Protact by Haartz

Study Shows How Microorganisms Survive in Harsh Environments

May 9th, 2020

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — In northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, microorganisms are able to eke out an existence by extracting water from the rocks they colonize.

An Army-funded project by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, Johns Hopkins University and University of California, Riverside gained an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms by which some cyanobacteria, an ancient group of photosynthetic microbes, survive in harsh environments.

The new insights, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrate how life can flourish in places without much water in evidence – including Mars – and how people living in arid regions may someday be able to procure hydration from available minerals.

“The Army has a strong interest in how microorganisms well-adapted to extreme environments can be exploited for novel applications such as material synthesis and power generation within these harsh fielded environments,” said Dr. Robert Kokoska, program manager, Army Research Office, an element of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory. “This study provides valuable clues for uncovering the evolved design strategies used by these native desert-dwelling microbes to maintain their viability in the face of multiple environmental challenges.”

Through work in the field and laboratory experiments, the research team focused on the interactions of Chroococcidiospsis, a desiccation-resistant species of cyanobacteria that is found in deserts around the world, and gypsum, a water containing calcium sulfate-based mineral. The colonizing lifeforms exist beneath a thin layer of rock that gives them a measure of protection against the Atacama’s extreme temperature, high solar irradiance and battering winds.

Co-author Jocelyne DiRuggiero, JHU associate professor of biology, traveled to the remote desert to collect gypsum samples and brought them back to her labs in the United States. She cut small pieces, where microorganisms could be found, and sent them to UCI for materials analysis.

In one of the most striking findings of the study, the researchers learned that the microorganisms change the very nature of the rock they occupy. By extracting water, they cause a phase transformation of the material – from gypsum to anhydrite, a dehydrated mineral.

According to DiRuggiero, the impetus for the published work came when Wei Huang, a UCI post-doctoral scholar in materials science & engineering, spotted data showing an overlap in concentrations of anhydrite and cyanobacteria in the gypsum samples collected in the Atacama.

“Our analysis of the regions of rock where microbes were colonized revealed a dehydrated phase of calcium sulfate, suggesting that they extract water from the rock to survive,” said David Kisailus, lead author and UCI professor of materials science & engineering. “We wanted to do some more controlled experiments to validate that hypothesis.”

DiRuggiero’s team then allowed the organisms to colonize half-millimeter cubes of rocks, called coupons, under two different conditions, one in the presence of water, to mimic a high-humidity environment, and the other completely dry. In the midst of moisture, the gypsum did not transform to the anhydrite phase.

“They didn’t need water from the rock, they got it from their surroundings,” Kisailus said. “But when they were put under stressed conditions, the microbes had no alternative but to extract water from the gypsum, inducing this phase transformation in the material.”

Kisailus’ team used a combination of advanced microscopy and spectroscopy to examine the interactions between the biological and geological counterparts, finding that the organisms bore into the material like tiny miners by excreting a biofilm containing organic acids, Kisailus said.

Huang used a modified electron microscope equipped with a Raman spectrometer to discover that the organisms used the acid to penetrate the rock in specific crystallographic directions – only along certain planes where they could more easily access water existing between faces of calcium and sulfate ions.

Kisailus said the project was a great demonstration of interdisciplinary research between microbiologists and materials scientists that may, one day, open doors to other forms of scientific discovery.

“Scientists have suspected for a long time that microorganisms might be able to extract water from minerals, but this is the first demonstration of it,” DiRuggiero said. “This is an amazing survival strategy for microorganisms living at the dry limit for life, and it provides constraints to guide our search for life elsewhere.”

Researchers said this study can benefit the Army Research Lab’s efforts in synthetic biology.

“These findings have drawn the interest of our lab as microbial survival mechanisms can be leveraged for biomanufacturing or sensing platforms in harsh military environments,” said Dr. Matthew Perisin of the lab’s biotechnology branch.

In addition to the Army, NASA also provided funding for this project.

Clawgear AUG A3 Toprail

May 8th, 2020

The new Clawgear AUG A3 Toprail provides extended rail space to the front and rear in comparison to the original AUG rail.

Features:

-Made of high strength aluminium with Mil-Spec Type III hard coat anodized finish
-20% lighter with no compromise in stability and ruggedness
-Features a non-glare coating to reduce reflections
-Makes the A3 rifle compatible with the Clawgear AUG Handguard
-Features a 30 slot picatinny rail (NATO STANAG 4694)
-Anti-rotational QD attachment point at the front

www.clawgear.com/en/AUG-A3-Top-Rail-27016en1555

Tactical Distributors – Traeger Grill Giveaway

May 8th, 2020

Follow TD on IG and WIN!!

IG Account Name: Tactical_Distributors

ENTER NOW! TD is celebrating Nat’l BBQ Month w/ a Grill Away Giveaway! Win a Traegar PRO 575 PELLET GRILL, TD APRON & LOG CARRIER.

1.MUST Follow Tactical_Distributors

2.TAG Three Grill Masters BELOW ?

3.SHARE in Your IG Story

Ends Midnight Sunday May 31st, 2020. They will DM & Announce the Winner on the following Monday. *IG Only*

Kit Badger – Compact Carbine Deployment with Bill Rapier: Part – 1

May 8th, 2020

Ivan at Kit Badger spent some time with Bill Rapier, of AMTAC Shooting. Bill goes over some of the important parts of Compact Carbine Deployment from a vehicle.

RMJ Tactical – Dragonfly Push Dagger

May 8th, 2020

This Made in USA push dagger is a pretty straight forward design.

Specifications:
• Overall Length: 4.75 in
• Blade Length: 2.375 in
• Cutting Edge Length: 2.32in
• Blade Thickness: .135 in
• Weight: 1.8 ounces (without sheath)
• Blade Material: Nitro-V Stainless Steel (HRC 58-60)

• Sheath: Kydex scabbard two MAD straps

Get yours at www.rmjtactical.com.

Introducing the New X3 Tactix MPRD from Riton Optics

May 8th, 2020

Tucson, AZ (6 May 2020)- Veteran owned optics company, Riton Optics, is proud to announce the release of their new pistol red dot optic, the X3 Tactix MPRD.  

As a variation from their 2019 released X3 Tactix PRD, this smaller frame micro pistol dot was engineered and tested at the Riton headquarters in Tucson, AZ. True to their core values, Riton’s X3 Tactix MPRD was created as a high-quality product that can withstand the most rugged applications, while also providing the highest level of functionality and absolute best value. 

In contrast to many pistol red dots on the market that are made from polymers, the X3 Tactix MPRD is made from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum and has fully multi-coated, HD glass lenses for optimal clarity and long-lasting performance. It is also waterproof fog proof and shockproof up to 1500Gs.  

With a Shield RMSc footprint, the X3 Tactix MPRD features an ultra-precise 3 MOA dot, 10 levels of red illumination, and an auto shut off after twelve hours. Utilizing one CR2032 battery, this red dot has an approximate battery life of 50,000 hours.   

Riton’s Director of Sales, Todd Neice explained, “The new X3 Tactix MPRD is a great addition to our current line of high-quality, best value optics. The addition further diversifies the Riton line and provides our customers with more options to suit their needs.” 

The X3 Tactix MPRD retails at an industry’s best value of $299.99 and is backed by the company’s unbeatable, unlimited lifetime warranty: The Riton Promise Warranty, which includes no proof of purchase, no registration and rapid new product replacement. 

For more product information, please visit ritonoptics.com.

MCSC, ONR and CD&I Collaborating to Inform ARV Path Forward

May 8th, 2020

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —

Marine Corps Systems Command is working toward the next phase of replacing the legacy Light Armored Vehicle with a modern Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle.

Armored Reconnaissance was the subject of a Capability Based Assessment, the results of which were summarized in a 2019 Joint Requirements Oversight Council-validated Initial Capabilities Document produced by the Marine Corps’ Combat Development and Integration. The CBA pitted Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions against a peer threat, and identified shortfalls and gaps in capability.

CD&I emphasized the need for a modern, purpose-built ARV. As the core-manned, next-generation system, ARV must possess transformational capabilities to enable LAR Battalions to gain contact with and collect on peer-threat forces. It must accomplish this goal without becoming decisively engaged, while also successfully waging the counter-reconnaissance fight.

After the analysis and various other supporting activities, the ARV concept emerged as a transformational required capability. The characteristics differentiating the ARV from current systems include the incorporation of a battle management system, enhanced vision technologies for increased situational awareness, and target tracking and engagement capabilities.

The Program Manager for Light Armored Vehicles is pursuing this capability to support LAR Battalions, provide them with additional capabilities and set the conditions to transform the way they fight.

“Any ARV path forward will continue to be informed by the ongoing [Office of Naval Research] Technology Demonstrator effort, the ARV Analysis of Alternatives, Phase III Force Design outputs, additional Government [Requests for Information], senior leadership direction and industry feedback,” said John “Steve” Myers, Program Manager for MCSC’s LAV portfolio.

A collaborative effort

In the early planning stages, the Marine Corps envisioned the ARV as a replacement combat vehicle for the LAV. Over time, officials began to view the ARV as a vehicle platform equipped with a suite of advanced reconnaissance capabilities, with an open system architecture that can sense, shoot, move, communicate and remain transportable as part of the Naval Expeditionary Force.

PM LAV is leading the acquisition planning effort to help realize this next-generation reconnaissance vehicle. The portfolio is collaborating with ONR and the Capabilities Development Directorate of Headquarters Marine Corps, CD&I.

Capitalizing on their Detroit Arsenal location, PM LAV is working with Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center to update the ARV concept as a tool to analyze impacts of capability changes. Recognizing commonalities exist among the ARV and the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are working together to ensure collaboration for those capability gaps.

ONR is conducting research on advanced technologies to inform requirements, technology readiness assessments and competitive prototyping efforts for the ARV.

In 2019, ONR selected two vendors to design, fabricate and test full-scale technology demonstration platforms. Both platforms are expected to be ready for government evaluation in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020.

Through ONR’s efforts, the Ground Combat Element Division of CDD has been refining a set of requirements for the ARV to meet the future reconnaissance mission of the Marine Corps. PM LAV will leverage this information in a performance specification to be released to industry partners to build the ARV.

The collaboration between PM LAV, ONR and CD&I is crucial to the success of the ARV.

“Effective collaboration between the materiel developer, technologist and combat developer is essential to achieving the next-generation capabilities required to transform legacy armored reconnaissance into a modern, combat credible force,” said Kurt Koch, GCE Division, CDD.

Koch noted how the strong partnerships forged over the last three years set the conditions to develop the core of a next-generation, combat vehicle system—mobile on land and water—to serve as a manned hub coordinating the actions of unmanned ground and aerial robotic sensor, and weapon systems.

The path forward

PM LAV has taken several steps to ensure the success of the ARV.

In 2019, PM LAV released a Request for Information to industry comprising a set of attributes for a transformational vehicle. Based on responses to the RFI, the program office met with several vendors interested in becoming a prime vendor for ARV.

PM LAV originally planned to hold an industry day in May 2020 for the Competitive Prototyping Phase. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be rescheduled to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020.

“We still want to hold an industry day so we can have an open discussion with industry, provide more clarification and answer any questions from our industry partners,” said Maryann Lawson, MCSC’s project lead for ARV.

In addition to industry engagements, the evaluation of Science and Technology efforts as well as ongoing CDD and performance specification refinement should yield the information necessary to move into the Competitive Prototyping phase.

“PM LAV will focus efforts targeted on industry RFIs and strategic small group engagements,” said Myers.

The Marine Corps plans to use the Ground Vehicle Systems Other Transaction Agreement with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium to release a draft request for prototype proposal, or RPP, for the ARV base variant in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020.

The government is interested in industry feedback and collaboration to shape the requirement and statement of work for the final RPP release in spring 2021. Industry partners are encouraged to periodically check beta.sam.gov and engage with the NAMC for future RFIs and program updates.

Story by Matt Gonzales, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | 10th Marine Regiment

Photo by photo by Cpl. Corey A. Mathews

FirstSpear Friday Focus – Technical Woobie

May 8th, 2020

Today we are getting the first look at an all new garment from the FirstSpear American Merino Wool Line. Meet the Technical Woobie. Constructed with premium USA materials including FS ACM 600 Merino for warmth and FS signature apparel nylon accents which add abrasion and wind resistance. Features a modest tail, high collar with adjustable hood, thumb holes, as well as generous hand warmer pockets lined with FS ACM 100 Merino. The Full length zipper and pockets utilize premium zipper hardware and pulls.

A very cool feature FS incorporated are button holes inside the hand warmer pockets along with cord loops along your internal zipper seams which allow the user to route ear buds or communication cables for discreet cable management.

The Technical Woobie offers great everyday style matched with some of the most high performance material combinations and features available. It will quickly become the one piece you will want to take with you everywhere! 100% made in the USA with 100% USA materials.

Now shipping in Black, Sand, Commando, and Black/Heather Grey. Comes with FirstSpear’s standard lifetime warranty on materials and craftsmanship.

www.first-spear.com/technical-woobietm-acmtm-warm-600