Effect of Petroleum Hydrocarbons on Microbial Populations in an Arctic Lake

A sea-curtain enclosed section of a lake 240 km south of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska was exposed to Prudhoe crude oil in July 1976. One year following exposure to the oil, no significant differences were detected between the waters or sediments of the oiled versus control area in rates of turnover of glucose. Total numbers of bacteria were slightly higher in oiled than in control waters. There were no differences in numbers of sediment bacteria. Rates of uptake of hexadecane and napthalene by sediment microbes were not linear with time. Hexadecane was taken up sooner and faster than was napthalene. In 0 some incubations, significantly (88 - 95% probability level) greater rates of hydrocarbon uptake were measured for oiled than for control sediments. Only incorporated, not mineralized, hydrocarbons were measured due to methodological problems. Several methods of using 14C-labelled hydrocarbons in a field situation are presented

The Role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Comprehensive Management of Pediatric Oncology Patients in the Inpatient Setting

The role of the pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) in the comprehensive management of pediatric oncology patients in the inpatient setting was examined at a large tertiary teaching hospital. This article shows role responsibilities including new diagnosis teaching, procedures, routine chemotherapy, patients' comprehensive medical management, coordination of nursing care across settings, phone triage, and professional development. A PNP's typical day is highlighted to illustrate the innovative merging of traditional ambulatory care roles with that of the PNP as a comprehensive manager of pediatric oncology patients in the inpatient setting. This role provides a more seamless care experience and provides critical links in the delivery of health care to pediatric oncology patients.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68349/2/10.1177_104345429901600202.pd

Antimicrobial Resources for Disinfection of Potable Water Systems for Future Spacecraft

As human exploration adventures beyond low earth orbit, life support systems will require more innovation and research to become self-sustaining and durable. One major concern about future space travel is the ability to store and decontaminate water for consumption and hygiene. This project explores materials and technologies for possible use in future water systems without requiring point-of-use (POU) filtering or chemical additives such as iodine or silver that require multiple doses to remain effective. This experimentation tested the efficacy of a variety of antimicrobial materials against biofilm formation in a high shear CDC Biofilm Reactor (CBR) and some materials in a low shear Drip Flow Reactor (DFR) which(also utilizes ultra violet light emitting diodes (UVLEDs) as an antimicrobial resource. Most materials were tested in the CBR using the ASTM E 2562-07 1method involving the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coupon samples that vary in their antimicrobial coatings and surface layer topographies. In a controlled environmental chamber (CEC), the CBR underwent a batch phase, continuous flow phase (CFP), and a harvest before analysis. The DFR portion of this experimentation was performed in order to assess the antimicrobial capabilities of ultraviolet-A LEDs (UV-A) in potable water systems. The ASTM E 2647-08 was modified in order to incorporate UV-A LEDs and to operate as a closed, re-circulating system. The modified DFR apparatus that was utilized contains 4 separate channels each of which contain 2 UV-A LEDs (1 chamber is masked off to serve as a control) and each channel is equipped with its own reservoir and peristaltic pump head. The 10 DFR runs discussed in this report include 4 initial experimental runs that contained blank microscope slides to test the UVA LEDs alone, 2 that incorporated solid silver coupons, 2 that utilized titanium dioxide (Ti02) coupons as a photocatalyst, and 2 runs that utilized silver coated acrylic slides. Both the CBR and DFR experiments were analyzed for microbial content via heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) and acridine orange direct counts (AODC). Ofthe materials used in the CBR, only two materials performed as anti~icrobials under high shear conditions (a reduction of 5 or more logs) showing a>7 log reduction in viable microbes

A leap forward in geographic scale for forest ectomycorrhizal fungi

Published versio

Benthic respiration and nitrogen release in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

The decomposition of organic matter and the regeneration of nitrogen in the sediments of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts were examined by measuring benthic fluxes of oxygen and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). Benthic respiration (O2 consumption) rates measured from one site yielded an estimate of 65–80 g C m−2 oxidized annually. Comparing the annual release of DIN with the consumption of O2 led to an estimate of N loss from the benthic-pelagic system, most likely as N2 gas via denitrification, corresponding to 14–32% of the N remineralized from organic matter decomposition. Using path analysis, benthic flux rates of O2 and DIN over a seasonal cycle in Buzzards Bay were determined to be related to water temperature and sediment photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and phaeopigments). The rate of DIN release was also negatively related to the particulate organic N (PON) pool as well. The relationship of benthic fluxes to sedimentary pigment concentrations suggested that pigments were good indicators of labile organic matter input to sediments. Macrofauna appeared to have a direct negative effect, as well as a positive indirect effect on DIN release. Benthic respiration rates were not related to sedimentary particulate organic C (POC) or PON content, or macrofaunal abundances. Release rates of DIN were also unrelated to POC pools. Benthic flux rates measured at 12 sites in Buzzards Bay during August 1989 varied by less than a factor of 2 for benthic respiration and less than a factor of 3 for DIN release. The only environmental factor that emerged from path analysis as related (negatively) to the spatial pattern of benthic flux rates in August was water depth. Other factors, such as organic pools, pigment concentrations, macrofauna, and distance from the New Bedford sewage outfall were not related to the spatial patterns of benthic fluxes in Buzzards Bay. The combination of seasonal and spatial observations indicate that the processes oxidizing organic matter in Buzzards Bay sediments are controlled by temperature and the delivery of labile organic matter to the sediment surface. Benthic flux rates in Buzzards Bay were generally low, but N recycling efficiency was high, relative to similar coastal environments