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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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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Microbial biofilm formation and its consequences for the CELSS program

A major goal of the Controlled Ecology Life Support System (CELSS) program is to provide reliable and efficient life support systems for long-duration space flights. A principal focus of the program is on the growth of higher plants in growth chambers. These crops should be grown without the risk of damage from microbial contamination. While it is unlikely that plant pathogens will pose a risk, there are serious hazards associated with microorganisms carried in the nutrient delivery systems and in the atmosphere of the growth chamber. Our experience in surface microbiology showed that colonization of surfaces with microorganisms is extremely rapid even when the inoculum is small. After initial colonization extensive biofilms accumulate on moist surfaces. These microbial films metabolize actively and slough off continuously to the air and water. During plant growth in the CELSS program, microbial biofilms have the potential to foul sensors and to plug nutrient delivery systems. In addition both metabolic products of microbial growth and degradation products of materials being considered for use as nutrient reservoirs and for delivery are likely sources of chemicals known to adversly affect plant growth.

Mitchell, R.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Xylose metabolic engineering of Issatchenkia orientalis for 3-hydroxypropionic acid production from cellulosic hydrolysate without nutrient supplementation

Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass offers a promising alternative to petroleum-based chemical production. However, inefficient xylose utilization and toxic compounds in cellulosic hydrolysate limit microbial fermentation, as the hydrolysate contains substantial amounts of xylose in addition to glucose. To address these challenges, we engineered Issatchenkia orientalis to produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) directly from sorghum hydrolysate under low-pH conditions. A heterologous xylose utilization pathway consisting of XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3 from Scheffersomyces stipitis was introduced into an engineered 3-HP producing strain, enabling efficient conversion of xylose to 3-HP. The engineered strain produced 46.8 g/L 3-HP from sorghum hydrolysate without nutrient supplementation. To eliminate the lag phase under low-pH conditions, fermentation was conducted at pH 6.0 for the first three days, after which pH control was discontinued and in situ 3-HP accumulation buffered the culture. This partial pH control strategy increased 3-HP productivity by 55% from 0.20 to 0.31 g/L∙h, while maintaining low-pH conditions. Introducing an additional copy of XYL2 further increased 3-HP titer to 53.5 g/L and the yield by 33%, from 0.30 to 0.40 g/g sugars, with pH reaching 4.5 at the end of fermentation. This represents one of the highest reported 3-HP titers and yields from cellulosic hydrolysate without additional nutrient supplementation. This work demonstrates a nutrient-independent and low-pH bioprocess for upgrading lignocellulosic hydrolysate into 3-HP, highlighting the industrial potential of engineered xylose-utilizing I. orientalis for sustainable production of platform chemicals from renewable feedstocks.

3-Hydroxypropionic acid↗
NASA NTRS2019

VEG-04: the Effects of Light Quality on Mizuna Mustard Growth, Nutritional Composition, and Organoleptic Acceptability for a Space Diet

Space crop production will be important in future long duration exploration missions to supplement the packaged diet with fresh bioactive nutrients. Plant care and the addition of fresh veggies to the diet may also have a role in astronaut well-being. Pick-and-eat salad crops are the best candidates for this near-term supplementation since they require minimal processing or preparation to add to meals. While light quality can strongly influence plant responses on Earth, the impacts of light quality on plant growth and composition in spaceflight remain unclear. The VEG-04 experiment uses two Veggie plant growth chambers on the International Space Station to simultaneously test different red: blue light ratios on the growth of Mizuna mustard, a leafy green salad crop. In addition to plant health and yield, the composition of key nutrients is assessed. Astronauts conduct on-board organoleptic evaluation of the fresh produce. Microbial food safety of returned produce is examined, and a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan has been developed for this crop. VEG-04 consists of two experiments, one lasting 28 days with a single harvest, and the second lasting 56 days, with three cut-and-come-again harvests. These different scenarios provide an opportunity to test two production concepts, examine different fertilizers, monitor microbial changes over time for this crop, and assess potential impacts of interacting with plants on crew behavioral health and performance in spaceflight operations. In ground testing, plant growth was not significantly different across the different light treatments, however nutrient composition did differ significantly. Flight test results will be compared with ground data. This research was co-funded by NASA's Human Research Program and Space Biology in the ILSRA 2015 NRA call.

Massa, Gioia D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Continuous hydroponic wheat production using a recirculating system

Continuous crop production, where plants of various ages are growing simultaneously in a single recirculating nutrient solution, is a possible alternative to batch production in a Controlled Ecological Life Support System. A study was conducted at John F. Kennedy Space Center where 8 trays (0.24 sq m per tray) of Triticum aestivum L. Yecora Rojo were grown simultaneously in a growth chamber at 23 C, 65 percent relative humidity, 1000 ppm CO2, continuous light, with a continuous flow, thin film nutrient delivery system. The same modified Hoagland nutrient solution was recirculated through the plant trays from an 80 L reservoir throughout the study. It was maintained by periodic addition of water and nutrients based on chemical analyses of the solution. The study was conducted for 216 days, during which 24 trays of wheat were consecutively planted (one every 9 days), 16 of which were grown to maturity and harvested. The remaining 8 trays were harvested on day 216. Grain yields averaged 520 g m(exp -2), and had an average edible biomass of 32 percent. Consecutive yields were unaffected by nutrient solution age. It was concluded that continual wheat production will work in this system over an extended period of time. Certain micronutrient deficiencies and toxicities posed problems and must be addressed in future continuous production systems.

Mackowiak, C. L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Synergistic effects of climate warming and atmospheric nutrient deposition on the alpine lake ecosystem in the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau during the Anthropocene

Alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are highly sensitive to global change and have been recognized as the sentinel of climate warming. However, anthropogenic impacts in populated area are migrating to these remote areas via transporting particulate nutrients by atmospheric deposition. Whether warming and nutrient deposition would impose additive or synergistic effects on the lake ecosystem remains largely unknown. Here, we present multi-proxy (sediment pigment and geochemistry) records during the past two centuries at the Cuoqia Lake in the southeast Tibetan Plateau. We found that the lake exhibited rapid ecological changes since 1980 AD characterized by an increase in primary productivity due to algal proliferation, with more rapid growth of green algae and diatoms. These findings are in concert with many other lakes (e.g., Moon Lake and Shade Co) in the same area, suggesting a consistent pattern of ecosystem evolution at the region scale. Statistical analyses suggested that nutrient deposition and climate warming were strongly associated with the variations in primary productivity and algae composition, exerting both individual and interactive effects. In addition, scenario analyses with a well-established process-based ecosystem model further revealed that the two factors not only individually, but also synergistically promoted the algal proliferation and community succession. Such synergy is evident in that the effect of lake warming would be more pronounced under higher nutrient deposition scenario, which is potentially due to higher temperature-driven mineralization in warmer conditions, and higher efficiency of nutrient utilization under enhanced light availability attributing to declining ice thickness and duration in cold seasons. Overall, our study proposes the existence and quantifies the synergistic impacts of climate warming and anthropogenic activities in driving the ecological changes in remote alpine lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. The lake ecological consequences driven by individual factor would be worsen by such synergy, so that we cannot predict the lake ecosystem trajectory in the future based on each factor separately, and more efforts than previously expected would be needed for the lake restoration and management.

Zhang, Can↗
DOE OSTI2022

Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (Salix spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests

The commercial establishment of shrub willow (Salix spp.) biomass crops with three- or four-year harvest cycles raises concerns about nutrient removal (NR). In addition, leaf-on harvests outside of the typical harvesting window are becoming more prevalent with a changing climate, and require a better understanding of the potential impact of these changes on biomass production and NR. This study examined the time of harvest effects for six harvest dates on the nutrient and biomass removal of four shrub willow cultivars in central New York State. There were significant differences in biomass in the first-rotation harvest; yields ranged between 77 and 85 Mg ha−1 for the time of harvest treatments during the growing season, and between 93 and 104 Mg ha−1 after dormancy. Harvest timing had significant effects on N and K removal in the combined wood and foliar biomass. Willow harvested in October removed comparatively higher amounts of N (77.1 kg ha−1 year−1) and P (11.2 kg ha−1 year−1) than other harvests. Potassium removal was greater for plants harvested in June (51.2 kg ha−1 year−1) and August (52.5 kg ha−1 year−1). Harvest timing and cultivar interactions suggest that targeted cultivar selection and deployment could maintain yields and limit excess nutrient losses.

De Souza, Daniel P. (ORCID:0000000291166000)↗
NASA NTRS1979

Studies on the Mechanisms of Microbial Adaptation to the Physical Environment

The environmental factors which affect humans and other animals also influence the microorganisms which are such an important part of our ecology. Some of the microorganisms are very closely associated with animals, living in the digestive tract and synthesizing essential nutrients for the host. For these microbes, most external physical changes are of little consequence, because they are well shielded by the animals' homeostatic systems. The vast majority of microorganisms, however, live free in nature, especially in the soil and oceans. It has been estimated that the upper 15 cm of a fertile soil may contain over 4000 kg of bacteria and fungi per hectare. These organisms are responsible for degrading the complex molecules of plants and animals when they die, eventually producing simple organics, carbon dioxide, and inorganics, which are then used for the next cycle of plant growth. It is believed that over 90 % of the biologically produced carbon dioxide results from the metabolic activity of bacteria and fungi. In addition to recycling plant nutrients, soil bacteria also provide new nutrients through 'fixation' of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and nitrate, the forms which can be used by plants. Microorganisms so have an enormous capacity for detoxifying both natural and man-made poisons. All of these functions of microorganisms are essential to the operation of the material cycles on Earth. This is true of all locations on the planet, regardless of the climate or other environmental factors. In fact, one of the most impressive attributes of microorganisms is their ability to adapt to every stable environment on Earth. These include such extremes as polar regions, hot springs, water saturated with salt, mountain tops, ocean depths, acid and alkaline waters, deserts, intense radioactivity, soil and water contaminated with toxic chemicals or petroleum, and areas devoid of oxygen.

Heinrich, M. R.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Root responses to warming and hurricane disturbances in a wet tropical forest of Puerto Rico: R code and data

The purpose of this data was to generate a scientific article that describes the responses of tropical roots to a warming experiment and to the effect of two consecutive hurricanes in Puerto Rico (Yaffar et al. in review). This data is from 10 months of minirhizotron images taken every 2 weeks at the experimental warming Tropical Responses to Altered Climate Experiment (TRACE) plots in Puerto Rico before and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. This project has 3 warmed plots (plot 2,4,6) and 3 control plots (plot 1,3,5) with 2 minirhizotron tubes at each plot. As part of the data, there is also root data taken from cores and in-growth cores. Additionally, there is soil nutrient concentration data, soil microclimate, total leaf area, and canopy openness taken by Reed et al. 2020, and the TRACE census. Data files are in CSV format and the R code included in this package can be used with R 3.4.4 (R Core Team and contributors worldwide).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Improved Moisture Management Technology for Eco-N-Control Fertilizer

Three fertilizer technologies to manage nitrogen (N) release rates in soil dominate the market today: 1) bulk controlled-release technologies, which use the intrinsic solubility properties of a N-organic co-polymer to control N release; 2) barrier-based controlled-release technologies, which use porous polymer or sulfur coatings as a physical barrier to control N release from encapsulated N nutrients; and 3) slow-release technologies, which use enzyme inhibitors to chemically slow down the transformation of N nutrients into ammonia (NH 3 ) or to temporarily reduce populations of bacteria in the soil that are responsible for converting ammonium (NH 4 + ) to highly soluble nitrates. These technologies are expensive and provide only limited control of N-release rates. Also, from another environmental perspective, synthetic polymer coatings do not decompose easily and will accumulate over time with continuous application of fertilizer. For most of the past two decades we have been developing the Eco-N-Control solid-nitride fertilizer technology, a type of bulk controlled-release technology. With Eco-N-Control, solid-nitride compounds weather like a mineral, slowly releasing N at a rate determined by their composition. Testing by an industrial collaborator, however, showed that earlier versions of Eco-N-Control released at 25% of the desired rate when deployed in unsaturated soils. The overall goal of the current project, therefore, was to strengthen our IP position and the potential for licensing of Eco-N-Control solid-nitride fertilizer technology by developing new ways to manage the level of moisture in contact with the fertilizer when applied to soil thereby ensuring the desired N-release rate. We achieved this goal by developing a biodegradable polymer cross-linking approach that substantially improved performance of our patented solid-nitride fertilizer. We found that cross-linking an environmentally friendly and biodegradable polymer with a mixture of solid nitrides, other N-nutrient compounds and other additives offers several advantages: 1) mechanical robustness of fertilizer beads, 2) chemical stability during storage, 3) maintenance of sufficient water content in the vicinity of the nitride, and 4) control of N-release rates. We also updated our N-release testing protocol to more realistically simulate the conditions found in soil. Finally, we filed an invention disclosure record to protect these new aspects of Eco-N-Control technology, which offers a potential way to lower both agricultural and industrial pollution by providing an efficient N-delivery mechanism to plants.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1976

Viking labeled release biology experiment - Interim results

All results of the labeled-release life-detection experiment conducted on Mars prior to conjunction are summarized. Tests at both landing sites provide remarkably similar evolution of radioactive gas upon addition of a radioactive nutrient to the Mars sample. The 'active' agent in the sample is stable to 18 C, but is substantially inactivated by heat treatment for 3 hours at 50 C and completely inactivated at 160 C, as would be anticipated if the active response were caused by microorganisms. Results from test and heat-sterilized control samples are compared with those obtained from terrestrial soils and a lunar sample. Possible nonbiological explanations of the Mars data are reviewed. Although such explanations of the labeled-release data depend on UV irradiation, the labeled-release response does not appear to depend on recent direct UV activation of surface material. Available facts do not yet permit a conclusion regarding the existence of life on Mars.

Levin, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Remote Sensing of Mineral Aerosols and their Impact on Phytoplankton Productivity

The overall objective of this experiment was to test the iron hypothesis does the addition of iron to nutrient rich surface waters enhance productivity? Our specific objectives in this experiment included sampling and studying the marine aerosol size and type (which are related to chemical reactivity) during the PlumEx cruise to determine the importance of local (Galapagos Islands) versus long-range sources of atmospheric material. Detailed results of single particle analysis of our samples are being prepared for publication in two papers. We collect aerosol samples and they have been analyzed for trace metals and other elements. We are mapped aerosol distribution and the desert source areas around the Arabian Sea region. We did record a clear relationship between the aerosol radiance and synoptic weather patterns with distinct signals over the ocean northwest and southwest of Australia. While the interpretation was limited an aerosol climatology pattern was presented.

Tindale, Neil W.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Density and composition of microorganisms during long-term (418 day) growth of potato using biologically reclaimed nutrients from inedible plant biomass

A study evaluating alternative methods for long term operation of biomass production systems was recently completed at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The 418-day study evaluated repeated batch versus mixed-aged production of potato grown on either standard 1/2-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution or solutions including nutrients recycled from inedible plant material. The long term effects of closure and recycling on microbial dynamics were evaluated by monitoring the microbial communities associated with various habitats within the plant growth system (i.e., plant roots, nutrient solution, biofilms within the hydroponic systems, atmosphere, and atmospheric condensate). Plate count methods were used to enumerate and characterize microorganisms. Microscopic staining methods were used to estunate total cell densities. The primary finding was that the density and composition of microbial communities associated with controlled environmental plant growth systems are stable during long term operation. Continuous production resulted in slightly greater stability. Nutrient recycling, despite the addition of soluble organic material from the waste processing system, did not significantly increase microbial density in any of the habitats.

NASA Center KSC↗
NASA NTRS2017

Detection of Vegetation Trends in Highly Variable Environments After Grazing Exclusion in Mongolia

Aims: Environmental variability (e.g. in precipitation) has a large effect on vegetation dynamics, and this often makes it difficult to assess the recovery of vegetation after a disturbance. In this study, we assessed vegetation recovery trends in response to grazing exclusion while considering for the annual environmental variability. Location: Two regions with highly variable precipitation: a steppe near Mandalgobi, in Mongolia's Central Gobi province, and a desert steppe near Bulgan, in Mongolia's South Gobi province. Methods: Changes in vegetation were observed along grazing gradients at the above two sites, and vegetation thresholds were identified. We established reference plots in pre-threshold areas along the grazing gradients. We removed the impact of livestock grazing at various locations along the grazing gradients by establishing exclosures, and investigated vegetation from 2005 to 2013. We developed a smoothed hierarchical model within a Bayesian framework, and examined the effect of grazing exclusion on vegetation, focusing especially on the extent of grass cover recovery. In addition, we compared soil nutrient conditions in the reference plots and inside and outside each exclosure along the grazing gradients. Results: Temporal trends in the cover of perennial grass in each plot inside and outside of the exclosures largely coincided, irrespective of grazing intensity, and exclosure had no effect (Bulgan) or a negative effect (Mandalgobi) on vegetation recovery. Soil nutrient content was not significantly affected by exclosure at a given distance from the grazing source, but decreased significantly with decreasing grazing intensity. Thus, recovery of the land from a post-threshold state may not be apparent even after 9 yr of grazing exclusion in environments with highly variable precipitation. Conclusion: The effect of exclosure duration on perennial grass cover was limited, even after controlling for environmental variability. Once a vegetation threshold has been crossed, merely removing livestock from the landscape may not be sufficient for that area to recover.

Bayesian statistics;Drought;Environmental variabil↗
NASA NTRS2009

Assessment of Nutrient Stability in Space Foods

Maintaining an intact nutrient supply in the food system flown on spacecraft is a critical issue for mission success and crew health and safety. Early polar expeditions and exploration expeditions by sailing vessels have taught us that a deficiency, or excess, of even a single vitamin in the food supply can be catastrophic. Evidence from ground-based research indicates that some vitamins are destroyed and fatty acids are oxidized (and therefore rendered dangerous or useless) by different types of radiation and by conditions of long-term storage. We hypothesize that radiation and long-term storage in the space-flight environment will affect the stability of vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids in the space food system. The research objectives of our ongoing stability studies are to determine the stability of water- and fat-soluble vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids in the space food supply before and after space flight on the International Space Station (ISS). Foods were analyzed after 2 weeks (a flight control), 11, 19, and 28 months of flight. Along with the space-flown foods, ground-based controls matched for time, light, and temperature are analyzed. The flight studies complement planned ground-based studies of the effects of radiation on vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids. Flight studies are needed because a model based on ground-based data cannot predict all of the effects of the space-flight environment. Flight studies provide a more accurate test system to determine the effects on these nutrients of the temperature, and radiation conditions in the space-flight environment. Ground studies are required to evaluate longer missions and higher radiation levels expected outside low-Earth orbit. In addition to providing information about nutrient stability in space, the results of these studies will help NASA determine if a need exists to develop special packaging that can ensure stability of foods and nutrients in space, or if further studies of nutrient metabolism or nutrient requirements are needed.

Zwart, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Through form to function: root hair development and nutrient uptake

Root hairs project from the surface of the root to aid nutrient and water uptake and to anchor the plant in the soil. Their formation involves the precise control of cell fate and localized cell growth. We are now beginning to unravel the complexities of the molecular interactions that underlie this developmental regulation. In addition, after years of speculation, nutrient transport by root hairs has been demonstrated clearly at the physiological and molecular level, with evidence for root hairs being intense sites of H(+)-ATPase activity and involved in the uptake of Ca(2+), K(+), NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), Mn(2+), Zn(2+), Cl(-) and H(2)PO(4)(-).

Review, Tutorial↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Plasma Processing of Water and Inedible Biomass Ash Leaching

Researchers at Kennedy Space Center have developed a technology that generates plasma activated water in pH ranges that allow for the addition of nitrates and other nutrients to the water while maintaining a healthy pH for plants. A plasma torch is used to treat inedible biomass, generating ash containing nutrients useful for plant growth. The same plasma torch is also used to treat water, which results in the formation of nitric acid that lowers the pH of the water. Adding the plasma generated ash to the plasma treated water can balance the pH of the water to make it suitable for plant growth while simultaneously adding nutrients recycled from the inedible biomass to further enhance plant development. Plasma treatment of water to high and low pH extremes can also be used for sanitation purposes, causing pH shock to undesired organisms. The uniqueness of this process is the adjustability of the pH with one system. The same plasma system can be used to treat both the water and the biomass. Additionally, the technology can be used as an on-demand, point-of-use method for producing nitric acid.

Space Crop Production↗
DOE OSTI2026

Coarse-grained resource allocation modeling for decoding and rewiring microbial metabolism

Microbial metabolism is a complex, emergent system driven by the coordinated interplay of intricate and dynamic molecular processes. To elucidate cellular behavior and enable biotechnological applications, quantitative models that address the inherent complexity of metabolism have been developed from a resource allocation perspective. Here, we synthesize recent advances in coarse-grained resource allocation frameworks and their applications in understanding microbial physiology and guiding gene circuit design. Here, these frameworks reveal global regulatory constraints and predict cellular adaptation to nutrient and environmental changes. In addition, they enable the quantification of metabolic costs, the dissection of circuit–host interactions, and the development of strategies for burden mitigation. Collectively, these modeling frameworks provide a powerful platform for uncovering quantitative principles of microbial growth and engineering robust synthetic biological systems.

coarse-grained modeling↗
DOE OSTI2022

Removal of primary nutrient degrading members severely reduces growth of soil microbial communities even when additional degraders are present

Understanding how microorganisms within a soil community interact to support collective respiration and growth remains challenging. Here we used a model substrate, chitin, and a Model Soil Consortium, MSC-2, to investigate how individual members of a microbial community contribute to decomposition and community growth. While MSC-2 can grow using chitin as the sole carbon source, we do not yet know how the growth kinetics or final biomass yields of MSC-2 vary when certain chitin degraders, or other important members, are absent. To characterize specific roles within this representative community, we carried out experiments leaving out members of MSC-2 and measuring biomass yields and CO2 production. We chose two members to iteratively leave out (referred to by genus name): Streptomyces, as it is predicted via gene expression analysis to be a major chitin degrader in the community, and Rhodococcus as it is predicted via species co-abundance analysis to interact with several other members. Our results showed that when MSC-2 lacked Streptomyces, growth and respiration of the community was severely reduced. Removal of either Streptomyces or Rhodococcus led to major changes in abundance for several other species, pointing to a comprehensive shifting of the microbial community when important members are removed as well as alterations in the metabolic profile, especially when Streptomyces was removed. These results show that when keystone, chitin degrading members are removed, other members, even those with the potential to degrade chitin, do not fill the same metabolic niche to promote community growth. In addition, highly connected members may be removed with similar or even increased levels of growth and respiration. Our findings are critical to a better understanding of soil microbiology, specifically in how communities maintain activity when biotic or abiotic factors lead to changes in biodiversity in soil systems.

McClure, Ryan S↗