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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

The Science of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)

This 4-minute animation shows how the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment will help scientists understand how the universe works. DUNE will use a huge particle detector a mile underground to embark on a mission with three major science goals: 1.) Study an intense, 1,300-kilometer-long neutrino beam to discover what happened after the big bang: Are neutrinos the reason the universe is made of matter? 2.) Use 70,000 tons of liquid argon to look for proton decay and move closer to realizing Einstein’s dream of a unified theory of matter and energy. 3.) Catch neutrinos from a supernova to watch the formation of neutron stars and black holes in real time. About 1,000 scientists from 160 institutions in 30 countries are working on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, hosted at the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and South Dakota’s Sanford Underground Research Facility. DUNE collaborators come from institutions in Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2000

Simian virus 40, poliovirus vaccines, and human cancer: research progress versus media and public interests

From 1955 through early 1963, millions of people were inadvertently exposed to simian virus 40 (SV40) as a contaminant of poliovirus vaccines; the virus had been present in the monkey kidney cultures used to prepare the vaccines and had escaped detection. SV40 was discovered in 1960 and subsequently eliminated from poliovirus vaccines. This article reviews current knowledge about SV40 and considers public responses to reports in the media. SV40 is a potent tumour virus with broad tissue tropism that induces tumours in rodents and transforms cultured cells from many species. It is also an important laboratory model for basic studies of molecular processes in eukaryotic cells and mechanisms of neoplastic transformation. SV40 neutralizing antibodies have been detected in individuals not exposed to contaminated poliovirus vaccines. There have been many reports of detection of SV40 DNA in human tumours, especially mesotheliomas, brain tumours and osteosarcomas; and DNA sequence analyses have ruled out the possibility that the viral DNA in tumours was due to laboratory contamination or that the virus had been misidentified. However, additional studies are necessary to prove that SV40 is the cause of certain human cancers. A recently published review article evaluated the status of the field and received much media attention. The public response emphasized that there is great interest in the possibility of health risks today from vaccinations received in the past.

Review, Tutorial↗
NASA NTRS1996

The Neurolab mission and biomedical engineering: a partnership for the future

Over the last five years, with the advent of flights of U.S. Shuttle/Spacelab missions dedicated entirely to life sciences research, the opportunities for conducting serious studies that use a fully outfitted space laboratory to better understand basic biological processes have increased. The last of this series of Shuttle/Spacelab missions, currently scheduled for 1998, is dedicated entirely to neuroscience and behavioral research. The mission, named Neurolab, includes a broad range of experiments that build on previous research efforts, as well as studies related to less mature areas of space neuroscience. The Neurolab mission provides the global scientific community with the opportunity to use the space environment for investigations that exploit microgravity to increase our understanding of basic processes in neuroscience. The results from this premier mission should lead to a significant advancement in the field as a whole and to the opening of new lines of investigation for future research. Experiments under development for this mission will utilize human subjects as well as a variety of other species. The capacity to carry out detailed experiments on both human and animal subjects in space allows a diverse complement of studies that investigate functional changes and their underlying molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms. In order to conduct these experiments, a wide array of biomedical instrumentation will be used, including some instruments and devices being developed especially for the mission.

NASA Program Flight↗
DOE OSTI2025

Agrivoltaic Grazing Systems for a Sustainable Future: A Multi‐Disciplinary Review & Gap Analysis

Solar photovoltaics (PV) is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world, however, its expansion has raised concerns about the displacement of agriculture and the degradation of rangeland ecosystems. This has prompted research and development of multi-land-use systems that co-prioritize energy production alongside agriculture, commonly referred to as agrivoltaics. Currently, agrivoltaic grazing (also called solar grazing) is one of the most common forms of these systems. However, peer-reviewed research on these systems is limited. This review synthesizes research on agrivoltaic grazing systems, drawing upon literature addressing agrivoltaics broadly and considering relevant literature in adjacent fields of study. Based on this review, we identify six key gaps and priority directions for future research. These include foundational fieldwork to characterize the layered ecological impacts of solar PV and grazing and understand PV-livestock integration from both an animal welfare and a PV infrastructure perspective. This will facilitate the development of biogeochemical and economic models that improve our predictive capacity and ability to compare system designs. We also identify gaps in understanding the human aspects of these systems and emphasize the importance of utilizing collaborative research methods and increasing research on the social dimensions of agrivoltaic grazing systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1997

Space Station Biological Research Project

To meet NASA's objective of using the unique aspects of the space environment to expand fundamental knowledge in the biological sciences, the Space Station Biological Research Project at Ames Research Center is developing, or providing oversight, for two major suites of hardware which will be installed on the International Space Station (ISS). The first, the Gravitational Biology Facility, consists of Habitats to support plants, rodents, cells, aquatic specimens, avian and reptilian eggs, and insects and the Habitat Holding Rack in which to house them at microgravity; the second, the Centrifuge Facility, consists of a 2.5 m diameter centrifuge that will provide acceleration levels between 0.01 g and 2.0 g and a Life Sciences Glovebox. These two facilities will support the conduct of experiments to: 1) investigate the effect of microgravity on living systems; 2) what level of gravity is required to maintain normal form and function, and 3) study the use of artificial gravity as a countermeasure to the deleterious effects of microgravity observed in the crew. Upon completion, the ISS will have three complementary laboratory modules provided by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japanese space agency, NASDA. Use of all facilities in each of the modules will be available to investigators from participating space agencies. With the advent of the ISS, space-based gravitational biology research will transition from 10-16 day short-duration Space Shuttle flights to 90-day-or-longer ISS increments.

NASA Discipline General Space Life Sciences↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dynamic molecular architecture of the synaptonemal complex

During meiosis, pairing between homologous chromosomes is stabilized by the assembly of the synaptonemal complex (SC). The SC ensures the formation of crossovers between homologous chromosomes and regulates their distribution. However, how the SC regulates crossover formation remains elusive. We isolated an unusual mutation in Caenorhabditis elegans that disrupts crossover interference but not SC assembly. This mutation alters the unique C terminal domain of an essential SC protein, SYP-4, a likely ortholog of the vertebrate SC protein SIX6OS1. We use three-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (3D-STORM) to interrogate the molecular architecture of the SC from wild-type and mutant C. elegans animals. Using a probabilistic mapping approach to analyze super-resolution image data, we detect changes in the organization of the synaptonemal complex in wild-type animals that coincide with crossover designation. We also found that our syp-4 mutant perturbs SC architecture. Our findings add to growing evidence that the SC is an active material whose molecular organization contributes to chromosome-wide crossover regulation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

OSSA Space Station Freedom science utilization plans

Long duration exposure to an essentially zero-gravity environment is a phenomenon exclusive to the Space Station Freedom that cannot be duplicated on Earth. The Freedom Station will offer periods of time on orbit extending to weeks and months rather than hours or days, allowing for in-depth space based research and analysis to a degree never before achieved. OSSA remains committed to exploiting the unique capabilities provided by the Space Station as well as other space-based facilities to study the nature of physical, chemical, and biological processes in a low-gravity environment and to apply these studies to advance science and applications in such fields as biomedical research, plant and animal physiology, exobiology, biotechnology, materials science, fluid physics, and combustion science. The OSSA focus is on progressive science investigations, many requiring hands-on scientist involvement using sophisticated experiment hardware. OSSA science utilization planning for the Freedom Station is firmly established. For this presentation, this planning is discussed in three general areas: OSSA goals and overall approach, the current and on-going program, and plans for space station utilization. In the first area, OSSA addresses its overall approach to space science research, its commitment to transition to Space Station Freedom, and its top-level strategy for the utilization of Freedom. The current and on-going program is next discussed, focusing on the various Spacelab series of missions which are providing the stepping-stones to Space Station Freedom. Selected science results from SLS-1 and USML-1 are cited which underline the value of properly outfitted laboratories in space in which crew-intensive experiment interactions are possible. The presentation is concluded with a discussion of top-level goals and strategies for utilizing the Freedom Station by OSSA's Life Sciences Division and its Microgravity Science and Applications Division.

Cressy, Philip J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radionuclide-specific Parameters Dataset

The radionuclide-specific parameters dataset is searchable for radiological information for multiple isotopes simultaneously. After selecting radionuclides of interest and the desired parameters, the RAIS will generate a table containing the values, chosen according to an established hierarchy. Results can be downloaded in Excel format. 50 parameters are available, including atomic number, soil to animal transfer coefficients, plant uptake coefficients, half-life, specific activity, and water solubility. Seven primary sources are used to populate the dataset of radiological-specific parameters. These values should be used in cancer risk assessments for the calculation of preliminary remediation goals (PRGs), hazard characterization, and transport modeling. Users can select up to 1000 radionuclides per query. The dataset supports environmental risk assessments, regulatory decision-making, and environmental planning with tools for benchmarking against risk-based standards. This structured approach ensures a robust evaluation of environmental risks tailored to regulatory needs.

Manning, Karessa [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O↗
DOE OSTI2014

Genotoxicity of charged particles of importance in space flight using murine kidney epithelial cells

Ionizing radiation presents significant challenges for human space flight including an increased cancer risk. High-energy heavy ions in the galactic cosmic radiation can produce qualitative and quantitative differences in biological effects when compared with sparsely ionizing radiations. Mutations are induced by charged particle exposure and are integral to the formation and/or progression of human cancers. Most cancer-associated mutations occur on autosomal chromosomes, and most solid cancers occur in epithelial tissues. Here, a combined in vitro/in vivo approach was used to evaluate cell killing and the induction of mutations at a model autosomal locus, Aprt, in mouse kidney epithelium. For in vitro exposures, Aprt heterozygous kidney cells (clones 1a, 4a or 6a) were used from C57BL/6×DBA/2 mice. Additional experiments were performed using whole body irradiation of mice with the same genotype. Both males and females were irradiated in approximately equal numbers. Irradiations were performed at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratories at Brookhaven National Laboratory. For in vitro studies, cells from primary kidney clones were irradiated and seeded at limiting dilution immediately post-irradiation to determine the toxicity of the treatment. The irradiated kidney cells were also seeded in mutation assays within 1 week post-irradiation to determine the Aprt mutant fraction at the earliest time post-exposure. This work was complemented by studies wherein mice were exposed to the same ions with kidneys harvested several months post-irradiation to determine the residual toxicity and the Aprt mutant fraction. Our previous studies focused on sparsely ionizing 1 GeV protons (LET = 0.24 keV/µm) and densely ionizing 1 GeV/amu Fe ions (LET = 151 keV/µm). Our most recent studies have included work with Si ions (240 MeV/amu for in vitro studies, LET = 78 keV/µm; 263 MeV/amu initial energy for in vivo studies to achieve 78 keV/µm near the midline of the animal) and O ions (250 MeV/amu in vitro studies only, LET = 25 keV/µm). Toxicity for the cultured kidney cells in vitro follows this pattern: Fe > Si > O > protons when the results are expressed per unit dose. D0 values were 92 cGy for Fe ions, 103 cGy for Si ions, 192 cGy for O ions and 340 cGy for protons. With regard to the induction of Aprt mutations, Fe ions were more mutagenic than protons. Si ions were also quite mutagenic with evidence for a linear dose–response for Aprt mutations in kidney cells exposed in vitro or in kidneys harvested from mice irradiated several months earlier. These results are consistent with the linear dose–response data obtained previously for Aprt mutation induction following Fe ion exposure in vitro or in vivo, but the results for Si ions differ from the curvilinear dose–response data we recently published following similar exposures to energetic protons [ 1, 2]. Our most recent studies examined the molecular characteristics of Si ion-induced Aprt mutants following in vitro exposure. A dose of 160 cGy was used to collect 58 Aprt kidney cell mutants. Mutational events were classified as follows based on PCR-based analyses of polymorphic markers along mouse chromosome 8: intragenic events, apparent mitotic recombination, interstitial deletions of Aprt only, multilocus deletions, discontinuous loss of heterozygosity or whole chromosome loss. The results for this group of mutants will be compared against our previous studies on Aprt mutants arising after exposure to sparsely ionizing 1 GeV protons or densely ionizing 1 GeV/amu Fe ions. Additional studies are ongoing to define mutational spectra following Si ion exposure to kidney epithelium in vivo.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2015

Python-Based Scientific Analysis and Visualization of Precipitation Systems at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

At NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Python is used several different ways to analyze and visualize precipitating weather systems. A number of different Python‐based software packages have been developed, which are available to the larger scientific community. The approach in all these packages is to utilize pre‐existing Python modules as well as to be object‐oriented and scalable. The first package that will be described and demonstrated is the Python Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) Data Toolkit, or PyAMPR for short. PyAMPR reads geolocated brightness temperature data from any flight of the AMPR airborne instrument over its 25‐year history into a common data structure suitable for user‐defined analyses. It features rapid, simplified (i.e., one line of code) production of quick‐look imagery, including Google Earth overlays, swath plots of individual channels, and strip charts showing multiple channels at once. These plotting routines are also capable of significant customization for detailed, publication‐ready figures. Deconvolution of the polarization‐varying channels to static horizontally and vertically polarized scenes is also available. Examples will be given of PyAMPR's contribution toward real‐time AMPR data display during the Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx), which took place in the Carolinas during May‐June 2014. The second software package is the Marshall Multi‐Radar/Multi‐Sensor (MRMS) Mosaic Python Toolkit, or MMM‐Py for short. MMM‐Py was designed to read, analyze, and display three‐dimensional national mosaicked reflectivity data produced by the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). MMM‐Py can read MRMS mosaics from either their unique binary format or their converted NetCDF format. It can also read and properly interpret the current mosaic design (4 regional tiles) as well as mosaics produced prior to late July 2013 (8 tiles). MMM‐Py can easily stitch multiple tiles together to provide a larger regional or national picture of precipitating weather systems. Composites, horizontal and vertical crosssections, and combinations thereof are easily displayed using as little as one line of code. MMM‐Py can also write to the native MRMS binary format, and sub‐sectioning of tiles (or multiple stitched tiles) is anticipated to be in place by the time of this meeting. Thus, MMM‐Py also can be used to power the creation of custom mosaics for targeted regional studies. Overlays of other data (e.g., lightning observations) are easily accomplished. Demonstrations of MMM‐Py, including the creation of animations, will be shown. Finally, Marshall has done significant work to interface Python‐based analysis routines with the U.S. Department of Energy's Py‐ART software package for radar data ingest, processing, and analysis. One example of this is the Python Turbulence Detection Algorithm (PyTDA), an MSFC‐based implementation of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Turbulence Detection Algorithm (NTDA) for the purposes of convective‐scale analysis, situational awareness, and forensic meteorology. PyTDA exploits Py‐ART's radar data ingest routines and data model to rapidly produce aviation‐relevant turbulence estimates from Doppler radar data. Work toward processing speed optimization and better integration within the Py‐ART framework will be highlighted. Python‐based analysis within the Py‐ART framework is also being done for new research related to intercomparison of ground‐based radar data with satellite estimates of ocean winds, as well as research on the electrification of pyrocumulus clouds.

Lang, Timothy J.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Development of novel O-polysaccharide based glycoconjugates for immunization against glanders

Burkholderia mallei the etiologic agent of glanders, causes severe disease in humans and animals and is a potential agent of biological warfare and terrorism. Diagnosis and treatment of glanders can be challenging, and in the absence of chemotherapeutic intervention, acute human disease is invariably fatal. At present, there are no human or veterinary vaccines available for immunization against disease. One of the goals of our research, therefore, is to identify and characterize protective antigens expressed by B. mallei and use them to develop efficacious glanders vaccine candidates. Previous studies have demonstrated that the O-polysaccharide (OPS) expressed by B. mallei is both a virulence factor and a protective antigen. Recently, we demonstrated that Burkholderia thailandensis, a closely related but non-pathogenic species, can be genetically manipulated to express OPS antigens that are recognized by B. mallei OPS specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). As a result, these antigens have become important components of the various OPS-based subunit vaccines that we are currently developing in our laboratory. In this study, we describe a method for isolating B. mallei-like OPS antigens from B. thailandensis oacA mutants. Utilizing these purified OPS antigens, we also describe a simple procedure for coupling the polysaccharides to protein carriers such as cationized bovine serum albumin, diphtheria toxin mutant CRM197 and cholera toxin B subunit. Additionally, we demonstrate that high titer IgG responses against purified B. mallei LPS can be generated by immunizing mice with the resulting constructs. Collectively, these approaches provide a rational starting point for the development of novel OPS-based glycoconjugates for immunization against glanders.

immunization↗
DOE OSTI2017

MRI-guided Wire Localization Surgical Biopsy in an Adolescent Patient with a Difficult to Diagnose Case of Lymphoma

A 17-year-old previously healthy female presented with a progressive soft tissue infiltrative process involving the neck and thorax. Extensive diagnostic evaluation including multiple imaging, laboratory, and biopsy studies was nondiagnostic. Due to an urgent need to establish a diagnosis and several previous nondiagnostic biopsies, she was referred to interventional radiology for MRI-guided wire localization immediately prior to open surgical biopsy. Under general anesthesia, wires were placed in the areas of increased T2 signal within the bilateral splenius capitis muscles using intermittent MRI-guidance followed by immediate surgical biopsy down to the wires. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Precision Labeling of Native Antibodies with Lock Coupling

The formation of stable protein complexes enables much of biotechnology, but even high-affinity complexes can dissociate, limiting potential applications in biomaterials, bioimaging, nanomedicine, and other protein-based technologies. Here, in this study, we describe lock coupling, a simple and selective one-step reaction between interfacial lysine and glutamate or aspartate side chains to form stable isopeptide bonds and be used for the precise labeling of native antibodies. We identify conditions in which short-lived activated esters formed by the aqueous carbodiimide EDC promote isopeptide bond formation specifically at preassociated amine-acid pairs. Indiscriminate cross-linking is minimized by formation of protein complexes before addition of catalyst, use of acidic pH to suppress exposed Lys reactivity, and limiting the aqueous stability of activated esters. For native antibody (Ab) labeling, we show that the small IgG-binding protein GB1 can be covalently attached to the Ab Fc domain and that introduction of Cys into GB1 loops allows for facile conjugation of fluorophores, micelles, or inorganic nanocrystals for imaging in live cells and animals. By varying Cys substituents and protein stoichiometry, a defined number of probes can be uniformly attached without the need for extensive purification. In live-cell confocal microscopy, labeled GB1 serves as a stable replacement for secondary Abs, enabling simple multicolor immunostaining and imaging. Lock coupling requires just a single reagent in aqueous buffer and leverages both the innate ability of proteins to form high-affinity complexes and the widespread presence of Lys-Glu/Asp pairs at their interfaces, with the potential for precision synthesis of protein-based probes for imaging, biomaterials, biophysics, and medicine.

antibody↗
DOE OSTI2014

Monitoring Sensitive Bat Species at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Bats play a critical role in ecosystems and are vulnerable to disturbance and disruption by human activities. In recent decades, bat populations in the United States and elsewhere have decreased tremendously. There are 47 different species of bat in the United States and 28 of these occur in New Mexico with 15 different species documented at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and surrounding areas. Euderma maculatum(the spotted bat) is listed as “threatened” by the state of New Mexico and is known to occur at LANL. Four other species of bats are listed as “sensitive” and also occur here. In 1995, a four year study was initiated at LANL to assess the status of bat species of concern, elucidate distribution and relative abundance, and obtain information on roosting sites. There have been no definitive studies since then. Biologists in the Environmental Protection Division at LANL initiated a multi-year monitoring program for bats in May 2013 to implement the Biological Resources Management Plan. The objective of this ongoing study is to monitor bat species diversity and seasonal activity over time at LANL. Bat species diversity and seasonal activity were measured using an acoustic bat detector, the Pettersson D500X. This ultrasound recording unit is intended for long-term, unattended recording of bat and other high frequency animal calls. During 2013, the detector was deployed at two locations around LANL. Study sites were selected based on proximity to water where bats may be foraging. Recorded bat calls were analyzed using Sonobat, software that can help determine specific species of bat through their calls. A list of bat species at the two sites was developed and compared to lists from previous studies. Species diversity and seasonal activity, measured as the number of call sequences recorded each month, were compared between sites and among months. A total of 17,923 bat calls were recorded representing 15 species. Results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between bat diversity and month of the year. Future studies will be implemented based on these findings.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Whole genome sequencing of Mycobacterium bovis directly from clinical tissue samples without culture

Advancement in next generation sequencing offers the possibility of routine use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) genomes in clinical reference laboratories. To date, the M. bovis genome could only be sequenced if the mycobacteria were cultured from tissue. This requirement for culture has been due to the overwhelmingly large amount of host DNA present when DNA is prepared directly from a granuloma. To overcome this formidable hurdle, we evaluated the usefulness of an RNA-based targeted enrichment method to sequence M. bovis DNA directly from tissue samples without culture. Initial spiking experiments for method development were established by spiking DNA extracted from tissue samples with serially diluted M. bovis BCG DNA at the following concentration range: 0.1 ng/μl to 0.1 pg/μl (10 –1 to 10 –4 ). Library preparation, hybridization and enrichment was performed using SureSelect custom capture library RNA baits and the SureSelect XT HS2 target enrichment system for Illumina paired-end sequencing. The method validation was then assessed using direct WGS of M. bovis DNA extracted from tissue samples from naturally (n = 6) and experimentally (n = 6) infected animals with variable Ct values. Direct WGS of spiked DNA samples achieved 99.1% mean genome coverage (mean depth of coverage: 108×) and 98.8% mean genome coverage (mean depth of coverage: 26.4×) for tissue samples spiked with BCG DNA at 10 –1 (mean Ct value: 20.3) and 10 –2 (mean Ct value: 23.4), respectively. The M. bovis genome from the experimentally and naturally infected tissue samples was successfully sequenced with a mean genome coverage of 99.56% and depth of genome coverage ranging from 9.2× to 72.1×. The spoligoyping and M. bovis group assignment derived from sequencing DNA directly from the infected tissue samples matched that of the cultured isolates from the same sample. Our results show that direct sequencing of M. bovis DNA from tissue samples has the potential to provide accurate sequencing of M. bovis genomes significantly faster than WGS from cultures in research and diagnostic settings.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Final Work Plan: Environmental Site Investigation at Sylvan Grove, Kansas

In 1998, carbon tetrachloride was found above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 5 µg/L in groundwater from one private livestock well at Sylvan Grove, Kansas, by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The 1998 KDHE sampling was conducted under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) private well sampling program. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a USDA agency, operated a grain storage facility in Sylvan Grove from 1954 to1966. Carbon tetrachloride is the contaminant of primary concern at sites associated with former CCC/USDA grain storage operations. Sylvan Grove is located in western Lincoln County, approximately 60 mi west of Salina (Figure 1.1). To determine whether the former CCC/USDA facility at Sylvan Grove is a potential contaminant source and its possible relationship to the contamination in groundwater, the CCC/USDA has agreed to conduct an investigation, in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement between the KDHE and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the USDA. This Work Plan presents historical data related to previous investigations, grain storage operations, local private wells and public water supply (PWS) wells, and local geologic and hydrogeologic conditions at Sylvan Grove. The findings from a review of all available documents are discussed in Section 2. On the basis of the analyses of historical data, the following specific technical objectives are proposed for the site investigation at Sylvan Grove: (1) Evaluate the potential source of carbon tetrachloride at the former CCC/USDA facility; (2) Determine the relationship of potential contamination (if present) at the former CCC/USDA facility to contamination identified in 1998 in groundwater samples from one private well to the west; and (3) Delineate the extent of potential contamination associated with the former CCC/USDA facility. The detailed scope of work is outlined in Section 3. The results of the proposed work will provide the basis for determining what future CCC/USDA actions may be necessary, with the ultimate goal of achieving classification of the Sylvan Grove site at no further action status. The proposed activities are to be performed on behalf of the CCC/USDA by the Environmental Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory, a nonprofit, multidisciplinary research center operated by the UChicago Argonne, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy. Argonne provides technical assistance to the CCC/USDA concerning environmental site characterization and remediation at former grain storage facilities. Argonne issued a Master Work Plan (Argonne 2002) that has been approved by the KDHE. The Master Work Plan describes the general scope of all investigations at former CCC/USDA facilities in Kansas and provides guidance for these investigations. That document should be consulted for the complete details of plans for work associated with the former CCC/USDA facility at Sylvan Grove.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2011

Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emissions of Source Aerosols (Teresa): Application to Power Plant-Derived Pm 2.5

Determining the health impacts of different sources and components of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is an important scientific goal, because PM is a complex mixture of both inorganic and organic constituents that likely differ in their potential to cause adverse health outcomes. The TERESA (Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emissions of Source Aerosols) study focused on two PM sources - coal-fired power plants and mobile sources - and sought to investigate the toxicological effects of exposure to realistic emissions from these sources. The DOE-EPRI Cooperative Agreement covered the performance and analysis of field experiments at three power plants. The mobile source component consisted of experiments conducted at a traffic tunnel in Boston; these activities were funded through the Harvard-EPA Particulate Matter Research Center and will be reported separately in the peer-reviewed literature. TERESA attempted to delineate health effects of primary particles, secondary (aged) particles, and mixtures of these with common atmospheric constituents. The study involved withdrawal of emissions directly from power plant stacks, followed by aging and atmospheric transformation of emissions in a mobile laboratory in a manner that simulated downwind power plant plume processing. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) derived from the biogenic volatile organic compound α-pinene was added in some experiments, and in others ammonia was added to neutralize strong acidity. Specifically, four scenarios were studied at each plant: primary particles (P); secondary (oxidized) particles (PO); oxidized particles + secondary organic aerosol (SOA) (POS); and oxidized and neutralized particles + SOA (PONS). Extensive exposure characterization was carried out, including gas-phase and particulate species. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed for 6 hours to filtered air or different atmospheric mixtures. Toxicological endpoints included (1) breathing pattern; (2) bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology and biochemistry; (3) blood cytology; (4) in vivo oxidative stress in heart and lung tissue; and (5) heart and lung histopathology. In addition, at one plant, cardiac arrhythmias and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Statistical analyses included analyses of variance (ANOVA) to determine differences between exposed and control animals in response to different scenario/plant combinations; univariate analyses to link individual scenario components to responses; and multivariate analyses (Random Forest analyses) to evaluate component effects in a multipollutant setting. Results from the power plant studies indicated some biological responses to some plant/scenario combinations. A number of significant breathing pattern changes were observed; however, significant clinical changes such as specific irritant effects were not readily apparent, and effects tended to be isolated changes in certain respiratory parameters. Some individual exposure scenario components appeared to be more strongly and consistently related to respiratory parameter changes; however, the specific scenario investigated remained a better predictor of response than individual components of that scenario. Bronchoalveolar lavage indicated some changes in cellularity of BAL fluid in response to the POS and PONS scenarios; these responses were considered toxicologically mild in magnitude. No changes in blood cytology were observed at any plant or scenario. Lung oxidative stress was increased with the POS scenario at one plant, and cardiac oxidative stress was increased with the PONS scenario also at one plant, suggesting limited oxidative stress in response to power plant emissions with added atmospheric constituents. There were some mild histological findings in lung tissue in response to the P and PONS scenarios. Finally, the MI model experiments indicated that premature ventricular beat frequency was increased at the plant studied, while no changes in heart rate, HRV, or electrocardiographic intervals were observed. Overall, the TERESA results should be interpreted as indicating toxicologically mild adverse responses to some scenarios. The varied responses among the three plants indicate heterogeneity in emissions. Ongoing studies using the TERESA approach to evaluate the toxicity of traffic-related pollution will yield valuable data for comparative toxicity assessment and will give us a better understanding of the contribution of different sources to the morbidity and mortality associated with exposure to air pollution.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Design of an Evapotranspiration Surface Barrier for the Subsurface Disposal Area at INL - 19220

At the INL Site, the US DOE is planning to construct one of its largest CERCLA landfill covers. An evapotranspiration surface barrier that will be approximately 65 ha (160 acres) will cover the 39-ha (97-acre) Subsurface Disposal Area at the INL to isolate legacy mixed waste disposed of prior to 1988, low-level radioactive waste disposed of after 1988, and debris from demolition of structures being used to process some of the legacy mixed waste. The evapotranspiration surface barrier will limit percolation to less than 1 cm (0.39 in.) per year under typical precipitation conditions; provide a minimum 3-m (10-ft)-thick cover over all waste to minimize the potential for plant, animal, and inadvertent human intrusion; support growth of native vegetation; and visually blend in with the surrounding desert landscape. A robust design will allow the evapotranspiration surface barrier to resist erosion and perform for a minimum of 1,000 years. The 1-cm (0.39-in.)-per-year and 1,000-year performance objectives were established by a CERCLA record of decision and its implementing remedial design work plan, and these performance objectives are consistent with a performance assessment conducted under US DOE Order 435.1, 'Radioactive Waste Management.' (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗