Optical Astronomy from Orbiting Observatories

Atmospheric extinction, seeing, and light pollution £re the most significant factors affecting the quality of observations obtained from ground-based optical telescopes, degrading resolution and limiting reach. In addition, the earth\u27s atmosphere is opaque to radiation shorter than 0.3 microns preventing the ultraviolet from being observed in detail from the ground. The solution to these problems has been to move astronomical telescopes into earth orbit. Initially these orbiting observatories carried instruments sensitive to ultraviolet and higher energy radiation since it was otherwise unobservable. The success of the first series of these orbiting observatories, the Orbiting Astronomical Observatories (OAO), established these satellites as one of a new generation of tools for exploring the universe. Another orbiting observatory, the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), is unique among the current orbiting observatories in that it is in a geosynchronous orbit and provides a guest observer facility serving the international community. IUE has had a significant impact on observational astronomy. Nearly 10 percent of all observational papers published JLi the Astrophysical Journal in 1980 reported or used observations made by IUE. The figure for all astronomical satellites is about 3 times higher and continues to rise. With the orbiting of the Space Telescope in the mid 1980s by the Space Shuttle, observational astronomy will enter a new era. For the first time, astronomers will have access to a large (2.4 meter) high-resolution telescope unhindered by the earth f s atmosphere. With the potential such an instrument offers, there is little doubt that the near future will see a large fraction of observational astronomy performed from orbiting observatories

Speech Communication

Contains research objectives and three research projects.U. S. Air Force (Electronic Systems Division) under Contract AF 19(604)-6102National Science Foundation (Grant G-16526)National Institutes of Health (Grant MH-04737-02

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? A call for community participation in the governance of the SeqCode

DATA AVAILABILITY : No data was used for the research described in the article.Codes of nomenclature that provide well-regulated and stable frameworks for the naming of taxa are a fundamental underpinning of biological research. These Codes themselves require systems that govern their administration, interpretation and emendment. Here we review the provisions that have been made for the governance of the recently introduced Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode), which provides a nomenclatural framework for the valid publication of names of Archaea and Bacteria using isolate genome, metagenome-assembled genome or single-amplified genome sequences as type material. The administrative structures supporting the SeqCode are designed to be open and inclusive. Direction is provided by the SeqCode Community, which we encourage those with an interest in prokaryotic systematics to join.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/syapmhj2024BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologySDG-15:Life on lan

SeqCode: a nomenclatural code for prokaryotes described from sequence data

Most prokaryotes are not available as pure cultures and therefore ineligible for naming under the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP). Here we summarize the development of the SeqCode, a code of nomenclature under which genome sequences serve as nomenclatural types. This code enables valid publication of names of prokaryotes based upon isolate genome, metagenome-assembled genome or single-amplified genome sequences. Otherwise, it is similar to the ICNP with regard to the formation of names and rules of priority. It operates through the SeqCode Registry (https://seqco.de/), a registration portal through which names and nomenclatural types are registered, validated and linked to metadata. We describe the two paths currently available within SeqCode to register and validate names, including Candidatus names, and provide examples for both. Recommendations on minimal standards for DNA sequences are provided. Thus, the SeqCode provides a reproducible and objective framework for the nomenclature of all prokaryotes regardless of cultivability and facilitates communication across microbiological disciplines.Funding was provided by the US National Science Foundation (DEB 1841658, DEB 1557042 and EAR 1516680) to B.H., A.-L.R. and A.M.; the US National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM103440) from the National Institutes of Health to B.H.; the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PGC2018-096956-B-C41 and PID2021-126114NB-C42) to R.R.; the Australian Research Council (FL150100038) to P.H.; the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, SFB 1439/1 2021—426547801) and European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) to A.P.; and the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) to all authors

Development of the SeqCode: A proposed nomenclatural code for uncultivated prokaryotes with DNA sequences as type

Over the last fifteen years, genomics has become fully integrated into prokaryotic systematics. The genomes of most type strains have been sequenced, genome sequence similarity is widely used for delineation of species, and phylogenomic methods are commonly used for classification of higher taxonomic ranks. Additionally, environmental genomics has revealed a vast diversity of as-yet-uncultivated taxa. In response to these developments, a new code of nomenclature, the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode), has been developed over the last two years to allow naming of Archaea and Bacteria using DNA sequences as the nomenclatural types. The SeqCode also allows naming of cultured organisms, including fastidious prokaryotes that cannot be deposited into culture collections. Several simplifications relative to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) are implemented to make nomenclature more accessible, easier to apply and more readily communicated. By simplifying nomenclature with the goal of a unified classification, inclusive of both cultured and uncultured taxa, the SeqCode will facilitate the naming of taxa in every biome on Earth, encourage the isolation and characterization of as-yet-uncultivated taxa, and promote synergies between the ecological, environmental, physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological disciplines to more fully describe prokaryotes.Funding was provided by the US National Science Foundation (DEB 1841658 and EAR 1516680), the US National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20 GM103440) from the National Institutes of Health, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2021-126114NB-C42), the Australian Research Council (FL150100038), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, SFB 1439/1 2021 – 426547801) also supported with European Regional Development Funds (FEDER), and the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME

Translating research into evidence-based practice: The National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program

The recent rapid acceleration of basic science is reshaping both our clinical research system and our health care delivery system. The pace and growing volume of medical discoveries are yielding exciting new opportunities, yet we continue to face old challenges to maintain research progress and effectively translate research into practice. The National Institutes of Health and individual government programs are increasingly emphasizing research agendas involving evidence development, comparative effectiveness research among heterogeneous populations, translational research, and accelerating the translation of research into evidence-based practice, as well as building successful research networks to support these efforts. For over 25 years, the National Cancer Institute's Community Clinical Oncology Program has successfully extended research into the community and facilitated the translation of research into evidence-based practice. By describing its keys to success, this article provides practical guidance to cancer-focused provider-based research networks as well as those in other disciplines

Development of the SeqCode: A proposed nomenclatural code for uncultivated prokaryotes with DNA sequences as type

Over the last fifteen years, genomics has become fully integrated into prokaryotic systematics. The genomes of most type strains have been sequenced, genome sequence similarity is widely used for delineation of species, and phylogenomic methods are commonly used for classification of higher taxonomic ranks. Additionally, environmental genomics has revealed a vast diversity of as-yet-uncultivated taxa. In response to these developments, a new code of nomenclature, the Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data (SeqCode), has been developed over the last two years to allow naming of Archaea and Bacteria using DNA sequences as the nomenclatural types. The SeqCode also allows naming of cultured organisms, including fastidious prokaryotes that cannot be deposited into culture collections. Several simplifications relative to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) are implemented to make nomenclature more accessible, easier to apply and more readily communicated. By simplifying nomenclature with the goal of a unified classification, inclusive of both cultured and uncultured taxa, the SeqCode will facilitate the naming of taxa in every biome on Earth, encourage the isolation and characterization of as-yet-uncultivated taxa, and promote synergies between the ecological, environmental, physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological disciplines to more fully describe prokaryotes

SeqCode: a nomenclatural code for prokaryotes described from sequence data

Most prokaryotes are not available as pure cultures and therefore ineligible for naming under the rules and recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP). Here we summarize the development of the SeqCode, a code of nomenclature under which genome sequences serve as nomenclatural types. This code enables valid publication of names of prokaryotes based upon isolate genome, metagenome-assembled genome or single-amplified genome sequences. Otherwise, it is similar to the ICNP with regard to the formation of names and rules of priority. It operates through the SeqCode Registry (https://seqco.de/), a registration portal through which names and nomenclatural types are registered, validated and linked to metadata. We describe the two paths currently available within SeqCode to register and validate names, including Candidatus names, and provide examples for both. Recommendations on minimal standards for DNA sequences are provided. Thus, the SeqCode provides a reproducible and objective framework for the nomenclature of all prokaryotes regardless of cultivability and facilitates communication across microbiological disciplines

Genomic Characterization of Methanomicrobiales Reveals Three Classes of Methanogens

BACKGROUND:Methanomicrobiales is the least studied order of methanogens. While these organisms appear to be more closely related to the Methanosarcinales in ribosomal-based phylogenetic analyses, they are metabolically more similar to Class I methanogens. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:In order to improve our understanding of this lineage, we have completely sequenced the genomes of two members of this order, Methanocorpusculum labreanum Z and Methanoculleus marisnigri JR1, and compared them with the genome of a third, Methanospirillum hungatei JF-1. Similar to Class I methanogens, Methanomicrobiales use a partial reductive citric acid cycle for 2-oxoglutarate biosynthesis, and they have the Eha energy-converting hydrogenase. In common with Methanosarcinales, Methanomicrobiales possess the Ech hydrogenase and at least some of them may couple formylmethanofuran formation and heterodisulfide reduction to transmembrane ion gradients. Uniquely, M. labreanum and M. hungatei contain hydrogenases similar to the Pyrococcus furiosus Mbh hydrogenase, and all three Methanomicrobiales have anti-sigma factor and anti-anti-sigma factor regulatory proteins not found in other methanogens. Phylogenetic analysis based on seven core proteins of methanogenesis and cofactor biosynthesis places the Methanomicrobiales equidistant from Class I methanogens and Methanosarcinales. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Our results indicate that Methanomicrobiales, rather than being similar to Class I methanogens or Methanomicrobiales, share some features of both and have some unique properties. We find that there are three distinct classes of methanogens: the Class I methanogens, the Methanomicrobiales (Class II), and the Methanosarcinales (Class III)