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

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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of channel catfish spleen provides insight into the immunome of an aquaculture-relevant species

The catfish industry is the largest sector of U.S. aquaculture production. Given its role in food production, the catfish immune response to industry-relevant pathogens has been extensively studied and has provided crucial information on innate and adaptive immune function during disease progression. To further examine the channel catfish immune system, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on nuclei isolated from whole spleens, a major lymphoid organ in teleost fish. Libraries were prepared using the 10X Genomics Chromium X with the Next GEM Single Cell 3’ reagents and sequenced on an Illumina sequencer. Each demultiplexed sample was aligned to the Coco_2.0 channel catfish reference assembly, filtered, and counted to generate feature-barcode matrices. From whole spleen samples, outputs were analyzed both individually and as an integrated dataset. The three splenic transcriptome libraries generated an average of 278,717,872 reads from a mean 8,157 cells. The integrated data included 19,613 cells, counts for 20,121 genes, with a median 665 genes/cell. Cluster analysis of all cells identified 17 clusters which were classified as erythroid, hematopoietic stem cells, B cells, T cells, myeloid cells, and endothelial cells. Subcluster analysis was carried out on the immune cell populations. Here, distinct subclusters such as immature B cells, mature B cells, plasma cells, γδ T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages were further identified. Differential gene expression analyses allowed for the identification of the most highly expressed genes for each cluster and subcluster. This dataset is a rich cellular gene expression resource for investigation of the channel catfish and teleost splenic immunome.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2021

A k-mer based approach for classifying viruses without taxonomy identifies viral associations in human autism and plant microbiomes

Viruses are an underrepresented taxa in the study and identification of microbiome constituents; however, they play an essential role in health, microbiome regulation, and transfer of genetic material. Only a few thousand viruses have been isolated, sequenced, and assigned a taxonomy, which limits the ability to identify and quantify viruses in the microbiome. Additionally, the vast diversity of viruses represents a challenge for classification, not only in constructing a viral taxonomy, but also in identifying similarities between a virus’ genotype and its phenotype. However, the diversity of viral sequences can be leveraged to classify their sequences in metagenomic and metatranscriptomic samples, even if they do not have a taxonomy. To identify and quantify viruses in transcriptomic and genomic samples, we developed a dynamic programming algorithm for creating a classification tree out of 715,672 metagenome viruses. To create the classification tree, we clustered proportional similarity scores generated from the k-mer profiles of each of the metagenome viruses to create a database of metagenomic viruses. The resulting Kraken2 database of the metagenomic viruses can be found here: https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1615774 and is compatible with Kraken2. We then integrated the viral classification database with databases created with genomes from NCBI for use with ParaKraken (a parallelized version of Kraken provided in Supplemental Zip 1), a metagenomic/transcriptomic classifier. To illustrate the breadth of our utility for classifying metagenome viruses, we analyzed data from a plant metagenome study identifying genotypic and compartment specific differences between two Populus genotypes in three different compartments. We also identified a significant increase in abundance of eight viral sequences in post mortem brains in a human metatranscriptome study comparing Autism Spectrum Disorder patients and controls. We also show the potential accuracy for classifying viruses by utilizing both the JGI and NCBI viral databases to identify the uniqueness of viral sequences. Finally, we validate the accuracy of viral classification with NCBI databases containing viruses with taxonomy to identify pathogenic viruses in known COVID-19 and cassava brown streak virus infection samples. Our method represents the compulsory first step in better understanding the role of viruses in the microbiome by allowing for a more complete identification of sequences without taxonomy. Better classification of viruses will improve identifying associations between viruses and their hosts as well as viruses and other microbiome members. Despite the lack of taxonomy, this database of metagenomic viruses can be used with any tool that utilizes a taxonomy, such as Kraken, for accurate classification of viruses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Mechanical evaluation of WC-Co materials with varying microstructures

Tungsten carbide–cobalt materials are useful in a variety of extreme applications due to a desirable blend of properties, yet the technology has not significantly changed since their initial development in the 1920s. The mechanical properties of this class of materials is highly dependent on two variables, the size of the tungsten carbide grains, and the amount of binder phase present in the final body. In this study, the amount of binder phase is isolated across three commercial materials from the same manufacturer with three different grain sizes to investigate the effect on mechanical properties. The mechanical properties investigated are indentation hardness, flexure and tensile strength, as well as fracture toughness. In general, an increase in hardness and tensile strength with decreasing grain size was observed, while the fracture toughness showed the opposite trend with toughness increasing with increasing grain size. The flexure strength results did not show a correlation to grain size. Fractographic analysis identified the dominant strength-limiting flaw for each sample, which largely were in the form of porosity. Other flaws types, such as inclusions from the milling process, clusters of large grains, and machining cracks from the surface finishing process, were also identified. Finally, Weibull analysis was performed and deemed appropriate for analysis of these materials, but strength-size scaling was not conducted due to the variability in the strength-limiting feature between the different specimen geometries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

WALLABY pre-pilot survey: two dark clouds in the vicinity of NGC 1395

ABSTRACT We present the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) WALLABY pre-pilot observations of two ‘dark’ H i sources (with H i masses of a few times 108 $\rm {M}_\odot$ and no known stellar counterpart) that reside within 363 kpc of NGC 1395, the most massive early-type galaxy in the Eridanus group of galaxies. We investigate whether these ‘dark’ H i sources have resulted from past tidal interactions or whether they are an extreme class of low surface brightness galaxies. Our results suggest that both scenarios are possible, and not mutually exclusive. The two ‘dark’ H i sources are compact, reside in relative isolation, and are more than 159 kpc away from their nearest H i-rich galaxy neighbour. Regardless of origin, the H i sizes and masses of both ‘dark’ H i sources are consistent with the H i size–mass relationship that is found in nearby low-mass galaxies, supporting the possibility that these H i sources are an extreme class of low surface brightness galaxies. We identified three analogues of candidate primordial ‘dark’ H i galaxies within the TNG100 cosmological, hydrodynamic simulation. All three model analogues are dark matter dominated, have assembled most of their mass 12–13 Gyr ago, and have not experienced much evolution until cluster infall 1–2 Gyr ago. Our WALLABY pre-pilot science results suggest that the upcoming large-area H i surveys will have a significant impact on our understanding of low surface brightness galaxies and the physical processes that shape them.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Temporal and spatial separations between spin glass and short-range order

Broken-symmetry-induced order parameters account for many phenomena in physics. For spin glasses, this framework dictates the theoretical construction, whereas experiments have only established dynamical behaviors but not the physical entity. Experimental techniques have limitations when the spin glass is probed as an isolated state. Here, we create an evolution from a long-range order using well-controlled non-magnetic substitution on a sublattice. Neutron magnetic diffuse scattering of pico-second timescale reveals that the dynamics of short- and long-range order formation are not affected by disorder, but their spatial ranges are. Across all specimens, the inflection point of spin correlation length’s temperature dependence fully matches with the peak in heat capacity, while spin glass can freeze at millisecond timescale either above or below this characteristic temperature of spin-order formation. Our results identify the spin glass as single, uncorrelated spins at domain walls between spin clusters, and an uncorrelated coexistence of the two.

Dronova, Margarita G [Okinawa Institute of Science↗
DOE OSTI2026

An interactive machine learning platform for analyzing multi-particle coincidence data from cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy

We present SCULPT (Supervised Clustering and Uncovering Latent Patterns with Training), a comprehensive software platform for analyzing tabulated high-dimensional multi-particle coincidence data from Cold Target Recoil Ion Momentum Spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) experiments. The software addresses critical challenges in modern momentum spectroscopy by integrating advanced machine learning techniques with physics-informed analysis in an interactive web-based environment. SCULPT implements uniform manifold approximation and projection for non-linear dimensionality reduction to reveal correlations in high-dimensional data. We also discuss potential extensions to deep autoencoders for feature learning and genetic programming for automated discovery of physically meaningful observables. A novel adaptive confidence scoring system provides quantitative reliability assessments by evaluating user-selected clustering quality metrics with predefined weights that reflect each metric’s robustness. The platform features configurable molecular profiles for different experimental systems, interactive visualization with selection tools, and comprehensive data filtering capabilities. Utilizing a subset of SCULPT’s capabilities, we analyze photo-double-ionization data measured using the COLTRIMS method for three-body dissociation of the D 2 O molecule, revealing distinct fragmentation channels and their correlations with physics parameters. The software’s modular architecture and web-based implementation make it accessible to the broader atomic and molecular physics community, significantly reducing the time required for complex multi-dimensional analyses. This opens the door to finding and isolating rare events exhibiting non-linear correlations on the fly during experimental measurements, which can help steer exploration and improve the efficiency of experiments.

Artificial neural networks↗
DOE OSTI2022

Kinetic Model of Acid Gas Induced Defect Propagation in Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Understanding the degradation of nanoporous materials under exposure to common acid gas contaminants (e.g., SO 2 , CO 2 , NO 2 , and H 2 S) is essential to elongate their lifetime and thus enable their practical applications in separations and catalysis. Previous theoretical investigations have focused on the formation of isolated point defects, which are insufficient to provide direct insights into the long-term evolution of the bulk properties of materials such as zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) under sustained acid gas exposure. Here, to bridge this divide in both length and time scales, we developed a first-principles lattice-based kinetic model to simulate the defect propagation and bulk material breakdown in ZIFs. This model closely reproduces the experimentally measured macroscopic evolution of the time-dependent bulk materials proprieties and also yields important new insights regarding the autocatalytic nature of ZIF degradation and the spatial distribution of defects. Our results suggest new experimental directions to identify nascent defect clusters in degraded ZIFs and avenues to mitigate degradation under challenging conditions of acid gas exposure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Genomics and physiology of Catenibacillus, human gut bacteria capable of polyphenol C-deglycosylation and flavonoid degradation

The genusCatenibacillus(familyLachnospiraceae, phylumBacillota) includes only one cultivated species so far,Catenibacillus scindens,isolated from human faeces and capable of deglycosylating dietary polyphenols and degrading flavonoid aglycones. Another human intestinalCatenibacillusstrain not taxonomically resolved at that time was recently genome-sequenced. We analysed the genome of this novel isolate, designatedCatenibacillus decagia, and showed its ability to deglycosylateC-coupled flavone and xanthone glucosides andO-coupled flavonoid glycosides. Most of the resulting aglycones were further degraded to the corresponding phenolic acids. Including the recently sequenced genome ofC. scindensand ten faecal metagenome-assembled genomes assigned to the genusCatenibacillus, we performed a comparative genome analysis and searched for genes encoding potentialC-glycosidases and other polyphenol-converting enzymes. According to genome data and physiological characterization, the core metabolism ofCatenibacillusstrains is based on a fermentative lifestyle with butyrate production and hydrogen evolution. BothC. scindensandC. decagiaencode a flavonoidO-glycosidase, a flavone reductase, a flavanone/flavanonol-cleaving reductase and a phloretin hydrolase. Several gene clusters encode enzymes similar to those of the flavonoidC-deglycosylation system ofDoreastrain PUE (DgpBC), while separately located genes encode putative polyphenol-glucoside oxidases (DgpA) required forC-deglycosylation. The diversity ofdgpAanddgpBCgene clusters might explain the broadC-glycoside substrate spectrum ofC. scindensandC. decagia. The otherCatenibacillusgenomes encode only a few potential flavonoid-converting enzymes. Our results indicate that severalCatenibacillusspecies are well-equipped to deglycosylate and degrade dietary plant polyphenols and might inhabit a corresponding, specific niche in the gut.

Genetics & Heredity↗
DOE OSTI2024

Light-Induced Charge Separation in Photosystem I from Different Biological Species Characterized by Multifrequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Photosystem I (PSI) serves as a model system for studying fundamental processes such as electron transfer (ET) and energy conversion, which are not only central to photosynthesis but also have broader implications for bioenergy production and biomimetic device design. In this study, we employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to investigate key light-induced charge separation steps in PSI isolated from several green algal and cyanobacterial species. Following photoexcitation, rapid sequential ET occurs through either of two quasi-symmetric branches of donor/acceptor cofactors embedded within the protein core, termed the A and B branches. Using high-frequency (130 GHz) time-resolved EPR (TR-EPR) and deuteration techniques to enhance spectral resolution, we observed that at low temperatures prokaryotic PSI exhibits reversible ET in the A branch and irreversible ET in the B branch, while PSI from eukaryotic counterparts displays either reversible ET in both branches or exclusively in the B branch. Furthermore, we observed a notable correlation between low-temperature charge separation to the terminal [4Fe-4S] clusters of PSI, termed F A and F B , as reflected in the measured F A /F B ratio. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanistic diversity of PSI’s ET across different species and underscore the importance of experimental design in resolving these differences. Though further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the evolutionary significance of these variations in PSI charge separation, this study sets the stage for future investigations into the complex interplay between protein structure, ET pathways, and the environmental adaptations of photosynthetic organisms.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward the Observation of Dimagnesocene

We have examined the electronic structure of C 5 H 5 MgMgC 5 H 5 , or dimagnesocene, using high-level coupled-cluster techniques. This research is suitable in light of the remarkable synthesis of the valence-isoelectronic diberyllocene by Boronski, Crumpton, Wales, and Aldridge. The Mg–Mg bond distance is predicted to be 2.758 Å, and the Mg–Mg bond dissociation energy is predicted to be 51.8 kcal/mol. Unique aspects to the present research is our characterization of the ionization energy and the electron affinity of this molecule, the energy of dissociation into two neutral cyclopentadienyl magnesium radicals, the determination of the neutral structure at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ level, and the computation of the Raman intensities at the MP2/cc-pVDZ level. Apart from mass spectroscopy, the simplest means of experimental detection is gas-phase or matrix-isolated infrared spectroscopy, in which the A 2 ″ peak at 801 cm –1 should be the most prominent, with an intensity of 581 km/mol.

bond cleavage↗
DOE OSTI2021

Multiscale Assessment of Caprock Integrity for Geologic Carbon Storage in the Pennsylvanian Farnsworth Unit, Texas, USA

Leakage pathways through caprock lithologies for underground storage of CO2 and/or enhanced oil recovery (EOR) include intrusion into nano-pore mudstones, flow within fractures and faults, and larger-scale sedimentary heterogeneity (e.g., stacked channel deposits). To assess multiscale sealing integrity of the caprock system that overlies the Morrow B sandstone reservoir, Farnsworth Unit (FWU), Texas, USA, we combine pore-to-core observations, laboratory testing, well logging results, and noble gas analysis. A cluster analysis combining gamma ray, compressional slowness, and other logs was combined with caliper responses and triaxial rock mechanics testing to define eleven lithologic classes across the upper Morrow shale and Thirteen Finger limestone caprock units, with estimations of dynamic elastic moduli and fracture breakdown pressures (minimum horizontal stress gradients) for each class. Mercury porosimetry determinations of CO2 column heights in sealing formations yield values exceeding reservoir height. Noble gas profiles provide a “geologic time-integrated” assessment of fluid flow across the reservoir-caprock system, with Morrow B reservoir measurements consistent with decades-long EOR water-flooding, and upper Morrow shale and lower Thirteen Finger limestone values being consistent with long-term geohydrologic isolation. Together, these data suggest an excellent sealing capacity for the FWU and provide limits for injection pressure increases accompanying carbon storage activities.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Discovery of a Ferromagnetic Nickel Chalcogenide Nanocluster Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5

Atomically precise ligated nanoclusters (NC) are promising cluster-based materials with novel molecular architectures and tunable magnetic properties. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of a nickel sulfide NC Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 (PEt 3 = triethylphosphine) with distinct magnetic properties are reported. Magnetization measurements reveal its magnetic moment of 1.5 µ B in the solid phase, consistent with the existence of one unpaired electron predicted by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Additionally, experimental measurements indicate the presence of ferromagnetic ordering within each Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 NC and strong coercivity at temperatures below 20 K. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry is employed in conjunction with DFT calculations and collision cross-section simulations to investigate the structure of the isolated Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 . Theoretical studies show that [Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 ] + has a planar Ni 3 S 3 core where three Ni atoms are arranged in a triangle with three bridging S atoms residing in the same plane. This structure is preserved in both solution and solid phases, which is confirmed by spectroscopic studies of Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 . Additionally, DFT calculations indicate that all spins at the Ni sites are aligned parallel, confirming the presence of ferromagnetic coupling. Overall, this study provides key insights into the structure and magnetic properties of Ni 3 S 3 H(PEt 3 ) 5 , which will facilitate the design of new NC-based magnetic materials.

Nickel sulfide nanocluster↗
DOE OSTI2026

Bounded-Confidence Models of Multidimensional Opinions with Topic-Weighted Discordance

People’s opinions on a wide range of topics often evolve over time through their interactions with others. Models of opinion dynamics primarily focus on one-dimensional opinions, which represent opinions on one topic. However, opinions on various topics are rarely isolated; instead, they can be interdependent and correlated. In a bounded-confidence model (BCM) of opinion dynamics, agents are receptive to each other only if their opinions are sufficiently similar. Here, we extend classical agent-based BCMs—namely, the Hegselmann–Krause BCM, which has synchronous interactions, and the Deffuant–Weisbuch BCM, which has asynchronous interactions—to a multidimensional setting, in which the opinions are multidimensional vectors representing opinions of different topics and opinions on different topics are interdependent. To measure opinion differences between agents, we introduce topic-weighted discordance functions that account for opinion differences in all topics. We define regions of receptiveness for our models, and we use them to characterize the steady-state opinion clusters and provide an analytical approach to compute these regions. In addition, we numerically simulate our models on various networks with initial opinions drawn from a variety of distributions. When initial opinions are correlated across different topics, our topic-weighted BCMs yield significantly different results in both transient and steady states compared to baseline models, where the dynamics of each opinion topic are independent.

Mathematics and Computing↗
DOE OSTI2022

Structural transformation of metal oxo species within UiO-66 type metal–organic frameworks

Studying the coordination of actinide-based metal oxo clusters can provide valuable insights for nuclear energy technologies and radioactive waste containment. Metal–organic frameworks serve as a platform to directly interrogate the structure and properties of understudied actinide elements, including thorium. Examples of structural evolutions within Th oxo species within MOFs are rare yet relevant for nuclear waste speciation in solution. Herein, we report the serendipitous discovery of the structural evolution of Th-UiO-66 containing a hexanuclear Th node to a mononuclear Th(bdc) 2 (dmf) 2 upon the evaporation of solvent from the reaction. We observe a partial reversal of Th(bdc) 2 (dmf) 2 back to Th-UiO-66 upon hydrothermal treatment, indicating the complex dynamics of Th oxo species in solution. As a result, we report that isolated Ce-UiO-66 similarly transforms to a newly isolated 1D Ce III carboxylate chain MOF named NU-351 under the same conditions as Th-UiO-66, while Zr-UiO-66 and Hf-UiO-66 retain their structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

The DECam MAGIC Survey: Investigating the Jet Stellar Stream with Photometric Metallicities

Stellar streams are dynamically fragile structures formed by the tidal disruption of dwarf galaxies and stellar clusters. These objects are valuable tracers of the gravitational potential and accretion history of the Milky Way, and are key probes for the presence and interactions of starless dark matter subhalos. The Jet stream is a $\sim 30^\circ$-long stellar stream that is situated at 30.4 kpc and originates from a disrupted globular cluster. It consists of metal-poor stars that follow a retrograde orbit, reducing the impulse imparted from the Milky Way bar and making it especially sensitive to gravitational perturbations from dark matter subhalos. This paper investigates the known extent of the Jet stream by leveraging photometric metallicities derived from a narrowband filter centered on the Ca II H&K lines at $\sim$3950A on the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), as part of the Mapping the Ancient Galaxy in CaHK (MAGIC) survey. The wide field-of-view of DECam enables the efficient derivation of photometric metallicities for stars across the full extent of the stream, allowing for a metallicity-based selection to identify likely members. We demonstrate the efficacy of photometric metallicities in isolating stream members when used with Gaia DR3 proper motions, identifying a sample of 213 candidate Jet stream member stars. This then allows for the study of stream morphology, through which we identify a clear fanning of the stream toward the end farther from the Milky Way bar. We provide a list of candidate members, enabling spectroscopic follow-up of the Jet stream to facilitate further studies of its dynamics.

Do, Ha Q. [Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.] (O↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rapid detection of mexX in Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on CRISPR-Cas13a coupled with recombinase polymerase amplification

The principal pathogen responsible for chronic urinary tract infections, immunocompromised hosts, and cystic fibrosis patients is Pseudomonas aeruginosa , which is difficult to eradicate. Due to the extensive use of antibiotics, multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa has evolved, complicating clinical therapy. Therefore, a rapid and efficient approach for detecting P. aeruginosa strains and their resistance genes is necessary for early clinical diagnosis and appropriate treatment. This study combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-association protein 13a (CRISPR-Cas13a) to establish a one-tube and two-step reaction systems for detecting the mexX gene in P. aeruginosa . The test times for one-tube and two-step RPA-Cas13a methods were 5 and 40 min (including a 30 min RPA amplification reaction), respectively. Both methods outperform Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reactions (qRT-PCR) and traditional PCR. The limit of detection (LoD) of P. aeruginosa genome in one-tube and two-step RPA-Cas13a is 10 aM and 1 aM, respectively. Meanwhile, the designed primers have a high specificity for P. aeruginosa mexX gene. These two methods were also verified with actual samples isolated from industrial settings and demonstrated great accuracy. Furthermore, the results of the two-step RPA-Cas13a assay could also be visualized using a commercial lateral flow dipstick with a LoD of 10 fM, which is a useful adjunt to the gold-standard qRT-PCR assay in field detection. Taken together, the procedure developed in this study using RPA and CRISPR-Cas13a provides a simple and fast way for detecting resistance genes.

Zhu, Xiao-Xuan↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reclassification of ASFV into 7 Biotypes Using Unsupervised Machine Learning

In 2007, an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), a deadly disease of domestic swine and wild boar caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), occurred in Georgia and has since spread globally. Historically, ASFV was classified into 25 different genotypes. However, a newly proposed system recategorized all ASFV isolates into 6 genotypes exclusively using the predicted protein sequences of p72. However, ASFV has a large genome that encodes between 150–200 genes, and classifications using a single gene are insufficient and misleading, as strains encoding an identical p72 often have significant mutations in other areas of the genome. We present here a new classification of ASFV based on comparisons performed considering the entire encoded proteome. A curated database consisting of the protein sequences predicted to be encoded by 220 reannotated ASFV genomes was analyzed for similarity between homologous protein sequences. Weights were applied to the protein identity matrices and averaged to generate a genome-genome identity matrix that was then analyzed by an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, DBSCAN, to separate the genomes into distinct clusters. We conclude that all available ASFV genomes can be classified into 7 distinct biotypes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Km‐Scale Simulations of Mesoscale Convective Systems Over South America—A Feature Tracker Intercomparison

Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are clusters of thunderstorms that are important in Earth's water and energy cycle. Additionally, they are responsible for extreme events such as large hail, strong winds, and extreme precipitation. Automated object-based analyses that track MCSs have become popular since they allow us to identify and follow MCSs over their entire life cycle in a Lagrangian framework. This rise in popularity was accompanied by an increasing number of MCS tracking algorithms, however, little is known about how sensitive analyses are concerning the MCS tracker formulation. Here, we assess differences between six MCS tracking algorithms on South American MCS characteristics and evaluate MCSs in kilometer-scale simulations with observational-based MCSs over 3 years. All trackers are run with a common set of MCS classification criteria to isolate tracker formulation differences. The tracker formulation substantially impacts MCS characteristics such as frequency, size, duration, and contribution to total precipitation. The evaluation of simulated MCS characteristics is less sensitive to the tracker formulation and all trackers agree that the model can capture MCS characteristics well across different South American climate zones. Dominant sources of uncertainty are the segmentation of cloud systems in space and time and the treatment of how MCSs are linked in time. Our results highlight that comparing MCS analyses that use different tracking algorithms is challenging. We provide general guidelines on how MCS characteristics compare between trackers to facilitate a more robust assessment of MCS statistics in future studies.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗