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At least 127 records · Page 7

Getting allometry right at the Oak Ridge free‐air CO 2 enrichment experiment: Old problems and new opportunities for global change experiments

Societal Impact Statement Free‐air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) experiments provide essential data on forest responses to increasing atmospheric CO 2 for evaluations of climate change impacts on humanity. Understanding and reducing the uncertainty in the experimental results is critical to ensure scientific and public confidence in the models and policy initiatives that derive therefrom. One source of uncertainty is the estimation of tree biomass using mathematical relationships between biomass and easily obtained and non‐destructive measurements (allometry). We evaluated the robustness of the allometric relationships established at the beginning of a FACE experiment and discuss the challenges and opportunities for the new generation of FACE experiments. Summary Long‐term field experiments to elucidate forest responses to rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration require allometric equations to estimate tree biomass from non‐destructive measurements of tree size. We analyzed whether the allometric equations established at the beginning of a free‐air CO 2 enrichment (FACE) experiment in a Liquidambar styraciflua plantation were still valid at the end of the 12 year experiment. Aboveground woody biomass was initially predicted by an equation that included bole diameter, taper, and height, assuming that including taper and height as predictors would accommodate changes in tree structure that might occur over time and in response to elevated CO 2 . At the conclusion of the FACE experiment, we harvested 23 trees, measured dimensions and dry mass of boles and branches, and extracted and measured the woody root mass of 10 trees. Although 10 of the harvested trees were larger than the trees used to establish the allometric relationship, measured aboveground woody biomass was well predicted by the original allometry. The initial linear equation between bole basal area and woody root biomass underestimated final root biomass by 28%, but root biomass was just 21% of total wood mass, and errors in aboveground and belowground estimates were offsetting. The allometry established at the beginning of the experiment provided valid predictions of tree biomass throughout the experiment. New allometric approaches using terrestrial laser scanning should reduce an important source of uncertainty in decade‐long forest experiments and in assessments of centuries‐long forest biomass accretion used in evaluating carbon offsets and climate mitigation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Apatite geochemistry as a tool for understanding the petrogenesis of layered mafic-ultramafic rocks in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa

The sources of the magmas that formed the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa remain debated, despite decades of research. Vertical and lateral variation in bulk rock and mineral separate Sr-Nd isotopic compositions, which generally indicate enriched sources, demonstrate that the layered sequence was formed by the emplacement of multiple batches of magma, crucially resulting in episodes of PGE-Cr-V mineralisation. The Lu-Hf isotope compositions of zircon are, however, at odds with the bulk rock Sr-Nd isotopic heterogeneity as they show near homogeneous compositions throughout the layered sequence (εHf (2.06 Ga) =−8). This lack of variation in Hf isotope composition has been attributed to deep, continental lithospheric mantle-related and/or crustal contamination of plume-derived Bushveld magmas. In this study, we analysed the major, trace element and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of apatite in the Rustenburg Layered Suite. Apatite occurs as an intercumulus mineral in the lowermost regions and a cumulus mineral in the uppermost regions of the layered sequence and can therefore be used to test existing models for the isotopic disequilibrium between bulk rock Sr-Nd and zircon Hf isotopic compositions. Apatite is largely chlorapatite in the lowermost regions and fluorapatite in the uppermost regions of the layered sequence. The Merensky Reef is unusual in that it comprises both chlorapatite and fluorapatite. Apatite throughout the layered sequence is generally unzoned and shows no evidence of late-stage alteration. Trace element data show that apatite is enriched in L/HREE, with common negative Eu-Sr anomalies. These trace element signatures are consistent with a magmatic origin for the apatite grains, with prior, or concurrent, plagioclase crystallization from the same melt. Variability in in situ Sr and Nd isotope compositions of apatite is recorded throughout the layered sequence with εNd (2.06 Ga) compositions varying between −2.5 and − 10.2 and initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr compositions varying between 0.7079 and 0.7103 (for the Marikana dikes only). The variability in Sr-Nd isotope compositions of apatite is consistent with the bulk rock (and mineral separate) variation in Sr-Nd isotope compositions, suggesting apatite preserves primary magmatic compositions in the Rustenburg Layered Suite.

Apatite↗

Using NASA Remotely Sensed Data to Help Characterize Environmental Risk Factors for National Public Health Applications

This project has dual goals in decision ]making activities .. Providing information to decision makers about associations between environmental exposures and health conditions in a large national cohort study. Enriching the CDC Wide ]ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) system by integrating environmental exposure data. .. Develop daily high ]quality spatial data sets of environmental variables for the conterminous U.S. for the years 2003-2008 utilizing NASA data (Objective 1). Fine Particulates (PM2.5) (NASA MODIS and EPA AQS). Land Surface Temperature (NASA MODIS). Solar Insolation and Heat ]related Products (Reanalysis Data). Link these environmental variables with public health data from a national cohort study and examine environmental health relationships (Objective 2). Cognitive Function. Hypertension. Make the environmental datasets available to public health professionals, researchers and the general public via the CDC WONDER system (Objective 3).

Al-Hamdan, Mohammad↗

Study of quark and gluon jet substructure in Z+jet and dijet events from pp collisions

Measurements of jet substructure describing the composition of quark- and gluon-initiated jets are presented. Proton-proton (pp) collision data at √s = 13 TeV collected with the CMS detector are used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb -1 . Generalized angularities are measured that characterize the jet substructure and distinguish quark- and gluon-initiated jets. These observables are sensitive to the distributions of transverse momenta and angular distances within a jet. The analysis is performed using a data sample of dijet events enriched in gluon-initiated jets, and, for the first time, a Z+jet event sample enriched in quark-initiated jets. The observables are measured in bins of jet transverse momentum, and as a function of the jet radius parameter. Additionally, each measurement is repeated applying a “soft drop” grooming procedure that removes soft and large angle radiation from the jet. Using these measurements, the ability of various models to describe jet substructure is assessed, showing a clear need for improvements in Monte Carlo generators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

ATM signaling modulates cohesin behavior in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells

Cohesins are ancient and ubiquitous regulators of chromosome architecture and function, but their diverse roles and regulation remain poorly understood. During meiosis, chromosomes are reorganized as linear arrays of chromatin loops around a cohesin axis. This unique organization underlies homolog pairing, synapsis, double-stranded break induction, and recombination. We report that axis assembly in Caenorhabditis elegans is promoted by DNA-damage response (DDR) kinases that are activated at meiotic entry, even in the absence of DNA breaks. Downregulation of the cohesin-destabilizing factor WAPL-1 by ATM-1 promotes axis association of cohesins containing the meiotic kleisins COH-3 and COH-4. ECO-1 and PDS-5 also contribute to stabilizing axis-associated meiotic cohesins. Further, our data suggest that cohesin-enriched domains that promote DNA repair in mammalian cells also depend on WAPL inhibition by ATM. Thus, DDR and Wapl seem to play conserved roles in cohesin regulation in meiotic prophase and proliferating cells.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The Cosmic Ultraviolet Baryon Survey (CUBS) – III. Physical properties and elemental abundances of Lyman-limit systems at z < 1

ABSTRACT We present a systematic investigation of physical conditions and elemental abundances in four optically thick Lyman-limit systems (LLSs) at z = 0.36–0.6 discovered within the Cosmic Ultraviolet Baryon Survey (CUBS). Because intervening LLSs at z < 1 suppress far-UV (ultraviolet) light from background QSOs, an unbiased search of these absorbers requires a near-UV-selected QSO sample, as achieved by CUBS. CUBS LLSs exhibit multicomponent kinematic structure and a complex mix of multiphase gas, with associated metal transitions from multiple ionization states such as C ii, C iii, N iii, Mg ii, Si ii, Si iii, O ii, O iii, O vi, and Fe ii absorption that span several hundred km s−1 in line-of-sight velocity. Specifically, higher column density components (log N(H i)/cm−2≳ 16) in all four absorbers comprise dynamically cool gas with $\langle T \rangle =(2\pm 1) \times 10^4\,$K and modest non-thermal broadening of $\langle b_\mathrm{nt} \rangle =5\pm 3\,$km s−1. The high quality of the QSO absorption spectra allows us to infer the physical conditions of the gas, using a detailed ionization modelling that takes into account the resolved component structures of H i and metal transitions. The range of inferred gas densities indicates that these absorbers consist of spatially compact clouds with a median line-of-sight thickness of $160^{+140}_{-50}$ pc. While obtaining robust metallicity constraints for the low density, highly ionized phase remains challenging due to the uncertain $N\mathrm{(H\, {\small I})}$, we demonstrate that the cool-phase gas in LLSs has a median metallicity of $\mathrm{[\alpha /H]_{1/2}}=-0.7^{+0.1}_{-0.2}$, with a 16–84 percentile range of [α/H] = (−1.3, −0.1). Furthermore, the wide range of inferred elemental abundance ratios ([C/α], [N/α], and [Fe/α]) indicate a diversity of chemical enrichment histories. Combining the absorption data with deep galaxy survey data characterizing the galaxy environment of these absorbers, we discuss the physical connection between star-forming regions in galaxies and diffuse gas associated with optically thick absorption systems in the z < 1 circumgalactic medium.

Zahedy, Fakhri S. (ORCID:0000000178692551)↗

The landscape of regulatory element evolution in a C4 perennial grass

Gene regulatory evolution is a well-known source of phenotypic diversity and adaptive evolution. Although cis-regulatory elements (CREs) play a vital role in gene expression evolution, the molecular evolution of CREs remains mostly unknown due to the difficulty in identifying and characterizing these functional elements. Comparative genomic analyses of noncoding DNA can be leveraged to identify conserved noncoding sequences (CNS), many of which may harbor functional CREs conserved by purifying selection. However, purely computational inference of CREs from putative CNS can be erroneous due to the complex genomic architecture in plants. One promising experimental approach to identify CREs is by profiling accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) that are often associated with the location of CREs. In this study, we use comparative genomics along with the profiling of ACRs to study the molecular evolution of putative functional noncoding regulatory regions in Panicoid grasses. We identified sets of CNS that varied in relationship to the degree of evolutionary divergence among the studied taxa, including identifying core-Panicoid-CNS. We augmented this analysis by profiling ACRs in Panicum hallii ecotypes using ATAC-seq. ACRs had low SNP density at the summit, harbored a high frequency of core-Panicoid-CNS, and were enriched with expression QTL. These data help to annotate the P. hallii genome for putative functional elements and suggest that a large proportion of these ACRs are evolving under purifying selection. Turnover in CNS and ACR between ecotypes of P. hallii identifies a small set of putatively divergent CREs that may underlie differences in gene regulation between genotypes from inland and coastal habitats. In summary, we profiled ACRs in Panicoid grasses and integrated this data with our putative CNS prediction framework, which provides unique insight into patterns of polymorphism and divergence in CREs in C4 perennial grasses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Lunar regolith - Petrology of the less than 10 micron fraction

Petrographic data for the less than 10 micron fraction from four lunar surface soils are presented in an attempt to characterize the modal mineralogy of this fraction. Individual grains were studied with a scanning/transmission electron microscope with an attached energy dispersive spectrometer. Energy dispersive analytical data are presented, and comparative modal petrology of the soils is shown. Also presented are grain size histograms and diagrammatic representation of comparative modal data for the soils, as well as the feldspathic glass/mafic glass ratio, plagioclase/mafic mineral ratio, and SiO2 modal percent for different size fractions of the four types of soil. The modal results are consistent with chemical data regarding feldspathic and KREEP enrichment in the finest fraction. Grain-size distributions are inconsistent with a fine-grained exotic component derived from distant sources.

Devine, J. M.↗

Grain surface features of Apollo 17 orange and black glass

Lunar soil sample 74220 and core samples 74001/2 consist mainly of orange glass droplets, droplet fragments, and their crystallized equivalents. These samples are now generally accepted to be pyroclastic ejecta from early lunar volcanic eruptions. It has been known that they contain surface coatings and material rich in volatile condensable phases including S, Zn, F, Cl, and many volatile metals. Meyer summarizes the voluminous published chemical data and calculates the volatile enrichment ratios for most of the surface condensates. In an attempt to more completely understand this enrichment of surface volatiles, we have searched for carbon and carbon-bearing phases on droplet surfaces. We have reviewed many of our existing photomicrographs and energy dispersive analysis (EDX) of grain surfaces and have reexamined some of our older SEM mounts using an improved EDXA system capable of light element detection and analysis (oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon). In addition, we have made fresh mounts using procedures which should minimize carbon contamination or extraneous carbon x-rays and have analyzed for carbon.

Mckay, David S.↗

ORNL FACE Tree Height, with data on height of a subset of trees measured every year, 1997-2009. Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) Experiment Synthesis Activities.

Height of 20 sweetgum trees in three rows of each of the plots in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment was measured each year of the experiment (1997-2009). The trees were exposed to ambient or elevated CO2. Tree height data contribute to the overall project objectives to determine the integrated response of a deciduous forest to elevated CO2. Average tree height per plot was used in allometric equations to calculate tree dry mass each year and to test whether there were effects of elevated CO2 on canopy development. Height was derived from trigonometric calculation from measurements of horizontal distance of observer from the bole and the angles from observer’s eye to top and base of tree, using a Haglof sonic hypsometer. The data are presented in a csv file, with plot number in the first column, tree number in the second column, and height recorded to 0.1 m in 1997 to 2009 in remaining columns. Plots 1 and 2 had elevated CO2, and plots 3-5 were in ambient CO2. Missing data occur after the tree died. The experiment and the height measurement are described in: Norby, R. J., D. E. Todd, J. Fults, and D. W. Johnson. 2001. Allometric determination of tree growth in a CO2-enriched sweetgum stand. New Phytologist 150: 477-487. The ORNL FACE experiment is described at: https://richnorby.org/home/face-home/.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Calculations of enrichment cascade performance using enrichment probabilities – a new method

A new method for calculating the performance of uranium enrichment cascades is presented. The method assigns a unique “enrichment probability” for each isotope to move up or down from the basic enrichment unit, allowing independent material balance calculations for each isotope. The formulation is much simpler than previous methods, which rely on isotopic ratios, and this method can be used when previous methods fail. This method gives the same results as published cases for 235 U enrichment and also gives good agreement with published data on minor isotopes. Some comparisons with measured data and other calculations are given. One case shows that the maximum 235 U enrichment that can be obtained by enrichment of reprocessed uranium (0.02% 234 U initial) is 82%. Another example shows a large difference in the minor isotopic content of material enriched in batches compared to continuous enrichment.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Crustal Heat Production and the Thermal Evolution of Mars

The chemical compositions of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos-2 orbital gamma-ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large-ion lithophile (LIL) and heat-producing element (HPE) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotopic data also suggest that separation of LIL-enriched crustal and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (greater than 4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is greater than 30km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat-producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.

McLennan, Scott M.↗

Crustal Heat Production and the Thermal Evolution of Mars

The chemical composition of soils and rocks from the Pathfinder site and Phobos-2 orbital gamma-ray spectroscopy indicate that the Martian crust has a bulk composition equivalent to large-ion lithophile (LIL) and heat-producing element (K, Th, U) enriched basalt, with a potassium content of about 0.5%. A variety of radiogenic isotope data also suggest that separation of LIL-enriched crust and depleted mantle reservoirs took place very early in Martian history (>4.0 Ga). Accordingly, if the enriched Martian crust is >30 km thick it is likely that a large fraction (up to at least 50%) of the heat-producing elements in Mars was transferred into the crust very early in the planet's history. This would greatly diminish the possibility of early widespread melting of the Martian mantle.

McLennan, Scott M.↗

Addendum to ICSBEP Logbooks 12r, 13r, 14r and 15r for Polyethylene and Graphite Reflected HEU Metal Critical Experiments

This report documents the experimenters’ data sheets that were recently (2023) discovered for critical experiments with highly enriched uranium metal with polyethylene and graphite reflectors. These data sheets were produced at the time of the measurements, when the dimensional inspection reports for the polyethylene and graphite were available. However, at this writing, those inspection reports are not available but may be in unmarked storage for the Y-12 National Security Complex. However, the data sheets presented herein contain sketches of the experimental configurations and other additional information that is not in the logbooks, such as dimensions and masses of the graphite measurements. This report reproduces the experimental data sheets that complement the logbooks. Some of the data on these sheets and the logbooks can be used to infer the dimensions and masses that are not documented. Some obvious mistakes in the logbook and data sheets have been corrected. In the reproduced data sheets, some of the information is not clearly visible: some information, such as average values, can be obtained from other data in the sheets or logbook. This report should be sent to the International Criticality Safety Benchmark Program at Idaho National Laboratory to complement the existing Oak Ridge Critical Facility logbooks there.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Single Wall Nanotube Type-Specific Functionalization and Separation

Metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes were selectively solubilized in THF and separated from semiconducting nanotubes. Once separated, the functionalized metallic tubes were de-functionalized to restore their metallic band structure. Absorption and Raman spectroscopy of the enriched samples support conclusions of the enrichment of nanotube samples by metallic type. A scalable method for enriching nanotube conductive type has been developed. Raman and UV-Vis data indicate SWCNT reaction with dodecylbenzenediazonium results in metallic enrichment. It is expected that further refinement of this techniques will lead to more dramatic separations of types and diameters.

Boul, Peter↗

Coso Geothermal Spectral Library for Rocks and Minerals

An integrated open mineral spectral library designed to enhance the utility and precision of mineral spectral data for geothermal exploration, developed from a reliable and comprehensive digital dataset for seamless sharing by integrating field data, the USGS spectral library, and pertinent information obtained from Coso geothermal field (Coso) in California. The ASD FieldSpec portable spectrometer was utilized for collecting spectral data, which was subsequently analyzed using the THOR Material Identification tool in ENVI, The Spectral Geologist (TSG) software by CSIRO, and the Fully Constrained Linear Spectral Unmixing algorithm (FCLSU) in MATLAB. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with a mineralogy-analyzing function was employed to assess the mineral composition of samples, ensuring precise mineralogical analysis. A portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer was also utilized to gather information on elemental enrichment. A framework for developing spectra data and establishing spectral libraries for various geological cases was proposed within this study. The characteristic spectra of six alteration minerals - alunite, chalcedony, epidote, hematite, kaolinite, and opal - were acquired from Coso samples. The spectral library for the Coso alteration minerals was introduced for further application in academic study or industrial exploration. To browse the Coso Geothermal Spectral data and related figures from spreadsheets: #1 Unzip and store the following items in the same folder. 'Contact Probe Data.zip', 'Sample Photos.zip', and 'Coso spectra of higher-certainity minerals.xlsx'. #2 Open 'Coso spectra of higher-certainity minerals.xlsx'. The hyperlinks in the spreadsheet lead to the folders or figures of: spectra .asd file, spectra ASC II file, spectra plots, and sample photos. The spectra data is raw data without splice correction. Spectra .asd files require particular software to open. (These cannot be opened in GIS software such as ArcGIS.) Spectra ASC II files can be opened in a text editor or spread sheet program.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗