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At least 91 records · Page 5

Cirrus Parcel Model Comparison Project: The Critical Components to Simulate Cirrus Initiation Explicitly - Phase 1

The Cirrus Parcel Model Comparison Project, a project of the GCSS (GEWEX Cloud System Studies) Working Group on Cirrus Cloud Systems, involves the systematic comparison of current models of ice crystal nucleation and growth for specified, typical, cirrus cloud environments. In Phase I of the project reported here, simulated cirrus cloud microphysical properties are compared for situations of "warm" (40 C) and "cold" (-60 C) cirrus, both subject to updrafts of 4, 20 and 100 centimeters per second. Five models participated. The various models employ explicit microphysical schemes wherein the size distribution of each class of particles (aerosols and ice crystals) is resolved into bins or treated separately. Simulations are made including both the homogeneous and heterogeneous ice nucleation mechanisms. A single initial aerosol population of sulfuric acid particles is prescribed for all simulations. To isolate the treatment of the homogeneous freezing (of haze droplets) nucleation process, the heterogeneous nucleation mechanism is disabled for a second parallel set of simulations. Qualitative agreement is found for the homogeneous-nucleation- only simulations, e.g., the number density of nucleated ice crystals increases with the strength of the prescribed updraft. However, significant quantitative differences are found. Detailed analysis reveals that the homogeneous nucleation rate, haze particle solution concentration, and water vapor uptake rate by ice crystal growth (particularly as controlled by the deposition coefficient) are critical components that lead to differences in predicted microphysics. Systematic bias exists between results based on a modified classical theory approach and models using an effective freezing temperature approach to the treatment of nucleation. Each approach is constrained by critical freezing data from laboratory studies, but each includes assumptions that can only be justified by further laboratory research. Consequently, it is not yet clear if the two approaches can be made consistent. Large haze particles may deviate considerably from equilibrium size in moderate to strong updrafts (20-100 centimeters per second) at -60 C when the commonly invoked equilibrium assumption is lifted. The resulting difference in particle-size- dependent solution concentration of haze particles may significantly affect the ice particle formation rate during the initial nucleation interval. The uptake rate for water vapor excess by ice crystals is another key component regulating the total number of nucleated ice crystals. This rate, the product of particle number concentration and ice crystal diffusional growth rate, which is particularly sensitive to the deposition coefficient when ice particles are small, modulates the peak particle formation rate achieved in an air parcel and the duration of the active nucleation time period. The effects of heterogeneous nucleation are most pronounced in weak updraft situations. Vapor competition by the heterogeneously nucleated ice crystals may limit the achieved ice supersaturation and thus suppresses the contribution of homogeneous nucleation. Correspondingly, ice crystal number density is markedly reduced. Definitive laboratory and atmospheric benchmark data are needed for the heterogeneous nucleation process. Inter-model differences are correspondingly greater than in the case of the homogeneous nucleation process acting alone.

Lin, Ruei-Fong↗

Truncated hexa-octahedral magnetite crystals in ALH84001: presumptive biosignatures

McKay et al. [(1996) Science 273, 924-930] suggested that carbonate globules in the meteorite ALH84001 contained the fossil remains of Martian microbes. We have characterized a subpopulation of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) crystals present in abundance within the Fe-rich rims of these carbonate globules. We find these Martian magnetites to be both chemically and physically identical to terrestrial, biogenically precipitated, intracellular magnetites produced by magnetotactic bacteria strain MV-1. Specifically, both magnetite populations are single-domain and chemically pure, and exhibit a unique crystal habit we describe as truncated hexa-octahedral. There are no known reports of inorganic processes to explain the observation of truncated hexa-octahedral magnetites in a terrestrial sample. In bacteria strain MV-1 their presence is therefore likely a product of Natural Selection. Unless there is an unknown and unexplained inorganic process on Mars that is conspicuously absent on the Earth and forms truncated hexa-octahedral magnetites, we suggest that these magnetite crystals in the Martian meteorite ALH84001 were likely produced by a biogenic process. As such, these crystals are interpreted as Martian magnetofossils and constitute evidence of the oldest life yet found.

Oxides/chemistry↗

Chromosomal instability induced by heavy ion irradiation

PURPOSE: To establish the dose-response relationship for the induction of chromosomal instability in GM10115 cells exposed to high-energy iron ions (1 GeV/nucleon, mean LET 146 keV/microm) and gold ions (11 GeV/nucleon, mean LET 1450 keV/microm). Past work has established that sparsely ionizing X-rays can induce a long-lived destabilization of chromosomes in a dose-dependent manner at an incidence of approximately 3% per gray. The present investigation assesses the capacity of High-Z and High-energy (HZE) particles to elicit this same endpoint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clonal populations derived from single progenitor cells surviving heavy-ion irradiation were analyzed cytogenetically to identify those clones showing a persistent destablization of chromosomes. RESULTS: Dose-response data, with a particular emphasis at low dose (< 1.0 Gy), indicate a frequency of approximately 4% per gray for the induction of chromosomal instability in clones derived from single progenitor cells surviving exposure to iron ions. The induction of chromosomal instability by gold ions was, however, less responsive to applied dose, as the observed incidence of this phenotype varied from 0 to 10% over 1-8 Gy. Both iron and gold ions gave dose-dependent increases in the yield of chromosomal aberrations (both chromosome- and chromatid-type) measured at the first mitosis following irradiation, as well as shoulderless survival curves having D0=0.87 and 1.1 Gy respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present dose-response data, the relative biological effectiveness of iron ions is 1.3 for the induction of chromosomal instability, and this indicates that heavy ions are only slightly more efficient than X-rays at eliciting this delayed phenotype.

Non-NASA Center↗

Critical target and dose and dose-rate responses for the induction of chromosomal instability by ionizing radiation

To investigate the critical target, dose response and dose-rate response for the induction of chromosomal instability by ionizing radiation, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-substituted and unsubstituted GM10115 cells were exposed to a range of doses (0.1-10 Gy) and different dose rates (0.092-17.45 Gy min(-1)). The status of chromosomal stability was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization approximately 20 generations after irradiation in clonal populations derived from single progenitor cells surviving acute exposure. Overall, nearly 700 individual clones representing over 140,000 metaphases were analyzed. In cells unsubstituted with BrdU, a dose response was found, where the probability of observing delayed chromosomal instability in any given clone was 3% per gray of X rays. For cells substituted with 25-66% BrdU, however, a dose response was observed only at low doses (<1.0 Gy); at higher doses (>1.0 Gy), the incidence of chromosomal instability leveled off. There was an increase in the frequency and complexity of chromosomal instability per unit dose compared to cells unsubstituted with BrdU. The frequency of chromosomal instability appeared to saturate around approximately 30%, an effect which occurred at much lower doses in the presence of BrdU. Changing the gamma-ray dose rate by a factor of 190 (0.092 to 17.45 Gy min(-1)) produced no significant differences in the frequency of chromosomal instability. The enhancement of chromosomal instability promoted by the presence of the BrdU argues that DNA comprises at least one of the critical targets important for the induction of this end point of genomic instability.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

The Sensitivity of Multiangle Imaging to Natural Mixes of Aerosols Over Ocean

Multiangle, multispectral remote sensing observations, such as those anticipated from the Earth Observing System (EOS) Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiomenter (MISR), can significantly improve our ability to constrain aerosol properties based on a generic retrieval approach; top-of-atmosphere radiances were interpreted in terms of a single, average aerosol population having unimodal size distribution and uniform composition.

Aerosols Multiangle Imaging Remote Sensing of Eart↗

Particle Scale Impacts on Deconstruction Energy of Pine Residues

The goal of this Case Study was to quantify the impacts of variable moisture and ash on hammer mill throughput and energy consumption and on generation of fines that are not able to be fed to conversion, as compared to a status quo Base Case system. Also considered was convertible carbon content (minimum carbon specification) and maximum ash content and the delivered feedstock cost impacts of not being able to feed residue not meeting both specifications to the conversion reactor. Laboratory data on the impacts of input particle size and moisture content on the exit particle size were received from FCIC Subtask 5.2: Preprocessing, High Temperature Conversion Preprocessing from their single particle impact population balance modeling study (Tiasha Bhattacharjee, INL). Additional throughput and energy consumption data were obtained from FCIC Subtask 5.2 (Jordan Klinger, INL) for the same grinder with a 6 mm screen in place. These data were utilized to develop the necessary response surface equations to perform throughput analysis using discrete event simulation. Because the ash contents in the separated fines had not been analyzed in the laboratory at the time of the model runs, we chose to assume that the ash distributed proportionally with total mass into the overs and unders in the disk screen following grinding.

energy consumption↗

Quantum Spin Probe of Single Charge Dynamics

Electronic defects in semiconductors form the basis for emerging quantum technologies, but many defect centers are difficult to access at the single-particle level. A method for probing optically inactive spin defects would reveal semiconductor physics at the atomic scale and advance the study of new quantum systems. Here, we exploit the intrinsic correlation between the charge and spin states of defect centers to measure the charge populations and dynamics of single substitutional nitrogen spin defects in diamond. By probing their steady-state spin population, read out at the single-defect level with a nearby nitrogen vacancy center, we directly measure the defect ionization-corroborated by first-principles calculations-an effect we do not have access to with traditional coherence-based quantum sensing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

CRISpy-Pop: A Web Tool for Designing CRISPR/Cas9-Driven Genetic Modifications in Diverse Populations

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful tool for editing genomes, but design decisions are generally made with respect to a single reference genome. With population genomic data becoming available for an increasing number of model organisms, researchers are interested in manipulating multiple strains and lines. CRISpy-pop is a web application that generates and filters guide RNA sequences for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing for diverse yeast and bacterial strains. The current implementation designs and predicts the activity of guide RNAs against more than 1000 Saccharomyces cerevisiae genomes, including 167 strains frequently used in bioenergy research. Zymomonas mobilis, an increasingly popular bacterial bioenergy research model, is also supported. CRISpy-pop is available as a web application (https://CRISpy-pop.glbrc.org/) with an intuitive graphical user interface. CRISpy-pop also cross-references the human genome to allow users to avoid the selection of sgRNAs with potential biosafety concerns. Additionally, CRISpy-pop predicts the strain coverage of each guide RNA within the supported strain sets, which aids in functional population genetic studies. Lastly, we validate how CRISpy-pop can accurately predict the activity of guide RNAs across strains using population genomic data.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Propagating synthetic populations with dynamic Bayesian networks: a framework for long-horizon demographic forecasting

This study presents a dynamic demographic microsimulator using dynamic Bayesian networks to forecast long–term changes in household and individual life events. Leveraging longitudinal Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data, two networks for individuals and households were modeled to simulate transitions in employment, income, education, marriage, childbirth, leaving the parental home, home ownership, mortality, and household formation or dissolution. Across 1,000 simulation runs spanning 24 years, household–level outcomes remain highly accurate and individual–level predictions reasonable. Although accuracy naturally declines with projection horizon, performance remains promising at both levels. This study addresses a key limitation of existing population synthesis models, which typically generate only a single static snapshot of the population. In conclusion, by introducing a framework that propagates cross-sectional outputs into the future, the microsimulator enables the tracking of demographic evolution over time, enhances realism in population-based simulations, and supplies credible inputs to agent-based travel demand models.

Demographic modeling↗

Body Mass Variation in an Introduced Wild Pig Population with Changing Ancestry

Total body mass variation was studied in a single wild pig (Sus scrofa) population that originated from three introductions of varying ancestry. Body mass data from 12,257 wild pigs collected over more than five decades were analyzed for differences due to the effects of sex, age class, reproductive status, season, and historic subpopulation groupings. Total body mass data from this population averaged 38 kg and ranged from 0.511 to 189 kg. The overall observed range of body mass data was consistent with previous studies. Very heavy individuals (i.e., >150 kg) made up only a small percentage of the overall population. Males were significantly larger than females, being on average 1.09 times heavier. This significant sexual dimorphic difference was seen in all but the piglet age class. This percent dimorphic difference increased with age. Body mass variation and overlap between the age classes also increased with age. Males were more variable than females within the same age class. The study area’s wild pigs were on average born at slightly less than one percent of their adult body mass. Percent weight gain toward the adult body mass increased with age and was slightly greater in females than in males. In contrast, absolute weight gain between age classes was greater in males. Pregnant sows were significantly heavier than non-pregnant females in all age class comparisons; however, this difference decreased with age. There was a seasonal shift in body mass with age, with younger age classes being heaviest in the fall-winter period and the older age classes being heaviest in spring-summer. Having originated from different ancestral stocks, two major subpopulations of wild pigs on the study area differed significantly in body mass in all sex and age class comparisons. The SRS wild pig population showed a decrease in body mass during the 1990s that was significant. This change may have been the result of both ancestral and population density variation, as well as unspecified environmental factors

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Combustion-related pollutants of polydisperse single-composition aerosols and advection fog formation

The most noticeable effect of air pollution on the properties of the atmosphere is the reduction in visibility, with and without the occurrence of condensation, which frequently accompanies polluted air. The present study concerns the formation of advection fog associated with aerosols, due to combustion-related pollutants, with a polydisperse population distribution and a single composition model. The results show that an aerosol population with high particle concentration-shifted distribution provides a more favorable condition for the formation of dense fog than an aerosol population with a low particle concentration-shifted distribution if the value of the mass concentration of the aerosols is kept constant.

Hung, R. J.↗

Spatially Resolved Mass Spectrometry at the Single Cell: Recent Innovations in Proteomics and Metabolomics

Biological systems are composed of heterogeneous populations of cells that intercommunicate to form a functional living tissue. Biological function varies greatly across populations of cells, as each single cell has a unique transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome that translates to functional differences within single species and across kingdoms. Over the past decade, substantial advancements in our ability to characterize omic profiles on a single cell level have occurred, including in multiple spectroscopic and mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques. Of these technologies, spatially resolved mass spectrometry approaches, including mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), have shown the most progress for single cell proteomics and metabolomics. For example, reporter-based methods using heavy metal tags have allowed for targeted MS investigation of the proteome at the subcellular level, and development of technologies such as laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LAESI-MS) now mean that dynamic metabolomics can be performed in situ. In this Perspective, we showcase advancements in single cell spatial metabolomics and proteomics over the past decade and highlight important aspects related to high-throughput screening, data analysis, and more which are vital to the success of achieving proteomic and metabolomic profiling at the single cell scale. Finally, using this broad literature summary, we provide a perspective on how the next decade may unfold in the area of single cell MS-based proteomics and metabolomics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Vibrational Energy Coupling in Expanding N2/O2/NO Admixtures

Recent direct measurements of N2 and O2 vibrational populations in expansions of synthetic air show a closer coupling of the vibrational energies than indicated by adapting earlier experimental results from shock compressions to the nozzle expansion problem. An important difference between the shock wave and nozzle flow problems is the presence of NO in significant amounts throughout the relaxation in the case of a nozzle flow. This may account for the stronger coupling since NO is well suited to promote vibrational energy exchange. The results of a series of experiments and analysis examining vibrational energy coupling in expansions of admixtures approximating air are reported. N2 and O2 vibrational populations are determined by a single-pulse spontaneous Raman scattering technique. NO vibrational populations are determined by broadband absorption by the NO(y) system. The resulting data permit the role of NO in promoting vibrational energy coupling to be better understood, and are used to evaluate models of vibrational energy exchange for application to expanding flows.

Gilmore, John O.↗

Quasar populations in a cosmological constant-dominated flat universe

Most physical properties derived for quasars, as single entities or as a population, depend upon the cosmology assumed. In this paper, we calculate the quasar luminosity function and some related quantities for a flat universe dominated by a cosmological constant Lambda (Lambda = 0.9, Omega = 0.1) and compare them with those deduced for a flat universe with zero cosmological constant (Lambda = 0, Omega = 1). We use the ATT quasar survey data (Boyle et al. 1990) as input in both cases. The data are fitted well by a pure luminosity evolution model for both the cosmologies but with different evolutionary parameters. From the luminosity function, we predict (extrapolate) a greater number of quasars at faint apparent magnitudes (twice the number at B = 24, z is less than 2.2) for the Lambda-dominated universe. This population of faint quasars at high redshift would result in a higher incidence of gravitational lensing. The total luminosity of the quasar population and the total mass tied up in black hole remnants of quasars is not sensitive to the cosmology. However, for a Lambda cosmology, this mass is tied up in fewer but more massive black holes.

Malhotra, Sangeeta↗

Population Structure of White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Columbia River Inferred from Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) are the largest freshwater fish in North America, with reproducing populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin, Fraser, and Columbia River Basins. Of these, the Columbia River is the largest, but it is also highly fragmented by hydroelectric dams, and many segments are characterized by declining abundance and persistent recruitment failure. Efforts to conserve and supplement these fish requires an understanding of their spatial genetic structure. Here, we assembled a large set of samples from throughout the Columbia River Basin, along with representative collections from adjacent basins, and genotyped them using a panel of 325 single-nucleotide markers. Results from individual- and group-based analyses of these data indicate that white sturgeon in the uppermost Columbia River Basin, in the Kootenai and upper Snake Rivers, are the most distinct, while the remaining populations downstream in the basin can be described as a genetic gradient consistent with an isolation-by-distance effect. Notably, the population in the lowest reaches of the Columbia River is more distinct from the middle or upper reaches than from outside basins, and suggests historically a higher or more recent gene exchange through coastal routes than with populations in the interior Columbia Basin. Nonetheless, proximal reaches were generally only marginally or non-significantly divergent, suggesting that transplanting larvae or juveniles from nearby sources poses relatively little risk of outbreeding depression. Indeed, we inferred examples of dispersal between reaches via close-kin mark-recapture and genetic mark-recapture that indicate movement between nearby reaches is not unusual. Samples from the Kootenai and upper Snake Rivers exhibited notably lower genetic diversity than the remaining samples as a result of population bottlenecks, genetic drift, and/or historical divergence. Conservation actions, such as supplementation, are underway to maintain population viability and will require balanced efforts to increase demographic abundance while maintaining genetic diversity.

Willis, Stuart C.↗

Lab Home Testing of Residential Isolation Space Control to Minimize Infectious Disease Transmission in Existing Single-Family Homes

Existing evidence strongly suggests that viral infectious diseases can be transmitted via an airborne route across distances in indoor environments. Accordingly, the risk of airborne transmission within homes should be managed. The public health emergency associated with SARS-CoV-2 makes controlling airborne transmission of respired viruses in indoor environments critical, especially in poorly ventilated indoor environments. The effectiveness of engineering interventions requiring minor efforts that create a negative-pressure isolation zone (IZ) for a contagious person has yet to be tested for existing residential homes. To mitigate the risk of airborne virus transmission and maximize health protection for the population in existing single-family homes, the relative effectiveness of several control strategies are investigated in this report. While very high-efficiency MERV filtration, high ventilation rates, and other controls can help be effective, most occupants are not likely to have the time or means for advanced measures found in hospitals. This project focused on testing relatively simple efforts that utilize existing or easy to acquire materials and simple processes.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗