2024-03-28T15:31:05Z
http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/do/oai/
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1000
2010-10-07T00:54:00Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
STAR - Science Teacher and Researcher Program
Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education
2010-09-01T07:00:00Z
The Science Teacher and Researcher (STAR) program addresses the science and mathematics teacher recruitment and retention crisis by creating a prestigious dual "teacher-researcher" career path. Founded and implemented in 2007 by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) on behalf of the California State University (CSU) system, STAR provides cutting edge research experiences and career development for pre-service and early career teachers during early critical years. By anchoring pre-service teachers in the scientific research community, they will come to better understand what it means to be a researcher as well as an effective teacher of science or mathematics.
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/1
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1003
2010-11-19T19:44:41Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Prognostics and Health Management of Batteries and Composites
Khatoon, Ishrat
Saha, Bhaskar
Saxena, Abhinav
Goebel, Kai
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Prognostics and health management (PHM) algorithms track the health condition of a system and make an assessment of the time until which this system can perform within desired specifications. These algorithms require development of fault growth models and data analysis on measurements available from the system.
During the course of this program I will engage in the above activities by means of two research projects. The model development will be done for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. By understanding the physical and chemical processes within the battery a model for charge capacity degradation will be developed for these batteries that are used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in HEV, laptop, aircraft, etc. This effort will include conducting the experiments in the lab and collecting the data. Contingent of available time data analysis and algorithm development may follow. In a parallel effort, data analysis exposure will be gained by working on fatigue cycling data on carbon-carbon composites. This analysis extracts features of material degradation as it is subjected to fatigue cycling. This experiments will help develop fault propagation models for composite materials that are expected to be used for aerospace structures such as spacecraft and aircraft fuselage. PHM of these systems is a critical step in keeping these systems safe and running efficiently.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/3
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1001
2010-11-15T23:56:17Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
SWaMP: Surface Water Monitoring Project
Apperson, Arron
Vanderbilt, Vern
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The objective of the Surface Water Monitoring Project (SWaMP) is to design a constellation of satellites, based on the properties of sun glint, for timely monitoring of surface water bodies globally. The project examined several characteristics of surface waters, including the specular reflecting properties of varying sized water bodies, combined with their relative global abundance in order to evaluate several possible orbital tracks. This non-traditional use of sun glint should open new avenues of research and resource management on local, regional and global scales. By using a constellation of micro-satellites, our design should be able to reduce mission cost, present practical solutions for signal interference and provide global surface water data on a spatial and temporal scale currently unavailable.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/5
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1002
2010-11-16T00:04:44Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Zero G and Me: Modeling Cardiovascular Dynamics from Echocardiography and Impedance Cardiography during Parabolic Flight
Dominguez, Margaret
Cowings, Patricia
Toscano, Bill
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
It has been observed that Astronauts in prolonged Zero-g space flight have issues with cardiovascular deconditioning during transition into 1-g and may experience fainting (orthostatic hypotension). High priority has been given to maintaining Astronaut health, safety, and performance during long duration missions. The purpose of this study is to simultaneously collect echocardiographic data and impedance cardiographic data from test participants in both 1-g and Lunar-g (1/6g) conditions during parabolic flight in a Zero-G aircraft. This data will be used to develop countermeasures to mitigate risks to neurobehavioral functions and to enhance the health, performance, and safety of crews during extended duration spaceflight. It is expected that from the data collected, real-time mathematical models will be created which will be capable of extrapolating relevant cardiovascular dynamics, such as stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, and ventricular ejection time, from impedance cardiography measurements. The real time display of these measurements can help crew members understand what is happening to their body and, through Autogenic Feedback Training Exercise (AFTE), be able to control their cardiac output, helping their transition from Zero-g to planetary-g.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/4
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1004
2010-11-16T00:35:01Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Pre-earthquake Signatures in Thermal Infrared and Radar Data
Oliver, Stephanie
Alqassim, Shamma
Roth, Steve
Vanderbilt, Vern
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Preceding major earthquakes (magnitude 5.0 and greater), changes in the Earth's Thermal Infrared (TIR) emission, radar reflectivity, human/animal behavior, magnetic field pulsations, electric fields, ground and spring water chemistry, and electron densities in the ionosphere have been observed and, consequently, are now being monitored more closely. Changes in both TIR emission and radar reflectivity are remotely detectable. We are testing the hypothesis that there is a unique pre-earthquake signal in MODIS TIR satellite data by comparing MODIS TIR data collected just before a major earthquake to MODIS TIR data collected during periods of little seismic activity, thereby allowing this EQP (Earth prediction) signal, if it exists, to be isolated. We are using programs such as MatLab and ENVI to eliminate noise in the pre-earthquake data to increase this EQP/N ratio and determine whether this specific signature exists. Similarly, the InSAR data are being analyzed to further identify another possible EQP signal. An accurate EQP signal would allow for predictions of major earthquake weeks before an event.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/2
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1005
2010-11-22T23:03:17Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
STAR - Science Teacher and Researcher Program
Science Teacher and Researcher Program
2010-10-01T07:00:00Z
teacher research experiences
teacher professional development
The Science Teacher and Researcher (STAR) program provides pre-service and early career science and math teachers with paid summer internships in national, independent, and university laboratories thereby allowing participants to pursue a prestigious dual "teacher-researcher" career path. With the guidance of a research mentor, STAR Fellows work on original science projects for 8 to 10 weeks. Weekly education workshops and an opening and closing conference provide context and opportunities for STAR Fellows to consider how the "doing of science" may be translated into the "teaching of science." At the closing conference STAR Fellows present their research in a poster session or oral presentation. The ultimate goals of the STAR program are to enhance the recruitment, preparation, and retention of quality science and math teachers. The STAR program was founded and implemented by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) and administered on behalf of the California State University (CSU) system. Through 2010, the program's fourth year, STAR has provided 156 internships for participants representing 21 CSU and 9 others campuses and has included placements at 15 different lab sites.
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/6
This poster was presented at the Teacher Research Experience (TRE) Conference hosted in Washington, D.C. October 19-22, 2010. Three representatives of STAR attended: John Keller, Director for Cal Poly's Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME); Jeff Corbett, Senior Scientist, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory; Christy Bedayan, Science and AVID teacher, Fesler Junior High School.
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1009
2010-12-03T18:28:51Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Determination of an Efficient Method for the Extraction of Xylan from Delignified Corn Stover Using Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Rowley, John
Black, Stuart
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Biofuels are becoming more widespread throughout the United States as more advanced conversion methods become available. The most advanced process at this point is the conversion of biomass into ethanol (5). However, research into biofuels other than ethanol is an important aspect of the Department of Energy’s mission to promote the spread of renewable energies. Before progress can be made in these areas it is necessary to understand in detail the structural components that make up biomass including xylan, a polymer made up of mostly xylose. Xylan is extracted from biomass using either sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); however DMSO extraction is the preferred method when analysis of the xylan structure is the final goal. In this study, different temperatures of DMSO extraction were studied with the objective of finding a faster more efficient extraction method. The temperature and time of extraction were compared followed by a basic structural analysis to ensure that no significant structural changes occurred under different temperatures. The resulting data showed that heating to 70 ˚C during extraction can give a comparable percent yield as a room temperature extraction while cutting the extraction time by ~90%. This method of heating was shown to be the most efficient method currently available.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/11
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1008
2010-12-03T18:09:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Sulfur Characterization of Biochar
Malone, Shealyn
Cheah, Singfoong
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The potential of biomass-derived transportation fuel via thermochemical conversion has been widely recognized due to its renewable and carbon-neutral characteristics. A notable limitation affecting the economic feasibility of thermochemically produced biofuels is the production of unwanted byproducts, including organic tar and inorganic gas constituents (such as sulfur, chlorine, and alkali metals). This investigation focuses on understanding inorganic sulfur contaminants by studying the content and speciation of sulfur in biochar. Various biochar samples were characterized using TruSpec Sulfur Analysis (S-Analysis) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). EDS X-ray mapping was used to study the speciation of sulfur in biochar. It was found that biochar from corn stover pyrolysis contains higher concentrations of sulfur than oak. It was also found that in biochar from corn stover pyrolysis, sulfur associates with potassium. Further investigation of sulfur speciation in biochar will help support the purposeful development of strategies to reduce the amount of undesirable sulfur in thermochemically derived biofuels.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/9
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1007
2010-12-03T18:05:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
An Evaluation and Preliminary Update for the LBL Circumsolar Telescope
Deeb, Elin
Myers, Daryl
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
In the late 1970’s the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Energy and Environment Division developed four circumsolar telescopes for use in accurately predicting the performance of solar thermal conversion systems using focusing collectors, and to determine whether pyrheliometer data is adequate for estimating this performance. The instrument was designed to obtain solar radiation measurements, to measure the effects atmospheric conditions have on direct and circumsolar flux, and to incorporate measurements of total hemispherical insolation in the horizontal plane and the plane normal to the Sun’s location. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory obtained one of these instruments in order to improve upon available data and to better analyze more modern solar thermal conversion systems and instrumentation. As this instrument is fairly old and has been in a storage facility for some time, this analysis and evaluation presents recommended upgrades and considerations to be made in resurrecting an LBL Circumsolar Telescope.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/8
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1006
2010-12-03T17:58:25Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Catalytic Upgrading of Pyrolysis Vapors
Burnett, Caryn
Stanton, Alexander
Iisa, Kristiina
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
One of the goals of the Department of Energy is to develop energy-efficient technologies and to develop effective forms of renewable energy. Currently, the only available source of renewable liquid fuels is from the biochemical and thermochemical conversion of biomass. Pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process that involves the heating of biomass in the absence of oxygen. One of the products of pyrolysis – bio-oil – can be upgraded for use as an alternative fuel source. This bio-oil has a high oxygen content which lowers its energy density. It is also chemically unstable and not miscible with conventional fuels. It is therefore necessary to upgrade the oil through hydrotreating or catalytic cracking. The objective of this work was to calibrate a pyroprobe-microreactor for studying catalytic upgrading of bio-oil. Pyrolysis of washed cellulose, with and without a zeolite catalyst, was carried out using a CDS Pyroprobe 5150. Samples were heated to temperatures between 500 and 600 °C for 15 seconds. Products were analyzed using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Temperature calibrations were done to investigate an inconsistency between the setpoint temperature on the software and the actual temperature of the sample during pyrolysis. The sample temperatures were more than 100 °C lower than the setpoint temperatures. Initial results for the catalytic reactions showed that the catalyst was effective at removing oxygen from pyrolysis bio-oil vapors. Future work will investigate the effect of different loading methods of the biomass and catalyst during the pyrolysis reaction.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/7
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1010
2010-12-03T18:34:34Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Identification of the Enzymes Responsible for the Detoxification of Furfural and 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furalaldehyde in Zymomonas moblis
Myatt, Joshua
Franden, Mary Ann
Zhang, Min
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The use of lignocellulosic biomass as part of a comprehensive energy portfolio could potentially meet up to 25% of world primary energy needs by 2050, and do so in a domestically sourced, sustainable, and environmentally friendly way1. A major hurdle for large scale adoption of biofuels made from lignocellulosic biomass is inhibitors of microbial growth and metabolism that are present in pre-treated biomass feedstocks. These inhibitors reduce the efficiency of the overall biofuel conversion, and thereby drive up costs. One approach at circumventing this problem is to enhance the native ability of Zymomonas mobilis to convert these toxic inhibitors into less toxic compounds. A major class of inhibitors is the furalaldehydes, primarily furfural (2-furaldehyde) and 5-hydroxymentyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF). Previous work suggests that they can be detoxified by conversion to compounds which are less toxic. The purpose of this investigation was to identify metabolic proteins responsible for furalaldehyde conversion as a first step in enhancing the detoxification rates. An important factor in the purification of proteins is the development of a specific and robust assay. In this case, the disappearance of HMF and furfural from cell lysates which requires NADH or NADPH as cofactors was monitored using a microplate spectrophotometer. Further method optimizations involved identifying growth conditions and lysis conditions to yield maximal activities. Z. mobilis furfural activity was found to be highest in early stationary phase cells, and the addition of furfural did not increase total or specific activity. Lysis was found to be optimal using the Bugbuster HT® lysis reagent (Novagen) with 7500 units/mL of lysozyme. Ammonium sulfate precipitation of proteins is routinely used in protein purifications following cell lysis. Furalaldehyde reduction activity was found to precipitate at greater than 60% ammonium sulfate, and this purification led to an increase in specific activity of 30%. Following precipitation of Z. mobilis lysates by ammonium sulfate, extracts were loaded onto a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) hydrophobic interaction column (HIC) . Fractions from the FPLC column were then assayed for furfural reduction activity and protein concentration. Active fractions were run on SDS-PAGE in order to identify protein bands that correlated with enzyme activity. Separation by FPLC resulted in modest enrichment of some SDS-PAGE gel bands, but specific and total activity were reduced, when compared to samples taken before column loading. FPLC variables to be tested in the future include using different types of FPLC columns, such as ion exchange or stronger hydrophobic interaction columns and then scaling up to produce large enough quantities for identification by mass spectroscopy (MS). Metabolic pathways identified by these methods will provide targets for genetic manipulation and up regulation.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/10
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1012
2010-12-03T19:50:07Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Acoustic Health Monitoring of Electronic Devices
Smith, Tim
Good, Morris
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Tests are being conducted to monitor key electrical components. One such component class is DC to DC converters which are used to change a low voltage current source to a higher voltage. They are common in portable electronic devices such as lap top computers and cell phones that are primarily powered by batteries. Studies show that DC to DC converters produce acoustic waves while in use. Acoustic sensors were used to compare sensitivity and bandwidth. Time versus frequency signatures were constructed from the data collected by a digital oscilloscope. The digital oscilloscope collected raw data from various acoustic sensors and software put the data into a single file to display the signature. Signatures may be used in the future to examine time dependent features.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/14
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1013
2010-12-03T19:23:35Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Assessing Nuclear Proliferation by Using System Dynamics Modeling
Stafford, Samuel V
Brothers, Alan
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The goal of this project is to understand the influence of social and cultural factors on nuclear proliferation. We identified factors that contribute to a country’s motivation to initiate a nuclear weapons program from political science literature, obtained relevant social and cultural information, and developed a system dynamics model. System dynamics is used to understand complex interactive systems with feedback. The modeling process began with the construction of a causal loop diagram, which contains the essential elements that account for nuclear proliferation and relationships between these elements. The relationships between the elements are represented by arrows that are labeled either positively or negatively to show their causal relationship. A positive sign represents a direct relationship and a minus sign represents an indirect or inverse relationship. The causal loop diagram is a mental model used to construct a stock and flow simulation model. This stock and flow model can be quantified with equations that capture the relationships amongst the elements of the system. Through system dynamics we were able to interpret the levels of variables which indicate how the system changes and gives us insight as to how each variable affects proliferation. The software used for our project was VenSim, by Ventana Systems, which enabled us to create a system dynamics model including our causal loop diagram and then place relevant variables into our stock and flow diagram. We are in the process of completing our stock and flow diagram, which will help us to gain a better understanding of the motivations for state–level nuclear proliferation. Proliferation assessment has an immense amount of factors to take into account. Through preliminary simulations of the model we demonstrated the impact of autocratic versus democratic governments on motivation to proliferate which is mediated by the differential levels of integration that results from economic trade. The model allows for expansion and lays the foundation for further investigation.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/13
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1011
2010-12-03T18:54:50Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness: The Chemical Mixture Methodology Wizard
Schutte, Kimberly
Yu, Xiao-Ying
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The Chemical Mixture Methodology (CMM) is the Department of Energy (DOE) recommended analysis method to assess health effects when individuals are exposed to an airborne mixture of chemicals. The CMM provides both emergency response planning guidelines and safety planning information that DOE uses to prepare for a chemical accident. The CMM uses the chemical concentration, protective action criteria (PAC) limit values, and health code numbers to calculate heath indices that provide information on potential health effects on target organs or modes. The CMM provides more realistic results for cumulative health effects compared with other commonly applied alternatives. Currently, the CMM analysis is conducted using a Microsoft Excel based Workbook. This workbook performs analysis using Macros and user inputs. However, the workbook is restrictive for users because of its lack of flexibility. For example, only 30 compounds are allowed by the current CMM Workbook and only one downwind distance can be assessed at a time. Our research project was to develop a CMM wizard, a web-based software product, to capture the functionality of the CMM workbook and provide it in a more flexible, accessible, and user friendly format. It accommodates an unlimited number of chemical components in a given mixture, up to four downwind distances, and a more efficient user interface – all advances that will permit quicker emergency preparedness analyses. In order to develop the wizard, visual basic programming language was utilized with basic HTML programming to make this active server web-based software. The CMM wizard has been developed to meet the software quality assurance requirements for DOE Safety Software. The project plan for the CMM wizard calls for it to made available online on the Subcommittee for Consequence Assessment and Protective Action (SCAPA) website alongside the currently available and downloadable CMM workbook. We also will make a version of the CMM wizard version available on DVD, so that internet connection is not required if the CMM tool needs to be used in an emergency situation. The CMM wizard is the beginning of a continued development project to provide an integrated analysis tool combining an atmospheric-dispersion model with the CMM. This will provide real-time results for users to create safety plans for the DOE sites and the public.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/12
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1016
2011-01-25T18:57:18Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Acquisition of Morphological Variations of Mutant Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM Strains by Means of Atomic Force Microscopy
Ruiz, Daniel
Gragson, Derek
Jiménez-Florez, Rafael
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Atomic force microscopy has been an important tool in the study of atomic orientation, macromolecular structure, surface structure, morphological structure of living/nonliving tissues and synthesized materials. Although ten modes of imaging are routinely used, all information on surface structure and forces are obtained from the oscillation of the cantilever at its resonance frequency which is induced by the piezoelectric element. The photodetector senses deviations of the laser deflected off the surface of the cantilever from the norm resonance caused by attractive and repulsive forces between the tip of the cantilever and the sample. All oscillations and torsions of the cantilever that do not correspond to the sinusoidal wave produced can be converted to topographic images and force curves of the sample.
In reference to the project, AFM technology aids in the visualization of important physiochemical characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) including Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM strains. LAB has important immunomodulatory effects that induce the gastrointestinal tract to homeostasis health. Single bacteria strains and combination of strains adhered to milk fat globule membranes (MFGM) introduced to gastrointestinal tract (GIT) via milk fat globules (MFG) have been found to prevent and reduce illness by providing improved mucosal immunity of the GIT. MFG allow adhered LAB increased probability of subsisting through bile, stomach acid and other autoimmune defenses. Central to this function is the composition and structure of the surface of these important microorganisms. We have some single gene deletion mutants of genes important for the outer surface of NCFM. DNA analysis also yields good quantification of observed binding dependent upon mutation type and expression of surface proteins. Therefore, it is crucial to study the morphology in LAB that contribute to adherence to MFGM. Using milk fat could be a means of supplying the world with probiotics that maintain a healthier lifestyle.
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/29
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1014
2010-12-03T23:43:44Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Examination of Thin Layers of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton with Emphasis on Bioluminescence
Anderson, Jordan
Robbins, Ian
Moline, Mark
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Thin layers of plankton are commonly found in coastal environments, with a vertical scale ranging from centimeters to a few meters, but extending horizontally over kilometers. These layers are highly productive and can contain 50-75% of the total biomass of the water column2-4. A two-week study was conducted in San Luis Obispo Bay comparing a traditional sampling method, Niskin bottles, with a recent advancement, autonomous profilers. Diversity Indexes were calculated for all species sampled in both methods. T Tests were conducted to compare the diversity indexes between methods and were not statistically significant (P(T<=t) one-tail=0.15). The abundance of a bioluminescent species, Noctiluca was compared at three different depths (shallow, within a spike in bioluminescence, and deep) and was found to be statistically significant (P(T<=t) one-tail=0.0177 for the shallow depth vs. spike and P(T<=t) one-tail=0.048 for the deep depth vs. spike). Future work could examine the vertical migration of phytoplankton and zooplankton throughout the night as opposed to one nightly sampling. This would allow interpretation of thin layers based on the behavior of the organisms comprising the layer, as opposed to the physical processes forming thin layers (as examined in this study).
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/31
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1015
2010-12-03T23:51:36Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
A Seed Infecting Fungus (Tilletia ehrhartae) Could Provide a Partial Biological Control Mechanism for Invasive Veldt Grass (Ehrharta calycina)
Overman, Briana
Light, Fritz
Villablanca, Francis
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Invasive species can disrupt or alter the natural ecosystem function, composition, and diversity of an area. Veldt grass, (Ehrharta calycina), is an exotic species causing plant diversity in areas to decline. The hypothesis tested was that the Veldt grass individuals would show a response to a host-specific pathogen, Tilletia ehrhartae. This study was conducted at two locations Los Osos and Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (GNDNWR) in California. We established four quadrats in Los Osos and six within GNDNWR using the nearest- neighbor method to collect infected/uninfected individuals of Veldt grass. All results were analyzed with t-tests and chi-squared statistics. Our results indicated no significance for an increase in vigor associated with escape from infection. However, our results were significant for stem height relative to infection status. Future work includes the effect of local seed predators and efficiency of co-germination.
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/30
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1017
2011-01-04T21:09:42Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Designing a Deep Space Bioregenarative System
Lopez, Hiram
Journey, Khrissaundra
Boyle, Richard
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Our purpose for assembling a closed system marine habitat that is self-sustaining will involve an eventual mission of astronauts being able to feed themselves in deep space or while visiting Mars. This mission, when possible, will require us to have a bioregenerative system. The closed system marine habitat, that we are in the process of building, will house microbes, marine algae, certain types of aquatic plant species, invertebrates, and other types of marine organisms that will coexist in space for scientific research and analysis. Our system will consist of five subcomponents, minimum human intervention, invertebrates, nongravitropic plants, nitrogen fixating bacteria, and an electronic component that will be utilized to help maintain the system and collect data. The invertebrates utilized will help give scientist a better understanding of how microgravity, cosmic radiation, and different particles in the space environment have an effect on the organisms. This mission will precede future missions of sending vertebrates to deep space for a long duration of time.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/15
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1018
2011-01-04T22:01:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Utilization of remote Scanning Electron Microscope (rSEM) as a Science Teaching Tool for Public School Students
Hay, Patty
Boyle, Richard
Varelas, Joseph
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a type of microscope used for seeing the microscopic world at higher magnifications than is possible with a light microscope. The SEM uses high-energy finely focused beam of electrons to form very detailed 3-dimensional magnified images that allows scientists and engineers to study in depth the surface structure of materials and biological samples. We aim to introduce the educational community to the use of microscopes as tools to advance hypothesis-driven science teaching at one level and to include them in a general science curriculum to help capture the imagination of the younger students. The SEM is an expensive and complicated research and industrial instrument, thus limiting its availability in the classroom. With remote SEM (rSEM), the SEM is connected to the internet and is made more accessible to public school students. Special software interfaces the rSEM to remote users and permits real time control on the microscope and allows classroom teachers and students worldwide to conduct research or scientific inquiry of their choice all from a personal computer over an internet connection. We hope to introduce the resources to teachers inspiring them to implement rSEM as a science teaching tool.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/28
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1020
2011-01-05T21:45:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Algae and Cyanobacteria Behavior with Fixed Variables for Space Missions
Wong, Leona
Bebout, Brad
Fleming, Erich
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The study of photosynthesis for nutrient and oxygen cycling in closed systems is vital for the future of human space explorations, as they must be self-sustainable for long durations of time. Algae and cyanobacteria are the most basic organisms known to perform photosynthesis and are also potential food sources, so it is important to explore their behavior in the conditions of space. AlgaeSat is a small satellite mission that will study the affects of microgravity and ionizing radiation on various types of algae. Growth rate and photophysiological changes will be measured Pulse Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorescence. In order to choose the best suited candidates, different strains of algae will be grown in varied conditions, which is the area of focus in this study.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/26
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1025
2011-01-05T22:43:42Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Comparison of Lysis Efficiency for DNA Extraction of Spore-forming Bacillus thuringiensis
Dunkel, Jody
Hoppes, Bill
Ramsey, Marilyn
Erler, Anne Marie
Wogan, Lewis
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Bead homogenization is a mechanical method utilizing microscopic glass beads for lysing Bacillus spore cells to extract DNA. Once DNA is extracted, real-time PCR may be run on sample DNA to identify species or compare relative amount of start DNA within samples. This experiment analyzes the efficiency of a machines, containers, and container positioning used in mechanical spore lysing and DNA extraction. Results show spore samples lysed in single tube machines produced more DNA material than high volume multi-sample machines and containers
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/23
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1026
2011-01-05T22:46:31Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Modernizing Accelerator Mass Spectrometer Data Acquisition
Groner, Leo
Ognibene, Ted
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
In Accelerator Mass Spectrometry [AMS] signal and digital processing instrumentation capture measurements of the ratio of rare isotopes to stable isotopes, such as carbon 14 to carbon 13. The importance of accuracy, speed and maintainability in their data acquisition [DAQ] systems is paramount. The goal of this project was to build a test bed to prototype a new architecture for AMS DAQ. A 90’s vintage CAMAC Crate Controller [CCC] was replaced by an Ethernet based controller. This allows replacement of an obsolete unsupported computer and circuit cards with a general-purpose computer with Ethernet communications, i.e., a Mac Mini. A test bed with a NIM crate and a CAMAC crate were assembled. Relevant aspects of the older AMS system were replicated; a pulse generator simulated an ion detector and LabVue simulated the older MAC. Once this test bed was debugged a CAEN CCC replaced the older CCC. New CCC command sequences were debugged using a telnet interface to its ASCII TCP/IP socket port. Then a new program was written for the Mac Mini Studio basic program to send either single crate commands, scripts containing command sequences or LUA programs to the CCC and store the measurement results on the MAC. In this project, a prototype/test bed exploiting newer DAQ technologies was built as a basis for completing a robust DAQ tool and for developing and testing further enhancements.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/22
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1022
2011-01-05T21:59:14Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Cyanobacteria and Biosequestration: The Effects of High CO2 Levels on Calcifying Strains of Synechococcus
Frye, Fallon E.
Swarbreck, Stephanie M.
Jansson, Christer
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and its influence on climate change is a growing concern in the scientific, political, and social communities. Methods of mitigation are being tested to explore carbon capture and storage through the biosynthesis of stable carbon-containing compounds using different strains of calcifying cyanobacteria. By utilizing marine genera, the cyanobacteria could potentially be grown in brine waste waters, conserving valuable fresh water resources. In this experiment, two strains of Synechococcus were cultured in flasks with varying levels of CO2: air, 5% CO2, and 15% CO2. Growth of each culture was monitored by measuring optical density and pH level, as calcification requires an alkaline environment. Morphological characteristics of each culture were analyzed through light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to compare differences in cell surface and association. Preliminary results have shown inconsistent morphology and growth. Cultures started from previous experiments lacked duplication of observed filamentous morphology, but exhibited better growth in high CO2 levels. The incubation of cultures in media with varying levels of calcium chloride will be used to analyze and compare the sequestration of carbon through calcium carbonate production. Analysis of the chemical composition of precipitates in the media and the S-layer of cells will verify the presence of calcium carbonate. Methods include the use of SEM-EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and polarized light microscopy. If experimental outcomes verify efficient production of calcium carbonate from sources of high CO2, these cyanobacteria may be viable systems for capturing carbon.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/25
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1019
2011-01-05T21:39:35Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Carbon-based Materials for Extracting Urea to Recycle Waste Water in Space Applications
Vu, Chuong
Nicolau, Eduardo
Richardson, Tra-my Justine
Cabrera, Carlos R.
Flynn, Michael
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Recovering water aboard spacecrafts is essential for space exploration. Bringing fresh water to outer space for crew members is an expensive process. Therefore, recycling waste water to usable water is necessary for long term space missions and applications. Previous experiments showed that urea, which is the main substance in urine, prematurely fouled the membrane used in the water treatment process. In this experiment we investigated different carbon-based materials to act as a urea pre-treatment step. A total of nine different materials were tested for the amount of urea they can adsorb. The adsorption rate will enable us to decide which material is best for the pre-treatment process. Out of nine adsorbents, three had good adsorption rate with over 90% of urea is adsorbed.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/27
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1023
2011-01-23T18:32:31Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Next Generation of Quality Low Energy “Green” Windows
Kennedy, James M
Mendelsberg, R.J.
Lim, S.H.N.
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Thin Solid Films of high quality transparent conductive oxide (TCO) metals can be synthesized for energy efficient windows and other materials by filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (FCVA). Aluminum-doped zinc oxide, ZnO:Al or AZO, is a well-known n-type transparent TCO with great potential in a number of applications currently dominated by indium tin oxide. In the Plasma Application Group research, the optical and electrical properties of AZO thin films deposited on glass and silicon by pulsed FCVA deposition are systematically studied. The quality of the AZO films strongly depends on growth temperature while only marginal improvements are obtained by post-annealing. The best films, grown at a temperature of about 200 degrees C, have resistivities in the low to mid 1/(10,000 ohm cm) range with a transmittance better than 85% in the visible part of the spectrum. In order to produce the best quality AZO films monitoring experiment must be controlled before and during the experiment. The initial processes were primarily manual in the setup phase and partially automated in the experimental phases. These processes have been automated by analyzing instrumentation FVCA operation and using LabVIEW graphical, dataflow software to control this instrumentation equipment and the FVCA experiments.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/20
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1021
2011-01-24T23:37:16Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 into CH4
Zabalza, Nicholas
LeGrande, Alex
Tran, Tuan
Hong, Kathy
Chen, Bin
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
As fossil fuels become increasingly depleted, the development of clean energy sources increasingly becomes more important. Both titanium(IV) oxide and tungsten(VI) oxide nanowires have been shown to harness the electromagnetic waves given off by the sun to turn water into hydrogen and oxygen gas; using the UV and visible spectrum, respectively. Investing in this principle, we have designed a novel device that converts carbon dioxide and water vapor into methane in a cost effective manner. The device uses a composite of the two complementary nanowires in order to obtain broader solar absorption. This was done by first synthesizing the needed self-assembling TiO2 and WO3 nanowires. A thin layer of the nanowires was then applied to silk worm silk; a substrate that gases can pass through. Finally, photoelectric tests were run to determine the efficiency of the device.
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/17
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1024
2011-01-24T23:52:36Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Carbon Transfer from Labeled Leaf Litter into Mineral Soil at the University of Missouri Baskett Research Area, a Deciduous Forest in the Eastern United States
Bradshaw, Shayne
McFarlane, Karis
Zermeno, Paula
Hanson, Paul
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
We used radiocarbon enriched leaf litter to quantify the transfer of carbon through a soil profile at an eastern deciduous forest in the United States, located at the University of Missouri's Baskett research area in the Ozark mountains. Mineral soil was sampled from five plots before (2007) and after (2008 and 2009). Radiocarbon enriched leaf litter was applied to the soil surface each year and samples of native litter-fall and mineral soil from 0-5 cm, 5-15 cm, and 15-30 cm depths were collected.
Soil samples were first put through a 2mm sieve and the particles that passed through the sieve were dried at 70 degrees Celsius for several days until constant mass was reached. The samples were then sent to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to be graphitized and subsequently run on the accelerator mass spectrometer. The method for graphitizing the samples was to measure out an amount of soil based on its estimated percent carbon concentration that would yield 1mg of graphite for analysis. The first process was to combust the soil with copper oxide and silver catalyst under vacuum. The gases produced by combustion were put on a graphitization rig and the water vapor and other incondensibles were separated from the carbon dioxide based on each gases physical properties. The carbon dioxide was ultimately separated and sent to a reaction chamber where it was reduced in the presence of hydrogen gas and an iron catalyst that provided a surface for the graphite to adhere to during the reduction reaction. The iron also served as a binder and thermal conductor.
The graphite was then pounded into targets and analyzed on the accelerator mass spectrometer. Measurements of the carbon-14 count to carbon-13 current were taken. This information was then used in the mixing model equation to calculate the fraction of carbon in the mineral soil that was transferred from the radiocarbon enriched leaf litter on the surface. The results show that 8% of the carbon from the labeled leaf litter transferred down to the 0-5cm mineral soil depth. The 0-5cm depth was the only depth that showed a statistically significant increase in radiocarbon after 2 years. t-tests also showed the mean differences in radiocarbon in the 2007 versus 2009 5-15cm and 15-30 cm respective depths did not have enough evidence to support a claim at a 25% level of certainty of an increase in radiocarbon. To determine whether there was an increase in radiocarbon with statistical certainty at these depths over time we would need more replicates and/or more time for the transfer to occur before the next sample is taken.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/24
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1028
2011-01-23T18:04:51Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Time Resolved UV Spectroscopy on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak
Kamp, Jonathan B.
Brown, G.V.
Beiersdorfer, P.
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
A flat field grating spectrometer has been installed on Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Alcator C-MOD tokamak. This spectrometer is being used to measure and monitor the presence of impurity ions. The spectrometer employs a variable space grating with a spacing of 2400 lines/mm that covers the 10-70 Å wavelength band. The spectrometer has a time resolution of about 5 ms. Here we present results of the Alcator C-MOD experiments conducted during spring of 2010. The typical spectra contain lines from such elements as boron, argon, calcium, fluorine, and tungsten. We will also discuss how this work can be integrated into a high school classroom as a means to educate students about energy research as well as atomic and plasma physics. This will also equip students with the understanding and skills of how science and research are accomplished in a professional setting.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/16
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1029
2011-01-23T17:58:56Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Yersinia pestis Proteomics and Vaccine Development
Paddack, Rebecca
Evans, Lindsey
Lin, Jr-Shiuan
Smiley, Stephen
Chromy, Brett
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Pneumonic plague, caused by the gram-negative bacteria Yersinia pestis, has led to millions of human causalities during several major pandemics and has the potential to be employed as a deadly biological warfare agent. For this reason, it is vital that an effective vaccine against Y. pestis be created. Currently, a subunit vaccine exists which works by stimulating B-cells (humoral immunity), but it has failed to protect primates in aerosolized bacterial challenges. In an effort to complement the existing vaccine, an alternative vaccine strategy can use both B-cell stimulation and the targeting of T cells (cell-mediated immunity) with an antigenic peptide isolated from the bacteria. To determine what proteins may stimulate T cells, bacteria from three different strains of Y. pestis, KIM 5, KIM 6, and KIM 8, were cultured on TBA plates for four days and then in BCS liquid medium at either 26 or 37C for four hours. Subproteomic fractionation of different regions of Y. pestis cultures were obtained and examined using 2-D DIGE, size-spin filters, and mixed-mode chromatography to isolate protein fractions that may stimulate T cells. Once differential proteins are selected, future work includes determining structure by mass spectrometry, and testing for antigenic peptides on T4 and T8 T cell stimulation assays.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/19
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1027
2011-01-24T19:47:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Characterizing Warm Dense Matter
Irish, Ernest
Ping, Yuan
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Warm Dense Matter (WDM) is matter at the transition from solid to plasma. The experiment reveals a transitional state in which electrons carry off energy while the nuclei remain undisturbed. Understanding WDM will aid in the understanding of astrophysics.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/18
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1030
2011-01-23T17:57:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Stability of Nanolipoprotein Particles (NLPs) at Different Temperatures and Complex Media
Venkataraman, Purna
Fischer, Nicholas
Blanchette, Craig
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) have the potential to be versatile platforms for many different kinds of medical applications, from cancer therapeutics to vaccine delivery. These particles can be very useful in medicine because they are composed of molecules that are naturally made by the body and therefore have a lower potential of having harmful side effects. However, there are many questions that are unknown about the function of NLPs within an organism. How long can NLPs circulate within the blood? How stable are NLPs within the blood? At what point do NLPs degrade and is this enough time for them to reach its destination in the body? This particular project tests the stability of NLPs in biological media to understand how NLPs may behave within the blood. Understanding its stability in blood can be useful in cancer therapeutic applications because NLPs can be targeted specifically to cancer cells and deliver drugs directly to the tumor if they are able to degrade only after reaching the target tissue.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/21
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1031
2011-01-28T00:04:00Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Recyclability of Ionic Liquid in Pretreatment of Eucalyptus Globulus
Ambrose, Melissa
Tran, Kim
George, Anthe
Holmes, Bradley
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
One of the most successful methods for the pretreatment of biomass is the use of Ionic Liquids (IL). However, the cost associated with IL prohibits it from being plausible for mass production of bioethanol. In order to decrease the cost of this pretreatment method, the recyclability ILs was tested by performing a series of pretreatments on Eucalyptus globulus. The IL used was 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2mim][OAc]). The IL from each series was recovered, dried and reused for the following series. It was determined that there was a significant reduction in the enzymatic hydrolysis yields after the first and subsequent recycling steps, and a significant amount of IL was lost in each round of recycling.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/32
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1032
2011-02-04T21:36:49Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Using the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) to Observe Trends in Pollutants
Ruff, James
Gatebe, Charles
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are called aerosols. Windblown dust, sea salts, volcanic ash, smoke from wildfires, and pollution from factories are all examples of aerosols. Depending upon their size, type and location, aerosols can either coll the surface, or warm it. They can help clouds form, or they can inhibit cloud formation. And if inhaled, some aerosols can be harmful to people's health. Aerosol optical depth (AOD), or aerosol optical thickness (AOT) is a quantitative measure of the extinction of solar radiation by aerosol scattering and absorption between the point of observation and the top of the atmosphere. The AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) program is a federation of ground-based remote sensing aerosol networks established by NASA and LOA-PHOTONS (CNRS). AERONET collaboration provides globally distributed observations of spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD), inversion products, and precipitable water in diverse aerosol regimes. Aerosol optical depth data are computed for three data quality levels: Level 1.0 (unscreened), Level 1.5 (cloud-screened), and Level 2.0 (cloud screened and quality assured).
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/34
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1034
2011-01-28T21:43:23Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
The Coolest Place in the World
Spekterman, Joseph
Kogut, Alan
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Laboratory Prototyping for the Big Bang Cosmology
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/33
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1033
2011-02-04T23:14:13Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Analyzing Sun Photometer Data to Discover Trends and to Create Educational Activities for Students
Williams, Robyn
Gatebe, Charles
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The sun photometer data was collected and organized by the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) program at NASA GSFC. These sun photometers measure AOD by looking at the sun using 8 different filters that take measurements at various wavelengths. The larger the AOD at a particular wavelength means that less of that wavelength is being transmitted to the Earth's surface. An optical depth 1 or greater indicates a hazy sky condition while an optical depth of less than 0.1 indicates clear skies. This summer I decided to research whether elevation had any affect on the AOD value. I chose locations across the United States and others around the globe. In order to limit the amount of variables involved, I compared the AOD at locations along the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast of the US. These locations also had a range of elevations.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/35
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1035
2011-02-04T21:34:49Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Settlement in Fouling Communities of San Fransisco Bay
Hill, Jacqueline
Cohen, Sarah
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
Settlement among native and invasive marine organisms in fouling communities was observed at various time intervals in the San Francisco Bay. Many of these well-known, globally invasive organisms grow rapidly and often outcompete or overgrow natives. Settlement plates were placed at three different protected areas within the Bay (Richmond Marina Bay Yacht Club (1), Berkeley Marina (2), and Fort Baker (3)) and scored once a week for 5 weeks. The two larger East Bay sites (1 and 2) showed considerably greater species diversity and abundance in comparison to the smaller site near the mouth of the Bay (site 3). Furthermore, at the Easy Bay sites, algal cover gradually decreased as animal diversity and abundance progressively increased. Species including Didemnum sp., Balanus glandula, Watersipora subtorquata, white encrusting bryozoan, and white branching bryozoan showed significant settlement differences in initial recruitment density on empty plates deployed in the 1st versus the 3rd week. Recruitment on the plates appeared to show a priority effect where the earliest settlers (colonial tunicates and Bugula neritina) were consistently the most abundant species present each subsequent week. Measuring the growth and abundance of the invasive organisms is important to study because they are altering the habitats and opportunities for native organisms to persist.
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/38
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1037
2011-02-04T17:26:42Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) Variability with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Koshy, Sam
Hoffman, Douglas I
Cutri, Roc M
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
A large fraction of objects in the universe vary in brightness as a function of time. Whereas Kozlowski et al. (2010) investigated a large sample of variable AGN with the Spitzer Space Telescope in the mid-IR for the first time, the WISE telescope can probe AGN variability at much shorter time scales, ranging from hours to months. Also, WISE is an all-sky survey, and thereby provides a much larger catalogue of infrared sources to analyze. A comprehensive list of quasi-stellar objects (QSO) was generated using the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED). The light curves of these 132,851 objects were obtained using WISE observations. The standard deviation and band-to-band correlation coefficients were calculated for each object. We consider sources in different variability levels where these variability levels correspond to the objects’ deviation from the median SD values of the light curve. In addition, we compute the variability of the objects over different time scales and compare the results to Kozlowski et al. (2010) to observe how variability of AGNs evolve over a period of hours to months. We present light curves of the most variable objects in our sample and characterize the variability of all the objects as a function of time.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/36
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1036
2011-02-04T21:32:19Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Analysis of San Francisco Bay Environmental Conditions as they relate to Organismal Abundance
Dournaee, Mary
Garfield, Toby
Cohen, Sarah
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in environmental conditions in the San Francisco Bay and to determine whether these environmental factors have a significant impact on organismal growth. This study analyzed temperature, salinity, and ocean current data collected from six different field sites located in the central region of the San Francisco Bay throughout July, 2010. This environmental data was compared to organismal growth on recruitment devices at each site. The recruitment devices consisted of two 6”x12” PVC plates and one mesh wrap containing two Tuffy kitchen scrub pads. Settled organisms included native and invasive crustaceans, bryozoans, polychaetes, nudibranchs, and tunicates. Protected field sites in the East Bay experiencing maximum currents between 20-30 cm/s and average temperatures of 18.2-18.4 °C demonstrated the most overall organismal growth. The relationship between variation in salinity and organismal growth is unclear and further study addressing tidal considerations is necessary.
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/37
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1038
2011-02-04T21:27:09Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Radar Reflectivity Experiment: Measurements for Volcano and Earthquake Monitoring
Benjamin, Garrett
Freund, Freidemann T
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
This experiment is a further continuation of the research done by Dr. Friedemann Freund, Robert Dahlgren, and Colin Williams in 2009. This pilot study using 1.2 GHz radar showed a 5% increase in radar reflectivity off a smooth gabbro surface that was manipulated in the experiment. The long-term goal is to determine whether changes in radar reflectivity presage earthquakes or volcanic activity.
Before major tectonic activity stress and rising temperatures activate mobile electronic charge carriers in rocks deep in the Earth crust. The charge carriers, known as positive holes can diffuse out of the activation volume and spread through kilometers of rocks.
Using changes in radar reflectivity to detect pre-earthquake signals and to monitor early signs of volcanic activity is the ultimate thrust of this experiment. Radar detection from space is much less subject to atmospheric interferences than thermal IR emission. This idea, if successfully demonstrated through laboratory and field experiments, will lay the foundation for further work to apply this concept to satellite missions. Our project has the potential of revolutionizing NASA’s Natural Disasters Plan and this country’s approach to national and global challenges posed by earthquakes and volcanoes.
SETI Institute
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/40
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1039
2011-03-31T00:44:54Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Radar Reflectivity Experiment: Infrared Measurements
Stemm, Matthew
Freund, Friedemann
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>Before large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, the increased stress and temperature activates electronic charge carriers within the Earth’s crust. The charge carriers can diffuse out of the stressed rock and travel for kilometers throughout the surround rocks. Once at the Earth’s surface, the charge carriers can react in a variety of processes – which can be detected remotely. One process involves the charge carriers releasing energy as infrared emissions – which are detected in satellites as “thermal infrared anomalies.” Our experiment involves stressing large blocks of basic rocks with expanding cement and detecting the infrared emissions. We will focus on how the thermal infrared band is distributed spatially over the rock and how the emission changes as a function of time during build-up of stress until the rock breaks.</p>
SETI Institute
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/41
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1040
2011-03-22T21:43:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
High Quantum-Efficiency Electron Gun Tests at SSRL
Robinson, Deborah
Corbett, Jeff
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>Quantum efficiency of the electron gun at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory can be increased by using laser-induced photo-emission.<sup>1</sup> The gun cathode is normally heated to ~1000 C for electron emission and injection into the synchrotron light source. In these experiments, the cathode is cooled down and irradiated with ultra-violet laser radiation to produce emission with higher quantum efficiency. The result is an increase in shot-to-shot electron emission rate and better control over the electron beam size. During my time at SLAC, two laser systems were commissioned to provide sources of ultra-violet radiation that irradiate a pair of electron guns in the photo-emission mode. The first laser system features an infrared Nd:glass laser frequency doubled to green light with a BBO crystal and doubled again to UV radiation with a second BBO crystal. The UV laser beam was then directed to the gun cathode using a visible, collinear HeNe laser beam. The second laser system features a ‘JEDI’ frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser borrowed from LCLS. In this case, the green output beam was doubled with a BBO crystal to produce UV radiation and again aligned to the gun cathode using a collinear HeNe laser beam. Because of my previous career as an engineer working at Hughes Aircraft Company and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the field of lasers, I was able to take laser safety classes at SLAC which enabled me to become a QLO – Qualified Laser Operator and work with both of these laser sources and transport systems during my summer internship.</p>
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/39
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1041
2011-06-27T22:17:09Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Dual Polarization Interferometry for Small Molecules Drug Development
Nawim, Sarwia
Chromy, Brett
Evans, Lindsey
2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the gram-negative bacterium <em>Francisella tularensis. </em>Transmission to animals and humans occurs via several routes, including ingestion of contaminated water, or inhalation of contaminated dusts or aerosols, tick bites, and skin contact with infected animals. Because of its highly pathogenic and opportunistic nature, <em>F. tularensis </em>is a likely candidate for use as an airborne biological weapon. For this reason, developing a vaccine and identifying appropriate treatments are critical to effective bioterrorism preparedness and response. It may exist in nature within encysted amoeba, which may represent a similar survival strategy within human macrophages. To facilitate antimicrobial drug development, a study of the encystment process was carried out. One of the proteins discovered during this study was Rep 24, a novel Francisella cysteine protease. In this current study the interaction between Rep 24 and a possible interactive substrate, JPM-565, is observed. This interaction is detected through the optical sensing technique known as Dual Polarization Interferometry (DPI). Immobilized Rep 24 is layered on a thiol chip, followed by a wash of JPM. Changes in the refractive index of the molecules, as measured by DPI, demonstrate binding events between the two. Data from binding experiments are later used for quantitative measurements of size, density and mass. Future work includes investigation of additional <em>Francisella tularensis </em>proteins and screens against small molecules that may bind and abrogate function, leading to countermeasures against <em>Francisella tularensis.</em></p>
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/164
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1042
2011-07-28T18:48:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Wavelength Selective Photovoltaics for Low Cost Electricity Generation
Wong, Leona
Bebout, Brad
Bebout, Leslie
Carter, Sue
Fleming, Erich
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>With the increasing demand for renewable energy resources, photovoltaic (PV) technologies are being rapidly developed. These technologies include methods of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into usable energy, commonly using solar panels. However, to generate enough energy to meet the world’s electricity demands, it may be required that PV solar farms are installed in agricultural and desert areas, competing with food production, crops for biofuels, and/or the conservation of desert ecosystems. High efficiency solar cells may help with the land-use issues, but they are hard to manufacture at low costs.</p>
<p>This study proposes the solution of enabling wide scale development of low cost photovoltaic cell technology that can coexist on land used for algal biofuel. To do this, we compared the growth (optical density and chlorophyll a extraction per cell) and photosynthetic behavior (O2 production) of different types of algae by exposing them to increasing intensities of light filtered through pink waveshifting photovoltaic (WSPV) polymer sheets. The sheets selectively absorb wavelengths between 400 and 600nm, allowing wavelengths above 600 to pass though. We will see how green algae grow under these conditions, and ultimately collect the unused light and convert it into electricity by the low cost polymer sheets.</p>
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/65
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1043
2011-12-09T22:48:45Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Tunable Synthesis of Tungsten(VI) oxide Nanowires for Solar Powered Thin Film Devices
Zabalza, Nicholas
LeGrande, Alex
Chen, Bin
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
Tungsten(VI) oxide
Tungsten(VI) oxide Nanowires
Solar Powered
Thin Film Device
Acid Digestion Bomb
Nanosheets
Nanowire Precursors
<p>Envisioned is a solar powered thin film device that converts carbon dioxide and water vapor into methane using a composite of tungsten(VI) oxide nanowires and titanium(IV) oxide nanowires. Tungsten(VI) oxide nanowires are capable of absorbing a higher percentage of the sun's radiation compared to titanium(IV) nanowires since WO<sub>3</sub> nanowires absorb blue light and TiO<sub>2</sub> nanowires absorb UV light. However, WO<sub>3</sub> nanowires have a lower light energy conversion efficiency and a lower photostability compared to TiO<sub>2</sub> nanowires. This poster discusses the synthesis of the WO<sub>3</sub> nanowires. It is important to synthesize WO<sub>3</sub> nanowires in different sizes and shapes to show that the material is tunable and scalable. Doing so will allow the material to have broader applications.</p>
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/74
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1044
2011-08-02T21:55:34Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Exploring Methods for Earthquake Prediction: The Effects of Water on the Flow of Stress-Activated Electric Currents in Igneous Rocks
Jahoda, Aaron M
Freund, Friedemann T
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Much of the devastation and damage of earthquakes can be attributed to the fact that they occur suddenly and without much warning, which limits the ability of people to evacuate and/or properly prepare. One method, however, that might be used to predict seismic events is the generation of electric currents in rocks when stresses are applied. It is observed in this research that the application of direct force onto samples of igneous rock causes the rocks to generate a measurable current, which is attributed to positive-hole charges moving within the oxygen sub-lattice. Because large and changing forces are acted upon rocks at fault lines before and during earthquakes, the monitoring of rock currents could provide a tangible precursor to aid in predicting earthquake occurrences. In order for this method to be feasible, positive-hole currents must be able to travel from the source rock all the way to the surface of the Earth, which means traveling through water-saturated rocks contained in the Earth’s crust. If the positive-hole currents can in fact travel through water-impregnated rocks, then monitoring stations set up at the surface should be able to detect the stress-based current fluctuations. </p>
Geophysics and Seismology
Other Physics
Physical Chemistry
SETI Institute
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/51
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1045
2011-08-05T05:05:19Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling for Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions
Ng, David M.
Navid, Ali
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
PBPK physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling drug interaction caffeine ciprofloxacin simulation computational
<p>Dynamics of interactions between the drugs caffeine and ciprofloxacin are predicted using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. <em>Pharmacokinetic</em> means the model determines where the drugs are distributed in the body over time. <em>Physiologically-based</em> means the anatomy and physiology of the human body is reflected in the structure and functioning of the model. Multiple drugs can interact to increase or decrease their beneficial and/or undesired effects. This is important because some common substances, such as caffeine in coffee and soft drinks, are actually drugs that affect the body. By implementing the model as a computer program, it is relatively straightforward to perform “experiments” that would be too costly, time-consuming, or even unethical, if done on humans.</p>
Biochemistry
Computational Biology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/49
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1046
2011-10-11T18:57:25Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
The Role of LLNL's FAST Calibration Facility in Diagnosing NIF Fusion Plasmas
Thompson, Joshua G
Scott, Carey
Brown, Greg V.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
FAST
EBIT
NIF
LLNL
HCI
plasma
astrophysics
nuclear physics
x-ray
spectroscopy
<p>The Fusion and Astrophysics (FAST) Calibration and Diagnostic Facility uses the original Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT-I) to profile x-ray filters that are used in the Dante Soft X-Ray Diagnostic at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). FAST has an advantage over any other facility not only for its high accuracy, but also for its proximity to NIF in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This makes for highly accurate and near-instantaneous filter calibration turnover.</p>
<p>EBIT-I was first constructed to create, trap, and observe static highly charged ions (HCIs) and conduct experimental astrophysics (creating an x-ray spectroscopy catalogue of ions). To do this, EBIT-I uses a super-cooled, super-vacuum chamber which fires an electron beam that strips injected atoms of some to all of their electrons. To trap these new ions, an array of superconducting magnets and high electric potentials contain the HCI’s. A second neutral gas is then injected to encourage the HCI’s to drop in energy levels and emit measurable x-rays using the EBIT Calorimeter Spectrometer (ECS).</p>
<p>However, EBIT-I has proven to be more versatile beyond these investigations of astronomy and nuclear physics. If premeasured HCIs are created inside EBIT-I, FAST can place unknown filters before the ECS and test the transmittance (or the level of x-ray transparency) of the filter material. Transmittance depends only on the wavelength of light and filter thickness, so FAST’s ability to quickly change to different x-ray energies by running different HCIs gives it accuracy and quick run times that no other facility can match.</p>
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Nuclear
Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/42
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1047
2011-12-10T00:15:40Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Discovery of an Apoptosis Inducing Ligand for Burkitt Lymphoma
Laymon, Carolyn
Bradylong, Kyla
Saunders, Mary
Olivos, David
Lam, Kit
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
apoptosis
one bead one compound
one bead two compound
burkitt lymphoma
OBTC
OBOC
<p>One-bead two-compound (OB2C) combinatorial chemistry libraries enable the discovery of novel synthetic compounds which can be used to evoke specific signaling response in cells. The library configuration is composed of a fixed known cell adhesion ligand and a random chemical library displayed on the surface of Tentagel beads. The cell adhesion ligand binds to specific receptors located on the surface of cells enabling the random immobilized chemical molecules on each bead resin bead to evoke specific cellular responses such as apoptosis or cell death. To validate this concept, a OB2C combinatorial library comprised of an α4β1 integrin targeting ligand, LLP2A, and a novel self-folding tricyclic branched hexamer random library were screened against various hematological and epithelial cancer cell lines: Raji, Molt4, Jurkat, TK6, and PC3N. These cells were incubated with library beads for 48 hours in 6 well tissue culture plates. Propidium iodide, a DNA intercalating agent, is then added to each well to evaluate cell viability. When visualized under a fluorescent microscope, with wavelength excited at 488 nm, cells bound to the OB2C libraries will fluoresce red, indicating apoptosis. From the Raji cell line screening, one bead from the LDO2A-LLP2A library was selected for invoking apoptosis. The morphological appearance of the cells bound to this bead were: blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin fragmentation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation. Further sequencing via Edman degradation will be performed to identify the amino acid sequence. This chemical approach has the potential to target and kill Burkitt lymphoma.</p>
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Biochemistry
Medical Cell Biology
Medical Sciences
Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/75
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1048
2011-08-09T00:50:36Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
A Study of Ozone at Railroad Valley, NV and Trinidad Head, CA
Salazar, Sarah L
Iraci, Laura T
Yates, Emma L.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Ozone at Railroad Valley
NV and Trinidad Head
CA
<p><strong>A STUDY OF OZONE AT RAILROAD VALLEY, NV and TRINIDAD HEAD, CA</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Ozone (Oᴣ) is a form of oxygen that protects the planet Earth from deadly ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun; without this triatomic molecule high in the atmosphere, life processes on the planet would be impossible. Ozone is an air pollutant and toxic in the lowest part of the atmosphere, and inhaling it could cause permanent damage to animals’ respiratory system. Long term exposure to high concentration of ozone has been linked with the development of asthma in children. Because of its complicated role in our atmosphere, scientists are studying its depletion and recovery in the stratosphere, and the minimization of ozone formation in the atmospheric boundary layer (the lowest part of the atmosphere). Here at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC), the Atmospheric Branch of Earth Science Division is conducting a study to examine and compare ozone concentrations in the atmospheric boundary layer (0 to ~2 km above the surface of the Earth) to those of the free troposphere (~2 km to ~10 km, where regional transport occurs), and to validate the accuracy of the ozone instrument used in the experiment. Using a 2BTechnology, Inc., Dual Beam Ozone Monitor installed inside the wing pod of an Alpha jet aircraft based at Moffett Field vertical profiles of ozone concentrations have been collected at Trinidad Head, California, and Railroad Valley (RRV), Nevada. The airborne data at Trinidad Head are also compared to standard measurements collected by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) using a balloonborne DMT Electrochemical Concentration Cell Ozonesonde. My area of research is to support the calibration of the ozone instrument, to aggregate ozone measurements, and to analyze data collected from the three subject locations.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
Earth Sciences
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/70
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1049
2012-01-04T22:10:44Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Quantitative Characterization of Microstructure Features for 1st Generation Advanced High Strength Steels
Vidrio, Margarita
Liu, Ellen
Li, Donsheng
Choi, Kyoo Sil
Sun, Xin
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Characterization
Microstructure
Advanced
High
Strength
Steels
Dual-phase
Matlab
Photoshop
Mathematics
Computational
<p>The role of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) in the automotive industry is important because of its affordability and excellent mechanical properties. The 1st generation of AHSS achieves its preferred combination of strength and ductility by embedding harder martensite grains into softer ferritic matrix. Ductility and strength of these steels are important to safety, formability, application, and life. However, a noticeable degree of inconsistent forming behaviors has been observed in the 1st generation AHSS in production, which seems to be related to the microstructure-level inhomogeneity. The objective of this project is to grain fundamental understandings on how different microstructure level features of AHSS can influence the behaviors of these steels subjected to deformation paths similar to those experiences in automotive forming operations. The ultimate goal is to accelerate the cost-effective vehicle weight reduction through increasing use of these steels. In this study, microstructure characterization has been performed on nine different DP980 grade steels. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) pictures were first taken from the DP steels. Image processing tools in MATLAB and Photoshop were then adopted to mathematically quantify the microstructural features of these different steels. The obtained data in this study are expected to correlate with the macroscopic deformation behaviors observed in various experiments. PNNL-SA-81894.</p>
Computational Engineering
Numerical Analysis and Computation
Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing
Structural Materials
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/91
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1050
2011-12-01T20:09:53Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Rock Porosity Analysis Using High Resolution X-ray Tomography
Groner, Leo
Parkinson, Dula
Bazilevskaya, Katya
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Rock Porosity
Porosity
pores
High Resolution X-ray Tomography
tomography
<p>Understanding rock porosity, the fraction of rock volume that is in pores, is a key to modeling weathering and flow of water, petroleum and CO2 through geological structures. Weathering of rocks affects the CO2 cycle, nutrient cycle and soil formation. Rock porosity affects water flow rates and, in turn, affects weathering. Avizo software was used to explore, visualize and measure the reconstructed high-resolution X-ray micro-tomography data collected from scanned rocks. Many Avizo approaches were tried before arriving at an acceptable process to determine their porosity characteristics. Porosity dynamics are affected by weathering and lithification. At micron resolution, the image is cleaned up by Avizo and the picture emerges. This image, which shows the porosity of the rock, and the channels between the pores, may then be analyzed to reveal how easily CO2 will flow through it under pressure—and thus the capacity for CO2 sequestration at that site.</p>
Geology
Graphics and Human Computer Interfaces
Mineral Physics
Other Environmental Sciences
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/59
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1051
2011-08-09T23:24:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Vapor Liquid Solid Growths of Germanium and Gallium Antimonide Nanowires
Alvarez, Ralph
Arreola, Esmeralda
Oye, Michael
Meyyappan, Meyya
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
VLS
Germanium
Gallium Antimonide
Vapor Liquid Solid
<p>Determining the optimal growth parameters for germanium (Ge) and gallium antimonide (GaSb) nanowires is the focus of this research. Given the fact that nano materials behave differently from their bulk counterparts we are researching some variables that influence nanowire diameter and length such as temperature, ramp rate, gas flow rate, and catalyst particle size. Based on the nano material size which is typically a few 10s of nanometers wide, these nano materials can be engineered to take advantage of their optical properties. Specifically the infrared (IR) response of Ge and GaSb nanowires are directly controllable based on their geometry. Fine tuning the IR response can lead to device integration for night vision, chemical sensing, and free space communications. Our early research has been successful in growing Au-Ge nanowires of varying lengths – some are approximately 40 microns in length. We achieved the growth using a Vapor Liquid Solid (VLS) method, a 5 nm gold (Au) colloidal catalyst, growth temperature of 860 <sup>o</sup>C and a gas flow of argon at meter reading of 60/200. Further research will include adjusting the above-listed variables in order to gain a clearer understanding of the optimal growth conditions for Ge and GaSb nanowires.</p>
Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Materials Chemistry
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/69
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1052
2011-12-09T22:54:58Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Characterization of Uranium Species in Sediments under Iron and Sulfate Reducing Conditions Using Synchrotron-Based Techniques
Pham, Don Q.
Bargar, John
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
X-Ray Absorption
X-Ray Microscopy
Uranium
<p>Uranium is one of the most common and problematic contaminants at legacy Department of Energy sites. Groundwater contamination is particularly problematic because it occurs at depth, is present in large volumes, and cannot be easily accessed for clean-up. One method of remediation being investigated is the bioreduction of soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) complexes through the <em>in-situ</em> stimulation of metal-reducing bacteria. Understanding the structure of these uranium complexes can help us determine their fate and stability in groundwater and map out the biological process of uranium reduction by metal-reducing bacteria. In this study, we used the synchrotron-based techniques, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray microscopy (XRM), to determine the geometric structure of the uranium species found in the contaminated sediments at Old Rifle, Colorado. From our XRM images, uranium is shown to be highly associated with iron and sulfur, two species found in naturally reduced zones (NRZ) at the Old Rifle site. XAS data show that reduced U(IV) is bounded to oxygen, forming stable uraninite (UO<sub>2</sub>) complexes. More analysis is needed for a complete picture of the structure of these uranium complexes.</p>
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Monitoring
Physical Chemistry
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/76
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1053
2012-01-04T22:09:24Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Velo: A Knowledge Management Platform for Modeling and Simulation
Kessie, Molly K
Gorton, Ian
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Knowledge Management
Content Management
Scientific Modeling
Simulation
Wiki
<p>The integrated Regional Earth System Model (iRESM), developed by the Data Intensive Scientific Computing Group at PNNL, integrates regional climate, energy, hydrological, and land use models into a single high resolution modeling tool, which represents the climate, geography, economy, and energy supply/demand of a given region. Scientists are then able to analyze and predict how regional economies are able to respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Similarly, the same group developed the Geologic Sequestration Software Suite (, which supports the study of geologic sequestration. Geologic sequestration is the process of mitigating global warming through the long-term storage of greenhouse gases. Finding suitable subsurface locations for sequestration requires extensive studies that include modeling site geology. Developing and implementing such integrated models for both iRESM and requires multi-disciplinary collaboration. In order to allow for this cooperation, both iRESM and are built upon Velo, a highly flexible knowledge management platform for modeling and simulation. Velo integrates several open source software packages including MediaWiki, which provides rich collaboration functionality and can be extended to integrate specific tools for a given science domain. In this project, we have extended Velo to upload and integrate data sets that are used in both the iRESM and tools. This work contributes to the primary research goals for iRESM and in which users are able to easily access and modify scientific data for their modeling and simulation projects. Upon completion of this project a collaborative Web-Based environment in which scientists of different domains will be able to easily work in partnership on given projects will exist. PNNL-SA-81940.</p>
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/90
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1055
2011-10-11T19:05:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Laboratory Astrophysics: Using EBIT measurements to interpret high resolution spectra from celestial sources
Scott, Carey
Thompson, Joshua
Hell, N.
Brown, Greg V.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
ASTRO-H
astrophysics
silicon
manganese
spectroscopy
HMXB
EBIT
LLNL
stars
HCI
<p>Astrophysicists use radiation to investigate the physics controlling a variety of celestial sources, including stellar atmospheres, black holes, and binary systems. By measuring the spectrum of the emitted radiation, astrophysicists can determine a source’s temperature and composition. Accurate atomic data are needed for reliably interpreting these spectra. Here we present an overview of how LLNL’s EBIT facility is used to put the atomic data on sound footing for use by the high energy astrophysics community.</p>
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Cosmochemistry
Nuclear
Other Astrophysics and Astronomy
Physical Processes
Plasma and Beam Physics
Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/43
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1056
2011-12-09T22:59:55Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Rehabilitation of SRRL Aerosol Optical Depth Photometer Data
Deeb, Elin
Myers, Daryl
Andreas, Afshin
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Aerosols
radiometer
photometer
solar energy
aerosol optical depth
<p>NREL’s Solar Radiation Research Laboratory (SRRL) utilizes a Prede POM-01 Photometer to collect aerosol optical depth (AOD) information, necessary for determining the performance of solar collector systems. Inconsistencies and errors exist in SRRL’s AOD data due to errors in the calibration factors as well as the data reduction algorithms. Langley plots of five of the channels were performed to calibrate the necessary constants for AOD calculations. Clear sky data was determined based on the ratio of direct to global radiation and on the scatter between morning and afternoon TWC 500 nm photometer (an NREL custom photometer) data. Plots of calculated intercept values over time indicate two filter channels have slightly degraded while five others have remained constant. Established coefficients were applied to reprocess AOD values, which were then compared with nearby Aeronet data at the BSRN-BAO Boulder site. Averages between the sites in comparison with the former AOD values indicate the new algorithm to be highly successful.</p>
Atmospheric Sciences
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/77
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1057
2011-12-01T23:31:19Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Performance Screening of Chemostat Adapted Recombinant Zymomonas mobilis Strains
Beard, Deirdre M.
Dowe, Nancy
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
fermentation
biomass
inhibitors
acetate
furfural
Zymomonas mobilis
chemostat
<p>Corn stover biomass can be pretreaed and hydrolyzed into soluble sugars to be fermented by microorganisms to ethanol. NREL has developed a recombinant bacteria <em>Zymomonas mobilis </em>8b that metabolizes both five and six carbon sugars. During pretreatment, toxic inhibitors such as furfural and acetate are produced. NREL has made an attempt to adapt two sub-strains of <em>Z. mobilis</em> 8b to acetate and furfural by using a chemostat method. During the chemostat process, cultures were frozen back in glycerol and saved. In this study, those frozen cultures were revived and analyzed for performance in environments with varying concentrations of furfural and acetate. Growth was recorded every ten minutes by measuring the optical density of the samples. Growth curves were plotted to determine the period of steady cell growth and sugar utilization. The growth rates of fifteen sub-strains were then compared to an un-adapted 8b strain. Small scale fermentations were used to measure the amount of glucose, xylose, acetate, and ethanol at zero and tewntyfour hours in order to determine glucose utilization, xylose utilization, and ethanol production yeild. It is unclear whether or not either of the two sub strains improved over the duration of the chemostat. Compared to 8b, neither strain seemed to perform any better in the presence of furfural or acetate. To confirm these results, an analysis of the strains in corn stover hydrolyzate should be conducted. Further screening of strains isolated from different adaptation methods may produce more positive results.</p>
Bacteriology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Organismal Biological Physiology
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/63
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1058
2011-08-10T23:26:38Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Approximating Commute Times by Truncated Eigenpair Summation
Smith, Brent
Henson, Van Emden
Sanders, Geoff
Powers, Sarah
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>The “commute time” between two nodes <em>i</em> and <em>j</em> in a network is a sophisticated distance metric which measures the expected time for a random walker to start at <em>i</em>, arrive at <em>j</em> and return back to <em>i</em>. Currently, the most efficient method for calculating commute time involves summing the squared difference of the <em>i</em>th and <em>j</em>th entries of all eigenvectors of the Graph Laplacian, weighting each difference by the reciprocal of the corresponding eigenvalue, and weighting the entire sum by the number of edges in the graph. However, this method is still prohibitively expensive for large (million or billion node) networks. The objective of this study was to observe the how accurately a commute time found by incorporating only a percentage of the eigenpairs could approximate the actual commute time. I tested the accuracy of the commute time approximation as more and more eigenpairs were added in addition to which specific eigenpairs contributed most to the overall commute time. Finally, the approximated commute times (at various levels of truncation) were measured against the actual commute time for accurate detection of Top-k neighbors. Results showed that, depending on the degree of nodes involved in the commute time, drastically different eigenpairs are the main “contributors” to the commute time. This was confirmed as a significant amount of eigenpairs were needed to accurately predict the Top-k neighbors.<strong> </strong></p>
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/47
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1059
2012-01-04T22:06:37Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Interspecies Comparison of αII-Spectrin Abundance Between Chinook Salmon and Steelhead
Kemis, Brielle D
Miracle, Ann L
Wagner, Katie A
Woodley, Christa M
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
salmon
αII-Spectrin
Chinook
steelhead
salmonid
neurogenesis
brain injury
trauma
<p>Salmonids, such as Chinook salmon (<em>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</em>) and steelhead (<em>O. mykiss</em>), are a staple economic, recreational, tribal, and environmental resource, yet many populations are unsustainable. This study was part of a broad scale effort to monitor the impact of downstream migration obstacles on juvenile salmonid health and survival, which is an essential step towards increasing Smolt-to-Adult Return ratios (SARs). The objective of this study was to determine if juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead exhibit differing quantities of alphaII-Spectrin Breakdown Products (SBDPs) over two consecutive spring migration periods, indicative of neurogenesis rate and/or biological response to head injury. AlphaII-Spectrin is a cytoskeletal protein that fragments during necrosis and apoptosis. These fragments, known as SBDPs, have previously been used to detect head trauma in juvenile Chinook salmon. In this study, SBDPs were utilized as biomarkers to semi quantitatively assess brain cell damage and neurogenesis. SBDPs were detected through Western Blot analysis and compared between species using a T-Test (JMP 9). Results show that steelhead exhibit greater abundance of SBDP than Chinook salmon during the two consecutive spring migration periods that were analyzed. Results have implications for population dynamic analysis, hydropower facility operation, fish hatchery management, downstream fish transportation, habitat restoration, and future funding allocations for the protection of salmonids. PNNL-SA-81996.</p>
Aquaculture and Fisheries
Biology
Cell Biology
Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Developmental Biology
Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Organismal Biological Physiology
Population Biology
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/89
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1060
2011-12-09T23:06:13Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Verification of the Kcat Value of AAT via COPASI
Waddell, Jeremy A
Troz, Roque
Hill, Melissa P.
Larsen, Delmar S.
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
COPASI
kinetics
AAT
PLP
<p>PLP is a chromophoric cofactor required for catalytic activity by a wide variety of enzymes. While PLP enzymes are thermally activated <em>in vivo</em>, it has been reported that some PLP enzymes can be activated by UV light. One enzyme that uses PLP as a cofactor is apsartate aminotransferase (AAT). Previous studies with AAT suggest that the carbanionic quinonoid intermediate is photogenerated by UV laser excitation. AAT is central to nitrogen metabolism in all living systems and has a large body of literature. As such, it is a useful prototype for the fundamental studies on this class of enzymes which were previously conducted. In order to verify these experimental results, the computer program COPASI was used. Two models of AAT mechanisms were examined using COPASI one with the quinonoid intermediate on the productive path and one with the quinonoid off the productive path.</p>
Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/78
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1061
2011-10-21T00:10:14Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Identifying Species in Mass Spectra Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
Powers, Bradley
Mills, Bernice
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
PCA
Principal Component Analysis
<p>Many materials outgas as they are heated in a vacuum, compromising a sealed vacuum if they cannot be gettered. Our goal is to be able to identify which molecules are emitted and at what temperature. Determining specific species from the fragments produced in the mass spectrometer is extremely difficult since there is always more than one species outgassed at any time. We have chosen to use PCA because it has been used previously with mass spectral data. The commercial PCA software we used was unable to separate the spectra into pure, or almost pure, species. Other strategies for interpreting the data are suggested.</p>
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Sandia National Laboratory/California (SNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/52
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1062
2012-03-06T22:47:04Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Forward Osmosis Bag: Ground Testing the Prospect of Using Alternative Water Sources for Drinking Water
Brant, Michaela Marie
Yendler, Ariella
Hammoudeh, Mona
Flynn, Michael T
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>On the STS-135 Space Shuttle mission, to be launched July 8, 2011, a forward osmosis bag (FOB) study will be conducted. At NASA Ames this summer, the ground truth testing is being conducted for results comparisons. The FOB technology is derived from a commercial product, the X-Pack water filter. Forward osmosis operates by utilizing an established concentration gradient across a semi-permeable membrane to move water molecules from one side of the membrane to the other. This concept is exploited to harvest drinking water from grey water sources such as urine, sea water, or vehicle water. In this experiment, potassium chloride (KCl) dissolved in water is used to simulate grey water. The KCl water is inserted into the FOB on one side of the membrane and highly concentrated sugar water is inserted on the other. The high concentration of sugar solutes creates a gradient that drives water molecules to pass through the membrane and enter the other side. The membrane properties prevent the solutes from diffusing, allowing only the water molecules to be harvested from the solution. The FOB efficiency is tested by use of a fluorescent dye marker in the sugar water side of the bag. The concentration of the dye decreases as more water diffuses across the membrane. The concentration of the dye is measured using a fluorometer and comparing intensity readings to intensity values of known concentrations. It is expected that the current system will retrieve 60% of the water from the grey water source. This concept could be used in space to provide drinking water in emergency situations.</p>
Biochemistry
Biological Engineering
Biology
Biotechnology
Cell Anatomy
Laboratory and Basic Science Research
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/60
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1063
2012-01-04T19:44:50Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Spectroscopic Properties of Lanthanide (III) Compounds in Aqueous and Ionic Media
Burghard, Orissa A.
Chatterjee, Sayandev
Wang, Zheming
Bryan, Samuel A.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Lanthanides
Ionic Liquids
Spectroscopy
Absorption
Emission
<p>Lanthanide containing materials are receiving increasing attention due to their wide range of potential applications including bioanalytical imaging, dye-sensitized solar cells, nano-biotechnology and catalysis. The unique spectroscopic properties (intense and sharp emission bands with high color purity and high quantum efficiency) of lanthanides make them strong candidates for use as bio-markers or selective detectors. The attractiveness of lanthanides as future imaging agents as well as recent interest in their potential use in biological media has increased the need to understand the behavior of lanthanides in the presence of other ions or in ionic media.</p>
<p>The complexity of the biological media and the diversity and variability of the ions present in it makes it important to be aware of any interactions between the lanthanide complexes and ions. The focus of this research is to add to the knowledge base on the absorption and emission behavior of various lanthanide complexes in the presence of a range of ionic media. This study is designed towards understanding the spectroscopic behavior of lanthanides in ionic environments.</p>
<p>For the first segment of the study, absorbance spectra for solutions of lanthanide (III) nitrates in de-ionized (DI) water, and in aqueous solutions of NaCl and MgCl<sub>2 </sub>were compared and contrasted. These were complemented by measurements of emission spectra. While the presence of ions did not produce distinguishable changes in the absorbance spectra, there were significant changes in the emission intensity and emission profile of those lanthanides tested.</p>
<p>The next step would be to measure the emission of lanthanide compounds in ionic liquids and to test a broader variety of lanthanide compounds in biological media. These results suggest that further study is warranted with consideration to the use of lanthanides as biomarkers. PNNL-SA-82039</p>
Inorganic Chemistry
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/85
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1066
2011-12-01T20:01:07Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Updating Purchasing Specifications for Energy-Efficient Commercial Boilers for the Federal Energy Management Program
Avila, Arturo
Lutz, James
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Commercial Boilers
FEMP
Thermal Efficiency
<p>The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the Environmental Energy Technology Division (EETD) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) are conducting a research project that aims to update the current purchasing specification for energy-efficient commercial boilers. Data available on the internet was used to document the efficiencies, prices and other relevant data on commercial boilers. Boiler models were classified according to their fuel use (gas or oil) and if they produced hot water or steam. Boilers were ranked from highest to lowest thermal efficiency. Scatter plots were used to assess the ranges of efficiencies over a range of boiler capacities and the highest 25% in efficiency were highlighted. The results show that the gas-water and oil-water boiler types have higher thermal efficiencies than steam boilers. Steam boilers are available in larger capacities the boilers’ price versus output capacity plot shows that the prices for boilers with lower thermal efficiencies are lower than medium and higher efficiency boilers. Gas-water boiler category has higher thermal efficiencies is due to the higher number of condensing boiler types in it. Condensing boilers are more efficient because heat is captured from water vapor in the exhaust gases. Because the life-cycle cost and the number of manufacturers with qualifying products must be taken into account when recommending boilers for FEMP's performance requirements, further analysis will need to be conducted before a final recommendation is made.</p>
Mechanical Engineering
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/57
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1065
2011-12-01T20:07:36Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Remote Sensing Analysis for Salinity Management of Seasonal Wetlands
Miller, Debra L. S.
Quinn, Nigel W.T.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
wetlands
spectral imaging
<p>A 170,000 wetland complex, including wetlands managed by the Grassland Water District (GWD), are located in California’s Central Valley in Merced County. The GWD is divided into North and South areas which are further divided into subareas. Historically, these wetlands were created by annual floods along the San Joaquin River that inundated the floodplain and created habitat for native wildlife, and over-wintering waterfowl. Today, these wetland areas are managed artificially with water supply provided from the Delta. Data from a real-time sensor network located along channels and at the inlets and outlets to and from individual ponds is being used to measure and inform decision makers responsible for wetland salinity management. A decision support tool based on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model is being developed to aid wetland salinity decision making. This model will use data developed by the real-time flow and salinity monitoring network. Satellite imagery is being used to estimate seepage and evapo-transpiration in this model by estimating the expanding wetland footprint during flood-up (September through November) and the contracting wetland footprint during drawdown (February through April). Landsat multispectral images were examined to develop estimates of this wetland footprint over the flooded wetland season. These data are utilized in a decision support tool developed using the WEAP model simulator. This decision support tool provides the information needed for the wetland water managers to improve their management of salinity and meet State water quality objectives for salinity.</p>
Hydrology
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/58
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1067
2011-12-09T23:03:07Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Effects of Mechanical Ventilation Rates on Indoor Formaldehyde Levels
Nguyen, Thuy
Willem, Henry
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Formaldehyde
Indoor Air
Energy Recovery System
Mechanical Ventilation
<p>Airtight construction of energy efficient homes increasingly limits the indoor and outdoor air exchange. Consequently, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Formaldehyde can accumulate to toxic levels. Formaldehyde is an eye and respiratory irritant suspected as one of the inducing agents of asthma. Exposure to Formaldehyde has been linked to nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. This study evaluated the effects of increasing ventilation rates through Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) in a new home. The study objective is to determine the effects of increasing ventilation rates on the concentrations of Formaldehyde and the associated emission rates. The results indicate that increasing ventilation rates effectively reduced Formaldehyde concentrations. However, increasing ventilation rates elevated the whole-house emission rates, which suggests more Formaldehyde was brought out from materials. This effect is expected to decline in the long term.</p>
Environmental Health and Protection
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment
Environmental Monitoring
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/56
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1069
2011-10-11T19:22:58Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Computational Identification of Protein Catalytic Sites: Tests, Validation
Kirshner, Dan
Nilmeier, Jerome
Lightstone, Felice
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
biology computation bioinformatics enzyme
<p>This project is one element of the analysis “pipeline” to characterize an organism that previously has not been well-studied. Once a protein of unknown structure has been computationally modeled (based on its sequence similarity to proteins with solved structures), then catalytic sites are identified on the model by comparison to a library of known sites. This work tested the identification algorithms with a set of proteins that have known structures and catalytic sites.</p>
Molecular Biology
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/44
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1068
2011-10-11T19:47:16Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Caffeine Metabolism and Cytochrome P450 Enzyme mRNA Expression Levels of Genetically Diverse Inbred Mouse Strains
Addicott, Neal
Malfatti, Michael
Loots, Gabriela G
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
Caffeine Metabolism
Cytochrome P450
Inbred Mice
HPLC
<p>Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes activate or eliminate medications and other xenobiotics, and Caffeine has been used as an indicator of activity for some CYPs. The natural genetic variation in the human population for caffeine metabolizing CYPs does not yet have an established animal model for comparison, but the natural variation in inbred mouse strains presents an attractive starting point. The project gave four different strains of mice a 40mg/kg dose of caffeine and sampled blood and liver tissue after 30 minutes. Samples were analyzed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), reverse transcription PCR (rtPCR), and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The DBA/2J strain showed significant evidence of relatively slower caffeine metabolism than the other strains, and the BALB/cJ strain showed some signs of faster metabolism. Quantitative comparison to mRNA expression levels will be a first step in assessing the suitability of those strains as models for slow and fast drug metabolism, with sequencing to follow.</p>
<p>LLNL-Post-491655</p>
Biochemistry
Other Animal Sciences
Systems Biology
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/46
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1070
2011-08-17T23:39:34Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Relationship of maternal flow environment to offspring size in Botrylloides violaceus
Delton, Damion J
Cohen, Sarah
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
tunicates
larva
offspring
flow
botrylloides
<p> Colonial botryllid tunicates, such as Botrylloides violaceus, brood large, non-feeding offspring with extremely limited larval life spans of minutes to perhaps one day. Despite the importance of this transitory life history stage, there is little information on how environmental factors such as ambient water flow affect larval size among invertebrates. Since adult tunicates feed by filtering particles from the water flowing around the siphons, we reasoned that colonies of B. violaceus in high water flow may produce larger offspring due to greater food availability. We tested to see whether there was a relationship between larval size and water motion in low and high flow environments. We collected colonies from Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, CA from random locations, conducted flow measurements, and measured larvae released naturally in the lab from each colony. Contrary to our expectation, results showed a statistically significant inverse correlation between larval size and flow rate. Bigger larvae were produced by colonies located in slower flows, while smaller larvae were found in colonies from across the full spectrum of flow rates measured. Perhaps, low flow environments are actually high food environments allowing these colonies to have a dual reproductive strategy where they produce both large and small larvae as a bet-hedging strategy. Whereas, high flow, lower food environments may constrain reproductive options.</p>
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/165
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1071
2012-05-15T17:47:08Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
MATLAB Based Algorithm to Find the Remaining State Of Charge
Khatoon, Ishrat
Saha, Bhaskar
Goebe, Kai
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Li-ion batteries are one of the most common rechargeable batteries used in portable electronics, electric vehicles, military operations and aerospace applications such as electric air-crafts, spacecrafts, space rovers, robots, etc. Failure of these batteries could lead to reduced performance, operational impairment and even catastrophic failure, especially in aerospace systems. Monitoring the remaining state of charge (RSOC) of these batteries would greatly improve the reliability of the systems powered by them and will ultimately lengthen their lifetimes. NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was lost due to battery failure. Hence, it is very important to find the RSOC of the batteries in making timely decisions. The method to find the state of charge (SOC) of the batteries has been going on since 1938. It started with voltage measurements of the batteries. Since then it kept on improving like Voltage, temperature, and current measurements, Impedance measurements, Coulomb counting, Book-keeping, Kalman filter, EMF, maximum capacity learning algorithm, etc. Determining the RSOC for Li-ion batteries will help the astronauts, scientists, and engineers to make decisions ahead of time before any accidents happen. We will be using MATLAB programing platform to implement an algorithm based on Kalman filters to find the RSOC for Li-ion batteries. Then we will be validating the algorithm using a hardware-in-the-loop battery testbed.</p>
Science and Mathematics Education
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/81
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1073
2011-12-27T17:56:54Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Contrasting Effects of Flow on Adult and Juvenile Ascidian Life History Stages, Including the Global Invasive Didemnum vexillum
Kauzer, Tren C
Cohen, C Sarah
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>Few studies have quantified a relationship between recruitment, growth, survival and flow with colonial filter feeders. In this study, the growth of D. vex and larval recruitment were evaluated under different local flow conditions in Half Moon Bay, California, USA. Tunicates were subjected to four different flow conditions, three of which included objects to differentially obstruct flow, and growth and recruitment were measured. A direct relationship was seen between increases in flow and adult growth, and an inverse relationship was seen between increases in flow and recruitment. These trends suggest that optimal flow conditions differ for juveniles and adults. The adults' ability to grow over a range of flow conditions adds to its danger as a biological invader. Understanding how adult and juvenile ascidians behave under different flow conditions could be used to determine which marine environments are most vulnerable to invasion and could help those who wish to eradicate or control its spread.</p>
Population Biology
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/84
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1072
2012-01-27T20:07:02Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Relationships between snow pack, soil moisture, and forest greenness: Implications for SMAP
Anderson, Jordan
Molotch, Noah
Guan, Bin
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Hydrology
in situ
remote sensing
<p>Snowpack in the arid/semi-arid western United States is a critical element of the hydrologic cycle as water is stored in the winter and released in the spring and summer. The warmer seasons rely heavily on this water source for various purposes including economic (farming), environmental and recreational demands. Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors were used in this project to measure seasonal variability in global vegetation phenology and productivity. MODIS data was used to calculate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to estimate net primary production of subalpine forests in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Preliminary results indicate that variability in forest greenness is related to water availability. In this regard, the potential utility of MODIS-based reconstructed snow water equivalent (SWE) to evaluate controls on forest water stress was assessed. Future satellite missions (e.g. SMAP) aimed at detecting soil moisture will provide further insight into snowpack controls on the ecology of sub-alpine forests. In this regard, <em>in situ</em> sensors were combined with remotely sensed observations to improve our understanding of the terrestrial water balance and link snowpack quantities to vegetation water stress. We found that snow disappearance timing is well correlated with peak soil moisture. Future efforts will utilize these data to reveal spatial consistencies between snow ablation and soil dry down rates.</p>
Biogeochemistry
Hydrology
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/93
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1074
2011-12-09T23:29:43Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Imported Nereis virens and Glycera dibranchiata as a Vector for Invasive Species in San Francisco Bay
Hayes, Jason Christopher
Ruiz, Gregory M.
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Invasive species
vector
seasonal assay
worms
sport fishing
education
safe-handling
<p>This is a first step assay of the contents in a box of imported worms from Maine intended for sport fishing bait, with a goal of confirming the presence of invasive species and developing safe handling protocols.</p>
<p>Three boxes of each type of worm were examined and the visible contents were isolated, photographed and identified.</p>
<p>A method for sorting, measuring worms for seasonal changes, and cataloging the contents was established.</p>
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/83
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1075
2012-01-04T22:14:55Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Assessing Laser Lifetime Test Performance
Weichman, Joe
Hemmati, Hamid
Wright, Malcolm
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Laser
Optical Communications
Performance
Lifetime
Testing
<p>Assessing expected component lifetime is necessary in developing instruments for future space-flight projects to ensure long term operation in the challenging environment. Although semiconductor diode lasers have widespread use in terrestrial applications, their use in space is still an emerging technology that requires on-going testing to demonstrate their capability. The project called for re-establishing the test setup for assessing lifetime performance of 20 continuously running 200mW 830 nm diode lasers. These lasers underwent previous testing based on parameters for NuSTAR’s laser metrology system, and met the six month lifetime project requirements under nominal operating conditions. Laser testing is currently underway in order to establish a statistics database for the laser mean time to failure. It is anticipated that the lasers will run at maximum output power for several more months from which signal degradation and eventual expiration will occur.</p>
Engineering Physics
Optics
Other Engineering
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/92
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1076
2011-12-09T23:09:17Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Beam Halo Measurements at the SPEAR3 Synchrotron
Kamp, Jonathan B.
Corbett, Jeff
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>It is known that in an intense beam, particles will start to spread from the core of the beam. This spreading of particles outside the core beam is known as a halo. The affects of unwanted particles spreading from a core beam can have detrimental effects to nearby machinery and personal. The issue with understanding beam halo lies with its low intensity compared to the core beam. In order to analyze the halo, we will use a digital micro mirror array device (DMA) to block out the core of a visible beam coming from the SPEAR3 synchrotron and image the resulting halo onto a CCD camera. The process is similar to imaging the corona around the sun.</p>
Physics
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/79
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1077
2011-12-09T23:26:49Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Supernova Remnants and Cosmic Ray Acceleration Mechanisms
Simons, Ariel L
Uchiyama, Yasunobu
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Supernova
cosmic ray
fermi
gamma ray
<p>Supernova remnants (SNRs) are considered to be the primary energy source of galactic-origin cosmic rays. Within this prediction exist two models, leptonic and hadronic, to explain the acceleration of charged particles up to a PeV in energy. Using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) each model is expected to produce a distinct spectral energy distribution (SED) over a photon energy range of 100MeV to 100GeV. This analysis is focused on the methods for generating SEDs for the SNR Cassiopeia A and how they can be used to constrain the likelihood of either acceleration model.</p>
Other Astrophysics and Astronomy
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/82
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1078
2011-12-09T23:11:26Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Developing a Biophysical Model to Determine the Minimum Water Requirement for Irrigating Known Crops
Williams, Robyn M
Bounoua, Lahaouri
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
minimum water requirement
biophysical model
<p>This research is to determine the minimum amount of irrigation needed to grow 75 crops in semi-arid regions. The number of days each crop spends in their developmental stages and the amount of water needed to grow these crops will be gathered and then used to create a mathematical model that will calculate how much water certain crops need at their various developmental stages. From this model, we will be able to quantify the minimum water requirement in order to limit the amount of water that is possibly being wasted due to over irrigating agricultural areas.</p>
Agriculture
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/80
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1079
2011-10-11T19:38:49Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Effects of Ambient Gases On ICF Target Capsules
Chambers, Bryan
Letts, Steve
Stadermann, Michael
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
plasma polymer
trans 2 butene
diffusion
free radical
hohlraum
vacuum
helical resonator
quartz crystal monitor
deuterium
fusion
<p>We researched how the chemical and physical properties of a plasma polymer fuel capsule change as they are exposed to ambient gases. The fuel capsules contain the deuterium fuel inside them, they serve as the outer shell for the fuel and act as a ablator for the process. If they are reactive or diffusive with the atmosphere this can change their mass and effect the outcome of the fusion shots performed at the National Ignition Facility where High Powered Lasers are incident upon a gold hohlraum containing a capsule. We discovered that nitrogen and water vapor diffuse into the material but they also desorb with none to little net gain in mass, oxygen as we suspected is more reactive and adds to the mass of the polymer irreversibly.</p>
Materials Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/45
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1080
2011-08-30T17:08:11Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Stability of various types of nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) upon lyophilization
Venkataraman, Purna
Blanchette, Craig D
Fischer, Nicholas O
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) have many potential uses in modern medicine, from cancer therapeutics to vaccine alternatives. As with all pharmaceuticals, the ease of storage and adequate stability of a compound is always a question. It has been found that NLPs can be very stable upon lyophilization, a freeze-drying technique in which all of the water in a sample is removed, if the initial conditions are suitable. In these experiments the stability of NLPs prepared with different combinations of lipids were tested in order to determine the optimum NLP conditions. NLPs composed of different types of lipids were constructed and then lyophilized in a buffered solution containing the sugar trehalose as an excipient. Then the samples were rehydrated and analyzed using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) to determine if the NLP remained intact. Results indicated that the lipid composition of the NLP plays and important role in the stability upon lyophilization. NLPs prepared with the saturated DMPC lipid are more stable upon lyophilization than those prepared with unsaturated lipids (DOPC and/or DOGS-NTA-Ni), and require less excipient (i.e. trehalose) upon lyophilization to retain structure. These studies will have implications on NLP and storage formulations for vaccine and therapeutic applications.</p>
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/48
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1081
2011-11-29T23:18:02Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Sitting in the Pilot's Seat: Optimizing Human-Systems Interfaces for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Queen, Steven Michael
Sanner, Kurt
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
control systems
<p>One of the pilot-machine interfaces (the forward viewing camera display) for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle called the DROID (Dryden Remotely Operated Integrated Drone) will be analyzed for optimization. The goal is to create a visual display for the pilot that as closely resembles an out-the-window view as possible. There are currently no standard guidlines for designing pilot-machine interfaces for UAVs. Typically, UAV camera views have a narrow field, which limits the situational awareness (SA) of the pilot. Also, at this time, pilot-UAV interfaces often use displays that have a diagonal length of about 20". Using a small display may result in a distorted and disproportional view for UAV pilots. Making use a larger display and camera lens with a larger field of view may minimize the occurrences of pilot error associated with the inability to see "out the window" as in a manned airplane. It is predicted that the pilot will have a less distorted view of the DROID's surroundings, quicker response times and more stable vehicle control. If the experimental results validate this concept, other UAV pilot-machine interfaces will be improved with this design methodology.</p>
Aerospace Engineering
NASA Armstrong (Formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/54
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1082
2011-12-01T22:57:48Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Simulation of Wing Tip Vortices
Termath, Ryan
Lechniak, Jason
bhamidipati, Keerti
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Modeling and Simulation (M&S) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques were used to better understand wing tip vortices about a wing section. The CFD results were compared to experimental wind tunnel data derived from the University of Iowa (Ref. 2). The experiment used Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (SPIV) to measure the flow field. The SPIV data from the experiment illustrates the vortex core development and behavior downstream of the trailing edge of the wing section. Three CFD simulations using various mesh sizes and time steps were completed and compared to the experimental results. Two dimensional plots of modeled local flow field velocity over freestream velocity were visualized using <em>VisIt. VisIt </em>is used to graphically represent the numerical results of the simulations. Once the M&S results were visualized, the approximate vortex core size and position were measured and compared to the experimental data. The results show that the larger meshes closer approximate the experimental data. Further refinement of the mesh sizes in future simulations are expected to improve the approximate numerical solutions from the simulations, which would allow for more accurate predictions of vortex formation and behavior.</p>
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/61
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1083
2011-11-29T23:45:21Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Freeing Space for NASA: Incorporating a Lossless Compression Algorithm Into NASA's Fiber Optic Strain Sensing System
Fiechtner, Kaitlyn
Parker, Allen
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
nasa
data compression
lossless data compression
programming
computer programming
c programming
<p>NASA’s Fiber Optic Strain Sensing (FOSS) system can gather and store up to 1,536,000 bytes (1.46 megabytes) per second. Since the FOSS system typically acquires hours—or even days—of data, the system can gather hundreds of gigabytes of data for a given test event. To store such large quantities of data more effectively, NASA is modifying a Lempel-Ziv-Oberhumer (LZO) lossless data compression program to compress data as it is being acquired in real time. After proving that the algorithm is capable of compressing the data from the FOSS system, the LZO program will be modified and incorporated into the FOSS system. Implementing an LZO compression algorithm will instantly free up memory space without compromising any data obtained. With the availability of memory space, the FOSS system can be used more efficiently on test specimens, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that can be in flight for days. By integrating the compression algorithm, the FOSS system can continue gathering data, even on longer flights.</p>
Computer Engineering
Data Storage Systems
Signal Processing
NASA Armstrong (Formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/55
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1084
2011-08-30T17:07:38Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
NASA Robot Project
Crawford, Azi
Leon, Mark
Grant, Terry
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Children are become more and more web savvy, and less prone to reading textbooks or sitting and listening intently to a lecturing teacher. As part of the education branch of NASA Ames, the Robotics Alliance Project provides students with the opportunity to engage with technology. The NASA Robot Project is an online curriculum website for the Robotic Alliance Project. The NASA Robot Project is designed to provide both a linear curriculum and non-linear array of supporting materials. The purpose for the curriculum is to teach students how to build robots and program them. The robots are built from kits provided by Botball for use in its robotics competition. The robots are programmed in C, which will provide students with an exposure to procedural programming and the C language itself. The course includes how to build the robot, how to write programs, how to download programs onto the robot, and how to run the programs on the robots. Topics covered are motor control, logic, branches and loops, and sensors. The site also includes supplemental information such as problem solving strategies, programming practices, tips for construction, as well as some troubleshooting. The site is designed to be modified in response to student needs, and incorporates a comment feature to elicit feedback.</p>
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/68
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1085
2012-01-04T20:22:44Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Migrating the CMM Wizard to a Robust ASP.NET Format
Booth, Alexander E.
Rishel, Jeremy
Glantz, Cliff
Ying Yu, Xiao
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
Emergency Response
Toxicology
Web Development
Computer Programming
<p>The Chemical Mixture Methodology (CMM) provides default emergency exposure guidelines for mixtures of chemicals. The CMM uses Health Code Numbers (HCNs) to assess the additive impact that each chemical component in an airborne chemical mixture may have on people located at a specified receptor location. The CMM is a more realistic predictor of potential human health impacts than can be obtained using the (1) non-conservative method of separately analyzing the consequences of each chemical component or the (2) overly-conservative method of adding the exposures from each chemical together regardless of the human organ system (e.g., eyes, lungs, nervous system) targeted by the individual chemicals (see <a href="http://orise.orau.gov/emi/scapa/chem-mixture-methodolgy/default.htm">http://orise.orau.gov/emi/scapa/chem-mixture-methodolgy/default.htm</a> for more information). Operationally, the CMM is encapsulated into a Microsoft Excel workbook which uses macros to perform run the necessary calculations and output the health risk data. The workbook has a number of limitations, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>limited space for reporting HCN values</li>
<li>inability to calculate and report impacts at multiple receptor locations </li>
<li>limited opportunity to make timely updates to the CMM data set.</li>
</ul>
<p>The goal of the CMM Wizard project has been to overcome many of these issues and make the CMM available in a more robust, accessible, and user-friendly format.</p>
<p>The first version of CMM Wizard software was developed using Visual Basic-based ASP software. That version captured the capabilities of the CMM Workbook and provided a more user-friendly interface that was accessible online. The specific goals for the second (current) version are to:</p>
<ul>
<li>replace the existing ASP code with ASP.NET to allow for more robust and modularized coding</li>
<li>generate output for multiple receptor locations </li>
<li>establish a way to store and access input data and output products by reading and writing custom CMM files</li>
<li>provide the option to download output products in a digital or hardcopy format</li>
<li>improve the appearance and robustness of the Wizard. </li>
</ul>
<p>Another aspect of the development of the new version of the CMM Wizard will be laying the groundwork for an improved quality assurance program and problem reporting mechanism that will reduce the time needed to update CMM data and enhance software.</p>
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/87
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1086
2011-12-01T23:37:13Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Growth and Hydrogen Production of Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS
Swanson, Shannon A
Wawrousek, Karen
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS is a purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium that has been found to produce substantial amounts of Hydrogen (H2) which could be used as a clean burning biofuel. CBS has been known to grow on a variety of carbon sources, but it is unknown as to which carbon sources it has the greatest potential to use, and this understanding could be helpful in engineering future strains of the bacteria. Hydrogen production in CBS occurs when carbon monoxide (CO) is present and is presumed to be under the control of the RcoM transcription factor. When CBS wild-type strains were grown in different carbon sources it was found that the bacteria were able to use the organic acid substrates much more successfully than the sugar substrates. This is useful in that organic acids are often waste products and we can use those products as a nutrient to support the growth of CBS. When the rcoM gene was deleted from the CBS bacteria, growth with CO in the mutant strain ceased, and H2 production and protein production were greatly reduced when compared to the wild-type. Understanding how RcoM impacts the CO to H2 pathway will allow us to better engineer the pathway to further increase the production of H2 in CBS.</p>
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/64
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1087
2011-12-09T23:23:16Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Generation of Mid-IR Wavelengths
Robinson, Deborah
Hartsock, Robert
Gaffney, Kelly
2011-01-01T08:00:00Z
lasers
light
infrared
physics
SLAC
frequency mixing
optical parametric amplifier
<p>Generation of mid-IR wavelengths</p>
<p>Deborah Robinson, Robert Hartsock, and Kelly Gaffney</p>
<p>Abstract</p>
<p>Research to determine basic molecular properties utilizing pump/probe experiments is an on going effort at SLAC. Here we have been given the task to generate mid-IR laser pulses and commission a mid-IR detector for said experiments and research. The mid-IR pulses will be used to probe the changes in molecular properties induced by exciting the electrons in molecules with visible pump pulses. In order to accomplish this, an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) has been set-up and aligned. The pump beam for the OPA is a 40 femtosecond 800nm beam from a Ti:Sapphire chirped pulse amplified laser system with an output of approximately 1mJ/pulse. In the OPA, one photon of higher energy is frequency mixed or split into two photons of lower energy using nonlinear processes in a nonlinear crystal. Here we have generated 1400nm and 1900nm wavelengths in the near-IR spectrum out of the OPA from the 800nm pump. These signal and idler output wavelengths from the OPA will then be frequency difference mixed in a second nonlinear crystal to yield mid-IR wavelengths to test the mid-IR detector.</p>
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Optics
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Physics
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/201
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1088
2011-12-09T21:50:02Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Automated Theorem Prover Axiom Management
Holeman, Ashley T
Denney, Ewen
2010-08-01T07:00:00Z
AutoCert
Logic
Prover
Axiom
<p>Automated Theorem Provers (ATPs), are computer programs that use collections of axioms,which are logical statements assumed to be true, in order to prove conjectures. NASA uses these programs to verify safety and functional requirements in domains like Guidance, Navigation, and Control. There are about 30 axioms on each major topic including the theory of coordinate systems, elementary arithmetic and linear algebra. These axioms have been created over the duration of many projects and combined into a single file. One task is to manage the axioms by arranging them into logical sections, deleting unnecessary ones and rewriting some into a more general case. This will help reduce the time required to run the provers, resulting in a more efficient program. When testing a conjecture, verification conditions (VCs) are generated to prove a safety requirement. The VCs then produce dynamic axioms which are sent to the provers along with the original VCs and the static axioms. They are then run through the prover, producing a pass or fail for the conjecture. Each change done to the axiom file must be checked in order to verify that the conjectures are still proven true.</p>
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Other Mathematics
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/71
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1090
2011-11-29T22:52:05Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Analysis of Compression Algorithm in Ground Collision Avoidance Systems
Schmalz, Tyler
Ryan, Jack
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Systems (Auto-GCAS) utilizes Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) stored onboard a plane to determine potential recovery maneuvers. Because of the current limitations of computer hardware on military airplanes such as the F-22 and F-35, the DTED must be compressed through a lossy technique called binary-tree tip-tilt. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of the compressed data with respect to the original DTED. This study is mainly interested in the magnitude of the error between the two as well as the overall distribution of the errors throughout the DTED. By understanding how the errors of the compression technique are affected by various factors (topography, density of sampling points, sub-sampling techniques, etc.), modifications can be made to the compression technique resulting in better accuracy. This, in turn, would minimize unnecessary activation of A-GCAS during flight as well as maximizing its contribution to fighter safety.</p>
NASA Armstrong (Formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/53
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1089
2012-01-04T22:04:50Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Modeling Non-destructive Methods to Gauge Life Expectancy in Ferromagnetic Metals
Millard, David
Griffin, Jeff
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Ferromagnetic metals, also known as ferrous metals, consist of small magnetic regions called domains that are separated from one another by boundaries called domain walls. Magnetic domain walls in ferrous metals are pinned by fatigue-induced microscopic defects. These pinned domain walls resist re-orientation due by imposed magnetic fields. When a magnetic field of sufficient magnitude is applied to the ferrous metal, the domain walls overcome pinning and spontaneously orient themselves with the magnetizing field. This release of potential energy produces Barkhausen noise that can be detected magnetically or acoustically. Attempts were made to develop a nondestructive method that applies Barkhausen noise analysis to predict the life expectancy of steel components in nuclear power plants. An instrument called the Rollscan 300 and Microscan 600 software were used to acquire Barkhausen noise data from fatigued steel samples. MATLAB software was used to evaluate results of the Microscan 600 software to better understand the signal processing algorithms. During this research internship staff in the Applied Physics Group produced MATLAB scripts to corroborate Microscan 600 data. PNNL-SA-82069.</p>
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/88
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1091
2011-09-12T19:45:58Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
NASA Robotics Academy Lunar Micro – Rover Project: Radiation Analysis
Ruiz, Daniel
Zwach, Michael
Dutell, Vasha
Wilson, Taylor
Gossen, Lauren
Leon, Mark
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>The Lunar Micro Rover (LMR) Project is a multi-year endeavor that began its journey in the summer of 2006. The LMR will be the first of its kind to be designed, programmed, and engineered entirely by high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from around the nation. The project expects to enhance NASA’s capacity to deliver micro-payloads, explore the lunar environment, extend deployments, and operate remotely – performing visual, thermal, position, and radiation sensing. In addition to meeting these expectations, a significant measure of success will be the LMR’s cost-effectiveness.</p>
<p>The radiation team’s challenge is taking into account the LMR’s exposure to the varying types, strengths, and levels of radiation while traveling from low earth orbit, traversing the Van Allen Belts and the interplanetary medium. In addition to its life on the lunar surface. Sources of ionizing radiation stem from solar particles events (SPE), galactic cosmic rays (GCR), and trapped radiation within and along Earth’s magnetic field. The LMR electrical components will fail if not hardened against these forces. Mission success depends on a firm knowledge of radiation levels, which must be anticipated and predicted for the life of the rover.</p>
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/67
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1092
2011-09-12T19:51:39Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Proteomic Sample Preparation Method: Rodent Blood High Abundant Protein Removal
Silvelstrini, Sasha
Chromy, Brett
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>One of the biggest challenges for the study of proteomic biomarkers in blood plasma and blood serum is the broad dynamic range of its protein constituents. For example, 70-95% of all the rat plasma proteins are comprised of albumin, Immunoglobulin (IgG), and transferrin. Therefore, a successful system of proteomic sample preparation to remove these high abundant proteins is needed to examine lower abundant proteins of interest. Researchers have developed successful ways to remove these proteins from human blood samples, but many high abundant protein removal kits for mouse and rat models vary in the efficiency of actual targeted protein content that is removed. In addition, there are different systems for high abundant protein removal, such as antibody based approaches and newer resin/bead based constructs. In this study, three different methods for high abundant protein removal were compared on rat blood plasma and mouse blood serum. In addition, two methods for concentrating and buffer exchange were compared after the high abundant protein removal. Both rodent blood samples were analyzed by the six different method combinations and examined by SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE).</p>
Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/62
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1093
2011-09-12T19:57:11Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Determination Of Water Vapor For Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy Aircraft (SOFIA)
Wen, Michelle
Teets, Edward
Busby, Christopher
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is the new generation airborne observatory station based at NASA’s Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility, Palmdale, CA, to study the universe. Since the observatory detects infrared energy, water vapor is a concern in the atmosphere due to its known capacity to absorb infrared energy emitted by astronomical objects. Although SOFIA is hoping to fly above 99% of water vapor in the atmosphere it is still possible to affect astronomical observation. Water vapor is one of the toughest parameter to measure in the atmosphere, several atmosphere models are used to calculate water vapor loading; currently a model from Goddard Space Flight Center is being enlisted for this task. The water vapor loading, or Water vapor, is being calculated by Matlab along the planned flight path. Over time, these results will help SOFIA to plan flights to regions of lower water vapor loading and hopefully improve the imagery collection of these astronomical features.</p>
NASA Armstrong (Formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/73
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1094
2011-09-14T19:15:12Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Tunicate Recruitment in a Temperature Fouling Community
Benjamin, Garrett
Cohen, Sarah
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Settlement among native and invasive tunicates in fouling communities were observed at weekly intervals at the Pillar Point Harbor at Half Moon Bay, California. Our hypothesis is that because tunicates are filter feeding organisms, their settling reates will be dependant on flow rates. Settlement plates and plaster dissolution module plates (Clods) were used to quantify flow and settlement variations weekly for one summer month using high resolution field microscopy. Three genera of colonial tunicates (<em>Botrylloides sp., Didemnum vexillum </em>and<em> Distaplia sp.</em>) along with two solitary tunicates <em>Ascidia sp., Cionia sp.</em> and a bryozoan <em>Watersipora sp.</em> were quantified in the field to minimize disturbance to comulative settlement plates. Flow data was collected every 7 days from clod plates that were associated with each settlement array. Results showed no significant evidence that local measures of flow using 7 day clods were predictive of settlement rattes. However, anecdotal observations showed that the presence or absence of predators had a great impact on settlement rates. A significant decrease in settlement rate activity was observed in association with a temperature warming event and increased algal growth on plates. In summary, although variability in settlement rate was observed, it appears more related to their environmental pressures rather than flow.</p>
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/123
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1095
2011-12-01T23:42:58Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Micro-Satellite Constellation for Global Surface Water Data
Apperson, Arron
Vanderbilt, Vern
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Seasonal inundation of wetlands effects millions of people worldwide as evidence by the recent flooding in the US and Pakistan. Current methods of tracking surface waters have poor temporal and spatial resolution. We propose a system of micro satellites that take advantage of the properties of sun glint to detect surface waters globally with a 10 meter pixel resolution on weekly basis. This system will provide enhanced data to resource mangers, emergency response teams and climate modelers. Using the ADEOS satellite orbital parameters, a ground track was created to explore the spatial and temporal resolution of off the shelf technology that could be packaged in a micro-satellite constellation of between 4-9 satellites.</p>
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/66
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1096
2011-12-09T21:55:20Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Nano Tomography of Fuel Cell
Wen, Michelle
Liu, Yijin
Hayter, Joy
2010-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>The solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and Lanthanum strontium manganites (LSM) layer were produced under (i) room temperature (ii)700degree C and (iii) 1000degree C. Here at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, a nondestructive X-ray tomographic imaging technique (Transmission X-ray Microscope) is used to examine the material and the pore networks within an SOFC anode. With the aid of Matlab and Avizo, we reconstructed the three dimensional (3D) nano/microstructure in order to understand the effect of the temperature on the morphology of the SOFC material.</p>
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/72
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1097
2011-10-04T03:09:25Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Plexiglass Protection Shield for the Testbed System of the ATHLETE Rover
Adachi, Shin
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Plexiglass Protection Shield for the Testbed System of the ATHLETE Rover The All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE) is a prototype vehicle for surface exploration. The ATHLETE team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is currently constructing a testbed to simulate landing of ATHLETE on an asteroid. The testbed system consists of cables suspending the robot in the air which are controlled by pulleys and winches. The project examined ways to protect JPL visitors on tours from accidentally becoming in contact with the moving winches and cables. The final design is a head-tall, easily removable plexiglass protection shield which allows for frequent maintenance of the testbed.</p>
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/205
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1098
2011-10-11T19:44:14Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Informing Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment Flight Schedule based upon Soil and Vegetation Freeze and Thaw Event Variation along the Alaska Ecological Transect
Potter, Jessica
McDonald, Kyle
Podest, Erika
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Established in the 1990s, the Alaska Ecological Transect (ALECTRA) is composed of a series of ground stations extending from the Franklin Bluff on Alaska’s North Slope to the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage. At each station, sets of thermistors are deployed to monitor vegetation tissue temperature, air temperature, and soil profile temperatures. Also sensors are deployed for monitoring sap flow in individual trees. The stations are automated, with data loggers recording this data approximately every two hours. Dates marking the spring thaw and fall freeze transitions in soil and vegetation tissues from sites in Coldfoot, Dietrich Valley, and Bonanza Creek were identified and analyzed to inform the scheduling of the Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment (CARVE) Mission’s spring and fall flights. Set to start in March 2012, the De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft will fly over the above mentioned sites, among others, using remote sensing technology to monitor soil moisture, freeze/thaw state, and surface temperatures as well as total atmospheric columns of carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide.</p>
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/50
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1099
2012-01-04T21:11:12Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
A Comparative Study of Botryllid Tunicates Regeneration in the San Francisco Bay
Wray, Michelle
Cohen, C. Sarah
2012-01-01T08:00:00Z
<p>Regeneration of body parts is a remarkable phenomenon that is shared by phylogenetically diverse organisms, including some chordates. Lizards can regenerate their tails and sea stars their arms when injured by predators. Humans can even regenerate small portions of the liver. However, colonial botryllid tunicates, basal chordates, have the incredible ability to regenerate the entire functioning body (zooids) from only a small sample of vasculature in a process called vascular budding. Regeneration processes for various botryllid species show some characteristic features in laboratory studies using application of retinoic acid as a developmental initiator. The three botryllid species, Botrylloides violaceus (n = 6), Botrylloides sp. (bicolor)(n = 4), and Botryllus schlosseri (n = 3) were collected from the San Francisco Bay, and settled onto glass plates in the laboratory. Zooids were removed and the remaining vasculature (ampullae and connecting vessels) were cut into fragments (mean = 9/ genotype) and observed for 8 - 14 days. Retinoic Acid (RA), a natural product of Vitamin A that accelerates regeneration (in botryllids, Rinkevich, 2007) was also used as a variable in this study to test regeneration ability with decreased artificial RA exposure. Regeneration in the field was also tested by deploying vascular fragments at a marina in Fort Baker after 2 day laboratory RA exposure. The purpose of this study is to characterize and compare regeneration variation between botryllid species under standardized conditions and to determine methods for studying regeneration in the field.</p>
Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies (RTC)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/86
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1101
2012-01-31T21:28:51Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Deep UV Penetration Depth in Astrobiologically Relevant Rocks & Minerals
Capra, Juliana
Abbey, William
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>The purpose of this project is to study the attenuation rate of ultra-violet light as it transmits through rock or mineral samples; a non-invasive sampling technique being developed to identify mineral composition and distinguish the presence of organic matter by using deep ultra-violet (UV) fluorescence. It is typically assumed that the penetration of UV light into a rock surface is limited to only a few nanometers, however a recent pilot study done here at JPL has shown this depth may be as high as 100s of microns (m) depending on the rock/mineral being penetrated. This was accomplished by using a UV laser and thin section samples of basaltic rocks/minerals of varying thicknesses to determine how deep the UV laser was able to penetrate the rock/mineral surface. The current project focuses on refining this technique as well as using precursory research techniques, such as Raman Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction, to better understand the mineralogy of the thin sections. By the end of this study we expect to learn how the rocks/minerals fluoresce, and the attenuation rate of the deep UV laser in these basalts.</p>
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/95
oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:star-1100
2012-01-31T21:14:36Z
publication:programs
publication:research
publication:star
Investigation of a Statistical Metric for Validation of a Structural Dynamics Model
Morton, April
Peterson, Lee
2011-08-01T07:00:00Z
<p>Structural vibration is an important component of spacecraft launch and operation. Consequently, improved models have been developed to predict physical system responses during launch and operation. However, because model errors can be significant they are typically not used without first being accredited via validation methods. Model validation is the act of demonstrating the adequacy or accuracy of predictions of mathematical models for use within a specific area. This project investigates the effectiveness of a general statistical technique used to validate structural vibration models. To carry out this analysis we compare experimental and numerical responses by forming probabilistic representations for model predicted structural behaviors. From these distributions we calculate P-valued probability intervals used to recast the problem as a serious of Bernoulli experiments from which a minimum and actual validation score are derived. In order to execute this algorithm and determine the effectiveness of our vibration model a MATLAB module will be developed and implemented for a selected set of test data. The results will be compared to the conclusions of a more routine modal analysis comparison.</p>
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/96
1580960/simple-dublin-core/100//