, the coolwater aquatic life designated use is currently the attainable use. Accordingly, it is recommended that the coolwater aquatic life designated use replace the coldwater aquatic life designated use in the Upper Sandia Canyon assessment unit (AU).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Magnetic field effects on the quantum spin liquid behaviors of NaYbS 2

Spin-orbit coupling is an important ingredient to regulate the many-body physics, especially for many spin liquid candidate materials such as rare-earth magnets and Kitaev materials. The rare-earth chalcogenides NaYbCh 2 (Ch = O, S, Se) is a congenital frustrating system to exhibit the intrinsic landmark of spin liquid by eliminating both the site disorders between Na + and Yb 3+ ions with the big ionic size difference and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction with the perfect triangular lattice of the Yb 3+ ions. The temperature versus magnetic-field phase diagram is established by the magnetization, specific heat, and neutron-scattering measurements. Notably, the neutron diffraction spectra and the magnetization curve might provide microscopic evidence for a series of spin configuration for in-plane fields, which include the disordered spin liquid state, 120° antiferromagnet, and one-half magnetization state. Furthermore, the ground state is suggested to be a gapless spin liquid from inelastic neutron scattering, and the magnetic field adjusts the spin orbit coupling. Therefore, the strong spin-orbit coupling in the frustrated quantum magnet substantially enriches low-energy spin physics. This rare-earth family could offer a good platform for exploring the quantum spin liquid ground state and quantum magnetic transitions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Tunable shear thickening, aging, and rejuvenation in suspensions of shape-memory-endowed liquid crystalline particles

The morphological features of particles, notably shape anisotropy, critically influence the rheological properties of dense suspensions, spanning both natural and engineered systems. This work explores the potential of using shape memory particles to dynamically regulate suspension fluid flow through controllable shape transformations. First, we synthesize shape-memory particles with programmable anisotropy from liquid crystal elastomers, such that the stiffness and shapes of the particles can be tuned by manipulating temperature. Our findings reveal that suspensions from such particles exhibit significant tunability in shear thickening behavior, transitioning from discontinuous shear thickening to a Newtonian-like response within a narrow temperature range of 60 ° C. This capability to modulate rheological responses in situ presents an approach for addressing processing challenges in many applications where control over flow behavior is paramount. Furthermore, we also show that suspensions composed of these anisotropic particles can undergo physical aging, and evolve into a glassy state. This state can be escaped upon activation of the shape memory effect. This reversibility underscores the potential for using such materials to engineer systems that can enter or come out of kinetic arrest by leveraging internal mechanical responses to external stimuli. The insights gained here not only broaden our understanding of the interplay between particle geometry and suspension dynamics but also pave the way for leveraging ensembles of stimuli-responsive objects to precisely control collective behaviors in many-body systems.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Expansion of Hazards and Probabilistic Risk Assessments of a Light-Water Reactor Coupled with Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Plants

This report builds upon the body of work sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) Light-Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Flexible Power Operation and Generation (FPOG) program that presented generic probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs) for the addition of a heat extraction system (HES) to light-water reactors to support the co-location of a high temperature hydrogen electrolysis facility (HTEF). Probabilistic and deterministic hazards assessments and risk analyses are leveraged throughout this report. Several improvements and new analyses are included in this report. First, higher amounts of detail in the specifications of the generic HTEFs are used to produce scaled results for a 100, 500, and 1000 MW nominal hydrogen production facility. An additional hazard assessment of 1000 kg of hydrogen storage is performed. The facility hazards and footprint are assessed to determine the safe distance required for placement near the nuclear power plant (NPP). Second, specific designs for corresponding HESs for the different levels of support required by the HTEFs are analyzed in the PRA model. Third, a hazards analysis of the specified HTEFs leads not only to effects of the quantified risk assessment for the NPP, but also qualitative hazards assessment for the community. Finally, a seismic analysis and a high winds analysis have each been added to the PRA. The results investigate the applicability of the potential licensing approaches which do not require a full United States (U.S.) Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing review. The PRAs are generic and include listed assumptions. The HTEF design built for this project has further eliminated many conservative assumptions from the prior PRAs in this series. The PRA results indicate that the 10 CFR 50.59 licensing approach is justified due to the minimal increase in initiating event frequencies for all design basis accidents, with none exceeding 7.7%. The PRA results for core damage frequency and large early release frequency support the use of NRC Regulation Guide 1.174 as further risk information that supports a change without a full licensing amendment review. The hazard analyses and PRA confirm the need for engineered blast barriers of storage tanks and the common production header leaving the HTEF. The hazards analyses and PRA also confirm with high confidence that using the assumptions of design in this report that the safety case for licensing an HES addition and an HTEF sited with its unprotected high-pressure stage components 187 meters from the NPP’s transmission towers (the most fragile structure, system, and component) is strong.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Global Trends of ASME "N-Stamp" Certifications for Nuclear Component Vendors

Historically, nuclear component manufacturing vendors, from small businesses through large conglomerates, have felt compelled to obtain an American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Nuclear Certification, known colloquially as an "N-stamp", to assure supply chain quality standards that will be acceptable to regulators and safety concerns. Since the N-stamp quality standard is a U.S.-origin code, combined with the apparent decline in the U.S. nuclear industry alongside the growth of the Asian nuclear industry, there is the question of whether the rest of the world, including new entrants to the nuclear industry, also regard N-stamp as a needed certification. This study addresses this question through analysis of the entire N-stamp database of holders, and former holders, of N-stamp certificates of all types and for all regions worldwide from 1989-2020 (the dates available in the database). From this 30 years of data, we find that actually U.S.-based vendors still consistently obtain the largest number of N-stamps worldwide over all time periods, but also find that the countries participating in the N-stamp certification process has broadly expanded beyond just North America, Japan, S. Korea and Western Europe (the primary N-stamp recipients before the mid-2000's). We produced global heats maps and bar charts to illustrate our findings, as well as further investigation into why the data shows changes over time and region. We note that nuclear entities involved with Soviet-type reactors do not participate in the N-stamp process, but instead pursue the Russian version PNAE, which is substantially similar to the ASME code. We conclude that at least from the N-stamp database, the United States nuclear component manufacturing industry is alive and well, although there have been some consolidations, and that the ASME N-stamp appears to still be a valued certificate worldwide, including in China which now ranks second only to the United States in obtaining N-stamp certificates in recent years. We further note that the vendors of new reactor types, in particular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), are actively engaged with ASME (and other U.S.-based nuclear standards bodies such as the American Nuclear Society and Nuclear Energy Institute) to coordinate updates to the ASME N-Stamp criteria to ensure applicability of the code for these new designs. Implications of these findings include the following: The global use of the U.S.-origin N-stamp certification supports the view that, despite the decline of the U.S. nuclear industry, the United States remains an esteemed global leader in the area of nuclear safety. As the U.S. Government works to revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry, especially in the area of exports, it may be beneficial to leverage the global standing of the N-stamp certification. The findings indicate that the N-stamp database would be a useful tool for the U.S. Government to use to track the growth of the civil nuclear industry in foreign countries, under certain circumstances. The Excel-format N-stamp database produced as part of this study may be a useful tool for this purpose. N-stamp data may be a useful tool for foreign governments to use to identify nuclear manufacturers within their own country, especially to identify "targets" for outreach on nuclear export control compliance. The U.S. Government could carry this message to foreign partners during bilateral engagements or as part of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) discussions on industry outreach.

42 ENGINEERING↗