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DOE OSTI2023

Imprint of tree species mycorrhizal association on microbial‐mediated enzyme activity and stoichiometry

Abstract Understanding the effects of tree species and their mycorrhizal association on soil processes is critical for predicting the ecosystem consequences of species shifts owing to global change and forest management decisions. While it is well established that forests dominated by different mycorrhizal types can vary in how they cycle carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the degree to which these patterns are driven by microbial‐mediated enzyme activity (EA) and ecoenzymatic stoichiometry (ES) remains elusive. Here, we synthesized the effects of mycorrhizal association on seven soil enzymes involved in microbial C, N and P acquisition and ES using data from 56 peer‐reviewed papers. We found that relative to soil in ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees, soil in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees exhibited greater activity of some C acquisition enzymes (e.g. beta‐glucosidase; BG) and higher ecoenzymatic ratios of BG/NAG (N‐acetyl‐glucosaminidase) and BG/AP (acid phosphatase). These results supported that AM trees had rapid C and nutrient turnover rates, inorganic nutrient economics and high soil microbial C limitation. We also found evidence for an organic nutrient economy and greater soil microbial demand for nutrients in EcM trees compared to AM trees. In addition, the effect of mycorrhizal association on the activity of certain soil enzymes and enzymatic stoichiometry (i.e. BG and BG/NAG ratio) appeared to be associated with the differences in soil pH, phylogenetic group (i.e. conifers and broadleaves) and leaf habit (i.e. evergreen and deciduous) between AM and EcM trees. The results from the global meta‐analysis suggested that soil EA and ES appear to play critical roles in shaping the differences in the nutrient economy between AM and EcM tree species, but leaf morphology and soil conditions should be considered in evaluations of soil processes in forests of different mycorrhizal associations. Given that most of the studies in the database were from the temperate and subtropical regions, further research in other biomes is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving the mycorrhizal effect at the global scale. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Beyond denitrification: The role of microbial diversity in controlling nitrous oxide reduction and soil nitrous oxide emissions

Many biotic and abiotic processes contribute to nitrous oxide (N 2 O) production in the biosphere, but N 2 O consumption in the environment has heretofore been attributed primarily to canonical denitrifying microorganisms. The nosZ genes encoding the N 2 O reductase enzyme, NosZ, responsible for N 2 O reduction to dinitrogen are now known to include two distinct groups: the well-studied Clade I which denitrifiers typically possess, and the novel Clade II possessed by diverse groups of microorganisms, most of which are non-denitrifiers. Clade II N 2 O reducers could play an important, previously unrecognized role in controlling N 2 O emissions for several reasons, including: (1) the consumption of N 2 O produced by processes other than denitrification, (2) hypothesized non-respiratory functions of NosZ as an electron sink or for N 2 O detoxification, (3) possible differing enzyme kinetics of Clade II NosZ compared to Clade I NosZ, and (4) greater nosZ gene abundance for Clade II compared to Clade I in soils of many ecosystems. Despite the potential ecological significance of Clade II NosZ, a census of 800 peer-reviewed original research articles discussing nosZ and published from 2013 to 2019 showed that the percentage of articles evaluating or mentioning Clade II nosZ increased from 5% in 2013 to only 22% in 2019. The census revealed that the slowly spreading awareness of Clade II nosZ may result in part from disciplinary silos, with the percentage of nosZ articles mentioning Clade II nosZ ranging from 0% in Agriculture and Agronomy journals to 32% in Multidisciplinary Sciences journals. In addition, inconsistent nomenclature for Clade I nosZ and Clade II nosZ, with 17 different terminologies used in the literature, may have created confusion about the two distinct groups of N 2 O reducers. Furthermore, we provide recommendations to accelerate advances in understanding the role of the diversity of N 2 O reducers in regulating soil N 2 O emissions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

Comparing energy and water use of aqueous and gas-based metalworking fluids

Gas-based metalworking fluids (MWFs) have been proposed as alternative coolants and lubricants in machining operations to mitigate concerns surrounding water use and pollution, industrial hygiene, occupational health, and performance limitations associated with water-based (aqueous) MWFs that are ubiquitously used in the metals manufacturing industry. This study compares the primary energy and water use associated with the consumptive use, delivery, and disposal of aqueous MWFs with three gas-based MWFs in the literature-minimum quantity lubricant-in-compressed air (MQL), liquid/gaseous N-2, and liquid/supercritical CO2. The comparison accounts for reported differences in machining performance in peer-reviewed experimental studies across several machining processes and materials. The analysis shows that despite the reported improvement in tool life with N-2 and CO2-based MWFs, the electricity- and water-intensive separation and purification processes for N-2 and CO2 lead to their higher primary energy and water use per volume of material machined relative to water-based MWFs. Although MQL is found to have lower primary energy use, significant consumptive water use associated with the vegetable oil commonly used with this MWF leads to higher overall water use than aqueous MWF, which is operated in a recirculative system. Gas-based MWFs thus shift the water use upstream of the manufacturing plant. Primary energy and water use of gas-based MWFs could be reduced by focusing on achieving higher material removal rates and throughput compared to aqueous MWF instead of solely targeting improvements in tool life. Additionally, the consumptive use of CO2 and N-2 MWFs could be minimized by optimizing their flow rates and delivery to precisely meet the cooling and lubrication needs of specific machining processes instead of flooding the tool and workpiece with these gases. This article met the requirements for a gold-gold JIE data openness badge described at http://jie.click/badges.

cutting fluids↗

DOE OSTI2020

Editorial for Special Issue: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings - Part 1

We are pleased to present starting with this volume of ASME Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities (JESBC), a series of peer-reviewed papers related to some of ongoing research projects and applications of Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs). As part of a new program initiated by the Building Technology Office (BTO) with the US Department of Energy (DOE), GEBs are characterized as highly energy-efficient buildings that are equipped with smart technologies and distributed energy resources that can be dynamically controlled to meet grid needs and minimize electricity system costs, while meeting occupants’ comfort and productivity requirements. In simple terms,DOE defines GEBs as efficient, connected, smart, and flexible buildings. The GEB technologies touch on the main topical areas of JESBC aimed at fostering sustainable buildings and cities by providing results of evaluation studies and demonstration projects. Indeed, one of the main goals for JESBC is to disseminate solutions to enhance the built environment energy efficiencies, low carbon services, inter-connectivity services, resilient multi-services, and healthy and comfortable living spaces.

buildings↗

DOE OSTI2020

Editorial for Special Issue: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings—Part 2

This issue of the ASME Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities (JESBC) is fully dedicated to peer-reviewed papers specific to technologies and applications of Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs). As defined by a series of publications by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and outlined in Part 1 of the editorial of JESBC August 2020 issue, GEBs are efficient, connected, smart, and flexible buildings. This GEB special issue covers some technologies and applications for grid-connected buildings and communities. Some of technologies included in the special issue are dynamic insulation systems for building envelopes, building integrated fuel cells, and rooftop PV systems. Furthermore, the issue outlines the designs and cost-benefits of net-zero energy (NZE) buildings and carbon neutral communities in the United States.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2025

Special Issue: Thermal Energy Storage for Buildings

This special issue (SI) of the ASME Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Buildings and Cities (JESBC) features peer-reviewed papers specific to technologies and applications of thermal energy storage (TES) for buildings. TES systems store energy in materials as a heat source or a cold sink and then discharge the stored energy hours or weeks later to enhance thermal comfort or reduce utility bills [1]. As buildings and cities are facing increasing energy consumption and extreme weather events, TES offers a powerful solution to balance supply and demand, reduce operational energy costs, and strengthen energy resilience during power outages.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Data Center Waste Heat as an Emerging Urban Thermal Hazard: First Field Measurements of Neighborhood-Scale Air Temperature Impacts

Data centers are among the fastest-growing sources of concentrated anthropogenic heat in urban environments. Despite heat flux densities that exceed peak solar irradiance by a factor of 2–6, their thermal impacts on adjacent communities have never been directly measured or reported in the peer-reviewed literature. This short communication addresses that gap by presenting the first vehicle-based traverse measurements of air temperature in residential neighborhoods downwind of operational data centers. Five traverses at four facilities in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, ranging from a 36 MW single-building data center in Mesa to a 169 MW colocation campus in Chandler, reveal downwind air temperature warming as high as 2.2 °C, with average downwind air temperatures 0.7–0.9 °C warmer than corresponding upwind areas. Thermal signatures were detectable at distances up to 500 m from facility perimeters. The 36 MW Mesa facility rejects waste heat equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 40,000 households, while the 169 MW Chandler campus is equivalent to over 180,000 households, both concentrated into footprints smaller than a single residential subdivision. With U.S. data center capacity projected to more than double by 2030, these findings establish data center anthropogenic waste heat as a previously undocumented urban thermal hazard demanding attention from the data center and urban planning communities.

Phoenix↗

DOE OSTI2020

Best Practices for Successfully Writing and Publishing a Genome Announcement in Microbiology Resource Announcements

Microbiology Resource Announcements (MRA) provides peer-reviewed announcements of scientific resources for the microbial research community. We describe the best practices for writing an announcement that ensures that these publications are truly useful resources. Adhering to these best practices can lead to successful publication without the need for extensive revisions.

Dunning Hotopp, Julie C.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Hybrid Organic Inorganic Perovskites: Physical Properties and Applications (in 4 Volumes)

This four-volume handbook gives a state-of-the-art overview of hybrid organic inorganic perovskites, both two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D), from synthesis and characterization and simulation to optoelectronic devices (such as solar cells and light emitting diodes), spintronics devices and catalysis application. The editors, coming from academia and national laboratory, are known for their didactic skills as well as their technical expertise. Coordinating the efforts of 30 expert authors in 21 chapters, they construct the story of hybrid perovskite structural and optical properties, electronic and spintronic response, laser action, and catalysis from varied viewpoints: materials science, chemical engineering, and energy engineering. The four volumes are arranged according to the focus material properties. Volume 1 is focused on the material physical properties including structure, deposition characteristic and the structure of the electronic bands and excitons of these compounds. Volume 2 covers the hybrid perovskite optical properties including the ultrafast optical response, photoluminescence and laser action. Volume 3 contains the spin response of these compounds including application such as spin valves, photogalvanic effect, and magnetic response of light emitting diodes and solar cell devices. Finally, and highly relevant to tomorrow's energy challenges, volume 4 is focused on the physics and device properties of the most relevant applications of the hybrid perovskites, namely photovoltaic solar cells. The text contains many high-quality colorful illustrations and examples, as well as thousands of up-to-date references to peer-reviewed articles, reports and websites for further reading. This comprehensive and well-written handbook is a must-have reference for universities, research groups and companies working with the hybrid organic inorganic perovskites.

applications↗

DOE OSTI2021

A multimodal and integrated approach to interrogate human kidney biopsies with rigor and reproducibility: guidelines from the Kidney Precision Medicine Project

Comprehensive and spatially mapped molecular atlases of organs at a cellular level are a critical resource to gain insights into pathogenic mechanisms and personalized therapies for diseases. The Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP) is an endeavor to generate three-dimensional (3-D) molecular atlases of healthy and diseased kidney biopsies by using multiple state-of-the-art omics and imaging technologies across several institutions. Obtaining rigorous and reproducible results from disparate methods and at different sites to interrogate biomolecules at a single-cell level or in 3-D space is a significant challenge that can be a futile exercise if not well controlled. Here we describe a “follow the tissue” pipeline for generating a reliable and authentic single-cell/region 3-D molecular atlas of human adult kidney. Our approach emphasizes quality assurance, quality control, validation, and harmonization across different omics and imaging technologies from sample procurement, processing, storage, shipping to data generation, analysis, and sharing. We established benchmarks for quality control, rigor, reproducibility, and feasibility across multiple technologies through a pilot experiment using common source tissue that was processed and analyzed at different institutions and different technologies. A peer review system was established to critically review quality control measures and the reproducibility of data generated by each technology before their being approved to interrogate clinical biopsy specimens. The process established economizes the use of valuable biopsy tissue for multiomics and imaging analysis with stringent quality control to ensure rigor and reproducibility of results and serves as a model for precision medicine projects across laboratories, institutions and consortia.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Code for paper "Reconstructing an Implosion with Space-Time Smoothing of Velocimetry Traces"

New diagnostics to obtain high-temporal resolution observation of surface velocity provide a rich collection of data from high-explosive (HE) experiments. Using this data to estimate the temporal evolution of an imploding, HE-driven surface is of great interest for validating simulation of the physical system and for design of future experiments. This is the code for a paper in which we propose a method for using a Gaussian process to estimate the surface position over time and provide uncertainty estimates on that reconstruction accounting for measurement error, uncertainty to sparse spatial sampling velocity data, and robustness to outlying observations. In the paper, the code is applied on data from a hemispherical HE implosion experiment. This code is for release with the paper for peer-review, replicating the results and making the figures from the paper.

Grosskopf, Michael↗

DOE OSTI2023

Multimodal CO2 Transportation Cost Model

This model provides a cost estimate for transporting CO2 via truck or rail in the United States using commercially available equipment and technologies. The model includes an analysis of direct and indirect CO2 emissions to determine costs per net tonne of CO2 transported. Publicly available data and methods published in the peer-reviewed literature are used to the extent possible; references are available at the bottom of the "Calculations" sheet. Upstream (i.e., liquefaction, buffer storage) and downstream (i.e., buffer storage, reconditioning) activities are included in the model of emissions and costs. All capital and operating expenditures are estimated in the "Calculations" sheet. The cost of financing the project is determined in the "FINEX" sheet. All user inputs are done via drop down menus in on the "User Interface" sheet. Summary results are also provided on the "User Interface" sheet.

Myers, CoreyA↗

DOE OSTI2024

RGM: Random Geological Model Generation Package

This Fortran code is to accompany a manuscript to be submitted to Computers & Geosciences, a high-impact, peer-reviewed journal in computer methods for geosciences research. This Fortran code focuses on generation of synthetic geological models using a multi-randomization strategy. Generating high-fidelity synthetic geological models, including realistic seismic reflector migration images, faults, salt bodies, and relative geological time images, is the key for many supervised machine learning methods that aim to delineate faults and other geological properties of interest from seismic migration images. Our package contains two major functionalities: generating 2D synthetic random geological models and generating 3D synthetic random geological models. In each step of the generation process, we set random values for key properties of a geological model to improve the fidelity of the resulting geological model. The package also includes example codes on how to use the random geological model generation subroutines. We name this package RGM – Random Geological Model generation package.

Gao, Kai↗

DOE OSTI2025

AI for Earthquake Physics

The core LANL program sponsored by Office of Science, Basic Energy Science, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences (DOE-BES-CSGB) and led by PI Johnson aims to research earthquake faults to advance fault physics and earthquake hazards. All work completed is required to be made publicly available through publications and open-source codes supporting the published results. All routines are/will-be written in open source python and applied to publicly available data sets. These routines will format data from input into models, develop and test modeling frameworks for the problems addressed, and produce figures applicable to peer-reviewed manuscripts. All work is reviewed for Los Alamos Unlimited Release before submitting to a journal. This summary encompasses recently completed work and work to be complete for the duration of the program.

Johnson, Christopher↗

DOE OSTI2026

Battery Performance and Cost Model (BatPaC) Version 6.0

SF-26-016 The Battery Performance and Cost model (BatPaC) is a calculation method based on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that has been developed at Argonne for estimating the performance and manufacturing cost of lithium-ion batteries for electric-drive vehicles including hybrid-electrics (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and pure electrics. BatPaC was first developed in 2007, was subsequently peer reviewed, and it has served Argonne researchers and the greater battery community in studying the impact of material properties on performance at the pack level. BatPaC has been updated and re-released multiple times since its original public release in 2011. This current version is BatPaC 6.0, which contains additional functionality needed to handle advances in automotive batteries, like the use of lithium metal and silicon anodes and the need to accommodate cell expansion and apply high levels of pressure.

KNEHR, KEVIN [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), A↗

DOE OSTI2026

SolVap_StarTer (Solvent Evaporation Graphical User Interface) [SWR-26-029]

SolVap_StarTer is an open-source solvent evaporation GUI. The software combines previously published (peer-reviewed scientific journals) evaporation and crystallization physics into an easy-to-use graphical interface. The software will allow the user to specify a coating composition and drying environment, and then predict the evolution of the film as it dries. Potential applications include tracking the change in multi-solvent composition and solute concentration in solution-processed perovskites films, predicting the point of crystallization, and calculating equivalent processing parameters for transferring a process between different coating and drying methods. Github repo: https://github.com/NatLabRockies/SolVap Streamlit app: https://solvap.streamlit.app/

Starger, Jesse [National Laboratory of the Rockies↗

DOE OSTI2022

Heavy-tailed distribution of the number of papers within scientific journals

Scholarly publications represent at least two benefits for the study of the scientific community as a social group. First, they attest to some form of relation between scientists (collaborations, mentoring, heritage, …), useful to determine and analyze social subgroups. Second, most of them are recorded in large databases, easily accessible and including a lot of pertinent information, easing the quantitative and qualitative study of the scientific community. Understanding the underlying dynamics driving the creation of knowledge in general, and of scientific publication in particular, can contribute to maintaining a high level of research, by identifying good and bad practices in science. In this article, we aim to advance this understanding by a statistical analysis of publication within peer-reviewed journals. Namely, we show that the distribution of the number of papers published by an author in a given journal is heavy-tailed, but has a lighter tail than a power law. Interestingly, we demonstrate (both analytically and numerically) that such distributions match the result of a modified preferential attachment process, where, on top of a Barabási-Albert process, we take the finite career span of scientists into account.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

DOE OSTI2023

Effectiveness of Residue and Tillage Management on Runoff Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Areas

Highlights No-till and no-till residue systems were effective in reducing runoff particulate and total nutrients but increased dissolved nutrients. Maintaining >30% residue cover reduced most runoff constituents, irrespective of no-till or tillage. No-till-residue prevented runoff nutrient losses and benefitted farm revenue by avoiding tillage. Abstract. Reduced tillage management conservation practices (No-till and Reduced-till) are widely adopted in agriculture; however, understanding their overall effectiveness for water quality protection is challenging. A meta-analysis was conducted to understand and quantify the effectiveness of residue and tillage management on runoff, sediment, and nutrient losses from agricultural fields. Annual runoff and the associated sediment, and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loads were compiled from 60 peer reviewed research articles published across the United States and Canada. A total of 1575 site-years of data were categorized into tillage (<30% surface cover), no-tillage (<30% surface cover), tillage with residue (>30% surface cover), no-tillage with residue (>30% surface cover), and pasture management. No-tillage, no-tillage-residue, and tillage-residue managements were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing runoff, nutrients, and sediment loads compared to tillage. Synthesized and surveyed corn yield data were used to evaluate the economic cost effectiveness of no-tillage-residue management with respect to tillage. Across the site years (1968-2019) studied, median runoff depth for no-tillage and no-tillage-residue were 84% and 70% greater than tillage and tillage-residue management, respectively. No-tillage-residue management had up to 86% less sediment losses than tillage systems, on average, for both >30% and <30% surface cover. No-tillage-residue management was most effective, with a positive performance effectiveness of 65% to 90% in controlling sediments, particulate, and total nutrient losses in runoff compared to tillage. Cost effectiveness analysis revealed the benefits of no-tillage-residue management in reducing nutrient loads and increasing net-farm revenue by avoiding tillage operational costs. Except for dissolved phosphorus, no-tillage-residue management cost effectiveness for sediments and nutrient loads ranged from negative $6 to negative $102 per every Mg or kg of load reduction, indicating it had both economic and environmental benefits compared to tillage management. Overall, these results indicate that over the long-term, no-tillage and tillage, combined with greater than 30% residue cover, can effectively reduce sediment and nutrient losses. This work highlights the importance of crop residues on the soil surface to reduce runoff losses, even in no-tillage systems. Keywords: Conservation tillage, No-tillage, Residue cover, Tillage, Water quality.

Agriculture↗