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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Cryptic genetic structure and copy-number variation in the ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus Cenococcum geophilum

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi associated with plants constitute one of the most successful symbiotic interactions in forest ecosystems. ECM support trophic exchanges with host plants and are important factors for the survival and stress resilience of trees. However, ECM clades often harbour morpho-species and cryptic lineages, with weak morphological differentiation. How this relates to intraspecific genome variability and ecological functioning is poorly known. Here, we analysed 16 European isolates of the ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum, an extremely ubiquitous forest symbiotic fungus with no known sexual or asexual spore-forming structures but with a massively enlarged genome. We carried out whole-genome sequencing to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms. We found no geographic structure at the European scale but divergent lineages within sampling sites. Evidence for recombination was restricted to specific cryptic lineages. Lineage differentiation was supported by extensive copy-number variation. Finally, we confirmed heterothallism with a single MAT1 idiomorph per genome. Synteny analyses of the MAT1 locus revealed substantial rearrangements and a pseudogene of the opposite MAT1 idiomorph. Our study provides the first evidence for substantial genome-wide structural variation, lineage-specific recombination and low continent-wide genetic differentiation in C. geophilum. Our study provides a foundation for targeted analyses of intra-specific functional variation in this major symbiosis.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Moving beyond the Solvent-Tip Approximation to Determine Site-Specific Variations of Interfacial Water Structure through 3D Force Microscopy

Although interfacial solution structure impacts environmental, biological, and technological phenomena, including colloidal stability, protein assembly, heterogeneous nucleation, and water desalination, its molecular details remain poorly understood. Here, we visualize the three-dimensional (3D) hydration structure at the boehmite(010)-water interface using fast force mapping (FFM). Using a self-consistent scheme to decouple long-range tip-sample interactions from short-range solvation forces, we obtain the solution structure with lattice resolution. The results are benchmarked against molecular dynamics simulations that explicitly include the effects of the tip with different levels of approximation and systematically account for tip size, chemistry, and confinement effects. We find four laterally structured water layers within 1 nm of the surface, with the highest water densities at sites adjacent to hydroxyl groups. The key features beyond the first two layers can only be predicted using a full-scale simulation of the boehmite-water-silica system. Our findings further reveal a complex relationship between site-specific chemistry, water density, and long-range particle interactions; and present important advances toward quantitative data interpretation in 3D FFM.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1984

Space and Time Variations and Turbopause Dynamical Structure

Time spectra of the critical frequency f sub o E sub s and blanketing frequency f sub b E sub s for the records of a spaced chain of ionosphere vertical sounding stations were studied by means of a maximum entropy method, while coherence spectra were analyzed with the Blackman and Tukey method. It was found out that the frequency parameters spectrum of E sub s within the range of 1-10 cycles/h are discrete with one or two maxima. The first, a low frequency maximum with T=40 min, is of larger amplitude, stable and exists permanently; the second one with T = 10 min is less stable, occurs irregularly and more often within f sub o E sub s. Further, the first maximum corresponds to a higher level of coherence which decreases as the distance to the stations increases. It is concluded that the low-frequency maximum is induced by cellular eddies, usually interpreted as wind shears with horizontal dimensions of not more than 300 km. Irregularity, small amplitude, and low coherence in the range of the second maximum are indicative of the fact that turbulence must be its only source.

Ovezgeldiyev, O. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Diurnal variation in the turbulent structure of the cloudy marine boundary layer during FIRE 1987

During the 1987 FIRE marine stratocumulus experiment the U.K. Meteorological Office operated a set of turbulence probes attached to the tether cable of a balloon based on San Nicolas Island. Typically six probes were used; each probe is fitted with Gill propeller anemometers, a platinum resistance thermometer and wet and dry thermistors, to permit measurements of the fluxes of momentum, heat, and humidity. The orientation of each probe is determined from a pair of inclinometers and a three-axis magnetometer. Sufficient information is available to allow the measured wind velocities to be corrected for the motion of the balloon. On the 14 to 15 July measurements were made over the period 1530 to 1200 UTC and again, after a short break for battery recharging and topping-up the balloon, between 0400 to 0900 UTC. Data were therefore recorded from morning to early evening, and again for a period overnight. Six probes were available for the daytime measurements, five for the night. Data were recorded at 4 Hz for individual periods of a little over an hour. The intention was to keep a minimum of one probe at or just above cloud top; small changes in balloon height were necessary to accommodate changes in inversion height. The ability of the balloon system to make simultaneous measurements at several levels allows the vertical structure of the boundary layer to be displayed without resort to composites. Turbulent statistics were calculated from 2 hour periods, one straddling local noon and one at night. These were subdivided into half-hour averaging intervals for the evaluation of variances and fluxes.

Hignett, Phillip↗
NASA NTRS1991

Neptune's cloud structure in 1989 - Photometric variations and correlation with ground-based images

Ground-based photoelectric photometry in b, y, and the 6190 and 7250 A methane-bands, as well as spectrum scans of the methane 6190 A band and CCD images at 6190 and 8900 A, were obtained for Neptune during Voyager 2's approach of that planet on August 24, 1989. Photometric variations are presently correlated with the disk transit of bright planetary features, and the changes in feature distribution and brightness noted in the results are evaluated for implications bearing on long-term variability. It is suggested that the long-term secular variation is related to a slow change in a size of location of both the bright companion and the Great Dark Spot.

Lockwood, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Controls-structures integrated design optimization with shape variations

The shape design variables have been introduced into the set of design variables of the Controls-Structure Integrated (CSI) Design of space-structures. The importance of the shape variations in improving the design (obtained with only control and sizing variables) has been aptly illustrated. Two different types of design variables that describe the shape variations of the structure have been introduced. In the first case, the nodal coordinates have been considered as design variables. This has the inherent difficulty of having too many design variables. This not only is time consuming but also memory intensive and may not yield a manufacturable shape to the structure. The second approach has been introduced to overcome this difficulty. The structure is allowed to vary in a particular pre defined pattern. The coefficients of these patterns are considered as the shape design variables. The eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivity equations with respect to these coefficient design variables have been developed and are used to approximate the eigenvalues and eigenvectors in a perturbed design.

Koganti, Gopichand↗
NASA NTRS1984

A tomographic image of mantle structure beneath southern California

The variations in seismic structure beneath southern California were determined by using a tomographic method of inversion on teleseismic P delays recorded with the Southern California Array. The inversion reveals two prominent features beneath the region. The first is a thin, vertical wedge directly beneath the Transverse Ranges that is 2-3 percent faster than the surrounding region. This feature deepens to the east, attaining a maximum depth of about 250 km beneath the San Bernardino Mountains. The second feature is a major zone of low velocity material that is 2-4 percent slow under the Salton Trough rift valley, extending to a depth of about 125 km. Two possible explanations for the spatial association of the Transverse Ranges with the velocity anomaly below are lithospheric subduction or small-scale sublithospheric convection in the region of the Big Bend of the San Andreas Fault. The low velocity anomaly beneath the Salton Trough is consistent with convective upwelling there.

Humphreys, E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

AtomAI framework for deep learning analysis of image and spectroscopy data in electron and scanning probe microscopy

Over the past several decades, electron and scanning probe microscopes have become critical components of condensed matter physics, materials science and chemistry research. At the same time, the infrastructure for establishing a connection between microscopy observations and materials behaviour over a broader parameter space is lacking. In this work, we introduce AtomAI, an open-source software package bridging instrument-specific Python libraries, deep learning and simulation tools into a single ecosystem. AtomAI allows direct applications of deep neural networks for atomic and mesoscopic image segmentation converting image and spectroscopy data into class-based local descriptors for downstream tasks such as statistical and graph analysis. For atomically resolved imaging data, the output is types and positions of atomic species, with an option for subsequent refinement. AtomAI further allows the implementation of a broad range of image and spectrum analysis functions, including invariant variational autoencoders for disentangling structural factors of variation and im2spec type of encoder–decoder models for mapping structure–property relationships. Finally, our framework allows seamless connection to the first principles modelling with a Python interface on the inferred atomic positions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1989

Enhanced element-specific modal formulations for flexible multibody dynamics

The accuracy of current flexible multibody formalisms based on assumed modes is examined in the context of standard spacecraft motions involving structural components undergoing both slow and fast overall translational and rotational motions as well as small deformations. Limitations of current techniques in treating: (1) element-specific coupling behavior of large motion and small deformation, and (2) motion-induced structural stiffness variations, are noted. The roles of nonlinear and linear elastic structural theories in accurately predicting transient large-displacement dynamic behavior of flexible multibody systems are examined in detail. Coupling effects between deformation and overall motion are carefully scrutinized in the context of assumed-mode discretization techniques. Consistently linearized beam, plate, and shell formulations involving in-plane stretch variables are proposed and shown to yield very accurate simulation results and extremely fast modal convergence for most motions involving small strains. In some particular cases, however, in which membrane stiffness dominates bending stiffness, a nonlinear strain formulation is required in order to capture proper coupling between deformation and overall motion.

Ryan, Robert R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The structure of mid-ocean ridges

Recent research results on the structure of midocean ridges are reviewed. The new view of ridge-axis crustal structure obtained from high-resolution seismology is reviewed, emphasizing the variation of that structure with spreading rate and along-axis at a given spreading rate. Recent results on upper mantle structure beneath ridges are examined, including variations with seafloor age, indications from anisotropy for directions of mantle flow, and long-wavelength along-axis variations in structure and their implications for lateral heterogeneity in mantle temperature and composition.

Solomon, Sean C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electronic and Thermal Properties of the Cation Substitution-Derived Quaternary Chalcogenide CuInSnSe 4

Quaternary chalcogenides continue to be of interest for a variety of technological applications, with physical properties stemming from their structural complexity and stoichiometric variation. In certain structure types, partial vacancies on specific lattice positions present an opportunity to investigate electrical and thermal properties in light of these lattice defects. In this work, we investigated the structural, thermal, and electronic properties of CuInSnSe 4 , a material that belongs to a relatively unexplored class of quaternary chalcogenides with a defect adamantine crystal structure. First-principles calculations together with experimental measurements revealed a chalcopyrite-like structure with inherent vacancies and characteristic s–p and p–d orbital hybridizations in the electronic structure of the material. Cation disorder and lattice anharmonicity result in very low thermal conductivity with values significantly lower than those for related compositions. In conclusion, this work reveals the fundamental physical properties of a previously uninvestigated quaternary chalcogenide and may aid investigations of similar as well as other quaternary chalcogenide compositions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Possible Radiation-Induced Transition from Monazite-(Ce) to Xenotime-(Y)

This study examines two pegmatitic monazite samples (2a and 4b, these numbers are related to a previous study) to determine their crystal chemistry and effects of internal radiation damage using synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction and electron-probe micro-analysis. Both the huttonite and cheralite substitutions are discussed. Rietveld structure refinement of sample 2a shows three different phases [2a = monazite-(Ce), 2b = monazite-(Ce), and 2c = xenotime-(Y)] with distinct structural parameters. The changes among the unit-cell parameters between the two monazite-(Ce) phases is more pronounced in the a followed by the b and c unit-cell parameters. Sample 4a is a single-phase monazite-(Sm) that contains 0.164 apfu Th. Phase 2c with space group I41/amd arises from redistribution of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Si, and Y atoms from those in monazite (space group P21/n). A possible cause for the phase transition from monazite-(Ce) to xenotime-(Y) is α-radiation events over a long geological time. However, other chemical processes cannot be ruled out as a cause for the transition.

structural variations↗
NASA NTRS1983

The latitude-height structure of 40-50 day variations in atmospheric angular momentum

Using five years of U.S. National Meteorological Center twice-daily global analyses, a description of the two-dimensional latitude-height structure of the winds responsible for quasi-periodic variations in the relative angular momentum of the atmosphere observed by Langley et al. (1981) is constructed. Cross-spectral and amplitude phase eigenvector techniques indicate that these variations are associated with wave-like motions in the tropical upper troposphere which propagate poleward and downward in phase within the tropics. The tropical component is suggested to be the zonally averaged part of the motions described by Madden and Julian (1971, 1972), while a Northern Hemisphere midlatitude component whose phase is essentially independent of height may be a direct response to the tropical motions. Alternatively, both motions may be the common response to an as yet unidentified tropical forcing.

Anderson, J. R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nicotinamide Cofactor Biomimetics: Design and Structure Activity Relationships

Biocatalysis is an attractive methodology due to its sustainable metrics, combined with its vaunted regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity. Among biocatalysts, oxidoreductases catalyze redox transformations on a wide variety of substrates and are thus particularly attractive for synthetic applications. Many oxidoreductases depend on nicotinamide-based cofactors; however, the high cost and poor atom economy of such cofactors can negate the advantage of biosynthetic processes. The native cofactors (i.e., NADH or NADPH) can be replaced by nicotinamide cofactor biomimetics (NCBs) to address these issues. Additionally, NCBs can enhance enzyme activity due to structures with expanded redox properties. These capabilities open possibilities for reactivity and biorthogonality. Thus, the field has responded with new NCB structures, including variation in their electronic and molecular recognition properties. This perspective focuses on structure-activity relationships of simple NCBs, including their function, stability, and other properties, along with methods for their regeneration in biosynthesis.

agricultural chemistry↗
NASA NTRS2012

Composite Pressure Vessel Variability in Geometry and Filament Winding Model

Composite pressure vessels (CPVs) are used in a variety of applications ranging from carbon dioxide canisters for paintball guns to life support and pressurant storage on the International Space Station. With widespread use, it is important to be able to evaluate the effect of variability on structural performance. Data analysis was completed on CPVs to determine the amount of variation that occurs among the same type of CPV, and a filament winding routine was developed to facilitate study of the effect of manufacturing variation on structural response.

Green, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Parameter identification of civil engineering structures

This paper concerns the development of an identification method required in determining structural parameter variations for systems subjected to an extended exposure to the environment. The concept of structural identifiability of a large scale structural system in the absence of damping is presented. Three criteria are established indicating that a large number of system parameters (the coefficient parameters of the differential equations) can be identified by a few actuators and sensors. An eight-bay-fifteen-story frame structure is used as example. A simple model is employed for analyzing the dynamic response of the frame structure.

Juang, J. N.↗
NASA NTRS1956

Determination of the structural damping coefficients of six full-scale helicopter rotor blades of different materials and methods of construction

Results of an experimental investigation of the structural damping of six full-scale helicopter rotor blades, made to determine the variation of structural damping with materials and methods of construction, are presented. The damping of the blades was determined for the first three flapwise bending modes, first chordwise bending mode, and first torsion mode. The contribution of structural damping to the total damping of the blades is discussed for several aerodynamic conditions in order to point out situations where structural damping is significant.

WINGS, ROTATING - EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES↗