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At least 109 records · Page 6

Five key aspects of metaproteomics as a tool to understand functional interactions in host-associated microbiomes

Host-associated microbial communities (microbiomes) play critical roles in human, animal, and plant health and development. However, interactions between the host, members of the microbiome, and invading pathogens are in most cases still poorly understood. Such interactions are multidimensional and can alter the taxonomic composition and/or the functional metabolic activities of the microbiome in response to disease or treatment conditions. For example, after 2 days of antibiotic treatment, the mouse gut microbiome is altered and more susceptible to invasion by the pathogen Clostridioides difficile. Studies of these multidimensional interactions have been fueled by the ability to use high-throughput sequencing of phylogenetic marker genes to profile microbial community composition and shotgun metagenomics to profile functional potential. However, many protein-coding genes predicted from metagenomes are not necessarily expressed under a given condition, and thus, it is difficult to assess the activities and functional interactions in microbial communities based on DNA sequencing data alone. The physiological and pathological processes expressed in these communities under specific conditions are better reflected by the abundances of transcripts or proteins. In this Pearl, we provide a brief introduction to metaproteomics, which is a tool for the large-scale analysis of proteins in microbiomes that allows researchers to address a diversity of questions related to functions and interactions in microbiomes. The term “metaproteomics” was first used in 2004 for “the large-scale characterization of the entire protein complement of environmental microbiota at a given point in time”, and since then, a large array of metaproteomics approaches have been developed. Our objective in this Pearl is to highlight what we feel are 5 essential elements to be considered for a metaproteomics research campaign and to introduce nonexpert readers to the topic without going into too much technical detail.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Use of Transition Modeling to Enable the Computation of Losses for Variable-Speed Power Turbine

To investigate the penalties associated with using a variable speed power turbine (VSPT) in a rotorcraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, various analysis tools are required. Such analysis tools must be able to model the flow accurately within the operating envelope of VSPT. For power turbines low Reynolds numbers and a wide range of the incidence angles, positive and negative, due to the variation in the shaft speed at relatively fixed corrected flows, characterize this envelope. The flow in the turbine passage is expected to be transitional and separated at high incidence. The turbulence model of Walters and Leylek was implemented in the NASA Glenn-HT code to enable a more accurate analysis of such flows. Two-dimensional heat transfer predictions of flat plate flow and two-dimensional and three-dimensional heat transfer predictions on a turbine blade were performed and reported herein. Heat transfer computations were performed because it is a good marker for transition. The final goal is to be able to compute the aerodynamic losses. Armed with the new transition model, total pressure losses for three-dimensional flow of an Energy Efficient Engine (E3) tip section cascade for a range of incidence angles were computed in anticipation of the experimental data. The results obtained form a loss bucket for the chosen blade.

Ameri, Ali A.↗

JGI-Trichoderma v1.0

There is a series of Python and bash scripts to parse genomics datasets used to evaluate the coevolution of gene families and the feature importance of gene families using an SVM classifier. - Cover analysis: takes a list of single-copy genes in a set of genomes, aligns and builds the gene trees to determine if two gene families have a signature of covariation with one another. It parses the files to run phykit cover script described here: https://jlsteenwyk.com/PhyKIT/usage/index.html - SVM-classifier: This Python script is an SVM-based genomic classifier designed for biological data analysis. It combines machine learning with feature selection to identify important genomic markers and classify biological samples. Core Functionality: The script uses Support Vector Machines from scikit-learn to classify genomic data, incorporating SelectKBest for automated feature selection and leave-one-out cross-validation for performance assessment. It operates in multiple modes: feature ranking, optimal combination discovery, and sample prediction. Primary Applications: Genomic sample classification and biomarker discovery Feature importance analysis in high-dimensional biological datasets Prediction of sample categories based on genomic profiles Research applications requiring robust classification of biological data Key Advantages: High-dimensional handling: SVMs excel with genomic data's typical high feature-to-sample ratios Integrated feature selection: Reduces noise and computational overhead while identifying key markers Probability estimation: Provides confidence scores essential for biological interpretation Validation robustness: Leave-one-out cross-validation ensures reliable performance metrics Operational flexibility: Multiple analysis modes support different research phases from exploration to prediction

Stecca Steindorff, Andrei [Lawrence Berkeley Natio↗

Stratigraphic Change from Ca-Sulfate to Mg-Sulfate in the Sedimentary Bedrock of Gale Crater, Mars: Recent Results from Curiosity’s APXS

Curiosity’s APXS instrument has been quantifying sulfates over >30 km of traverse in Gale crater. The rover recently arrived at sedimentary strata where orbital data predicted hydrated Mg-sulfates that may record a change to a drier paleoenvironment. The sequence of strata is in the Marker Band Valley (MBV), the ~10-m-thick, metal-rich Marker Band (MB), and strata above the MB. Here, we report recent sulfate observations by the APXS and provide constraints on the occurrence of Mg-sulfate and the implications for paleoenvironment interpretations. In sedimentary strata below the MBV, Mg-sulfate enrichment (~5-10 wt%) is generally limited to larger diagenetic nodules (~1-3 cm). Ca is positively correlated with S at proportions consistent with Ca-sulfate addition to the bedrock matrix. S variation is thus controlled primarily by Ca-sulfate, which increases ~30% in transitional units below the MBV. The MBV contains the first evidence of Mg-sulfate enrichment in the bedrock matrix, confirmed by the detection of crystalline Mg-sulfate by CheMin. The MBV bedrock has the same overall bulk composition as the underlying Mt. Sharp gp. strata, but with an additional ~5-15 wt% Mg-sulfate. The MB has contrasting sulfate content: (1) targets with very high concentrations of MnO (1.5 wt%), FeO (47 wt%), and Zn (2.2 wt%) are depleted in S and (2) targets with lower metal content have evidence of Mg-sulfate addition. Strata above the MB have a bulk composition that is distinct from other rocks in Gale. For example, the bedrock has molar Fe/Mn (50-60) and Cr/Ti (0.4-0.7) similar to basaltic soil, but ~3X higher Zn and high Ge (50 ppm). Median SO3 above the MB (15 wt%) is higher than the MBV (14 wt%) as well as strata below the MBV (~8 wt%). S does not correlate with Ca or Mg above the MBV. MgO (~9 wt%) is higher than below the MBV (~5 wt%) and the SO3/MgO (1.7) is in the same range as the Mg-sulfate-bearing MBV, suggesting Mg-sulfate enrichment. APXS data indicate that the MBV and above the MB preserve a relatively sharp vertical transition (~5-10 m) from Ca-sulfate to Mg-sulfate in the rock matrix. The sharp contacts with the sulfate-depleted MB and the notable change in bulk composition above the MB may indicate a complex depositional and/or diagenetic history under conditions where enrichments in the highly soluble Mg-sulfates were ultimately preserved.

Jeffrey Allan Berger↗

Proteogenomic insights suggest druggable pathways in endometrial carcinoma

We characterized a prospective endometrial carcinoma (EC) cohort containing 138 tumors and 20 enriched normal tissues using 10 different omics platforms. Targeted quantitation of two peptides can predict antigen processing and presentation machinery activity, and may inform patient selection for immunotherapy. Association analysis between MYC activity and metformin treatment in both patients and cell lines suggests a potential role for metformin treatment in non-diabetic patients with elevated MYC activity. PIK3R1 in-frame indels are associated with elevated AKT phosphorylation and increased sensitivity to AKT inhibitors. CTNNB1 hotspot mutations are concentrated near phosphorylation sites mediating pS45-induced degradation of β-catenin, which may render Wnt-FZD antagonists ineffective. Deep learning accurately predicts EC subtypes and mutations from histopathology images, which may be useful for rapid diagnosis. Overall, this study identified molecular and imaging markers that can be further investigated to guide patient stratification for more precise treatment of EC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

MicroFisher: Fungal taxonomic classification for metatranscriptomic and metagenomic data using multiple short hypervariable markers

AbstractProfiling the taxonomic and functional composition of microbes using metagenomic (MG) and metatranscriptomic (MT) sequencing is advancing our understanding of microbial functions. However, the sensitivity and accuracy of microbial classification using genome– or core protein-based approaches, especially the classification of eukaryotic organisms, is limited by the availability of genomes and the resolution of sequence databases. To address this, we propose the MicroFisher, a novel approach that applies multiple hypervariable marker genes to profile fungal communities from MGs and MTs. This approach utilizes the hypervariable regions of ITS and large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes for fungal identification with high sensitivity and resolution. Simultaneously, we propose a computational pipeline (MicroFisher) to optimize and integrate the results from classifications using multiple hypervariable markers. To test the performance of our method, we applied MicroFisher to the synthetic community profiling and found high performance in fungal prediction and abundance estimation. In addition, we also used MGs from forest soil and MTs of root eukaryotic microbes to test our method and the results showed that MicroFisher provided more accurate profiling of environmental microbiomes compared to other classification tools. Overall, MicroFisher serves as a novel pipeline for classification of fungal communities from MGs and MTs.

Wang, Haihua↗

Can a shock-induced phonon up-pumping model relate to impact sensitivity of molecular crystals, polymorphs and cocrystals?

Impact sensitivity engineering of high-energy molecular crystals requires accurate predictive models. For this purpose, the promising multi-phonon based approach is selected, assessing a bit more its strengths and weaknesses. Presently used with high-quality phonon calculations of 22 molecular crystals, using a physics-based criterion to determine the phonon bath extent, the resulting intrinsic shock sensitivity index (SSI) is compared to the most common marker of impact sensitivity, h 50 , as determined from drop-weight impact tests. Selecting a data subset from experiments performed under very similar conditions (2.5 kg hammer with grit and 30–40 mg samples), the model can predict h 50 values for mono-molecular crystals with very good accuracy, including the ability to discriminate the polymorphs of HMX and CL20. This very good agreement validates an initial indirect up-pumping mechanism occurring under these conditions, where the doorway modes also interact with the phonon bath. However, the phonon bath criterion for mono-molecular crystals does not transfer well to cocrystals. Owing to the vibrational coupling of the co-molecules, it seems a broader phonon bath should be considered. Additionally recalling experimental uncertainty and various experimental factors affecting h 50 values for a given compounds, we recommend that the density of the sample, granularity and morphology be systematically considered and reported along with measurements, which will in turn allow for more systematic data and predictive capabilities for sensitivity models.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Physiological Observations and Omics to Develop Personalized Sensormotor Adaptability Countermeasures Using Bed Rest and Space Flight Data

Astronauts experience sensorimotor disturbances during the initial exposure to microgravity and during the re-adapation phase following a return to an earth-gravitational environment. These alterations may disrupt the ability to perform mission critical functional tasks requiring ambulation, manual control and gaze stability. Interestingly, astronauts who return from space flight show substantial differences in their abilities to readapt to a gravitational environment. The ability to predict the manner and degree to which individual astronauts would be affected would improve the effectiveness of countermeasure training programs designed to enhance sensorimotor adaptability. For such an approach to succeed, we must develop predictive measures of sensorimotor adaptability that will allow us to foresee, before actual space flight, which crewmembers are likely to experience the greatest challenges to their adaptive capacities. The goals of this project are to identify and characterize this set of predictive measures that include: 1) behavioral tests to assess sensory bias and adaptability quantified using both strategic and plastic-adaptive responses; 2) imaging to determine individual brain morphological and functional features using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging, resting state functional connectivity MRI, and sensorimotor adaptation task-related functional brain activation; 3) genotype markers for genetic polymorphisms in Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase, Dopamine Receptor D2, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and genetic polymorphism of alpha2-adrenergic receptor that play a role in the neural pathways underlying sensorimotor adaptation. We anticipate these predictive measures will be significantly correlated with individual differences in sensorimotor adaptability after long-duration space flight and an analog bed rest environment. We will be conducting a retrospective study leveraging data already collected from relevant ongoing/completed bed rest and space flight studies. These data will be combined with predictor metrics that will be collected prospectively - behavioral, brain imaging and genomic measures; from these returning subjects to build models for predicting post-mission (bed rest - non-astronauts or space flight - astronauts) adaptive capability as manifested in their outcome measures. Comparisons of model performance will allow us to better design and implement sensorimotor adaptability training countermeasures that are customized for each crewmember's sensory biases, adaptive capacity, brain structure and functional capacities, and genetic predispositions against decrements in post-mission adaptive capability. This ability will allow more efficient use of crew time during training and will optimize training prescriptions for astronauts to ensure expected outcomes.

Mulavara, A. P.↗

Prognostic importance of the preoperative New‐Naples prognostic score for patients with gastric cancer

Abstract Background The wide applicability of the Naples prognostic score (NPS) is still worthy of further study in gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to construct a New‐NPS based on the differences in immunity and nutrition in patients with upper and lower gastrointestinal tumors to help obtain an individualized prediction of prognosis. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent radical gastrectomy from April 2014 to September 2016. The cutoff values of the preoperative neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR), serum albumin (Alb), and total cholesterol (TC) were calculated by ROC curve analysis. ROC and t‐ROC were used to evaluate the accuracy of the prognostic markers. The Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test were used to analyze the overall survival probability. Univariate and multivariate analyses based on Cox risk regression were used to show the independent predictors. The nomogram was made by R studio. The predictive accuracy of nomogram was assessed using a calibration plot, concordance index (C‐index), and decision curve. Results A total of 737 patients were included in training cohort, 411 patients were included in validation cohort. ROC showed that the New‐NPS was more suitable for predicting the prognosis of GC patients. NPS = 2 indicated a poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that CEA ( P = 0.026), Borrmann type ( P = 0.001), pTNM ( P < 0.001), New‐NPS ( P < 0.001), and nerve infiltration ( P = 0.035) were independent risk factors for prognosis. Conclusion The New‐NPS based on the cutoff values of NLR, LMR, Alb, and TC is not only suitable for predicting prognosis but can also be combined with clinicopathological characteristics to construct a nomogram model for GC patients.

Wang, Hao↗

Contributions of Satellite Observations to Understanding Climate Change

One of the challenges facing atmospheric scientists is to interpret trends in multi-decadal data records. Although data records from satellite instruments are not as long as some ground-based records, global coverage and resolved vertical profiles provide unique information for identifying signatures of climate change. For example, the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite provided profiles of O3, H2O, HC1, HF, CH4 from October 1991 until November 2005. There are also multi-annual ground based measurements of the column HCl. Middle latitude ground-based measurements show a seasonal cycle, and the HALOE profiles show that this is driven by the seasonal change in the composition and mass of the region between the tropopause and 380K surface (the lowermost stratosphere). Understanding the processes that produce the seasonal cycle makes it possible to interpret a future change in the seasonal cycle as a marker of a change in the stratospheric residual circulation. Satellite observations have also provided key information for improving the physical basis of models used to predict future composition and climate circulation. An example is the "tape recorder" signature in tropical stratospheric water vapor, i.e., the slow ascent of high and low water vapor anomalies roughly corresponding to the tropopause temperature at the time air entered the stratosphere. This signature has become a key diagnostic of performance for climate models.

Douglass, Anne R.↗

Behavioral, Brain Imaging and Genomic Measures to Predict Functional Outcomes Post - Bed Rest and Spaceflight

Astronauts experience sensorimotor disturbances during their initial exposure to microgravity and during the re-adaptation phase following a return to an Earth-gravitational environment. These alterations may disrupt crewmembers' ability to perform mission critical functional tasks requiring ambulation, manual control and gaze stability. Interestingly, astronauts who return from spaceflight show substantial differences in their abilities to readapt to a gravitational environment. The ability to predict the manner and degree to which individual astronauts would be affected would improve the effectiveness of countermeasure training programs designed to enhance sensorimotor adaptability. For such an approach to succeed, we must develop predictive measures of sensorimotor adaptability that will allow us to foresee, before actual spaceflight, which crewmembers are likely to experience the greatest challenges to their adaptive capacities. The goals of this project are to identify and characterize this set of predictive measures. Our approach includes: 1) behavioral tests to assess sensory bias and adaptability quantified using both strategic and plastic-adaptive responses; 2) imaging to determine individual brain morphological and functional features, using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging, resting state functional connectivity MRI, and sensorimotor adaptation task-related functional brain activation; and 3) assessment of genotypic markers of genetic polymorphisms in the catechol-O-methyl transferase, dopamine receptor D2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes and genetic polymorphisms of alpha2-adrenergic receptors that play a role in the neural pathways underlying sensorimotor adaptation. We anticipate that these predictive measures will be significantly correlated with individual differences in sensorimotor adaptability after long-duration spaceflight and exposure to an analog bed rest environment. We will be conducting a retrospective study, leveraging data already collected from relevant ongoing or completed bed rest and spaceflight studies. These data will be combined with predictor metrics that will be collected prospectively (as described for behavioral, brain imaging and genomic measures) from these returning subjects to build models for predicting post-mission (bed rest - non-astronauts or space flight - astronauts) adaptive capability as manifested in their outcome measures. To date we have completed a study on 15 normal subjects with all of the above measures. In this presentation we will discuss the optimized set of tests for predictive metrics to be used for evaluating post mission adaptive capability as manifested in their outcome measures. Comparisons of model performance will allow us to better design and implement sensorimotor adaptability training countermeasures against decrements in post-mission adaptive capability that are customized for each crewmember's sensory biases, adaptive capacity, brain structure and functional capacities, and genetic predispositions. The ability to customize adaptability training will allow more efficient use of crew time during training and will optimize training prescriptions for astronauts to ensure expected outcomes.

Mulavara, A. P.↗

Steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) lineages and sexes show variable patterns of association of adult migration timing and age‐at‐maturity traits with two genomic regions

Abstract As life history diversity plays a critical role in supporting the resilience of exploited populations, understanding the genetic basis of those life history variations is important for conservation management. However, effective application requires a robust understanding of the strength and universality of genetic associations. Here, we examine genetic variation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genomic regions previously associated with migration phenology and age‐at‐maturity in steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) from the Columbia River. We found chromosome 28 markers (GREB1L, ROCK1 genes) explained significant variance in migration timing in both coastal and inland steelhead. However, strength of association was much greater in coastal than inland steelhead ( R 2 0.51 vs. 0.08), suggesting that genomic background and challenging inland migration pathways may act to moderate effects of this region. Further, we found that chromosome 25 candidate markers (SIX6 gene) were significantly associated with age and size at first return migration for inland steelhead, and this pattern was mediated by sex in a predictable pattern (males R 2 = 0.139–0.170; females R 2 = 0.096–0.111). While this encourages using these candidate regions in predicting life history characteristics, we suggest that stock‐specific associations and haplotype frequencies will be useful in guiding implementation of genetic assays to inform management.

Willis, Stuart C.↗

Prediction of Cognitive States During Flight Simulation Using Multimodal Psychophysiological Sensing

The Commercial Aviation Safety Team found the majority of recent international commercial aviation accidents attributable to loss of control inflight involved flight crew loss of airplane state awareness (ASA), and distraction was involved in all of them. Research on attention-related human performance limiting states (AHPLS) such as channelized attention, diverted attention, startle/surprise, and confirmation bias, has been recommended in a Safety Enhancement (SE) entitled "Training for Attention Management." To accomplish the detection of such cognitive and psychophysiological states, a broad suite of sensors was implemented to simultaneously measure their physiological markers during a high fidelity flight simulation human subject study. Twenty-four pilot participants were asked to wear the sensors while they performed benchmark tasks and motion-based flight scenarios designed to induce AHPLS. Pattern classification was employed to predict the occurrence of AHPLS during flight simulation also designed to induce those states. Classifier training data were collected during performance of the benchmark tasks. Multimodal classification was performed, using pre-processed electroencephalography, galvanic skin response, electrocardiogram, and respiration signals as input features. A combination of one, some or all modalities were used. Extreme gradient boosting, random forest and two support vector machine classifiers were implemented. The best accuracy for each modality-classifier combination is reported. Results using a select set of features and using the full set of available features are presented. Further, results are presented for training one classifier with the combined features and for training multiple classifiers with features from each modality separately. Using the select set of features and combined training, multistate prediction accuracy averaged 0.64 +/- 0.14 across thirteen participants and was significantly higher than that for the separate training case. These results support the goal of demonstrating simultaneous real-time classification of multiple states using multiple sensing modalities in high fidelity flight simulators. This detection is intended to support and inform training methods under development to mitigate the loss of ASA and thus reduce accidents and incidents.

Harrivel, Angela R.↗

RolyPoly (rp) v0.1.0

The Rolypoly pipeline is designed to process raw RNA-seq data and identify potential RNA viral sequences. It is split into several self contained steps: 1. input data filtering and QC, 2. Genome assembly and refinement, 3. Assembly filtering, 4. Mapping to known RNA viral genomes, 5. Searching for RNA viral marker genes. 6. Genome functional and structural annotation. 6. Report preparation and potential downstream analysis The last module, may include taxonomic assignment, host range estimation, and phenotypic prediction. There are many similar software, but they focus on human related viruses, and lack the downstream applications or differ in their sensitivity. The initial user base are non-computational microbial ecologists who wish to better understand the potential RNA viruses in their own generated samples.

Neri, Uri↗

UCB-GLOBES: An open-access mass spectral database of identified and unidentified atmospheric organic compounds

Chemical characterization of atmospheric organic aerosols using gas chromatography with 70 eV electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS) has been used for decades in advancing molecular marker detection and identification, though primarily through suspect screening and/or targeted analyses. To advance non-targeted analyses of environmental samples, we have catalogued approximately 27 000 mass spectra (MS) of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of semi-volatile organic aerosol (OA) analytes in the open-access University of California Berkeley Goldstein Library of Organic Biogenic Environmental Spectra (UCB-GLOBES). Analytes were observed in ambient samples from the U.S. and the Central Amazon and/or laboratory simulations of secondary OA (SOA) formation. These samples are representative of OA under urban and biomass burning influences as well as SOA derived from biogenic precursors (e.g., isoprene, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes) and biomass burning intermediates. MS are documented in UCB-GLOBES without regard to known chemical identity, annotated with extensive metadata such as sample source/experimental conditions, any structural information gained from MS analyses, and predicted chemical properties such as average carbon oxidation state and carbon number. UCB-GLOBES MS are compatible for importing into the NIST MS Search program, and we have also provided a Jupyter Notebook for MS visualization and comparisons. We demonstrate the utility of UCB-GLOBES through MS reanalyses of prior analytes observed in ambient data, finding a 20 % reduction in the number of analytes assigned to OA source categories reliant solely on time series correlation and an overall 11 % increase in new MS-based OA source categorization for the Southeast U.S. For 1513 analytes observed previously in the Central Amazon, we found 375 MS matches using UCB-GLOBES vs. 136 MS matches during prior analyses, representing a 14 % gain in newly confirmed or newly categorized OA species. While OA from laboratory oxidation experiments in UCB-GLOBES are highly diverse chemically, on average only 29 % of UCB-GLOBES MS have a mass spectral match to another MS entry in UCB-GLOBES and/or in databases of known compounds (i.e. NIST MS Database, Adams Essential Oil, MANE Flavor and Fragrance Company). This indicates that roughly 70 % of UCB-GLOBES MS are unique thus far, not observed more than once among the laboratory oxidation samples and ambient data in UCB-GLOBES MS. Further, only 18 % can be positively identified using these databases or known authentic standards. This points to a large gap between these laboratory simulations and ambient OA. Overall, the UCB-GLOBES database can be utilized for improving confidence in OA source categorization and/or identification, novel chemical marker discovery, tracking chemical diversity, de novo structure and properties prediction, and improving MS search and matching algorithms. This can ultimately inform future research priorities for the chemical characterization of atmospheric organic samples.

Mass spectrometry↗

Electrical Endurance to Extrinsic Aging of Polyphenylsulfone-Boron Nitride Composite Insulation for Aeronautical Power Systems

Various insulating materials which can be potentially used in energy application, especially in electrified transportation, are investigated in this paper. They are based on Polyphenylsulfone matrix filled by macro and nano hexagonal Boron-nitride particles. Our study focuses on electrical properties, particularly endurance to partial discharges. Upon developing an original testing procedure and adequate partial discharge inception modeling, it is shown that that the h-BN micron and nano fillers can significantly improve the dielectric strength and resistance of PPSU to extrinsic aging, even in comparison with the insulating material typically used for electrified transportation, i.e., corona resistant polyimide. Also, a new diagnostic marker, extracted from partial discharge monitoring and analytics obtained by an innovative software, i.e., the likelihood surface discharge identification, seems to be very promising for dynamic residual life prediction for an insulation system subjected to surface discharges.

Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU)↗

Apomixis in Farmers’ Fields: Overview, Case Studies from Forage Grasses and Considerations for Future Apomictic Crops

Apomixis occurs naturally in several commercially important species from diverse plant families. While in some of these species apomixis is yet to be exploited in breeding schemes aimed at fixing heterosis, genetic progress and cultivar development, in other species apomixis has been integrated at different stages of breeding. Some of the most relevant examples come from the subfamily Panicoideae, the second largest subfamily of the Poaceae, and are the main focus of this review. The subfamily encompasses many tropical and sub-tropical grasses and grains of worldwide economic importance. Apomictic tropical forages are prime examples of how apomixis can be used and exploited in the development of marketable cultivars, which are essential to the meat and milk production industries globally. The main commercial forages used as grass pastures covering millions of hectares in tropical and sub-tropical regions are polyploids exhibiting gametophytic apomixis that belong to the genus Urochloa spp. (brachiariagrasses) and to the species Megathyrsus maximus (guineagrass). Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Paspalum spp. are other important apomictic forages bred and used in these regions. Breeding involves large germplasm collections from the centers of origin of the species, and for most of them, sexually reproducing diploid plants have been found. Chromosomically duplicated plants that maintain sexual reproduction are used in crosses with apomictic genotypes for the development and selection of cultivars to be marketed or used as progenitors in subsequent breeding cycles. The peculiarities of each genus/species breeding programs, the cultivars obtained from these programs, and the impact of use of marker assisted selection in cultivar development are presented. In addition, the test or implementation of new technologies such as high throughput phenotyping, and the use of machine learning methods for trait prediction and genomic selection are positively impacting the selection and speed of development of new polyploid apomictic cultivars. Furthermore, genetic transformation techniques, including genome editing, provide an additional layer for design of tailor-made, customer-oriented cultivars.

Cenchrus↗

The Geothermal Artificial Intelligence for geothermal exploration

Exploration of geothermal resources involves analysis and management of a large number of uncertainties, which makes investment and operations decisions challenging. Remote Sensing (RS), Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have potential in managing the challenges of geothermal exploration. In this paper, we present a methodology that integrates RS, ML and AI to create an initial assessment of geothermal potential, by resorting to known indicators of geothermal areas namely mineral markers, surface temperature, faults and deformation. We demonstrated the implementation of the method in two sites (Brady and Desert Peak geothermal sites) that are close to each other but have different characteristics (Brady having clear surface manifestations and Desert Peak being a blind site). Here, we processed various satellite images and geospatial data for mineral markers, temperature, faults and deformation and then implemented ML methods to obtain pattern of surface manifestation of geothermal sites. We developed an AI that uses patterns from surface manifestations to predict geothermal potential of each pixel. We tested the Geothermal AI using independent data sets obtaining accuracy of 92-95%; also tested the Geothermal AI trained on one site by executing it for the other site to predict the geothermal / non-geothermal delineation, the Geothermal AI performed quite well in prediction with 72-76% accuracy.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗