Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) Mission: Enabling Time-Resolved Cloud and Precipitation Observations from 6U-Class Satellite Constellations

The Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) mission is to demonstrate the capability of 6U-Class satellite constellations to perform repeat-pass radiometry to measure clouds and precipitation with high temporal resolution on a global basis. The TEMPEST mission concept is to improve understanding of clouds and precipitation by providing critical information on their time evolution in different climatic regimes. Measuring at five frequencies from 89 to 182 GHz, TEMPEST-D millimeter-wave radiometers are capable of penetrating into the cloud to observe changes as precipitation begins or ice accumulates inside the storm. The TEMPEST-D flight model radiometer instrument has been completed, passed functional testing, vibration testing and self-compatibility testing with the XB1 spacecraft bus. The next steps for the TEMPEST-D millimeter-wave radiometer are thermal vacuum testing and antenna pattern measurements. The complete TEMPEST-D flight system will be delivered to NanoRacks for launch integration in the autumn of 2017, in preparation for launch to the ISS in the second quarter of 2018, with deployment shortly thereafter into a nominal orbit at 400-km altitude and 51.6° inclination

The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres.

Centromeres attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules during cell division and, despite this conserved role, show paradoxically rapid evolution and are typified by complex repeats. We used longread sequencing to generate the Col-CEN Arabidopsis thaliana genome assembly that resolves all five centromeres. The centromeres consist of megabase-scale tandemly repeated satellite arrays, which support CENH3 occupancy and are densely DNA methylated, with satellite variants private to each chromosome. CENH3 preferentially occupies satellites that show least divergence and occur in higherorder repeats. The centromeres are invaded by ATHILA retrotransposons, which disrupt genetic and epigenetic organization. Centromeric crossover recombination is suppressed, yet low levels of meiotic DSBs occur that are regulated by DNA methylation. We propose that Arabidopsis centromeres are evolving via cycles of satellite homogenization and retrotransposon-driven diversification.BBSRC grants BB/S006842/1, BB/S020012/1 and BB/V003984/1

2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.

In March 2020, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. At the genus rank, 20 new genera were added, two were deleted, one was moved, and three were renamed. At the species rank, 160 species were added, four were deleted, ten were moved and renamed, and 30 species were renamed. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV

Commoditization Advances in Small Spacecraft GN&C

BCT is a leader in developing and commoditizing state-of-the-art GN&C systems that push small satellite capabilities and performance. Current developments continue to expand and improve BCT\u27s industry leading commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products. BCT COTS GNC components are leveraged in Microsat and Cubesat constellations

Rapid age assessment of glacial landforms in the Pyrenees using Schmidt Hammer exposure dating (SHED)

International audienceSchmidt hammer (SH) sampling of 54 10 Be-dated granite surfaces from the Pyrenees reveals a clear relationship betweenexposure and weathering through time (n=52, R 2 =0.96, P<0.01) and permits the use of the SH as a numerical datingtool. To test this10 Be-SH calibration curve, 100 surfaces were sampled from five ice-front positions in the Têt catchment,eastern Pyrenees, with results verified against independent 10 Be and 14 C ages. Gaussian modelling differentiates Holocene(9.4±0.6ka), Younger Dryas (12.6±0.9ka), Oldest Dryas (16.1±0.5ka), last glacial maximum (LGM; 24.8±0.9ka)and Würmian maximum ice extent stages (MIE; 40.9±1.1ka). These data confirm comparable glacier lengths during theLGM and MIE (~300m difference), in contrast to evidence from the western Pyrenees (≥15km), reflecting the relativeinfluence of Atlantic and Mediterranean climates. Moreover, Pyrenean glaciers advanced significantly during the LGM,with a local maximum at ~25ka, driven by growth of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, southward advection of the polar front,and a solar radiation minimum in the Northern Hemisphere. This calibration curve is available online (http://shed.earth) toenable wider application of this method throughout the Pyrenees

FOREVER Future Operational Impacts of Electric Vehicles on European Roads Final technical summary report

The FOREVER (Future OpeRational impacts of Electric Vehicles on national European Roads) project was commissioned, as part of the CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme Call 2012 on Noise, to provide information to NRAs with respect to this issue. The project was developed with three key objectives: - To identify the noise emission levels from electric and hybrid vehicles. This has been achieved through practical measurements of noise from electric and hybrid cars, vans and trucks. The information has been used to develop correction factors to allow such vehicles to be included within state-of-the-art noise prediction models and to investigate subjective responses to these vehicles when part of traffic on NRA roads. - To identify the noise emission of tyres used on electric and hybrid vehicles. This has been achieved through practical measurements of noise for different types of tyres, with the aim of identifying whether specific tyres are/can be used for electric vehicles. - To assess the potential future noise impacts of electric and hybrid vehicles. A state-of-the-art noise prediction model has been used, with data from the practical trials, to assess the noise impacts close to the road for a range of different road type/traffic speed/traffic composition scenarios

A Novel Assay for Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) Complexes In Vivo Reveals Differential Effects of Covalent Modifications on Different Saccharomyces cerevisiae PP2A Heterotrimers

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunit can be covalently modified at its carboxy terminus by phosphorylation or carboxymethylation. Determining the effects of these covalent modifications on the relative amounts and functions of different PP2A heterotrimers is essential to understanding how these modifications regulate PP2A-controlled cellular processes. In this study we have validated and used a novel in vivo assay for assessing PP2A heterotrimer formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the measurement of heterotrimer-dependent localization of green fluorescent protein-PP2A subunits. This assay relies on the fact that the correct cellular localization of PP2A requires that it be fully assembled. Thus, reduced localization would occur as the result of the inability to assemble a stable heterotrimer. Using this assay, we determined the effects of PP2A C-subunit phosphorylation mimic mutations and reduction or loss of PP2A methylation on the formation and localization of PP2A(B/Cdc55p) and PP2A(B)(′)(/Rts1p) heterotrimers. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that phosphorylation and methylation of the PP2A catalytic subunit can influence its function both by regulating the total amount of specific PP2A heterotrimers within a cell and by altering the relative proportions of PP2A(B/Cdc55p) and PP2A(B)(′)(/Rts1p) heterotrimers up to 10-fold. Thus, these posttranslational modifications allow flexible, yet highly coordinated, regulation of PP2A-dependent signaling pathways that in turn modulate cell growth and function

Global observations from a well-calibrated passive microwave atmospheric sounder on a CubeSat: Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) Mission (Conference Presentation)

To improve understanding of rapid, dynamic evolution of convective cloud and precipitation processes as well as the surrounding water vapor environment, we require fine time-resolution multi-frequency microwave sounding observations capable of penetrating inside the storm where the microphysical processes leading to precipitation occur. To address this critical observational need, the Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems (TEMPEST) mission deploys a train of 6U CubeSats carrying identical low-mass, low-power millimeter-wave radiometers to sample rapid changes in convection and water vapor every 3-4 minutes for up to 30 minutes. These millimeter-wave radiometers observe at five frequencies from 87 to 181 GHz. By rapidly sampling the life cycle of convection, TEMPEST fills a critical observational gap and complements existing and future satellite missions. To demonstrate global, well-calibrated radiometric measurements to meet the needs of TEMPEST, the TEMPEST Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) mission satellite was launched on May 21, 2018 on Orbital ATK’s CRS-9 mission to the ISS and deployed into a 400-km altitude and 51.6° inclination orbit by NanoRacks on July 13, 2018. TEMPEST-D has met all mission requirements on schedule and within budget. After achieving first light on September 5, 2018, the TEMPEST-D mission has achieved TRL 7 for both the instrument and spacecraft systems. TEMPEST-D brightness temperatures have been cross-calibrated with those of four NASA, NOAA and EUMETSAT reference sensors observing at similar frequencies. Results demonstrate that the TEMPEST-D on-orbit instrument is a very well-calibrated and stable radiometer with very low noise, rivaling that of much larger, more expensive operational instruments

Global observations from a well-calibrated passive microwave atmospheric sounder on a CubeSat: Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) Mission (Conference Presentation)

To improve understanding of rapid, dynamic evolution of convective cloud and precipitation processes as well as the surrounding water vapor environment, we require fine time-resolution multi-frequency microwave sounding observations capable of penetrating inside the storm where the microphysical processes leading to precipitation occur. To address this critical observational need, the Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems (TEMPEST) mission deploys a train of 6U CubeSats carrying identical low-mass, low-power millimeter-wave radiometers to sample rapid changes in convection and water vapor every 3-4 minutes for up to 30 minutes. These millimeter-wave radiometers observe at five frequencies from 87 to 181 GHz. By rapidly sampling the life cycle of convection, TEMPEST fills a critical observational gap and complements existing and future satellite missions. To demonstrate global, well-calibrated radiometric measurements to meet the needs of TEMPEST, the TEMPEST Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) mission satellite was launched on May 21, 2018 on Orbital ATK’s CRS-9 mission to the ISS and deployed into a 400-km altitude and 51.6° inclination orbit by NanoRacks on July 13, 2018. TEMPEST-D has met all mission requirements on schedule and within budget. After achieving first light on September 5, 2018, the TEMPEST-D mission has achieved TRL 7 for both the instrument and spacecraft systems. TEMPEST-D brightness temperatures have been cross-calibrated with those of four NASA, NOAA and EUMETSAT reference sensors observing at similar frequencies. Results demonstrate that the TEMPEST-D on-orbit instrument is a very well-calibrated and stable radiometer with very low noise, rivaling that of much larger, more expensive operational instruments