Federal - Executive Branch
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from the U.S. Executive Branch, covering all aspects of the Obama administration including cabinet departments, federal agencies, regulatory and independent agencies.
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Metal-organic framework supported single-site nickel catalysts for butene dimerization
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
Homotopic sites in a well-controlled environment are not only ideal systems for mechanistic studies, but also allow optimal control of catalytic transformations. Sites having only a single metal cation and sites consisting of metal oxo complexes with few nickel (Ni) cations supported on the nodes of UiO-66 metal-organic framework (Ni-UiO-66) are studied for 1-butene dimerization. Monomeric Ni sites, which bind to the Zr6 node via two Zr-OH(u3)
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
Homotopic sites in a well-controlled environment are not only ideal systems for mechanistic studies, but also allow optimal control of catalytic transformations. Sites having only a single metal cation and sites consisting of metal oxo complexes with few nickel (Ni) cations supported on the nodes of UiO-66 metal-organic framework (Ni-UiO-66) are studied for 1-butene dimerization. Monomeric Ni sites, which bind to the Zr6 node via two Zr-OH(u3)linkages, are active and selective for the dimerization of 1-butene to linear and mono-branched C8 isomers. Ni oxo complexes with few Ni cations show lower activity and promote the oligomerization of transiently formed C8 isomers. Kohn-Sham density function theory calculations combined with spectroscopic measurements and kinetic analyses indicate that dimerization follows a Cossee-Arlman reaction mechanism.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/metal-organic-framework-supported-single-site-nickel-catalysts-butene-dimerization
Charge trapping correction and energy performance of the Majorana Demonstrator
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
P-type point contact (PPC) high-purity germanium detectors are an important technology in astroparticle and nuclear physics due to their superb energy resolution, low noise, and pulse shape discrimination capabilities. Analysis of data from the Majorana Demonstrator, a neutrinoless double-ss decay experiment deploying PPC detectors enriched in 76Ge, has led to several novel improvements in the analysis of PPC signals.
In this work we discuss
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
P-type point contact (PPC) high-purity germanium detectors are an important technology in astroparticle and nuclear physics due to their superb energy resolution, low noise, and pulse shape discrimination capabilities. Analysis of data from the Majorana Demonstrator, a neutrinoless double-ss decay experiment deploying PPC detectors enriched in 76Ge, has led to several novel improvements in the analysis of PPC signals.
In this work we discusscharge trapping in PPC detectors and its effect on energy resolution. Small dislocations or impurities in the crystal lattice result in trapping of charge carriers from an ionization event of interest, attenuating the signal, and degrading the measured energy.
We present a modified digital pole-zero correction to the signal energy estimation that counters the effects of charge trapping and improves the energy resolution of the Majorana Demonstrator by approximately 30% to around 2.4 keV full width at half-maximum at 2039 keV, the 76Ge Q value. An alternative approach achieving similar resolution enhancement is also presented.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/charge-trapping-correction-and-energy-performance-majorana-demonstrator
Exploring sustainable electricity system development pathways in South America's MERCOSUR sub-region
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
South America has abundant natural water and energy resources, and exploiting these resources to achieve a clean energy future is central to the continent's economic and sustainable development objectives for the next several decades. Designing pathways to achieving this clean energy future requires better understanding the structural, techno-economic, and policy forces that may influence the future development of the electricity sector in the
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
South America has abundant natural water and energy resources, and exploiting these resources to achieve a clean energy future is central to the continent's economic and sustainable development objectives for the next several decades. Designing pathways to achieving this clean energy future requires better understanding the structural, techno-economic, and policy forces that may influence the future development of the electricity sector in theregion. Here, we focus on an interconnected electricity system of five South American countries - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay - which represent major electricity generation, consumption, and trade dynamics in the region.
We explore the implications of various forces that could shape the future composition of the power sector in the sub-region, including: evolving renewable energy cost and performance, natural gas prices, cross-border interconnection facilities, early retirement of installed hydropower, and different decarbonization goals. We use a model framework based on a power system planning platform (GridPath) to co-optimize investment and operations of generation, storage, and transmission facilities out to 2050. Our results in a Reference scenario indicate that the electricity system can maintain a relatively clean energy portfolio by leveraging existing hydropower capacity and integrating increasingly cost-competitive wind and solar power. However, dependence on natural gas in the region is likely to remain high.
A low-carbon electricity system can cost-effectively be achieved through policy interventions (e.g., renewable portfolio standards) and by diversifying investments in wind, solar, battery storage, and some new hydropower capacity. We also find that existing hydropower is critical for maintaining reliable future grid operations. Enhanced regional electricity trade, mostly based on existing interconnection capacities with nominal investment in new transmission, can significantly benefit the clean energy transition in the region.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/exploring-sustainable-electricity-system-development-pathways-south-americas-mercosur
baseflow: a MATLAB and GNU Octave package for baseflow recession analysis
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
`baseflow` is a MATLAB(r) [@matlab_2020_] toolbox that facilitates baseflow recession analysis, a set of methods used in hydrologic science to infer aquifer properties that cannot be measured directly [@brutsaert_1977_WRR].
The widespread availability of streamflow measurements means that baseflow recession analysis can be used to estimate aquifer properties and their variations globally over the modern instrumental stream gage record.
This
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
`baseflow` is a MATLAB(r) [@matlab_2020_] toolbox that facilitates baseflow recession analysis, a set of methods used in hydrologic science to infer aquifer properties that cannot be measured directly [@brutsaert_1977_WRR].
The widespread availability of streamflow measurements means that baseflow recession analysis can be used to estimate aquifer properties and their variations globally over the modern instrumental stream gage record.
Thistoolbox offers easy-to-use functions for baseflow recession analysis using measured values of streamflow recorded on a daily timestep.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/baseflow-matlab-and-gnu-octave-package-baseflow-recession-analysis
Assessing Multi-Dimensional Impacts of Achieving Sustainability Goals by Projecting the Sustainable Agriculture Matrix into the Future
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
The concept of sustainability inherently spans multiple spatial scales, sectors, variables, and time horizons. This study links a recently developed method of assessing present-day agricultural sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions with a process-based integrated assessment model, in order to allow forward-looking analysis of sustainability by region and scenario.
The Sustainable Agriculture Matrix (SAM) estimates
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
The concept of sustainability inherently spans multiple spatial scales, sectors, variables, and time horizons. This study links a recently developed method of assessing present-day agricultural sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions with a process-based integrated assessment model, in order to allow forward-looking analysis of sustainability by region and scenario.
The Sustainable Agriculture Matrix (SAM) estimatespresent-day agricultural sustainability at the national level using 18 indicator variables, of which this study estimates nine to the year 2100, using an enhanced version of the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM). Scenarios include a reference scenario, and scenarios that apply the following measures, both individually and in combination, that are thought to improve sustainability: yield intensification, transition towards more plant-based ("flexitarian") diets, and economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. The scenarios illustrate considerable complexity and tradeoffs inherent to efforts to improve agricultural sustainability in all regions globally. For example, yield intensification typically increases nitrogen pollution, flexitarian diets often reduce agricultural labor productivity, and greenhouse gas mitigation efforts may either increase deforestation or crowd out crop and livestock production due to consequent bioenergy demands.
However, there is considerable inter-regional heterogeneity in the responses, and the importance of such secondary responses also differs by region. The analysis and post-processing methods developed in this study allow quantification and visualization of the absolute and relative magnitude of the tradeoffs between agricultural sustainability indicator variables across regions, time periods, and scenarios.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/assessing-multi-dimensional-impacts-achieving-sustainability-goals-projecting
A Scalable Wave Resource Assessment Methodology: Application to U.S. Waters
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
Wave energy technology research and development has accelerated over the last two decades. This is largely based on the recognition that waves deliver massive quantities of energy to populated coastlines around the world. Throughout this time, however, there have been ongoing debates about the correct methodology for quantifying the wave energy opportunity. The debate has centered on basic principles of wave energy converter technology, and the
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
Wave energy technology research and development has accelerated over the last two decades. This is largely based on the recognition that waves deliver massive quantities of energy to populated coastlines around the world. Throughout this time, however, there have been ongoing debates about the correct methodology for quantifying the wave energy opportunity. The debate has centered on basic principles of wave energy converter technology, and thenature of the resource. In particular, the question of how to account for the regeneration of waves -- by wind -- down-wave from an array of wave energy converters, has not previously been addressed in detail.
This has led to confusion and skepticism regrading the accuracy of existing methods, which has led to a split in wave energy resource assessment methodology depending on the user and scale of the assessment. Project developers seeking site assessments typically follow International Electrotechnical Commission technical specifications to quantify the opportunity at specific locations. On the other hand, regional resource assessments -- designed to quantify the bulk opportunity over large spatial scales -- have been conducted using a wide range of disparate methods. This work seeks to resolve the outstanding questions and debates in this field, and in the process develop a robust methodology that applies at both site-specific and regional scales.
Applying this revised methodology to U.S. waters, we find the U.S. wave energy resource to be 3300 - 4100 TWh/yr, with region totals of: 2000 - 2500 TWh/yr in Alaska, 510 - 630 TWh/yr along the U.S. west coast, 380 - 470 TWh/yr along the east coast, 70 TWh/yr in the Gulf of Mexico, and 18-33 TWh/yr in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/scalable-wave-resource-assessment-methodology-application-us-waters
USAID: United States Announces More Than $80 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ethiopia
WASHINGTON, March 18 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release on March 16, 2024:
Today, the United States, through USAID, announced more than $80 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. USAID Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Sonali Korde announced the funding during her visit to the country.
According to the UN, more than 21 million people are estimated to require humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia in 2024 due to the compounding effects
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WASHINGTON, March 18 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release on March 16, 2024:
Today, the United States, through USAID, announced more than $80 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. USAID Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Sonali Korde announced the funding during her visit to the country.
According to the UN, more than 21 million people are estimated to require humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia in 2024 due to the compounding effectsof conflict, climate shocks, and insecurity across the country.
This funding will support USAID humanitarian partners providing urgently needed assistance to the most vulnerable communities. Through UN and non-governmental organization partners, this USAID assistance will support agriculture and nutrition activities, as well as gender-based violence prevention and response services. In response to significant nutrition needs, USAID will treat and prevent acute forms of malnutrition for more than 1.5 million children under five years of age and more than 600,000 pregnant and nursing mothers this year. With ongoing Fiscal Year 2023 assistance, USAID continues to support food security, health, and other activities, reaching at least 4.5 million people across eight regions of Ethiopia.
The United States remains committed to delivering life-saving aid to those in need across Ethiopia. While USAID's humanitarian assistance has helped save lives and alleviate suffering of the most vulnerable, the humanitarian needs in Ethiopia are staggering. As the largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance to the country, we continue to call on others to join us in delivering desperately needed aid to help save lives.
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Original text here: https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/mar-16-2024-united-states-announces-more-80-million-additional-humanitarian-assistance-people-ethiopia