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The Tritium Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site releases effluent containing copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) to the H-02 constructed wetland for remediation before the final release. Sediment cores were collected in the wetland cells in both summer and winter. Concentrations of total metals in all sediment layers and acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in surface sediments were determined. Total metal concentrations suggested most metals removed from surface water were retained by the organic-rich flocculent in the top sediment layers instead of being transported to the deeper sulfide mineral layers. The seasonal difference of AVS and SEM indicated a season-related sulfur cycle and metal removal process in the wetland cells. SEM-Zn was the major contributor to total SEM. Metals accumulating in surface sediments were mainly sequestered in AVS and SEM extractable phases including metal-sulfides and organic matter complexes. The general SEM/AVS ratio was > 1, demonstrating the metals associated with sediments were potentially mobile and/or bioavailable, which becomes a concern for the long-term sustainability of the constructed wetland. The disturbance event in the sediment triggered the release of total metals, which were mostly in particulate form and were not bioavailable. Due to the high levels of reduced ion (Fe) in the sediment, the released particulate metals were likely to form metal-scavenging particulate Fe3+ oxyhydroxides under oxic conditions.

The H-02 wetland was constructed on the Savannah River Site (SC, USA) in 2007 to remove Cu and Zn from process and storm runoff water. Water samples were routinely collected from 2008 to 2017 in the primary discharge pipes, influent, effluent, and receiving stream. Water quality parameters were measured in situ, total and dissolved metal (Cu and Zn) concentrations were determined, and metal speciation was calculated with the Biotic Ligand Model. Generally, the H-02 wetland system functioned well during the reporting period. Alkaline waters in the pipe became neutral after running through the wetland. Total metal concentrations in the effluent were lower than the regulatory discharge limit with a removal efficiency of 63.8% (95% CI: 60.8–66.8%) for Cu and 70.5% (95% CI: 67.0–73.9%) for Zn. Reduced metal toxicity was inferred from the observed lower concentrations of free Cu2+ and Zn2+ in the effluent than that in the influent and pipe. As suggested by the higher percentage of Cu-organic matter complexes than Zn-organic matter complexes, Cu had a higher affinity for natural organic ligands than Zn. A three-stage performance pattern of a metal-removing constructed wetland was hypothesized, which includes the plateau stage, the trough stage, and the recovery stage. Further studies were needed to test this hypothesis, monitor the treatment efficiency, improve operation strategies, and ensure the long-term sustainability of H-02 wetland system.

Water, sediment, and biota from two streams on the Savannah River Site were sampled to study mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry. Total and methyl- Hg (MHg) concentrations were measured for all samples, speciation models were used to explore Hg speciation in the water, and Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were applied to indicate the vertical profiles of labile Hg (DGT-Hg). Trophic position (δ15N) was estimated for biota and used to establish MHg biomagnification model. The speciation model indicated Hg methylation in the water occurred on settling particles and the most bioavailable Hg species to bacteria were complexes of inorganic Hg and labile organic ligands. Correspondingly, dissolved organic carbon concentrations were positively related to MHg concentrations in the water. In the sediment, the sharp increase of DGT-Hg around the sediment water interface underscores the importance of this interface, which determines the differences in the accumulation and generation of labile Hg among different waterbodies. The positive correlation between sediment MHg and sulfate concentrations suggested possible methylation reaction by dissimilatory sulfate reducing bacteria in the sediment. The food web magnification factors of MHg were 9.6 (95% CI: 4.0-23.4) and 4.4 (95% CI: 2.5-7.7) for the two streams established with trophic data of biofilm, invertebrates, and fish. Meanwhile, DGT-Hg concentrations in the water were positively correlated to biofilm Hg concentrations, which can be combined with the MHg biomagnification model to generate a modified biomagnification model that estimate MHg bioaccumulation with only labile Hg concentrations in the water. With this approach, Hg accumulation in abiotic and biotic environmental compartments was connected and the different bioaccumulation patterns of Hg in different waterbodies were explained with both geochemical and biological factors.

International audience; In the Fall of 2016 a workshop was held which brought together over 50 scientists from the ecological and radio- logical fields to discuss feasibility and challenges of reintegrating ecosystem science into radioecology. There is a growing desire to incorporate attributes of ecosystem science into radiological risk assessment and radioecological research more generally, fueled by recent advances in quantification of emergent ecosystem at- tributes and the desire to accurately reflect impacts of radiological stressors upon ecosystem function. This paper is a synthesis of the discussions and consensus of the workshop participant's responses to three primary questions, which were: 1) How can ecosystem science support radiological risk assessment? 2) What ecosystem level endpoints potentially could be used for radiological risk assessment? and 3) What inference strategies and associated methods would be most appropriate to assess the effects of radionuclides on ecosystem structure and function? The consensus of the participants was that ecosystem science can and should support radiological risk assessment through the incorporation of quantitative metrics that reflect ecosystem functions which are sensi- tive to radiological contaminants. The participants also agreed that many such endpoints exit or are thought to exit and while many are used in ecological risk assessment currently, additional data need to be collected that link the causal mechanisms of radiological exposure to these endpoints. Finally, the participants agreed that ra- diological risk assessments must be designed and informed by rigorous statistical frameworks capable of reveal- ing the causal inference tying radiological exposure to the endpoints selected for measurement.

Cultivated fruiting body of Grifola frondosa is a culinary and medicinal mushroom. In this study, we investigated its functional food value. Extracts of its fruiting body afforded known compounds, glycerides (1 and 2), sterols (3–5), a glucosylceramide (6), a α-glucose dimer (7), a phospholipid (8) and α-glucans as elucidated by spectroscopic methods. This is the first report of compounds 2, 5 and 8 from the fruiting body of G. frondosa. Most of the pure isolates showed antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities as demonstrated by inhibitions of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and -2) and lipid peroxidation (LPO), respectively. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 from this mushroom inhibited COX enzymes at 100 µg/mL similar to aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen, the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used as controls in the assays.

Using a coupled method of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) exposure with aquatic organism bioassays, we assessed the use of DGT as a tool for estimating copper (Cu) bioavailability in contaminated waters. The DGT-accumulated Cu fraction could possibly be used as a surrogate for other assessments of metal bioavailability. The Cu concentrations in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa) soft tissue were compared with DGT-accumulated Cu after 2, 4, and 6 d of exposure to a Cu concentration series in static, water-only assays. The DGT-accumulated Cu was found to include free Cu ions, labile inorganic Cu complexes, and labile dissolved organic matter Cu complexes, compared with Cu speciation output from the biotic ligand model. Regressions of Cu concentrations between DGT and fathead minnow at 4 and 6 d of exposure demonstrated linear relationships. The Cu bioaccumulated in yellow lampmussel was overpredicted by DGT at Cu concentrations greater than 10 µg L-1 , which may be caused by internal regulation of Cu. The speciation component of the biotic ligand model predicted relationships between inorganic Cu and animal-accumulated Cu that were similar to predicted relationships between DGT-indicated Cu and animal-accumulated Cu at all deployment durations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1535-1544. © 2018 SETAC.

Mercury (Hg) exposure poses a threat to both fish and human health. Sharks are known to bioaccumulate Hg, however, little is known regarding how Hg is distributed between different tissue groups (e.g. muscle regions, organs). Here we evaluated total mercury (THg) concentrations from eight muscle regions, four fins (first dorsal, left and right pectorals, caudal-from both the inner core and trailing margin of each fin), and five internal organs (liver, kidney, spleen, heart, epigonal organ) from two different shark species, bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) and silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis) to determine the relationships of THg concentrations between and within tissue groups. Total Hg concentrations were highest in the eight muscle regions with no significant differences in THg concentrations between the different muscle regions and muscle types (red and white). Results from tissue collected from any muscle region would be representative of all muscle sample locations. Total Hg concentrations were lowest in samples taken from the fin inner core of the first dorsal, pectoral, and caudal (lower lobe) fins. Mercury concentrations for samples taken from the trailing margin of the dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins (upper and lower lobe) were also not significantly different from each other for both species. Significant relationships were found between THg concentrations in dorsal axial muscle tissue and the fin inner core, liver, kidney, spleen and heart for both species as well as the THg concentrations between the dorsal fin trailing margin and the heart for the silky shark and all other sampled tissue types for the bonnethead shark. Our results suggest that biopsy sampling of dorsal muscle can provide data that can effectively estimate THg concentrations in specific organs without using more invasive, or lethal methods.

Morel mushrooms (Morchella, Pezizales) are highly prized edible fungi. Approaches to cultivate morels indoors in pasteurized composted substrates have been successful for Morchella rufobrunnea. We used DNA amplicon sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA and 16S rRNA gene to follow bacterial and fungal communities in substrates during indoor morel cultivation. Our goal was to determine changes in microbial communities at key stages of morel cultivation, which included primordia development, fundament initiation, differentiation and maturation. Additionally, we compared microbial communities between trays that successfully fruited to those that produced conidia and primordia but aborted before ascocarp formation (non-fruiting). The prokaryotic community was dominated by Firmicutes belonging to Bacillus and Paenibacillus with a lower abundance of Flavobacteria. At earlier stages, the fungal community was dominated by Pezizomycetes including Morchella and other species, whereas, later in the cropping cycle Sordariomycetes dominated. Additionally, differences were observed between trays with successful fruiting, which were dominated by Gilmaniella; compared to trays that did not fruit, which were dominated by Cephalotrichum. Our findings inform understanding of microbial community dynamics during morel cultivation, and show that fungal genera, such as Gilmaniella, and prokaryotic genera, such as Bacillus, are abundant in substrates that support M. rufobrunnea fruiting.

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were assessed for their predictive capability of fathead minnow and yellow lampmussel bioaccumulation in copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) mixed metal exposures. Nine treatments with a matrix of 3 Cu and 3 Pb concentrations were utilized. Exposures were coupled, with organisms and DGT exposed in tanks for 6 days. The Cu measured in fish, mussel, and DGT was found not to be influenced by Pb treatment, whereas Pb accumulation was impacted by the interaction of Cu and Pb treatment. The Pb accumulation increased with increasing Cu concentration, which was attributed to the different speciation of Cu and Pb in the water where Cu binds preferentially to ligands, decreasing its bioavailability and concomitantly displacing Pb from complexing sites. The DGT values were significantly correlated with accumulated Cu and Pb in the fish, but not with Pb in the mussel. In addition, DGT was determined to better predict aquatic organism bioaccumulation of Cu than the inorganic Cu fraction calculated by the speciation model, because DGT accumulated not only inorganic metal fractions but also complexes of metal and organic matter. The present study provides insights into metal speciation in polluted environments, extends the understanding of using DGT as a tool for estimating metal bioavailability, and provides implications for the selection of geochemical modeling, biological sampling, and passive sampling techniques for monitoring trace metal contamination. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:61-70. © 2018 SETAC.

The H-02 wetland was constructed to treat building process water and storm runoff water from the Tritium Processing Facility on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (Aiken, SC). Monthly monitoring of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and water quality parameters in surface waters continued from 2014 to 2016. Metal speciation was modeled at each sampling occasion. Total Cu and Zn concentrations released to the effluent stream were below the NPDES limit, and the average removal efficiency was 65.9% for Cu and 71.1% for Zn. The metal-removal processes were found out to be seasonally regulated by sulfur cycling indicated by laboratory and model results. High temperature, adequate labile organic matter, and anaerobic conditions during the warm months (February to August) favored sulfate reduction that produced sulfide minerals to significantly remove metals. However, the dominant reaction in sulfur cycling shifted to sulfide oxidation during the cool months (September to next March). High concentrations of metal-organic complexes were observed, especially colloidal complexes of metal and fulvic acid (FA), demonstrating adsorption to organic matter became the primary process for metal removal. Meanwhile, the accumulation of metal-FA complexes in the wetland system will cause negative effects to the surrounding environment as they are biologically reactive, highly bioavailable, and can be easily taken up and transferred to ecosystems by trophic exchange.

We conducted an exposure experiment with Diffusive Gradients in Thin- Films (DGT), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), and yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa) to estimate bioavailability and bioaccumulation of Cu. We hypothesized that Cu concentrations measured by DGT can be used to predict Cu accumulation in aquatic animals and alterations of water chemistry can affect DGT's predict ability. Three water chemistries (control soft water, hard water, and addition of natural organic matter (NOM)) and three Cu concentrations (0, 30, and 60 μg/L) were selected, so nine Cu-water chemistry combinations were used. NOM addition treatments resulted in decreased concentrations of DGT-measured Cu and free Cu ion predicted by Biotic Ligand Model (BLM). Both hard water and NOM addition treatments had reduced concentrations of Cu ion and Cu-dissolved organic matter complexes compared to other treatments. DGT-measured Cu concentrations were linearly correlated to fish accumulated Cu, but not to mussel accumulated Cu. Concentrations of bioavailable Cu predicted by BLM, the species complexed with biotic ligands of aquatic organisms and, was highly correlated to DGT-measured Cu. In general, DGT-measured Cu fit Cu accumulations in fish, and this passive sampling technique is acceptable at predicting Cu concentrations in fish in waters with low NOM concentrations.

Unique morphologies along with associated differences in habitat use and feeding behavior can result in fish at the top of piscine food chains differing in trophic level. Broad size ranges inherent within large species provide opportunity for size-related trophic shifts. Such relationships between size and trophic level can be species specific. Furthermore, individual-based diet variation can bring about differences among similar-sized organisms. A challenge to aquatic ecologists is deciphering these patterns of trophic change both between and within species. Stable isotope analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for evaluating such patterns. Employing stable isotope analyses, we assessed trophic differentiation in 4 large predatory fish species from a coastal-plain stream. We established the trophic base by including 2 herbivorous invertebrates in the analysis and identified a trophic hierarchy among species, with 2 specialized, generally open-water piscivores, Lepisosteus osseus (Longnose Gar) ...

Climatic variation, including precipitation amounts and timing, has been linked to abundance and breeding success of many avian species. Less studied, but also of significance, is the consequence of climatic variability on the exposure and uptake of nutrients and contaminants by wildlife. The authors examined mercury (Hg) concentrations in nestling wood stork feathers in a coastal setting over a 16-yr period to understand the influence of rainfall amounts on Hg transfer by parental provisioning relative to habitat use, assuming differential bioavailability of Hg within freshwater and saltwater habitat types. Coastal Hg uptake by stork nestlings was linked to freshwater habitat use, as indicated by stable carbon isotope (δ13C) analyses. Cumulative rainfall amounts exceeding 220 cm in the 23 mo preceding the breeding seasons resulted in greater use of freshwater wetlands as foraging habitat and greater Hg accumulation by nestling storks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2711–2715. © 2014 SETAC

Dissimilarities in habitat use, feeding habits, life histories, and physiology can result in syntopic aquatic taxa of similar trophic position bioaccumulating trace elements in vastly different patterns. We compared bioaccumulation in a clam, Corbicula fluminea and mayfly nymph Maccaffertium modestum from a coal combustion waste contaminated stream. Collection sites differed in distance to contaminant sources, incision, floodplain activity, and sources of flood event water and organic matter. Contaminants variably accumulated in both sediment and biofilm. Bioaccumulation differed between species and sites with C. fluminea accumulating higher concentrations of Hg, Cs, Sr, Se, As, Be, and Cu, but M. modestum higher Pb and V. Stable isotope analyses suggested both spatial and taxonomic differences in resource use with greater variability and overlap between species in the more physically disturbed site. The complex but essential interactions between organismal biology, divergence in resource use, and bioaccumulation as related to stream habitat requires further studies essential to understand impacts of metal pollution on stream systems.

Extensive and critical evaluation can be required to assess contaminant bioaccumulation in large predatory fishes. Species differences in habitat use, resource use, and trophic level, often influenced by body form, can result in diverging contaminant bioaccumulation patterns. Moreover, the broad size ranges inherent with large-bodied fish provide opportunity for trophic and habitat shifts within species that can further influence contaminant exposure. We compared contaminant bioaccumulation in four fish species, as well as two herbivorous invertebrates, from a coal combustion waste contaminated stream. Muscle, liver, and gonad tissue were analyzed from fish stratified across the broadest size ranges available. Effects of trophic position (δ (15)N), carbon sources (δ (13)C), and body size varied among and within species. Mercury and cesium concentrations were lowest in the invertebrates and increased with trophic level both among and within fish species. Other elements, such as vanadium, cadmium, barium, nickel, and lead, had greater levels in herbivorous invertebrates than in fish muscle. Sequestration by the fish livers averted accumulation in muscle. Consequently, fish liver tissue appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of bioavailability, but exceptions existed. Despite liver sequestration, within fishes, muscle concentrations of many elements still tended to increase by trophic level. Notable variation within some species was observed. These results illustrate the utility of stable isotope data in exploring differences of bioaccumulation within taxa. Our analyses suggest a need for further evaluation of the underlying sources of this variability to better understand contaminant bioaccumulation in large predatory fishes.

Sediment samples from a salt marsh habitat in the vicinity of Linden Chemical Plant (LCP) Superfund site in Brunswick Georgia, USA, were analyzed for the composition of total solvent extracts and sources of lipid compounds. Stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis infer past multiple sources of organic matter (OM) from aquatic and terrestrial origin, e.g., phytoplankton, bacteria, and land plants, as well as anthropogenic contamination. The n-alkane and n-alkanol distributions in the sediment samples were dominated by long-chain homologues maximizing at C25–C27 for alkanes (carbon preference index (CPI) ∼1) and C32 for n-alkanols indicating inputs from higher plants, but also microbial and petroleum-related sources. Fatty acid distribution was characterized by short-chain (< C18) and branched homologues indicative of bacterial origin. The high abundance of dehydroabietic acid and anthropogenic contaminants, including alkylphenols, are indicative of the effects of past industrial activities in the LCP marsh area in Brunswick, Georgia.

Exposure to environmental contaminants contributes to the global decline of amphibian populations. The impacts of organic contaminants on amphibians are well documented. However, substantially less is known concerning the potential effects of metals on amphibian populations. Copper (Cu) is an essential element, but it can be toxic at concentrations only slightly higher than the normal physiological range. The present study examines the effects of chronic Cu exposure on embryos and larvae of southern leopard frogs, Lithobates (Rana) sphenocephalus. Groups of eggs from multiple clutches were collected from two wetlands and exposed to a range of Cu concentrations (0-150 mg/L) until they reached the free-swimming stage, and then individual larvae were reared to metamorphosis. Higher Cu concentrations significantly reduced embryo survival to the free-swimming stage but did not further reduce survival to metamorphosis. Larval period was affected by Cu treatment, but the clutch from which larvae originated (i.e., parentage) explained a higher proportion of the variation. Embryo survival to hatching varied significantly among clutches, ranging from 42.9 to 79.2%. Measurable levels of Cu were found in larvae with body burdens up to 595 mg Cu/g dry mass in the 100 mg/L treatment, and larval Cu body burdens were higher than in metamorphs. The present study also demonstrated that higher initial egg density ameliorated embryo mortality at higher Cu levels and should be accounted for in future studies. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:1587-1594. # 2012 SETAC Keywords—Lithobates (Rana) sphenocephalus Copper Amphibian Ecotoxicology Metal toxicity

Rallus longirostris (Clapper Rail) is considered a good indicator species for toxicants because of its strong site fidelity and predictable diet of benthic organisms. High levels of the rare PCB Aroclor 1268 have been found in Clapper Rail adults, chicks, and eggs from the marshes associated with the Linden Chemical Plant (LCP) in Brunswick, GA. Recently, sampling and testing feathers has successfully been used as a non-lethal tool to trace exposure and assimilation of Aroclor 1268 in rails from the LCP site. This approach allows us to infer how and when these birds are exposed to contaminants in the marsh due to predictable molting patterns coupled with the fact that a feather will accumulate the toxicant only at the time it is grown. This study is the start of a process to investigate the possibility that this ecosystem contamination is the foundation of an ecological trap for Clapper Rails at the LCP site. Aroclor 1268 was isolated in Clapper Rail feathers from all birds collected from the con...

Arkashin Schurf (Arkashin) and Zavarzin Spring (Zavarzin), two active thermal pools in the Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka, Russia, were studied for geochemical and microbiological characterization. Arkashin, the smaller of the two pools, had broader temperature and pH ranges, and the sediments had higher concentrations of total As (4,250 mg/kg) relative to Zavarzin (48.9 mg/kg). Glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether profiles represented distinct archaeal communities in each pool and agreed well with previous studies of these pools. Although no archaeal 16S rRNA sequences were recovered from Arkashin, sequences recovered from Zavarzin were mostly representatives of the Crenarchaeota and "Korarchaeota," and 13% of the sequences were unclassifiable. The bacterial community in Arkashin was dominated by uncultured "Bacteroidetes," Hydrogenobaculum of the Aquificales and Variovorax of the Betaproteobacteria, and 19% of the sequences remained unclassified. These results were consistent with other studies of As-rich features. The most abundant members of the Zavarzin bacterial community included the Chloroflexi, as well as members of the classes Deltaproteobacteria and Clostridia. In addition, 24% of the sequences were unclassified and at least 5% of those represent new groups among the established Bacterial phyla. Ecological structure in each pool was inferred from taxonomic classifications and bulk stable isotope δ values of C, N, and S. Hydrogenobaculum was responsible for primary production in Arkashin. However, in Zavarzin, the carbon source appeared to be allochthonous to the identified bacterial community members. Additionally, sequences related to organisms expected to participate in N and S cycles were identified from both pools.

The black poplar mushroom, Agrocybe aegerita is a popular edible mushroom with reported anti-tumor properties. A bioactivity-guided investigation gave positive results for ceramide (1), methyl-β- d -glucopyranoside and α- d -glucopyranoside, along with already reported linoleic acid and its methyl ester. The structure elucidation of the above was accomplished by NMR and mass spectral methods. The ceramide (1) inhibited cyclooxygenase enzymes, COX-1 and -2, by 43 and 92.3%, respectively at 25 μg/ml (34.4 μM). The 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of compound 1 against COX-2 was 5.3 μg/ml (7.3 μM). Similarly, its anti-cancer potential was investigated against five human cancer cell lines in vitro and it was found to inhibit the proliferation of stomach, breast and CNS cancer cell lines at 26.9, 23.2 and 39.1%, respectively, at 100 μg/ml (139 μM) concentration. This is the first report of the isolation of ceramide from A. aegerita and its COX and tumor cell proliferation inhibitory activities. This suggested that the consumption of A. aegerita would assist in alleviating inflammatory conditions, as well as reducing the development of the above cancers.

Microbial mats were collected from hot springs in California (Eagleville) and Nevada (Paradise Valley and Crescent Valley) to determine bacterial community structure and pathways of carbon cycling in different geothermal environments of the western United States. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) at Eagleville contained even-numbered fatty acids, with 16:0 being the most abundant (48.8%), followed by 18:1ω 9c (17.2%), 16:1ω 7c/t (6.3%), and 18:0 (6.2%), which are consistent with lipid profiles of cyanobacteria or other phototrophic bacteria. The PLFA profiles at Paradise Valley and Crescent Valley were dominated by similar even-numbered fatty acids; however, branched fatty acids such as iso- and anteiso- 15:0 and 17:0 were also abundant (up to 7.1% compared to 2.0% at Eagleville), suggesting greater relative abundance of heterotrophic bacteria in these springs. Analysis of neutral lipids was only performed on Eagleville and Paradise Valley springs, which revealed abundant bacterial hopanoids including the 2...

Temporal changes in eight different lipid classes (hydrocarbons, wax esters, triglycerides, fatty acids, alcohols, sterols, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and polar lipids) were followed during decomposition of two different species of leaves (water oak, Quercus nigra, and sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua) in a southeastern blackwater stream using chromarod thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID). Differences were observed between the two species in the initial quantity and changes over time of the major lipid classes. These differences in specific classes may contribute to some of the observed patterns in rates of decomposition. However, total lipid concentrations were fairly similar between the two leaf species over time. TLC-FID was shown to be an effective tool in monitoring the dynamics of leaf lipids during decomposition.

Concentrations of total mercury and the rare PCB mixture Aroclor 1268 in least terns (Sternula antillarum), a colonially-nesting, piscivorous seabird, in the Turtle River estuary and other coastal sites in Georgia, USA, were investigated. The Turtle River estuary is the location of the Linden Chemical Plant (LCP) Superfund site, a site prioritized by USA law for immediate remediation, where industries released effluent containing these contaminants until 1994. Aroclor 1268 is a highly-chlorinated PCB mixture that was used and released exclusively at the LCP site and nowhere else in the south eastern USA. High concentrations of Aroclor 1268 congeners and mercury have been documented in biota local to LCP, but no studies report concentrations in high trophic level, piscivorous birds such as least terns. We collected feathers and feces from chicks, and eggs from adults, at nesting colonies along the Georgia coast to analyze contaminant loads (in dry weight ppb). Mean Aroclor 1268 mixture concentrations in eggs (≤16 329 ppb) were highest at colonies in and just outside LCP, and decreased with increasing distance (up to 110 km) from LCP, but the Aroclor 1268 signature congener mixture was present at all sites. Mercury concentrations in eggs (≤3370 ppb), feathers (≤5950 ppb), and feces (≤417 ppb), were present at all sites, but did not vary significantly among sites. This report confirms the extensive dispersal of Aroclor 1268 congeners (approximately 110 km north and 70 km south of its point source) via bioaccumulation and trophic transfer.

High performing, lightweight insulation capable of operating at various pressures from one atmosphere to vacuum, is needed for cryogenically fueled space launch vehicles. Multilayer insulation (MLI) out performs all insulations systems in a high vacuum, but the required vacuum shell for use in the atmosphere is heavy. Spray-on foam insulation (SOFI) is often used on launch vehicles because of its light weight, but can have higher heat flux than required for extended on-orbit cryopropellant operation. It would be beneficial to have insulation capable of meeting both ground hold and in space requirements.

An obligatorily anaerobic, thermotolerant, asporogenic bacterium, strain JW/YJL-S1T, was isolated from a sediment sample of a constructed wetland system receiving acid sulfate water (pH 1.6–3.0). Cells of strain JW/YJL-S1T were straight to curved rods 0.2–0.4 μm in diameter and 2.0–7.0 μm in length, and stained Gram-negative. Growth of strain JW/YJL-S1T was observed at 25–54 °C (no growth at or below 20 or at or above 58 °C), with an optimum temperature range for growth of 42.5–46.5 °C. The pH25 °C range for growth was 6.0–8.25 (no growth at or below pH 5.7 or at or above pH 8.5), with optimum growth at pH 6.8–7.75. The salinity range for growth was 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl, with an optimum at 0–0.5 %. During growth on glucose the isolate produced acetate, lactate and ethanol as main fermentation end products. The fatty acid composition was dominated by branched-chain compounds: i15 : 0, a15 : 0, i16 : 0 and i17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.8 mol% (HPLC). Strain JW/YJL-S1T showed polymorphism of the 16S rRNA gene. Its closest relative was the thermophilic Clostridium thermosuccinogenes DSM 5807T (a member of Clostridium cluster III) (a blastn search revealed Clostridium pascui DSM 10365T to have 92.7 % gene sequence similarity, the highest value). The inferred phylogenetic trees placed strain JW/YJL-S1T between Clostridium clusters I/II and III. Based on the morphological and phylogenetic data presented, JW/YJL-S1T (=DSM 17427T=ATCC BAA-1219T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species in a new genus, Gracilibacter thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel thermophilic, alkali-tolerant, and CO-tolerant strain JW/WZ-YB58(T) was isolated from green mat samples obtained from the Zarvarzin II hot spring in the Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka (Far East Russia). Cells were Gram-type and Gram stain-positive, strictly aerobic, 0.7-0.8 mum in width and 5.5-12 mum in length and produced terminal spherical spores of 1.2-1.6 mum in diameter with the mother cell swelling around 2 mum in diameter (drumstick-type morphology). Cells grew optimally at pH(25 degrees C) 8.2-8.4 and temperature 50-52 degrees C and tolerated maximally 6% (w/v) NaCl. They were strict heterotrophs and could not use either CO or CO(2 )(both with or without H(2)) as sole carbon source, but tolerated up to 90% (v/v) CO in the headspace. The isolate grew on various complex substrates such as yeast extract, on carbohydrates, and organic acids, which included starch, D: -galactose, D: -mannose, glutamate, fumarate and acetate. Catalase reaction was negative. The membrane polar lipids were dominated by branched saturated fatty acids, which included iso-15:0 (24.5%), anteiso-15:0 (18.3%), iso-16:0 (9.9%), iso-17:0 (17.5%) and anteiso-17:0 (9.7%) as major constituents. The DNA G+C content of the strain is 45 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain JW/WZ-YB58(T) is distantly (93% similarity) related to members of Bacillaceae. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, physiological and phenotypic characteristics, the isolate JW/WZ-YB58(T) (ATCC BAA-1258; DSM 17740) is proposed to be the type strain for the type species of the new taxa within the family Bacillaceae, Thermalkalibacillus uzoniensis gen. nov. sp. nov. The Genbank accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence is DQ221694.

Optical refrigeration using anti-Stokes fluorescence in solids has several advantages over more conventional techniques including low mass, low volume, low cost and no vibration. It also has the potential of allowing miniature cryocoolers on the scale of a few cubic centimeters. It has been the topic of analysis and experimental work by several organizations. In 2003, we demonstrated the first optical refrigerator. We have developed a comprehensive system-level performance model of optical refrigerators. Our current version models the refrigeration cycle based on the fluorescent material emission and absorption data at ambient and reduced temperature for the Ytterbium–ZBLAN glass (Yb:ZBLAN) cooling material. It also includes the heat transfer into the refrigerator cooling assembly due to radiation and conduction. In this paper, we report on modeling results which reveal the interplay between size, power input, and cooling load. This interplay results in practical size limitations using Yb:ZBLAN.

Several wading bird species in the southeastern US have a history of infection by hematozoa/avian malaria as well as mercury accumulation through their diet, and thus may be exposed to two, generally sublethal, yet chronic, stressors. We analyzed nestling wading birds (n = 171) of varying size and trophic position from the southeastern US, and a smaller sample (n = 23) of older, free-ranging birds, to look for potential interrelationships between infection by hematozoa and mercury (Hg) uptake. Only one nestling was PCR positive for hematozoa (Plasmodium/Haemoproteus) whereas nine (39%) of the older wading birds were positive. Sequencing indicated that both nestling and adult positives were infected with Plasmodium. Given the low infection rate of the nestlings, there was no association between Hg and malaria. The older birds exhibited a possible malaria/Hg association, but it may be confounded by their greater potential exposure period and large-scale movements.

This article provides our response to the comment by Fuchsman et al. regarding the interpretation of results presented in our recent publication (Robinson et al., Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 2015, 17, 1424) reporting on concentrations of Aroclor 1268 congeners in least tern eggs in coastal Georgia, USA.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) was collected seasonally for 1 yr at third- and fifth-order sites in a blackwater stream on the coastal plain in South Carolina. Fatty acids with carbon chain lengths from C(12)-C(32) were the most abundant component among the lipid classes examined with total concentrations varying from 8.5 to 60.2 microgL(-1). Unsaturated fatty acids predominated while significant concentrations of the even-chained saturated components C(24)-C(30) derived from cuticular plant waxes were also found. Concentrations of aliphatic alcohols, with carbon chain lengths between C(16) and C(30), ranged from 0.52 to 2.73 microgL(-1) and was dominated by the higher molecular weight compounds (C(22)-C(30)) derived primarily from cuticular plant waxes. Total hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from 0.35 to 5.66 microgL(-1) and showed no discernible trends with time or consistent difference between sites. The hydrocarbon assemblage observed indicates that these components are entirely of biogenic origin with no detectable anthropogenic contribution. The ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and cuticular to noncuticular fatty acids and alcohols at both stream locations indicate that the organic detritus associated with SPM collected during November and January is of more recent origin and less processed than that collected in the spring and summer months. Lipid concentrations at the third-order site generally had higher and more variable concentrations of the lipid classes compared with the fifth-order site. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was higher at the third-order site indicating that the organic fraction of SPM at this site was of more recent origin and less decomposed. The ratios of cuticular to noncuticular fatty acids and alcohols support this conclusion. These results indicate an export of particulate lipids of higher carbon resource quality from upstream to lower stream reaches.

In the search for bioactive natural products from edible mushrooms, we have investigated the fruiting body of Agrocybe aegerita. The methanol extract of this mushroom yielded a fatty acid fraction (FAF), along with palmitic acid (1), ergosterol (2), 5,8-epidioxy-ergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (3), mannitol (4) and trehalose (5). The composition of FAF was confirmed by GC-MS and by comparison to the retention values of authentic samples of palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. The structures of 1-5 were established using spectroscopic methods. FAF and compounds 1-3 showed cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities. The inhibition values of liposome peroxidation by FAF, compounds 1 and 2 at 100 microg/ml were 75, 45, and 43%, respectively. The inhibition values of COX-I enzyme by FAF and 1-3 at 100 microg/ml were 80, 39, 19, and 57%, respectively. Similarly, COX-II enzyme activity was reduced by FAF and 1-3 at 100 microg/ml with values of 88, 45, 28, and 22%, respectively. Compounds 1, 3 and fatty acids were isolated here for the first time from the fruiting body of A. aegerita.

Soil water repellency (WR) reduces mineralization of soil organic matter (SOM) and has the potential to sequester soil carbon. However, predicted climate change events such as decreased rainfall and droughts can cause changes in WR influencing water storage and plant productivity. Hot-water-soluble carbon (HWSC) is a sensitive indicator of ecosystem changes. It contains binding agents influencing soil aggregate stability, which is mainly controlled by soil WR levels. Here we characterize the link between WR and the organic compounds composition in hot water extracts from accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of sandy soils. Extracts were lyophilized, fractionated and measured by GC/MS. Dominant compounds were phenolic acids, short chain dicarboxylic acids (C4–C9), saccharides, glycosides, (C8–C18) fatty acids, and esters of oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. We speculate that the complete elimination of WR by hot water was due to: (i) critical quantity of HWSC extracted, necessary to disaggregate soil particles; (ii) removal of sugars and aromatics; (iii) removal of hydrophobic fatty acid esters (C16 and C18); (iv) enhanced desorption of complex DOC fractions in water at high T and pressure; (v) exposure of greater proportion of hydrophilic sites. The polarity and aromaticity of HWSC can play a critical role in stabilization and destabilization of soil organic matter (SOM), particle wettability and C dynamics in soils.

We report the successful operation of an optical cooler system. This device achieved 48 °C of cooling from room temperature and a heat lift of 25 mW when it was pumped with 1.6 W of laser light. Its performance as a function of pump laser wavelength and chamber temperature agrees well with theoretical models. This device validates the physics needed for exploiting the laser cooling of solids to develop practical optical refrigerators.

Three hydrocarbon classes (n-alkanes, branched and cyclic alkanes, and aromatics) were separated from diesel fuel and used as hydrocarbon treatments during a 35-d batch culture experiment in which biodegradation rates of the individual classes were quantified and compared with the biodegradation rate of a treatment consisting of a composite of the three fractions. Triplicate batch cultures of each hydrocarbon treatment were sampled on experimental days 0, 3, 7, 15, and 35. The microbial inoculum used in this study was a crude oil-degrading culture isolated from a contaminated soil. As the experiment proceeded, microbial populations were estimated by total heterotrophic plate counts. Hydrocarbon concentrations were quantified by GC with flame ionization detection, and specific compound identification was confirmed by GC-MS. The composite treatment was separated into aliphatic and aromatic fractions before hydrocarbon analysis. After 35 d, the relative biodegradation for each hydrocarbon class was as follows: n-alkanes > aliphatic fraction of composite solution > aromatics > branched and cyclic alkanes > aromatic fraction of composite solution. In the composite treatment, biodegradation of both aromatic and aliphatic fractions was observed during the 35-d study period and thus did not follow a clear pattern of sequential degradation. However, the biodegradation rate for the aromatic fraction was significantly slower than the aliphatic fraction.

Tetraphenylborate (TPB) will be used in the immoblization of high-level radioactive wastes in the U.S. Department of Energy's Defense Waste Processing Facility. This will be the first large-scale industrial application of TPB and information regarding its behavior in the environment is needed to assess the impact of potential contamination. Previous work indicated that TPB degrades via indirect photolysis initiated by humic substances in natural waters. In this study, the contribution of selected photo-generated reactive transient compounds were evaluated. Some of the degradation products of the reaction were also identified. The results indicate that reaction paths involving the super oxide anion (O2-.) have a negligible contribution to humic acid sensitzed photolysis. Singlet oxygen (1O2), generated by sunlight irradiation of a solution containing rose bengal, rapidly degraded TPB. However, the results from experiments evaluating the role of 1O2 in TPB degradation in solutions containing humic acid were inconclusive. Triphenylboron, o-terphenyl, and bis-diphenylborinate were identified as degradation products in solvent extracts of irradiated solution using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry.

Free and humic‐bound carbohydrates were measured in rainfall leached through leaves of four floodplain tree species. Leaf material differed in the total amount of leachable carbohydrates as well as in the form of carbohydrate released, i.e. free versus humic‐bound. Red maple (Acer rubrum) contained the greatest amount of cumulative total leachable carbohydrates, followed by sweetgum (Liquidambar styracifula), sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana), and white oak (Quercus alba). Sweetgum leachate contained the highest percentage of free carbohydrates (69%), followed by sweet bay (29%), red maple (26%), and white oak (23%). Greatest amounts of free carbohydrates in all species were leached during the initial two to three rainfalls of the experiment.

Many cryogenic systems require thermal insulation on piping and tubing containing cryogenic fluids. The lowest heat leak is typically achieved with conventional multilayer insulation (MLI) wrapped around the tubing and contained in a vacuum. However, because of inherent insulation compression and its effect on conventional netting spacer MLI, MLI performance on piping and tubing is four to ten times worse than MLI on a cryogenic tank or flat surface. Wrapped Multilayer Insulation (WMLI) is a high performance multilayer insulation designed for cryogenic piping that uses an innovative discrete spacer technology to control layer spacing/density and reduce heat leak. This paper reports on the initial development of WMLI and its demonstration as a feasible technology. The WMLI design was estimated in thermal models to provide four times better thermal insulation than conventional MLI on cryogenic piping. A WMLI prototype was built and had a measured heat leak 37% of the heat leak of conventional MLI insulating tubing. Test results for WMLI are presented, and plans for continued development of this insulation are discussed.

Liquid hydrogen has distinct advantages as an aircraft fuel. These include a specific heat of combustion 2.8 times greater than gasoline or jet fuel and zero carbon emissions. It can be utilized by fuel cells, turbine engines and internal combustion engines. The high heat of combustion is particularly important in the design of long endurance aircraft with liquid hydrogen enabling cruise endurance of several days. However, the mass advantage of the liquid hydrogen fuel will result in a mass advantage for the fuel system only if the liquid hydrogen tank and insulation mass is a small fraction of the hydrogen mass. The challenge is producing a tank that meets the mass requirement while insulating the cryogenic liquid hydrogen well enough to prevent excessive heat leak and boil off. In this paper, we report on the design, fabrication and testing of a liquid hydrogen fuel tank for a prototype high altitude long endurance (HALE) demonstration aircraft. Design options on tank geometry, tank wall material and insulation systems are discussed. The final design is an aluminum sphere insulated with spray on foam insulation (SOFI). Several steps and organizations were involved in the tank fabrication and test. The tank was cold shocked, helium leak checked and proof pressure tested. The overall thermal performance was verified with a boil off test using liquid hydrogen.

An experiment was designed to test the importance of the potential interaction (inhibition or enhancement) between slow and fast decaying leaf species on processing rates in a stream and its floodplain. The decomposition of water oak (Quercus nigra) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in single-species packs was compared with water oak plus sweetgum in mixed-species packs within three habitats (stream snags, floodplain pools, and elevated floodplain surfaces) at three sites in coastal plain streams. Fast-decaying sweetgum leaves did not enhance the rate of oak decomposition. Sweetgum leaves in mixed packs decomposed more slowly than single species packs in seven out of nine comparisons. Increases in bacterial density on leaves were depressed in mixed-species packs relative to single-species sweetgum packs. Fungal hyphae could not be observed in mixed or single-species packs. The effect of oak leaves on sweetgum leaves was affected by frequency and period of inundation. Macroinvertebrate shredders were ...

Calculations based on the standard equations for the flow He II in tubes predict large pressure and moderate temperature maxima when the tube is long and narrow. This effect has not, to our knowledge, been previously observed. Experimental data are presented that confirm the existence of the pressure maxima in capillaries of diameter 0.3 \ensuremath{\mu}m. The measured data are in good agreement with predictions. The data validate the model equations for flow in capillaries and porous media using the bulk value of the Gorter-Mellink parameter. This effect may impact interpretations of experimental searches for size effects.

Ball and NASA have been developing technologies to support future Exploration Missions that require long term cryogenic storage. The long term cryogenic storage needs are for propellants (oxygen, hydrogen, methane), life support (oxygen, nitrogen), and power systems (fuel cell reactants). Specific Exploration Program applications include the Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer (CPST), On-Orbit Fuel Depots, Earth Departure Stage (EDS) and the Landers. The cryogenic storage technologies include: foam and multi-layer insulation, load bearing (maintains own vacuum) insulation, supports and struts, distributed mechanical cooling, cryogenic shields, and radiators. These technologies have been leveraged primarily from Ball flight science programs and tailored and advanced specifically for Exploration. This paper will present an overview of these technologies and their application.

True morels (Morchella, Ascomycota) are arguably the most highly-prized of the estimated 1.5 million fungi that inhabit our planet. Field guides treat these epicurean macrofungi as belonging to a few species with cosmopolitan distributions, but this hypothesis has not been tested. Prompted by the results of a growing number of molecular studies, which have shown many microbes exhibit strong biogeographic structure and cryptic speciation, we constructed a 4-gene dataset for 177 members of the Morchellaceae to elucidate their origin, evolutionary diversification and historical biogeography. Diversification time estimates place the origin of the Morchellaceae in the middle Triassic 243.63 (95% highest posterior density [HPD] interval: 169.35-319.89) million years ago (Mya) and the divergence of Morchella from its closest relatives in the early Cretaceous 129.61 (95% HPD interval: 90.26-173.16) Mya, both within western North America. Phylogenetic analyses identified three lineages within Morchella: a basal monotypic lineage represented by Morchella rufobrunnea, and two sister clades comprising the black morels (Elata Clade, 26 species) and yellow morels (Esculenta Clade, 16 species). Morchella possesses a Laurasian distribution with 37/41 species restricted to the Holarctic. All 33 Holarctic species represented by multiple collections exhibited continental endemism. Moreover, 16/18 North American and 13/15 Eurasian species appeared to exhibit provincialism. Although morel fruit bodies produce thousands of explosively discharged spores that are well suited to aerial dispersal, our results suggest that they are poorly adapted at invading novel niches. Morels also appear to have retained the ancestral fruit body plan, which has remained remarkably static since the Cretaceous.

In this study we used feathers to biomonitor exposure to the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor 1268 congener mixture in clapper rails (Rallus longirostris). This species has been used as an indicator species of environmental damage for the LCP superfund site located in Brunswick, GA, USA which is contaminated with Aroclor 1268, a congener mixture that has been used in limited amounts elsewhere and therefore can be used as a contaminant marker. The Aroclor 1268 congener mixture, including congener profiles, were quantified in feathers using gas chromatography (GC). Concurrently, each sample was quantified for the total Aroclor 1268 congener mixture using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and compared to the GC results to determine if ELISA was an efficient method for quantifying or qualifying PCBs in feathers. ELISA consistently quantified PCB loads over an order of magnitude lower than the GC. Based on sample replication, extraction recovery, and sample spike, it appears that GC is the more reliable method of detection and that ELISA methods may be more suitable for qualitative exposure assessment for this particular Aroclor. Moreover, since all clapper rails from the LCP site had the Aroclor 1268 congener mixture in their feathers, this experiment showed that birds were returning to the site to breed despite the adverse effects experienced by this population from the contamination revealed in previous studies. This study also supports the utility of feathers as a non-lethal mechanism by which to biomonitor PCBs in the environment.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC) has added a powerful capability to its existing imaging spectrometer alignment and test facilities: Scanning Fabry-Perot source filters. These interferometers provide a means for efficient instrument testing with full characterization from the ultra-violet (UV) to longwave infrared (LWIR). Spectral Response Functions (SRF) and geometric distortions are accurately determined with a common approach. The techniques were demonstrated with a two band cryogenic LWIR spectrometer and with the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) Spaceborne InfraRed Atmospheric Sounder for Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SIRAS-G) laboratory demonstration imaging spectrometer. The spectrometer testing and performance is presented.

In predicting natural attenuation rates for contaminant plumes, it is vital to determine flow patterns, suitability of chemical and microbial conditions, and seasonality. Savannah River Site’s CMP Pits operated from 1971 until 1979; receiving chemicals, metals, and pesticides. Now a Superfund site, monitoring-wells indicated perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) had seeped beneath the vadose zone. It was unknown how the plume was entering Pen Branch valley below and whether natural attenuation was degrading the contaminant load. Our study focused on plume transport and exchange within the critical hyporheic zone beneath Pen Branch and helped to ground-truth model the plume borders. We also determined reductive dechlorination of PCE and TCE into dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride. Over forty sampling holes were augered into the hyporheic zone and adjacent floodplain along with 12 stream stations. Chemical conditions linked to natural attenuation (e.g. H2S, Fe+2, and NH3) were monitored to identify reductive dechlorination suitability along with temperature, pH, redox, and dissolved oxygen. Plume flow displayed complex entry patterns, but natural attenuation was documented by higher levels of cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) (61.5 μg/l) compared to PCE or TCE. High means of hyporheic PCE (26.5 μg/l) and TCE (6.7 μg/l) compared to overlying stream water PCE (0.5 μg/l) and TCE (0.2 μg/l) raise new transport pathway questions.