Widespread Hydrogenation of the Moons South Polar Cold Traps

The study shows widespread evidence that the Moons permanently shadowed regions (PSR) are enhanced in hydrogen, likely in the form of water ice, as compared to non-permanently shadowed region locations (non-PSRs), to 79deg S. Results are consistent with the original findings of Watson et al, 1961. We use a novel method to aggregate the hydrogen response from all PSR, greater than 2 km wide pixels. Poleward of 79deg S, the PSR have a consistent hydrogen spatial response, which is enhanced in PSR (where the PSRs area density is highest) and diminishes with distance from any PSR (where the PSR area density is lowest). A correlation between the PSRs diameters and their observed hydrogen, is induced by the instrumental blurring of relatively hydrogenated PSR areas. An anomalously enhanced hydrogen concentration observed at Cabeus-1 PSR suggests a second hydrogen budget process at that location. Linear correlations, derived from the PSRs hydrogen observations, from two independent latitude bands, closely predict the hydrogen observation at Shoemaker, the largest area PSR, 1) 75deg to 83deg S, 2) 83deg to 90deg S. Results are consistent with ongoing processes that introduce volatiles to the surface including outgassing, solar wind production with regolith silicates, and mixing from small-scale meteor impacts and diurnal temperature variation. Results are derived from the Collimated Sensor for EpiThermal Neutrons (CSETN), which part of the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND), onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).Comment: 27 pages, 14 Figure

Insecticide resistance status of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Papua New Guinea

Background: Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are important vectors of infectious diseases, especially those caused by arboviruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Aedes aegypti is very well adapted to urban environments, whereas Ae. albopictus inhabits more rural settings. Pyrethroid resistance is widespread in these vectors, but limited data exist from the Southwest Pacific Region, especially from Melanesia. While Aedes vector ecology is well documented in Australia, where incursion of Ae. albopictus and pyrethroid resistance have so far been prevented, almost nothing is known about Aedes populations in neighbouring Papua New Guinea (PNG). With pyrethroid resistance documented in parts of Indonesia but not in Australia, it is important to determine the distribution of susceptible and resistant Aedes populations in this region. Methods: The present study was aimed at assessing Aedes populations for insecticide resistance in Madang and Port Moresby, located on the north and south coasts of PNG, respectively. Mosquitoes were collected using ovitraps and reared in an insectary. Standard WHO bioassays using insecticide-treated filter papers were conducted on a total of 253 Ae. aegypti and 768 Ae. albopictus adult mosquitoes. Subsets of samples from both species (55 Ae. aegypti and 48 Ae. albopictus) were screened for knockdown resistance mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) gene, the target site of pyrethroid insecticides. Results: High levels of resistance against pyrethroids were identified in Ae. aegypti from Madang and Port Moresby. Aedes albopictus exhibited susceptibility to pyrethroids, but moderate levels of resistance to DDT. Mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance were detected in all Ae. aegypti samples screened. Some genotypes found in the present study had been observed previously in Indonesia. No Vssc mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance were found in the Ae. albopictus samples. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of pyrethroid resistance in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes in PNG. Interestingly, usage of insecticides in PNG is low, apart from long-lasting insecticidal nets distributed for malaria control. Further investigations on how these resistant Ae. aegypti mosquito populations arose in PNG and how they are being sustained are warranted

Insecticide resistance in malaria and arbovirus vectors in Papua New Guinea, 2017–2022

Background: Insecticide resistance (IR) monitoring is essential for evidence-based control of mosquito-borne diseases. While widespread pyrethroid resistance in Anopheles and Aedes species has been described in many countries, data for Papua New Guinea (PNG) are limited. Available data indicate that the local Anopheles populations in PNG remain pyrethroid-susceptible, making regular IR monitoring even more important. In addition, Aedes aegypti pyrethroid resistance has been described in PNG. Here, Anopheles and Aedes IR monitoring data generated from across PNG between 2017 and 2022 are presented. Methods: Mosquito larvae were collected in larval habitat surveys and through ovitraps. Mosquitoes were reared to adults and tested using standard WHO susceptibility bioassays. DNA from a subset of Aedes mosquitoes was sequenced to analyse the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) region for any resistance-related mutations. Results: Approximately 20,000 adult female mosquitoes from nine PNG provinces were tested. Anopheles punctulatus sensu lato mosquitoes were susceptible to pyrethroids but there were signs of reduced mortality in some areas. Some Anopheles populations were also resistant to DDT. Tests also showed that Aedes. aegypti in PNG are resistant to pyrethroids and DDT and that there was also likelihood of bendiocarb resistance. A range of Vssc resistance mutations were identified. Aedes albopictus were DDT resistant and were likely developing pyrethroid resistance, given a low frequency of Vssc mutations was observed. Conclusions: Aedes aegypti is highly pyrethroid resistant and also shows signs of resistance against carbamates in PNG. Anopheles punctulatus s.l. and Ae. albopictus populations exhibit low levels of resistance against pyrethroids and DDT in some areas. Pyrethroid-only bed nets are currently the only programmatic vector control tool used in PNG. It is important to continue to monitor IR in PNG and develop proactive insecticide resistance management strategies in primary disease vectors to retain pyrethroid susceptibility especially in the malaria vectors for as long as possible

Correlation of LEND and Diviner Data

Correlated results from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's (LRO) Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) and Lunar Orbiting Laser Altimeter (LOLA) suggest insolation effects influence the spatial distribution of Lunar H poleward of 60deg latitude. Diviner results indicate an insolation induced thermal contrast between pole-facing and equator-facing slopes of crater walls. Our research shows that the contrasting thermal conditions observed in pole-facing vs equator-facing slopes and epithermal neutron rates from LEND are positively correlated. Numerical transformations of LOLA topography facilitated a systematic decomposition of LEND epithermal maps as a function of insolation effects. The results suggest a significantly positive local epithermal contrast in these regions. Comparing pole-facing and equator-facing slopes, we find that the pole-facing slopes show epithermal neutron suppression ranging from -0.005 to 0.02 cps relative to the equator-facing slopes .. We further investigate insolation effects on epithermal neutrons by comparing the predicted insolation contrast derived from the 3-D LOLA topography model with the LEND results. We also investigate and discuss the possibility of slope mass wasting effects being correlated with our insolation-effect hypothesi

Low rank approximation of multidimensional data

In the last decades, numerical simulation has experienced tremendous improvements driven by massive growth of computing power. Exascale computing has been achieved this year and will allow solving ever more complex problems. But such large systems produce colossal amounts of data which leads to its own difficulties. Moreover, many engineering problems such as multiphysics or optimisation and control, require far more power that any computer architecture could achieve within the current scientific computing paradigm. In this chapter, we propose to shift the paradigm in order to break the curse of dimensionality by introducing decomposition to reduced data. We present an extended review of data reduction techniques and intends to bridge between applied mathematics community and the computational mechanics one. The chapter is organized into two parts. In the first one bivariate separation is studied, including discussions on the equivalence of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD, continuous framework) and singular value decomposition (SVD, discrete matrices). Then, in the second part, a wide review of tensor formats and their approximation is proposed. Such work has already been provided in the literature but either on separate papers or into a pure applied mathematics framework. Here, we offer to the data enthusiast scientist a description of Canonical, Tucker, Hierarchical and Tensor train formats including their approximation algorithms. When it is possible, a careful analysis of the link between continuous and discrete methods will be performed.IV Research and Transfer Plan of the University of SevillaInstitut CarnotJunta de AndalucíaIDEX program of the University of Bordeau

Extreme Ultraviolet Reflective Grating Characterization and Simulationsfor the Aspera SmallSat Mission

The Aspera SmallSat mission is designed to detect and map the warm-hot gaseous component of the halos of nearby galaxies through long-slit spectroscopy of the ionized O VI emission line (103.2 nm) for the first time. The Aspera Rowland circle type spectrograph uses a toroidal grating coated with a multilayer film consisting of aluminum, lithium fluoride, and magnesium fluoride capping to optimize reflectivity in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) waveband from 103 to 104nm. We discuss the grating characterization test setup at the University of Arizona (UA), which will validate the multilayer coating and grating efficiency in a UV vacuum chamber. We also simulate the reflectivity of the multilayer thin film coating using IMD IDL software to compare simulated results with measured reflectivity. Additionally, non-sequential ray trace simulations and 3D CAD modeling are used for verification of the test setup. Finally, the implications of the differences between the measured and simulated reflectivity and grating efficiencies are considered, including impact to the mission

Droplet Manipulation and Droplet Microfluidics for Rapid Amplification and Real-Time Detection of Nucleic Acids

Molecular diagnostics offer quick access to information for healthcare decision-making towards personalized therapeutics, but complicated procedures requiring extensive labor and infrastructure restrict their use. Droplet-based technologies can expand the accessibility of molecular diagnostics by miniaturizing devices, shortening sample-to-answer times, decreasing costs and increasing throughput. Methods for droplet manipulation are central to the automation of molecular diagnostics protocols. The innovative method, wire-guided droplet manipulation (WDM), is the actuation of liquid droplets in a hydrophobic milieu with a wire, or needle, guide. In this work, WDM is demonstrated for the automation of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on reprogrammable platforms for the diagnosis of cardiovascular infections. WDM is used to minimize thermal resistance by convective heat transfer for PCR amplification at a maximum speed of 8.67 s/cycle. The oil-water interfacial boundary is shown to passively partition molecular contaminants from sample matrices, including blood and heart valve tissue. Molecular self-assembly at the oil-water interface is used to increase PCR efficiency with blood in situ and is used as an innovative sensing modality for real-time monitoring of PCR amplification. Temperature feedback controlled droplet actuation is achieved by using a thermocouple loop as a functionalized wire-guide. Our novel methodology for real-time PCR, droplet-on-thermocouple silhouette real-time PCR (DOTS qPCR), utilizes interfacial effects to achieve droplet actuation, relief from PCR inhibitors and amplification sensing, for a sample-to-answer time as short as 3 min 30 s. DOTS qPCR addresses three major issues for rapid PCR—sample preparation, rapid thermocycling and sensitive real-time detection—on an inexpensive, disposable device with smartphone-based detection. In contrast, commercially available real-time PCR systems rely on fluorescence detection, have substantially higher threshold cycles, and require expensive optical components and extensive sample preparation. Due to the advantages of low threshold cycle detection we anticipate extending this technology towards trending biological research applications such as single cell, single nucleus, and single DNA molecule analyses, especially in droplet microfluidic platforms.Release after 16-November 201

Multiple Vitamin K Forms Exist in Dairy Foods

BACKGROUND: The plant-based form of vitamin K (phylloquinone, vitamin K-1) has been well quantified in the US diet. Menaquinones (vitamin K-2) are another class of vitamin K compounds that differ from phylloquinone in the length and saturation of their side chain, but they have not been well characterized in foods. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to 1) quantify phylloquinone and the different forms of menaquinones [menaquinone (MK) 4–MK13] in milk, yogurt, Greek yogurt, creams, and cheeses and 2) compare the menaquinone contents of full-fat, reduced-fat, and nonfat dairy products. METHODS: All dairy samples were either obtained from the USDA National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program or purchased from retail outlets. Phylloquinone and menaquinone concentrations in these dairy products were quantified by mass spectrometry technology. RESULTS: Full-fat dairy products contained appreciable amounts of menaquinones, primarily in the forms of MK9, MK10, and MK11. We also measured modest amounts of phylloquinone, MK4, MK8, and MK12 in these products. In contrast, there was little MK5–7 or MK13 detected in the majority of dairy products. The total vitamin K contents of soft cheese, blue cheese, semi-soft cheese, and hard cheese were (means ± SEMs): 506 ± 63, 440 ± 41, 289 ± 38, and 282 ± 5.0 µg/100 g, respectively. Nonfermented cheeses, such as processed cheese, contained lower amounts of vitamin K (98 ± 11 µg/100 g). Reduced-fat or fat-free dairy products contained ∼5–22% of the vitamin K found in full-fat equivalents. For example, total vitamin K contents of full-fat milk (4% fat), 2%-fat milk, 1%-fat milk, and nonfat milk were 38.1 ± 8.6, 19.4 ± 7.7, 12.9 ± 2.0, and 7.7 ± 2.9 µg/100 g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of menaquinone contents of US dairy products. Findings indicate that the amount of vitamin K contents in dairy products is high and proportional to the fat content of the product

Science Operations Planning and Implementation for the OSIRIS-REx Mission, Part 1: Process

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft arrived at the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in December 2018 and executed a science observation campaign to comprehensively characterize the asteroid. Proximity operations at Bennu included orbital phases and flyby phases with various viewing geometries and altitudes. The complexity of the mission plan, integrated instrument operations, and the challenges of spacecraft navigation in the microgravity environment required an intricate planning and implementation process that included participation and coordination among all mission elements. The Science Planning Team (SPT) and the Implementation Team (IpT) at the University of Arizona planned and implemented all science and most optical navigation observations. Prior to the formal planning process, science requirements were mapped to mission phases and observation geometry constraints. During development of the mission phases, the navigation team produced a spacecraft trajectory, and the SPT developed the pointing and attitude profile to meet the specified constraints. In the strategic planning process, which began three months prior to execution, the SPT conducted sensitivity analysis of the observation designs against a set of perturbed trajectories delivered by the navigation team to ensure that they were robust to navigational uncertainties. Planning of the specific observations to occur within each phase was divided into units of weeks, and the plans for each week were developed and implemented on a rolling eight-week tactical planning and implementation cycle, ending with execution and data downlink. This cycle included a standardized schedule of activities and gateways to ensure that every observation plan underwent a full suite of analysis, verification, and approval in the allocated timeframe. Checklists guided the SPT and IpT through the build and verification process to confirm plan safety and fidelity. The SPT led the first four weeks of the tactical process, with participation from the IpT and other stakeholders. During the first two weeks, the SPT gathered information from stakeholders, conducted preliminary planning to confirm the science observations were feasible and obeyed spacecraft constraints, and determined how to integrate instrument commanding with the spacecraft pointing profile. The SPT started the final observation design and planning six weeks prior to execution. Once complete, plan walkthroughs were conducted with stakeholders, which culminated in a go/no-go decision to proceed with implementation at the four-week point. In the last four weeks of the tactical planning and implementation process, the IpT led the final processing of science plans with participation from stakeholders. The IpT compiled the plans, performed comprehensive safety checks against established spacecraft and instrument flight rules, and generated flight products and artifacts. After IpT delivered the flight products, the spacecraft team integrated them with the spacecraft sequencing, performed ground testing, and produced an integrated report. IpT reviewed the report, verifying instrument health and safety and confirming nominal plan execution in the ground simulation. The final flight products were uplinked to the spacecraft a few days prior to the execution week. During execution, the IpT and other stakeholders monitored instrument performance and viewed science and navigation data. Resulting science data products were used for operational decisions and science investigations.Immediate accessThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]