Sampling vacancy configurations with large relaxations using Smart Darting
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This algorithm will identify the genesis and track the lifecycle of atmospheric rivers. It can be applied in different global atmospheric river detection algorithms. It is one of the earliest atmospheric river lifecycle tracking algorithms.
Phage λ, a well-characterized temperate phage, has been recently leveraged for bacterial genome editing by selectively delivering base editors into targeted bacterial species. We extend this concept by engineering phage λ to deliver CRISPR-guided transposases, accomplishing large insertions and targeted gene disruptions. To achieve this, we engineered phage λ using homologous recombination paired with Cas13a-based counterselection for precise phage modifications. Initially, we established the utility of Cas13a in phage λ by conducting minimal recoding edits, deletions, and insertions. Subsequently, we scaled up the engineering to embed the comprehensive DNA-editing CRISPR-Cas transposase (DART) system within the phage genome, creating λ-DART phages. These modified λ-DART phages were then employed to infectEscherichia coli, generating CRISPR RNA-guided transposition events in the host genome. Applying our engineered λ-DART phages to monocultures and a mixed bacterial community comprising three genera led to efficient, precise, and specific gene knockouts and insertions in the targetedE. colicells, achieving editing efficiencies surpassing 50% of the population. This research enhances phage-mediated genome editing by enabling efficient in situ gene integrations in bacteria, offering an avenue for further application in microbial community contexts. This scalable method enables flexible microbial genome editing in situ to manipulate the function and composition of diverse ecosystems.
Images acquired by the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) before its impact into Dimorphos—the moon of the Didymos binary asteroid system—unexpectedly reveal a set of discontinuous rays spanning the imaged surface. These albedo features are visible only after correcting for lighting differences, which normalize the effects of the pervasive boulders that cover the surface. Comparison to physical experiments and numerical simulations shows that these bright, fan-shaped albedo features are consistent with the aftermath of a low-velocity impact into a field of boulders and provide our first direct evidence for the transfer of material in a binary asteroid system due to the shedding material from radiative torques. Parts of these and possible additional albedo markings from the reentry of boulders after the DART impact may be visible to the Hera mission when it explores the post-DART Didymos system.
Here, a separate computational branch has been implemented within the DART (Dispersion Analysis Research Tool) computational code to simulate the swelling behavior of U-10Mo monolithic fuel under the operating conditions of high-power research and test reactors (RTRs). The monolithic branch of the DART code implements a mechanistic rate-theory-based fission-gas-behavior model for the calculation of fission gas swelling, as well as a suite of thermal, physical, and mechanical models to take into account various processes occurring in RTR fuels during irradiation. In order to accurately simulate and eventually predict U-10Mo monolithic fuel irradiation behavior, the code uses materials properties calculated with lower length-scale computational methods, such as gas atom diffusivity and U-Mo surface energy from atomic simulations and grain-morphology-specific recrystallization kinetics (recrystallized fuel volume fractions vs. fission density) predicted using the phase-field method. The remainder of fission gas behavior parameters used in the model were calibrated with measured intergranular bubble size distributions. With this integrated simulation approach, the swelling behavior of U-10Mo monolithic fuel was simulated for various initial grain sizes at different operating conditions and compared with measured data. Furthermore, because limited experimental data exist for parameter calibration detailed sensitivity studies for the important parameters used in the fission gas behavior model were performed in order to examine their impact on both intergranular gas bubble morphology at low fission density, and on total porosity at high fission density.
Quantitative assessment of gas-particle partitioning of individual components within complex atmospheric organic aerosols (OA) mixtures is critical for predicting and comprehending the formation and evolution of OA particles in the atmosphere. This investigation leverages previously documented data obtained through a temperature programmed desorption - direct analysis in real time – high resolution mass spectrometry (TPD-DART-HRMS) platform. This methodology facilitates the bottom-up construction of volatility basis set (VBS) distributions for constituents found in three biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mixtures produced through the ozonolysis of a-pinene, limonene, and ocimene. The apparent enthalpies (ΔH*, kJ mol -1 ) and saturated vapor mass concentrations (C T *, µg∙m -3 ) of individual SOA components, determined as a function of temperature (T, K), facilitated an assessment of changes in VBS distributions and gas-particle partitioning with respect to T and atmospheric total organic mass loadings (tOM, µg∙m -3 ). Further, the VBS distributions reveal distinct differences in volatilities among monomers, dimers, and trimers, enabling their categorization into separate volatility bins. At the ambient temperature of T = 298 K, only monomers efficiently partition between gas and particle phases across a broad range of atmospherically relevant total organic mass loadings (tOM) values of 1–100 µg∙m -3 . Partitioning of dimers and trimers becomes notable only at T > 360 K and T > 420 K, respectively. The viscosity of SOA mixtures is assessed using a bottom-up calculation approach, incorporating the input of elemental formulas, ΔH*, C T *, and particle-phase mass fractions of the SOA components. Through this approach, we are able to accurately estimate the variations in SOA viscosity that result from the evaporation of its components. These variations are, in turn, influenced by atmospherically relevant changes in tOM and T. Comparison of the calculated SOA viscosity and diffusivity values with literature reported experimental results shows close agreement, thereby validating the employed calculation approach. These findings underscore the significant potential for TPD-DART-HRMS measurements in enabling the untargeted analysis of organic molecules within OA mixtures. This approach facilitates quantitative assessment of their gas-particle partitioning and allows for the estimation of their viscosity and condensed-phase diffusion, thereby contributing valuable insights to atmospheric models.
As King et al succinctly write, “Collision between the Earth and small objects in the solar system are known to occur regularly, and can result in extinction-level events at their most energetic or more commonly widespread loss of life or economic destruction even for relatively low-energy impacts.” Currently, the JPL Sentry System and the NASA NEO Surveyor mission track, identify, and monitor potential asteroid threats. The JPL Sentry System4 is an automated collision monitoring system which scans the current asteroid catalog for potential impact trajectories with Earth. A 2017 study led by P. Tricarico titled “The near-Earth asteroid population from two decades of observations” analyzes the combined observations of nine leading asteroid surveys. The NASA NEO Surveyor mission seeks to identify 90% of near-Earth objects (NEO) with diameters greater than 140 meters (460 feet) within 10 years. The NEO Surveyor combines data from two infrared imaging detectors to measure NEO size, composition, shape, rotational state, and orbits. Recently, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully altered the orbit of asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022. This demonstrated that orbit alteration is possible. Thus, collisions between the Earth and asteroids are both likely and demonstrate potential for great harm. There is ongoing work to identify, catalog, and track potential threats. However, when a threat is identified there is not yet a system in place to target the threatening asteroid and defend the planet from potentially existential threats. Building on the DART Mission, we explore a planetary defense system to mitigate asteroid threats.
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), featured beginning on p.4, has been a testament to Lawrence Livermore’s multidisciplinary expertise. For DART, the Laboratory developed planetary defense strategies, modeled materials and impacts, and utilized advanced machine learning to create and evaluate multitudes of impact scenarios—informing prediction and analysis of the intercept of a small spacecraft with a much larger asteroid of unknown properties. The success of the project heralds a bright future for space science and security work at the Laboratory.
Abstract The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission will impact a spacecraft on the secondary (Dimorphos) of the binary asteroid system Didymos in 2022 September, with the goal of altering the orbital period of Dimorphos about Didymos sufficiently to be observed from ground-based observations. Numerical impact modeling is a crucial component in understanding the outcome of the DART experiment, and while many have investigated the effects of target properties, such as material strength and porosity (which remain unknown), an often overlooked factor is the importance of accurately representing the spacecraft itself in such models. Most impact modeling to date has considered simple impactor geometries such as a solid uniform sphere, but in reality the spacecraft is a complex shape full of different components, open spaces, and thin walled structures. At a minimum, a simple solid representation underestimates the surface area of the impact: for a small body such as Dimorphos (approximately 160 m in diameter), the difference between a spacecraft spanning 20 m (including solar arrays) impacting and a sub-1 m idealized shape may be important. In this paper, we compare models impacting high-fidelity models of the spacecraft based on the CAD geometry with various simplified impactors, in order to assess the potential importance of this effect. We find that the difference between the simplest impactor geometries (such as a uniform sphere) and the real spacecraft is measurable, and has an interesting dependence on the material properties of the asteroid itself.
Chimallivirus bacteriophages enclose their replicating genomes in a protein-based compartment termed the phage nucleus. While the phage nucleus segregates phage DNA from host immune proteins, it is not known if additional factors are required to protect against DNA-targeting host defenses. Here, we identify a chimallivirus-encoded DarG2-like antitoxin that localizes to the phage nucleus and provides protection against phage-targeting DarTG2 toxin-antitoxin systems. This protein, which we term AdfM (anti-darT factor macro), contains a macrodomain and removes DarT2-mediated ADP-ribose modifications from DNA. In the absence of AdfM, DarT2 modifies phage DNA and restricts chimallivirus replication despite being largely excluded from the phage nucleus. Increasing the nuclear concentration of DarT2 while decreasing the nuclear concentration of AdfM reduces phage replication. These results show that the phage nucleus is insufficient to completely protect the chimallivirus genome from host defenses; rather, it is one component of a multilayered counter-defense strategy.
Geological climate archives from the Holocene Epoch provide baseline information concerning natural climate variability. Temperate mountain glacier extent is sensitive to summer air temperature, thus geological records of past glacier length changes are a useful proxy for this climatic variable. Here we present a new cosmogenic 10 Be chronology of glacier length changes at Dart Glacier in the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Prominent moraines deposited 321 ± 44 yr ago (n = 11) and 7.8 ± 0.3 ka (n = 5) show glaciers during the Little Ice Age were less extensive than during the early Holocene. This pattern of net Holocene glacier retreat is consistent with emerging data from other catchments in New Zealand and across the southern mid-latitudes. Using the physical framework of a transient global climate model simulation, we suggest that cool summers in the early Holocene were promoted by the local summer insolation minimum, together with low atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, causing an early Holocene austral glacial maximum. An insolation-driven reduction in seasonality at southern mid-latitudes may reconcile differences between early Holocene temperature reconstructions where climate proxies have different seasonal sensitivities. Furthermore, we suggest that rising greenhouse gas concentrations after 7 ka caused regional-scale glacier retreat and appear to be the dominant driver of multi-millennial summer temperature trends in the southern mid-latitudes during the present interglacial.
This report describes the synthesis and characterization of two hetero bi metallic Li–Zn coordination isomers [Li 2 Zn 2 (tbaoac) 6 ] (tbaoac = tert -butyl acetoacetato) that have been isolated separately by the same stoichiometric reaction run in different organic solvents. The 6-coordinated zinc isomer ( 6-Zn ) was synthesized in acetone with high yield, while the 5-coordinated one ( 5-Zn ) was readily obtained from ethanol. The 5-Zn isomer has a low solubility in organic solvents such as alkanes and haloalkanes, while its 6-Zn counterpart exhibits a good solubility in almost all common solvents. Two isomeric molecules feature similar centrosymmetric tetranuclear cyclic assemblies, which are different in their arrangement of tbaoac ligands. While all ligands act as μ 2 -type in the structure of 5-Zn , the two tbaoac groups chelating Li appear as μ 3 -type in 6-Zn , thus providing an additional coordination for Zn ions. However, the real structural transformation between these isomers was shown to be more complex than simply making or breaking a couple of Zn–O bonds. X-ray single-crystal structure analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR, DART mass spectrometry, ICP-OES analysis, and TGA have been employed for the characterization of the isomers. The combination of powder X-ray diffraction and 1 H NMR investigation revealed that 6-Zn isomer can be quantitatively transformed to 5-Zn in ethanol, while the reverse conversion instantly takes place in acetone.
Re-examination of the claimed isolation and X-ray characterization of di-p-tolyl and dimesityl 1,2-disulfoxides from thermolysis of the corresponding aryl sulfinimines and thiosulfinates showed that the isolated disulfide dioxides are instead the wellknown isomeric thiosulfonates, as confirmed by XAS, DART-MS, X-ray, IR and NMR methods. Concerns with the original X-ray structures are addressed. Our results agree with the DFT prediction of very weak diaryl 1,2-disulfoxide S–S bond dissociation enthalpies. For now, room-temperature-stable noncyclic 1,2-disulfoxides remain unknown.
Abstract The dissonant development of positive and negative lightning leaders is a central question in atmospheric electricity. It is also the likely root cause of other reported asymmetries between positive and negative lightning flashes, including the ones regarding: stroke multiplicity, recoil activity, leader velocities, and emission of energetic radiation. In an effort to contrast lightning leaders of different polarities, we highlight the staggering differences between two rocket‐triggered lightning flashes. The flash beginning with upward positive leaders exhibits an initial continuous current stage followed by multiple sequences of dart leaders and return strokes. On the other, in its opposite‐polarity counterpart, the upward development of negative leaders is by itself the entire flash. As a result, the flash with negative leaders is faster, briefer, transfers less charge to the ground, has lower currents, and smaller spatial extent. We conclude by presenting a discussion on the three fundamental leader propagation modes.
Knowledge of microbial gene functions comes from manipulating the DNA of individual strains in isolation from their natural communities. While this approach to microbial genetics has been foundational, its requirement for culturable microorganisms has left the majority of microbes and their interactions genetically unexplored. Here, we describe a generalizable strategy for editing the genomes of specific organisms within microbial communities. We identified genetically tractable bacteria within a community using Environmental Transformation Sequencing (ET-Seq), an approach in which non-targeted transposon integrations are mapped and quantified following community delivery. We next developed and used DNA-editing All-in-one RNA-guided CRISPR-Cas Transposase (DART) systems for targeted DNA insertion into organisms identified as tractable by ET-Seq, enabling organism- and locus-specific genetic manipulation within the community context. To illustrate the utility of our approach, we selectively edited closely related strains, measured gene fitness, and enriched targeted members within soil and infant gut microbiota. These results establish a new paradigm for targeted community editing relevant to research and applications on medical, agricultural, and industrial microbiomes.
The following repositories are a set of libraries that are needed for applications that are being developed for users of the Accelerator control system. The programming language used is Dart and for the user interface use the Flutter framework. URL for code repositories: - https://github.com/fermi-ad/flutter-controls-core - https://github.com/fermi-ad/flutter-controls-plotting - https://github.com/fermi-ad/flutter-controls-auth - https://github.com/fermi-ad/flutter-gql-acsys - https://github.com/fermi-ad/flutter-gql-faas - https://github.com/fermi-ad/dart-gql-acsys - https://github.com/fermi-ad/dart-explicit-imports - https://github.com/fermi-ad/dart-gql-faas - https://github.com/fermi-ad/design-system
This project was funded by DOE under Grant no. DE-SC0016108. Originally approved for the 2016-2019 period, two no-cost extensions were solicited and approved, which prolonged the lifespan through July 2021. This final report informs on the results obtained so far from the research implemented. The research hinged on integrating genomics (genomic selection, RNAseq, virus-plant interactions) with classical genetics (conventional breeding) to incorporate durable resistance to fungal (rust) and viral (mosaic) diseases in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) populations being bred for bioenergy. Higher biomass yield, higher quality (low lignin content), and durable disease resistance are key features to make lignocellulosic switchgrass feedstocks economically competitive and sustainable. Genomic selection is being applied on three generations of a switchgrass population derived from crossing two ecotypes (Kanlow as lowland female and Summer as upland male) with differential performance in terms of biomass yield and quality, disease resistance, and winter survivability. Target populations were screened for rust and mosaic in field and/or lab and phenotyped for biomass yield and quality traits. Genetic analyses were applied across generations to capture the joint inheritance of the targeted traits and predict breeding values for parents and progeny with greater accuracy. Parental and a panel of different switchgrass populations were genotyped with the DArTseq technology to develop SNP (0, 1, 2) and in-silico (presence/absence) DArT markers. Rust inoculations techniques were developed and applied successfully on switchgrass. The original populations (Kanlow and Summer) were sequenced with RNAseq to capture the gene expression profiles across sequential time-points and appraise the basis of greater resistance in the Kanlow vs the Summer ecotype. Constructs of PMV and sPMV mosaic virus were assembled and tested first on proso millet to find the best protocol to use later on switchgrass. Results from the preliminary analyses indicate that 1) ample additive genetic variation is available for selection and improving this inter-ecotypic population for yield, quality, and disease traits, 2) significant gains are to be expected with the genetic correlations being favorable between yield and lignin content and between yield and disease ratings, 3) substantial differences exist in the genetic regions controlling rust resistance in the two ecotypes, 4) co-infection with PMV isolates from Nebraska and its satellite from Kansas elicit severe mosaic symptoms, and 5) two different genetic systems are responsible for imparting resistance to rust and virus in switchgrass.
Hydropower is the world's largest source of renewable electricity, and hydropower plants are distributed all over the world. Typical major components of a hydropower plant are the governor, excitation, generator, thrust bearing, hydraulic turbine, transformer, the main lead, metering and control, tailwater depression, and dissolved oxygen. For each component, various measures are taken. The measurements are acquired by various heterogeneous systems, including standalone sensors, programmable logic controllers (PLC), Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Internet of Things (IoT), and data acquisition and integration platforms such as OSI/PI. The measured data are often archived within the plant by a data management platform, and many institutions have cloud-based archive systems, such as Hydropower Research Institution (HRI), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and Columbia River Data Access in Real Time (DART). Object Modeling is a general framework for designing information systems. It focuses on objects, the actions they perform, and the messages they send to one another to cause those actions to be taken. The major differences among object modeling, network modeling, data modeling, and process modeling are that in the first we focus on the actions in response to information, objects which form the system, the actions they perform, and how they pass information to one another, while in the second we concentrate on where, when and how much information is moved, while in the third we focus on what information is moved and where it is moved, while in the last we focus on how it is moved and when it is moved. Object modeling was developed basically as a method to develop object-oriented systems and to support object-oriented programming. It describes the static structure of the system. The object Modeling Technique is easy to draw and use. That is why we choose object modeling to connect physical hydropower plants to Digital Twin. It recognizes the objects and the relationship between them. It identifies the attributes and functions of each class. Dynamic Modeling: It explains how objects respond to events. Functional Modeling indicates the processes executed in an object and how data changes when it moves to objects. It has been used in many applications like telecommunication, transportation, etc.