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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Relative Importance of Vital Rates to Population Dynamics of Wood Ducks

The wood duck (Aix sponsa) is a common and important cavity-nesting duck in North America; however, we know very little about how changes in vital rates influence population growth rate (λ). We used estimates of fertility and survival of female wood ducks from our nest-box studies in South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia, USA, to create a stage-based matrix population model. We conducted perturbation analyses and ranked elasticity values to examine the relative importance of 17 component vital rates to λ. Female survival is influenced by nest success, so we recognized this female heterogeneity in our analyses. Four vital rates showed the greatest importance to λ. Analytic elasticities were greatest for breeding season and nonbreeding season survival of females that nested successfully, followed by nest success and female recruitment to the breeding population. Differences in female quality were important to λ. Next, we used process variation of vital rates and conducted life-stage simulation analyses (LSA) followed by variance decomposition to determine the amount of variation in λ explained by each vital rate. Female recruitment to the breeding population explained 57.7% of the variation in λ followed by nest success (11.4%), and breeding and nonbreeding season survival of females that nested successfully (9.3% and 9.4%, respectively). Together these 4 vital rates explained 88% of the variation in λ. Mean asymptotic population growth rate (λ = 0.80 ± 0.08 [SD]) from LSA revealed a declining population. Recruitment of females hatched from nest boxes was insufficient to sustain the nest-box population. Furthermore, including yearling (SY) females that were produced outside of nest boxes (i.e., immigrants) increased recruitment rates 1.5 to 2 times more than when only SY females recruited from nest boxes were included. Future research that examines how emigration and immigration interact with survival and reproduction to influence local population dynamics of wood ducks will be important for identifying the value of nest-box programs to wood duck conservation and management.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system related gene polymorphisms and urinary total arsenic is related to chronic kidney disease

A recent study demonstrated that an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was associated with high urinary total arsenic levels. However, whether genomic instability is related to CKD remains unclear. An association between CKD and genetic polymorphisms of regulation enzymes of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R), and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) has not been shown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between arsenic, genetic polymorphisms of RAAS enzymes and CKD. A total of 233 patients and 449 age- and gender-matched controls were recruited from the Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Concentrations of urinary arsenic were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography-linked hydride generator, and atomic absorption spectrometry. Polymorphisms of ACE(I/D), AGT(A[− 20]C), (T174M), (M235T), AT1R(A1166C) and CYP11B2(C[− 344]T) were examined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Subjects carrying the CYP11B2 TT genotype had a higher odds ratio (OR), 1.39 (0.96–2.01), of CKD; while those with the AGT(A[− 20]C) CC genotype had an inverse OR of CKD (0.20 (0.05–0.81)), and a high-risk genotype was defined as A/A + A/C for AGT(A[− 20C]) and T/T for CYP11B2(C[− 344]T). The trend test showed a higher OR for CKD in patients who had either high urinary total arsenic levels or carried the high-risk genotype, or both, compared to patients with low urinary total arsenic levels, who carried the low-risk genotype, and could also be affected by the hypertension or diabetes status. - Highlights: • AGT(− 20 C) and CYP11B2(− 344 T) genotypes were significantly associated with CKD. • Combined effect of high-risk genotypes and high urinary total arsenic on OR of CKD. • Combined effect on the CKD was modified by the hypertension and diabetes status.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Tetramethylpiperidine N-Oxyl (TEMPO), Phthalimide N-Oxyl (PINO), and Related N-Oxyl Species: Electrochemical Properties and Their Use in Electrocatalytic Reactions

N-Oxyl compounds represent a diverse group of reagents that find widespread use as catalysts for the selective oxidation of organic molecules in both laboratory and industrial applications. While turnover of N-oxyl catalysts in oxidation reactions may be accomplished with a variety of stoichiometric oxidants, N-oxyl reagents have also been extensively used as catalysts under electrochemical conditions in the absence of chemical oxidants. Several classes of N-oxyl compounds undergo facile redox reactions at electrode surfaces, enabling them to mediate a wide range of electrosynthetic reactions. Electrochemical studies also provide insights into the structural properties and mechanisms of chemical and electrochemical catalysis by N-oxyl compounds. This review provides a comprehensive survey of the electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic applications of aminoxyls, imidoxyls, and related reagents, of which the two prototypical and widely used examples are 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxyl (TEMPO) and phthalimide N-oxyl (PINO).

Nutting, Jordan↗
DOE OSTI2022

Theoretical Evaluation of Metal–Ligand Bonding in Neptunium Compounds in Relation to 237 Np Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The 237 Np Mössbauer isomer shift and quadrupole splitting (QS) are powerful probes for the metal–ligand bonding of neptunium, a 5f-element of vital importance in the nuclear fuel cycle. A large set of Np compounds with different oxidation states (III) to (VII) is studied to investigate, by first-principles calculations, isomer shifts and the QS trends in relation to the Np oxidation state. Natural Bond Orbital analysis reveals that in addition to donation bonding to the 5f shell, participation of the 6d and 7s neptunium shells in covalent (donation) bonding substantially impacts the isomer shifts. The isomer shift cannot be interpreted solely by the 5f shell electron count. The isomer shift for Np(II) compounds is estimated to be in the range of 31–34 mm/s, less positive than for Np(III) compounds. For the QS, density functional calculations fail to reproduce the quadrupole splitting for some Np(VI) ionic solids. A multiconfigurational wave function approach reproduces the observed QS trends. The calculations give a semiquantitative interpretation of the trends for Np oxidation states (V) to (VII). Furthermore, the contrasting QS for standard and “reverse” neptunyl(VI), at the opposite extremes of the observed QS scale, arises predominantly from the different crystal environments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Nature of Lone-Pair–Surface Bonds and Their Scaling Relations [On the Nature of Lone Pair-Surface Bonds and Their Scaling Relations]

Here, we investigate the (surface) bonding of a class of industrially and biologically important molecules in which the chemically active orbital is a 2 p electron lone pair located on an N or O atom bound via single bonds to H or alkyl groups. This class includes water, ammonia, alcohols, ethers, and amines. Using extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we discover scaling relations (correlations) among molecular binding energies of different members of this class: the bonding energetics of a single member can be used as a descriptor for other members. We investigate the bonding mechanism for a representative (H 2 O) and find the most important physical surface properties that dictate the strength and nature of the bonding through a combination of covalent and noncovalent electrostatic effects. We describe the importance of surface intrinsic electrostatic, geometric, and mechanical properties in determining the extent of the lone-pair–surface interactions. We study systems including ionic materials in which the surface positive and negative centers create strong local surface electric fields, which polarize the dangling lone pair and lead to a strong “electrostatically driven bond”. We emphasize the importance of noncovalent electrostatic effects and discuss why a fully covalent picture, common in the current first-principles literature on surface bonding of these molecules, is not adequate to correctly describe the bonding mechanism and energy trends. By pointing out a completely different mechanism (charge transfer) as the major factor for binding N- and O-containing unsaturated (radical) adsorbates, we explain why their binding energies can be tuned independently from those of the aforementioned species, having potential implications in scaling-driven catalyst discovery.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Computing the Relative Affinity of Chlorophylls a and b to Light-Harvesting Complex II

In plants and algae, the primary antenna protein bound to photosystem II is light-harvesting complex II (LHCII), a pigment–protein complex that binds eight chlorophyll (Chl) a molecules and six Chl b molecules. Chl a and Chl b differ only in that Chl a has a methyl group (–CH 3 ) on one of its pyrrole rings, while Chl b has a formyl group (–CHO) at that position. This blue-shifts the Chl b absorbance relative to Chl a . It is not known how the protein selectively binds the right Chl type at each site. Knowing the selection criteria would allow the design of light-harvesting complexes that bind different Chl types, modifying an organism to utilize the light of different wavelengths. The difference in the binding affinity of Chl a and Chl b in pea and spinach LHCII was calculated using multiconformation continuum electrostatics and free energy perturbation. Both methods have identified some Chl sites where the bound Chl type ( a or b ) has a significantly higher affinity, especially when the protein provides a hydrogen bond for the Chl b formyl group. However, the Chl a sites often have little calculated preference for one Chl type, so they are predicted to bind a mixture of Chl a and b . The electron density of the spinach LHCII was reanalyzed, which, however, confirmed that there is negligible Chl b in the Chl a -binding sites. Finally, it is suggested that the protein chooses the correct Chl type during folding, segregating the preferred Chl to the correct binding site.

chemical calculations↗
DOE OSTI2021

Discovery of a Wurtzite-like Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 Semiconductor Nanocrystal Polymorph and Implications for Related CuFeSe 2 Materials

I 2 -II-IV-VI 4 and I-III-VI 2 semiconductor nanocrystals have found applications in photovoltaics and other optoelectronic technologies because of their low toxicity and efficient light absorption into the near-infrared. Herein, we report the discovery of a metastable wurtzite-like polymorph of Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 , a member of the I 2 -II-IV-VI 4 family of semi-conductors containing only Earth-abundant metals. Density functional theory calculations on this metastable poly-morph of Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 indicate that it may be a superior semiconductor for solar energy and optoelectronics applications compared to the thermodynamically preferred stannite polymorph, since the former displays a sharper dispersion of energy levels near the conduction band minimum that can enhance electron mobility and suppress hot electron cooling. The experimental optical band gap was measured by the inverse logarithmic derivative method to be direct, in agreement with theory, and in the range of 1.48-1.59 eV. Mechanistic studies reveal that this metastable phase de-rives from intermediate Cu 3 Se 2 nanocrystals that serve as a structural template for the final hexagonal wurtzite-like product. We compare the chemistry of wurtzite-like Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 to the related CuFeSe 2 material system. Our experimental and computational comparisons between Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 and CuFeSe 2 help explain both the crystal chemistry of CuFeSe 2 that prevents it from forming wurtzite-like polymorphs and the essential role of Sn in stabilizing the metastable structure of Cu 2 FeSnSe 4 . Furthermore, this work provides insight into the importance of elemental composition when designing syntheses for metastable materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

The geometry of generalized force matching and related information metrics in coarse-graining of molecular systems

Using the probabilistic language of conditional expectations, we reformulate the force matching method for coarse-graining of molecular systems as a projection onto spaces of coarse observables. A practical outcome of this probabilistic description is the link of the force matching method with thermodynamic integration. This connection provides a way to systematically construct a local mean force and to optimally approximate the potential of mean force through force matching. We introduce a generalized force matching condition for the local mean force in the sense that allows the approximation of the potential of mean force under both linear and non-linear coarse graining mappings (e.g., reaction coordinates, end-to-end length of chains). Furthermore, we study the equivalence of force matching with relative entropy minimization which we derive for general non-linear coarse graining maps. We present in detail the generalized force matching condition through applications to specific examples in molecular systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Structural Basis for Small G Protein Effector Interaction of Ras-related Protein 1 (Rap1) and Adaptor Protein Krev Interaction Trapped 1 (KRIT1)

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) affect 0.1-0.5% of the population resulting in leaky vasculature and severe neurological defects. KRIT1 (Krev interaction trapped-1) mutations associate with {approx}40% of familial CCMs. KRIT1 is an effector of Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1) GTPase. Rap1 relocalizes KRIT1 from microtubules to cell membranes to impact integrin activation, potentially important for CCM pathology. We report the 1.95 {angstrom} co-crystal structure of KRIT1 FERM domain in complex with Rap1. Rap1-KRIT1 interaction encompasses an extended surface, including Rap1 Switch I and II and KRIT1 FERM F1 and F2 lobes. Rap1 binds KRIT1-F1 lobe using a GTPase-ubiquitin-like fold interaction but binds KRIT1-F2 lobe by a novel interaction. Point mutagenesis confirms the interaction. High similarity between KRIT1-F2/F3 and talin is revealed. Additionally, the mechanism for FERM domains acting as GTPase effectors is suggested. Finally, structure-based alignment of each lobe suggests classification of FERM domains as ERM-like and TMFK-like (talin-myosin-FAK-KRIT-like) and that FERM lobes resemble domain 'modules.'

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Structural and Biochemical Basis for Ubiquitin Ligase Recruitment by Arrestin-related Domain-containing Protein-3 (ARRDC3)

After protracted stimulation, the β2-adrenergic receptor and many other G-protein-coupled receptors are ubiquitinated and down-regulated. Arrestin-related domain-containing protein-3 (ARRDC3) has been proposed to recruit the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 to the β2-adrenergic receptor. ARRDC3 contains two PPXY motifs that could potentially interact with any of the four WW domains of Nedd4. Here we dissect the interaction determinants. ARRDC3 PPXY-Nedd4 WW dissociation constants vary from unmeasurable to K d = 3 μM for the third WW domain of Nedd4 binding to the first PPXY motif of ARRDC3. Structures of the uncomplexed and PPXY 1 -bound WW3 domain were determined at 1.1 and 1.7 Å resolution. The structures revealed conformational changes upon binding and the hydrogen bonding network in exquisite detail. Tight packing of ARRDC3 Val-352', part of a 3 10 helix at the C terminus of PPXY 1 , is important for high affinity binding to WW3. Although no single WW domain is strictly essential for the binding of Nedd4 and ARRDC3 expressed in HEK293 cells, high affinity binding of full-length ARRDC3 and Nedd4 is driven by the avid interaction of both PPXY motifs with either the WW2-WW3 or WW3-WW4 combinations, with K d values as low as 300 nM.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗