Daily newspaper from Altus, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Significant time and effort are often required to solve and complete a macromolecular crystal structure. The development of automated computational methods for the analysis, solution and completion of crystallographic structures has the potential to produce minimally biased models in a short time without the need for manual intervention. The PHENIX software suite is a highly automated system for macromolecular structure determination that can rapidly arrive at an initial partial model of a structure without significant human intervention, given moderate resolution and good quality data. This achievement has been made possible by the development of new algorithms for structure determination, maximum-likelihood molecular replacement (PHASER), heavy-atom search (HySS), template and pattern-based automated model-building (RESOLVE, TEXTAL), automated macromolecular refinement (phenix.refine), and iterative model-building, density modification and refinement that can operate at moderate resolution (RESOLVE, AutoBuild). These algorithms are based on a highly integrated and comprehensive set of crystallographic libraries that have been built and made available to the community. The algorithms are tightly linked and made easily accessible to users through the PHENIX Wizards and the PHENIX GUI.

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

This report provides brief summaries of current reauthorization issues.

Laccase-like multicopper oxidases (LMCOs) have repeatedly been associated with the process of lignification in plants, and previous work suggested that these enzymes might be acting as specific marker for highly localized, small-scale lignification events in tissues not typically thought of as lignified. However, plant LMCOs typically occur as members of gene families and different family members can display disparate enzyme activities and overlapping patterns of expression in bulk tissues. This study used reporter genes and knockout mutants to document the involvement of a specific Arabidopsis thaliana LMCO family member (At2g30210 ) in early root development, specifically with development of endodermal tissues. Expression of the gene product was found to be under the control of sucrose levels, but the gene also responded to fluctuations in salt concentrations. The expression patterns of this gene were consistent with its involvement in the formation of suberin in the Casparian strip of root endodermis. An additional LMCO (At5g58910) displayed a more generalized expression in the radicles emergent seedlings. Additional members of the Arabidopsis LMCO family (At2g29130, At5g01190, and At5g05390) were also investigated with reporter gene constructs and knockout mutants. Expression of these LMCOs was associated with lignifying xylem, and the genes had over-lapping expression. Single …

The Heavy Ion Fusion Science Virtual National Laboratory (HIFS-VNL) has completed the fabrication of a new experimental target chamber facility for future Warm Dense Matter (WDM) experiments, and implemented initial target diagnostics to be used for the first target experiments in NDCX-1. The target chamber has been installed on the NDCX-I beamline. This achievement provides to the HIFS-VNL unique and state-of-the-art experimental capabilities in preparation for the planned target heating experiments using intense heavy ion beams.

This report describes the evolving mission, organization, and assets of the S&T Directorate and the activities it conducts. It outlines key policy issues, including the balance of the directorate's programs, its priorities and how they are set, its relationships with other R&D organizations, its mission, its budgeting and financial management, and other concerns.

Methods to measure the inventory of dust particles and to remove dust if it approaches safety limits will be required in next-step tokamaks such as ITER. An electrostatic dust detector, based on a fine grid of interlocking circuit traces, biased to 30 or 50 V, has been developed for the detection of dust on remote surfaces in air and vacuum environments. Gaining operational experience of dust detection on surfaces in tokamaks is important, however the level of dust generated in contemporary short-pulse tokamaks is comparatively low and high sensitivity is necessary to measure dust on a shot-by-shot basis. We report on modifications in the detection electronics that have increased the sensitivity of the electrostatic dust detector by a factor of up to 120, - a level suitable for measurements on contemporary tokamaks.

Daily newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

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Water hammer during multi-phase flow is rather complex, but in some cases an upper limit to the pressure surge magnitude during water hammer can be estimated. In the case considered here, a two mile long pipeline with a single high point was permitted to partially drain. Due to gravitational effects, air bubbles up through the pipe line to its highest point, but the time required for air to reach the top of the pipe is rather long. Consequently, some transients caused by valve operations are affected by air entrapment and some are not. The intent of this research was to investigate the complex interactions between air, water vapor, and liquid during water hammer in a long pipe with one end of the pipe open to atmospheric conditions. To understand the system dynamics, experimental data was obtained from a long pipeline with an open end and also from a short, transparent tube. Transient calculations were performed for valve closures and pump operations as applicable. The limitations of available calculation techniques were considered in detail.

Application materials submitted to the Texas Historical Commission requesting a historic marker for the U.S. Army Signal Corps Building, in Brackettville, Texas. The materials include the inscription text of the marker, original application, narrative, maps, floor plans, and photographs.

This report discusses the problem of illegal logging worldwide. It gives an overview of the scope and scale, ecological impacts, and socioeconomic impacts of illegal logging as well as international initiatives and institutions, U.S. laws (such as the 2008 farm bill; P.L. 110-246, Food, Conservation, and Energy Act), and foreign policies which address the problem.

This report discusses illegal logging, which is addressed by Congress in the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-234). A provision in the law amends the Lacey Act to include plants traded in violation of foreign laws. This was primarily intended to deter imports of illegally-obtained timber from foreign countries.

This project involved the following objectives: 1. Determine black liquor drying and devolatilization elemental and total mass release rates and yields. 2. Develop a public domain physical/chemical kinetic model of black liquor drop combustion, including new information on drying and devolatilization. 3. Determine mechanisms and rates of sulfur scavenging in recover boilers. 4. Develop non-ideal, public-domain thermochemistry models for alkali salts appropriate for recovery boilers 5. Develop data and a one-dimensional model of a char bed in a recovery boiler. 6. Implement all of the above in comprehensive combustion code and validate effects on boiler performance. 7. Perform gasification modeling in support of INEL and commercial customers. The major accomplishments of this project corresponding to these objectives are as follows: 1. Original data for black liquor and biomass data demonstrate dependencies of particle reactions on particle size, liquor type, gas temperature, and gas composition. A comprehensive particle submodel and corresponding data developed during this project predicts particle drying (including both free and chemisorbed moisture), devolatilization, heterogeneous char oxidation, char-smelt reactions, and smelt oxidation. Data and model predictions agree, without adjustment of parameters, within their respective errors. The work performed under these tasks substantially exceeded the original objectives. 2. A separate …

Article titled, "The Last Word" from Newsweek. The article is addressing a California Supreme Court ruling that legalizes gay marriage.

Dynamic retention, lithium deposition, and the stability of thick deposited layers were measured by three quartz crystal microbalances (QMB) deployed in plasma shadowed areas at the upper and lower divertor and outboard midplane in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). Deposition of 185 {micro}/g/cm{sup 2} over 3 months in 2007 was measured by a QMB at the lower divertor while a QMB on the upper divertor, that was shadowed from the evaporator, received an order of magnitude less deposition. During helium glow discharge conditioning both neutral gas collisions and the ionization and subsequent drift of Li{sup +} interrupted the lithium deposition on the lower divertor. We present calculations of the relevant mean free paths. Occasionally strong variations in the QMB frequency were observed of thick lithium films suggesting relaxation of mechanical stress and/or flaking or peeling of the deposited layers.

The authors present a measurement of the angle {gamma} of the Unitarity Triangle with a Dalitz analysis of neutral D decays to K{sub S}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} from the processes B{sup 0} {yields} {bar D}{sup 0}(D{sup 0})K*{sup 0} ({bar B}{sup 0} {yields} D{sup 0}({bar D}{sup 0}){bar K}*{sup 0}) with K*{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}{pi}{sup -} ({bar K}*{sup 0} {yields} K{sup -} {pi}{sup +}). Using a sample of 371 x 10{sup 6} B{bar B} pairs collected with the BABAR detector at PEP II, they measure the angle {gamma} as a function of r{sub S}, the magnitude of the average ratio between b {yields} u and b {yields} c amplitudes. Combining this result with the available information on r{sub S}, they obtain {gamma} = (162 {+-} 56){sup o} or (342 {+-} 56){sup o} and r{sub S} < 0.55 at 95% probability.

Linear mode conversion of Langmuir waves to radiation near the plasma frequency at density gradients is potentially relevant to multiple solar radio emissions, ionospheric radar experiments, laboratory plasma devices, and pulsars. Here we study mode conversion in warm magnetized plasmas using a numerical electron fluid simulation code with the density gradient parallel to the ambient magnetic field B0 for a range of incident Langmuir wavevectors. Our results include: (1) Both o- and x-mode waves are produced for Ω ∝ (ωL)1/3(ωc/ω) somewhat less than 1, contrary to previous ideas. Only o mode is produced for Ω and somewhat greater than 1.5. Here ωc is the (angular) electron cyclotron frequency, ω the angular wave frequency, and L the length scale of the (linear) density gradient. (2) In the unmagnetized limit, equal amounts of o- and x-mode radiation are produced. (3) The mode conversion window narrows as Ω increases. (4) As Ω increases the total electromagnetic field changes from linear to circular polarization, with the o- and x- mode signals remaining circularly polarized. (5) The conversion efficiency to the x mode decreases monotonically as Ω increases while the o-mode conversion efficiency oscillates due to an interference phenomenon between incoming and reflected Langmuir/z modes. …

The authors present selected new results on leptonic B meson decays from the BABAR experiment: searches for the decays B{sup 0} {yields} {ell}{sup +}{ell}{sup -}, B{sup +} {yields} {ell}{sup +}{nu} and B{sup 0} {yields} {ell}{sup +}{tau}{sup -}, and B {yields} K{nu}{bar {nu}}, where {ell} = e or {mu}. They observe no evidence for these decays and set upper limits on their branching fractions.

This report discusses issues related to measuring performance across the federal government, and analyzes a variety of methods utilized by the government to measure employee performance and its linkage to pay.

The Wind Energy Deployment System model was used to estimate the costs and benefits associated with producing 20% of the nation's electricity from wind technology by 2030. This generation capacity expansion model selects from electricity generation technologies that include pulverized coal plants, combined cycle natural gas plants, combustion turbine natural gas plants, nuclear plants, and wind technology to meet projected demand in future years. Technology cost and performance projections, as well as transmission operation and expansion costs, are assumed. This study demonstrates that producing 20% of the nation's projected electricity demand in 2030 from wind technology is technically feasible, not cost-prohibitive, and provides benefits in the forms of carbon emission reductions, natural gas price reductions, and water savings.

We have studied the response of the beam to an electron cloud for the Fermilab Main Injector using the Quasistatic Model [1] implemented into the particle-in-cell code Warp [2]. Specifically, we have addressed the effects due to varying the beam intensity, electron cloud density and chromaticity. In addition, we have estimated the contribution to emittance evolution due to beam space-charge effects. We have carried out a comparison between how the beam responds at injection energy and at top energy. We also present some results on the validation of the computational model, and report on progress towards improving the computational model.

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