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At least 235 records · Page 13

A subcellular biochemical model for T6SS dynamics reveals winning competitive strategies

Abstract The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a broadly distributed interbacterial weapon that can be used to eliminate competing bacterial populations. Although unarmed target populations are typically used to study T6SS function in vitro, bacteria most likely encounter other T6SS-armed competitors in nature. However, the connection between subcellular details of the T6SS and the outcomes of such mutually lethal battles is not well understood. Here, we incorporate biological data derived from natural competitors of Vibrio fischeri light organ symbionts to build a biochemical model for T6SS at the single-cell level, which we then integrate into an agent-based model (ABM). Using the ABM, we isolate and experiment with strain-specific physiological differences between competitors in ways not possible with biological samples to identify winning strategies for T6SS-armed populations. Through in vitro experiments, we discover that strain-specific differences exist in T6SS activation speed. ABM simulations corroborate that faster activation is dominant in determining survival during competition. Once competitors are fully activated, the energy required for T6SS creates a tipping point where increased weapon building and firing becomes too costly to be advantageous. Through ABM simulations, we identify the threshold where this transition occurs in the T6SS parameter space. We also find that competitive outcomes depend on the geometry of the battlefield: unarmed target cells survive at the edges of a range expansion where unlimited territory can be claimed. Alternatively, competitions within a confined space, much like the light organ crypts where natural V. fischeri compete, result in the rapid elimination of the unarmed population.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Fast and accurate learned multiresolution dynamical downscaling for precipitation

Abstract. This study develops a neural-network-based approach for emulating high-resolution modeled precipitation data with comparable statistical properties but at greatly reduced computational cost. The key idea is to use combination of low- and high-resolution simulations (that differ not only in spatial resolution but also in geospatial patterns) to train a neural network to map from the former to the latter. Specifically, we define two types of CNNs, one that stacks variables directly and one that encodes each variable before stacking, and we train each CNN type both with a conventional loss function, such as mean square error (MSE), and with a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN), for a total of four CNN variants. We compare the four new CNN-derived high-resolution precipitation results with precipitation generated from original high-resolution simulations, a bilinear interpolater and the state-of-the-art CNN-based super-resolution (SR) technique. Results show that the SR technique produces results similar to those of the bilinear interpolator with smoother spatial and temporal distributions and smaller data variabilities and extremes than the original high-resolution simulations. While the new CNNs trained by MSE generate better results over some regions than the interpolator and SR technique do, their predictions are still biased from the original high-resolution simulations. The CNNs trained by CGAN generate more realistic and physically reasonable results, better capturing not only data variability in time and space but also extremes such as intense and long-lasting storms. The new proposed CNN-based downscaling approach can downscale precipitation from 50 to 12 km in 14 min for 30 years once the network is trained (training takes 4 h using 1 GPU), while the conventional dynamical downscaling would take 1 month using 600 CPU cores to generate simulations at the resolution of 12 km over the contiguous United States.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Radar studies of arctic ice and development of a real-time Arctic ice type identification system

Studies were conducted to develop a real-time Arctic ice type identification system. Data obtained by NASA Mission 126, conducted at Pt. Barrow, Alaska (Site 93) in April 1970 was analyzed in detail to more clearly define the major mechanisms at work affecting the radar energy illuminating a terrain cell of sea ice. General techniques for reduction of the scatterometer data to a form suitable for application of ice type decision criteria were investigated, and the electronic circuit requirements for implementation of these techniques were determined. Also, consideration of circuit requirements are extended to include the electronics necessary for analog programming of ice type decision algorithms. After completing the basic circuit designs a laboratory model was constructed and a preliminary evaluation performed. Several system modifications for improved performance are suggested. (Modified author abstract)

Rouse, J. W., Jr.↗

HT Lyn and IR Lyn: Two Semi-detached-type Near-contact Binaries with Stable Orbital Period

Abstract We presented the first photometric and orbital period investigations for two near-contact binaries: HT Lyn and IR Lyn. The light-curves solutions derived from both our ground-based and various surveys’ observations suggested that HT Lyn and IR Lyn are two semi-detached-type near-contact binaries with the secondary and primary components filling the Roche lobe. Combining the eclipse timings derived from several surveys’ data and our observations with those reported in the literature, we modified the orbital periods and revealed that their orbital periods were stable for the last two decades. The absolute physical parameters were well determined by using the empirical relations and the Gaia-distance-based method. Similar to other near-contact binaries, the primary components of HT Lyn and IR Lyn are evolving at the main-sequence stage, while their less-massive secondary components show the over-sized and over-luminosity features and should be more evolved than their primary ones. Combining the stable orbital period with the semi-detached configurations, we infer that the two near-contact binaries may be just located in the critical phase and evolving from the current semi-detached phase to the detached or contact one.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Spectroscopy and Photometry of the Earth Grazer 2002 NY40

The near Earth asteroid 2002 NY40 was discovered on July 14, 2002 by the LINEAR survey. The object was predicted to make a close pass by the Earth on August 18, which led to observations at a large range of wavelengths, including radar. The combination of visible and near infrared spectroscopy/spectrophotometry gives some indication of the composition. Thermal emission in the 3 micron spectral region gives constraints on the albedo, which is consistent with the spectral type and with the available size from the radar measurements. The lightcurve was well measured by a large number of observers, which helps to determine the rotation phase of the observations at the various wavelengths. The favorable observing conditions and rapid dissemination of the astrometry have led to a good physical characterization of this object, which is relatively rare for a newly discovered near Earth asteroid. The data sets reported in this abstract are shown.

Rivkin, A. S.↗

Temperature and Water Levels Collectively Regulate Methane Emissions From Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands

Abstract Wetlands are the largest and most climate‐sensitive natural sources of methane. Accurately estimating wetland methane emissions involves reconciling inversion (“top‐down”) and process‐based (“bottom‐up”) models within the global methane budget. However, estimates from these two model types are inherently interdependent and often reveal substantial discrepancies. To enhance the reliability of both approaches, we need a comprehensive understanding of wetland methane emissions and an independent high‐resolution long‐term flux data set. Here, we employed a data‐driven random forest approach to identify key variables influencing methane emissions from subtropical freshwater wetlands in the Southeastern United States. The model‐estimated monthly mean methane fluxes fit well with measured methane fluxes ( R 2 = 0.67) at four representative FLUXNET‐CH4 wetland sites across the region. Variable importance analysis highlighted the sensitivity of subtropical freshwater wetland methane emissions to variations in both temperature and water levels. High temperatures facilitate methanogenesis by enhancing microbial activities, while elevated water levels maintain anaerobic conditions necessary for methane production. Notably, the response of methane emissions to water level fluctuations is contingent on temperature conditions, and vice versa. Moreover, we constructed the first high‐spatial‐resolution (∼1 km × 1 km) and long‐term (1982–2010) gridded regional wetland methane flux product for the Southeastern United States, estimating annual methane emissions from subtropical freshwater wetlands in the region at 4.93 ± 0.11 Tg CH 4 yr −1 for 1982–2010. This new benchmark product holds promise for validating and parameterizing uncertain wetland methane emission processes in bottom‐up models and provides improved prior information for top‐down models.

He, Keqi [Earth and Climate Sciences Nicholas Scho↗

Probing ferroelectric domain structures and their switching dynamics in SrBi2Ta2O9 by in-situ electric biasing in transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Lead-free SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 (SBT) has been a promising ferroelectric material for various applications such as electronics and data storage due to its outstanding ferroelectric properties including high fatigue endurance and low leakage current. However, the atomic-scale domain structure and switching dynamics of ferroelectric SBT remain elusive. This study reveals that spontaneous polarization arises from canted bismuth-cation displacements, forming 90° and Ising-type 180° domain walls. Interestingly, topological pairs of ferroelectric vortex and antivortex connect ferroelectric boundaries where three domain walls converge. In situ electrical biasing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the dominance of 180° switching over 90°, where oxygen octahedral connectivity is protected by ferroelastic energy in the 90° domain wall. Consequently, all 180° domain walls and (anti)vortices are removed, leaving only 90° domain walls in the electrically poled states. Chemical deterioration along domain walls highlights vulnerability of SBT to ferroelectric fatigue. This study provides insight into crucial aspects for practical applications of SBT.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Automatic Detection and Classification of Radio Galaxy Images by Deep Learning

Abstract Surveys conducted by radio astronomy observatories, such as SKA, MeerKAT, Very Large Array, and ASKAP, have generated massive astronomical images containing radio galaxies (RGs). This generation of massive RG images has imposed strict requirements on the detection and classification of RGs and makes manual classification and detection increasingly difficult, even impossible. Rapid classification and detection of images of different types of RGs help astronomers make full use of the observed astronomical image data for further processing and analysis. The classification of FRI and FRII is relatively easy, and there are more studies and literature on them at present, but FR0 and FRI are similar, so it is difficult to distinguish them. It poses a greater challenge to image processing. At present, deep learning has made breakthrough progress in the field of image analysis and processing and has preliminary applications in astronomical data processing. Compared with classification algorithms that can only classify galaxies, object detection algorithms that can locate and classify RGs simultaneously are preferred. In target detection algorithms, YOLOv5 has outstanding advantages in the classification and positioning of small targets. Therefore, we propose a deep-learning method based on an improved YOLOv5 object detection model that makes full use of multisource data, combining FIRST radio with SDSS optical image data, and realizes the automatic detection of FR0, FRI, and FRII RGs. The innovation of our work is that on the basis of the original YOLOv5 object detection model, we introduce the SE Net attention mechanism, increase the number of preset anchors, adjust the network structure of the feature pyramid, and modify the network structure, thereby allowing our model to demonstrate galaxy classification and position detection effects. Our improved model produces satisfactory results, as evidenced by experiments. Overall, the mean average precision (mAP@0.5) of our improved model on the test set reaches 89.4%, which can determine the position (R.A. and decl.) and automatically detect and classify FR0s, FRIs, and FRIIs. Our work contributes to astronomy because it allows astronomers to locate FR0, FRI, and FRII galaxies in a relatively short time and can be further combined with other astronomically generated data to study the properties of these galaxies. The target detection model can also help astronomers find FR0s, FRIs, and FRIIs in future surveys and build a large-scale star RG catalog. Moreover, our work is also useful for the detection of other types of galaxies.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

An interactive, discipline-independent data visualization system

The data visualization techniques used by National Space Science Data Center Graphics System are discussed. The system includes a self-describing data abstraction for the storage and manipulation of multidimensional data for discipline-independent scientific applications. The system's data format and graphics display are described. Consideration is given to techniques developed for the rapid display and manipulation of large, complex data sets and for manipulating algorithms with portable implementations which can operate on any data object or geometry. The processes of operating the system are given and examples are presented from applying the system to various types of data, including TOMS data, data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project, and IRAS data.

Treinish, Lloyd A.↗

X-Ray Spectrum of a Narrow-Line QSO

During the reporting period, seven papers using ASCA data, supported in whole or in part by this grant, were published or submitted to refereed journals. Their abstracts are given in this report, and the complete bibliographic references are listed in the Appendix. Titles include (1) A Broad-Band X-ray Study of the Geminga Pulsar; (2) ASCA Observations of PSR 1920+10 and PSR 0950+08; (3) X-ray and Optical Spectroscopy of IRAS 20181-2244: Not a Type 2 QSO, but a I Zw I Object; (4) Models for X-ray Emission from Isolated Pulsars; (5) Optical and X-ray Spectroscopy of 1E 0449.4-1823: Demise of the Original Type 2 QSO; (6) The ASCA Spectrum of the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy Pictor A: A Simple Power Law with No Fe Ka Line; and (7) ASCA Spectra of NGC 4388 and ESO 103-G35: Absorption, Reflection, and Variability in Intermediate Type Seyfert Galaxies.

Halpern, Jules P.↗

Examining a hadronic γ-ray scenario for the radiative shell and molecular clouds of the old GeV supernova remnant G298.6−0.0

Abstract Based on the 13.7 yr Fermi-LAT data, Yeung, Bamba, and Sano (2023, PASJ, 75, 384) claimed detection of two γ-ray sources (namely Src-NE and Src-NW) associated with the supernova remnant (SNR) G298.6−0.0, and interpreted it as an old GeV SNR interacting with molecular clouds (MCs). In this follow-up study, we refine the flux measurements below 2 GeV with Fermi-LAT event types of better angular reconstruction. Then, we report our γ-ray spectral fittings and cosmic-ray phenomenology in a hadronic scenario, considering both the shell and MC regions of SNR G298.6−0.0. We confirm that the γ-ray spectra of both Src-NE and Src-NW exhibit spectral breaks, at $1.50_{-0.50}^{+0.60}$ and $0.68_{-0.11}^{+0.32}\:$GeV, respectively. Src-NW has a harder broad-band photon index than Src-NE, suggesting an appreciable difference between the physical separations of their respective emission sites from SNR G298.6−0.0. The cosmic-ray spectrum responsible for Src-NE starts with a minimum energy $E_\mathrm{CR,min}=1.38_{-0.16}^{+0.47}\:$GeV, and has a proton index $\Gamma _\mathrm{CR}=2.57_{-0.21}^{+0.18}$ below the exponential cutoff energy $E_\mathrm{CR,max}=240_{-150}^{+240}\:$GeV. Accordingly, we argue that Src-NE is dominated by the SNR shell, while only a minor portion of lower-energy emission is contributed by the MCs interacting with the SNR. The cosmic-ray population for Src-NW starts at a higher energy such that the ECR, min ratio of Src-NW to Src-NE is ≳2. The high ECR, min, as well as the high cosmic-ray energy density required (∼26 eV cm−3), supports the interpretation that Src-NW is predominantly the γ-ray emission from the farther MCs being bombarded by protons that had earlier escaped from SNR G298.6−0.0. By comparing the high-energy features of G298.6−0.0 with those of analogical SNRs, especially SNR W 28 and SNR W 44, we further constrain the age of SNR G298.6−0.0 to be 10–30 kyr, under the assumption of a purely hadronic scenario.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

MOLA-derived Roughness Data Used to Predict Surface Scattering for Mars Subsurface Radar Sounding

The Mars Express orbiter, to be launched by the European Space Agency in 2003, will carry a low-frequency radar sounding instrument, MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding). The primary goal of MARSIS is to map the distribution of water, both solid and (if present) liquid, in the upper several km of the martian crust. Detecting discontinuities in the crust, such as an ice-water transition, presents many challenges for a Mars orbital radar sounder. One challenge that must be overcome is the presence of radar scattering (echoes) from the surface of Mars, expected to be detected by the sounder antennas at the same time as any echoes aris-ing from subsurface interfaces. As the transmitted spherical wavefront spreads within the crust of Mars,. it also interacts with surface topography at off-nadir positions, creating a "clutter" signal that can mask the subsurface echoes. The MARSIS instrument will utilize Doppler filtering to limit the off-nadir clutter in the along-track direction, and a nadir-null secondary antenna to identify strong off-nadir clutter from the cross-track direction. To evaluate the effects of off-nadir surface clutter and the capability of these schemes to reduce the clutter, it is necessary to predict the range of scattering behavior that may be expected from martian surface topography. In this paper, we utilize Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data from the current Mars Global Surveyor mission to characterize the topographic roughness of a variety of martian terrain types, at scales relevant to the MARSIS clutter problem. Segments of MOLA altimetry profiles are reduced to the topographic parameters rms slope and fractal dimension, which then are used as inputs to a near-nadir radar scattering model to predict the strength of the clutter signal. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Plaut, J. J.↗

Automatic detection of cataclysmic variables from SDSS images

Abstract Investigating rare and new objects have always been an important direction in astronomy. Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are ideal and natural celestial bodies for studying the accretion process of semi-detached binaries with accretion processes. However, the sample size of CVs must increase because a lager gap exists between the observational and the theoretical expanding CVs. Astronomy has entered the big data era and can provide massive images containing CV candidates. CVs as a type of faint celestial objects, are highly challenging to be identified directly from images using automatic manners. Deep learning has rapidly developed in intelligent image processing and has been widely applied in some astronomical fields with excellent detection results. YOLOX, as the latest YOLO framework, is advantageous in detecting small and dark targets. This work proposes an improved YOLOX-based framework according to the characteristics of CVs and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) photometric images to train and verify the model to realise CV detection. We use the Convolutional Block Attention Module to increase the number of output features with the feature extraction network and adjust the feature fusion network to obtain fused features. Accordingly, the loss function is modified. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved model produces satisfactory results, with average accuracy (mean average Precision at 0.5) of 92.0%, Precision of 92.9%, Recall of 94.3%, and $F1-score$ of 93.6% on the test set. The proposed method can efficiently achieve the identification of CVs in test samples and search for CV candidates in unlabeled images. The image data vastly outnumber the spectra in the SDSS-released data. With supplementary follow-up observations or spectra, the proposed model can help astronomers in seeking and detecting CVs in a new manner to ensure that a more extensive CV catalog can be built. The proposed model may also be applied to the detection of other kinds of celestial objects.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

The Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program: Cosmological Biases from Host Galaxy Mismatch of Type Ia Supernovae

Abstract Redshift measurements, primarily obtained from host galaxies, are essential for inferring cosmological parameters from type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Matching SNe to host galaxies using images is nontrivial, resulting in a subset of SNe with mismatched hosts and thus incorrect redshifts. We evaluate the host galaxy mismatch rate and resulting biases on cosmological parameters from simulations modeled after the Dark Energy Survey 5 Yr (DES-SN5YR) photometric sample. For both DES-SN5YR data and simulations, we employ the directional light radius method for host galaxy matching. In our SN Ia simulations, we find that 1.7% of SNe are matched to the wrong host galaxy, with redshift differences between the true and matched hosts of up to 0.6. Using our analysis pipeline, we determine the shift in the dark energy equation of state parameter (Δ w ) due to including SNe with incorrect host galaxy matches. For SN Ia–only simulations, we find Δ w = 0.0013 ± 0.0026 with constraints from the cosmic microwave background. Including core-collapse SNe and peculiar SNe Ia in the simulation, we find that Δ w ranges from 0.0009 to 0.0032, depending on the photometric classifier used. This bias is an order of magnitude smaller than the expected total uncertainty on w from the DES-SN5YR sample of ∼0.03. We conclude that the bias on w from host galaxy mismatch is much smaller than the uncertainties expected from the DES-SN5YR sample, but we encourage further studies to reduce this bias through better host-matching algorithms or selection cuts.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Review of current sonic boom studies.

Several aspects of the sonic boom phenomena are currently under investigation at The Boeing Co. This work, supported by the NASA and the FAA, includes an in-depth analysis of sonic boom measurements recorded at the BREN tower, a summary and evaluation of sonic boom investigations done in the last decade and a half, and configuration studies to determine practical lower bound sonic boom limits. The BREN tower test program yielded unique and valuable data because it was the first time that vertical profile measurements were made through caustics produced by maneuvers and atmospheric refraction. The objective of the second effort is to compile in a single reference an annotated abstract, including significant results, for each published sonic boom study and to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the art to aid future researchers. The configuration work is devoted toward determining the feasibility of supersonic transport type airplanes with a primary design goal of acceptable sonic boom characteristics. Each of these investigations is briefly reviewed and significant results are discussed.

Kane, E. J.↗

TYC 2990-127-1: An Algol-type SB2 binary system of subgiant and red giant with a probable ongoing mass-transfer

ABSTRACT We present a study of the spectroscopic binary TYC 2990-127-1 from the LAMOST survey. We use full-spectrum fitting to derive radial velocities and spectral parameters. The high mass ratio indicates that the system underwent mass transfer in the past. We compute the orbital solution and find that it is a very close sub-giant/red giant pair on circular orbit, slightly inclined to the sky-plane. Fitting of the TESS photometrical data confirms this and suggests an inclination of i ∼ 39.8°. The light curve and spectrum around Hα show signs of irregular variability, which supports ongoing mass transfer. The binary evolution simulations suggest that the binary may experience non-conservative mass transfer with accretion efficiency 0.3, and the binary will enter into common envelope (CE) phase in the subsequent evolution. The remnant product after the ejection of CE may be a detached double helium white dwarf (He WD) or a merger.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

On the intermediate Jacobian of M5-branes

Abstract We study Euclidean M5-branes wrapping vertical divisors in elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfold compactifications of M/F-theory that admit a Sen limit. We construct these Calabi-Yau fourfolds as elliptic fibrations over coordinate flip O3/O7 orientifolds of toric hypersurface Calabi-Yau threefolds. We devise a method to analyze the Hodge structure (and hence the dimension of the intermediate Jacobian) of vertical divisors in these fourfolds, using only the data available from a type IIB compactification on the O3/O7 Calabi-Yau orientifold. Our method utilizes simple combinatorial formulae (that we prove) for the equivariant Hodge numbers of the Calabi-Yau orientifolds and their prime toric divisors, along with a formula for the Euler characteristic of vertical divisors in the corresponding elliptic Calabi-Yau fourfold. Our formula for the Euler characteristic includes a conjectured correction term that accounts for the contributions of pointlike terminal ℤ 2 singularities corresponding to perturbative O3-planes. We check our conjecture in a number of explicit examples and find perfect agreement with the results of direct computations.

Physics↗