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Selected AbstractsGeoChip-based analysis of functional microbial communities during the reoxidation of a bioreduced uranium-contaminated aquiferENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 10 2009Joy D. Van Nostrand Summary A pilot-scale system was established for in situ biostimulation of U(VI) reduction by ethanol addition at the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Field Research Center (Oak Ridge, TN). After achieving U(VI) reduction, stability of the bioreduced U(IV) was evaluated under conditions of (i) resting (no ethanol injection), (ii) reoxidation by introducing dissolved oxygen (DO), and (iii) reinjection of ethanol. GeoChip, a functional gene array with probes for N, S and C cycling, metal resistance and contaminant degradation genes, was used for monitoring groundwater microbial communities. High diversity of all major functional groups was observed during all experimental phases. The microbial community was extremely responsive to ethanol, showing a substantial change in community structure with increased gene number and diversity after ethanol injections resumed. While gene numbers showed considerable variations, the relative abundance (i.e. percentage of each gene category) of most gene groups changed little. During the reoxidation period, U(VI) increased, suggesting reoxidation of reduced U(IV). However, when introduction of DO was stopped, U(VI) reduction resumed and returned to pre-reoxidation levels. These findings suggest that the community in this system can be stimulated and that the ability to reduce U(VI) can be maintained by the addition of electron donors. This biostimulation approach may potentially offer an effective means for the bioremediation of U(VI)-contaminated sites. [source] Hydrogenase- and outer membrane c -type cytochrome-facilitated reduction of technetium(VII) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Matthew J. Marshall Summary Pertechnetate, 99Tc(VII)O4,, is a highly mobile radionuclide contaminant at US Department of Energy sites that can be enzymatically reduced by a range of anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms, including Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, to poorly soluble Tc(IV)O2(s). In other microorganisms, Tc(VII)O4, reduction is generally considered to be catalysed by hydrogenase. Here, we provide evidence that although the NiFe hydrogenase of MR-1 was involved in the H2 -driven reduction of Tc(VII)O4,[presumably through a direct coupling of H2 oxidation and Tc(VII) reduction], the deletion of both hydrogenase genes did not completely eliminate the ability of MR-1 to reduce Tc(VII). With lactate as the electron donor, mutants lacking the outer membrane c -type cytochromes MtrC and OmcA or the proteins required for the maturation of c -type cytochromes were defective in reducing Tc(VII) to nanoparticulate TcO2·nH2O(s) relative to MR-1 or a NiFe hydrogenase mutant. In addition, reduced MtrC and OmcA were oxidized by Tc(VII)O4,, confirming the capacity for direct electron transfer from these OMCs to TcO4,. c -Type cytochrome-catalysed Tc(VII) reduction could be a potentially important mechanism in environments where organic electron donor concentrations are sufficient to allow this reaction to dominate. [source] A quantitative review comparing the yield of switchgrass in monocultures and mixtures in relation to climate and management factorsGCB BIOENERGY, Issue 1 2010DAN WANG Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a US Department of Energy model species, is widely considered for US biomass energy production. While previous studies have demonstrated the effect of climate and management factors on biomass yield and chemical characteristics of switchgrass monocultures, information is lacking on the yield of switchgrass grown in combination with other species for biomass energy. Therefore, the objective of this quantitative review is to compare the effect of climate and management factors on the yield of switchgrass monocultures, as well as on mixtures of switchgrass, and other species. We examined all peer-reviewed articles describing productivity of switchgrass and extracted dry matter yields, stand age, nitrogen fertilization (N), temperature (growing degree days), and precipitation/irrigation. Switchgrass yield was greater when grown in monocultures (10.9 t ha,1, n=324) than when grown in mixtures (4.4 t ha,1, n=85); yield in monocultures was also greater than the total yield of all species in the mixtures (6.9 t ha,1, n=90). The presence of legume species in mixtures increased switchgrass yield from 3.1 t ha,1 (n=65) to 8.9 t ha,1 (n=20). Total yield of switchgrass-dominated mixtures with legumes reached 9.9 t ha,1 (n=25), which was not significantly different from the monoculture yield. The results demonstrated the potential of switchgrass for use as a biomass energy crop in both monocultures and mixtures across a wide geographic range. Monocultures, but not mixtures, showed a significant positive response to N and precipitation. The response to N for monocultures was consistent for newly established (stand age <3 years) and mature stands (stand age ,3 years) and for lowland and upland ecotypes. In conclusion, these results suggest that fertilization with N will increase yield in monocultures, but not mixtures. For monocultures, N treatment need not be changed based on ecotype and stand age; and for mixtures, legumes should be included as an alternative N source. [source] Lithium-Ion Batteries: Nanostructured Fe3O4/SWNT Electrode: Binder-Free and High-Rate Li-Ion Anode (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 20 201020/2010) A flexible carbon nanotube net is employed to demonstrate high capacity/high volume expansion materials for Li-ion battery electrodes, as presented by A. C. Dillon et al. on page E145. An electrode, with well over twice the capacity of the state-of-the-art technology, charges and discharges in 12 minutes without significant capacity fade. These advancements, funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Vehicle Technologies Program, will help enable next generation electric vehicles. [source] SWAT2000: current capabilities and research opportunities in applied watershed modellingHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 3 2005J. G. Arnold Abstract SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) is a conceptual, continuous time model that was developed in the early 1990s to assist water resource managers in assessing the impact of management and climate on water supplies and non-point source pollution in watersheds and large river basins. SWAT is the continuation of over 30 years of model development within the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and was developed to ,scale up' past field-scale models to large river basins. Model components include weather, hydrology, erosion/sedimentation, plant growth, nutrients, pesticides, agricultural management, stream routing and pond/reservoir routing. The latest version, SWAT2000, has several significant enhancements that include: bacteria transport routines; urban routines; Green and Ampt infiltration equation; improved weather generator; ability to read in daily solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed and potential ET; Muskingum channel routing; and modified dormancy calculations for tropical areas. A complete set of model documentation for equations and algorithms, a user manual describing model inputs and outputs, and an ArcView interface manual are now complete for SWAT2000. The model has been recoded into Fortran 90 with a complete data dictionary, dynamic allocation of arrays and modular subroutines. Current research is focusing on bacteria, riparian zones, pothole topography, forest growth, channel downcutting and widening, and input uncertainty analysis. The model SWAT is meanwhile used in many countries all over the world. Recent developments in European Environmental Policy, such as the adoption of the European Water Framework directive in December 2000, demand tools for integrative river basin management. The model SWAT is applicable for this purpose. It is a flexible model that can be used under a wide range of different environmental conditions, as this special issue will show. The papers compiled here are the result of the first International SWAT Conference held in August 2001 in Rauischholzhausen, Germany. More than 50 participants from 14 countries discussed their modelling experiences with the model development team from the USA. Nineteen selected papers with issues reaching from the newest developments, the evaluation of river basin management, interdisciplinary approaches for river basin management, the impact of land use change, methodical aspects and models derived from SWAT are published in this special issue. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer and updateJOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009C. L. Chang Abstract Since October 2006, the US Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Research Service (USDA,ARS) has been implementing a fruit fly liquid larval diet technology transfer, which has proceeded according to the following steps: (1) recruitment of interested groups through request; (2) establishment of the Material Transfer Agreement with agricultural research service; (3) fruit fly liquid larval diet starter kit sent to the requestor for preliminary evaluation; (4) problem-solving through email or onsite demonstration; (5) assessment on feedback from the participants to decide whether to continue the project. Up to date, the project has involved 35 participants from 29 countries and 26 species of fruit flies. Fourteen participants have concluded their evaluation of the process, and 11 of these 14, have deemed it to be successful. One participant has decided to implement the project on a larger scale. The 14 participants were, Argentina (Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus), Bangladesh (Bactrocera cucurbitae, C. capitata, and Bactrocera dorsalis), China (Fujia province) (B. dorsalis), Italy (C. capitata), Fiji (Bactrocera passiflorae), Kenya (Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis cosyra), Mauritius (Bactrocera zonata and B. cucurbitae), Mexico (Anastrepha species), Philippines (Bactrocera philippinese), Thailand (Bactrocera correcta), Austria (C. capitata, Vienna 8 and A. fraterculus), Israel (Dacus ciliatus and C. capitata), South Africa (C. capitata, Vienna 8) and Australia (C. capitata). The Stellenbosch medfly mass-rearing facility in South Africa and the CDFA in Hawaii were two mass-scale rearing facilities that allowed us to demonstrate onsite rearing in a larger scale. Demonstrations were performed in CDFA in 2007, and in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2008; both were found to be successful. The Stellenbosch medfly mass-rearing facility in South Africa decided to adopt the technology and is currently evaluating the quality control of the flies that were reared as larvae on a liquid diet. [source] Injury Deaths of US Citizens Abroad: New Data Source, Old Travel ProblemJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009Daniel J Tonellato BA Candidate Background Global travel continues to increase, including among US citizens. The global burden of injuries and violence, accounting for approximately 5 million deaths worldwide in 2000, is also growing. Travelers often experience heightened risk for this biosocial disease burden. This study seeks to further describe and improve our understanding of the variable risk of travel-related injury and death. Methods Information on US civilian citizen deaths from injury while abroad was obtained from the US Department of State Web site. This information was categorized into regional and causal groupings. The groupings were compared to each other and to injury deaths among citizens in their native countries. Results From 2004 to 2006, there were 2,361 deaths of US citizens overseas due to injury. Of these US citizen injury deaths, 50.4% occurred in the Americas region. Almost 40% (37.8%) of US citizen injury deaths in the low- to middle-income Americas were due to vehicle crashes compared to about half that (18.9%) (proportional mortality ratio [PMR] = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59,1.62) for low- to middle-income Americas citizen injury deaths. Similar differences between US citizen injury death abroad and the in-country distributions were also found for vehicle crashes in Europe (35.9% vs 16.5%, PMR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.78,2.64; p < 0.0005), for drowning deaths in the Americas (13.1% vs 4.6%, PMR = 2.67, 95% CI 2.29,3.11) and many island nations (63.5% vs 3.5%, PMR = 11.38, 95% CI 8.17,15.84), and for homicides in the low- to middle-income European countries (16.9% vs 10.5%, PMR = 1.52, 95% CI .90,2.57). Conclusions US citizens should be aware of regional variation of injury deaths in foreign countries, especially for motor vehicle crashes, drowning, and violence. Improved knowledge of regional variations of injury death and risk for travelers can further inform travelers and the development of evidence-based prevention programs and policies. The State Department Web site is a new data source that furthers our understanding of this challenging travel-related health issue. [source] United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service research on managing insect resistance to insecticides,,PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 6-7 2003Gary W Elzen Abstract Insecticide resistance has developed within many classes of pesticide, and over 500 species of insects and mites are resistant to one or more insecticides. Insecticide resistance and the consequent losses of food and fiber caused by failure to control insect and mite pests causes economic losses of several billion dollars worldwide each year. It is the goal of insect resistance management (IRM) to preserve useful pesticides by slowing, preventing or reversing development of resistance in pests. Important aspects of this goal are understanding the development of resistance and monitoring to determine ways to prevent its development. We describe programs specific to missions of the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, which are designed to characterize insecticide resistance in insects and mites with the goal of managing pests in an ecologically acceptable manner. Resistance management of cotton, potatoes, vegetables, melons, ornamentals, greenhouse crops, corn, stored grains, livestock, honeybees and mites, as well as management of transgenic crops are evaluated. We conclude that IRM is a vital part of stewardship of any pest management product and must be a combined effort of manufacturers, growers, consultants, extension services and grower organizations, working closely with regulators, to achieve logistically and economically feasible systems that prolong the effectiveness of all pest-control products. Published in 2003 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Beryllium sensitivity among workers at a Norwegian aluminum smelter,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 7 2010A.M. Nilsen PhD Abstract Background Sensitivity to beryllium was investigated among workers at an aluminum smelter in Norway as a consequence of the findings in an occupational exposure survey. Methods Three hundred and sixty-two employees and 31 reference persons were tested for sensitization to beryllium with the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) based on specifications by the US Department of Energy in 2001. The results are reported as abnormal, borderline, or normal. Results One person (0.28%) from the aluminum smelter was found to have abnormal results in two separate blood samples and is sensitized to beryllium. Three other persons had one abnormal test that was not confirmed by a second test. One person in the reference group had one abnormal and one normal test result. No borderline samples were detected. None of the employees with one or more abnormal sample results had pot room asthma. The sensitized individual worked in a Soederberg line in 1972,1974. The beryllium concentration in the work atmosphere is estimated to have been similar as today (0.1,0.3,µg/m3), but work routines, etc. would cause higher total exposures. Conclusions Only one sensitized person of 362 is in line with what is found in other studies in the aluminum industry. The low number, compared with the beryllium handling industry, may be attributable to lower work atmosphere concentrations, beryllium speciation effects, or use of respiratory protection equipment. Pot room asthma does not appear to be associated with beryllium sensitization. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:724,732, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] US regulatory system for genetically modified [genetically modified organism (GMO), rDNA or transgenic] crop cultivarsPLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008Alan McHughen Summary This paper reviews the history of the federal regulatory oversight of plant agricultural biotechnology in the USA, focusing on the scientific and political forces moulding the continually evolving regulatory structure in place today. Unlike most other jurisdictions, the USA decided to adapt pre-existing legislation to encompass products of biotechnology. In so doing, it established an overarching committee (Office of Science and Technology Policy) to study and distribute various regulatory responsibilities amongst relevant agencies: the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Agriculture. This paper reviews the history and procedures of each agency in the execution of its regulatory duties and investigates the advantages and disadvantages of the US regulatory strategy. [source] SHARE: A superordinate online rural communityPROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2008Janet Capps Comprehensive School Reform in Rural K-8 Schools in the Southeast: Integrative Technologies for Quality Initiatives is a three-year technology intervention funded by the US Department of Education. As part of this project, teachers in eight rural K-8 schools in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama were given access to an online community Web-portal built on Sakai called SHARE (Schools Helping to Advance Rural Education). This Web-portal supports the project's goal to expand teachers' ability to access and exchange information by providing server space for each school community as well as the larger project community. Through SHARE, communities of teachers at the school level can create a new community of information exchange among all project teachers and across all project schools. The exchange at the higher project level creates a superordinate level. Data collected through multiple methods is used to make comparisons between teachers' attitudes and online information exchange practices in base-level communities and in the larger superordinate community established through the SHARE Web-portal. The four-tier pyramid of Hersberger, Murray, and Rioux (2007) is used to inform the evaluation of the teachers' information sharing activities and to assist in the assessment of the overall level of gratification or discontentment of the project's community of teachers. [source] Cultural Perspectives Concerning Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol in the Appalachian Mountain RegionTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2008Michael G. Meyer MA ABSTRACT:,Context:Appalachia has high rates of tobacco use and related health problems, and despite significant impediments to alcohol use, alcohol abuse is common. Adolescents are exposed to sophisticated tobacco and alcohol advertising. Prevention messages, therefore, should reflect research concerning culturally influenced attitudes toward tobacco and alcohol use. Methods: With 4 grants from the National Institutes of Health, 34 focus groups occurred between 1999 and 2003 in 17 rural Appalachian jurisdictions in 7 states. These jurisdictions ranged between 4 and 8 on the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes of the Economic Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture. Of the focus groups, 25 sought the perspectives of women in Appalachia, and 9, opinions of adolescents. Findings: The family represented the key context where residents of Appalachia learn about tobacco and alcohol use. Experimentation with tobacco and alcohol frequently commenced by early adolescence and initially occurred in the context of the family home. Reasons to abstain from tobacco and alcohol included a variety of reasons related to family circumstances. Adults generally displayed a greater degree of tolerance for adolescent alcohol use than tobacco use. Tobacco growing represents an economic mainstay in many communities, a fact that contributes to the acceptance of its use, and many coal miners use smokeless tobacco since they cannot light up in the mines. The production and distribution of homemade alcohol was not a significant issue in alcohol use in the mountains even though it appeared not to have entirely disappeared. Conclusions: Though cultural factors support tobacco and alcohol use in Appalachia, risk awareness is common. Messages tailored to cultural themes may decrease prevalence. [source] Anthropology and the military: AFRICOM, ,culture' and future of Human Terrain Analysis (Respond to this article at http://www.therai.org.uk/at/debate)ANTHROPOLOGY TODAY, Issue 1 2010Robert Albro This article updates new developments in the evolution of the US Army's controversial Human Terrain System program (HTS). Building upon the recent report on the HTS program by the American Anthropological Association's Commission on the Engagement of Anthropology with the Security and Intelligence Communities, this article discusses how HTS-type arrangements are becoming part of the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) newest Combatant Command for the continent of Africa, or AFRICOM. Of particular note is the way "human terrain" no longer refers simply to the HTS program, but has acquired expanded reference to describe a broader array of approaches to the leveraging of socio-cultural knowledge within DoD. Most notably for AFRICOM, this includes moving beyond rapid assessment ethnography to incorporate cultural data into the predictive work of cultural modelling, as this informs the implementation both of counterinsurgency doctrine as well as military humanitarianism in Africa and elsewhere. This article explores the ethical, practical and cultural implications of such a turn. [source] Molecular chemical structure of barley proteins revealed by ultra-spatially resolved synchrotron light sourced FTIR microspectroscopy: Comparison of barley varietiesBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 4 2007Peiqiang Yu Abstract Barley protein structure affects the barley quality, fermentation, and degradation behavior in both humans and animals among other factors such as protein matrix. Publications show various biological differences among barley varieties such as Valier and Harrington, which have significantly different degradation behaviors. The objectives of this study were to reveal the molecular structure of barley protein, comparing various varieties (Dolly, Valier, Harrington, LP955, AC Metcalfe, and Sisler), and quantify protein structure profiles using Gaussian and Lorentzian methods of multi-component peak modeling by using the ultra-spatially resolved synchrotron light sourced Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SFTIRM). The items of the protein molecular structure revealed included protein structure ,-helices, ,-sheets, and others such as ,-turns and random coils. The experiment was performed at the National Synchrotron Light Source in Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL, US Department of Energy, NY). The results showed that with the SFTIRM, the molecular structure of barley protein could be revealed. Barley protein structures exhibited significant differences among the varieties in terms of proportion and ratio of model-fitted ,-helices, ,-sheets, and others. By using multi-component peaks modeling at protein amide I region of 1710,1576 cm,1, the results show that barley protein consisted of approximately 18,34% of ,-helices, 14,25% of ,-sheets, and 44,69% others. AC Metcalfe, Sisler, and LP955 consisted of higher (P < 0.05) proportions of ,-helices (30,34%) than Dolly and Valier (,-helices 18,23%). Harrington was in between which was 25%. For protein ,-sheets, AC Metcalfe, and LP955 consisted of higher proportions (22,25%) than Dolly and Valier (13,17%). Different barley varieties contained different ,-helix to ,-sheet ratios, ranging from 1.4 to 2.0, although the difference were insignificant (P > 0.05). The ratio of ,-helices to others (0.3 to 1.0, P < 0.05) and that of ,-sheets to others (0.2 to 0.8, P < 0.05) were different among the barley varieties. It needs to be pointed out that using a multi-peak modeling for protein structure analysis is only for making relative estimates and not exact determinations and only for the comparison purpose between varieties. The principal component analysis showed that protein amide I Fourier self-deconvolution spectra were different among the barley varieties, indicating that protein internal molecular structure differed. The above results demonstrate the potential of the SFTIRM to localize relatively pure protein areas in barley tissues and reveal protein molecular structure. The results indicated relative differences in protein structures among the barley varieties, which may partly explain the biological differences among the barley varieties. Further study is needed to understand the relationship between barley molecular chemical structure and biological features in terms of nutrient availability and digestive behavior. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 85:308,317, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source] | |||||||||||||||||||