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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Subventricular Accumulation of Cu in the Aging Mouse Brain Does Not Associate with Anticipated Increases in Markers of Oxidative Stress

Natural aging is associated with mild memory loss and cognitive decline, and age is the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. There is substantial evidence that oxidative stress is a major contributor to both natural aging and neurodegenerative disease, and coincidently, levels of redox active metals such as Fe and Cu are known to be elevated later in life. Recently, a pronounced age-related increase in Cu content has been reported to occur in mice and rats around a vital regulatory brain region, the subventricular zone of lateral ventricles. In our study herein, we have characterized lateral ventricle Cu content in a unique murine model of accelerated aging, senescence accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Our results confirm an age-related increase in ventricle Cu content, consistent with the studies by others in wild-type mice and rats. Specifically, we observed Cu content to increase over the time frame 1 to 5 months and 5 to 9 months, but interestingly, no significant increase occurred between 9 and 12 months (although brain Cu content at 12 months was significantly elevated relative to 1 and 5 month-old animals). Despite the magnitude of Cu increase observed within the cells that comprise the subventricular zone of lateral ventricles (average 3 mM Cu, with isolated subcellular concentrations of 17 mM), we did not detect spectroscopic markers of thiol oxidation, protein aggregation, or lipid oxidation. The lack of evidence for oxidative stress in ex vivo animal tissue is in contrast to in vitro studies demonstrating that thiol, protein, and lipid oxidation is pronounced at these Cu concentrations. We suggest that our findings most likely indicate that the Cu ions in this brain region are sequestered in an unreactive form, possibly extended chains of Cu-thiolate complexes, which do not readily redox cycle in the aqueous cytosol. In conclusion, these results also appear to partially challenge the long-held view that age-related increases in brain metal content drive oxidative stress as we did not observe a concomitant association between age-related Cu increase and markers of oxidative stress, nor did we observe a net increase in Cu content between mice aged 9 and 12 months.

X-ray fluorescence↗
DOE OSTI2025

Multigene engineering in plants: Technologies, applications, and future prospects

The emerging bioeconomy presents a promising solution to both economic and environmental challenges. Within the bioeconomy, plants serve as a renewable, sustainable, and cost-effective source of foods, fuels, chemicals, and materials. However, traditional breeding and single-gene engineering approaches fall short in addressing complex traits (e.g., drought tolerance, disease resistance, yield, nutrient use efficiency) which are controlled by multiple genes. The complexity of plant biology often necessitates the use of multigene engineering (MGE), which involves simultaneous ectopic expression, up/down-regulation, or editing of multiple genes, to enhance plant traits relevant to the bioeconomy. These genes may be associated with distinct traits or function as components of specific metabolic and regulatory pathways. This review summarizes current technologies for MGE within the synthetic biology-driven Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) framework, detailing its four key stages: Design – gene construct development; Build – DNA assembly and plant transformation; Test – the molecular, biochemical, and physiological characterization of engineered plants; and Learn – computational modeling to refine, multiplex and iterate the process. Despite good progress in the applications of MGE in biofortification, metabolic engineering, and stress resilience, challenges remain in construct stability, coordinated gene expression, and regulatory predictability. We identified optimization paths and future directions to accelerate MGE deployment in sustainable agriculture, with possible societal benefits including reduced production costs, increased yield, and improved food and nutritional security.

AI-aided plant engineering↗
DOE OSTI2022

Impact of specimen preparation method on photovoltaic backsheet degradation during accelerated aging test

In this study, we highlight some important factors in the specimen preparation methods for evaluating photovoltaic backsheet properties after accelerated aging. Two different sequences are considered: Method (I) cut-then-age: cut into 1-cm wide strips and then expose to stress, and Method (II) age-then-cut: expose a larger sheet to stress and then cut into 1-cm widths for mechanical property measurements. We also compare the effect of three cutting methods, (a) tensile specimen punch, (b) paper cutter, and (c) fresh razor blade. Several commercial backsheets were evaluated, with stress exposures including (a) pressure cooker test (PCT), (b) dry ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, and (c) UV combined damp heat tests. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and intrinsic viscosity (IV) were used to analyze the materials on unstressed materials and samples exposed to PCT. The results show that both the cutting method and the time of cutting have an impact on the backsheet mechanical properties. Additionally, under UV exposure, Method II, age-then-cut, generally resulted in a higher average value, with more variation than Method I; however, if the side strips from Method II were excluded, the variation dropped to the same level. This is because the specimens at the sides of the sheet get additional damage from UV light from the exposed sides of the sample. In contrast to UV exposure, PCT specimens prepared by Method II result in lower average values and higher variability. This is attributed to embrittlement through the bulk of the sample where the cutting of embrittled specimens appears to result in more edge defects which can then initiate a break at smaller strains. The data suggest that for UV exposures, the specimens should be cut after aging and the exposed side specimens discarded, and that for PCT exposures, the specimens should be cut before the exposure.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

An efficient numerical model for predicting residual stress and strain in parts manufactured by laser powder bed fusion

Abstract Computational modeling of additively manufactured structures plays an increasingly important role in product design and optimization. For laser powder bed fusion processes, the accurate modeling of stress and distortion requires large amount of computational cost due to very localized heat input and evolving complex geometries. The current study takes advantage of a graphics processing unit accelerated explicit finite element analysis code and approximated heat conduction analysis to predict the macroscopic thermo-mechanical behavior in laser selective melting. Adjacent layers and tracks were lumped to reduce the number of time steps and elements in the finite element model. The effects of track and layer grouping on prediction accuracy and solution efficiency are investigated to provide a guidance for a cost-effective simulation. Thin-wall builds from Inconel alloy 625 (IN625) powders were simulated by applying the developed modeling approach to get the detailed residual stress and distortion at a computational speed 50 times higher than conventional approach. Under repeated heating and cooling cycles, a high tensile stress was produced near surfaces of a build due to a larger shrinkage on surface than that in central area. It is also shown that horizontal stresses concentrate near the root and top layers of the IN625 build. The predicted residual elastic strain distribution was validated by the experimental measurement using x-ray synchrotron diffraction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Exploring the impact of hydro-mechanical coupling on compaction localization

In deep subsurface environments, where porous rocks are saturated with fluids, hydromechanical coupling plays a critical role in the formation and propagation of localized deformation zones, such as compaction bands. In this study, we numerically investigate the influence of fluid-rock interactions on the development of compaction localization in fluid-saturated rocks. For this purpose, it uses a numerical framework that adapts the heat equation to model the diffusion of pore pressure caused by deformation. This is achieved with specialized subroutines for material behavior and heat transfer formulated within the ABAQUS platform and by allowing changes in rock permeability during strain localization. The results highlight that hydromechanical coupling significantly alters the compaction behavior compared to dry conditions. Under high confining stress, excess pore pressure inhibits the progression of compaction fronts, while in time-dependent processes like rock creep, pore pressure transients accelerate deformation by creating feedback loops between mechanical forces and fluid flow. These findings underscore the importance of saturation in controlling the dynamics of compaction localization and provide insights into the interplay between pore pressure, deformation, and permeability. The implications of this study extend to applications in geological storage, resource extraction, and subsurface geomechanics, offering a deeper understanding of coupled hydromechanical processes in porous rocks.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

PV Module BOM and Test Data

This dataset contains compiled results from annual PV Module Reliability Scorecards published by PV Evolution Labs – also known as PVEL. These scorecards show summary results of PV module testing performed by PVEL and name specific models of PV modules as "Top Performers" in various tests. Full details on testing, Top Performer status and other criteria for inclusion in Scorecards are documented in reports and online documentation available from https://www.modulescorecard.pvel.com. This dataset is not affiliated with PVEL and is intended only to simplify sorting and filtering Scorecard data and finding specific PV module models and Top Performer results. Note that data included in Scorecards has evolved over time, so not all data is available for all years, and testing protocols and Scorecard criteria have been changed over time.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fast Quasi-Static Time-Series Simulation for Accurate PV Inverter Semiconductor Fatigue Analysis with a Long-Term Solar Profile

Power system simulations with long-term data typically have large time steps varying from one second to a few minutes. However, for PV inverter semiconductors, the minimum thermal stress cycle occurs over the fundamental grid frequency (50 or 60 Hz). This requires the time step of the fatigue simulation to be around 100 µs. This small time step requires long computation times to process yearly power production profiles. This paper proposes a fast fatigue simulation for inverter semiconductors using the quasi-static time series (QSTS) simulation concept. The proposed simulation calculates the steady state of the semiconductor junction temperature by using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The small thermal cycling during a switching period and even over the fundamental waveform is disregarded to further accelerate the simulation speed. The resulting time step of the fatigue simulation is 15 minutes, which is consistent with the solar dataset. The error of the proposed simulation is 0.16% compared to the fatigue simulation results using the complete thermal stress profile. A PV inverter that responds to a Transactive Energy System (TES) is simulated to demonstrate the use of the proposed fatigue simulation. The proposed simulation has the potential to co-simulate with system level simulation tools that also adopt the QSTS concept.

Liu, Yunting↗
DOE OSTI2023

Future Response of Coastal Wetlands to Environmental Stresses: Algorithm Comparison of Numerical Models

Coastal wetlands are a critical component of the earth system that strongly influence the global water and biogeochemical cycles. They are also likely important sentinel of climate change. Because eco-geomorphological processes have long been recognized to be important for coastal wetland survival under accelerated sea-level rise (SLR), many eco-geomorphology models have been developed to assess the impact of climate change on coastal wetlands. Although these models differ substantially in complexity and numerical methods, few studies have investigated the algorithm-level uncertainties in these models. In this study, we developed a multiple-algorithm model framework of coastal wetlands that represents coastal hydrodynamics (such as water level, significant wave height and bottom shear stress) and four eco-geomorphological processes: mineral accretion, organic matter accretion, storm surge erosion and landward migration. We validated the model at three representative coastal wetland sites (Venice Lagoon, Plum Island Estuary and Hunter Estuary) for hydrodynamics, mineral accretion and organic matter accretion. Through model-data comparison, we showed that the model can well capture the dynamics of hydrodynamical and eco-geomorphological conditions in the study sites. Importantly, analysis of the multiple-algorithm simulations suggests that differences in the process representation of mineral and organic matter accretion may contribute to the recent contradicting predictions of coastal wetland evolution under accelerated SLR.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Modeling low cycle fatigue (LCF) of additively manufactured Hastelloy X using An accelerated crystal plasticity fatigue damage model

This paper presents a microstructure-based model for low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior and life of Nickel-based alloy Hastelloy X manufactured using laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing (AM). AM Hastelloy X, a solution-strengthened alloy, is tested at elevated temperature under fully reversed LCF conditions at different strain levels. A generalized plane strain finite element model is generated from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization. The constitutive behavior of the material under fatigue is modeled using crystal plasticity and calibrated with both monotonic tensile and cyclic stress–strain data. The fatigue micro-crack initiation and propagation in the microstructure is modeled using a modified Chaboche fatigue damage model. An embedded boundary condition with a homogenous medium is used to apply the cyclic deformation and prevent numerically introduced over-constraints during fatigue simulation. A ‘cycle-jump’ method is used to accelerate the fatigue simulation and reduce the computational cost. The simulation results are compared to LCF experiments, showing satisfactory matches in cyclic stress behavior and number of cycles to macro-crack initiation for all applied strain ranges. In addition, the model illustrates the potential for quantifying microscale fatigue life impacting factors such as microstructure and surface roughness, which is needed to accurately quantify the reliability of AM components in service.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Prediction of strain, inter-layer interaction and critical current in CORC ® wires under axial strain by T-A modeling

Superconducting conductors on round core (CORC ® ) cables and wires can meet the needs of large high-field magnets, such as particle accelerators and compact nuclear fusion machines, due to their simple cabling process, high current-carrying capacity and reliable operation under high mechanical stresses. Many high-field magnets require CORC ® cables to carry a current of thousands of amperes in a background magnetic field exceeding 20 T. As a result, the large electromagnetic forces will deform the cable in the axial direction due to hoop stress and in the transverse direction by compressive stress. Therefore, it is essential to determine the irreversible deformation limit of the CORC ® cable under axial tensile load and optimize the cabling parameters to potentially extend this limit. Analytical and numerical methods are developed to assess the performance degradation of CORC ® wires under axial tensile load. The strain level, interlayer contact pressure and friction and their impact on the critical current are calculated by combining the mechanical response and the T-A method. Analyzing the results shows that the winding angle of the tape and the Poisson’s ratio of the inner core are key factors affecting the irreversible tensile strain limit of CORC ® wires. The smaller the winding angle and the higher the Poisson’s ratio of the inner core, the higher the irreversible tensile strain limit. For multi-layer CORC ® wires, the initial contact pressure caused by the cabling process must also be considered. The inter-layer interaction is coupled with the tape strain of each layer. The results of this research can serve as a basis for optimizing and designing CORC ® wires with extended irreversible strain limits.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Synchrotron self-Compton radiation from magnetically dominated turbulent plasmas in relativistic jets

ABSTRACT Relativistic jets launched by rotating black holes are powerful emitters of non-thermal radiation. Extraction of the rotational energy via electromagnetic stresses produces magnetically dominated jets, which may become turbulent. Studies of magnetically dominated plasma turbulence from first principles show that most of the accelerated particles have small pitch angles, i.e. the particle velocity is nearly aligned with the local magnetic field. We examine synchrotron self-Compton radiation from anisotropic particles in the fast cooling regime. The small pitch angles reduce the synchrotron cooling rate and promote the role of inverse Compton (IC) cooling, which can occur in two different regimes. In the Thomson regime, both synchrotron and IC components have soft spectra, νFν ∝ ν1/2. In the Klein–Nishina regime, synchrotron radiation has a hard spectrum, typically νFν ∝ ν, over a broad range of frequencies. Our results have implications for the modelling of BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). BL Lacs produce soft synchrotron and IC spectra, as expected when Klein–Nishina effects are minor. The observed synchrotron and IC luminosities are typically comparable, which indicates a moderate anisotropy with pitch angles θ ≳ 0.1. Rare orphan gamma-ray flares may be produced when θ ≪ 0.1. The hard spectra of GRBs may be consistent with synchrotron radiation when the emitting particles are IC cooling in the Klein–Nishina regime, as expected for pitch angles θ ∼ 0.1. Blazar and GRB spectra can be explained by turbulent jets with a similar electron plasma magnetization parameter, σe ∼ 104, which for electron–proton plasmas corresponds to an overall magnetization σ = (me/mp)σe ∼ 10.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Curves, Coriolis, and Cross-Channel Circulation in the Hudson River Estuary

Abstract Despite its relatively small magnitude, cross-channel circulation in estuaries can influence the along-channel momentum balance, dispersion, and transport. We investigate spatial and temporal variation in cross-channel circulation at two contrasting sites in the Hudson River estuary. The two sites differ in the relative strength and direction of Coriolis and curvature forcing. We contrast the patterns and magnitudes of flow at the two sites during varying conditions in stratification driven by tidal amplitude and river discharge. We found well-defined flows during flood tides at both sites, characterized by mainly two-layer structures when the water column was more homogeneous and structures with three or more layers when the water column was more stratified. Ebb tides had generally weaker and less definite flows, except at one site where curvature and Coriolis reinforced each other during spring tide ebbs. Cross-channel currents had similar patterns, but were oppositely directed at the two sites, demonstrating the importance of curvature even in channels with relatively gradual curves. Coriolis and curvature dominated the measured terms in the cross-channel momentum balance. Their combination was generally consistent with driving the observed patterns and directions of flow, but local acceleration and cross-channel advection made some notable contributions. A large residual in the momentum balance indicates that some combination of vertical stress divergence, baroclinic pressure gradients, and along-channel and vertical advection must play an essential role, but data limitations prevented an accurate estimation of these terms. Cross-channel advection affected the along-channel momentum balance at times, with implications for the exchange flow’s strength. Significance Statement Currents that flow across the channel in an estuary move slower than those flowing along the channel, but they can transport materials and change water properties in important ways, affecting human uses of estuaries such as shipping, aquaculture, and recreation. We wanted to better understand cross-channel currents in the Hudson River estuary. We found that larger tides produced the strongest cross-channel currents with a two-layer pattern, compared to weaker currents with three layers during smaller tides. Higher or lower river flow also affected current strength. Comparing two locations, we saw cross-channel currents moving in opposite directions because of differences in the curvature of the river channel. Our results show how channel curvature and Earth’s rotation combine to produce cross-channel currents.

Conley, Margaret M.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Analysis of Screening Current Effects in a Hybrid Nb$_{3}$Sn/REBCO Superconducting Accelerator Magnet Using a T - A Formulation

To explore the feasibility of using high-temperature superconducting (HTS) REBCO coated conductors in future accelerator magnets, two REBCO flat racetrack coils were fabricated using 4-mm wide EuBCO tapes at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). These coils were tested as an insert inside a Nb$_{3}$Sn common-coil dipole magnet, which provides a background field of up to $\sim$ 9.5T, at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). REBCO tapes offer exceptionally high critical current density under strong magnetic fields; however, they also exhibit significant magnetization due to screening currents, leading to magnetic field errors. Here, this study presents a 2D finite element model of screening current-induced fields (SCIF) in REBCO coils using the T-A formulation, along with the results obtained. Simulations were then performed for two KEK test cases: one where the REBCO conductors were oriented with the HTS tapes parallel to the background field, and another where the tapes were perpendicular to it. Since screening currents also influence the stress distribution and increase the peak stress in the coils, the mechanical effects of these currents were analyzed. The implications of these simulation and test results for the design of Nb$_{3}$Sn/REBCO superconducting accelerator magnets are discussed.

Accelerator magnets↗
DOE OSTI2021

ACCELERATED CREEP TEST (ACT) QUALIFICATION OF CREEP RESISTANCE USING THE WCS CONSTITUTIVE MODEL AND STEPPED ISOSTRESS METHOD (SSM)

In this study, a qualification of accelerated creep-resistance of Inconel 718 is assessed using the novel Wilshire-Cano-Stewart (WCS) model and the stepped isostress method (SSM) and predictions are made to conventional creep data. Conventional creep testing (CCT) is a long-term continuous process, in fact, the ASME B&PV III requires that 10,000+ hours of experiments must be conducted to each heat for materials employed in boilers and/or pressure vessel components. This process is costly and not feasible for rapid development of new materials. As an alternative, accelerated creep testing techniques have been developed to reduce the time needed to characterize the creep resistance of materials. Most techniques are based upon the time-temperature-stress superposition principle (TTSSP) that predicts minimum-creep-strain-rate (MCSR) and stress-rupture behaviors but lack the ability to predict creep deformation and consider deformation mechanisms that occur for experiments of longer duration. The stepped isostress method (SSM) has been developed which enables the prediction of creep deformation response as well as reduce the time needed for qualification of materials. The SSM approach has been successful for polymer, polymeric composites, and recently has been introduced for metals. In this study, the WCS constitutive model, calibrated to SSM test data, qualifies the creep resistance of Inconel 718 at 750°C and predictions are compared to CCT data. The WCS model has proven to make long-term predictions for stress-rupture, minimum-creep-strain-rate (MCSR), creep deformation, and damage in metallic materials. The SSM varies stress levels after time interval adding damage to the material, which can be tracked by the WCS model. The SSM data is calibrated into the model and the WCS model generates realistic predictions of stress-rupture, MSCR, damage, and creep deformation. The calibrated material constants are used to generate predictions of stress-rupture and are post-audit validated using the National Institute of Material Science (NIMS) database. Similarly, the MCSR predictions are compared from previous studies. Finally the creep deformation predictions are compared with real data and is determined that the results are well in between the expected boundaries. Material characterization and mechanical properties can be determined at a faster rate and with a more cost-effective method. This is beneficial for multiple applications such as in additive manufacturing, composites, spacecraft, and Industrial Gas Turbines (IGT).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bridging microscale to macroscale mechanical property measurements of FeCrAl alloys by crystal plasticity modeling

FeCrAl alloys are candidates for accident tolerant fuel cladding of light water reactors. In this work, a microstructure- and temperature-dependent crystal plasticity model is employed to bridge microscale to macroscale mechanical property measurements of FeCrAl alloys. With the visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) polycrystal plasticity framework, a mechanism-based single crystal plasticity (MSCP) model adopts the Arrhenius type rate equation to describe the dependence of the critical resolved shear stress for dislocation slips on their temperature-dependent intrinsic frictional resistance and the microstructure-dependent irradiation hardening. The intrinsic frictional resistance associated with {110}<111> and {112}<111> slip systems were measured by in-situ micromechanical testing on unirradiated/irradiated samples at 25-500 °C. The irradiation hardening is estimated by the Bacon-Kocks-Scattergood (BKS) model with density and size of radiation-induced defects measured from microstructural characterization. Several features associated with thermo-mechanical behavior of unirradiated/irradiated polycrystalline FeCrAl alloys are captured. High density of deformation-induced dislocations and radiation-induced defects results in obvious hardening at room temperature, which is weakened at high temperature, and facilitates damage evolution during deformation. Moreover, both high temperature and radiation-induced defects, which facilitate dislocation multiplication, trigger large hardening rate. Finally, the proposed method together with application of accelerator-based ion irradiation technique is a surrogate approach to simulate neutron damage, improving the efficiency associated with evaluation of mechanical properties of FeCrAl alloys exposed to temperature, stress and radiation conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Accelerated Creep Test Qualification of Creep-Resistance Using the Wilshire–Cano–Stewart Constitutive Model and Stepped Isostress Method

In this paper, a qualification of accelerated creep-resistance of Inconel 718 is assessed using the novel Wilshire–Cano–Stewart (WCS) model and the stepped isostress method (SSM) and predictions are made to conventional creep data. Conventional creep testing is a long-term continuous process; in fact, the ASME B&PV III requires that 10,000+ h of experiments must be conducted to each heat for materials employed in boilers and/or pressure vessel components. This process is costly and not feasible for rapid development of new materials. As an alternative, accelerated creep testing techniques have been developed to reduce the time needed to characterize the creep resistance of materials. Most techniques are based upon the time-temperature-stress superposition principle that predicts minimum-creep-strain-rate (MCSR) and stress-rupture behaviors but lack the ability to predict creep deformation and consider deformation mechanisms that occur for experiments of longer duration. The SSM has been developed, which enables the prediction of creep deformation response as well as reduce the time needed for qualification of materials. The SSM approach has been successful for polymer, polymeric composites, and recently has been introduced for metals. In this study, the WCS constitutive model, calibrated to SSM test data, qualifies the creep resistance of Inconel 718 at 750 °C and predictions are compared to conventional creep testing data. The WCS model has proven to make long-term predictions for stress-rupture, MCSR, creep deformation, and damage in metallic materials. The SSM varies stress levels after time interval adding damage to the material, which can be tracked by the WCS model. The SSM data is calibrated into the model and the WCS model generates realistic predictions of stress-rupture, MSCR, damage, and creep deformation. The calibrated material constants are used to generate predictions of stress-rupture and are postaudit validated using the National Institute of Material Science database. Similarly, the MCSR predictions are compared from previous studies. Finally, the creep deformation predictions are compared with real data and is determined that the results are well in between the expected boundaries. Material characterization and mechanical properties can be determined at a faster rate and with a more cost-effective method. This is beneficial for multiple applications such as in additive manufacturing, composites, spacecraft, and industrial gas turbines.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Barcoded overexpression screens in gut Bacteroidales identify genes with roles in carbon utilization and stress resistance

Abstract A mechanistic understanding of host-microbe interactions in the gut microbiome is hindered by poorly annotated bacterial genomes. While functional genomics can generate large gene-to-phenotype datasets to accelerate functional discovery, their applications to study gut anaerobes have been limited. For instance, most gain-of-function screens of gut-derived genes have been performed in Escherichia coli and assayed in a small number of conditions. To address these challenges, we develop Barcoded Overexpression BActerial shotgun library sequencing (Boba-seq). We demonstrate the power of this approach by assaying genes from diverse gut Bacteroidales overexpressed in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron . From hundreds of experiments, we identify new functions and phenotypes for 29 genes important for carbohydrate metabolism or tolerance to antibiotics or bile salts. Highlights include the discovery of a d -glucosamine kinase, a raffinose transporter, and several routes that increase tolerance to ceftriaxone and bile salts through lipid biosynthesis. This approach can be readily applied to develop screens in other strains and additional phenotypic assays.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Application of the Continuum Damage Mechanics Wilshire-Cano-Stewart (WCS) Model

In this study, the applications of the continuum damage mechanics-based Wilshire-Cano-Stewart (WCS) model are explored to predict rupture time, minimum-creep-strain-rate (MCSR), damage, damage evolution, and creep deformation. Increase knowledge in manufacturing methods has pushed the limit of material science and the development of new materials. Conventional testing is required to qualify materials against creep which according to the ASME B&PV III code, 10,000+ hours of experiments are necessary for each heat before materials are put into service. This process is costly and not feasible for new materials. As an alternative, models have been employed to predict creep behaviors and reduce the amount of time necessary for material qualification. Many models have been developed to predict distinct creep behaviors and the question of which model is best remains. Amongst current models, the WCS model has emerge with the ability to predict multiple behaviors using an explicit analytical approach with the ability to predict long-term creep. In this study the novel continuum damage mechanics WCS is employed in multiple applications. The goals of the study are (a) to discuss and determine the framework of the WCS model and validated it mathematically and using parametric simulations, (b) applied the model to accelerated creep data to show the capabilities of the model with non-conventional data, and (c) applied a novel numerical method, the datum temperature method (DTM) to show the model extrapolations and interpolations capabilities with limited and reduce data sets. To accomplish these goals, data is gathered for alloy P91 and Inconel 718 to develop and post-audit validate the model. The benefits of using the WCS model is that it provides an explicit stress and temperature dependency ideal for extrapolations, the coupled equations are suitable for finite element analysis (FEA) implementation, and it follows an explicit calibration approach. The model also proves that it can be applied to accelerated testing data and using the DTM.

Cano, Jaime A↗