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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Hacking the thylakoid proton motive force for improved photosynthesis: modulating ion flux rates that control proton motive force partitioning into Δ ψ and ΔpH

There is considerable interest in improving plant productivity by altering the dynamic responses of photosynthesis in tune with natural conditions. This is exemplified by the 'energy-dependent' form of non-photochemical quenching (q E ), the formation and decay of which can be considerably slower than natural light fluctuations, limiting photochemical yield. In addition, we recently reported that rapidly fluctuating light can produce field recombination-induced photodamage (FRIP), where large spikes in electric field across the thylakoid membrane (Δψ) induce photosystem II recombination reactions that produce damaging singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ). Both q E and FRIP are directly linked to the thylakoid proton motive force (pmf), and in particular, the slow kinetics of partitioning pmf into its ΔpH and Δψ components. In this work, using a series of computational simulations, we explored the possibility of 'hacking' pmf partitioning as a target for improving photosynthesis. Under a range of illumination conditions, increasing the rate of counter-ion fluxes across the thylakoid membrane should lead to more rapid dissipation of Δψ and formation of ΔpH. This would result in increased rates for the formation and decay of qE while resulting in a more rapid decline in the amplitudes of Δψ-spikes and decreasing 1 O 2 production. These results suggest that ion fluxes may be a viable target for plant breeding or engineering. However, these changes also induce transient, but substantial mismatches in the ATP : NADPH output ratio as well as in the osmotic balance between the lumen and stroma, either of which may explain why evolution has not already accelerated thylakoid ion fluxes. Overall, though the model is simplified, it recapitulates many of the responses seen in vivo, while spotlighting critical aspects of the complex interactions between pmf components and photosynthetic processes. By making the programme available, we hope to enable the community of photosynthesis researchers to further explore and test specific hypotheses. This article is part of the themed issue 'Enhancing photosynthesis in crop plants: targets for improvement'.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Power System Dynamic State Estimation: Motivations, Definitions, Methodologies and Future Work

This paper summarizes the technical activities of the Task Force on Power System Dynamic State and Parameter Estimation. This Task Force was established by the IEEE Working Group on State Estimation Algorithms to investigate the added benefits of dynamic state and parameter estimation for the enhancement of the reliability, security, and resilience of electric power systems. The motivations and engineering values of dynamic state estimation (DSE) are discussed in detail. Then, a set of potential applications that will rely on DSE is presented and discussed. Furthermore, a unified framework is proposed to clarify the important concepts related to DSE, forecasting-aided state estimation, tracking state estimation and static state estimation. An overview of the current progress in DSE and dynamic parameter estimation is provided. The paper also provides future research needs and directions for the power engineering community.

task force, dynamic state estimation, Parameter Es↗
DOE OSTI2012

Technology and Manufacturing Readiness of Early Market Motive and Non-Motive Hydrogen Storage Technologies for Fuel Cell Applications

PNNL’s objective in this report is to provide DOE with a technology and manufacturing readiness assessment to identify hydrogen storage technologies’ maturity levels for early market motive and non-motive applications and to provide a path forward toward commercialization. PNNL’s Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) is based on a combination of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) designations that enable evaluation of hydrogen storage technologies in varying levels of development. This approach provides a logical methodology and roadmap to enable the identification of hydrogen storage technologies, their advantages/disadvantages, gaps and R&D needs on an unbiased and transparent scale that is easily communicated to interagency partners. The TRA report documents the process used to conduct the TRA, reports the TRL and MRL for each assessed technology and provides recommendations based on the findings.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2021

Beyond ethics: The transformational power of overlapping motivations in implementing strategic sustainability actions

Abstract We develop a methodology to identify patterns between sustainability motivations, actions and engagement. We apply this methodology to analyse a 3 1/2‐year intervention that yielded 151 sustainability actions undertaken by 46 outbound tour operators. We find three aspects that can be explained by the tour operators' motivations to act sustainably, namely, a connection between: (i) the actions taken in the context of the organisation's business model, (ii) the intensity of the approach, measured by the resources invested in it and the operator's commitment level and (iii) the evolution of the response. These patterns demonstrate how ethical motivations are common and a precondition to acting sustainably, but, in themselves, these motivations are not sufficient to integrate sustainability practices into the core business or to maintain commitment over time. It is the combination of a high ethical commitment with clear strategic intent, materialised in commercial and operational motivations, that increases the connectedness, and intensity, of sustainability actions amongst ethically committed firms.

Bonilla‐Priego, Maria Jesus↗
DOE OSTI2018

Bridging the simulator gap: Measuring motivational bias in digital nuclear power plant environments

Using digital NPP simulator facilities for research in Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) and nuclear power research is increasingly popular. For this work, we propose a method for characterizing and quantifying the gap between data collected in a simulator and data that reflect NPP operations. Using novice operators, we demonstrate how to manipulate and measure the impact of the simulator environment on operator actions. A set of biases are proposed to characterize factors introduced by the simulator environment. There are two categories of simulator bias: Environmental Biases (physical differences between the simulator and the control room), and Motivational Biases (cognitive differences between training in a simulator and operating a NPP). This study examines Motivational Bias. A preliminary causal model of Motivational Biases is introduced and tested in a demonstration experiment using 30 student operators. Data from 41 simulator sessions are analyzed. Data include crew characteristics, operator surveys, and time to recognize and diagnose the accident in the scenario. Quantitative models of the Motivational Biases using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) are proposed. With these models, we estimate how the effects of the scenario conditions are mediated by simulator bias, and we demonstrate how to quantify the strength of these effects.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2018

SmpB down-regulates proton-motive force for the persister tolerance to aminoglycosides in Aeromonas veronii

Highlights: • The smpB deletion exhibited a higher susceptibility to aminoglycosides in A. veronii. • The expression level of SmpB was enhanced by gentamicin challenge. • The effect of SmpB on persistence formation was eliminated by PMF inhibition. • The smpB deletion downregulated proton-motive force-related metabolic genes. Bacterial persisters comprise a small fraction of phenotypically heterogeneous variants with transient capability for survival when exposed to high concentrations of antibiotic. In aquatic pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas veronii, Small Protein B (SmpB), the core factor of trans-translation system, was identified as a new persistence-related gene. The SmpB deletion exhibited a higher susceptibility and lower persister cell formation under aminoglycosides antibiotics pressure compared with wild type. The transcriptional and translational activities of smpB gene were significantly enhanced by the gentamicin challenge in exponential phase, but not changed in stationary phase. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the smpB deletion stimulated the production of proton-motive force (PMF). The cell survival induced by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) further verified that SmpB variation affected the quantities of PMF. Taken together, these results uncovered a novel mechanism of persister formation mediated by SmpB under aminoglycosides treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Equation-of-motion approach of spin-motive force

We formulate a quantitative theory of an electromotive force of spin origin, i.e., spin-motive force, by the equation-of-motion approach. In a ferromagnetic metal, electrons couple to the local magnetization via the exchange interaction. The electrons are affected by spin dependent forces due to this interaction and the spin-motive force and the anomalous Hall effect appears. We have revealed that the origin of these phenomena is a misalignment between the conduction electron spin and the local magnetization.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Generation of spin motive force in a soliton lattice

The generation of a spin motive force in a chiral helimagnet due to the action of two crossed magnetic fields is considered. The cases of pulsed and periodic magnetic fields directed along the helical axis under a perpendicular dc field are analyzed. It is shown that, in the case of a pulsed field, the spin motive force is related to dissipation, whereas in a periodic field, there is a reactive component that is not related to damping processes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring Professor Motivations and Implementations of a Real-World Problem-Solving Project

Engineering education literature offers a variety of theoretical and conceptual frameworks for project-based learning. This study explores the implementation of real-world problem-solving projects in engineering education. The research team analyzed the motivations and methods behind professors' adoption of such projects through exploratory qualitative interviews with seven professor participants who integrated a nation-wide student competition into their courses. We analyzed the resulting data using a constructivist grounded theory approach to identify key themes of professor practices. Findings reveal that the real-world aspect of the projects and alignment with values and research interests were primary motivators for implementation. While implementation methods varied significantly based on context (i.e., university setting, course type), we found that these projects could be effectively integrated into various classroom settings. The findings support the recommendation for non-academic institutions to develop and manage competitions that can be integrated into classrooms and which offer a point of engagement that is available to professors from a wide range of disciplines.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2017

Understanding the Evolution of Customer Motivations and Adoption Barriers in Residential Solar Markets: Survey Data

This research focused on accelerating solar photovoltaic (PV) diffusion by collecting new market data and developing predictive modeling frameworks to test and refine understandings of household level motivations for adopting solar. Three different household-level surveys were fielded: one for households who had installed PV on their current home or had signed a contract to do so (the Adopter survey), one for households that had seriously considered PV but had not installed it (the Considerer survey), and one for the general population who did not have PV on their current home (the general population survey or GPS). Survey respondents were from four U.S. states: New Jersey, New York, Arizona, and California. Details of recruiting and sampling are documented below. Research projects on residential PV adoption often collect data only from PV adopters or from the general population. One of the innovations of this project was the three-pronged household survey data collection. By collecting similar data from three fairly different "statuses" with respect to adoption, the surveys provide a basis for understanding how those who do not have rooftop PV differ from those who have, for how and why people do (or don't) transition from not having to having rooftop PV on their home, and for understanding the characteristics and viewpoints of households who have scarcely, or not at all, entered the "PV consideration" track. All three surveys covered single-family owner-occupied households in each of the four target states used in the project -- Arizona, California, New Jersey, and New York - allowing a comparative approach to understanding how the factors that affect PV adoption vary by geography and policy conditions. The General Population and Considerer surveys provide a basis for understanding opinions about and interest in solar, and how these relate to household demographics and other conditions. Paired with the Adopter survey, they also provide data for understanding how those who do not have rooftop PV differ from those who have, and for how and why people do (or don't) transition from not having to having rooftop PV on their home. The Adopter survey questions were designed to capture a broad range of information on what motivates and impedes households to install rooftop PV, as well as the details and timing of the decision and installation. Survey instrument development drew from existing PV adoption survey instruments, PV adoption literature, and research team experience, as well as from past work on household interest in energy efficiency, environmental attitudes, purchasing tendencies, and related knowledge. Early interviews and discussions with installers and others in the PV industry were also taken into consideration.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Motivation of Public Participation at Citizens Advisory Board Meetings Public Participation at the Savannah River Site Citizen Advisory Board Meetings - 16343

The objective of this paper is to interview public participants who attended both full-board and committee meetings for a pre-determined two-month period to understand their motivation in attending Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board (SRS CAB) meetings. In addition, the research aimed to learn what impact they believe their attendance had on Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board (SRS CAB) recommendations and discussion, as well as how their input is utilized by the Savannah River Site. Perhaps in learning these community members attend meetings, the CAB can capitalize on that knowledge to motivate additional public participation. Research for this report includes a literature review of public participation and analysis of interviews and surveys conducted with members of the general public in October and November 2015. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring Professor Motivations and Implementations of a Real-World Problem-Solving Project: A Case Study in Preparing Students for the Emerging Building Science Industry: Preprint

Engineering education literature offers a variety of theoretical and conceptual frameworks for project-based learning. This study explores the implementation of real-world problem-solving projects in engineering education. The research team analyzed the motivations and methods behind professors' adoption of such projects through exploratory qualitative interviews with seven professor participants who integrated a nation-wide student competition into their courses. We analyzed the resulting data using a constructivist grounded theory approach to identify key themes of professor practices. Findings reveal that the real-world aspect of the projects and alignment with values and research interests were primary motivators for implementation. While implementation methods varied significantly based on context (i.e., university setting, course type), we found that these projects could be effectively integrated into various classroom settings. The findings support the recommendation for non-academic institutions to develop and manage competitions that can be integrated into classrooms and which offer a point of engagement that is available to professors from a wide range of disciplines.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2017

Chloroplast ATP Synthase Modulation of the Thylakoid Proton Motive Force: Implications for Photosystem I and Photosystem II Photoprotection

In wild type plants, decreasing CO 2 lowers the activity of the chloroplast ATP synthase, slowing proton efflux from the thylakoid lumen resulting in buildup of thylakoid proton motive force (pmf). The resulting acidification of the lumen regulates both light harvesting, via the qE mechanism, and photosynthetic electron transfer through the cytochrome b 6 f complex. Here in this paper, we show that the cfq mutant of Arabidopsis, harboring single point mutation in its γ-subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase, increases the specific activity of the ATP synthase and disables its down-regulation under low CO 2 . The increased thylakoid proton conductivity (g H + ) in cfq results in decreased pmf and lumen acidification, preventing full activation of qE and more rapid electron transfer through the b6f complex, particularly under low CO 2 and fluctuating light. These conditions favor the accumulation of electrons on the acceptor side of PSI, and result in severe loss of PSI activity. Comparing the current results with previous work on the pgr5 mutant suggests a general mechanism where increased PSI photodamage in both mutants is caused by loss of pmf, rather than inhibition of CEF per se. Overall, our results support a critical role for ATP synthase regulation in maintaining photosynthetic control of electron transfer to prevent photodamage.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗