Gas-Particle Dynamics in High-Speed Flows

High-speed disperse multiphase flows are present in numerous environmental and engineering applications with complex interactions between turbulence, shock waves, and particles. Compared to its incompressible counterpart, compressible two-phase flows introduce new scales of motion that challenge simulations and experiments. This review focuses on gas-particle interactions spanning subsonic to supersonic flow conditions. An overview of existing Mach number-dependent drag laws is presented, with origins from 18th-century cannon firings, and new insights from particle-resolved numerical simulations. The equations of motion and phenomenology for a single particle are first reviewed. Multi-particle systems spanning dusty gases to dense suspensions are then discussed from numerical and experimental perspectives

Gene flow and genetic structure of two of Arkansas’s rarest darter species (Teleostei: Percidae), the Arkansas Darter, Etheostoma cragini, and the Least Darter, E. microperca

Distinguishing the effects of naturally caused historical fragmentation from those of contemporary landscape modification is critically important to understanding the consequences of human influences on patterns of gene flow and population dynamics. Nonetheless, relatively few recent studies focusing on this issue have dealt with species that showed evidence of historical fragmentation. In the current study, we disentangled the effects of fragmentation operating over separate timescales on two darter species, Etheostoma cragini and E. microperca, from the Ozark Highlands. Formerly more wide-spread within this region in Arkansas, these species now occur only in highly isolated habitats (i.e., spring-runs). We separated fragmentation effects at distinct spatial and temporal scales by using several molecular loci (i.e., mtDNA/nuclear DNA/nuclear microsatellite DNA), as well as a variety of analytical approaches. Sequence divergence among Ozark and northern populations of E. microperca indicate long-standing isolation resulting from vicariant events. Both species were further isolated in unique ‘island’ habitats, sometimes at fine spatial scales, as shown by sequence divergence among Ozark Highland populations of E. cragini. Microsatellite data also revealed additional subdivision among Arkansas populations with E. cragini divided into three distinct populations and E. microperca into two. Overall, migration rates were similar among contemporary and historical time periods although patterns of asymmetric migration were inverted for E. cragini. Estimates of contemporary effective population size (Ne) were substantially lower for both species than past population sizes. Overall, historical processes involving natural fragmentation have had long-lasting effects on these species, potentially making them more susceptible to current anthropogenic impacts

SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VISUAL AND INTEGRATIVE ANALYSIS OF MICROBIOME DATA

Microbiome sequencing allows researchers to reconstruct bacterial community census profiles at resolutions greater than previous methodologies. As a result, increasingly large numbers of these taxonomic community profiles are now generated, analyzed, and published by researchers in the field. In this work, I present new methods and software infrastructure for visualization and sharing of microbiome data. The overall goal is to enable a researcher to complete cycles of exploratory and confirmatory analysis over metagenomic data. I describe Metaviz, an interactive statistical and visual analysis tool specifically designed for effective taxonomic hierarchy navigation and data analysis feature selection. I next detail the incorporation of Metaviz into the Human Microbiome Project Data Portal. I then show a novel method to visualize longitudinal data across multiple features built as an extension over Metaviz. Finally, previous work has shown that specific subjects in an experimental cohort can be identified using their microbiome data. I developed software using a secure multi-party computation library to complete comparative analyses of metagenomic data across cohorts without directly revealing feature count values for individuals

Rapid cell culture process optimization and scale-up for production of two replicating viral vector COVID-19 vaccine candidates

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Cost Analysis of Optimized Islanded Energy Systems in a Dispersed Air Base Conflict

The United States Air Force has implemented a dispersed air base strategy to enhance mission effectiveness for near-peer conflicts. Asset dispersal places many smaller bases across a wide geographic area, which increases resupply requirements and logistical complexity. Hybrid energy systems reduce resupply requirements through sustainable, off-grid energy production. This paper presents a novel hybrid energy renewable delivery system (HERDS) model capable of (1) selecting the optimal hybrid energy system design that meets demand at the lowest net present cost and (2) optimizing the delivery of the selected system using existing Air Force cargo aircraft. The novelty of the model’s capabilities is displayed using Clark Air Base, Philippines as a case study. The HERDS model selected an optimal configuration consisting of a 676-kW photovoltaic array, an 1846-kWh battery system, and a 200-kW generator. This hybrid energy system predicts a 54% reduction in cost and an 88% reduction in fuel usage, as compared to the baseline Air Force system. The HERDS model is expected to support planners in their ongoing efforts to construct cost-effective sites that minimize the transport and logistic requirements associated with remote installations. Additionally, the results of this paper may be appropriate for broader civilian applications

Metabolic effects of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone on Complex I and Complex II respiration in isolated rat mitochondria

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are believed to exert their antidiabetic effect through a variety of pathways and mechanisms, some of which relate to the toxic properties of these drugs. Research has proven that TZDs impair cell respiration in vitro and that they have an affect on oxidative stress within the cell. This paper investigates the role of mitochondria in rosiglitazone and pioglitazone action with respect to Complexes I and II of the respiratory chain. Inhibition of Complex I was confirmed via the reduced efficiency of mitochondrial respiration at increasing levels of drug concentration, with malate/glutamate as an energizing substrate, and in relation to Complex I (energized by succinate). Additionally, a decrease in the production of extra-mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected, particularly on exposure to rosiglitazone, possibly correlating with a lower level of cytotoxicity in comparison to pioglitazone

Meeting Temporary Facility Energy Demand with Climate-Optimized Off-Grid Energy Systems

Remote and contingency operations, including military and disaster-relief activities, often require the use of temporary facilities powered by inefficient diesel generators that are expensive to operate and maintain. Site planners can reduce operating costs by increasing shelter insulation and augmenting generators with photovoltaic-battery hybrid energy systems, but they must select the optimal design configuration based on the region’s climate to meet the power demand at the lowest cost. To assist planners, this paper proposes an innovative, climate-optimized, hybrid energy system selection model capable of selecting the facility insulation type, solar array size, and battery backup system to minimize the annual operating cost. To demonstrate the model’s capability in various climates, model performance was evaluated for applications in southwest Asia and the Caribbean. For a facility in Southwest Asia, the model reduced fuel consumption by 93% and saved $271 thousand compared to operating a diesel generator. The simulated facility in the Caribbean resulted in more significant savings, decreasing fuel consumption by 92$291 thousand. This capability is expected to support planners of remote sites in their ongoing effort to minimize fuel supply requirements and annual operating costs of temporary facilities

A new population of recently quenched elliptical galaxies in the SDSS

We use the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to investigate the properties of massive elliptical galaxies in the local Universe (z\leq0.08) that have unusually blue optical colors. Through careful inspection, we distinguish elliptical from non-elliptical morphologies among a large sample of similarly blue galaxies with high central light concentrations (c_r\geq2.6). These blue ellipticals comprise 3.7 per cent of all c_r\geq2.6 galaxies with stellar masses between 10^10 and 10^11 h^{-2} {\rm M}_{\sun}. Using published fiber spectra diagnostics, we identify a unique subset of 172 non-star-forming ellipticals with distinctly blue urz colors and young (< 3 Gyr) light-weighted stellar ages. These recently quenched ellipticals (RQEs) have a number density of 2.7-4.7\times 10^{-5}\,h^3\,{\rm Mpc}^{-3} and sufficient numbers above 2.5\times10^{10} h^{-2} {\rm M}_{\sun} to account for more than half of the expected quiescent growth at late cosmic time assuming this phase lasts 0.5 Gyr. RQEs have properties that are consistent with a recent merger origin (i.e., they are strong `first-generation' elliptical candidates), yet few involved a starburst strong enough to produce an E+A signature. The preferred environment of RQEs (90 per cent reside at the centers of < 3\times 10^{12}\,h^{-1}{\rm M}_{\sun} groups) agrees well with the `small group scale' predicted for maximally efficient spiral merging onto their halo center and rules out satellite-specific quenching processes. The high incidence of Seyfert and LINER activity in RQEs and their plausible descendents may heat the atmospheres of small host halos sufficiently to maintain quenching.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. Revised version; accepted for publication in MNRA