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At least 1,207 records · Page 67

Sex Determination and Ovarian Development in Reptiles and Amphibians: From Genetic Pathways to Environmental Influences

Background: Reptiles and amphibians provide untapped potential for discovering how a diversity of genetic pathways and environmental conditions are incorporated into developmental processes that can lead to similar functional outcomes. These groups display a multitude of reproductive strategies, and whereas many attributes are conserved within groups and even across vertebrates, several aspects of sexual development show considerable variation. Summary: Here, in this review, we focus our attention on the development of the reptilian and amphibian ovary. First, we review and describe the events leading to ovarian development, including sex determination and ovarian maturation, through a comparative lens. We then describe how these events are influenced by environmental factors, focusing on temperature and exposure to anthropogenic chemicals. Lastly, we identify critical knowledge gaps and future research directions that will be crucial to moving forward in our understanding of ovarian development and the influences of the environment in reptiles and amphibians. Key Messages: Reptiles and amphibians provide excellent models for understanding the diversity of sex determination strategies and reproductive development. However, a greater understanding of the basic biology of these systems is necessary for deciphering the adaptive and potentially disruptive implications of embryo-by-environment interactions in a rapidly changing world.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Stochastic Parameterization: Toward a New View of Weather and Climate Models

The last decade has seen the success of stochastic parameterizations in short-term, medium-range, and seasonal forecasts: operational weather centers now routinely use stochastic parameterization schemes to represent model inadequacy better and to improve the quantification of forecast uncertainty. Developed initially for numerical weather prediction, the inclusion of stochastic parameterizations not only provides better estimates of uncertainty, but it is also extremely promising for reducing long-standing climate biases and is relevant for determining the climate response to external forcing. This article highlights recent developments from different research groups that show that the stochastic representation of unresolved processes in the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and cryosphere of comprehensive weather and climate models 1) gives rise to more reliable probabilistic forecasts of weather and climate and 2) reduces systematic model bias. We make a case that the use of mathematically stringent methods for the derivation of stochastic dynamic equations will lead to substantial improvements in our ability to accurately simulate weather and climate at all scales. Recent work in mathematics, statistical mechanics, and turbulence is reviewed; its relevance for the climate problem is demonstrated; and future research directions are outlined

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Characterizing inhibitors of human AP endonuclease 1

AP endonuclease 1 (APE1) processes DNA lesions including apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and 3´-blocking groups, mediating base excision repair and single strand break repair. Much effort has focused on developing specific inhibitors of APE1, which could have important applications in basic research and potentially lead to clinical anticancer agents. We used structural, biophysical, and biochemical methods to characterize several reported inhibitors, including 7-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid (CRT0044876), given its small size, reported potency, and widespread use for studying APE1. Intriguingly, NMR chemical shift perturbation (CSP) experiments show that CRT0044876 and three similar indole-2-carboxylic acids bind a pocket distal from the APE1 active site. A crystal structure confirms these findings and defines the pose for 5-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid. However, dynamic light scattering experiments show the indole compounds form colloidal aggregates that could bind (sequester) APE1, causing nonspecific inhibition. Endonuclease assays show the compounds lack significant APE1 inhibition under conditions (detergent) that disrupt aggregation. Thus, binding of the indole-2-carboxylic acids at the remote pocket does not inhibit APE1 repair activity. Myricetin also forms aggregates and lacks APE1 inhibition under aggregate-disrupting conditions. Two other reported compounds (MLS000552981, MLS000419194) inhibit APE1 in vitro with low micromolar IC50 and do not appear to aggregate in this concentration range. However, NMR CSP experiments indicate the compounds do not bind specifically to apo- or Mg 2+ -bound APE1, pointing to a non-specific mode of inhibition, possibly DNA binding. Our results highlight methods for rigorous interrogation of putative APE1 inhibitors and should facilitate future efforts to discover compounds that specifically inhibit this important repair enzyme.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Space and Defense Power Systems Maintenance Plan

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has more than forty years of experience in developing, characterizing, testing, and manufacturing plutonium-238 ( 238 Pu) heat sources. The LANL heat source program has made significant contributions to the United States space, defense, and national security missions, as well as the nuclear-powered artificial heart program. Currently, the Office of Space and Defense Power Systems (SDPS), located in the Nuclear Energy Group (NE-75), funds LANL for the infrastructure and processes used to store, recover, manufacture, and test 238 PuO 2 heat sources. LANL is an approved supplier of the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS), which is a 238 PuO 2 Fueled Clad designed to provide 62.5 thermal watts. The Light Weight Radioisotope Heater Unit (LWRHU) is another 238 PuO 2 fueled heat source manufactured at LANL. The LWRHU is designed to provide one thermal watt in various locations on a spacecraft. LANL also supports the manufacture of other heat sources for various customers.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Build redesigned HFIR rabbit capsules and make ready for insertion for irradiation in HFIR

This report details the fabrication and delivery of two Fuel Cycle Research and Development irradiation capsules (FCRP20 and FCRP03), with associated quality assurance documentation, to the High Flux Isotope Reactor. The capsules and documentation were delivered by September 30, 2015, thus meeting the deadline for milestone M3FT-15OR0203112. These irradiation experiments irradiate metal parallelepiped specimens that may consist of various compositions including uranium metal, steel, etc. This document contains a copy of the completed capsule fabrication request sheets, which detail all constituent components, pertinent drawings, etc., along with a detailed summary of the capsule assembly process performed by the Thermal Hydraulics and Irradiation Engineering Group (THIEG) in the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division. A complete fabrication package record is maintained by THIEG and is available upon request.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Delivery of completed irradiation vehicles and the quality assurance document to the High Flux Isotope Reactor for irradiation

This report details the initial fabrication and delivery of two Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCRD) irradiation capsules (ATFSC01 and ATFSC02), with associated quality assurance documentation, to the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). The capsules and documentation were delivered by September 30, 2015, thus meeting the deadline for milestone M3FT-15OR0202268. These irradiation experiments are testing silicon carbide composite tubes in order to obtain experimental validation of thermo-mechanical models of stress states in SiC cladding irradiated under a prototypic high heat flux. This document contains a copy of the completed capsule fabrication request sheets, which detail all constituent components, pertinent drawings, etc., along with a detailed summary of the capsule assembly process performed by the Thermal Hydraulics and Irradiation Engineering Group (THIEG) in the Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division (RNSD). A complete fabrication package record is maintained by the THIEG and is available upon request.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Overview ID/POV Process

This is a flowchart of the inventory difference/propagation of variance process, with steps such as determine all relevance transactions, group relevant transactions by affected MATLID, filter groups to S, F and identify required M's, etc.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

CUBIT: Geometry and Mesh Generation Toolkit (15.1 User Documentation)

CUBIT is a full-featured software toolkit for robust generation of two- and three-dimensional finite element meshes (grids) and geometry preparation. Its main goal is to reduce the time to generate meshes, particularly large hex meshes of complicated, interlocking assemblies. It is a solid-modeler based preprocessor that meshes volumes and surfaces for finite element analysis. Mesh generation algorithms include quadrilateral and triangular paving, 2D and 3D mapping, hex sweeping and multi-sweeping, tetrahedral meshing, and various special purpose primitives. CUBIT contains many algorithms for controlling and automating much of the meshing process, such as automatic scheme selection, interval matching, sweep grouping, and also includes state-of-the-art smoothing algorithms.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

International Collaboration Activities in Geologic Disposal Research: FY2021 Progress

This report describes the FY21 status of international collaboration regarding geologic disposal research in the Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (SFWD) Campaign. Since 2012, in an effort coordinated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SFWD has advanced active collaboration with several international geologic disposal programs across the world. Such collaboration has allowed the SFWD Campaign to benefit from a deep knowledge base in regards to alternative repository environments developed over decades and has provided a framework for active peer-to-peer research participation in international groups which conduct, analyze, and model performance-relevant processes. Via international collaboration, the SFWD Campaign also benefits from substantial international investments in research facilities (such as underground research laboratory testing and modeling) and achieves cost savings via joint funding of expensive field experiments. To date, SFWD’s International Disposal R&D Program has established formal collaboration agreements with multiple international initiatives and various international partners, and national lab scientists associated with SFWD have conducted a large number of specific collaborative R&D activities that align well with its R&D priorities.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Visualization and Decision Making Design Under Uncertainty

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 22331 "Visualization and Decision Making Design Under Uncertainty". The seminar brought together 33 researchers and practitioners from different domains concerned with visualization and decision making under uncertainty including visualization, visual analytics, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, climate research, geography and geology. The programme was organized in two parts: In the first part which lasted two days, participants gave short talks where they discussed current practices and the uncertainty visualization challenges they encountered in their own research. At the end of day two, participants brainstormed collectively around the main uncertainty visualization research challenges across domains and applications. In the second part, participants voted for the following three main challenges they wished to discuss for the remainder of the seminar (one and a half days): applications, human-centered uncertainty visualization, a design process for uncertainty visualization. Thus three break-out groups were formed to discuss these challenges. Abstracts for the individual talks and the break-out group activities are included in this report.

decision making↗

Switched electrical networks and bilinear equations

State equations arising in the description of power processing systems are described. The role played by Lie groups and Lie algebras in characterizing the inherent dynamical features of these systems is outlined, and network examples are presented for illustration.

Wood, J. R.↗

Non-dimensional groups in the description of finite-amplitude sound propagation through aerosols

Several parameters, which have fairly transparent physical interpretations, appear in the analytic description of finite-amplitude sound propagation through aerosols. Typically, each of these parameters characterizes, in some sense, either the sound or the aerosol. It also turns out that fairly obvious combinations of these parameters yield non-dimensional groups which, in turn, characterize the nature of the acoustic-aerosol interaction. This theme is developed in order to illustrate how a quick examination of such parameters and groups can yield information about the nature of the processes involved, without the necessity of extensive mathematical analysis. This concept is developed primarily from the viewpoint of sound propagation through aerosols, although complimentary acoustic-aerosol interaction phenomena are briefly noted.

Scott, D. S.↗

A summation and inhibition model of annoyance response to multiple community noise sources

A model of annoyance due to combined noise sources was developed. The model provides for the summation of the subjective magnitudes of annoyance due to the separate noise sources and for the inhibition of the subjective magnitudes of each source by the presence of the other noise sources. The inhibition process is assumed to mathematically obey a power-group transformation. The results of an experiment in which subjects judged the annoyance of 15 minute sessions of combined aircraft and with several other models of combined source annoyance. These comparisons indicated that the model developed herein provides better qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental responses than the other models. The application of the model to multiple community noises is discussed.

Powell, C. A.↗

Dynamic phenomena in sunspots

A detailed summary of observed dynamic phenomena associated with sunspots is presented, together with a description of the observational techniques and available analytical formulations for the processes under study. The phenomena detected thus far are grouped into aperiodic events and oscillations and waves. Aperiodic phenomena comprise umbral flares, the superpenumbra, and inverse Evershed flow. Internal, aperiodic manifestations include penumbral grains, the photospheric penumbral dark fibrils, Evershed flow, umbral dots, the inhomogeneity of the umbral magnetic field, and umbral turbulence. Oscillations and flashes are seen in the umbra, while running waves and dark puffs have been detected in the penumbra, and oscillations are located in the photosphere. All the observed features are evidence of mass motion and change on time scales of less than an hour.

Moore, R. L.↗

The identification of group II inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites by electron probe microanalysis of perovskite

The technique developed by Kornacki (1984) for identifying group II Ca/Al-rich inclusions in carbonaceous chondrites by electron-microprobe analysis of the ZrO2 or Y2O3 content of their perovskite component is demonstrated using material from 20 Allende inclusions. The results are presented in tables and graphs and compared with findings obtained by other procedures. Group II inclusions are found to have perovskites generally containing less than 0.10 wt pct ZrO2 and/or Y2O3 (average of several grains), while those of groups I, III, V, and VI have more than 0.25 wt pct ZrO2. Analysis of data on eight Allende Ca/Al-rich inclusions shows that 75 percent of the fine-grained inclusions belong to group II. The implications of these findings for fractionation processes in the primitive solar nebula are indicated.

Kornacki, A. S.↗

Hierarchial implicit dynamic least-square solution algorithm

This paper develops an implicit type transient solution strategy which possesses hierarchial levels of application. In particular, due to the manner of formulation, stiffness updating, assembly inversion, solution constraint, as well as iteration are all performed at a localized level. The level of iterative calculations depends on the type of hierarchial partitioning employed, namely degree of freedom, nodal, elemental, material/nonlinear group, substructural, and so on. Since the iterative solution process and application of constraints are applied at a local level, the resulting so-called hierarchial implicit solution algorithm possesses very stable and efficient numerical properties and is highly storage efficient. To demonstrate the scheme, the results of several benchmark examples are presented. These enable comparisons with the Newton-Raphson solved implicit transient solution method. Overall the comparisons illustrate the superior stability and efficiency of the hierarchial scheme.

Padovan, J.↗

Electrokinetic properties of polymer colloids

The surface of polymer colloids, especially polystyrene latexes, were modified for the purpose of controlling the electrokinetic properties of the resulting colloids. Achievement required a knowledge of electrical double layer charging mechanism, as a function of the electrolyte conditions, at the polymer/water interface. The experimental approach is to control the recipe formulation in the emulsion polymerization process so as to systematically vary the strong acid group concentration on the surface of the polymer particles. The electrophoretic mobility of these model particles will then be measured as a function of surface group concentration and as a function of electrolyte concentration and type. An effort was also made to evaluate the electrophoretic mobility of polystyrene latexes made in space and to compare the results with latexes made on the ground.

Micale, F. J.↗