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DOE OSTI2024

2023 Annual Site Environmental Report for Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Sandia Field Office administers the contract and oversees contractor operations at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico. Activities at the site support research and development programs with a wide variety of national security missions, resulting in technologies for nonproliferation, homeland security, energy and infrastructure, and defense systems and assessments. The U.S. Department of Energy and its management and operating contractor are committed to safeguarding the environment, assessing sustainability practices, and ensuring the validity and accuracy of the monitoring data presented in this annual site environmental report. This report summarizes the environmental protection and monitoring programs in place at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, during calendar year 2023. Environmental topics include cultural resource management, chemical management, air quality, ecology, environmental restoration, oil storage, site sustainability, terrestrial surveillance, waste management, water quality, and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. This report is prepared in accordance with and as required by DOE O 231.1B, Admin Change 1, Environment, Safety and Health Reporting, and has been approved for public distribution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

2023 Annual Site Environmental Report for Sandia National Laboratories, Tonopah Test Range, Nevada

Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Sandia Field Office administers the contract and oversees contractor operations at Sandia National Laboratories, Tonopah Test Range. Activities at the site are conducted in support of U.S. Department of Energy weapons programs and have operated at the site since 1957. The U.S. Department of Energy and its management and operating contractor are committed to safeguarding the environment, assessing sustainability practices, and ensuring the validity and accuracy of the monitoring data presented in this annual site environmental report. This report summarizes the environmental protection, restoration, and monitoring programs in place at Sandia National Laboratories, Tonopah Test Range during calendar year 2023. Environmental topics include cultural resource management, chemical management, air quality, ecology, environmental restoration, oil storage, site sustainability, terrestrial surveillance, waste management, water quality, wastewater discharge, and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. This report is prepared in accordance with and as required by DOE O 231.1B, Admin Change 1, Environment, Safety and Health Reporting, and has been approved for public distribution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

2024 SNL/KTF Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

Data for "Viral Delivery of Recombinases Activates Heritable Genetic Switches in Plants"

Viral vectors provide an increasingly versatile platform for transformation-free reagent delivery to plants. RNA viral vectors can be used to induce gene silencing, overexpress proteins, or introduce gene editing reagents; however, they are often constrained by carrying capacity or restricted tropism in germline cells. Site-specific recombinases that catalyze precise genetic rearrangements are powerful tools for genome engineering that vary in size and, potentially, efficacy in plants. In this work, we show that viral vectors based on tobacco rattle virus (TRV) deliver and stably express four recombinases ranging in size from ∼0.6 to ∼1.5 kb and achieve simultaneous marker removal and reporter activation through targeted excision in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines. TRV vectors with Cre, FLP, CinH, and Integrase13 efficiently mediated recombination in infected somatic tissue and led to heritable modifications at high frequency. An excision-activated Ruby reporter enabled simple and high-resolution tracing of infected cell lineages without the need for molecular genotyping. Together, our experiments broaden the scope of viral recombinase delivery and offer insights into infection dynamics that may be useful in developing future viral vectors.

gene editing↗

DOE OSTI2025

Viral delivery of recombinases activates heritable genetic switches in plants

Viral vectors provide an increasingly versatile platform for transformation-free reagent delivery to plants. RNA viral vectors can be used to induce gene silencing, overexpress proteins, or introduce gene editing reagents; however, they are often constrained by carrying capacity or restricted tropism in germline cells. Site-specific recombinases that catalyze precise genetic rearrangements are powerful tools for genome engineering that vary in size and, potentially, efficacy in plants. In this work, we show that viral vectors based on tobacco rattle virus (TRV) deliver and stably express four recombinases ranging in size from ~0.6kb to ~1.5kb and achieve simultaneous marker removal and reporter activation through targeted excision in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines. TRV vectors with Cre, FLP, CinH, and Integrase13 efficiently mediated recombination in infected somatic tissue and led to heritable modifications at high frequency. Here, an excision-activated Ruby reporter enabled simple and high-resolution tracing of infected cell lineages without the need for molecular genotyping. Together, our experiments broaden the scope of viral recombinase delivery and offer insights into infection dynamics that may be useful in developing future viral vectors.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Double Hydroxide Nanocatalysts for Urea Electrooxidation Engineered toward Environmentally Benign Products

Abstract Recent advancements in the electrochemical urea oxidation reaction (UOR) present promising avenues for wastewater remediation and energy recovery. Despite progress toward optimized efficiency, hurdles persist in steering oxidation products away from environmentally unfriendly products, mostly due to a lack of understanding of structure‐selectivity relationships. In this study, the UOR performance of Ni and Cu double hydroxides, which show marked differences in their reactivity and selectivity is evaluated. CuCo hydroxides predominantly produce N 2 , reaching a current density of 20 mA cm geo −2 at 1.04 V – 250 mV less than NiCo hydroxides that generate nitrogen oxides. A collection of in‐situ spectroscopies and scattering experiments reveal a unique in situ generated Cu (2‐x)+ ‐OO −• active sites in CuCo, which initiates nucleophilic substitution of NH 2 from the amide, leading to N‐N coupling between * NH on Co and Cu. In contrast, the formation of nitrogen oxides on NiCo is primarily attributed to the presence of high‐valence Ni 3+ and Ni 4+ , which facilitates N‐H activation. This process, in conjunction with the excessive accumulation of OH − ions on Jahn‐Teller (JT) distorted Co sites, leads to the generation of NO 2 − as the primary product. This work underscores the importance of catalyst composition and structural engineering in tailoring innocuous UOR products.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Bactericidal effectors of the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia type IV secretion system: functional definition of the nuclease TfdA and structural determination of TfcB

ABSTRACT Stenotrophomonas maltophilia expresses a type IV protein secretion system (T4SS) that promotes contact-dependent killing of other bacteria and does so partly by secreting the effector TfcB. Here, we report the structure of TfcB, comprising an N-terminal domain similar to the catalytic domain of glycosyl hydrolase (GH-19) chitinases and a C-terminal domain for recognition and translocation by the T4SS. Utilizing a two-hybrid assay to measure effector interactions with the T4SS coupling protein VirD4, we documented the existence of five more T4SS substrates. One of these was protein 20845, an annotated nuclease. A S. maltophilia mutant lacking the gene for 20845 was impaired for killing Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Moreover, the cloned 20845 gene conferred robust toxicity, with the recombinant E. coli being rescued when 20845 was co-expressed with its cognate immunity protein. The 20845 effector was an 899 amino-acid protein, comprised of a GHH-nuclease domain in its N-terminus, a large central region of indeterminant function, and a C-terminus for secretion. Engineered variants of the 20845 gene that had mutations in the predicted catalytic site did not impede E. coli , indicating that the antibacterial effect of 20845 involves its nuclease activity. Using flow cytometry with DNA staining, we determined that 20845, but not its mutant variants, confers a loss in DNA content of target bacteria. Database searches revealed that uncharacterized homologs of 20845 occur within a range of bacteria. These data indicate that the S. maltophilia T4SS promotes interbacterial competition through the action of multiple toxic effectors, including a potent, novel DNase. IMPORTANCE Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multi-drug-resistant, Gram-negative bacterium that is an emerging pathogen of humans. Patients with cystic fibrosis are particularly susceptible to S. maltophilia infection. In hospital water systems and various types of infections, S. maltophilia co-exists with other bacteria, including other pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We previously demonstrated that S. maltophilia has a functional VirB/D4 type VI protein secretion system (T4SS) that promotes contact-dependent killing of other bacteria. Since most work on antibacterial systems involves the type VI secretion system, this observation remains noteworthy. Moreover, S. maltophilia currently stands alone as a model for a human pathogen expressing an antibacterial T4SS. Using biochemical, genetic, and cell biological approaches, we now report both the discovery of a novel antibacterial nuclease (TfdA) and the first structural determination of a bactericidal T4SS effector (TfcB).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

2023 Annual Site Environmental Report for Sandia National Laboratories, Kaua‘i Test Facility, Hawai‘i

Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Sandia Field Office administers the contract and oversees contractor operations at the Sandia National Laboratories Kaua‘i Test Facility in Hawai‘i. Activities at the site are conducted in support of U.S. Department of Energy weapons programs, and the site has operated as a rocket preparation launching and tracking facility since 1962. The U.S. Department of Energy and its management and operating contractor are committed to safeguarding the environment, assessing sustainability practices, and ensuring the validity and accuracy of the monitoring data presented in this annual site environmental report. This report summarizes the environmental protection, restoration, and monitoring programs in place at Sandia National Laboratories, Kaua‘i Test Facility, during calendar year 2023. Environmental topics include cultural resource management, chemical management, air quality, meteorology, ecology, oil storage, site sustainability, terrestrial surveillance, waste management, water quality, wastewater discharge, and implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act. This report is prepared in accordance with and as required by DOE O 231.1B, Admin Change 1, Environment, Safety and Health Reporting, and has been approved for public distribution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1977

The use of remote sensing in solving Florida's geological and coastal engineering problems

LANDSAT imagery and NASA high altitude color infrared (CIR) photography were used to select suitable sites for sanitary landfill in Volusia County, Florida and to develop techniques for preventing sand deposits in the Clearwater inlet. Activities described include the acquisition of imagery, its analysis by the IMAGE 100 system, conventional photointerpretation, evaluation of existing data sources (vegetation, soil, and ground water maps), site investigations for ground truth, and preparation of displays for reports.

Brooks, H. K.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Integration of In-Situ Resource Utilization Into Lunar/Mars Exploration Through Field Analogs

The NASA project to develop In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies, in partnership with commercial and international collaborators, has achieved full system demonstrations of oxygen production using native regolith simulants. These demonstrations included robotic extraction of material from the terrain, sealed encapsulation of material in a pressurized reactor; chemical extraction of oxygen from the material in the form of water, and the electrolysis of water into oxygen and hydrogen for storage and reuse. These successes have provided growing confidence in the prospects of ISRU oxygen production as a credible source for critical mission consumables in preparation for and during crewed missions to the moon and other destinations. Other ISRU processes, especially relevant to early lunar exploration scenarios, have also been shown to be practical, including the extraction of subsurface volatiles, especially water, and the thermal processing of surface materials for civil engineering uses and for thermal energy storage. This paper describes these recent achievements and current NASA ISRU development and demonstration activity. The ability to extract and process resources at the site of exploration into useful products such as propellants, life support and power system consumables; and radiation and rocket exhaust plume debris shielding, known as In-Situ Resource Utilization or ISRU, has the potential to significantly reduce the launch mass, risk, and cost of robotic and human exploration of space. The incorporation of ISRU into missions can also significantly influence technology selection and system development in other areas such as power, life support, and propulsion. For example. the ability to extract or produce large amounts of oxygen and/or water in-situ could minimize the need to completely close life support air and water processing system cycles, change thermal and radiation protection of habitats, and influence propellant selection for ascent vehicles and surface propulsive hoppers. While concepts and even laboratory work on evaluating and developing ISRU techniques such as oxygen extraction from lunar regolith have been going on since before the Apollo 11 Moon landing, no ISRU system has ever flown in space, and only recently have ISRU technologies been developed at a scale and at a system level that is relevant to actual robotic and human mission applications. Because ISRU hardware and systems have never been demonstrated or utilized before on robotic or human missions, architecture and mission planners and surface system hardware developers are hesitant to rely on ISRU products and services that are critical to mission and system implementation success. To build confidence in ISRU systems for future missions and assess how ISRU systems can best influence and integrate with other surface system elements, NASA, with international partners, are performing analog field tests to understand how to take advantage of ISRU capabilities and benefits with the minimum of risk associated with introducing this game-changing approach to exploration. This paper will describe and review the results of four analog field tests (Moses Lake in 6/08, Mauna Kea in 11/08. Flagstaff in 9/09; and Mauna Kea in 1/10) that have begun the process of integrating ISRU into robotic and human exploration systems and missions, and propose future ISRU-related analog field test activities that can be performed in collaboration with international space agencies.

Sanders, Gerald B.↗

NASA NTRS2018

Reflectance-Based Imaging Spectrometer Error Budget Field Practicum at the Railroad Valley Test Site, Nevada

Calibration and validation determine the quality and integrity of the data provided by sensors and have enormous downstream impacts on the accuracy and reliabilityof the products generated by these sensors. With the imminent launch of the next generation of space borne imaging spectroscopy sensors, the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society's (GRSS's) Geoscience Spaceborne Imaging Spectroscopy Technical Committee (GSIS TC) initiated a calibration and validation initiative.This article reports on a recent reflectance-based imaging spectrometer error budget field practicum focused on radiometric calibration of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy sensors. The field exercise, conducted at Railroad Valley in Nevada, provided valuable training for personnel in a variety of Earth observation (EO) areas, from engineers developing future sensors to calibration scientists actively working in the field. Future work in this area will focus on analyzing the data acquired as part of the training to answer numerous scientific questions, e.g., understanding the spatial and spectral homogeneity of the site being measured, identifying the optimal sampling to characterize the site, and optimizating the sampling techniques, including looking into the automation of some measurement protocol aspects. The training exercise was recorded to ensure that the knowledge can be disseminated across the GRSS and wider imaging spectroscopy community.

Ong, Cindy↗

NASA NTRS2001

EngineSim: Turbojet Engine Simulator Adapted for High School Classroom Use

EngineSim is an interactive educational computer program that allows users to explore the effect of engine operation on total aircraft performance. The software is supported by a basic propulsion web site called the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion, which includes educator-created, web-based activities for the classroom use of EngineSim. In addition, educators can schedule videoconferencing workshops in which EngineSim's creator demonstrates the software and discusses its use in the educational setting. This software is a product of NASA Glenn Research Center's Learning Technologies Project, an educational outreach initiative within the High Performance Computing and Communications Program.

Petersen, Ruth A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Payload integration and operations

Integration and operation of Spacelab payloads presents major challenges to engineering disciplines in areas of ground operations and flight mission operations. The integration of ground operations encompasses activities performed by the instrument developers and principal investigators and by the centralized payload integration site and launch site. The payload will be operated on orbit by a payload crew trained in payload experimentation and by a payload operations control center where investigator science groups and operations personnel are prepared to provide support. The payload mission planning, control center, data processing facility and operations are developed and verified prior to realtime flight operations. The mission management approach to minimize program costs and impacts to payloads and the Space Transportation System/Spacelab accommodations is presented.

Hall, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS2004

A Summer Research Program of NASA/Faculty Fellowships at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The NASA Faculty Fellowship Program (NFFP) is designed to give college and university faculty members a rewarding personal as well as enriching professional experience. Fellowships are awarded to engineering and science faculty for work on collaborative research projects of mutual interest to the fellow and his or her JPL host colleague. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have participated in the NASA Faculty Fellowship Program for more than 25 years. Administrative offices are maintained both at the Caltech Campus and at JPL; however, most of the activity takes place at JPL. The Campus handles all fiscal matters. The duration of the program is ten continuous weeks. Fellows are required to conduct their research on-site. To be eligible to participate in the program, fellows must be a U.S. citizen and hold a teaching or research appointment at a U.S. university or college. The American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) contracts with NASA and manages program recruitment. Over the past several years, we have made attempts to increase the diversity of the participants in the NFFP Program. A great deal of attention has been given to candidates from minority-serving institutions. There were approximately 100 applicants for the 34 positions in 2002. JPL was the first-choice location for more than half of them. Faculty from 16 minority-serving institutions participated as well as four women. The summer began with an orientation meeting that included introduction of key program personnel, and introduction of the fellows to each other. During this welcome, the fellows were briefed on their obligations to the program and to their JPL colleagues. They were also given a short historical perspective on JPL and its relationship to Caltech and NASA. All fellows received a package, which included information on administrative procedures, roster of fellows, seminar program, housing questionnaire, directions to JPL, maps of the local area, and a copy of the JPL Universe (a JPL newsletter). A calendar of events for the 2002 NFFP Program was designed to expose the fellows to the full range of JPL activities, seminars, tours, and trips to NASA Dryden, Goldstone, and Palomar Observatory. Weekly brown-bag lunches were also scheduled. The lunches provided a time for airing problems that may have arisen during the previous week, soliciting suggestions for program enhancement, announcements, and general socializing. Professor and Mrs. Albee also hosted the annual Summer Faculty Welcome Party at their home. During their ten-week tenure at JPL, the visiting faculty carried out projects in a wide variety of JPL's science, engineering, and technology disciplines, including communication, planetary science, materials research, reliability and quality assurance, astronomy, guidance and control, and micro-sensors. At the end of the NFFP Program, all fellows were required to complete a one-page summary of their summer s work. This was in addition to any documentation required by their host organization. Distribution of the final paycheck was dependent upon submission of this one-page summary and completion of NASA's NFFP evaluation in the EdCATS system. Fellows were also asked to complete a questionnaire for JPL, which enables the program administrators to make any appropriate changes to make the program more beneficial and effective for all involved. The 2002 NFFP Program at JPUCaltech was considered unanimously highly successful by both fellows and JPL colleagues. It provided a significant experience to most faculty members and fresh ideas to JPL researchers. Each year, suggestions for improvement include expansion of the program, longer terms, larger stipends, funds to support graduate students, and funds to continue collaborative research. The NASA Faculty Fellowship Program continues to occupy a significant place in JPL programs and serves to strengthen the ties between NASA, JPL, Caltech, and t academic community. This program is an important part of NASA's commitment to education. No inventions or patents were created during this program.

Albee, Arden↗

DOE OSTI2024

Stabilization and manipulation of highly concentrated copper single atoms by high entropy oxides

Facile and controllable methodologies capable of providing single atom catalysts (SACs) with high-density active metal sites and sintering-resistance under harsh conditions are highly desired and grand challenges in heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, the entropy effect was leveraged to stabilize and manipulate the electronic properties of copper SACs. The as-developed ultrasonication-driven approach could integrate highly concentrated Cu SAs within the lattice of fluorite-structured high entropy oxide (HEFO) under ambient conditions (CuO-HEFO). The dual benefits from the high entropy effect of the support and the in-situ lattice engineering led to the generation of abundant Cu 1+ species and oxygen defects, together with ultra-high stability and sintering-resistance under extremely harsh conditions. This was confirmed by deploying non-high entropy support (CuO-CeO 2 ) or Cu sites located on the surface of HEFO (CuO@HEFO). In conclusion, the catalytic activity of CuO-HEFO surpassed that of CuO-CeO 2 and CuO@HEFO in CO oxidation together with well-maintained long-term stability and resistance to gas impurities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS2007

Desert Research and Technology Studies (RATS) Local and Remote Test Sites

Desert RATS (Research and Technology Studies) is a combined group of inter-NASA center scientists and engineers, collaborating with representatives of industry and academia, for the purpose of conducting remote field exercises. These exercises provide the capability to validate experimental hardware and software, to evaluate and develop mission operational techniques, and to identify and establish technical requirements applicable for future planetary exploration. D-RATS completed its ninth year of field testing in September 2006. Dry run test activities prior to testing at designated remote field site locations are initially conducted at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Remote Field Demonstration Test Site. This is a multi-acre external test site located at JSC and has detailed representative terrain features simulating both Lunar and Mars surface characteristics. The majority of the remote field tests have been subsequently conducted in various high desert areas adjacent to Flagstaff, Arizona. Both the local JSC and remote field test sites have terrain conditions that are representative of both the Moon and Mars, such as strewn rock and volcanic ash fields, meteorite crater ejecta blankets, rolling plains, hills, gullies, slopes, and outcrops. Flagstaff is the preferred remote test site location for many reasons. First, there are nine potential test sites with representative terrain features within a 75-mile radius. Second, Flagstaff is the location of the United States Geologic Survey (USGS)/Astrogeology Branch, which historically supported Apollo astronaut geologic training and currently supports and provides host accommodations to the D-RATS team. Finally, in considering the importance of logistics in regard to providing the necessary level of support capabilities, the Flagstaff area provides substantial logistics support and lodging accommodations to take care of team members during long hours of field operations.

Janoiko, Barbara↗

DOE OSTI2024

Regulation of Absorption and Emission in a Protein/Fluorophore Complex

Human cellular retinol binding protein II (hCRBPII) was used as a protein engineering platform to rationally regulate absorptive and emissive properties of a covalently bound fluorogenic dye. We demonstrate the binding of a thio-dapoxyl analog via formation of a protonated imine between an active site lysine residue and the chromophore’s aldehyde. Rational manipulation of the electrostatics of the binding pocket results in a 204 nm shift in absorption and a 131 nm shift in emission. The protein is readily expressed in mammalian systems and binds with exogenously delivered fluorophore as demonstrated by live-cell imaging experiments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS1992

Propellant production and useful materials: Hardware data from components and the systems

Research activities at the University of Arizona/NASA Space Engineering Research Center are described; the primary emphasis is on hardware development and operation. The research activities are all aimed toward introducing significant cost reductions through the utilization of resources locally available at extraterrestrial sites. The four logical aspects include lunar, Martian, support, and common technologies. These are described in turn. The hardware realizations are based upon sound scientific principles which are used to screen a host of interesting and novel concepts. Small scale feasibility studies are used as the screen to allow only the most promising concepts to proceed. Specific examples include: kg/day-class oxygen plant that uses CO2 as the feed stock, spent stream utilization to produce methane and 'higher' compounds (using hydrogen from a water electrolysis plant), separation of CO from the CO2, reduction of any iron bearing silicate (lunar soils), production of structural components, smart sensors and autonomous controls, and quantitative computer simulation of extraterrestrial plants. The most important feature of all this research continues to be the training of high-quality students for our future in space.

Ramohalli, Kumar↗