Pre-Determining Performance-Based Measures for Managed Lanes

The operational decisions facing managed lanes can be highly politicized and difficult to make quickly. For example, changing the operating parameters such that a user class can no longer access the lanes may require extensive public debate and ignite controversy. This research examined managed lanes across the country and found that none had developed plans on how to deal with such situations as they arise in the future. We found there are significant potential benefits for agencies if they use operational goals for their managed lane facilities to guide decision making prior to the point it becomes critical. In addition, the policies developed act as a performance promise to managed lane users

Dynamics of the hydrocarbon-degrading Cycloclasticus bacteria during mesocosm-simulated oil spills

Original research articleWe used catalysed reported deposition – fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) to analyse changes in the abundance of the bacterial groups Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and of hydrocarbon-degrading Cycloclasticus bacteria in mesocosms that had received polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) additions. The effects of PAHs were assessed under four contrasting hydrographic conditions in the coastal upwelling system of the Rías Baixas: winter mixing, spring bloom, summer stratification and autumn upwelling. We used realistic additions of water soluble PAHs (approximately 20–30 μg l−1 equivalent of chrysene), but during the winter period we also investigated the effect of higher PAHs concentrations (10–80 μg l−1 chrysene) on the bacterial community using microcosms. The most significant change observed was a significant reduction (68 ± 5%) in the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria. The magnitude of the response of Cycloclasticus bacteria (positive with probe CYPU829) to PAHs additions varied depending on the initial environmental conditions, and on the initial concentration of added PAHs. Our results clearly show that bacteria of the Cycloclasticus group play a major role in low molecular weight PAHs biodegradation in this planktonic ecosystem. Their response was stronger in colder waters, when their background abundance was also higher. During the warm periods, the response of Cycloclasticus was limited, possibly due to both, a lower bioavailability of PAHs caused by abiotic factors (solar radiation, temperature), and by inorganic nutrient limitation of bacterial growth.This research was supported by the MEC contract IMPRESION (VEM2003-20021); an European Community Marie Curie Reintegration Fellowship (MERG-CT-2004-511937) and a Juan de la Cierva-MEC contract.Versión del editor5,84

Micro-computed tomography and histology to explore internal morphology in decapod larvae

Traditionally, the internal morphology of crustacean larvae has been studied using destructive techniques such as dissection and microscopy. The present study combines advances in microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) and histology to study the internal morphology of decapod larvae, using the common spider crab (Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922) as a model and resolving the individual limitations of these techniques. The synergy of micro-CT and histology allows the organs to be easily identified, revealing simultaneously the gross morphology (shape, size, and location) and histological organization (tissue arrangement and cell identification). Micro-CT shows mainly the exoskeleton, musculature, digestive and nervous systems, and secondarily the circulatory and respiratory systems, while histology distinguishes several cell types and confirms the organ identity. Micro-CT resolves a discrepancy in the literature regarding the nervous system of crab larvae. The major changes occur in the metamorphosis to the megalopa stage, specifically the formation of the gastric mill, the shortening of the abdominal nerve cord, the curving of the abdomen beneath the cephalothorax, and the development of functional pereiopods, pleopods, and lamellate gills. The combination of micro-CT and histology provides better results than either one alone.Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the INIA project (grant number RTA2011-00004-00-00) to G.G. and a pre-doctoral fellowship to D.C. (FPI-INIA)

Impact of Incentives on Toll Road Use by Trucks

In this research, interviews and survey data were used to understand better the truckers’ use of toll roads. On the basis of interviews with industry representatives, shipping companies, and drivers, it was clear that owner–operators were the least likely to use toll roads because of the difficulty in passing the cost of the toll on to their customers. Company-owned shipping operations were the most likely to analyze the potential benefits of a toll route carefully and possibly to use that route. A survey of truck drivers in the Austin, Texas, area was conducted both online and by paper. The survey's focus was on the use of State Highway (SH) 130, a tolled bypass route around Austin, versus the use of I-35, which runs through Austin. More than 2,000 respondents indicated their preferred route and whether certain incentives would motivate them to use SH-130. The survey results mirrored the results from the interviews, with smaller companies (owner–operators) preferring the nontoll route. The incentives that most interested the truckers were off-peak discounts, followed by the incentive of a free trip after a number of paid trips. The average value of travel time savings was $44.20/h. </jats:p

Enumeration and phylogenetic analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacteria from Puget sound sediments

Naphthalene- and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria in Puget Sound sediments were enumerated by most-probable-number enumeration procedures. Sediments from a creosote-contaminated Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site (Eagle Harbor) contained from 10(4) to 10(7) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria g (dry weight) of sediment-1, whereas the concentration at an uncontaminated site ranged from 10(3) to 10(4) g of sediment(-1). Isolates of PAH-degrading bacteria were obtained from these most-probable-number tubes as well as from sediment samples from noncontaminated sites and from bioreactors enriched with PAHs. The 18 resulting strains were grouped by whole-cell fatty acid analysis into two subgroups. The larger group of strains belonged to the newly described genus Cycloclasticus, whereas the other group contained members of the genus Vibrio. The Cycloclasticus group seems to be widespread in noncontaminated sediments. PAH degradation was confirmed in selected strains on the basis of removal of phenanthrene from growing cultures.</jats:p

Isolation and Characterisation of 1-Alkyl-3- Methylimidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquid-Tolerant and Biodegrading Marine Bacteria

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify marine-derived bacteria which exhibited high tolerance to, and an ability to biodegrade, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids. The salinity and hydrocarbon load of some marine environments may induce selective pressures which enhance the ability of microbes to grow in the presence of these liquid salts. The isolates obtained in this study generally showed a greater ability to grow in the presence of the selected ionic liquids compared to microorganisms described previously, with two marine-derived bacteria, Rhodococcus erythropolis and Brevibacterium sanguinis growing in concentrations exceeding 1 M 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The ability of these bacteria to degrade the selected ionic liquids was assessed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and three were shown to degrade the selected ionic liquids by up to 59% over a 63-day test period. These bacterial isolates represent excellent candidates for further potential applications in the bioremediation of ionic liquid-containing waste or following accidental environmental exposure