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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Supranutrition of microalgal docosahexaenoic acid and calcidiol improved growth performance, tissue lipid profiles, and tibia characteristics of broiler chickens

Abstract Background Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and calcidiol could be enriched in chicken for improving public nutrition and health. It remains unclear if supranutritional levels of DHA and calcidiol impair growth performance or metabolism of broiler chickens. This study was to determine singular and combined effects of high levels of supplemental DHA-rich microalgal biomass or oil and calcidiol on growth performance, concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and nonesterfied fatty acids in plasma, liver, breast, and thigh, and biophysical properties of tibia. Methods In Exp. 1, 144 day-old Cornish chicks were divided into 4 groups (6 cages/treatment, 6 birds/cage), and were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet (BD), BD + 10,000 IU calcidiol/kg (BD + Cal), BD + 1% DHA-rich Aurantiochytrium (1.2 g DHA/kg; BD + DHA), and BD + Cal + DHA for 6 weeks. In Exp. 2, 180 day-old chicks were divided into 5 groups, and were fed: BD, BD + DHA (0.33% to 0.66% oil, 1.5 to 3.0 g DHA/kg), BD + DHA + EPA (1.9% to 3.8% eicosapentaenoic acid-rich Nannochloropsis sp. CO18, 0.3 to 0.6 g EPA/kg), BD + DHA + calcidiol (6000 to 12,000 IU/kg diet), and BD + DHA + EPA + Cal for 6 weeks. Results Birds fed BD + Cal diet in Exp. 1 and BD + DHA + EPA diet in Exp. 2 had higher ( P < 0.05) body weight gain (10%–11%) and gain:feed ratio (7%), and lower ( P < 0.05) total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in plasma (18%–54%), liver (8%–26%), breast (19%–26%), and thigh (10%–19%), respectively, over the controls. The two diets also improved ( P < 0.05) tibial breaking strength (8%–24%), total bone volume (2%–13%), and (or) bone mineral density (3%–19%) of chickens. Conclusion Supranutrition of dietary calcidiol and DHA alone or together did not produce adverse effects, but led to moderate improvements of growth performance, lipid profiles of plasma and muscle, and bone properties of broiler chickens.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

CALET Search for Electromagnetic Counterparts of Gravitational Waves during the LIGO/Virgo O3 Run

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station consists of a high-energy cosmic-ray CALorimeter (CAL) and a lower-energy CALET Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (CGBM). CAL is sensitive to electrons up to 20 TeV, cosmic-ray nuclei from Z = 1 through Z ~ 40, and gamma rays over the range 1 GeV–10 TeV. CGBM observes gamma rays from 7 keV to 20 MeV. The combined CAL-CGBM instrument has conducted a search for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) since 2015 October. We report here on the results of a search for X-ray/gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational-wave events reported during the LIGO/Virgo observing run O3. No events have been detected that pass all acceptance criteria. We describe the components, performance, and triggering algorithms of the CGBM—the two Hard X-ray Monitors consisting of LaBr 3 (Ce) scintillators sensitive to 7 keV–1 MeV gamma rays and a Soft Gamma-ray Monitor BGO scintillator sensitive to 40 keV–20 MeV—and the high-energy CAL consisting of a charge detection module, imaging calorimeter, and the fully active total absorption calorimeter. The analysis procedure is described and upper limits to the time-averaged fluxes are presented.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2012

The Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for the GLAS Atmospheric Data Products

The purpose of this document is to present a detailed description of the algorithm theoretical basis for each of the GLAS data products. This will be the final version of this document. The algorithms were initially designed and written based on the authors prior experience with high altitude lidar data on systems such as the Cloud and Aerosol Lidar System (CALS) and the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL), both of which fly on the NASA ER-2 high altitude aircraft. These lidar systems have been employed in many field experiments around the world and algorithms have been developed to analyze these data for a number of atmospheric parameters. CALS data have been analyzed for cloud top height, thin cloud optical depth, cirrus cloud emittance (Spinhirne and Hart, 1990) and boundary layer depth (Palm and Spinhirne, 1987, 1998). The successor to CALS, the CPL, has also been extensively deployed in field missions since 2000 including the validation of GLAS and CALIPSO. The CALS and early CPL data sets also served as the basis for the construction of simulated GLAS data sets which were then used to develop and test the GLAS analysis algorithms.

Palm, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Late-glacial and Holocene Vegetation and Climate Variability, Including Major Droughts, in the Sky Lakes Region of Southeastern New York State

Sediment cores from Lakes Minnewaska and Mohonk in the Shawangunk Mountains of southeastern New York were analyzed for pollen, plantmacrofossils, macroscopic charcoal, organic carbon content, carbon isotopic composition, carbon/nitrogen ratio, and lithologic changes to determine the vegetation and landscape history of the greater Catskill Mountain region since deglaciation. Pollen stratigraphy generally matches the New England pollen zones identified by Deevey (1939) and Davis (1969), with boreal genera (Picea, Abies) present during the late Pleistocene yielding to a mixed Pinus, Quercus and Tsuga forest in the early Holocene. Lake Minnewaska sediments record the Younger Dryas and possibly the 8.2 cal kyr BP climatic events in pollen and sediment chemistry along with an ~1400 cal yr interval of wet conditions (increasing Tsuga and declining Quercus) centered about 6400 cal yr BP. BothMinnewaska andMohonk reveal a protracted drought interval in themiddle Holocene, ~5700-4100 cal yr BP, during which Pinus rigida colonized the watershed, lake levels fell, and frequent fires led to enhanced hillslope erosion. Together, the records show at least three wet-dry cycles throughout the Holocene and both similarities and differences to climate records in New England and central New York. Drought intervals raise concerns for water resources in the New York City metropolitan area and may reflect a combination of enhanced La Niña, negative phase NAO, and positive phase PNA climatic patterns and/or northward shifts of storm tracks.

Drought↗
NASA NTRS2022

CALET Search for Electromagnetic Counterparts of Gravitational Waves During the LIGO/Virgo O3 Run

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET)on the International Space Station consists of a high-energy cosmic-ray CALorimeter (CAL)and a lower-energy CALET Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (CGBM). CAL is sensitive to electrons up to 20 TeV, cosmic-ray nuclei from Z=1 throughZ∼40, and gamma rays over the range1 GeV–10 TeV. CGBM observes gamma rays from 7 keV to 20 MeV. The combined CAL-CGBM instrument has conducted a search for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs)since 2015 October. We report here on the results of a search for X-ray/gamma-ray counterparts to gravitational-wave events reported during the LIGO/Virgo observing run O3. No events have been detected that pass all acceptance criteria. We describe the components, performance, and triggering algorithms of the CGBM—the two Hard X-ray Monitors consisting of LaBr3(Ce)scintillators sensitive to 7 keV–1 MeV gamma rays and a Soft Gamma-ray Monitor BGO scintillator sensitive to 40 keV–20 MeV—and the high-energy CAL consisting of a charge detection module, imaging calorimeter, and the fully active total absorption calorimeter. The analysis procedure is described and upper limits to the time-averaged fluxes are presented.

Gamma-ray astronomy↗
DOE OSTI2021

A stable isotope record of late Quaternary hydrologic change in the northwestern Brooks Range, Alaska (eastern Beringia)

A submillennial-resolution record of lake water oxygen isotope composition (δ 18 O) from chironomid head capsules is presented from Burial Lake, northwest Alaska. The record spans the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ~20–16k cal a bp) to the present and shows a series of large lake δ 18 O shifts (~5‰). Relatively low δ 18 O values occurred during a period covering the LGM, when the lake was a shallow, closed-basin pond. Higher values characterize deglaciation (~16–11.5k cal a Bp) when the lake was still closed but lake levels were higher. A rapid decline between ~11 and 10.5k cal a Bp indicates that lake levels rose to overflowing. Lake δ 18 O values are interpreted to reflect the combined effects of changes in lake hydrology, growing season temperature and meteoric source water as well as large-scale environmental changes impacting this site, including opening of the Bering Strait and shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns related to ice-sheet dynamics. The results indicate significant shifts in precipitation minus evaporation across the late Pleistocene to early Holocene transition, which are consistent with temporal patterns of vegetation change and paludification. This study provides new perspectives on the paleohydrology of eastern Beringia concomitant with human migration and major turnover in megafaunal assemblages.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

A high-resolution record of Late Holocene drought in the eastern Sierra Nevada (California, USA) from June Lake carbonate geochemistry

As historic drought conditions become more common in western North America, Late Quaternary hydroclimate records become vital for putting present anthropogenic conditions into a longer-term context. Here, we establish a high-resolution record of drought for the eastern Sierra Nevada (California) using lacustrine carbonates from well-dated sediment cores. We used oxygen and carbon stable-isotope ratios, combined with high-resolution scanning X-ray fluorescence counts of calcium (Ca) and titanium (Ti), to reconstruct the drought record over the last 4600 years in June Lake. We found elevated δ 18 O and δ 13 C carbonate isotope values coinciding with peaks in both total inorganic carbon and Ca/Ti, suggesting enhanced carbonate precipitation in response to evaporative concentration of lake water. At least six intervals of prolonged (centennial-scale) carbonate deposition were identified, including three pulses during the Late Holocene Dry Period (LHDP; ~3500–2000 cal yr BP), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (~1200–800 cal yr BP), and the Current Warm Period, which began around 100 cal yr BP. This record highlights the complexities of the LHDP, an interval that was more variable at June Lake than has been previously described in regional records.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mechanistic Pathways for N 2 O Elimination from trans -R 3 Sn-O-N=N-O-SnR 3 and for Reversible Binding of CO 2 to R 3 Sn-O-SnR 3 (R = Ph, Cy)

The rate and mechanism of the elimination of N 2 O from trans-R 3 Sn-O-N=N-O-SnR 3 (R = Ph ( 1 Ph ) and R = Cy ( 1 Cy )) to form R 3 Sn-O-SnR 3 (R = Ph ( 2 Ph ) and R = Cy ( 2 Cy )) have been studied using both NMR and IR techniques to monitor the reactions in the temperature range of 39–79 °C in C 6 D 6 . Activation parameters for this reaction are ΔH ‡ = 15.8 ± 2.0 kcal·mol –1 and ΔS ‡ = –28.5 ± 5 cal·mol –1 ·K –1 for 1 Ph and ΔH ‡ = 22.7 ± 2.5 kcal·mol –1 and ΔS ‡ = –12.4 ± 6 cal·mol –1 ·K –1 for 1 Cy . Addition of O 2 , CO 2 , N 2 O, or PPh 3 to sealed tube NMR experiments did not alter in a detectable way the rate or product distribution of the reactions. Computational DFT studies of elimination of hyponitrite from trans-Me 3 Sn-O-N=N-O-SnMe 3 ( 1 Me ) yield a mechanism involving initial migration of the R 3 Sn group from O to N passing through a marginally stable intermediate product and subsequent N 2 O elimination. Reactions of 1 Ph with protic acids HX are rapid and lead to formation of R 3 SnX and trans-H 2 N 2 O 2 . Reaction of 1 Ph with the metal radical •Cr(CO) 3 C 5 Me 5 at low concentrations results in rapid evolution of N 2 O. At higher •Cr(CO) 3 C 5 Me 5 concentrations, evolution of CO 2 rather than N 2 O is observed. Addition of 1 atm or less CO 2 to benzene or toluene solutions of 2 Ph and 2 Cy resulted in very rapid reaction to form the corresponding carbonates R 3 Sn-O-C(=O)-O-SnR 3 (R = Ph ( 3 Ph ) and R = Cy ( 3 Cy )) at room temperature. Evacuation results in fast loss of bound CO 2 and regeneration of 2 Ph and 2 Cy . Variable temperature data for formation of 3 Cy yield ΔH o = –8.7 ± 0.6 kcal·mol –1 , ΔS o = –17.1 ± 2.0 cal·mol –1 ·K –1 , and ΔG o 298K = –3.6 ± 1.2 kcal·mol –1 . Furthermore, DFT studies were performed and provide additional insight into the energetics and mechanisms for the reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reversible Ligand Protonation in Noninnocent Constrained-Geometry-Like Group 4 Complexes

The proligands C 5 H 5 CMe 2 CHPhOx R (R = Me 2 , CHMe 2 , and CMe 3 ) react with M(NMe 2 ) 4 (M = Ti, Zr, and Hf) to give monodeprotonated (Ox R CHPhCMe 2 C 5 H 4 )M(NMe 2 ) 3 , doubly deprotonated (C 5 H 4 CMe 2 CPhOx R )M(NMe 2 ) 2 , or a mixture of both. The observed products depend on reaction conditions, the oxazoline substituent, and the metal center, with 4-t-butyl-oxazoline or Ti giving only the monodeprotonated (Ox R CHPhCMe 2 C 5 H 4 )M(NMe 2 ) 3 . Amine elimination from (Ox R CHPhCMe 2 C 5 H 4 )M(NMe 2 ) 3 to give (C 5 H 4 CMe 2 CPhOx R )M(NMe 2 ) 2 is reversible for 4,4-dimethyl- and 4-isopropyl-oxazoline-based ligands in Zr or Hf complexes. Temperature-dependent kinetic studies of the equilibration of (C 5 H 4 CMe 2 CPhOx Me2 )Zr(NMe 2 ) 2 , HNMe 2 and (Ox Me2 CHPhCMe 2 C 5 H 4 )Zr(NMe 2 ) 3 provide the experimental thermodynamic parameters ΔS° = -17.4 ± 2.6 cal·mol –1 K –1 and ΔH° = -6.8 ± 0.8 kcal·mol –1 . An Eyring plot of the rate constants, determined from the system as it approaches equilibrium, gives the activation entropy and activation enthalpy for the addition of (C 5 H 4 CMe 2 CPhOx Me2 )Zr(NMe 2 ) 2 and HNMe 2 as -36 ± 4 cal·mol –1 K –1 and 8.9 ± 1.3 kcal·mol –1 , respectively; the elimination of HNMe 2 from (Ox Me2 CHPhCMe 2 C 5 H 4 )Zr(NMe 2 ) 3 is characterized by ΔS ‡ = -19 ± 5 cal·mol –1 K –1 and ΔH ‡ = 15.7 ± 1.5 kcal·mol –1 . DFT computational models indicate a single-step, nonlinear transfer of the H between the benzylic position of the noninnocent, oxazoline-coordinated ligand and NMe 2 . Computations also confirm the negative activation entropy and the trends in the barriers support the experimental results. Together, these studies indicate the importance of steric effects from the oxazoline ligand, metal center, ancillary ligands, and leaving group on the shuttling of the proton between HNMe 2 and the noninnocent ligand. Finally, these effects suggest that coordination of oxazoline to the metal center is a key part of the benzylic deprotonation and noninnocent behavior of the cyclopentadienyl-oxazoline ligand.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Cosmological implications of a B – L charged hidden scalar: leptogenesis and gravitational waves*

In this study, we investigated the cosmological implications of a complex singlet scalar $ {\cal{S}}$ with non-trivial $ B-L$ charges in the conformal $ U(1)_{B-L}$ theory. It was found that, in a sizable region of parameter space, $ {\cal{S}}$ may disturb the resonant leptogenesis mechanism, which is used to generate baryon asymmetry, and affect the symmetry breaking dynamics in the strong first order phase transition. The stochastic gravitational waves (GWs) produced at the phase transition can be probed in future GW experiments. The GW searches prefer a relatively light $ {\cal{S}}$ at the TeV-scale; however, this is difficult to detect directly at future high-energy colliders.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Assessing the methane mitigation potential of innovative management in US rice production

Abstract Rice is an important global crop while also contributing significant anthropogenic methane (CH 4 ) emissions. To support the future of rice production, more information is needed on the impacts of sustainability-driven management used to grow rice with lower associated methane emissions. Recent support for the impacts of different growing practices in the US has prompted the application of a regional methodology (Tier 2) to estimate methane emissions in different rice growing regions. The methodology estimates rice methane emissions from the US Mid-South (MdS) and California (Cal) using region-specific scaling factors applied to a region-specific baseline flux. In our study, we leverage land cover data and soil clay content to estimate methane emissions using this approach, while also examining how changes in common production practices can affect overall emissions in the US. Our results indicated US rice cultivation produced between 0.32 and 0.45 Tg CH 4 annually, which were approximately 7% and 42% lower on average compared to Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inventories, respectively. Our estimates were 63% greater on average compared to similar methods that lack regional context. Introducing aeration events into irrigation resulted in the greatest methane reductions across both regions. When accounting for differences between baseline and reduction scenarios, the US MdS typically had higher mitigation potential compared to Cal. The differences in cumulative mitigation potential across the 2008–2020 period were likely driven by lower production area clay content for the US MdS compared to Cal. The added spatial representation in the Tier 2 approach is useful in surveying how impactful methane-reducing practices might be within and across regions.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2022

Consistency study of high- and low-accreting Mg ii quasars: no significant effect of the Fe ii to Mg ii flux ratio on the radius–luminosity relation dispersion

ABSTRACT We use observations of 66 reverberation-measured Mg ii quasars (QSOs) in the redshift range 0.36 ≤ z ≤ 1.686 – a subset of the 78 QSOs we previously studied that also have ${\cal R}_{\rm {Fe\, {\small II}}}$ (flux ratio parameter of UV Fe ii to Mg ii that is used as an accretion-rate proxy) measurements – to simultaneously constrain cosmological model parameters and QSO two-parameter and three-parameter radius–luminosity (R–L) relation parameters in six different cosmological models. We find that these QSO R–L relation parameters are independent of the assumed cosmological model and so these QSOs are standardizable through the R–L relations. Also: (1) With the two-parameter R–L relation, we find that the low-${\cal R}_{\rm {Fe\, {\small II}}}$ and high-${\cal R}_{\rm {Fe\, {\small II}}}$ data subsets obey the same R–L relation within the error bars. (2) Extending the two-parameter R–L relation to a three-parameter one does not result in the hoped-for reduction in the intrinsic dispersion of the R–L relation. (3) Neither of the three-parameter R–L relations provide a significantly better fit to the measurements than does the two-parameter R–L relation. These are promising results for the ongoing development of Mg ii cosmological probes. The first and third of these results differ significantly from those we found elsewhere from analyses of reverberation-measured H β QSOs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dates and rates of loess deposition and soil formation on the Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA

Loess-paleosol sequences in eolian deposits on the Snake River Plain, Idaho, western United States, preserve records of late Pleistocene to Holocene glacial-interglacial cycles. Here, we examine climate-driven changes in the timing and rate of loess accretion, soil formation, and pedogenic carbonate accumulation in the eastern and central Snake River Plain. High rates of loess deposition often correspond with dry, cold, and windy conditions and/or high sediment supply, while soil formation indicates landscape stability. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of four loess-soil sequences provides a record of the timing of loess deposition, and radiocarbon dating ( 14 C) of soil inorganic carbon provides ages for soil formation and pedogenic carbonate precipitation. On the central Snake River Plain, marine isotope stage (MIS) 3 is marked by loess deposition between ca. 50 ka and 33 ka, and pedogenic carbonate accumulation between ca. 42 ka calibrated years before present (cal. B.P.) and 31 ka cal. B.P. During MIS 2, loess deposition between ca. 21 ka and 15 ka is contemporaneous with pedogenic carbonate precipitation. MIS 2 is characterized by diffuse pedogenic carbonate formation and rapid loess accumulation. Both the eastern and central Snake River Plain study sites experienced high rates of loess deposition during MIS 2; however, the eastern Snake River Plain had almost three times faster rates of loess accumulation (0.56−0.63 m/k.y. from ca. 25 ka to 17 ka) as compared to the central Snake River Plain (0.18−0.26 m/k.y. from ca. 21 ka to 15 ka). During MIS 1, loess deposition on the central Snake River Plain ca. 11 ka was coincident with pedogenic carbonate formation ca. 10 ka cal. B.P. MIS 3 and MIS 1 are characterized by A horizons and well-developed Bk horizons, indicating soil stability and lower rates of loess accumulation during these intervals. Finally, this study highlights the role of late Quaternary−scale climatic variability on rates and amounts of soil inorganic carbon storage.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2020

Mechanisms of QT prolongation by buprenorphine cannot be explained by direct hERG channel block

Buprenorphine is a μ-opioid receptor (MOR) partial agonist used to manage pain and addiction. QT C prolongation that crosses the 10 msec threshold of regulatory concern was observed at a supratherapeutic dose in two thorough QT studies for the transdermal buprenorphine product BUTRANS®. Because QT C prolongation can be associated with Torsades de Pointes (TdP), a rare but potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia, these results have led to further investigation of the electrophysiological effects of buprenorphine. Drug-induced QT C prolongation and TdP are most commonly caused by acute inhibition of hERG current (I hERG ) that contribute to the repolarizing phase of the ventricular action potentials (APs). Concomitant inhibition of inward late Na + (I NaL ) and/or L-type Ca 2+ (I CaL ) current can offer some protection against proarrhythmia. Therefore, we characterized the effects of buprenorphine and its major metabolite norbuprenorphine on cardiac hERG, Ca 2+ , and Na + ion channels, as well as cardiac APs. For comparison, methadone, a MOR agonist associated with QT C prolongation and high TdP risk, and naltrexone and naloxone, two opioid receptor antagonists, were also studied. Whole cell recordings were performed at 37°C on cells stably expressing hERG, Ca V 1.2, and Na V 1.5 proteins. Microelectrode array (MEA) recordings were made on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). The results showed that buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone had no effect on I hERG , I CaL , I NaL , and peak Na + current (I NaP ) at clinically relevant concentrations. In contrast, methadone inhibited I hERG , I CaL , and I NaL . Experiments on iPSC-CMs showed a lack of effect for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, naltrexone, and naloxone, and delayed repolarization for methadone at clinically relevant concentrations. The mechanism of QT C prolongation is opioid moiety-specific. This remains undefined for buprenorphine, while for methadone it involves direct hERG channel block. There is no evidence that buprenorphine use is associated with TdP. Whether this lack of TdP risk can be generalized to other drugs with QT C prolongation not mediated by acute hERG channel block warrants further study.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

In Vivo Study of Osteochondral Defect Regeneration Using Innovative Composite Calcium Phosphate Biocement in a Sheep Model

This study aimed to clarify the therapeutic effect and regenerative potential of the novel, amino acids-enriched acellular biocement (CAL) based on calcium phosphate on osteochondral defects in sheep. Eighteen sheep were divided into three groups, the treated group (osteochondral defects filled with a CAL biomaterial), the treated group with a biocement without amino acids (C cement), and the untreated group (spontaneous healing). Cartilages of all three groups were compared with natural cartilage (negative control). After six months, sheep were evaluated by gross appearance, histological staining, immunohistochemical staining, histological scores, X-ray, micro-CT, and MRI. Treatment of osteochondral defects by CAL resulted in efficient articular cartilage regeneration, with a predominant structural and histological characteristic of hyaline cartilage, contrary to fibrocartilage, fibrous tissue or disordered mixed tissue on untreated defect (p < 0.001, modified O’Driscoll score). MRI results of treated defects showed well-integrated and regenerated cartilage with similar signal intensity, regularity of the articular surface, and cartilage thickness with respect to adjacent native cartilage. We have demonstrated that the use of new biocement represents an effective solution for the successful treatment of osteochondral defects in a sheep animal model, can induce an endogenous regeneration of cartilage in situ, and provides several benefits for the design of future therapies supporting osteochondral defect healing.

Kresakova, Lenka↗
NASA NTRS1988

Air transportation systems for the California corridor of 2010

In 1986 NASA and USRA identified Cal Poly as one of seven 'Centers of Aircraft Design Education', and accepted a proposal from Cal Poly to conduct a three-year study of the potential for Lighter-Than-Air (LTA), Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), and Short Take-Off and landing (STOL) aircraft concepts for air transportation within the California corridor. The project emphasizes configurations that are both innovative and unconventional in design for use in the 2010 time period. The topic of LTA/VTOL/STOL aircraft was selected because it is consistent with the mission of the NASA Ames Research Center and is a broad topic that succeeding classes at Cal Poly can continue to iterate and refine to produce meaningful results for NASA. Along with studying the technical issues normally involved in any aircraft design problem, the topics of safety, noise, public acceptance, and economic viability in commercial operations are also addressed.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1996

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Bright Galactic X-Ray Binaries in Crowded Fields

We report high spatial resolution HST imagery and photometry of three well-studied, intense Galactic X-ray binaries, X2129+470, CAL 87, and GX 17+2. All three sources exhibit important anomalies that are not readily interpreted by conventional models. Each source also lies in a severely crowded field, and in all cases the anomalies would be removed if much of the light observed from the ground in fact came from a nearby, thus far unresolved superposed companion. For V1727 Cyg (X2129+470), we find no such companion. We also present an HST FOS spectrum and broadband photometry which is consistent with a single, normal star. The supersoft LMC X-ray source CAL 87 was already known from ground-based work to have a companion separated by O.9 minutes from the optical counterpart; our HST images clearly resolve these objects and yield the discovery of an even closer, somewhat fainter additional companion. Our photometry indicates that contamination is not severe outside eclipse, where the companions only contribute 20% of the light in V, but during eclipse more than half of the V light comes from the companions. The previously determined spectral type of the CAL 87 secondary may need to be reevaluated due to this significant contamination, with consequences on inferences of the mass of the components. We find no companions to NP Ser (= X1813-14, = GX 17+2). However, for this object we point out a small but possibly significant astrometric discrepancy between the position of the optical object and that of the radio source which is the basis for the identification. This discrepancy needs to be clarified.

Deutsch, Eric W.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Calcium Solubility and Cation Exchange Properties in Zeoponic Soil

An important aspect of a regenerative life support system at a Lunar or Martian outpost is the ability to produce food. Essential plant nutrients, as well as a solid support substrate, can be provided by: (1) treated Lunar or Martian regolith; (2) a synthetic soil or (3) some combination of both. A synthetic soil composed of ammonium- and potassium-saturated chinoptlolite (a zeolite mineral) and apatite, can provide slow-release fertilization of plants via dissolution and ion-exchange reactions. Previous equilibrium studies (Beiersdorfer, 1997) on mixtures of synthetic hydroxyapatite and saturated-clinoptilolite indicate that the concentrations of macro-nutrients such as ammonium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are a function of the ratio of chinoptilolite to apatite in the sample and to the ratio of potassium to ammonium on the exchange sites in the clinoptilolite. Potassium, ammonium, phosphorous, and magnesium are available to plants at sufficient levels. However, calcium is deficient, due to the high degree of calcium adsorption by the clinoptilolite. Based on a series of batch-equilibration experiments, this calcium deficiency can be reduced by (1) treating the clinoptilolite with CaNO3 or (2) adding a second Ca-bearing mineral (calcite, dolomite or wollastonite) to the soil. Treating the Cp with CaNO3 results in increased Ca in solution, decreased P in solution and decreased NH4 in solution. Concentrations of K were not effected by the CaNO3 treatment. Additions of Cal, Dol and Wol changed the concentrations of Ca and P in solution in a systematic fashion. Cal has the greatest effect, Dol the least and Wol is intermediate. The changes are consistent with changes expected for a common ion effect with Ca. Higher concentrations of Ca in solution with added Cal, Dol or Wol do not result in changes in K or NH4 concentrations.

Beiersdorfer, Raymond E.↗